Hormel Foods Corporation today announced the launch of its 12th annual corporate responsibility (CR) report.

The report is available online at https://csr.hormelfoods.com/ and includes information about the company’s CR progress in fiscal 2017.

“We are proud of the progress we have made as a leading corporate citizen in our industry,” said Jim Snee, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of Hormel Foods, in his letter in the report. “At Hormel Foods, we know that building social value and creating economic value are not competing goals, and we are inspired to do our part in making the world a better place."

Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s iconic community improvement nonprofit organization, is mobilizing Americans to bolster their local ecosystems by planting native species of trees, shrubs and plants for its seventh annual National Planting Day.

During a weeklong meal packing program, MilliporeSigma employees at sites in Milwaukee, St. Louis, Missouri and Temecula, California, prepared 65,000 meals to be distributed to communities worldwide. Additionally, 100 employees — including the Life Science Executive Team (LSET) — packed approximately 22,000 meals in Germany earlier this year. The Rise Against Hunger organization estimates that MilliporeSigma’s contributions have impacted the lives of more than 4,500 individuals in 11 countries.

There is a nearly constant scroll of bad news passing before our eyes, from rampant income inequality and raging wildfires to climate devastation and white nationalists in the Oval Office. Somehow, though, the stock market just keeps chugging along. Corporate profits are up, so in the eyes of the average news consumer, the economy is “strong.” But what factors are we missing in this declaration of strength?

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is proud to work with the Adoption Exchange Association on I-CARE, the Initiative to Create Adoption Ready Employees. Thanks to The Chronicle of Social Change for shedding light on this exciting and critical program.

JetBlue today announced the opening of the application period for the next round of its BlueBud business mentoring program. BlueBud offers innovative environmentally and socially responsible companies a unique opportunity for business mentorship and access to JetBlue’s senior leaders and unique product development culture. Applications are currently being accepted here through September 30, 2018.

As New York’s Hometown Airline®, JetBlue’s BlueBud program has historically focused on sustainable and pioneering food brands based in New York. However, as the largest carrier in Boston, JetBlue is extending the opportunity to small businesses in the greater Boston area for the program’s fourth year. JetBlue is also extending the focus beyond just budding food and beverage brands.

For 33 years, Duke Energy has partnered with employees and customers to lend a hand to those struggling to pay their energy bills. The company is reinforcing that commitment with an additional $600,000 contribution to its Share the Warmth program to help South Carolina customers pay their high seasonal energy bills.

The 2nd Responsible Business Summit West (San Diego, Nov 13-14) will bring together 300 senior global businesses to tackle the three core pillars of digitally-driven business. Leaders from Microsoft, Experian, TransWestern, Macquarie Investments, HP, Domtar, Greenpeace USA will discuss and share their insights on climate action, social impact and data privacy & trust.

I have been asked more than once if I thought the topic of brands taking stands on the big issues of the day is a trend that will eventually run out of gas. My answer is always the same: Get used to it. This is a movement, not just a meme of the current overheated political moment.