CEO and Co-Founder of WEConnect International, Elizabeth A. Vazquez, today announced that WEConnect International’s Council on Scaling Women-Owned Businesses will generate pioneering research on how to connect two critical challenges to growth faced by micro, small, and medium enterprises owned by women—access to capital and access to markets.

Las Vegas Sands announced the 12 recipients of The Mr. Sheldon G. and Dr. Miriam Adelson Citizenship Award presented by Sands Cares. The award was established through Sands Cares, the company’s corporate giving program, to recognize team members across all regions who have demonstrated a dedication to giving back to their local communities and important causes.

Smithfield Foods, Inc., announced today a $10,000 donation to the James River Association to support efforts to restore and protect the future of Virginia’s largest river. To kick-off the continuation of the partnership, Smithfield employees contributed their time with James River Association staff to clean trash from Tyler Beach in Rushmere, Virginia. An important part of the James River watershed, more than 340 pounds of trash were removed from the river’s shores.

Voting closes 5pm PST on May 17th! The Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge aims to recognize new business ideas that leverage technology for social impact from student entrepreneurs around the world. Winners will be announced on May 20, 2019.

The social sector continues to lag in the adoption and use of technology due in part to lack of funding and limited staff. How can pro bono service bridge the gap between the needs of the sector and available human and financial resources? On the heels of last week’s Global Pro Bono Summit, Taproot Foundation and VMware are releasing their latest research—a compilation of guides to Transforming Technology Pro Bono—in an effort to support nonprofit organizations in maximizing the impact technology pro bono can have on their mission.

CITGO employees, Marketers, Retailers, vendors and suppliers raised more than $2.2 Million to date for families living with muscular dystrophy, ALS and related neuromuscular diseases that severely weaken muscle strength and mobility.

There are many challenges in today’s food system, from resource scarcity to soil health and water quality. Cascadian Farm and General Mills believe it will take a collective movement to change how crops are commercially grown, to positively impact climate change, and that’s what we’re doing by collaborating to help develop Kernza.

Giving back to the community is important to Nick Wagner, who's been an Aflac independent sales agent for 18 years. Working at Aflac gives Nick the flexibility he needs to ensure that he's giving back how and when he wants. "Aflac gives me the opportunity to help people and make a lifestyle out of doing that." says Nick, "It's one thing to give money to a cause, and it's another thing to become a part of the cause. When there's a need in the community, I can take time away from what I'm doing with Aflac to go volunteer my time."

Business Roundtable CEOs, including Medtronic Chairman and CEO, Omar Ishrak, are embracing sustainability across their businesses. Now, through the #EmbracingSustainability challenge, they are sharing progress and calling on other business leaders to balance environmental stewardship practices and social impact with economic growth for a sustainable future.

The BSR Conference 2019 will offer the opportunity to gain a greater understanding of the new climate that every business is facing and to learn about how to meet these challenges as we move into the decisive decade ahead. Early-bird registration is now open.