ESG News from Leading Brands

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Subaru of America Foundation Awards Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey a $95,000 Grant

Jan 11, 2019 9:05 AM ET

Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey announced today that it has been awarded with a $95,000 grant from the Subaru of America (SOA) Foundation to be paid over three years to support Girls Inc.’s work in the Camden Promise Neighborhood.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Healing wings

Jan 11, 2019 9:00 AM ET

Cruising at 8,000 feet, Sandie LeBlanc took in the scenery below en route to Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, California, for her lung-function testing. For a moment, the sights freed her mind from the weight of health concerns. “It’s so peaceful,” said LeBlanc, who suffers from lupus and is also a breast cancer survivor, “and I often forget about why I’m flying as I focus on all the beauty around me.” One thing she never forgets, however, is how these trips are possible — thanks to the 1,500 volunteer pilots of Angel Flight West who have flown LeBlanc and more than 30,000 other patients and their families for lifesaving medical care since the nonprofit’s launch in 1983.

Environment

Agriculture: The Missing Piece of the Climate Puzzle

Jan 11, 2019 9:00 AM ET

By 2050, countries around the world must find a way to produce more food than they have in the past 8,000 years to accommodate population growth—all while minimizing the agricultural sector’s contribution to climate change.

Health & Healthcare

How Companies Can Step Up on Safer Food

Jan 11, 2019 8:30 AM ET

Even if you haven’t heard of perchlorate, chances are that you probably have eaten it. Perchlorate is a chemical used in plastic packaging and food handling equipment for dry food like cereal, flour, and spices.

Sustainable Development Goals

VIDEO: Our Forests Are Our Heritage

Jan 11, 2019 8:00 AM ET

Our forests are a treasured legacy providing the very necessities of life itself — clean air, healthy drinking water, a tolerable climate, and so much more. But these majestic lands are threatened by insects, disease, and devastating wildfires.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Tetra Tech Developed an Assessment Framework to Support Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries

Jan 11, 2019 8:00 AM ET

In December 2018 Tetra Tech’s Catherine Courtney, along with the University of Connecticut’s Robert Pomeroy and the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Stephen Brooks, published a paper in the Marine Policy Journal in which they developed an assessment framework based on the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF Guidelines).

Social Impact & Volunteering

Scout’s Vision: Tiny Home for Homeless Veteran

Jan 10, 2019 4:30 PM ET

Step by step, teenager Tim Maron’s vision of home for a homeless military veteran has become reality in a resurgent, small-town neighborhood once infested with drugs and crime. Today, that neighborhood is known for its clean streets and renovated homes, thanks to a local nonprofit, and most recently a modest tiny house project led by Maron, 17, a Boy Scout and budding young community leader in eastern Pennsylvania.

Diversity & Inclusion

LAGLCC Announces New Capacity Building Program with AEG

Jan 10, 2019 3:30 PM ET

The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce today announced that it has formed a partnership with AEG, the world’s leading sports and live entertainment company, to develop a capacity-building program designed to promote the economic growth and development of LGBTQ owned businesses in Los Angeles. The program will help qualified small-and medium-sized LGBTQ-owned businesses reach their next level of growth through mentoring, partnerships, referrals and promotions.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

KeyBank Arranges $28.4 Million in Financing for the Preservation of Affordable Housing in San Antonio

Jan 10, 2019 3:00 PM ET

KeyBank announced today arranging $28.4 million in a Fannie Mae affordable housing preservation refinance loan for Commonwealth Multifamily Housing Corporation (“Commonwealth”) for the benefit of White Rock Apartment Homes, a multifamily, 336-unit mixed-income property in San Antonio, TX. The refinance replaces two series of tax exempt bonds issued by the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation more than 17 years ago to develop and construct the property and provides over $2 million in capital for roof replacements and other improvements that will enhance White Rock’s role as Commonwealth’s flagship property. More importantly, the property will continue to provide its historical and much needed affordable housing in the city.

Events, Media & Communications

Georgia Interfaith Power & Light Green Team Summit 2019

Jan 10, 2019 2:50 PM ET

Georgia Interfaith Power & Light Green Team Summit focuses on creation care.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Duke Energy Named to Black Enterprise’s “50 Best Companies for Diversity” list

Jan 10, 2019 2:45 PM ET

Social Impact & Volunteering

Fulfill Your Resolution to Start an Employee Volunteer Program in 2019

Jan 10, 2019 2:15 PM ET

The benefits of employee volunteering are well documented. This video showcases some of the highlights. If you're convinced but don't know how to get started, check out the collection of resources below.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

A Newsworthy 2018 - Whirlpool Corporation

Jan 10, 2019 2:15 PM ET

Whirlpool Corporation welcomes 2019 with much excitement, but we're still taking time to reflect and celebrate the innovation, volunteerism, sustainability and news stories of 2018.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

CIT Bank Provides Grant to Neighborhood Housing Services of LA County

Jan 10, 2019 1:05 PM ET

CIT Bank N.A., the banking subsidiary of CIT Group Inc., today announced a $350,000 grant in support of Neighborhood Housing Services of Los Angeles (NHS). The grant is CIT’s second for the organization and will provide affordable lending, financial education and real estate services to 4,500 low- and moderate-income residents across Los Angeles County.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

MegaMex Foods Donates a Fire Truck to the City of Sabinas, México

Jan 10, 2019 12:15 PM ET

Sabinas is a city of 63,000 residents in the northern state of Coahuila, México. Since 1990, Avomex, the local subsidiary of MegaMex in México, has been producing Wholly Guacamole® dips. Due to the economic conditions of Sabinas, the city did not have a fire truck. So Avomex decided to help. On Dec. 14, 2018, MegaMex Foods and Avomex donated a fire truck to the local fire department. This was a major event in which several local authorities participated. The Mayor of Sabinas, Cuauhtémoc Rodríguez, received the keys to the truck from MegaMex Foods. The modern, fully equipped truck will be used to fight fires and help with other types of local emergencies.

Responsible Production & Consumption

The Future of Business Sustainability: Pushing Sustainable Consumption Toward the Mainstream

Jan 10, 2019 12:00 PM ET

Education

HP Commits to Empowering Another 100,000 Learners in Africa Over the Next Three Years

Jan 10, 2019 11:35 AM ET

HP has long recognized that access to education is crucial to powering the creativity and innovation that our industry thrives on. From a business perspective, access to education increases diversity, drives new business, and attracts and retains the best employees. But much more than that, education is a fundamental human right.

Health & Healthcare

Meet a Johnson & Johnson Researcher Poised to Crack the HIV Vaccine Code

Jan 10, 2019 11:30 AM ET

In 1992, as a young HIV/AIDS researcher in her native Netherlands, Hanneke Schuitemaker, Ph.D., now Vice President, Global Head of Viral Vaccine Discovery and Translational Medicine, Janssen Vaccines & Prevention B.V., was devoted to learning as much as she could about the disease—and saw her role as that of a researcher, rather than someone who closely interacted with people who were living with HIV.

Innovation & Technology

How Artificial Intelligence is Transforming how Companies Manage EHS

Jan 10, 2019 11:15 AM ET

I have worked within the environment, health and safety (EHS) field for more than 20 years, and in that time, I’ve seen some dramatic changes in how companies manage their programs, and data. But nothing compares to the technological innovations that are now upon us.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sysco, NRG Energy Recognized for Work in Renewable Energy Sourcing

Jan 10, 2019 10:45 AM ET

Sysco and NRG Energy have been recognized by Smart Energy Decisions for our efforts in Renewable Energy Sourcing.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Sands Cares Joyce Siew Leads Corporate Social Responsibility Program in Singapore

Jan 10, 2019 10:25 AM ET

Sands Cares, the corporate giving and community engagement program of Las Vegas Sands, is dedicated to being a good corporate citizen, committed to its people, communities in which it operates and the planet. In each region, Sands Cares has Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) leads that manage the program and execute initiatives unique to each region. Born and raised in Singapore, Joyce Siew graduated with a degree in English and Sociology and began her career in various communications related roles in both the public and private sector, before joining Marina Bay Sands’ communications and CSR team in 2012.

Research, Reports & Publications

INFOGRAPHIC: Cisco's 2018 CSR Report | What We Made Possible in FY18

Jan 10, 2019 10:15 AM ET

Cisco technology and people are accelerating global problem solving in ways that have never been attempted before. From solving customers’ business challenges to tackling the toughest social and environmental issues of our time, we are helping to make the impossible possible.

Energy

General Motors to Collaborate With EVgo, ChargePoint and Greenlots to Enhance the Charging Experience for Customers

Jan 10, 2019 10:00 AM ET

GM will collaborate with three of the nation’s leading electric vehicle charging networks to enable access to the largest collective EV charging network in the U.S., including more than 31,000 charging ports.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Faces of GSK's Pro Bono Efforts

Jan 10, 2019 9:20 AM ET

As the Vice President and Director of Scientific and Public Health for GSK’s Vaccines practice, Dr. Len Friedland has a very rewarding job, but his sense of purpose extends beyond his day job to support people in poor health as well as those with limited access to quality healthcare, as a volunteer. “Helping patients feel better and live longer aren’t just words to me—they’re part of who I am. The way I see it, having great science at the company is fantastic, but it means nothing unless we make sure this science benefits the right people,” said Len.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

LG Honored by Environmental Protection Agency for Responsible Electronics Recycling Leadership

Jan 10, 2019 9:15 AM ET

LG Electronics USA has been recognized for responsible electronics recycling leadership by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. LG received the highest-level recognition in the EPA’s Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Electronics Challenge. Highlighting the company’s dedication to environmental sustainability at CES® 2019, William Cho, president and CEO, LG Electronics North America, applauded the EPA SMM Electronics Challenge program, which encourages responsible recycling. “By using third-party certified recyclers, we’re proud to help drive the use of environmentally protective practices,” he said.