Merck, known as MSD outside of the U.S. and Canada, announced today that it is offering $300,000 in grants to the non-governmental organization (NGO) partners in the Merck Medical Outreach Program (MMOP) in commemoration of the program’s 60th anniversary.

Eight global roundtables attended by more than 350 organizations. Hundreds of alternative adherence paths (AAPs) that open up new strategies and pathways for projects, along with 195 equivalency submissions that support WELL’s global adoption. 632 amendments in seven addenda updates that provided continuous improvements. Thousands of conversations with real estate leaders, architects, interior designers, sustainability consultants, academic researchers, health care practitioners, and human resource professionals from all over the world. This is how you evolve a global rating system for buildings when the focus is on no less than improving the health and wellness for the people inside them.

Students of today live in an interconnected, diverse, and rapidly changing world. Emerging economic, digital, cultural, demographic, and environmental forces are shaping young people’s lives around the globe, and increasing their intercultural interactions on a daily basis. This complex environment presents an opportunity and a challenge. Young people today must not only learn to participate in a more interconnected world, but also to appreciate and benefit from its cultural differences. Developing competencies to operate effectively in this new global context is a process – a lifelong process – that education can shape.

Recently about 50 social impact executives came to Philadelphia for a two-day Learning Journey to explore the state of technology and inclusive innovation. Hosted by Comcast NBCUniversal and the Social Innovation Summit, the exploration featured intimate discussions with city leaders like Mayor Jim Kenney, University of Pennsylvania President Dr. Amy Gutmann, Superintendent Dr. William Hite, Saxbys Founder and CEO Nick Bayer, local startup founders and other community leaders. Dalila Wilson-Scott, senior vice president of Community Impact at Comcast NBCUniversal, discusses why technology and inclusive innovation is critical.

Duke Energy Florida's state-of-the-art natural gas plant in Citrus County is on track to deliver cleaner, more reliable energy for Floridians. The 1,640-megawatt combined-cycle, two-unit plant will use clean-burning natural gas and highly efficient technology to provide reliable and cleaner energy to 1.8 million Florida customers in 35 counties.

Tetra Pak Brazil is celebrating ten years since the launch of its Recycling Route (www.rotadareciclagem.com.br). This is a website that offers consumers a simple way of finding recycling collection points in various cities across Brazil. Since its launch in 2008, more than 1.3 million visitors have used the website to find their way to a recycling collection point.

Many parents and doctors are finding that new technology can help young patients better communicate their feelings and manage their condition.

Sands Cares, the corporate giving program of Las Vegas Sands, is the company’s manifested commitment 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 leads that manage the program and execute initiatives unique to each region.

Recently, brands have begun to reassess their products or services to promote acceptance and inclusion – creating accessible card games for colorblind players and supporting rock climbing para-athletes. The National Autistic Society even used VR to show individuals how chaotic a simple shopping experience can be for children with autism, inspiring empathy and understanding from shoppers. Now, as more companies focus on inclusivity, the NBA is acknowledging its autistic fans – evolving empathy into action.