Europeans were long familiar with the qualities of the maple wood. Species growing in the old world were used for the unpleasantness of pikes and lances. Imagine the happy surprise to find a maple in the New World from which fine furniture could be crafted and from which sugar could be produced in great quantity. So great, in fact, that it became an important commodity to sell or trade for merchandise in the early years of our country.

The Home Depot® is increasing its protection of High Conservation Value Forests and tropical Intact Forest Landscapes (IFLs) by not accepting any wood products from The Amazon (South America) and Congo (Africa) Basins, unless Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified.

“Why not extend the benefit of volunteering to more people?" This question became the spark that inspired the Global Month of Volunteering at GSK, now underway in October. GSK has been working towards democratizing volunteering—by taking it from the 100 or so employees who can participate in PULSE (our three or six month full-time, immersive volunteer program) to our global employee population of 100,000 employees.

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) today announced $6 million toward neighborhood revitalization efforts with 47 grants to nonprofits through the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation’s 2017 Priority Markets Program. The 2017 Wells Fargo Housing Foundation Priority Markets Program supports projects, programs and initiatives that help remove barriers to sustainable housing in low- and moderate-income communities.

During Sustainable September, we spoke with Alicia Procello, VP, Corporate Social Responsibility and President, Avery Dennison Foundation and Janet Sandoval, Senior Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility and the Avery Dennison Foundation. They spoke about their work and how serving as a force for good contributes to a more sustainable future.

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life Services and a partner to the United States Marine Corps, joined forces with that organization last weekend in support of its annual Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) Kids Run. This event, a one-mile just-for-fun run for kids age 5-12, is an annual lead-up activity to the largest marathon in the world that doesn't offer prize money. Sodexo has sponsored the event since 2003.

Building on a commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, and Community, Sanofi held its third annual Sanofi in Our Communities, Celebrating Diversity event, demonstrating the company’s support for local Corporate Social Responsibility. As announced at the event, over $700,000 has been awarded in 2017 to select New Jersey-based non-profit organizations focused on enhancing the quality of life in the Garden Sate.

Studies show that employees seek out companies that embody socially responsible values and provide an outlet for volunteering. You’ve checked those boxes yet can’t seem to get your employees to participate in your volunteer program. On Thursday, November 9, 2017, at 2 pm ET/ 11 am PT, we will present solutions to this common, yet solvable, challenge.

Caloua Lowe bounds up the rickety, worn staircase of a three-story, red brick building in Camden, New Jersey on a sunny September morning, the wooden steps creaking under the pressure of her red-sandaled feet. The walls display framed, Photoshopped images: a mockup of Vogue, album covers featuring young men standing shoulder to shoulder with rap legends like Jay-Z. They were designed by the roughly 1,200 youths who, like Lowe, have come here over the years to learn Photoshop, HTML, Javascript, and other skills that could land them jobs in the tech industry some day.

Award-winning non-profit 826 believes that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success. The organization, founded in 2002 by celebrated author Dave Eggers and acclaimed educator Nínive Calegari, provides underresourced students ages six to 18 with opportunities to explore their creativity and improve their writing skills through free programs hosted both in the classroom and after school.