The quarterly newsletter for the Ray C. Anderson Foundation has been published. Check it out - Brightening Our Corner

In Europe, homelessness is on the rise. Countries across the continent have seen large increases in the number of people who are homeless. Addressing homelessness – and helping those in need – is an imperative for all of us, especially those of us who have the ability to make a difference. At Cisco, we take that imperative close to heart – taking on big challenges and doing what we can to make an impact are core to who we are. To further our efforts in making an impact, I am proud that this week we are announcing a commitment of $1 million over four years to support a Housing First pilot in Rome with Comunità di Sant’Egidio, an organization that for 50 years has addressed poverty in Italy and in other countries around the world.

The Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB), the independent standard setting body of GRI, is launching a project to review the universal Standards.

Following a barrage of announcements celebrating advances in environmental stewardship from food producers in honor of Earth Day, General Mills just announced that they have signed a 15 year purchase agreement with Roaring Fork Wind, LLC based in Central Texas.

G&A Institute has analyzed index companies’ sustainability reporting activities since 2011. “Sustainability reporting” rose dramatically from 2011, when roughly 20% of companies published reports, to 72% just three years later in 2013. From 2013 to 2017, the frequency of reporting increased each year, now inching up to 86% of companies reporting in 2018.

MilliporeSigma’s Cyrene is a solvent that the science and technology company says is safer, more sustainable, and can offer better performance than petroleum-derived products. Cyrene is manufactured in two steps from tree-derived waste cellulose through a process that is nearly energy neutral, and releases water to the environment, according to the company.

Special thanks to Hall of Fame Quarterback Steve Young, who joined the Aflac Duck at Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Children’s Hospitals Week in Orlando, Florida, to raise awareness for children’s hospitals and celebrate My Special Aflac Duck®, a robot designed to help children cope with cancer. Steve has been a major supporter of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals for more than 30 years.

The Arbor Day Foundation has announced today that Team Willamette of Oregon has been awarded the Foundation’s Headwaters Award. This award celebrates innovative programs — in rural or urban areas — that support the improvement of water quality and quantity through forestry activities.

We at Timberland think it’s time for a more progressive look at clean energy policy in our state. That is why Timberland is one of many companies, including Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health, MegaFood, Stonyfield Farm, Worthen Industries and more supporting the House and Senate bills (House Bill 365 and Senate Bill 159), which would raise the project cap on net metering.

CBRE Group, Inc. is ranked #15 in Corporate Responsibility Magazine’s 2019 100 Best Corporate Citizens list, which recognizes outstanding environmental, social and governance (ESG) transparency and performance. “CBRE is committed to exceptional performance on the environmental, social and governance issues that we know are important to our stakeholders,” said Bob Sulentic, president and chief executive officer of CBRE. “We are proud to be recognized for our accomplishments in these critical areas.”