ESG News from Leading Brands

Social Impact & Volunteering

Quality of Military Life

Feb 23, 2017 3:20 PM ET

General Lucian Truscott, a highly decorated U.S. Army officer who was recognized for both his leadership and service during World War II, stated in his 1954 memoir Mission Commands: A Personal Story, “The American soldier demonstrated that, properly equipped, trained and led, he has no superior among all the armies of the world.”

Education

HanesBrands' Continuing Education Program For Employees is Transforming Lives in Central America and the Caribbean

Feb 23, 2017 2:45 PM ET

When Felipa Benitez joined HanesBrands’ Honduras operations seven years ago, she could not read or write. Today, the 34-year-old mother of two is one of the latest HanesBrands employees to hold a new high school diploma after participating in the company-sponsored continuing education program.

Education

Who builds LA? GIRLS!

Feb 23, 2017 2:10 PM ET

On a January morning, a team of Amgen scientists traveled to the University of Southern California to spend time with 10,000 young women from Los Angeles County schools through the LA Promise Fund’s Girls Build LA Initiative.

Innovation & Technology

Comcast NBCUniversal’s Approach to Bridging the Digital Divide

Feb 23, 2017 2:00 PM ET

As the internet was making its stunning transition from technological toddler to hard-charging adolescent, two terms came into wide use. Both involved visions of the future.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Cone Communications’ “Prove Your Purpose” Recognized As Top Sustainability Newsletter

Feb 23, 2017 1:30 PM ET

Cone Communications, a public relations and marketing agency, is proud to announce that its CSR focused newsletter, “Prove Your Purpose”, has been recognized as a Top Sustainability Newsletter by Triple Pundit alongside other major publications such as Sustainable Brands and FastCo.Exist, the sustainable business arm of Fast Company magazine.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Major League Baseball Players Trust Announces Recipients of 2017 Michael Weiner Scholarship for Labor Studies

Feb 23, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Each year since 2015, the Players Trust has recognized five outstanding graduate or law school students for their demonstrated commitment to pursuing careers dedicated to improving the lives of workers with a $10,000 scholarship to help defray some of their academic costs.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Youth Optimism, Meet Opportunity: Bridging the Gap Between Young People’s Career Aspirations & Ability to Succeed

Feb 23, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Young people today make up the largest youth population in history. Their successes and struggles are as diverse as their personalities and aspirations. However, in all corners of the globe, this generation faces a common challenge: persistent, high rates of youth unemployment. Left unaddressed, the consequences reverberate across our cities and affect us all. When young people don’t see or have a sustainable economic path, our families and communities also suffer. In fact, the futures of cities are intrinsically tied to the economic success of young people.

Education

Register with Early Bird Pricing for CSR Certificate Program from G&A and Rutgers IEL's

Feb 23, 2017 12:45 PM ET

In this program, participants explore CSR standards, models and best practices from leaders at successful companies using sustainability to drive business and social value across their organizations and the communities. The course will dive into key concepts such as sustainability reporting, materiality, stakeholder engagement, supply chain assessments, sustainable development, and investor integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues.

Innovation & Technology

Samsung Names 10 Public Schools National Finalists in $2 Million* Solve for Tomorrow Contest

Feb 23, 2017 12:30 PM ET

Samsung today announced the 10 national finalists in the 7th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest – a nationwide competition that challenges students to use STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) skills to improve their local communities.

Education

CITGO Encourages Thousands of Children to Become Lifelong Readers Through Series of Events During National Reading Month

Feb 23, 2017 11:25 AM ET

In celebration of National Reading Month, CITGO Petroleum Corporation, along with its mobile literacy partner, Bess the Book Bus, is hosting special reading events for several thousand children at more than 50 schools and Children’s Hospitals throughout the Central United States.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Republic Services: Communities

Feb 23, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Serving Republic’s 14 million customers goes beyond handling their recycling and waste needs. Service is about being a Good Neighbor to the communities where we live, work and raise families.

Research, Reports & Publications

BIER Issues Results of 2016 Water and Energy Use Benchmarking Study

Feb 23, 2017 10:30 AM ET

The Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER) released their 2016 Water and Energy Use Benchmarking Study, celebrating their ninth benchmarking report on key performance data within the industry.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Descubre cómo #Scotiabank contribuye al desarrollo de las comunidades en El Salvador a través de #UnaBancaConProposito.

Feb 23, 2017 10:15 AM ET

En #UnaBancaConPropósito de Scotiabank, cada vez que ahorras o usas tu tarjetas de débito, haces crecer tus ahorros y un árbol; al utilizar tu tarjeta de crédito, cumples el sueño de muchos jóvenes. Y con cada préstamo que obtienes, construyes un techo y un futuro para quien no lo tiene.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Foster Care Adoption: It's Worth It

Feb 23, 2017 9:00 AM ET

If you're considering #FosterCareAdoption, follow your heart. #ItsWorthIt.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

The Behavioral Benefits of Values-based Investing

Feb 23, 2017 8:35 AM ET

This article covers, as we commonly understand it, the benefits of values-based investing; we invest in companies that operate in accordance with our values and it makes the world a better place. This value is well understood and undeniable, but it masks a less-recognized truism: I believe that values-based investing can actually help us make better investment decisions.

Green Infrastructure

A New Website, and a New Vision for WELL

Feb 23, 2017 8:20 AM ET

Welcome to the future of WELL. Today we launch our spectacular new website and with it a new vision for WELL that is informed by each of you, our core users and advocates who have helped us advance the idea that our buildings and communities can be a powerful tool to enhance our health and well-being.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

India’s Amway Opportunity Foundation Receives Top CSR Leadership Award

Feb 23, 2017 8:15 AM ET

Since 1999, the Amway Opportunity Foundation (AOF) in India has dedicated many of its CSR efforts to the domain of the visually challenged. This past week in a ceremony held at Taj Land End, Mumbai, AOF received an ABP News – CSR Leadership Award in the category of “‘Support and Improvement in the Quality of Education.” The event was organized by World CSR Day.

Research, Reports & Publications

Barclays Shares First Year Results of Shared Growth Ambition

Feb 23, 2017 4:00 AM ET

Today, Barclays published its annual Citizenship performance in the Barclays PLC Annual Report 2016.

2016 marks the first year of Barclays’ Shared Growth Ambition – a new Citizenship strategy that concentrates efforts on those sectors of the economy where the bank can have the greatest impact and which will align with its core strength as a financial services institution:

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Benevity Nonprofit Community Council Reinforces the Critical Role Companies Play in Achieving Positive Societal Outcomes

Feb 22, 2017 7:30 PM ET

Benevity, Inc., the global leader in online workplace giving, matching, volunteering and grant management solutions, hosted the Benevity Nonprofit Community Council meeting on February 7, 2017 in Palm Springs, to discuss the ever-increasing importance of companies supporting their employees as a vehicle for achieving positive societal outcomes.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Citi Foundation's Pathways to Progress Expands Globally with a Three-Year $100 Million Commitment to Prepare 500,000 Young People for Today's Competitive Job Market

Feb 22, 2017 4:00 PM ET

Citi Foundation's Pathways to Progress Expands Globally with a Three-Year $100 Million Commitment to Prepare 500,000 Young People for Today's Competitive Job Market

Environment

Greater Access to Clean Water, Greenspaces and Education: Building a Stronger Foundation for Healthy Communities

Feb 22, 2017 2:55 PM ET

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Keybank Community Development Lending & Investment Provides $56.1 Million in Financing For Poppleton Project in West Baltimore

Feb 22, 2017 2:45 PM ET

KeyBank Community Development Lending and Investment provided $56.1 million in FHA-insured 221(d)4 financing for the construction of Center/West Apartments, a large-scale redevelopment project which will revitalize the Poppleton neighborhood located in Southwest Baltimore.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Republic Services Drivers Honored by San Angelo Students

Feb 22, 2017 12:50 PM ET

Each month, fifth grade students at Potter's Hand Christian School in San Angelo, Texas choose to be a blessing to someone in the community or organize a mission project. This month, they chose to send care packages to Republic Services drivers, filled with goodies, handwritten notes and bibles for each driver.

Environment

Teens Sue U.S. Gov’t Over Climate Change

Feb 22, 2017 12:40 PM ET

What do a 13 year old in Louisiana, a 14 year old in Oregon and a 16 year old in Hawaii all have in common besides possibly the number of hours a day they spend on Instagram?

Diversity & Inclusion

Comcast NBCUniversal Celebrates “Black Women Behind the Scenes” in New Video Series

Feb 22, 2017 12:40 PM ET

Growing up in the 80s and 90s, there were just a few shows and films whose lead characters reflected who I was and who I aspired to be. The quirky yet relatable coming of age stories of A Different World’s Denise Huxtable, played by Lisa Bonet, offered a fresh perspective that television had not seen before. The ratings soared, and the show was a hit. But even more importantly, I saw myself and my potential in Denise’s stories -- in the depiction of her black college life, in the clothing she wore, and in her cultural background.