2018 was a big year for our customers and employees. As it comes to an end, we reflect on the missions, milestones and achievements.

Even with all the evidence that renewable energy has become less expensive than fossil fuels, it doesn't seem real until utilities start to stake their futures on it. For some Midwestern utilities, 2018 is the year that happened.

Xcel Energy of Minnesota in early December said it would go to zero carbon emissions throughout its eight-state territory by 2050, the first major utility to do so. That followed some big steps by Consumers Energy in Michigan and NIPSCO in Indiana, which issued plans to shut down coal-fired power plants sooner than previously planned while also accelerating development of wind and solar power.

Arrow Electronics is one such organization. Rather than running a traditional foundation out of the human resources department, Arrow’s philanthropy stems from brand and marketing.

Aflac, the leader in voluntary insurance sales at U.S. worksites, is once again listed on Black Enterprise’s 2018 prestigious list of the 50 Best Companies for Diversity. This marks the 12th time that Aflac has appeared on this annual list.

Team members from Hormel Foods and Justin’s recently took a break from their day jobs to give back to a community in South Dakota and to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Justin’s partnership with Conscious Alliance, a nonprofit organization committed to supporting communities in crisis through hunger relief and youth empowerment. A group of 16 – including representatives from Convoy of Hope, another community service partner of Hormel Foods –traveled to the Pine Ridge reservation to assemble 400 meal bags, stock food-pantry shelves and spend time with the Oglala Lakota people.

The firm has committed to invest between 300 and 500 million euros in incubation projects, partnerships with entrepreneurs, and specialised funds in the coming years.

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation is cultivating the health and well-being of the next-generation from the ground up. We’re supporting garden programs, like the one at La Bajada Youth Farm in Dallas, Texas, to connect more children to the life-enhancing benefits of gardens.
Starting January 2, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation will support schools and nonprofit organizations across the country in bringing a garden to their community through our Grassroots Grants with KidsGardening.

In a recent article for Adoptive Families magazine, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption President & CEO, Rita Soronen, shares common myths and realities about adopting teens and older children.

This year, Hallmark chose a movie with a largely African-American cast, Christmas Everlasting, for its coveted Thanksgiving weekend premiere.

The Global Reporting Initiative's draft Standard on corporate tax makes a pioneering stride in tax transparency by combining management approach disclosures on tax strategy, with country-by-country reporting of an organization’s business activities and taxes paid.