This year, H&M is proud to announce that the Garment Collecting initiative will have a new partner in the United States with Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s iconic community improvement nonprofit organization. To kick off this new partnership, H&M is urging customers and fans to participate in America Recycles Day by donating unwanted textiles from any brand in any condition to any H&M in the U.S. From Nov. 9-15, people who donate to the program will receive double vouchers for 15% off their next purchase.

Tue, 11/07/2017 - 09:30

This week on the news, I saw Congress grill social media executives. I heard about the spread of fake news and the negative things that social media has wrought. There was lots of focus on young people and how they use these forums – I even heard one report when an expert being interviewed mentioned that he was an undergraduate.

I won’t disagree that there are negatives about social media, but I do want to point out a different perspective that comes from my work.

My industry and the population we serve are often considered out of the loop on technology. But, the truth is social media has become a huge benefit in the lives of many people old enough to be that undergraduate’s grandparents.

Mon, 11/06/2017 - 16:15

Today, we take for granted how easy and seamless it has become to conduct business with one another and trade online. We order food on a mobile app from almost any restaurant and it arrives at our door within an hour; we get in a stranger’s car for a ride across town; we spend our family vacations in some other stranger’s home. It’s all so normal now -- no big deal. But in 1995, when Mark Fraser of Salt Spring Island, Canada, sent $14.83 to a person he’d never met (Pierre) —never even spoken with —to buy a laser pointer he saw on a website, it was a remarkable act and started an even more remarkable movement.

Fri, 11/10/2017 - 08:40

In the US, there's a chance you know someone struggling with opioid addiction—especially in rural communities. That's why eBay seller UpaknShip is doing all it can to offer employment to those committed to recovery.

Wed, 11/08/2017 - 09:15

Lisa Colella is the president and founder of Healing Household 6, an organization dedicated to connecting caregivers of U.S. veterans with essential support as families face transitioning from active duty to the civilian world. When Lisa’s husband was forced into a medical retirement after he suffered a brain injury during deployment, the mother of two was forced to confront some issues that threatened to break up her family. Realizing there were others like her in the veteran community who needed critical resources, Lisa, now based in Charleston, South Carolina, started a Facebook group for families of veterans in an effort to strengthen the family foundation through support, and that initial network bloomed into what is now HH6.

Tue, 11/07/2017 - 09:55

As the first volunteer for Refuge Coffee in Clarkston, Georgia – an area that hosts the most diverse square mile in the country and is home to over 60 native-spoken languages – Karen Guess brings together people from all walks of life over the universal language of coffee and tea. She moved to the area at the same time as Refuge Coffee founder Kitti Murray, who had a dream of creating just such a communal place.

Mon, 11/06/2017 - 15:00

A start-up company may be well on its way to even more success after winning $75,000 in the FedEx Junior Business Challenge. Five student teams around the country competed against each other to see who had the best original business idea.

Tue, 11/07/2017 - 12:00

Pro bono service is a powerful way to drive social change. Yet, many corporate employees looking to bring pro bono service to their company struggle to get buy-in from leadership and other key stakeholders. Although these stakeholders may understand the social value of pro bono, they don't always see the business value. If an initiative doesn't contribute to the bottom line, it's not seen as a worthwhile investment.

That's why Taproot developed the Business Value of Pro Bono, a new resource for the field that outlines six common business objectives that pro bono can help support. In addition to the social impact that pro bono can help drive, companies have a lot to gain from engaging their employees in pro bono initiatives.

Tue, 11/07/2017 - 13:15

Last week, 150 fourth graders at North Intermediate Middle School experienced a unique way to learn about science when the Curiosity Cube visited their school. The Curio­sity Cube is a mobile technology and science lab sponsored by Millipore Sigma, a global life science company with offices in the local area. Millipore Sigma uses the lab in an effort to spark student interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Tue, 11/14/2017 - 09:45