ESG News from Leading Brands

Innovation & Technology

Empowering Women Through Design

Jan 19, 2017 8:05 AM ET

US-based social enterprise Raven + Lily has joined the Business Call to Action (BctA) with a commitment to provide market access and sustainable livelihoods to over 2,000 women from impoverished communities.

Education

Fox and LA Promise Fund Screen ‘Hidden Figures’ for 10,000 Girls in Los Angeles

Jan 19, 2017 7:00 AM ET

Nearly 10,000 young women from middle and high schools across Los Angeles County gathered at the University of Southern California’s Galen Center on January 10 for an exclusive screening of Hidden Figures, the hit film from 20th Century Fox that tells the true story of three female African American mathematicians who played crucial roles in the Space Race of the 1960’s. The LA Promise Fund for Public Schools organized the screening, which featured appearances by cast members Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe and Aldis Hodge, along with producer Pharrell Williams, all of whom spoke about their hope that the Hidden Figures story will inspire more women and women of color to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Macomb Innovation Fund Awards $225,000 to Five Detroit-area Technology Startups

Jan 19, 2017 6:00 AM ET

Five early-stage companies from Macomb, Washtenaw and Wayne counties will receive $225,000 in funding from the Innovation Fund Macomb Community College, Powered by JPMorgan Chase & Co. Since July 2015, the Macomb Innovation Fund has awarded $1.4 million to 24 companies, which have garnered $3.5 million in follow-on funding.

Media & Communications

New Avery Dennison ClearIntent™ Portfolio Enables Sustainability Improvements

Jan 19, 2017 5:15 AM ET

As part of its ambitious 2025 sustainability goals, Avery Dennison Label and Packaging Materials has created a new portfolio designed to enable customers choose products that can help to make a positive environmental impact.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

MSD for Mothers Commits $10 Million and Business Expertise to the Global Financing Facility to Help End Preventable Deaths of Mothers

Jan 19, 2017 1:30 AM ET

Environment

Multi-Level Water Resources Strategy Urged

Jan 18, 2017 5:30 PM ET

While acknowledging progress in efforts to better manage our nation’s water resources, there is still much to be done in the area of combining private and public forces for the good of all, according to Nelson Switzer, Chief Sustainability Officer for Nestlé Waters North America.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Final Call for 2017 Collegiate RecycleMania Competition Applications!

Jan 18, 2017 4:30 PM ET

Registration for new and returning colleges and universities is coming to a close for the 2017 RecycleMania tournament, the premier collegiate recycling competition. Now in its 17th year, RecycleMania pits colleges and universities against one another to see which will claim the championship in the fight to reduce, reuse, recycle and compost the most on campus. The 2017 RecycleMania competition, managed by national nonprofit Keep America Beautiful, will kick off on Feb. 5.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Aramark Joins Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

Jan 18, 2017 4:00 PM ET

Education

Meet Amgen Scholars Alumni Anna Talyzina

Jan 18, 2017 3:40 PM ET

My grandfather was a pharmacologist, and he told me about his work. I have always dreamt that one day I would create my own drug and it would help people and make a difference in the world.

Green Infrastructure

Delos™ and HKS Announce a Strategic Partnership to Study the Impact of the Built Environment on Health and Well-Being

Jan 18, 2017 3:05 PM ET

Delos™, a wellness real estate and technology firm, today announced a partnership with HKS, an international design firm, to study and measure the impact of interventions in the built environment on human health and well-being. The new HKS and Delos partnership will focus on applied research and will build on the strengths of each company to target peer-reviewed open sourced publications, and advance Delos’ mission to transform buildings into healthier spaces.

Responsible Production & Consumption

I Received an OSHA Citation--What Should I Do?

Jan 18, 2017 2:35 PM ET

Let's say OSHA recently conducted a wall-to-wall inspection of your plant. During the close out conference, you were informed that your plant was in violation of certain OSHA standards. While the compliance officer (CO) does not have the authority to issue citations or penalties-- the final authority lies with the OSHA Area Director--the CO stated that, should OSHA choose to issue citations and financial penalties, you should expect correspondence within a few weeks.

After six long weeks of anxiously awaiting the final outcome of the inspection, the plant manager notifies you the results have arrived. The correspondence is handed off to you, which marks another first in your role as the new plant safety person.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Spectrum Health Recognized for Excellence in Community Service with 2016 Foster G. McGaw Prize

Jan 18, 2017 1:00 PM ET

In recognition of its cutting-edge programs and services to reach the underserved residents of Western Michigan, Spectrum Health is awarded the 2016 Foster G. McGaw Prize for Excellence in Community Service and will receive $100,000 for programs creating healthier and stronger communities.

Social Impact & Volunteering

CSX Honors Service on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Jan 18, 2017 1:00 PM ET

CSX observes Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a National Day of Service, when many employees dedicate their personal time to volunteer.

This past Monday, some CSX employees joined a service event at Jean Ribault High School in Jacksonville in conjunction with CSX’s national partner, City Year. Together, volunteers painted a mural highlighting a city skyline along with values of both City Year and Martin Luther King, Jr., such as honesty and respect.

Social Impact & Volunteering

10 Companies Engaging Employees Through Exemplary Matching Gift and Grant Programs

Jan 18, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Matching gift programs do a lot to encourage employee loyalty, and many companies include added perks with their matching gift programs.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Engelli çocukların yaşamlarına dokunuyoruz

Jan 18, 2017 12:35 PM ET

Atlas Copco Türkiye'de, çevremize ve çevremizdeki insanlara karşı sorumluluklarının bilincinde bir tüzel kişi olmayı sürdürülebilir hale getirmenin hayati önemine inanıyoruz. İşitme engelli çocukların eğitiminde en yüksek teknolojinin gerekli olduğu bilinciyle, 13 Ocak'ta Rotary İşitme Engelliler İlkokulu'nu ziyaret ederek, öğrencilere üst kalitede görsellik sunabilecek iki adet dizüstü bilgisayar bağışladık.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Bettering the Lives of Kids with Disabilities

Jan 18, 2017 12:35 PM ET

In Atlas Copco Turkey, we believe it is key for us to sustain a responsible corporate citizenship. Being aware of the crucial importance of hi-tech tools for hearing-impaired kids, on January 13th, we visited Rotary Hearing-impaired Primary School and donated two laptops that will provide high quality visuality to the school kids.

Energy

Green Charge: How Energy Storage Can Support Your Sustainability Efforts

Jan 18, 2017 12:25 PM ET

Commercial and industrial organizations can benefit from adding energy storage to their sustainability plans, from increasing the use of renewables and adding resilience to cutting demand charges and supporting the grid.

Education

Visit the Qualcomm® Thinkabit Lab™

Jan 18, 2017 12:10 PM ET

The Qualcomm Thinkabit Lab is the combination of a lab, makerspace, and classroom for students from all cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. By combining mini-lectures with team interactions, students are encouraged to innovate, partner, and achieve beyond what exists.

Education

T. Rowe Price Associates Make a Difference in Children’s Lives During National Mentoring Month and Beyond

Jan 18, 2017 12:00 PM ET

While January is National Mentoring Month, T. Rowe Price associates around the world volunteer year-round to mentor and support children.

“We’re always looking for solutions that improve outcomes for youth and enrich community life,” says Sandra Van Vloten-McGraw in T. Rowe Price’s Corporate Social Responsibility department. “Mentoring achieves both, and it’s great to see the positive impact these programs have on the kids.”

Energy

Mission Waco Receives Grant for Unique Sustainability Project from Green Mountain Energy Sun Club

Jan 18, 2017 11:30 AM ET

Mission Waco will soon be known as one of Texas’ sustainability leaders thanks to a new partnership. Green Mountain Energy Sun Club has selected the Waco-based nonprofit to receive a $234,000 donation to support a unique sustainability project dubbed Urban REAP for “Urban Renewable Energy and Agriculture Project.”

Health & Healthcare

Helping Students Overcome Personal Obstacles to Academic Success

Jan 18, 2017 11:15 AM ET

Diversity & Inclusion

Walmart Outlines 2017 Goals for American Job Growth and Community Investment

Jan 18, 2017 10:45 AM ET

Walmart, the nation’s largest private employer with nearly 1.5 million associates in the U.S., today will discuss company plans to create American jobs and invest in local communities across the country. The investments in the coming year will support an estimated 34,000 jobs through continued expansion and improvement in the company’s store network, as well as e-commerce services, while providing specialty training for more than 225,000 of the company’s frontline associates.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

GREEN SPA Certificate Awarded to AIDAprima

Jan 18, 2017 10:30 AM ET

AIDA Cruises is the first cruise company to be certified for its commitment to sustainability by the Deutscher Wellness Verband e.V. (German Wellness Association). AIDAprima’s Organic Body & Soul Spa has been awarded the GREEN SPA certificate, achieving the top quality grade of Level 3. It has only been a couple of months since AIDAprima was recognized at the Cruise Guide Awards 2016 in the categories of Family-Friendliness and Sport & Wellness.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Shire Announces Seventh Annual Scholarship for Individuals With ADHD

Jan 18, 2017 10:15 AM ET

Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPG) is pleased to announce the launch of the 2017 Michael Yasick ADHD Scholarship. The scholarship program is for legal residents of the United States who are under the care of a licensed health care professional for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and are accepted to or enrolled in a 2- or 4-year undergraduate program or a graduate program (of one or more years in length) at an accredited college, university, trade school, technical school, or vocational school located in the US.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Republic Rewards Community Grant Program Honors Friends Of the Thomas B. Norton Library in Gulf Shores, Alabama

Jan 18, 2017 10:05 AM ET

Republic Services of Gulf Shores, Alabama presented the Friends Of the Thomas B. Norton Library with a $3,500 grant as part of their annual Republic Rewards Community Grant Program.