ESG News from Leading Brands

Social Impact & Volunteering

CITGO Raises Funds for Local Community Programs with 2016 Spirit Pump Initiative

Jan 12, 2017 10:15 AM ET

CITGO Petroleum Corporation, along with its Marketers and Retailers, raised approximately $30,000 in 2016 through the installation of “Spirit Pumps” at participating CITGO stations across the nation. These specially wrapped, branded fuel pumps were operational at different times throughout the year to raise money for a variety of education, charitable and community service programs.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Antea Group Named Member Partner of Manufacturing USA’s REMADE Institute on Clean Energy

Jan 12, 2017 9:40 AM ET

Antea Group has been named a member partner of the Reducing Embodied-Energy and Decreasing Emissions (“REMADE”) Institute by the U.S. Department of Energy. REMADE, part of the multiagency network known as Manufacturing USA, will work to find new and less expensive ways to reuse, recycle, and remanufacture materials such as metals, fibers, polymers, and electronic waste, aiming to achieve a 50-percent improvement in overall energy efficiency in U.S. manufacturing by 2027.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Public Consultation on the Latest AA1000 AccountAbility Principles to Open in Late-January 2017

Jan 12, 2017 9:30 AM ET

AccountAbility will open the latest revision of the AccountAbility Principles, the AA1000AP (2017) for public consultation on the 26th of January 2017. Upon completion of the public consultation and consideration of feedback received, the AA1000AP (2017) will be updated, finalised and replace the current AA1000 AccountAbility Principles Standard (AA1000APS 2008) as the core foundation and “Guiding Principles” of the AA1000 series. The AA1000AP (2017) may be used and referenced immediately after the release date in 2017.

Health & Healthcare

Booz Allen & Kaggle Challenge Data Scientists, Medical Community to Improve Cancer Screening using Artificial Intelligence through $1 Million Competition

Jan 12, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Cancer is an intensely personal disease for many of us: it hits loved ones at home, colleagues at work and friends in our communities. In fact, two out of every five people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetimes, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Innovation & Technology

IUPUI and Butler University Win AASHE Sustainable Campus Competition, hosted by Kimberly-Clark Professional

Jan 12, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and Butler University partnered to win the AASHE Sustainable Campus Competition, hosted by Kimberly-Clark Professional. The two schools secured a $50,000 prize that will catalyze a city-wide composting collection program that serves as important step toward their large-scale commercial composting collection initiative.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Scotiabank Donates $75,000 to Fund a Support Network at Bow Valley College’s Chiu School of Business

Jan 12, 2017 7:30 AM ET

Learners at Bow Valley College’s Chiu School of Business received some valuable support thanks to a $75,000 donation from Scotiabank.

Environment

National Geographic Celebrates Ocean Conservation in New Documentary Premiering This Sunday Jan. 15 at 7/6c

Jan 12, 2017 7:00 AM ET

The latest documentary from National Geographic, Sea of Hope: America’s Underwater Treasures, follows Dr. Sylvia Earle and her team, including renowned National Geographic photographer Brian Skerry and writer Max Kennedy, as they embark on a year-long journey to use the power of photography to advocate for the protection of vital underwater habitats and natural wonders. Sea of Hope premieres on Sunday, January 15, at 7:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM CT.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Benevity Processes Over $1 Billion in Donations to Close out 2016

Jan 11, 2017 7:30 PM ET

Benevity Inc., the global leader in online workplace giving, matching, volunteering and community investment software, announced that it surpassed $1 billion in donations to almost 105,000 charities in 2016. In just the last two years, donations to nonprofits through Benevity have increased fivefold.

Events, Media & Communications

Sponsor Groundbreaking Workplace Giving and Employee Engagement Research

Jan 11, 2017 6:25 PM ET

Workplace giving has evolved considerably in the past decade. Since 2000, America’s Charities has been reporting trends that are shaping this evolving field from both the employer and nonprofit perspective.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Gilead Awards More Than $22 Million in Grants to Support HIV Cure Research

Jan 11, 2017 3:05 PM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

How Companies Can Celebrate and Support a New Generation of Global Leaders

Jan 11, 2017 2:45 PM ET

Celebrating the achievements of the nation’s foremost visionaries who have used their status to positively impact the lives of students and publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), proceeds from TMCF's annual Awards Gala enable TMCF to continue its work as a critical link between students having greater access to higher education and the opportunity to become a part of a new generation of global leaders. There are multiple ways companies and their employees can support this work, including...

Social Impact & Volunteering

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee of Las Vegas and MGM Resorts International Present 35th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade

Jan 11, 2017 2:30 PM ET

MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) will return for the seventh consecutive year as the presenting sponsor of the 35th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade to be held on Monday, Jan. 16 at 10 a.m. in downtown Las Vegas.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Early Bird Registration Discount for Women's Empowerment Principles Forum Ends 1/31!

Jan 11, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Registration is now open for our "Measuring Success, Making it Count: Women's Empowerment Principles Forum 2017." Join us at the United Nations Headquarters and Grand Hyatt in NYC on March 14-15 to discuss ways of measuring initiatives that support woman and girls, and how to use data to drive action. Hurry, Early Bird discount ends January 31!

Environment

Wells Fargo Adds 10 Clean-Tech Startups to Innovation Incubator

Jan 11, 2017 1:00 PM ET

January 11, 2017 – Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) today announced it has selected the third round of clean technology startup companies to join the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2), a five-year, $10 million program which helps advance energy efficiency by accelerating sustainable commercial-building technologies. The 10 early-stage companies in Round 3 will each receive up to $250,000 in cash and in-kind technical assistance to advance their technologies and an opportunity to beta test within Wells Fargo’s real estate footprint.

Health & Healthcare

Three Quality of Lifehacks to Spruce up Your Workspace

Jan 11, 2017 12:45 PM ET

This past Monday was National Clean Off Your Desk Day. Although this “holiday” might feel a little made-up, it’s still a good excuse to begin the New Year with a clean and organized workspace.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

51 Public Schools Named State Winners in $2 Million* Samsung STEAM Learning Contest

Jan 11, 2017 12:45 PM ET

Samsung Electronics America (SEA) announced the 51 state winners of 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 affect real-world change.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Jan. 11 Is Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Are Companies Listening?

Jan 11, 2017 12:40 PM ET

There are steps companies can take immediately – and with little effort – to reduce or eliminate supply chain risks. In recognition of National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention day today, companies can renew their commitments to ethical sourcing investigative processes to provide assurances that their products do not involve slave labor.

Social Impact & Volunteering

West Mabee Boys and Girls Club Director Understands the Impact the Club Can Have on Youths

Jan 11, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Ask Jamar Giddings to pin down his favorite memory from a childhood spent with the Boys & Girls Club and he’ll tell you it was scatterball.

The game, a form of dodgeball, helped nurture an athletic ability and competitiveness that would eventually lead him out of an impoverished area of Lawton and ultimately back into the fold of the organization that shaped his life.

Events, Media & Communications

National Diversity Council CEO, Angeles Valenciano, Keynotes DreamWeek Awards Luncheon

Jan 11, 2017 11:00 AM ET

National Diversity Council CEO, Angeles Valenciano, will have the honor of acting as the keynote speaker for DreamWeek San Antonio’s DreamVoice Awards Luncheon.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Names Two New Board Members

Jan 11, 2017 11:00 AM ET

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption welcomes two new board of trustees members this month. Deepak Ajmani and Robert Geen will each join the board for a three-year term.

Education

Ecolab Foundation Awards $1.1 Million to Teachers in 2016 Through Visions for Learning National Educator Grants Program

Jan 11, 2017 9:45 AM ET

Ecolab Inc., the global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services, has awarded $1.1 million in grants to K-12 educators throughout the U.S. through the Ecolab Foundation’s 2016 Visions for Learning Educator Grants program.

Responsible Production & Consumption

7 Basic Steps for Conducting a Successful Materiality Assessment

Jan 11, 2017 9:45 AM ET

Materiality is a hot topic in the corporate sustainability world, with CSR teams working hard to meaningfully convey the opportunities and successes of their initiatives to both internal and external stakeholders.

Environment

Incoming EPA Chief: Fox in the Henhouse

Jan 11, 2017 9:10 AM ET

When someone sues an organization repeatedly and then gets put in charge of that agency it's a pretty classic example of the fox guarding the henhouse.

Environment

“Externalities” is a Big Word

Jan 11, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Do we pay for these costs at the grocery store cash register? Not even close. That’s what I mean by the market’s failure to internalize external costs.

Energy

Duke Energy Renewables Acquires Three California Solar Projects From SunPower

Jan 11, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Duke Energy Renewables announced today it has acquired three solar power projects from SunPower Corp. totaling 55 megawatts (MW).

The sites include the 20-MW Rio Bravo I, the 20-MW Rio Bravo II, and the 15-MW Wildwood Solar II solar power plants. They are located in Kern County, California, adjacent to two existing solar sites owned by Duke Energy Renewables.