ESG News from Leading Brands

Social Impact & Volunteering

CITGO Lemont Refinery Celebrates 90th Anniversary with Breakfast for Community Partners

Jun 30, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Last week, over 75 leaders of local community organizations gathered at the CITGO Lemont Refinery for a special breakfast in celebration of the refinery's commitment to Fueling Good for over 90 years.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Ideas that Matter: Empowering Today’s Dreams to be Tomorrow’s Reality

Jun 30, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Have you heard of Sappi’s Ideas that Matter competition? More than a decade ago, Sappi established the grant program to recognize and support designers who use their skills and expertise to solve communications problems for a wide range of charitable activities. Since 1999, Sappi has funded over 500 nonprofit projects, contributing over US$12million worldwide to causes that enhance our lives and our planet.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Ideas that Matter: Empowering Today’s Dreams to be Tomorrow’s Reality

Jun 30, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Have you heard of Sappi’s Ideas that Matter competition? More than a decade ago, Sappi established the grant program to recognize and support designers who use their skills and expertise to solve communications problems for a wide range of charitable activities. Since 1999, Sappi has funded over 500 nonprofit projects, contributing over US$12million worldwide to causes that enhance our lives and our planet.

Research, Reports & Publications

Cigna Releases Third Annual Corporate Responsibility Report

Jun 30, 2016 9:00 AM ET

With the release today of its 2015 Cigna Connects Corporate Responsibility (CR) Report, global health service company Cigna (NYSE:CI) offers an up-close look at the company’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policies and priorities.

Environment

Raising Oysters for a Healthy Harbor in Baltimore

Jun 30, 2016 8:30 AM ET

Raising oysters in Baltimore's Inner Harbor is an exercise in optimism. Even though a recent water quality report card gave Inner Harbor a disappointing grade of “F,” the Healthy Harbor Initiative still has a goal to make the water swimmable and fishable by 2020 and growing thousands of oysters in the Inner Harbor could help.

Social Impact & Volunteering

LIVESTRONG Leaders Headed to Austin

Jun 30, 2016 8:00 AM ET

This weekend, 98 LIVESTRONG Leaders from 30 states and 16 countries will converge in Austin to talk about how to support cancer survivors in their home towns. The LIVESTRONGLeaders Program engages volunteers across the globe in support of our mission to improve the lives of people affected by cancer now. This yearly advocate training is a unique opportunity and allows dedicated individuals to deepen their understanding of LIVESTRONG’s efforts and meet other survivorship advocates from all over the world.

Energy

National Grid Completes sea2shore Cable Landing

Jun 30, 2016 1:15 AM ET

Innovation & Technology

Benevity Launches Ground-Breaking Incubator and Consulting Services to Drive Broad Social Change

Jun 29, 2016 9:00 PM ET

Benevity, Inc., the global leader in online workplace giving, matching, volunteering and grant management solutions, launched Benevity Labs to accelerate broad social change through experimentation, predictive analytics and data science.

Health & Healthcare

New LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA Commitment Highlighted by White House and National Cancer Moonshot Initiative

Jun 29, 2016 7:30 PM ET

Vice President Joe Biden highlighted a commitment by LIVESTRONG and YMCA of the USA (Y-USA) to double the size and scope of the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program by 2021 to serve 100,000 cancer survivors and to integrate the program into clinical practice across the country. The commitment was one of multiple around the U.S. catalyzed by the Cancer Moonshot initiative and released by the White House today.

Diversity & Inclusion

Helping Customers Make a Difference with Their Dollars

Jun 29, 2016 6:45 PM ET

Today, at our home office in Bentonville we hosted our annual U.S. Manufacturing Summit and Open Call where we met with our suppliers and hundreds of potential suppliers who were here to pitch their American-made items to sell at Walmart.

Innovation & Technology

Quadriplegic Racecar Driver Tackles Hairpin Turns of Pikes Peak Race in the Arrow Electronics SAM Car

Jun 29, 2016 6:10 PM ET

Centennial, Colo., June, 29, 2016 /3BL Media/ – Quadriplegic former IndyCar driver and current team owner Sam Schmidt completed the bottom half of the challenging, high-altitude Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Sunday in the Arrow Electronics, Inc. Semi-Autonomous Motorcar (SAM car).

Social Impact & Volunteering

MGM Resorts International Fights Child Hunger in Southern Nevada with $50,000 Donation to Three Square Food Bank

Jun 29, 2016 6:00 PM ET

MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) donated $50,000 to Three Square Food Bank to support BackPack for Kids, a children’s meal program. The donation will ensure the program is available to the community throughout the summer.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Why Taking the Long View with Disaster Recovery is Essential

Jun 29, 2016 5:55 PM ET

It’s June, and that means hurricane season has officially begun. This year’s season is expected to be “near-normal.” And yet, normal is still scary. Experts at the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration predict 10 to 16 named storms, of which four to eight could become hurricanes. With this prediction comes the need for preparation and planning.

Research, Reports & Publications

HP Commits to Zero Deforestation by 2020

Jun 29, 2016 5:35 PM ET

HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) announced a commitment to achieve zero deforestation by 2020. All HP brand paper and paper-based product packaging[1] will be derived from certified and recycled sources by 2020, with a preference for virgin fiber from certified sources of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). This pledge is one of several 2016 goals outlined in the company’s latest Sustainability Report released today.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Norfolk Southern Supports Storm Relief in West Virginia

Jun 29, 2016 5:10 PM ET

Innovation & Technology

Diageo Announces Development of Groundbreaking Virtual Reality Experience in Ongoing Fight Against Drunk Driving

Jun 29, 2016 5:00 PM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Carcassonne to San Remo: CBRE's 2016 EMEA Charity Bike Ride Challenge

Jun 29, 2016 4:55 PM ET

Events, Media & Communications

BJ’s Wholesale Club Announces Partnership with “Salute to Veterans”

Jun 29, 2016 4:20 PM ET

BJ’s Wholesale Club, in recognition of the contributions made by active and veteran military personnel, today announced its support of “Salute to Veterans,” a broadcast television series that will highlight the sacrifices made for our country by distinguished veterans. The premier will focus on the personal stories of former athletes and will air on national networks, Sunday, July 3rd and Monday, July 4th: local listings can be checked for viewers to learn where and when to tune in. The SaluteToVeterans.org website will include information and updates about the broadcasts. The series’ social medium handle—#MySaluteToVeterans—also encourages Americans to make public salutes to active duty military persons and Veterans on the program’s Twitter and Facebook pages.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

At the Heart of Free Trade

Jun 29, 2016 4:15 PM ET

With free trade under relentless attack in certain political circles, it’s time for a reality check. We shouldn’t shut down borders. The U.S.-Canada trade lane, for example, is proof of the transformative power of the global movement of goods.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Communicating With the Customer

Jun 29, 2016 3:00 PM ET

Across much of the 2016 Strategic Directions: Water Industry Report, a common trend is that high-profile events impacting water supply and distribution networks have dramatically raised awareness of operational challenges but also demonstrate an opportunity to change decades-long funding trends.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Susan Cafiero Receives Cox Automotive Breakthrough Leader of the Year Award

Jun 29, 2016 3:00 PM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

HP Releases 2015 Sustainability Report

Jun 29, 2016 3:00 PM ET

HP released its 2015 Sustainability Report today illustrating the progress it is making to support its vision of creating technology that makes life better for everyone, everywhere.

The report includes many examples and proof points that demonstrate how HP is developing solutions to address many of society’s greatest challenges, including climate change, gender inequality, access to quality education and economic opportunity, and quality healthcare.

Diversity & Inclusion

3 Hacks by Sodexo for Managing Your Boss

Jun 29, 2016 2:10 PM ET

No matter where you work, it’s likely that you have a boss that manages you. What you may not realize is that not only does your boss manage you, but you can manage him or her as well. Being able to positively manage up can make your life at work easier and happier, but it has other benefits as well. A good manager can advocate for you to get the opportunities you want, whether it’s being put on a new project or getting a promotion.

Innovation & Technology

Providing Skills Training Helps Central and Eastern Europe’s Unemployed Youth

Jun 29, 2016 2:10 PM ET

EPAM Systems, Inc. (NYSE: EPAM), a leading global provider of product development and software engineering, has joined the Business Call to Action (BCtA) with a commitment to prepare 5,000 students in need in Central Europe to enter the IT sector by 2020. The company also pledged to replicate its training program in three new countries, including the United States, China and India.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Points Of Light Honors Changemakers in Detroit at Annual Conference on Volunteering and Service

Jun 29, 2016 2:05 PM ET

Points of Light awarded three inspirational changemakers from around the country with the Daily Point of Light Award at the 2016 Points of Light Conference on Volunteering and Service. Among the awards was a posthumous recognition of the late Muhammad Ali, Olympic professional boxer and world champion humanitarian, activist and philanthropist. Lonnie Ali, his wife, accepted the Daily Point of Light award in his honor.