ESG News from Leading Brands

Diversity & Inclusion

Creating a Shared Society: A Spotlight on the Irish International Immigrant Center

Jun 28, 2017 2:00 PM ET

This quarter, we’re highlighting the work of the Irish International Immigrant Center (IIIC), Boston’s Welcome Center for immigrant families, and who are working towards a shared society where all are welcomed and valued, and enjoy equal opportunities and protections. IIIC assists immigrant and refugee families from around the world as they integrate into American society. They do so by providing legal, wellness and education services, advocating for systemic change, and facilitating cross-cultural community building.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Points of Light Recognizes CVS Health as One of the 50 Most Community-Minded Companies in the United States

Jun 28, 2017 2:00 PM ET

CVS Health [NYSE:CVS] today was recognized by Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service, as one of the fifty most community-minded companies in the United States. The Civic 50 provides a national standard for superior corporate citizenship and showcases how companies can use their time, skills and other resources to improve the quality of life in the communities where they do business.

Innovation & Technology

How Qualcomm Drone Technology is Improving Lives for Farmers in Brazil

Jun 28, 2017 2:00 PM ET

See how Wireless Reach uses Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ Flight drone technology to improve agricultural yields, reduce environmental impact and improve the economy for farmers in Brazil. Chad Sweet, Senior Director of Engineering at Qualcomm, weighs in on the benefits of this new category of IoT.

Research, Reports & Publications

Nonprofits - Make Your Voice Heard in the Taproot Foundation’s Annual Survey

Jun 28, 2017 1:45 PM ET

Do you work in the social sector at a nonprofit or social change organization? The Taproot Foundation wants to hear from you!

Environment

Clean Drinking Water More Important to Americans than Clean Air, According to New Study

Jun 28, 2017 1:05 PM ET

The study found that two in three Americans (66 percent) believe their own community’s clean drinking water is at risk, while 59 percent say a major overhaul of U.S. water infrastructure is needed to avoid that possibility. City-dwellers are especially likely to fear their community’s clean drinking water is at risk (70 percent versus 63 percent in rural areas). There is almost universal agreement (96 percent) that if the United States does not proactively invest in the country’s water infrastructure system now, it will end up costing more in the long run.

Research, Reports & Publications

Sustainability at UPS: The Road Ahead

Jun 28, 2017 1:00 PM ET

UPS has been helping people and businesses move goods by focusing on the road ahead — both literally and figuratively. Our success reflects relentless attention to emerging trends, innovative ideas and transformative technologies that enable global commerce, growth and sustainable solutions.

Innovation & Technology

Why All Digital Roads Lead to Rome

Jun 28, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Our very own Matt Lasmanis (US VP, IT) shares how the rapid increase in velocity, accessibility, and volume of information is reshaping society and our expectations.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

MetLife Foundation Asks Where next?

Jun 28, 2017 12:40 PM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

The Journey Toward Impact and Outcomes: A Conversation with Michelle DiSabato, Impact Advisor at Blackbaud

Jun 28, 2017 12:15 PM ET

In this episode of the Champions for Social Good Podcast, Jamie Serino speaks with Michelle DiSabato, Impact Advisor for the Corporate and Foundation Solutions division of Blackbaud. Michelle explains how her passion for impact and measurement led her to a career centered on helping foundations and corporations more clearly understand the impact that their programs are having on the people and communities that they're serving.

Education

GM Intensifies Push to Train Young People for Jobs of the Future

Jun 28, 2017 11:15 AM ET

GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra and nonprofit leaders today introduced new, innovative programs designed to encourage young people to go into technology and engineering professions and improve teacher training in STEM-related subjects.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Cox Communications President Pat Esser Named to 2017 Highest-Rated CEOs List

Jun 28, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Congratulations to Cox Communications President Pat Esser who has been honored by Glassdoor as one of the top 100 Highest Rated CEOs in the large US Business category.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Students Help Build Hope for Victims of Hurricane Matthew

Jun 28, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Amid the sawdust and hum of power tools, students at East Columbus High School in Lake Waccamaw, N.C., are helping rebuild their community. Students built 50 wooden bed frames in their classroom workshop for Columbus County residents whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Matthew. The October 2016 storm started in Florida and moved up the coast, killing nearly 50 people and damaging more than 100,000 homes and businesses in North Carolina.

Education

Building a Toolkit for Becoming an Effective Mentor and Educator

Jun 28, 2017 10:40 AM ET

This summer, 1,100 student interns will be living, studying, and working on the sprawling campus of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD, just north of Washington, D.C. Among them will be five Amgen Scholar alumni who will serve as mentors to some of the high school student interns in a unique pilot program to teach scientists how to be educators.

Innovation & Technology

HPE and Tokyo Institute of Technology Build the World's Most Powerful Green Supercomputer

Jun 28, 2017 10:35 AM ET

The amount of energy required to fuel today’s supercomputers is enormous and can create an immense drain on resources. This is because traditional supercomputers consume massive amounts of electrical power and produce high amounts of heat, requiring larger cooling facilities to be built to ensure proper performance. To address this challenge, a new breed of innovation is required, purpose-built to maximize efficiency without sacrificing performance and scale.

Education

Why Microsoft and The Markle Foundation Are Working Together to Connect Workers with New Opportunities in the Digital Economy

Jun 28, 2017 10:20 AM ET

Today we announced a three-year partnership between The Markle Foundation and Microsoft Philanthropies. Microsoft is investing more than $25 million over three years in Markle and the expansion of its successful Skillful initiative, first across Colorado and then to other states. This is one of the single biggest philanthropic investments Microsoft Philanthropies has made, reflecting the importance of the work involved.

Sustainable Development Goals

Aligning Sustainability with Your Company's Long-Term Strategy

Jun 28, 2017 10:10 AM ET

Clare Connolly, a Sustainability Manager at Cabot Corp., explains how her team is working to align sustainability programs with the company's long-term vision and strategy. To learn more about how other EHS and sustainability leaders are making the business case for their programs, register for NAEM's 2017 Sustainability Management Conference or visit www.naem.org.-

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg is One of the Highest-Ranked CEOs in the U.S.

Jun 28, 2017 10:10 AM ET

Business leaders are often judged by the financial success of their company. But every year Glassdoor lets employees be the critics.

Events, Media & Communications

The Rise of Social Enterprise in New Zealand

Jun 28, 2017 10:05 AM ET

More and more, citizens and consumers are becoming socially and environmentally aware, and want their purchasing decisions to reflect their beliefs. In a capitalist society, social enterprise provides consumers with a form of activism as organizations with a social purpose open up an alternative for consumers to spend their money responsibly rather than on goods or services that ultimately perpetuate the growing global wealth disparity.

Sustainable Development Goals

Daimler Stakeholder Dialogs

Jun 28, 2017 9:45 AM ET

The Daimler Sustainability Dialogue has been a permanent platform for open and constructive discussions with a wide range of stakeholders for many years. Stakeholders are persons, groups or institutions which are directly or indirectly affected by a company's activities or who have an interest in these activities. Besides our employees stakeholders include customers, shareholders and investors as well as suppliers and other representatives from the worlds of politics, science and society.

Research, Reports & Publications

AT&T Releases 2016 Annual Sustainability Update: A Letter from our Chairman and CEO

Jun 28, 2017 9:45 AM ET

Since our start, AT&T has been about one thing: harnessing the power of our network to change lives and improve the world. And just as our network technology has gotten better over the years, so has our ability to address some of society’s toughest challenges.

Sustainable Development Goals

WBCSD Insider Perspective | Low-Carbon Technology Partnerships Initiative (LCTPi 7)

Jun 28, 2017 9:40 AM ET

Last week during Sustainable Energy Week in Brussels, 250 sustainability professionals and policymakers from across the world gathered at the seventh global meeting of the LCTPi 7.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Whole Cities Fast Facts

Jun 28, 2017 9:35 AM ET

Whole Cities Foundation, a nonprofit established by Whole Foods Market in 2014, partners with U.S. neighborhood efforts to build thriving local food systems and grow community health. The foundation collaborates with community-led initiatives to broaden access to fresh, healthy food and high quality nutrition education.

Diversity & Inclusion

Women in Business Q&A: Tracy Skeans, Chief Transformation and People Officer, Yum! Brands

Jun 28, 2017 9:35 AM ET

Tracy Skeans is Chief Transformation and People Officer of Yum! Brands, Inc., one of the world’s largest restaurant companies with over 43,500 restaurants in more than 135 countries and territories with 1.5 million associates.

Diversity & Inclusion

De Beers' Emmarencia Shanglee Talks About Her Experiences as a Woman in Mining

Jun 28, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Metallurgist Emmarencia Shanglee predicts that more women will occupy top leadership positions in mining in the future.

Energy

NRG Energy’s Sustainable Customers Goals and Performance

Jun 28, 2017 9:30 AM ET

A key part of our business is enabling customers to achieve sustainable energy outcomes. In 2016,
 we provided more consumers and companies with access to cleaner, smarter energy choices through our Business Solutions team and our multi-brand retail business.