Social Innovation Summit Brings Together Business Leaders & Change-Makers to Discuss the Next Big Thing in Social Transformation

Redwood City, CA, November 18, 2014 /3BL Media/ – The Social Innovation Summit 2014, an inspiring and unique network of global Fortune 500 business executives, investors, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit leaders will convene this week in the Silicon Valley to discuss the most innovative initiatives driving business and social impact. Hosted by Landmark Ventures, the private forum takes place November 19-20, and brings together those at the nexus of technology, philanthropy, international development and business to discuss philanthropic trends, analyze innovative approaches for solving societal problems and spark lasting partnerships.

Featured speakers and topics include:

• Rob Lowe, actor, author and philanthropist, will keynote with Genworth Global Brand Leader, Janice Luvera, on the impact of the aging population in America and the importance of planning for long term care needs.
• The ALS Association President and CEO, Barbara Newhouse, will discuss the power of philanthropy and social media, and what’s next following the wildly successful #IceBucketChallenge.
• Artists and educators using social innovation to make the world a more beautiful place will perform and share their stories, including Alexa Meade, Hanoch Piven and Violinist Kai Kight.
• PwC Charitable Foundation, Inc. will commit $3.2 million to Mind Research Institute to advance students’ financial literacy. The grant will support an innovative, visual, game-based approach to learning that will help transform how students solve challenging problems in areas such as saving and investing, planning and money management, home buying, environmental sustainability, credit and debit, and risk and insurance.
• Roger McClendon, Chief Sustainability Officer of Yum! Brands, and Rick Ridgeway, Vice President of Environmental Issues at Patagonia, will discuss the future of sustainable brands. In addition, Neil Grimmer, co-founder and CEO of Plum Organics, will talk about connecting organizational, personal and community purpose.

Tomorrow marks the eighth Social Innovation Summit, which first started in 2010 and has facilitated more than 100 partnerships – including millions of cash and in-kind grants, board members matched with organizations and philanthropic ideas and partnership opportunities discovered amongst the participants.

“This past year we really saw the impact major social networks can have on raising awareness for social good – and it was mind-blowing,” said Zeev Klein, Social Innovation Summit Founder and General Partner, Landmark Ventures. “Global thought leaders continue to identify ways to combine doing business with doing good, and are putting social innovation at the helm of aligning profits with purpose. The Social Innovation Summit brings together social innovators that have not only spurred positive social and financial growth for their cause or business, they have built meaningful partnerships, addressed some of the world’s most pressing social challenges and most importantly, have inspired further action from others.”

The Social Innovation Summit will take place at the Sofitel San Francisco Bay, in Redwood City, CA. To participate virtually and engage in Summit-related conversations, follow the official event hashtag #SIS14 and the handle @socinnovation.

Waggener Edstrom Communications is the official media relations and communications partner for the Social Innovation Summit. To request media credentials or to schedule an interview with any event speakers please contact Stacey Andrews at SIS@waggeneredstrom.com or + 1 (503) 443 7802.

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About Landmark Ventures
Landmark Ventures, founded in 1995, is a leading boutique Advisory Firm and Global Investment Bank focused on the Digital Media, Internet, Communications, Cleantech, Hardware and Enterprise Software sectors. We serve a diverse client base of entrepreneurs, growth-oriented private companies, leading public companies and investment funds providing a platform of services including: Mergers & Acquisitions, Capital Raising, Corporate Development, and Business/Market Development.

Our core strengths include extensive personal relationships across the financial and strategic landscapes, unparalleled market insights and deep global perspectives with a focus on cross-border transactions across North America, Europe, Asia and Israel. We believe in the core value of focusing on issues that are “Big Enough to Matter, Small Enough to Win.”

The Social Innovation Summit was founded as an extension of Landmark’s corporate philanthropy program leveraging our convening power to identify, explore and actualize partnership opportunities across the business, technology & community sectors. It represents our passion for fostering growth and innovation within the for-profit sector and applying these same business principles to the non-profit sector. To learn more, visit http://www.LandmarkVentures.com.

About Waggener Edstrom Communications
Waggener Edstrom Communications (WE) is a global, integrated communications agency. For 30 years, the independently owned firm has developed strategic communications programs for innovative and world-changing clients, working to influence markets, inspire people and improve lives. In the past few years, the agency was honored with numerous awards for our creative and strategic work, among them recognition as Global Technology Agency of the Year, Best Large Agency to Work For, Communications Agency of the Year, and Technology Agency of the Decade. The agency has more than 750 employees in 17 offices around the world, and its Global Alliance partners expand the agency’s reach to more than 80 additional international markets. WE has four key sectors: Social Innovation, Technology, Healthcare and Consumer, as well as expertise in Creative, Digital, Content, and Insight & Analytics. To learn more, visit http://www.WaggenerEdstrom.com.