Duke Energy

Gilead Sciences

Mondelez International

People Behind the Power: What To Know About the Remarkable Role of Duke Energy Lineworkers

Gilead Helps Put African Nation on Path To Eliminate Hepatitis C

Mondelēz International’s Near-Term 2030 Targets and 2050 Net-Zero Targets Validated by Science Based Targets Initiative

In a challenging economic year, Vancity stayed focused on its vision of driving meaningful social and systemic change. Vancity continues to demonstrate that a financial institution can be an agent of positive change. Vancity’s 2023 financial results show areas of continued strength despite modest operating earnings amid a challenging rate environment.

Vancity’s 2023 Annual Report can be viewed here: <a href="https://www.vancity.com/about/credit-union/annual-report/" target="_blank">Annual Report - Vancity</a>

Action on the climate crisis remains a high priority. Vancity issued its second climate report including updating the progress made on both Vancity’s commitment to achieve net-zero emissions across its loans and mortgages by 2040 and its Net Zero Bankers Alliance (NZBA) commitments. The climate report also includes disclosures on managing climate risks and opportunities, including through public policy advocacy, guided by the ISSB’s new IFRS S2 Climate-related Disclosures Standard, and detailed greenhouse gas emissions data and methodology. Vancity’s progress toward the 2025 interim targets for financed GHG emissions and “percentage change since 2019” from residential mortgages and commercial real estate are externally assured.

Vancity added a Sustainability Issuance Report to its reporting suite after publishing its first Sustainability Issuance Framework to guide issuances of green, social, and sustainable financing instruments. Vancity issued -- the first of its kind by a Canadian community credit union -- $200 million in bearer deposit notes (BDNs). The BDN proceeds were used to finance sustainability initiatives.

Vancity’s annual reporting makes a point of showcasing stories of impact about our members and their communities. Those stories reflect Vancity’s use of assets to create long-term value in communities through shareholder engagement, financing of climate-friendly building, and supporting a more diverse co-operative economy.

Report highlights include:

<ul><li>Grew total assets and assets under administration from $34.3 billion to $35.5 billion</li>
	<li>Financed $14.4 million worth of new Planet-WiseTM loans and commercial retrofits to help members take climate action in affordable ways</li>
	<li>Financed 729,635 square feet of energy-efficient buildings</li>
	<li>Financed the construction or renovation of 1,451 units of affordable housing</li>
	<li>Launched Indigenous cultural awareness training for all employees as a part of its commitment to the Progressive Aboriginal Relations™ certification program</li>
	<li>Named as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers, Canada’s Top Family Friendly Employers, and BC’s Top Employers</li>
	<li>Launched a new defined-benefit pension plan and an updated employee benefit program</li>
</ul>Vancity’s values-based banking model is aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Vancity’s annual reporting was prepared in accordance with the International Integrated Reporting Framework and the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Reporting Standards. The reporting also includes some disclosures using the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) standards and reporting on the UN Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB).

Vancity takes a double materiality approach to determining what is material to include in the reporting based on what has the most significant impacts on the economy, environment, and people and topics that could substantively affect the ability to create value in the short, medium, and long term.

About Vancity

Vancity is a values-based financial co-operative serving the needs of its 570,000 member-owners and their communities, with offices and more than 50 branches located in Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Victoria, Squamish and Alert Bay, within the territories of the Coast Salish and Kwakwaka’wakw people. With $35.5 billion in assets plus assets under administration, Vancity is Canada’s largest credit union. Vancity uses its assets to help improve the financial well-being of its members while at the same time helping to develop healthy communities that are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.

Contact

<a href="mailto:mediarelations@vancity.com" target="_blank">Media Relations</a> 
Phone: 778-837-0394

Vancity in 2023

<figure role="group" class="align-center"><img alt="Check presentation with the Urban League of Greater Hartford and KeyBank." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e9a138b7-82c9-4d83-90ee-c6062e08183f" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Urban%20League%20Hartford_KeyBank_5.2.24A.jpeg" width="640" height="900" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Photo caption (from left): Project Ready Scholars are pictured with KeyBank leaders Neil Cyr, Area Retail Leader; Matt Hummel, Market President; David Hopkins, President and CEO, Urban League of Greater Hartford; Analisha Michanczyk, KeyBank Corporate Responsibility Officer; and Trayvonn A. Diaz, Senior Outreach Assistant to Senator Christopher Murphy.  </figcaption></figure>Hartford, Conn. May 8, 2024 /CSRwire/ – The Urban League of Greater Hartford has received a $150,000 charitable grant from KeyBank Foundation payable over two years to support the agency’s Project Ready program, a signature national youth development direct service. The funds will launch two new modules, (1) STEAM and (2) Financial Capability, to provide high schoolers with skills and experiences to help foster more racial diversity in quantitative fields.

“The Project Ready Scholars have been a cornerstone of our agency’s work and this investment from KeyBank in our students’ financial capabilities will be valuable to them in their personal and professional development,” said David Hopkins, President and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Hartford. “The generous intentionality of this grant from our friends at KeyBank actually makes it the largest annualized ($75,000/year) donation ever presented by a private funder to our Project Ready program!” Founded in 1964 with a mission to promote racial equity through economic empowerment, the Urban League of Greater Hartford is celebrating 60 years as one of the 92 affiliates of the National Urban League, providing programming and services in education, employment, housing, health, and justice.
<img alt="Leadership from the Urban League of Greater Hartford shown with a $150,000 check from KeyBank." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ee78bd1b-2205-42d3-a07f-f037debff92c" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Urban%20League%20Hartford_KeyBank_5.2.24B.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="900" loading="lazy" />Project Ready modules operating in Hartford include mentoring, digital literacy, history and culture, and college success. The addition of the STEAM and Financial Capability modules will provide the Scholars, ranging in age from 14 to 19, with age-appropriate financial literacy in earnings, living expenses, budgeting, maintaining bank accounts, investing, and acquiring assets, as well as workforce readiness and entrepreneurship. Through workshops, simulations, speakers, tours, games, and activities, participants will be exposed to basic financial management techniques, and receive insights to help put them on a path to building wealth and reducing the wealth gap. Thanks to KeyBank, the Urban League of Greater Hartford expects to have an impact on current students, and attract new students, with these new modules, which also include financial incentives that afford participants an opportunity to actually put the things they learn into practice. In 2022, the Greater Hartford Project Ready team served nearly 70 students, 100 percent of whom were promoted to the next grade, with all of its seniors enrolling in college.

“Empowering our youth through financial education is an investment in a future where everyone has equal access to economic opportunities and where racial equity thrives,” said Matthew Hummel, KeyBank Connecticut and Western Massachusetts Market President. “KeyBank shares this vision with The Urban League and is proud to support Project Ready as a strong step forward toward that goal.”
<img alt="Members of the Urban League of Greater Hartford shown with a $150,000 grant check." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b227fde4-9a45-44d5-a0ed-a3f9b56db6aa" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Urban%20League%20Hartford_KeyBank_5.2.24C.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="900" loading="lazy" />KeyBank’s grant to The Urban League of Greater Hartford is part of the bank’s $40 billion community investments plan focused on economic access and equity to communities across the country. The scope of the plan includes investments and lending in affordable housing, home lending, small business lending, green initiatives, and transformative philanthropy targeted toward workforce development, education, and safe, vital neighborhoods for underserved communities and populations.

On May 1, 2024, KeyBank presented a check to Urban League of Greater Hartford leaders and young scholars at the nonprofit organization’s “College Signing Day” for graduating students, their parents and educators, held this year at the Chrysalis Center in Hartford.

<ul><li><a href="https://www.wtnh.com/news/connecticut/hartford/hartford-program-helps-students-commit-to-college/" target="_blank">Hartford program helps students commit to college (wtnh.com)</a>.</li>
</ul><img alt="Matthew Hummel, KeyBank Connecticut and Western Massachusetts Market President." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="114f6a5d-1941-46fe-9d99-beb46ecd90cf" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Urban%20League%20Hartford_KeyBank_5.2.24D.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="667" loading="lazy" />About the Urban League of Greater Hartford:

The Urban League of Greater Hartford is a community-based, not-for-profit 501(c)(3), established in 1964 as the National Urban League’s 66th affiliate. Its mission is to promote racial equity through economic empowerment programs in the areas of youth development, adult education, workforce development, housing, personal financial management, community health, and social justice. Its programs and operations impact more than 3,000 individuals and their families every year. visit <a href="http://www.ulgh.org" target="_blank">www.ulgh.org</a> or call 860-527-0147. Follow us on social media @ulgh64.

About KeyBank Foundation:

KeyBank Foundation serves to fulfill KeyBank’s purpose to help clients and communities thrive, and its mission is to support organizations and programs that prepare people for thriving futures. The Foundation’s mission is advanced through three funding priorities – neighbors, education, and workforce – and through community service. To provide meaningful philanthropy that transforms lives, KeyBank Foundation listens carefully to understand the unique characteristics and needs of its communities and then backs solutions with targeted philanthropic investments. KeyBank Foundation is a nonprofit charitable foundation, funded by KeyCorp.
<img alt="Booth for College Sign in Day shown at the Urban League of Hartford." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="eefc07f7-24cd-415f-83b0-16828a001476" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Urban%20League%20Hartford_KeyBank_5.2.24E.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="825" loading="lazy" />About KeyCorp/KeyBank

KeyCorp's roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $187 billion at March 31, 2024. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,200 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit <a href="https://www.key.com/" target="_blank">https://www.key.com/</a>. KeyBank is Member FDIC
<img alt="Check presentation at Urban League of Greater Hartford." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0a71c17b-6937-44c6-bc7a-289e55000f52" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Urban%20League%20Hartford_KeyBank_5.2.24F.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="800" loading="lazy" />Media contacts:

Urban League of Greater Hartford: Laura Soll, Communications, | 860-688-4499, M 860-833-4466 | <a href="mailto:Laura@sollpr.com" target="_blank">Laura@sollpr.com</a>

KeyBank: Karen Crane, Communications Manager | 203-789-2752 | <a href="mailto:karen_crane@keybank.com" target="_blank">karen_crane@keybank.com</a>

Urban League of Greater Hartford Is Awarded $150,000 Grant From KeyBank Foundation

CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA insurer, today released its <a href="https://csaa-insurance.aaa.com/impact" target="_blank">2023 Impact Report</a>, assessing its collective progress toward its goals for planet, people and practice and highlighting its accomplishments in these areas.

“We recognize that addressing one audience or one area in isolation may not lead to our desired outcomes,” said Mike Zukerman, CSAA’s interim president and chief executive officer. “That’s why we’ve started to employ a broader lens – total social impact – when looking at our imprint on our planet, our people, and the communities we serve as we progress on our journey in these spaces.”

Key highlights from the 2023 Impact Report include the following:

50% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions

The company’s goal of a 50% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 was achieved in 2023 – two years ahead of plan. (Note: Inclusive of Scopes 1, 2 and 3, inclusive of business travel, employee commute, work-from-home energy, and paper emissions, vs. 2016 baseline.)

Improved CDP score

For the second year, CSAA voluntarily submitted its climate journey, including its emission inventories, to the CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project), a not-for-profit charity that runs a global disclosure system for investors, companies, cities, states and regions to manage their environmental impacts. CSAA scored a B for 2023, a significant improvement from its 2022 score of a C. This milestone will help the company propel its work forward and better understand its strengths and opportunities.

$25M investment in California Wildfire Innovation Fund

CSAA committed to investing $25M in the California Wildfire Innovation Fund. The company partnered with Blue Forest Asset Management, a conservation finance non-profit focused on forest restoration, to create the fund with the goal of helping protect the environment, its customers and communities. Part of the investment has been allocated to impactful projects that are helping to reduce wildfire risk while providing job opportunities in rural communities.

Go Green Benefit program

In 2023, CSAA developed the Go Green Benefit program for launch in 2024. This decarbonization strategy offers employees financial incentives to purchase green electricity for home offices, supports employees with solar energy and encourages climate-friendly commuting for in-office employees.

Milestone in representation of women

In 2023, CSAA accomplished an important milestone – representation of women at the supervisor, manager and executive levels (combined) achieved parity with the U.S. labor force. The only level below parity is the executive group, at 46%.

Climate Resiliency Challenge

In 2023, CSAA – along with design firm IDEO and professional services firm Aon, among others – launched the global Climate Resiliency Challenge. The Challenge sought solutions to help frontline communities prevent, prepare for and recover from climate-related disasters, such as wildfires, floods and extreme weather. The 2023 Impact Report features six case studies celebrating some of the Challenge winners and how their big ideas have leaned into innovation to support their communities.

“We engage in partnerships to enable this work because we know that partnering for change makes change far more likely to occur,” said Zukerman. “We believe that our impact strategy facilitates an empowered workforce and trust in our company, all of which are integral to the sustainable growth and profitability of our organization.”

For more information, access the full <a href="https://csaa-insurance.aaa.com/impact" target="_blank">2023 Impact Report</a>.

About CSAA Insurance Group

CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA Insurer, offers automobile, homeowners and other personal lines of insurance to AAA Members through AAA clubs in 23 states and the District of Columbia. Founded in 1914, the company has been rated “A” or better by AM Best for more than 90 years and is one of the top personal lines property casualty insurance groups in the United States, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The company has been repeatedly named one of the 50 most community-minded companies in America by Points of Light. More information is available at <a href="http://csaa-insurance.aaa.com/" target="_blank">http://csaa-insurance.aaa.com</a> and on social media (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/CSAAInsuranceGp" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/csaa-insurance-group/?viewAsMember=true" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/csaainsurancegroup/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@csaainsurancegroup?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc" target="_blank">Tik Tok</a>, <a href="https://www.threads.net/@csaainsurancegroup" target="_blank">Threads</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@csaainsurancegroup" target="_blank">YouTube</a>). External Affairs <a href="mailto:pr@csaa.com" target="_blank" title="mailto:pr@csaa.com">pr@csaa.com</a>

CSAA Insurance Group Releases Impact Report Detailing Its Significant Initiatives and Contributions in 2023

Bloomberg published its <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/company/values/sustainability/?utm_medium=sustainability_&amp;utm_content=site-partner&amp;utm_source=OOH&amp;utm_campaign=MKTG_sustainability_GLOBAL_USA_2024&amp;tactic=848851#impact-report" target="_blank">2023 Impact Report</a>, which outlines how the company continues to address climate change through its operations, philanthropy and collaborations with partners and industry peers. The report also details how Bloomberg integrates sustainable business practices into its operations and decision-making and how it helps to drive progress in the communities where employees and clients live and work.

The report highlights Bloomberg’s latest ESG datasets, tools and research, including products that help firms assess risks and opportunities as the world transitions to a net-zero emissions economy and meet new climate-related regulatory requirements. Bloomberg also outlines its progress toward reaching its validated science-based net-zero emission reduction target by 2040, including the recent signing of an 80 MW Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for renewable energy.

“We’re working to increase access to data and information that helps investors and policymakers make informed decisions that both grow the economy and help catalyze investment in a clean energy future.” said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies. “And, through our support of industry initiatives such as the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero, we advanced our work providing resources to financial firms to help them measure and manage emissions across their portfolios.”

Read the full letter <a href="https://assets.bbhub.io/company/sites/51/2024/04/Bloomberg-Impact-Report-2023.pdf#page=3" target="_blank">here</a>.

A selection of highlights from the 2023 Impact Report include:

Environmental Impact 

Reducing emissions in line with a 1.5°C future

<ul><li>Received validation from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for Bloomberg’s long-term science-based net-zero target to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across our value chain by 2040</li>
	<li>Progressed toward our SBTi-validated near-term science-based carbon emissions reduction targets with 21% Scope 1 and 2 reductions and 27% Scope 3 reductions</li>
	<li>Obtained 62.2% of Bloomberg’s global electricity consumption from renewable sources</li>
	<li>Signed an 80 MW Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)—our largest PPA to date—with clean energy developer Ørsted</li>
</ul>Supporting coherent, impactful climate action

<ul><li>Introduced new indices within the Bloomberg Climate Index family including the new Bloomberg Commodity Carbon-Tilted Index</li>
	<li>Released new Bloomberg Terminal tools for analyzing physical risk and net-zero transition risk</li>
	<li>Launched new Bloomberg Terminal data and analytical tools to provide a comprehensive view of the nature-related impacts and dependencies in investment portfolios</li>
	<li>Enhanced our solutions for disclosure, reporting and analysis against key regulatory frameworks</li>
	<li>Published more than 2,500 research publications on the global low carbon transition and commodity markets</li>
</ul>Social Impact 

Investing in an increasingly diverse workforce

<ul><li>Invested in our leaders, helping them build the skills needed to elevate and model inclusive leadership with the launch of three new inclusive leadership initiatives</li>
	<li>Established a task force to respond to the challenges and needs of our colleagues with disabilities</li>
	<li>Collaborated with more than 20 external organizations, including forming new partnerships to help us identify and hire candidates from underrepresented communities</li>
	<li>Launched the Bloomberg Veterans Impact Program, which seeks to improve how we recruit, retain and advance veterans’ careers at Bloomberg</li>
	<li>Launched a comprehensive women's health program in the UK to normalize women's health in the workplace, break stigma and offer ongoing support</li>
</ul>Driving Social Change

<ul><li>Launched a first-of-its-kind data tool to assess the potential impact of a company’s business on any of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)</li>
	<li>Over 19,000 employees volunteered in their communities</li>
	<li>Delivered over 2.8 million meals and over 79,000 care kits to those in need</li>
	<li>Expanded cross-regional programs to demystify financial services and encourage women and under-represented communities to consider careers in finance</li>
	<li>Helped bridge the digital divide through mentoring interactions and by promoting employee-driven funding for open-source software</li>
	<li>Promoted diverse voices in media and the arts through diversifying our news sources and extending programs to strengthen financial journalism</li>
</ul>The Impact Report is third-party verified, and has been prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards, the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) standards specific to our industries and the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), and it incorporates select content from CDP. The 2023 Impact Report and supplemental reports can be viewed and downloaded at <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/company/values/sustainability/#impact-report" target="_blank">www.bloomberg.com/impact</a>.

About Bloomberg 
Bloomberg is a global leader in business and financial information, delivering trusted data, news, and insights that bring transparency, efficiency, and fairness to markets. The company helps connect influential communities across the global financial ecosystem via reliable technology solutions that enable our customers to make more informed decisions and foster better collaboration. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/company" target="_blank">Bloomberg.com/company</a> or <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/professional/request-demo/?utm_source=bbg-pr&amp;bbgsum=dg-ws-core-pr" target="_blank">request a demo</a>.

Media Contact <a href="mailto:ttrippett@bloomberg.net" target="_blank">Ty Trippet</a> 
+ 1 212-617-2443

Bloomberg Publishes 2023 Impact Report Highlighting Its Work To Reach Its Net-Zero Emissions Reduction Target and To Accelerate Climate Action

<img alt="A person leaning against agricultural machinery " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a60bf3e3-5650-42fc-8ef3-a40ba67a910f" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/2-Lina-Marcela-Gonzalez-Vasquez_CNH_041024.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="900" loading="lazy" /><a href="https://www.casece.com/northamerica/en-us" target="_blank">CASE Construction Equipment</a>, a <a href="https://www.cnh.com/" target="_blank">CNH</a> brand, highlights the inspiring story of a construction professional who is always in pursuit of improving her skills in the sector.

Historically, women in construction have faced major challenges, including gender discrimination and lack of equal opportunities. However, they have persevered and made significant strides in the fight for equality in the industry.

In a story where passion and attitude are essential pillars, CASE presents the story of Lina Marcela Gonzalez Vásquez, Commercial Coordinator of the dealer <a href="https://partequipos.com/" target="_blank">Partequipos</a>, the official distributor for CASE in Colombia. "The word that best defines what work means to me is "fulfillment", says Lina, “Every day, having the opportunity to contribute, grow professionally, and achieve goals within my field of work gives me a sense of satisfaction and personal accomplishment that I find invaluable."

In her day-to-day work, Lina plays a fundamental role, supporting and sustaining the commercial process to promote the development of each sales opportunity, providing accompaniment to both commercial advisors and others involved. In addition, she oversees the negotiation processes with international suppliers, always maintaining a results-oriented approach, with a high level of productivity and quality in her work.

Women play a prominent role throughout the sector's value chain, which has increased in recent years. "Personally, I am optimistic about the growing presence of women in a male-dominated sector like mine. Participation not only fosters gender equality, but also enriches our work environment with a variety of perspectives and skills."
<img alt="A person stood in front of agricultural machinery " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="70acedb0-763e-46b8-9f69-0dfdcfce2be3" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Lina-Marcela-Gonzalez-Vasquez_CNH_041024.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="900" loading="lazy" />12 years of hard work later, Lina still finds herself in a position to learn more about her field every day. "My journey in the heavy machinery field has taught me the importance of adaptability, effective communication, and continuous learning. I have learned to face challenges with flexibility and determination, to value customer satisfaction, and to constantly look for opportunities to improve my skills. These learnings have been fundamental for my personal and professional growth in the field," said Lina.

Since 2016, Partequipos has been an official CASE distributor in the Latin American country. Currently, it has points of sale in seven of the main cities of the country, providing coverage and assistance at a national level, ensuring a comprehensive and effective service throughout the territory.

From strategic locations, the distributor offers the wide portfolio of the brand's construction line, highlighting skid steer loaders, backhoe loaders, motor graders, excavators, among others, equipment that plays a fundamental role in the growth and development of the country.

Sharing Lina’s story is a demonstration of CNH’s commitment to integrating diverse experiences and perspectives into the work of its brands and dealers. The company continuously supports women in Ag and Construction to continue Breaking New Ground.

CNH Brand Supports Women in Construction

<img alt="Static Image 1st place winner, by EL Mikkelsen, Arizona State University" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="78ab7a08-3733-4116-9f72-3a02d5a12676" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/more-important-recognize-power-donating-money-support-international-disaster-relief_USAID_050124.jpg" width="640" class="align-center" height="1080" loading="lazy" />May 2, 2024 /CSRwire/ - The USAID Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI) and USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID/BHA) are proud to announce the winners of their annual PSAid contest, a public service announcement design competition for college students. Each year, participants are invited to create PSAs explaining why “Cash is Best” when donating to international disaster relief efforts.  
When disaster strikes internationally, Americans want to help. While well intentioned, most people are unaware that donating material goods can hinder relief efforts by creating logistical challenges and overwhelming local infrastructure. Monetary donations to trusted organizations working on the ground helps support international disaster relief efforts and makes a meaningful impact on the lives of those affected by these devastating events.  
The 2024 winning PSAs were selected from submissions received from universities and community colleges across the country in three categories: video, static image and GIFs.  
Congratulations to the 2024 PSAid contest winners:  GIF:

<ul><li>1st: <a href="https://www.psaid.org/portfolio-items/cash-is-best-7/" target="_blank">Cash is Best</a>, Izie Figueroa, Arizona State University</li>
	<li>2nd: Cash is Fast, Emyli Hinojosa Rafael, Arizona State University</li>
	<li>3rd: Why is Cash Best?, Hyelim (Amy) Song, Arizona State University</li>
</ul>Static Image:

<ul><li>1st: <a href="https://www.psaid.org/portfolio-items/send-cash/" target="_blank">Send Cash!</a>, EL Mikkelsen, Arizona State University</li>
	<li>2nd: Unblocking Relief Efforts, Emma Klarin, Arizona State University</li>
	<li>3rd: Change is Magic, Sydnee Reed, Arizona State University</li>
</ul>Video:

<ul><li>1st: <a href="https://www.psaid.org/portfolio-items/global-chat/" target="_blank">Global Chat</a>, Natalie Clark, Arizona State University</li>
	<li>2nd: No Matter the Disaster, Alula Valdivia, Arizona State University</li>
	<li>3rd: Quick and in Quantity, Gabe Pante, Arizona State University</li>
</ul>"Throughout this experience, I learned how valuable cash is during international disasters,” said Sydnee Reed of Arizona State University, third-place winner in the static image category. “I hope people see this and understand that needs are different in every situation, and the best way to make a change is to donate something that is universally valued.”  
A panel of experts from the fields of humanitarian assistance, communications and design served as volunteer judges: Oktay Dogramaci, former vice president of PayPal Giving, CTO and co-founder of MissionFish; Hillary Hoffower, editor and writer; Jeff Odom, director of digital marketing for IndyCar; Gretel Truong, producer; and Marcia Wong, deputy assistant to the administrator for USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance.  
USAID also invited the public to vote for their favorites in the People’s Choice contest.  People’s Choice winners:

<ul><li>GIF: Finding Your Zen With Cash, Alliyah Zaragoza, Arizona State University</li>
	<li>Static Image: The Pocket Sized Solution, Avery Cluff, Arizona State University</li>
	<li>Video: One Solution, Cash is Best, Jasmine Lawson, Arizona State University</li>
</ul>The winning PSAs will be used in CIDI’s “Cash is Best” outreach efforts. Previous winning PSAs have reached over 1 billion people and have been in more than 150 media markets, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta. Winning broadcast PSAs have appeared on streaming services, such as Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime. Winning static PSAs and GIFs have been featured in Forbes, Rolling Stone, The Boston Herald, and the Arizona Republic, to name a few publications.  
All winning entries can be viewed at <a href="https://www.psaid.org/" target="_blank">PSAid.org</a>.  
###  About USAID CIDI  
USAID CIDI was created in 1988 by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance to inform the public about the advantages of giving monetary donations to relief organizations and warn about the risks of donating unsolicited material goods. Through its “Cash is Best” messaging, CIDI’s goal is to support donors and relief agencies as they work to provide quick, effective, and efficient relief to people affected by disasters. CIDI provides donations guidance to individuals, groups, embassies, businesses, and corporations. For more information about “Cash is Best” and helping international disaster survivors, please visit USAID CIDI at <a href="http://www.cidi.org/" target="_blank">www.cidi.org</a>.  Media Contact:  <a href="mailto:ariel.selzer@hillandknowlton.com" target="_blank">Ariel Selzer White</a>  
(713) 492-5627

<a href="https://www.psaid.org/" target="_blank">Learn More</a>

It’s More Important Than Ever To Recognize the Power of Donating Money To Support International Disaster Relief

<img alt="Two people in a canoe on a tree-lined river. &quot;Bad River. A story of defiance.&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7a9d0ada-60dd-42ad-8188-1556e10b56e4" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/BadRiver_Comcast_043024.jpg" width="640" class="align-center" height="563" loading="lazy" />KEY TAKEAWAYS

<ul><li>Premiering Earth Day, April 22 exclusively on Black Experience on Xfinity Channel, Xfinity X1, and Xumo.</li>
	<li>Co-narrated by Indigenous activist Quannah ChasingHorse and Academy Award-nominated actor Edward Norton.</li>
	<li>Additional executive producers include Allison Abner, Grammy-nominated singer Tamia, Mato Mayuhi, and Grammy-winning producer Shep Crawford.</li>
	<li>Bad River takes us into the heart of a battle to save Lake Superior, the world’s largest freshwater lake and part of the Great Lakes system, which account for approximately 20% of the world’s freshwater supply.</li>
</ul>PHILADELPHIA, May 9, 2024 /CSRwire/ - Comcast NBCUniversal’s Black Experience on Xfinity teams up with award-winning filmmaker Mary Mazzio (A Most Beautiful Thing, I Am Jane Doe) and executive producer and NBA Hall of Famer Grant Hill, to premiere Bad River, a film that chronicles the Wisconsin-based Bad River Band and their ongoing fight for sovereignty.

The story unfolds in a groundbreaking way, through a series of shocking revelations, devastating losses, and a powerful legacy of defiance and resilience.

In honor of Earth Day, <a href="https://xumotv.us/3vW12pS" target="_blank">Bad River</a> is now available exclusively on Comcast’s Black Experience on Xfinity (BEX) channel, X1, Xumo and Flex.

Co-narrated by indigenous actor and activist Quannah ChasingHorse and award-winning actor Edward Norton (Primal Fear, American History X, Birdman), this inspiring project brings us through an epic sweep of history into the present, with a David vs. Goliath battle to save Lake Superior, the largest freshwater resource in North America. The film chronicles the tenacity of the Bad River Ojibwe, a Native community located in Northern Wisconsin, as they resist, time and again, an effort a millennium in the making to erase and eradicate their culture and community.

“We are passionate about creating the world’s best and most diverse collection of multicultural programming and entertainment available anywhere,” said Loren Hudson, SVP and Chief Diversity Offer, Comcast Cable. “Through our partnership with Mary Mazzio and Grant Hill, and with platforms like the Black Experience on Xfinity, we are proud to play a role in expanding access to original programming that shines a light on the stories of underrepresented communities for millions of additional viewers.”

“This story is about a small group of people, who, with monumental effort and at great personal cost, have been and continue to protect one of the world’s most precious resources, Lake Superior,” says Mary Mazzio. “If this project prompts us into doing more for each other instead of just for ourselves, wouldn’t that be something…”

"It is so important to share stories and create awareness for the Bad River Band and their community, which dispel long-held stereotypes," said Grant Hill. "I’m so proud to have worked on this with Mary as our third project together, and to partner with the Black Experience on Xfinity.”

Executive producers include Allison Abner (Narcos); NBA Hall of Famer Grant Hill; Grammy-nominated singer Tamia; Mato Wayuhi (Reservation Dogs), who wrote several hip-hop tracks for the film; Grammy-winning producer, Shep Crawford (producer/writer for Whitney Houston, Tamia, Boyz II Men), who wrote and produced an original score. Taylor Hensel (Reservation Dogs, Reciprocity Project) worked on both the story and strategy for the project; Alec Sokolow (Toy Story) worked closely with Abner and Mazzio on all aspects of the narrative, and Bad River students created original artwork for the animation team at PunkRobot, an Academy Award winning shop (Bear Story). Quannah ChasingHorse also serves as Executive Producer.

Black Experience on Xfinity is a first-of-its-kind destination of Black entertainment, movies, TV shows, news and more. Available at home on<a href="https://www.xfinity.com/learn/digital-cable-tv/x1"> </a><a href="https://www.xfinity.com/learn/digital-cable-tv/x1" target="_blank">Xfinity X1</a> and<a href="https://www.xfinity.com/learn/xumostreambox"> </a><a href="https://www.xfinity.com/learn/xumostreambox" target="_blank">Flex</a>, and on-the-go with the<a href="https://www.xfinity.com/stream/"> </a><a href="https://www.xfinity.com/stream/" target="_blank">Xfinity Stream</a> app, the Black Experience on Xfinity features original and high-quality content from Comcast NBCUniversal and other major studios, in addition to content from many of Xfinity’s existing network partners, at no additional cost to Xfinity customers. The channel is the only one of its kind endorsed by the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA), the world's largest group of Black film critics that gives annual awards for excellence in film and television.

Xfinity customers can access the Black Experience on channel 1622 or simply say “Black Experience” into the Voice Remote to instantly enjoy the ultimate in Black storytelling. Non-Xfinity customers are able to view the partnership on Xumo Play <a href="https://xumotv.us/3vW12pS" target="_blank">here</a>, Comcast and Charter’s free ad-supported streaming service app.

Comcast NBCUniversal’s Black Experience on Xfinity teams up with award-winning filmmaker Mary Mazzio (A Most Beautiful Thing, I Am Jane Doe) and executive producer and NBA Hall of Famer Grant Hill, to premiere Bad River.

Comcast’s Black Experience on Xfinity Announces Premiere of Powerful Documentary ‘Bad River’ From Filmmakers Mary Mazzio and Grant Hill

<img alt="An adult and hild looking at an electronic tablet while sitting in the open side of a van in an arid area." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="dfc9a2c4-9b52-4a22-a556-0084e15a04c9" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/edgedevices_qualcomm_050824.jpg" width="640" class="align-center" height="801" loading="lazy" />Written by Angela Baker

The economic value of generative artificial intelligence (AI) to the world is immense. <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/the-economic-potential-of-generative-ai-the-next-productivity-frontier#introduction" target="_blank">Research from McKinsey</a> estimates that generative AI could add the equivalent of $2.6 trillion to $4.4 trillion annually.1

But the energy cost of AI and its environmental impact can also be extensive unless our technology approach evolves to effectively tackle these challenges.

Current projections vary, but there are startling analyses of generative AI’s energy use and its impact on the environment. A <a href="https://www.cell.com/joule/fulltext/S2542-4351(23)00365-3" target="_blank">peer-reviewed report in Joule</a> projects AI energy use growing to over 85 terawatt-hours annually, more than the usage of many small countries (Ireland is the example given).2 Popular studies, like those from Gartner, paint dire pictures of the environmental impact and the expense of adapting our computing infrastructure to generative AI. <a href="https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2023-11-07-gartner-says-cios-must-balance-the-environmental-promises-and-risks-of-ai" target="_blank">Gartner’s report</a> predicts that by 2030, AI could consume up to 3.5% of the world’s electricity.3

Additionally, data center processing requires cooling, and cooling consumes water. In its <a href="https://query.prod.cms.rt.microsoft.com/cms/api/am/binary/RW15mgm" target="_blank">latest environmental report</a>, Microsoft disclosed that its global water consumption spiked 34% from 2021 to 2022, an increase that outside researchers tie to AI.

It is imperative to find ways to make AI processing more energy efficient and sustainable. But most reports focus almost entirely on the energy used by AI in the cloud and in data centers.

Increasing Efficiency by Running AI Models in Devices

Generative AI does not have to run exclusively in the cloud.

Currently, training a consumer-grade generative AI model requires a massive cluster of AI hardware and the power to run it. A researcher at the University of Washington estimated that training <a href="https://www.washington.edu/news/2023/07/27/how-much-energy-does-chatgpt-use/" target="_blank">a model like ChatGPT-3 could use up to 10 gigawatt-hours</a>, roughly equivalent to the annual energy consumption of 1,000 U.S. households.4

But once an AI model is trained, it can be reduced and optimized to run on a significantly less power-hungry piece of hardware, like a smartphone or battery-powered laptop.

For instance, <a href="https://creativestrategies.com/research/gen-ai-edge-testing/" target="_blank">research by analyst firm Creative Strategies</a>5 concludes that <a href="https://www.qualcomm.com/products/mobile/snapdragon/smartphones/snapdragon-8-series-mobile-platforms/snapdragon-8-gen-3-mobile-platform" target="_blank">Snapdragon 8 Gen 3</a>, a flagship processor for smartphones, is 30 times more efficient than a data center on image generation tasks. For laptop PCs, the same report states that <a href="https://www.qualcomm.com/products/mobile/snapdragon/pcs-and-tablets/snapdragon-x-elite" target="_blank">Snapdragon X Elite</a> Compute Platform is nearly 28 times more efficient than running the AI task on the data center.

Running AI on local, private devices also saves the expense of sending queries and data across the network (and through the internal data-routing systems at a cloud provider) and sending the answers back.

Finally, the limited processing power of local devices, compared to massive resources available to run queries in cloud data centers, enforces a form of AI discipline on AI software companies, app developers and users. Not all generative AI queries require the resources of cloud-based ChatGPT-4 or its equivalent. By reallocating a portion of AI tasks to the edge, we can leverage the benefits of on-device AI processing, which offers efficient computations with minimal power consumption. A balanced strategy, involving a deliberate distribution of AI workloads across the cloud and edge, can enhance performance efficiency and minimize energy consumption.

As technology providers begin to distribute generative AI capabilities to personal devices and start to gather data on the economics of various query types and where those queries run, we expect that they will start to surface these calculations for users, allowing people to make individual cost-based decisions about how much AI processing power they consume.

Taking Efficient Edge AI Technologies to the Cloud

The technology that enables edge devices, such as smartphones and tablets, has evolved to be both powerful and power-efficient. Users expect these devices to be fast, responsive, and capable of lasting a full day on a single battery charge.

In fact, modern smartphones have surpassed the power of IBM's Deep Blue supercomputer, which gained fame for defeating chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov in 1997.6 What's even more impressive is that these powerful mobile devices consume significantly less energy than an LED light bulb.7

This remarkable energy efficiency is the result of decades of innovation in the field. Lean computing instruction sets have been developed to process data using fewer operations, while systems-on-chip integrate multiple components into a single chip to reduce power consumption.

Such innovations have allowed <a href="https://www.qualcomm.com/content/dam/qcomm-martech/dm-assets/documents/MLPerf-v4.0-Cloud-A100.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. to deliver record-breaking power-efficient cloud AI processing products</a>. This showcases the significant potential of edge technologies in addressing the energy challenge associated with processing AI models in the cloud.

AI might mitigate its own efficiency problems

AI tools are well-suited to optimizing complex systems and can be used to <a href="https://earth.org/7-ways-ai-can-support-energy-conservation-efforts/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reduce energy requirements and environmental impacts</a>.8 There’s a possibility that AI tools can help offset some of the impacts of human-caused climate change. <a href="https://www.bcg.com/publications/2023/how-ai-can-speedup-climate-action" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Research from the Boston Consulting Group</a> says that, “AI can accelerate climate action by taking climate modeling to the next level, enabling new approaches to climate education, and supporting breakthroughs in climate science, climate economics, and fundamental research.”9

At the moment, the world is still gathering data on the environmental costs and benefits of our new AI tools. The recent COP 28 – UN Climate Change conference highlighted these data gaps to an extent. We are heartened that progress is being made and that AI can help; as Microsoft’s Brad Smith put it, “You can’t fix what you can’t measure, and these new AI and data tools will allow nations to measure emissions far better than they can today.”10

In the meantime, it’s imperative that we get a better handle on AI’s energy use itself, and do what we can to reduce that use — when possible — by running AI models on lower-power devices, and by using models that simply require less power.

At Qualcomm, <a href="https://www.qualcomm.com/products/technology/artificial-intelligence/responsible-ai" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">we believe that AI systems should be designed, developed and deployed in a way that is mindful of environmental impact</a> throughout their lifecycle and value chain. We are working to allow edge devices to run AI processing more efficiently, with leading performance per watt.

<a href="https://www.qualcomm.com/products/technology/artificial-intelligence/responsible-ai" target="_blank">Learn more about Qualcomm's responsible AI principles</a>

<a href="https://www.qualcomm.com/company/corporate-responsibility/operating-sustainably" target="_blank">Read about Qualcomm's sustainability efforts</a>

Opinions expressed in the content posted here are the personal opinions of the original authors, and do not necessarily reflect those of Qualcomm Incorporated or its subsidiaries ("Qualcomm"). The content is provided for informational purposes only and is not meant to be an endorsement or representation by Qualcomm or any other party. This site may also provide links or references to non-Qualcomm sites and resources. Qualcomm makes no representations, warranties, or other commitments whatsoever about any non-Qualcomm sites or third-party resources that may be referenced, accessible from, or linked to this site.

Snapdragon is a product of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.

References:

1: McKinsey &amp; Company. (Jun 14, 2023). The economic potential of generative AI: The next productivity frontier. Retrieved on Jan 12, 2024 from: <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/the-economic-potential-of-generative-ai-the-next-productivity-frontier#introduction" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/the-economic-potential-of-generative-ai-the-next-productivity-frontier#introduction</a>

2: Alex de Vries. (Oct 10, 2023). The growing energy footprint of artificial intelligence. Retrieved on Jan 12, 2024 from: <a href="https://www.cell.com/joule/abstract/S2542-4351(23)00365-3" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.cell.com/joule/abstract/S2542-4351(23)00365-3</a>

3: Gartner. (Nov 7, 2023). Gartner says CIOs must balance the environmental promises and risks of AI. Retrieved on Jan 12, 2024 from: <a href="https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2023-11-07-gartner-says-cios-must-balance-the-environmental-promises-and-risks-of-ai" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2023-11-07-gartner-says-cios-must-balance-the-environmental-promises-and-risks-of-ai</a>

4: University of Washington. (Jul 27, 2023). Q&amp;A: UW researcher discusses just how much energy ChatGPT uses. Retrieved on Jan 12, 2024 from: <a href="https://www.washington.edu/news/2023/07/27/how-much-energy-does-chatgpt-use/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.washington.edu/news/2023/07/27/how-much-energy-does-chatgpt-use/</a>

5: Max Weinbach, Creative Strategies. (Apr 3, 2024). The Power of Efficiency: Edge Al’s Role in Sustainable Generative Al Adoption. Retrieved on Apr 11, 2024 from: <a href="https://creativestrategies.com/research/gen-ai-edge-testing/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://creativestrategies.com/research/gen-ai-edge-testing/</a>

6: ZME Science. (May 11, 2023). Your smartphone is millions of times more powerful than the Apollo 11 guidance computers. Retrieved on Apr 8, 2024 from: <a href="https://www.zmescience.com/feature-post/technology-articles/computer-science/smartphone-power-compared-to-apollo-432/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.zmescience.com/feature-post/technology-articles/computer-science/smartphone-power-compared-to-apollo-432/</a>

7: TechFow. (Nov 17, 2022). How Many Watts Does a Phone Use Per Hour. Retrieved on Apr 8, 2024 from: <a href="https://www.techfow.com/how-many-watts-does-a-phone-use-per-hour-beginners-guide/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.techfow.com/how-many-watts-does-a-phone-use-per-hour-beginners-guide/</a>

8: Earth.org. (Sep 27, 2023). 7 Ways AI can support energy conservation efforts. Retrieved on Jan 12, 2024 from: <a href="https://earth.org/7-ways-ai-can-support-energy-conservation-efforts/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://earth.org/7-ways-ai-can-support-energy-conservation-efforts/</a>

9: Boston Consulting Group. (Nov 20, 2023). How AI can speed climate action. Retrieved on Jan 12, 2024 from: <a href="https://www.bcg.com/publications/2023/how-ai-can-speedup-climate-action" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.bcg.com/publications/2023/how-ai-can-speedup-climate-action</a>

10: Microsoft. (Nov 29, 2023). UNFCCC partners with Microsoft to use AI and advanced data technology to track global carbon emissions and assess progress under the Paris Agreement. Retrieved on Jan 12, 2024 from: <a href="https://news.microsoft.com/2023/11/29/unfccc-partners-with-microsoft-to-use-ai-and-advanced-data-technology-to-track-global-carbon-emissions-and-assess-progress-under-the-paris-agreement/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://news.microsoft.com/2023/11/29/unfccc-partners-with-microsoft-to-use-ai-and-advanced-data-technology-to-track-global-carbon-emissions-and-assess-progress-under-the-paris-agreement/</a>

It is imperative to find ways to make AI processing more energy efficient and sustainable. But most reports focus almost entirely on the energy used by AI in the cloud and in data centers.

How Edge Devices Can Help Mitigate the Global Environmental Cost of Generative AI

<img alt="A laptop screen displaying a veteran hugging a child who is holding the American flag" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7e2cd77d-5db1-45ba-9390-e639ba267410" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/marine-student_FedEx_040424.jpg" width="640" class="align-center" height="675" loading="lazy" />FedEx has been a longtime supporter of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation (MCSF), providing annual support to the organization through scholarships to military veteran’s children. This year FedEx provided scholarships to 22 students through MCSF.

To add to the scholarships FedEx provides, this year FedEx launched the “FedEx Career Readiness Initiative” (FCRI) with MCSF. FCRI is a program that allows the students who receive a scholarship through MCSF access to leadership training, job and interview prep, and a chance for the students and their parents to have insight on internship and job opportunities at FedEx.

This year FedEx hosted the first virtual career session on Jan. 19 with 35 participants on the call. Neil Gibson, SVP of Customer Experience at FedEx, served as keynote speaker, and FedEx veteran recruiter, Josh Link, reviewed career opportunities with the students and their parents.

FedEx has been a longtime supporter of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation (MCSF), providing annual support to the organization through scholarships to military veteran’s children. This year FedEx provided scholarships to 22 students through MCSF.

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