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Chartwells Joins White House Campaign to Eradicate Childhood Obesity

2010-02-09 14:21:12 -0500

Chartwells School Dining Services is joining First Lady Michelle Obama in her national campaign to end childhood obesity within the next generation. As the industry leader in school dining, Chartwells is committed to partnering with the communities it serves to, at a minimum, more than quadruple the number that qualify for gold level nutrition status of the HealthierUS School Challenge by the close of the 2010-2011 school year. "We're honored to accept the White House's invitation to help eradicate childhood obesity and will be an active participant in the campaign," said Steve Sweeney, CEO of Chartwells. "Feeding safe, healthy and environmentally-sustainable meals to children has always been Chartwells' number one priority. Partnering with our schools to qualify for gold level status in the HealthierUS Schools Challenge helps us achieve this." To accomplish the objectives of the HealthierUS School Challenge, Chartwells will work with the White House, federal and state agencies, the school districts it serves and the private sector to:

Make menu and competitive food options available for schools that meet or exceed gold level nutrition standards for fruits, vegetables, whole grains and milk
Increase nutrition education programming targeted to students and parents
Meet the Institute of Medicine recommended standards for fat, sugar and whole grains over the next 5 years and the sodium standard over the next 10 years by pursuing discussions with suppliers to develop products which meet those standards
Encourage participation in the HealthierUS School Challenge and provide assistance for achieving gold level status
Work to double produce offered in school meals over the next 10 years.
Research the feasibility of a cost efficient menu that satisfies the HealthierUS School Challenge standards

Keith Cullinan, Chartwells School Dining Services President, further applauds the White House campaign. "Our current health and wellness program, Balanced Choices®, provides the foundation for enabling our school districts to meet or exceed gold level status of the HealthierUS School Challenge. We will provide the schools and communities we serve with the tools and technical assistance needed to meet this challenge." Balanced Choices® is Chartwells' comprehensive approach to creating healthy and environmentally-sustainable school communities and is implemented in all the schools it serves. Launched in 2005, this program focuses on the same key areas that are addressed by the HealthierUS School Challenge and uniquely positions Chartwells to support our school district partners in the important areas of healthy food, nutrition education and physical activity. About Chartwells School Dining Services Chartwells, a division of Charlotte, NC-based Compass Group, provides dining services for over 535 public school districts, serving 2.5 million students in over 4,000 elementary, middle and high schools nationwide. For more information about Chartwells School Dining Services, visit www.eatlearnlive.com.

Nickelodeon to Participate in First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move Campaign to Tackle Childhood Obesity

2010-02-09 12:47:13 -0500

Nickelodeon President Cyma Zarghami announced today that Nickelodeon will join the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, in her nationwide Let's Move www.LetsMove.gov campaign to solve the problem of childhood obesity in this generation. Nickelodeon will offer its resources and research to the campaign, including kid and family-targeted PSAs featuring the First Lady, and special programming events on its channels and websites. "Nickelodeon is honored to work together with the First Lady and to be part of the Let's Move campaign to stop the rise of childhood obesity," Zarghami said. "This is an issue we have been addressing for many years and we are pleased to offer our resources and research expertise about kids and families." For almost seven years, Nickelodeon has empowered kids with resources, tools and the information they need to live healthier lifestyles, and has committed millions of dollars and air time to health and wellness messaging through its "Let's Just Play" pro-social campaign and grants program. Nickelodeon's involvement in Let's Move will augment the campaign's goal to increase healthy schools and kids' physical activity, improve the accessibility and affordability of healthy foods, and empower consumers to make healthier choices in their lives. Nickelodeon has a legacy of addressing important issues to kids including health and wellness. Its "Let's Just Play" campaign has motivated more than one million kids to get out and play during Nick's annual Worldwide Day of Play, and 500,000 kids to pledge to live healthier lifestyles through its Let's Just Play Go Healthy Challenge. Along with partners such as Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the NFL, The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, William J. Clinton Foundation, American Heart Association and thousands of local schools and community-based organizations, Nickelodeon hosts thousands of health and wellness-themed events annually around the world. Additionally, Nickelodeon has awarded approximately $3 million in grants to schools and after-school programs to help create and expand opportunities for physical play. Nickelodeon and "Let's Just Play" have been recognized by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, CTPAA, Kaiser Family Foundation, Institute of Medicine and the Federal Trade Commission as an example of how media can make a positive impact on kids' lives. Nickelodeon, now in its 30th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in almost 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 15 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).

Sodexo Joins First Lady Michelle Obama in National Fight Against Childhood Obesity

2010-02-09 10:03:55 -0500

Sodexo, Inc., world leader in Quality of Daily Life solutions, serving more than 2.8 million school meals daily to students in more than 470 school districts nationwide, announced today its participation in First Lady Michelle Obama's campaign to eliminate childhood obesity within a generation. Collectively, Sodexo and its industry partners serve over 750 million school meals annually. The agreement will affect 135,000 students in the 2010-2011 school year alone. In addition, representatives estimate a potential increase of 18,700,000 meals conforming to standards outlined in the HealthierUS School Challenge. The school lunch providers expect to reach 2 million families with nutrition information. Under the agreement, Sodexo and its industry partners have agreed to support the First Lady's Initiative by including more fruit, juice, vegetable, whole grain and milk options in reimbursable lunches. "At Sodexo, we know that access to good nutrition as part of a holistic approach that includes exercise and other good lifestyle choices benefit children not only in their health and wellness but also in their ability to achieve academic success," said Lorna C. Donatone, Sodexo chief operating officer and Education Market president. "We are proud to advance our current programs, now with the partnership of our industry and the leadership of the White House to combat childhood obesity." Sodexo also agreed to increase nutrition education efforts aimed at students and parents, as well as encourage broader participation in the USDA's HealthierUS School Challenge by providing technical assistance and facilitating paperwork requirements for the schools they serve. Sodexo also commits to working closely with the White House, and continue to work with federal and state agencies, local school districts and others in the private sector to achieve the First Lady's goal to eliminate chilldhood obesity this generation. Over the longer-term, Sodexo and its industry partners commit to working with suppliers to continue to provide healthy food options; undertake research related to cost efficiency and reimbursable meals; work toward meeting the National Institute of Medicine's recommended standards for fat, sugar, and whole grains over the next 5 years and the standards for sodium through a 5% annual reduction over the next ten years; and work to double produce offered in school meals over the next 10 years. By some estimates, this would result in an increase of 100 million pounds of fruits and vegetables served each year once full value is achieved in 10 years. Sodexo, Inc. Sodexo, Inc. (www.sodexoUSA.com), a member of Sodexo Group, is a leading provider of Comprehensive Service Solutions serving more than ten million customers daily in corporations, health care, long term care, retirement, schools, higher education, government and remote sites. Headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., Sodexo, Inc. operates in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, with $7.7 billion (USD) in annual revenue and 120,000 employees. Sodexo Group (www.sodexo.com), founded in 1966, employs 380,000 people who serve 50 million people daily in 80 countries. The Sodexo Foundation (www.SodexoFoundation.org) is an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $12.7 million in grants to fight hunger in America. Visit the corporate blog at www.sodexoUSA.com/blog.

Yellow+Blue Wines go a Shade Greener

2010-02-09 09:31:46 -0500

Wine importer J. Soif, Inc. has today announced two significant partnerships it has established through its certified organic wine brand, Yellow+Blue, making it the only carbon-neutral wine importer in the U.S. and the only wine importer in the world to put a portion of its sales towards global microloans. Due to its eco-friendly Tetra Pak packaging, the carbon footprint of Yellow+Blue wines is 46% less than that of wine in traditional glass bottles. In order to offset the remaining 54%, the company has purchased 472 metric tons of verified carbon offsets to take responsibility for one hundred percent of the emissions generated by moving its wine from the vineyards to its packaging plants and warehouses. The carbon credits, which were purchased from Boulder, CO based Renewable Choice Energy, support a landfill gas-to-energy carbon reduction project in the United States. "Yellow+Blue's commitment to analyzing its environmental footprint and supporting carbon reduction shows leadership and demonstrates a best practice for environmental responsibility," said Quayle Hodek, CEO of Renewable Choice Energy. "This organization is creating awareness for voluntary carbon reductions and the importance of investing in clean technology solutions." "Keeping in the spirit of our Drink Well Do Good mantra, oenophiles can not only enjoy our wine, they can feel good about buying it," said W. Matthew Cain, founder of Yellow+Blue. "I'm proud to say that Yellow+Blue's investment has the collective environmental impact to help avoid the same amount of CO2 emissions produced by driving nearly 1.1 million miles in an average passenger vehicle." Yellow+Blue has also devoted itself to strengthening the global community by becoming an official partner of Kiva (www.kiva.org), the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website. Yellow+Blue is giving 1 percent of each sale to Kiva, which empowers unique entrepreneurs around the globe and strives to alleviate poverty. Currently, Yellow+Blue is the only wine brand in the world to join the Kiva community of over 662,000 individuals who have loaned more than $117 million to 290,000 entrepreneurs in 51 countries. "Yellow+Blue's decision to work with Kiva is an important milestone for both of our organizations," said Premal Shah, President of Kiva.org. "We're looking forward to all the positive things to come from this partnership and admire its dedication in helping to make Kiva the world's hub for alleviating poverty." "Our commitment to Kiva strives to enable entrepreneurs throughout the world to realize their dreams of creating a company and giving back to their communities," said W. Matthew Cain, founder of Yellow+Blue. "As the only wine company affiliated with the organization, we hope that with each glass of Yellow+Blue poured, an entrepreneur somewhere in the world is a step closer achieving his or her goal." About Yellow+Blue Imported by J. Soif, Inc., Yellow+Blue is proof that exceptional imported wine can travel the world without damaging the planet. Certified organic, Yellow+Blue wine takes advantage of earth-friendly lightweight Tetra Pak cartons that cost significantly less to ship and leave a smaller carbon footprint than glass bottles. For more information and where to purchase Yellow+Blue wines, please visit www.ybwines.com. About Renewable Choice Energy Renewable Choice Energy (http://www.renewablechoice.com) is a leading national provider of renewable energy credits (RECs) and verified emission reductions (VERs) (carbon offsets) to hundreds of Fortune 500 Companies and small businesses, thousands of residential customers, and over 1000 LEED green building projects in the U.S. Founded in 2001, Boulder-Colo.-based Renewable Choice and its clients have received prestigious awards from the EPA and DOE for supporting and expanding the renewable energy market and have been featured in hundreds of media outlets including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNN, USA TODAY, and more. About Kiva.org Kiva.org is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend to an entrepreneur across the globe. Founded in 2005, Kiva.org's mission is to connect people, through lending, to alleviate poverty. Over 585,000 people have loaned more than $117 million to 290,000 entrepreneurs in 51 countries. Currently, loans made through Kiva.org have a 98% repayment rate. Kiva.org is headquartered in San Francisco.

University of Phoenix Announces Finish Strong(SM) Scholarship Recipients

2010-02-08 15:18:54 -0500

As part of its ongoing commitment to making higher education highly accessible for working students, University of Phoenix is proud to announce the recipients of the 2010 Finish StrongSM Scholarship, which will provide full-tuition undergraduate or master's degree scholarships to 16 deserving men and women. "These recipients have persevered through incredible circumstances and life challenges in their pursuit of higher education," said Bill Pepicello, University of Phoenix President. "We are excited to partner with them, providing a flexible learning environment where they can complete their degrees and jumpstart their future." University of Phoenix created the Finish StrongSM Scholarship in 2009 to help working adults who started, but were unable to complete their college degrees for various reasons, including family obligations, health impediments, and work responsibilities. Scholarship applicants were asked to submit an essay on their desire to advance their education, with an emphasis on furthering their careers and/or impacting their local communities. Scholarship recipients will have the option of choosing to enroll in the University's online program or one of more than 200 University of Phoenix campus locations across the country. Larry Fitzgerald – wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals and a University of Phoenix student – has partnered with the University to encourage applicants to follow in his footsteps and complete their higher education. Fitzgerald recently enrolled at University of Phoenix to complete his degree, after leaving the University of Pittsburgh in 2003 to pursue a career in professional football. "University of Phoenix is the ideal place of learning for adults juggling life responsibilities and academic learning," said Fitzgerald. "Through their dedication and perseverance, these scholarship recipients have proven that education doesn't have to stop just because life happens. I am optimistic that even more people will follow in their footsteps." The recipients of this year's scholarship are: ------------------------ Sean Boardman Westbrook, Conn. ------------- ---------------- Suzanne Chapman Norco, Calif. --------------- ------------- Jesus Cordero El Paso, Texas ------------- -------------- Desiree Drummond Baltimore, Md. ---------------- -------------- Tammy Edwards Fort Wayne, Ind. ------------- ---------------- Christine Hancock Springdale, Ariz. ----------------- ----------------- Lisa Jhala Shelbyville, Ind. ---------- ----------------- Darralyn Johnson Austin, Texas ---------------- ------------- Whitney Marbuary Windsor Mill, Md. ---------------- ----------------- Sophia McDaniel Lancaster, N.Y. --------------- --------------- Robert Myres Pocatello, Ind. ------------ --------------- Robert Olander Phoenix, Ariz. -------------- -------------- Luke Ouderkirk Portland, Ore. -------------- -------------- Chanda Serrano Mililani, Hawaii -------------- ---------------- Dharma Shay Pahoa, Hawaii ----------- ------------- Regina Waldon Phoenix, Ariz. About University of Phoenix University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help students balance education and life in a rapidly changing world. Through flexible schedules, challenging courses, and interactive learning, students achieve personal and career aspirations without putting their lives on hold. As of November 30, 2009, 455,600 students were enrolled at University of Phoenix, the largest private university in North America. University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering associate's, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world. For more information, visit www.phoenix.edu.

Groundbreaking 93-Page CSR Insight™ Report Just Published On Global Sustainability Regulation, Metrics, and Trends

2010-02-08 14:26:19 -0500

The CSR Insight™ Report, the product of over two years of research, is available now for a limited time on a complimentary basis at www.csr-insight.com. Published by CSR Insight™ LLC, an independent advisory firm focusing exclusively upon global Sustainability Regulation, Metrics, and Public Policy, the CSR Insight™ Report provides a comprehensive and global perspective on key issues pertinent to Sustainability Reporting, Sustainability Investment, and Sustainability Regulation. CSR Insight™ Report Highlights include:

TRENDS Section:

METRICS Section:

REGULATION Section:

CSR Insight™ Viewpoint:

The CSR Insight™ Report is an introduction to three CSR Insight™ archetypal publications, available in May 2010: the CSR Insight™ Regulatory Report, the CSR Insight™ Metrics Report, and the CSR Insight™ Reference Guide.

CSR Insight™ Regulatory Report

CSR Insight™ Metrics Report

CSR Insight™ Reference Guide

Special discounted subscription rates for all three publications are available until April 1, 2010, at http://www.csr-insight.com/subscribe.aspx. CSR Insight™ also provides custom consulting services and is available for public policy advisory work and educational workshops. For more information, please visit www.csr-insight.com or contact info@csr-insight.com.

Starbucks, TransFair and the DOL are Paving the Path Toward a New CSR Landscape

2010-02-08 14:02:09 -0500

The STR RS 5th Annual Responsible Sourcing Summit has gained exceptional traction among senior compliance and ethical trade managers, who are finding the two-day Summit of specific relevance to them. The event will take place on February 25-26, 2010 at the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. STR Responsible Sourcing proudly presents Rachel Rigby of the Department of Labor's (DOL) International Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB). Ms. Rigby will be traveling from Washington D.C. to discuss the recently published "DOL List" which highlights a group of 122 goods deriving from 58 countries that the ILAB suspects have been produced using child or forced labor. As one of the report's authors, Ms. Rigby will be imparting her intimate understanding of how this new initiative works and how it may impact business operations. In addition, Virginia Bergin, Ethical Sourcing Regional Manager at Starbucks, will be sharing best practices on how brands can create vendor-owned compliance programs. Ms. Bergin will offer an in-depth look at Starbucks' innovative new partnership, which it has forged with vendor PMI, who will also be presenting. Together, Starbucks and PMI will discuss how vendor-owned compliance programs can be instrumental in eliminating the redundancy of multiple assessments and overlapping standards. Meanwhile, leaders from TransFair will unveil their new Product Traceability Program. Scott Leonard, CEO of Indigenous Designs, will share his company's experience in implementing TransFair's scheme. He will explain why adopting this initiative makes sound business and ethical sense-and discuss some of the lessons learned along the way. For its part, the TriVista Business Group will be making the connection on how strategic Lean Manufacturing practices can help to mitigate social compliance issues. The company will present vivid case studies to illustrate this point. As part of the discussion, Timberland will share the benefits it has gained through Lean Manufacturing. The second day of the Responsible Sourcing Summit will showcase a three-hour interactive workshop, focusing on forced and indentured labor as well as child labor. Experts from the Office of International Affairs and US Immigrations and Customs Enforcementh will be on hand to discuss new enforcement policies and to offer tips on how companies can stay in compliance. In addition to its strategic content, the STR RS 5th Annual Responsible Sourcing Summit is a networking opportunity for supply chain experts who want to exchange ideas with thought-leaders in the field of CSR and who are committed to their professional growth. To view the full program and list of speakers, please click on STR RS 5th Annual Responsible Sourcing Summit-GPS: Navigating the New CSR Landscape. Act Now-Availability is quickly running out. About STR Responsible Sourcing STR Responsible Sourcing is a leading provider of corporate responsibility consulting services which include monitoring, training, research and program development. STR RS is a business unit within Specialized Technology Resources' Quality Assurance Division, which was founded in 1944. STR RS has offices in over 30 countries across five continents, and the reach to provide audit services in over 140 countries around the world. Visit STR at http://www.STRQuality.com.

MS&L Promotes Scott Beaudoin to North American Director

2010-02-08 12:11:20 -0500

MS&L, one of the world's leading communications firms, has promoted Scott Beaudoin to North American Director of the agency's Cause Marketing & Corporate Social Responsibility specialty effective immediately. Beaudoin, an award-winning industry veteran, will be responsible for driving continued thought leadership and growth in the Cause & CSR space across all practices and offices in the U.S. and Canada, expanding the dramatic success of an offering he has spearheaded for 18 months. "In 2010, we expect that more companies will look to drive the bottom line through Cause and CSR," said Jim Tsokanos, President of the Americas. "Scott and his team understand the need to capture the ROI of values-driven strategies. The MS&L offering will help enterprises translate their core competencies and values into credible and measurable market opportunities, differentiation and consumer loyalty for years to come." Unveiled in February 2009, MS&L's Social Activism Marketing (SAM) approach blends the power of corporate social responsibility and cause marketing with the penetration of digital tools to spawn social movements for profit and purpose. SAM is brought to life through a proprietary process that pinpoints the four stages of social movement that corporations can use to facilitate purpose-driven campaigns, drive influence and maximize reach. "Companies and institutions across the country responded immediately when MS&L launched Social Activism Marketing a year ago," Beaudoin said. "Their response underscores MS&L's belief that purpose and profit need not be mutually exclusive, and that sincere and pro-active values-driven engagement can fuel great outcomes, socially and financially." Beaudoin joined MS&L in July 2008 as senior vice president of consumer marketing and director of cause marketing and has since developed cause marketing and CSR programs for brand name clients in key industries, including Procter & Gamble, Pfizer and Sodexo. His previous work has included the Yoplait Save Lids to Save Lives campaign, General Mills Box Tops for Education initiative, the ConAgra Foods Feeding Children Better program, and the CVS All Kids Can program. MS&L's Cause-CSR specialty is headquartered in the Boston office and integrated with existing, award-winning capabilities in every region of MS&L's North American network. About MS&L MS&L is part of MS&LGroup a leading global communications firm, offering the best in public relations, direct marketing, social media, real-time communications, corporate and events communication. Operating in wholly owned and affiliate offices in more than 90 countries spanning the Americas, EMEA and Asia Pac, our diverse team of experts listens, researches and creates provocative campaigns that build powerful brands, engage consumers, protect reputations and rally employees. MS&LGroup provides many of the world's largest companies and most recognized brands with best-in-class communication strategies to help them reach their business and communication goals. MS&LGroup is part of Publicis Groupe (Euronext Paris: FR0000130577), the world's fourth largest communications group. With activities spanning 104 countries and 43,000 professionals. Publicis Groupe a complete range of advertising services through three global advertising networks, Leo Burnett, Publicis, Saatchi & Saatchi, and two multi-hub networks, Fallon and 49%-owned Bartle Bogle Hegarty. Media consultancy and buying is offered through two worldwide networks, Starcom MediaVest Group and ZenithOptimedia; and interactive and digital marketing led by Digitas and Razorfish. Publicis Groupe recently launched VivaKi to leverage the combined scale of the autonomous operations of Digitas, Razorfish, Starcom MediaVest Group, Denuo and ZenithOptimedia to develop new services, tools, and next generation digital platforms. Web site: www.publicisgroupe.com

Columbia Sportswear Steps Up to Help Haiti Earthquake Victims

2010-02-08 11:14:34 -0500

Columbia Sportswear Company (NASDAQ: COLM) provided an update on its ongoing efforts to assist Haiti relief efforts. Immediately following news of the devastating earthquake, the company began working closely with international relief agencies, including Mercy Corps, World Vision and Soles4Souls, for guidance on specific relief needs. To date Columbia Sportswear has:

-- arranged for the shipment of shoes, clothing and accessories with an estimated retail value of more than $3 million to be distributed by on-site relief workers, -- facilitated the sale of over 1,000 Columbia and Mountain Hardwear tents to Shelterbox, providing temporary shelter for affected families, -- donated more than $120,000 in cash to a variety of accredited relief organizations through a combination of employee donations and company matching. In addition, in collaboration with Soles4Souls, Columbia will be collecting used footwear at each Columbia Muddy Buddy event being held in 18 cities across the U.S. beginning in March, to help Soles4Souls reach its goal of collecting 1 million pairs of shoes for Haiti in 2010. Tim Boyle, Columbia's president and chief executive officer, commented, "Columbia Sportswear and its employees have a long history of responding with compassion and generosity to help survivors of natural disasters. The devastating earthquake in Haiti provided another opportunity for us to demonstrate those values. We continue to look for additional ways to respond to the changing needs of the Haitian people and applaud our employees and the relief workers on the ground for their continued individual efforts." About Columbia Sportswear Founded in 1938 in Portland, Oregon, Columbia Sportswear Company is a global leader in the design, sourcing, marketing and distribution of active outdoor apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment. As one of the largest outerwear manufacturers in the world and a leading seller of skiwear in the United States, the company has developed an international reputation for innovation, quality, performance, functionality and value. The company manages a portfolio of outdoor brands including Columbia Sportswear, Mountain Hardwear, Sorel, Montrail and Pacific Trail. To learn more about Columbia, please visit the company's website at www.columbia.com.

The Walmart Foundation and CARE Launch Women's Empowerment Initiative in Bangladesh Factories

2010-02-08 10:20:28 -0500

The Walmart Foundation and CARE launched today a women's empowerment program that will provide 2,500 female factory workers in Bangladesh's apparel sector with long-term, sustainable means of improving their standard of living and working environments through workplace skills and literacy training. The program will be implemented in Dhaka, which has the largest number of garment factories and factory workers in Bangladesh. This initiative is also expected to indirectly benefit the families, and communities, of these workers, and will likely positively impact an additional 12,500 to 15,000 people. "Just last week I was in Bangladesh and had the opportunity to see firsthand the contributions of these hardworking female factory workers in their communities," said Doug McMillon, president and CEO, Walmart International. "At Walmart, we aim to not only improve the lives of our customers and associates, but also to improve the lives of women that work to provide many of the products we carry in our stores around the world. I am confident this program will make a difference in the lives of female factory workers and their families in Bangladesh." Selected factories will host learning centers, providing education and awareness sessions focused on specific issues of concern to female workers in and around their workplace, including maternal and child health, nutrition, and hygiene and sanitation practices. Through the learning centers, these women will also receive education to improve their reading, writing and math skills. Technical training will focus on providing the workers with design, sewing, equipment handling and other relevant on-the-job technical skills. Factories in Bangladesh employ mostly women – between 20 and 29 years old – who have left their rural villages in search of better livelihoods. "CARE's 55-year history in Bangladesh has enabled us to establish trusted, long-term relationships in the communities in which we serve," said Helene Gayle, president and CEO of CARE. "With Walmart's generous commitment, CARE can expand upon our empowerment efforts, imparting essential skills, and improved opportunities, to thousands of young women working in factories in Bangladesh." Knowledge and best practices from the Walmart and CARE women's empowerment factory initiative will be shared with the Bangladesh Garments Manufacturing and Export Association (BGMEA) to help improve the quality of life and social conditions in other factories as well. Last May, the Walmart Foundation announced a $1 million grant to CARE for projects focusing on empowering impoverished young women in Peru, Bangladesh and India through education, job-training and entrepreneurial support programs. This project marks the second of a series of initiatives to elevate women from poverty worldwide. Globally, women make up 70 percent of the one billion people living on less than a dollar a day, work two-thirds of the working hours, produce half of the world's food, yet earn only 10 percent of the world's income and own less than 1 percent of the world's property. About CARE CARE fights root causes of poverty in the world's poorest communities. CARE places special focus on working alongside poor women because, equipped with the proper resources, women have the power to help whole families and entire communities escape poverty. In over 65 countries, women are at the heart of CARE's community-based efforts to improve education, prevent the spread of HIV, increase access to water and sanitation, expand economic opportunity and protect natural resources. Each year, CARE helps tens of millions of people around the world effect real, positive changes in their lives. About Philanthropy at Walmart Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are proud to support the charitable causes that are important to customers and associates in their own neighborhoods. Through its philanthropic programs and partnerships, the Walmart Foundation funds initiatives focused on creating opportunities in education, workforce development, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness. From February 1, 2008 through January 31, 2009, Walmart – and its domestic and international foundations – gave more than $423 million in cash and in-kind gifts globally. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.

CSRwire and Zoosa are proud to announce Their New Partnership

2010-02-08 09:57:37 -0500

CSRwire, the Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire has joined forces with Zoosa to communicate the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability in today's business environment. As part of their partnership agreement, Zoosa will now be helping to increase the exposure of Corporate Social Responsibility news by running CSRwire's Press Releases, Events, and Reports on their website, now viewable here, and CSRwire has offered their services to increase support for connecting socially responsible professionals and organizations. Zoosa is a social enterprise business with a mission to highlight socially responsible individuals and organizations. In doing so, Zoosa makes it possible to quickly show which individuals, schools and organizations are having a social impact on a personal level. Zoosa introduces the first-ever personal social impact reports. Similar to annual CSR (corporate social responsibility) reports, Zoosa is now challenging individuals to issue reports on their personal social impact actions in an effort to inspire others to make a difference. By issuing a social impact report and linking their profile to their schools and organizations, students can show their school spirit, employees can promote their corporate culture, individuals can meet others and organizations can measure their members' impact. Working with their extensive Member community, CSRwire promotes the growth of Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability through solutions-based information and positive examples of corporate practices. CSRwire distributes news related to Diversity, Philanthropy, Socially Responsible Investing (SRI), Environment, Human Rights, Workplace Issues, Business Ethics, Community Development and Corporate Governance to Journalists, Analysts, Investors, Activists, Academics, Public Relations, Advertising and Investor Relations Professionals in over 200 Countries throughout the world. Through their partnership CSRwire and Zoosa hope to bring greater awareness to issues pertaining to Corporate Social responsibility, influence consumer behavior, and create a greater platform for companies to convey their commitment to CSR. About CSRwire CSRwire is the leading source of corporate social responsibility and sustainability press releases, reports and information. CSRwire members are companies and NGOs, agencies and organizations interested in communicating their corporate citizenship, sustainability, and socially responsible initiatives to a global audience through CSRwire's syndication network and Daily News Alerts. CSRwire content covers issues of Diversity, Philanthropy, Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) Environment, Human Rights, Workplace Issues, Business Ethics, Community Development, Corporate Governance and much more. About Zoosa Zoosa (www.zoosa.org) is a social enterprise business with a mission to highlight socially responsible individuals and organizations. In doing so, Zoosa makes it possible to quickly show which individuals, schools and organizations are having a social impact on a personal level. With over 2,000 social impact and nonprofit jobs and several thousand news stories, Zoosa has created a single location to quickly find all social enterprise information, opportunities, people & organizations.

Greenscape Partners with the Carbon War Room in Support of Green Capital Global Challenge

2010-02-08 09:37:08 -0500

Greenscape Capital Group Inc. (TSX VENTURE: GRN) - Announcement Highlights:

-- Carbon War Room founded by Sir Richard Branson and the Former President of Costa Rica, the Honourable Jose Maria Figueres -- Greenscape to meet with world's most innovative mayors and industry experts -- Launch to take place February 15th-17th, during the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games Greenscape Capital Group Inc. ("Greenscape") is pleased to announce that it is sponsoring the Carbon War Room in its partnership with Mayor Gregor Robertson, to launch the Green Capital Global Challenge, a one-year program focused on utilizing market-based solutions to reduce carbon emissions in the built environment. Greenscape will join Sir Richard Branson and the Honourable Jose Maria Figueres, founders of the Carbon War Room, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, and a host of innovative entrepreneurs, civic leaders, and financiers from around the world, in launching the event during the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games. The Carbon War Room is a 'think and do tank' that harnesses the entrepreneurial spirit of business leaders and others focused on climate change to identify and disseminate locally effective models that mobilize capital to civic energy efficiency initiatives. The Carbon War Room's Green Capital Global Challenge has specifically identified energy efficiency in the built environment as a target for new, market-oriented business models that can overcome the barriers to achieving significant reductions in carbon emissions. Vancouver ranks among the greenest cities in the world, Vancouverites have the smallest carbon footprint of any urban environment in North America, and Mayor Robertson has implemented a pioneering civic sustainability plan, Vancouver Green Capital. Vancouver is a distinguished city that will serve as a strong platform from which to launch an accelerated, well-capitalized green innovation initiative around the world. The "battle strategy" is to partner with the best existing efforts in this field, to connect innovators, financiers, and decision makers, and to accelerate capital flows to the energy efficiency market. Greenscape Capital Group will work with the Carbon War Room, the City of Vancouver, and other participating members to facilitate access to capital, catalyze new partnerships, and achieve a market-based energy efficiency model for the world to follow. Capitalizing on the convening power of the Carbon War Room, unparalleled international attention to be garnered by the Olympic Games, and a forum of collected entrepreneurial visionaries, the Green Capital Global Challenge will establish a city based energy efficiency action plan, enshrined in Vancouver, as an inspiration to other global cities. Bryan Slusarchuk, Greenscape Capital CEO, has been invited to address the Carbon War Room and the attendees of the Green Capital Global Challenge. Greenscape recognizes the many challenges that civic leaders face as they endeavor to make cities more environmentally sustainable and will help support the Carbon War Room's goal of overcoming such challenges. This is the start of a global initiative that will benefit the climate and all participants in the meeting. Michael Hofer, Canadian Certified Environmental Practitioner and Greenscape Director, states: "The Carbon War Room has done an excellent job of focusing attention on the need for significant energy efficiency measures. Moreover, with the Green Capital Global Challenge, they have signaled to the world that market oriented solutions, led by driven and innovative leaders and entrepreneurs, are required to generate significant results. By bringing several such innovators together in Vancouver, combined with international thought leaders and decisions makers, they have made it clear that now is the time to start implementing effective solutions. Greenscape is very pleased to be involved in this initiative. Our corporate vision and mandate align perfectly with the Green Capital Global Challenge objectives. Greenscape has established itself as an industry leader in the energy efficiency field and, through our unique retrofit model, precisely embodies the type of business innovation required to achieve such goals." About Vancouver Green Capital "Vancouver Green Capital" is the City of Vancouver's business brand for economic development and leverages the business potential of the 2010 Games. The brand is at the heart of the creation of a robust and long-term economic strategy that will guide the City's pursuit of international economic opportunities. www.vancouver.ca/greencapital. About the Carbon War Room The Carbon War Room harnesses the power of entrepreneurs to implement market-driven solutions to climate change. The Carbon War Room's unique approach focuses on bringing together successful entrepreneurs, business leaders, policy experts, researchers, and thought leaders to focus on market-driven solutions. www.carbonwarroom.com. About Greenscape Capital Group Greenscape Capital Group increases environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and profitability of companies and their operations. Greenscape Capital owns 100% of Green.Switch Capital, a Canadian based company focused on dramatically increasing the profitability of commercial facilities through enhanced energy efficiency and environmental best practices. Green.Switch provides full-service energy retrofitting for commercial clients. The Green.Switch energy retrofit process begins with the assessment of client issues and infrastructure, through to project design, capitalizing improvements, attaining government incentive grants when applicable, contracting, installation and monitoring. When marked opportunities arise, Greenscape also invests in other companies that operate in the environmental space, providing strategic capital and business advisory services to assist companies in achieving their environmental and corporate goals. www.greenscapecapital.com. http://www.greenswitchcapital.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Bryan Slusarchuk, CEO and Director Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements, which reflect the expectations of management regarding future revenues and contracts. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur, when they will occur, or if they do occur, what benefits the company will obtain from them. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

ERA Carbon Offsets Ltd. to Close $5,520,000 Financing With Forest Carbon Group AG

2010-02-08 09:36:09 -0500

ERA Carbon Offsets Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: ESR) (the "Company" or "ERA"), is pleased to announce that the private placement previously announced, October 14th 2009, will close on or about February 9th 2010. The private placement consists of 7,360,000 common shares at a price of CAD$0.75 per share for gross proceeds of CAD$5,520,000. The sole subscriber is Forest Carbon Group AG ("FCG") an affiliate of HEAG Sudhessische Energie AG ("HSE"), a German energy and infrastructure company based in Darmstadt. Post-financing, FCG will own an aggregate of 7,360,000 shares which constitute 29.9% of the issued capital of the Company. No finder's fee was paid in connection with the private placement. On the closing of the private placement (the "Closing") the Company will grant FCG: 1) the pre-emptive right to purchase up to 30% (subject to adjustment) of any equity financings that the Company may from time to time undertake (the "Right"); and 2) the right of first refusal (the "Right of First Refusal") to provide such project financing as may be requested by the Company for forest carbon offset projects (the "ERA Projects") and to purchase carbon offsets created from the ERA Projects. If the Company and FCG are unable to conclude an agreement with respect to the financing and/or the purchase of the carbon offsets, the Company may offer the terms which were last offered to FCG or other terms not less favourable to the Company to any third party for a period of 60 days. The Right of First Refusal will not apply with respect to ERA Projects developed by the Company exclusively for other clients, or developed in participation with other clients or developers up to the Closing or existing obligations and contracts of the Company with offset resellers and project developers. Both the Right and the Right of First Refusal will expire at the earlier of five (5) years from the Closing and the date FCG no longer owns at least 20% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company on a non-diluted basis. ERA has submitted all documentation regarding the financing to the TSX Venture Exchange and is awaiting approval. In addition, on the Closing the Company will increase the number of its board members from five (5) to six (6) members and appoint FCG's nominee, Mr. Holger Mayer as the sixth board member. Mr. Mayer is the director of Finance, Human Resources and Sales for HSE. Its subsidiary, ENTEGA, is one of Germany's largest suppliers of green power. As a director of FCG, Mr. Mayer is responsible for the financial and legal aspects of project development. Mr. Mayer studied law in Tubingen and Stuttgart, as well as Business Administration at the Berufsakademie Stuttgart. Robert Falls, CEO of ERA commented, "We cannot overstate the importance of this Private Placement, nor the strength of the relationship it underscores. Built on a foundation of seasoned professionals, ERA has pioneered the forest carbon offset space and developed into a significant international player in the industry, having capacity in the full range of project sourcing, development, implementation. ERA has become a leader in offset sales and brokering to both large companies and smaller organizations that have made a commitment to support climate mitigation and ecosystem restoration and protection. HSE AG is a well established company and its affiliate FCG will not only benefit from this heritage but use its marketing capacity to engage large European corporations in forest carbon offset programming. Having Mr. Mayer join ERA's board will add a high level of business acumen to ERA's organization." Holger Mayer, director of FCG and CFO of HSE, declared: "The foundation of Forest Carbon Group and the strategic stake it has taken in ERA is another consequent step for HSE to move from being part of the problem of the climate crisis to be part of the solution. Afforestation of natural forests and forest protection are indispensable to solving the climate crisis, maintaining biodiversity and guaranteeing the sustainable existence of humanity. Together, FCG and ERA will be able to offer access to large scale, high quality forest projects that fit the demands of companies in need of compensating emissions that are still unavoidable for either technical or economical reasons." About The Forest Carbon Group. The Forest Carbon Group offers companies tailor made solutions for climate neutral products and processes. For this purpose it helps companies to reduce their own emissions voluntarily or to compensate for them with forest protection. The Forest Carbon Group identifies, develops, finances and monitors forestry projects for the voluntary carbon market and supplies its clients with forest carbon offsets. It invests exclusively in reforestation projects and schemes to protect still existing natural forests. The forest carbon offsets that are achieved as a result are securitised and issued in the form of so called VERs (Verified or Voluntary Emission Reductions) and CERs (Certified Emissions Reductions). The Forest Carbon Group was founded in 2009 by the German utility company HSE and the consultancy firm BCC - Business Communications Consulting. The company's headquarters are in Frankfurt am Main. Additional information on The Forest Carbon Group can be found at www.forestcarbongroup.ag or by contacting contact@forestcarbongroup.de About ERA Carbon Offsets Ltd. ERA is a Canadian based pioneer in forest-based carbon offset programs and project development. Through its subsidiary, ERA Ecosystem Restoration Associates Inc., ERA produces significant, measurable carbon sequestration benefits that are validated and verified to international standards and sold to purchasers interested in offsetting their greenhouse gas footprints as a means of mitigating the effects of climate change. ERA is producing offsets from the company's "Community Ecosystem Restoration Program" (CERP) in the Lower Fraser Valley, near Vancouver, British Columbia. ERA is also developing projects in Africa, South America and the United States. ERA has generated ISO validated and verified Voluntary Emission Reductions (VERs) from the CERP project; to supply clients and offset users that include: HSE-Entega, Rolling Stone Magazine, Shell Canada Ltd., Air Canada, the Motion Pictures Producers Industry Association, and the Globe Foundation. Additional information on ERA can be found on the corporate website www.eracarbonoffsets.com or by contacting investor@eracarbonoffsets.com On behalf of the Board of Directors of ERA CARBON OFFSETS LTD. Robert Falls, Chief Executive Officer FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This document includes forward-looking statements as well as historical information. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the continued advancement of the company's general business development, research development and the company's development of forest-based carbon offsets. When used in this document, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intent", "may", "project", "plan", "should" and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements. Although ERA Carbon Offsets Ltd. believes that their expectations reflected in these forward looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties and no assurance can be given that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements include fluctuations in the marketplace for the sale of carbon credits, the inability to implement corporate strategies, the ability to obtain financing and other risks disclosed in our filings made with Canadian Securities Regulators. NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

MasterCard Foundation and Equity Group Foundation Launch Comprehensive Scholarship Program for Financially Disadvantaged Kenyan Students

2010-02-08 08:57:58 -0500

The MasterCard Foundation and the Equity Group Foundation (EGF) today launched a program that will provide $4.6 million in comprehensive educational support to 676 secondary students in Kenya over the next five years. Reeta Roy, President and CEO of The MasterCard Foundation, and EGF Chairman Dr. James Mwangi announced the partnership at an event in Nairobi presided by Prime Minister Raila Odinga. "All young people deserve an opportunity to reach their full potential," said Roy. "The MasterCard Foundation is proud to partner with EGF to enable students in Kenya to complete secondary school. EGF has the national scale, reach and financial systems to ensure this program benefits young people." The program will provide comprehensive scholarships to 332 academically gifted yet financially disadvantaged students, enabling them to complete secondary school in Kenya. The program will also provide leadership development, career guidance and mentoring to an additional 344 secondary school students. EGF will identify an equal number of male and female primary school students to participate in the program. "The collaboration with The MasterCard Foundation affirms our commitment to transforming the socioeconomic status of talented young people and developing the next generation of leaders in Kenya," said Mwangi. "Our hope is that other partners will look to this program as a model for transforming the lives of disadvantaged children and join us." In Kenya, just 64 percent of primary students enter secondary school and even fewer graduate. The low enrollment and completion rates are attributed to the cost of education; lack of access to schools, particularly in rural areas; and the need for poor youth to work to contribute to the household income. A recent World Bank report confirmed that financing mechanisms such as scholarships are key to retaining youth, especially girls, in secondary school. EGF, through Equity Bank, will oversee the distribution of funds using its extensive branch network. The Bank has supported education initiatives in Kenya throughout its 25-year history, including a Pre-University Program that enables top-performing secondary school graduates to enter university. To measure the impact of this program, both foundations will track students' progress over the next five years. About The MasterCard Foundation The MasterCard Foundation believes that every person has the potential to transform their lives, and to improve the lives of their families and their communities. By increasing access to microfinance and youth education for people in developing countries, the foundation is enabling them to realize their potential and lift themselves out of poverty. The foundation's vision is to make the economy work for everyone. It is an independent, private foundation based in Toronto, Canada, with assets totaling $3 billion. It was established through the generosity of MasterCard Worldwide at the time of the company's initial public offering in 2006. For more information, see http://www.themastercardfoundation.org/. About the Equity Group Foundation Equity Group Foundation (EGF) was established to create a clear financial and operational separation for social programs while harnessing Equity Bank's capabilities, infrastructure and reach. Its goal is to transform the socioeconomic status of people in Africa through several program areas: education and leadership development of young people; support of women and youth entrepreneurs; health promotion; agriculture development; and spurring innovation at the bottom of the pyramid. EGF's strategy is to achieve impact by initiating new programs as well as managing and scaling the Bank's current social programs. http://www.equitybank.co.ke

Haitian Telecom Operator Voila, Trilogy International Partners and The Jack Brewer Foundation to Host NFL Players on 'One Team 4 Haiti' Service Trip to Haiti

2010-02-05 16:38:26 -0500

Haitian telecom operator Voila and its parent company Trilogy International Partners are partnering with The Jack Brewer Foundation (JBF Worldwide) and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) to bring NFL athletes to Haiti for a service trip to continue to raise awareness and relief funds. The trip will highlight the NFL's commitment to continue helping Haiti recover from the devastation of the recent earthquake. This partnership, along with the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, has created the "One Team 4 Haiti" campaign. A national public service announcement featuring professional NFL athletes and announcing the campaign will air during the Super Bowl. "We are excited to host the NFL players in Haiti. Their influence and public personas can do a lot to keep the public connected and the awareness going," said Brad Horwitz, CEO, Trilogy International Partners. "We will work with them to organize projects in which they can make a lasting contribution to Haiti's reconstruction." The service trip will bring continued awareness about the ongoing need to rebuild and support this impoverished country. The NFL players committed to this relief effort include William Joseph, Jonathan Vilma, (both Haitian-born), Ryan Grant, Bryant McKinnie, Danny Clark, Barrett Green, Kevin Little, Jack Brewer, Sidney Rice, Abe Elam, Ronald Fields, Bobby Engram, Abdul Hodge, Jeremiah Finley, Charles Fisher, EJ Henderson, Champ Bailey, Corey Chavous, Anthony Becht, Robert Griffith, Fred Robbins, Darrelle Revis, Matt Spaeth and more. "I am heartened by the outpouring of support for the people of Haiti after this terrible earthquake," said Jack Brewer, Founder of JBF Worldwide. "Every corner of America has contributed resources and attention to the needs of this affected country. The NFL and NFLPA are looking to create a sustained engagement in Haiti's recovery through this partnership." The trip will promote continued focus on, and support of, Haiti. The NFL players will have an opportunity to create written and video diaries of their experiences, so their fans can join them on the trip. Fans will be able to read first-hand the thoughts and messages of their favorite players and connect to Haiti through their eyes. Voila and Trilogy are committed to the recovery of Haiti. After celebrating 10 years in Haiti, Trilogy and Voila received the prestigious Award for Corporate Excellence from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in December 2009, honoring Trilogy's and Voila's commitment to social improvement through youth and education programs and through significant contributions to the economic development of Haiti. Voila Voila is a leading mobile telecommunications operator in Haiti, providing high-quality, affordable wireless service. Since its inception, over US$200 million has been invested in Haiti. Voila employs over 500 local staff and provides indirect employment to more than 15,000 Haitians through a micro-enterprise venture whereby local entrepreneurs sell time on a customized cell phone. Trilogy International Partners, LLC Trilogy International Partners, LLC (Trilogy) invests in wireless telecommunication operations in international markets that exhibit strong opportunities for significant growth. Trilogy and its businesses hold licenses to provide wireless services to over 31 million people. For more information, see Trilogy's website: www.trilogy-international.com. The Jack Brewer Foundation The Jack Brewer Foundation (JBF Worldwide) - is a non-profit organization founded by former NFL safety Jack Brewer, committed to the empowerment of women and children living within the world's most impoverished and underdeveloped communities. Through JBF Worldwide's numerous initiatives, the foundation has enabled food security, access to educational resources and foster local enterprise. JBF Worldwide will be offering nutritional products and various aids to help provide food security for the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation. JBF Worldwide currently offers food security to more than 15,000 impoverished individuals through its self sustaining microfinance program. JBF Worldwide had an extraordinarily successful past year including ringing the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on February 27, 2009 and Founder Jack Brewer being honored with a Congressional Certificate of Appreciation by US Congressman Charles B. Rangel for foundations work in Africa. For more information about the Foundation, please visit www.thejackbrewerfoundation.org. For more information on JBF Worldwide, please contact Carolyn Bass by email at cbass@jbfworldwide.org. The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) The NFL Players Association is the exclusive collective bargaining agent for all players employed by clubs of the National Football League. Founded in 1956, the NFLPA works to ensure that the rights and interests of NFL players are protected. In addition, the NFLPA strives to be a valuable resource and to maximize player opportunities on and off the field through membership programs and community activities. For further information, visit www.NFLPLAYERS.com. Clinton Bush Haiti Fund The earthquake that rocked the coast of Haiti killed or injured a devastating number of people. Even more were left in need of aid, making this is one of the major humanitarian emergencies in the history of the Americas. In the aftermath of the disaster, President Barack Obama asked President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush to raise funds for immediate, high-impact relief and long-term recovery efforts to help those who are most in need of assistance. In response, the two Presidents established the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund (CBHF) to respond to unmet needs in the country, foster economic opportunity, improve the quality of life over the long term for those affected, and assist the people of Haiti as they rebuild their lives and "build back better." The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund will do this by working with and supporting the efforts of reputable 501(c) (3) nongovernmental and nonprofit organizations. Presidents Clinton and Bush oversee the CBHF through their respective nonprofit organizations, the William J. Clinton Foundation and Communities Foundation of Texas. One hundred percent of donations made to the Clinton Foundation and the Communities Foundation of Texas go directly to relief efforts. For more information, visit www.clintonbushhaitifund.org. You can contribute in any of three ways: Web: visit our secure online donation page Mobile Giving: Text the word "QUAKE" to 20222 to donate $10 to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund charged to your cell phone bill. Mail: The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund c/o William J. Clinton Foundation Donations Department 610 President Clinton Avenue Little Rock, AR 72201 OR The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund

Last Month to Apply for $130K in Grants Through Redwood Creek(R) Wines 'Greater Outdoors Project'

2010-02-05 16:20:51 -0500

Redwood Creek wines is putting its money where the grass grows and committing $130,000 in the third annual Greater Outdoors Project. Nine nonprofit finalists will be selected from across the country, eight of which will be awarded $10,000 each. The title grant of $50,000 will go to one winner, based on a national, public vote. Redwood Creek wines is calling on outdoor organizations nationwide to apply for this year's grant to fund a specific outdoor project unique to that group. Interested organizations must apply by February 28, 2010 at www.RedwoodCreekWine.com. Redwood Creek, known for crafting quality wines that offer a flavorful taste of the outdoors, established the Greater Outdoors Project in 2008 to recognize and support nonprofit organizations that share its commitment to preserve, protect and provide access to America's great outdoors. "The Sierra Nevada mountain snowmelt nurtures our vineyards, making them rich and fertile grounds for grape production," says Cal Dennison, Redwood Creek winemaker and outdoor enthusiast. "Because nature directly influences our craft and the quality of our wines, we should do our part to give back to the outdoors." A panel of judges made up of active members of the outdoor community, including Dennison, will review applications from hiking, water conservation and energy preservation groups, to name a few. Redwood Creek wines encourages applicants to be creative in their project submissions. Whether clearing pollution from Lake Erie, collecting litter from the trails of the Redwood Forests or sprucing up the appearance of the Everglades, any project dedicated to improving the outdoors is deemed appropriate. From April 1 through August 31, 2010, outdoor enthusiasts will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite nonprofit at www.RedwoodCreekWine.com. The winning organization will be announced in September 2010. Last year's Greater Outdoors Project grant was presented to Friends of New Orleans City Park, after a nationwide vote of more than 38,000. The $50,000 grant is currently being used to reestablish 19 acres of ecosystems in the Couturie Forest, a popular woodland nestled at the center of the park's 1,300 acres, that was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. To enter this year's Greater Outdoors Project, participants must complete the online application at www.RedwoodCreekWine.com, which includes a statement of purpose, detailed budget, timeline and photographs of the proposed project. All project work must be completed by December 2011. Only one application per organization will be considered and all submissions must be dedicated to a specific project. The grant applicant must be 21 years of age or older and a legal U.S. citizen. Only members or representatives of registered 501(c )(3) nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply. For complete rules and additional information, visit www.RedwoodCreekWine.com. About Redwood Creek: Redwood Creek wines embody the adventurous spirit of the great outdoors. Redwood Creek Winemaker Cal Dennison crafted a portfolio of eight food-friendly wines that consistently deliver outstanding quality at an attractive price. Redwood Creek wines are available at retailers nationwide at a suggested retail price ranging from $6.99 to $9.99. About the Greater Outdoors Project: No purchase necessary. Grants Application period ends February 28, 2010 and is void in TN, UT and PR and where prohibited by law. Must be a legal resident of one of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia and at least 21 years of age or older at the time of entry. See Official Terms and Conditions at www.RedwoodCreekWine.com. California, French and Italian Table Wine, ©2010 Frei Bros. Vineyards, Modesto, CA. All rights reserved

Express Scripts Supports Red Cross Haiti Relief Efforts

2010-02-05 13:15:41 -0500

Express Scripts, Inc. (Nasdaq: ESRX), one of the largest pharmacy benefit management companies in North America, today announced that employees have donated more then $97,000 to the Red Cross for its emergency relief and recovery efforts to help those affected by the earthquake in Haiti. With a dollar for dollar match by the Express Scripts Foundation, the total donation was more then $194,000. "Express Scripts and its employees are deeply saddened by the devastation in Haiti following the January 12 earthquake," said George Paz, chairman and CEO of Express Scripts. "Our employees have rallied to support the efforts of the Red Cross as they and so many other relief organizations provide critical assistance to those who need it most. I am delighted that the Express Scripts Foundation is doubling that support." The Express Scripts Foundation is a private foundation established by Express Scripts, Inc. in 2002. Express Scripts and the Foundation are committed to making a positive difference in the lives of people and communities in need. "We are touched and grateful for the generosity of Express Scripts employees and Foundation," said Cindy Erickson, CEO, American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter. "The relief operation in Haiti is already the largest single-country personnel deployment in global Red Cross history. Donations such as these help us to deploy much-needed personnel, send relief supplies and provide financial resources." About Express Scripts, Inc. Express Scripts, Inc., one of the largest pharmacy benefit management companies in North America, is leading the way toward creating better health and value for patients through Consumerology(SM), the advanced application of the behavioral sciences to healthcare. This approach is helping millions of members realize greater healthcare outcomes and lowering cost by assisting in influencing their behavior. Headquartered in St. Louis, Express Scripts provides integrated PBM services including network-pharmacy claims processing, home delivery services, specialty benefit management, benefit-design consultation, drug-utilization review, formulary management, and medical and drug data analysis services. The company also distributes a full range of biopharmaceutical products and provides extensive cost-management and patient-care services. More information can be found at www.express-scripts.com and www.consumerology.org.

Novo Nordisk reports strong financial, social and environmental performance for 2009

2010-02-05 12:14:26 -0500

Despite continuing challenges in the global economic environment, 2009 was a successful year for Novo Nordisk with solid sales in all business areas, continued improvement in the gross margin and progress in the clinical development pipeline for key projects in both diabetes care and biopharmaceuticals. The company's accomplishments during the year, including strong performance against social and environmental targets, are reported in its sixth annual integrated report. During 2009, Novo Nordisk:

Increased sales by 11% (in local currencies) and by 12% in Danish kroner to DKK 51,078 million compared to 2008.
Increased reported operating profit by 21% to DKK 14,933 million compared to 2008.
Maintained global leadership in diabetes care with 51% of the total insulin market.
Reduced CO₂ emissions by 32% and water consumption by 20%.
Increased its workforce by 8% to 29,329 employees at year end to support sales growth and a strong pipeline of future treatments.
Expanded support for healthcare capacity building in developing countries by donating 82 million DKK to the World Diabetes Foundation and the Novo Nordisk Haemophilia Foundation.
Diagnosed and enrolled more than 400 children with type 1 diabetes in the Changing Diabetes® in Children programme, which builds sustainable partnerships to offer diabetes care, including free insulin.

Novo Nordisk manages its business using the Triple Bottom Line principle to ensure that decision-making balances profitability with long-term societal interests. The integrated Annual Report seeks to meet the information needs of shareholders, financial analysts and other corporate stakeholders by exploring the interaction between financial and non-financial objectives. In the absence of global standards for inclusive reporting, the report was prepared in respect of international standards for mandatory and voluntary reporting:

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
The accountability standard, the AA1000 (2008) Framework, which includes AA1000APS(2008) and AA1000AS(2008).
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G3 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines.
UN Global Compact, Communication on Progress.
US Sarbanes–Oxley Act requirements for financial reporting. Novo Nordisk has also embarked on a process of structuring the control environment for non-financial data with the aspiration to have full alignment with the control environment for financial data.

The report is available online, along with more background, context and data supplementing the report PDF, at http://annualreport2009.novonordisk.com and for more information on TBL and sustainability please visit www.novonordisk.com/sustainability. About Novo Nordisk Novo Nordisk is a healthcare company and a world leader in diabetes care. In addition, Novo Nordisk has a leading position within areas such as haemostasis management, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. Novo Nordisk manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products and services that make a significant difference to patients, the medical profession and society. With headquarters in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs over 29,300 employees in 76 countries, and markets its products in 179 countries. Novo Nordisk's B shares are listed on the stock exchanges in Copenhagen and London. Its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol 'NVO'. For more information, visit novonordisk.com.

STR Responsible Sourcing Launches Labor Law Library

2010-02-05 11:45:47 -0500

STR Responsible Sourcing (STR RS), a leading provider of ethical sourcing consulting services for Fortune 500 companies, today announced that it has launched the most comprehensive and up-to-date online reference tool for labor laws and employment standards. STR RS's new Labor & Employment Standards Library (LESLi) provides sourcing, legal, and human resources professionals and academics with full-text English translation of labor laws for over 140 countries. LESLi's contents are both searchable and exportable, and the product features a suite of analysis tools that allow users to make country-to-country comparisons of different labor laws, including wages, hours, hiring and termination, forced labor, and collective bargaining among others. Until now, it was cumbersome to gather actual full-text laws since different countries - not to mention the states and provinces within them - offer different access levels to their laws. There was also the hurdle of effectively translating these laws to English. "With the increasing global reach of supply chains, the need for having a consistent single source for this information became obvious. We talked to many clients and industry partners about their challenges, and then spent two years making LESLi a reality," said Greg Gardner, General Manager of STR RS. "LESLi will make it infinitely easier for companies, researchers and others to obtain good quality English translations of labor laws that relate to their global businesses." In addition to addressing the need for a one-stop shop for global labor laws, Gardner also cites two additional elements that make LESLi unique within the industry: (1) STR RS is a trusted name in the corporate responsibility industry so subscribers can feel assured that the information contained in the database is reputable and legitimate; and (2) subscribers can be confident that the laws in the database are up to date. "This database was initially developed for our field staff so they could quickly reference the laws that were applicable to the assessments they were doing," explains Rachelle Jackson, Director of Research and Development at STR RS. "We can't do a good job of assessing workplace conditions without access to up-to-date labor laws so we do regular reviews of the laws in the database to make sure they are all current." Some of the applications for LESLi include: setting global human resources policies that are consistent with local laws; identifying gaps between sourcing countries' labor conditions and international labor standards; understanding legal obligations for employing people in international locales; and comparing the labor requirements from country to country. Visit http://www.STRQuality.com/LESLi for an online product demonstration and additional information about LESLi. Demonstrations of LESLi will also be available during STR RS's 5th Annual Responsible Sourcing Summit on February 25, 2010. About STR Responsible Sourcing STR Responsible Sourcing is a leading provider of corporate responsibility consulting services which include monitoring, training, research and program development. STR RS is a business unit within Specialized Technology Resources’ Quality Assurance Division, which was founded in 1944. STR RS has offices in over 30 countries across five continents, and the reach to provide audit services in over 140 countries around the world. Visit STR at http://www.STRQuality.com.

Rachel Roy Announces Collaboration with Fairwinds Trading in an Effort to Create Jobs for Women in Africa

2010-02-05 09:49:15 -0500

Designer Rachel Roy and Fairwinds Trading have partnered on a unique product collaboration in an effort to create jobs for women in Africa. As part of this collaboration, items that are hand-crafted in Africa by female-owned businesses will be integrated into select seasonal Rachel Rachel Roy collections beginning in Spring 2010. Rachel Rachel Roy is a division of Jones Apparel Group (NYSE: JNY). To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/rachelroy/41987/ The launch collection features a clutch that was crafted in Tanzania using indigenous fabrics and textiles. The collection also features a bracelet and earrings handmade in Rwanda. The bracelet is fashioned from shredded woven paper and both the bracelet and earrings feature beads constructed from a unique paper layering process. These one-of-a-kind works of art were created by women using patterns and techniques unique to their community of origin. Founder and artistic director Rachel Roy said, "My goal as a working woman and mother is to support women's independence through employment. For the women who benefit from the Fairwinds Trading partnership, the opportunity to work is an important source of self-respect and financial freedom. I support this important organization and its ongoing collaboration with Macy's made it a perfect fit for the Rachel Rachel Roy brand. The vast network of African artisans that Fairwinds has brought together is immensely talented and I am excited to be able to incorporate their artwork into my collection." Willa Shallit, founder of Fairwinds Trading said, "The RRR clutch represents the story of a chain of women supporting one another: A woman in rural Congo spends her days weaving Kuba cloth, she then holds out her hand to a woman in Tanzania who takes the woven cloth and adds other beautiful materials to it. That Tanzanian woman hands it to Rachel Roy who takes the Kuba cloth and makes it into a brilliantly designed clutch, which a woman then purchases in the United States. Four separate women's lives are interconnected through this one accessory. It is a direct and powerful chain that works to fight poverty, through beauty." Flotea Masawe, owner of Marvelous Batik, who produced the clutch said, "We used Kuba cloth from weavers in Congo and crafted the clutch in Tanzania before sending it to the U.S. for Rachel's final touches. This clutch really has created a chain of women in three different countries who linked together to help alleviate poverty by providing employment and economic opportunities for African women." The Rachel Rachel Roy Fairwinds collaboration will be available at rachelroy.com and select Macy's stores and macys.com. This collection compliments Macy's existing partnership with Fairwinds including the Rwanda Path To Peace collection which features exquisite baskets handcrafted by Rwandan women. The collaboration with Fairwinds Trading is part of a series of limited edition capsule collections that merge fashion with culture, art, music, photography and philanthropy to bring a unique element to the Rachel Rachel Roy brand. The Rachel Rachel Roy collection features affordable contemporary sportswear, footwear, handbags and jewelry. The collection is available exclusively at select Macy's stores and online at macys.com/rachelroy and rachelroy.com. You can become a fan of Rachel Roy on Facebook or follow her on Twitter. About Jones Apparel Group Jones Apparel Group, Inc. (www.jonesapparel.com) is a leading designer, marketer and wholesaler of branded apparel, footwear and accessories. The Company also markets directly to consumers through its chain of specialty retail and value-based stores and through its e-commerce web sites. The Company's nationally recognized brands include Jones New York, Nine West, Anne Klein, Gloria Vanderbilt, Kasper, Bandolino, Easy Spirit, Evan-Picone, l.e.i., Energie, Enzo Angiolini, Joan & David, Mootsies Tootsies, Sam & Libby, Napier, Judith Jack, Albert Nipon and Le Suit. The Company also markets costume jewelry under the Givenchy brand licensed from Givenchy Corporation, women's footwear under the Dockers® and Dockers® Women brands and infants', toddlers' and boys' footwear (excluding girls' footwear) under the Dockers® and Dockers® Premium brands, licensed from Levi Strauss & Co., apparel and accessories under the Rachel Roy brand licensed from Rachel Roy IP Company, LLC, and Jessica Simpson jeanswear licensed from VCJS, LLC. Each brand is differentiated by its own distinctive styling, pricing strategy, distribution channel and target consumer. The Company contracts for the manufacture of its products through a worldwide network of quality manufacturers. The Company has capitalized on its nationally known brand names by entering into various licenses for several of its trademarks, including Jones New York, Anne Klein New York, Nine West, Gloria Vanderbilt, l.e.i. and Evan-Picone, with select manufacturers of women's and men's products which the Company does not manufacture. For more than 30 years, the Company has built a reputation for excellence in product quality and value, and in operational execution. Forward Looking Statements Certain statements contained herein are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements regarding the Company's expected financial position, business and financing plans are forward-looking statements. The words "believes," "expects," "plans," "intends," "anticipates" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements also include representations of the Company's expectations or beliefs concerning future events that involve risks and uncertainties, including:

those associated with the effect of national, regional and international economic conditions;
lowered levels of consumer spending resulting from a general economic downturn or lower levels of consumer confidence;
the tightening of the credit markets and our ability to obtain credit on satisfactory terms;
given the uncertain economic environment, the possible unwillingness of committed lenders to meet their obligations to lend to borrowers, in general;
the performance of the Company's products within the prevailing retail environment;
customer acceptance of both new designs and newly-introduced product lines;
the Company's reliance on a few department store groups for large portions of the Company's business;
the Company's ability to identify acquisition candidates and, in a competitive environment for such acquisitions, acquire such businesses on reasonable financial and other terms;
the integration of the organizations and operations of any acquired businesses into the Company's existing organization and operations;
consolidation of the Company's retail customers;
financial difficulties encountered by the Company's customers;
the effects of vigorous competition in the markets in which the Company operates;
the Company's ability to attract and retain qualified executives and other key personnel;
the Company's reliance on independent foreign manufacturers;
changes in the costs of raw materials, labor, advertising and transportation;
the general inability to obtain higher wholesale prices for the Company's products that the Company has experienced for many years;
the uncertainties of sourcing associated with an environment in which general quota has expired on apparel products but litigation and political activity seeking to re-impose quotas have been initiated;
the Company's ability to successfully implement new operational and financial computer systems; and
the Company's ability to secure and protect trademarks and other intellectual property rights.

A further description of these risks and uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations can be found in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, including, but not limited to, the Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Disclosure and Item 1A-Risk Factors therein, and in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such expectations may prove to be incorrect. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. About Rachel Roy Rachel Roy (www.rachelroy.com) approaches the design of her collections with a feminine and modern point of view. Her goal is to create clothing for women who embrace fashion and dress with an effortless elegance, confidence, and edge. The RACHEL ROY NEW YORK collection is available at Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and top specialty stores worldwide. The RACHEL RACHEL ROY collection, the diffusion companion to the designer collection, launched in August 2009 and embodies uptown glamour with downtown edge in sportswear, footwear, handbags and jewelry. The collection is available exclusively at Macy's and macys.com. In 2007, Roy was inducted into the CFDA as a new member where she stands alongside other esteemed fashion industry individuals. About Fairwinds Trading Fairwinds Trading, Inc. (www.fairwindstrading.com) is a U.S.-based, for-profit company that uses business as a strategy for economic empowerment of people, especially women, in developing nations. Our focus on women as a preferred partner is based in part on our history, in part on our leadership as a woman-owned firm, and in part on evidence that raising the standard of living for women has the greatest positive multiplier effect within family, communities and cultures. Fairwinds' mission is to connect cultures through business, art and understanding.

Ingram Micro to Donate $100,000 to Haiti Relief Efforts

2010-02-05 09:19:27 -0500

In response to the tragedy in Haiti, Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE: IM), the world's largest technology distributor is donating $100,000 to assist with Haiti humanitarian relief efforts. When the earthquake struck Haiti a little over three weeks ago, Ingram Micro associates quickly mobilized, collecting donations from offices worldwide that the company matched. "At Ingram Micro, it's the people who make the difference. They care about their local communities and the world around them," said Greg Spierkel, chief executive officer, Ingram Micro Inc. "Immediately after the news of the earthquake reached us, associates began organizing local fund-raising efforts from our corporate headquarters in the United States to our operating units throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Our thoughts are with all who have been impacted by this terrible tragedy." Employees within Ingram Micro's 35 country-based operations held fund-raising efforts through the end of January. The company's associates around the world demonstrated innovative ways to participate. In Belgium, for example, associates organized a 24-hour sales marathon, with 2 Euros earmarked for Haiti relief for every item purchased. Associates in the company's Latin America region headquarters in Miami, Fla. sponsored a bake sale, while offices in California, New York and Sydney, Australia, held "Casual for a Cause" days in which employees donated money to dress casually at work. Country donations were given to local Red Cross or Red Crescent organizations and corporate matching funds will be sent through the International Red Cross for immediate and long-term Haiti relief. About Ingram Micro Inc. As a vital link in the technology value chain, Ingram Micro creates sales and profitability opportunities for vendors and resellers through unique marketing programs, outsourced logistics services, technical support, financial services, and product aggregation and distribution. The company serves more than 150 countries and is the only global broad-based IT distributor with operations in Asia. Visit www.ingrammicro.com. © 2010 Ingram Micro Inc. All rights reserved. Ingram Micro and the registered Ingram Micro logo are trademarks used under license by Ingram Micro Inc.

Caterpillar World Headquarters Awarded LEED-EB(R) Gold from United States Green Building Council

2010-02-05 09:14:04 -0500

The Caterpillar Administration Building, which serves as the company's world headquarters, has been awarded LEED-EB® O+M (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance) Gold certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). Achieving the certification makes the Caterpillar facility, located in downtown Peoria, the first building in Illinois outside of the Chicago metropolitan area to become LEED-EB certified and the second building in the Caterpillar family to earn the recognition. The Cat Financial Center in Nashville, Tennessee, received LEED-EB certification in April of 2009. LEED is a third-party certification program and a recognized benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. LEED-Gold certification is the second highest rating obtainable in the system. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas: sustainable sites, water savings, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources and indoor environmental quality. "Every day members of Team Caterpillar look for opportunities to apply their expertise, technology and common sense to address environmental issues," said Greg Folley, vice president of Caterpillar's Human Services Division. "Successfully identifying and managing our environmental footprint reduces environmental impacts where we all live and work, makes good business sense and is simply the right thing to do for our community, employees, customers and shareholders." Specific highlights include:

Decreased energy consumption by 40 percent through improved control systems, operating methods, and lighting automation.
Implemented a new irrigation system for all landscaped areas resulting in a 50-percent water use reduction.
Implemented a green cleaning program with new environmentally-friendly chemicals and developed an improved pest management program utilizing the least toxic methods.
Leveraged Caterpillar's purchasing and recycling practices to reduce the environmental impact of materials used and conducted waste stream audits to drive continuous improvement efforts.

More information on the LEED green building certification system is available at www.usgbc.org/LEED. About Caterpillar: For more than 80 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making progress possible and driving positive and sustainable change on every continent. With 2009 sales and revenues of $32.396 billion, Caterpillar is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines. The company also is a leading services provider through Caterpillar Financial Services, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services, Caterpillar Logistics Services and Progress Rail Services. More information is available at http://www.cat.com.

Henry Schein and American Dental Association Open NASDAQ Exchange to Mark ADA's Eighth Annual 'Give Kids A Smile Day'

2010-02-05 08:53:42 -0500

Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC), the largest distributor of health care products and services to office-based dental, medical and veterinary practitioners, joined the American Dental Association (ADA) today to open the NASDAQ Exchange for trading in celebration of the ADA's eighth annual "Give Kids A Smile Day". Representatives from all segments of the dental community and co-sponsors DEXIS® and Colgate-Palmolive Company were also present to help kick off "Give Kids A Smile Day" at the NASDAQ MarketSite Tower. "Give Kids A Smile Day" annually provides free dental services and educational programs for more than 320,000 underserved children at approximately 1,700 locations across the United States. Today almost 50,000 dental team volunteers, including 13,000 dentists, will participate in events including in-school brushing demonstrations, community screening and treatment programs, and free private dental care. Henry Schein Dental, the U.S. Dental division of Henry Schein, is again serving as the exclusive professional product sponsor of "Give Kids A Smile Day". With the commitment and support of 40 supplier partners, Henry Schein will provide thousands of oral health care screening and prevention kits to the program containing supplies to serve more than 150,000 children. Since the program's inception, Henry Schein and its supplier partners have donated more than $10 million in value to the "Give Kids A Smile" program. "'Give Kids A Smile' was the first significant national program supported through Henry Schein Cares, our global social responsibility program, and it remains a flagship initiative in which we take great pride and remain firmly committed," said Stanley M. Bergman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Henry Schein. "'Give Kids A Smile' is a sterling example of the effectiveness strategic public-private partnerships hold in addressing complex health care issues. By contributing our own core competencies, supplementing these with the contributions of our generous supplier partners, and working in collaboration with all segments of the dental community, we are able to use our collective resources to increase awareness of this important issue and to make a tangible difference in the lives of underserved children in our country." Each year, ADA's "Give Kids A Smile Day" highlights the ongoing challenges that underserved children face in accessing dental care, and helps build support among policy makers for public and private solutions that will provide regular access to oral health care. According to the ADA, tooth decay is the single most chronic childhood disease-five times more common than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever. Recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data show that tooth decay is on the rise for preschoolers, and it is estimated that 80 percent of tooth decay is found in only 25 percent of the children. The ADA recommends that children see a dentist no later than their first birthday, yet almost half (49 percent) have never seen a dentist before kindergarten, and by ages six to eight more than half (53.2 percent) have tooth decay. Children five to seven years of age are estimated to lose more than seven million school hours annually because of dental problems. "The success of the "Give Kids A Smile" program over the past eight years reflects not only the commitment of our membership to address the important issue of access to oral health care for underserved children, but also the invaluable support of our corporate sponsors, whose participation has increased the scope and effectiveness of the initiative," said Dr. Ron Tankersley, President, American Dental Association. "It is a great pleasure to work hand-in-hand with Henry Schein, DEXIS, Colgate-Palmolive, and our many other dental industry supporters to help enhance the level of care for our country's children in need." In addition to "Give Kids A Smile Day", the ADA has expanded the program into a year-round effort to increase access to dental care for underserved children. The ADA's "Give Kids A Smile" National Advisory Board, which is chaired by Steve Kess, Vice President of Global Professional Relations for Henry Schein, focuses on expanding this initiative in three primary areas-program enhancement; fundraising; and hosting an annual Promising Practices Symposium where similar programs can share best practices. Henry Schein's 2010 Participating Supplier Partners This year the following manufacturers are supporting the ADA's "Give Kids A Smile" efforts through product donations:


3M ESPE Dental	Acteon	Ansell Healthcare Products
Axis Dental Corporation	Biotrol International	Coltene/Whaledent, Inc.
Crosstex International	DASH	Dentsply Caulk
Dentsply Pharmaceutical	Dentsply Professional	DMG America
Dukal Corporation	Dux Dental	GC America, Inc.
Harry J. Bosworth Company	Hu-Friedy Mfg. Co. Inc.	J & J Instruments
Johnson & Johnson	Kimberly-Clark	Kuraray America, Inc.
L& R Manufacturing Inc	Medicom	Microflex Corporation
Miltex	Premier Dental Products Co.	Richmond Dental
SDS Kerr	Sempermed USA	Septodont
Southern Dental	SS White Burs	Sultan Healthcare
Sunstar Americas	TIDI Products	TotalCare
Tuttnauer	Waterpik Technologies	Young Dental
Zircr

About the ADA Celebrating its 150th anniversary, the not-for-profit ADA is the nation's largest dental association, representing more than 157,000 dentist members. The premier source of oral health information, the ADA has advocated for the public's health and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859. The ADA's state-of-the-art research facilities develop and test dental products and materials that have advanced the practice of dentistry and made the patient experience more positive. The ADA Seal of Acceptance long has been a valuable and respected guide to consumer dental care products. The monthly Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) is the best-read scientific journal in dentistry. For more information about the ADA, visit the Association's Web site at www.ada.org. About DEXIS DEXIS is an industry leader in developing high quality digital imaging solutions for the dental community. In 1997, DEXIS introduced digital radiography on laptop computers - making it the first truly portable and affordable digital X-ray system. In 2001, DEXIS became the first intra-oral digital radiography system to be accepted by the American Dental Association into the highly prestigious ADA Seal Program. Today, DEXIS is the most highly awarded intra-oral digital X-ray system with numerous awards from dental researchers and well-respected dental publications. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.dexis.com. About Colgate-Palmolive Company Colgate-Palmolive is a leading global consumer products company, tightly focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition. Colgate sells its products in over 200 countries and territories around the world under such internationally recognized brand names as Colgate, Palmolive, Mennen, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sorriso, Kolynos, Elmex, Tom's of Maine, Ajax, Axion, Soupline, and Suavitel, as well as Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet. For more information about Colgate's global business, visit the company's Web site at www.colgate.com. About Henry Schein Henry Schein, a Fortune 500® company and a member of the NASDAQ 100® Index, is recognized for its excellent customer service and highly competitive prices. The Company's four business groups - Dental, Medical, International and Technology - serve more than 590,000 customers worldwide, including dental practitioners and laboratories, physician practices and animal health clinics, as well as government and other institutions. The Company operates through a centralized and automated distribution network, which provides customers in more than 200 countries with a comprehensive selection of more than 90,000 national and Henry Schein private-brand products in stock, as well as more than 100,000 additional products available as special-order items. Henry Schein also provides exclusive, innovative technology offerings for dental, medical and veterinary professionals, including value-added practice management software and electronic health record solutions. Headquartered in Melville, N.Y., Henry Schein employs more than 13,500 people and has operations or affiliates in 23 countries. The Company's net sales reached a record $6.4 billion in 2008. For more information, visit the Henry Schein Web site at www.henryschein.com.

Haiti Telecom Operator Voila Teams With Relief Agencies on Wireless Communications Projects

2010-02-05 08:28:31 -0500

Haiti telecom operator Voila has been busy since the January 12 earthquake providing local and international service to over a million Haitian customers and thousands of incoming relief workers. However, Voila technicians are also assisting a host of agencies - from the US Coast Guard to international NGOs - to set up or restore public safety communications networks and to launch new text services tailored specifically for disaster relief. Working with the Irish Red Cross and the International Federation of the Red Cross Red Crescent (IFRC), Voila is sending text messages with vital health-related information to all of its customers over a 10 day period. Each message will appear in Creole and will be distributed as a public service. The Irish Red Cross, IFRC, and Voila plan to support this service with voice recordings about vaccination programs, sanitation tips, and other advice that users can access with a few keystrokes on their phones. As Voila customers pass the messages to others by word-of-mouth, the information campaign should reach 3 to 4 million Haitians. Robin Padberg, Voila's CEO, said, "We are pleased to partner with the Irish Red Cross and IFRC in providing a critical service that stands to protect a significant number of people from the inevitable spread of disease following this tragedy." In collaboration with the US embassy, Voila is also participating in Mission 4636, which enables a mobile phone user to use a short code - 4636 - to text a free request for medical help or food to appropriate relief agencies. Organized by Samasource and Crowdflower, the project uses thousands of volunteers to translate the incoming messages to English and to redirect them to the Red Cross, Ushahidi, and a variety of NGOs, along with data indicating the location of each sender. The agencies can then direct aid where and when it is needed. Besides using its own wireless network to connect Haitians who need assistance with those who can provide it, Voila is helping Haitian and US government public safety agencies deploy their own communications systems, so that they can fulfill their public safety, rescue, and relief responsibilities. On the island of La Gonave, sitting in the gulf off of Port-au-Prince, police and fire radio services were knocked out by the earthquake. Voila technical experts traveled to the island, and installed new electrical equipment, a fuel tank and a generator, enabling Haitian police and fire authorities to respond to local needs. Voila will continue to monitor the ongoing emergency communications needs of the police and fire departments and supply additional fuel to the Gonave communications facility. The US Coast Guard needed an immediate means of inter-agency communications to manage vital missions: processing emergency requests for help, medevacing injured Haitians to hospitals throughout Haiti, and coordinating the repair of Haiti's ports. Voila technicians worked with the US Coast Guard to place radio antennae on a strategically-located Voila tower to provide the necessary communications links for the Coast Guard's network. Haitian government personnel in Port-au-Prince need a dedicated private communications network that will enable them to work as a cohesive group. In order to accelerate the launch of this system, Voila has offered space on its towers, as well as access to electricity and backup generators, for the transmitters and receivers that the government needs to install. "We have given them power and authorized them to mount their equipment on our towers," said Edgar Geidans, Trilogy International Partners' Vice President of Engineering and Operations, who flew to Port-au-Prince the morning after the earthquake to help Voila's engineers manage their network. "This provides the government with a back up for communications in addition to the operating networks in Haiti." Voila, and its parent company, Trilogy International Partners, are committed to the recovery of Haiti. After celebrating 10 years in Haiti in October 2009, Trilogy and Voila were awarded the US State Department's prestigious Award for Corporate Excellence by Secretary Hillary Clinton, in recognition of Trilogy's and Voila's commitment to social improvement through youth and education programs and significant contributions to the economic development of Haiti. About Voila and Trilogy International Partners Voila is a leading mobile telecommunications operator in Haiti, providing high-quality, affordable wireless service. Since its inception 10 years ago, it has invested over US$200 million in Haiti. Voila employs over 500 local staff and provides indirect employment to more than 15,000 Haitians through a micro-enterprise venture whereby local entrepreneurs sell time on a customized cell phone. Voila is a subsidiary of Trilogy International Partners LLC, a privately-held company based in Bellevue, WA. Trilogy also owns wireless communications systems in the Dominican Republic, Bolivia, and New Zealand. For more information on Trilogy, please see its website: www.trilogy-international.com.

KaBoom! Offers "Shovel-Ready" Projects to Support First Lady's Anti-Obesity Initiative

2010-02-04 17:25:23 -0500

As First Lady Michelle Obama prepares to launch her campaign against childhood obesity on Tuesday, KaBOOM! CEO Darell Hammond has pledged support for the initiative and said his national playground-building organization offers a "shovel-ready" solution to help get kids moving. KaBOOM! uses corporate and individual donations to help communities build playgrounds in under served neighborhoods. Over the past 14 years the organization has helped build more than 1,700 playgrounds across the U.S., mostly in inner cities. "Like us, Mrs. Obama knows that having a great playground nearby is a key ingredient in giving kids a healthy, active life," said Hammond. "That's why she volunteered last year on a KaBOOM! build, and why she called our work 'necessary … to the health of the entire nation. We're looking forward to working with new partners inspired by her call to fight childhood obesity." Specifically, Hammond urged corporations to support non-profits - KaBOOM! and others – that can make a quick, measurable difference in kids' activity levels. "KaBOOM! has turn-key programs that can make a fast but lasting impact in child-rich but playground poor communities," he said. "These neighborhoods are full of children who hunger for play – and the impact on their young lives is both immediate and profound." Since a Harris Interactive study found that 59% of parents and 69% of low-income parents report there is no playground in their neighborhood, getting playgrounds built near where children live is a key factor in ensuring they're active every day. To combat childhood obesity on the local and national level, KaBOOM! offers turn-key programs for corporations, local governments, neighborhoods and individuals. By forming corporate partnerships, KaBOOM! is able to fund playground builds in underserved areas. Currently, 93 local governments are working with KaBOOM! as part of the Playful City USA program, which gets kids active and healthy through play by providing mayors with proven strategies, best practices and tools that bring public and private sectors together and engage citizens. Thousands of citizens and schools are using the Do-It-Yourself tools on kaboom.org, which walk them step-by-step through the process of building a playground in their community. KaBOOM! has already helped thousands of communities across the country turn the tide on childhood obesity by ensuring that children have the time and space to play every day. And KaBOOM! has the capacity to help thousands more. Anyone interested in answering the First Lady's call to action can get more information on the power of play at www.kaboom.org.

Sustainable Life Media to Host 10th Session of the Sustainable Brands Boot Camp Series

2010-02-04 16:30:11 -0500

Sustainable Life Media to host the 10th part of SB Boot Camp 13-week training series in sustainable business, presented by R. Paul Herman, CEO and founder of HIP Investor: tomorrow, 02.05.10. Developed by the producers of the Sustainable Brands Conference, Boot Camp is designed to teach business executives how to build business value and brand equity by innovating for sustainability. Participants learn from some of the world's top sustainable business thought leaders, each a leading sustainable business expert in his/her specialty. These long-time sustainability practitioners have consulted with top global brands, including Coke, Pepsi, Walmart, UPS, HP and Kraft, among many others. Friday's session will focus on the dynamics of Business Metrics for Goal Setting and Management. Herman will introduce and explain innovative tools such as key performance indicators, metrics and cutting-edge information dashboards that can be used to help monitor and improve an organization's environmental and social impact. There will be an in-depth explanation of how these tools, when actively used, provide benchmarks for companies embarking on the path to achieve sustainability. The session will teach participants how to determine where their organization is now and where it wants to be in the long-term, all while realizing the costs and benefits. As the founder and CEO of HIP Investor, Paul Herman is dedicated to spreading and implementing this vision of a world that is socially, environmentally and financially sustainable. Paul has advised Fortune 500 companies worldwide with McKinsey & Company and CSC Index, founded the New York Chapter of Coalition for Quality Children's Media which teaches youth media literacy, serves on the Board of Advisors for Design That Matters, a product-design firm to help low-income citizens globally, and is an Advisor to a global network of HIP-focused professionals and students. All thirteen of the Boot Camp series sessions are available On Demand at the SLM Media site for review and repeat viewing at any time at www.sustainablelifemedia.com/events/online/sbbootcamp About SB Boot Camp: http://bit.ly/sbbootcamp Sign up for FREE Newsletters http://bit.ly/SB_Newsletters Join Us on LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/SB-LinkedIn Follow Us: http://bit.ly/SB_Twitter Sustainable Life Media is a business-to-business online community, e-newsletter and event company located in San Francisco, CA. Sustainable Life Media (SLM) is home for business professionals looking to build new value and competitive advantage by innovating more sustainable strategies, practices and products. For more information, visit: http://www.sustainablelifemedia.com/about

Giving Pre-Game a New Name

2010-02-04 13:01:51 -0500

Choice Hotels President and CEO Steve Joyce and Rebuilding Together President and CEO Gary Officer join "The Steve Harvey Morning Show" for a live broadcast from the site of Rebuilding Together's 15th annual "Kickoff to Rebuild" on February 4, 2010. The event is held each year in the city of the Big Game to help revitalize communities. Choice Hotels' associates and franchisees donated their time working side by side with former and current professional football players and other volunteers to help rehabilitate seven homes in Miami as part of this year's effort in historic Coconut Grove. In 2009, Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) made a multi-year commitment of $1.5 million and since September 11, 2009, has completed 21 projects across the country, with more than 700 volunteers contributing more than 5,000 hours toward the effort.

Dow Corning to be Featured on Green Magazine TV

2010-02-04 11:41:16 -0500

"Green Magazine TV" produced by Worldwide Digital Communications, is a new television series featuring ecology and energy conscious companies and organizations. This series will showcase some of the newest and "greenest" technologies being utilized, and is scheduled to be aired as paid programming on the Discovery Channel. Dow Corning Corporation (www.dowcorning.com) will be featured on "Green Magazine TV" for its companywide initiatives in innovation and sustainability. Escalating fossil fuel prices and decreasing petroleum reserves are renewing the world's focus on alternative energy. Dow Corning silicones and silicon-based materials are helping the world capture the energy of the sun and wind that otherwise would be wasted. Whether harnessing solar power and wind energy, helping to develop energy efficient buildings or in a multitude of other ways, Dow Corning is embracing sustainability by providing products and solutions that help improve the quality of life for people around the globe. Dow Corning provides performance-enhancing solutions to serve the diverse needs of more than 25,000 customers worldwide. A global leader in silicones and silicon-based technology and innovation, Dow Corning offers more than 7,000 products and services via the company's Dow Corning® and XIAMETER® brands. Dow Corning is equally owned by the Dow Chemical Company and Corning, Incorporated. More than half of Dow Corning's annual sales are outside the United States. For more information on "Green Magazine TV," visit www.greenmagazinetelevision.com Worldwide Digital Communications is an independent television production company that produces unique programming for niche markets. Culinary, Current Issues, Healthcare and New Technology are just some of the industries that are included in our line-up. Shows currently in production are "Green Magazine TV", "Profiles in Innovation" and "Health on the Edge."

Procter & Gamble Contributions Exceed $2 Million to Haiti Relief

2010-02-04 11:18:04 -0500

The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG) support for the relief and rebuilding efforts in Haiti now totals over $2 million. To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/pg/42295/ P&G product donations total more than $1.2 million with cash and donations from P&G, its employees and retirees, taking the total over $2 million. Product donations include bar soaps, batteries, bleach, diapers, dish detergents, feminine hygiene products, flashlights, laundry detergents, paper towels, shampoos, toilet tissue, tooth brushes, toothpaste, and wipes. Additionally, P&G has committed to providing six million packets of PUR, a technology that purifies contaminated water. This quantity is enough to treat 60 million liters of water (a 3-month supply for 340,000 people). These product and cash donations are expected to increase over the next two months. In addition to the Company's efforts, all profits from Tide vintage t-shirt sales at www.tideloadsofhope.com during the month of February will be donated to disaster relief in Haiti, and Tide will match donations up to $250,000. Also, Tide Loads of Hope will be partnering with the Ft. Lauderdale Calvary Chapel and Samaritan's Purse to provide clean hospital bed linens to Haiti. Although the current focus is on addressing urgent needs, Tide's Loads of Hope program also plans to take its mobile laundry service to Haiti. "P&G, its brands, and employees are committed to touching lives and improving life by helping the people of Haiti recover and rebuild," said Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer Bob McDonald. "We are very thankful for our partners on the ground in Haiti who are delivering critical supplies to meet the most urgent needs of earthquake survivors in Haiti," he said. P&G's disaster relief team began working with humanitarian relief partners including World Vision, Pure Compassion Ministries, AmeriCares, CARE, Global Medic, and PSI within 24 hours of the devastating earthquake and will continue to coordinate closely with them to assist with relief efforts. P&G has also announced it is partnering with BET to present a Haiti benefit concert on February 5. P&G's Children's Safe Drinking Water (CSDW) Program will be a beneficiary of donations from the fundraising event to help provide even more safe drinking water for victims of the earthquake. The concert -- "SOS Saving Ourselves – Help for Haiti" -- will be a nationally-televised concert and celebrity telethon supporting several organizations providing immediate relief in Haiti, including Yele Haiti, CARE, Project Medishare and CSDW. About Procter & Gamble Four billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers®, Tide®, Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®, Pantene®, Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Gain®, Pringles®, Charmin®, Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®, Crest®, Oral-B®, Duracell®, Olay®, Head & Shoulders®, Wella®, Gillette®, Braun® and Fusion®. The P&G community includes approximately 135,000 employees working in about 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.

First and Only Program Designed to Educate Businesses About Autism and Provide Tools to Support Positive Community Interactions

2010-02-04 10:50:36 -0500

Children's Specialized Hospital, New Jersey's preeminent provider of pediatric rehabilitation services and the largest comprehensive children's rehabilitation system in the country, has created and launched Make Friends with Autism. This brand new multilevel program is the first of its kind anywhere in the country. Make Friends with Autism is designed to educate our business partners and communities about autism and provide the tools necessary to support positive community partnerships. This program is made possible by the Kohl's KidsAbilities program at Children's Specialized Hospital through the generosity of the Kohl's Cares for Kids® program. To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/childrensspecializedhospital/42005/ The announcement was made today at PSE&G Children's Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick by Amy B. Mansue, president and CEO, Children's Specialized Hospital; Lew Ferrero, district manager, Kohl's Department Stores and Jim Watkins, news anchor, WPIX News. The current estimate of children in the United States with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is approximately 1 in 100(i). As the number continues to grow, more individuals with autism are seeking community inclusion and health care providers are encouraging families and patients to make community connections. Make Friends with Autism offers a bi-lingual (English-Spanish) multi-media approach that provides significant resources for businesses, recreation providers and families with children who have autism. "With an increasing number of families impacted by autism, it's important for these families to feel accepted in their own communities," said Amy B. Mansue, president and CEO, Children's Specialized Hospital. "Children's Specialized Hospital recognizes the importance for all people to participate in community activities, including people with autism and their families. We hope with Make Friends with Autism, we can help make a positive progression in the acceptance of these individuals." Autism is a neurobiological disorder characterized by difficulty in communication, socialization, and repetitive or restricted interests and behaviors. Approximately 1.5 million people in the United States are living with autism. With a website, documentary and downloadable resources and materials, Make Friends with Autism seeks to:

Provide useful information to help people understand Autism Spectrum Disorders
Help families with children who have autism prepare for safe and successful community outings
Promote positive relationships between individuals with autism and businesses, recreation providers and the community
Reduce the level of anxiety a parent or caregiver might experience when engaging in everyday activities with a person with autism
Dispel fears and misconceptions associated with autism

The Make Friends with Autism webpage provides a centralized location to access information about autism. The resources consist of bilingual (English/Spanish) multimedia materials, available for free download at www.makefriendswithautism.org. The initiative features an original documentary, which was created in collaboration with Emmy® award-winning producer Mary Olive Smith. Print materials are also available for business owners, operators and recreation providers that emphasize providing services that embrace every individual, supportive material for parents and caregivers that can assist in the teaching and learning process of addressing the needs of those with ASD, and general information about autism. "As a parent of a child with autism, my family has unfortunately experienced seclusion from community activities and businesses because of a simple lack of education," said Adrienne Robertiello, autism educator, Children's Specialized Hospital. "This program provides important tools to help break down the barriers that prevent many people from living the full life to which all are entitled." Kohl's Department Stores has partnered with Children's Specialized Hospital to bring meaningful programs like Kohl's Kids Abilities. The Kohl's sponsored programs focus on raising community awareness, as well as provide families a free, fun day and the opportunity to learn more about caring for children with special needs through carnivals held each spring. Since 2000, New Jersey Kohl's stores have donated more than three million dollars to Children's Specialized Hospital through the Kohl's Cares for Kids® program, through which 100 percent of the net profit from the sale of books and plush toys benefit children's health and education initiatives nationwide. Additionally, Kohl's A-Teams have volunteered a total of 330 hours in 2009 at various events and activities for Children's Specialized Hospital. Children's Specialized Hospital is the preeminent provider of rehabilitation services for children with special needs. The hospital serves children affected by brain injury, spinal cord injury, premature birth, autism, developmental delays, and life-changing illnesses. Children's Specialized Hospital has seven sites in New Jersey and treats 17,000 children each year, making it the largest pediatric rehabilitation system of its kind in the nation. Services include outpatient services, acute rehabilitation, and long-term care through its sites in Mountainside, Toms River, Fanwood, Hamilton, New Brunswick and Roselle Park as well as outreach programs in many communities. Children's Specialized Hospital Foundation supports the programs and services of the hospital. The Foundation is ranked among the top six pediatric hospital foundations in the country. To help, or find more information, visit www.childrens-specialized.org. Kohl's Department Stores Based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., Kohl's (NYSE: KSS) is a family-focused, value-oriented specialty department store offering moderately priced, exclusive and national brand apparel, shoes, accessories, beauty and home products in an exciting shopping environment. Kohl's operates 1,059 stores in 49 states. A company committed to the communities it serves, Kohl's has raised more than $126 million for children's initiatives nationwide through its Kohl's Cares for Kids(R) philanthropic program, which operates under Kohl's Cares, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kohl's Department Stores, Inc. For a list of store locations and information, or for the added convenience of shopping online, visit www.kohls.com. (i) Health Resources and Service Administration, "Prevalence of Parent-Reported Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children in US, 2007," Pediatrics 5 Oct. 2009.

Nalco Endorses United Nations' CEO Water Mandate

2010-02-04 10:02:16 -0500

Nalco (NYSE:NLC), providing essential expertise for water, energy and air, has deepened its commitment to the United Nations Global Compact with the endorsement of the CEO Water Mandate by Chairman and CEO Erik Fyrwald. "As the global leader in industrial water treatment, we recognize water use and availability is a critical global issue that negatively impacts millions," Fyrwald said in his letter to United Nations Secretary General H.E. Ban Ki-moon. The World Health Organization states that one fifth of the world's population (more than 1.1 billion people) live in areas where water is physically scarce. By 2025 the UN estimates 1.8 billion people will live in countries or regions suffering from absolute water scarcity -- meaning water demand by all users cannot be fully met by available supplies. Nalco has committed to support and advance water sustainability solutions within the company's sphere of influence in the six areas covered by the CEO Water Mandate: Direct Operations; Supply Chain and Watershed Management; Collective Action; Public Policy; Community Engagement; and Transparency. Nalco has been helping various industries use water more efficiently for decades. For example, 3D TRASAR(R) Cooling Water technology helped industrial customers reduce their water use by 75 billion gallons in 2009. In support of the CEO Water Mandate, Nalco is also evaluating its own water use to set internal reduction targets. About Nalco Nalco is the world's leading water treatment and process improvement company, delivering significant environmental, social and economic performance benefits to our customers. We help our customers reduce energy, water and other natural resource consumption, enhance air quality, minimize environmental releases and improve productivity and end products while boosting the bottom line. Together our comprehensive solutions contribute to the sustainable development of customer operations. Nalco is a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. More than 11,500 Nalco employees operate in 130 countries supported by a comprehensive network of manufacturing facilities, sales offices and research centers to serve a broad range of end markets. In 2009, Nalco achieved sales of more than $3.7 billion. For more information visit www.nalco.com. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Nalco_News.

Local Environmental Programs Receive Grants From Anheuser-Busch And Keep America Beautiful

2010-02-04 09:10:06 -0500

Six Keep America Beautiful (KAB) affiliates were selected from a nationwide field of nearly 40 entries for the Keep America Beautiful/Anheuser-Busch Environmental Grant Program, which announced winners today. The KAB/Anheuser-Busch Environmental Grants awarded $50,000 in total to programs sponsored by the following KAB affiliates: "Keep Casper Beautiful" (Casper, Wyo.); "Keep Nassau Beautiful" (Fernandina Beach, Fla.); "Keep West Baton Rouge Beautiful" (Port Allen, La.); "Keep Palm Beach County Beautiful" (West Palm Beach, Fla.); "Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful - Southwest" (Greensburg, Pa.) and "Keep Phoenix Beautiful" (Phoenix, Ariz.). The grant applicants were matched up with their local Anheuser-Busch wholesalers to support a variety of environmental programs, including increasing awareness of the need to recycle beverage containers and providing infrastructure to do so. "We want to congratulate these six Keep America Beautiful affiliates and their local Anheuser-Busch wholesalers who have been selected from so many worthy candidates from across the country," said Hugh Share, director of environmental sustainability for Anheuser-Busch, Inc. "Local recycling efforts, such as these, are making a lasting impact on protecting our environment for future generations and Anheuser-Busch is proud to support these initiatives."

"Keep Casper Beautiful"/Casper Beverage - Platte River Revival Volunteer Day
"Keep Nassau Beautiful"/North Florida Sales - Fernandina Beach Park Recycling Program
"Keep West Baton Rouge Beautiful"/Mockler Beverage Company - Don't Crawfish Backward, Recycle Forward Program
"Keep Palm Beach County Beautiful"/Brown Distributing Company - Boaters Recycling Program
“Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful - Southwest”/ Fuhrer Wholesale – Illegal Dump Cleanups in Washington County, Pa.
"Keep Phoenix Beautiful"/Hensley Beverage Company - Special event recycling program

"We want to thank Anheuser-Busch for their continued support of our local Keep America Beautiful affiliates," said Matt McKenna, president and CEO of KAB. "The partnerships between our affiliates and Anheuser-Busch's wholesalers have truly made an impact in promoting recycling and the responsible disposal of used beverage containers."

About Anheuser-Busch Based in St. Louis, Anheuser Busch is the leading American brewer, holding a 49.2 percent share of U.S. beer sales. The company brews the world's largest-selling beers, Budweiser and Bud Light. Anheuser Busch also owns a 50 percent share in Grupo Modelo, Mexico's leading brewer. Anheuser-Busch ranked No. 1 among beverage companies in FORTUNE Magazine's Most Admired Global Companies list in 2009. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the leading global brewer, and continues to operate under the Anheuser-Busch name and logo. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com. About Keep America Beautiful Keep America Beautiful, Inc., established in 1953, is the nation's largest volunteer-based community action and education organization. This national nonprofit forms public-private partnerships and programs that engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community environments. For additional information, visit www.kab.org.

Greenscape Partners With Garage Juice Bar, LLC to Link British Columbia With Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Network

2010-02-04 09:05:59 -0500

Announcement Highlights:

British Columbia to become the first province in Canada to be fully linked with electric vehicle (EV) charging stations
First Greenscape EV installations will be completed within 30 days, with the entire province linked within one year
Adds significant value to existing Greenscape energy retrofit contracts and strong future revenue growth potential

Greenscape Capital Group Inc. ("Greenscape") is pleased to announce that through its wholly owned subsidiary, Green.Switch Capital ("Green.Switch"), and in partnership with Garage Juice Bar, LLC ("The Juice Bar"), it is implementing Canada's first province-wide electric vehicle ("EV") charging station network. This network will be 100% privately financed and will link all of British Columbia through the installation of EV charging stations on properties owned or operated by existing Greenscape energy retrofit clients and on other third-party locations. The Juice Bar, a leader in EV charging station solutions, is also negotiating agreements with several large US municipalities to provide EV charging station networks through the Green Garage Initiative, a team of energy conservation and alternative energy innovators. Greenscape's unique retrofit model has resulted in strong business relationships with an extensive network across multiple industries. Through these partnerships, Greenscape and The Juice Bar will be implementing single stall EV plug-in kiosks, installable at parking garages and other strategic locations. The implementation will fit seamlessly within the Greenscape network of energy efficiency clients. Greenscape and The Juice Bar will share revenue generated at these kiosks with their partners. EV plug-in kiosks create significant marketing advantages and brand-building opportunities for the current Greenscape partners installing them on location. Kiosk installations are targeted to become part of all future Greenscape energy retrofits in the parking industry. As consumer demand rises and auto manufacturers across the board begin the rollout of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) and full Electric Vehicles (EVs), the development of a reliable, efficient, and accessible network of EV charging stations will be crucial. Greenscape, through its strategic partnerships, is a pioneer in this effort and will complete its first installations within 30 days. A full, province-wide network is targeted for completion within one year from today. Green.Switch CEO Ryan Skomorowski states, "Many of the major auto manufacturers are on track for electric vehicle production in the near term. There will be a growing demand for an easy and accessible network of EV charging stations, otherwise consumers will be limited to charging their electric vehicles at home. Through existing relationships with our retrofit clients, Green.Switch is in an excellent position to meet this coming demand. The roll out of this network is targeted to provide revenue for Green.Switch and its partners while also creating market differentiation and brand building opportunities for our current energy retrofit clients. Greenscape is proving that these networks can be financed by the private sector and this is a great example of a British Columbia based company creatively emerging as a market leader by targeting both energy efficiency and profitability in the same transactions." Most automotive manufacturers are either currently producing or planning to produce Electric Vehicles (EV) or Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV). While widespread adoption of other alternatively fuelled vehicles would require significant infrastructure development, electricity is widely distributed throughout British Columbia and can support rapid adoption of EVs and PHEVs. Some estimates suggest that up to 60% of all vehicles purchased by 2025 will be plug-in hybrid electric or electric vehicles. This project can be financed by existing company capital. About Garage Juice Bar, LLC Garage Juice Bar, LLC is a leader in electric vehicle (EV) charging station solutions; working with partners in the United States and Canada to provide innovative charging networks across multiple platforms. Garage Juice Bar is an active participant in the Green Garage Initiative, a team of energy conservation and alternative energy innovators. Garage Juice Bar, whose philosophy is "charge cars not people", is committed to the further development and deployment of EV charging stations throughout North America. The creation of an open-sourced platform for EV charging stations will support the integration of a vehicle-based transportation system that is not entirely dependent upon petroleum as a fuel. About Greenscape Capital Greenscape Capital Group increases environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and profitability of companies and their operations. Greenscape Capital owns 100% of Green.Switch Capital, a Canadian based energy retrofitting company focused on dramatically increasing the profitability of commercial facilities through enhanced energy efficiency and environmental best practices. Green.Switch provides full-service energy retrofitting for commercial clients. The Green.Switch energy retrofit process begins with the assessment of client issues and infrastructure, through to project design, capitalizing improvements, attaining government incentive grants when applicable, contracting, installation and monitoring. Revenue to Green.Switch is targeted during every phase of this process. When marked opportunities arise, Greenscape also invests in other companies that operate in the environmental space, providing strategic capital and business advisory services to assist companies in achieving their environmental and corporate goals. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Bryan Slusarchuk, CEO and Director Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements, which reflect the expectations of management regarding future revenues and contracts. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur, when they will occur, or if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Giving Pre-Game a New Name

2010-02-04 09:04:29 -0500

This year, Comfort Inn by Choice Hotels and "The Steve Harvey Morning Show" will skip the usual pre-game festivities to join Rebuilding Together, football stars and volunteers for the 15th annual "Kickoff to Rebuild." This highly-anticipated, charitable event occurs every year in the city of the Big Game and creates lasting impacts by revitalizing communities in need. Instead of tailgating and chili making, on February 4, more than 300 volunteers from Choice Hotels, the Miami community, celebrity guests, as well as current and former professional football players, will rehabilitate seven homes and revitalize the historic neighborhood of Coconut Grove in Miami. "We're going to Miami to work side by side with hundreds of volunteers to help families in this community, all part of our larger commitment to give back across the country," said Stephen P. Joyce, president and chief executive officer of Choice Hotels International. "At Choice Hotels, we believe hospitality extends far past the front doors of our hotels and into the communities where we live and work – this understanding has made us better hoteliers, employees and people." As this year's title sponsor, Comfort Inn by Choice Hotels is bringing volunteers and the legendary "The Steve Harvey Morning Show" to broadcast live on-site during the event. After an incredible morning in which volunteers and football stars will work together to make critical home repairs, provide disability access and install money-saving, energy-efficiency upgrades, there will be a celebratory street party with food, local vendors, sponsors and music. The street party will also provide the opportunity to collect donations to support disaster relief in Haiti. "I'm honored to team up with Choice Hotels and Rebuilding Together to help give back to these wonderful families and also help raise donations for the people in Haiti," said Steve Harvey. "We need everyone to step up and help our fellow men, women and children both here in America and in Haiti during these most difficult times." Support Rebuilding Together's efforts in Haiti easily by texting "BUILD" to 85944 to donate $10. About Choice Hotels Choice Hotels International, Inc. franchises more than 6,000 hotels, representing more than 485,000 rooms in the United States and more than 35 other countries and territories. As of September 30, 2009, more than 700 hotels are under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in the United States, representing more than 59,000 rooms, and more than 100 hotels, representing approximately 9,400 rooms, are under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in more than 20 other countries and territories. The company's Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn brands serve guests worldwide. In addition, via its Ascend Collection membership program, travelers in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean have upscale lodging options at historic, boutique and unique hotels. Additional corporate information may be found on the Choice Hotels International, Inc. Web site, which may be accessed at www.choicehotels.com. About Rebuilding Together Rebuilding Together is the nation's leading nonprofit organization working to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize neighborhoods by providing critical home repair and modification services to those in need at no cost to homeowners. With the help of everyday citizen volunteers, skilled trades people, the support of local business and major corporate partners, Rebuilding Together affiliates in America's largest cities and smallest towns make life considerably better for thousands of low-income homeowners and the communities in which they live by completing 10,000 projects per year. In addition to its core home repair work, Rebuilding Together also rehabilitates community centers and conducts home modification and repair programs that focus on aging in place. Rebuilding Together has programs dedicated to aging in place, energy efficiency, veteran's housing, and disaster recovery and reconstruction. For more information, visit www.RebuildingTogether.org About The Steve Harvey Morning Show The Steve Harvey Morning Show is uplifting and inspirational, covering issues and community concerns that touch everyone. Hosted by New York Times Bestselling Author and Comedian Steve Harvey, Shirley Strawberry, Nephew Tommy, and Carla Ferrell, the Morning Show combines compelling stories and interviews with humor, great music and hot celebrities from the entertainment and sports world. The Steve Harvey Morning Show can be heard in 64 markets from mainstream Hip Hop to Adult Contemporary, and has more than 7 million listeners and growing. Choice Hotels, Choice Hotels International, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn and Ascend Collection are proprietary trademarks and service marks of Choice Hotels International. © 2010 Choice Hotels International, Inc. All rights reserved.

Deloitte Provides Perspective on SEC's Release of Interpretive Guidance on Climate Change Risk Disclosure

2010-02-03 15:45:59 -0500

Yesterday, the SEC issued its anticipated interpretive release that provides the SEC's views on applying existing disclosure rules to climate-change matters. "The SEC's guidance on climate change is a continuation of the evolution of disclosure requirements around business risks and opportunities associated with energy, greenhouse gas emissions, and natural resources," said Eric Hespenheide, co-leader of Deloitte's Enterprise Sustainability group. "Companies should take the SEC's guidance as an opportunity to review the adequacy of their controls in terms of identifying, measuring, reporting, and disclosing climate change risks. As the regulatory framework on these issues and measurement and reporting of environmental performance evolves, companies should also prepare for the potential for future regulatory or legislative changes that may have financial statement implications." The interpretive release addresses four topics involving climate-change matters that registrants should consider when assessing what information to provide in their filings under existing SEC disclosure requirements:

This includes specific risks the registrant faces as a result of climate-change legislation or regulation. The interpretive release notes that a registrant should avoid generic risk factor disclosure that could apply to any registrant
Material Discussion & Analysis (MD&A) disclosure is required for any known uncertainty, such as pending legislation or regulation that a registrant determines is reasonably likely to be enacted and is reasonably likely to have a material effect on the registrant and its financial condition or results of operations
A "registrant should not limit its evaluation of disclosure of a proposed law only to negative consequences" and should disclose potential positive impacts on the registrant

"While it does not amend the rules on disclosure, the SEC's action focuses on application of the existing rules by providing guidance regarding climate change," said Kathryn Pavlovsky, co-leader of Deloitte's Enterprise Sustainability group. "Companies should consider the SEC's new guidance and their disclosures to shareholders as they prepare their Form 10-K annual reports." The interpretive release also highlights the existing SEC rules that would require disclosure of material climate-change matters, such as the following Items of Regulation S-K:

Item 101, "Description of Business" - Item 101 requires a registrant to describe its business and that of its subsidiaries. In addition, Item 101 expressly requires disclosures about certain costs of complying with environmental laws.
Item 103, "Legal Proceedings" - Item 103 requires a registrant to briefly describe any material pending legal proceeding to which it or any of its subsidiaries is a party. Instruction 5 in Item 103 includes some requirements that apply to disclosure of certain environmental litigation.
Item 303, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" - Item 303 includes a broad range of disclosure items that address the registrant's liquidity, capital resources, and results of operations. For example, registrants must identify and disclose known trends, events, demands, commitments, and uncertainties that are reasonably likely to have a material effect on financial condition or operating performance.
Item 503, "Prospectus Summary, Risk Factors, and Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges" - Item 503(c) requires a registrant to provide where appropriate, under the heading "Risk Factors," a discussion of the most significant factors that make an investment in the registrant speculative or risky.

In addition to the disclosure requirements of Regulation S-K and Regulation S-X, Securities Act Rule 408 and Exchange Act Rule 12b-20 require a registrant to disclose "such further material information, if any, as may be necessary to make the required statements, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading." For Deloitte's perspective on a range of climate change and sustainability-related topics, please see the following whitepapers:

About Deloitte As used in this document, "Deloitte" means Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries.

“Brown” delivers green message – to its competitive advantage

2010-02-03 13:56:03 -0500

Commercial shippers UPS and DHL score about equally well in how green their actions are, according to a new study of actual vs. perceived corporate sustainability. But when it comes to consumer perception of the two brands, UPS leaves DHL in the dust - scoring almost five times higher. This is just one of the eye-opening findings of MapChange 2010, a brand investigation of nearly 100 top companies across North America, spanning 10 product and service sectors. The MapChange 2010 research is a collaboration between Change, a Vancouver consultancy focusing on green brand innovation (that is being acquired by Maddock Douglas, a Chicago innovation agency), Angus Reid Public Opinion and the nonprofit Climate Counts. It has been released in three reports, with this, the final release, covering consumer shipping, food service and banking. While UPS and DHL show that large discrepancies are possible - and common - between a brand's sustainable performance and consumer perception of it, Starbucks shows that alignment of performance and perception does happen. The coffee giant's MapChange 2010 perceived and actual scores are nearly identical. Brands need to innovate and communicate "To compete, brands must innovate - and the best new innovations tend to be sustainable," said Marc Stoiber, founder of Change, which led the study. "But even that's not enough in today's marketplace. Brands need to generate sustainable innovation quickly and communicate it effectively. When they don't - and when their green innovation isn't consumer-facing - they sacrifice some of the competitive advantage of being a green leader." The study incorporates actual measurements of climate change action that was undertaken by companies including category leaders, such as Coca-Cola, Nike, Gap, P&G, L'Oreal, Microsoft and Amazon.com, in 2009. The scoring on climate action was provided by Climate Counts as part of its annual climate change study of well-known consumer companies. The perception measurements included more than 2,000 American adults in a random sample and were measured by Angus Reid. The companies were grouped by sector, with their scores illustrated in 'perception / reality' maps. Gaps between consumer perception and actual performance Across every sector, MapChange 2010 shows a disparity between actual sustainability activity of brands and consumer perception of the sustainable activity of those brands. In the banking sector, Wells Fargo received the top score in consumer perception (66 out of 100). Its actual sustainability score was less than half of that (27). Deutsche Bank, which consumers viewed as the least green (37), was among the top three in actual performance (66). The current overall trend is toward higher perceived sustainability by consumers as compared to MapChange 2009 (which was not conducted with Angus Reid and Climate Counts). "This study is a wake-up call for companies that don't yet see green as a potent opportunity for new profits," said Raphael Louis Vitón, president and partner of Maddock Douglas. "The real leaders are using green as a platform for developing products, services and business models that drive their bottom line and positive global change." "These are the relatively early days," adds Stoiber. "There's still plenty of room for breakthrough innovation." View MapChange 2010 at http://www.getmapchange.com. About Change and Maddock Douglas Change is a consultancy that focuses on green brand innovation. Since 2005, the experts at Change have helped companies use sustainability to achieve a competitive advantage by creating and branding products that are good for the world and good for the bottom line. Maddock Douglas, which is poised to acquire Change, exists to bring industry-changing ideas to market. MD uses its Agency of Innovation® services to invent relevant new products, services and business models, and then brand and launch the best ideas. It helps clients bring innovation from mind to market. About Climate Counts Climate Counts is a non-profit campaign that scores companies annually on the basis of their voluntary action to reverse climate change. The Climate Counts Company Scorecard —launched in June 2007 — helps people vote with their dollars by making climate-conscious purchasing and investing choices that put pressure on the world’s most well-known companies to take the issue of climate change seriously. About Angus Reid Public Opinion Angus Reid Public Opinion is the public affairs practice of Vision Critical - a global research and technology company specializing in custom online panels, private communities, and innovative online methods. VisionCritical is a leader in the use of the Internet and rich media technology to collect high-quality, in-depth insights for a wide array of clients. Dr. Angus Reid and the Angus Reid Strategies team are pioneers in online research methodologies, and have been conducting online surveys since 1995.

A Marriage of B Corporation Law Firms, What Happens When the Stars and CSR Missions Align

2010-02-03 13:17:06 -0500

Rimon Law Group, Inc. and The Law Office of Lara Pearson, Ltd. announce the marriage of their firms. Both law firms are Certified B Corporations, a distinction given to organizations exhibiting the highest standards of environmental and social responsibility. Rimon, a virtual law firm consisting of 34 partner-level attorneys, brings a host of "out of the box" thinking to the table, including a strong focus on efficient billing, together with effective use of technology, differentiating Rimon from a traditional law firm. Lara Pearson is a pioneering trademark attorney in the environmentally and socially responsible business community. A leader in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) movement, Lara's firm was the first Nevada law office to meet the ABA/EPA's Law Office Climate Challenge and the first Incline Village, Nevada business to receive Keep the Sierra Green certification. Rimon co-founder Yaacov Silberman and Ms. Pearson connected through B Corporation finding that their corporate goals and philosophies aligned. "Lara is passionate and bright", says Silberman, "Her understanding of branding issues affecting sustainable industries is among the best in the country." Lara Pearson is equally enthusiastic about their new partnership. "Rimon shares my commitment to benefit people and the planet and leads the legal paradigm shift by foregoing offices, associates, and the related costs. I look forward to joining Rimon and improving the service I provide while expanding my positive impact" "This partnership illustrates that B Corporation is much more than a certification -- it's a distinct business community where companies exchange best practices, share innovations and do business.," says B Lab cofounder Jay Coen Gilbert. About The Law Office of Lara Pearson, Ltd. Lara Pearson has practiced trademark law for over a decade. She co-founded the State Bar of Nevada's Intellectual Property Secton and presents frequently on trademark issues. Lara handles intellectual property identification, search and clearance, registration, transfers, dispute resolution, and litigation. Lara served as Secretary of the Board of Directors of 1% for the Planet from 2006-2009 and presently is a member of the Advisory Board of Rock the Earth. About Rimon Law Group Rimon Law Group is a full-service corporate law firm of partner-level attorneys with experience from major international companies, law firms and governmental agencies. As one of the first high-end virtual law firms in the United States, Rimon has been an innovator in the legal industry since its inception. It is the first law firm in the United States to implement Satisfaction Based Billing(SM). Rimon also was among the first law firms to become a Certified B Corporation and to operate carbon-neutral, demonstrating its leadership in social and environmental responsibility.

Understanding FSC - What It Means To You and Your Clients

2010-02-03 11:41:13 -0500

WHAT: FREE WEBINAR, BROUGHT TO YOU BY NEENAH PAPER Making environmentally responsible choices can be daunting. With so many options available, how do you really know what to choose? On Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010, at 2 p.m. EDT (11 a.m. PST), the Forest Stewardship Council-US (FSC-US) will host a FREE Webinar, sponsored by Neenah Paper, to help navigate what responsible forestry is and why it's important. The FSC certification process and what it means as well as FSC's role in the paper marketplace and future plans will also be addressed. The FSC is an independent, international nonprofit organization created to further the practice of environmentally and socially responsible forestry worldwide. Today, companies of all sizes including Neenah Paper are increasingly specifying FSC-certified papers as part of an overall commitment to reduce their environmental footprint. SPONSOR: NEENAH HOSTS FIRST WEBINAR AND EXPANDS EDUCATION INITIATIVES Neenah Paper's sustainability goals drive its business decisions and also help its eco-conscious customers meet their own. The company is taking this mission one step further by sponsoring its first Webinar that will not only engage customers, but will mark a turning point for Neenah Paper as it continues to become a leader in education. CLASSIC CREST®, CLASSIC® Linen, ENVIRONMENT®, STARWHITE® and CONSERVATION™ premium, Writing, Text and Cover Papers from Neenah Paper are entirely FSC certified. WHO: FSC-US PRESENTERS OFFER LOOK INTO ORGANIZATION Corey Brinkema, president, FSC-US: A leader with more than 20 years of experience, Brinkema joined FSC-US in 2007. Previously, he served as executive director of Minnesota-based Green Institute and was also a founder and principal of Trillium Planning & Development, which focused on industrial ecology and eco-industrial development. Emily Crumley, manager, Chain of Custody, FSC-US: Crumley is the primary FSC-US liaison for FSC Chain of Custody (CoC) certificate holders and is responsible for assisting companies in understanding CoC policies and procedures and how to maximize their benefit as a certificate holder. She previously worked with the Rainforest Alliance, an FSC-accredited Certification Body. WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010 2 - 3 p.m. EDT (11 a.m. PST) REGISTER: www.neenahpaper.com/webinars QUOTES: "Designers and printers are in a position to help their clients make environmentally responsible choices. As we continue to engage in dialogue about the importance of well-managed forestry, we're excited about this unique opportunity to educate the creative community about FSC Chain of Custody certification, how it works and our plans for the future." - Corey Brinkema, president, FSC-US "This is an important opportunity for Neenah Paper and our Neenah Green program as we support continuing education about new and existing environmental initiatives. Through this Webinar, we hope to educate people on the importance of choosing the right paper to reduce their environmental footprint and to showcase their client's image as a responsible corporate citizen." - Byron Racki, senior director, marketing, Neenah Paper About FSC FSC is an international, independent organization that assures environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable forest management through independent third-party certification and labeling of wood, paper and other forest products. It was founded in response to public concern about deforestation and demand for a trustworthy wood-labeling system. FSC's on-product labeling allows businesses and consumers to choose products from well-managed forests - those that are managed to meet the social, economic and ecological needs of present and future generations. FSC is also the only forest certification organization endorsed by such major environmental organizations as the World Wildlife Fund, National Wildlife Federation and Greenpeace. There are currently more than 100 million acres of FSC-certified forestland in the United States and Canada and more than 281 million acres in more than 82 countries. More than 14,000 manufacturers and distributors are certified to buy and sell FSC products, representing more than $20 billion in FSC-labeled product annually. About Neenah Paper For over 100 years, Neenah Paper has been an innovative leader in the creation and manufacturing of premium and specialty papers. Neenah brings state-of-the-art technology to its signature brands, CLASSIC®, ENVIRONMENT®, STARWHITE®, NEENAH®, and SUNDANCE®, as well as a host of other fine paper products preferred by graphic designers and printers. Neenah recently signed an exclusive partnership agreement with Crane & Company to manufacture, market and distribute Crane's fine business paper brands: CRANE'S CREST®, CRANE'S BOND®, CRANE'S LETTRA®, CRANE'S PALETTE™ and CRANE'S® Choice Papers. Neenah's award-winning and versatile digital papers round out its comprehensive portfolio. Neenah's sustainability commitment is reflected through the Neenah Green initiative, which includes mill-based solutions for minimizing environmental impact. A proud consumer of Green Energy, Neenah Paper is also a U.S. EPA Green Power Partner, and manufactures many brands carrying the Green-e, Green Seal and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certifications (SW-COC-000885). For more information, visit www.neenahpaper.com or call (800) 558-5061.

Zoosa Introduces First-Ever Personal Social Impact Report

2010-02-03 09:22:36 -0500

In a landscape where many Americans are "self-employed," a new website, Zoosa, is taking the corporate out of corporate social responsibility (CSR) with the introduction of personal social impact reports. Similar to annual corporate social responsibility reports, Zoosa is now challenging individuals to issue reports on their personal social impact actions in an effort to inspire others to make a difference. "We really wanted to challenge people to highlight their social impact. Our hope is that by encouraging people to share their activities and measure their impact, it will in turn encourage more people to share their stories and get involved. It's a new year. Maybe it's time to issue your first personal social impact report," says Mike McGlade, Zoosa's CEO. By issuing a social impact report and linking their profile to their schools and organizations, students can show their school spirit, employees can promote their corporate culture, individuals can meet others and organizations can measure their members' impact. For the first time, Zoosa makes it possible to quickly show which individuals, schools and organizations are having a social impact on a personal level. "It can be really hard to identify areas in your life where you can have a social impact. Not everyone has time to volunteer. Everyone has time to recycle. Zoosa makes it easy for you to see the areas where you can have an immediate impact today," highlights Brian Fleming, Zoosa's CTO. Zoosa is still in its beta phase, but already has over 2,000 social impact job postings and several thousand news stories. In addition to issuing a report on their personal social impact, community members can add CSR data to incomplete corporate profiles and comment on existing CSR information. About Zoosa Zoosa (www.zoosa.org) is a social enterprise business with a mission to highlight socially responsible individuals and organizations. In doing so, Zoosa makes it possible to quickly show which individuals, schools and organizations are having a social impact on a personal level.

Burt's Bees Publishes 2009 Social And Environmental Report

2010-02-03 09:01:06 -0500

Following the company's first Corporate Social Responsibility Report (CSR) released in 2008, Burt's Bees has assembled an interim 2009 update as a means of continuing a meaningful, open dialogue with stakeholders on the company's progress towards meeting a set of committed 2020 Sustainability Goals. The company will release full reports biannually with updates in between. "We believe that a compelling formal statement of accountability helps us find new ways to achieve our own rigorous goals through Burt's Bees® products and practices as much as it serves to inspire meaningful conversation with our stakeholders," says Yola Carlough, Director of Sustainability at Burt's Bees. The 2009 report finds progress across a variety of metrics. Burt's Bees continued to support its commitment to sustainability leadership, delivering on the brand’s goals for waste, energy and water reduction including a 51.5% decrease in waste to landfill, a 15.3% decrease in energy use, and a 5.5% decrease in non-product manufacturing water use versus the previous year. The company also launched "Live the Greater Good," a pioneering initiative designed to provide all Burt's Bees employees with the tools and time during the work day to be involved in social and environmental education and action, ultimately attaining Burt's Bees' 2020 goal of 100% employee engagement in sustainability ten years ahead of schedule. Burt's Bees has continually pushed up and down the supply chain to secure greater transparency and sustainable accountability, bringing the company closer to its long-term goal of becoming "The greenest personal care company on Earth." For more information on how Burt's Bees has progressed thus far as well as how the brand intends to reach its goals, please refer to the Burt's Bees 2009 CSR report, available at http://www.epaperflip.com/aglaia/viewer.aspx?docid=e55efd847dea4c53b0abec4fdaf0e9aa. FOR MORE INFORMATION, SAMPLES OR TO SPEAK WITH JOHN REPLOGLE: CHRISTINA CALBI FERRARO JOANNE CHIU SULIT TRACTENBERG & CO. 212.929.7979

Mexican Cities to Benefit from FedEx-EMBARQ Transport Collaboration

2010-02-03 09:00:07 -0500

The National Network for Sustainable Urban Mobility in Mexico was launched today by FedEx Corp. and its operating companies with EMBARQ - The World Resources Institute Center for Sustainable Transport. FedEx will provide $500,000 over two years to EMBARQ, which will help develop sustainable transportation projects in cities across Mexico. The Center for Sustainable Transport in Mexico (CTS-México), a member of the EMBARQ Network, will implement the projects on the ground. "This collaboration is about catalyzing timely, clean and reliable mobility solutions," said Nancy Kete, director of WRI's EMBARQ program. "We had a strong case for joining forces in the interest of reducing congestion, pollution, and time delays due to poorly managed urban space. In the end, it's about enhancing productivity and quality of life in cities." CTS-México will provide technical support to a select group of cities on how to identify, plan and implement sustainable transportation projects. These may involve walking or cycling paths, transit-oriented real estate, or mass transit systems, such as bus system improvements or bus rapid transit. CTS-México has experience providing technical expertise to other cities in Mexico, including Mexico City and Guadalajara. Based on lessons learned from these initial projects, CTS-México will create informational toolkits, including a Web-based social networking platform, to share with other cities, universities and non-profits. This information will outline how to improve traffic safety education and public health, and promote walking and cycling. "Many of the countries we serve are in the developing world and have been experiencing substantial economic growth. Unfortunately, with this growth has come congestion from vehicles," said Mitch Jackson, Director of FedEx Environmental Affairs & Sustainability. "The collaboration between FedEx and EMBARQ provides the potential for a better environment, less congestion, increased safety and enhanced competitiveness in cities where we do business." The World Resources Institute (www.wri.org) is an environmental think tank that goes beyond research to find practical ways to protect the earth and improve people's lives. EMBARQ - The World Resources Institute Center for Sustainable Transport (www.embarq.org) The catalyzes environmentally and financially sustainable transport solutions to improve quality of life in cities. The Center for Sustainable Transport in Mexico (www.ctsmexico.org) works to identify and implement solutions to the twin problems of traffic congestion and air pollution to improve quality of life in Mexican cities. FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $33 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 275,000 team members to remain "absolutely, positively" focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. For more information, visit news.fedex.com

World Cocoa Foundation Announces Launch of Cocoa Livelihoods Program in Côte d’Ivoire

2010-02-03 06:00:06 -0500

At a ceremony held in Abidjan, the World Cocoa Foundation today announced the launch of the Cocoa Livelihoods Program (CLP) in Côte d'Ivoire. The program, first announced in February 2009, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and 14 chocolate industry companies, is expected to significantly improve the livelihoods of 75,000 cocoa farmers in Côte d'Ivoire by 2014. "Cocoa is a vital component of our economy and a major part of the daily lives of so many people in Côte d'Ivoire. This program is a wonderful opportunity for us to work with the private sector, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, our colleagues in other cocoa-producing countries, and the World Cocoa Foundation to improve the livelihoods of smallholder cocoa farmers in Côte d'Ivoire," said Gilbert Anoh N'guessan, President of the Coffee-Cocoa Sector Management Committee (CGFCC), Republic of Côte d'Ivoire. The work in Côte d'Ivoire is part of a larger five-country program targeting 200,000 cocoa-growing households across Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon and Liberia. Activities in Côte d'Ivoire will focus on professionalizing farmer organizations, improving production and quality at the farm level, equipping farmers with business skills, promoting diversification of income, and improving access to inputs and support services. The program will be active in seven departments of Côte d'Ivoire: Dalo, Divo, Issia, Abengourou, San Pedro, Soubre and Duekoue. "Making real progress against hunger and poverty starts with small farmers," said Richard Rogers, program officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. "Strengthening farmer organizations, and improving farmer knowledge and productivity, and the quality of the cocoa production, can help these small farmers boost their yields and incomes so they can improve their lives." The Cocoa Livelihoods Program announced the award of a 2010 World Cocoa Foundation Challenge Grant to Centre National de Recherche Agronomique (CNRA - the national agricultural research institute in Côte d'Ivoire) to develop an innovative approach for educating farmers on regeneration of their farms. Through this approach, farmers will learn to assess the productivity of each cocoa tree, rehabilitate less productive trees, and replant when necessary. "The concept of 'bringing science to the field' is an important part of the World Cocoa Foundation's programs. These challenge grants support local efforts to conduct research that is relevant to local farmers' needs and disseminate information in a way that is meaningful to farmers, especially women. Strengthening these linkages between farmers and their national research institutes is essential to the long-term sustainability of our efforts," said Mbalo Ndiaye, Cocoa Livelihoods Program Director, World Cocoa Foundation. The Cocoa Livelihoods Program is managed by the World Cocoa Foundation and implemented through a consortium of five organizations including Agribusiness Services International (ASI) an ACDI/VOCA affiliate, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)/Sustainable Tree Crops Program (STCP), SOCODEVI and TechnoServe. Funding for the program comes from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the private sector: major branded manufacturers The Hershey Company, Kraft Foods and Mars, Incorporated; cocoa processors Archer Daniels Midland Company, Barry Callebaut, Blommer Chocolate Company and Cargill; and supply chain managers and allied industries Armajaro, Guittard Chocolate Company, Ecom-Agrocacao, Noble Resources S.A., Olam International Ltd., Starbucks Coffee Company and Transmar Commodity Group Ltd. Additional support is provided by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The governments of the five participating African countries have representation on the Steering Committee. About the World Cocoa Foundation Established in 2000, the World Cocoa Foundation is a leader in promoting economic and social development and environmental stewardship in 15 cocoa-producing countries around the world. With nearly 70 member companies from the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa, the Foundation actively supports a range of farm-level programs harnessing sustainable agriculture practices to improve the quality of life for the millions of smallholder farmers growing this unique crop. For more information about the World Cocoa Foundation, visit: www.worldcocoafoundation.org

Making the Most of "Thon" Fundraising Focus of March Gathering

2010-02-02 23:59:07 -0500

The executives who enlist millions of runners, walkers, cyclists, swimmers and hikers to raise billions of dollars to fight disease, hunger and other social ills will hold their annual conference at the Omni Mandalay Hotel on March 3 & 4. "Athletic event fundraising has grown into a multi-billion dollar industry, but in this challenging economy program leaders need both solid practical advice and inspiration," said David Hessekiel, founder and president of the Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council. "The Run Walk Ride Fundraising Conference will give event managers access to the hard data, best practices and expert counsel they need to produce programs that deliver stronger bottom-line results for the worthy causes they support." Among the featured speakers at the Run Walk Ride Fundraising Conference will be Dave McGilliviray, race director of the BAA Boston Marathon and president of DMSE Sports, Inc. DMSE has produced hundreds of fundraising events from the massive Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk to the unique Vision 5K in which sighted participants run a course blindfolded to demonstrate solidarity with vision-impaired athletes. Drawing on his inspiring personal history (he ran across the country at age 23, he ran 55 miles this summer on his 55th birthday) Dave will open the conference with a talk on the incredible things individuals can accomplish when they believe in themselves. The next day he’ll call on his vast experience as a race director to counsel athletic event fundraising professionals on how to balance cost and quality control. Information on the conference, to be held at the Omni Mandalay Hotel on March 3 & 4, is available at www.rwrconference.com or by calling (914) 921-3914. Other program highlights include:

The premiere of the Run Walk Ride Thirty, the annual ranking of America's top athletic event fundraising programs
Presentations on leveraging social media, fundraising incentives, corporate sponsorship and ancillary revenue programs
The first Endurance Program Summit, a preconference gathering for leaders of programs that engage supporters to raise money by participating in long distance runs, rides and triathalons.

Conference sponsors include Blackbaud, Charity Dynamics, CircServ, Convio, CSRWire, Custom Print Now, Event 360, Softerware, The NonProfit Times and The Osiris Group.
About the Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council (RWRFC) www.runwalkride.com The Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council (RWRFC) was launched in May 2007 to support the professionals who manage events that raise several billion dollars each year for North American charities. The RWRFC provides event managers with easy access to the statistics and information on best practices that can help them improve and expand their programs.

"Northwest Bakery ISO Local, Organic Peaches"

2010-02-02 15:00:07 -0500

This growing season, Northwest food producers and food buyers will begin utilizing FoodHub, a new online resource that simplifies the process of making connections with each other. Today, following a successful 90-day beta-testing period, FoodHub celebrated its official launch at a luncheon in Portland, Ore., that featured USDA Deputy Undersecretary Ann Wright as the keynote speaker. Wright heralded FoodHub as an innovative example of the USDA's Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative at work; one that embraces new technology to bolster a regional food system, expand market channels, and bridge rural and urban economies. A social venture business of the nonprofit Ecotrust, FoodHub (food-hub.org) is designed to increase food trade in the Pacific Northwest. It is the only network in of its kind that accommodates food producers and food buyers of every scale and production type in the Pacific Northwest and parts of Alaska. Customizable search features allow a buyer to hone in on the exact product specifications they are seeking. For wholesale food buyers, FoodHub makes finding local food as easy as it is for someone to search for Mr. or Ms. Right on Match.com®. "FoodHub presents information in a way that hasn't been available before," said David Hoyle, owner of Creative Growers in Noti, Ore. "It's the quickest and easiest way for caterers, chefs and grocers to find growers, learn about what they have and determine if they're a good fit. We do business in a very personal way, but FoodHub is a conversation starter, a door opener, a meeting place." While in beta, 280 Northwest farmers, ranchers, fishers, food producers and wholesale food buyers became registered users of FoodHub. Northwest food producers promoted the availability of more than 560 products to the buying community; buyers expressed a need for 646 products from local sources. An analysis of user data during the month of January, 2010, shows 1,700 visitors and 14,000 page views from major cities in the Northwest, as well as San Francisco, New York and Canada. FoodHub's development team devoted the beta period to expanding the site's taxonomy, creating product and ingredient categories for the Northwest dairy, beer, wine and spirits sectors, in addition to the categories for fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, herbs, grains, dry beans and nuts already in place. User feedback and an analysis of usage trends will continue to shape the structure and delivery of new features and improvements to ensure that the site is intuitive and successful for both buyers and sellers. "Food miles, food safety, animal well-being and exceptional quality are important issues that guide my purchasing practices," said Joe McGarry, an executive chef with Bon Appetit Management Company. "FoodHub allows me to use these factors to sort through the database and find the best suppliers." Sophisticated search capabilities allow buyers, both large and small, to instantly discover ready suppliers with a few clicks of their computer keyboard. Conversely, sellers can use FoodHub search features to identify new buyer leads and build targeted customer databases. All registered users can complete an online profile that includes a detailed description of their operation and preferred methods for doing business. FoodHub supports both direct market relationships and leverages existing distribution channels to encourage growth in regional food sales. With an annual membership fee of $100, FoodHub is a cost-effective business tool. In addition to its search and connect functions, FoodHub can professionalize communications and transactions between parties with its message center, preferred contacts feature, and standardized purchase orders and invoices. Creation of FoodHub Developed using open-source technology with private foundation, nonprofit and government resources, FoodHub is intended for broad use throughout the agricultural community. Backers expect FoodHub will strengthen rural communities and make it much easier to localize supply chains. To ensure its success, partnerships have been formed with organizations active in Northwest food buying and food selling circles, including agri-business councils, food product commissions, distributors, grocery retailers, chefs and restaurants, farm to school programs, the Washington State Department of Agriculture, and the Oregon Department of Agriculture, among many others. View the complete list of funders and collaborators at food-hub.org/supporters. About Ecotrust's Food & Farms Program Ecotrust's mission is to inspire fresh thinking that creates social equity, economic opportunity, and environmental well being. With regard to our Food & Farms program, we improve public understanding of agriculture and the challenges it faces and increase the market share of locally grown, processed, and manufactured foods. Whether by introducing a farmer to a chef or a food processor to an institutional buyer, Ecotrust is a trusted "benevolent broker" that has been making connections between food buyers and sellers in the Pacific Northwest for a decade. Learn more at ecotrust.org. Editor's note: Contact Amy Brown amyb@seed-pr.com for test password and temporary demo account. Images of screen captures are also available

FedEx Teams Up With The PGA TOUR, Audubon International And The First Tee To Launch A Sustainable Golf Program

2010-02-02 12:27:27 -0500

As part of the FedEx commitment to environmental sustainability, the company is launching the FedExCup® Fore!Ever campaign with the PGA TOUR, Audubon International and one of golf's premiere youth charitable organizations, The First Tee. This campaign will teach local participants of The First Tee about sustainable golf practices while facilitating eco-friendly public golf course improvements in communities that host PGA TOUR FedExCup tournaments. "When it comes to making the game of golf more sustainable, every change is a positive change," said PGA TOUR Pro Anthony Kim. "It is great to see so many organizations come together for a program that will inspire the golfers of today and tomorrow to make their game greener." During the 2010 PGA TOUR season, The FedExCup® Fore!Ever campaign is providing environmental improvement grants to six public golf courses used by The First Tee. FedEx is also working with Audubon International to create a "Green Golfer" curriculum that will teach young golfers nationwide about sustainable golf. Through Audubon International and The First Tee, FedEx and the PGA TOUR are identifying and facilitating improvements to those six public golf courses across the country. Course improvement events will take place in PGA TOUR tournament communities, starting with the first course improvement at the Brookside Golf Club in Pasadena, Calif., in conjunction with the Northern Trust Open being held at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles from February 4-7, 2010. All six course improvements will be completed by FedEx team members and young golfers from The First Tee with the goal of enhancing local community courses while making them more eco-friendly and minimizing their carbon footprint. Improvements will vary based on the needs of each course as determined by Audubon International, and activities will include restoring natural wildlife by planting indigenous trees, building bird houses and nests, naturalizing property and fence lines, and resodding and revitalizing ponds and waterways. In addition to on-site eco-friendly improvements, Audubon International also has developed a sustainability-relevant curriculum for The First Tee, which will be used by Chapters across the United States. "The First Tee's mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf," said The First Tee Executive Director Kelly Martin. "The FedExCup Fore!Ever program will help teach our young golfers about the importance of respecting and restoring the earth's natural greenscape. It is such a valuable lesson." In addition to providing grants for sustainability-focused course improvements and youth relevant curriculum, the FedExCup® Fore!Ever campaign provides golfers of all ages with practical suggestions to make their game more eco-friendly, including:

Re-green your game: Practice good etiquette, like repairing ball marks and divots. This process helps heal the grass much faster and reduces the chance of insects, weeds or diseases affecting the grass in that area. Healthy grass requires fewer chemicals, less water and less work to maintain, which is for the good of the game and the environment.
Respect the wildlife: Golf is a shared experience with nature. You need to respect wildlife habitat on the course and recognize the link between golf and nature. So before stepping onto the green, examine course maps to identify areas that may be home to wildlife and should be left undisturbed during the game.
Lead by example: Sustainability starts at home. Trade in plastic water bottles for reusable and refillable bottles that can be used and washed time and time again. Drinking something other than water? Make it a point to recycle empty cans and bottles at the end of your round.

"At FedEx, we strive to connect the world more efficiently," said Rose Flenorl, Manager of Global Citizenship at FedEx. "The program with The First Tee and Audubon International leverages our FedEx team members and philanthropic dollars to address sustainability issues within one of our major sports sponsorships." FedEx Environmental Sustainability The FedExCup® Fore!Ever initiative extends the FedEx commitment to connect the world responsibly and resourcefully by encouraging environmentally sustainable practices into the game of golf. FedEx is taking steps both locally and globally to reduce the environmental impact of its daily business operations. The company is working to improve vehicle fuel efficiency by 20 percent by the year 2020 by optimizing delivery routes, increasing its hybrid and alternative fuel fleets and increasing its solar capacity, among other efforts. FedEx has been recognized for its sustainability commitment through inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index - a global list of the world's largest, most sustainability organizations - and ranking #93 in Newsweek's Top 500 Greenest Companies (published September 2009). About FedEx Corp. FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $33 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 275,000 team members to remain "absolutely, positively" focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. For more information, visit news.fedex.com. About The First Tee The First Tee (www.thefirsttee.org) is an initiative of the World Golf Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in St. Augustine, Fla. at World Golf Village, home of the World Golf Hall of Fame. Its mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf. Since its inception in 1997, The First Tee has introduced the game of golf and its values to over 3 million participants in 50 states, 3,400 students and five international locations - Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand and Singapore. Former President George H. W. Bush serves as honorary chairman. The First Tee Founding Partners are LPGA, the Masters Tournament, PGA of America, PGA TOUR and the USGA. About Audubon International Audubon International is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) environmental education organization dedicated to providing people with the education and assistance they need to practice responsible management of land, water, wildlife, and other natural resources, thus leading to more sustainable communities. To meet this mission, the organization provides training, services, and a set of award-winning environmental education and certification programs for businesses, organizations, new developments, and entire communities. For more information, visit www.auduboninternational.org. About PGA TOUR The PGA TOUR is the world's premier membership organization for touring professional golfers, co-sanctioning more than 100 tournaments on the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour. The PGA TOUR's mission is to entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back, generate significant charitable and economic impact in communities in which it plays, and provide financial opportunities for TOUR players. In 2010, the three Tours collectively have tournaments in 34 states and in 12 countries outside of the U.S. PGA TOUR tournaments are broadcast to nearly 600 million households in 231 countries and 30 languages. Virtually all tournaments are organized as nonprofit organizations in order to maximize charitable giving. In 2009, tournaments on the three Tours generated $108 million for local charitable organizations. The TOUR's all-time total of charitable contributions is approaching $1.5 billion. The PGA TOUR's web site is PGATOUR.COM, the No. 1 site in golf, and the company is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Deloitte Foundation Donates LIFE, Inc. Program to the National Urban League

2010-02-02 11:51:55 -0500

The Deloitte Foundation, the nonprofit arm of Deloitte LLP, has donated the LIFE, Inc.: The Ultimate Career Guide for Young People curriculum to the National Urban League for distribution to approximately 100,000 youth nationwide. Through this innovative program, middle and high school students are encouraged to explore their career options using interactive tools and real world professional scenarios. As a result of the National Urban League's recent partnership with the New York City's Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), LIFE, Inc will be available to the nearly 70,000 New York City youths served by Beacon Community Centers. "The National Urban League is committed to preparing today's youths to be independent and self-reliant in the 21st century," said Marc H. Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League. "LIFE, Inc.'s thoughtful approach to exposing children and young adults to a variety of careers will play an important role in helping us meet our objectives going forward." Launched in 2007, LIFE, Inc. is committed to serving more than 544,000 students across the country through strategic partnerships with national and regional organizations such as the U.S. Army, YWCA and ASPIRA. The program integrates traditional teaching and learning techniques with online activities to keep students engaged as they discover a wide range of professions. The curriculum consists of 10 lessons in which students learn job search and interview skills and uncover the likes and dislikes that may impact their long-term career choices. The detailed Teacher's Guide and in-classroom trainings enable LIFE, Inc. administrators to maximize the benefits of the program and help students reach their full potential. "Our research shows that children begin making career decisions as early as age 12 and can often be discouraged by the long-term prospect of working," said Shaun Budnik, president, Deloitte Foundation and partner, Deloitte LLP. "That said, by donating the LIFE, Inc. curriculum to the National Urban League and supporting their efforts to extend the program's reach, we are dedicated to increasing the level of awareness around professional options among young people to ensure a robust talent pipeline for generations to come." About the Deloitte Foundation The Deloitte Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that supports teaching, research, and curriculum innovation in accounting, business, and related fields within the U.S. The Foundation, founded in 1928, supports an array of national programs, which are relevant to a variety of professional services, and which benefit middle/high school students, undergraduates, graduate students and faculty. For more information, please visit the Deloitte Foundation web page at www.deloitte.com/us/df. About Deloitte As used in this document, "Deloitte" means Deloitte LLP and Deloitte Services LP, a subsidiary of Deloitte LLP. Please see www.deloitte.com/about for detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. About LIFE, Inc Written by New York Times #1 Best-Selling author, Neale S. Godfrey and launched in 2007, LIFE, Inc., is a career awareness program for middle and high school students. It was developed in response to Deloitte’s research, which showed young people were making career decisions earlier than ever with limited information. LIFE, Inc. also specifically addresses Deloitte's Education Commitment of, "Their Future is Our Future". LIFE, Inc.: The Ultimate Career Guide For Young People, gives today's youth an inspirational way to look at their future. Students will learn their likes, dislikes, and what will make them jump out of bed each morning to seize the workday. One of the most important aspects of the LIFE, Inc. program is that it helps students formulate "visions" about future career possibilities through the use of interviews with "Virtual Role Models," real people who look back and provide useful insights about their own career paths. Visit www.nealeslifeinc.com for more information. About National Urban League The National Urban League is a historic civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment in order to elevate the standard of living in historically underserved urban communities. Founded in 1910 and headquartered in New York City, the National Urban League spearheads the efforts of its local affiliates through the development of programs, public policy research and advocacy. Today, there are more than 100 local affiliates in 36 states and the District of Columbia, providing direct services that impact and improve the lives of more than 2 million people nationwide. For more information visit www.nul.org.

Leading mining companies commit to support partnerships for development

2010-02-02 11:08:25 -0500

The Honourable Minister Alhaji Collins Dauda, Minister for Land and Natural Resources – Ghana, and Mark Cutifani, CEO of AngloGold Ashanti, jointly launched today a new initiative at the INDABA Mining Convention in Cape Town, South Africa. Mining: Partnerships for Development is a global initiative to enhance mining's contribution to development and poverty reduction through multi-stakeholder partnerships. In a statement released today, ICMM's 19 member companies have made a formal policy commitment to actively seek such partnerships across six priority themes - poverty reduction; revenue management; regional development planning; local content; social investment; and dispute resolution. Mark Cutifani said, "Enhancing mining's developmental impacts is a critically important issue and needs to be undertaken through developing solid partnerships, particularly with host governments and communities. Together with my fellow CEOs on the ICMM Council, I call on governments, donors and civil society to work with us to improve the social and economic outcomes from mining investments." ICMM research has identified 41 economies which currently or in recent decades have relied significantly on mining. Many of these are developing countries with high poverty levels, and many are in Africa. However, while some still suffer from the so-called "resource curse", others - such as Ghana - have been able to prove that this curse is not inevitable. "Five years of internationally renowned research - in collaboration with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the World Bank - indicate that partnerships involving companies and other stakeholders such as governments, donor agencies and civil society, can be a powerful way to tackle development challenges," said Kathryn McPhail, Senior Program Director, ICMM. In support of the commitment, ICMM has also released Mapping in-country partnerships – a publication that illustrates existing partnerships across the six priority themes. They include a number of partnerships in which AngloGold Ashanti is involved, including an initiative in South Africa to improve opportunities for former mine workers, and company support in Brazil and Argentina for regional development agencies to stimulate economic diversification. About ICMM and Mining: Partnerships for Development initiative. The International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) was established in 2001 to act as a catalyst for performance improvement in the mining and metals industry. Today, the organization brings together 19 mining and metals companies as well as 30 national and regional mining associations and global commodity associations to address the core sustainable development challenges faced by the industry. Mining: Partnerships for Development builds on ICMM's longstanding Resource Endowment initiative which has been conducted with various partners at different stages, including the World Bank and UNCTAD. Through its internationally-recognized research, it has established that multi-stakeholder partnerships are key to enhancing mining's economic contribution. For this reason, Mining: Partnerships for Development aims to create awareness for new partnerships being formed and these efforts replicated. For more information visit www.icmm.com/mpd

Coca-Cola And ERM To Discuss Water Risks And Footprints

2010-02-02 10:49:10 -0500

The 'Water Footprinting and Availability Risk Management' Summit (February 25-26, 2010, San Francisco) is now gathering rapid momentum. Senior VP's of Water Stewardship from multinationals in a range of industry sectors are finding the 2 day Summit of specific relevance to them, and we are delighted to announce that Jeff Seabright, VP of Environment & Water Resources, Coca-Cola, has recently joined the Speaker Panel. Steven Avadek, Sustainability and Climate Change Consultant at ERM (our Strategic Partner for the Summit), will also be joining the panel, with a case study based presentation on 'Assessing Business Risks through Enhanced Water Footprinting Methods'. Through the use of surveys, databases, and a new tool that incorporates social, economic, and environmental impacts, the session will show how enhanced water footprinting methods can provide value in assessing the water risks to the organization, and provide a more complete picture for their strategic decision making processes. Speakers also include:   Elaine Dorward-King  Global Head Of Health Safety Environment  Rio Tinto   Willie K. Johnson  Associate Director – Global Product Supply Sustainability  Procter & Gamble   Roger Pulwarty  Programme Director Of The National Drought Monitor NOAA  Joe Grindstaff  Director  CALFED   Ing. Sergio Soto Priante  Subdirector General of Hydro-Agricultural Infrastructure CONAGUA (Mexican National Water Regulator)  Jonathan Kaledin  Blue Water Certification Program Director  The Nature Conservancy  Bruce Lauerman  Natural Resources Manager  Nestle Waters North American   Roland Schroeder  Head Of Sustainability And Product Safety  Henkel   John Frazier  Director Of Considered Chemistry Nike   Chris Williams  Director Of Freshwater Conservation  WWF  Zack Mansdorf  former Senior Vice President, Safety Health And Environment L'Oreal To view the full program, speakers list and registration is available now on the Summit website at http://www.corporate-water-availability-risk.com or you can call 1 800 721 3915 or email info@american-business-conferences.com for further information.

Wrigley Earns LEED(R) Silver Green Building Certification for Engineering Technology Center in Chicago

2010-02-02 10:14:17 -0500

Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company's Engineering Technology Center (ETC) in Chicago has received LEED Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), further advancing the company's goal to leverage high-performance design across its existing facilities. LEED certification - which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design - is an internationally recognized and nationally accepted benchmark for green buildings. Certification indicates that a building was designed and is managed using strategies aimed at improving key environmental measures, such as energy efficiency and water conservation. "Wrigley is proud to have earned LEED Silver certification for our Engineering Technology Center, further signifying the company's long-standing commitment to advancing global sustainability," said Dushan Petrovich, president of the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. "We recognize the footprint our business has on the environment and through the operation of environmentally-friendly facilities, we're able to minimize our impact while contributing to the city's vision to create a more sustainable community." Wrigley purchased the 91,300 square-foot ETC in 2005 and refurbished the building to house the company's engineering team, packaging labs and model shop. With energy, environmental quality and site improvements in mind, high-efficiency design was applied to the reconstruction, including the installation of water-efficient plumbing fixtures, flexible workspace and a white roof - which lowers energy use through the reduction of seasonal heating and air-conditioning. To further enhance the building's efficiency, Wrigley worked with specialized building management company, Transwestern, to introduce several initiatives that had a positive impact at Wrigley's LEED Gold-certified Global Innovation Center. As a result, the ETC building uses approximately 37 percent less energy and 20 percent less water because of environmentally-friendly measures, including:

An advanced-energy management system, which enables the facility to program temperature settings for reduced energy output during evenings and weekends.
Active e-waste recycling efforts, which safely recycles or repurposes more than 95 percent of all electronics that are no longer functioning or needed for company use.
An environmentally-friendly exterior maintenance program, including pest management and landscaping practices.
An EPA Energy Star water-efficiency monitoring program to assess and thereby reduce water use for the building and landscape irrigation.
Energy-efficient lighting and lighting occupancy sensors.
An advanced recycling program, which saves nearly 75 tons of waste from entering landfills each year.

Additionally, the ETC introduced a unique program to encourage Wrigley associates to commute to work by means other than a personal vehicle. As part of the program, associates now receive subsidized public transportation and free access to lockers and showers, if they choose to commute via cycling or other alternative transportation options. "USGBC's vision is to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling a socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life," said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. "We applaud Wrigley and their committed associates for supporting and contributing to this mission both within the city of Chicago and around the world." Wrigley's focus on enhancing the Chicago community goes beyond its operations. As part of the Wrigley Associate Volunteer Effort (WAVE) program, Wrigley associates are able to exhibit their generous spirit for volunteering throughout the year. Through the support of various organizations such as Friends of the Chicago River, Keep Chicago Beautiful and the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Wrigley associates enjoy an active role in keeping Chicago a vibrant place to live and work. "The ETC LEED certification is a terrific example of Wrigley's sustainability efforts in action," comments Julia Tuthill Mulligan, Vice President of Global Sustainability. "Through continued progress and education, we're committed to doing our part for people and the planet by making sustainability second nature in everything we do." To learn more about Wrigley's global sustainability efforts, visit the "Our Commitment" section of Wrigley.com. About Wrigley The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company is a recognized leader in confections with a wide range of product offerings including gum, mints, hard and chewy candies, lollipops, and chocolate. The Company has operations in more than 40 countries and distributes its world-famous brands in more than 180 countries. Three of these brands – Wrigley's Spearmint®, Juicy Fruit®, and Altoids® - have heritages stretching back more than a century. Other well-loved brands include Doublemint®, Life Savers®, Skittles®, Big Red®, Boomer, Pim Pom, Winterfresh®, Extra®, Starburst®, Freedent®, Hubba Bubba®, Orbit®, Excel, Creme Savers®, Eclipse®, Airwaves, Solano, Sugus, Lockets, P.K., Cool Air and 5®. Wrigley is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and operates as a subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated, based in McLean, Virginia. Mars is a $30-billion, family-owned company that produces some of the world's leading confectionery, food and petcare products and has growing beverage and health & nutrition businesses. About the U.S. Green Building Council The U.S. Green Building Council is a nonprofit membership organization whose vision is a sustainable built environment within a generation. Its membership includes corporations, builders, universities, government agencies, and other nonprofit organizations. Since USGBC's founding in 1993, the Council has grown to more than 17,000 member companies and organizations, a comprehensive family of LEED® green building rating systems, an expansive educational offering, the industry's popular Greenbuild International Conference and Expo (www.greenbuildexpo.org), and a network of 78 local chapters, affiliates, and organizing groups. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.

The Home Depot Foundation Announces 2009 Fiscal And Community Impact Results

2010-02-02 09:13:55 -0500

The Home Depot® Foundation today announced its 2009 fiscal and community impact results. In addition, the Foundation provided a status update on its ten-year commitment to invest $400 million to build and rehabilitate 100,000 affordable homes and to plant and restore three million trees. 2009 Fiscal and Community Impact Results The Home Depot Foundation's mission is to support nonprofit organizations and associate volunteer programs that are dedicated to helping families thrive by creating and preserving healthy, affordable homes as the cornerstone of sustainable communities. In 2009, the Foundation provided cash and in kind donations exceeding $74 million to more than 5,300 nonprofit organizations. Structured grant programs and volunteer activities focused on building affordable, green housing and community gathering places, like parks and centers, make up the majority of the Foundation’s giving. Accomplishments in this area in 2009 include:

Funded and supported the building and preservation of 33,000 affordable homes.
Planted 169,000 trees through partnerships with the Arbor Day Foundation, the Alliance for Community Trees and local groups such as the New York Restoration Project.
Launched the Partners in Sustainable Building program with Habitat for Humanity International in 150 U.S. markets and Mexico. In 2009 alone through this program, 1,000 homes were built to Energy Star® Plus standards, and many of those were built to even higher green standards, such as LEED for Homes. Through this five-year, $30 million partnership, at least 5,000 homeowners will enjoy the benefits of living in more efficient, healthier homes.
Developed and launched the Sustainable Cities Institute to provide information, expertise and resources to city officials in order to catalyze their efforts to make communities more sustainable economically, socially and environmentally. (www.sustainablecitiesinstitute.org)
Completed over 120 Team Depot projects during the 30th Anniversary Celebration of Service month, including building playgrounds and parks, refurbishing community centers and planting trees.
Built 66 KaBOOM! playgrounds across the United States.

During 2009, The Home Depot Foundation also expanded its Framing Hope program to more than 1,000 of The Home Depot's retail stores. Framing Hope is a unique donation program that saves discontinued and clearance merchandise from going into landfills and puts it in the hands of local nonprofit organizations where it can make a huge impact. In 2009, the Company was able to donate $37 million in product to 1,600 nonprofit organizations, the majority of which focus on building and maintaining affordable housing for working families and community shelters. As a result, 12,500 tons of usable products were diverted from landfills and put to good use in the community. Learn more about Framing Hope at http://thd.giftsinkind.org/homedepot/. Long-Term Commitment Update In 2007, The Home Depot Foundation made a ten-year commitment to invest $400 million to build and rehabilitate 100,000 affordable homes and to plant and restore three million trees. In just three short years, the Foundation has made a great deal of progress, investing $162.6 million (cash and in kind) as well as building and preserving 50,000 homes and planting over 600,000 trees in our communities. Examples of the outcomes of this long-term investment include:

Partnered with Enterprise Community Partners Inc. in late 2009 as the founding funder of Green Communities Next Generation that will result in the creation, preservation and retrofitting of 75,000 residential and commercial buildings in the next five years.
Partnered with the National Alliance for Community Trees to create the NeighborWoods Month Program, an annual community service campaign, which in October 2009 resulted in 231 volunteer events in major markets across the country through which 36,000 trees were planted and 24,000 volunteers engaged.
Partnered with the U.S. Green Building Council in 2008 to establish the LEED for Homes Initiative for Affordable Housing that promotes sustainable building practices in homes. In the first two years of the five year commitment, of the 4,437 housing units certified under LEED for Homes, 1,543 (almost 35%) are affordable to families at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI).
Partnered with NeighborWorks America in 2008 to "green" over 2,000 housing units by rehabbing existing multifamily properties with green building standards and advancing energy conservation through community outreach.
Partnered with LISC in 2007 to incorporate green building designs and components into 845 affordable housing developments in nine cities across the country.

About The Home Depot Foundation Established in 2002, The Home Depot Foundation focuses on supporting nonprofits that are dedicated to creating and preserving healthy, affordable homes as the cornerstone of sustainable communities where families can thrive. For more information about the Foundation:

www.homedepotfoundation.org
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