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Barrick Delivers $13 Billion in Economic Value Added in 2011

05.25.2012 - 10:43AM

Barrick Gold Corporation’s operations added $13 billion in economic value to its host countries in 2011, up from more than $9 billion a year earlier. This figure includes local and regional purchases, employee salaries, taxes and royalties and $47 million in community investments to improve quality of life.

“At Barrick, we recognize that our business has a significant economic impact and can be a catalyst for positive social change,” said Barrick President and CEO Aaron Regent. “Our approach is to create shared value for our shareholders and for the people whose resources we are developing in more than a dozen countries worldwide. While Barrick’s contribution to developing economies is often most evident, we also see this strong impact in places like Nevada, where the gold mining industry has been a bright spot through tough economic times.”

Currently, about 45 percent of Barrick’s global gold production is from North America, primarily from Nevada. The company’s contribution to the state’s economy is featured in the May edition of Beyond Borders magazine. While Nevada led the U.S. in unemployment during the recession, the mining industry was one of the few sources of job creation. As Barrick expands its presence in the state, it is continuing to create jobs and generate new opportunities for hundreds of Nevada businesses. Barrick employs more than 5,000 people at its Nevada operations, and expects to add about 330 new employees this year, after hiring a similar number in 2011. In 2012, the company is allocating about 45 percent of its $450 million to $490 million overall exploration budget to North America, the majority for Nevada. That represents a substantial increase over last year’s exploration spend in the state.

“We announced a major discovery in Nevada last year, which has the potential to be one of the most significant gold discoveries of the last number of decades,” Regent said. “As we develop this discovery, and continue to build our existing business, we believe Barrick has a significant role to play as Nevada continues on its path to recovery.”

Earlier this year, Barrick also announced the establishment of a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Advisory Board and named five individuals to serve as inaugural members. The Advisory Board’s role is to provide advice and guidance to Barrick management on the company’s global CSR performance and evolving best practices. The Board held its first meeting in April in Toronto, which included discussions on the environment, safety and health, community relations and security and human rights.

The latest edition of Beyond Borders also provides an update on the company’s $5 million project to support the rebuilding effort in several Chilean communities devastated by a massive earthquake in 2010. In March, a ceremony was held in the town of Boyeruca to celebrate the reopening of a school destroyed during the earthquake. It is one of three schools that Barrick helped rebuild in communities in Chile’s coastal region of Maule. In nearby Vichuquén, Barrick is contributing funds for the reconstruction of 24 houses that are designated historic sites and the town’s city hall.

In Peru, Barrick recently inaugurated the Alto Chicama Commitment, a new CSR initiative that brings together government and non-governmental organizations working with the company in the La Libertad region. Barrick’s partners in the program include World Vision, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Sodexo Foundation, the BBVA Foundation, Wayra SRL, the Apoyo Institute, the Alternative Farming Institute and Exporting Highlands. While Barrick has been working with each organization individually to improve education, farming and small business development, this collaboration will allow the organizations to leverage their combined expertise and efforts to maximize benefits for local communities.

The Alto Chicama Commitment builds on the success of the Atacama Commitment, a public-private sector alliance initiated by Barrick in 2008 to alleviate poverty in Chile’s Atacama region. One of the many noteworthy programs being implemented under that initiative is a $6.5 million housing project that Barrick is undertaking with its partner A Roof for Chile. In all, 700 new homes are being built for 1,200 people currently living in substandard housing. The first phase of the project is expected to be completed this summer.

In Tanzania, African Barrick Gold (ABG) recently signed Village Benefit Agreements (VBAs) with all seven villages near the company’s North Mara mine, marking a key milestone in a plan to improve community relations with its neighbors. The VBAs provide for an $8.5 million investment in the villages over a three-year period. They are a key component of the North Mara Co-existence plan, whose goal is to build trust, improve relations with local villages and address long-standing legacy issues at this operation.

Beyond Borders also includes an update on the ABG Maendeleo Fund. The fund is the largest corporate community development fund in Tanzania with an annual budget of $10 million.

About Barrick

Barrick Gold Corporation is a Toronto-based gold mining company and industry leader, with a portfolio of 26 operating mines, and projects on five continents. Barrick trades on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges and employs 25,000 people worldwide. The company has been ranked as a world leader in social and environmental responsibility for the fourth consecutive year by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Barrick is also listed on the NASDAQ Global Sustainability Index of the top 100 companies.

About Beyond Borders

Beyond Borders magazine is published by Barrick Gold Corporation and features the latest news and updates on Barrick’s social, environmental, safety and economic development programs.

Learn more at www.BarrickBeyondBorders.com.

You can also follow Barrick on Twitter and Barrick on Facebook.

"Funnel Your Energy" Event To Repair Homes Hit by Disasters May 30

05.22.2012 - 09:05AM

Rebuilding Together’s Springfield affiliate is planning a citywide natural disaster rebuilding event on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 to commemorate the first anniversary of the devastating June 1, 2011 tornado by repairing homes still damaged by the event. Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray will join members of Rebuilding Together, volunteers and sponsors at the kickoff breakfast and press conference at Berkshire Bank, 1259 East Columbus Avenue at 8 a.m.

Last year over 1,600 homes in the area sustained damage from natural disasters in June, July and October. In October of 2011 Rebuilding Together completed 25 Homes in 5 Days with 1,000 Volunteers to rebuild homes in the wake of the June tornadoes. Many homeowners, especially those that are low-income, with either no insurance or inadequate insurance, are still in need of help.

Projects range from the wall-raising of a destroyed garage, removal of fallen trees and stumps, painting full exteriors, repairing roofs, weatherization, replacing windows and doors with new energy efficient ones, electrical & plumbing upgrades, to yard cleanups, planting trees, shrubs and flowers and debris removal.

Rebuilding Together is seeking volunteers and materials donations for the citywide rebuilding effort. Those interested can contact Rebuilding Together at (413) 788-0014 or at www.RebuildingTogetherSpringfield.org.

Sponsors to date include Berkshire Bank, AARP Massachusetts, Lowe's Home Improvement, Sears-Heroes at Home, TD Bank, Springfield Area Sustainable Energy Association, Verizon Wireless, Triple S Construction/Home Builders Association of Western Massachusetts and Derosier Tree Company.

Rebuilding Together Springfield is in its 20th year of existence and recently completed the rebuilding of 15 homes in Springfield on April 28, National Rebuilding Day, with the help of approximately 1,000 volunteers.

Muhammed Yunus - "The Father of Microcredit" - to Keynote the 2012 SRI Conference Held in New York City Area

05.04.2012 - 10:35AM

Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, who is widely regarded as the father of microcredit and also is the founder of Grameen Bank, will be the keynote speaker on the opening night of the 23rd annual SRI Conference on Sustainable, Responsible, Impact Investing ("The 2012 SRI Conference") taking place October 2-4, 2012 at the Mohegan Sun Conference Center in Connecticut.

Organized by First Affirmative Financial Network, The SRI Conference (formerly known as SRI in the Rockies) is the largest annual gathering of responsible investors and investment professionals in North America. The October 2012 conference represents the first time the major industry event has been held on the East Coast, with easy access to and from New York City, Boston, and Washington, D.C. For more information, go to http://www.SRIconference.com.

In March, 2012 Fortune Magazine named Yunus as “one of 12 greatest entrepreneurs of our time.” In 2006, Professor Yunus and Grameen Bank were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The Wharton School of Business chose him as one of “The 25 Most Influential Business Persons of the Past 25 Years.” In 2008, in an open online poll, Professor Yunus was voted the second topmost intellectual person in the world on the list of Top 100 Public Intellectuals by Prospect magazine (UK) and Foreign Policy magazine (US).

First Affirmative President, Steve Schueth, producer of The SRI Conference, said: "The SRI community and the 2012 SRI Conference sponsors are very pleased that one of the seminal figures in the world of microcredit and sustainable investing will be joining us to open the 23rd annual SRI Conference. This will be a must-attend session for investors, investment professionals, and companies interested in directing the flow of investment capital toward a truly sustainable future.

Professor Yunus was born in Bangladesh in 1940. In 1965, he received a Fulbright Scholarship to study economics at Vanderbilt University, and received a PhD in economics in 1969. He returned to Bangladesh in 1972 and joined University of Chittagong’s Department of Economics as its chairman. In 1976, Professor Yunus started to experiment with providing collateral free loans to the poor. The project was called the Grameen Bank Project which later, in 1983, became a full-fledged bank providing loans to the poor, mostly women, in rural Bangladesh. Today Grameen Bank has over 8.4 million borrowers, 97 percent of whom are women, and disburses over one and a half billion dollars (US) each year. His microcredit idea has spread to almost all the countries of the world, including the industrialized countries of the West.

Professor Yunus is one of only seven individuals to have received the Nobel Peace Prize, the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the United States Congressional Gold Medal. Other notable awards conferred upon him include the Ramon Magsaysay Award (1984), World Food Prize (1994), International Simon Bolivar Prize (1996), Sydney Peace Prize (1998), and Seoul Peace Prize (2006).

About the SRI Conference

The SRI Conference (http://www.SRIconference.com) is the leading forum for the sustainable, responsible, impact (SRI) investment industry in North America. For more information about the agenda, speaking, or sponsorship, please contact Krystala Kalil, at 888-774-2663 or krystala@SRIconference.com. Register at http://www.sriconference.com/register.jsp.

About First Affirmative Financial Network

First Affirmative Financial Network, LLC (http://www.firstaffirmative.com) is an independent Registered Investment Advisor (SEC File #801-56587) offering investment consulting and asset management services through a nationwide network of investment professionals who specialize in serving socially conscious investors. First Affirmative produces the annual SRI Conference (http://www.SRIconference.com).

Youth Employment Initiative Launched in South Africa

05.03.2012 - 03:05PM

To address the challenges young people face in South Africa when entering the labor force or starting their own business, the International Youth Foundation (IYF) and the Caterpillar Foundation have launched EquipYouth, a program that will provide 720 local youth with a package of services that includes technical job and life skills training as well as post-training support. The program, which is gaining valuable corporate support from Barloworld Equipment South Africa (the local Cat® dealer), will be implemented through St. Anthony’s Education Centre, a South African organization established to address the educational and training needs of vulnerable youth and adults in the community.

Through EquipYouth, participants will receive 24 weeks of hands-on training focused on preparing them to acquire certification as electricians, welders, automotive mechanics, bookkeepers, and plumbers. Youth will also receive a life skills training component that includes such issues as workforce readiness, community engagement, and strategies to become self-sufficient. Upon graduation, trainees will register with the job and career counseling office at St. Anthony’s Education Centre where they will receive ongoing support in finding internships and employment opportunities.

"We are excited about the tremendous possibilities EquipYouth will create for these young people," said Caterpillar Corporate Public Affairs Director Jim Baumgartner. “Giving unemployed youth options for a sustainable employment future closely aligns with the Caterpillar Foundation focus on access to education. We are proud to support IYF in its efforts to reach young people with technical training and life skills." Terry Dearling, Executive Director, Human Resources at Barloworld Equipment, added: “As a leading South African company, Barloworld has a responsibility and a desire to help build our nation. That means helping its citizens to obtain the skills they need to become active in the economy – particularly those who simply don’t have the means or the support to achieve their dreams.”

The program is part of a global EquipYouth partnership between IYF and the Caterpillar Foundation that will provide 8,000 young people in Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Russia, Singapore, and South Africa with market-relevant life and job skills training along with internships, on-the-job training and employment placement services.

“With as many as 100 million young people worldwide unemployed, it will take leaders from every sector of society, working together, to make a real and positive difference in the lives of today’s youth,” said Patricia Scheid, Senior Program Director Africa Region, the International Youth Foundation. “So IYF is very pleased to join the Caterpillar Foundation and our local partners not only here in South Africa, but also around the world to ensure youth in every community get the skills and opportunities they need to be successful.”

The EquipYouth program in South Africa will serve as a model to generate lessons and identify best practices relating to public-private partnerships that can be used to expand access to further training for vulnerable youth and to support South Africa’s National Skills Development Strategy. Launch attendees included representatives from Caterpillar, Barloworld Equipment South Africa, the International Youth Foundation, St. Anthony’s Education Centre, job training institutes, local business leaders, and youth enrolled in the EquipYouth project.

CATERPILLAR FOUNDATION

Caterpillar Inc. supports the philanthropic efforts of the Caterpillar Foundation. Founded in 1952, the Caterpillar Foundation has contributed more than $500 million to help make sustainable progress possible around the world by providing program support in the areas of environmental sustainability, access to education and basic human needs.

More information is available at www.caterpillar.com/foundation.

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FOUNDATION

The International Youth Foundation (IYF) invests in the extraordinary potential of young people. Founded in 1990, IYF builds and maintains a worldwide community of businesses, governments, and civil society organizations committed to empowering youth to be healthy, productive, and engaged citizens. IYF programs are catalysts for change that help young people obtain a quality education, gain employability skills, make healthy choices, and improve their communities.

To learn more visit www.iyfnet.org.

Dow Announces Completion of Community Apartment for Elderly Victims In Fukushima; Donates Complex to Soma City

05.02.2012 - 01:49PM

The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) today announced the completion of Dow Soma Nagaya (Soma City, Fukushima), an apartment complex for the elderly victims of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, and donated the building and its ownership to the City of Soma.

At Soma City Hall in August, 2011, Dow Chairman and CEO Andrew Liveris announced the construction of the Dow Soma Nagaya complex and pledged to donate it to Soma City upon its completion.

“A number of Dow Chemical employees work in Soma, and their families live there. Soma is our precious hometown,” said Diego Donoso, president, Dow Japan, in the presence of Soma City Mayor Hidekiyo Tachiya and more than 150 others in attendance, including community leaders, Soma city council members, companies involved in the construction and local Dow employees and family members, among others. “By taking care of the elderly in our community, we can also cultivate a sense of security among the younger generation, and they will feel Soma is their safe and peaceful permanent hometown. We are committed to operating our Soma plant and at the same time, we will continue to support the Soma rebuild.”

To commemorate the occasion, Donoso handed a key made of Dow STYROFOAM^TM brand extruded polystyrene foam to Mayor Tachiya.

Soma City Mayor Hidekiyo Tachiya commented, “We are deeply appreciative of Dow Chemical’s donation. We hope that efforts to prevent elderly victims from dying alone, such as this community housing project, will spread to other disaster impacted areas.”

The complex was made possible through the application of Dow’s technology and expertise, and features many elements of traditional Japanese housing, such as tatami-covered communal social space and dining and bathing facilities, as well as traditional engawa, corridor type verandahs. And with spaces provided for volunteer activities and other group gatherings, the Nagaya is designed to lessen tenants’ feelings of isolation and to enhance a sense of companionship and social connection with the local community. The barrier-free, single-storied Nagaya is also designed to respect personal privacy, with each of the 12 individual apartments equipped with two rooms and private bathroom and kitchen.

Soma Nagaya is insulated with STYROFOAM^TM brand extruded polystyrene foam, Dow’s insulation material which contributes to less CO₂emissions and keeps the building warm in winter and cool in summer. The stable temperature in the Nagaya is expected to prevent heat-shock accidents among the elderly tenants during cold winter.

Construction and donation of the complex is a part of a multi-million dollar commitment made by Dow following the earthquake and tsunami. In the immediate aftermath, the Company donated $US2 million for emergency relief efforts to the Soma City Disaster Relief Fund.

The Dow plant has been part of the Soma community since 1993, manufacturing ion exchange resins and providing a reverse osmosis membrane rinsing operation. The plant was shut down in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, reopening in September of the same year and re-establishing the ion exchange resin to Dow’s customers who are themselves playing a critical role in the recovery of Japan, specifically in the areas of pure drinking water and energy generation.

About Dow

Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2011, Dow had annual sales of $60 billion and employed approximately 52,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 197 sites in 36 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

San Francisco's Tech, Entrepreneur, Design Talent and Tenderloin Community Come Together to Improve Lives of Residents During Collaboration Weekend

04.27.2012 - 04:34PM

Collaboration Weekend, which kicks-off tonight and runs through Sunday, brings together some of the City’s brightest technologists and entrepreneurs with established members of the Tenderloin District to develop new community-driven tools that will help make aspects of residents’ lives more efficient, creating greater opportunity for economic improvement. The Weekend serves as the launch event of Creative Currency, a six-month initiative produced by the digital culture nonprofit, Gray Area Foundation for the Arts (GAFFTA) and the social enterprise convener and incubator, The Hub Bay Area, in partnership with The San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Civic Innovation, and American Express. More than one hundred City residents will convene and break-off into project teams to brainstorm and develop solutions for Mid-Market. The initiative will continue beyond the weekend with a public Demo Day planned for August. Top projects will continue development over a six-month period allowing for further solidification, integration into the community or evolving into operating independent initiatives.

“San Francisco is known as the Innovation Capital of the World',” said Jay Nath, Chief Innovation Officer for the City of San Francisco, “yet there are concentrated populations within our own city that don’t have access to the very digital tools that most of us have become so accustomed to.”

Creative Currency: New Tools for a New Economy from GAFFTA on Vimeo.

Many San Francisco residents probably can’t remember life before the existence of mobile apps to help them find the fastest route to a destination, or using computers or ATMs to retrieve information and execute financial transactions. But many Tenderloin residents wake up at 4 a.m. just to begin their search for the next night’s bed.

“The causes of poverty are many and far-reaching, and any step towards facilitating better care and support for the people who need it most is progress for all of us. Technologies that respond to the unique diversity and complex challenges faced by our residents hold great potential for affecting positive change in our communities.” said Lillian Mark, Operations Manager, Community Building Division at GLIDE Foundation, a community organization working in the Tenderloin for more than 45 years.

To ensure that projects developed are relevant to and informed by the local community, the Creative Currency team conducted in-depth interviews with 16 local service organizations and nonprofits, and surveyed 37 businesses and 155 residents over two months. This extensive community outreach is the first of its kind for a hackathon-style event, and an evolution of GAFFTA’s experience connecting technology solutions to social issues and neighborhood challenges in Mid-Market. Participants in this weekend’s Collaboration Weekend had access to the brief in advance to familiarize themselves with the community’s unique needs and start brainstorming ideas. The HUB Bay Area’s history of accelerating enterprises focused on delivering both social and financial returns, will bring business development and ROI expertise to project teams.

“After years of fostering these types of innovative collaborations, we’ve found the best solutions emerge from teams that are diverse, inclusive and locally driven,” said Josette Melchor, Co-Founder and Executive Director of GAFFTA. “Building on the community’s input and institutional knowledge is essential for us to help build tech-based tools that are useful and meaningful to local residents.”

Creative Currency will also draw on new concepts that are already transforming systems of exchange in both the U.S. and abroad including peer-to-peer sharing, crowdfunding platforms and alternative currency, among others. American Express’ Serve technology, one such alternative payment system, will be available for participants to incorporate into their projects.

“We believe there is tremendous potential for mobile money to help serve different income levels,” said Dan Schulman, American Express’ president of enterprise growth. “Together with our partners, we plan to support, mentor and evolve unique prototypes that will be truly impactful to residents of San Francisco’s Mid-Market.”

Ideas resulting from this weekend will have opportunities for a portion of $15,000 in seed funding to support development of their projects. Mentors from the areas of business, investment, technology, design and community development will be available to participants throughout the initiative, starting with on-site input at Collaboration Weekend. Project teams will have opportunities to showcase their work to the public at Demo Day in August and among peers at SOCAP 12 in San Francisco on October 1-4, 2012.

“Through the broad set of relationships represented in our collaboration we hope to nurture projects and partnerships in the community that will serve its residents for years to come,” said The Hub Bay Area’s CEO, Cory Smith.

For more information, to access the Community Brief and to see some of the ideas proposed to address the unique challenges of Tenderloin residents, visit www.creative-currency.org.

About HUB Bay Area
HUB Bay Area is a place-based membership community that develops and deploys solutions for a better world. Hubs exist in more than 20 international locations and Hub Bay Area consists of San Francisco and Berkeley, soon to be expanding into Oakland and Silicon Valley. Aspiring people find the support they need at the HUB to reach their goals faster in a community that makes everyone smarter and more effective. Existing organizations establish satellite presences at the HUB to join the community and create value-exchange. The HUB Bay Area is designing workspaces, events, education, and media as tools to drive acceleration and collaboration.

About Gray Area Foundation for the Arts (GAFFTA)
Gray Area Foundation for the Arts (GAFFTA) is the nation’s leading organization dedicated to furthering the use and advancement of creative technology for social good. In this capacity, we maintain relationships with the world’s top academic researchers, innovative corporations, visionary artists, and civic leaders. By continually engaging and connecting this diverse community with challenges and opportunities, we extract forward-thinking technological solutions with proven capacity to create positive change.

About The San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Civic Innovation
The City and County of San Francisco is recognized the world over for its innovative spirit. From our leadership on medical care with the country’s first universal healthcare program to our recent ban on plastic bags, we often set the pace for the rest of the nation.

In the Mayor's Office of Civic Innovation, our mission is to introduce new ideas and approaches to solve long-standing challenges. We believe that government needs to think like a lean startup: agile, scrappy and customer-focused.

About American Express
American Express is a global services company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, foursquare.com/americanexpress, linkedin.com/companies/american-express, twitter.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress.

BASF Gives Seattle Mariners Green Boost to Launch 'Sustainable Saturdays' at Safeco Field

04.23.2012 - 05:38PM

On April 21 - Earth Day Weekend - one of the greenest clubs in major league baseball teams up with BASF, The Chemical Company, to inspire its fans to follow its lead and start striking out landfills at home. Well on their way to batting 1.000 in their zero-waste program, the Seattle Mariners currently divert more than 80 percent of their waste stream away from landfills into composting and recycling centers.

The Saturday, April 21 Mariners-Chicago White Sox matchup marks the launch of “Sustainable Saturdays, a season-long program at Safeco Field to promote the kind of environmentally-conscious practices that have earned the club the prized position of number one in energy efficiency and number two in recycling in Major League Baseball.

The first 10,000 fans to arrive at the ballpark on Earth Day Weekend will receive a free “Kitchen Catcher” compost kit, compliments of BASF, Ecosafe, and Seattle Public Utilities (SPU). Inside are five compostable bags produced with BASF’s Ecovio® biodegradable polymers.
This weekend’s game also marks the launch of the BASF Kid Compost Trivia game where fans compete for a chance to win an Amazon Kindle Fire and appear live on the centerfield video board at the end of the seventh inning.

“When we realized that the bulk of what we were sending to the landfill was organic matter, the answer was obvious,” says Scott Jenkins, Vice President of Ballpark Operations for the Seattle Mariners. “Turn it back into topsoil. Our zero-waste program has gone from batting .120 just five years ago to .810 today. To help fans follow our lead this Earth Day Weekend, we’re giving away 10,000 kitchen compost kits including everything they need to get going. With the help of our fans, we aim to make 2012 the most sustainable Mariners’ season ever.”

The Kitchen Catcher will include a countertop container, five Ecosafe compostable liners, SPU coupons for Cedar Grove compost and savings towards the purchase of Ecosafe bags -- plus simple steps to help fans follow the team’s green lead.

At each of the 10 Sustainable Saturday games, at the end of the first inning, the public address announcer will invite fans to play the BASF Kid Compost Trivia Game and test their knowledge about sustainability at Safeco field and the Seattle area. Trivia questions will be broadcast on the centerfield video board. Fans do not have to be eco-experts to win because all of the answers are provided at 16 zero-waste stations throughout the concourse, where they will also find the short code to text their answer for their chance to win. The winner will be drawn at random from all the correct answers.
At each zero waste station, volunteers from Camp Fire USA’s Teen Leadership Program will be standing by to teach fans how to strike out the landfill on their visit to Safeco Field and encourage them to do the same at home. Then, in the bottom of the seventh inning, Kid Compost, one of the Mariners’ eco-mascots, will present the winning fan with a Kindle Fire broadcast live on the centerfield screen.

“Sustainable Saturdays at Safeco are about showing Mariners’ fans how we can all live more sustainably,” said Chris Bradlee, Biodegradable Polymers - Market Development Manager, North America, BASF, who will be on hand to throw out the first pitch at this Saturday’s Earth Day Weekend game. “The Mariners are already doing a great job conserving water, natural gas, and electricity, recycling waste, and using renewable energy at Safeco Field. Now, we’re helping them engage their fans to do the same at home.”

Mariners - Safeco Field, a green ballpark

81 percent recycling rate

Since 2006:
• 45 percent reduction in natural gas usage
• 30 percent reduction in electricity usage over 5 years
• 25 percent reduction in water usage over 5 years

All office copy paper is 100 % post-consumer.

All restroom paper is 100% recycled and minimum of 65% post-consumer.

Utilize green cleaning practices including 98% of cleaning products purchased green certified.

168 solar panels generating 40,000 kW hours per year.

Cut electrical use in garage in half via a relighting project.

Installed 4 electric vehicle recharging stations.

Amazon, Kindle, Kindle Fire, the Amazon Kindle logo and the Kindle Fire logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

Ecovio is a registered trademark of BASF SE.

BASF - The Chemical Company
BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 16,000 employees in North America, and had sales of $19.9 billion in 2011. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.us.

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success, social responsibility and environmental protection. Through science and innovation we enable our customers in almost all industries to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and system solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring healthy food and nutrition and helping to improve the quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF posted sales of about €73.5 billion in 2011 and had more than 111,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

2012 BALLE Business Conference: Real Prosperity Starts Here

04.03.2012 - 07:35PM

The 2012 BALLE Business Conference: Real Prosperity Starts Here connects you to the best people, resources and ideas to unleash local prosperity. Join more than 700 community innovators, business owners, and investors to:

Learn from pioneering entrepreneurs what business practices have the most triple bottom line impact
Network with the nation's local movement founders and visionaries
Witness how the latest community capital techniques are transforming the local economy
Catch the latest local business developments in public policy and economic development
Be inspired by local, community-supported everything: food, finance, manufacturing, energy, retail, and more

Real Prosperity Starts Here is proud to be held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, named “America’s Greenest City” by Fast Company magazine. As home to nationally acclaimed BALLE network and conference cohost, Local First West Michigan, Grand Rapids has put apathy, malaise and economic decline on the ropes, and you don’t want to miss the final round.

BJ’s Charitable Foundation Grants More Than $1 Million to Nonprofits

04.03.2012 - 08:30AM

BJ’s Charitable Foundation today announced a donation of $1,055,400 to 166 nonprofit organizations in the 15 states where BJ’s Wholesale Clubs are located. The donated funds will be dispersed to organizations that focus in four areas: hunger prevention, self-sufficiency, health care and education.

The rising cost of fuel and food prices are making it more difficult for hunger relief organizations to deliver and provide food to those who experience hunger. BJ’s Charitable Foundation is granting $371,400 to 49 non-profit organizations with programs to help prevent and alleviate hunger. The grants will help shelters, food banks, soup kitchens and food pantries purchase and distribute food.

Forty-five nonprofits that provide temporary or emergency services to individuals and families who have the goal of becoming independent members of society will receive a total of $278,800. The grants will enhance shelter programs; provide funds to purchase supplies and clothing for residents and fund programs that offer families temporary, safe refuges.

A total of $94,300 is granted to 17 organizations that provide healthcare programs to individuals and families that do not have access to healthcare. The funds will help supply medical clinics and aid in costs for health prevention services, supplies for vision, dental and hearing screenings provided to individuals.

Finally, the Foundation will donate $310,900 to 55 educational nonprofits that provide academic and vocational programs and opportunities for the disadvantaged. These programs include the purchase of supplies for literacy skills, mentoring, tutoring and career development.

“The BJ’s Charitable Foundation is proud to support organizations that provide care and crucial services for individuals and families in need,” said Jessica Newman, Manager of Community Relations for BJ’s Wholesale Club. “The funds distributed to organizations that focus on hunger prevention, healthcare, self-sufficiency and education will have a positive impact in BJ’s communities.”

Now in its seventh year, the BJ’s Charitable Foundation has donated more than $14 million to nearly 1,600 community organizations. The noted organizations receiving grants from BJ’s Charitable Foundation submitted proposals in 2011. All recipients are 501(c)3 charitable organizations that support services in the regions where BJ’s Wholesale Clubs are located.

Hunger Prevention

Gifts of Love, Inc. (Avon, CT) $10,000
Foodshare, Inc. (Bloomfield, CT) $12,500
FSW, Inc. (Bridgeport, CT) $7,500
Episcopal Social Service of the Diocese of CT, Inc. (New Haven, CT) $5,000
Capital Area Food Bank (Washington, DC) $20,000
Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee, Inc. (Bradenton, FL) $15,000
Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida (Fort Myers , FL) $10,000
Jubilee Center of South Broward (Hollywood, FL) $7,500
Osceola County Council on Aging, Inc. (Kissimmee, FL) $5,000
Atlanta Community Food Bank (Atlanta, GA) $7,500
The Place of Forsyth County (Cummings, GA) $3,900
Roca, Inc. (Chelsea, MA ) $5,000
Citizens for Citizens, Inc. (Fall River, MA) $10,000
Pathways for Children (Gloucester, MA) $5,000
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts (Hatfield, MA) $5,000
Bread & Roses (Lawrence, MA) $12,500
Lazarus House Incorporated (Lawrence, MA) $5,000
Mystic Valley Elder Services, Inc. (Malden, MA) $5,000
Jewish Family & Children's Service, Inc. (Waltham, MA) $7,500
Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina (Charlotte, NC) $15,000
The Community FoodBank of New Jersey Inc. (Hillside, NJ) $5,000
Long Beach Island Community Center, Inc. (Long Beach, NJ) $5,000
Jewish Family & Vocational Service of Middlesex County, Inc. (Milltown, NJ) $5,000
Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties (Neptune, NJ) $5,000
Elijah's Promise (New Brunswick, NJ) $5,000
Jewish Family Service, Inc (Teaneck, NJ) $5,000
Crown Heights Jewish Community Council, Inc. (Brooklyn, NY) $5,000
Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York (Latham, NY) $5,000
Island Harvest (Mineola, NY) $10,000
Help From People to People, Inc. (Nanuet, NY) $5,000
Bailey House, Inc. (New York, NY) $5,000
Yorkville Common Pantry (New York, NY) $5,000
Dutchess Outreach, Inc. (Poughkeepsie, NY) $5,000
Foodlink, Inc. (Rochester, NY) $10,000
Bethesda House of Schenectady, Inc. (Schenectady, NY) $20,000
Richmond Senior Services, Inc. (Staten Island, NY) $5,000
Food Bank of Central New York (Syracuse, NY) $5,000
Mobile Meals, Inc. (Akron, OH) $15,000
Children's Hunger Alliance (Cleveland, OH) $5,000
Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio (Lorain, OH) $10,000
Meals on Wheels of Northampton County, Inc. (Bethlehem, PA) $7,500
Family Services of Montgomery County, PA (Eagleville, PA) $5,000
Philabundance (Philadelphia, PA) $15,000
SHARE Food Program, Inc. (Philadelphia, PA) $5,000
Greater Berks Food Bank (Reading, PA) $5,000
Maternal and Child Health Consortium (West Chester, PA) $5,000
Westbay Community Action (Warwick, RI) $5,000
Western Fairfax Christian Ministries (Chantilly, VA) $5,000
Lorton Community Action Center (Lorton, VA) $5,000

Self-Sufficiency

Operation Hope of Fairfield, Inc. (Fairfield, CT) $7,500
Women's Center of Southeastern Connecticut (New London, CT) $5,000
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (Washington, DC) $5,000
Women In Distress of Broward County, Inc. (Fort Lauderdale, FL) $5,000
Ability Housing of Northeast Florida, Inc. (Jacksonville, FL) $5,000
Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry, Inc. (BEAM) (Jacksonville Beach, FL) $5,000
Intervention Services, Inc. (Maitland, FL) $12,500
Children's Harbor, Inc. (Pembroke Pines, FL) $7,500
Atlanta Union Mission (Atlanta, GA) $5,000
Caring For Others, Inc. (Atlanta, GA) $5,000
Families First (Atlanta, GA) $7,500
North Georgia Angel House Inc. (Canton, GA) $4,000
Project Renewal Domestic Violence Intervention Program, Inc. (Conyers, GA) $5,000
Our House, Inc. (Decatur, GA) $7,500
Victory Programs, Inc. (Boston, MA) $5,000
Emmaus Inc. (Haverhill, MA) $5,000
Womanshelter/Companeras (Holyoke, MA) $10,000
Father Bill's & Mainspring Inc. (Quincy, MA) $15,000
Horizons for Homeless Children (Roxbury, MA) $10,000
Healing Abuse Working for Change (Salem, MA) $5,000
HAP, Inc. (Springfield, MA) $5,000
Human Services Programs of Carroll County (Westminster, MD) $15,000
Wake Interfaith Hospitality Network (Raleigh, NC) $5,000
Greater Nashua Interfaith Hospitality Network (Hudson, NH) $5,000
Seacoast Task Force on Family Violence (Portsmouth, NH) $7,500
Family Guidance Center Corporation (Hamilton, NJ) $4,000
HABcore (Red Bank, NJ) $5,000
The Center for Great Expectations (Somerset, NJ) $5,000
Court Appointed Special Advocates of Ocean County, Inc. (Toms River, NJ) $3,000
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of New Jersey, Inc. (Trenton, NJ) $3,000
Albany Damien Center (Albany, NY) $5,000
Community Maternity Services (Albany, NY) $5,000
Haven House/Bridges, Inc. (Brentwood, NY) $5,000
Circulo de la Hispanidad (Long Beach, NY) $5,000
Center for Youth Services, Inc. (Rochester, NY) $5,000
Rochester Area Interfaith Hospitality Network, Inc. (RAIHN) (Rochester, NY) $4,900
Options for Community Living, Inc. (Smithtown, NY) $7,500
The Goodwill Industries of Akron, Ohio, Inc. (Akron, OH) $5,000
Pathway Caring for Children (North Canton, OH) $5,000
The Career Wardrobe (Philadelphia, PA) $7,500
Turning Points for Children (TPFC) (Philadelphia, PA) $5,000
Northwest Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network Inc. (Philadelphia, PA) $5,000
Bucks County Housing Group, Inc. (Wrightstown, PA) $5,000
ForKids, Inc. (Norfolk, VA) $10,000
Primeplus Norfolk Senior Center (Norfolk, VA) $4,900

Healthcare

Griffin Hospital (Derby, CT) $5,000
Waterbury Hospital (Waterbury, CT) $5,000
Brandywine Community Resource Council, Inc. (Claymont, DE) $4,300
University of Central Florida Foundation, Inc.(Orlando, FL) $5,000
Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland (Westminster, MD) $7,500
Presbyterian Hospital Foundation (Charlotte, NC) $7,500
Coltrane LIFE Center, Inc. (Concord, NC) $5,000 .
Goodwin Community Health (Summersworth, NH) $5,000
Moorestown Visiting Nurse Association (Moorestown, NJ) $5000.
Diabetes Foundation Inc. (Paramus, NJ) $5,000
LADACIN Network (Wanamassa, NJ) $10,000.
Hearing and Speech Center of Rochester (Rochester, NY) $5,000
North Shore Child & Family Guidance Association, Inc.(Roslyn Heights, NY) $5,000
Western Stark Free Clinic, Inc. (Massillon, OH) $7,500
Pocono Medical Center (East Stroudsburg, PA) $2,500
Calcutta House (Philadelphia, PA) $5,000
Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island (Providence, RI) $5,000

Education

Read to Grow, Inc. (Branford, CT) $5,000
The McGivney Community Center, Inc. (Bridgeport, CT) $10,000
Village for Families & Children (Hartford, CT) $12,500
Youth Continuum, Inc. (New Haven, CT) $5,000
Reading ASSIST Institute (Wilmington, DE) $5,000
Firewall Ministries, Inc. (Cooper City, FL) $5,000
Palm Beach County Literacy Coalition (Delray Beach, FL) $10,000
The Ann Storck Center (Fort Lauderdale, FL) $5,000
Boys & Girls Club of Martin County Inc. (Hobe Sound, FL) $5,000
Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida (Jacksonville, FL) $5,000
Club Esteem (Melbourne, FL) $5,000
Neat Stuff, Inc. (Miami, FL) $5,000
Florida Senior Programs, Inc. (Orlando, FL) $5,000
Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired and Blind, Inc.(Port Richey, FL) $5,000
Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County, Inc. (Sarasota, FL) $10,000
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, Inc. (Atlanta, GA) $5,000
Gate City Day Nursery Association (Atlanta, GA) $5,000
Mentor Me- North Georgia, Inc. (Cumming, GA) $5,000
Children's Restoration Network (Roswell, GA) $10,000.
Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (Boston, MA) $7,500
Community Action of the Franklin, Hampshire, and North Quabbin (Greenfield, MA) $3,700
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Haverhill (Haverhill, MA) $5,000
Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation (Jamaica Plain, MA) $7,500
Asian Center Merrimack Valley (Lawrence, MA) $5,000
Housing Families Inc. (Malden, MA) $5,000
South Shore YMCA (Quincy, MA) $7,500
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Westfield (Westfield, MA) $5,000
Jobs for Maine's Graduates, Inc. (Augusta, ME) $5,000
Cannon Memorial Young Men’s Christian Association (Kannapolis, NC) $5,000
Thompson Child & Family Focus (Matthews, NC) $5,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Triangle (Raleigh, NC) $5,000
Communities in Schools of Wake County (Raleigh, NC) $7,500.00
Mayhew (Bristol, NH) $5,000
Nashua Soup Kitchen and Shelter, Inc. (Nashua, NH) $5,000
Boys & Girls Clubs of Monmouth County (Asbury Park, NJ) $5,000
Boys & Girls Club of Vineland (Vineland, NJ) $5,000
The Addictions Care Center of Albany (Albany, NY) $5,000
BronxWorks Inc. (Bronx, NY) $5,000
Highbridge Community Life Center, Inc.(Bronx, NY) $5,000
South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (Bronx, NY) $5,000
The Public Broadcasting Council of Central New York (Liverpool, NY) $4,800
Young Women's Christian Association of the City of New York (New York, NY) $5,000
Association to Benefit Children (New York, NY) $5,000
ENACT, Inc. (New York, NY) $6,000
Learning Disabilities Association of the Genesee Valley, Inc. (Rochester, NY) $2,100
Seamen's Society for Children & Families (Staten Island, NY) $5,000
Watervliet Civic Chest Inc. (Watervliet, NY) $5,000
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve, Inc. (Akron, OH) $5,000
University Settlement, Inc. (Cleveland, OH) $5,000
People for People, Inc. (Philadelphia, PA) $5,000
Children's Literacy Initiative (Philadelphia, PA) $5,000
York County Literacy Council (York, PA) $5,000
The Providence Public Library (Providence, RI) $4,300
Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters (Norfolk, VA) $5,000
Girls for A Change (Santa Cruz, VA) $7,500

About BJ’s Charitable Foundation

BJ’s Charitable Foundation was established with the mission to enrich every community BJ’s Wholesale Clubs serve. The Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that primarily benefit the underprivileged in the area of basic needs (hunger prevention, self-sufficiency, education and health). For more information about BJ’s Charitable Foundation, please visit, bjs.com/charity.

15 Nonprofits to Receive Pro Bono Advice from Morgan Stanley's Strategy Challenge

04.02.2012 - 09:45AM

Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) announced today that the following 15 nonprofit organizations will participate in the fourth annual Strategy Challenge, a signature skills-based volunteering program providing nonprofits with pro bono strategic consulting.

Brooklyn Children's Museum	icouldbe.org
Chicago Youth Centers	Macaulay Honors College
Children's Aid Society	Reach the World
Children's Museum of Manhattan	StoryCorps
Covenant House	Tuesday's Children
Family & Children's Agency	Union Settlement Association
Friends for Youth	Working in Support of Education
Grameen America

Each nonprofit will work with a team of Morgan Stanley employees for eight weeks. The teams will advise the nonprofits on issues relating to their business models and growth strategies, in order to help the nonprofits fulfill their missions in more effective and efficient ways. The employees will use their professional skills and expertise to develop recommendations for the nonprofits.

The nonprofits work on causes ranging from youth development and microfinance to arts and culture and are based in San Francisco, Chicago and New York.

Said Joan Steinberg, Head of Morgan Stanley Community Affairs and President of the Morgan Stanley Foundation: "Through the Morgan Stanley Strategy Challenge, charities across the country are getting specific advice and tools to help them address their scalability and growth potential in order to serve more people. The Strategy Challenge, now in its fourth year, recognizes that nonprofits are critical to the health and vibrancy of the communities in which we live and work. Over the next eight weeks, our employees will be working intensively to develop targeted recommendations for their nonprofit partners, and we wish them success."

Since establishing the Strategy Challenge in 2009, Morgan Stanley has delivered 14,500 hours of pro bono services to 36 nonprofits, worth approximately $2.2 million, according to standards developed by the Taproot Foundation. The Strategy Challenge is a joint effort between Morgan Stanley’s offices of Community Affairs and Global Sustainable Finance.

“The Morgan Stanley Strategy Challenge serves multiple bottom lines: helping nonprofits address their most pressing business issues; empowering employees to help their communities; and providing employees with unique opportunities to grow professionally,” said Audrey Choi, Head of Global Sustainable Finance at Morgan Stanley. “By giving employees the opportunity to volunteer their most valuable professional skills to serve the community, Morgan Stanley puts sustainability into action.”

The Morgan Stanley volunteers will present their recommendations for the nonprofits at a competition in June before experts from the private and nonprofit sectors. Chairman and CEO James Gorman will present awards to the top three teams.

About Morgan Stanley

Morgan Stanley is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, investment management and wealth management services. The Firm's employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals from more than 1,300 offices in 43 countries. For further information about Morgan Stanley, please visit www.morganstanley.com.

Julius Robinson Appointed Chairman of Operation Hope's Northwest Board of Directors

03.29.2012 - 12:00PM

Union Bank, N.A. today announced that Julius Robinson, executive vice president and head of Corporate Social Responsibility has been appointed to Operation HOPE’s Northwest Board of Directors as Chairman. The Northwest Operation HOPE Board of Directors guides HOPE’s mission to expand economic opportunity in underserved communities through economic education and empowerment in the region. Robinson will serve a three-year term.

“I am honored to lead a talented group of individuals who are dedicated to helping Operation HOPE fulfill its mission of bringing financial education to underserved communities and making a difference in people’s lives,” said Robinson. “Having been involved with Operation HOPE for many years, it is so gratifying to see how financial education is really helping to empower children and adults to help build the foundation for thriving and sustainable communities.”

A long-time supporter of Operation HOPE, Union Bank was one of the first financial institutions in 1992 to create adult and youth financial education and services for underserved communities. Union Bank has supported Operation HOPE by providing grants, teaching HOPE’s Banking on Our Future program, and providing HOPE Corps volunteers. In addition, Union Bank was the first national sponsor of the FIVE MILLION KIDS initiative, a program designed to make kids money smart.

Robinson has more than 30 years of banking experience. He currently serves as the head of the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility group where he manages the bank’s community development efforts, serves as the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) officer, and as the chairman and chief executive of the Union Bank Foundation. Robinson is also responsible for the bank’s Community Advisory Board and oversees the bank’s environmental stewardship efforts.

Robinson first joined Union Bank in 1983 and then returned to the company in 1997 as a vice president and regional manager. He was promoted to market president in 2006, responsible for the bank’s then 120-branch network in the Central Valley, Central Coast and Northern California. Previously, Robinson has held positions with San Diego Trust & Savings, Crocker Bank, Chase Manhattan, and Home Savings of America.

Active in the community, Robinson serves as Vice Chairman on the board of Students Rising Above, an organization that helps low-income high school students go to college. He is on the board of the MoAD Museum of African Diaspora, a dynamic, world class institution for the study and exhibitions, the culture, history and art of people of African descent within the United States and throughout the world. Robinson also serves on the board of trustees for Alliant International University, a private not-for-profit institution that prepares students for professional careers of service and leadership in psychology, education, business, law, and forensic studies. He served as the 2009 Bay Area Chair for the American Heart Association.

Honored for his community service, Robinson received the Fredrick D. Patterson award as “Individual of the Year” from the United Negro College Fund in 2010; was named by the council of 101 Black Men as a leader and role model to the community in 2007; and received the Whitney Young Award from the Boy Scouts for meritorious service to the community in 2006. He was the keynote speaker for the 2008 Graduating Class of Alliant International University.

Robinson received his bachelor’s degree in international relations and economics from the United States International University, and completed the post-graduate program with Pacific Coast Banking School at University of Washington, Seattle.

To learn more about Union Bank’s commitment to communities, visit www.unionbank.com/community and to find out more about Operation HOPE and its programs, visit www.operationhope.org.

About UnionBanCal Corporation & Union Bank, N.A.

Headquartered in San Francisco, UnionBanCal Corporation is a financial holding company with assets of $89.7 billion at December 31, 2011. Its primary subsidiary, Union Bank, N.A., is a full-service commercial bank providing an array of financial services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, and major corporations. The bank operated 414 full-service branches in California, Washington, Oregon, Texas, and New York, as well as two international offices, on December 31, 2011. UnionBanCal Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., which is a subsidiary of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. Union Bank is a proud member of the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG, NYSE:MTU), one of the world’s largest financial organizations. Visit www.unionbank.com for more information.

Sunrise Community Banks Awarded for Innovation in Helping Communities

03.29.2012 - 11:34AM

Sunrise Community Banks, a family-owned banking group consisting of the Twin Cities’ Franklin Bank, Park Midway Bank and University Bank, was selected as a 2012 Community Reinvestment Award winner in the lending category at the National Interagency Community Reinvestment Conference.

The Community Reinvestment Awards recognize financial institutions that advance innovative solutions for lower-income communities. Two of Sunrise Community Banks’ initiatives, The Socially Responsible Deposit Fund and the New Markets Tax Credit Loan Program, were key in earning this award for their focus on lending in the urban core of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

“Sunrise Community Banks has consistently been one of the top banks in partnering with the City of Minneapolis to support small businesses,” said Bob Lind, business finance director for the City of Minneapolis.

Sunrise customers may direct their deposits to fund affordable housing, small business development and community services through the Socially Responsible Deposit Fund. Led by Park Midway Bank, the New Markets Tax Credit Loan Program was established through a $25 million award from the U.S. Department of the Treasury to encourage investment in economically distressed communities throughout the Twin Cities.

“We are thrilled to be recognized for caring for our communities, which is at the center of our organizational mission,” said Nikki Foster, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer for Sunrise Community Banks. “It is wonderful to be known as a financial organization that improves people’s lives.”

Sunrise Community Banks was selected among 75 nominees and judged on three criteria: effective use of partnerships, flexibility and innovation, and the ability to meet the needs of small businesses. For more information, visit www.sunrisebanks.com.

About Sunrise Community Banks

Sunrise Community Banks, located in St. Paul is a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) with a mission to be the “Leader in Improving Our Urban Community.” The bank holding company affiliates (Franklin Bank, Park Midway Bank, University Bank) focus their lending in the urban core of Minneapolis and St. Paul and offer deposit customers a Socially Responsible Deposit Fund (SRDF) option. When customers choose to participate in the SRDF, it offers them the chance to be an agent of change in our community. These deposits help fuel the banks’ support of affordable housing, small business development and community services offered through not-for-profit organizations.

CVS/pharmacy Executive Named to 2012 Class of Henry Crown Fellows

03.28.2012 - 09:00AM

CVS/pharmacy, the retail division of CVS Caremark Corporation, today announced that Rob Price, CVS/pharmacy’s senior vice president and chief marketing officer, has been named to The Aspen Institute's 2012 Class of Henry Crown Fellows.

The Henry Crown Fellowship is designed to engage the next generation of leaders in the challenge of community-spirited leadership. It brings together executives from the business world – all entrepreneurs, all under 45 – who have already achieved conspicuous success in their chosen fields and are at a point of inflection in their lives and careers. Previous Henry Crown Fellows have included Deval Patrick, Governor, State of Massachusetts; Michael Powell, former FCC Chairman; and Reed Hastings, CEO of Netflix.

“Rob represents the type of leader that we believe has the capacity to make a significant impact on our society,” said Eric L. Motley, Managing Director, Henry Crown Fellowship. “As you can imagine, we are all the more excited to welcome him into the Fellowship of 20 other like-minded individuals.”

“Rob’s appointment to the Henry Crown Fellowship for 2012 speaks to the quality of our leadership at CVS Caremark,” Larry Merlo, President and Chief Executive Officer of CVS Caremark. “We’re proud of Rob’s selection for this prestigious program, which is focused on community-spirited leadership.”

At CVS/pharmacy, Price is responsible for advertising, promotion, marketing, customer relations and consumer research, as well as retail innovation and store design, the CVS.com ecommerce business and the ExtraCare Rewards Program, which is the largest retail rewards program of its kind. He has also been instrumental in the integration of the store and digital environments for CVS/pharmacy, which delivers a more personalized and accessible customer experience.

Price holds a bachelor’s degree in applied economics from Cornell University. He earned an MBA with High Distinction from Harvard Business School, graduating as a George F. Baker Scholar. Price spent two years as a guest faculty member in the Wharton MBA program.

For more information, please visit www.aspeninstitute.org.

About CVS/pharmacy
CVS/pharmacy, the retail division of CVS Caremark Corporation (NYSE: CVS), is America's leading retail pharmacy with more than 7,300 CVS/pharmacy and Longs Drug stores. CVS/pharmacy is reinventing pharmacy to help people on their path to better health by providing the most accessible and personalized expertise, both in its stores and online at CVS.com. General information about CVS/pharmacy and CVS Caremark is available at http://info.cvscaremark.com.

About The Henry Crown Fellowship Program
The program was established in 1997 to honor the life and career of Chicago industrialist Henry Crown (1896-1990) and was initially funded by the Henry and Gladys Crown Charitable Trust Fund. The Fellowship is the flagship program within the Aspen Global Leadership Network (AGLN), now comprising over 1300 Fellows from 43 countries, all of whom are committed to applying their entrepreneurial talents to address the foremost challenges of their organizations, communities, and countries.

The Aspen Institute’s mission is twofold: to foster values-based leadership, encouraging individuals to reflect on the ideals and ideas that define a good society, and to provide a neutral and balanced venue for discussing and acting on critical issues. The Aspen Institute does this primarily in four ways: seminars, young-leader fellowships around the globe, policy programs, and public conferences and events. The Institute is based in Washington, DC; Aspen, Colorado; and on the Wye River on Maryland's Eastern Shore. It also has offices in New York City and an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.

Morgan Stanley Establishes Innovative Community Development Fellowship Program with the Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development

03.28.2012 - 09:00AM

Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) announced today that it is launching the Morgan Stanley New York City Community Development Fellowship Program, in partnership with The Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development (ANHD). The Fellowship Program will pair eight high-performing nonprofit community development corporations with eight graduate students from New York City’s finest urban planning, community development and public administration programs.

The Fellowship Program leverages New York City’s strength as a leader in community development education and addresses several critical needs. New York City and the surrounding area are home to some of the best graduate-level programs in urban planning, creating strong demand for their students to develop practical, hands-on experience. At the same time, local community development corporations are facing a critical need to create a pipeline of the next generation of community leaders, while also increasing their capacity in a time of decreasing resources.

The Fellows will spend an entire academic year with the nonprofits, planning and initiating high-impact community projects that these groups would not otherwise have the capacity to commence.

Examples of projects could include a feasibility study for a new housing development, a planning survey of underutilized sites in their neighborhood, an environmental study of a brownfield, starting a small business development program, or other projects that offer a challenging, independent community development project.

Both Fellows and host nonprofits will be chosen based on a competitive application process.

“We are grateful to Morgan Stanley for their leadership as the sole supporter of this innovative new fellowship program,” said Benjamin Dulchin, ANHD Executive Director. “We look forward to working with our Fellows as they support our member organizations and create meaningful impacts on the low- and moderate-income neighborhoods their projects serve.”

Said Audrey Choi, Managing Director and Head of Global Sustainable Finance at Morgan Stanley, “The Fellowship Program will have both an immediate and a long-term impact on our New York City neighborhoods and the capacity of the selected nonprofits. We are excited to partner with ANHD, which has a decades-long track record of assisting housing organizations and preserving housing for New Yorkers.”

Morgan Stanley is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, investment management and wealth management services. The Firm's employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals from more than 1,300 offices in 43 countries. Since 2006, Morgan Stanley has executed more than $5 billion in investments to strengthen underserved communities. For further information about Morgan Stanley, please visit www.morganstanley.com.

ANHD is a membership organization of New York City nonprofit neighborhood housing groups engaged in community development and organizing throughout the city. ANHD’s mission is to ensure flourishing neighborhoods and decent, affordable housing for all New Yorkers. ANHD provides training, technical assistance and advocacy for and on behalf of 98 neighborhood-based nonprofit housing organizations in New York City. Its goal is to assist those organizations to expand and preserve affordable housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income New Yorkers. For further information, please visit www.anhd.org.

PR News' Pinterest Webinar: How to Broadcast Your Brand's Story Visually

03.21.2012 - 11:18AM

Join PR News and Weber Shandwick for this timely Webinar that will show communicators how brands are using Pinterest right now to share their visual content and links with its rapidly expanding, passionate user base. You’ll learn how brands have made it easy for Pinterest users to “pin” their content on their own boards, how brands are paying attention to what their audience is pinning, how their content is being used as a source of information and inspiration and what kind of traffic growth they’re seeing as a result of Pinterest.

At this Webinar, you'll learn:

How both large and smaller brands are using Pinterest
How to set up a Pinterest account and create board
What the value of Pinterest is to your clients or organization
How to drive traffic from Pinterest back to your Web site
How to leverage your existing social platforms to build followers on Pinterest
How to create stories using Pinterest board layouts
How much staffing and resources need to be devoted to Pinterest
How to follow other people and brands on Pinterest
The legalities of using the platform for giveaways and sweepstakes

Skype Partners With DonorsChoose.org To Bring Technology Resources To Classrooms Across The Country

03.21.2012 - 09:00AM

Skype today announced an initiative to provide U.S. teachers the technology resources they need to enable learning experiences that transcend the physical boundaries of the classroom. Through a new partnership with DonorsChoose.org, Skype will donate $250,000 to teachers requesting technology materials to enable Skype video calling in their classrooms. Many teachers have requested materials such as laptops, netbooks, and webcams to help them connect with other classrooms, experts and teachers through video calling. This partnership is the latest initiative from Skype to reach its goal of connecting one million classrooms across the globe through Skype in the classroom, a free online community that helps teachers use Skype to enrich educational experiences for students.

“We realize that to achieve our goal of connecting one million classrooms across the globe, we need to partner with like-minded organizations that serve teachers,” said Tony Bates, president of the Skype Division at Microsoft, “The partnership with DonorsChoose.org is a natural fit because, much like Skype, DonorsChoose.org uses an innovative model to help make a meaningful difference for thousands of teachers and students.”

To celebrate this partnership, Skype has already funded a number of projects including:

Here’s how teachers can take advantage of the program:

Starting today, Skype will give a $25 USD DonorsChoose.org Gift Card to each new teacher who registers for Skype in the classroom. The teacher can then apply the value of the gift card to any classroom project at DonorsChoose.org or one they create themselves, if an eligible U.S. public schoolteacher.

Here’s how the public can support the program:

Go to DonorsChoose.org and look for “Double Your Impact” projects that have the Skype logo and make a donation. Skype will then provide a 50% match on these projects.

“DonorsChoose.org engages the community in public schools by giving people a simple, accountable and personal way to address educational inequity,” said Charles Best, founder of DonorsChoose.org. “We envision a nation where children in every community have the tools and experiences needed for an excellent education and Skype, through its Skype in the classroom community, is helping to make this vision a reality.”

With 23,000 registered teachers and counting, Skype in the classroom is a free global community that invites teachers to use Skype to connect their students with other students from around the world to collaborate on classroom projects, as well as share ideas and inspiration around specific teaching needs. It's easy to see why - Skype offers an immediate way to help students discover new cultures, languages and ideas, all without leaving the classroom. Skype in the classroom supports Microsoft’s commitment to create opportunities for youth through technology, training, and experiences that empower them to imagine and realize their full potential and make a real impact for a better tomorrow.

For more information on this partnership or to register for Skype in the classroom, please visit http://education.skype.com or http://www.donorschoose.org.

About Skype:

Skype is communications software whose purpose is to break down barriers to communication. With an Internet-connected device, families, friends and colleagues can get together for free with messaging, voice and video. At low cost, they can also call landlines or mobiles virtually anywhere in the world. Skype has recently introduced group video, allowing groups of more than two people to do things together whenever they're apart.

Founded in 2003 and based in Luxembourg, Skype is a division of Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT). Skype can be downloaded onto computers, mobile phones and other connected devices for free at www.skype.com.

About DonorsChoose.org

Founded in 2000, DonorsChoose.org is an online charity that makes it easy for anyone to help students in need. Public school teachers from every corner of America post requests, and individuals can give directly to the ones that inspire them. To date, 212,000 public and charter school teachers have used DonorsChoose.org to secure $102 million in books, art supplies, technology, and other resources that their students need to learn.

Aflac Foundation Contributes $1 Million to Chattahoochee River Restoration Project

03.19.2012 - 08:52AM

/PRNewswire/ Aflac, a member of the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America list and a top 10 company in the financial sector for Newsweek 2011 Green Rankings, announced today that it has donated $1 million to the Chattahoochee River Restoration project in the company's home city of Columbus, GA.

"Aflac is committed to investing in this project because it will help ensure that the Chattahoochee Valley remains a terrific place to live and raise a family," Aflac Foundation President Kathelen Amos said. "Restoring the river signifies a rebirth of a historic part of our country, creating a significant economic impact, dazzling recreational activities and an overall enhancement of the image of our community. The Aflac Foundation stands firmly behind the success of this project."

The restoration project, spearheaded by Uptown Columbus Inc., combines several projects such as the Riverwalk, the Rails-to-Trails Project, and the 14th Street Bridge and plaza project. The crowning achievement will come in transforming 2.5 miles of the Chattahoochee River to its original splendor, creating environmental benefits for the fish and vegetative habitats along this stretch of the river and a world-class white-water track for rafting and kayaking, the longest such urban white-water venue in the world.

Aflac's commitment to sustainability is best reflected by the company's Smart Green plan that promotes environmental awareness and contributes to the health and well-being of employees and the community. A significant part of Aflac's Smart Green program includes environmental education and advocacy for employees and the public. It is supported by an employee led Green Committee that reports directly to the company's board of directors.

"As a company that cares dearly for sustainability and protecting our environment, the river restoration project is a great opportunity for the nearly 4,000 Aflac employees in Columbus and their families to engage in a smart green mission that will produce untold benefits for the community," Aflac Vice President of Facilities and Chair of Aflac's Green Committee Alfred Blackmar said. "This $1 million donation is an investment in the future of our environment and our economic vitality, which often can and do go hand-in-hand."

John Turner, Chair of the River Restoration Committee, noted that the Aflac donation will be a tremendous boost to the project.

"Dan and Kathelen Amos were some of the earliest supporters of this project as they were able to envision how much it would accomplish for the environment, economic development and quality of life in our entire region," Turner said. "Since Aflac put its roots down in Columbus in the 1950s, the company has been front and center with just about every important initiative in our community. In this particular case, their gift will not only change this river forever; it will change this community forever. We are grateful for all the support we've received from Aflac, which is critical to ensuring the total success of this project."

About Aflac

When a policyholder gets sick or hurt, Aflac pays cash benefits fast. For more than 55 years, Aflac insurance policies have helped provide a safety net and given policyholders the opportunity to focus on recovery, not financial stress. In the United States, Aflac is the number one provider of guaranteed-renewable insurance. In Japan, Aflac is the number one life insurance company in terms of individual policies in force. Aflac insurance products provide protection to more than 50 million people worldwide. For six consecutive years, Aflac has been recognized by Ethisphere magazine as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies and by Forbes magazine as one of America's Best-Managed Companies in the Insurance category. In 2012, FORTUNE magazine recognized Aflac as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For for the 14th consecutive year. Also, Fortune magazine included Aflac on its list of Most Admired Companies for the 11th time in 2012. Aflac Incorporated is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. To find out more about Aflac, visit aflac.com or aflacenespanol.com.

ONE DROP Commemorates World Water Day

03.15.2012 - 01:35PM

(Marketwire) ONE DROP is making every effort to significantly mark World Water Day (WWD) on March 22nd. Whether by raising public awareness, field work, or active involvement in discussions regarding important water-related issues, ONE DROP will deploy a multitude of diverse initiatives throughout the world.

Since 1992, the United Nations has encouraged people to celebrate water on March 22 of every year. Since its very beginning, ONE DROP-an initiative of Guy Laliberte, founder of Cirque du Soleil(R)-has commemorated this special and important day by a plethora of activities at various levels and across different territories.

"The mission of ONE DROP is to make safe water accessible for all a reality, today and tomorrow. We must find global solutions, while taking concrete action where there are needs. That is why we're striving to implement innovative and creative projects that produce lasting results throughout the world," states Lili-Anna Peresa, Executive Director of ONE DROP.

"There's water on our plates!"

The initiative "There's water on our plates!" falls under the theme of the WWD 2012: Water and Food Safety. This awareness campaign consists of a series of tools, primarily geared toward social media, in order to make people aware of the consequences of their food choices on water resources and to encourage them to adopt eco-friendly food behaviours.

World Water Forum

ONE DROP will participate in the discussions and reflections of the World Water Forum taking place between March 12 and 17 in Marseille, France and will be presenting the conference "Social art - A complement to water-access projects." Moreover, one of the projects proposed by ONE DROP was selected from over 1,000 projects and will be presented at the Solutions Forum, which aims to promote particularly beneficial initiatives. The World Water Forum is a platform for exchanges and partnerships between all the water organizations in the world and today includes over 400 organizations from some one hundred countries.

Participation in the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC)

ONE DROP will collaborate with CIBL and the Maison Mondiale de la radio communautaire to organize an international awareness-raising and mobilization operation regarding water. More than 20 stations of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters throughout the world will produce vignettes, reports and shows aimed at creating interest concerning water issues. On March 22, a special show will be co-produced with CIBL101.5, and aired globally afterwards.

7 DAYS FOR A BETTER WORLD

From March 19 to 25, 2012, Cirque du Soleil will hold the 7 DAYS FOR A BETTER WORLD campaign, which will present the various Cirque du Soleil initiatives aimed at supporting social actions, at the heart of which is ONE DROP. Over the course of this week, $5 will be donated to ONE DROP for each Cirque du Soleil touring show ticket sold. Moreover, MGM Resorts International, Treasure Island and Cirque du Soleil have joined forces to support ONE DROP. The revenues from the various Cirque du Soleil shows performed in Las Vegas between March 20 and 24 will be donated to ONE DROP.

The Run Away With Cirque du Soleil at the Springs Preserve will be held on Saturday, March 24. This will be the 11th edition of the event, which includes a five-km run and a one-km walk in collaboration with ONE DROP.

Special activity in India

The stakeholders of ONE DROP's Project India will launch "Visions for Water," the first water focused film festival to take place in the region of Orissa in India. Eleven documentary screenings about water will be presented, followed by a discussion panel to debate the question; How can the arts be agents of change in water management behaviours?

Special activity in Haiti

The agents of ONE DROP's Project Haiti will inaugurate two new communal water centres in Mariani and Beloc, and will perform the multidisciplinary show "Ayiti Pawol Lapli ak Lakansyel," based on the water issues in Beloc.

La Soiree ONE DROP in Quebec City

There will also be a benefit evening on March 24, this time in Quebec City, in partnership with Cirque du Soleil, with the proceeds going to ONE DROP. The complete programing is available at http://www.onedrop.org/en/projects/projects-overview/WorldWaterDay/wwdactivities.aspx.

About ONE DROP

ONE DROP-an initiative of Guy Laliberte, Founder of Cirque du Soleil(R)-is a non-governmental organization founded in 2007. ONE DROP contributes to the fight against poverty by supporting access to water and raising individual and community awareness of the need to mobilize so that safe water is accessible to all, in sufficient quantity, today and tomorrow. With its unique arts-based approach, ONE DROP helps ensure sustainable development for communities by implementing educational projects, providing adapted solutions for access to safe water and granting microfinance loans. ONE DROP leads creative projects worldwide that seek to raise the population's awareness of water-related issues and encourage the adoption of responsible water management practices. To learn more, visit ONEDROP.org.

One Year After The Great East Japan Earthquake - Sompo Japan Continues Support For Disaster Areas

03.08.2012 - 05:22PM

Nearly a year has passed since a massive magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami hit Japan.

15,848 people were killed and 3,305 are still listed as missing. Japanese society still needs long term support for its recovery (the Japanese government estimates that the cost of material damage could reach as much as $300 billion).

Soon after the earthquake, Sompo Japan started offering assistance for disaster areas by collecting donations and offering material and human support, as well as support for agricultural producers, and launching a support site for automobile repair shops in the area.

To continue this support, the NKSJ Group organized NKSJ Volunteer Days from October through December 2011 and encouraged all Group employees to participate in the activities. Around 60 activities were held across Japan, and more than 10,000 employees participated. This project received Honorable Mention at the Third Make a CHANGE Day Awards.

Sompo Japan and its parent company NKSJ plan to continue their assistance for the disaster areas.

For any inquiries, please contact at:

ECo@sompo-japan.co.jp

About Sompo Japan

Sompo Japan is a major Japanese insurer, with 120 years of history. It has been taking a proactive approach to various sustainability issues through its core business. Examples include “Weather Index Insurance” for Thai farmers and microinsurance in India as well as environmental, educational, and medical programs, and other CSR activities.

For more on Sompo Japan’s CSR activities, please refer to its CSR report.

A Billion +Change Challenges Chicago Businesses to Inspire Largest Commitment of Pro Bono Services in History

03.07.2012 - 04:31PM

A Billion + Change, a growing national campaign to mobilize billions in pro bono and skills-based volunteer services from corporate America by 2013, is challenging Chicago businesses to recruit 50 companies to help inspire the largest commitment of corporate pro bono service in history. Evan Hochberg, Deloitte’s national director of community involvement and a member of A Billion + Change’s Leadership Committee, announced this challenge and kicked off the campaign’s latest push toward recruiting 500 companies at a breakfast hosted by Deloitte this morning. So far, 79 companies have pledged a total of $1.6 billion in skills-based volunteer services to nonprofit organizations across the nation.

"The business community’s growing commitment to provide its talents and skills to Chicago nonprofits comes at a critical time of significant need,” said Deb DeHaas, vice chairman and central region managing partner, Deloitte LLP. “Deloitte is proud of its support of our communities. Since we launched our formal pro bono program, we have completed or are still working on more than 60 projects in Chicago that represent investments of more than $4 million.”

The event, organized by Deloitte, A Billion + Change and One Good Deed Chicago, with support from the Mayor’s office, convened leaders from local government, businesses and nonprofit organizations. Attendees examined the role of corporate skills-based volunteer programs in delivering high-impact services to address critical issues in Chicago’s communities, including workforce development, education, at-risk youth and regional economic development. It also highlighted key themes to be discussed during the annual Points of Light National Conference on Volunteering and Service, the largest and most impactful event for the service sector, to be held in Chicago June 18-20.

“We’re encouraging people across the city to get involved with their communities, from ‘adopting’ a sidewalk to shovel during winter snowstorms to signing up to volunteer their time and skills,” said Chicago’s Chief Service Officer Jenne Myers. “The Mayor has said that Chicago is not only the city of big shoulders, we’re a city with a big heart, and A Billion + Change is the kind of challenge that we know our city’s residents and leaders can rise to meet.”

From pro bono architecture and interior design services contributed by Cannon Design to Allstate attorneys providing legal assistance to help domestic violence survivors build financial independence, A Billion + Change pledge companies lend their most valuable asset — their talent — to help nonprofits accomplish more with scarce resources.

“We know, through our experience with Cannon Design Open Hand Studio, Public Architecture and the Taproot Foundation, that the social and business value of skills-based volunteering is very significant. There is a wonderful buzz in Chicago for this movement and we are thrilled to be a part of A Billion + Change,” said John Syvertsen, senior principal and pro bono Lead for Cannon Design, who spoke at the morning event.

For nonprofits and communities, skilled volunteer support in areas such as general operations, technology and professional services can be 400 percent greater than the value of traditional volunteering.

About A Billion + Change

A Billion + Change is a national campaign to mobilize billions of dollars of pro bono and skills-based volunteer services by 2013. It was launched by the Corporation for National and Community Service in 2008 and continues as an initiative of the federal agency. Reinvigorated in 2011 with expanded leadership under the honorary chairmanship of Senator Mark Warner, it is now housed and managed by Points of Light. The initiative is powered by the support of Deloitte, HP, the Case Foundation and IBM with additional founding support from State Farm, McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP and Morgan Stanley.

About Deloitte Community Involvement

Deloitte helps people and communities thrive in three ways:

Leveraging innovative thinking to strengthen nonprofit capacity by helping with strategic, operational and financial challenges, so nonprofits can help more people and communities faster and better.
Complementing innovative thinking with an investment of financial resources at the national and regional level.
Creating and sharing new research, content and insights on ways organizations can leverage skills-based volunteerism.

To learn more about volunteerism at Deloitte and to access Deloitte’s pro bono report, please visit: www.deloitte.com/us/community.

Volleyball or Volunteer? Nearly 1,600 Undergrads Vie for a Coveted Spot with Deloitte’s 5th Annual Alternative Spring Break

03.05.2012 - 01:40PM

Chosen from a pool of 1,600 applicants, 88 college students will participate in the fifth annual “Maximum Impact: Deloitte’s Alternative Spring Break” program this year. Teaming with United Way and Teach For America, Deloitte will host two distinct spring break programs that will enable top-tier undergraduates to volunteer their time and skills while simultaneously connecting with its professionals.

Launched in 2008, Maximum Impact helps Deloitte identify potential employees who share its commitment to community service and education. While the program has become competitive, with the number of applicants more than doubling since its inception, it continues to serve multiple purposes. This includes allowing students to experience Deloitte’s culture and commitment to the community first-hand and enabling the organization to build relationships with top students. Today it is one of Deloitte’s most innovative approaches to talent pipeline management. As one of the largest campus recruiters in the nation, Deloitte plans to hire approximately 6,500 full-time employees and interns from 400 U.S. campuses in 2012.

“At Deloitte, finding candidates who will thrive in our organization is a top business objective,” said Diane Borhani, Deloitte's U.S. campus recruiting leader. “Maximum Impact enhances our recruiting efforts by allowing us to build relationships with future leaders well before they graduate. Because it’s done within the context of community service – which is a passion we share with these recruits – we’re able to further connect with them and learn things about one another that would not be possible in a typical interview environment.”

During programs in Atlanta, GA and Memphis, TN from March 4 to March 16, students from almost 50 U.S. colleges and universities will volunteer side-by-side with Deloitte professionals, while gaining valuable experience for their future career path.

“Maximum Impact was the first time I had the opportunity to closely interact with Deloitte and its people,” said Rachel Fetterman, audit senior assistant, Deloitte & Touche LLP and a 2008 program participant who was later hired by the organization. “As a result, I knew that Deloitte would not only be a place where I would feel comfortable working, but where I could develop strong friendships, mentorships, and professional relationships. I was also excited by the fact that Deloitte is an organization dedicated to volunteering and giving back to the community, where I would be able to get more involved.”

From March 4 to March 8, Deloitte and Teach For America will bring 35 college students to Memphis to tutor local students, offer small group instruction and speak about the importance of a college education, among other projects. Through Deloitte’s sponsorship of the U.S. Olympic Committee, Olympic bobsled Champion Steve Mesler will kick off the effort by addressing the volunteers about the connection between high performance and community service.

“This is an opportunity to show students that there is nothing a little determination and persistence can’t achieve as they begin on their career journeys,” said Mesler. “These students are the leaders of tomorrow and have the power to not only bring value to the workplace, but to impact society in a transformative way that can leave a long-lasting footprint on how businesses give back to the community.”

Olympic figure skating champion Evan Lysacek will kick off the second program in Atlanta from March 10 to March 16 by sharing how leadership lessons from the ice rink can translate to the workforce. Fifty-three students will join Deloitte and United Way for volunteer projects, including those that aim to impact early childhood education, as well as high school graduation rates.

Follow Deloitte on Facebook at www.facebook.com/YourFutureAtDeloitte and on Twitter @LifeatDeloitte. Search #DeloitteASB to follow the action during Maximum Impact.

For more information about Teach For America, please visit www.teachforamerica.org and follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teachforamerica and on Twitter @TeachForAmerica.

For more information about United Way, please visit: www.UnitedWay.org and follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/studentuw and on Twitter @live_united.

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. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting.

Christopher J. Nassetta Joins Partners For A New Beginning Steering Committee

02.28.2012 - 10:03AM

Hilton Worldwide President and CEO, Christopher J. Nassetta will serve on the Steering Committee of Partners for a New Beginning (PNB), a landmark initiative launched in 2010 to deepen connections between the US and local communities in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia through public-private partnerships that advance common relationships and interests.

PNB is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization established as a partnership between the Aspen Institute and the US Department of State. Madeleine Albright, former US Secretary of State, serves as PNB’s chair along with vice chairs Muhtar Kent, chairman and CEO of the Coca-Cola Company, and Walter Isaacson, president and CEO of the Aspen Institute. By leveraging its position as the fastest growing major hotel company with a global footprint in 88 countries, Hilton Worldwide will bring a unique perspective to PNB.

Members of the steering committee, all prominent US business leaders, use their expertise, global networks and access to resources to foster locally driven public–private partnerships to advance opportunity in local communities in four key areas: economic opportunity, science and technology, education, and exchange.

Last year marked the largest global pipeline in Hilton Worldwide’s 93-year history with key growth in several countries including the Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. In addition, the company announced it would open its first hotel in Iraq by the end of 2013. Hilton Worldwide is expected to grow its presence throughout the Middle East and Africa by 80 percent over the next three to four years. Through a spectrum of engagement and partnerships with local governments, businesses, universities and civil society organizations, Hilton Worldwide supports its growth by recruiting local talent and providing educational and training opportunities for local communities to help meet recruitment needs.

“Our founder Conrad Hilton was a true visionary who saw travel as a powerful tool to improve the world through peace and commerce,” Nassetta said. “Collaborations such as Partners for a New Beginning are important vehicles to build upon his legacy and help bring increased economic opportunity and greater understanding among cultures and peoples in an important region for our business.”

“As a highly-respected leader in the hospitality industry and in emerging market investments, the addition of Chris Nassetta and Hilton Worldwide to our Steering Committee provides an invaluable opportunity to leverage a strong and growing network in an effort to build cross-border business opportunities and trust,” said Isaacson.

About the Aspen Institute

Partners for a New Beginning (PNB) is an alliance to foster public-private partnerships that are committed to broadening and deepening engagement between the United States and local communities abroad in support of President Obama’s vision for a New Beginning based on mutual interests and respect. The PNB Secretariat is based at the Aspen Institute in Washington, DC.

The Aspen Institute mission is twofold: to foster values-based leadership, encouraging individuals to reflect on the ideals and ideas that define a good society, and to provide a neutral and balanced venue for discussing and acting on critical issues. The Aspen Institute does this primarily in four ways: seminars, young-leader fellowships around the globe, policy programs, and public conferences and events. The Institute is based in Washington, DC; Aspen, Colorado; and on the Wye River on Maryland's Eastern Shore. It also has offices in New York City and an international network of partners.

For more information, please visit partnersforanewbeginning.org and connect with PNB on Facebook and Twitter.

About Hilton Worldwide

Hilton Worldwide is the leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. For 93 years, Hilton Worldwide has offered business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value. The company is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands. Its brands are comprised of more than 3,800 hotels and timeshare properties, with 630,000 rooms in 88 countries and include Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages the world-class guest reward program Hilton HHonors®.

Visit hiltonworldwide.com for more information and connect with Hilton Worldwide at Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr and LinkedIn.

A Billion + Change Mobilizes $1.6 Billion in Skills-Based Volunteer Services from the Private Sector

02.27.2012 - 09:00AM

A Billion + Change, a national campaign to mobilize billions of dollars of pro bono and skills-based volunteer services, will announce today that 78 companies have pledged a total of $1.6 billion in skills-based volunteer service to nonprofit organizations across the nation. U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner, honorary chairman of A Billion + Change, will announce this at an event, sponsored and hosted by Morgan Stanley, in New York City on International Corporate Philanthropy Day. This commitment to national service by the business community comes at a critical time of significant need in America’s communities and of increasing demands on nonprofits, and is an important milestone in the campaign’s goal of inspiring the largest commitment of corporate pro bono service in history.

The event will convene leaders from the policy, business and nonprofit communities to spotlight best-practice international corporate volunteer programs in the areas of urgent humanitarian relief, global health and education, and other pressing social, environmental and economic issues. Morgan Stanley, a founding sponsor of the campaign, conducts an annual program called the Strategy Challenge, in which teams of employees provide pro bono strategic advice to nonprofits on issues critical to their business models and growth.

Audrey Choi, Head of Global Sustainable Finance at Morgan Stanley, said, “Through our formal pro bono program, we have helped nonprofits over the past three years develop the long-term sustainable business models they need for enduring success. Our pledge to A Billion + Change is a way for us to share our pro bono model with a community of like-minded companies.”

From a pro bono project conducted by Deloitte to help a nonprofit in New York City improve its organizational strategy by enhancing measurement techniques, to Pfizer volunteers improving access to healthcare services globally, pledge companies lend their most valuable asset — their talent — to serve the needs of communities at home and around the world. Pledge companies’ skills-based volunteer programs tackle everything from education, youth services and healthcare to economic growth, workforce development and programs addressing military families and veterans. The event also celebrates the campaign’s progress toward inspiring 500 companies to make a difference in society by creating or expanding their own skills-based volunteer programs.

“A Billion + Change recognizes that in lean times, the private sector has a lot to offer – not just with their checkbooks, but with the prized commodity of their talent, technology, efficiencies, and their focus on performance and results,” said Senator Warner. “As chairman of the Leadership Committee, it has been gratifying to see our major employers stepping-up to leverage the extraordinary talents of their employees to address community challenges through pro bono service.”

Jean Case, CEO of the Case Foundation and a founding member of the Leadership Committee of A Billion + Change said, “Over the past few years, we’ve seen a real shift in the number of companies – both large and small – that are realizing the many benefits of pro bono service, both in helping expand nonprofit capacity and in boosting the skill set and morale of their own workforce. We’re pleased to join Morgan Stanley and the Leadership Committee in celebrating an important milestone today – but we’re not done, and we’re looking forward to welcoming more businesses into the pro bono movement.”

Through skills-based volunteer programs, pledge companies are helping nonprofits accomplish more with scarce resources, in turn helping them be more successful in their missions. For nonprofits and communities, skilled support in areas such as general operations, technology and professional services can be 400 percent greater than the value of traditional volunteering.

Pledge companies range in size from small businesses, like GothamCulture and Ilumina Solutions, to large companies such as Deloitte, General Mills, State Farm, Hewlett-Packard, UnitedHealth Group and Morgan Stanley. To date, these companies have committed to give more than 11 million hours of time and talent to nonprofits by 2013. A list of pledge companies, and information about the campaign, is available at: www.abillionpluschange.org.

About A Billion + Change

About Morgan Stanley:

Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, and investment management services. The Firm's employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals from more than 1,300 offices in 43 countries. Morgan Stanley is dedicated to strengthening and supporting our communities through a strategic multi-pronged approach to philanthropy and social responsibility that includes financial support, direct service and high value-added strategic consulting. For further information about Morgan Stanley, please visit www.morganstanley.com.

SEMAFO Leads in Corporate Social Responsibility and Becomes a Signatory of the United Nations Global Compact

02.16.2012 - 09:51AM

(Marketwire) SEMAFO Inc. (TSX: SMF)(OMX: SMF) today announced that the Corporation has become a signatory of the United Nations ("UN") Global Compact. The Global Compact is a policy platform and practical framework for companies that are devoted to sustainability and responsible business practices. Its objective is to align business operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. With less than 2% of participants in the mining sector, SEMAFO is among industry leaders with its support of this global initiative, which was launched by the United Nations in July 2000.

"We are proud to be a leader for corporate social responsibility in West Africa," said Benoit La Salle, SEMAFO's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We remain focused on creating value for the communities and countries in which we operate. Through our existingcorporate social responsibility programs and now our commitment to the United Nations Global Compact, we are paving the way to effect positive long-term change in West Africa."

As a strong proponent of corporate social responsibility ("CSR") activities, in February 2011, SEMAFO began its broadcast of "Together for a Better Society", a 30-minute weekly national radio campaign in Burkina Faso. A total of 52 episodes were broadcasted in partnership with the Government of Burkina Faso and local organizations. These radio segments raise awareness and provide important information to favour development around social, economic and environmental issues.

"We would like to express our gratitude towards SEMAFO, a company that in its mining operations and its commitment to social responsibility, is the corporate role model our country needs," said Luc Adolphe TIAO, Prime Minister of Burkina Faso.

SEMAFO's commitment to corporate social responsibility extends to both SEMAFO Energy and Fondation SEMAFO. The Corporation has contributed its savoir-faire to assist SEMAFO Energy in the effort to create consortiums that will work closely with host country governments to increase their energy resources. These efforts were recognized earlier this month at the 2012 Africa Mining Congress in Livingstone, Zambia, where SEMAFO was presented with the Green Energy Award.

In 2011, SEMAFO also continued its important corporate philanthropy program of donating up to 2% of its net income to support Fondation SEMAFO in the realization of vital projects. In its vision of becoming a role model for foundations in West Africa, Fondation SEMAFO has aligned its actions with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, an initiative also advocated by the UN Global Compact. The foundation's objectives are to expand education, facilitate access to healthcare, initiate revenue-generating programs and create a global partnership for development.

Recent and ongoing initiatives include: Construction of schools, establishment of lunch programs and support for adult education programs Construction of health care clinics Launch of a cervical cancer prevention program in partnership with world renowned doctors from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada Collection, delivery and distribution of donated items, including medical supplies, school and office supplies, books, clothing and other miscellaneous items, filling 44 freight containers since 2009 Revenue-generating programs, which to date have benefited thousands of Burkinabe and Nigeriens Production and international marketing of Shea products in Burkina Production and improved processing of sesame for international markets Development of the paprika industry in Burkina Faso and Niger Installation of multifunctional platforms to power devices such as grain mills, pumps and generators, which aid in the creation of small businesses and promote the empowerment of local populations

Complete information regarding SEMAFO's CSR initiatives can be found in the 2010 Sustainable Development Report located at www.semafo.com. The 2011 Sustainable Development Report will be available in March 2012.

About SEMAFO

SEMAFO is a Canadian-based mining company with gold production and exploration activities in West Africa. The Corporation currently operates three gold mines: the Mana Mine in Burkina Faso, the Samira Hill Mine in Niger and the Kiniero Mine in Guinea. SEMAFO is committed to evolve in a conscientious manner to become a major player in its geographical area of interest. SEMAFO's strategic focus is to maximize shareholder value by effectively managing its existing assets as well as pursuing organic and strategic growth opportunities.

The Aspen Institute Announces "Two-Generation" Approach To Move Families Beyond Poverty

02.15.2012 - 02:20PM

Today, the Aspen Institute’s Ascend program released a report announcing a two-generation approach that targets education for both children and their parents, to help families achieve economic security.

The new report, “Two Generations, One Future,” makes the case for focusing on simultaneous educational opportunities for parents and their children as a promising way to move families beyond poverty.

“A two-generation approach can be a game-changer for families with low incomes, especially those young families who have been hurt dramatically by the recent recession,” said Anne Mosle, Ascend executive director. “We are seeing promising results from programs and policies around the country that promote education and skills for parents and provide quality early-learning opportunities for their children.”

The Institute also announced that its Ascend Fellowship will go to an inaugural class of 20 leaders from around the country who are pioneering two-generation approaches in government, philanthropy, research, educational institutions, nonprofit work, media and the private sector.

Mosle cited the Jeremiah Program in St. Paul, Minn., and the Community Action Project’s CareerAdvance™ program in Tulsa, Okla., as examples of the two-generation approach. The Ascend Fellows, she said, are “on the cutting edge of this innovative work in their communities, their research, and the policies they have put in place.”

Ascend was launched in 2011 with support from national foundations and women philanthropists. It is a hub for programs, policies, systems, and research using the two-generation approach, and builds partnerships around breakthrough ideas and proven strategies to move parents and children—two generations—beyond poverty together. Educational success is central to its work.

The full list of Ascend Fellows:

Ms. Katie Albright

San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center, Executive Director

Ms. Cara Aley

American MoJo, President and COO

Mr. Reggie Bicha

Colorado Department of Human Services, Executive Director

Ms. Mia Birdsong

Family Independence Initiative, Vice President

Dr. P. Lindsay Chase-Lansdale

Northwestern University, School of Education and Social Policy, Institute for Policy Research, Professor of Human Development & Social Policy and IPR Faculty Fellow

Ms. Karla Davis

Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Commissioner

Mr. Steven Dow

Community Action Project, Executive Director

Dr. Chris King

University of Texas at Austin, Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, Ray Marshall Center, Director

Ms. Andrea Levere

CFED, President

Mr. Steve Liss

AmericanPoverty.org, Photographer

Dr. Meera Mani

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Children, Families and Communities Program, Director

Dr. C. Nicole Mason

NYU Wagner Women of Color Policy Network, Executive Director, Assistant Research Professor

Ms. Margaret McKenna

Lesley University, President Emeritus and Professor of Leadership

Mr. Wes Moore

Author, Host, Youth Advocate

Reverend Vivian Nixon

College & Community Fellowship, Executive Director

Dr. Eduardo Padrón

Miami Dade College, President

Ms. Gloria Perez

Jeremiah Program, President and CEO

Dr. Mario Small

University of Chicago, Chair and Professor of Sociology

Mr. Henry Wilde

Acelero Learning, Senior Vice President of Operations

Dr. Richard Wylie

Endicott College, President

NOTE: You can keep up with Ascend on Twitter through the @AspenInstitute account and the two-generation hash tag #2gen.

About The Aspen Institute

The Aspen Institute’s Ascend program is a hub for breakthrough ideas and proven strategies that more parents, especially women, and their children beyond poverty towards educational success and economic security. For more information, please visit www.aspeninstitute.org/policy-work/ascend.

The Aspen Institute mission is twofold: to foster values-based leadership, encouraging individuals to reflect on the ideals and ideas that define a good society, and to provide a neutral and balanced venue for discussing and acting on critical issues. The Aspen Institute does this primarily in four ways: seminars, young-leader fellowships around the globe, policy programs, and public conferences and events. The Institute is based in Washington, D.C.; Aspen, Colorado; and on the Wye River on Maryland's Eastern Shore. It also has offices in New York City and an international network of partners. For more information, please visit www.aspeninstitute.org.

Seventh Generation Joins Dr. Seuss' The Lorax in Speaking for the Trees

02.14.2012 - 12:11PM

(Marketwire) - Seventh Generation, the nation's leading brand of environmentally-friendly household products, today announced an educational partnership with Universal Pictures to mark the big screen debut of Dr. Seuss' The Lorax and bring the tale's crucial message of ecological hope and environmental action to a new generation of children and their parents. The animated adventure opens on March 2.

The extraordinary new 3D-CG feature follows the journey of a 12-year-old as he searches for a real Truffula Tree, the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. To get it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the acerbic yet charming creature who fights to protect his world. Along his way he learns that the Lorax's environmental message couldn't be simpler: "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."

"That idea is at the heart of everything we do," said Seventh Generation CEO John Replogle. "It's why we come to work in the morning. The new movie gives us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to introduce this message to new ears and spread it to places we wouldn't otherwise be able to reach. We want to 'put on our Bar-ba-loot suits' and take full advantage of the fantastic chance the Lorax offers to empower people of every stripe to make a positive difference."

To encourage consumers to "live like the Lorax," the company will be growing an entire forest of initiatives around the movie's March 2 opening. Lorax messaging on every Seventh Generation label will let consumers know that protecting the Earth and keeping their families healthy can be as simple as making the right shopping choices. Special Dr. Seuss' The Lorax screenings in select cities will combine with panel discussions to underscore the importance of individual actions. A commemorative Lorax scrapbook for families has been created, and a series of special contests will award high-efficiency (HE) washer-dryers, green cleaning kits, diapers, a trip to see the Redwoods and even a town-wide eco-makeover. These and other activities will lead into the company's Earth Month events in April.

Seventh Generation is also embarking on a nationwide rollout of its new 4X Liquid Laundry Detergent, with a hyper-concentrated formula that not only conserves resources but comes in an innovative new bottle -- which features a fiber shell made, believe it or not, from 100% post-consumer recycled cardboard and newspapers. The new bottle, designed and manufactured by Seventh Generation's partner Ecologic Brands, is 100% recyclable, uses 66% less plastic and saves all kinds of things from landfill space to energy and trees.

"We want to join with Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment to celebrate the legacy and the meaning of The Lorax," said Replogle. "It's a way to bring a little fun to some issues that often aren't and help out the Swomee-Swans, Bar-ba-loots, the Humming-Fish and everything else along the way."

About Seventh Generation

Seventh Generation is committed to being the most trusted brand of household and personal-care products for your living home. Our products are healthy solutions for the air, surfaces, fabrics, pets and people within your home - and for the community and environment outside of it. Seventh Generation also offers baby products that are safe for your children and the planet. The company derives its name from the Great Law of the Iroquois Confederacy that states, "In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations." Every time you use a Seventh Generation product you are making a difference by saving natural resources, reducing pollution, and making the world a better place for this and the next seven generations.

For information on Seventh Generation cleaning, paper, baby and feminine personal care products, to find store locations, and explore the company's website visit www.seventhgeneration.com. To read more about Seventh Generation's corporate responsibility, visit the company's Corporate Consciousness Report.

About Dr. Seuss' The Lorax

From the creators of Despicable Me and the imagination of Dr. Seuss comes the much anticipated feature Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, a 3D-CG adaptation of the classic tale of a forest guardian who shares the enduring power of hope. The animated adventure follows the journey of a 12-year-old as he searches for a real Truffula Tree, the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. To get it he must find the story of the Lorax, the acerbic yet charming character who fights to protect his world.

Lending their vocal talents to the project are Danny DeVito as the iconic title character of the Lorax and Ed Helms as the enigmatic Once-ler. Also bringing their voices to the adventure are global superstars Zac Efron as Ted, the idealistic youth who searches for the Lorax, and Grammy Award winner Taylor Swift as Audrey, the girl of Ted's dreams. Rounding out the cast are Rob Riggle as the villain O'Hare, Jenny Slate as Ted's protective mother and beloved actress Betty White as Ted's wise Grammy Norma.

Dr. Seuss' The Lorax is the third feature created by Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment (Despicable Me, Hop). www.theloraxmovie.com

Inaugural RECAP Conference to Bring Law Enforcement and Faith-Based Community Together to Address Gang Violence

02.13.2012 - 10:00AM

On March 12^th - 13^th police chiefs, department executives and ranking officers will join clergy, faith-based community institutions, and religious leaders to find ways to end the era of gang violence at a conference sponsored by RECAP, (Rebuilding Every City Around Peace, www.recapevents.org/). RECAP is a new national initiative mobilizing cities across the United States to end gang violence. The RECAP conference is designed to bring together constituencies that have often conflicted in the past – namely law enforcement and religious institutions – to help both see the critical role each institution can play in reducing gang violence when there is collaboration.

“We come to the table willing to collaborate with government representatives, other religious groups and community organizations willing to understand no one has all the answers,” says former New York and LA top cop Bill Bratton. “This takes committed leadership who understand the more partners that contribute, the better the ideas developed to help overcome individual limitations and hurdle tough community challenges.”

Rev. Brown agrees. “When you bring together these two strong constituencies to talk about building partnerships and collaborations, the door to creative solutions opens up, and opportunities to advance society in ways that weren’t possible before takes place.”

Rev. Brown a co-founder of the Boston TenPoint Coalition should know, as he was an integral part of the Boston Miracle of the 1990s, where clergy and police worked together to see a sharp decrease in street gang violence. “Moving forward takes embracing new ways and change; most importantly, it requires leadership that is willing to be held accountable, listen, and collaborate," says Bratton.

David Kennedy, a criminologist who has studied effective community policing in minority communities, comments, “Black and Latino churches have been critical to creating peaceful urban communities, speaking better than any other institution in the voice of both righteousness and forgiveness, both of which are critical to the struggle. “

With two hundred people from the law enforcement and clergy communities, including 50 major city police chiefs expected, this is a great conference to attend, sponsor, or exhibit as ending gang violence and restoring communities to peace is a great cause to support and be identified. RECAP is looking for individuals or organizations to help provide scholarships to clergy who are working in high crime areas to reduce violence, but lack the necessary funds to attend this important conference. It is great there are those doing this work, but unfortunately we have a wait list of those needing scholarships. RECAP is also conducting a national search for clergy who have programs designed to reduce gang violence in communities so they can receive recognition, share best practices, receive technical assistance and resources to help them improve or grow their program.

Many cities see gang violence as one of the leading causes of death for youth between the ages of 15-24, often driven by a small number of individuals. Usually one percent of the youth population in a city is responsible for 50% of the shootings and 70% of homicides and the individuals responsible are typically arraigned eight or nine times before they become a victim or perpetrator of a homicide. Cities are suffering the consequences from a decrease in public safety and quality of life to related law-enforcement expenses.

This increase in violence is occurring when cities have increasing budget pressures and as a result, mayors and police chiefs are seeking more cost effective approaches. Faith-based organizations can play an important role, as they have the indigenous leadership accepted by the community, are located in the targeted areas, have a volunteer base, and can complement law enforcement efforts at little or no cost.

According to Rev. Brown, “Police and community relations are abysmal in most urban communities. We hope to break down the barriers that have barred the police and the community from coming together at this event. By bringing together these two groups, both with active roles and networks in urban communities, we hope to learn how community organizations from around our country are building successful partnerships to achieve amazing results.”

RECAP will bring together experts and delegates for two days of sessions for training, sharing best practices and the latest research findings.

Scheduled speakers include: retired police chief Bill Bratton author of the new book Collaborate or Perish; Anthony Braga of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and Rod Brunson of Rutgers School of Criminal Justice will present their new findings on how to improve police/clergy partnerships; Edward Davis, Boston Police Commissioner, Garry McCarthy, Chicago Police Superintendent and Frederick H. Bealefeld, Police Commissioner, City of Baltimore will share a chiefs of police panel; David Kennedy criminologist and author of “Don’t Shoot: One Man, A Street Fellowship, and the End of Violence in Inner-City America;” Rev. Jeffrey Brown, co-founder of Boston TenPoint Coalition and RECAP convener, will present the first ever faith-based model for reducing gang violence; Chris Winship from Harvard’s Kennedy School, who has written extensively on the Boston Miracle; Christine Cole, executive director of the Program in Criminal Justice Policy and Management at the Harvard’s Kennedy School and Peter Zimmerman, also of the Kennedy School, who will lead cases and facilitate discussions; Byron Johnson noted academic and author of “More God Less Crime”; Rev. Michael McBride, Pastor of The Way Christian Center in Berkeley, Calif. and national director of the Lifelines to Healing Campaign at the National PICO Network; and Rev. Lisa Sharon Harper, director of mobilizing for Sojourners. Other speakers include senior leaders from the Department of Justice such as Mary Lou Leary, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Thomas Abt Chef of Staff to the Office of Justice Programs, Theron Pride, Senior Advisor, Office of Justice Programs and National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention and a representative from the White House Office for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships. For a full list of speakers go to: www.recapevents.org.

This conference comes at an important time, when organizations from the local to federal level are becoming aware of the role religion can play in reducing violence and the toll gang violence is taking in terms of lost lives and financial costs. According to the 2010 findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 5,764 kids between the ages of 10-24 were murdered in 2007 – an average of 16 per day. That’s more than the number of kids who died from cancer, HIV, heart disease and suicide combined.

It is more than the number of people killed on 9/11 (2,996) and more than the number of American lives lost in either Afghanistan (2,820) or Iraq (4,801) in ten years of fighting, and more than the number of people lynched from the century spanning from 1882 to 1982 (approx. 5,000). From a public health perspective, kids killing kids is an epidemic. The H1NI virus, classified as a pandemic, killed 3,642 people of all ages in all of North America versus the 5,764 kids who were murdered in 2007 in the US. Homicide is the leading cause of death for African Americans between the ages of 15 to 24 years, and is the second leading cause of death for Hispanic youths. The majority (84%) of these homicides involve guns and gangs. This human tragedy and these lost lives were 100% preventable.

The Vera Institute did an analysis on the financial cost of gang violence and calculated the criminal justice costs alone for the city of Los Angeles, including the related costs at the county and state levels, was approximately $1.145 billion per year. That doesn't include the public health care costs (e.g. each non-lethal shooting costs an average of $45,000 according to Chicago Ceasefire). It also does not include the costs to victims in terms of lost wages, medical and trauma related expenses. The money spent on gang violence related costs could go toward education and housing rather than for crime scene investigations and autopsies.

This conference is the first in a series with the purpose of helping the faith-based community play a larger role in reducing violence by partnering with law enforcement, the courts, schools, medical centers and the business community. RECAP is also in the process of developing eLearning materials to help provide training and technical assistance to communities looking to reduce the gang violence in their cities. There are still opportunities for exhibiting and sponsoring the conference.

For more information go to www.RECAPevents.org or contact Ben Abrams, babrams@thepulsenetwork.com (781)-821-6741.

*Photo opportunities and interviews available upon request.

The Conscious Partnering Conference 2011

05.19.2011 - 03:07PM

Join us for a FREE telesummit with 30 speakers illuminating the secrets of true partnership!

The go-it-alone cowboy mentality is hurting our families, our relationships, our organizations, and our planet - contributing to isolation, cut-throat competition, dysfunctional teams and divided family units.

We've spent too many years learning about "I, me and mine" and not enough about "we" - how do WE successfully create relationships, business partnerships and collaborations based on clear principles that allow our gifts to shine.

It's now time for True Partnership - between men and women, between same sex couples, between businesses and the environment, between cultures and between religions.

Partnering skills are essential to harnessing the genius of collaboration, the joys of love and the gifts of social synergy. They are the foundation for creating a better world.

The only issue is that most of us were never taught the basics!

The Conscious Partnering Conference 2011 is here to change that. We’ve gathered the world's leading experts to help you understand the principles and practices that create truly satisfying partnerships - from your home to the office and on to groups that share your passion for positive change.

Join us and you'll learn to:

Gracefully navigate common triggers and conflict in intimate relationships
Communicate your desires in a way that leads to common ground
Create clear agreements for effective business partnerships
Relate in both masculine and feminine ways
Apply partnership principles to our relationship with the natural world
Create sacred unions and spiritual partnerships
Deepen your bond to communities - moving beyond "me" to "we"

We're in a world facing many crises. What's heartbreaking is that there are so many incredible solutions available, yet we're paralyzed by unhealthy individualism and an inability to cooperate.

Join us to be part of the solution at the Conscious Partnering Conference. Learn new skills, practices and secrets you can apply in every area of your life - from finding and sustaining romance and creating deeper bonds with your children to building fun and successful business partnerships and collaborating with others to bring about peace, sustainability and abundance for all.

All conference calls will be freely available for download and listening later, so even if you can't make the live events, sign up and get free access to the full library of insight.

The Conference gives you free access to the following leaders:

Gary Zukav and Linda Francis, Riane Eisler, Hazel Henderson, Deva Premal and Miten, Daniel G. Amen, Gay and Katie Hendricks, Judith Ansara and Robert Gass, Gangaji and Eli Jaxon Bear, Stephen Dinan and Devaa Haley-Mitchell, Aqeela Sherrills, Angel Kyodo Williams, Corinne McLaughlin and Gordon Davidson, Judith Ansara MSW and Robert Gass EdD, Matthew and Terces Engelhart, Arjuna and Chameli Ardagh, Saniel Bonder and Linda Groves-Bonder, Susan Ryan, Amira Diamond and Melinda Kramer, Kate Ludeman and Eddie Erlandson.

Event Co-Sponsors:

The Shift Network, The Shift Movie, Go Gratitude, MaestroConference, Intent, CSRwire, Nurture Planet, The Hendricks Institute, Peace X Peace, United Religions Initiative, Compassionate Action Network.

Fixing the Future - National Broadcast, Local Screenings

11.17.2010 - 05:37PM

YES! Magazine's co-founder David Korten is a featured voice in this exciting new PBS special with host David Brancaccio, airing nationwide. Check your local listings!

PBS host David Brancaccio (NOW) visits communities that are creating jobs and building prosperity through local innovation in Maine, Ohio, Texas and Washington. Included: remarks from YES! Magazine co-founder and board chair, David Korten, and Jane D'Arista.

David Brancaccio introduces us to a fascinating selection of working Americans who are pioneering solutions right now--built on American values of commonwealth, shared prosperity, fairness, wellness, sustainability, and creativity.

There will be several live screening events around the country:

Seattle, Washington area: Bainbridge Island sustainability and local economy groups will be hosting a special advance screening on Thursday, November 18, with a post-screening community conversation featuring best-selling author David Korten (Agenda for a New Economy) and Fran Korten (YES! Magazine). Check this link for additional details: http://www.yesmagazine.org/events/fixing-the-future.

Bellingham, Washington: sustainability efforts in the city of Bellingham are featured prominently in Fixing the Future. Groups there have planned a pre-show reception starting at 5pm as well as a screening at the Walton Theatre. Find out more here: http://www.mountbakertheatre.com/events/2010/%E2%80%9Cfixing-future%E2%80%9D-pbs-special.

Austin, Texas: KLRU's Austin City Limits Studio on the University of Texas/Austin Campus will also be holding a local screening from 7-10pm, with a live musical performance by Elyza Gilkyson and a post-screening Q & A with host David Brancaccio. For more information, check out the Facebook link or visit: https://www.klrusupport.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=456.

Find out when your local PBS station is airing Fixing the Future here: http://www.pbs.org/tvschedules/.

NOW on PBS Interview with David Korten:

Watch the full episode. See more NOW on PBS.

Play Matters: A Study of Best Practices to Inform Local Policy and Process in Support of Children's Play

11.16.2009 - 11:38AM

Webinar: How to Engage Your Community

03.12.2009 - 12:00AM

As part of your corporate social responsibility initiatives in greening your business practices, it is important to be an engaged member of your local community. Nowadays many companies sponsor local green initiatives or participate in activities such as tree planting initiatives. There are many ways to engage with your community, and this involvement can be as broad as sponsoring a local carpool service to supporting school Earth Day events.

This webinar on "How to Engage Your Community" is offered by SSC to help you and your company find ways to become a local advocate for greener businesses and communities.

During this 60-minute presentation, you'll learn about:

- Explore ways in which your company can engage with the local community
- Create an employee volunteer program
- Partner with sustainability/green NGOs that can advise and guide your sustainability initiative
- Become a vocal proponent of local and/or state government initiatives to support the greening of businesses
- Start or sponsor a community recycling program

Mapping Minnesota Communities: Intro to GIS & Community Analysis

12.10.2008 - 11:00PM

Mapping Minnesota Communities: An Introduction to GIS & Community Analysis

December 11th and 12th, 2008*
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
New Horizons Computer Learning Center
4510 West 77th Street, Suite 210
Edina, MN 55435
*These are one-day workshops. Participants choose which day to attend.

Audience: Beginners, anyone interested in mapping their community.

Focus: This workshop is customized for each location.

This hands-on workshop focuses on teaching the fundamentals of using a Geographic Information System (GIS) for community analysis. Participants will learn to create thematic maps with Census data, Geocoding (Address
mapping) and Spatial Queries. Other features of the workshop are learning to extract Census data and good map layout and design.

For more information about the Minnesota workshop, please visit www.urban-research.info/workshops/minnesota-gis.htm

Workshop Host: New Urban Research, a national professional research organization and ESRI Business Partner.

Gina Clemmer
New Urban Research, Inc.
877.241.6576 | www.urban-research.info

Mapping North Carolina Communities: Beginner GIS Workshops in November

11.19.2008 - 11:00PM

Mapping North Carolina Communities: An Introduction to GIS & Community Analysis - One Day Workshops
http://www.urban-research.info/workshops/northcarolina-gis.htm

Raleigh: November 20th and 21st*
*One Day Workshops. Participants choose which one day to attend.

Audience: Beginners, anyone interested in mapping their community
Focus: This workshop is customized for each location.

This hands-on workshop focuses on teaching the fundamentals of using a Geographic Information System (GIS) for community analysis. Participants will learn to create thematic maps with Census data, Geocoding (Address mapping) and Spatial Queries. Other features of the workshop are learning to extract Census data and good map layout and design.

For a detailed description of the North Carolina workshops, please visit http://www.urban-research.info/workshops/northcarolina-gis.htm

Workshop Host: New Urban Research, a national professional research organization and ESRI Business Partner.

Gina Clemmer
New Urban Research, Inc.
877.241.6576 | www.urban-research.info
New Urban Research is a national professional research organization and ESRI Business Partner.

Mapping Georgia Communities: Beginner GIS Workshops in November

11.12.2008 - 11:00PM

New Urban Research, a national professional research organization and ESRI Business Partner, is hosting two workshops in Atlanta in November.

Follow the links below to learn more and register today!

Mapping Georgia Communities: An Introduction to GIS & Community Analysis - One Day Workshops
http://www.urban-research.info/workshops/georgia-gis.htm

Atlanta: November 13 & 14*
Classroom Resource Group Learning Center
One Glenlake Parkway, Suite 200
Atlanta , GA 30328
8:30 am to 4:30 pm

*One Day Workshops. Participants choose which one day to attend.

Audience: Beginners, anyone interested in mapping their community
Focus: This workshop is customized for each location.

For more information about the Georgia workshops, please visit
http://www.urban-research.info/workshops/georgia-gis.htm

Workshop Host: New Urban Research, a national professional research organization and ESRI Business Partner.

Gina Clemmer
New Urban Research, Inc.
877.241.6576 | www.urban-research.info

Mapping Florida Communities: Beginner GIS Workshops in Oct. and Nov.

10.16.2008 - 12:00AM

Mapping Florida Communities: An Introduction to GIS & Community Analysis - One Day Workshops
http://www.urban-research.info/workshops/florida-gis.htm

Miami: October 16th & 17th
Tallahassee: October 23rd & 24th
Orlando: November 5th
Jacksonville: November 7th
*One Day Workshops. Participants choose which one day to attend.

Audience: Beginners, anyone interested in mapping their community
Focus: This workshop is customized for each location.

This hands-on workshop focuses on teaching the fundamentals of using a Geographic Information System (GIS) for community analysis. Participants will learn to create thematic maps with Census data, Geocoding (Address mapping) and Spatial Queries. Other features of the workshop are learning to extract Census data and good map layout and design.

For a detailed description of the Florida workshops, please visit http://www.urban-research.info/workshops/florida-gis.htm

Workshop Host: New Urban Research, a national professional research organization and ESRI Business Partner.

Gina Clemmer
New Urban Research, Inc.
877.241.6576 | www.urban-research.info
New Urban Research is a national professional research organization and ESRI Business Partner.

Mapping California Communities Workshop: An Introduction to GIS and Community Analysis

10.03.2008 - 12:00AM

Mapping California Communities Workshop: An Introduction to GIS and Community Analysis

8:30 am - 4:30 pm --- Note: These are One Day Workshops

San Diego: August 26th, 2008
Sacramento: September 18th, 19th, 2008
Los Angeles: September 11th, 12th, 2008
Irvine: September 9th, 2008
San Jose: September 25th, 2008
Fresno: October 3rd, 2008
San Francisco: August 4th, 5th, 2008

http://www.urban-research.info/workshops/california-gis.htm.

Audience: Beginners, anyone interested in mapping their community

Participants will learn to use ArcGIS 9.3 to do the following:

Creating thematic maps

Participants will learn to create thematic maps of their own data, and display spatial trends in information.

Address mapping (geocoding)

Participants will learn to map addresses of their clients, their projects or incidents such as crime and disease.
Download and map Census & American Community Survey data

Participants will learn to extract and map current Census data such as poverty, race, language, population,
transportation, education and workforce characteristics.

Also participants will learn to:
Conduct spatial queries
Download free shapefiles
Create well designed maps

Mapping techniques transferable to all other communities. Exercises are designed for beginners. Intermediate Excel skills required.

Materials

+ Comprehensive workbook (75 pages), which includes the presentation, exercises and reference worksheets,

+ ArcGIS (ArcView 9.3) software 60-day trial CD set,

+ Thirty day free access to new 2005 Tiger/Line geography files (converted to shapefiles) which include streets, zip codes, school districts, voting districts, census tracts and many other useful geographies

+ Thirty day free access to our Analyzing Your Community: Local Demographic Analysis Online Workshop
------------------------------------------------------------
What People Are Saying

City of San Francisco: "One of the best computer training courses I've been to, lively, informative, good level of difficulty for target audience."

California Cancer Registry: "The workshop was great! The instructor is very knowledgeable and helpful. I would definitely recommend this course to a new GIS user."

UCLA: "This was such a great course! I appreciated the information on where to find useful data."

Fresno City College: "This workshop was very informative and enlightening. It demonstrated very powerful tools and concepts that I will definitely be using in the future. The instructor was patient and gave a lot of technical insight to the product."

------------------------------------------------------------
New Urban Research, Inc. is a national social research organization specializing in quantitative and spatial community analysis. NUR is an ESRI Business Partner.

New Urban Research, Inc. 33232 NE 33rd Ave Portland, Oregon 97212 | 877.241.6576 | www.nur-online.com
------------------------------------------------------------

Mapping California Communities Workshop: An Introduction to GIS and Community Analysis

09.25.2008 - 12:00AM

Mapping California Communities Workshop: An Introduction to GIS and Community Analysis

8:30 am - 4:30 pm --- Note: These are One Day Workshops

http://www.urban-research.info/workshops/california-gis.htm.

Audience: Beginners, anyone interested in mapping their community

Participants will learn to use ArcGIS 9.3 to do the following:

Creating thematic maps

Participants will learn to create thematic maps of their own data, and display spatial trends in information.

Address mapping (geocoding)

Participants will learn to map addresses of their clients, their projects or incidents such as crime and disease.
Download and map Census & American Community Survey data

Participants will learn to extract and map current Census data such as poverty, race, language, population,
transportation, education and workforce characteristics.

Also participants will learn to:
Conduct spatial queries
Download free shapefiles
Create well designed maps

Mapping techniques transferable to all other communities. Exercises are designed for beginners. Intermediate Excel skills required.

Materials

+ Comprehensive workbook (75 pages), which includes the presentation, exercises and reference worksheets,

+ ArcGIS (ArcView 9.3) software 60-day trial CD set,

+ Thirty day free access to our Analyzing Your Community: Local Demographic Analysis Online Workshop
------------------------------------------------------------
What People Are Saying

City of San Francisco: "One of the best computer training courses I've been to, lively, informative, good level of difficulty for target audience."

California Cancer Registry: "The workshop was great! The instructor is very knowledgeable and helpful. I would definitely recommend this course to a new GIS user."

UCLA: "This was such a great course! I appreciated the information on where to find useful data."

New Urban Research, Inc. 33232 NE 33rd Ave Portland, Oregon 97212 | 877.241.6576 | www.nur-online.com
------------------------------------------------------------

Mapping California Communities Workshop: An Introduction to GIS and Community Analysis

09.09.2008 - 12:00AM

Mapping California Communities Workshop: An Introduction to GIS and Community Analysis

8:30 am - 4:30 pm --- Note: These are One Day Workshops

http://www.urban-research.info/workshops/california-gis.htm.

Audience: Beginners, anyone interested in mapping their community

Participants will learn to use ArcGIS 9.3 to do the following:

Creating thematic maps

Participants will learn to create thematic maps of their own data, and display spatial trends in information.

Address mapping (geocoding)

Participants will learn to map addresses of their clients, their projects or incidents such as crime and disease.
Download and map Census & American Community Survey data

Participants will learn to extract and map current Census data such as poverty, race, language, population,
transportation, education and workforce characteristics.

Also participants will learn to:
Conduct spatial queries
Download free shapefiles
Create well designed maps

Mapping techniques transferable to all other communities. Exercises are designed for beginners. Intermediate Excel skills required.

Materials

+ Comprehensive workbook (75 pages), which includes the presentation, exercises and reference worksheets,

+ ArcGIS (ArcView 9.3) software 60-day trial CD set,

+ Thirty day free access to our Analyzing Your Community: Local Demographic Analysis Online Workshop
------------------------------------------------------------
What People Are Saying

City of San Francisco: "One of the best computer training courses I've been to, lively, informative, good level of difficulty for target audience."

California Cancer Registry: "The workshop was great! The instructor is very knowledgeable and helpful. I would definitely recommend this course to a new GIS user."

UCLA: "This was such a great course! I appreciated the information on where to find useful data."

New Urban Research, Inc. 33232 NE 33rd Ave Portland, Oregon 97212 | 877.241.6576 | www.nur-online.com
------------------------------------------------------------

Mapping California Communities: An Introduction to GIS and Community Analysis

09.04.2008 - 12:00AM

Mapping California Communities Workshop: An Introduction to GIS and Community Analysis

8:30 am - 4:30 pm --- Note: These are One Day Workshops

San Diego: August 26th, 2008
San Francisco: September 4th, 5th, 2008
Sacramento: September 18th, 19th, 2008
Los Angeles: September 11th, 12th, 2008
Irvine: September 9th, 2008
San Jose: September 25th, 2008
Fresno: October 3rd, 2008

http://www.urban-research.info/workshops/california-gis.htm.

Audience: Beginners, anyone interested in mapping their community

Participants will learn to use ArcGIS 9.3 to do the following:

Creating thematic maps

Participants will learn to create thematic maps of their own data, and display spatial trends in information.

Address mapping (geocoding)

Participants will learn to map addresses of their clients, their projects or incidents such as crime and disease.
Download and map Census & American Community Survey data

Participants will learn to extract and map current Census data such as poverty, race, language, population,
transportation, education and workforce characteristics.

Also participants will learn to:
Conduct spatial queries
Download free shapefiles
Create well designed maps

Mapping techniques transferable to all other communities. Exercises are designed for beginners. Intermediate Excel skills required.

Materials

+ Comprehensive workbook (75 pages), which includes the presentation, exercises and reference worksheets,

+ ArcGIS (ArcView 9.3) software 60-day trial CD set,

+ Thirty day free access to our Analyzing Your Community: Local Demographic Analysis Online Workshop
------------------------------------------------------------
What People Are Saying

City of San Francisco: "One of the best computer training courses I've been to, lively, informative, good level of difficulty for target audience."

California Cancer Registry: "The workshop was great! The instructor is very knowledgeable and helpful. I would definitely recommend this course to a new GIS user."

UCLA: "This was such a great course! I appreciated the information on where to find useful data."

New Urban Research, Inc. 33232 NE 33rd Ave Portland, Oregon 97212 | 877.241.6576 | www.nur-online.com
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Mapping California Communities Workshop: An Introduction to GIS and Community Analysis

08.26.2008 - 12:00AM

Mapping California Communities Workshop: An Introduction to GIS and Community Analysis

8:30 am - 4:30 pm --- Note: These are One Day Workshops

http://www.urban-research.info/workshops/california-gis.htm.

Audience: Beginners, anyone interested in mapping their community

Participants will learn to use ArcGIS 9.3 to do the following:

Creating thematic maps

Participants will learn to create thematic maps of their own data, and display spatial trends in information.

Address mapping (geocoding)

Participants will learn to map addresses of their clients, their projects or incidents such as crime and disease.
Download and map Census & American Community Survey data

Participants will learn to extract and map current Census data such as poverty, race, language, population,
transportation, education and workforce characteristics.

Also participants will learn to:
Conduct spatial queries
Download free shapefiles
Create well designed maps

Mapping techniques transferable to all other communities. Exercises are designed for beginners. Intermediate Excel skills required.

Materials

+ Comprehensive workbook (75 pages), which includes the presentation, exercises and reference worksheets,

+ ArcGIS (ArcView 9.3) software 60-day trial CD set,

+ Thirty day free access to our Analyzing Your Community: Local Demographic Analysis Online Workshop
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What People Are Saying

City of San Francisco: "One of the best computer training courses I've been to, lively, informative, good level of difficulty for target audience."

California Cancer Registry: "The workshop was great! The instructor is very knowledgeable and helpful. I would definitely recommend this course to a new GIS user."

UCLA: "This was such a great course! I appreciated the information on where to find useful data."

New Urban Research, Inc. 33232 NE 33rd Ave Portland, Oregon 97212 | 877.241.6576 | www.nur-online.com
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Regional Meeting of Global Compact Network Focal Points: Europe

05.28.2008 - 12:00AM

Please contact Soren Petersen (petersens@un.org) for more information.

Progress & Value Workshop: Delhi

04.29.2008 - 12:00AM

Organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The Progress and Value Workshop is designed to prepare participants as mentors in their own organizations and also in their local network. The workshop will be attended by a mix of representatives from the local network, company participants and other organizations working to support the implementation of the ten principles.

Progress & Value Workshop: Beijing

04.21.2008 - 12:00AM

Organized by the Barcelona Center for the Support of the Global Compact. The Progress and Value Workshop is designed to prepare participants as mentors in their own organizations and also in their local networks. The workshop will be attended by a mix of representatives from local networks, company participants and other organizations working to support the implementation of the ten principles.

Global Compact Network Launch: Gulf States

04.07.2008 - 12:00AM

The Official Launch of the Global Compact Local Network for the GCC States will take place on the 7 April, 10:30 am – 14:00 pm, at Dusit Dubai Hotel, Dubai/UAE. This formal, high-profile event will gather approximately 250 international and regional participants representing business, regional governments and public-sector organizations, business associations, academia, civil society, international organizations (UNDP etc), the diplomatic community, and the Global Compact itself, aiming to give a strong voice to the Global Compact in the Gulf Region and to garner further support for the initiative.

Corporate Social Responsibility - Walking the Talk

12.09.2007 - 11:00PM

This three-day workshop is designed for business executives interested in implementing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) integrally in their organizations. It addresses different CSR standards and approaches for moving forward. The course stresses the importance of measuring impact, communicating successes, and networking with other professionals in order to have a successful CSR programme.Below are the main themes we will be covering:

Incentives to engage in CSR: A strong rationale for proactively engaging in CSR

Leading Frameworks for CSR: Looking at selected international frameworks, including the United Nations Global Compact

Leadership in CSR: Bringing values to the workplace and developing leadership skills

CSR communications: Engaging and inspiring stakeholders

Engaging NGOs: Strategic partnerships for win-win alliances

Case Studies of CSR in practice: Learning from best practices

Formulating a CSR strategy: Participants will develop the outline of a CSR strategy for their organization

Course Costs: $950. This tuition fee includes all course materials, accomodation with a local host family (hotel accommodation can be arranged for an additional $200), and most meals. All participants will be awarded a certificate from UPEACE upon completion of the course.

Course Dates: December 10 - 12, 2007. Registration deadline: November 10, 2007. If interested, please contact the Centre Director, Mohit Mukherjee at mohit@upeace.org. If you experience e-mail problems, re-send to: upeacemohit@gmail.com.

Course Instructors: Robert Henriques Girling is a Professor in the School of Business at Sonoma State University. He received his Ph. D. from Stanford University and has taught and consulted in 20 different countries and most recently has served as a consultant to the Caribbean Development Bank on sustainable development strategies for the island of Dominica and as an organizer of the 2006 and 2007 Sustainable Enterprise Conferences on Tools for Sustainable Businesses and Communities.

Mohit Mukherjee, Director of the UPEACE Centre for Executive and Professional Education and a faculty member at UPEACE. Prior to this position, he served as Education Programme Manager of the Earth Charter Initiative, an international nonprofit organization. He also spent four years in the private sector, at a top-tier international management consulting firm based in USA. He did his Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University, and his Master’s at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, also taking two courses at Harvard Business School on how to start up, manage, and grow social enterprises.