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2012 LOHAS Speaker Line Up Defines the Future of Eco Integrity for $290 Billion Green Market

05.16.2012 - 11:45AM

The LOHAS Forum, the nation’s premier gathering of thought leaders, investors and industry executives focused on the $290 billion LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) market, announced today the speaker lineup and full program for this year’s LOHAS Forum 2012. Now in its sixteenth year, the event will take place June 12 – 14 in Boulder, Colorado with interactive discussions focused on a broad portfolio of current issues including alternative energy, health and wellness, social justice, branding, green customer loyalty and effective ways to raise capital.

Speakers at LOHAS Forum 2012 include Chip Conley with Joie de Vivre Hospitality, Toni J. Bellafiore with American Honda Motor Company, Inc., Gopi Kallayil with Google, Jodi Berg with VitaMix, Sue Harvey Brown with Patagonia Footwear, Madeleine Buckingham with Mother Jones, Mary Jo Cook with Fair Trade USA, Tom Laforge with The Coca-Cola Company, among many others.

LOHAS Forum 2012 will also feature a full schedule of interactive programming where attendees will be given access to thought leaders and industry experts with deep diving workshops, networking opportunities during daily receptions, meals and exercise activities; and intimate break-out sessions each afternoon.

For the first time ever, this year's LOHAS conference will integrate all the richness the city of Boulder has to offer. Taking advantage of the array of historical and significant local landmarks, cafes and restaurants, conveniently within walking distance of each other, serving as venues for the Forum's many events. Attendees will not only be treated to an inspiring and powerful event, but will also get to dive head first into the cultural roots of Boulder.

“The LOHAS community is looked at to pave the way for today’s consumers when it comes to the latest and greatest trends in healthy and sustainability – and it is events like the Forum that bring together the thought leaders in the space to facilitate open and creative dialogue,” said Ted Ning, director of the LOHAS Forum. “We could not be more excited for this year’s LOHAS Forum, as we will be turning Boulder into the ultimate eco-conscious hotspot and playing host to some of the most influential thinkers in sustainability.”

LOHAS 2012 Forum sponsors include Toyota, Mrs. Meyers, Gaiam TV, Presidio Graduate School, TAO Inspired Living, Think Thin, ECO Bonus, Ogden, NativeEnergy, Fair Trade USA, Sanitas Skincare, Cascadian Farm, VitaMix, New Hope 360, 1% for the Planet, Rancho La Puerta, LARABAR, Compendium, Natural Marketing Institute, DotGreen, BackJoy, Room214, Opti Bike, Shelton Group, Frey Vineyards, Haberman, Social K, Q-Link, Eco Spa 360, WhiteWave Foods, and Saeger Media Group. Media Sponsors include, Fast Company, CSRwire, Mother Jones, Spirituality & Health, Experience Life, Organic Spa, VividLife, Ethical Markets, Colorado Biz, Free Speech TV, ReDirect Guide, Ode, and Boulder County Business Report.

To view the full program and for registration, visit http://www.lohas.com/forum and to attend as a member of the press, contact Jessica Busch at jessica@saegermediagroup.com.

About LOHAS:

LOHAS, an acronym for ‘Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability,’ describes a marketplace focused on health, the environment, social justice, personal development and sustainable living. One in four Americans is part of this group – nearly 41 million people and growing

Since its inception in 1996, LOHAS has been the catalyst for the adoption of sustainable living and environment-friendly practices for the globally conscious business community. The LOHAS Forum is the leading annual gathering of thought and opinion leaders in the LOHAS marketplace. The LOHAS Forum features highly influential speakers and panelists who address and explore some of today’s most prominent issues and business challenges, in the world of health and wellness. Other events include musical performances, workshops and networking receptions.

HEINEKEN Honoured for Global Health Practices

05.16.2012 - 09:16AM

Last night, HEINEKEN received the prestigious GBCHealth Business Leadership Award at GBCHealth's annual conference in New York City. HEINEKEN has been selected to receive this award by GBCHealth for its enduring commitment to and excellence in its support for health-related programming for its employees, their dependents and the communities in which it operates.

John Tedstrom, CEO GBCHealth, stated: "Heineken is an unsung hero in Global Health. It is a corporate leader who has dedicated its energy, attention and resources over more than two decades to tackling some of the most challenging global health issues of our time. From the company's first HIV awareness and prevention programs in 1989 to its decision in 2001 to offer HIV care services as part of its employee medical benefits package (a program many other companies have since replicated), to being an integral voice in shaping critical policy efforts, Heineken has been a trailblazer in the global health space going above and beyond its core business to address issues that other companies find difficult to address."

Stefaan van der Borght, Global Director Health Affairs HEINEKEN, said: "We are extremely honoured with this award. At HEINEKEN people are our greatest assets. No other asset in the company is as important as the people that contribute with their work to our business results. Therefore, HEINEKEN commits itself to provide a healthy working environment for all employees, contractors working on its premises and for those hired by HEINEKEN further along the supply chain. We have been actively focusing on health care of our employees and communities for over twenty years now and will continue to do so going forward. At the same time we realise our health care work has only just begun."

HEINEKEN operates in many different countries. Particularly in the area of healthcare, being a multinational company means taking on responsibilities and actively contributing to the development of societies. HEINEKEN is active in helping combat the world's poverty diseases: malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. Its HIV/AIDS programme is an important and integrated part of HEINEKEN's healthcare initiatives, aimed at both prevention and access to anti-retroviral drugs.

At the end of 2007 HEINEKEN launched the Heineken Africa Foundation in order to support the improvement of health for communities in sub-Saharan Africa. HEINEKEN has endowed the Foundation with EUR 20 million, which allows up to EUR 1 million per year to be invested in relevant health projects and health-related education. To date, the Foundation has committed EUR 3 million which supports 33 projects.

Note to editors:

HEINEKEN is a proud, independent global brewer committed to surprise and excite consumers with its brands and products everywhere. The brand that bears the founder's family name - Heineken® - is available in almost every country on the globe and is the world's most valuable international premium beer brand. The Company's aim is to be a leading brewer in each of the markets in which it operates and to have the world's most valuable brand portfolio. HEINEKEN wants to win in all markets with Heineken® and with a full brand portfolio in markets of choice. The Company is present in over 70 countries and operates more than 140 breweries with volume of 214 million hectolitres of group beer sold. HEINEKEN is Europe's largest brewer and the world's third largest by volume. HEINEKEN iscommitted to the responsible marketing and consumption of its more than 250 international premium, regional, local and specialty beers and ciders. These include Amstel, Birra Moretti, Cruzcampo, Desperados, Dos Equis, Foster's, Heineken®, Newcastle Brown Ale, Ochota, Primus, Sagres, Sol, Star, Strongbow, Tecate, and Zywiec. Our leading joint venture brands include Cristal, Kingfisher, Tiger and Anchor. In 2011, revenue totaled EUR 17.1 billion and EBIT (beia) was EUR 2.7 billion. The number of people employed is around 70,000. Heineken N.V. and Heineken Holding N.V. shares are listed on the Amsterdam stock exchange. Prices for the ordinary shares may be accessed on Bloomberg under the symbols HEIA NA and HEIO NA and on the Reuter Equities 2000 Service under HEIN.AS and HEIO.AS. Most recent information is available on HEINEKEN's website: www.theHEINEKENcompany.com.

Solar Electric Light Fund Receives Grand Challenges Explorations Grant for Groundbreaking Research in Global Health and Development

05.09.2012 - 02:00PM

The Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) announced today that it is a Grand Challenges Explorations winner, an initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Steven McCarney, SELF Project Manager, will pursue an innovative global health and development research project, titled, “Development and Field Testing of a “Battery Free” Solar Freezer for Immunization Support.”

Grand Challenges Explorations (GCE) funds individuals worldwide to explore ideas that can break the mold in how we solve persistent global health and development challenges. SELF’s project is one of over 100 Grand Challenges Explorations Round 8 grants announced today by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

“Grand Challenges Explorations encourages individuals worldwide to expand the pipeline of ideas where creative, unorthodox thinking is most urgently needed,” said Chris Wilson, director of Global Health Discovery and Translational Sciences at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “We’re excited to provide additional funding for select grantees so that they can continue to advance their idea towards global impact.”

To receive funding, Mr. McCarney and other Grand Challenges Explorations Round 8 winners demonstrated in a two-page online application a bold idea in one of five critical global heath and development topic areas that included agriculture development, immunization and nutrition. Applications for the current open round, Grand Challenges Explorations Round 9, will be accepted through May 15, 2012.

Mr. McCarney’s project is designed to accelerate the development and field testing of two solar powered, battery-free vaccine icepack freezers to support immunization efforts. Currently, the World Health Organization (WHO) does not have such a prequalified freezer system; this project will conduct field tests of solar powered, battery-free freezers alongside WHO prequalified battery-free vaccine refrigerators at remote health posts in two Colombian indigenous villages in the Sierra Nevada mountains. If successful, immediate deployment of the freezers will begin.

“We are honored and very excited about this grant. Steve’s innovative thinking will help to ensure the vaccination of many more people, and we’re proud to have him on our team,” said Bob Freling, SELF’s Executive Director. “Our work in the field has shown that the vast majority – approximately two-thirds – of solar system equipment failures have been the batteries. This can be costly, and depending on where the system is located, it can also be logistically difficult to ship the amount of batteries needed to maintain its operation. Our pioneering work to power vaccine refrigerators with solar energy and without batteries – and now for the first time, freezers – provides a sustainable and reliable way to preserve vaccines and medicines in remote areas.”

About Grand Challenges Explorations

Grand Challenges Explorations is a US$100 million initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Launched in 2008, over 600 people in 45 countries have received Grand Challenges Explorations grants. The grant program is open to anyone from any discipline and from any organization. The initiative uses an agile, accelerated grant-making process with short two-page online applications and no preliminary data required. Initial grants of US$100,000 are awarded two times a year. Successful projects have the opportunity to receive a follow-on grant of up to US$1 million.

About SELF

The Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit whose mission is to implement solar energy solutions to assist those living in energy poverty with economic, education, health and agricultural development. Its Whole Village Development Model takes an innovative approach to designing and implementing integrated solar systems to improve the lives of the 1.5 billion people living in worldwide energy poverty. Since 1990, SELF has completed projects in more than 20 countries, pioneering unique applications of solar power for drip irrigation in Benin, health care in Haiti, telemedicine in the Amazon rainforest, online learning in South Africa, and microenterprise development in Nigeria. Connect with SELF on the web at www.SELF.org; on Twitter @solarfund; and at Facebook.com/solarelectriclightfund.

Kohl's Cares(R) and FILA SPORT(R) Help Fight Breast Cancer with Exclusive, Stylish Athletic Gear

05.08.2012 - 08:00AM

Kohl’s Department Stores (NYSE: KSS) invites customers to work out for a cause this summer with FILA SPORT^® athletic merchandise designed exclusively by Kohl's for the Kohl’s Cares^® cause merchandise program. Available now through the end of July, the collection offers chic and stylish athletic apparel, accessories and gifts which can be found in all 40 Wisconsin Kohl’s stores and online at Kohls.com, with 100 percent of the net profit donated to support the fight against breast cancer.

The FILA SPORT collection features a variety of fashionable, yet functional athletic apparel and sport accessories. From tees, hats and shorts marked with colorful hearts and ribbons to ear buds, arm bands and duffle bags that show support in various shades of pink, gray, and black, all items are available for only $5 and $10 each. In Wisconsin Kohl’s stores, the breast cancer cause merchandise has its own center aisle display where all items are located in one spot to make it easy for customers to support the cause. To view the entire collection or to purchase these items online, visit Kohls.com/Cares.

“We are excited to once again partner with FILA SPORT for the Kohl’s Cares cause merchandise program,” said Julie Gardner, Kohl’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer. “We featured FILA SPORT last fall and the collection resonated so well with our customers that we are offering it again this summer, just in time for people to get outside, stay healthy and join together to support women’s health by participating in local breast cancer walks and runs.”

Kohl’s cause merchandise supporting the fight against breast cancer is available year-round, with 100 percent of the net profit donated to the cause. Kohl’s also supports women’s health with a commitment of $7 million over three years to the American Cancer Society’s Midwest Division and the Southeast Wisconsin Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure^® to support breast cancer research, education and patient-assistance programs.

The Kohl’s Cares women’s health initiative builds upon Kohl’s long history of charitable involvement in the communities it serves. Since 2000, Kohl’s and the Kohl’s Cares program have combined to give approximately $39 million to support charitable initiatives in the metro-Milwaukee area. In addition, over the past 10 years, the company’s Kohl’s Cares cause merchandise program, which sells plush toys and books, has raised more than $180 million to benefit children's health and education initiatives nationwide.

For more information on Kohl’s community giving or to view Kohl’s Cares cause merchandise, visit Kohls.com/Cares.

About Kohl’s

Based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., Kohl’s (NYSE: KSS) is a family-focused, value-oriented specialty department store offering moderately priced, exclusive and national brand apparel, shoes, accessories, beauty and home products in an exciting shopping environment. With a commitment to environmental leadership, Kohl’s operates 1,134 stores in 49 states. In support of the communities it serves, Kohl’s has raised more than $208 million for children’s initiatives nationwide through its Kohl’s Cares® cause merchandise program, which operates under Kohl's Cares, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kohl's Department Stores, Inc. For a list of store locations and information, or for the added convenience of shopping online, visit www.Kohls.com, or join the discussion on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/kohls or Twitter http://twitter.com/Kohls.

Paraben-Free Cosmetic Formulations Gaining Popularity

05.03.2012 - 09:27AM

New alternative preservation systems for cosmetic products are gaining popularity. In its new Technical Insights report, Organic Monitor (www.organicmonitor.com) finds the move to new alternative preservative systems is driven by high consumer demand for natural & organic cosmetics as well as the growing trend of formulators avoiding parabens.

Parabens are the most widely used preservatives, present in thousands of personal care products that include moisturizers, shampoos, toothpastes, lubricants, and gels. However, a growing number of formulators are avoiding them because of possible safety concerns. Although not scientifically proven, parabens are thought to mimic oestrogen and have been associated with breast cancer. The French and Danish governments are considering a ban on parabens in cosmetic products because of these possible links. Concerns over a possible ban are leading cosmetic companies to develop paraben-free formulations.

Natural & organic cosmetic products do not use conventional preservatives, such as parabens and phenoxyethanol. Natural & organic products have traditionally used natural preservatives like grapefruit seed extract, however new materials and technologies are gaining acceptance.

According to Judi Beerling at Organic Monitor, “many companies are using preservative systems that comprise multi-functional natural ingredients”. By using such ‘synergistic blends’, the material has anti-microbial properties whilst not having to be registered as a preservative with the respective authorities. Examples of such preservative systems include blended botanical extracts and spice extracts.

Another development is self-preservation techniques, with some methods originating from the food industry. Hurdle technology involves creating hurdles to block growth of micro-organisms in cosmetic formulations; for instance, using materials that reduce the pH of the formulation. Some companies are adding emollients with membrane disrupting properties in cosmetic formulations, whilst others are boosting natural preservative systems by the use of chelating agents or a glycol alternative.

A major finding from the Technical Insights study is that these new alternative preservative systems are usually not as cost-effective as parabens. Most alternative preservatives have prices in multiples of that for parabens. There are also stability and safety issues associated with natural materials. Supply could also be an issue for large-scale production of cosmetic products.

Customization is another major development. Formulators are realizing the ideal preservative system needs to be customized according to the product type, formulation and packaging. Packaging also plays an important role, with many natural & organic cosmetic companies using airless packaging to reduce contamination risks.

As will be shown in the Sustainable Cosmetics Summit (www.sustainablecosmeticssummit.com), preservation is usually the number one technical issue associated with natural and organic cosmetics. The differing stances of certification agencies add to the complexity of the preservative conundrum. Significant differences remain between standards in terms of permitted and prohibited preservatives. Apart from the use of synthetic chemicals, differences relate to nature-identical and naturally-derived materials. Precise details of the preservative options available to formulators of certified natural and organic cosmetics will be given in a dedicated workshop at the summit.

Research Publication

#8041-13 Technical Insights: Paraben-Free Preservative Systems for Cosmetics http://www.organicmonitor.com/804113.htm

Workshop at Sustainable Cosmetics Summit

Organic Monitor will be presenting key findings from this new Technical Insights report in a workshop titled ‘Formulating Paraben-Free Cosmetics’ at the Sustainable Cosmetics Summit. The North American edition of the summit will take place at InterContinental New York Barclay hotel on 17-19th May 2012. More information is available from

www.sustainablecosmeticssummit.com

About Organic Monitor

Organic Monitor is a London-based specialist research, consulting & training company that focuses on the global organic & related product industries. Since 2001, we have been providing a range of business services to operators in high-growth ethical & sustainable industries. Our services include market research publications, business & technical consulting, seminars & workshops, and sustainability summits. Visit us at www.organicmonitor.com

California "Germinators" Honored as Hometown Heroes for Helping Improve Hand Hygiene and Health Habits

05.01.2012 - 10:39AM

Susanville, CA Middle Schoolers Earn National Hygiene Award
“Healthy Schools, Healthy People” Program Seeks to Prevent Spread of Infectious Disease, Reduce School Absenteeism
School Network for Absenteeism Prevention: Joint Initiative of American Cleaning Institute, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Six students from Susanville, California decided to act up in school – as part of a local campaign to teach handwashing to their fellow classmates and the community at-large.

That effort is now being recognized nationally by the “Healthy Schools, Healthy People: It’s a SNAP” program (www.itsasnap.org), a joint initiative of the American Cleaning Institute^® (ACI, formerly The Soap and Detergent Association) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The students from Susanville’s Diamond View Middle School earned the Top Classroom Award from the SNAP (School Network for Absenteeism Prevention) program, which recognizes students for projects that are designed to promote hand hygiene and infection control.

“Germinators” Save the Day

Members of the drama club at Diamond View created a comedic skit called “Jeremy Germ and the Germinators.” This effort was part of an after-school project with the local Public Health Department to spread the message of the importance of proper hand washing throughout the school and the community.

The skit involved two Germinator “super heroes” saving students – who hadn’t washed their hands – from “Jeremy the Germ.” The students also created bulletin boards, posters, brochures and flyers with key handwashing messages. A public service announcement was also created and played by a local radio station.

Creative Ways to Teach Hand Hygiene

“The Healthy Schools, Healthy People, It’s a SNAP program taught the students that they have the ability make a big difference,” said Bethany DuVarney, Public Health Educator in Lassen County (CA), who worked with the students. “They learned how to use local resources, media, and community events to reach out and influence people in Lassen County to wash their hands.”

“The expert review panel that evaluated the award entries loved how these students devised a funny, thoughtful and imaginative way to teach the importance of hand hygiene,” said Nancy Bock, Senior Vice President of Education at the American Cleaning Institute (www.cleaninginstitute.org). “Something special always happens when you invite middle school students to be creative. They truly deserved the top honor this year for their skit that focused on clean hands and better health.”

"Healthy Schools, Healthy People, It's a SNAP is a public, private partnership that is a win-win for children's health.” said Michael J. Beach, PhD, Associate Director for Healthy Water at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “We congratulate the students who participated in this national awards program for promoting hand hygiene at school and helping to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.”

Congratulations to the all of the “Germinators”: Mazzy Schmidt, Clarissa Faustino, Abby Cooper, Vanessa Rios, Mykeyla Nimmo and Samantha Tiffany.

As recipients of the Top Classroom Award, the Diamond View Middle School students will receive an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. to meet with leaders from CDC, ACI, the cleaning products industry and elected officials on Capitol Hill. ACI staff will also honor the students during a community celebration in Susanville May 5.

Students from Washington State, Georgia and Virginia Among National Award Recipients

Students from Kittitas Secondary School in Kittitas, Washington earned a runner-up award for their Coyote Clean Hands Campaign, which promoted handwashing at a local rodeo and county fair. They also put out hand sanitizers where handwashing wasn’t feasible, created posters and a public service announcement, and developed other activities to remind students to wash their hands throughout the day.

Myers Middle School from Savannah, Georgia also earned a runner-up award for their handwashing project. Two students surveyed their classmates’ handwashing habits, developed educational brochures and posters, and wrote and performed a rap song that shared messages on the importance of washing with soap and water.

Both runners-up received a $250 cash award.

Douglas MacArthur Elementary School in Alexandria, Virginia was selected for a special honorable mention. A group of fifth grade students created a video of their “Wash Your Hands” rap song with original verse and choreography. They also made a “Soapy and Sudsy” banner and shared their video through an in-school TV program for all the students at their school.

More information on the Healthy Schools, Healthy People, It’s a SNAP program can be found at www.itsasnap.org.

The American Cleaning Institute® (ACI - formerly The Soap and Detergent Association) is the Home of the U.S. Cleaning Products Industry® and represents the $30 billion U.S. cleaning products market. ACI members include the formulators of soaps, detergents, and general cleaning products used in household, commercial, industrial and institutional settings; companies that supply ingredients and finished packaging for these products; and oleochemical producers. ACI (www.cleaninginstitute.org) and its members are dedicated to improving health and the quality of life through sustainable cleaning products and practices.

Prioritizing Play for Children: Non-Profit Organization KaBOOM! Announces 213 "Playful City USA" Communities

05.01.2012 - 09:03AM

Today’s children spend less time playing outside than any previous generation, but 213 cities and towns earned recognition from national non-profit KaBOOM! as 2012 Playful City USA communities for their efforts to increase play opportunities for children.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, play is critical to healthy brain development. It allows children to use their creativity while simultaneously developing imagination, dexterity and physical, cognitive and emotional strength. Yet today’s children spend less time playing outside than any previous generation in part because only 1-in-5 live within walking distance of a park or playground. The resulting play deficit is having profound consequences for kids physically, socially and academically.

Presented by The Humana Foundation, Playful City USA is a national program advocating for local policies that increase play opportunities for children and is a key platform in combating the play deficit.

KaBOOM!, the national non-profit organization dedicated to saving play, created Playful City USA in 2007 to help local governments address the play deficit and it is through mayors, city council members, parks and recreation departments, school districts and community leaders that the program succeeds in benefitting children.

Hailing from 41 states, the 213 Playful City USA honorees range in size from six-time honorees such as Orlando and Phoenix to first-time recipient Independence, Oregon (population: 9,607). These Playful City USA communities are making a commitment to play and physical activity by developing unique local action plans to increase the quantity and quality of play in their community.

“Some of the most innovative concepts and cost-effective programs are being developed in Playful City USA communities,” says Darell Hammond, Founder and CEO of KaBOOM! and author of The New York Times Best Seller KaBOOM!: How One Man Built a Movement to Save Play. “They are key allies in the fight to combat the play deficit and serve as outstanding role models for government and community leaders across the country.”

In the sixth year of the annual program, 19 Playful City USA communities received recognition for the sixth consecutive year, while 24 earned honors for the fifth time, 27 for the fourth time, 29 for the third time, 45 for the second time and 69 claimed their first Playful City USA designation.

For the fifth consecutive year, Florida paced the nation with 29 Playful City USA communities. California earned second-place with 24 communities, while Texas finished third with 14 Playful City USA communities.

Each of the 2012 Playful City USA communities demonstrated creative commitments to addressing the play deficit. Playful City USA celebrates and highlights these unique initiatives developed by communities across the country. A primary goal of Playful City USA is to encourage cities and towns to share ideas, concepts and programs in an effort to increase play opportunities for children. City initiatives include:

Ferguson (Mo.) - The city hosts Sunday Parkways, a free community play street event in neighborhoods on Sunday afternoons. Streets are closed to cars in order to allow residents of all ages and abilities to play in the streets.

Houston (Texas) - The Volunteer Initiatives Program engages residents through service and community projects to promote volunteerism in neighborhoods and city playspaces. By utilizing Love Your Block Grants, citizens have the opportunity to revitalize neighborhood parks, transform civic spaces and advocate for quality open space.

Pico Rivera (Calif.) - The city recognizes the need for play and is regularly researching ways to improve existing playspaces or add new opportunities. In September 2011, more than 200 volunteers rallied together to transform an empty lot into a beautiful playspace using the community-build model.

Providence (R.I.) - The parks and recreation department offers extensive programming for all children and families to play together, including the free Fun Bus initiative that travels to various communities to engage children with fun games and sports equipment.

Starkville (Miss.) - The parks commission, local school district, civic groups and businesses continue to collaborate to set tangible goals to invest in play. These partnerships created a joint use agreement resolution to open school playspaces for public use during non-school hours.

The 213 Playful City USA communities are now eligible for $15,000, $20,000 and $30,000 grants via Let’s Play, a community partnership led by Dr Pepper Snapple Group, to get kids and families active nationwide. Grant recipients will be announced on June 4, 2012.

For more information on the KaBOOM! Playful City USA program, including Let’s Play grants and applications for 2013, visit www.playfulcityusa.org.

2012 Playful City USA Communities

$Alamo, Texas

&Albany, Ga.

&Albemarle, N.C.

Alexandria, Va.

^Allentown, Pa.

$Alvin, Texas

Amory, Miss.

*Ankeny, Iowa

#Arlington, Texas

*Atlanta, Ga.

^Auburn, Wash.

Austin, Texas

Azusa, Calif.

Balch Springs, Texas

^Baldwin Park, Calif.

Baltimore, Md.

Beattyville, Ky.

&Bethlehem, Pa.

$Birmingham, Ala.

&Bismarck, N.D.

#Bloomington, Ind.

#Brentwood, Calif.

Brisbane, Calif.

Broomfield, Colo.

Buckeye, Ariz.

$Camden, S.C.

$Campbellsville, Ky.

Capitol Heights, Md.

Carson, Calif.

^Casa Grande, Ariz.

#Cerritos, Calif.

*Chandler, Ariz.

China Spring, Texas

Chula Vista, Calif.

Clayton, Ga.

Cocoa, Fla.

Coconut Creek, Fla.

&College Park, Ga.

^Columbia, Ill.

^Columbus, Ohio

^Commerce City, Colo.

#Coolidge, Ariz.

^Coral Gables, Fla.

$Coventry, Conn.

*Creedmoor, N.C.

#Danville, Va.

&Davenport, Iowa

$Derby, Kan.

#DeRidder, La.

Dolton, Ill.

&Doral, Fla.

*Dothan, Ala.

^Durham, N.C.

&East Point, Ga.

#Encinitas, Calif.

^Evans, Colo.

Fall River, Mass.

$Fargo, N.D.

$Ferguson, Mo.

^Fishers, Ind.

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Fort Myers, Fla.

&Fort Wayne, Ind.

&Fountain Hills, Ariz.

&Franklin, Ind.

Geneva, N.Y.

*Gilbert, Ariz.

$Glendora, Calif.

Grambling, La.

#Grand Prairie, Texas

$Grand Rapids, Mich.

Green Bay, Wis.

*Greenbelt, Md.

Greeneville, Tenn.

Greenfield, Mass.

$Greenville, S.C.

$Gypsum, Colo.

^Hamilton, N.J.

Hammond, La.

Hampton, Ga.

#Henderson, Nevada

#Hernando, Miss.

$Hickory, N.C.

$Holly, Mich.

$Hopewell, Va.

Hopkins, Minn.

&Horn Lake, Miss.

Houston, Texas

^Huntsville, Ala.

Independence, Ore.

^Indianapolis, Ind.

Irvine, Calif.

&Kenmore, Wash.

*Kenner, La.

*Kerman, Calif.

Keyser, W.V.

^Killeen, Texas

$Kissimmee, Fla.

#La Mesa, Calif.

*Lake Worth, Fla.

&Lakewood, Calif.

Lanesboro, Minn.

^Las Cruces, N.M.

&Lauderhill, Fla.

^Laurel, Md.

Lawrence, Kan.

Locust Grove, Ga.

*Longview, Wash.

Luther, Mich.

Margate, Fla.

$Marion, S.C.

$McAllen, Texas

McDonough, Ga.

#Mercer Island, Wash.

$Meriden, Conn.

^Mesa, Ariz.

^Miami Lakes, Fla.

^Missoula, Mont.

$Moorhead, Minn.

$Moraine, Ohio

$Mount Holly, N.C.

Mount Sterling, Ky.

&Mt. Juliet, Tenn.

#Murray, Ky.

#Nampa, Idaho

New Kensington, Pa.

New Orleans, La.

^New Port Richey, Fla.

*New Roads, La.

^Niagara Falls, N.Y.

*Norfolk, Va.

$North Charleston, S.C.

North Liberty, Iowa

North Miami, Fla.

&North Port, Fla.

#Northglenn, Colo.

&Oak Park Heights, Minn.

Oak Ridge, Tenn.

&Oldsmar, Fla.

#Orlando, Fla.

Ormond Beach, Fla.

$Oro Valley, Ariz.

&Ottawa, Kan.

#Palm Bay, Fla.

&Palmetto Bay, Fla.

#Parkland, Fla.

Parkland, Wash.

Parrish, Ala.

$Parsons, Kan.

Payette, Idaho

*Phoenix, Ariz.

$Pico Rivera, Calif.

Pierre, S.D.

$Pikeville, Ky.

Pinecrest, Fla.

$Pittsburgh, Pa.

Plainfield, N.J.

Providence, R.I.

Raleigh, N.C.

Rancho Cordova, Calif.

$Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

Reading, Pa.

&Redwood City, Calif.

&Richmond Hill, Ga.

River Falls, Wis.

Riverdale, Ga.

#Riverside, Calif.

$Rock Hill, S.C.

$Rockledge, Fla.

&Rowlett, Texas

$Saco, Maine

#Safety Harbor, Fla.

Saluda, N.C.

^San Antonio, Texas

&San Bernardino, Calif.

*San Francisco, Calif.

Santa Fe Springs, Calif.

Santee, Calif.

&Savannah, Ga.

&Scranton, Pa.

$Senatobia, Miss.

$Shinnston, W.V.

*Shirley, Mass.

Spanish Fort, Ala.

*Spartanburg, S.C.

Spearfish, S.D.

#Springdale, Ark.

St. Louis, Mo.

$Starkville, Miss.

&Sunrise, Fla.

$Sweetwater, Tenn.

^Takoma Park, Md.

&Tamarac, Fla.

Tampa, Fla.

^Tempe, Ariz.

$The Colony, Texas

^Thornton, Colo.

Timpson, Texas

Troy, Kan.

*Tucson, Ariz.

$Union City, Ga.

$Waterloo, Ill.

$West Fargo, N.D.

^West Palm Beach, Fla.

$West Park, Fla.

Whittier, Calif.

$Williamstown, Ky.

Windsor, Calif.

$Winona, Minn.

$Winter Park, Fla.

#York, Pa.

#Yorkville, Ill.

*Yuma, Ariz.

* Six-time honoree

# Five-time honoree

^ Four-time honoree

& Three-time honoree

$ Two-time honoree

2012 Playful City USA Communities by State/Territory:

29: Florida

24: California

14: Texas

12: Arizona, Georgia

7: North Carolina, Pennsylvania

6: Colorado, Kentucky, Louisiana, South Carolina

5: Alabama, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Washington

4: Illinois, Tennessee, Virginia

3: Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Dakota

2: Connecticut, Idaho, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin

1: Arkansas, Maine, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island

About KaBOOM!

KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to saving play. Children today spend less time playing outdoors than any previous generation, a fact that is having disastrous consequences on their health, achievement levels, and overall well-being. To fight this play deficit, social entrepreneur Darell Hammond founded non-profit KaBOOM! in 1996 in Washington, D.C. with a vision of creating a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. Since then, KaBOOM! has mapped over 89,000 places to play, built more than 2,000 playgrounds, and successfully advocated for play policies in hundreds of cities across the country. KaBOOM! also provides communities with online tools to self-organize and take action to support play on both a local and national level. Hammond chronicles the founding of the organization and the importance of the cause of play in his The New York Times Best Seller KaBOOM!: How One Man Built a Movement to Save Play. The book details how businesses and communities can work together to save play for children across the country. All author proceeds support KaBOOM!. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., KaBOOM! also has offices in Chicago and San Mateo, Calif. For more information, visit www.kaboom.org.

About The Humana Foundation

The Humana Foundation was established in 1981 as the philanthropic arm of Humana Inc., one of the nation’s leading health care companies. Located in Louisville, Ky., the site of Humana’s corporate headquarters, the Foundation’s mission is to support charitable activities that promote healthy lives and healthy communities. The Foundation’s key priorities for funding are childhood health and education, health literacy, and intergenerational health. For more information, visit www.humanafoundation.org.

Humana and The Humana Foundation are dedicated to Corporate Social Responsibility. Our goal is to ensure that every business decision we make reflects our commitment to improving the health and well-being of our members, our associates, the communities we serve, and our planet.

ITT and Goulds Pumps Recognize the Heart – of Industry and Individuals

04.12.2012 - 10:07AM

The world’s second most common machine (behind the electric motor) is getting its due as ITT and its Goulds Pumps brand lead the inaugural observation of Pump Appreciation Day, a global celebration of pumps as the “Heart of Industry.”

At the same time, ITT and Goulds Pumps are helping support the human heart by donating $25,000 to the international Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) Program, supported by the American Heart Association and its global partners. Along with the donation, ITT Goulds Pumps is encouraging all of its locations to commit time and resources to sponsoring CPR training and heart health fundraising beyond April 10.

“Pump Appreciation Day 2012 is just the beginning,” said Robert J. Pagano Jr., president of ITT Goulds Pumps. “Over time, we want to raise awareness of the essential role of industrial pumps and the people who use them and keep them working, and we want people to understand the global significance of the ECC Program so they can be prepared in life-threatening situations. We’ve had a great response to this year’s Pump Appreciation Day activities, and we’re already looking forward to Pump Appreciation Day 2013.”

Other Pump Appreciation Day initiatives include:

A Pump Appreciation Day website—Features videos and fact sheets explaining how pumps move the raw materials and finished products that make modern life possible. Did you know nearly 1,400 billion barrels of oil and 3,169 billion cubic meters of natural gas each year are extracted, refined and transported by pumps? Or that almost 70 percent of all fresh water used worldwide is pumped to irrigate land and grow food?
Pulse of Industry Honor Roll—Pump-industry workers are named to this new honor roll for such achievements as improving pump efficiency, providing outstanding maintenance, solving engineering or manufacturing challenges, or exceeding expectations to keep equipment running.
Local events—ITT Goulds Pumps and its distributors will hold education and recognition events for customers and employees at locations worldwide.

About ITT
ITT is a diversified leading manufacturer of highly engineered critical components and customized technology solutions for growing industrial end-markets in energy infrastructure, electronics, aerospace and transportation. Building on its heritage of innovation, ITT partners with its customers to deliver enduring solutions to the key industries that underpin our modern way of life. Founded in 1920, ITT is headquartered in White Plains, N.Y., with employees in more than 15 countries and sales in more than 125 countries. The company generated 2011 revenues of approximately $2.1 billion. For more information, visit www.itt.com.

Yoga Community Excited to Welcome World-Class Beachside Festival, Tadasana, on Earth Day Weekend, Bringing Top Teachers, Kirtan and World Music Artists, Speakers and Much More

04.11.2012 - 02:52PM

The global yoga community has eagerly embraced the new Tadasana Festival of Yoga & Music set for Earth Day weekend, April 20 – 22 in beautiful Santa Monica, California, the mecca of American yoga, just steps from the beach.

Backed by Live Earth Producer, Kevin Wall, Tadasana touts the participation of top yoga teachers including Shiva Rea, Seane Corn, Bryan Kest, Baron Baptiste, and Elena Brower plus the support of respected yoga media - Elephant Journal, Yoganonymous and The Daily Love.

In 5 tents sponsored by Subaru, Yogaworks, Gaiam TV, Kevita and Namaste Interactive, the festival will feature classes from world class yoga teachers with live musical accompaniment from deeply respected world music artists including tabla master, Karsh Kale, Malian guitar virtuoso Vieux Farka Touré, Israeli superstar Idan Raichel, revered DJ, Cheb I Sabbah, Grammy-nominated Kirtan leader, Jai Uttal, and many more.

On Saturday, April 21^st, The Yogaworks tent will host a special class benefiting, Off the Matt, Into the World, taught by Seane Corn, Lisa Walford, Kathryn Budig, Kia Miller and Joan Hyman with live music by Jai Uttal, Masood Ali Khan and Sheela Bringi. Festival sponsor Subaru will also donate $50, towards the goal of raising $17,500, for each test drive Tadasana attendees make at a Southern California, Southern Nevada or Arizona Subaru dealership until June 30, 2012.

“It’s an honor to be in a position to support Off the Mat, Into the World as it inspires the yoga community to take the benefits that they receive from their practice and turn it into powerful programs for positive activism around the world,” says Tadasana co-founder Tommy Rosen.

In addition to the incredible yoga classes, Tadasana features a speaker series produced by The Daily Love, a noted blog with 500k+ followers on twitter, and includes thought leaders in spirituality, personal transformation and sustainability such as Barbara Marx Hubbard, Mariel Hemingway, Mallika Chopra and Chris Paine. In addition, Facebook phenomenon, Positively Positive, will host a not-to-be-missed panel of women who have overcome extraordinary challenges moderated by five-time Emmy winner, Giselle Fernandez.

In the evenings, Tadasana will bring its incredible musicians to a variety of venues around Santa Monica, encouraging an even larger public to experience these deeply moving spiritual performances. The highlight of the evening events will be The Sounds of Tadasana Concert, taking place April 21^st at the Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club where Karsh Kale and Cheb I Sabbah will take attendees on an incomparable sonic journey.

In addition to Tadasana’s myriad of top yogis, musicians and presenters, the festival will also be an exciting destination of sights, sounds, tastes and experiences including an eco-markeplace (open to the public for free), The Beauty Bar for organic body treatments, organic cuisine, The Temple Tea Hut with tea servings offered by an authentic tea master, the Tadasana Repair Shop for onsite bodywork, the Tadasana Airport for AcroYoga, a visit from the mobile media wagon known as The Buzz Bus, and more. All this will take place in a near-zero-waste zone next to one of the most popular beaches in sunny Southern California.

“The goal is bringing a community together, strengthening them with a positive experience, and inspiring them to be even better than they were before,” says co-producer Fabian Alsultany. “The wellspring of inspiration comes from our outstanding yoga teachers, incredible musicians and, most importantly, the community of participants coming together.”

Yoga now has over 20 million practitioners in the US. Tadasana will revolutionize yoga festivals by bringing together the leading lights of this popular and growing field in an unforgettable Earth Day weekend event.

About Tadasana Festival

Tadasana’s mission is to create powerful events that build community, promote yoga and support the lifestyle of health and wellness in order to inspire people to reach their highest potential. The inaugural festival creates a forum for direct interaction with incredible teachers and amazing musicians from around the planet. The fully improvised collaborations between yogis and musicians, many of whom have never met before, are certain to produce lasting bonds and powerful experiences for everyone in attendance. Tadasana Festival takes place April 20^th through 22^nd beachfront in Santa Monica at 2600 Barnard Way, Santa Monica, CA 90405 near the corner of Ocean Park Blvd and the beach. For more information please see http://www.tadasanafestival.com.

To connect with Tadasana please go to http://www.tadasanafestival.com/contact, https://www.facebook.com/TadasanaFestival, or https://twitter.com/TadasanaFest.

CBS EcoMedia Inc. Broadens Reach with Launch of "Wellness" and "Education" Ads

04.11.2012 - 10:24AM

General Motors, Chevrolet, And Nonprofit Organizations Ronald McDonald House Charities and Starlight’s Children Foundation Among Inaugural Partners

To see the promo, visit ecomediacbs.com.

CBS EcoMedia Inc. today announced the expansion of its pioneering EcoAd advertising program. “EducationAd” and “WellnessAd” advertisements now join the “EcoAd” program as options for corporations looking to make a positive impact in the communities in which they advertise. With the launch of these new products, CBS EcoMedia Inc. continues to realize its mission: to fund projects supported by the nation’s most effective nonprofit organizations with ad dollars, thereby turning advertising into an engine for social change.

“We value the tremendous contribution EcoMedia has made not only within CBS in growing our offerings to advertisers, but more importantly to the numerous communities that have directly benefited from the projects EcoMedia has implemented,” said Leslie Moonves, President and Chief Executive Officer of CBS Corporation.

“It’s fantastic news all around that EcoMedia is expanding its award-winning program offering; we look forward to sharing our innovative advertising model with clients and communities alike.”

The EcoAd, EducationAd and WellnessAd advertising programs – which are exclusive offerings of CBS EcoMedia Inc. – are available to clients across all CBS platforms, affording them the opportunity to fund critical, tangible social improvement projects through the advertising they buy. The advertising programs will create jobs, save taxpayers money and bring environmental, health and education benefits to communities across the country.

CBS encourages viewers to look for the EcoAd, EducationAd and WellnessAd program logos on commercials presented across its many platforms. These three icons signify that the advertiser has provided funding for one of a number of urgent yet underfunded projects, including lighting and other energy efficiency retrofits, solar power installations, organic gardens, tree plantings, mobile health clinics, family comfort programs, fitness zones, education scholarships, school supplies and nutritious meals for school children in underserved communities – projects that might not happen without the financial support made possible through the EcoMedia public-private partnership model.

Today’s announcement includes multiple advertisers and nonprofit partners including General Motors, Chevrolet, Ronald McDonald House Charities^® (RMHC^®) and Starlight’s Children Foundation. A complete list of advertising and non-profit partners is available below.

“We set out to design a business model that could harness the billions of dollars spent annually on advertising to support projects championed by the country’s leading non-profits,” explains Paul Polizzotto, President and Founder, CBS EcoMedia Inc.

“Our non-profit partners are tackling the most serious social issues of our time – pollution, disease, educational inequality – and we’re helping them do it, by aligning them with advertisers looking to make a difference. Our EcoAd, WellnessAd and EducationAd programs engage consumers in a fundamentally new way changing the conversation between viewers and advertisers. At EcoMedia we believe that advertising should do more than inform and entertain. We encourage consumers to expect more from commercials. In the process, we're turning viewers into volunteers, and the mainstream media model – the ordinary commercial – is elevated into an agent for social change.”

A promotional campaign educating viewers about the power and purpose of the EcoAd, WellnessAd and EducationAd program debuts on the CBS Television Network and across other CBS platforms today.

“Timing is everything, and there couldn’t be a better time for EcoMedia to be expanding its mission. Its programs are so relevant right now because they effectively link real, pressing local community needs with advertisers’ corporate social responsibility goals,” says Lynn Fantom, CEO of ID Media, an Interpublic Group media agency that works with Fortune 500 brands, including American Express, Johnson & Johnson, Verizon, Nationwide and Select Comfort.

“GM recognizes that in order to grow our business we must align ourselves with the needs of society. To further this strategy we partnered with EcoMedia over a year ago and together have been making positive contributions to many communities we serve,” said Michael J. Robinson, Vice President, Sustainability and Global Regulatory Affairs for General Motors. “We applaud EcoMedia for expanding their program to include Wellness and Education; we look forward to growing our partnership to increase our impact nationwide.”

“The mission of RHMC to improve the health and well being of children and their families couldn’t align more seamlessly with EcoMedia’s commitment to build healthy communities,” said RMHC President and CEO Marty Coyne. “Whether through monetary gifts, in-kind donations or volunteering, corporate donors like EcoMedia and the companies it works with are a vital part of helping us deliver comfort and care to the children and families serve through RMHC programs and services.”

“Starlight Children’s Foundation is able to embrace, empower and enrich the lives of chronically ill children and their families through donations from generous partners like CBS EcoMedia and its clients,” said Jacqueline Hart-Ibrahim, Global CEO of Starlight Children’s Foundation. “As CBS EcoMedia pioneers a new advertising model to bring positive change to communities nationwide, Starlight will continue to innovate meaningful psychosocial digital programs that also reach into communities everywhere and ultimately bring comfort, strength and joy to those who need it most.”

The expansion of EcoMedia’s advertising offerings to include wellness and education products has grown the company’s reach exponentially. In addition to GM, Chevrolet, Starlight’s Children Foundation and Ronald McDonald House Charities, advertisers, nonprofit partners and beneficiaries of funded projects to date include:

Philadelphia tri state Cadillac Dealers
Supernetwork Buick GMC Dealers
The Colorado Chevy Dealers
Energizer
Elephant Insurance Services
Cirque du Soleil
Select Comfort
Snapple
Waste Management
Winthrop-University Hospital of Mineola, NY
Xcel Energy
Fisher House Foundation
Volunteers of America
Junior Achievement
Children’s Health Fund
KIPP Foundation
Kids In Need Foundation
Enterprise Community Partners
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Waterkeeper Alliance
Association of Science & Technology Centers
Little Kids Rock
National Association of Counties
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
San Francisco Parks, Recreation & Open Spaces
Environmental Charter School
Miami-Dade County Parks & Recreation
Phyllis Wheatley Community Center
Denver Parks & Recreation
The Maryland Zoo
Torrance Unified School District
Hope Manor housing for homeless veterans in Chicago
City of Long Beach, Calif.

About CBS EcoMedia Inc.

At EcoMedia, we're propelled by the desire to create positive social change; that's been our mission since we founded the company in 2002. In 2008, after successfully partnering with CBS on a wide-range of environmental projects, EcoMedia became the newest addition to the CBS Corporation portfolio, exponentially scaling our reach across television, radio, interactive, publishing and outdoor media.

Through our patent-pending EcoAd, WellnessAd and EducationAd programs, an innovative twist on traditional advertising, advertisers are able to support much-needed local projects which, in turn, creates jobs, saves taxpayer money, and improves the quality of life in communities nationwide. In the process, we’re fundamentally altering the advertising landscape, elevating the ordinary, traditional commercial – and media, in general – into a catalyst for tangible, quantifiable social change.

Please visit ecomediacbs.com to learn more.

By participating in EcoMedia’s EcoAd, WellnessAd and EducationAd advertising programs, EcoMedia’s advertisers agree to provide funding for projects we believe will have a beneficial effect upon the environment, health and/or education within local communities. EcoMedia’s advertising programs are not certification programs nor are the EcoAd, WellnessAd, or EducationAd logos seals of approval. EcoMedia does not in any way certify, endorse or make any representations about EcoMedia program advertisers, their products or services.

CVS Caremark to Highlight Commitment to Older Americans at American Society on Aging Conference

03.29.2012 - 03:32PM

CVS Caremark announced today it would outline its unique position to help older Americans on their path to better health and senior-focused initiatives at Aging in America, the 2012 Annual Conference of the American Society on Aging, which is being held in Washington, D.C., this week.

CVS Caremark will participate in a number of panels and workshops over the course of the conference that will showcase the company’s past, present and future focus on the rapidly-expanding over-55 population. The Company will also introduce a general session on the Political Landscape and Older Adults featuring House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, U.S. Rep Allyson Y. Schwartz (D-Penn.) and Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee.

CVS Caremark continues to focus on being a leader on issues that are important to seniors, both as a pharmacy innovation company uniquely positioned to help patients improve their health while lowering their health care costs, and as an employer that believes that “talent is ageless.” The number of CVS Caremark mature workers aged 50 and over has grown from 6 percent in the 1990s to approximately 20 percent today. Acknowledging this, CVS Caremark continues to work with public-private partnerships at the local, state and national levels, to recruit mature workers into all facets of its workforce.

“CVS Caremark believes that mature workers are invaluable colleagues in the workplace and also play an instrumental role in our continuing commitment to provide innovative solutions for our mature customers,” said David Casey, Vice President, Workforce Strategies and Chief Diversity Officer, CVS Caremark.

The company is also actively promoting the concept of a “pharmacy home,” which is especially vital for older patients who take two to three times as many prescription medications. CVS Caremark’s extensive research around medication adherence has shown that when patients use one pharmacy to fill all of their medications, they are more likely to take their medications as prescribed and can lower their health care costs by thousands of dollars annually.

“We have a unique understanding of what older Americans want from a pharmacy innovation company like CVS Caremark, and how to deliver on that promise. As we reinvent pharmacy, we intend to continue to be an active health care partner to the 10,000 people a day who turn 65 in this country,” added Casey. “Our participation in this conference reflects how passionate we are about that.”

About CVS Caremark

CVS Caremark is the largest pharmacy health care provider in the United States with integrated offerings across the entire spectrum of pharmacy care. We are a pharmacy innovation company, uniquely positioned to engage plan members in behaviors that improve their health and to lower overall health care costs for health plans, plan sponsors and their members. CVS Caremark is a market leader in mail order pharmacy, retail pharmacy, specialty pharmacy, and retail clinics, and is a leading provider of Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans. As one of the country's largest pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs), we provide access to a network of more than 65,000 pharmacies, including more than 7,300 CVS/pharmacy® stores that provide unparalleled service and capabilities. Our clinical offerings include our signature Pharmacy Advisor™ program as well as innovative generic step therapy and genetic benefit management programs that promote more cost effective and healthier behaviors and improve health care outcomes. General information about CVS Caremark is available through the Company's website at http://info.cvscaremark.com.

DailyFeats Is Proud to Join the Certified B Corporation Community

03.27.2012 - 09:00AM

DailyFeats, which helps people reach their goals through small, positive steps, is proud to announce that it is now a Certified B Corporation. B Corporations are a new kind of company which uses the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.

Certified B Corporations meet higher standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. Unlike traditional corporations, Certified B Corporations are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on their employees, suppliers, community, consumers, and environment. There are currently over 515 Certified B Corporations from sixty industries, representing a diverse multi-billion dollar marketplace. In the long term, B Corporation status will lead to a legally recognized new corporate form with tax incentives, procurement preferences, and a social stock exchange for sustainable businesses.

DailyFeats believes that together, we can create the change our society needs—to protect our health, our wealth, our emotional well-being, and the strength of our families and communities—by starting from the smallest actions and working upwards.

DailyFeats helps people reach their goals through small, positive steps. Available free at dailyfeats.com for web and iPhone, DailyFeats celebrates small but significant actions, or "feats," that contribute to people's goals for health and well-being. DailyFeats members earn points for those actions, share them with friends, and redeem their points for rewards or donations. DailyFeats' purpose is to make positive action part of daily life, motivating people to realize the potential of every day.

How does it work? When you come to DailyFeats and set a meaningful, positive goal—like losing weight, being a better parent, or giving back to your community—we'll help you break your goal down into a set of manageable "feats" to do every day. As you check in your feats, you'll share your progress with friends, exchanging ideas and building inspiration—and you'll earn points to redeem for savings from national brands, or partner donations to nonprofits.

"We are thrilled to have DailyFeats on board as a B Corp," said Jay Coen Gilbert, B Lab Co-Founder. "DailyFeats’ work helps people meet their wellness goals and create social good, which brings a strong new voice to our community."

"DailyFeats is excited to be a Certified B Corp, to join the growing movement of businesses like ours which operate to make profit, and to make a positive impact for stakeholders and the world." said Veer Gidwaney, DailyFeats CEO and Co-Founder.

About DailyFeats

About B Corp

Certified B Corporations 1) meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance; 2) legally expand their corporate responsibilities to include consideration of stakeholder interests; and 3) build collective voice through the power of the unifying B Corporation brand. As of January 2012, there are over 515 Certified B Corporations from over 50 industries, representing a diverse multi-billion marketplace.

About B Lab

B Lab is a nonprofit organization dedicated to using the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. B Lab drives systemic change through three interrelated initiatives: 1) building a community of Certified B Corporations to make it easier for all of us to tell the difference between “good companies” and just good marketing; 2) accelerating the growth of the impact investing asset class through use of B Lab’s GIIRS impact rating system by institutional investors; and 3) promoting supportive public policies, including creation of a new corporate form and tax, procurement, and investment incentives for sustainable business.

BBMG’S Sustainable Food Challenge Calls On Consumer To Help Co-Create The Future Of Food

03.23.2012 - 09:31AM

Brand innovation firm BBMG today launches a Sustainable Food Challenge in The Collective, its proprietary community of New Consumers who get perks for voicing opinions and doing good. The challenge calls on consumers to share their views and favorite recipes to help imagine the future of the sustainable food movement.

To participate in the month-long challenge, consumers share their food-shopping habits and opinions on the sustainable food movement’s present and future; they are also invited to post recipes and photos of their favorite make-at-home sustainable dishes. The top recipe, as voted by fellow Collective members, will win a $500 Whole Foods gift card; second- and third-place winners will receive $300 and $200 gift cards, respectively. To further reward participation, BBMG will also send a range of food prizes—contributed by brand partners such as Earthbound Farm, Peeled Snacks, Divine Chocolate and 18 Rabbits—to 100 randomly selected entrants.

From urban beekeeping to humanely raised meat, the sustainable food movement has gained considerable traction in recent years. At the same time, though, serious challenges remain around scaling sustainable food solutions and providing fair access to them, particularly in urban areas. In addition to raising awareness and driving conversation about this timely topic, BBMG’s challenge will gather insights into food-related attitudes and purchase drivers (e.g., price, sourcing, natural ingredients, health benefits, etc.). Consumers also will be asked to help investigate why some sustainable foods might get left behind (including purchase barriers such as lack of convenience or family preference for established brands).

“For consumers who want to purchase with a purpose, food is one of the most hotly considered categories in our shopping carts, thanks to its impact on the health of our families and the planet,” said BBMG founding partner Raphael Bemporad. “We hope this challenge sparks fresh ideas for growing the sustainable food movement in authentic, relevant ways for today’s consumers.”

Participation in the Sustainable Food Challenge is free and open to all; simply register at http://www.jointhecollective.net. Winners will be selected via popular vote (by fellow entrants and existing Collective members). After announcing the winners at the end of April, BBMG will publish a collection of top recipes and share compelling trends and insights. The firm will also launch the challenge’s second phase: a Collective-fueled brainstorm on how food companies can develop more sustainable products and engage in more socially responsible business practices.

About The Collective

The Collective is BBMG’s proprietary online community of New Consumers: the 30 percent of U.S. shoppers uniting practicality with purpose who, according to BBMG’s research, are an essential bridge for green brands looking to go mainstream, and for large brands hoping to incorporate sustainability in an authentic way. These savvy shoppers are twice as likely to try new things, share their opinions online and reward or punish brands based on corporate practices. Members turn to The Collective to share opinions and ideas with select brand and non-profit partners, to participate in an ongoing conversation and to help shape a new way of doing business. The Collective—which has generated more than 100,000 insights on behalf of brands such as Seventh Generation, Bonterra Vineyards and Lotus Foods—re-launched earlier this year with a new design and new features including co-creation challenges, private journaling and open communication tools for an even more collaborative, consumer-driven platform. Visit http://www.jointhecollective.net for additional information and contest guidelines.

About BBMG

Founded in 2003, New York-based BBMG is a nationally recognized brand innovation firm dedicated to creating and promoting sustainable brands. By integrating branding and marketing with sustainability expertise and innovation protocols, BBMG helps organizations identify opportunities, forge new markets, create new brands and drive real culture change. Recent clients include Earthbound Farm, Seventh Generation, Bonterra Vineyards, Miller-Coors and Walmart.

Merck and Safe Water Network Launch Initiative to Improve Water Access and Help Reduce the Impact of Water-Borne Disease in India

03.20.2012 - 06:00AM

Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, and Safe Water Network, announced today the launch of a three-year, $1.5M partnership to increase access to safe water and reduce the impact of water-borne disease among impoverished communities in Andhra Pradesh, India. Safe Water Network is a not-for-profit organization committed to developing locally owned and operated water-purification systems that achieve lasting health impact.

This initiative addresses a critical need in India where an estimated 70 – 80 percent of the total burden of disease is related to water contamination and poor sanitation, and where more than 120,000 children under the age of five die each year from rotavirus diarrhea alone[1].

“Clean water is fundamental to the world’s health and to Merck’s mission of fighting disease and helping the world be well. No where is this more true than in India, which faces a significant challenge related to clean water," said K. G. Ananthakrishnan, managing director, MSD India. "Our partnership with Safe Water Network is a testament of our commitment to help reduce the impact of water-related illness in India and of Merck’s overall efforts to improve health globally.”

Building on Safe Water Network’s field activities in the area, this collaboration will provide clean water to additional villages in Andhra Pradesh and develop demand generation programs that seek to increase household usage. Together, Merck and Safe Water Network will also work to increase awareness of the importance of clean water and hygiene to drive behavior change. The campaigns will be assessed to measure the impact on safe water usage and improved health.

"This partnership aims to expand the impact of our safe-water projects,” said Kurt Soderlund, chief executive officer, Safe Water Network. “It will accelerate our work to develop solutions that can be broadly replicated. The initiative demonstrates how companies like Merck can play an important role in developing solutions to global water challenges.”

This collaboration is aligned with Merck’s commitment to addressing access to clean water, a key component of the company's corporate responsibility approach. A signatory to the UN's CEO Water Mandate, Merck will apply its core business expertise, advocacy efforts and employee social responsibility programs to address access to clean water in India.

About India's Water Challenge
India faces significant water and sanitation challenges. Seventy-five percent of the country's surface water is contaminated by human, agricultural and industrial waste[2], while half of the country's population lacks access to basic sanitation[3]. Those living in urban slums and rural environments are most affected. In many areas of the country, a growing dependence on groundwater for drinking is associated with a rise in health problems due to fluoride, salinity, water-borne pathogens, nitrate and other contaminants found in the water. In Andhra Pradesh, only 31 percent[4] of households treat their water before use, and 43 percent[5] of children under the age of five are stunted, a common result of frequent episodes of diarrhea.

About the Initiative
This joint effort draws on Safe Water Network’s field experience in India, Ghana and Kenya to address the operating, economic, cultural and environmental challenges to safe water access. The team will apply a rigorous method to data collection and analysis to produce effective demand generation and education methods that can be replicated at scale throughout India.

The initiative will add a dozen sites to Safe Water Network’s existing field projects in Andhra Pradesh, which already provide nearly 40,000 people access to clean water. The additional sites will provide safe water access to another 20,000 - 30,000 people. Each phase of the initiative will be documented, including the data on health outcomes. Key findings will be shared with the water and sanitation sector as well as other organizations to help raise awareness to address the global water crisis.

Merck and Safe Water Network are also exploring employee volunteer opportunities as part of the partnership in the areas of health, behavior change and quality assurance. Merck’s commitment complements the work of other global organizations that already bring expertise to various Safe Water Network field projects.

About Merck
Today's Merck is a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well. Merck is known as MSD outside the United States and Canada. Through our prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and consumer care and animal health products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to healthcare through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

The Merck Company Foundation is a U.S.-based, private charitable foundation. Established in 1957 by Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, N.J., USA, the Foundation is funded entirely by the company and is its chief source of funding support to qualified non-profit, charitable organizations. Since its inception, The Merck Company Foundation has contributed more than $600 million to support important initiatives that address societal needs and are consistent with the company’s overall mission to help the world be well.

About Safe Water Network
Co-founded in 2007 by actor and philanthropist Paul Newman along with prominent civic and business leaders, Safe Water Network’s mission is to develop new solutions that provide safe, affordable water to those in need. Through our field initiatives in India, Ghana and Kenya, we work with the private and public sectors, not for profits, and universities, to develop locally owned and managed water systems that can be broadly replicated. We bring sustained commitment to solving the operating, economic, cultural and environmental challenges to local ownership and management. We also document and share this work through reports, forums and publications. For more information, visit www.safewaternetwork.org and connect on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Forward-Looking Statement
This news release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about company's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Merck's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Merck undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in Merck's 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC's Internet site (www.sec.gov).

[1] Tate et al. (2009). “Disease and economic burden of rotavirus diarrhoea in India.” Vaccine. Vol. 27, supplement 5.
[2] “India Failing to Control Open Defecation Blunts Nation’s Growth,” Bloomberg, March 3, 2009. [3] UNICEF and World Health Organization Joint Monitoring Programme. [4] National Family Health Survey 2005-2006 state report for Andhra Pradesh. [5] National Family Health Survey 2005-2006 state report for Andhra Pradesh.

Renewal2 Launches Elevation Brands, LLC, a Company Using Mission-Driven Foods to Solve Health and Environmental Challenges

03.15.2012 - 08:00AM

Renewal2 is pleased to announce the launch of Elevation Brands, LLC, a company formed to meet the demand for new kinds of mission-driven food brands that more and more consumers must trust before they taste.

The first two charter brands of Elevation Brands are Blue Horizon Wild and Ian’s Natural Foods – true pioneers in their respective categories of sustainably sourced, wild-caught seafood and all-natural, allergy-friendly foods.

Ian’s Natural Foods produces 30 all-natural, allergy-friendly versions of food favorites like chicken nuggets and French bread pizza. These products give children and adults whose diets are severely restricted by food allergies and Celiac disease the ability to enjoy the same foods as their friends and families.

Blue Horizon Wild is a leading brand of frozen, wild, sustainable seafood products. The company has 18 unique seafood SKUs sourced from artisan fisheries and maintains the highest standards for sustainable fishing practices for its products.

Renewal2 was introduced to Ian’s Natural Foods by senior food executive, Jeff Mains. Seeing the opportunities for synergies between Ian’s and Blue Horizon, Renewal2 led the deal to form Elevation Brands. The deal was a true merger of strengths and bringing the two companies together under one roof allows them to share the critical operations and resources necessary to quickly grow distribution and market share without compromising quality, consistency or consumer trust.

Paul Richardson, CEO of Renewal2, states, “The establishment of Elevation Brands signifies the enormous financial, social and environmental potential of foods that give individual consumers the power to influence the health and well-being of their families and the world we share.”

Chuck Marble, current General Manager of Ian’s Natural Foods, will become CEO of Elevation Brands. “Consumers are increasingly aware of the environmental impact of their food choices. They also know that the key to solving a number of health challenges facing the world today lies in what we eat. We’re here to make history as pioneers of foods that matters.”

While Elevation Brands will continue operations, manufacturing, sales and marketing activities for its brands, both Ian’s and Blue Horizon Wild will continue to be marketed as distinct consumer brands. Both brands will be based at Ian’s facility in Framingham, Massachusetts.

For more information about Blue Horizon Wild, visit their website at www.bluehorizonseafood.com

For more information about Ian’s Natural Foods, visit their website at www.iansnaturalfoods.com

About Renewal2 Investment Fund

Based in Vancouver, BC, Renewal2 is a social venture fund that builds upon almost two decades of experience in successful high-impact investing. Renewal2 is dedicated to delivering financial returns by investing in leading environmental and social mission businesses in Canada and the U.S. www.renewal2.ca

Disclaimer: This is not an offer or solicitation to sell securities of, or financial interests in, the Fund. Investment in the Fund is limited to a restricted pool of investors, namely “Accredited Investors” and others not requiring disclosure by prospectus as defined under applicable securities laws.

BASF Sets New Ambitious Goals for Environment, Health and Safety

02.24.2012 - 03:43PM

BASF has established new ambitious environmental, health and safety goals. The company wants to increase its energy efficiency – defined as the amount of sales products in relation to the primary energy demand – worldwide by 35 percent by 2020, compared to the previous goal of 25 percent.
In addition, BASF aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions per ton of sales product by 40 percent, originally set at 25 percent. Within the area of occupational health, BASF will measure its performance with a new, expanded indicator, the “Health Performance Index.” Safety will continue to remain the top priority for BASF.

“Since BASF operates in an energy-intensive industry, our success depends on securing a long-term, competitive supply of energy and raw materials. Therefore, we are constantly working on boosting our worldwide energy efficiency,” said Margret Suckale, member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF.

In 2011, BASF increased the energy efficiency of its production processes by 26 percent, compared to 2002. The use of power plants with power-heat-technologies and other individual projects helped the company exceed its goal of improving its energy efficiency. “Our new ambitious goal is to improve the energy efficiency of our production processes by 35 percent by 2020,” explained Dr. Ulrich von Deessen, President of BASF’s Competence Center Environment, Health and Safety. For that reason, BASF will continue to optimize processes within its businesses and invest in new plants.

“We also aim to further reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of our production and within the whole value chain,” said von Deessen. In 2011 – as in 2010 – BASF already reached its goal of reducing the greenhouse gas emissions per metric ton of sales product by around 35 percent compared to 2002. The new goal is to lower the emissions per ton of sales product by 40 percent by 2020 compared to 2002. Overall, the company decreased its greenhouse gas emissions within the chemical business by 42 percent since 1990 due to numerous improvements in the production.

Emissions to air and water reduced
BASF also succeeded in further reducing emissions to air and water compared to 2002. In 2011, around 61 percent less air pollutants were emitted (excluding the oil and gas production). Emissions of organic substances to water decreased by approximately 74 percent, nitrogen by 87 percent and heavy metals by around 61 percent.

Within the oil and gas business, the BASF Group company Wintershall aims to discontinue the continuous flaring of associated gas within its routine operations by the end of 2012 at all of its production facilities. A new goal for Wintershall is to improve the energy efficiency of natural gas transportation: By 2020, it aims to reduce carbon emissions related to the amount and distance of transported natural gas by 10 percent compared with 2010. This will be accomplished through, for example, a more energy-efficient gas pipeline layout and the more intensive reuse of waste heat in the WINGAS Group’s transportation network.

Additional new environmental goals were set by BASF for the responsible use of water as a resource. By 2020, the company plans to cut in half the current amount of drinking water it uses for production compared to 2010. It also intends to establish sustainable water management systems at all production sites in areas of water stress. In the last years BASF played a decisive role in the development of the European Water Stewardship Standard, a voluntary European industry standard for the responsible use of water.

Focus on health and safety
Health protection will be measured by BASF worldwide with the help of a new “Health Performance Index.” The index comprises five criteria: reported cases of occupational diseases, medical emergency planning, first aid, preventive medicine and health promotion. “We never compromise on safety in daily work, plant, transportation, and product safety,” emphasized von Deessen. To improve occupational and transportation safety, the company wants to reduce the number of accidents by 2020: work-related accidents by 80 percent (base year: 2002) and transport accidents by 70 percent (base year: 2003).

Note to editors
Today, February 24, 2012, the integrated BASF Report was published. Since 2007, BASF offers an integrated annual report. The first BASF environmental report was released in 1988, the first annual report including the shared illustration of economical, ecological and social topics was published 2003.
The BASF Report can be found under: http://basf.com/group.

About BASF
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. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

Delivery Of Child-Friendly Antimalarial Hits The 100 Million Mark

02.22.2012 - 01:55AM

One hundred million treatments of Coartem^® Dispersible (artemether-lumefantrine), an antimalarial developed especially for children with P. falciparum malaria, have been delivered by Novartis to 39 malaria-endemic countries, Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) announced today.

Coartem^® Dispersible is the product of the partnership between MMV and Novartis. It is the first WHO prequalified child-friendly artemisinin-combination therapy (ACT) and addresses an unmet need for paediatric medicines. Young children in Africa are disproportionately affected by malaria, with 86% of malaria deaths occurring in children under the age of five years.

Ahead of the international community’s call for better child-friendly medicines, MMV and Novartis signed an agreement in 2003 to develop the first paediatric ACT. The child-friendly formulation was launched in 2009.

“This is indeed a landmark achievement for both Novartis and MMV,” said MMV’s CEO, David Reddy. “Never before have 100 million paediatric treatments been distributed in such a short time frame to assist children suffering from malaria. Today, we have proved that partnerships can succeed in not only developing new, high quality medicines for malaria but also delivering these to vulnerable populations. This success only increases our determination to address remaining unmet medical needs by bringing forward new antimalarial medicines as our part in defeating this disease. We are indebted to our partners like Novartis and to our donors*, who are crucial to the success of MMV.”

“Reaching the 100 million milestone in less than three years is the culmination of a successful collaboration between Novartis and MMV,” said Linus Igwemezie, Head of the Novartis Malaria Initiative. “Partnerships are at the core of the Novartis Malaria Initiative and we are delighted at the success these collaborations have had in providing effective malaria treatments to millions of patients who are most in need. There is still much to be done and we are committed to continue applying our innovation power to help improve access to affordable and quality antimalarials.”

"The success of Coartem^® Dispersible shows why research and development is at the heart of the British Government's fight against malaria,” said Stephen O’Brien, Under-Secretary of State for International Development, UK. “Product Development Partnerships, such as Medicines for Malaria Venture, bring together the public and private sectors to use their combined expertise to develop new drugs. Children are the most vulnerable to this deadly disease. By developing this paediatric treatment, Medicines for Malaria Venture and Novartis have given the hope of a healthier life to millions of the world's poorest children.”

Focused measures have been taken to facilitate the uptake of this medicine, including registration in 39 malaria-endemic countries, a without-profit pricing model and special packaging designed to improve compliance. These measures have not only led to increased demand but also to an accelerated uptake, underlining the advantage of the paediatric formulation. By reaching this milestone the Novartis Malaria Initiative and MMV have proven that drug development partnerships can truly advance the fight against malaria.

*See ‘About MMV’ on page 4

For further information please contact:

Jaya Banerji

Director, Advocacy & Communications

Tel: +41 22 799 4071

Mob: +41 79 707 7181

email: banerjij@mmv.org

Disclaimer

This document contains certain forward-looking statements that may be identified by words such as ‘believes’, ‘expects’, ‘anticipates’, ‘projects’, ‘intends’, ‘should’, ‘seeks’, ‘estimates’, ‘future’ or similar expressions, or by discussion of, among other things, vision, strategy, goals, plans, or intentions. It contains hypothetical future product target profiles, development timelines and approval/launch dates, positioning statements, claims and actions for which the relevant data may still have to be established. Stated or implied strategies and action items may be implemented only upon receipt of approvals including, but not limited to, local institutional review board approvals, local regulatory approvals, and following local laws and regulations. Thus, actual results, performances or events may differ from those expressed or implied by such statements.

We ask you not rely unduly on these statements. Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) and its partner(s) regarding future events, and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties.

MMV accepts no liability for the information presented here, nor for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of this information. Furthermore, MMV accepts no liability for the decisions made by its pharmaceutical partner(s), the impact of any of their decisions, their earnings and their financial status.

Notes for Editors

Young children in Africa are disproportionately affected by malaria with 86% of malaria deaths occurring in children under the age of five. However, malaria does not only kill, it also debilitates. It is the cause of nearly 20% of low-birth weight babies in malaria-endemic regions and 6% of of these end in fatality (Guyatt & Snow, 2004). Severe malaria often leads to cerebral damage, hindering a child’s mental development (Roll Back Malaria, 2002). Malaria also contributes heavily to malnutrition, an underlying cause of death in more than half of all fatalities in children under five (The Lancet, 2008).

A randomized, multicenter study in approx. 900 children weighing 5-35kg with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in 5 African countries demonstrated that this innovative, child-friendly ACT has a comparable safety and efficacy profile to crushed tablets of its parent drug Coartem^®. The sweet-tasting formulation disperses in small amounts of liquid, is easy to administer to young children, ensures effective dosing, and has a proven high cure rate of 97.8% (Abdulla S., et.al., 2008).

References

Abdulla, S. et.al., 2008. Efficacy and safety of artemether-lumefantrine dispersible tablets compared with crushed commercial tablets in African infants and children with uncomplicated malaria: a randomised, single-blind, multicentre trial. The Lancet, Volume 372, pp. 1819-1827.

Guyatt, H. & Snow, R., 2004. Impact of Malaria during Pregnancy on Low Birth Weight in Sub-Saharan Africa. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 17(4), pp. 760-769.

Roll Back Malaria, 2002. Reducing malaria’s impact on child health, development and survival. [Online]
Available at: http://www.rbm.who.int/docs/Childhealth_eng.pdf
[Accessed 10 January 2012].

The Lancet, 2008. The Lancet’s Series on Maternal and Child Undernutrition. [Online]
Available at: http://tc.iaea.org/tcweb/abouttc/tcseminar/Sem6-ExeSum.pdf
[Accessed 10 January 2012].

About MMV

MMV is recognized as the leading product development partnership (PDP) in the field of antimalarial drug research and development. It was established as a foundation in 1999, and registered in Switzerland.

MMV’s mission is to reduce the burden of malaria in disease-endemic countries by discovering, developing and facilitating delivery of new, effective and affordable antimalarial drugs.

MMV’s vision is a world in which these innovative medicines will cure and protect the vulnerable and under-served populations at risk of malaria, and help to ultimately eradicate this terrible disease.

MMV’s strength comes from its product development partnership (PDP) model reflected in its network of more than 170 pharmaceutical, academic and endemic-country partners in 45 countries. MMV also works in close partnership with a number of WHO programmes that include the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), the Global Malaria Programme (GMP) and Roll Back Malaria (RBM).

MMV is currently managing the largest portfolio of antimalarial R&D projects ever assembled. Of over 50 promising projects, one MMV-supported artemisinin combination therapy (ACT), Pyramax^® (pyronaridine-artesunate), is undergoing regulatory review by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in 2012. In October 2011, dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (Eurartesim^®), an ACT developed in partnership with sigma-tau, was granted regulatory approval by the EMA and in November 2010, Guilin’s artesunate injection for the treatment of severe malaria was approved by the WHO’s Prequalification programme with assistance from MMV. In addition, Coartem^® Dispersible (artemether-lumefantrine), a child-friendly version of the ACT Coartem^®, was developed by Novartis in partnership with MMV and launched in 2009.

The key to MMV’s success lies in the focus of its mission, and the diversity of its team of almost 50 personnel from more than 20 countries, handpicked for their expertise and commitment to global health.

Since foundation, MMV has received financial support from the following donors: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; UK DFID; Rockefeller Foundation; Netherlands Minister Devt. Co-operation; WHO/RBM; Swiss Government (DEZA/SDC); World Bank; Wellcome Trust; ExxonMobil Foundation; BHP Billiton; USAID; EU CRIMALDDI; Irish Aid; National Institutes of Health (NIH); Spanish Agency for International Development; Newcrest.

www.mmv.org

About the Novartis Malaria Initiative

Focused on access, treatment, R&D and capacity-building, the Novartis Malaria Initiative is one of the healthcare industry’s largest access-to-medicine programs measured by the number of patients reached annually. Since 2001, the initiative has delivered over 400 million malaria treatments without profit to the public sector in more than 60 countries, contributing to saving an estimated 1 million lives. Over the last two years, Novartis and partners have discovered two new classes of compounds with great antimalarial potential. And just recently, the access project “SMS for Life” was honored by the UN’s Innovation Working Group and mHealth Alliance for helping advance the goals of the UN Secretary-General's Every Woman Every Child Initiative. Together with our partners, we are committed to the common goal of malaria elimination.

www.malaria.novartis.com

X Games' Snowboarder Hannah Teter Helps Feed Poor Children in Zambia

02.16.2012 - 03:06PM

The snowboarding champion celebrated her 25^th birthday during the X Games, with a party hosted by Clearasil® PerfectaWash™, and guests contributed donations to help feed impoverished children in Zambia.

Some of the X Games' top athletes attended the party and contributed at the door and also through a raffle. Their contributions will help 29 children in the Kanyama Community School near Lusaka, Zambia receive fortified food through the school's feeding program.

"When we heard that Hannah wanted to raise money at this event for Children's International, we did not hesitate to match the total amount of money raised," says Clearasil Senior Brand Manager Nathan Marafioti. "It is our pleasure to do our part to support such an important and impactful cause."

Teter currently donates a portion of the proceeds from her Sweet Cheeks Panties line to help provide nutritious food to schoolchildren who would otherwise go hungry. With 19 percent of Zambian children suffering from malnutrition, according to UNICEF, the meal provided by the feeding program may be the only meal they will eat in a day.

Children International president and CEO Jim Cook said, "We are grateful to Hannah and Clearasil^® for helping children living in crushing poverty. Their support means children's lives will change dramatically."

Since 2007, Teter has sponsored seven children in Honduras and the Philippines living in dire poverty. She is helping provide them with important medical care, dental checkups and educational opportunities. Teter is also the Athlete Ambassador for Children International's Game On! Youth Sports™, a program developed by the International Alliance for Youth Sports.

Using a whole-child approach, Children International provides medical and dental care, educational support and youth programs to children and youth, some whose families live on less than $1.25 a day.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please visit: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/46404-children-international-x-games-hannah-teter-clearasil-perfectaparty

Clearasil® is a leading brand of young skin care products that range from acne/blemish prevention, to skin care maintenance and spot treatment. Clearasil® is renowned for its highly effective range of acne treatment creams, facial washes and cleansing pads, giving consumers the confidence of visibly clearer skin. Clearasil® products may be purchased at any major drugstore and mass merchandiser nationwide. The Clearasil® PerfectaWash™ is an automatic, no-touch dispenser clinically proven to provide the perfect dose of facewash for visibly clearer skin without overdrying. For more information and exclusive offers, visit http://www.facebook.com/clearasilUS.

About Children International:
Established in 1936, Children International is a humanitarian organization with its headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri. Children International's programs help more than 340,000 children and their families in 11 countries around the world including Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Zambia, Honduras, India, the Philippines and the United States. For more information about Children International or to sponsor a child, visit www.children.org.

Follow Children International on Facebook and Twitter.

Green Spaces Hosts Anti-Valentine / Independence Party - Featuring Alexander Dunlop, Spiritual Life Coach, on Relationships

02.14.2012 - 02:52PM

Social entrepreneurs and friends celebrate freedom tonight at Green Spaces!

Special Guest Alexander Dunlop, founder of Spiritual Nutrition, will do a party presentation on cartomancy, the science of reading your life path in the playing cards.Click here to learn about his Valentine's Day $100 gift card offer.

The event is open to the public. Journalists and others may RSVP to marissa (at) greenspaceshome.com.

Green Spaces is a co-working, accelerator space for innovators of our new economy.We are a home to more than 60 socially minded companies. We cultivate community with programs that encourage professional networking and eco-friendly fun.

Spiritual Nutrition offers coaching for budding entrepreneurs, law of attraction lovers, and much more, specializing in the modern man and woman. Visit spiritualnutrition.org to see what's in your cards for your relationships, career and finances.

WHERE: Green Spaces, 394 Broadway, 5th floor; New York, NY 10013.

WHEN: February 14th, 7:30pm - 10:30pm

HP Brings Hope and Smiles to Children and Families Finding Strength at Select Ronald McDonald Houses

02.14.2012 - 10:46AM

(Marketwire) - HP (NYSE: HPQ) today launched eSmiles, a project that will use HP ePrint technology to build financial and emotional support for children and their families staying at participating Ronald McDonald Houses®.

Ronald McDonald Houses are dedicated to supporting families with a home away from home while their children receive much needed medical care at a nearby hospital.

eSmiles can take the form of "get well" letters, personalized photos, cards, cartoons, sketches or jokes to make children and their families laugh and smile during a time when children are going through frightening medical treatments.

An eSmile message is sent the same way as an email but, through the power of HP ePrint technology, the message is delivered as a printed page through an HP ePrint-enabled printer in the chosen Ronald McDonald House. Virtually anyone in the world can send an eSmile to a child from their computer or mobile device.⁽¹⁾

For every person who sends an eSmile between Feb. 14 and April 15, HP will donate $1 to participating Ronald McDonald Houses, up to $10,000 per house. Participants can select a Ronald McDonald House and ePrint their eSmile by visiting www.hpesmiles.com, or they can ePrint an eSmile directly from their mobile phones.

"The eSmiles initiative will help lift our families' spirits by bringing support from well-wishers around the world into San Diego's Ronald McDonald House," said Chuck Day, president and chief executive officer, Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego. "HP's generous donation will enable us to continue to provide a welcoming home away from home for families with a child facing a medical crisis."

Ronald McDonald Houses participating in the eSmiles program include those in Atlanta, Chicago and Northwest Indiana, New York, Orange County, Calif., and San Diego.

"The eSmiles program demonstrates how HP ePrint technology makes it possible for people to quickly and easily connect with one another from all corners of the globe, through the power of print," said Manny Kostas, senior vice president, Worldwide Marketing and Strategy, HP. "HP ePrint enables well-wishers to send messages of hope and cheer directly to an HP printer in a participating Ronald McDonald House as easily as sending an email."

How to participate
Individuals wishing to send an eSmile and spread the word about the project can do so through the following channels:

To learn more about the program and to send an eSmile via HP ePrint, visit www.hpesmiles.com
To ePrint an eSmile from a mobile phone directly to a participating house, use the ePrint addresses below:
- Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities: RMHAtlanta@ePrinteSmiles.com
- Orange County Ronald McDonald House: RonaldHouseOC@ePrinteSmiles.com
- Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana: RMHChicagoCNI@ePrinteSmiles.com
- Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego: RMHCSanDiego@ePrinteSmiles.com
- Ronald McDonald House New York: RMHNewYork@ePrinteSmiles.com

Follow @HPPrint and raise more funds for participating Ronald McDonald Houses by alerting Twitter followers using the hashtag #hpesmiles.

Join the conversation on Facebook: www.facebook.com/hp.

Learn more about eSmiles on YouTube: http://youtu.be/NwB_8-n-eY8.

About HP

HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. The world's largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems. More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com.

(1) Requires an internet connection and/or email access.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of HP and its consolidated subsidiaries could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations, including execution of restructuring and integration plans; any statements concerning expected development, performance or market share relating to products and services; any statements regarding anticipated operational and financial results; any statements of expectation or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include macroeconomic and geopolitical trends and events; the competitive pressures faced by HP's businesses; the development and transition of new products and services (and the enhancement of existing products and services) to meet customer needs and respond to emerging technological trends; the execution and performance of contracts by HP and its customers, suppliers and partners; the protection of HP's intellectual property assets, including intellectual property licensed from third parties; integration and other risks associated with business combination and investment transactions; the hiring and retention of key employees; expectations and assumptions relating to the execution and timing of restructuring and integration plans; the resolution of pending investigations, claims and disputes; and other risks that are described in HP's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011 and HP's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

© 2012 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.

Parade or No Parade, Returning Veterans Face Uphill Battle

02.14.2012 - 10:00AM

As reported by the New York Times, in response to last week’s parade honoring the New York Giants, a growing coalition of veterans, elected officials, and other public figures are calling for a parade to honor veterans returning from Iraq. Whether a parade takes place or not, advocates point to a difficult road ahead, as veterans are faced with complex issues as they attempt to reintegrate into society, and deal with the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Omega Institute today announced it will offer four unique programs for veterans in 2012, and scholarships for veterans of any war.

“We see a critical need to support returning vets beyond what the current system is equipped to provide. The road to healing from the trauma of war is complex, and we are honored to offer veterans and their caregivers opportunities to aid in their recovery and reintegration,” said Carla Goldstein, chief external affairs officer at Omega.

For more than 20 years, Omega has been engaged with veterans and family members dealing with issues of PTSD. This year Omega will convene some of the nation’s most forward thinking health experts and veterans’ advocates, to collaborate on best practices in healing modalities in an effort to help more veterans get treatment, more quickly. Additionally, in response to the rise in sexual assault, homelessness, and other issues servicewomen face, Omega will offer a new program specifically for female veterans and active duty servicewomen. Scholarships are available for Military & Veteran Women’s Healing Retreat and The Costs of War, Violence & Denial: A Retreat for Veterans Living with PTSD.

Hope for Veterans with PTSD from Omega Institute on Vimeo.

2012 Programs:

The Costs of War, Violence & Denial: A Retreat for Veterans Living with PTSD
April 18–22. Open to veterans, their families, and friends. Scholarships are available.

The attempts of traditional counseling and therapy, although valuable, often leave spiritual wounds unaddressed. This veterans retreat teaches many different forms of meditation as a path to healing. Author and Zen Buddhist monk, Claude AnShin Thomas, shares his inspiring story from Vietnam combat to Buddhist practice as a road map for others trapped in cyclical patterns of response from any type of traumatic experience. This retreat is open to people of any religious or spiritual tradition. For scholarship information, please visit, eOmega.org/scholarships or call 845.266.4444, ext. 180.

Veterans, Trauma & Treatment: Best Mind-Body Practices: A Professional Veterans Conference Addressing Resiliency to Recovery
October 12–14. Open to health-care professionals, psychologists, social workers, caregivers, and counselors working with veterans suffering with PTSD and their families.

This conference brings together an unprecedented gathering of experts in trauma and the treatment of trauma for veterans using complementary and alternative medicine. The conference will also touch on resilience studies, and some remarkable trauma prevention work being undertaken with combat and noncombat soldiers. Join Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founding director of the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and other extraordinary keynote speakers and workshop leaders who will discuss many complementary and alternative mind-body approaches. For a complete list of presenters, visit eOmega.org.

Teaching Yoga in Military Communities, Part 2: Advanced Teaching Skills for Addressing Combat-Related Issues
October 14–19. Professional training for yoga teachers. Participants need to complete Part 1 (teleseminar) before attending Part 2.

As the United States military adopts more evidence-based, mind-body approaches and seeks to hire competent instructors, specialized training focused on military culture and combat-related conditions will be a great benefit. This 5-day certification program for yoga teachers, provides a solid foundation in the art and science of teaching yoga in a military setting. Seasoned teachers, with medical, mental health, and military backgrounds, who have significant experience teaching yoga to servicemen and servicewomen, will train teachers in the effective use of yoga for post-deployment physical and psychological conditions.

Military & Veteran Women’s Healing Retreat
October 14–19. This program, including room and board, is available at no cost to qualified female veterans or active duty women in the military.

With the alarming rise of sexual assault in the military, and many other unique challenges, the wounds of war often run deeper and longer for female veterans. Retired Maj. Nisha Money, former chief of United States Air Force Fitness, and a team of healing arts therapists, along with financial, employment, and life-skill reintegration experts, will guide attendees through a variety of holistic healing modalities and other helpful resources. For an application and complete list of teachers, visit eOmega.org.

About Omega Institute for Holistic Studies
Founded in 1977, Omega Institute for Holistic Studies is the nation’s most trusted source for wellness and personal growth. As a nonprofit organization, Omega offers diverse and innovative educational experiences that inspire an integrated approach to personal and social change. Located on 195 acres in the beautiful Hudson Valley, Omega welcomes more than 23,000 people to its workshops, conferences, and retreats in Rhinebeck, New York, and at exceptional locations around the world. eOmega.org

Just Bare(R) Chicken Adds American Humane Certified(R) Farm Program Endorsement

02.09.2012 - 11:40AM

In October 2011, Just BARE Chicken passed the rigorous American Humane Certified^® (AHC) standards for the raising and handling of farm animals, joining the list of American Humane Association™ (AHA) certified producers. Beginning this month, the American Humane Certified seal will start appearing on labels of the Just BARE line of fresh, all natural chicken. The line consists of hand-trimmed boneless, skinless chicken breast fillets; breast tenders; boneless, skinless chicken thighs; drumsticks; and whole chicken.

The decision to become certified was made in direct response to consumers’ desire for increased transparency. Julie Berling, director of brand advocacy and marketing for Just BARE, explained, “More and more, consumers are looking for brands that can prove their claims and are willing to open their operations up to third-party audit and review. In fact, verification of animal welfare was rated very/extremely important by 91 percent of the brand’s target consumers.^1”

The American Humane Certified^® Farm Program Facts

The American Humane Certified seal signifies that an independent, third-party audit verified.

Just BARE’s animal care, handling and processing practices met or exceeded the more than 200 rigorous requirements of the American Humane Association. The American Humane Certified Farm Program was the nation’s first third-party audit program for farm animal welfare, and is presently one of the fastest-growing. It is based on the accepted values of the Five Freedoms created by Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) and adopted by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), as well as input from animal science experts, veterinarians and other animal husbandry specialists.

American Humane Certification is built around a comprehensive set of science-based standards and sound research. Its standards are reviewed regularly by the American Humane Certified Scientific Advisory Committee, which considers legislation, government welfare codes, scientific research, veterinarian advice, recommendations of the FAWC, and the practical experience of the farming community.

“Only a few small changes were required for the brand to achieve certification,” said Berling. “This came as no surprise, since the respectful care and handling of our chickens has been a priority for our company since it was founded in 1926.” She continued, “For us, the real benefit of Just BARE becoming an American Humane Certified brand is the access to expert research on animal welfare and the added consumer trust and confidence third-party certification provides.”

In a 2010 survey of about 200 consumers, nearly two out of three said they placed a high level of trust in third-party animal welfare certification as long as it was done by a recognized and reputable association. And the AHA meets that criterion. Since its start in 1877, it has been at the forefront of nearly every major advance in the care and protection of animals.

“We’re pleased to add Just BARE to our roster of American Humane Certified brands,” said Kathi Brock, senior director of the American Humane Association’s Farm Animal Program. “Just BARE chicken represents a higher standard of premium, natural chicken, with a demonstrated commitment to the welfare of animals and that of the planet.”

Just BARE Chicken Attributes/Traceability

The chickens raised for Just BARE are never given hormones, antibiotics or animal by-products. Additionally, there are no unwanted solutions, additives, binding agents or preservatives added. It’s 100 percent all natural chicken and nothing else. The chickens are vegetable and grain fed and raised cage-free by independent, local family farmers in Minnesota. And every package is traceable to the family farm where the chicken was raised by entering the Family Farm Code on the outside of the package on the brand’s website at JustBareChicken.com.

¹Animal Welfare Study, Dish on Chicken Consumer Panel. October 2010.

ABOUT JUST BARE^®

Just BARE is a brand of all natural chicken with no antibiotics, no added hormones, no animal by-products and no unwanted additives. Just BARE is distributed nationally by St. Cloud, Minn.-based GNP Company™ (formerly Gold’n Plump Poultry), a family-owned provider of premium chicken products to retail, deli and foodservice customers throughout the Midwest and in other parts of the country. The company employs nearly 1,600 people and partners, with approximately 350 family farmers in Minnesota and Wisconsin to produce wholesome, high-quality chicken. For more information on the Just BARE line of poultry products and tips on minimalist cooking, visit JustBareChicken.com.

ABOUT AMERICAN HUMANE ASSOCIATION™

Since 1877, the historic American Humane Association has been at the forefront of virtually every major advance in protecting children, pets and farm animals from cruelty, abuse and neglect. Today it’s also leading the way in understanding human-animal interaction and its role in society. As the nation’s voice for the protection of children and animals, American Humane Association reaches millions of people every day through groundbreaking research, education, training and services that span a wide network of organizations, agencies and businesses. You can help make a difference, too. Visit American Humane Association at www.americanhumane.org. For a list of American Humane Certified producers, visit TheHumaneTouch.org.

GBCHealth Business Action on Health Awards

02.03.2012 - 09:23AM

** APPLICATIONS CLOSING SOON! ***

Are you looking to gain widespread recognition for your program in global health? GBCHealth’s Business Action on Health Awards highlight innovative and results-oriented corporate achievements in tackling global health challenges.

Award-winning companies will enjoy many great benefits.

An opportunity to showcase their program at GBCHealth’s conference with an audience of business and global health leaders.
Visibility on our website and social media platforms.
Placement in a major international newspaper.

Applications close February 8 - so we urge you to get started soon!

The application process is simple - just log on to our online application form and tell us why your program deserves a GBCHealth Business Action on Health award: http://action.gbchealth.org/Awards/Application.php

You can find out more about the awards and the application process here: http://conference.gbchealth.org/awards.php

The Dannon Company Announces 2012 Dannon Next Generation Nutrition Grants

02.01.2012 - 06:21PM

Applications for the seventh annual Dannon Next Generation Nutrition^® grants are now available on the Dannon website under the ‘Dannon Cares’ section http://dannon.com/dannoncares.aspx. Applications are due by March 30, 2012.

Dannon will award grants of $30,000 to four nonprofits for programs that promote healthy eating and support nutrition education for children within each of the four communities where a Dannon facility is located – Salt Lake County, Utah; Tarrant County, Texas; Westchester County, New York; and Shelby, Mercer, Darke, and Auglaize counties in Ohio. To qualify for funding, organizations must be designated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and must already be engaged in a nutrition education program for children up to age 18, or be able to launch such an initiative in 2012.

Dannon established the Dannon Next Generation Nutrition^® grant program in 2006 to promote childhood nutrition education in communities. Each organization that receives a grant creates a program that helps children develop life-long habits for good nutrition and exercise.

In 2011 alone, $120,000 in grants benefited nearly 4,000 children and families nationwide; and since the inception of the Dannon Next Generation Nutrition^® grant program, more than $700,000 has benefited nearly 18,000 children and their families.

For questions about Dannon’s grant application process, please call 914-872-8672.

About The Dannon Company, Inc.

The Dannon Company is America’s founding national yogurt company and continually leverages its expertise to develop and market innovative cultured fresh dairy products in the United States. Headquartered in White Plains, NY, Dannon has plants in Minster, OH, Fort Worth, TX, and West Jordan, UT and produces approximately 100 different types of flavors, styles and sizes of cultured fresh dairy products. Dannon is a subsidiary of Danone, one of the world’s leading producers of packaged foods and beverages, and Dannon is the top-selling brand of yogurt products worldwide, sold under the names Dannon and Danone.

With a strong commitment to high-quality, wholesome, nutritious, and innovative products, The Dannon Company is committed to encouraging people to eat a balanced diet and live a healthy lifestyle. In 2010, for the tenth year in a row, Danone was listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, a worldwide reference for socially responsible businesses. Danone is a recognized leader for its contributions to nutrition and health and was ranked best in class in a 2008 JPMorgan & Insight Investment study about the response of the world’s largest food companies to obesity and health-related concerns. This commitment is also illustrated through The Dannon Company’s support of the Dannon Institute, an independent, non-profit foundation dedicated to promoting research, education, and communication about the links between nutrition, diet and health. For more information, please visit www.dannon.com.

Couple Makes Multi-Million Dollar Commitment to Screen Every Newborn Baby for "Bubble Boy" Disease

02.01.2012 - 12:22PM

/PRNewswire/ - Frustrated with the slow pace of implementation of newborn screening for Severe Combined Immune Deficiency (SCID), Vicki and Fred Modell decided to coordinate and fund the effort themselves. Today, they announced a multi-million dollar commitment to screen every baby born in every state for this life threatening condition, often referred to as "bubble boy disease."

The Modells established the Jeffrey Modell Foundation (JMF) 25 years ago in memory of their son Jeffrey, who lost his battle with Primary Immunodeficiency (PI) at the age of 15. There are more than 150 genetic defects that are classified under the umbrella of PI. The NIH estimates that at least 500,000 Americans are affected and most are undiagnosed. SCID is the most serious of the disorders and is characterized by experts as a "Pediatric Emergency."

Babies born with SCID fail to develop a functional immune system. They appear normal and healthy at birth, causing delayed diagnosis until they are repeatedly hospitalized for life threatening infections. Undetected and untreated, SCID leads to death before the baby's first birthday. But with Newborn Screening, they can now be diagnosed and then cured with a bone marrow transplant. The cost of the screening test, called TRECs, is $4 per baby. To date, the Jeffrey Modell Foundation has contributed over $3 million towards programs of Newborn Screening. Affected babies with SCID are already being identified, transplanted, and cured in several states, including California, New York, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and Louisiana. Overall, only 50 percent of all babies born in the United States live in states that screen for SCID or have stated their intention to screen if funding is available.

Mike and Missy Bornheimer were lucky enough to have lived in Wisconsin (the first state to screen). Her baby, Dawson, was born with SCID and was screened, diagnosed, treated, and cured and now is a healthy three and half year-old boy. Missy offered Testimony to the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children in Washington, D.C. on January 21, 2010. The Committee voted the same day to recommend adding the SCID test to the core panel of newborn screening tests. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius approved the recommendation shortly thereafter.

"Two years later, we are just approaching halfway to completing our mission so that every baby in every state can be screened for this fatal disease and those afflicted can be cured," according to Fred Modell. "We have not raised all of the funds as yet, but we are confident."

Vicki Modell added, "We have heard from too many grieving parents whose babies were tragically lost to SCID. But now that we can screen and cure babies that are affected, we just can't stand by for another day, and watch precious babies die. We will be offering funding to every state that implements a Population Screening Program for SCID. This is an historic journey and we hope to wipe out this fatal disease forever."

About Jeffrey Modell Foundation

Vicki and Fred Modell established the Jeffrey Modell Foundation in 1987, in memory of their son Jeffrey, who died at the age of fifteen from complications of Primary Immunodeficiency – a genetic condition that is chronic, serious, and often fatal. JMF is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to early diagnosis, meaningful treatments and, ultimately, cures through research, physician education, public awareness, advocacy, patient support, and Newborn Screening.

For more information about PI, visit www.info4pi.org or email the Jeffrey Modell Foundation at info4pi@jmfworld.org.

The VWR Foundation Auction Raises $75,000 for Children's National Medical Center

02.01.2012 - 10:18AM

/PRNewswire/ - Continuing its mission to give back to the science community, the VWR Charitable Foundation raised $75,000 in an auction on January 16, 2012 benefiting Children's National Medical Center of Washington D.C.

The VWR Foundation hosts its annual auction during VWR International, LLC's North American Sales Meeting as a way to give back to the meeting's host city. This year, the Foundation chose Children's National Medical Center for its natural fit with all three pillars in the VWR Foundation's mission: research, health and well-being and science education. A check for $75,000 was presented to Children's National on January 17, 2012.

In addition to fundraising, auction attendees donated over 1,000 books for both patients and their parents to enjoy during hospital visits. The book drive was organized by VWR International, LLC's Women's Affinity Group.

"We are so grateful to the VWR Foundation and everyone who participated in this incredibly successful auction," said Pam King Sams, Executive Vice President for Development for Children's National. "These funds will support important research and care for so many children in the nation's capital, and help make their stay with us more comfortable."

About VWR Foundation

The VWR Charitable Foundation was established in January 2009 by a group of VWR International, LLC associates. In July 2009, the VWR Foundation distributed its first grant. Since then the organization has donated nearly $200,000 to various organization across America that are aligned with its mission. More information about the VWR Foundation, including a grant application can be found at www.VWRfoundation.org.

About VWR International, LLC

VWR International, LLC, headquartered in Radnor, Pennsylvania, is a global laboratory supply and distribution company. With 150 years of industry experience, VWR offers a well-established distribution network that reaches thousands of specialized labs and facilities spanning the globe. In addition, VWR further supports its customers by providing onsite services, storeroom management, product procurement, supply chain systems integration and technical services.

For more information on VWR, phone (800) 932-5000, visit www.vwr.com, or write, VWR International, LLC, Radnor Corporate Center, Building One, Suite 200, 100 Matsonford Road, Radnor, PA 19087.

VWR and design are registered trademarks of VWR International, LLC.

Hublot Presents amfAR New York Gala

02.01.2012 - 09:10AM

/PRNewswire/ - Hublot, the luxury Swiss brand which brings the "Art of Fusion" to watchmaking, is proud to present the amfAR New York Gala on February 8, 2012 honoring those who have led the global struggle against HIV/AIDS. The black-tie benefit, which will be hosted by Sarah Jessica Parker, will feature special performances by Janelle Monae and Theophilus London.

"We are excited to again join forces with amfAR in the fight against HIV/AIDS," says Hublot chairman Jean-Claude Biver. "Our first amfAR men's collection was very well received and we hope that these new women's designs will bring us one step further in accomplishing the goal of a world without HIV/AIDS."

To support amfAR's goal and following the success of the men's amfAR collection, Hublot created a second limited edition collection for women featuring the foundation's colors and logo. It features a black ceramic case, white mother of pearl dial, and a white gold bezel set with 48 baguette diamonds (also available in a steel bezel set with 114 circular diamonds for the non-limited edition). It houses a self-winding chronograph movement and a white alligator strap sewn on black rubber. As a commemoration to amfAR, the watch features the foundation's colors and logo at the 5 o'clock mark. As with the first collection, part of the proceeds will go to support amfAR.

The evening will feature a gala dinner, live auction, special performances, and honoree tributes. For this special occasion, Jean-Claude Biver and Hublot are pleased to announce the auction of the first timepiece 000/100 of the new Hublot amfAR collection engraved with the signature of amfAR Founding Chairman Dr. Mathilde Krim.

About Hublot
Hublot made its name 30 years ago when it became the first Swiss watch luxury brand to fuse precious metals with functional rubber, sparking a revolution for material innovation and aesthetics. In 2004, Mr. Jean-Claude Biver gave Hublot a great new boost and revolutionized watchmaking with the creation of the "Big Bang", which marked the start of the spectacular success of the brand. In just five years Hublot has become one of the most sought-out high-end watch brands with some of its timepieces making watch history, such as the One Million Dollar Big Bang, All Black Big Bang and Mag Bang watches. In 2008 Hublot was bought by the LVMH group with Jean-Claude Biver as CEO and leading the company's guiding principle of "Fusion," which combines unusual materials such as ceramic, tantalum, magnesium and titanium with a modern version of Hublot's rubber strap.

About amfAR
amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is one of the world's leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and the advocacy of sound AIDS-related public policy. Since 1985, amfAR has invested more than $340 million in its programs and has awarded grants to more than 2,000 research teams worldwide.

2012 Limited edition amfAR

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Series	341.CI.6019.LR.114.AMFR12 (carat version with baguette diamonds)
	Limited edition of 100 pieces numbered from 000/100 to 100/100

	341.CI.6019.LR.194.AMFR12 (diamonds version with circular diamonds)
	Non limited edition

Case	Big Bang - Diameter 41 mm – in black ceramic

Bezel	Black ceramic set with:
	- 114 circular diamonds (diamonds version) with steel black PVD treatment
	- 48 diamond baguette (carat version) with white gold black PVD treatment
	6 H-shaped titanium screws, countersunk, polished & locked.

Crystal	Sapphire with interior/exterior anti-reflective treatment
Bezel Lug	Black composite resin
Lateral inserts	Black composite resin
Crown	Polished Steel with blue rubber insert
Push-pieces	Steel with blue rubber inserts

Case-back	Black ceramic opened case-back
Water resistance	10 ATM or 100 metres

Dial	White mother of pearl dial with blue SuperLuminova™ indexes
	Logo AmfAR at 5.00

Hands	Polished black nickel hands with blue SuperLuminova™
	Yellow chronograph hand with polished & rhodium-plated H counterpoise

Movement	HUB4300 self-winding chronograph
Date	Trapezoid window at 4.30
Wristlet	Adjustable white alligator sewn on black rubber with blue and yellow stitching
Clasp	Steel Big Bang deployant buckle

Heineken HIV/AIDS Symposium

03.29.2011 - 09:27AM

Heineken invites media to a symposium on the role that business needs to play to help address the ongoing HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa. Under the theme "Sharing Responsibilities in the 'World of Work' in Africa," the symposium brings together leading figures from international organisations, national government, NGOs, the public health community and industry. Goal is to take stock, challenge conventional thinking and stimulate new ideas in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa.

A number of expert speakers will participate in the symposium, including:

Mr. Ben Knapen, Minister for European Affairs and International Cooperation, the Netherlands
Dr. Hedia Belhadj, Director, Partnerships Department, UNAIDS
Dr. Marijke Wijnroks, AIDS Ambassador, The Dutch Government
Mr. Hugo Tempelman MD, CEO Ndlovu Care Group, South Africa
Ms. Morolake Odetoyinbo, Board Member, The Global Fund; CEO, Positive Action for Treatment Access

On behalf of Heineken, Jean-François van Boxmeer, Chairman of the Executive Board/CEO, Tom de Man, Regional President Africa & Middle East, Hans van Mameren, General Manager Bralima, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Dr. Stefaan Van der Borght, Director Global Health Affairs, will participate.

Heineken HIV/AIDS Symposium 2011
Thursday, 31 March 2011 from 2:00 p.m. till 5:00 p.m. CET
't Koelschip at the Heineken Experience (6th floor)
Stadhouderskade 78, Amsterdam
The Netherlands

Media can cover the symposium by attending in person or by participating through the live webcast accessible through the Heineken International website:

http://www.heinekeninternational.com/web+casts+press.aspx

Additional information about the symposium can be found on:

http://www.heinekeninternational.com/homepage.aspx

The symposium is part of the "Heineken Cares" initiative, under the umbrella of the company's long-term sustainability approach “Brewing a Better Future”.

Press enquiries:

Hester Swart
Tel: +31 20 523 9355
Email: hester.swart@heineken.com

John-Paul Schuirink
Tel: +31 20 523 9355
Email: john-paul.schuirink@heineken.com

About Brewing a Better Future:
'Brewing a Better Future' is Heineken's long-term sustainability initiative. The 23 integrated programmes that make up the initiative focus on improving the environmental impact of Heineken's brands and business, empowering people and the communities in which Heineken operates and positively impacting the role of beer in society. Amongst the commitments Heineken has made as part of its approach to sustainability are:

By 2020 a reduction of specific direct and indirect CO2 emissions in breweries by at least 40% and a reduction in specific water consumption by at least 25%.
To expand to €20 million the funding for the Heineken Africa Foundation.
To expand the local sourcing of raw materials in Africa to 60% by 2020.
The continuous reduction of the CO2 footprint of our brands throughout the value chain.
By 2015 ensuring that all markets have a partnership that help the company play its part in reducing alcohol abuse.
By 2015 for every majority-owned business to have a sustainability plan and to report publicly on its progress and commitment.

For more information on 'Brewing a Better Future' visit www.heinekeninternational.com/sustainability.

About Heineken:
Heineken is one of the world's great brewers and is committed to growth and remaining independent. The brand that bears the founder's family name - Heineken - is available in almost every country on the globe and is the world's most valuable international premium beer brand. The Company's aim is to be a leading brewer in each of the markets in which it operates and to have the world's most valuable brand portfolio. The Company operates 140 breweries in more than 70 countries and sold 205 million hectolitres of beer on a 2010 pro-forma basis. Heineken is Europe's largest brewer and the world's third largest by volume. Heineken is committed to the responsible marketing and consumption of its more than 200 international premium, regional, local and specialty beers and ciders. These include Amstel, Birra Moretti, Cruzcampo, Dos Equis, Foster's, Kingfisher, Newcastle Brown Ale, Ochota, Primus, Sagres, Sol, Star, Strongbow, Tecate, Tiger and Zywiec. On a 2010 pro-forma basis, including FEMSA Cerveza, revenue totalled €17 billion and EBIT (beia) was €2.7 billion. The average number of people employed is more than 70,000. Heineken N.V. and Heineken Holding N.V. shares are listed on the Amsterdam stock exchange. Prices for the ordinary shares may be accessed on Bloomberg under the symbols HEIA NA and HEIO NA and on the Reuter Equities 2000 Service under HEIN.AS and HEIO.AS. Most recent information is available on Heineken's website: www.heinekeninternational.com.

The Next Evolution of Health

12.06.2010 - 03:00PM

In the last decades, we've seen wave after wave of innovation beyond traditional health care. We've begun integrating East and Western models, alternative healing practices, nutrition and more. Now we're increasingly including consciousness work such as meditation, visualization, subtle energies, and even distant prayer, along with a growing recognition of the power of our beliefs and intentions.

As a result, we're moving beyond a mechanistic disease-driven model of health to one in which we recognize how important prevention, nutrition, psychology, beliefs, personal practices, and optimal living are to vibrant health. With those shifts, we're addressing a person's health holistically and seeing how it is interconnected with the health of society.

This free weekend teleseminar event brings together some of the world's top pioneers in integral health, wellness and mind-body-spirit medicine to showcase the latest insights, research, and practices that are proving to work to create vibrant, healthy lives and to transform our health care institutions.

There is no question that then conventional model of health care has broken down. The question is "How best to fix it?" Our answer is to integrate the deepest insights and research of those leading the way forward. We can each take personal responsibility for creating optimal health in our lives by learning from the pioneering work now underway.

This conference connects people around the world with medical and health pioneers helping us to evolve to a new level of health and well-being.

Acting Ethically and Responsibly for the Patient: Sanofi-Aventis 2009 Corporate Social Responsibility Report

09.08.2010 - 01:00AM

Collaborate-Innovate-Celebrate! 5 years of Advancing Health

10.22.2008 - 12:00AM

The New England Healthcare Institute (NEHI) will celebrate its 5th Anniversary with a first-ever fundraising gala, bringing together 500 key thought leaders and senior executives from business and community, who represent diverse stakeholders from across the health system. As part of the festivities, NEHI will honor groups who exemplify the spirit of NEHI's mission and values through their collaboration, innovation, and transformation in health care. For more information, please visit www.nehi.net or contact Judy Ozbun, Vice President Strategic Partnerships at jozbun@nehi.net or 617-225-0857.

New England Healthcare Institute (NEHI) is a non-profit research and policy organization that fosters solutions to pressing health care issues and drives national policy change.

The LOHAS 12 Forum

06.18.2008 - 12:00AM

The LOHAS 12 Forum is a four-day business conference that will bring together leaders from Fortune 500 companies, LOHAS businesses, the entertainment industry, and celebrities to focus on how businesses, media and entertainment can be leveraged to educate, shape and influence consumer behavior and purchasing decisions while promoting lifestyles of health and sustainability. If you or your business is involved in conscious commerce, this is an event that should not be missed.

Why You Should Attend LOHAS

Learn how to successfully approach the LOHAS consumer with your products and services.

Meet and network with like-minded executives from all LOHAS market sectors.

Speak directly with mainstream media who are interested in covering companies and products designed for the conscious consumer.

Glean insight into the values and purchasing decisions of the LOHAS consumer.

Create partnerships with retailers and other sales channels

Develop new product ideas

Hear the experts' latest trend data from the leading LOHAS market sectors, including organics, the spa industry and green building.
Connect with international companies interested in developing international LOHAS business relations - from countries such as Japan, Australian, Germany, the United Kingdom and Brazil.

Understand what the future holds for sustainability and envision the possibilities for you and your business.

Learn the corporate authenticity and leadership skills that will promote your LOHAS-oriented business practices.

Understand the latest marketing techniques - from search engine optimization to cause oriented marketing campaigns - and see what will work best for your company.

Harness innovative ways of thinking about your business.

Connect with others and lead society toward a healthier and sustainable future.

All told, it's simply the best place to discover all your opportunities in the Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability marketplace!