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VolunteerMatch Announces Winners of 6th Annual Corporate Volunteer Awards

05.22.2012 - 01:00PM

VolunteerMatch has honored five U.S. companies for outstanding innovation, commitment and leadership in corporate community involvement. During a ceremony last week at its 2012 Client Summit in San Francisco, VolunteerMatch recognized Morgan Stanley, Old National Bank, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Allina Health for excellence in employee volunteering. VolunteerMatch also gave special acknowledgement to team members from the Walmart Foundation who have been instrumental in coordinating the retailer’s $2 billion commitment to fighting hunger in America.

VolunteerMatch is the web’s largest volunteer engagement network. Best known for its popular web service, www.volunteermatch.org, the national nonprofit also helps hundreds of leading corporations successfully manage their volunteer engagement initiatives. This is the sixth year VolunteerMatch has given out its Corporate Volunteer Awards, which recognize businesses based on objective and subjective criteria against a variety of performance benchmarks.

The winners of the 2012 VolunteerMatch Corporate Volunteer Awards are:

Employee Volunteer Program of the Year (Large Businesses): Morgan Stanley

Volunteerism is a key component of Morgan Stanley’s commitment to giving back. In 2011 the financial services firm’s hallmark initiatives included a year-round volunteer program that encourages long-term relationships with nonprofits, a signature Strategy Challenge pairing teams of employees with 15 organizations for pro bono planning sessions, and a Global Volunteer Month that encouraged employees to give at least two hours of time. By year’s end Morgan Stanley employees had tracked more than 170,000 hours, a 30% increase from 2010.

Employee Volunteer Program of the Year (Small-Medium Businesses): Old National Bank

Old National Bank, based in Evansville, Ind., encourages its 2,800 employees to pursue their passions as volunteers in the community. In 2011, 50% of the team took advantage of the volunteer program, tracking an astonishing 77,000 total hours. Thanks in part to incentive programs such as offering two paid hours per month for employees, an “Honor Roll” for high achieving volunteers and a company match, the employee participation rate was more than 18 times the average in the benchmark study.

Champions of the Year: Karen Thompson and Laura Siemens, Walmart Foundation

As grant makers and program managers at Walmart Foundation, Karen Thompson and Laura Siemens are helping the world’s largest corporation invest $2 billion in the fight against hunger. Walmart began working with VolunteerMatch in 2008 to engage its 1.4 million employees in volunteering. Today, as part of the company’s innovative Fighting Hunger Together initiative, the Walmart Foundation and VolunteerMatch are helping more than 4,000 food banks, pantries, nutrition programs, community gardens and other hunger-related organizations fight food insecurity by increasing their capacity to involve volunteers.

Breakthrough Performance (Tie): Allina Health, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Both newly launched at VolunteerMatch in 2011, Allina Health and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt are already demonstrating what successful volunteer engagement looks like. Allina Health employees logged 60,000 community service hours for the year, helping to guide more than $100,000 in matching funds from the Minneapolis, Minn.- based not-for-profit healthcare provider. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt engages employees through local Community Investment Councils, which use VolunteerMatch as a tool for volunteer activities that support its CSR pillars of giving voice, promoting access to ideas and removing barriers. Among the world’s largest providers of pre-K–12 education solutions and one of its longest-established publishing houses, the Boston-based Company inspired its 3,700 employees to track more than 5,000 hours during the fourth quarter of 2011.

“This year’s award winners demonstrate what’s possible when companies engage the time and talent of their employees,” said Greg Baldwin, president of VolunteerMatch. “We’re honored to support their efforts.”

To learn more about the 2012 VolunteerMatch Corporate Volunteer Awards, please visit:
http://www.volunteermatchsummit.org

To learn more about VolunteerMatch Solutions, visit: http://www.volunteermatch.org/corporations

About VolunteerMatch

VolunteerMatch is the Web's largest volunteer engagement network, with more than 80,000 participating nonprofits, 150 network partners and 8 million visitors each year. Founded in 1998, VolunteerMatch offers solutions to make it easier for individuals, nonprofits and companies to make a difference. Since its launch, VolunteerMatch has helped nonprofits attract more than $2 billion worth of volunteer services. VolunteerMatch is a two-time Webby Award winner, a Smithsonian inductee, and has been recognized for its work by The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNN, Time, Oprah Winfrey and Presidents Clinton and Bush. To learn more, visit www.volunteermatch.org.

Making The Investment In Healthy People, Healthy Planet And Healthy Performance

05.17.2012 - 12:31PM

Corporations today are obliged to go beyond delivering business results. They should also improve the quality of life of their employees, their communities and society at large – and report out on this progress. This month Humana released its 2010-2011 corporate social responsibility (CSR) report. For the first time, Humana’s report follows the Global Reporting Initiative framework. And we became the only major health care insurer to do so. Here’s why disclosing environmental, social and governance data is important, now more than ever:

1. Trust in business remains low. The 2012 Trust Barometer that Edelman, the communications firm, develops annually revealed that public trust in business, government and NGOs shrank in 2011. What struck me, in particular, is that the 47 percent of the public who think business is doing what’s right tie their belief largely to “business competence, like delivering consistent financial returns.” However, societal behaviors – listening to customer needs, treating employees well, putting customers ahead of profits, and having ethical business practices – are ranked higher in importance for building future trust.

With that understanding, corporations have an opportunity to build future trust through demonstrating that social responsibility is a priority and business takes it as seriously as reporting financial results.

2. Business must be profoundly transparent. Voluntary reporting allows us in particular to put a stake in the ground and be accountable for targets such as those we’ve outlined in Humana’s report: to reduce our energy consumption, greenhouse-gas emissions and energy expenses by 10 percent by the end of 2012 from 2009’s baseline, and hire 1,000 military veterans and/or their spouses across the company, to name a few examples.

Of course, business doesn’t always succeed at hitting such targets – and it must be transparent about that, too. Starbucks took such a stance, admitting publicly that it didn’t achieve energy reduction goals for 2010. Stakeholders appreciate such candor and can then better understand such situations when they arise.

3. Companies cannot afford to slide in their efforts to improve the environmental performance of their operations. Why? In addition to the long-term environmental implications, investing in sustainability is a financial investment. In a study, McKinsey & Company, the management consultancy, projected the U.S. could save $1.2 trillion through 2020 by investing $520 billion in such improvements as sealing leaky building ducts and replacing inefficient appliances with new, energy-saving models. Evidence also exists that companies that demonstrate responsibility reap increased employee engagement and morale, higher employee-retention rates and better performance.

We’ve all heard: What gets measured gets managed. At Humana, we firmly believe the long-term investments we make in our CSR initiatives help us build trust, increase transparency, save money and earn the license not only to exist but to lead. We’re proud to share this progress through our industry-leading CSR report.

Texas Instruments Initiative Helps Girl Scouts See STEM Careers In Their Future

05.17.2012 - 09:00AM

Marking the 100^th year since the organizations founding, Girl Scouts has declared 2012 the Year of the Girl. In an initiative that focuses on the future for girls, Texas Instruments recently partnered with Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas (GSNETX) to promote science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills to local Girl Scouts.

This year, Texas Instruments sponsored and helped launch the first ever “engineering patch” for girls in kindergarten through 12^th grade. The patch curriculum focuses on exciting, engaging and encouraging girls at every grade level to explore STEM education and careers. The patch will be available to all 35,000 Girl Scouts in Northeast Texas and will be a part of the program for the 4,400 underserved girls who experience Girl Scouts through the “Gift of Girl Scouting.”

“A Girl Scouts’ study found that girls’ interest in STEM is higher when they have exposure to those fields and only 46 percent of those surveyed knew a woman in a STEM career,” said Trisha Cunningham, Texas Instruments chief citizenship officer. “That’s why we partnered with Girl Scouts to develop a program where girls can have fun learning more about STEM and we can encourage area women engineers to get involved as role models.”

Through this programming, younger Girl Scouts will experience STEM through hands-on projects, and older Girl Scouts will be introduced to career choices and, most importantly, mentors in STEM careers. Texas Instruments is eager to generate excitement about the possibilities offered by STEM in hope that these girls will someday choose engineering as a career, a field that continues to be underrepresented by women.

Cunningham answered a few questions about the program. You can read more about this program on Texas Instruments’ Citizenship website.

What departments at Texas Instruments were involved in establishing the partnership with the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas?

“This initiative was initiated through our Corporate Citizenship group. We tightened our philanthropic focus around science and math education and began meeting with organizations such as the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas a few years ago to see if there were ways we could work together. They were very receptive as they were in the process of developing their own strategy in this area.”

How was senior management “buy-in” procured to promote STEM skills to local Girl Scouts?

“From the top of our company on down, TI’s management knows that strong science and math education of our youth will be important not only to our company’s future U.S. workforce, but also America’s competitiveness in this age of technology. We are particularly interested in developing girls and underrepresented minorities in engineering. Today, only one in five engineers is female — below parity with other prestigious professions.”

Are Texas Instruments employees involved in any aspect of this initiative? With the “engineering patch” program?

“We asked some of our passionate women leaders and engineers to help. When we started to explore our focus on STEM with Girl Scouts, they helped serve on their strategy committee for the program. This resulted in TI sponsoring a STEM strategy workshop that included many in our area who were interested in advancing STEM education with girls and that was also attended by Girl Scouts USA. One of the outcomes of this strategy session was the development of this patch and curriculum, which our employees helped create.”

What have been some of Texas Instrument’s best practices or lessons learned in pursuing this initiative?

“First, we learned that when you focus on a strategic area, it is important to talk with your community partners and listen to their ideas. We transitioned to our philanthropic focus on STEM over a period of a few years so that it did not come as a surprise to our community partners. We’ve continued to work with those where we could align our interests, like Girl Scouts, to develop programs that are even stronger than our past investments. Secondly, we learned to never underestimate the results you can obtain with passionate employee volunteers — ask, give them a challenge and let them work their magic. We love our employee volunteers! Many of the skills they use on the job everyday are of great value to the community partners we work with. When you combine that skill with their passion around a cause, you have a winning combination. Thirdly, you must be willing to adapt along the way. Since this is a new program, it won’t be perfect so we are willing to adapt. Our goal is that other Girl Scout Councils would want to offer the badge to their girls as well.”

Is the success of this initiative measurable?

“Yes. We will know how many girls have completed the requirements to receive the patch. One of the great things is that no matter what level Girl Scout you are, there is age-level curriculum and activities so that interest can be maintained throughout all years of the scouting experience. As an incentive, Girl Scouts is giving the patch for free in return for a copy of their completed ‘workbook’ and feedback. This is a great way to continually improve the program.”

What kinds of feedback have you received from employees?

“Kim Smith (at left with Scouts), operations manager for Internet marketing for TI and head of the TI Women’s Network who was one of the key TI employee volunteers for this program, said: ‘Math and science is in everything you do. I don’t think that you even know what is possible out there as a young woman growing up. It’s important to show girls that they can be anything they want. And when girls succeed, so does society. We need more girls in these areas. We want girls to have fun learning STEM, and it is fun changing the world and people’s lives and their mindset.’”

IKEA Foundation Extends Commitment to Fight Child Labor Into Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan

05.17.2012 - 07:00AM

Today, IKEA Foundation and Save the Children announced they will expand their efforts to fight child labor in the cotton industry, with new programs in the Indian states of Punjab, Haryana and Rajastan.

This expansion will build on already successful effforts in 1,866 villages in the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra where more than 65,000 children (6-14 years) have been moved out of child labor and into classrooms. In addition, the projects have also helped 89,000 children (3-6 years) benefit from quality pre-school education (Anganwadi), and provided vocational skills to 16,000 15 – 18 year olds.

Ten-year old Rajesh (centre) was working in a cotton field in Morasiya village in Gujarat, but now he is going to school full time, thanks to a programme funded by IKEA Foundation and run by Save the Children. A similar programme will be rolled out for children in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan in the Spring of 2012.

The three new projects will aim to replicate this success by:

Improving the quality of education to make sure children complete school and reduce the drop-out rate;
Enhancing family incomes through access to government social security and rural work schemes;
Raising awareness in cotton-growing communities of children’s rights and the dangers to children from working in cotton fields and factories.

“This is a natural step in our long collaboration with Save the Children to strengthen children’s rights in India,” said Per Heggenes, CEO of IKEA Foundation. “If we can create more opportunities for children in developing countries by improving education and awareness of children’s rights, we can help these children break the cycle of poverty and build a brighter future for themselves, their families and society at large.”

The projects have been designed in partnership with Save the Children to ensure that communities are actively involved in preventing children from working on cotton and cotton-seed farms by setting up Child Protection Committees, providing quality education and building families’ capacity to access alternative sources of income.

The new work in Punjab and Haryana, two of India’s largest cotton producing states will build on this community involvement model. A study commissioned by IKEA Foundation in 2008 revealed that prosperous Punjab has one of the highest percentages of child labor of all of India’s states, with an estimated 25% of the cotton picking force. Haryana is not far behind, with 16% of cotton picking labor being children. This study estimates about 500,000 child laborers in Punjab, 350,000 in Haryana and 440,000 Rajasthan.

In Rajasthan, one of the poorest states in India where more than 46% * of the children drop out of school, the work will also include a focus on child migration from the district of Banswada.

Thomas Chandy, CEO of Save the Children India says, “Children’s groups have played an essential role in educating local officials and parents in the risks of sending children to work and the importance of education. We are delighted to be able to work with the IKEA Foundation in expanding this work further to reach even more children across India.”

IKEA Foundation’s efforts to tackle child labor in India and Pakistan began in 2001.

Working with farmers to change community attitudes about child labour is a key part of the programme’s success. This sign, hanging in Magnad village, provides positive recognition to five local farmers who have pledged not to use child labour.

About IKEA Foundation

The IKEA Foundation aims to improve opportunities for children and youth in developing countries by funding holistic, long-term programs that can create substantial, lasting change. The Foundation works with strong strategic partners applying innovative approaches to achieve large-scale results in four fundamental areas of a child’s life: a place to call home; a healthy start in life; a quality education; and sustainable family income. Currently-funded programs benefit an estimated 100 million children. Learn more at www.ikeafoundation.org.

About Save the Children

Save the Children is the world’s leading independent organisation for children. We are 29 national organisations working together to deliver programs in more than 120 countries around the world. Our vision is a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation. Our mission is to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.

*Ministry of Human Resources Development Annual Report: 2009-10.

Opportunity International to Expand Access to Financial Services in Tanzania

05.16.2012 - 09:38AM

(Marketwire) - Opportunity International announced it received a $250,000 grant from Monsanto Company, an agricultural company committed to improving farm productivity and crop quality, to expand access to affordable financial services in Tanzania that will enable emerging entrepreneurs to generate more income for their families, and contribute to the economic development of their communities.

"Opportunity International is grateful to Monsanto Company for supporting its efforts to alleviate global poverty by providing impoverished people with access to life-changing financial services," said Dennis Ripley, senior vice president, International Business Development, Opportunity International. "Over the past year, Opportunity has witnessed a tremendous growth in demand for small business microloans among struggling entrepreneurs in Tanzania. We started 2011 with just over 3,000 clients in Tanzania, and at the end of the 1^st quarter in 2012, we were serving more than 7,767 clients, representing a 159 percent increase."

Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world with approximately 90 percent of its people living on less than $2 per day, and 60 percent living on less than $1 per day. One out of every three Tanzanians is self-employed, yet less than five percent of the population has access to formal banking and financial services.

Since 2008, Opportunity has aggressively expanded its operations to enable a greater number of entrepreneurs -- the majority of whom are women -- to secure personal savings accounts, borrow capital for their businesses, receive training to develop professional and life skills, and obtain insurance to protect their assets. "With Monsanto Company's support, Opportunity is well-positioned to empower many more of Tanzania's poorest citizens to work their way out of chronic poverty, transforming their lives, their children's futures and their communities," continued Ripley.

"At the core of Monsanto's business is a commitment to improve the lives of people around the world, which aligns closely with Opportunity International's efforts to alleviate poverty and to empower the world's working poor through access to affordable, convenient financial services," said Natalie DiNicola, vice-president of sustainable partnerships, Monsanto. "It is our hope that the partnership with Opportunity will foster entrepreneurship among Tanzanian citizens and we look forward to witnessing the impact that our contribution will have."

Monsanto is committed to supporting farmers in developing countries through initiatives aimed at boosting agricultural productivity. The company is a partner organization in the World Economic Forum and supports the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT) initiative. Monsanto's involvement in SAGCOT is a part of the company's efforts to support Tanzanian President Kikwete's Kilimo Kwanza (Agriculture First) initiative, strengthening the country's economy through agricultural production.

About Monsanto Company
Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world's natural resources such as water and energy. To learn more about our business and our commitments, please visit: www.monsanto.com. Follow our business on Twitter® at www.twitter.com/MonsantoNews, on the company blog, Beyond the Rows at www.monsantoblog.com, or subscribe to our News Release RSS Feed.

About Opportunity International
Opportunity International provides access to savings accounts, small business loans, insurance and training to over four million people working their way out of poverty in the developing world. Clients in more than 20 countries use these financial services to start or expand a business, provide for their families, create jobs for their neighbors and build a safety net for the future. For more information, visit www.opportunity.org.

CEMEX Lays Solid Foundation To Address Need For Affordable Housing

05.14.2012 - 05:39PM

CEMEX has a rich history of improving the well-being of those it serves with efforts to pursue innovative industry solutions. In keeping with this legacy, CEMEX has under taken a global affordable housing initiative that helps provide quality concrete housing to low-income families in developing countries.

CEMEX’s goal is to help support people striving to provide homes and shelter for their families. Through its affordable housing initiative, CEMEX is “helping to supply these new homeowners with affordable and reliable products, and helping them find the right financial solutions to secure quality housing,” said Juan Luis Alfiero, leader of the initiative. “The key to the future of this initiative will be the support of other institutions and partners to create an integrated and collaborative approach to ensuring the future of housing and infrastructure in developing countries.”

The housing initiative, which was launched in 2010, is defined by a two-tiered approach of providing affordable quality building solutions while also identifying adequate financial solutions to meet each family’s needs. As part of the initiative, CEMEX housing experts have developed several prototypes of concrete houses for various types of urban and rural communities. These prototypes have been adapted to local use and customs in different regions of developing countries. In recognition of the social and cultural differences in each country, CEMEX conducts market assessments to understand the needs and customs of each region, noted Martha Herrera, Communication and Responsibility Director. The cost of building these houses, including finishes, fixtures, and equipment is less than $10,000 U.S.

Herrera observed that implementation of such a large-scale global initiative involves coordination with multiple departments such as the Housing, Concrete and Commercial Division, the Planning and Corporate Communications Department and the Public Affairs Department in each country. She added that “we share best practices and success cases between us through our internal web network and with monthly conference updates. Every country has different needs and has different housing actors. Active participation of our local employees is crucial in this initiative.”

CEMEX is also working with various institutions to obtain suitable financial product fees and payment terms for the beneficiaries. As of today, CEMEX has implemented 30 housing projects under this initiative in coordination with third-party developers in five countries – Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama. Cemex had built more than 4,800 houses over the past two years and plans to expand its efforts to the Mediterranean and Asian regions.

The worldwide housing deficit has an estimated 1.1 billion people in urban areas alone living in inadequate housing. Mitigating the deficit is a challenge that requires joint action between governments, financial institutions, NGOs, and private enterprises to help build communities from the ground up. CEMEX has already collaborated with a number of important international, federal, state, and local organizations to ensure such affordable housing including Ashoka Housing for All, the International Finance Corporation, the Mexican National Housing Commission (CONAVI), Federal Mortage Society (SHF Development Bank), the Costa Rica Housing Ministry and the Costa Rica-Canada Foundation, the Nicaraguan Housing and Urban Institute (INVUR), the General Bank of Panama, the Nuevo Leon and Campeche Housing Institutes in Mexico, among others. With the support of these institutions, CEMEX expects to contribute to improving living conditions of families living in inadequate and inhumane conditions.

Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship Releases 2012-2013 Course Calendar

05.11.2012 - 01:38PM

The Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship at the Carroll School of Management has released its 2012-2013 Course Calendar and opened registration.

For more than 25 years the Center for Corporate Citizenship has been the go-to place for management and professional development in corporate citizenship and community involvement, whether participants are new to corporate citizenship or experienced leaders. Courses range from one-day and 2-1/2-day programs at locations around the country to weeklong academies on the Boston College campus.

2-½ day open enrollment courses can lead to certification
The series of 2-½ day courses brings professionals together outside the office to learn in a collaborative setting where they can share ideas and best practices. These courses can be taken individually or as part of a five-part program to earn the Center’s Certificate in Corporate Community Involvement Management, which is designed to equip corporate community involvement practitioners with the core knowledge and skills they need to ensure that community involvement delivers meaningful value to the business and to society. Professionals pursuing the Certificate must complete four core requirements and one elective course:

Core requirements (must complete all four):

Institute on Corporate Citizenship
December 12-14, 2012, Los Angeles
Communications for Community Involvement Managers
October 17-19, 2012, Seattle
March 20-22, 2013, Portland, Ore.
Evaluate and Measure Community Involvement
October 17-19, 2012, Seattle
February 13-15, 2013, Atlanta
Developing a Community Involvement Strategy
November 14-16, 2012, Miami
May 8-10, 2013, San Antonio

Electives (must complete one):

Creating a 21st Century Approach to Corporate Giving
September 19-21, 2012, New Orleans
Leveraging Your Corporate-Community Partnerships
January 16-18, 2013, Dallas

Fast Track condenses Certificate program to five days

The Fast Track Certificate program consolidates all aspects of the courses into a five-day, on-site program, allowing a company to bring together staff at its own location to cover the entire spectrum of corporate citizenship or community involvement management challenges in a time- and cost-efficient manner. For more information contact email Eileen Blinstrub.

Special one-day volunteer program

Redesigning Employee Volunteer Programs for Value and Impact will be offered in Columbus, Ohio, May 23. Hosted by Huntington Bank, the one-day workshop is designed to help corporate citizenship professionals rethink possibilities and increase the value and strategic relevance of their companies’ employee volunteer programs.

Academies provide intensive learning

The Center will once again present its Academy programs on the Chestnut Hill campus of Boston College. These intensive weeklong academies are geared toward experienced senior corporate citizenship managers looking to take their programs to the next level. Both feature instruction by faculty members from the Carroll School of Management that will advance Academy participants knowledge and abilities.

Corporate Citizenship Management Academy; October 15-19
Participants earn a Certificate in Corporate Citizenship Management
Corporate Citizenship Leadership Academy; October 29 to November 2
Upon completion of the Leadership Academy, participants will earn a Certificate in Corporate Community Involvement Leadership from the Carroll School of Management.

The Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship at the Carroll School of Management is a membership-based research organization committed to helping business leverage its social, economic and human assets to ensure both its success and a more just and sustainable world. As a leading resource on corporate citizenship, the Center works with global corporations to help them define, plan and operationalize their corporate citizenship. Through the power of research, management and leadership programs, and the insights of its more than 400 corporate members, the Center creates knowledge, value and demand for corporate citizenship. www.BCCorporateCitizenship.org

ANN INC., Parent Company of Ann Taylor and LOFT, and Vital Voices Global Partnership Announce 2012 ANNpower Fellows

05.11.2012 - 07:00AM

ANN INC. (NYSE:ANN), the parent Company of Ann Taylor and LOFT, and Vital Voices Global Partnership, an international NGO that empowers global women leaders, are proud to announce the 2012 ANNpower Fellows.

Through a competitive application process during the month of March, ANN INC. and Vital Voices Global Partnership have selected 50 young women who are rising high school juniors and seniors across the U.S. to become ANNpower Fellows and participate in the first annual ANNpower Vital Voices Leadership Forum. The 50 ANNpower Fellows hail from 24 states across the U.S. including California, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Texas and New York. To meet the 2012 ANNpower Fellows, visit ANNpower.org.

The ANNpower Vital Voices Initiative is a groundbreaking partnership between ANN INC. and Vital Voices. Together, they are working to train and empower young women in the U.S. to invest in their communities and begin their journey as the next generation of leaders.

The Fellows will attend the ANNpower Vital Voices Leadership Forum, a three-day leadership training program in Washington, D.C. from June 4-7, 2012. The Forum’s curriculum will be based on the Vital Voices Leadership Model. Fellows will be mentored by 12 global women leaders who are part of the Vital Voices Global Leadership Network as well as executives from ANN INC. After completing the curriculum, the 50 ANNpower Fellows will be challenged to go back to their communities and create a project that will affect change at the local level. Each fellow will be eligible to apply to receive a project grant to put her ideas into action.

“At ANN INC., we are deeply committed to supporting the next generation of female leaders and are proud to play a significant role in the development of our 50 ANNpower Fellows”, said Kay Krill, President and CEO of ANN INC., “It is a privilege to partner with Vital Voices on this initiative. Their commitment to women’s empowerment worldwide is inspiring to us all.”

“We are so proud to announce the 2012 ANNpower Fellows. These young women are taking their first step as rising leaders, recognizing their power, voice and responsibility to stand up and make change. We could not have a better partner than ANN INC. to help us do this. The ANNpower Vital Voices Leadership Forum is an opportunity to build and empower a national network of young women leaders,” said Vital Voices President and CEO Alyse Nelson.

ANN INC. has committed to invest $1.3 million over four years to support the ANNpower Vital Voices Initiative. In 2011, the first 10 ANNpower Grantees represented an engaged, diverse, and talented group of young women who are currently working on projects that serve their communities in a meaningful way.

To learn more about the ANNpower Vital Voices Initiative, visit ANNpower.org.

About ANN INC.

ANN INC. is the parent Company of Ann Taylor and LOFT, two of the leading women's specialty retail fashion brands in the United States. The Company operates 953 Ann Taylor, Ann Taylor Factory, LOFT and LOFT Outlet stores in 46 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico as of January 28, 2012, as well as online at AnnTaylor.com and LOFT.com. Visit ANNINC.com for more information (NYSE: ANN).

About Vital Voices Global Partnership:

Vital Voices Global Partnership is a leading non-governmental organization that identifies, invests in and brings visibility to extraordinary women around the world by unleashing their leadership potential to transform lives and accelerate peace and prosperity in their communities. Founded by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 1997, the organization trains and mentors women leaders as agents of transformative change in economic development, human rights and political participation. The Vital Voices Global Leadership Network includes more than 12,000 leaders representing 144 countries that have trained and mentored 500,000 additional women and girls in their communities. Visit www.vitalvoices.org to learn more.

GNP Company(TM) Unveils Third Farm To Fork Report for 2011

05.10.2012 - 03:46PM

GNP Company™, the Midwest’s leading chicken producer, unveiled its third Farm To Fork Report, outlining its newly launched mission of healthy food, families and farms, and key results for 2011. Despite a difficult year for the industry, GNP Company reported $338 million in annual sales, added new jobs, and donations to local food banks exceeding four million meals’ worth of chicken to Minnesota and Wisconsin families.

“Our people made a significant impact in what was one of the most challenging years on record for our industry,” said Mike Helgeson, chief executive officer and third-generation in the family-owned business. Record-high feed costs, fuel prices and low market pricing due to oversupply in the industry created the “perfect storm” for many. However, Helgeson credits “major business improvements, strong team member and partner relationships, and a company-wide focus on innovation” as key factors that led to record sales and a modest 2011 profit.

The company’s 2011 Farm To Fork Report concentrates on results in four key areas—people, planet, poultry and progress—highlighting the people and opportunities behind the company and its products. “People expect us to be forthcoming about what’s working and what can be improved. Not only from an accountability standpoint, but also to help people better understand the processes behind their food. This report helps build confidence through that information,” said Helgeson.

While the report summarizes notable achievements already publicized, such as the company being named Meatingplace’s 10^th annual Jesse Jewell Award recipient; new product launches such as Gold’n Plump^® Seasoned Boneless Skinless Breast Fillets; frozen carton programs; and animal welfare certification for its Just BARE^®brand, it also highlights new facts about GNP Company:

People: 34 percent of GNP Company’s workforce has been with the company more than 10 years and 49.2 percent of all family farm partners have been with the company for more than 20 years.
Planet: Carbon emissions and carbon intensity for the company’s processing facilities and barns decreased from 2010 levels.
Poultry: The implementation of an Active Grower Management program and work with a leading university on a “Happy, Healthy Chickens” initiative further the company’s commitment to humane animal care.
Progress: 1,209 team member suggestions yielded $4,340,547 in company-wide savings.

For more 2011 results, and a look ahead at what’s coming for 2012, GNP Company’s 2011 Farm To Fork Report, is now available for download and viewing at www.gnpcompany.com.

Helping People On Their Path To Better Health

05.10.2012 - 01:54PM

CVS Caremark Releases 2011 Corporate Social Responsibility Report

05.10.2012 - 01:38PM

CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS) today released its 2011 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report, which provides an overview of the company's commitments to environmental stewardship and diversity, the improvement of patient health outcomes, its continued status as an employer of choice and to helping people – especially children and the underserved – access care and services through its social investments.

Titled Helping People on Their Path to Better Health, this marks the company's fifth annual CSR Report, and it is available online at www.cvscaremark.com/CSR.

"The process of measuring our progress and performance and assessing the outcomes of our efforts to date in such areas as workplace, diversity, governance, products and services and the environment, helps us to be more accountable to our stakeholders," said CVS Caremark President and CEO Larry J. Merlo. "We're pleased to share this report and the exciting progress we're making, in many different ways, every single day."

In this year's CSR Report, CVS Caremark presents its strategy for reinventing pharmacy for better health and also highlights the company's focus on diversity, both within its own workforce and in active engagement with the communities it serves. In addition, the report features CVS Caremark's progress related to the goal of reducing its carbon intensity by 15 percent by 2018 through a variety of sustainability measures. And, for the first time, the report includes an accounting of the company's political contributions and activities.

The CVS Caremark 2011 CSR Report was developed in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G3 Guidelines, an international framework widely recognized and used by organizations to report on their CSR and sustainability performance. The Company met the GRI criteria required to self-declare a Level B. For more information on GRI, visit http://www.globalreporting.org/.

About CVS Caremark

CVS Caremark is dedicated to helping people on their path to better health as the largest integrated pharmacy company in the United States. Through the company's more than 7,300 CVS/pharmacy stores; its leading pharmacy benefit manager serving more than 60 million plan members; and its retail health clinic system, the largest in the nation with approximately 600 MinuteClinic locations, it is a market leader in mail order, retail and specialty pharmacy, retail clinics, and Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans. As a pharmacy innovation company with an unmatched breadth of capabilities, CVS Caremark continually strives to improve health and lower costs by developing new approaches such as its unique Pharmacy Advisor® program that helps people with chronic diseases such as diabetes obtain and stay on their medications. Find more information about how CVS Caremark is reinventing pharmacy for better health at info.cvscaremark.com.

SOURCE CVS Caremark

Eileen Howard Boone, Corporate Communications, +1.401.770.4561; Carolyn Castel, Corporate Communications, Carolyn.castel@cvscaremark.com, +1.401.770.5717; Nancy Christal, Investor Relations, +1.914.722.4704

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.

Global Sustainable Partnerships Announces Threefold Expansion of Tanzania Safe Water Program

05.07.2012 - 12:41PM

Global Sustainable Partnerships (GSP), a Grand Rapids-based nonprofit, today announced the shipment of an additional 150 Hydraid® BioSand Water Filters for installation in 30 Tanzanian schools, tripling the size of GSP’s water relief program in Tanzania just six months after its launch.

The installation of the filters is expected to positively impact more than 24,000 school-aged children in a region of sub-Saharan Africa that has been losing young lives to waterborne illness at an astonishing rate. GSP’s latest shipment follows the November 2011 installation of an initial 30 Hydraid filters in 10 Tanzanian schools – units that have continued to provide potentially life-saving benefit to more than 8,000 children.

"Global Sustainable Partnerships’ pilot program to bring safe drinking water to Tanzania continues to be an enormous success," said GSP founder and president Kimberly Fogg. "Our fundraising efforts to purchase and install filtration systems are paying off, and we're particularly grateful to the U.S. Navy's Project Handclasp, which is enabling the delivery to Tanzania at minimal cost." Project Handclasp is a public/private logistics and humanitarian support initiative that enables the delivery of donations worldwide.

GSP’s safe water initiative involves the installation of Hydraid® filters provided by Triple Quest, a collaborative venture involving Grand Rapids-based manufacturer Cascade Engineering and The Windquest Group, a private investment fund also based in West Michigan. The Hydraid filter is a simple, lightweight unit powered by gravity with no moving parts to replace. Users can reduce biological contaminants by pouring surface or ground water through the filter to obtain water that is safe for drinking, food preparation, personal hygiene and sanitation.

GSP co-founder Mary Barth underscored the critical need for continued funding to support GSP's efforts in Tanzania. "There are still more than 70,000 at-risk children in Tanzania alone," Barth said. "Our school-based program can easily reach these children and their teachers, but further funding is needed to purchase more filters and get them where there are most needed.”

"Unsafe drinking water is a primary health issue throughout the developing world," added Fogg. "The absence of such a basic resource goes well beyond health concerns; it is also a major contributor to poverty and a block to economic development."

About Global Sustainable Partnerships

Global Sustainable Partnerships, Inc. (GSP) was founded by Kimberly L. Fogg and Mary Barth, who is from Tanzania. GSP is a 501(c)(3) certified by the Center for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology (CAWST). The organization transfers knowledge and skills through training and education in the construction and maintenance of the Hydraid® BioSand Water Filter and the overall education of health, sanitation and hygiene practices for children in primary and secondary schools and their families in developing countries.

To view photos and video of the Hydraid® implementation in Tanzania, click on:

www.gspartnerships.org

Leading Health Economist Mark V. Pauly, Ph.D., Named 2012 Recipient of the William B. Graham Prize for Health Services Research

05.01.2012 - 09:24AM

Mark V. Pauly, Ph.D., has been named the 2012 recipient of the William B. Graham Prize for Health Services Research. The Prize, funded by The Baxter International Foundation and managed by the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA), will be awarded on May 31, 2012 during the AUPHA Annual Meeting in Minneapolis, Minn.

The Prize recognizes the contributions of health services researchers who apply analytic methods to examine and evaluate the organization, financing and/or delivery of health services. An independent committee of past winners, distinguished academics and internationally recognized researchers selects the recipient each year.

One of the nation’s leading health economists, Dr. Pauly has made significant contributions to the fields of medical economics and health insurance including research exploring healthcare reform, conceptual foundations for cost-benefit analysis of drugs, and incentives in managed care. His classic study on the economics of moral hazard was the first to note how health insurance coverage might affect patients’ use of medical services.

“Dr. Pauly is a marvel. His work has advanced the worlds of health services, health economics, health policy, and health management,” said Kyle Grazier, DrPH, University of Michigan professor and Graham Prize Selection Committee chair. “He has held leadership positions in academia as a dean, chair, and endowed professor; in professional leadership as a journal editor and advisory board member; in corporate and public sector leadership with the National Institutes of Health and Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services; and as a teacher and mentor, winning awards for both. Mark Pauly is truly deserving of the Graham Prize.”

Dr. Pauly is Bendheim Professor in the Department of Health Care Management, Public Policy and Management, and Insurance and Risk Management at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is Co-Director of the Roy and Diana Vagelos Life Sciences and Management Program and Professor of Economics in the School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania.

“Health economics means more than cost and more than money,” said Dr. Pauly. “It means getting every American the healthcare and health insurance that is of highest net value, private and social. I am delighted to be recognized for my attempts to deliver on this promise.”

Dr. Pauly has been a consultant to the Congressional Budget Office and the Office of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He is a member of the Institute of Medicine, and currently serves on the National Advisory Committees for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Health Care Financing and Organization Program, and the RWJF Health Policy Scholars Program. In 2007, Dr. Pauly was awarded the John M. Eisenberg Excellence in Mentorship Award from the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality, and the Distinguished Investigator Award from AcademyHealth. He is Co-Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Health Care Finance and Economics, an associate editor of the Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, and Co-Editor of the recently published Handbook of Health Economics, Volume 2 (Elsevier). Dr. Pauly received the Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Virginia.

About the William B. Graham Prize for Health Services Research

Since 1986, The Baxter International Foundation and the Association of University Programs in Health Administration have awarded the William B. Graham Prize for Health Services Research to recognize researchers who have made major contributions to the health of the public through innovative research in health services. The Prize honors the late William B. Graham, longtime chairman and CEO of Baxter International Inc., and is internationally regarded as the premier recognition for individuals conducting health services research. The Prize recognizes individuals who have had a significant impact on the health of the public in one of three primary focus areas: Health Services Management, Health Policy Development and Healthcare Delivery. The Prize includes an award of $25,000 to the individual and $25,000 to a not-for-profit institution that supports the winner’s work.

About the Prize Sponsors

The Baxter International Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX), helps organizations expand access to healthcare in the United States and around the world. The foundation, established in 1981, focuses exclusively on increasing access to healthcare particularly for the disadvantaged and underserved in communities where Baxter employees live and work. Baxter International Inc., through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures and markets products that save and sustain the lives of people with hemophilia, immune disorders, infectious diseases, kidney disease, trauma, and other chronic and acute medical conditions. As a global, diversified healthcare company, Baxter applies a unique combination of expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to create products that advance patient care worldwide. For more information, please visit www.baxter.com.

AUPHA is a global network of colleges, universities, faculty, individuals and organizations dedicated to the improvement of healthcare delivery through excellence in healthcare management and policy education. Its mission is to foster excellence and drive innovation in health management and policy education, and promote the value of university-based management education for leadership roles in the health sector. It is the only non-profit entity of its kind that works to improve the delivery of health services – and thus the health of citizens – throughout the world by educating professional managers at the entry level. AUPHA's membership includes the premier baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degree programs in health administration education in the United States, Canada, and around the world. Its faculty and individual members represent more than 400 colleges and universities. For more information, please visit www.aupha.org.

MassMutual Promotes Nick Fyntrilakis, Head of Community Responsibility, to Vice President

04.30.2012 - 03:00PM

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) today announced the promotion of Nick Fyntrilakis, head of Community Responsibility, to Vice President.

Since joining MassMutual in 2002 as a Communications Consultant, Nick has assumed growing responsibility and today is a key leader in MassMutual’s broad community relations activities in the region and at the state level. Since 2008, he has also managed our Community Responsibility team.

“Nick has demonstrated strong leadership of MassMutual’s philanthropic, civic and local government relations efforts,” said John Chandler, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, MassMutual. “His collaborative relationships with community and government leaders and organizations have been instrumental in creating increased awareness of our innovative outreach programs, helping to underscore MassMutual’s corporate citizenship locally and nationally.”

As MassMutual’s primary face to the community, Nick’s responsibilities include managing our more than $7 million of charitable giving that support educational, economic development and community vitality efforts, our innovative LifeBridge free life insurance program, and employee and field community engagement initiatives.

A Communications Consultant from 2002 to 2005, Nick was promoted to Director of Community Relations in 2005 and to his prior position as Assistant Vice President in 2008. From 1999 to 2002 he had been President of Resources Advantages Inc., and from 1996 to 1999 was Chief of Staff in the office of Mass. State Rep. Dennis M. Murphy. Nick also served as a member of the Springfield School Committee from 1997-2005.

Nick sits on a number of boards within the Springfield community, including for the local chapter of the United Way. Within the past 10 months Nick also served as a “loaned” executive from MassMutual to help lead the region’s recovery efforts from last year’s devastating tornado. This included acting as Chair of DevelopSpringfield and Co-chair of Rebuild Springfield to develop a comprehensive rebuilding plan for the tornado-impacted areas. Additionally, Nick has assumed a leadership role in working with the City of Springfield and the community to create and implement the State Street Alliance and State Street Redevelopment Program to help spur private development along the State Street corridor.

He holds an MBA from Western New England University and a BS from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

“Nick’s creative problem solving skills, passion for his work, and strong leadership confirm his role as a valued leader both within our company and our community,” Chandler said.

About MassMutual

Founded in 1851, MassMutual is a leading mutual life insurance company that is run for the benefit of its members and participating policyholders. The company has a long history of financial strength and strong performance, and although dividends are not guaranteed, MassMutual has paid dividends to eligible participating policyholders every year since the 1860s. With whole life insurance as its foundation, MassMutual provides products to help meet the financial needs of clients, such as life insurance, disability income insurance, long term care insurance, retirement/401(k) plan services, and annuities. In addition, the company’s strong and growing network of financial professionals helps clients make good financial decisions for the long-term.

MassMutual Financial Group is a marketing name for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and its affiliated companies and sales representatives. MassMutual is headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts and its major affiliates include: Babson Capital Management LLC; Baring Asset Management Limited; Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC; The First Mercantile Trust Company; MassMutual International LLC; MML Investors Services, LLC, Member FINRA and SIPC; OppenheimerFunds, Inc.; and The MassMutual Trust Company, FSB.

For more information, visit www.massmutual.com or find MassMutual on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Google+.

CRN201404-160293

Darden Restaurants Awards More Than $1.7 Million in Local Grants to Nearly 900 Nonprofit Organizations in North America

04.30.2012 - 09:00AM

Today, the Darden Foundation, the charitable arm of Darden Restaurants Inc., announces it is awarding more than $1.7 million to nearly 900 nonprofit organizations in communities across the U.S. and Canada as part of its inaugural Darden Restaurants Community Grants Program. The local grants program is intended to help support nonprofit organizations in the hundreds of communities Darden and its restaurant brands serve. Every restaurant within the Darden family had the opportunity to help award a $1,000 grant to a nonprofit organization in its local community.

“Each grant is more than a check – it is a defining opportunity for our restaurant teams to enhance their community and strengthen relationships with nonprofit organizations doing important work in every community we serve,” said Drew Madsen, president and chief operating officer of Darden Restaurants, Inc. “Our restaurants are supporting groups like the Oregon Food Bank that is providing essential supplies to combat local hunger, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas that mentors 500 students a week, and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation that is providing environmental education throughout New England.”

Grants are being awarded to nonprofit projects that are aligned with Darden’s three key focus areas:

Access to Postsecondary Education – Positively impact the educational prospects of underserved youth in middle and high school, and provide access to the tools and information needed to pursue higher education.
Preservation of Natural Resources – Restore and preserve water and land ecosystems, or teach members in the community about environmental sustainability and conservation.
Hunger – Provide food and other nourishment to people whose food source might be compromised or who would go hungry otherwise; give access or help to deliver food to the underserved.

Many Darden restaurants, which include Red Lobster, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze and Seasons 52, are collaborating and combining their grant dollars to make a deeper impact for local nonprofits. Restaurants in metropolitan areas such as Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles among others will collectively donate more than $465,000 in support of educational programs for underserved youth through local Boys & Girls Clubs.

“The Darden Restaurants Community Grant Program is an excellent example of a national initiative making a major local impact,” said Jim Clark, president and CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “More than 460 Darden restaurants awarded grants to local Boys & Girls Clubs across the country. These vital funds provide targeted education programs for the young people who need us most. When we work with socially conscious corporations like Darden Restaurants,
it fosters greater community engagement while helping secure great futures for more of America’s youth.”

Following are examples of grants being awarded by the Darden Foundation across the country:

Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta – To help address Atlanta's graduation rate, which is one of the lowest rates in the country, 24 restaurants in the area will award $24,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta. Several educational programs will be supported including College Bound; Power Hour; and Get Ready, Get Set, Learn.
Oregon Food Bank – Sixteen Darden restaurants in Oregon and Washington are collaborating and combining their grant dollars to award $16,000 to the Oregon Food Bank, which distributes emergency food to more than 240,000 people a month and fights hunger's root causes in its communities.
Chesapeake Bay Foundation – Five restaurants in Maryland are combining forces to fund the Chesapeake Bay Foundation with a $5,000 grant to engage more than 25,000 middle and high school students in award-winning environmental education programs in 2012.
Houston Food Bank – Surrounding restaurants will award $16,000 to the Houston Food Bank’s Backpack Buddy Club, which serves 281 schools in 11 counties. More than 6,500 children will receive food from the program each week.
Philabundance – Seven Darden restaurants in the Philadelphia area will support Philabundance with a $7,000 grant for its Community Kitchen program, a job training program that provides students with hands-on instruction in food service skills, while preparing meals for people in need.
Missouri Restaurant Association Education Foundation – Local restaurants will award $3,000 to the Missouri Restaurant Association Education Foundation to support a ProStart culinary and hospitality program at a high school in Liberty, MO. The program teaches career skills and hosts state competitions to help students build self-esteem and discipline.

The Darden Restaurant Community Grants Program was built on the company’s rich heritage of being of service to others – a concept that began 70 years ago with its founder, Bill Darden. Darden’s service philosophy extends beyond the walls of its restaurants and into the communities the company serves. The Darden Foundation works to bring to life this spirit of service through its philanthropic support of local charitable organizations across communities in North America. Since 1995, the Darden Foundation has awarded more than $60 million in grants. Total giving in fiscal year 2012 amounted to $7.8 million, 20 percent of which is represented by the Restaurant Community Grants Program. For more information about the Darden Foundation, please visit http://www.darden.com/commitment/community.asp.

About Darden Restaurants

Darden Restaurants, Inc., (NYSE: DRI), the world's largest full-service restaurant company, owns and operates more than 1,900 restaurants that generate over $7.5 billion in annual sales. Headquartered in Orlando, and employing 180,000 people, Darden is recognized for a culture that rewards caring for and responding to people. In 2012, Darden was named to the FORTUNE "100 Best Companies to Work For" list for the second year in a row and is the only full-service restaurant company to ever appear on the list. Our restaurant brands — Red Lobster, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52 and Eddie V's — reflect the rich diversity of those who dine with us. Our brands are built on deep insights into what our guests want. For more information, please visit www.darden.com.

The Darden Foundation

The Darden Restaurants, Inc. Foundation is the charitable arm of Darden Restaurants, Inc. The Foundation’s mission is to maintain a spirit of volunteerism and philanthropy as defining characteristics of Darden Restaurants. Since 1995, the Darden Foundation has awarded more than $60 million in grants, with $7.8 million given in fiscal year 2012. The Darden Foundation carries out its mission by focusing philanthropic efforts and resources on the following program areas: Access to Postsecondary Education, Preservation of Natural Resources and Good Neighbor Grants.

DRI: G

EF Announces Special CSRwire Discounts for the EF Network of Companies

04.27.2012 - 08:00AM

EF is excited to offer its network of companies access to CSRwire's editorial and distribution packages at specially discounted prices. These rates come at an opportune time for both organizations who have been successful partners for several years in providing companies access to knowledge as well as expertise in corporate citizenship, corporate social responsibility, philanthropy, community investment and community involvement.

CSRwire's distribution and editorial services include customizable opportunities for organizations to engage with their stakeholders using traditional, social and hybrid media. Built with your needs and specific communication challenges in mind, these services are tailored to each client's requirements with engagement and empowerment as key objectives.

CSRwire is honored to partner with EF on continuing the dialogue on corporate social responsibility and citizenship. Both organizations believe that sharing case studies and best practices in corporate social responsibility not only helps celebrate leaders in the field but also encourages other companies to take action.

“CSRwire provides companies in the EF network a highly reputable and vast platform to share important news about CSR programs, progress and impact. We see this relationship as an incredible opportunity to continue building a movement of CSR through the sharing of information, best practices and outcomes,” states Diane Solinger, EF’s Executive Director.

"We are thrilled to work with EF and its members on communicating the results of their CSR projects and strategies as well as partnering with them as trusted strategists in their sustainability journeys. EF is the perfect partner for CSRwire's mission and long term vision," says Aman Singh, CSRwire's Editorial Director.

About CSRwire

CSRwire is the most trusted source for quality CSR and sustainability content distribution with 25 categories and multimedia channels. We specialize in social media and multimedia communication strategies, including blogs, targeted social media engagement campaigns, videos and packaging branded content delivery. With over 87 million readers a month, we deliver the latest news, press releases, CSR reports, events and provide expert commentary to a diverse global audience. For our members, we are a digital media platform as well as their most trusted CSR advisor, working with them and their agencies on a wide range of services and solutions to support their marketing and communications strategies.

Join our community on Facebook and Twitter. And if social media isn't your style, sign up for our free News Alert to stay on top of the latest news, views and trends in corporate social responsibility.

About EF
EF is a non-profit public charity on a mission to encourage, empower and enhance corporate philanthropy and corporate community involvement. EF encourages companies to be philanthropic by providing guidance and expertise to companies that haven’t yet adopted a community or philanthropy program; empowers companies to be philanthropic by providing open sourced resources, tools and best practices and on-line and in-person forums to make it easy for companies to learn on their own or from each other; and EF enhances corporate philanthropy by providing direct services to companies who have programs in place but need strategic or tactical support to make their programs better. For more information, visit www.efcsr.org or follow @EFConnections on Twitter.

The 2012 Edelman Good Purpose Report: U.S. Consumers Feel Responsible But Involvement in Social Issues Declines

04.26.2012 - 02:58PM

Consumers in the U.S. are scaling back their participation in societal issues more than their peers throughout the world, according to the 2012 Edelman goodpurpose® study.

With 82 percent of U.S. consumers affected by the economic downturn, the percentage of consumers involved in a cause dropped from 60 percent to 53 percent between 2010 and 2012, the only decline among the 16 countries surveyed. Yet, for the first time ever, the U.S. was the only country to believe the responsibility of tackling society’s issues falls most heavily on the shoulders of “people like me” (35 percent) and not government (22 percent).

“The tension of this paradox spells significant opportunity for marketers. While U.S. consumers currently have less time and money to put towards societal issues, they still feel they’re most responsible to help,” said Carol Cone, global practice chair, Business + Social Purpose, Edelman.

“Brands and corporations can ease the burden for consumers by making involvement in social issues easier and more aligned with the core needs they face today – jobs, hunger, education and healthcare.”

Despite the declining involvement in the U.S., Purpose remains a deeply held belief around the globe that is driving consumer behavior and preference.

When quality and price of a product are deemed equal, social purpose has consistently been the leading purchase trigger for global consumers since 2008, muscling design and innovation and brand loyalty aside. Over those years, the relevance of Purpose as a purchase factor has risen 26 percent globally.

Growth has been even more prominent over the last 18 months in markets such as Japan (+100 percent), China (+79 percent), Netherlands (+43 percent), India (+43 percent), and Germany (+36 percent).

Brands aligning themselves with causes are not only securing more consumer consideration, but are also earning their dollars and support. Nearly half (47 percent) of consumers have bought a brand at least monthly that supports a cause, representing a 47 percent increase from 2010. Over the years, consumers have taken increased action on behalf of brands with Purpose:

39 percent increase in “would recommend” cause-related brands
34 percent increase in “would promote” cause-related brands
9 percent increase in “would switch” brands if a similar brand supported a good cause

“It’s not the IF, it’s the HOW,” said Jackie Cooper, global vice chair, Edelman Brand Properties. “Purpose needs to become a core competency for leading brands and corporations. Companies need to build social equity into their brands, from product innovation, to employee engagement to marketing communications.”

The study found that consumers are calling for business leaders to genuinely embed Purpose into their everyday operations:

56% believe CEOs need to create innovative products that are socially responsible
55% believe CEOs need to make a long-term commitment to address societal issues
55% believe CEOs need to publically support societal issues
52% believe CEOs need to motivate employees to take part in societal issues

goodpurpose 2012 also reveals that Purposeful organizations who treat employees well, listen to customers and work to protect the environment drive not only future trust, but also future purchase intent.

The New Purpose Bull Markets

Consumers within Rapid Growth Economies (RGEs) —the new Purpose “Bull” Markets—such as China, Brazil, India, UAE, Indonesia, and Malaysia, unlike the U.S. and Western Europe, are fast-tracking Purpose-driven involvement and support for Purpose-infused brands. Markets such as Brazil (+10 points) and China (+5 points) have seen significant increases since 2010 in the amount of people supporting a good cause.

RGE consumers are more bullish on Purpose, in contrast to Purpose “Bear” Markets, such as the U.S. and Western Europe. And while 60 percent of individuals globally said they support a good cause, personal involvement in Purpose Bull Markets is markedly higher than in Purpose Bear Markets; 78 percent versus 48 percent, respectively. Bull Market consumers are flexing their Purpose muscle through actions such as sharing, donating and volunteering:

Nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of Bull Market consumers donated money over the past year compared to 52 percent of Bear Market consumers
44 percent of Bull Market consumers volunteered in their local communities compared to only 23 percent of Bear Market consumers

RGE consumers are also making Purpose purchases at a much more dramatic rate. Nearly two-thirds (62 percent) in Purpose Bull Markets are purchasing Purpose-infused products at least once a month, compared to 37 percent in Purpose Bear Markets.

“Purpose, a brand or company’s reason for being beyond profits, is now pervasive around the globe,” said Cone. “For Purpose-driven initiatives to gain their greatest impact, both business and social, they must be in line with larger socioeconomic trends and customized to meet the ever-changing needs of consumers.”

To read the executive summary of the 2012 Edelman goodpurpose® study, click here.

About Edelman
Edelman is the world’s largest public relations firm, with 63 offices and more than 4,200 employees worldwide, as well as affiliates in more than 30 cities. Edelman was named Advertising Age’s top-ranked PR firm of the decade in 2009 and one of its “A-List Agencies” in both 2010 and 2011; Adweek’s “2011 PR Agency of the Year;” PRWeek’s “2011 Large PR Agency of the Year;” and The Holmes Report’s “2011 Global Agency of the Year” and its 2011 North American “Large Agency of the Year.” Edelman was named one of the “Best Places to Work” by Advertising Age in 2010 and 2012 and among Glassdoor’s top five “2011 Best Places to Work.” Edelman owns specialty firms Blue (advertising), A&R Edelman (technology), First&42^nd (management consultancy), DJE Science (medical education/publishing and science communications), and agencies Edelman Significa (Brazil), and Pegasus (China). Visit http://www.edelman.com for more information.

About the 2012 Edelman goodpurpose® study
The 2012 Edelman goodpurpose® study is the firm’s fifth annual global consumer study that explores consumer attitudes around social purpose, including their commitment to specific societal issues and their expectations of brands and corporations. The survey was conducted by StrategyOne in January and February of 2012 and consisted of online interviews in 16 countries among 8,000 adults. Five-hundred respondents were surveyed in each of the following markets: Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States. The margin of error is +/-1.1% for the full Global sample; +/-1.4% for the Global tracking sample; and +/-4.4% for each country’s sample. For more information, visit http://purpose.edelman.com.

40 New York City Historic Sites Vie For $3 Million In Preservation Grants

04.26.2012 - 12:00PM

Forty historic New York places representing all five boroughs were announced today as finalists competing for $3 million in grants through Partners in Preservation, a collaboration between American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The City’s first-ever citywide preservation effort powered by social media will allow the public to vote online for the preservation projects most important to them. Through May 21, 2012, New Yorkers, and anyone who loves New York, will help give away up to $1 million in grants by voting at www.PartnersinPreservation.com or www.Facebook.com/PartnersinPreservation.

Participants can vote once a day, every day, for the same site or for different sites. The top four vote-getters, to be announced May 22, are guaranteed to receive grants for their preservation projects. A Partners in Preservation advisory committee of community and preservation leaders, will select sites that will receive the rest of the $3 million in grants.

“I am delighted that Partners in Preservation has chosen New York City this spring,” said Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. "Preserving the 40 sites, historic gems in all five boroughs, will help save the places that matter to people. Historic preservation is a key in neighborhood development, as well as expanding economic vitality and sustainability. Historic buildings help define the personality of our city and draw residents, tourists and entrepreneurs.

“I urge all New Yorkers and anyone who loves New York to vote every day, from today through May 21, for the preservation projects most important to them to help determine which will get the largest of $3 million in grants from American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.”

“American Express has called New York City home since 1850, when the company opened its first storehouses in lower Manhattan along with stables to shelter the horses that powered our freight-forwarding business,” said Kenneth Chenault, chairman and CEO of American Express. “As long-term New Yorkers, we have a special interest in helping to ensure that future generations can enjoy the historic buildings and landmarks that help preserve our neighborhoods and our rich cultural heritage.”

“Partners in Preservation has a strong track-record of mobilizing local preservationists, so it’s fitting that this year the program is in a city that personifies grassroots preservation,” said Stephanie Meeks, president, the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “Since its inception, the program has not only raised awareness about some of the nation’s most treasured historic sites, but also empowered local preservationists across the country to take action in their communities. Everyday citizens’ preservation efforts are critical to saving places that are important to us all, retaining the character of communities and expanding economic vitality.”

The campaign kicked off with the announcement of the sites at an event held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art which was headlined by singer and actress Katharine McPhee. Ms. McPhee was on hand to perform the Frank Sinatra classic “New York, New York” with an interactive 3D hologram backdrop of the competing sites.

To encourage voting, a “Preservation Station” vehicle will travel around New York City throughout the voting period, giving New Yorkers the opportunity to get their photos taken against the backdrop of their favorite sites and have those pictures projected onto buildings. To find out where the “Preservation Station” will be, follow @PartnersinPres and @AmericanExpress on Twitter.

On May 5-6, the 40 sites will host an open-house weekend for the public to visit and cast votes. Admission will be free or discounted and sites will be campaigning for votes with rich programming providing details and background on their histories. Foursquare users who follow the National Trust for Historic Preservation and check-in at select historic places across the U.S., including any of the 40 Partners in Preservation sites, during the voting period can earn the Preservation Nation badge to show their support of preserving New York’s iconic historic places.

The 40 historic places in New York City competing for the $3 million in grants are:

Alice Austen House Museum, Staten Island
Apollo Theater, Manhattan
Astoria Pool, Queens
Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum, Bronx
Brooklyn Public Library, Central Library, Brooklyn
Brown Memorial Baptist Church, Brooklyn
Caribbean Cultural Center, Manhattan
City Island Nautical Museum, Bronx
Cleopatra’s Needle, Manhattan
Coney Island B&B Carousell, Brooklyn
Congregation Beth Elohim, Brooklyn
Duo Multicultural Arts Center, Manhattan
Ellis Island Hospital Complex, Manhattan
Erasmus Hall Campus, Brooklyn
Federal Hall National Memorial, Manhattan
Flushing Town Hall, Queens
Gateway National Recreation Area, Brooklyn
Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center, Brooklyn
Guggenheim Museum, Manhattan
Helen Hayes Theatre, Manhattan
Henry Street Settlement, Manhattan
High Line, Manhattan
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Manhattan
Japan Society, Inc., Manhattan
Jefferson Market Library, Manhattan
Louis Armstrong House Museum, Queens
Lower East Side Tenement Museum, Manhattan
Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center, Bronx
Museum of the City of New York, Manhattan
New York Botanical Garden, Bronx
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Society of Rosebank, Staten Island
Queens County Farm Museum, Queens
Rocket Thrower, Queens
Rossville African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Staten Island
Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, Manhattan
St. Mark’s Church in the Bowery, Manhattan
Staten Island Museum at Snug Harbor, Staten Island
Tug Pegasus & Waterfront Museum Barge, Brooklyn
Weeksville Heritage Center, Brooklyn
Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx

About Partners in Preservation

Partners in Preservation is a program in which American Express, in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, awards preservation grants to historic places across the country. American Express has committed more than $15 million to Partners in Preservation, helping historic sites in six cities to date, which includes preservation projects in San Francisco, Chicago, New Orleans, Boston, Seattle and Saint Paul/Minneapolis and has engaged more than a million people.

Through this partnership, American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation seek to increase the public’s awareness of the importance of historic preservation in the United

States and to preserve America’s historic and cultural places. The program also hopes to inspire long-term support from local citizens for the historic places at the heart of their communities. For more information, visit Facebook.com/PartnersinPreservation or PartnersinPreservation.com, or follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/PartnersinPres.

About American Express

American Express is a global services company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Historic preservation has long been the hallmark of American Express’s involvement in the community, reflecting the company’s recognition of the importance of cultural sites and monuments as symbols of national and local identity, and the role that their preservation can play in attracting visitors and revitalizing neighborhoods. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, foursquare.com/americanexpress, linkedin.com/companies/american-express, twitter.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress.

About the National Trust for Historic Preservation

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded nonprofit organization, works to save America’s historic places to enrich our future. www.PreservationNation.org

Voting starts 11:01AM ET 4/26/12, ends 11:59PM ET 5/21/12. Must be at least 13 to vote. Limit one (1) vote per person/email address per calendar day. See Voting Terms, which govern, for complete details.

Arbor Day Foundation, U.S. Forest Service to Plant 1 Million Trees With Gift From Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation

04.26.2012 - 10:33AM

(Marketwire) - For the seventh consecutive year, the Arbor Day Foundation and the United States Forest Service will use funding from the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation to plant 1 million trees throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom as part of the Enterprise 50 Million Tree Pledge.

The 2012 efforts bring the number of trees planted by the private/public/nonprofit partnership to 7 million. This year also marks the first time the Tree Pledge will result in newly planted trees in state forests.

The 50 Million Tree Pledge began in 2006 with a $50 million commitment by Enterprise to plant 50 million trees over 50 years. An interactive map of the plantings is available on the Enterprise "Driving Futures" sustainability website.

The Arbor Day Foundation, the U.S. Forest Service and Enterprise work together each year to identify planting projects that will address the greatest and most immediate reforestation needs, helping protect water resources and improve forests damaged by wildfires and invasive insects.

"While seven million trees is an exciting next step, this is only the beginning of Enterprise's multi-year, large-scale commitment to replanting in our nation's forests," said John Rosenow, founder and chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. "The 2012 tree planting projects were selected with careful attention to level of need and the ability to have an impact. We're especially pleased to include often-overlooked state forests this year."

Approximately 6 million trees planted through the program's first six years are growing in forests across Alabama, California, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon, South Dakota, Canada, Germany, the U.K. and Scotland.

"For Enterprise, the 50 Million Tree Pledge is about conservation and enhancing the environment in the communities where we live and work," said Lee Broughton, head of sustainability, Enterprise Holdings, which owns and operates the Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Alamo Car Rental and National Car Rental brands. "We've made a long-term commitment to support reforestation, and look forward to planting an additional 43 million trees over the next 43 years."

The 50 Million Tree Pledge planting projects for 2012 include:

Blackwater River State Forest, Florida: 350,000 were planted in early 2012
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, California: 50,000 were planted in early 2012
Manchester State Forest, South Carolina: 50,000 were planted in early 2012
Black Hills National Forest, Wyoming and South Dakota: 150,000 trees to be planted in spring 2012
Dixie National Forest, Utah: 50,000 to be planted in spring 2012
Lolo National Forest, Montana: 90,000 to be planted in spring 2012
Sequoia National Forest, California: 110,000 to be planted in spring 2012
Manitoba, Canada: 50,000 to be planted in fall 2012
United Kingdom: 100,000 to be planted in spring and fall 2012

More information about Enterprise's environmental initiatives is available at www.drivingfutures.com and forewords.drivingfutures.com.

About The Arbor Day Foundation

The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit conservation and education organization of one million members, with the mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information on the Foundation and its programs can be found on arborday.org, or by visiting us on Facebook, Twitter or our blog.

About Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Founded in 1957 and known for an extensive network of locations, everyday low rates and outstanding customer service, Enterprise Rent-A-Car is an internationally recognized brand that has been named to BusinessWeek magazine's annual list of "Customer Service Champs" in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. With more than 5,500 offices located within 15 miles of 90 percent of the U.S. population, Enterprise operates more than twice as many locations as its nearest competitor and continues to lead the home-city market, with local car rental revenues currently experiencing double-digit growth.

St. Louis-based Enterprise Holdings owns and operates -- through its regional subsidiaries -- the Enterprise Rent-A-Car brand in the United States, Canada, UK, Germany and Ireland. With annual revenues of $14.1 billion and more than 70,000 employees, Enterprise Holdings also operates more than 1.2 million cars and trucks, making it the largest and most comprehensive car rental service provider in the world measured by revenue, employees and fleet. For more information about Enterprise's Corporate Sustainability Report or the brand's environmental stewardship and long-term commitment to the sustainability of its business, visit www.DrivingFutures.com and follow @LeeBroughton on Twitter.

TED-Ed Launches Groundbreaking Website with New Tools for Customized Learning

04.25.2012 - 09:12AM

TED, the nonprofit organization devoted to "Ideas Worth Spreading," today launches the second phase of its TED-Ed initiative: a groundbreaking website [http://ed.ted.com] housed on TED.com that enables teachers to create unique lesson plans around TED-Ed video content.

TED-Ed seeks to inspire curiosity by harnessing the talent of the world's best teachers and visualizers – and by providing educators with new tools that spark and facilitate learning. TED-Ed launched in March with a channel on YouTube, as well as an open call for educators and animators to submit lesson ideas and animation reels. Just five weeks later, the channel has attracted more than 2.4 million views, 42,000 subscribers, and more than 3,000 comments.

The TED-Ed site was built with a $1.25 million commitment from Kohl’s Department Stores, and optimizes TED content for use in educational settings. It is launching today in Beta, and the content it currently contains – a few dozen videos – is for illustrative purposes. The point of the site is what teachers can do with those videos.

Each video featured on the site is mapped, via tagging, to traditional subjects taught in schools and comes accompanied with supplementary materials that aid a teacher or student in using or understanding the video lesson. Supplementary materials include multiple-choice questions, open-answer questions, and links to more information on the topic.

But the most innovative feature of the site is that educators can customize these elements using a new functionality called “flipping.” When a video is flipped, the supplementary materials can be edited and the resulting lesson is rendered on a new and private web page. The creator of the lesson can then distribute it and track an individual student’s progress as they complete the assignment.

What is more, visitors to the site are not restricted to flipping the featured TED-Ed videos. They can also create a lesson from scratch using any video from YouTube that permits third party embedding -- the vast majority. Users can offer these lessons for wider distribution, and the best of them will be subsequently featured on the TED-Ed site for others to make use of.

"Flipping" is intended to indicate propelling the spread of a video, but is also a respectful reference to the concept of "flip teaching" in which teachers can expand overall teaching time by assigning homework on video. Currently this is hard to do for many teachers, but the tools offered on TED-Ed ease the task and open up new possibilities.

Content and new features will continue to accumulate in coming months and a full launch is being planned for the start of the new education year in September.

"Our goal here is to offer teachers free tools in a way they will find empowering,” said TED Curator Chris Anderson. "This new platform allows them to take any useful educational video, not just TED’s, and easily create a customized lesson plan around it. Great teaching skills are never displaced by technology. On the contrary, they’re amplified by it. That’s our purpose here: to give teachers an exciting new way to extend learning beyond classroom hours.”

TED-Ed Catalyst Logan Smalley added: "The goal of TED-Ed is for each great lesson to reach and motivate as many learners as possible. The new TED-Ed website goes a step further, allowing any teacher to tailor video content, create unique lesson plans, and monitor students’ progress. By putting this new technology to use, we hope to maximize time in class and give teachers an exciting tool for customizing – and encouraging – learning.”

“Kohl’s is committed to kids’ education and we are thrilled to partner with TED to provide inspiring educational tools for teachers and students around the world,” said Julie Gardner, Kohl’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer. “We believe this new resource has the potential to enhance the way students learn and interact with curriculum and we’re excited to be a part of it.”

About the TED-Ed Website

The site builds on TED-Ed content – available on the TED-Ed channel on YouTube – by allowing educators to create custom lessons around each video. By publishing and sharing the lesson, the lesson-creator can measure its effect on an individual student, a class or the world. Specifically, they can measure participation and the accuracy of any individual student's answers on the assignment.

The TED-Ed website was created with support from Kohl’s as part of the $1.25 million commitment from the Kohl’s Cares cause merchandise program, which sells special merchandise and donates 100 percent of the net profit to benefit children’s health and education initiatives nationwide.

About the TED-Ed Channel on YouTube

The TED-Ed Channel on YouTube launched on March 12, 2012 with 12 exclusive videos. The site now has about 65 videos with accompanying materials, including both TED-Ed original content as well as TEDTalks.

TED-Ed video content is optimized for learning and geared towards teachers, students and the classroom – especially high school and college, though content is appropriate for lifelong learners.

The video content is built to deliver a lesson quickly (in 3-10 minutes), in a way that extends beyond the lecture format for which TED is known.

The videos provide teachers with new tools, which they can use to complement their existing lessons.

About the TED-Ed Call for Submissions

TED-Ed's open call for submissions invites the world's best visualizers and teachers to contribute their lessons worth sharing.

Teachers and animators can submit proposals online at http://education.ted.com.

The TED-Ed team reviews each submission, pairing selected visualizers with chosen teachers to create dynamic, 3-10 minute videos that share a lesson.

About TED

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. The annual TED Conference invites the world's leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes. Their talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The annual TED Conference takes place each spring in Long Beach, California, along with the TEDActive simulcast in Palm Springs; the annual TEDGlobal conference is held each summer in Edinburgh, Scotland.

TED's media initiatives include TED.com, where new TEDTalks are posted daily, the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as the ability for any TEDTalk to be translated by volunteers worldwide, andTEDBooks, short e-books by speakers that elaborate on a single idea originally presented on TED's stage. TED has established the annual TED Prize, where exceptional individuals with a wish to change the world are given the opportunity to put their wishes into action; TEDx, which offers individuals or groups a way to host local, self-organized events around the world, and the TED Fellows program, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to become part of the TED community and, with its help, amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.

Follow TED on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TEDTalks, or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TED.

About Kohl's Department Stores

Americans Are Rooting for Trees, but Trees Are Demanding More Action

04.24.2012 - 09:39AM

(Marketwire) - While Americans recognize the value of trees, most are still not celebrating -- or planting -- them on their national holiday. According to the second annual Timberland Arbor Day Survey, only 12 percent of Americans celebrate Arbor Day -- although nearly all respondents (96 percent) think trees are important.

"Trees are probably wondering why they're not getting the attention they deserve," said Jim Davey, VP of global marketing for Timberland. "This year we want to show trees that people do still care, as our survey results show, so we're making it easy for consumers to celebrate and plant with us."

Plant One on Us

Timberland is helping people celebrate Arbor Day this year by relaunching its Hortiscope quiz on Facebook with a new tree planting component. The revamped quiz allows consumers to discover their tree personality with just a few clicks, and for every completed Hortiscope, Timberland will plant a real tree in Haiti.* The tree personalities have been updated to reflect trees that Timberland is now planting through its agroforestry program in Haiti, which has resulted in 1.4 million trees planted to date.

"The Hortiscope is made for people who really do care about trees but aren't sure how to celebrate them," explained Davey. "We've created an opportunity for people to have a little fun and engage in a tree planting initiative that has real meaning and impact at the same time."

Other Key Findings from the 2012 Timberland Arbor Day Survey

Arbor what? Nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of Americans don't know when Arbor Day is, however, 77 percent recognize Arbor Day as a tree planting holiday, a six percent increase from 2011.
Where's the tree party? Lack of knowledge about Arbor Day events prevents one-in-five (19 percent) Americans from celebrating the holiday. And when their local cities and towns don't participate in Arbor Day events, 20 percent of Americans are less likely to celebrate.
Leader of the "tree" world. When asked which 2012 presidential candidate they would most want to build a tree house with, 32 percent chose President Obama. Opposing candidates Mitt Romney and Ron Paul each received 9 percent of the survey's tree house building votes.

Timberland's Tree Planting Commitment

Tree planting is an important part of Timberland's global commitment to protecting the outdoors; to date, the company has planted more than 3.5 million trees globally, which includes 1.4 million in Haiti. In 2010, the company launched a tree nursery and training program in Haiti, where less than two percent of the country's original forests remain due to a long history of unsustainable land use practices and a continuing dependence on tree wood and charcoal for cooking and heating needs.

The community-based agroforestry model includes eight tree nurseries located throughout the Gonaïves region of Haiti, run by volunteer farmers who receive trees, seeds, tools and training. To date, the model has resulted in larger crop yields, which means more food to eat, crops to sell and increased income for the farmers and their families. A variety of multi-purpose and fast-growing trees are grown in the Timberland nurseries. In addition to reforestation, they provide many other benefits including combating malnutrition; sustainably harvested wood for charcoal production and lumber for construction; re-nourishment of the soil; and much needed shade.

To learn more about Timberland's tree planting commitment in Haiti, watch the Journey to Five Million Trees in Five Years.

Survey Methodology

The 2012 Timberland Arbor Day Survey was conducted by ORC International between March 20 and April 1, 2012, among a sample of 1,026 adults comprising 517 men and 509 women 18 years of age and older. The margin of error associated with a sample of this size is ± 3%.

About Timberland

Timberland, a wholly owned subsidiary of VF Corporation, is a global leader in the design, engineering and marketing of premium-quality footwear, apparel and accessories for consumers who value the outdoors and their time in it. Timberland markets products under the Timberland®, Timberland PRO®, Mountain Athletics® and Timberland Boot Company® brands, all of which offer quality workmanship and detailing and are built to withstand the elements of nature. The company's products can be found in leading department and specialty stores as well as Timberland® retail stores throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, South America, South Africa and the Middle East. Timberland is committed to doing its part to address environmental challenges and to minimizing its impact. From product design to manufacturing and shipping, the company is constantly finding new ways to be a little lighter on the environment. The Timberland Earthkeepers® Collection incorporates recycled PET bottles in linings, recycled rubber in soles, leather from silver and gold-rated tanneries and organic content throughout the apparel line. Timberland's dedication to making quality products is matched by the company's commitment to "doing well and doing good" - forging powerful partnerships among employees, consumers and service partners to transform the communities in which they live and work. To learn more about Timberland, please visit www.timberland.com.

* For every completed Hortiscope Quiz (limited to one per Facebook account), Timberland will plant one real tree in Haiti, up to 100,000 trees or through December 31, 2012 (whichever comes first).

ING U.S. Honors Excellence in Education as Co-sponsor of National Teacher of the Year

04.23.2012 - 02:15PM

For the eighth year in a row, ING U.S. is a proud co-sponsor of the National Teacher of the Year, a project by the Council of Chief State School Officers. ING joins in celebrating Rebecca Mieliwocki, a seventh-grade English teacher in Burbank, California, as the 62^nd National Teacher of the Year. Mieliwocki, along with the 2012 State Teachers of the Year, will be recognized by President Barack Obama in a ceremony at the White House on Tuesday, April 24, 2012.

“ING congratulates Mrs. Mieliwocki on this distinction and the other state winners for their commitment to children across the country,” said Rhonda Mims, president of the ING Foundation and senior vice president of ING U.S.’s office of Corporate Responsibility. “We believe in the importance of honoring excellence in education and recognizing educators who are tapping into our children’s potential and engaging them to unleash their continued success.”

Rebecca Mieliwocki is a teacher at Luther Burbank Middle School, which has 1,100 students in grades 6-8. She has been teaching for 14 years and has spent nine years in her current position. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication from California Polytechnic State University and her professional clear credential in Secondary English Education from California State University, Northridge (CSUN). She was also the California League of Middle Schools Educator of the Year Award winner for Southern California (2005) and PTA Honorary Service Award winner (2009).

ING’s commitment to children and education extends beyond the National Teacher of the Year program. The company also sponsors the National Superintendent of the Year and partners with America’s Promise Alliance to increase the high school graduation rate and with Junior Achievement to prepare our youth to take control of their finances. Through signature programs — such as ING Unsung Heroes®, ING-Girls Inc. Investment Challenge and ING Run For Something Better® — ING is recognizing teachers for their innovation, ensuring young girls are exposed to basic money-management skills and offering schools a solution to help combat childhood obesity.

About ING

ING U.S. constitutes the U.S.-based retirement, insurance and investment management operations of Dutch-based ING Groep N.V. (NYSE: ING). In the U.S., the ING family of companies offers a comprehensive array of financial services to retail and institutional clients, which includes life insurance, retirement plans, mutual funds, managed accounts, alternative investments, institutional investment management, annuities, employee benefits and financial planning. ING holds top-tier rankings in key U.S. markets and serves approximately 15 million customers across the nation. For more information, visit http://ing.us.

About the ING Foundation

The ING Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life in communities where ING operates and its employees and customers live. Through charitable giving and employee volunteerism, the foundation focuses on programs in the areas of financial literacy, children’s education, diversity and environmental sustainability. For more information, visit ing-usafoundation.com or connect with us on Facebook (facebook.com/act2impact) and Twitter (@INGact2impact).

Bayer Donates $25,000 for Tornado Disaster Relief in Indiana

04.20.2012 - 09:55AM

Bayer Corporation today announced that it is providing monetary support for disaster relief efforts through a $25,000 donation from the Bayer USA Foundation to the American Red Cross of Southwestern Indiana. The state of Indiana was among several states affected by tornadoes on March 2, 2012, which caused extensive damage to rural communities such as Henryville, Clarksville and Newburgh, leaving thousands homeless.

Bayer has nearly 600 employees at three site locations in Indiana, representing Bayer’s three subgroups and service group – Bayer CropScience, Bayer HealthCare, Bayer MaterialScience, and Bayer Business & Technology Services.

“When devastation takes place in the form of natural disasters, being able to provide assistance to families in a time of need is important and necessary to help get families and the community back on their feet,” said Rebecca Lucore, Executive Director, Bayer USA Foundation.

The American Red Cross of Southwestern Indiana has been supporting those affected by the tornado and ensuring their emergency needs of food, clothing, shelter, recovery supplies and other financial means are met.

About Bayer USA Foundation

The Bayer USA Foundation is an endowed 501(c)(3) entity and is the primary source of Bayer Corporation’s philanthropy in the United States. With a programmatic focus on the environment and sustainability; education and workforce development; arts and culture; and health and human services, the foundation creates and supports organizations that improve communities in which Bayer employees live and work, as well as society at large. The Bayer USA Foundation is one of three Bayer foundations worldwide, including the Bayer Science & Education Foundation and the Bayer Cares Foundation.

About Bayer Corporation

Bayer Corporation, headquartered in Pittsburgh, is a subsidiary of Bayer AG, an international health care, nutrition and high-tech materials group based in Leverkusen, Germany. The company’s products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life. The Corporation is committed to the principles of sustainable development and to its role as a socially and ethically responsible corporate citizen. Economy, ecology and social responsibility are corporate policy objectives of equal rank. In North America, Bayer had 2011 net sales of EUR 8,177 million ($11,366 million) and employed 15,800 at year-end. For more information, go to www.bayerus.com.

For Social Media Users:

Twitter: twitter.com/BayerUSNews

YouTube: youtube.com/BayerChannel

Facebook: facebook.com/BayersMSMS

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

GMAC MET Fund Awards More Than US$7.1 Million in Grants to 12 Global Grant Recipients of Ideas to Innovation Challenge

04.17.2012 - 08:53AM

(Marketwire - Apr 17, 2012) - The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), owner of the GMAT exam and the leading membership organization of graduate business and management schools worldwide, today announced that it is presenting more than US$7.1 million in grants to 12 organizations around the world as part of its Ideas to Innovation (i2i) Challenge.

The institutions will receive funding to implement programs focused on creating social responsibility and service learning opportunities in graduate management education, building new pathways for military veterans into business leadership, and encouraging global collaboration among educational institutions.

Schools and organizations developed their grant proposals in response to an earlier phase of the i2i Challenge, in which individuals were invited to answer the question, "What one idea would improve graduate management education?" That phase of the program attracted more than 650 ideas from more than 60 countries that were then reduced to 20 winning ideas. In total, 17 of those 20 winning i2i concepts, which were announced in January 2011, will be implemented by the organizations that were awarded today.

The i2i Challenge was created and managed by the GMAC's Management Education for Tomorrow (MET) Fund, a US$10 million initiative to advance business education around the world.

Twenty-five proposals from seven countries were submitted in the second round of the challenge, which ran from January to December 2011. The grantees include business schools and organizations in the U.S., Canada, Spain, Italy, India and Botswana.

"The foundation of the MET Fund has been that GMAC -- starting with the GMAT exam and culminating in this phase of i2i grants -- should be investing in and giving back to management education and its institutions. And not just giving back, but giving back in order to move management education forward," said David A. Wilson, president and CEO of GMAC. "The power of these grants is in the implementation of ideas that can reshape and revitalize management education worldwide, and that acknowledge the critical role that management education plays in training and developing business leaders who can have global impact."

Net Impact, the University of Botswana, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and the S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research will develop programs focused on social responsibility and increased opportunity, including collaboration with non-profits, a mentorship program for underprivileged children in Mumbai, and expanding access to business education resources and entrepreneurship networks in Africa.

Five of the winning proposals -- from Pepperdine University, ESADE Business School, the University of Texas at Tyler, the University of Waterloo and the University of California at San Diego -- are dedicated to building online, international collaboration among business school students and faculty. These include programs to create virtual campuses, classrooms and training modules.

The winning proposals from Syracuse University, the University of South Florida St. Petersburg and the SUNY Empire State College Foundation offer plans to develop specialized coursework for veterans, integrating armed services leadership experience into the development of business management skills. These three programs have the potential to offer important insights into the development of specialized management training programs for students with an array of career experience and qualifications.

Additional information about all of the winning entries and the organizations that submitted them is available here. Information about the first-round winners and the ideas they generated is here.

About GMAC and the GMAT exam

The Graduate Management Admission Council® (gmac.com) is a nonprofit education organization of leading graduate business schools and owner of the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT®) exam, used by more than 5,400 graduate business and management programs worldwide. GMAC is based in Reston, Virginia, and has regional offices in London, New Delhi and Hong Kong. The GMAT exam -- the only standardized test designed expressly for graduate business and management programs worldwide -- is continuously available at nearly 600 test centers in over 110 countries. More information about the GMAT exam is available at mba.com.

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.

Charities@Work Annual Summit 2012

03.29.2012 - 04:38PM

This year's conference theme is "The Engagement Cycle: Creating and Sustaining Effective Employee Engagement." This year’s conference tracks include:

Building a culture of engagement
- Creating the engagement framework with employees and business units
Integrating engagement programs
- Going above and beyond workplace giving and volunteerism
Sustaining employee engagement
- From education to sustained action
Leading the business and building the business case
- Managing employee engagement up, across and down

Designed by a corporate advisory council, this year’s conference focuses on building innovative and impactful employee engagement strategies. The conference will be organized around the themes of building, integrating, sustaining and leading employee engagement. Cross-cutting topics to be discussed include building high-impact volunteer programs, increasing involvement in workplace giving, engaging employees in sustainability, creating effective communications, measuring results, and building the business case for future investment.

Webinar: Building strategic partnerships to create social change

01.24.2012 - 03:13PM

The relationship between corporations and non-profit organizations is changing. In the past, relationships were transactional—a company would simply write a check. Today, on the other hand, companies and non-profits are recognizing the value of establishing strategic partnerships and are working together to address societal issues.

However, non-profits and businesses are guided by different principles and goals. Each sector has widely different mindsets, drivers, and societal roles, which can make establishing successful partnerships challenging. Yet there is a growing understanding that creating partnerships – across business, sectors, and markets – has never been more important because there is awareness that we can’t tackle the challenges facing business and society alone.

Corporate Citizenship, a global corporate responsibility and sustainability consulting company, is offering a free webinar to explore the growing importance of building strategic partnerships to address societal issues. Jen Balazs, Senior Consultant, and Jessica Sultzer, Consultant, of Corporate Citizenship will share their experience advising companies to provide insights into:

• The changing partnership landscape,
• Why partnerships matter,
• Different types of partnerships,
• Key attributes of a partnership, and
• The elements to making a partnership effective.

Details for this complimentary webinar are as follows:

Date: January 31, 2012

Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST

Register: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/651995249

About Corporate Citizenship
Corporate Citizenship is a management consulting company that offers clients around the world breadth and depth of experience in corporate responsibility. Since 1997, we have advised leading, multinational corporations on how to enhance and align their citizenship and traditional business activities to create strategic business value. Our clients are international and domestic companies including Unilever, Abbott, HSBC, Verizon, PSEG, State Street, and Diageo.

For more information, please visit www.corporate-citizenship.com.

Microsoft 2011 Citizenship Report

10.04.2011 - 07:25PM

Corporate Philanthropy Summit

05.18.2011 - 09:00AM

The Corporate Philanthropy Summit will bring together CECP's membership of over 250 senior corporate giving officers from the world's most influential companies for two days of thought leadership, unparalleled networking, best practice sharing, and dialogue on the industry's most relevant issues.

The 2011 Summit will focus on the theme "Envisioning Business at its Best." At this event, CECP will present the findings of a new joint report from CECP and Accenture focused on "Driving Sustainable Value Creation" and will share the industry's first look at recent trends in corporate giving. Breakout sessions and interactive workshops will provide opportunities for in-depth exploration into pressing topics.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

On June 1, Anthony Wilder Miller, Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer, U.S. Department of Education, will share his agenda for urgent education reform and the public-private collaboration that will be needed to deliver a globally-competitive, 21st century workforce.

On June 2, Professor Stuart L. Hart, author of "Capitalism at the Crossroads: The Unlimited Business Opportunities in Solving the World's Most Difficult Problems," will discuss new ideas around private sector-based approaches to development that creates profitable businesses that simultaneously make a societal contribution.

EXCELLENCE AWARDS:

On the afternoon of June 1, CECP will present the 11th Annual Excellence Awards in Corporate Philanthropy, which recognize two corporations and one nonprofit for their excellence according to the following criteria: CEO leadership, dedication to measurement, partnership, and innovation. The Excellence Awards event, including a panel discussion with the winners moderated by Darell Hammond, CEO and Founder of KaBOOM!, will be streamed live on CECP's website from 4:30 - 6:00 PM on Wednesday, June 1.

CECP Members & Subscribers:
Visit CorporatePhilanthropy.org/Summit to register now!

LBG: Webinar to Learn how to better manage and measure your corporate contributions

02.02.2010 - 10:48AM

Today's corporate community involvement professional are under increasing pressure to show the value of their corporate contributions.

LBG, the international standard for corporate community investment, helps companies better manage and measure their community investments so they can capture the full picture of their contributions and demonstrate the impact to the community and the business. As a global network, LBG also creates a forum for corporate community involvement professionals to share best practices, discuss common challenges and identify solutions.

The US working group of LBG, will host a complimentary webinar to discuss key trends in corporate community involvement and showcase how LBG helps companies better manage and measure their corporate contributions.

Webinar participants will have an opportunity to hear from speakers with deep community involvement experience. Registration is free.

To register go to: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/151198832

Corporate Philanthropy in Hard Times: Making the Most of What You've Got to Give

05.13.2009 - 12:00AM

New Audio Conference: "Corporate Philanthropy in Hard Times: Making the Most of What You've Got to Give"

Join us by phone on May 13, 2009 from 12:00 to 1:00 PM Eastern for this important discussion!

"Doing more with less" is easier said than done. Can you really increase your impact while decreasing your grants?

In this one-hour interactive audio conference, you'll hear from corporate community involvement professionals who are trying to make the most of what they have in 2009. They will share with you their strategies for "doing more with less."

This audio conference will consider:

* Whether you should change the way you make their funding decisions
* The increased importance of measuring the impact of the grants you do make
* How you can partner with your nonprofit grantees
* How you can leverage company resources when giving budgets are down
* How you can keep your employees engaged in the community
* And much more

You'll hear from representatives from EMBARQ, CSX, Timberland and FedEx who are coping with declining philanthropy budgets. You'll come away with ideas on how to stretch your budget and maximize your impact with what you have.

Save 20% when you register online at http://lbgresearch.org/tinc?key=7smxCrT7&formname=AudioConferenceRegistration before May 1st. Or call 203-240-5766 to register.

Run Walk Ride Fundraising Conference

03.03.2009 - 11:00PM

2009 Run Walk Ride Fundraising Conference
Coming to Dallas on March 4 & 5

Executives who engage millions of runners, walkers, cyclists and others to raise billions of dollars to fight diseases and social ills will hold their annual conference in Dallas on March 4 & 5 at the Omni Mandalay Hotel.

It’s the third annual meeting of the Walk Ride Fundraising Council, a group dedicated to advancing the field of athletic event fundraising. Conference information is available at www.runwalkride.com .

“Athletic event fundraising has grown into a multi-billion dollar industry, but in some ways it’s still in its infancy,” said David Hessekiel, the council’s founder and president. “This meeting gives event managers access to the data, best practices and expert counsel they need to produce events that deliver stronger bottom-line results for the worthy causes they support.”

Conference innovations this year include:
 The Run Walk Ride Pacesetter Awards honoring outstanding execution by “thon” fundraisers
 The Cash, Sweat & Tears Award honoring inspiring volunteer participants
 A pre-conference workshop on Local Sponsorship Sales
 Group discounts to encourage nonprofits to send headquarters and field executives to learn and grow together

Hot topics to be addressed by expert presenters include corporate team development strategy, the growth of endurance training programs, raising more through customer relationship management, sponsorship and innovation. Facilitated discussion roundtables and networking opportunities will afford participants ample time to learn from one another.

Making news at the conference will be the release of the Council’s “Run Walk Ride 30”, the second annual ranking and study of America’s largest active fundraising events.

Conference information and registration is available at www.runwalkride.com or by calling (914) 921-3914. The Run Walk Ride Fundraising Conference is produced by Rye, New York-based Cause Marketing Forum, Inc., a company dedicated to helping business and nonprofit professionals succeed at doing well by doing good.

New Approaches for New Economic Times

03.03.2009 - 11:00PM

Join Canadian leaders in both the charitable sector and business in sharing new approaches for new economics times under the Forum theme, "New Approaches for New Economic Times."

"Doing well by doing good" has matured from cheque book philanthropy to partnerships to an evolving emphasis on impact and tangible social and business outcomes. As the world of business & community partnerships grows in opportunity and complexity, Imagine Canada's Business & Community Partnership Forum is changing with it. Maintain your organization's competitive advantage with Canada's only national forum in which charity and business come together to learn, network, and celebrate.

Elevate your program to a new level of excellence. Don't miss this exclusive opportunity to hear leading Canadian and international speakers. Be at the epicentre of business & community partnerships in 2009.

See you in Vancouver March 4 and 5th!

International Corporate Philanthropy Day

02.22.2009 - 11:00PM

WHAT: On February 23, companies around the world will participate in International Corporate Philanthropy Day with local and global programs. Building upon the tremendous success of a national celebration of corporate giving in prior years, the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP) - an international forum of business CEOs and chairpersons with a mission to raise the level and quality of corporate philanthropy - is proud to lead the first-ever global initiative by hosting a series of executive-level events, highlighted by the 'Board of Boards' CEO Conference at The McGraw-Hill Companies in New York City. Jeffrey Immelt, chairman and CEO of GE, and Carlos Ghosn, president and CEO of Nissan, will lead a discussion, moderated by NBC's Tom Brokaw, on business leaders' commitment to corporate-community relations. In addition, CECP will release a report on the findings of real-time opinion poll questions related to corporate philanthropy in today's economic environment. CECP is expecting record attendance at this year's event, with over 65 CEOs of leading companies already confirmed, indicating that even in a recession, corporate philanthropy continues to be a business priority. The program will be followed by a lunch for attendees with remarks by President Bill Clinton.

Following the 'Board of Boards' CEO Conference, United Nations Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon will address a special program on Philanthropy and the Global Health Agenda, which will explore collaborative opportunities to advance the Millennium Development Goals for public health. This event is presented by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the UN Office for Partnerships, in collaboration with CECP and the World Health Organization.

International Corporate Philanthropy Day will begin with foundation presidents from CECP member companies including GE, General Mills, IBM, Moody's, and NetApp ringing the Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange in recognition of their companies' corporate philanthropy initiatives. In addition, the Empire State Building in New York will be lit in CECP's colors of blue and green that evening to mark the occasion.

WHY: Today's global economic turmoil leaves employees, customers, shareholders and other stakeholders questioning how the reverberations of this crisis will influence corporate philanthropy. In recent years, philanthropy has been on a strong trajectory, and CECP offers a host of opportunities for companies to advance the dialogue on strategic corporate giving, through economic prosperity and recession alike. Research shows that forward-thinking CEOs are fully invested in and understand the business value of corporate philanthropy, showing their commitment by participating in CECP's ICPD events.

New England Blacks in Philanthropy Presents Building Stronger Communities Conference

06.22.2008 - 12:00AM

New England Blacks in Philanthropy (NEBIP) presents the conference "Black Philanthropy - Building Stronger Communities" from June 22-24, 2008 at John Hancock Hall, 200 Berkeley Street in Boston. To register:visit www.nebip.org; e-mail pat@bonnerent.com; or call 617/232-5453.

The gathering will examine, encourage and promote Black Philanthropy as a means of economic empowerment and civic engagement. Keynote speakers include Beverly Daniel Tatum, President of Spelman College, Dr. James Comer, Board of Directors, Nellie Mae Educational Foundation, Michelle Courton-Brown, Senior Vice President of Charitable Management Services, Bank of America. Also featured is Harry Lennix, a noted actor who has had supporting roles in films such as the Matrix series, The Five Heartbeats, Spike Lee's Get on the Bus and Ray.

The 25 workshops and lectures will focus on issues of education, health, media image and leadership. The conference will bring together foundation and corporate grant makers, philanthropists and trustees and is open to all.

To read the full press release about this event click here.

Wendy's Father's Day Frosty Weekend

06.14.2008 - 12:00AM

What: Wendy's Father's Day Frosty Weekend. Participating Wendy's across the country will donate 50-cents to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption for every Frosty product sold. These funds will support the Foundation's work in finding adoptive homes for America's children in foster care.

Who: Wendy's and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

When: June 14-15, 2008

Why: Wendy's hopes families will bring dad to Wendy's for a meal this Father's Day weekend and enjoy a Frosty. It's a fun, easy way to celebrate Father's Day, while making a difference in the lives of others.