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Spreading The Art Of Making Powerful Positive Media

05.25.2012 - 11:28AM

Intent on spreading good ideas and positive media around the globe, Actuality Media is kicking off a three-country Central America summer tour just a week after becoming a Certified B Corporation^TMand just two weeks before finding out if the company will be honored by Go Abroad as an innovative new program in the study abroad field.

The Summer Outreaches start with a return to Guatemala, filming for the first time in the mountain city of Quetzaltenango – a city full of nonprofits, social entrepreneurs and other changemakers that will no doubt herald many return visits in years to come. Afterwards the staff head to Costa Rica for the first time to meet up with new crews looking to film eco-centered changemakers. Last of the summer will be a return to Nicaragua for the first outreach in León, a once war-torn northern city.

Though Actuality Media is happy to embody a drive to change the world with international outreaches and other programs, the organization has gone a step further to become a Certified B Corporation^TM. B Corporations are a new kind of company which uses the power of business to solve social and environmental problems; companies that meet higher standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. As of January 2012, there are over 515 Certified B Corporations from over 50 industries, representing a diverse multi-billion marketplace, and we are glad to join their ranks.

While the Actuality Media staff are on the ground in Guatemala, they will be eagerly awaiting news at the end of May from the GoAbroad Innovation Awards ceremony at the NAFSA: Association of International Educators Annual Conference in Houston, Texas. Actuality Media is currently honored to be listed amongst several other great programs as finalists in the Innovative New Program – Internship category.

Actuality Media is a social enterprise that creates positive media. Actuality Media outreaches take top students to developing communities around the world to produce short documentaries that tell stories that matter about changemakers working to solve chronic social problems. For more information visit www.actualitymedia.org.

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.

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

05.22.2012 - 09:09AM

Rebuilding Together in Springfield is commemorating the first anniversary of the devastating tornadoes by rebuilding homes with hundreds of volunteers! The event is called “Funnel Your Energy 2012”.Our event is a follow up to last October’s “Rebuilding 25 Homes in 5 Days with 1,000 Volunteers”.

Rebuilding Together is the only nonprofit in the city rebuilding homes for low-income families that sustained damage so that they may return to a home that is safe and restored. A recent assessment has over 100 family households in the city with over $1.4 Million in rebuilding costs that either did not have insurance, inadequate insurance or where the contractors took off with the insurance money and did not finish the job. Rebuilding Together is here for this daunting task.

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

05.22.2012 - 09:05AM

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

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

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

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

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

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

BD and Heart to Heart International Collaborate on Second Volunteer Service Trip to Help Improve Healthcare in Haiti

05.21.2012 - 03:31PM

BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE:BDX), a leading global medical technology company, and Heart to Heart International, a humanitarian medical aid nonprofit organization, are teaming up for their second joint volunteer initiative to strengthen healthcare in Haiti. A team of 16 BD employees from around the world will build upon the progress made by their colleagues in 2011 during BD’s first Volunteer Service Trip to Haiti. This year, a new team of employees have volunteered to travel to Haiti for three weeks to continue BD’s work with Heart to Heart partners at medical clinics to improve the country’s ability to provide community healthcare services.

“This is BD’s seventh volunteer trip to help strengthen healthcare capacity in underserved regions by sharing some of our Company’s greatest assets – our employees and their expertise – with local care providers,” said Vincent A. Forlenza, Chief Executive Officer and President, BD. “Working with an organization like Heart to Heart, which has tremendous in-country knowledge, maximizes the impact BD can make in Haiti. Our ongoing commitment to the country’s recovery reflects BD’s purpose of ‘Helping all people live healthy lives.’”

Following the January 2010 earthquake, BD immediately committed $5 million in product donations to assist in the relief and recovery efforts. To date, BD has sent more than $4.1 million in product donations to Haiti. Heart to Heart has deployed nearly 700 medical volunteers in Haiti, delivered more than $43 million (U.S. wholesale) worth of life-saving medical aid, and treated more than 108,000 people — approximately 2,500 monthly — at clinical sites in Haiti. The BD volunteers are working with medical staff to build on their existing patient care services by:

Collaborating with the National Lab of Haiti to develop Standard Operating Procedures for medical laboratories and providing lab training to improve diagnostic practices and disease management
Constructing laboratories in two urban healthcare clinics and developing a “lab in a box” for auxiliary and mobile clinics in rural areas to increase access to quality care
Creating materials for and conducting healthcare worker and patient education on proper hygiene, nutrition and sexually transmitted diseases to help reduce the spread of disease
Replacing temporary patient facilities with permanent structures to improve care conditions.

“BD has joined us as a stakeholder in Haiti’s future,” said André T. Butler, Chief Executive Officer, Heart to Heart International. “We are thrilled that BD invests in global engagement activities like this for their employees, who are helping to advance our health-focused mission in Haiti, while pursuing BD’s purpose as well.”

This is the seventh company-sponsored Volunteer Service Trip that BD employees have made to improve sustainable healthcare capacity in medically underserved regions. BD’s previous volunteer trips served regions of Ghana and Zambia in sub-Saharan Africa. Beyond the Volunteer Service Trip, BD and Heart to Heart have worked together since 2003, helping people in developing countries and disaster-ravaged areas, supplying and delivering specifically requested medical supplies to communities in greatest need. BD and its associates contribute money, products, talent and time to help people throughout the world treat disease and improve lives by raising health standards.

About BD
BD is a leading global medical technology company that develops, manufactures and sells medical devices, instrument systems and reagents. The Company is dedicated to improving people's health throughout the world. BD is focused on improving drug delivery, enhancing the quality and speed of diagnosing infectious diseases and cancers, and advancing research, discovery and production of new drugs and vaccines. BD's capabilities are instrumental in combating many of the world's most pressing diseases. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, BD employs approximately 29,000 associates in more than 50 countries throughout the world. The Company serves healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry and the general public. For more information, please visit www.bd.com.

About Heart to Heart International
Heart to Heart International is improving global health through initiatives that connect people and resources to a world in need. Since Heart to Heart's founding in 1992, volunteers have helped deliver aid worth $1 billion in U.S. wholesale value to 115 countries, including the United States. The organization was named to Forbes magazine's prestigious list of “America’s 200 Largest Charities” in 2011 and was recognized as one of the top nonprofits in the categories of donor efficiency and charitable commitment. For more information on its programs and ways to get involved, visit www.hearttoheart.org.

Nicor Gas Employees Energize Local Communities During 16th Annual Volunteer Day

05.18.2012 - 12:23PM

On Saturday, May 19, more than 800 employees, family members, and friends will perform a variety of hands-on service activities to benefit local community organizations in 19 cities and towns across northern Illinois.

Employees from Nicor Gas, a local natural gas distribution company, will be joined by employees from Nicor Services, an unregulated provider of appliance protection plans and other home related services, and Nicor Enerchange, provider of natural gas to commercial and industrial customers in the Midwest primarily in the northern Illinois market, to complete a variety of community service activities ranging from beautifying a local playground to replacing the turf grass and buckthorn with native grasses at a nature center. These Volunteer Day activities will take place throughout the Nicor Gas service territory, including the Chicago suburbs of Joliet, Bloomington, and the Rockford area.

“As a leading employer in northern Illinois for nearly 60 years, we have a responsibility to contribute to the well-being of the communities we serve. Embracing that philosophy, our employees give generously of their time and talents to help others,” said Ralph Cleveland, president of Nicor Gas.

Nicor Gas also will present a $15,000 capital grant to DuPage Habitat for Humanity at the project site in Villa Park. The mission of DuPage Habitat for Humanity is to provide opportunities for homeownership to limited-income individuals and families. The grant will be used for housing construction and rehabilitation.

This year, one Volunteer Day project is particularly meaningful for Nicor Gas employees who will spruce up the banks of the Fox River in Yorkville to make way for a bike path. The trail will honor the memory of a former employee, who in 2009 passed away after being struck by a car while riding her bicycle on the roadway.

Other planned activities include:

Aiding the Ray Graham Association, United Way’s 2011 Agency of the Year, volunteers will provide landscaping, window-washing and painting services at the Iona Glos Specialized Living Center home for individuals with disabilities at 720 N. Lombard Road, Addison.
Volunteers will spruce up the Hesed House, a homeless shelter at 659 S. River Street, Aurora.
Batavians for a Healthy River and other community groups will join forces to clean up the Fox River in downtown Batavia.
A team will tackle renovations alongside Habitat for Humanity volunteers at a new renovation project at 1623 Iowa Street, Bloomington.
A perennial favorite, more than 50 volunteers will assist with landscaping outdoor spaces and painting marcfirst, group homes for individuals with mental and physical disabilities in Bloomington.
At the Belvidere/Boone County Food Pantry at 200 S. 5th Street in Capron, volunteers will sort and organize food donated during recent community drives.
This activity took place on April 28, 2012. Working alongside the local Kiwanis Club, volunteers replaced dirty sand with new wood chips, removed broken equipment and laid new mulch at World of Wonderful Park in Carthage.
DeKalb volunteers will return to the Salvation Army Food Pantry at 830 Grove Street to perform outdoor cleanup.
Benefiting Downers Grove area women’s shelter, volunteers will plant community gardens and clean up the grounds to beautify the facility.
Evanston volunteers will paint, build shelves, sort food in the pantry and help organize clothes at Hilda’s Place, a transitional shelter for single men and women, which is operated by Connections for the Homeless.
Volunteers will provide painting, mulching and landscaping services to the Ford Heights Community Service Organization, a group that provides social and human services for underprivileged families and individuals.
A favorite, our volunteers will sort and organize food at the Northern Illinois Food Bank’s new Geneva facility.
Will-Grundy Center for Independent Living, an organization that provides support to people and families with disabilities and special needs in Joliet, will receive new greenery, fresh coats of paint and manicured outdoor spaces.
Naperville volunteers will pitch to plant and landscape the property around the 60-acre McDonald Farm run by the Naperville Conservation Foundation.
At the DuPage Children’s Museum in Naperville, about 25 volunteers will participate in exhibit repair and plant outdoor gardens.
Lending a hand to Loaves & Fishes Community Pantry at 1871 High Grove Lane in Naperville volunteers will sort food collected during a recent community food drive.
Volunteers at Lake Katherine Nature Center in Palos Heights will clear buckthorn and spread prairie seeds harvested from Nicor Gas’ prairie and will help rehabilitate natural areas as part of the eco- and family-friendly project. They also will clean up the nature trails.
The Rock River Valley Food Pantry will welcome volunteer efforts to help sort food and clean up around the grounds at two locations in Rockford.
Schaumburg volunteers will pack nutritious, life-saving meals for starving children at the Feed My Starving Children site on National Parkway. The meals will be shipped to more than 60 countries around the world.
Volunteers will partner with Habitat for Humanity to renovate a house in Villa Park. A $15,000 capital grant check also will be presented to DuPage Habitat for Humanity at this site.
About 20 volunteers will share their resources at the People’s Resource Center in Wheaton by distributing food and cleaning up the outdoor grounds.
Flowers and mulch will be planted at The Manor at Hearthstone Communities, rehabilitative and nursing care facilities at 920 N. Seminary Ave. in Woodstock.
Yorkville volunteers will perform outdoor planting and indoor painting at the Kendall County Food Pantry.

About Nicor Gas

Nicor Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of AGL Resources (NYSE: GAS) is a natural gas distribution company that serves more than two million customers in a service territory that encompasses most of the northern third of Illinois, excluding the city of Chicago. For more information, visit www.nicorgas.com.

About AGL Resources

AGL Resources (NYSE: GAS) is an Atlanta-based energy services holding company with operations in natural gas distribution, retail operations, wholesale services, midstream operations and cargo shipping. As the nation’s largest natural gas-only distributor based on customer count, AGL Resources serves approximately 4.5 million utility customers through its regulated distribution subsidiaries in seven states. The company also serves more than one million retail customers through its SouthStar Energy Services joint venture and Nicor National, which market natural gas and related home services. Other non-utility businesses include asset management for natural gas wholesale customers through Sequent Energy Management, ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities, and ownership of Tropical Shipping, one of the largest containerized cargo carriers serving the Bahamas and Caribbean region. AGL Resources is a member of the S&P 500 Index. For more information, visit www.aglresources.com.

EF Announces Strategic Alliance with B lab

05.14.2012 - 04:39PM

EF & B Lab are excited to announce a recently formed alliance. The alliance is intended to provide both EF & B Lab’s networks access to like-minded companies; all keenly interested in embedding social impact as a core value of their businesses. The relationship will provide access to peer based learning and shared expertise in corporate citizenship, corporate social responsibility, corporate philanthropy and community involvement.

EF & B Lab look forward to providing companies of all sizes a comprehensive solution to further develop, implement and enhance existing corporate philanthropic programs. Through this alliance, EF &B Lab are looking to help companies interested in developing and enhancing both their corporate philanthropic initiatives and corporate cultures comprehensive and meaningful solution.

“Hundreds of companies choose to become B corps and have made a commitment to social impact. With this relationship, EF is excited to assist these companies with other philanthropic engagement opportunities particularly as it relates to their corporate social responsibility needs. These programs include employee programs, volunteering, and the development of an overarching mission, vision and strategy for a company’s comprehensive philanthropic efforts. “ states Diane Solinger, Executive Director, EF.

“It’s great to bring these two business communities closer together. B Lab and EF work in such complementary areas it makes sense to collaborate more where we can. I know EF is excited to engage with more B Corps on their work. We’re looking forward to increasing awareness of the B Corp movement and sharing use of the B Impact Assessment with EF member companies, it’s such a great tool to measure company social and environmental impact.” Dermot Hikisch, Head of Community Development, B Lab.

B Lab

B Lab is a non-profit organization dedicated to using the power of business to address the world’s most pressing challenges. We support entrepreneurs who use business as a force for good. By certifying B Corporations, supporting the development of Benefit Corporation legislation, and informing capital investments to the impact space with GIIRS, we are building a business community and the market infrastructure necessary to create a new sector of the economy that will redefine success in business. Learn more at www.bcorporation.net

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.

Outstanding Corporate Volunteer Programs To Be Announced at the 2012 VolunteerMatch Client Summit

05.07.2012 - 01:00PM

A dozen of the nation’s outstanding employee volunteer programs will be recognized at a ceremony announcing the 2012 VolunteerMatch Corporate Volunteer Awards on May 17 at the 2012 VolunteerMatch Client Summit in San Francisco.

VolunteerMatch is the Web’s largest volunteer engagement network. Best known for the popular website, www.volunteermatch.org, VolunteerMatch also provides tools and services that make it easier for businesses, schools, and government agencies to manage successful volunteer engagement initiatives.

The VolunteerMatch Corporate Volunteer Awards support the organization’s mission by recognizing excellence in volunteer engagement and social impact in the VolunteerMatch family of corporate clients. This year’s awards include “Employee Volunteer Program of the Year” honors in large and small-medium size business categories, “Champion of the Year” recognizing the outstanding teamwork, dedication and spirit of an employee engagement practitioner, and “Breakout Performance” recognizing the success of a newly launched program in the VolunteerMatch network.

“We’re delighted to recognize these finalists as some of the best volunteer programs in America,” said Greg Baldwin, president of VolunteerMatch. “We salute the hard work and commitment of these teams, and we’re proud to support their success.”

Finalists for the Program of the Year awards come from many business sectors and represent diverse approaches to community involvement, but they are united in their commitment to developing programs that inspire employees to participate and give back in innovative ways.

Here are the 2012 finalists, with links to full program profiles:

Employee Volunteer Program of the Year (Large Size Business) – Awarded to a client with outstanding performance in corporate volunteer engagement, determined by performance against four benchmark measures. The 2012 nominees for this award are:

Employee Volunteer Program of the Year (Small-Medium Size Business) – Awarded to a client with outstanding performance in corporate volunteer engagement, determined by performance against four benchmarks. The 2012 nominees for this award are:

Generous supporters of the 2012 VolunteerMatch Client Summit include Gap Inc., Charles Schwab and 3BL Media.

To learn more about the 2012 VolunteerMatch Client Summit, please visit:
http://www.volunteermatchsummit.org

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

About VolunteerMatch

Redesigning Your Employee Volunteer Programs for Value and Impact [California]

05.07.2012 - 09:56AM

A one-day workshop designed to help increase the value and strategic relevance of your employee volunteer program.

June 6, 2012 Rosemead, Calif.

Are you concerned that your employee volunteer program isn't delivering value and impact? Frustrated that the program is not attracting more employees?

We'll also explore policies, procedures, and practices required to produce both results and meaningful metrics to incrementally improve your program.

This workshop is for you if you want to:

• Develop concrete next steps in improving your employee volunteer programs

• Learn how to eliminate practices that limit success

• Implement emerging practices to boost impact

• Explore strategies that lead to company-wide support

Redesigning Your Employee Volunteer Programs for Value and Impact [Ohio]

05.07.2012 - 09:55AM

A one-day workshop designed to help increase the value and strategic relevance of your employee volunteer program.

May 23, 2012 - Columbus, Ohio

Are you concerned that your employee volunteer program isn't delivering value and impact? Frustrated that the program is not attracting more employees?

Redesigning Your Employee Volunteer Programs for Value and Impact is a one-day workshop designed to help you rethink the possibilities of your volunteer program. You will learn what it takes to overcome limitations, maximize participation and connect the program to your organization's broader corporate citizenship strategy. We'll also explore policies, procedures, and practices required to produce both results and meaningful metrics to incrementally improve your program.

This workshop is for you if you want to:

• Develop concrete next steps in improving your employee volunteer programs

• Learn how to eliminate practices that limit success

• Implement emerging practices to boost impact

• Explore strategies that lead to company-wide support

Levi Strauss & Co. Employees Give Back To Communities Through A Worldwide Day Of Service

05.03.2012 - 09:00AM

In a tradition spanning more than a decade, Levi Strauss & Co. employees from Johannesburg to Moscow and from Beijing to Panama are giving back to local communities around the world.

Today, thousands of employees will take the day off of work to serve local non-profit organizations at 168 projects in 71 locations. In rolling up their sleeves, employees will put the company’s core values into action as they make strides in addressing sustainability, equality and the fight against HIV/AIDS.

“Giving back is a 159-year-old tradition at Levi Strauss & Co. It’s a fun way for us to serve our local communities and make a meaningful impact in the issue areas we support,” said Chip Bergh, president and CEO of Levi Strauss & Co. “Every community faces its own set of challenges, and for us it’s about getting out there, investing our time and lending our skills in ways that make a difference.”

Another core area of focus for the company is supporting clean water access for people around the world. To further its commitment to water issues, the company is participating in water-related projects in cities such as Phnom Penh, Mumbai and Stockholm. This year, the Levi’s® brand expanded its collection of Water<Less™ products, made with significantly less water during the finishing process. Using this innovative thinking, the company saved more than 172 million liters of water this spring alone.

In the next phase of the company’s ongoing partnership with Goodwill Industries International, Levi’s® retail employees are volunteering at Goodwill stores and participating in a donation drive during the week of May 3-10. These efforts will help Goodwill® provide people with disabilities and disadvantages obtain the education and training they need to earn and keep good jobs. It will also help to divert the 68 billion pounds of clothing that end up in landfills each year by recovering the value in people's unwanted goods.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, more than 850 employees will volunteer their expertise in 33 local community projects. Highlights include:

Design and Business

Quilting recycled denim blankets with the pioneering artist Maura Ambrose, who is teaming up with the Levi’s® MADE HERE collection on an upcoming collaboration. The quilting circle will create a one-of-a-kind masterpiece that will be auctioned off to benefit a non-profit partner.
Consulting with SFMade member businesses to solve business and design challenges. Employees will share their unique skills with 6 San Francisco business owners.
Lend a stylish eye to clients of the Delancey Street Foundation shelter and help them coordinate interview attire.

Sustainability

Building bicycles at Levi’s Plaza for the YMCA’s YBike program. Talented bike enthusiasts will build 50 bikes for Bay Area kids. And, along with the Black Rock Arts Foundation, volunteers will sew recycled denim bike bags; one for each new bike. Last year, the Levi’s® brand introduced the Commuter collection, denim active-wear suited for this more sustainable mode of transportation.
Installing recycled denim insulation with Habitat for Humanity. The home, complete with more sustainable insulation, will be donated to a family in need.
Repairing trails and weeding gardens for the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and Crissy field in honor of the 75^th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Transforming a water-thirsty lawn in the San Francisco Botanical Gardens into a Mediterranean Garden with reduced water needs. New drought-tolerant plants and mulching will beautify the area and allow for more sustainable maintenance.

Additional examples of other projects around the world include:

Cleaning up one of Singapore’s most popular beaches in partnership with the Singaporean Environmental Council. The clean-up crew will also engage local children in fun, activity-filled sustainability education.
Sprucing up a local beach in Tokyo with the Kanagawa Beach Beautification Foundation.
Repairing the office roof of Action Against Hunger, an organization in Paris that alleviates hunger.
Painting and building a bike storage trailer in Brussels, Belgium, with Almagic to make bicycling more accessible to people with disabilities.

During Community Day, employees will be posting photos of their projects on Instagram, Flickr and Twitter using the hashtag #givebackinstyle. To view a sampling of these photos, go to http://bit.ly/JSYJ4T.

About Levi Strauss & Co.

Levi Strauss & Co. is one of the world’s largest brand-name apparel companies and a global leader in jeanswear. The company designs and markets jeans, casual wear and related accessories for men, women and children under the Levi’s®, Dockers®, Signature by Levi Strauss & Co.™, and Denizen® brands. Its products are sold in more than 110 countries worldwide through a combination of chain retailers, department stores, online sites, and franchised and company-owned stores. As of November 27, 2011, the company operated 498 stores within 32 countries. Levi Strauss & Co.’s reported fiscal 2011 net revenues were $4.8 billion. For more information, go to http://levistrauss.com.

More Than 25,000 Novartis Associates Worldwide to Volunteer for Local Causes in Community Partnership Day

04.26.2012 - 02:00AM

Novartis associates worldwide to dedicate 200,000 work hours to supporting the local community

Highest associate participation to date; activities now benefiting hundreds of charities in 54 countries

Annual volunteer event organized to commemorate the creation of Novartis in 1996

Today Novartis associates across 54 countries are engaging in volunteer activities to benefit people in their local communities in celebration of the company’s annual Community Partnership Day (CPD). This year marks the 16^th Community Partnership Day, commemorating the 1996 creation of Novartis as a global leader in healthcare. Participation in the 2012 CPD activities is seeing a 25% increase over the previous year, with more than 25,000 Novartis associates worldwide supporting a wide range of charitable causes.

Novartis associates are lending a hand in the world’s largest markets – and in countries where the company has a smaller presence. Significant efforts are planned in the United States, China, Japan, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, India and Russia. Novartis volunteers also will have a real impact in countries as diverse as Congo, Madagascar, Bangladesh, Costa Rica and Senegal.

Examples of volunteer service as part of this year’s Community Partnership Day include:

More than 4,400 associates throughout Switzerland, including 3,600 from the Basel headquarters area, will participate in a range of voluntary projects at nursing homes and centers for young adults and children with disabilities. In Nyon, associates will facilitate a series of workshop topics such as human resources, marketing and presentation skills with young people to provide insight into the workplace and career planning.

In Spain, around 300 associates are expected to donate blood and spend time producing arts and crafts with disabled children, as well as redecorate and repair local school buildings.

At Novartis Vietnam, 270 associates will donate 50 bicycles to 50 children from the poorest areas of Ho Chi Minh City.

Associates in Senegal will educate locals on disease prevention and offer free glycemia and blood pressure measurement. Those associates who are medically qualified will offer free consultations. They aim to consult and treat around 200 patients for free.
130 associates in Portugal will prepare and deliver food baskets and boxes containing baby care products and hygiene kits to families in need, as well as plant a garden with vegetables to support the homeless at a local community center.

More than 180 associates across various divisions and business units in Novartis Taiwan are expected to engage in the volunteer works with local and the elderly this year in 14 different events. Activities will include distributing food parcels to the elders living alone and producing crafts with disabled people. Free health check-up services will also be offered.

100 associates from Novartis Czech Republic will visit three orphanages and one children’s hospital near Prague where they will organize and participate in educational and sporting activities as well as creative workshops.

Around 150 associates in Peru will support a local school for the native Shipiba community living in the jungle outside of Lima. At the school associates will help to paint the classrooms and rebuild the playgrounds, amongst other activities.

In Turkey, 300 associates will partner with Make-A-Wish Foundation to help children and young adults suffering with life-threatening medical conditions. They will also partner with the Turkish Red Crescent to offer blood donation.

500 associates in Egypt are invited to strengthen ties with the local community by clearing, tidying and planting public and private spaces around Cairo.

In Greece, 450 associates will engage in a range of local community projects including preparing and distributing food parcels to around 150 families, delivering meals and personal care kits to a center for the homeless and helping to redecorate stables and facilities at a therapeutic riding center used to help rehabilitate people with physical and mental disorders or handicaps.

About Novartis
Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, eye care, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines and diagnostic tools, over-the-counter and animal health products. Novartis is the only global company with leading positions in these areas. In 2011, the Group’s continuing operations achieved net sales of USD 58.6 billion, while approximately USD 9.6 billion (USD 9.2 billion excluding impairment and amortization charges) was invested in R&D throughout the Group. Novartis Group companies employ approximately 124,000 full-time-equivalent associates and operate in more than 140 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.

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CSX Celebrates Earth Month Across Its Network

04.20.2012 - 10:46AM

To celebrate Earth Day and Earth Month, CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX) is continuing its long-standing commitment to environmental sustainability by organizing a series of local events across its network and remaining focused on environmentally-friendly business practices. In addition, the company is working to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the environment by holding an online contest on the company’s Facebook page.

“We look forward to volunteering our time and resources each year to celebrate Earth Day, but our commitment to the environment is much more than a one-day event,” said Skip Elliott, vice president, public safety and environment. “CSX works to make every day Earth Day by reducing the company’s environmental footprint and supporting sustainable development.”

Throughout April, the environmental field service managers in many of CSX’s field locations are hosting the company’s fourth-annual city cleanups. Employees and volunteers will pick up trash and conduct other beautification efforts in Montgomery, Ala.; Waycross and Savannah, Ga.; Riverdale, Ill.; Avon, Ind.; Corbin, Ky.; Hamlet, N.C.; Selkirk, N.Y.; Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio; Nashville, Tenn.; and Philadelphia.

In addition, on Earth Day, April 22, CSX is sponsoring the Anacostia Watershed Earth Day Cleanup & Celebration in Washington, D.C., where more than 2,000 volunteers will remove trash at more than 40 sites along the watershed. That same day, in CSX’s headquarters city of Jacksonville, CSX employees will staff booths at the city’s Ecology Fair at the Jacksonville Landing and sponsor the City of Jacksonville’s Earth Day poster contest for children. The following weekend in Charlotte, N.C., the company is partnering with customers for “The Great Charlotte Cleanup,” a local cleanup effort tied to the Keep America Beautiful, Great American Clean Up.

“These activities are just some of the ways in which CSX contributes to environmental stewardship throughout the year, both through volunteering efforts and operational decisions,” said Tori Kaplan, assistant vice president, corporate social responsibility.

Since 1980, CSX has improved its fuel efficiency by more than 90 percent, and with constant innovation, freight rail becomes more efficient every day. In the past five years, CSX has invested more than $1.75 billion to upgrade its fleet of fuel efficient locomotives.

Last year, CSX introduced an updated online carbon calculator that makes it easy for customers and consumers to understand the emissions savings that freight rail can deliver. Located on CSX’s website, this tool helps customers and consumers optimize supply chains and bring goods to market more sustainably than ever before.

Across the network, CSX protects local ecosystems through its Trees for Tracks program, the company’s pledge to plant one tree for every mile of its 21,000 mile system. To date, the company has planted nearly 17,000 trees. These new trees improve air quality, offset carbon emissions, improve wildlife habitats and add beauty to the communities CSX serves.

CSX annually recognizes its customers who demonstrate continued dedication to safety in the transportation of hazardous materials through its Chemical Safety Excellence Award. This year, CSX named 61 winners, who had each shipped more than 600 carloads of hazardous materials during the year without a non-accidental release.

CSX’s Earth Month celebration has also moved online this year. Participants can enter the Environmental Pursuit contest by “liking” the official CSX Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/OfficialCSX) and testing their environmental knowledge through a weekly interactive quiz by 11:59 p.m. EDT on April 30. In addition to the weekly prize winners, three grand prize winners will also each receive $1,000 from CSX, with a $1,000 matching donation provided to a charitable organization selected by each winner.

For more information on CSX’s commitment to environmental sustainability or to learn how to get involved in local Earth Day volunteer activities, visit www.csx.com.

About CSX

CSX Corporation, based in Jacksonville, Fla., is one of the nation’s leading transportation companies, providing rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services. The company's transportation network spans approximately 21,000 miles, with service to 23 eastern states, the District of Columbia and two Canadian provinces. CSX’s network connects more than 240 short line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river, and lake ports. More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at www.csx.com. Like us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/OfficialCSX) and follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/CSX).

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

04.02.2012 - 09:45AM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About Morgan Stanley

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

Kohl's Department Stores Announces 3rd Annual Nationwide Volunteer Event, Will Give $2 Million to Nonprofits in Celebration of National Volunteer Week and Earth Day

03.29.2012 - 08:00AM

Kohl’s Department Stores (NYSE: KSS) is sending tens of thousands of its associates to volunteer in communities nationwide during the company’s third annual Kohl’s National Go Green Event (NGG) in celebration of two April events – National Volunteer Week and Earth Day. Through Kohl’s associate volunteer program, Associates in Action, Kohl’s volunteers will support youth-serving nonprofit organizations by participating in an environmentally-based activity, and Kohl’s will match those efforts with corporate grants. Through this initiative, Kohl’s will donate $2 million in grants to nonprofits nationwide for the third year in a row.

“Demonstrating Kohl’s ongoing commitment to environmental leadership and volunteerism, we are proud to once again announce that Kohl’s associates will be out in communities across the country to give back and go green,” said Julie Gardner, Kohl’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer. “The past two years Kohl’s National Go Green Events in honor of National Volunteer Week and Earth Day were extremely successful – resulting in thousands of volunteer hours and more than $4 million in grants for local organizations. This April, as we celebrate 50 years as a company, we are excited to continue making a meaningful difference for kids and the environment while having a powerful financial impact on local organizations.”

In April, groups of Kohl’s associates will be volunteering coast to coast for events including:

Planting and cleaning up school grounds with Mooseheart Child City & School Inc. in Chicago.
Giving new life to old plastic toys, that may otherwise be thrown away, and donating them to community children with Second Chance Toys in Philadelphia.
Cleaning up the river by canoe with the Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee, Wis.
Region-wide clean-up efforts with I Love a Clean San Diego County Inc. in Calif.
Participating in beach and playground clean-up efforts with Seattle Aquarium Society in Seattle.

Committed to Giving Back

Kohl’s strives to be an active member of each community it serves. Part of the company’s community partnership is the Kohl’s volunteer program. Since 2001, Kohl’s associates nationwide have participated in volunteer activities that support children. When associates form teams of five or more to support a local youth-serving charity, the company supports the team’s participation with a corporate grant given directly to the charity. Since 2001:

More than 500,000 Kohl’s associates have volunteered
Kohl’s has executed more than 85,000 volunteer events
More than 1.6 million volunteer hours were completed
More than $47 million was donated to local nonprofits

The Kohl’s Associates in Action volunteer program is part of Kohl’s overall philanthropic platform, Kohl’s Cares®, which is committed to supporting children’s health and education initiatives nationwide. Since 2000, Kohl’s has raised more than $208 million through its Kohl's Cares program.

Committed to the Environment

In addition to supporting green volunteer activities, Kohl’s is committed to being a leading environmentally responsible retailer, implementing strategies that encourage long-term resource sustainability, including:

Retail Leadership in Green Power & Renewable Energy – Kohl’s offsets 100 percent of its conventional companywide energy use through the purchase of renewable energy credits and through on-site energy generation at more than 120 solar locations and two wind locations. For 2012, Kohl’s purchased more than 1.5 billion kilowatt hours of renewable energy and ranked first in retail and second overall on EPA’s quarterly rankings of top green power purchasers. As a result of these efforts, Kohl’s was named a Green Power Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2011, 2010 and 2009.
Energy Efficiency/ENERGY STAR – Kohl's has more than 700 ENERGY STAR-labeled locations – more than half of the company’s stores and more than any other department store. In 2012, Kohl’s was honored with EPA’s ENERGY STAR Award for Sustained Excellence for its long-term commitment to protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency. Commercial buildings that have earned the ENERGY STAR label use, on average, 35 percent less energy than similar buildings and generate one-third less carbon dioxide.
Environmentally Responsible Building Design, Construction & Operation/LEED – Kohl’s has more than 200 LEED-certified locations, including new buildings, existing buildings and tenant spaces. In October 2011, Kohl’s announced that the company’s new store prototype achieved LEED Gold precertification using the LEED for Retail: New Construction rating system, established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI), making Kohl’s the first company in the nation to achieve this designation in the LEED Volume Program launched in November 2010. LEED-certified Kohl’s stores feature regional and recycled building materials, energy efficient building design and building automation systems, water efficient plumbing and irrigation, improved indoor air quality, green cleaning practices, operational recycling and an environmental education program.
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations – In December 2011, Kohl’s began piloting electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at select Kohl’s stores nationwide. To date, 38 Kohl’s stores have one to four parking spaces reserved for EV drivers to charge at no cost while they shop.
Corporate Gardens – Each year, associates at Kohl’s corporate office tend to three on-site, organic vegetable gardens. Since 2009, these gardens have provided nearly 2,000 pounds of food for local families.

Additional information about Kohl’s sustainability initiatives is available at www.kohlsgreenscene.com.

About Kohl's Department Stores

Based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., Kohl’s (NYSE: KSS) is a family-focused, value-oriented specialty department store offering moderately priced, exclusive and national brand apparel, shoes, accessories, beauty and home products in an exciting shopping environment. 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.

VolunteerMatch Client Summit to Bring Together Leaders in Corporate Social Responsibility, Employee Engagement and Cause Marketing to "Bridge CSR Communities"

03.26.2012 - 10:00AM

VolunteerMatch, the Web’s largest volunteer engagement network, will host more than a hundred corporate social responsibility (CSR) and volunteer engagement experts and practitioners at its annual Client Summit in San Francisco, May 17-18, 2012.

This year’s theme of “Bridging CSR Communities” acknowledges the unique approaches companies have for CSR and volunteer engagement programs, and brings them together to share insights that will strengthen each of these individual CSR communities. The invitation-only event features topics such as building a purpose-driven business culture, measuring ROI and social impact in CSR programs, harnessing social media to advance employee volunteering and CSR efforts, corporate-nonprofit partnership strategies and using storytelling to more effectively communicate impact for executive buy-in.

Summit highlights include:

Tips from Carol Cone, Global Vice Chair of Edelman Business + Social Purpose, on how to create a corporate culture energized through citizenship and community involvement

Breaking down the barriers to active engagement from social good experts from Global Giving, Network for Good and VolunteerMatch – a panel led by Karen Baker, California’s Secretary of Service & Volunteering

Insightful discussions led by CSR experts from Veraworks, Realized Worth and the Cause Marketing Forum

Resource sharing and best practices from professionals in the VolunteerMatch community of more than 150 network partners

Presentation of the 2012 VolunteerMatch Corporate Volunteer Awards. Last year’s award recipients included Los Alamos National Laboratory (Employee Volunteer Program of the Year – Large Company), Hagerty Insurance (Employee Volunteer Program of the Year – Small-Medium Size Company), Discovery Communications (Breakout Performance) and team members from Union Bank (Champions of the Year).

Generous supporters of the 2012 VolunteerMatch Client Summit include Gap Inc., Charles Schwab and 3BL Media.

To learn more about the 2012 VolunteerMatch Client Summit, please visit: http://www.volunteermatchsummit.org

To learn more about VolunteerMatch Solutions, please 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. The award-winning nonprofit service supports some of America’s most recognized institutions including Charles Schwab, Google, General Mills, Easter Seals, the American Red Cross and Girl Scouts of the USA. 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.

VolunteerMatch and the Walmart Foundation Team Up to Help Nonprofits Mobilize Volunteers in the Fight Against Hunger

03.19.2012 - 02:00PM

Today VolunteerMatch, the web’s largest volunteer engagement network, and the Walmart Foundation announced a new partnership to help nonprofit organizations engage volunteers in the critical fight against hunger.

According to a December 2010 U.S. Department of Agriculture report, 50 million Americans live in households that have a hard time getting enough to eat, including 17 million children. Despite growing demand and scarce resources, nonprofit organizations are often on the front lines of the fight against hunger—providing meal delivery, food banks, nutritional literacy programs, public assistance and more.

With funding from the Walmart Foundation as part of its “Fighting Hunger Together” initiative, VolunteerMatch will help hunger-related organizations tap into its network of millions of volunteers to mobilize supporters across the nation. Through a program mix of training, knowledge sharing and web services, participating nonprofits will get the support they need to deploy, manage and expand an effective volunteer program.

Highlights of the partnership include:

A series of free web-based trainings covering the critical components of a healthy volunteer program for hunger-related organizations, such as transforming seasonal interest from volunteers into year-round engagement, using social media to recruit and retain volunteers, developing best practices around program evaluation, and engaging skilled and pro bono volunteers;
Support, training and knowledge sharing at national and regional hunger-related conferences to identify best practices and encourage volunteer coordinators to connect with each other;
An innovative map of U.S. hunger needs and hunger-related volunteer opportunities designed to increase the visibility of volunteer needs at hunger-related organizations and make it easier for the community to respond.

“Every year VolunteerMatch helps millions of good people get more involved within their community,” said Greg Baldwin. “We are proud to be stepping up in the fight against hunger to help make it easier for thousands of local nonprofits to find the volunteer support they need.”

“A critical element of the fight against hunger is getting communities active and engaged to help their neighbors,” said Julie Gehrki of the Walmart Foundation. “We’re proud to support VolunteerMatch as they help broaden the movement, connecting volunteers to local hunger relief agencies in communities across the country that are busier than ever helping Americans put food on the table—it will take a commitment by everyone to truly end hunger.

To learn more about Fighting Hunger Together at VolunteerMatch, visit:
http://www.volunteermatch.org/fighthunger

About Philanthropy at Walmart

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are proud to support initiatives that are helping people live better around the globe. In May 2010, Walmart and its Foundation made a historic pledge of $2 billion through 2015 to fight hunger in the U.S. The Walmart Foundation also supports education, workforce development, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness initiatives. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.

About VolunteerMatch

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

03.08.2012 - 05:22PM

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

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

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

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

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

For any inquiries, please contact at:

ECo@sompo-japan.co.jp

About Sompo Japan

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

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

"Thon" Fundraising Continued to Grow in 2011

03.06.2012 - 11:58PM

Exercising for a good cause continued to grow in popularity and in the sums it raises for charity in 2011, according to figures revealed at the annual conference of the Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council.

The top thirty fundraising programs generated $1.69 billion in gross revenue for charity last year, up $40.8 million or 2.46% from 2010 levels. This was the second straight year of fundraising growth, the council’s sixth annual Run Walk Ride Thirty study reports

Twenty-three of the top 30 programs saw their dollars raised climb in 2011. That's a sharp contrast to the depths of the recession in 2009 when 20 groups saw revenue shrink and contributions to the top 30 programs were down by 7.6%, (A detailed study summary is available at www.runwalkride.com)

Programs in the top 30 vary from casual walks that don't require participants to fundraise to endurance and multi-day programs in which participants commit to raising hundreds or thousands of dollars.

Reflecting the country's continuing economic challenges, the most dramatic declines were experienced by programs with high fundraising commitments. For example, the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer series of two-day, long-distance walks reported a $10 million revenue decline and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training marathon, cycling and triathlon program was down by almost $9.5 million.

"In this recessionary environment it's understandable that some people would be reluctant to commit to raising large amounts of money," said David Hessekiel, president of the Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council. As the economy bounces back, I expect those programs will too."

Overall participation in “thon fundraising” programs rose by 201,000 (1.76%) to 11.6 million in 2011, the study showed.

In a sign that nonprofits are manage their event series more tightly, the number of events in the top 30 decreased by 932 (2.5%) to 36,422 in 2011. “By culling underperforming events from their schedules, nonprofits are focusing on maximizing their return on investment on the events that remain,” said Hessekiel.

The top ten programs by total gross revenue, in millions, in 2011 were:

1	$415.0	(-0.4%) Relay for Life	American Cancer Society*
2	$131.3	(+7.7%) Race for the Cure	Susan G. Komen for the Cure
3	$105.0	(+2.6%) March for Babies	March of Dimes
4	$99.1	(+9.7%) Heart Walk	American Heart Association
5	$87.5	(-9.8%) Team in Training	Leukemia & Lymphoma Soc
6	$85.7	(-0.4%) Walk to Cure Diabetes	Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
7	$84.4	(-5.4%) Susan G. Komen 3-Day	Susan G. Komen for the Cure
8	$82.4	(-0.8%) Bike MS	National MS Society
9	$61.4	(+7.0%) Jump Rope for Heart	American Heart Association
10	$61.0	(+1.7%) Making Strides Against	American Cancer Society Breast Cancer

The top ten demonstrate the diversity in this field,” said Hessekiel. With short and long walks, a run series, a cycling event, a relay, endurance training and even a school-based jump rope program, thon fundraising offers healthy ways to help others for everyone from the couch potato to the driven athlete.” said Hessekiel.

It took gross revenue of $9.0 million for the Rodman Ride for Kids to snag the 30^th spot on the 2011 list.

Looking ahead, survey respondents forecast a median revenue growth figure of 10.3% in 2012. “This is probably overly optimistic, but it is a good sign that the field should experience increased growth,” said Hessekiel, who noted that a year ago respondents forecast a 6% increase in 2011, more than twice the actual top 30 growth rate of 2.46%.

The Run Walk Ride Thirty is based on survey responses from the professionals who manage major athletic event fundraising programs.

A study summary is available at www.runwalkride.com . A CD with extensive survey data is available for purchase on the group’s website and is provided at no cost to dues-paying RWRFC members.

For further information, contact the council at (914) 921-3914 or info@runwalkride.com

Outstanding Volunteer & Thon Fundraising Marketing Programs Honored

03.05.2012 - 11:58PM

Dedicated volunteers and professional efforts to attract and motivate them are crucial to the success of the runs, walks and rides that raise billions of dollars in the US each year. Awards that honor both parts of that charitable equation are a highlight of the Run Walk Ride Fundraising conference that kicks off here today.

The Cash, Sweat & Tears Award for the year’s most inspiring volunteer participant will be given to Sam Fox, who raised more than $170,000 by running the length of the Pacific Crest Trail over the course of two months last fall.

The 24-year-old, Yale University graduate took on this herculean feat in honor of his mother Lucy who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2000. In addition to covering the equivalent of 100 marathons, Fox established the Run While You Can Foundation, built an online community of passionate supporters and was the subject of a documentary film.

The money Fox raised was donated to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, the group that nominated him for the award sponsored by the Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council. “Sam is an inspiration and a unique individual who put his mind and body forward for the social good to make a difference,” according to essay supporting his nomination.

All three past winners of this award were participants in programs created by nonprofit organizations. “Sam Fox represents the expanding group of people who create their own independent events to support organizations they are passionate about,” said David Hessekiel, president of the Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council.

The Council will also present five Run Walk Ride Fundraising Pacesetter Awards for outstanding thon fundraising marketing campaigns. The winners are:

Best Recruitment Brochure: Team To End AIDS (T2), Chicago AIDS Foundation
Best Print Creative: CROP Hunger Walk, Church World Service
Best Integrated Online Marketing: Relay for Life, American Cancer Society
Best T-Shirt Design: Team To End AIDS (T2), Chicago AIDS Foundation
Best Video Creative: Free to Breathe, National Lung Cancer Partnership

The Pacesetter and Cash, Sweat & Tears awards are produced by the Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council (www.runwalkride.com), a division of Rye, NY-based Cause Marketing Forum, Inc. The council tracks the thon fundraising industry and produces conferences, workshops and online communications to enable nonprofits to improve the performance of their programs.

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

03.05.2012 - 01:40PM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

As used in this document, “Deloitte” means Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting.

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

02.27.2012 - 09:00AM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About A Billion + Change

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

About Morgan Stanley:

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

Register Now and Take $150 Off "Corporate Citizenship and America's Future" Conference Fee

02.24.2012 - 05:52PM

The Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) will be hosting its fifth national annual conference in Atlanta, Georgia from April 16-18. The conference will bring together business leaders from Siemens, Microsoft, The Home Depot, Booz Allen Hamilton, and more along with nonprofits, government organizations, and leaders in communities from across the nation. Early Bird registration is open! Register before February 29, and save $150.

With a focus on the Role of Corporate Citizenship in America's Future, the National Conference is an established convening for the foremost voices in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) continuum—from philanthropy to public-private partnerships to business solutions. Be part of rich, solutions-focused discussions about how to address the tough challenges facing America today and what we can do together for the future.

Many issues, including volunteerism, will take the spotlight. Register now to gain access to a plenary with Michelle Nunn, Chief Executive Officer of Points of Light, followed up with a BCLC/Billion + Change skills-based volunteering "speed dating" with Deloitte, Kraft Foods, Marsh and McLennon, and UPS Foundation.

Other sessions will include a Special Edition of Conversations with Stephen—a live webcast, in conjunction with a tweetchat—where BCLC’s Stephen Jordan and Carol Cone, Global Practice Chair, of Edelman Business + Social Purpose, will discuss the results of the 2012 goodpurpose® study which explores consumer attitudes around social purpose and its implications for corporate citizenship.

To close the conference, leaders from Microsoft, FSG, and Intel will join BCLC's Stephen Jordan in a vibrant debate about CSR: Is it philanthropy or a core business solution? What about social innovation? Does CSR drive business results?

Register now for the early bird rate and gain insight in to the future of CSR while connecting with today’s top leaders at the BCLC 2012 National Conference.

Points of Light Announces Leadership Partner Program

02.24.2012 - 09:30AM

Points of Light today announced the launch of its new Leadership Partner Program to recognize and engage companies and business leaders whose social responsibility investments have resulted in significant advancement of its mission to inspire, equip and mobilize people to take action that changes the world.

“Points of Light’s corporate partnerships are critical in helping us develop programming and capacity to connect people to their power as change agents,” said Michelle Nunn, Points of Light CEO. “As our nation strives to create solutions to address critical economic and social challenges, corporate support provides the scaffolding needed to help meet needs ranging from support for our veterans to preparing youth for success to helping communities prepare and recover from disasters. These partners have helped us mobilize 2.7 million people each year, train thousands of volunteer leaders and develop innovative strategies for community change.”

Points of Light leadership partners are companies making important, strategic investments in the communities where they live and work through their partnership with Points of Light. These companies not only provide employee volunteers’ time and talent, they provide thought leadership and significant financial support.

Companies at the $1 million-plus tier of the Leadership Partner Program for fiscal year 2011 include:

American Express, recognized for its commitments to developing next generation leaders, preserving and sustaining historic places and encouraging service in communities where its employees and customers live and work, is an important and strategic Points of Light partner. In 2011, American Express was the lead national contributor to the I WILL campaign, promoting volunteerism as part of the 10^th anniversary of the 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance. The company engaged more than 1,000 employees in volunteer service as part of its 9/11 commitment, and launched the first-of-its-kind Facebook I WILL Volunteer app to make it easy for people to search, register and share volunteer opportunities. Over the past three years, Points of Light and American Express have engaged thousands of students, employees, teachers and community members through Travel with Your Mind, a HandsOn Schools program designed to help revitalize deserving schools through a series of travel-themed, transformational projects and multicultural initiatives across several U.S. cities. American Express also brings its acclaimed American Express Leadership Academy to the National Conference on Volunteering and Service, providing in-depth leadership development opportunities to 24 emerging leaders each year.

Hasbro’s philanthropic work strives to bring “the sparkle of Hope, the joy of Play and the power of Service” into the lives of children worldwide that need it most through the Hasbro Children’s Fund and other initiatives aimed to help children worldwide. As a founding partner and more than $5 million lead investor in Points of Light’s youth enterprise, generationOn, Hasbro is helping to inspire, equip and mobilize youth to take action that changes the world and themselves through the power of service. This includes support for scaling generationOn youth service clubs in schools and community organizations nationwide; the creation and dissemination of tools and resources for teachers, families and nonprofits; as well as support for high impact engagement campaigns and youth leadership initiatives. Over the last two years, 12 inspiring young people have been celebrated as Hasbro Community Action Heroes, a generationOn program created to recognize the amazing service work done by youths worldwide. Hasbro’s founding support of generationOn has resulted in hundreds of thousands of young people having committed to make their mark on the world through service, and hundreds of young service leaders and social entrepreneurs having been identified, recognized and supported in their efforts to inspire more youth.

Since 1946, Target has given 5 percent of its income to support and enrich the communities it serves. Today that equals more than $3 million every week to support education, the arts, social services and volunteerism, plus a commitment to contribute $1 billion for education by 2015. Target’s community investments include a six-year partnership with Points of Light as lead and title sponsor of the National Conference on Volunteering and Service, serving as presenting sponsor of the Excellence in Education track that provides programming focused on innovative, citizen-driven solutions that are making an impact on the challenges of America’s K-12 education system. Target and Points of Light have also joined together on a variety of cause-related efforts including leadership support and promotion of National Volunteer Week, the initial launch of Target’s nationally recognized School Library Makeover program and the I WILL 9/11 tenth anniversary education programming that engaged tens of thousands of teachers and youth.

The University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population at campuses and learning centers around the world to meet is mission to provide access to education. In 2011, its parent company, Apollo Group, and the University of Phoenix Foundation committed more than $20 million to local community initiatives with a focus on school and workforce readiness, community engagement and sustainability. Over the past three years, University of Phoenix has made significant contributions to advance the work and mission of Points of Light. University of Phoenix’s strategic investments have mobilized volunteers across the country through innovative programming like the Road to the Gulf, which trained 6,300 service leaders and engaged 14,000 in community projects addressing education needs in just six months. It also developed and funded the Serve It Forward^® scholarship program, encouraging community-minded individuals to pursue academic and personal development. As a top sponsor of the National Conference on Volunteering and Service, University of Phoenix enables Points of Light to bring together the largest gathering of social innovators, cultivating new solutions for our communities’ toughest challenges.

The UPS Foundation has led the company’s corporate citizenship efforts for more than 60 years. In 2011, UPS and its employees, active and retired, invested more than $93 million in charitable giving and 1.6 million volunteer hours around the world. The company’s investments in community involvement nationally and globally have significantly shaped the service movement and continue to pave the way for innovation, action and impact. For more than a decade, The UPS Foundation has been a significant contributor to Points of Light, helping build capacity to mobilize volunteers and engage individuals, communities, business and nonprofits in volunteer leadership. UPS and Points of Light are also developing innovative new technologies and training to better mobilize volunteers in times of disaster. In addition, UPS serves as a leading sponsor of the National Conference on Volunteering and Service.

Leadership partners at the $500,000 to $999,999 level include Altria Group, Best Buy, GlaxoSmithKline, Google and JPMorgan Chase.

About Points of Light

Points of Light is the leading volunteer organization with more than 20 years of history and a bipartisan presidential legacy. Our mission is to inspire, equip and mobilize people to take action that changes the world. We connect people to their power to make a meaningful difference by providing access to tools, resources and opportunities to help volunteers use their time, talent, voice and money to meet the critical needs of our communities. We are organized into three divisions: Programs, Civic Incubator and Action Networks, which include HandsOn Network, the largest network of 250 local volunteer centers across the country and around the world; generationOn, the youth service movement that ignites the power of kids to make their mark on the world; AmeriCorps Alums, the national service alumni network that activates the next generation of service leaders; and Points of Light Corporate Institute, our enterprise that enables companies to engage their employees and customers in service. For more information, visit www.pointsoflight.org .

Varicent Launches Community Investment Program

02.21.2012 - 02:17PM

Varicent, an industry-leader in incentive compensation and sales performance management solutions announced today that it has launched a formal corporate social responsibility (CSR) program in partnership with EF (Entrepreneurs Foundation). Varicent developed its CSR program to align with the company’s core competencies in technology, while resonating with the philanthropic aspirations of its global employees. Varicent’s CSR is focused on youth development and education with an emphasis on empowerment through technology. In demonstration of Varicent’s commitment to this cause, the company has approved a corporate budget of $100,000 and has allocated 220 corporate-sponsored volunteer days (one day per employee) for 2012.

In support of its philanthropic mission, Varicent has launched several partnerships together with:

The Toronto Foundation for Student Success (TFSS) www.studentsuccess.ca contributing a $10,000 grant to develop an after-school workshop within its Beyond 3:30 after-school program benefiting 13 TFSS middle school locations throughout the Greater Toronto Area.
Computer Aid International www.computeraid.org based in the United Kingdom. In addition to a $10,000 donation towards the creation of 4 computer labs for schools in need, the UK-based Varicent team will be contributing volunteer time to refurbish equipment at Computer Aid International’s London offices.

Varicent has also launched “Varicent Gives!”, an employee charity portal allowing employees to financially contribute to key Varicent community partners, as well as to causes of their choosing, while enabling the company to run matching-gift campaigns online.

The company informally launched its community programs in the fall of 2011, through participation in Movember www.movember.com, from which $6,000 was raised towards prostate cancer prevention. Varicent employees have also participated in disaster relief efforts around the world as well as supported the Second Harvest Food Bank through the annual Turkey and Food Drive.

“While Varicent employees have championed various charitable events in the past, there has always been a desire to better focus our collective energies to affect even greater change within our communities,” said Dan Shimmerman, President and CEO, Varicent. “With the introduction of our social responsibility program along with key charitable partners, I believe that we now have the right mix of vision, organization and enthusiasm to carry out the Varicent Foundation’s mission of youth development and education through technology. My personal goal is to encourage every Varicent employee to volunteer and participate in charitable endeavors so that they in turn can serve as an inspiration to others to participate in philanthropy.”

Varicent, in partnership with EF, has been able to help shape the overall mission, vision and strategy for Varicent’s corporate social responsibility program. Together, Varicent and EF will team to implement the goals and execute the vision of their programs, while focusing on maximum community impact.

“Varicent has given great thought to the development and roll out of their CSR program,” said Diane Solinger, Executive Director, EF. “As an emerging technology leader, Varicent is exemplary in the design and execution of this vision to inspire and help youth through technology, math and science as well as engaging employees in all ways of giving; both volunteering and financial. Varicent is not only a leader in its market but also in community investment. “

About Varicent Software Incorporated

Varicent Software Incorporated, a global pioneer in Incentive Compensation and Sales Performance Management, delivers innovative, industry-leading solutions for finance, sales, human resources and IT departments in high-performing companies across industries. Varicent solutions streamline administrative processes, maximize efficiencies and drive improved sales performance. In addition to ranking in the top 5 two years running, in the PROFIT 100 list of Canada’s Fastest Growing Companies by PROFIT Magazine, Varicent was named the highest overall “hot” vendor in the Ventana Research 2011 SPM Value Index, and was ranked the fastest growing software company on Deloitte’s 2010 Technology Fast 500. For more information, visit http://www.varicent.com or connect with us on the Varicent Blog, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

About EF

EF is a non-profit public charity on a mission to encourage, empower and enhance corporate philanthropy and corporate social responsibility programs. 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.

CDC Development Solutions' 3rd Annual ICV Conference

02.07.2012 - 10:00AM

On April 11 and 12, 2012, CDC Development Solutions will host the Third Annual International Corporate Volunteerism Conference, which will focus on this increasing area of corporate citizenship among businesses of varying sizes, including several from the Fortune 500. Recently cited by the Wall Street Journal for its fast growth, International Corporate Volunteerism (ICV) has companies as diverse as Dow Corning, Accenture, Telefonica, GlaxoSmithKline, IBM, Ernst & Young, and PepsiCo sending employee teams into emerging markets to volunteer their professional skills on short term assignments for local nonprofits, government departments, social enterprises and NGOs. Over the past several years, companies from Fortune 500s to small businesses increased the number of employees sent abroad by seven times. Reasons cited for this increase include business benefits derived from the program – leadership and talent development, partnerships in emerging markets, product innovation, and positive media exposure. In the international development arena, ICV programs build the capacity of local organizations, while providing professional skills they would not otherwise have access to.

As part of the Third Annual ICV Conference, CSR and human resource leaders from 150 companies, from Fortune 500s to small businesses, will join the U.S. State Department, U.S. Agency for International Department (USAID) and other public sector leaders to look at how ICV is now used to address some of the world’s most pressing problems, including education, water supply, the environment, and jobs creation. The conference will look at what lies ahead in this growing area of CSR, including measurement and ROI, impact for host organizations, and creating shared value for broad business strategies from CSR, to human resource to R&D and innovation and more.

One of the interactive conference sessions will include GlaxoSmithKline’s PULSE Volunteer Partnership, which focuses on addressing a few ambitious global health challenges through their strategic initiative, ‘PULSE Pillars’, and is also furthering the discussion around cross-corporate teams. Emerging World, a leadership development consultancy, will facilitate a session on what companies can do to strengthen their programs’ learning and development proposition. Speakers from PepsiCo, IBM, Dow Corning, Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) and others will also share how their recent 2011 ICV programs contribute to business strategies in the areas of business development, product innovation, leadership and talent development, and employee engagement.

In addition, CDC Development Solutions will release its 2012 International Corporate Volunteering Benchmarking Survey, which will reveal statistics on the growth and increase in ICV investment levels, as well as the reasons that drive these investments. Other conference topics will include linking ICV to core business strategies, new and emerging ICV models and a panel of returned volunteers highlighting the impact that participation had on their professional and personal lives.

Focusing on the theme of shared value and development impact, the event will also feature a session on the Center of Excellence for International Corporate Volunteerism (CEICV) and the Global Health Fellows II Program. Launched in 2011, the CEICV is a first of its kind Global Development Alliance between IBM, USAID and CDC Development Solutions. This virtual center provides best practices and expertise from each of these organizations to companies looking to embark on ICV programs and link them to US development strategy. The Global Health Fellows II Program is implemented by Public Health International (PHI) and places health professionals in developing countries to provide health organizations with policy and technical expertise to more effectively combat pressing health challenges. The U.S. Agency for International Development administers the U.S. foreign assistance program providing economic and humanitarian assistance in more than 120 countries worldwide.

Last year’s International Corporate Volunteerism Conference drew a rare cross-section of leaders from Fortune 500s, government agencies, and some of the world’s largest NGOs and nonprofits. This year expects to draw an even larger and more diverse set of participants. Addressing the intersection of corporate citizenship and development through volunteering, the Third Annual International Corporate Volunteerism Conference is sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline, Emirates, Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC), Emerging World, USAID, Dow Corning, IBM, Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, Inc., CSRWire, 3BL Media, Devex, and the International Business Leaders Forum.

About CDC Development Solutions
www.cdcdevelopmentsolutions.org

Providing market-driven solutions, CDC Development Solutions empowers individuals, businesses and governments in emerging markets to lead economies towards self-sustainable growth. CDC Development Solutions implements International Corporate Volunteer programs for more than a dozen companies including IBM, Dow Corning, PepsiCo, Deloitte, John Deere, and Pfizer through designing and managing all aspects of these programs from on-the-ground implementation and support to strategic planning.

Contact
More information about the Conference can be found here at the Third Annual International Corporate Volunteer Conference.

New Research Finds Kids & Teens More Exposed to Character Education Volunteer More

02.01.2012 - 10:00AM

Results of a new research study released today, “It Starts with Character: Inspiring Kids & Teens to Volunteer” found that kids and teens who have more exposure to character-building skills, such as sharing, being kind and helping others, are more likely to volunteer in their communities, and with greater frequency. The study also found that parents and teachers say that media (TV, film, books, magazines, games, apps and Internet) can play an important role in communicating the value of character education. The study was commissioned by Scholastic Media – a division of Scholastic Inc., the global children’s publishing, education and media company – and HandsOn Network – the volunteer enterprise of Points of Light – and administered by C+R Research and MDR.

Among the study’s findings from parent, teacher, kid and teen respondents:

Parents (84 percent), teachers (78 percent), kids age 6–11 (73 percent), and teens age 12–17 (64 percent) say character-building skills are among the most important skills to develop along with academic skills in order to be successful in life.
The more kids and teens are exposed to character-building skills, the greater their level of interest in volunteering. Additionally, kids and teens who are more exposed to character-building skills volunteer more frequently.
Eighty-eight percent of parents and 93 percent of teachers believe that volunteering provides opportunities for children to build character.
Ninety-four percent of parents and 98 percent of teachers agree that media can play an important role in teaching kids the value of character education; 63 percent of teachers believe that kids would benefit from more media exposure to lessons about character-building skills.

“This study demonstrates the importance of having curriculum for the heart as well as the head,” said Francie Alexander, Senior Vice President of Scholastic Education and Chief Academic Officer of Scholastic Inc. “At Scholastic, we put the same value on preparing children for good citizenship as we do for careers and college.”

Findings Coincide With Launch of Fourth Annual ‘Clifford® BE BIG™ In Your Community’ National Contest to Inspire Service and Volunteerism

“This survey reinforces the importance of ensuring that kids are able to discover their power to make a difference in their communities at an early age,” said Michelle Nunn, CEO of Points of Light. “Programs like BE BIG encourage our next generation to act on their potential to make their mark on the world.”

The findings coincide with today’s launch of the fourth annual ‘Clifford BE BIG in Your Community’ national contest, which is designed to inspire engagement in service and volunteerism. Beginning today, the contest invites kids of all ages, teachers, parents and community leaders to submit proposals that demonstrate how Clifford’s BIG Ideas (Share, Help Others, Be Kind, Be Responsible, Play Fair, Be a Good Friend, Believe in Yourself, Have Respect, Work Together and Be Truthful) can make the world a better place. Submitted ideas vie for the chance to win up to $10,000 in community grants from the BE BIG Fund to be used to implement the winning proposals. The mission of the fund is to recognize and reward others for their BIG actions, to catalyze change in local communities, and to provide resources for everyone to share BIG ideas. Entry forms can be found at http://www.scholastic.com/cliffordbebig/contest/; those interested can also explore their local HandsOn Network action center for opportunities to serve in their community at http://www.handsonnetwork.org/actioncenters/map. Complete rules are online at www.scholastic.com/cliffordbebig/contestrules.*

Additional findings of the study include:

Teacher, kid and teen survey respondents name Clifford The Big Red Dog® as the character most associated with teaching character-building skills relative to other characters.
The vast majority of parents (96 percent), teachers (98 percent), kids (91 percent), and teens (81 percent) surveyed agree that Clifford’s BIG Ideas are valuable/important.

The study was commissioned to examine the role of the BE BIG™ program on civic engagement, as it continues to grow and inspire communities to engage in service. “It Starts with Character: Inspiring Kids & Teens to Volunteer” is a national online survey of more than 1,000 individuals – 250 parents of kids age 2–11, 251 kids age 6–11, 249 teens age 12–17, and 260 kindergarten through second-grade teachers. The sample was drawn from C+R Research and MDR online panels, and the survey was fielded from October 10, 2011 through October 25, 2011. The margin of error is +/– 5.2 percent at a 90 percent confidence level. The study results can be viewed online at mediaroom.scholastic.com/clifford and www.handsonnetwork.org/bebig.

* No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited.

About Scholastic
Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books and a leader in educational technology and related services and children’s media. Scholastic creates quality books, print, and technology-based learning materials and programs, magazines, multimedia and other products that help children learn both at school and at home. The company distributes its products and services worldwide through a variety of channels, including school-based book clubs and book fairs, retail stores, schools, libraries, on-air, and online at www.scholastic.com.

About Points of Light
Points of Light is the world’s leading volunteer organization, with more than 20 years of history and a bi-partisan presidential legacy. Our mission is to inspire, equip and mobilize people to take action that changes the world. We connect people to their power to make a meaningful difference, by providing access to tools, resources and opportunities to help volunteers use their time, talent, voice and money to meet the critical needs of our communities. We are organized to innovate, incubate and activate new ideas through our action networks, including: HandsOn Network, the largest network of 250 local volunteer centers across the country and around the world; generationOn, the youth service movement that ignites the power of kids to make their mark on the world; AmeriCorps Alums, the national service alumni network that activates the next generation of service leaders; and Points of Light Corporate Institute, which enables companies to engage their employees and customers in service. For more information, visit www.PointsofLight.org.

Marriott International Launches New European Charitable Giving Initiative

01.12.2012 - 12:05PM

Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) announced today “World of Opportunity,” a new charitable giving programme for Europe, which aims to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds reach their full potential by providing life skills and vocational opportunities.

Through “World of Opportunity,” Marriott International’s more than 280 hotels across Europe will fundraise, facilitate in-kind donations and volunteer with two charitable partners, SOS Children’s Villages in Continental Europe and The Prince’s Trust Fairbridge programme in the United Kingdom.

“Considering the sharp increase in youth unemployment across Europe, we feel ‘World of Opportunity’ can help offer a real solution and be potentially life-changing for participants,” said Amy McPherson, president and managing director for Marriott International in Europe. McPherson added, “Marriott strongly believes that our business should be aligned with what is most important to the communities where we operate, and we hope that through this new initiative we will help make a positive impact in the lives of young people across Europe.”

To help launch the programme, throughout the month of February one British Pound or Euro (or equivalent) will be donated for every lunch and dinner served at participating Marriott-branded hotel restaurants in Europe. Funds raised will help tackle youth unemployment by sponsoring The Prince’s Trust Fairbridge programme’s “Employ Me” course in the U.K., and by supporting SOS Children’s Villages Youth programme, focusing on education and employment, in Continental Europe.

Marriott's commitment to society blends corporate financial contributions with in-kind giving and the volunteer service of our associates around the world. The company participates in efforts to provide shelter, food, and children's health, while creating career opportunities for associates in the workplace and supporting education in the hospitality industry. In 2010, Marriott’s worldwide charitable contributions totaled $34.6 million from donations of cash, in-kind and volunteer time. For more information about our corporate social responsibility efforts visit www.marriott.com/socialresponsibility

Visit Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) for company information. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com.

About The Prince’s Trust

Youth charity The Prince's Trust helps change young lives. It gives practical and financial support, developing key workplace skills such as confidence and motivation. It works with 13-to-30-year-olds who have struggled at school, have been in care, are long-term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law. The Prince of Wales’s charity has helped more than 650,000 young people since 1976 and supports 100 more each day. Last year, more than three in four young people supported by The Trust moved into work, education or training. In April 2011, Fairbridge became part of The Prince’s Trust. The new united organisation will help 50,000 young people this year

About SOS Children's Villages

SOS Children's Villages is an international, non-governmental social development organisation that provides services in the areas of care, education and health for children who have already lost or who are at risk of losing parental care. The organisation was founded in Austria in 1949 and today runs more than 2,100 programmes for some 2.2 million children and adults in 133 countries and territories. Its work is guided by the spirit of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

SOS Children's Villages adheres to the principle that every child grows best in a family environment, with caring parents or caregivers, living together with their siblings, in a place they can call home. SOS Children's Villages works with communities, local partners and authorities to support disadvantaged families across the world, thus preventing family breakdown.

When necessary and when it is deemed to be in the child's best interests, there is the option for children to grow up in foster families or in an SOS Children's Villages family, where children are supported, protected and cared for until they reach adulthood.

SOS Children's Villages also aims at sensitising decision-makers to the concerns that children face and influencing them to make changes in policies and practices that undermine the well-being of children, especially of those without parental care. For more information on SOS Children’s Villages please visit www.sos-childrensvillages.org.

Funnel Your Energy for Rebuilding Together...Rebuilding 25 Homes in 5 Days

09.10.2011 - 04:27PM

Rebuilding Together will rebuild 25 homes in 5 days with 1,000 volunteers for low-income families affected by the devastating tornadoes on June 1, 2011. The event runs from Saturday, October 1 - Wednesday, October 5.

Rebuilding Together is the nation's leading nonprofit working to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize communities. Our over 200 affiliates perform critical repairs, modifications, and rehabilitation to the homes and nonprofit facilities of low-income Americans that consist of: families with children, the elderly, military veterans and the disabled. Please go to the website for more information or register to volunteer: www.rebuildingtogetherspringfield.org.

Editor's Note: View the associated press release here.

Employee Volunteering, the Business Case

09.21.2010 - 03:08PM

In a time of severe economic recession companies might be tempted to reduce corporate support for their local communities, and limit employee volunteering opportunities. But is this the right strategy for a company? Most current studies on the business benefits of employee volunteering focus the impact on reputation, staff retention and recruitment, and less commonly researched is the effect on employee’s professional development.

In the new report, Volunteering: the Business Case, Corporate Citizenship looked at how employees develop business relevant skills and competencies through their volunteering activities. The research conducted on behalf of the City of London Corporation tracked the learning and development of 550 volunteers in 16 blue-chip companies including Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Deutsche Bank, and Ernst & Young. The findings have compelling evidence that supporting employees in community investment activities can deliver real business returns in terms of reduced training and development costs.

On September 28, 2010 Jennifer Peckman, Senior Consultant, and Andrew Wilson, Director from Corporate Citizenship will host a complementary webinar to discuss the key trends in employee volunteering and to present key findings from the study.

Details for this complimentary webinar are as follows:

Date: September 28th, 2010

Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EDT

Log in: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/157274272

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 include multinational companies like Abbott, Chevron, Citi, Becton Dickinson, PepsiCo Foundation, Unilever, and Vodafone Foundation. For more information, please visit www.corporate-citizenship.com.

Measuring Business Outcomes for Employee Volunteer Programs

01.23.2008 - 11:00PM

Measuring Business Outcomes for Employee Volunteer Programs - San Diego, CA
Jan 24, 2008
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Learn from national experts the steps and effective practices for measuring the value of employee volunteering to the company

Program measurement is essential to understanding the value an employee volunteer program (EVP) brings to the employees, the company and the community. This seminar explores the rationale and methods for measuring program outcomes and provides specific methodologies for evaluating key aspects of an EVP.

The Role of Workplace Volunteering in Service-Learning

11.13.2007 - 11:00PM

The Role of Workplace Volunteering in Service-Learning
Nov 14, 2007
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. EST

Service-learning can help engage the vitality of today's youth, leverage the brains and skills of workplace volunteers and involve the nonprofit sector to create dynamic partnerships that truly change communities. Learn how your employee volunteer program can be a key partner in service-learning programs that build youth service, promote learning and change the community.