Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility

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Impact Cubed

The Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility’s Annual Corporate Inclusion Index™ Report Is Out Today

Shifting Sands: Juan Cole on Middle East Climate Woes

Impact Cubed Launches Fund ESG Validator and Climate Tools   

<figure role="group" class="align-center"><img alt="Kim Brown-Wilmsen" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1bc9a5f9-8e4f-4d39-9cc8-be1f173f51c3" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/1speaker_arrow_100322.jpeg" width="640" height="605" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Kim Brown-Wilmsen, vice president and chief information officer of Arrow’s global application solutions, opened the conference.</figcaption></figure>DENVER, Colo., October 3, 2022 /CSRwire/ - Presented by Arrow Electronics, the Colorado Technology Association hosted its long-running Women in Technology Conference that celebrates women across the industry. The event was held in person for the first time since 2020, drawing 650 participants at Spruce Mountain Ranch retreat south of Denver.

The conference featured networking opportunities, professional development workshops, keynote speakers and panel discussions.
<figure role="group" class="align-center"><img alt="Frannie Matthews." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="19a4d78b-c851-40af-981c-b4fd43193283" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/2Frannie_arrow_100322.jpeg" width="640" height="534" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>CEO of Colorado Technology Association, Frannie Matthews.</figcaption></figure>Attendees directly engaged with executive-level women and community leaders on emerging technology trends, leadership, and the opportunities and challenges facing women building a career in tech.

Kim Brown-Wilmsen, vice president and chief information officer of Arrow’s global application solutions, opened the conference and introduced keynote speaker Shivani Siroya, founder and CEO of Tala, the leading financial technology company in emerging markets.
<img alt="panel of 3 women on stage" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b977bba5-b715-4055-9a5c-a7b9f197b1ac" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/3group_arrow_100322.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="534" loading="lazy" />Brown-Wilmsen also served as a conference “luminary,” sharing her career experiences in round table discussions. "To spend the day networking with 650 Colorado female business leaders is so rewarding, and the speakers always provide valuable insight. I’m proud that Arrow is a sponsor of this inspiring event and grateful so many of our Arrow women get to experience the day," Brown-Wilmsen said.

Arrow has intensified its commitment to diversity and inclusion through hiring and advancing the careers of women by increasing the company’s racial and ethnic representation in the U.S. and women employed globally. For more information view Arrow’s 2021 ESG report <a href="https://www.arrow.com/company/environmental-social-governance" target="_blank">here</a>.
<figure role="group" class="align-center"><img alt="Keynote speaker Shivani Siroya, founder and CEO of Tala" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="32d4c373-f968-4c7b-8b01-462f9655db74" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/4crowd_arrow_100322.jpeg" width="640" height="534" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Keynote speaker Shivani Siroya, founder and CEO of Tala, the leading financial technology company in emerging markets.</figcaption></figure>About Arrow Electronics 
Arrow Electronics guides innovation forward for over 220,000 leading technology manufacturers and service providers. With 2021 sales of $34 billion, Arrow develops technology solutions that improve business and daily life. Learn more at <a href="https://www.arrow.com/company/fiveyearsout/" target="_blank">fiveyearsout.com</a>.

About CTA 
The Colorado Technology Association advances Colorado’s tech ecosystem through talent, advocacy, economic development, and community. Learn more about CTA <a href="https://coloradotechnology.org/about/" target="_blank">here</a>.

Arrow Electronics Presents Women in Technology 2022

<figure role="group" class="align-center"><img alt="future united event" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="84fdf85b-7029-4c6a-aeef-35e5c5ae5840" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/future_united_GBCHealth_093022.jpeg" width="640" height="740" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>future united launch in New York, September 22</figcaption></figure>The future of our health, worldwide, is daunting. Antimicrobial resistance. The threat of climate change to health. Water scarcity. The next pandemic.

On Thursday 22nd September in New York, GBCHealth - a 20+ year old NGO with a strong history in bringing businesses, investors, governments &amp; NGOs together to fight malaria, TB &amp; HIV/AIDS - announced the winners of its inaugural 'future united' awards.

The five winners - drawn from India, Mali, Nigeria, Pakistan, and South Africa - are already active in tackling some of the world’s leading causes of ill health. Together, the winners deploy a range of technologies &amp; approaches, including AI, big data, telemedicine platforms and the 'internet of things' to change lives across the world.

<ul><li>The Provocateur Award - Dr. Iffat Zafar Aga from Sehat Kehani / Pakistan. Sehat Kehani empowers physicians, with a special focus on female doctors, to reach their potential using an innovative telemedicine platform, delivering revolutionary &amp; affordable care to transform the healthcare network in Pakistan.</li>
	<li>The Lodestar Award - Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF) / Nigeria. WARIF has a unique survivor-centered framework combating gender-based violence in Nigeria, through the provision of essential services, implementation of educational community-based programs, and advocacy.</li>
	<li>The Futurist Award - TrakitNow / India. TrakitNow's Smart Mosquito Control System (Moskeet) uses sensors &amp; AI to operate autonomously, providing vital real-time mosquito and disease surveillance data, helping prevent &amp; fight mosquito-borne diseases.</li>
	<li>The Collaborator Award - AMP Health / South Africa. AMP works with governments to build visionary and effective health public sector teams by developing the leadership and management skills needed to achieve ambitious goals.</li>
	<li>The Multiplier award - Muso / Mali. Muso addresses the injustices of health and poverty and has designed a unique pathway to counteract the issue of delayed healthcare to reach patients faster and save lives.</li>
</ul>The awards - sponsored by the <a href="https://www.aigimoukhuedefoundation.org/">Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation</a> and <a href="http://www.merck.com">Merck</a>, two visionary organizations working in the field of global health - were part of the launch of GBCHealth's new 'future united' initiative. The initiative builds on GBCHealth's experience as a positive agitator, and looks ahead to future health challenges facing the planet, calling on the private sector to future-proof the wellbeing of their staff, supply chains, and communities by working in collaboration with governments &amp; NGOs worldwide.

Organizations - whether profit &amp; non-profit, national, international or global - are encouraged to join the initiative by visiting <a href="https://thefutureunited.gbchealth.org/">https://thefutureunited.gbchealth.org</a>.

 
***

The GBCHealth CEO - Lesley-Anne Long - and the winning organizations are available for interview. Please find summaries &amp; contact details below.

About the Award Winners:

AMP Health partners with governments to build visionary and effective public sector teams. Governments play a critical role in addressing complex problems and promoting societal well-being, which is why we work with public sector teams to develop the leadership &amp; management skills needed to achieve their ambitious goals. Our approach combines embedded mentoring and capability development; experiential learning through interactive in-person training; executive coaching; curated self-directed learning; and peer exchange. Based in South Africa, we currently partner with ministries of health in 12 African countries: Central African Republic, Chad, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, and Togo.

Contact: 
Dylan Edwards 
Deputy Director, Business Development and Strategic Communications <a href="mailto:dylan.edwards@amphealth.org">dylan.edwards@amphealth.org</a>

 

Muso designs and builds strategies for rapid, universal access to care. A recent study in BMJ Global Health documented how communities served by Muso's rapid care strategies achieved and sustained a rate of child death lower than any country in Sub-Saharan Africa for five years running. Muso currently cares for 400,000 patients, and supports the governments of Mali and Côte d’Ivoire to redesign health systems to connect more than 46 million people with health care.

Contact: 
Julia Berman 
Chief Partnerships Officer <a href="mailto:jberman@musohealth.org">jberman@musohealth.org</a>

 

Sehat Kehani is one of the leading telemedicine platforms in Pakistan that virtually connects patients in need of affordable, convenient, and flexible healthcare options to a panel of online general physicians and specialists through a network of clinics in low-income communities and through a mobile application for the masses with a consumer interface with over 1 million users and a corporate interface being used by over 520 corporations. To date, Sehat Kahani constitutes a portfolio of 48 clinics all over Pakistan (Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, and KPK and now Azad Jammu Kashmir). Over 1.1 million patients have been treated via telemedicine with an overall impact on 7.5 million lives.

Contact: 
Dr. Iffat Zafar Aga 
Cofounder &amp; COO 
+92 3318859475 <a href="mailto:iffatzafar@sehatkahani.com">iffatzafar@sehatkahani.com</a>

 

TrakItNow is a unique Internet of Things (IoT) (sensors) &amp; Artificial Intelligence (AI) company founded with a passion to create a considerable impact on society. Our solutions focus on health security and pandemics. We believe technology should help people remain healthy, safe, and efficient. We’ve developed a sensor- and AI-based solution for Smart Mosquito Control Management to help in the control of mosquito-borne diseases. Moskeet is the world’s first commercially available mosquito trap that can autonomously detect mosquitos. Moskeet is an affordable solution for underdeveloped and developing countries. The award-winning real-time mosquito and disease surveillance solution will change the way the world fights the mosquito-borne diseases. Moskeet is listed in UNDP’s Digital X Solution Catalog, and currently deployed in India and the USA.

Contact: <a href="mailto:contact@trakitnow.com">contact@trakitnow.com</a> 
+91 (733) 7444978

 

Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF) is one of the foremost NGOs addressing the prevalence of rape, sexual violence, and trafficking of women and girls in Nigeria and West Africa. Through a holistic and survivor-centered approach, WARIF’s unique framework focuses on the provision of free post-incident essential services and the implementation of impactful educational and community-based programs addressing the underlying causes of violence against women and girls. In pursuit of this and advocating for policy and social change, WARIF strives to ensure that every girl and woman can live in a society free of gender-based violence.

Contact: 
Ms. Tito Awe 
Communications Associate 
+234 803 071 3393 <a href="mailto:communications@warifng.org">communications@warifng.org</a>

 

About the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation (event sponsor) 
The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation is a public sector-focused philanthropic organization founded by Aigboje and Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede to improve the lives of Africans through transformed public service delivery and access to quality primary healthcare.

The Foundation accomplishes its mission by working with public sector entities, the private sector and other philanthropic partners, providing funding, technical assistance and strategic support to strengthen public sector reform initiatives and build the capacity of the public sector workforce. To achieve its healthcare objectives, the Foundation provides funding and strategic support to drive the work of partner organizations engaged in the healthcare space, such as ABCHealth, GBCHealth, the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN) and the Nigerian Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF). 
Contact: 
Nnamdi Omesiete 
Communications Associate <a href="mailto:nnamdi.omesiete@aigafrica.org">nnamdi.omesiete@aigafrica.org</a>

 

GBCHealth is a global NGO leveraging the power of the private sector to drive the world towards health equity. Launched in 2001 to combat HIV/AIDS, the organization expanded its focus over the years to include malaria, TB and maternal &amp; newborn health. In September 2022 GBCHealth launched future united, a new initiative drawing together businesses, nonprofits, governments, philanthropists, investors, influencers &amp; entrepreneurs to counter the daunting health challenges ahead for everyone on the planet: the impact of climate change on health, antimicrobial resistance, water scarcity, food security and future pandemics.

Contact: 
Lesley-Anne Long 
President &amp; CEO <a href="mailto:futureunited@gbchealth.org">futureunited@gbchealth.org</a>

Provocateurs, Lodestars, Futurists, Multipliers & Collaborators Shaping the Future of Global Health

<figure role="group" class="align-center"><img alt="&quot; &quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="343055c1-a878-4c68-9590-d7fa5050e219" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/1258_204_00_HGAsac-RSt-db_04v2_medium.jpeg" width="640" height="865" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>HGA’s Sacramento office features various collaboration spaces, including booths and work islands.</figcaption></figure>September 29, 2022 /CSRwire/ - The WELL Health-Safety Rating is informed by the WELL Building Standard and includes guidelines for health, safety, and well-being of building occupants. At national interdisciplinary design firm HGA, we view sustainable practices within our own buildings and operations as equal in importance to bringing a sustainable lens to every project with our clients. 

The HGA team has experience working with the <a href="https://www.wellcertified.com/health-safety/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">WELL rating system</a>—the world’s leading tool for advancing health and well-being in buildings—whether pursuing full certification, seeking the WELL Health-Safety Seal, or to use the principles and research outlined in WELL to guide the design process. Research has shown access to daylight and nature to have positive physical and psychological benefits. Water quality, healthy food availability, indoor air quality, and encouraging movement through design can also influence the health of occupants, which is why we center human health and well-being in all our work. With a focus on operational policies, maintenance protocols, occupant engagement and emergency plans, the WELL Health-Safety Rating was developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the strategies incorporated apply to a variety of health and safety issues. 
<figure role="group" class="align-center"><img alt="&quot; &quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="86750567-06dc-4e11-a15d-5d35034f1c15" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/1258_116_00_HGA_FordCent_pc_0475_medium.jpeg" width="640" height="709" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Bike parking in the Minneapolis office.</figcaption></figure>“Pursuing the WELL Health-Safety Certification for our offices shows a strong commitment to our people. As a part of the certification, we reviewed the buildings and spaces we use for our work, our policies that affect the health and safety of employees, and the preparedness of our business to handle a wide variety of change and stressors,” says <a href="https://hga.com/people/sarah-berseth/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Sarah Berseth</a>, Director of Operations at HGA. 

HGA’s founding office in Minneapolis occupies the LEED Platinum-certified historic Ford Center. Built in 1914 and once home to the Ford Motor Company, our team carried out a complete modernization of the historic building in 2011, restoring the building envelope and replacing all building systems. The four-story, 83,000- square-foot office space showcases our expertise in sustainable, forward-thinking, flexible and efficient office environments. Private and collaborative workspaces are spread throughout the four floors with office amenities including a roof deck, a fitness center, and commuter bicycle storage. Sustainable design features include the use of low-VOC materials, under-floor air distribution for individual occupant temperature adjustment, 28% reduced water use beyond industry standards, and green power fueling portions of the building. The building features an abundance of natural light, including a combination of rebuilt original windows, historically compatible energy-efficient new windows and tall windows overlooking the downtown Minneapolis skyline. 
<figure role="group" class="align-center"><img alt="&quot; &quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d01ad976-fb0d-4e5c-ae46-9145aca47732" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/PH_180419_N4_medium-1.jpeg" width="640" height="723" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Meeting spaces, a coffee bar, and private work stations are scattered throughout HGA’s Minneapolis office.</figcaption></figure>When the HGA Sacramento office relocated in 2015, it strived to be a place of employee health and well-being. The 12,000-square-foot office space promotes collaboration and fosters creativity with a variety of workspaces scattered throughout the office, including booths, bar-height critique areas, large work islands, private meeting rooms and larger conference rooms. Workstations include ergonomic seating, adjustable height worktables, task lights and pullout storage towers. Sustainable strategies are infused in the design of the space with finishes such as reclaimed wood, regionally sourced materials, low-VOC materials, renewable resources, and LED lighting throughout. Diffused interior skylights were added as well to enhance the amount of natural light in the office. The building is LEED-Gold certified.

“Being located in the capital of California, where our state government pushes the envelope with zero net energy, resiliency in the face of climate change, and carbon neutrality, Sacramento has a deep legacy of sustainability. Pursuing the WELL Health-Safety Certification for our office and across the firm demonstrates HGA’s commitment to elevating sustainability as part of an equitable, holistic approach to design, serves as a model for our clients, and places a focus on employee wellness in alignment with our vision of a future flexible workplace,” says <a href="https://hga.com/people/beth-young/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Beth Young</a>, Office Director and Principal at HGA in Sacramento.  
<figure role="group" class="align-center"><img alt="&quot; &quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ed9859de-1361-4f14-919d-80f5a1d408f1" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/1258_204_00_HGAsac-RSt-db_02v2_medium.jpeg" width="640" height="738" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Large meeting rooms in the Sacramento office.</figcaption></figure>The WELL Health-Safety Rating focuses on six health-safety themes including: Cleaning and Sanitization Procedures, Emergency Preparedness Programs, Health Service Resources, Air and Water Quality Management, Stakeholder Engagement and Communication, and Innovation. The Health-Safety Rating requires a building to obtain a combination of at least fifteen features from the indicated themes. In addition to the existing office features focused on employee wellness, both offices achieved eighteen of twenty-seven possible features in six core health and safety areas. These features include supporting handwashing, reducing surface contact, emergency preparedness planning, providing sick leave and mental health recovery, assessing ventilation, managing air and water quality, and promoting health and wellbeing through communication and occupant education.  

The WELL Health-Safety Rating symbolizes HGA’s ongoing commitment to health and safety for our clients, our staff, and all who walk through our doors.  

Learn more about HGA’s Sustainable Design services, inclusive of WELL certification, <a href="https://hga.com/services/sustainable-design/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">here</a>.

 HGA Minneapolis and Sacramento Achieve WELL Health-Safety Rating

<img alt="report cover" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f5077e64-60cc-43d1-a3d0-78ec31098fc1" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/_2022_CII_Instagram_and_Press_Release_Image_0.png" width="640" class="align-center" height="1080" loading="lazy" />WASHINGTON, September 29, 2022 /CSRwire/- Hispanic inclusion in Corporate America stalled or reversed course during 2021, according to the 2022 HACR Corporate Inclusion Index™ (CII) released today. The report, themed “Three Years Later: The Post-Crisis Recalibration of Corporate America’s Hispanic Diversity, Equity, &amp; Inclusion Practices,” aggregated data from 82 participating corporations, the majority of which are Fortune 500 companies.

The <a href="https://hacr.org/" target="_blank">Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility’s</a> (HACR) CII report has been the source for <a href="https://hacr.org/hacr-research-institute/" target="_blank">comprehensive reporting</a> on Corporate America’s Hispanic inclusion efforts since 2009. The 2022 HACR CII examined Hispanic corporate inclusion practices last year and compared those results with data from the prior two years to ascertain how companies reacted to major disruptions in the shorter term and recalibrate, as they anticipated emergence from the global pandemic.

“The data shows an unfortunate regression in Hispanic inclusion measurement and outcomes during 2021 and over the past three years. We therefore renew our call to companies to partner with us to double down on Hispanic inclusion strategies with data-backed tools specific to our community,” said <a href="http://hacr-4476451.hs-sites.com/cid_wilson_media_kit" target="_blank">Cid Wilson</a>, President and CEO at HACR. “We believe that with the right strategies and partnerships companies can accelerate Hispanic inclusion to match our fast growing influence as a major economic force.”

Conducted by HACR’s <a href="https://hacr.org/hacr-research-institute/" target="_blank">research branch</a>, the study showed decreased Hispanic inclusion across all four focus areas: employment, procurement, philanthropy, and governance in the 2022 survey. Specific highlights of the report include:

<ul><li>Hispanic employees in the corporate workforce declined by .8 percent since 2020, representing the second largest drop in Hispanic employee inclusion outcomes reported since 2019.</li>
	<li>70 percent of Hispanics in Corporate America are employed in non-exempt positions.</li>
	<li>The average number of Hispanic employees who report to the CEO dropped to .56 per company. That roughly translates to a 50 percent chance a company’s CEO will not have a Hispanic voice among their closest advisors.</li>
	<li>Companies reported directing 2 percent of total procurement spend to Hispanic suppliers.</li>
	<li>Since 2020, Latina representation on corporate boards has changed little at 1.8 percent. Similarly, Latina representation among corporate executives has remained relatively flat over the last three years with incremental changes driven by increases of Latinas hired into non-exempt positions.</li>
	<li>The percent of total corporate giving decreased to the lowest levels in three years to 8 percent. For both corporate and foundation giving, philanthropic investment totals are lower than those from 2019.</li>
	<li>Hispanic representation on corporate boards was reported at .6 percent. About half of 2022 CII participants reported having at least one Hispanic board member. The other half reported having no Hispanic board representation.</li>
</ul>Utilizing a five-star rating system, HACR commemorates excellence in Hispanic inclusion with companies that document best practices in DEI and are progressing towards greater Hispanic inclusion. This year, the Washington-based nonprofit awarded two companies 5-star ratings in all four pillars of inclusion: Comcast NBCUniversal and Medtronic PLC. HACR celebrates their partnership and commitment to the advancement of Hispanics and also acknowledges other 2022 participating companies for their demonstrated dedication to data-based benchmarking and actionable change.

To explore all 2022 findings,<a href="http://hacr-4476451.hs-sites.com/2022-hacr-cii-report" target="_blank"> download the report</a>.

###

Founded in 1986, the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR) is the nation’s leading corporate advocacy organization, representing 14 national Hispanic organizations in the United States and Puerto Rico. Its mission is to advance the inclusion of Hispanics in Corporate America in the areas of Employment, Procurement, Philanthropy, and Governance. Through our corporate leadership advancement programs, best-practice conferences, research initiatives, and public engagements, HACR is illuminating The Power of Hispanic Inclusion™ throughout Corporate America.

<img alt="ESG spelled out on blocks" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="102c2170-57ec-4b38-a30d-0eac5564abac" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/pnc_insights_commitments_berkshire_story.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="549" loading="lazy" /><a href="https://www.pnc.com/insights/our-commitments/environment/sustainability-a-win-for-pnc-client-berkshire-hills-bancorp.html?lnksrc=insights-mostrecent" target="_blank">PNC | Insights</a>

When unique business needs meet specialized capabilities, special things can happen. And that’s exactly the scenario that led to a deal between PNC and Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.

Berkshire Hills Bancorp recently announced the completion of the public offering and sale of its inaugural sustainability bond – a $100 million bond issuance to help finance environmentally or socially conscious projects. PNC FIG Advisory, part of PNC Capital Markets LLC, acted as joint underwriter and coordinator for the offering. In addition, the firm was the sole Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) structuring agent on the transaction, leveraging experts from PNC’s Sustainable Finance practice along with Berkshire’s ESG leadership, to help to formulate the bond’s sustainability performance targets, among other consulting services.

What is a sustainability bond?

A sustainability bond is similar to a regular bond that a financial institution – or an investor – “buys” from a borrower, also called an issuer or a seller. While the investor is technically “buying” the bond, it is basically another form of lending money. The bond seller must repay the amount of the loan by a specific date, including regular interest payments.

The main goal of any bond is to help a borrower – usually a corporation or government entity – to finance specific projects and/or initiatives. The funds lent to the borrower are called “bond proceeds,” which are then used to accomplish those specific projects and/or initiatives.

Simply put, what makes a sustainability bond different is that proceeds are used to help finance environmentally or socially conscious projects or activities such as:

<ul><li>Third-party certified “green” building construction</li>
	<li>Renewable energy production</li>
	<li>Affordable housing</li>
	<li>Diversity and inclusion projects</li>
</ul>The projects aim to achieve predetermined goals tied to the bond’s financing conditions and the borrower’s goals.

“As ESG activity becomes increasingly critical across the business landscape, PNC is committed to improving its ability to help clients better live their values and priorities,” said Matt Resch, managing director for PNC FIG Advisory.

One-of-a-kind opportunity

Berkshire is the first public U.S. community bank holding company with under $150 billion in total assets to issue a sustainability bond and only the eleventh U.S. financial institution to issue an ESG-focused bond. This effectively puts Boston-based Berkshire Hills Bancorp in a league with institutions more than 20 times its size, including PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., <a href="https://pnc.mediaroom.com/2019-11-01-PNC-Issues-Inaugural-Green-Bond" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">which issued its first sustainability bond in 2019.</a>

Berkshire Hills Bancorp is undergoing a transformation as it looks to empower the financial potential of its communities. Under new leadership, there is renewed focus on its 176-year history in ESG and on the customer experience, so that it can deliver on the bank’s vision to be a leading socially responsible community bank.

“When we engaged with Berkshire Hills Bancorp about a year ago, it was a new relationship for PNC, and we knew they had debt scheduled to refinance in the near future,” said Andrew Underwood, managing director for PNC FIG Advisory. “We consulted with them about sustainable bonds because we knew it would fit well with their strategic business goals.”

The team worked directly with Berkshire Hills Bancorp to create a sustainable financing framework that clearly defined eligible environmental and social investments aligned to Berkshire's specific ESG goals and objectives. This framework defines how the bond issuance will be used. The team also helped shepherd the framework through a third-party review, called the Second-Party Opinion.

Berkshire Hills Bancorp’s Sustainable Financing Framework is hyper-focused on building up communities across its footprint, seeking to create jobs and housing, and enhancing the viability of revitalization projects. Also, Berkshire will be focused on supporting small- to medium-sized enterprises, but not at the exclusion of investing in larger enterprises that may be critical to a specific region or area's job/food security.

“We view our sustainable financing activities as a catalyst to deliver on our <a href="http://www.berkshirebank.com/comeback" rel="noopener noreferrer">BEST Community Comeback</a> and be an engine for positive change in our communities. As a result of this Sustainability Bond issuance, we’ll support the clean-energy transition, help individuals achieve the dream of homeownership, expand services from small businesses and nonprofit organizations within low-to-moderate income neighborhoods and improve equity in our communities,” said Gary Levante, Berkshire’s head of ESG.

Meeting client needs

PNC launched its Sustainable Finance Practice in 2020 to better support clients with their own ESG-focused goals and initiatives.

The Sustainable Finance Practice helps clients think through their own ESG strategies, goals and approaches, and structures financing that takes client goals into consideration by offering support for environmental and social debt issuances and sustainability-linked loans.

“There are a few ways we can tailor financial solutions for clients with sustainability in mind – either making specific sustainability-focused purchases or investments or linking financial product pricing with sustainability performance,” said Kristi Eberhardt, head of PNC's Sustainable Finance Practice. “This work is only possible when we have deep engagement with our clients, knowledge of their goals, and strong expertise in ESG, both where it fits into the world now, and what we think it will look like in the future.”

Why sustainability? 

The benefits of sustainable finance are far-reaching as efforts in this space can influence a multitude of business metrics such as stakeholder engagement, corporate social responsibility strategies, a company’s investor base, and potentially a lower cost of capital, among others.

Social responsibility is also a high priority for organizations. In a <a href="https://www.pnc.com/insights/corporate-institutional/gain-market-insight/emerging-trends-in-institutional-social-responsibility.html" target="_blank">recent study</a> by PNC’s Institutional Asset Management group, 92% of all executives surveyed say that social responsibility is a priority for their organization. With PNC’s experience in that space, its leadership feels the bank is uniquely positioned to help its customers forge their own path around sustainable financing.

“PNC is leading the way with community banks and ESG,” Underwood said. “There have been two community bank sustainable-linked bond deals ever, and we've done both. But we know it's not just about the transaction, it's about a long-term relationship.”

Sustainability a Win for PNC Client Berkshire Hills Bancorp

<img alt="&quot;Insights for 12 guests, 15 episodes and 8 hours&quot; Corporate Conversations on Purpose" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="16635cb3-0ef0-43c1-ab9f-636eed41590e" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/CorporateConversations_InsightsPack.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="720" loading="lazy" />Phil Preston, CEO of The Business Purpose Project and Lynne Filderman, Founder of Curation On Purpose are pleased to release their summary insights pack from the <a href="https://businesspurposeproject.com/resources/corporate-conversations-on-purpose/" target="_blank">Corporate Conversations on Purpose</a> series.

“Global leaders are increasingly turning to corporate purpose transformation to boost profits, competitive advantage and increase valuations” according to Phil Preston, co-host of Corporate Conversations on Purpose.

The <a href="https://businesspurposeproject.com/download-corporate-purpose-summary-insights/" target="_blank">Insights Pack</a> summarises the 15 episodes with 12 corporate professionals in which we examined the purpose roadmap, purpose and leader leadership and transformation. Here are a few observations:

<ul><li>Purpose is a compass for navigating complexity and must connect to strategic opportunity</li>
	<li>CEOs must make a genuine commitment, it’s not a compliance activity</li>
	<li>Stakeholders increasingly expect alignment between business and society, and 
	they are demanding greater transparency</li>
	<li>Embedding purpose in operations and KPIs is hard work that pays off</li>
	<li>Don’t expect perfection, just get started!</li>
</ul>Lynne Filderman notes, “We had the opportunity to have conversations with corporate professionals working behind the scenes on the difficult work of purpose transformation,” noted Lynne Filderman, “And, we wanted to provide a summary of insights they shared with us on their purpose journey.”

You can download the Insights Pack from:

<a href="https://businesspurposeproject.com/download-corporate-purpose-summary-insights/" target="_blank">https://businesspurposeproject.com/download-corporate-purpose-summary-insights/</a>

The Corporate Conversations on Purpose <a href="https://businesspurposeproject.com/resources/corporate-conversations-on-purpose/" target="_blank">episodes</a> feature: Bobbi Silten (Shared Value Initiative); Jennie MacLaughlin (Purpose Led Transformation); Rachel Hutchisson (Blackbaud); Megan Fielding (Nuveen); David Harrington (Strategist, ex-IAG); Brad Gurrie (SocialSuite); Whitney Dailey (Allison+Partners); Christine Holman (Non-Executive Director); Tim King (Melior Investment Management); Rik Haslam (Brandpie); Sarah Downie (Shared Value Project); and Ben Smithee (The Smithee Group).

We are honored to receive the support of our partners in 3BL Media and AmpSlide. As a news and information distribution platform, 3BL Media, a triple bottom line company, features the purpose-driven content of leading companies and organizations. Ampslide is an innovative platform designed to engage audiences anywhere, anytime–an all-in-one event and content hosting platform maximizing ROI for sales and marketing teams.

If you are interested in creating your own in-house conversations or exploring the benefits of sponsorship, contact Lynne or Phil via <a href="mailto:ask@businesspurposeproject.com" target="_blank">ask@businesspurposeproject.com</a>

Announcing the Corporate Conversations on Purpose Insights Pack

<img alt="BookSmart24 App" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e95e2b95-5830-44c9-9463-5a96fcb7d1c8" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/PMpicBluFinal.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="1080" loading="lazy" />October 3, 2022 /CSRwire/ - While existing travel websites primarily display the cheapest or fastest travel option, the new BookSmart24 app also finds the most CO2- and emission-efficient variant for the chosen route. The platform enables users to make smart and responsible booking decisions and to realize that traveling in an environmentally conscious manner does not necessarily have to be more expensive.

SmartChoice: CO2-reduced travel does not have to be more expensive

BookSmart24 puts the avoidance of CO2 and other harmful emissions in the foreground. The result is the BookSmart24 SmartChoice: It shows users how to make a comfortable and at the same time environmentally friendly and cost-saving booking decision. Thanks to the clear and simple operation of the app, the end consumer receives information on the environmental impact of his or her journey and also sees at a glance: flying more environmentally conscious does not mean that it has to be much more expensive. The cost difference to the more CO2-efficient route is often only slight.

SmartChoice prefers routes with the lowest CO2 impact and is constantly developing further

The platform calculates and compares prices, travel duration, and the individual CO2 impact of each route based on proprietary algorithms. SmartChoice prioritizes and recommends the routes with the lowest carbon footprint while ensuring that fares and trip durations remain within an average value expected for the route in question. SmartChoice is constantly evolving and adapting to the fast changing mobility industry by taking into account additional parameters such as biofuels or the sustainability of airports or train stations. A so far worldwide unique concept.
<img alt="Fields and sky reads: Book Smart. Travel Responsibly." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="971c8cc6-d807-4927-9f2e-7005f883b5af" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/PMpicGreenFinal.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="1080" loading="lazy" />Next step: Offers for world-wide high-speed train services

For now, BookSmart24 offers its services for air routes. Soon, the focus will also be on high-speed trains around the world, which will be included in SmartChoice. This will provide consumers with combined offers from train and flight connections. The basic structure for a global high-speed train GDS (Global Distribution System) have already been installed on the platform and the service will be available soon. In a further step, urban multi-mobility concepts (public transport, car sharing, etc.) will be integrated into the platform in order to offer sustainable door-to-door travel worldwide.

The goal: to establish BookSmart24 as the leading global reference platform for more sustainable travel.

Contact: Claudia von Ahn, <a href="mailto:claudiavonahn@booksmart24.com" target="_blank">claudiavonahn@booksmart24.com</a>, <a href="http://www.booksmart24.com/" target="_blank">www.booksmart24.com</a>

While existing travel websites primarily display the cheapest or fastest travel option, the new BookSmart24 app also finds the most CO2- and emission-efficient variant for the chosen route.

BookSmart24: New App for Environmentally Conscious Travel Finds the Lowest CO2 Route to the Desired Destination

<img alt="surf smart 2.0" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="324b1303-8412-4a90-8198-9a19459c3566" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/surfsmart_NLL_093022.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="665" loading="lazy" /><a href="https://www.nortonlifelock.com/blogs/corporate-responsibility/corporate-engagement-award-2022" target="_blank">NortonLifeLock Blog | Corporate Responsibility</a>

By Kim Allman | Head of Corporate Responsibility and Government Affairs

The <a href="https://www.corporateengagementawards.com/" target="_blank">Corporate Engagement Awards (CEA)</a>, now in its 12th year, recognizes the most successful and innovative corporate partnerships. We are thrilled and honored to announce that we have won Gold in the 2022 CEA Best Educational Programme category for <a href="https://www.wagggs.org/en/what-we-do/surf-smart-20/" target="_blank">Surf Smart 2.0</a>.

Co-created in collaboration with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), Surf Smart is a badge program that focuses on Cyber Safety education, helping to provide a generation of girls and young women with the ability to protect themselves and others online.

Developed for scouts and guides ages five to 25, Surf Smart 2.0 includes a number of activities to respond to different contexts, ages, learning needs, and objectives. The five tenets of the curriculum cover connecting positively online, protecting oneself from risks, understanding one’s digital rights and footprint, and imagining a better internet, where positivity and creativity can lead to an improved online experience for others.
<img alt="CEA award" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9e4fb0c4-c1ce-4b8c-8134-c5ac955bcab5" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/CEA_NLL_093022.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="475" loading="lazy" />WAGGGS has been an incredible, long-term partner and through Surf Smart 2.0, we’ve reached more than 600,000 Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 44 countries since 2011. Following the completion of the program, 90% of participants reported knowing where to get help if they feel uncomfortable or at risk online, 97% feel confident and able to act as advocates and share what they have learned with others, 98% are more able to identify if something is dangerous online, 99% enjoyed learning through the Surf Smart, and 98% agreed to think carefully before sharing anything online.

We <a href="https://www.nortonlifelock.com/blogs/corporate-responsibility/womens-history-month-2022" target="_blank">recently committed an additional $1 million</a> to increased capacity for Surf Smart 2.0 programs across Europe, support the 2023 WAGGGS Academy event in Germany, and help launch an online advocacy fund to support girls and young women interested in digital advocacy. This successful partnership is now in its third phase, and we are aiming to reach an additional 200,000 girls and young women by December 2024.
<figure role="group" class="align-center"><img alt="&quot; &quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="872efb95-889f-4a86-8a37-49282f6a9ca8" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/WAGGGSteam_NLL_093022.jpeg" width="640" height="510" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>The WAGGGS team accepts the Gold CEA Award at a celebratory event in London on September 27, 2022.</figcaption></figure>This award both celebrates Surf Smart 2.0 and helps recognize the continuous work we put into our Corporate Social Responsibility programs to support our communities in authentic and meaningful ways. Congratulations to <a href="https://www.communicatemagazine.com/news/2022/corporate-engagement-awards-2022-winners-announced/" target="_blank">all of the winners</a>!

We are honored to announce that we have won Gold in the 2022 Corporate Engagement Awards Best Educational Programme category for Surf Smart 2.0, a program co-created in partnership with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.

Norton Wins Gold in the Corporate Engagement Awards

<img alt="Dana Morales with a piece of her art" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="72a9d2a6-5a20-45b0-a29f-c17735c1cb65" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/pottery_kohlers_100322.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="683" loading="lazy" />It’s Hispanic Heritage Month and we’re celebrating the contributions and impact of our Latino/a/x associates like Dana Morales on our businesses, our history, and our mission of gracious living.

With a fearless drive and endless creativity, Dana is making history as Kohler’s first female Principal Industrial Designer. The Colombia native studied ceramics in Florence and New York before landing at Kohler, where she leads the creation of our decorative kitchen and bath products.
<img alt="Dana Morales writing" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="cf9767ce-3ce9-4a02-bb42-9137f2fef56d" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/writing_kohlers_100322.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="683" loading="lazy" />“I have the most fun job at this company. I’m surrounded by inspiring people, materials and processes, and with the help of our talented craftsmen and brilliant engineers, I get to make my dreams become actual products.”

She is proudly setting an example for her sons—to work hard, travel, seize opportunities, and value diversity as an attribute.
<img alt="Dana Morales" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e83e4109-825e-4a29-b788-a15245ef5cbb" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/DanaMorales_kohlers_100322.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="640" loading="lazy" />“As a Hispanic, I’m constantly recognizing the influence the Hispanic culture has around the world, and I want my boys to grow up and become global citizens. A diversity of perspectives and approaches can lead to new outcomes that benefit us all!”

Learn more about diversity, equity, and inclusion at Kohler: <a href="https://www.kohlercompany.com/careers/diversity-equity-inclusion/" target="_blank">https://www.kohlercompany.com/careers/diversity-equity-inclusion/</a>

With a fearless drive and endless creativity, Dana is making history as Kohler’s first female Principal Industrial Designer.

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