Month: July 2023

Awarding military challenge coins has been part of the American military tradition for over a century. These coins were created to instill unit pride and fellowship, and to reward hard work and excellence. Historically, challenge coins were presented by unit commanders in recognition of unit members’ special achievements or in recognition of visits to various organizations.

“While the origin of the military challenge coin is up for debate, most would agree that we started seeing coins around World War I, with their popularity and usage growing during the Vietnam War,” said Josh Quantz, HR business partner at Fifth Third Bank and former co-chair of the Company’s Cincinnati Military Business Resource Group. “The coins are a large part of the military culture, and we wanted to create a program for our BRG to connect the Bank to this tradition.”

The Cincinnati Military BRG recently launched the Military BRG Challenge Coin program, allowing Military BRG leaders across the footprint to award a coin, and an accompanying Spirit of the Pin award, in acknowledgment of efforts related to the military or veterans. In regions that have a Multicultural BRG with a military focus, those leaders may also award coins. A Military BRG Challenge Coin can be awarded to any individual in the Bank.

“It’s a meaningful way to recognize those who go the extra mile to promote and grow the Military BRG and support our inclusive culture,” said Cheryl Lombardi, senior sustainability reporting analyst and former co-chair of the Cincinnati Military BRG. “The coin is a permanent display of appreciation for an individual’s contribution and represents their commitment to our Core Values.”

It’s a token steeped in history and personal experience. A former Army squadron commander, Quantz created a commander’s coin in partnership with his command sergeant major.

“It was a lot of fun to create the coin for my Army unit, playing on the cavalry symbols and colors, while tying it all in with our unit’s lineage and history,” Quantz said. “I am thankful for the collaboration of our Marketing & Design department to create the Military BRG Challenge Coin. It will look great on a display rack with other challenge coins.”

Fifth Third isn’t the first nonmilitary organization to create its own challenge coin. They are popular with police and fire departments, fraternal organizations and nonprofits with connections to the military. Other companies, as well as music and sports organizations, also have challenge coins.

“I’m proud of our Military BRG for launching this innovative program, and it’s meaningful to me personally as the mother of a senior chief petty officer with the U.S. Navy,” said Stephanie A. Smith, chief inclusion officer. “It’s a unique way to celebrate and honor our commitment to those who serve, and it encompasses our Core Values.”

This blog was contributed to by Mizpah Brown-Rich, the co-founder of Joshua’s Gift.

Of all the concerns that parents of autistic children face, a scary encounter with police shouldn’t be one of them. But that’s exactly what Joshua’s parents dealt with, following a walk around the block with their son Joshua to help calm his anxiety.

At the time, Joshua was 17 years old, 6-feet tall, African American, and non-verbal. Joshua interacted with the world around him a little differently than others.

When a neighborhood resident called the police for what they mistook as “suspicious behavior”, the resulting response could have easily escalated into a dangerous situation.

The experience inspired Joshua’s parents to take bold action to help ensure that police, security personnel, and first responders could learn how to identify autistic individuals and respond with skill and compassion.

Joshua’s mother Mizpah Brown-Rich and father Kerry Rich developed CODE JOSHUA — a unique call for emergency assistance that alerts police officers, firefighters, health care workers, and other personnel to respectfully approach and respond to autistic individuals in crisis with sensitivity and caution. The initiative is one of many innovations and services within their non-profit organization Joshua’s Gift, which works to develop a society that invitingly accepts, respects, and includes the autistic community.

According to Autismspectrumnews.org, caregivers report 13% of their autistic children used at least one emergency service in a two-month period, and 20% of autistic children have had encounters with law enforcement officers by the age of 2. By creating an alliance with first responders, CODE JOSHUA drives equal rights, protects and defends our most vulnerable citizens, and preserves individual freedoms.

Cisco’s Connected Black Professionals (CBP) Inclusive Community recognized the power and potential of CODE JOSHUA and the alignment with our social justice action committed to supporting key organizations in shaping social justice policy and driving equal rights. CBP nominated the innovative program for Cisco’s Black Equity Grant program, which awards a total of US $500,000 in cash grants each fiscal year to Black-serving and/or Black-led nonprofit organizations who support social justice and racial equity.

As Curshanda Cusseaux Woods, Black Equity Grant program administrator, puts it, “Joshua’s Gift is a wonderful example of the types of organizations we love to support. They align with our social justice values and have the vision and the know how to institute change. They just needed support from Cisco to further their impact in more communities.”

With Cisco’s funding, support, and community partnership, CODE JOSHUA was established into a robust registry database. Profiles created by the families of autistic individuals detail key information and crisis behaviors to help guide 911 dispatchers in appropriate crisis response. The initiative includes a training program and video resources to train first responders on how to approach with empathy and patience, how to de-escalate the situation by meeting the individuals’ sensory and communication needs, and how to respond without force.

To date, CODE JOSHUA has been launched in police departments in multiple Northern California counties.

Joshua’s mother Mizpah is seeing real impact. “Our CODE JOSHUA training courses are having an impressive impact on the first responders we are training. The program is effectively helping minimize anxiety and eliminate potential harm to our loved ones living with autism and IDD (Intellectual Developmental Disabilities). “By partnering with Cisco, we can leverage their technology and expertise to reach more communities and raise awareness about our autistic citizens. Together, we are making a difference in saving lives and creating a more inclusive and respectful society.”

Learn more about CODE JOSHUA and the Joshua’s Gift organization.

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CAMDEN, N.J. July 31, 2023 /3BL/ – Subaru of America, Inc. today unveiled a new creative spot focused on the automaker’s efforts to expand access to the outdoors for all. Featuring the all-new 2023 Subaru Forester Wilderness, the advertisement stars Keivonn Woodard, the Emmy-nominated, 10-year-old Deaf actor and showcases the automaker’s long-standing partnership with the National Park Foundation.

In the creative, titled “A Beautiful Silence,” a father and his young son, who is Deaf, drive through Yosemite National Park, with the wonders of the park’s beauty surrounding them. Featuring audio elements and American Sign Language (ASL), the spot shows how the pair experience the park’s natural wonders in different ways, but share the special feeling that nature brings forth.

“The outdoors are for everyone, and whether it’s a trip to a national park or a walk in the woods, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to experience its beauty,” said Alan Bethke, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Subaru of America, Inc. “Through our partnership with the National Park Foundation and our commitment to making safe and capable vehicles like the Forester Wilderness, we’re hoping that even more people will be inspired to explore the wonders of nature, just like the father and son in our new creative.”

Through the National Park Foundation’s Outdoor Exploration initiative and ParkVentures program, Subaru is helping more people create life-long relationships with the outdoors. The campaign seeks to make the outdoors more accessible to communities that have been historically excluded from parks, either through a community’s physical presence on public lands or through the narrative of who belongs outdoors.

Last year, with support from Subaru, ParkVentures supported the efforts of more than 55 organizations to connect more people, including those with differing abilities, to meaningful experiences in United States national parks. Subaru also developed a direct relationship with ParkVentures grantee Black People Who Hike, which aims to help address the lack of representation in parks by empowering, educating and engaging Black people in the outdoors. Subaru provided the vehicles, gear, and experiences for an enhanced retreat in Acadia National Park to help create safe, welcoming spaces and cultivate lasting relationships with the outdoors.

Subaru is the largest corporate donor to the National Park Foundation and has provided over $70 million to organizations working to conserve national parks. To learn more about the automaker’s partnership with National Park Foundation and over 20 years of environmentally focused initiatives, please visit Subaru.com/earth.

The new Subaru Forester Wilderness spot, created in collaboration with agency partner Carmichael Lynch, celebrates the automaker’s devotion to adventure and environmental stewardship. Beginning today, “A Beautiful Silence” will run in 30-second format on national television and be featured in 15-second format in targeted digital and social media promotions throughout August, while a 60-second version will be available on YouTube. 
 

About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 630 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise, which is the company’s vision to show love and respect to everyone, and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA and the SOA Foundation have donated more than $300 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged nearly 88,000 volunteer hours. As a company, Subaru believes it is important to do its part in making a positive impact in the world because it is the right thing to do. For additional information visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Diane Anton 
Corporate Communications Manager 
(856) 488-5093 
danton@subaru.com

Adam Leiter 
Corporate Communications Specialist 
(856) 488-8668 
aleiter@subaru.com