Month: September 2023

Earlier this year, Mary Kay unveiled its ambitious 2023 reforestation initiatives in collaboration with the Arbor Day Foundation. As Mary Kay commemorates its 60th anniversary, it also celebrates a decade and a half of deep-rooted commitment to community and environmental impact.

This year’s reforestation projects span across continents:

United States: In a bid to restore Georgia’s rare habitats and reverse the decline of longleaf pine, 80,000 trees will be planted across the state. Additionally, 12,000 trees will find their roots in the Lassen National Forest in California, aiding in the recovery from the devastating Dixie Fire of 2021.Mexico: At the heart of Mexico’s Cerro Pelon Butterfly Sanctuary, 4,000 trees will be planted to address climate change challenges and aid the endangered monarch butterfly.Spain: Belorado’s scenic hills in northern Spain will receive 4,000 trees, promoting resilience against wildfires and supporting the local community.

The alliance between Mary Kay and the Arbor Day Foundation has been both innovative and impactful. Back in 2008, a unique recycling initiative saw a tree planted for every old cosmetic compact recycled. This initiative surpassed its goal thanks to the dedication of Independent Beauty Consultants, customers, and Mary Kay employees. Subsequent years witnessed the creation of Nature Explore Classrooms, providing solace and connection to nature for residents in domestic violence shelters.

From 2013, Mary Kay’s reach expanded globally, supporting reforestation projects in regions ranging from the US to Madagascar. Fast forward to 2018, and the company celebrated planting its one-millionth tree during the inauguration of the new Richard R. Rogers Manufacturing/R&D facility in Texas.

Today, with a proud tally of 1.3 million trees planted, the commitment is far from over. Mary Kay aims to add another 100,000 trees this year alone, further cementing its pledge to the planet and its communities.

Earlier this year, Mary Kay unveiled its ambitious 2023 reforestation initiatives in collaboration with the Arbor Day Foundation. As Mary Kay commemorates its 60th anniversary, it also celebrates a decade and a half of deep-rooted commitment to community and environmental impact.

This year’s reforestation projects span across continents:

United States: In a bid to restore Georgia’s rare habitats and reverse the decline of longleaf pine, 80,000 trees will be planted across the state. Additionally, 12,000 trees will find their roots in the Lassen National Forest in California, aiding in the recovery from the devastating Dixie Fire of 2021.Mexico: At the heart of Mexico’s Cerro Pelon Butterfly Sanctuary, 4,000 trees will be planted to address climate change challenges and aid the endangered monarch butterfly.Spain: Belorado’s scenic hills in northern Spain will receive 4,000 trees, promoting resilience against wildfires and supporting the local community.

The alliance between Mary Kay and the Arbor Day Foundation has been both innovative and impactful. Back in 2008, a unique recycling initiative saw a tree planted for every old cosmetic compact recycled. This initiative surpassed its goal thanks to the dedication of Independent Beauty Consultants, customers, and Mary Kay employees. Subsequent years witnessed the creation of Nature Explore Classrooms, providing solace and connection to nature for residents in domestic violence shelters.

From 2013, Mary Kay’s reach expanded globally, supporting reforestation projects in regions ranging from the US to Madagascar. Fast forward to 2018, and the company celebrated planting its one-millionth tree during the inauguration of the new Richard R. Rogers Manufacturing/R&D facility in Texas.

Today, with a proud tally of 1.3 million trees planted, the commitment is far from over. Mary Kay aims to add another 100,000 trees this year alone, further cementing its pledge to the planet and its communities.

“Baaa-a-a-a-a-a! Baaa-a-a-a-a-a!”

The familiar sound of bleating goats roaming in northern British Columbia is nothing new. But these goats, donning yellow Enbridge bandanas on their necks, are anything but ordinary.

These 30 stylish herbivores are not trespassers on this parcel of land, located along Pine Pass, north of the community of MacLeod Lake, about 240 km north of Prince George. In fact, this herd is actually esteemed guests of Enbridge, encouraged to do what they do best—eat!

Enbridge, in partnership with Spectrum Resource Group, is proud to employ these goats for the first time on our natural gas pipeline system in BC, to ensure our rights-of-way are cleared of invasive plant species. Aptly called the Goat Grazing Project, these amazing creatures will munch away aggressive grasses and shrubs considered invasive plants.

Clearing invasive plants is a critical component of Enbridge’s commitment to integrated vegetation management along the pipeline right of way. This land needs to have an herb-dominated ecosystem, meaning having only smaller plants like grasses and legumes grow in the area. shrubs and trees on the right of way reduce Enbridge’s ability to access sites for maintenance on our pipeline infrastructure.

So why goats? Well, these incredible creatures have proven to be one of nature’s best grazers, with an appetite for invasive species that rivals traditional methods of vegetation management, such as using chemical application and mechanical means like cutting.

“When these goats are penned in an area, they will overgraze these shrubs. When they are confined in a space, they will eat everything on a plant, and that disturbance is far more damaging,” explains Dan Tisseur, Senior Environment Advisor for Operations and Maintenance with Enbridge’s Canadian natural gas pipeline business.

“The best-case scenario is the goats eat everything. They eat the leaves, they eat the little branches, and they graze it right down to the ground.”

The Goat Grazing Project is part of Enbridge’s Integrated Vegetation Management Program, incorporating both traditional and biological methods through the use of herbivores. So while these goats happily fill their tummies, we’re also doing our part to control invasive plants in an environmentally friendly way.

While the concept of goats on the job might raise a smile, Enbridge takes the Goat Grazing Project very seriously. To help gain deeper insights into managing invasive species effectively, we’re conducting research in the locations where the goats are grazing. Picture this as a collaborative effort between Enbridge’s expert team and our ravenous four-legged partners. While the goats feed their way down a pipeline corridor, Enbridge researchers and environmental specialists are diligently observing and recording the progress and efficacy of this approach.

“This is going to be a multi-year project to assess the efficacy over time. So we’re actually going to bring these goats back to the same location to repeat these treatments to see if over time we’re witnessing a reduction in the shrub biomass and invasive plants on site,” Tisseur says.

The next time you see a goat gracefully grazing along Enbridge’s pipeline right of way, know that it represents more than just a charming sight.

It’s a symbol of our dedication to sustainable practices and a reminder that sometimes, the most effective solutions come from working hand-in-hoof with Mother Nature.

“Baaa-a-a-a-a-a! Baaa-a-a-a-a-a!”

The familiar sound of bleating goats roaming in northern British Columbia is nothing new. But these goats, donning yellow Enbridge bandanas on their necks, are anything but ordinary.

These 30 stylish herbivores are not trespassers on this parcel of land, located along Pine Pass, north of the community of MacLeod Lake, about 240 km north of Prince George. In fact, this herd is actually esteemed guests of Enbridge, encouraged to do what they do best—eat!

Enbridge, in partnership with Spectrum Resource Group, is proud to employ these goats for the first time on our natural gas pipeline system in BC, to ensure our rights-of-way are cleared of invasive plant species. Aptly called the Goat Grazing Project, these amazing creatures will munch away aggressive grasses and shrubs considered invasive plants.

Clearing invasive plants is a critical component of Enbridge’s commitment to integrated vegetation management along the pipeline right of way. This land needs to have an herb-dominated ecosystem, meaning having only smaller plants like grasses and legumes grow in the area. shrubs and trees on the right of way reduce Enbridge’s ability to access sites for maintenance on our pipeline infrastructure.

So why goats? Well, these incredible creatures have proven to be one of nature’s best grazers, with an appetite for invasive species that rivals traditional methods of vegetation management, such as using chemical application and mechanical means like cutting.

“When these goats are penned in an area, they will overgraze these shrubs. When they are confined in a space, they will eat everything on a plant, and that disturbance is far more damaging,” explains Dan Tisseur, Senior Environment Advisor for Operations and Maintenance with Enbridge’s Canadian natural gas pipeline business.

“The best-case scenario is the goats eat everything. They eat the leaves, they eat the little branches, and they graze it right down to the ground.”

The Goat Grazing Project is part of Enbridge’s Integrated Vegetation Management Program, incorporating both traditional and biological methods through the use of herbivores. So while these goats happily fill their tummies, we’re also doing our part to control invasive plants in an environmentally friendly way.

While the concept of goats on the job might raise a smile, Enbridge takes the Goat Grazing Project very seriously. To help gain deeper insights into managing invasive species effectively, we’re conducting research in the locations where the goats are grazing. Picture this as a collaborative effort between Enbridge’s expert team and our ravenous four-legged partners. While the goats feed their way down a pipeline corridor, Enbridge researchers and environmental specialists are diligently observing and recording the progress and efficacy of this approach.

“This is going to be a multi-year project to assess the efficacy over time. So we’re actually going to bring these goats back to the same location to repeat these treatments to see if over time we’re witnessing a reduction in the shrub biomass and invasive plants on site,” Tisseur says.

The next time you see a goat gracefully grazing along Enbridge’s pipeline right of way, know that it represents more than just a charming sight.

It’s a symbol of our dedication to sustainable practices and a reminder that sometimes, the most effective solutions come from working hand-in-hoof with Mother Nature.

By Nestor Mato

“We haven’t seen each other in over five years because of COVID. There’s a lot of love, a lot of energy.”

David Christian is Senior Vice President of Community Affairs at Regions Bank. His eyes light up as he walks into the Tampa Convention Center for the Kappa Alpha Psi 2023 Conclave. The historic Black fraternity is celebrating 112 years of education and service.

“It’s an emotional moment,” he said.

More than 15,000 of his Kappa brothers came from all over the county. Kappa’s international president, Reuben Shelton, said it all began at Indiana University in 1911 when racial barriers often stood in the way.

“We could not join the white organization, fraternity or otherwise,” said Shelton. “So, we needed a network of individuals, like-minded individuals, that we could lean on and support each other.”

Regions Bank has a longtime relationship with Kappa, including supporting this year’s conclave. Regions is also home to many proud members, like Christian.

“Regions Bank has been great for us. We have the same mission; we have the same goals of helping the community,” said Shelton as he stood in front of the iconic Regions Big Green Bike.

More than a family reunion, at the conclave, the Kappas gave back to the community, networked, and learned from community partners like Regions Bank about financial education through a Regions Next Step discussion.

“Our idea of achievement is that everyone has an opportunity to be successful,” said Regions’ Head of Community Affairs, Leroy Abrahams.

Abrahams was a special guest. He spoke in front of hundreds at the Kappa undergraduate luncheon about our shared values.

“We share a great relationship with Kappa, business relationship as well as the community engagement relationship,” he said.

Regions’ commitment to the fraternity is evident with the exclusive Kappa Alpha Psi Regions Visa Card.

“It’s an opportunity for Kappa members to carry their pride in their wallet, and every time they shop, they can share their Kappa pride,” said Abrahams.

A partnership that hopefully lasts throughout the fraternity’s next 112 years.

COLUMBUS, Ohio, September 7, 2023 /3BL/ – Today Bath & Body Works announces a $250,000 grant to Besa, a Central Ohio-based nonprofit organization that connects people and businesses to community service. From food pantries and community gardens to homeless shelters and senior homes, Besa has provided support to the Central Ohio region for over a decade.

The grant from Bath & Body Works will help fund four key Besa initiatives:

Mobilizing Community Members to Respond to Crises: Allow Besa to mobilize even more volunteers to help people navigate unforeseen crises, like providing fans to people during a heat wave or checking on senior citizens during an electrical blackout.Advancing Equity in Underserved Neighborhoods: Build Besa’s capacity so it can better support nonprofits—and ultimately neighbors in need—by staffing food pantries and distributing diapers in communities like Linden and Franklinton.Overcoming Chronic Community Issues: Support Besa’s efforts to expand volunteer shifts with nonprofits addressing chronic issues, like helping outfit women at Dress for Success or preparing care packages for youth at Star House experiencing homelessness.Celebrating Heritage Months and Moments: Advancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion by curating community engagement opportunities during meaningful times like Black History Month, Women’s History Month and Pride Month.

“For years, we have partnered with Besa on initiatives that serve and support underrepresented communities while inspiring volunteerism among our associates and fostering deeper connections to the community,” says Bath & Body Works Associate Vice President of Community Relations Rhoe Fields. “This investment will allow Besa to inspire that same volunteerism and connection with more in our community who are in times of crisis.”

“Bath & Body Works is an exemplary company on so many levels. The way they consistently seek to understand needs and find creative ways to fill gaps is incredible, and this gift is another example,” says Besa CEO Matthew Goldstein. “It will help us build capacity to serve even more nonprofits by mobilizing critical volunteers during the nation’s ongoing volunteer shortage. And it will enable us to deliver help and hope to our community’s most underserved and overwhelmed during emergencies, when they need that help and hope the most.”

Since partnering with Besa in 2018, over 1,800 Bath & Body Works associates have donated nearly 10,000 volunteer hours and facilitated more than $250,000 in community impact. Bath & Body Works was named Besa’s Corporate Partner of the Year in 2022, and today’s grant marks the largest corporate donation in Besa’s history.

For more information on Bath & Body Works’ commitment to community and philanthropy, visit bbwinc.com.

Contact:  
Emmy Beach 
Bath & Body Works 
communications@bbw.com

ABOUT BATH & BODY WORKS 
Home of America’s Favorite Fragrances®, Bath & Body Works is a global leader in personal care and home fragrance, including top-selling collections for fine fragrance mist, body lotion and body cream, 3-wick candles, home fragrance diffusers and liquid hand soap. Powered by agility and innovation, the company’s predominantly U.S.-based supply chain enables the company to deliver quality, on-trend luxuries at affordable prices. Bath & Body Works serves and delights customers however and wherever they want to shop, from welcoming, in-store experiences at more than 1,820 company-operated Bath & Body Works locations in the U.S. and Canada and more than 440 international franchised locations to an online storefront at bathandbodyworks.com.

ABOUT BESA

Besa is a Columbus-based nonprofit dedicated to powering a wave of civic engagement and supporting those who need it most by connecting people and businesses to community service. Besa makes giving back easy by curating more than 70 volunteer experiences every month that Columbus residents can easily find and register for at www.besa.org. It also helps business partners manage and strengthen their philanthropic efforts through strategic planning, curated volunteer experiences, volunteer management and philanthropy software.

As school-aged children and young adults in the United States and many other countries around the world head back to school, parents, teachers and administrators are increasingly keenly aware of the importance of school facilities in supporting student and staff health and well-being. For many, schools represent a safe haven, the center of the community where children learn, develop and grow. Yet, from outdated infrastructure to climate-change related extreme weather events such as wildfire smoke and heat waves that increase the incidence of indoor air pollution, much of the education sector is struggling to keep up with the requirements of operating and maintaining modern school facilities.

It is widely understood how critical the school years are to supporting academic needs, but students, teachers and staff also need educational facilities that support their physical, mental and emotional health. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, “By the time a student graduates high school, they will have spent more than 15,000 hours in a school building, which is the second longest indoor exposure time after their home…This is a time of critical physiological, social, and emotional growth and development, which is susceptible to many indoor conditions including, indoor air pollution, mold, elevated noise levels, radon, asbestos, inadequate lighting and more.” These indoor conditions can not only affect student health, but have a significant impact on learning, too. A recent New York Times article highlighted that “decades of research have suggested that improving air quality also can raise academic performance, increase test scores, bolster attention and memory, and decrease absences due to illness or other factors.”

These concerns are magnified when considering the dire condition of school facilities. In 2021, IWBI collaborated with 21st Century School Fund and the National Council on School Facilities to develop and release the 2021 State of our Schools Report: America’s PK-12 Public School Facilities, which compiles and analyzes school district data regarding U.S. PK–12 public school facilities funding and draws attention to the massive underinvestment across the U.S. in funding efforts. The report also identifies solutions for all children, in every district, to attend healthier, safer and more sustainable schools that can provide the supportive learning environments and resilient facilities — of which indoor air quality is a critical component.

The report projected that the United States alone faces a projected shortfall of a staggering $85 billion USD in school facility funding every year. Districts are spending about $110 billion every year on maintenance, operations and capital construction – but the educational facilities standards for good stewardship necessitates nearly $195 billion. This chronic underinvestment in PK-12 school facilities jeopardizes student health, hinders academic achievement and weakens our entire educational framework.

Policymakers are taking notice and are looking to improve their support for schools and districts to address this gap through a federal-state partnership for school infrastructure. Recently reintroduced in July 2023 and strongly supported by IWBI, the Rebuild America’s Schools Act of 2023 in the U.S. aims to “improve public school infrastructure and environments to ensure school facilities are safe, healthy, sustainable, and offer positive learning environments for all students” through a total of $130 billion in investments. As noted by IWBI President and CEO Rachel Hodgdon, although many schools are “literally falling apart…we can turn the tide.”

Alongside these policy-focused efforts, it continues to be important to understand how we can deliver school buildings that help protect the health and safety of the students, teachers and staff who walk through their doors every day. Published every three years, the next iteration of State of our Schools will be released in 2024. The 2024 report represents a signature opportunity to provide decision makers with better data and new analyses that prioritize health, education equity and resilience in public educational facilities planning, policy and budget. Over the last two years, since the 2021 report, there is a deepening awareness of the structural inequities in our nation’s public school facilities, by income and race. There is a better understanding of climate related vulnerabilities of our communities and schools. Finally, the shared trauma of a global pandemic has highlighted an array of health threats and hazards associated with the longstanding neglect of our public school facilities. Given this changing landscape, the need has never been more urgent to add to our understanding of the state of our schools and their impact on health and equity – and to take action to address our school facilities.

As states and school districts seek to lead on healthy schools, the WELL Standard is a practical framework that can be leveraged by educational institutions to help demonstrate health leadership and make school buildings safer, healthier and fit for learning. When implementing WELL strategies, educational institutions can capture data on building performance and human experience, and optimize space for health, productivity, creativity and collaboration over time. For leaders who value verified performance, prioritize risk management and want to make a highly visible commitment to health and well-being, WELL is an invaluable program. Nearly 2,200 school locations have already implemented WELL programs across 18 countries encompassing over 78 million square feet, as of August 2023.

In particular, the WELL Health-Safety Rating, a framework for driving health resilience into the center of organizational policies and operational plans through facility operations and management, has been prevalent in supporting the education sector. With over 60 evidence-based strategies from the WELL Standard, from operational policies and maintenance protocols to emergency plans, the WELL Health-Safety Rating serves as a roadmap for organizations to anticipate what’s around the corner and put necessary plans and protocols in place to build confidence and drive long-term resilience.

Jeff Platenberg, Assistant Superintendent, Facilities and Transportation Services at Fairfax County Public Schools, said of the WELL Health-Safety Rating: “The safety and well-being of our students and staff is our top priority. Ensuring that our buildings are optimized to provide a healthy learning and work environment is a critical part of that effort.”

Dr. John Rozzo, Superintendent, Upper St. Clair School District, also commented: “The health and safety of our students and staff, as well as others who use our school facilities, remain our top priority… the WELL Health-Safety seal is testament that we are sincere in our efforts to go above and beyond to provide the safest environment possible for teaching and learning.”

“Where our children learn matters, and access to safe, healthy and equitable learning environments should be a right, not a privilege. Amidst this school infrastructure crisis, the WELL Health-Safety Rating provides a preparedness solution that meets educational institutions where they are and provides them a way to navigate challenges of the moment and prepare for what’s to come,” said Hodgdon. “We are seeing school facility operators and administrative leaders around the world use the rating as a roadmap to make health, well-being and safety a best practice. Their commitments place the focus on where it should be – student and staff health and well-being – so that learning can take center stage.”

The rating is a tool to help schools start their WELL journey and continue their engagement at the portfolio level through an at-scale commitment. The WELL at scale program helps organizations advance a culture of health by applying WELL across multiple locations, gaining recognition for incremental improvements along the way.

KinderCare Learning Centers achieved the WELL Health-Safety Rating for its system of child care and early childhood education facilities. Achieving the rating is one way KinderCare is showing their dedication to the health and safety of their students, teachers and staff, and they have since expanded their commitment to health by pursuing WELL at scale.

Commenting on the importance of implementing the WELL Health-Safety Rating in an early years educational setting, Sarah Redgrave, VP of Operations at KinderCare, said, “…because we serve children when they are at a vulnerable age: where physical, social and emotional well-being will have a direct impact on a child’s development and growth. We want every child in our programs to have a safe and healthy place to learn and grow, so that they can develop the skills they need to build confidence for life. We also believe that by holding ourselves to these high standards of health and safety we will create a safer environment for our staff, which will in turn allow them to focus on what they do best, making a positive impact on the life of each child in their care.”

For more information, read how IWBI is “Supporting Healthier Schools” in our 2022 Annual Report: Delivering on our People-first Approach: Healthy Buildings, Organizations and Communities.

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