Month: March 2024

Presented by Frito-Lay, Quaker, and the PepsiCo Foundation, Super Bowl LVIII’s Largest Philanthropic Event Supports GENYOUth’s Mission to Help Tackle Youth Hunger

Nutrition Grant Opportunity Opens for U.S. Schools

NEW YORK, March 27, 2024 /3BL/ – GENYOUth, the national nonprofit organization founded by America’s dairy farmers and the NFL to help ensure students are well-nourished and active to be their best selves, announced today that the collective impact of the 2024 Taste of the NFL philanthropic event totaled $2.0 million. These funds, the largest raised by a Taste of the NFL event since its founding in 1992, will benefit 1,000 schools and 550,000 students by increasing access to 148 million school meals to foster nutrition security among students in all 32 NFL club markets. As a result, GENYOUth is inviting school nutrition professionals to apply for Equipment Grants at educator.fuelup.org/opportunities through April 9, 2024.

Taste of the NFL, held at Keep Memory Alive Event Center in Las Vegas on February 10, 2024 with the support of presenting sponsors Frito-Lay, Quaker, and the PepsiCo Foundation, featured world class chefs Andrew Zimmern, Carla Hall, Tim Love, Lasheeda Perry, and Mark Bucher; as well as nationally renowned and locally loved Las Vegas culinary talent Bob Broskey, Matt Chacho, Josh Capon, Mauro Casanto, Olivier Dubreuil, Belle English, Todd English, Joey Faugno, Bryan Forgione, Lorena Garcia, Lukasz Mackowiak, Patrick Munster, Christopher Shane, James Trees, and Jennifer Yee; chefs from the PepsiCo Foundation’s IMPACTO Hispanic Business Accelerator and Black Restaurant Accelerator programs including DJ Flores, Paula Escudero and Sean Wilson, Rochelle Hodge, and Dan Chatman; and PepsiCo Chef Steven Dominguez, Quaker’s Associate Research Chef and Culinary Lead, and Charlene Gladden, Frito Lay’s Senior Research Chef and Culinary Lead.

These masterful chefs were joined by over 30 NFL Legends and players including Will Blackmon, Daryn Colledge, Doug Flutie, Morlon Greenwood, Tony Moll, Shannon Sharpe, Jason Spitz, Stephen Tulloch, and Charles Woodson; as well as football and foodie fans inspired to help end student hunger.

“School meals are a critical lifeline for millions of students, and for many the only source of good nutrition they may receive on some days. The collective impact of Taste of the NFL will enable GENYOUth to provide grants to 1,000 school nutrition programs across the country,” said Ann Marie Krautheim, M.A., R.D., L.D., CEO of GENYOUth. “We are grateful for the support of our Taste of the NFL sponsors, the NFL and our End Student Hunger partners. Together we are tackling food insecurity and fostering nutrition security among students across the nation.”

Taste of the NFL presenting sponsors featured Frito-Lay, Quaker, and the PepsiCo Foundation; and NFL sponsors Frito-Lay® Variety Packs, Cheetos, Tostitos, Doritos, Toyota, and Verizon. The event’s End Student Hunger partners included PNC Bank, American Family Insurance, Southern Nevada Toyota Dealers Association, Totino’s, The Venetian® Resort Las Vegas, Hellmann’s/Best Foods, Boars Head Brand, Walmart, PepsiCo, Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, Las Vegas Raiders, John Anthony Family of Wines, Smoke Wagon Straight Whiskeys, Amazon Access, Melissa’s Produce, Le Portier Cognac by Shannon Sharpe, Charles Woodson’s Intercept Wine and Woodson Whiskey, Don Londrés, Livia’s Salt, Three Fat Guys Wine, Circle House Coffee, FEED, KLAS-TV News 8, Las Vegas Review-Journal, Yelp, and Las Vegas Super Bowl Host Committee.

“We are honored to once again collaborate with the incredible team at GENYOUth to raise a record $2 million in funding through Taste of the NFL to increase access to school meals for thousands of children across the country,” said Peter O’Reilly, NFL Executive Vice President, Club Business, International & League Events. “The NFL is also grateful for the valuable contributions of several of our sponsors, including event presenting sponsors Frito-Lay, Quaker, and the PepsiCo Foundation along with Toyota, Verizon, and TCL, to making this annual Super Bowl event such a success and ensuring our nation’s youth can lead active and well-nourished lifestyles.”

In the lead up to Super Bowl LVIII, Frito-Lay, Quaker, and the PepsiCo Foundation – in collaboration with partners including Clark County School District, Las Vegas Super Bowl LVIII Host Committee, and Dairy Council of Nevada; and corporate sponsor The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation in partnership with Smith’s – partnered with GENYOUth on Super School Meals, a community initiative which has provided Grab and Go school meal equipment packages to over 58 high-need Nevada schools, providing access to over 11 million school meals and increase access for 40,000 students. In addition, as part of the Quaker Pregrain Tour and to show its support, Quaker also made a $250,000 donation to GENYOUth which is reflected in the collective impact of Taste of the NFL.

“Our support of the 2024 Taste of the NFL event and the Super School Meals initiative is increasing equitable impact to nutritious food in communities in Nevada and across the nation where our employees live and work,” said C.D. Glin, President, PepsiCo Foundation, and Global Head of Philanthropy, PepsiCo. “We are proud of our long-standing support for GENYOUth and its partnership in providing schools with critical resources and tools to drive meaningful impact and help alleviate food insecurity among our most vulnerable children.”

“The event’s mission aligns with PNC’s commitment to our communities,” said Denette Suddeth, PNC regional president for Nevada. “Food insecurity is a major issue for so many people across our country and right here in Nevada. We support GENYOUth and its work, and we are excited that the proceeds from this event will go directly to helping students get the meals they need to stay healthy and grow strong.”

“Our mission is to inspire, protect and restore dreams. We understand with the right support, any dream is possible. We are proud to join GENYOUth in their support of healthy school communities,” said Sherina Smith, American Family Insurance chief marketing officer. “Partnering with Taste of the NFL is a valuable opportunity to bring awareness to the issue of food insecurity and invest in resources that empower youth to thrive and pursue their dreams.”

Planning is already underway for Taste of the NFL 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana with customized sponsorship opportunities available. Contact Kelianne Johnson, GENYOUth Director of Marketing & Development, at Kelianne.Johnson@GENYOUthNow.org for sponsorship details.

About GENYOUth 
GENYOUth is a 501c3 national nonprofit dedicated to helping school children thrive by living well-nourished and physically active lives. A catalyst for youth health and wellness, GENYOUth has supported over 77,000 U.S. schools to equip them with the resources needed to ensure millions of children have equitable access to nutrition and physical activity. Founded by America’s dairy farmers and the NFL, GENYOUth convenes a network of private and public partners, including Fortune 100 companies and foundations to ensure all children are nourished and active to be their best selves. With a commitment to end student hunger, GENYOUth provides nutrition grants to increase access to healthy school meals among food insecure students. GENYOUth is the official charitable partner of Taste of the NFL, a purpose-driven Super Bowl culinary experience that raises awareness and generates funds to fight hunger and food insecurity to support the organization’s commitment to end student hunger. To learn more and support GENYOUth visit www.GENYOUthnow.org and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

About the National Football League 
The National Football League is America’s most popular sports league, comprised of 32 franchises that compete each year to win the Super Bowl, the world’s biggest annual sporting event. Founded in 1920, the NFL developed the model for the successful modern sports league, including national and international distribution, extensive revenue sharing, competitive excellence, and strong franchises across the country.

About PepsiCo 
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $91 billion in net revenue in 2023, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales. Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo. 

About Frito-Lay North America 
Frito-Lay North America is the $25 billion net sales convenient foods division of PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ: PEP). For decades, Frito-Lay’s portfolio of beloved products has brought smiles to millions of families across the world, including Fritos® corn chips, Lay’s® and Ruffles® potato chips, Doritos® and Tostitos® tortilla chips and branded dips, Cheetos® snacks, Stacy’s® pita chips, PopCorners® air popped snacks and SunChips® multigrain snacks. The company operates more than 40 manufacturing facilities across the U.S. and Canada, along with a vast distribution network that services over 315,000 retail customers weekly through its direct-store-delivery model. Through pep+ (PepsiCo Positive), Frito-Lay is committed to creating positive change for the planet and people. Learn more about Frito-Lay at FritoLay.com, on X (@FritoLay), on Instagram (@FritoLay) and on Facebook (FritoLay).

About the PepsiCo Foundation 
The PepsiCo Foundation, the philanthropic arm of PepsiCo, invests in the essential elements of a sustainable food system with a mission to support thriving communities. Working with non-profits and experts around the globe, we’re focused on helping communities obtain access to food security, safe water and economic opportunity. We strive for tangible impact in the places where we live and work—collaborating with industry peers, local and international organizations, and our employees to affect large-scale change on the issues that matter to us and are of global importance. Learn more at www.pepsicofoundation.com.

About the Quaker Oats Company 
The Quaker Oats Company, headquartered in Chicago, is a unit of PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ: PEP), one of the world’s largest consumer packaged goods companies. For more than 140 years, Quaker’s brands have served as symbols of quality, great taste and nutrition – including Quaker® Oats, Quaker® Rice Cakes, Quaker Chewy® Granola Bars and more. Through pep+ (PepsiCo Positive), Quaker is committed to creating positive change for the planet and people. Learn more about Quaker at QuakerOats.com, on X (@Quaker), on Instagram (@Quaker) and on Facebook (Quaker).

About PNC Bank 
PNC Bank, N.A., is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). PNC is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com/.

SOURCE GENYOUth

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

Kim Ferguson’s title of chief administrative officer and strategic initiatives leader for wealth management at U.S. Bank is lengthy, but the role has a laser focus. 

“It’s like being an air traffic controller for the business,” she said. “Air traffic controllers have a very crucial role in managing the movement of flights – takeoff, en route, landing. Much like the role we play in wealth, coordinating all the moving parts of a client’s financial journey. As the CAO, I have a lot of information coming at me from across the organization, and I triage and simultaneously synthesize the information so that I respond in alignment with the strategic direction.”

It is a skillset that Ferguson has employed since she first started at U.S. Bank 20 years ago, when she was hired alongside a team of traders to conceptualize, design, build and launch the retail fixed-income trading desk at U.S. Bancorp Investments, an investment adviser and a brokerage subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp and affiliate of U.S. Bank. In addition to this, she oversaw the expansion of the team from generalist to specialist trading, which helped to increase revenue and assets under management. She’s also held other positions playing an integral role in numerous initiatives including integrating Union Bank into the business. 

Ferguson’s favorite part of her current role is that every day she gets to solve a new problem and deliver on a new opportunity. “No two days in my job are ever the same. Some people may find that challenging, but I love it,” she said.  

When Ferguson is leading large and complex initiatives, it is rare that anyone on the teams reports to her, but she noted that “a critical aspect of my role is motivating a team, getting them aligned, and moving towards goal attainment.”

“The best part of my work is creating a culture of collaboration and curiosity where people feel empowered to think and create in new and innovative ways,” she said.

Ferguson’s incredibly deep knowledge of the wealth industry and her immersion in the bank’s strategic vision make her a perfect fit for the chief administrative officer role, said Scott Ford, U.S. Bank Wealth Management president. 

“Kim is extremely skilled at coordinating and facilitating people, resources, and processes so our team can perform at a very high level,” Ford said. “She’s proactive, and oftentimes comes to the table with several potential options for the team to consider. That is extremely helpful.”

Ferguson brings her eagerness for taking on large and complex projects to her philanthropic efforts as well. The Spelman College graduate takes her alma mater’s tagline to heart: a choice to change the world.

“It has inspired my commitment to serving my community – making choices that will impact generations to come,” she said. “I am dedicated to working for the empowerment of women, being an advocate for families and children and defending the civil rights and liberties guaranteed to everyone in this country.”

This commitment is reflected in her board service: Ferguson has served on the board of the YWCA St. Paul for nine years, on the Minnesota affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) for three years and the national board of the ACLU for two years.  

Ferguson is often asked for career advice, particularly by young women just starting out. She recommends building your own “personal board of directors” filled with diverse perspectives to provide strategic guidance, obtain honest feedback, and remind you of your goals and values while navigating challenging situations. Her board includes people in public service, the field of law, brand strategy and leaders of tech startups, who “come to the table with different methods and mindsets,” she said. 

Ferguson enjoys visiting museums and is an avid art collector, especially works by Black women artists. Her collection includes pieces by Lavett Ballard, Emily Moore, Deborah Roberts, Sharon Walters and Eyenga Bokamba, whose Twin Cities studio Ferguson has visited. 

Their works are “deeply connected to my culture, style and personality. Many are prominently displayed not only in my home but my office,” she said. “Art helps me cultivate my curiosity and embrace ambiguity, and those are skills that I utilize everyday as I work with my colleagues to execute and actualize wealth management’s vision.”

Mastercard

When Javier Zamora arrived in South Florida to open Sushi Kong, he had all of the makings of a successful restaurant: a winning concept — an upbeat restaurant specializing in Latin-Asian fusion with a tropical flair; a proven track record as the founder of two similar restaurants back home in Argentina; and the perfect location in Coral Gables, an upscale, multicultural community just southwest of Miami.

So, as the immigrant fairy tale goes, Zamora and his wife poured all of their resources and love into Sushi Kong, and it quickly blossomed into a beloved neighborhood establishment.

Yet none of their restaurateur magic mattered in early 2020, when Zamora, who’d always self-financed his ventures, sought a small business loan to upgrade his kitchen equipment. After a number of rejections from traditional lenders, he had nearly given up hope.

It was around this time that Zamora heard about Ascendus, a national nonprofit and community development financial institution that provides entrepreneurs of color and low- to moderate-income small business owners with access to capital at reasonable interest rates. Unlike traditional financial institutions, the organization will invest in entrepreneurs who lack established credit histories or other standard loan criteria. In a stroke of blind luck, Ascendus gave Sushi Kong its first loan weeks before the pandemic shut it down and provided more funding later that difficult year.

“They were the first company to believe in us,” Zamora says. “Honestly, without this support, it’s doubtful that we would have survived COVID-19.”

Zamora represents a rapidly growing category of entrepreneurs in the U.S. The number of Hispanic-owned businesses in America grew by 34% from 2007 to 2019, according to a 2023 report from the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative. Today there are more than 5 million Hispanic-owned businesses in this country, and they contribute more than $800 billion to the economy annually, according to the U.S. Department of Treasury.

Finding a support network that “speaks your language” — literally and culturally — is an essential component of any small business’s success. To that end, Mastercard recently partnered with Ascendus, Finhabits and SUMA Wealth to expand its Digital Doors program, launched in 2020, to offer a dedicated platform to help the Hispanic small business community grow their businesses and build their financial futures.

Mastercard launched the bilingual Hispanic Digital Doors platform this month to connect entrepreneurs with online resources and trusted partners committed to working with the Hispanic business community.

“From building a business strategy, creating a digital presence and establishing workplace benefits and financial management, we continue to work with our partners through Digital Doors to help small business owners seamlessly invest in themselves and their businesses,” says Ginger Siegel, North America small business lead at Mastercard. “This dedicated platform will help the growing Hispanic small business community build their financial health, both personally and professionally, creating a ripple effect that can grow opportunities for everyone.”

While launching a business is always tough, Hispanic entrepreneurs face additional obstacles. Accessing financial capital, for example, can be extremely difficult for immigrants or first- or second-generation Americans of modest economic backgrounds.

Others can find themselves sidelined by a lack of debt. For instances, a good credit history is critical when applying for business loans in the U.S. Yet many Hispanic entrepreneurs have grown up without mortgages or credit cards. “In many parts of the world, ‘debt’ is a bad four-letter word — that’s just not the way people were raised,” says Paul Quintero, CEO at Ascendus. “You come to this country and it’s all about borrowing money. It’s all about leverage. That can be a shocker.”

And after securing a loan or credit card, understanding the nuances of U.S. credit culture — such as the importance of keeping credit card balances low to strengthen your FICO score — can be tricky for the uninitiated. “It’s not intuitive,” says Quintero, which is why Ascendus also provides educational support and resources to help borrowers use their loans effectively.

Beatriz Acevedo, co-founder and CEO of SUMA Wealth, points out another problem. Because it’s hard to obtain funding, many Hispanic entrepreneurs rely on personal capital instead.

“They put up their homes, they put all their savings into their business. These things are not ideal when it comes to your personal wealth and building a company,” she says. “We’ve all done it, so we understand — but it’s important that people understand the implications, so they can protect themselves [and know how to limit their liabilities].”

That’s why SUMA Wealth offers tools and educational resources to help entrepreneurs manage their money wisely — including a primer on company-sponsored retirement savings plans it’s dubbed “401 Qué?” The group addresses issues that are often more common in Hispanic cultures, such as providing for an extended family while also saving for retirement. “In my community, we tend to be responsible in a larger degree to supporting our older family members,” Acevedo says. “That can be a strain.”

Retirement often feels out of reach to entrepreneurs who are the first in their families to launch business ventures. Carlos Garcia, founder and CEO of Finhabits, believes that working with financial advisors who act as fiduciaries — and know the Spanish language and culture — can help. “Finhabits evolved from the need to have a trusted advisor in the community,” Garcia says, “and part of that trust is built by speaking their language and simplifying financial concepts.”

The dedicated Hispanic Digital Doors platform is part of a larger Mastercard Digital Doors program expansion that includes new partnerships with Avibra, One Degree Marketing’s Elevation Academy, GoDaddy, Nextdoor and SAP Concur to provide additional resources that help small businesses promote, manage and digitize their businesses.

A little bit of support goes a long way. Zamora opened his second Sushi Kong location this past November and has plans for further expansion — growth that’s bound to reverberate throughout his community.

“Helping one small business owner helps entire communities in terms of employment and the broader neighborhood ecosystem,” Quintero says. “Each business may be small, but it makes a big impact on quality of life and sense of community. It’s a ripple effect.”

Originally published by Mastercard

Follow along Mastercard’s journey to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere.

CBRE

/3BL/ – Global real estate advisor, CBRE has today announced that Sustainability leader, David Maguire, has been appointed Head of Occupier Sustainability & ESG, Continental Europe.

In this new role, David will be responsible for leading CBRE’s Sustainability services offering for its occupier clients across Continental Europe. He will focus on expanding the suite of services the company delivers, in order to address the rapidly developing Sustainability and ESG needs of corporate real estate.

Having previously worked in the Occupier ESG team in the UK, supporting an extensive network of corporate clients including Marks & Spencer, GSK, and Maersk, David will now be part of the Continental Europe Sustainability and ESG team, led by Ludovic Chambe. He will work closely with Einar Schiefloe, Head of Occupier Services, Continental Europe & Nordics, as well as our 270 Sustainability and ESG experts, operating across 22 European countries, driving the transformational strategy and implementation of Sustainability solutions to fulfil clients’ environmental and social ambitions.

David brings a wealth of experience with Occupier clients, enhancing our ability to advise companies on how to navigate future challenges and opportunities. He’s an inspiring advocate for Sustainability and a leader who has the ability to translate what’s coming into tangible actions for the here and now. I’m hugely excited at the prospect of working with David and driving real change together.

Ludovic Chambe, Head of ESG & Sustainability Services, Continental Europe at CBRE

I am delighted to be joining the team in Europe, helping the organisations we work with to meet their Sustainability targets through real estate; and doing so at a scale which means tangible impact on global Sustainability goals and combatting climate change. This new role brings the opportunity to continue to collaborate closely with our global occupier community whilst expanding our Sustainability offering in the ambitious European context, where our in-country teams have an incredible breadth of skills and expertise we can capitalise on.

David Maguire, Head of Occupier Sustainability & ESG, Continental Europe, CBRE

Read more about this appointment here

Monster Energy Cares Foundation

Monster Energy Cares: We’d like to introduce the Monster Energy Family to Roy Tuscany, the founder of the High Fives Foundation. Roy, why don’t you tell us about yourself a little?

Roy Tuscany: Hi everybody. My name is Roy Tuscany. I’m originally from Vermont. I am a husband, father, philanthropist and adaptive athlete. In 2009 I got to start the High Fives Foundation, a nonprofit organization that’s located in Truckee, California, that serves all of North America. It was a way for myself to pay it forward, after I sustained a life-changing injury in a ski accident: I went 130 feet on a ski jump and came down from 30 feet in the air. The resultant impact into the snow burst fractured my T12 vertebrae.

I was supported by all these amazing communities. And it hit me that other people would fall into the same shoes that I did. So in 2009, I started High Fives with this simple goal to help an individual that sustains a life changing injury return to the sports they love. And now, nearly 15 years later, we’ve served over 700 athletes — 25% of those being veterans — getting them through life changing injuries, and getting reconnected back to community through sport.

MEC: That’s an amazing story, and it’s an amazing organization. Thank you so much for founding it. It’s just been incredible working with you. Big question for you: between Bike, Fish, Dirt, Snow and Surf, if you had to pick a favorite of the High Fives in terms of reintroducing a wounded athlete or veteran to a sport, which one would it be?

RT: You know, it’s tough. All five of those are like my five favorite things to do — hence why we focus on them — but I would definitely say dirt or surf. I’m just coming off a dirt trip and the experiences, the smiles, the amount of dirtiness that we got down with this group, was through the roof. And it’s accessible to all. Same thing with surfing. I think surfing has found so many different ways to adapt, the different ways to surf after a disability, that it gives the opportunity to be incredibly inclusive for all. So I think surf and dirt. One you get really dirty, one you get really wet. So they’re a good match for each other!

MEC: How personally rewarding to you is running this organization?

RT: I think what’s been most rewarding is the fact that the last couple of years, there’s been a lot of attention that’s gone over to DEI: Disability, Equity, and Inclusion. But for the longest time, I’ve been waving the largest flag for the disabled community. Obviously in the last couple of years, there’s been a lot of attention to it. But before that, that’s been the most rewarding, serving what I think is the most underserved population in the country.

And the wildest thing? We’re all going to become disabled at some point. Every single day we’re getting a little bit closer, we break down a little bit more. So why not support those that might be where we all end up?

MEC: We’ve been really excited about this partnership — how do you think this partnership is going for you with Monster Energy?

RT: This smile I think tells a lot about it! I think it’s really amazing. Monster is such a recognizable brand, a recognizable brand within a vertical of sport that I feel we’re on the back end of. Monster gets to celebrate and promote and highlight all these incredible athletes that do these amazing feats. And unfortunately, once in a while, an individual is going to sustain a life-changing injury. And so to be partnered with a brand that not only helps promote it, but then on the other side says “Hey, if something does happen, we want to be there to support it.” There’s very few brands out there that do that. So to be partnered with Monster Energy, Monster Energy cares, it’s a blessing. It truly is a blessing.

MEC: You have an inspiring philosophy regarding life’s obstacles: you don’t try and circumvent them — you just go right through them! Tell me about “Adapt and Destroy”?

RT: Ah my favorite saying, Adapt and Destroy! You know, it’s a play on “Skate and Destroy” from the 80s and 90s Skate culture. Very similar to the way they took on skateboarding at that time. Let’s smash through the barriers that society is placing on us and show that we’re more than just a bunch of skate rats. Same thing here. It’s showcasing that an individual, after sustaining a life-changing injury, has that opportunity to showcase that: just with that barrier that could exist? Let’s smash through that barrier.

And the reason we adapt and destroy is because if we adapt and overcome, well, then everybody after us still has to overcome. We’ll show them how to adapt… but everybody has to overcome. Well, when you adapt and destroy — that barrier is gone. And so now for everybody moving forward, the barrier no longer exists. We’re allowed to adapt and destroy and enjoy the day.

MEC: I was able to spend some time with your absolutely gorgeous wife, Alana. She is an amazing adaptive athlete, just absolutely incredible. So what’s your story? How did you guys meet?

RT: Alana is an absolutely amazing adaptive athlete. First female in the world to have gold medals in the Summer and Winter Games. Got a gold medal in 2008. And then a second one in 2010. She has a collection of six medals, which is funny because you would think they’d be at our house in a display case or something… they’re in a backpack in the back corner of our closet.

But in 2010 she’d just came off the Vancouver Winter Olympics. I had just started the foundation. I was at this really great adaptive ski event. And she was there and when she came into the room, it’s like every sound in the room stopped, and she was just like [choir of angels]. And lo and behold, that was my first time meeting her. Then eight years later, we were speaking together at a really great event in New York City, and dropped her off at the airport. I was like “I’m not gonna let this one go.” Gave her a kiss, and now we got a little dude whose birthday is coming up! We’re together and having a great time.

MEC: That’s awesome! So speaking of volunteer organizations, we have a couple of incentives in our philanthropy program at Monster Energy Cares, and one of them is paid volunteer time off. What can you tell our employees to help inspire them to use their VTO?

RT: Well, first and foremost, amazing opportunity that monster gives each and every one of you; but second, Darlene can speak to this because Darlene has been to one of these volunteer experiences. Darlene has been to Montana with us for fly fishing, UTV, just overall amazing Montana adaptive trip. And I think that’s a big call to action for each and every employee here, and I challenge you: you work for a brand that’s built within sport. Well, why not come partner up with an organization that uses sport to reconnect people with community? And I think from the experience that Darlene has, she gets to see firsthand the impact these trips have. So I encourage every single one of you, you work for a brand that’s embedded in sports. This is a foundation that uses sports to reconnect people to community. Come on out. Let’s have some fun!

MEC: So the second thing people can do, is have a donation to a charity matched by Monster Energy Cares. What does it mean to an organization like yours to get personal donations from people, and not just corporate sponsorships?

RT: You know, when a when a corporate company like Monster comes on board for the foundation to support us, that means a lot. But what means more is when the employees get behind the mission, get behind the vision, get behind the philanthropic efforts and the impact that the organization makes. So as an employee of Monster, we would welcome you to the highest level to be a donor of High Fives — it would mean the world to us. And also, working for this brand, I think it aligns really well with the ethos that is Monster Energy; the people they support, the programs they support. And if you want to have the opportunity to make a donation that literally gives hope? Well that’s what we do at High Fives. We provide individuals with life-changing injuries, the ability to have hope again. And that’s what your donation will do. That’s the simplest blurb about it: Hope is free when you donate to High Fives.

MEC: One last and final question for you, but it’s probably the most important: What’s your favorite Monster drink?

RT: (laughs) It’s so funny, earlier as we were going in I looked at both refrigerators. I looked at all the flavors in there, and every single time I do the same thing. I look at all them and go “Oh my God, that would be good to try… that would be good to try…”… and every single time I go to this one! [Ultra White]

There’s just something about this can! I don’t know what it is. It’s Zero Ultra, I love the taste of it. I usually drink it for breakfast, which is kind of weird. Tastes better than coffee! So for me this is my go to for like everything. I recently quit soda too, so this has replaced a lot of things in my life. Yeah, I don’t know… white can, clean energy, Zero Ultra… It’s awesome!

Learn more about Social Responsibility at Monster Energy 

NEW HAVEN, Conn., March 27, 2024 /3BL/ — Liberty Community Services of New Haven has been awarded a two-year $120,000 grant from KeyBank Foundation, the charitable foundation of KeyBank, to support the organization’s mission of “Getting People Home”. KeyBank’s funding will help provide support and transportation services vital to moving people from homelessness to housed. In particular, the funding will assist Liberty in purchasing vehicles critical to making outreach to tenants and clients in the community possible, enabling them to serve more than 2,400 people a year.

“Liberty Community Services is serving more people today than ever before – the homeless and housing needs of our community has never been more critical,” said Liberty Community Services’ Executive Director Jim Pettinelli. “The timing of this generous grant of $120,000 from the Key Bank Foundation could not be better, and we are so grateful.” Pettinelli went on to say, “This grant will make a difference in our collective efforts to offer more people a path to housing and stability. Liberty, our board, our staff, community partners, and clients appreciate KeyBank’s amazing support in this important work. This grant is truly an investment in solutions that offers hope to our entire community.”

Liberty Community Services serves people in the Greater New Haven area that are experiencing homelessness, at risk of homelessness, experiencing some type of housing instability, or receiving assistance through one of Liberty’s programs – permanent supportive housing (congregate, scattered site), rapid re-housing (transitional supportive housing for up to 24 months), outreach & engagement, or short-term/one-time support related to homelessness prevention, rental start-up or shelter diversion. Their biggest dedication of services is focused on serving those who are experiencing chronic homelessness. They also serve those living with serious comorbidities, like HIV disease, mental illness and/or addiction.

“KeyBank joins Liberty Community Services in the belief that everyone in our community should have safe and affordable housing. As a community-minded bank, we are committed to providing access to capital and support to neighborhoods and neighbors who often face unfair financial barriers,” said KeyBank’s Market President Matthew Hummel. “We are pleased to provide financial assistance to Liberty to enable them to expand support and transportation resources needed to help individuals and families achieve stable, permanent homes.”

KeyBank Foundation grants are part of a $40 billion commitment for lending and investments across Key’s national footprint established in 2017 and supporting affordable housing and community development projects, home, and small business lending in low- and-moderate income communities, and philanthropic efforts targeted toward education, workforce development, and safe, vital neighborhoods.

On March 19th, leaders from KeyBank made a check presentation to staff and clients of Liberty Community Services at their facility at 210 State Street in New Haven.

About Liberty Community Services, Inc.

Liberty Community Services’ mission is to end homelessness in Greater New Haven. We offer services to those experiencing and at risk of homelessness who are living with HIV disease, mental illness and/or addiction. Liberty provides scattered-site supportive housing, comprehensive supportive housing in congregate sites, work development programing, flexible rental start-up and homelessness prevention funding, and innovative outreach and referral services that help individuals and families navigate our community’s complex system of care.

About KeyBank Foundation: 

KeyBank Foundation serves to fulfill KeyBank’s purpose to help clients and communities thrive, and its mission is to support organizations and programs that prepare people for thriving futures. The Foundation’s mission is advanced through three funding priorities – neighbors, education, and workforce – and through community service. To provide meaningful philanthropy that transforms lives, KeyBank Foundation listens carefully to understand the unique characteristics and needs of its communities and then backs solutions with targeted philanthropic investments. KeyBank Foundation is a nonprofit charitable foundation, funded by KeyCorp.

About KeyCorp

KeyCorp’s roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $188 billion at December 31, 2023. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,200 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC

Media contact: Karen Crane, KeyBank | 203-789-2752 | karen_crane@keybank.com

Originally published on about.bnef.com

The 2024 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook is the 12th in a series documenting the evolution in energy production, delivery and consumption in the US. The annual report, which BloombergNEF releases in partnership with the Business Council for Sustainable Energy, tracks trends in renewables, efficiency, natural gas, distributed power and storage, and sustainable transportation.

Download the full report

Here are some of the high-level findings from this year’s Sustainable Energy in America Factbook:

Market responses to the IRA

A record-shattering $303.3 billion in energy transition financing was deployed in the US for clean energy technologies, including renewables, electric vehicles, power grid investment and others.By the end of 2023, the number of manufacturing facilities planned in response to the IRA rose to 104, representing $123 billion in announced investments. Battery facilities dominate, with 34 facilities planned.42GW of new renewable power-generating capacity was added to the US grid, primarily driven by robust solar additions. Renewable energy use also set new highs: 8.8% of total US energy demand and 23% of electricity demand.The US is the second-largest energy storage market in the world and commissioned an estimated 7.5GW of battery storage capacity in 2023, a new US record. China overtook the US to become the largest storage market in 2023.Electric vehicle sales surged 50% to nearly 1.46 million vehicles. The rise in sales was driven by new EV incentives, Tesla’s price cuts and more EV models being released.Interest in “clean” US hydrogen is growing. About 437MW of new electrolyzers were shipped in 2023, and plans to add nearly three million metric tons of low carbon hydrogen capacity through the regional hydrogen hubs were announced in 2023. The DOE’s hydrogen hubs program announced the winners selected for funding and are currently in negotiations. This infrastructure is key to enabling hydrogen adoption and use.Carbon capture plans are surging: 137Mtpa of new projects are being planned, against an installed base of 23Mtpa in the US in 2023. Most of the new demand for carbon capture and storage (CCS) comes from diverse sectors like ethanol, power generation, ammonia and hydrogen, and chemicals, while current installations are primarily at natural gas processing facilities.Renewable diesel and jet fuel supply rose 52.8%and 81.2% year-on-year, respectively. Globally, airlines signed a total of 36 agreements to procure sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from January to early December 2023. To date, US-based airlines lead SAF procurement, which likely stems from government incentives such as investment tax credits under the IRA for SAF producers.

Energy trends and updates

US CO2 emissions were 1.8% lower in 2023 than in 2022, BloombergNEF estimates: Transport remained the top-emitting sector with industry second and power third.US “energy productivity” set a new record in 2023 as economic growth outpaced energy consumption and grew 3.8% year-on-year. The trend is even starker over the past 10 years, where GDP has grown by 25.5% while primary energy consumption has decreased 4%. The result: a 30.6% increase in productivity.​Total US energy consumption fell 1.4%year-on-year, ending the rebounding after the Covid-19 pandemic and returning to trends of lower energy consumption. A warmer-than-normal winter also resulted in less fuel consumed for building heat.​Energy spending accounted for 4.2% of total US personal consumption expenditures in 2023, down 0.6 percentage points from 2022as the cost of motor fuel fell, along with slight drops in the price of natural gas and electricity.​Inflation and higher interest rates boosted levelized costs of electricity (LCOEs) for renewable energy technologies in 2023, but natural gas plants saw costs fall as the underlying price of the fuel fell year-on-year.​Demand for US natural gas rose 4.3% to reach 99.9 billion cubic feet per day. The jump was led by stronger power sector demand and rising LNG exports, which offset modest declines across industrial, commercial and residential sectors.Corporations buying clean power slowed their activity in 2023, signing up to buy 17.1GW zero-carbon power compared with a record20GW in 2022. The number of deals signed fell to less than 100 as the prices of power purchase agreements jumped in response to inflationary pressures.Only one new US company joined the RE100, pledging to offset their power consumption with clean power at a future date, reflecting the growth of broader net zero targets and the fact that the largest players in the market have already committed to the allianceA record number of extreme weather events hit the US in 2023, with 28 events recorded. This cost the US $92.9 billion in damages –although this was less than seen in 2022, when a smaller number of events caused more monetary damage.Coal’s contribution to power generation slid to 15.8% in 2023, its lowest level ever. It was largely replaced by natural gas, which met 43% of US power demand with a record estimated output of 1,809 terawatt-hours (TWh), up 6.5% from the year prior.Energy efficiency spending stabilized in 2021 (the last year with complete data). Utility spending on power and natural gas improvements rose 1% year-on-year to reach $7.7 billion.

These trends are discussed in far greater depth, and with graphic illustrations, in the Factbook itself.

Download the full report

About BloombergNEF

BloombergNEF (BNEF) is a strategic research provider covering global commodity markets and the disruptive technologies driving the transition to a low-carbon economy. Our expert coverage assesses pathways for the power, transport, industry, buildings and agriculture sectors to adapt to the energy transition. We help commodity trading, corporate strategy, finance and policy professionals navigate change and generate opportunities.

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