Month: March 2024

Originally published on 3M News Center

At 3M, we believe a diverse and inclusive workforce fuels innovation, drives growth, and enriches the communities and markets we serve. And we hold ourselves accountable to meaningful impact within and outside the walls of 3M through our diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments.

To learn about the progress we made in 2023, view the DEI report.

We are proud of what our people and partners helped 3M achieve in 2023:

Advancing total representation of women in the workforce and maintaining 100% gender pay equity in our global regions.Continuing to invest in our communities through our commitments to STEM and skilled trade learning experiences and Racial Equity Community investments.Progressing our impact in business practices, such as through our first Environmental Justice summit, continued Business Group engagement in equity practices, and social justice advocacy with and through government partners.

You can find more great stories and details of our progress within the full report.

Originally published on 3M News Center

At 3M, we believe a diverse and inclusive workforce fuels innovation, drives growth, and enriches the communities and markets we serve. And we hold ourselves accountable to meaningful impact within and outside the walls of 3M through our diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments.

To learn about the progress we made in 2023, view the DEI report.

We are proud of what our people and partners helped 3M achieve in 2023:

Advancing total representation of women in the workforce and maintaining 100% gender pay equity in our global regions.Continuing to invest in our communities through our commitments to STEM and skilled trade learning experiences and Racial Equity Community investments.Progressing our impact in business practices, such as through our first Environmental Justice summit, continued Business Group engagement in equity practices, and social justice advocacy with and through government partners.

You can find more great stories and details of our progress within the full report.

Together, you and your pup could make a difference in the lives of others.

Waking my teen daughter, who was struggling with anxiety and desperately trying to avoid going to school, had become a challenge. Back rubs, bright lights and shouting “good morning” didn’t work, and yelling just created more stress. One day, when I was all out of ideas, in marched our four-legged family member. Penny, a rescued beagle mix, knew exactly what to do.

Penny could rouse my daughter and get her motivated better than anyone. Using her snout, Penny would burrow under my daughter’s arm and then whine and groan and roll around on her back until my teen gave her belly rubs. On the toughest mornings, Penny’s fail-safe method was placing her cold, wet nose on my teen’s face.

Once Penny garnered enough attention, she’d hop off the bed leaving my now smiling daughter ready to face the day.  

According to John Palladino, a director for Therapaws of Michigan and certified pet handler, Penny might make an excellent therapy dog. Throughout history, canines have aided their human companions in various roles, and recent studies have shown their ability to boost people’s moods.

Therapy dogs and their owners volunteer to visit various places, from hospitals to nursing homes to schools and airports. They offer individuals the chance to connect with a friendly dog and take a mental breather.

“Therapy dogs are not service dogs,” clarifies the American Kennel Club. “Service dogs are specially trained to perform specific tasks to help a person with a disability,” such as guiding someone who is blind. They are also different from a police-trained dog that is given special tasks in detection, patrol or tracking.

“Seeing and interacting with dogs helps your brain quickly shift gears from whatever you were ruminating on to being present with the canine,” says Palladino. As a professor of special education at Eastern Michigan University, Palladino also studies the benefits of pet therapy in the classroom.

“The research is very clear on the effectiveness of pet therapy for children with anxiety and depression. In fact, just witnessing another person and dog interact across the room can normalize a person’s blood pressure, heart rate, and stress hormones,” he says.

Palladino says Therapaws often has more requests for therapy dogs than they can fulfill. So if you’re looking for a fun way to bond with your pet and make a positive impact in your community, volunteering to do pet therapy is a great option.

Would Your Pooch Make a Good Therapy Dog?

Therapy work is open to every kind of dog: purebred, mutt, young or old. Dogs need to be at least 1 year old and physically able to get around (or happy to sit in a stroller).

“We’re looking at the individual temperament of the dog. They should be stable, calm, able to settle easily and love to be petted,” says Steve Calcagno, board member and evaluator for Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dogs.

The general consensus is that having the right personality for therapy work is crucial. But good manners matter too. Can your dog sit, stay and come when called? Does your dog walk nicely on the leash without pulling and greet people without jumping on them? If not, your pup can still be a therapy dog with a little additional training.  

An easy way to tell if your dog is ready for testing is to go to a store that allows dogs – oftentimes hardware stores do – or walk your dog downtown. It’s a good way to see if your dog enjoys interactions with strangers and can handle startling situations, such as kids running by, in a calm way. But Palladino advises against assessing your dog’s responses in a pet store because the scents of other dogs may cause your pet to get defensive or behave differently than he or she might otherwise.

What Are the Training and Certification Requirements?

Dogs and their handlers (owners) are certified as a team. You can request an evaluation without any official training. It’s up to you to decide if you think your dog is ready for the assessment, says Palladino. “What you do to get ready to pass the evaluation is up to you. Some people take the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen® training classes. Others train their dogs themselves or hire a trainer.”

The evaluation is typically a multipart assessment to see how well your dog takes direction from you and how your dog responds to strangers, other dogs, and various situations like loud noises. During the assessment, the evaluator may suggest areas to improve upon or let you know if your dog seems like a natural fit for a certain type of pet therapy.

How Do You Start Volunteering?

Getting started is simple. Contact one of the American Kennel Club’s recognized therapy dog organizations near you to learn their requirements for volunteering. They can recommend local training programs and the organization they want you to receive certification from.

Volunteering is typically a low-key commitment, depending on what you want to do. It can range from participating in occasional special events, such as final exams week at universities, to volunteering regularly once or twice a week. But the impact you make is more than you realize, says Palladino, who has had people schedule their medical appointments around when his dog will be at the hospital. “When I’m volunteering, people who interact with my dogs always say to me, ‘You have no idea how much I needed this.’”

Search-and-Rescue Dogs

Search-and-rescue dogs also perform an important community service, but the investment of time and money is higher than what is required for a therapy dog. The work is performed strictly on a voluntary basis.

Fifteen years ago, Casandra Ulbrich, trailing instructor and co-founder of Wolverine State Search and Recovery, never imagined she’d be out searching for missing persons. It was her rambunctious puppy, a German shepherd named Jackson, who started her down the path. Jackson needed an outlet for his energy and intellect beyond the puppy training and agility classes they had already taken.

“Someone suggested we try search-and-rescue training, and we both became hooked on it,” says Ulbrich. “You develop an amazing bond with your canine – you can read your dog’s cues and know what they are sensing or feeling at a level most people will never experience.”

Becoming a search-and-rescue team with your dog takes dedication. You have to finance up to two years of weekly training and commit to making yourself available whenever the need arises. “If it’s a live search, let’s say a child wandered away from home, you could get a call at 2 o’clock in the morning,” Ulbrich says. “The expectation is that you go if you can because you could be the difference between life and death.”

Want to learn more? Visit Search and Rescue Dogs of the United States, National Search Dog Alliance or browse online for local search-and-rescue groups.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kristi Valentini is a travel writer whose work has been featured in Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping, Oprah Daily and more. She creates easy-to-use trip guides at Readymade Travel Plans for people who love taking a vacation but hate planning for it.

Together, you and your pup could make a difference in the lives of others.

Waking my teen daughter, who was struggling with anxiety and desperately trying to avoid going to school, had become a challenge. Back rubs, bright lights and shouting “good morning” didn’t work, and yelling just created more stress. One day, when I was all out of ideas, in marched our four-legged family member. Penny, a rescued beagle mix, knew exactly what to do.

Penny could rouse my daughter and get her motivated better than anyone. Using her snout, Penny would burrow under my daughter’s arm and then whine and groan and roll around on her back until my teen gave her belly rubs. On the toughest mornings, Penny’s fail-safe method was placing her cold, wet nose on my teen’s face.

Once Penny garnered enough attention, she’d hop off the bed leaving my now smiling daughter ready to face the day.  

According to John Palladino, a director for Therapaws of Michigan and certified pet handler, Penny might make an excellent therapy dog. Throughout history, canines have aided their human companions in various roles, and recent studies have shown their ability to boost people’s moods.

Therapy dogs and their owners volunteer to visit various places, from hospitals to nursing homes to schools and airports. They offer individuals the chance to connect with a friendly dog and take a mental breather.

“Therapy dogs are not service dogs,” clarifies the American Kennel Club. “Service dogs are specially trained to perform specific tasks to help a person with a disability,” such as guiding someone who is blind. They are also different from a police-trained dog that is given special tasks in detection, patrol or tracking.

“Seeing and interacting with dogs helps your brain quickly shift gears from whatever you were ruminating on to being present with the canine,” says Palladino. As a professor of special education at Eastern Michigan University, Palladino also studies the benefits of pet therapy in the classroom.

“The research is very clear on the effectiveness of pet therapy for children with anxiety and depression. In fact, just witnessing another person and dog interact across the room can normalize a person’s blood pressure, heart rate, and stress hormones,” he says.

Palladino says Therapaws often has more requests for therapy dogs than they can fulfill. So if you’re looking for a fun way to bond with your pet and make a positive impact in your community, volunteering to do pet therapy is a great option.

Would Your Pooch Make a Good Therapy Dog?

Therapy work is open to every kind of dog: purebred, mutt, young or old. Dogs need to be at least 1 year old and physically able to get around (or happy to sit in a stroller).

“We’re looking at the individual temperament of the dog. They should be stable, calm, able to settle easily and love to be petted,” says Steve Calcagno, board member and evaluator for Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dogs.

The general consensus is that having the right personality for therapy work is crucial. But good manners matter too. Can your dog sit, stay and come when called? Does your dog walk nicely on the leash without pulling and greet people without jumping on them? If not, your pup can still be a therapy dog with a little additional training.  

An easy way to tell if your dog is ready for testing is to go to a store that allows dogs – oftentimes hardware stores do – or walk your dog downtown. It’s a good way to see if your dog enjoys interactions with strangers and can handle startling situations, such as kids running by, in a calm way. But Palladino advises against assessing your dog’s responses in a pet store because the scents of other dogs may cause your pet to get defensive or behave differently than he or she might otherwise.

What Are the Training and Certification Requirements?

Dogs and their handlers (owners) are certified as a team. You can request an evaluation without any official training. It’s up to you to decide if you think your dog is ready for the assessment, says Palladino. “What you do to get ready to pass the evaluation is up to you. Some people take the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen® training classes. Others train their dogs themselves or hire a trainer.”

The evaluation is typically a multipart assessment to see how well your dog takes direction from you and how your dog responds to strangers, other dogs, and various situations like loud noises. During the assessment, the evaluator may suggest areas to improve upon or let you know if your dog seems like a natural fit for a certain type of pet therapy.

How Do You Start Volunteering?

Getting started is simple. Contact one of the American Kennel Club’s recognized therapy dog organizations near you to learn their requirements for volunteering. They can recommend local training programs and the organization they want you to receive certification from.

Volunteering is typically a low-key commitment, depending on what you want to do. It can range from participating in occasional special events, such as final exams week at universities, to volunteering regularly once or twice a week. But the impact you make is more than you realize, says Palladino, who has had people schedule their medical appointments around when his dog will be at the hospital. “When I’m volunteering, people who interact with my dogs always say to me, ‘You have no idea how much I needed this.’”

Search-and-Rescue Dogs

Search-and-rescue dogs also perform an important community service, but the investment of time and money is higher than what is required for a therapy dog. The work is performed strictly on a voluntary basis.

Fifteen years ago, Casandra Ulbrich, trailing instructor and co-founder of Wolverine State Search and Recovery, never imagined she’d be out searching for missing persons. It was her rambunctious puppy, a German shepherd named Jackson, who started her down the path. Jackson needed an outlet for his energy and intellect beyond the puppy training and agility classes they had already taken.

“Someone suggested we try search-and-rescue training, and we both became hooked on it,” says Ulbrich. “You develop an amazing bond with your canine – you can read your dog’s cues and know what they are sensing or feeling at a level most people will never experience.”

Becoming a search-and-rescue team with your dog takes dedication. You have to finance up to two years of weekly training and commit to making yourself available whenever the need arises. “If it’s a live search, let’s say a child wandered away from home, you could get a call at 2 o’clock in the morning,” Ulbrich says. “The expectation is that you go if you can because you could be the difference between life and death.”

Want to learn more? Visit Search and Rescue Dogs of the United States, National Search Dog Alliance or browse online for local search-and-rescue groups.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kristi Valentini is a travel writer whose work has been featured in Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping, Oprah Daily and more. She creates easy-to-use trip guides at Readymade Travel Plans for people who love taking a vacation but hate planning for it.

Mastercard

We are incredibly proud that the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth has been named to Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2024 in the Corporate Social Responsibility category. We are grateful to everyone at Mastercard who has brought our “Doing Well by Doing Good” philosophy to life. This award is a testament to our company-wide commitment to driving equitable and sustainable economic growth and champion financial inclusion and health.

https://www.fastcompany.com/91038447/mastercard-center-inclusive-growth-most-innovative-companies-2024

About the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth

The Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth advances equitable and sustainable economic growth and financial inclusion around the world. The Center leverages Mastercard’s core assets and competencies, including data insights, expertise, and technology, while administering the philanthropic Mastercard Impact Fund, to produce independent research, scale global programs and empower a community of thinkers, leaders and doers on the front lines of inclusive growth. For more information and to receive its latest insights, follow the Center on LinkedIn and subscribe to its newsletter.

Originally published by Mastercard

Follow along the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth’s journey to advance equitable and sustainable economic growth and financial inclusion around the world

CBRE

CBRE has announced its new headquarters in Glasgow has achieved one of the UK’s highest sustainability ratings.

The global real estate advisor’s offices at 177 Bothwell Street have been awarded a coveted BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating from the Building Research Establishment (BRE), placing it in the top 10% of fit-out projects in the UK.

CBRE relocated more than 400 employees to the landmark development in January last year as part of a consolidation plan to merge three offices into one and enhance collaboration. The agency occupies the building’s ground floor extending to 18,000 sq ft.

177 Bothwell Street’s existing green credentials were a key factor in CBRE selecting it for its West of Scotland hub. It utilises 100% green power from a local source, supporting the advisor’s commitments to reduce carbon emissions. The building also features impressive wellness amenities such as a rooftop running track, seating areas and spa-quality changing facilities.

This fantastic excellent rating was achieved thanks to the collaboration of an in-house CBRE team which included Designers, MEP, Project Management and BREEAM Assessors. Unusually, no comments or suggested actions for improvement were raised by BRE on the BREEAM documentation, which is a real testament to the hard work our team put into this. It is important that we are able to demonstrate to our clients that a commitment to reducing the impact office buildings have on the environment should always be at the core of any real estate decision-making process.

David Smith, Managing Director Scotland

The BREEAM excellent rating for 177 Bothwell Street falls within CBRE’s ESG commitments, with over half the buildings occupied in the UK now holding a green certification.

The achievement of the BREEAM standard for 177 Bothwell Street is another major milestone towards CBRE’s ESG commitments, and it demonstrates best practice since this office is only one of seven projects achieving BREEAM Excellent in Scotland. The smooth achievement of the certification for this project is testament to the amazing team who participated in the process and the accuracy of the evidence provided.

Giulia Mori, Health and Wellbeing Lead, ESG Consultancy, CBRE UK

BREEAM is the most widely used sustainability certification in the UK. Its requirements measure the environmental performance of a building under construction or undergoing refurbishment by assessing factors such as materials, waste, energy and water.

Originally published on about.bnef.com

For all the headlines about automakers dialing back their plans for electric vehicles, there have been some pockets of surprisingly positive news on EV adoption the last few months.

On the passenger vehicle side, BNEF estimates that EVs reached 20% of global vehicle sales in the final quarter of last year. China and Europe are way out ahead, but it was a record quarter in other markets, as well.

The electric commercial vehicle market is followed less closely, but also saw record sales in the final months of 2023. China has been pushing on this front for several years, and it looks like those efforts are now paying off.

Over 5,600 electric or fuel cell medium- and heavy-duty trucks were sold in China in the final month of the year. That was a remarkable 10% of the total, and pulled the tally for all types of commercial EV sales in China to over 330,000 for the year. Light commercial EVs in China took 16% of the market in December.

Those may seem like modest numbers, but heavy trucks were supposed to be one of the hardest segments to electrify, and many groups expected them to keep oil demand in the country growing for years to come. Hitting 10% of the market is meaningful, and puts them just a few years behind passenger cars.

There’s now a growing list of areas where industry commentators thought electrification would struggle to make inroads, from buses to ferries. Reaching this level of sales in the world’s largest auto market, even if just for a month, means it’s probably time to add heavy trucks to that list.

There are two other interesting storylines in China’s heavy-truck data. The first is that hydrogen fuel cells are finally making their presence felt, with over 1,000 fuel cell-powered heavy trucks sold in December. That’s the highest tally yet and more than twice that of any previous month. China is providing very generous incentives for truck manufacturers to deploy fuel cell vehicles, and the market is starting to respond.

There are still many challenges for fuel cell trucks, and sales probably won’t will continue at this rate once subsidies expire. But it’s good to see a technology that has promised so much over the years finally get some traction. Consumers have shown very little interest in fuel cells on the passenger vehicle side, but the technology could still play a role in some smaller trucking applications.

The second storyline is that battery swapping is also helping electrifying China truck sales. BNEF analyst Siyi Mi recently compiled data on all the battery-swappable vehicles sold in the country and found that while swapping remains a niche technology for passenger vehicles, almost half of all heavy battery electric trucks sold last year in China had swappable batteries. That’s up from 34% in 2021.

Many of these trucks are operating in industrial sites, port warehouses, mines and steelmaking factories. Lighter commercial vehicles with swappable batteries also are being used in urban deliveries, an area where BNEF expects to see more growth as better economics and tightened emission requirements draw more attention to electric models. Long-haul trucking will be the last, and most difficult, segment to tackle.

So far, this remains a China story, helped along by its domestic champions. CATL, the largest battery maker in the world, has supported the swapping model in recent years as a way to ensure batteries find their way into big rigs rather than other competing alternatives.

Activity elsewhere is limited. In Europe, Iveco launched an electric delivery van with three sizes of swappable batteries last year, while Mitsubishi Fuso is trialing a battery-swapping truck in Japan. In the longer term, pure battery-electric will probably win out, since lithium-ion batteries continue to get cheaper and better, and maximum charging speeds are rising fast.

All this points to a big shift that may be coming. China has spent the last few years experimenting with the best way to decarbonize heavy trucks. As it crosses these milestones on adoption, it will start to push harder toward higher levels of deployment. That parallels what happened with electric passenger cars — China experimented with different approaches throughout the 2010s, then made a full-court press in the 2020s. BNEF expects plug-in cars to hit nearly 40% of sales this year in China.

While Western automakers are sounding the alarm on slowing growth for electric car demand, other segments are just getting started.

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.

By Nestor Mato

NEW ORLEANS, March 20, 2024 /3BL/ – The Regions Foundation, a nonprofit funded primarily by Regions Bank, on Thursday announced major grant funding to support small-business growth in New Orleans and Baton Rouge. The grants include:

$100,000 from the Regions Foundation to help fund a collaboration between the Propeller, Thrive NOLA and Fund 17 Together, these nonprofits are dedicated to growing and supporting entrepreneurs in New Orleans while addressing social and environmental disparities. The result is a more level playing field for more businesses to compete, grow, and thrive.$65,000 from the Regions Foundation for the Small Business Mastermind program supporting entrepreneurs in Baton Rouge. This initiative led by the Louisiana Small Business Development Center provides a collaborative space for business owners spanning various industries to convene, share ideas, and develop innovative strategies for overcoming challenges and fostering business growth.

“Small businesses are the economic heartbeat of our communities, and when we invest in their success, we’re investing in a stronger economy and quality of life, benefiting people across the region,” said Marta Self, executive director of the Regions Foundation. “The message to entrepreneurs is there are people and organizations eager to invest in your success. These nonprofits are committed to helping business owners overcome obstacles and turn their vision for a thriving company into reality. We are proud at the Regions Foundation to support their work in creating more inclusive prosperity.”

A Closer Look – Propeller, Thrive NOLA and Fund 17:

This collaborative initiative aims to address the specific needs of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) small-business owners who have historically faced more limited access to capital needed for business growth. Through technical assistance and support from local lenders, the organizations will help entrepreneurs navigate the hurdles of accessing capital and improve their chances of success.

“We are fostering an innovative New Orleans entrepreneurship ecosystem initiative called the Financial Wellness Collaborative. Since launching, we have collectively served 385 entrepreneurs,” said Andrea Chen, Co-CEO of Propeller. “Together, we have been able to do more than one organization can do alone.”

Working together, we can create a thriving environment where every entrepreneur has the opportunity to flourish.

Chuck Morse, executive director of Thrive New Orleans

“Teamwork makes the dream work. Not only are we working as a collective to empower entrepreneurs, but we also have supporters like the Regions Foundation that help foster a more inclusive and prosperous future in our community,” added Jess Allen, Co-CEO of Propeller.

The $100,000 grant from the Regions Foundation will support a range of activities designed to help entrepreneurs access capital, including tax filing and preparation, business certifications, QuickBooks training, credit building and counseling, financial and managerial accounting, debt preparedness and management, and preparation of loan packages.

“We believe in the power of partnership,” said Chuck Morse, executive director of Thrive New Orleans. “Working together, we can create a thriving environment where every entrepreneur has the opportunity to flourish. We are immensely proud to be a catalyst that helps small businesses access the capital they need to turn their dreams into reality.”

The effort between Propeller, Thrive NOLA, Fund 17, and the Regions Foundation underscores a shared commitment to building a more equitable and prosperous future for New Orleans and its residents.

“This collaboration has been a true sense of developing and supporting across the technical assistance ecosystem. We’ve seen the work from each organization build upon itself as we have all experienced recurring workshop attendees,” said Veranisha Thompson, Fund 17’s executive director. “This model is what effective community partners look like when leveraging our respective resources and programmatic strengths.”

The grant was presented during New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW), an annual event that brings together business leaders, aspiring entrepreneurs, investors, and other thought leaders to celebrate innovation, technology, entrepreneurship, and culture.

A Closer Look – Small Business Mastermind, Baton Rouge:

The $65,000 in funding from the Regions Foundation for Small Business Mastermind represents the next step in the foundation’s work with the Louisiana Small Business Development Center.

Beginning in 2020, the foundation allocated funding to the SBDC to help small businesses. At the time, the COVID-19 pandemic was unfolding, and the SBDC was meeting urgent needs helping local companies respond.

By investing in initiatives like Small Business Mastermind, our colleagues at the Regions Foundation continue to champion entrepreneurship and economic empowerment across Louisiana.

Amy Province, Baton Rouge market executive for Regions Bank

Now, the relationship between the foundation and the SBDC is evolving to support the Small Business Mastermind program for qualified companies around Louisiana’s capital city. This exclusive and immersive program is tailored for small-business owners who have at least one year of company operation and who meet a minimum threshold of annual sales. Over the course of 10 sessions, participants will unite to address challenges collectively and outline actionable steps forward in expanding their companies.

“This initiative is a source of advice, guidance, networking, and resources,” said Amy Province, Baton Rouge market executive for Regions Bank, who attended the program’s kickoff event. “By investing in initiatives like Small Business Mastermind, our colleagues at the Regions Foundation continue to champion entrepreneurship and economic empowerment across Louisiana.”

The program offers participants access to expert facilitation, monthly sessions, and a close-knit, business-minded community that is driven by seeing entrepreneurs succeed.

“We extend our sincere gratitude for the generous support provided by the Regions Foundation, which is vital in facilitating the Small Business Mastermind program,” said Heidi Melancon, assistant state director of the Louisiana Small Business Development Center. “This contribution helps advance our mission to foster the growth and development of small businesses, thereby enriching our local community and economy.”

About Regions Foundation
The Alabama-based Regions Foundation supports community investments that positively impact communities served by Regions Bank. The Foundation engages in a grantmaking program focused on priorities including economic and community development; education and workforce readiness; and financial wellness. The Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation funded primarily through contributions from Regions Bank.

About Regions Financial Corporation
Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF), with $152 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation’s largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions Bank, operates more than 1,250 banking offices and more than 2,000 ATMs. Regions Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at www.regions.com.

March 20, 2024 /3BL/ – On March 23rd at 8:30 pm local time, WWF’s Earth Hour will return to unite millions worldwide in support and celebration of our planet. In an increasingly divided world struggling with the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss, Earth Hour provides much-needed positivity, inspiration, and hope.

Since 2007, Earth Hour has been known for its iconic “lights out” moment, with landmarks and homes worldwide switching off their lights. This year, while major landmarks go dark to celebrate Earth Hour, WWF encourages individuals to ‘Give an Hour for Earth’ by spending 60 minutes participating in any eco-positive activity from now until Earth Day on April 22nd. An interactive online tool will suggest activities for various lifestyles and interests, and participants can log their contribution to the national and global ‘Hour Bank’.

Katy Fenn, Director of Brand Engagement and Education, said: “From food and fitness to art and entertainment, there’s an activity for everyone in the Hour Bank, and we are aiming to bank 100,000 hours here in the United States. This new campaign approach proves that environmental action can be easy, fun and impactful. By expanding participation to those who are not yet environmentally engaged, we hope to raise awareness and spur collective action in protecting our planet.”

For more information, visit https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/earth-hour.

# # #

For more information, please contact:

tara.doyle@wwfus.org

Assets

Link to social media assets here.

Link to previous Earth Hour photos here.

About Earth Hour

Earth Hour is WWF’s flagship global environmental movement. Over the past 17 years, it has grown to become the world’s largest grassroots movement for the environment, inspiring individuals, communities, businesses and organizations in more than 190 countries and territories to take action for our collective future.

Historically, Earth Hour has focused on the climate crisis, but more recently, Earth Hour has strived to address a range of concerns facing people and the planet. The movement recognizes the role of individuals in creating solutions to the planet’s most pressing environmental challenges and demonstrates the power of millions of people working together towards a common goal.

About World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

WWF is one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, working for 60 years in nearly 100 countries to help people and nature thrive. With the support of 1.3 million members in the United States and more than 5 million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, halt the degradation of the environment, and combat the climate crisis. Visit worldwildlife.org to learn more; follow @WWFNews on Twitter to keep up with the latest conservation news; and sign up for our newsletter and news alerts here.