Month: January 2025

HAMILTON, Bermuda, January 15, 2024 /3BL/ – Bacardi Limited commits to donating $100,000 to the American Red Cross to help people affected by the 2025 California wildfires following massive destruction in the area. In addition, the family-owned company is mobilizing pallets of water to assist first responders on the front lines. Separate from this donation, Bacardi is providing support to its people directly impacted through relief assistance, flexible work schedules, free counseling services, and more.

“As a family-owned company, we believe in coming together in times of need and hope that this contribution is part of larger efforts to rebuild homes, communities and livelihoods,” says Tony Latham, Regional President Bacardi North America. “Our hearts and compassion go out to the many who have lost so much and we want them to know they are not alone.”

Bacardi funding will support the Red Cross relief efforts on the ground across Southern California. Already, more than 400 Red Crossers are are on the ground providing support and the organization is coordinating closely with local partners to provide food, shelter, emotional support and other critical aid. With the help of partners, the Red Cross has provided more than 20,000 meals and snacks, along with relief items, including hygiene supplies, for thousands of affected families.

“The American Red Cross is on the ground helping those impacted by the devastating wildfires in California,” says Anne McKeough, Chief Development Officer at the American Red Cross. “We are so grateful for partners like Bacardi as we work together to provide relief and hope for communities in the wake of this heartbreaking disaster.”

Corporate responsibility has always been a priority for Bacardi. Company founder and BACARDÍ rum creator Don Facundo Bacardí Massó began this tradition in 1862 when he volunteered as the chief organizer of disaster relief in his hometown of Santiago de Cuba after a horrific earthquake. Since then, the company continues to build upon his commitment to assist in times of catastrophic natural disasters. Most recently, Bacardi donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross to support relief across five U.S. states following Hurricanes Milton and Helene. In addition, the company supported relief efforts after Hurricane Dorion in 2019, Hurricanes Maria and Irma in 2017 and other moments of devastation for communities across the globe. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Bacardi rapidly adapted 14 of its global production sites to help produce nearly 400,000 gallons (1.5 million liters) of sanitizer and donated more than half a million units to local communities, from postal workers and healthcare workers to firefighters and police, and nonprofit organizations.

About Bacardi Limited 
Bacardi Limited, the world’s largest privately held international spirits company, produces, markets, and distributes spirits and wines. The Bacardi Limited portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDÍ® rum, PATRÓN® tequila, GREY GOOSE® vodka, DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, MARTINI® vermouth and sparkling wines, CAZADORES® 100% blue agave tequila, and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSON’S® Scotch whisky, D’USSÉ® Cognac, ANGEL’S ENVY® American straight whiskey, and ST-GERMAIN® elderflower liqueur. Founded more than 162 years ago in Santiago de Cuba, family-owned Bacardi Limited currently employs more than 8,000, operates production facilities in 11 countries and territories, and sells its brands in more than 160 markets. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, ­including Bacardi International Limited. Visit http://www.bacardilimited.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Media Contact: 
Jessica Merz, VP Global Corporate Communications, jmerz@bacardi.com

Advancements in gut microbiome research could strengthen existing hunger treatments and prevent malnutrition relapse

Originally published in Think Global Health. 

Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is the leading cause of death among children around the world—a crisis driven by climate change, armed conflicts, and widening inequality. Today, some 30 million children face SAM. Without treatment, a malnourished child is 11 times more likely to die than one who is healthy.

Researchers are working toward a better understanding of the connection between nutrition and gut health that would help in more effectively treating and preventing hunger-related deaths. Gut health is critical to overall well-being: An imbalance in bacteria can have negative impacts on the digestive, immune, and nervous systems. Recent research reveals that children who initially recover from SAM but later relapse are more likely to be suffering from a poor gut microbiome. Given this insight, scientists are presented with exciting new possibilities: What if they could influence the gut to help restore a healthy balance of bacteria and prevent relapse?

Read more in Think Global Health. 

Heather Stobaugh is a senior research and learning specialist at Action Against Hunger.

About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 21 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 59 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

Originally published in FedEx’s 2024 Global Economic Impact Report

FedEx has been transforming transportation and logistics services for more than 50 years, advancing our purpose to connect people and possibilities around the world as a result. From pioneering overnight delivery to inventing package tracking to expanding international trade — innovation is in our DNA, which has empowered us to continue pushing boundaries to make supply chains smarter for everyone. These efforts enable the success of our customers, build prosperity in the communities where we operate, and accelerate the flow of goods and ideas that generate economic growth across countries and regions. We call this impact the FedEx Effect.

This report quantifies the FedEx Effect by showing the value of the company’s economic contributions around the world. For the fourth consecutive year, we have measured a range of factors, including the impact of our company’s revenues, capital expenditures, and spending on wages, as well as the ripple effects generated by our core services. To reflect the scale of our operations, we have calculated the impact that FedEx makes on the global economy as a whole, as well as on the economies of the United States and our major operating regions.

Today, FedEx connects the vast majority of the world’s gross domestic product. As a result of this reach, FedEx contributed more than $85 billion in direct economic impact to the global economy in fiscal year (FY) 2024.1 In addition to this direct impact, FedEx spending to maintain its operations and its business services stimulates economic activity at other companies across the global economy — which is considered the company’s indirect impact. In FY 2024, FedEx indirectly contributed an additional $39 billion in net economic output 2 around the world. In the global Transportation, Storage, and Communications sector,3 the company’s indirect impact was the largest contribution totaling an estimated $20.4 billion.

The extensive FedEx supply chain multiplies this impact. In calendar year (CY) 4 2023, FedEx contracted with approximately 100,000 suppliers, 90% of which are small businesses.5 FedEx spending with these suppliers drives further economic growth and supports local job creation.

Our global reach also gives FedEx a unique opportunity to make positive contributions to the world beyond the impact of our business activities. FedEx is committed to supporting the communities where we live, work, and serve through FedEx Cares, which provides charitable donations in the form of direct financial support, employee volunteering, and in-kind shipping services. FedEx is also investing in sustainable technologies such as electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable power to reduce the environmental impact of our operations, while contributing to the research and development of the next generation of sustainable breakthroughs, such as carbon capture.

While this report highlights the impact of our operations during FY 2024, FedEx remains committed to the spirit of innovation and progress on which our company was founded. We recently consolidated our major operating companies into Federal Express Corporation — becoming a single company operating a unified, fully integrated air-ground express network under the respected FedEx brand. The change will allow us to become a more flexible, efficient, and intelligent network to better serve our customers. We are also combining the data and insights from the 16 million packages we deliver per day globally with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to create new digital tools and solutions that are helping us run and change our business, digitize our customers’ supply chains, and move up the value chain in e-commerce.

We believe that operating as one FedEx team is another milestone in our company’s history of bringing the world closer together. By continuing to foster connections between people and possibilities everywhere in the world, we can multiply our economic impact for years to come.

Read more

Click here to learn about FedEx Cares, our global community engagement program.

SALT LAKE CITY, January 15, 2025 /3BL/— KeyBank has awarded a $75,000 grant to People Helping People (PHP) in Salt Lake City, a nonprofit providing employment training and resources to low-income women and single mothers who are working towards financial self-sufficiency through long-term successful employment.

PHP offers a four-phased program for underserved females, focused on coaching, mentoring, developing employment strategies, and offering continued career development opportunities. PHP’s overall mission is to reduce the number of Utah families living in poverty by helping low-income women, primarily single moms, reach adequate income through sustainable employment.

“We believe that every woman is capable and deserving of achieving success and self-sufficiency. We promote this belief by helping our clients see the benefits of work, navigate barriers that they might be facing, and learn how to build the confidence needed to communicate their value to employers. Work looks different for all of us, but how we work and why we work is the differentiating factor. We meet each client where she is at and help her to see she is capable of extraordinary things,” said Kathryn Thomas, Executive Director, People Helping People.

Established in 1993, PHP is focused on creating an environment where single moms can gain the employment support needed to flourish in their careers and in life. The program supports more than 1,000 low-income women and single moms annually. The grant funds will be used to scale PHP’s program operations.

“People Helping People supports vulnerable Utah women with the employment training and resources needed today to help them flourish, thereby strengthening themselves, their families and their communities,” said Drew Yergensen, KeyBank Utah market president. “KeyBank is proud to support this admirable mission to help our neighbors and make our community stronger in the process.”

About People Helping People, Inc.
People Helping People is dedicated to reducing the number of children living in poverty by teaching low-income women, primarily single mothers, how to earn an adequate income through successful employment. While there is no one-size fits all approach, we believe that a good job with good benefits with a good company and long-term employment support can go a long way in helping single moms become financially self-sufficient. At PHP, we have seen firsthand over the last 3 decades how successful employment positively impacts the lives of women and their families. We believe that the only permanent route of our poverty is an adequate income. Our employment program, through the work of dedicated volunteers and staff, and community partners like KeyBank, creates and environment where single mothers and women can and will flourish both in their careers and in life.

About KeyCorp
KeyBank’s roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, KeyCorp is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $190 billion at September 30, 2024. 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 a Member FDIC. 

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