Month: August 2025
Why sustainability belongs on the CIO’s agenda
Granite and CEO Rob Hale Make Largest Team Donation in Pan-Mass Challenge History
Granite’s “B.A.’s Brigade” Honors Cherished Colleague by Raising $3.6 Million
QUINCY, Mass., Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Granite Telecommunications, led by CEO Rob Hale, has made the largest team donation in the 46-year history of the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC), raising an extraordinary $3.6 million for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The record-breaking gift was made in honor of longtime Granite executive and cherished colleague Bob Allen, affectionately known as “B.A.,” who passed away unexpectedly in December.
The Granite team, riding under the name “B.A.’s Brigade,” was made up of nearly 50 Granite teammates and family members, many of whom trained together on the South Shore in the months leading up to the two-day, nearly 190-mile ride. The cause is deeply personal, not only for CEO Rob Hale, whose father was treated at Dana-Farber before passing from pancreatic cancer, but also for the entire Granite community, which has supported Dana-Farber for years and raised millions of dollars to help advance cancer research and care.
“Supporting the Pan-Mass Challenge and Dana-Farber is personal for all of us,” said Hale. “We ride for our loved ones and colleagues, and this year, we rode for B.A. The joy of giving, and doing it together, is one of the greatest gifts we can share. I couldn’t imagine a better way to honor B.A.’s memory and I couldn’t be more proud of our Granite team.”
Bob Allen, one of Granite’s earliest team members, was a dedicated marathoner and endurance athlete who channeled his passion into raising funds for charity. He had planned to participate in this year’s Pan-Mass Challenge for a second consecutive year alongside the Granite team, and in the days before his passing, he shared with coworkers his excitement about training and riding together. When CEO Rob Hale announced that Granite would form a team in Bob’s memory, teammates responded with enthusiasm and heart, naming themselves “B.A.’s Brigade” and committing to making a meaningful impact.
Together, the team turned their shared loss into meaningful action, setting an ambitious goal to raise a record-breaking $3.6 million in homage to B.A. Just days before the 2025 ride, B.A.’s Brigade exceeded the previous record and hit their $3.6 million target.
Granite’s commitment to giving back continues to be a cornerstone of its culture. Under the leadership of CEO Rob Hale, Granite has contributed over $400 million to charitable causes across cancer research, healthcare, education and community development. The company has been consistently recognized for its philanthropic leadership, ranking No. 1 as the most philanthropic company in Massachusetts for the past three consecutive years.
To learn more about Granite’s community impact, visit Granite Gives Back.
About Granite
Granite delivers advanced communications and technology solutions to businesses and government agencies throughout the United States and Canada. The $1.8 billion company serves more than two-thirds of Fortune 100 companies and has 1.75 million voice and data lines under management, supporting more than 650,000 locations. Founded in 2002, Granite has become one of the largest competitive telecommunications carriers in the U.S. by simplifying sourcing and management of voice, data and cellular service with a single point of contact and consolidated invoicing for all locations nationwide. Today, Granite supports customers with a wide range of services, including access, UCaaS, mobile voice and data, and MSP solutions for SD-WAN, monitoring and network management. Granite employs more than 2,220 people at its headquarters in Quincy, Massachusetts, and 10 regional offices nationwide. For more information, visit www.granitenet.com.
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/granite-and-ceo-rob-hale-make-largest-team-donation-in-pan-mass-challenge-history-302521006.html
SOURCE Granite Telecommunications, LLC
Fortistar and Epic Star Energy Acquire Renewable Energy Portfolio from HEI Subsidiary
HONOLULU, Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Fortistar and Epic Star Energy (“Epic Star”) announced the acquisition of a renewable energy portfolio from Pacific Current, a subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Industries (HEI). The acquired portfolio consists of a utility scale solar project on Kauai and several other operating renewable energy projects. The acquisition closed on August 1, 2025. Epic Star will manage the portfolio under long-term contracts going forward, providing seamless, renewable power for many more decades of service to Hawaii.
Epic Star’s management team has deep expertise in the Hawaii renewable energy development space, having previously developed one of Oahu’s largest solar and battery projects currently under construction. Epic Star, a Fortistar portfolio company, invests in and develops battery energy storage systems coupled with solar and other sustainable energy resources where practical. Fortistar has a successful track record of developing, owning and operating assets for over 30 years.
“The sale of this portfolio ensures that these important renewable assets continue to provide clean power to our communities,” said Scott DeGhetto, EVP & CFO of HEI. “We believe Epic Star’s expertise in developing and operating renewable energy assets will make it a good partner for Hawaii as our state continues on its path to a clean, reliable and resilient energy future.”
The acquisition of this portfolio provides a platform for Epic Star’s proven development team to focus on building more sustainable energy projects to address the robust demand for new renewable power generation in Hawaii supported by statewide goals to create a reliable, resilient power supply while safely transitioning from imported oil and fossil fuel generation.
“This diversified portfolio of long-term contracted commercial and utility scale projects represents an attractive platform for sustainable energy investment in Hawaii. We plan to leverage these existing projects with our strong, local relationships as a complement to our community centric skillset, ensuring alignment with the community” said Henry Yun, CEO of Epic Star.
Epic Star Energy
Epic Star Energy is a Fortistar portfolio company managed by a highly respected team of proven developers and professionals representing all aspects of the renewable energy value chain. Epic Star Energy leverages interconnections at key grid locations throughout North America to meet the increasing demand for stand-alone energy storage systems, coupled with other sustainable energy resources where practical. Epic Star’s management team has developed some of the largest renewable energy projects in the US, including a 3.2-gigawatt solar PV project and 2.0 gigawatts of storage in Western Arizona, and the largest energy storage project under construction in New York City under contract with Con Edison.
For more information, please visit: www.epicstarenergy.com
Fortistar
Founded in 1993, Fortistar is a privately-owned investment firm that provides capital to build, grow and manage companies that address complex sustainability challenges. Fortistar utilizes its capital, flexibility and operating expertise to grow high-performing assets, first in independent power projects and now into other areas that support decarbonization. As a team, Fortistar has led financings raising over $3.5 billion in capital for companies and projects in the energy, transportation and industrial sectors.
For more information, please visit: www.fortistar.com
Contact:
Kelly Sarber, Epic Star, 760.613.5994, Kelly.Sarber@epicstarenergy.com
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fortistar-and-epic-star-energy-acquire-renewable-energy-portfolio-from-hei-subsidiary-302520603.html
SOURCE Fortistar
Post Heads West: New York Post Media Group Launches “The California Post”
New Los Angeles-Based Media Venture to Bring World Class Coverage and Indispensable Reporting to California
NEW YORK, Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — New York Post Media Group (NYPMG)—home of The New York Post, Page Six and Decider—is launching a new media venture, The California Post, in early 2026. The California Post will offer readers a unique and indispensable combination of fearless, common-sense journalism, celebrity and entertainment news, world class sports reporting and the legendary covers people expect from The New York Post—but from a distinctly Californian perspective. The California Post content will appear across multiple platforms and formats, including mobile and desktop sites, video, audio, social media and importantly, a daily print edition.
The California Post will be headquartered in Los Angeles and staffed by a robust team of tenacious editors, reporters and photographers dedicated to covering the stories that matter most to the people who live and work in the Golden State. Across print, digital and social channels, the team will chronicle the incredible state of California—a global power center of culture, sports, business and politics. The California Post will also leverage NYPMG’s national news gathering capabilities, sharing resources with The New York Post and adding even more value for readers.
This new venture is launching at the right time for NYPMG, California and Los Angeles. The Post brand, influence and reach has never been stronger, with The Post Digital Network, which includes NYPost.com, PageSix.com and Decider.com, attracting 90 million unique visitors in June alone. Ninety percent of Post digital readers already live outside of the New York media market. Los Angeles is home to the second largest concentration of Post readers, with 3.5 million monthly unique visitors—and 7.3 million across the state. This new masthead further positions The Post as a true national brand, substantially increasing its profile on the West Coast. The New York Post has achieved three consecutive years of profitability beginning in Fiscal Year 2022, an impressive achievement in a challenging environment for some publishers.
NYPMG has appointed News Corp veteran Nick Papps as The California Post‘s Editor-in-Chief. Papps has nearly two decades of editorial leadership, and has helped drive editorial and commercial success at multiple publications. He has also served as News Corp Australia’s West Coast Correspondent for nearly three years and was based in Los Angeles.
Now more than ever, Californians need a media outlet dedicated to common sense, clever coverage of the most important issues, many of which are ignored or dismissed by current print and digital outlets. Despite its vibrancy—as well as the upcoming Olympic Games and World Cup—California lacks a voice that will hold leaders to account as they attempt to tackle the most critical issues facing residents. In fact, Los Angeles is fast becoming a news desert, despite being home to nearly 13 million monthly digital news readers. Thousands of stories are going untold and countless perspectives aren’t being represented by a media ecosystem that has lost touch with the people—especially as the city and state face unprecedented challenges and leadership vacuums.
Perhaps that’s why The New York Post already outranks the leading LA-based publication when it comes to desktop viewership according to Comscore, and is gaining ground in every corner of the state.
“Los Angeles and California surely need a daily dose of The Post as an antidote to the jaundiced, jaded journalism that has sadly proliferated. We are at a pivotal moment for the city and the state, and there is no doubt that The Post will play a crucial role in engaging and enlightening readers, who are starved of serious reporting and puckish wit,” said News Corp Chief Executive Robert Thomson. “I am also pleased that Keith Poole’s remit is expanding, as he will now be responsible for covering not just New York, but California, the U.S., the world and, perhaps, Mars.”
“This is the next manifestation of our national brand,” said Keith Poole, Editor-in-Chief of The New York Post. “California is the most populous state in the country, and is the epicenter of entertainment, the AI revolution and advanced manufacturing—not to mention a sports powerhouse. Yet many stories are not being told, and many viewpoints are not being represented. With The California Post, we will bring a common-sense, issue-based approach to metropolitan journalism. We’ll tell the stories that our readers care about the most, but others overlook, and we’ll do so with clarity and our trademark conviction, across print, digital and the platforms where audiences live today.
“I am also thrilled to welcome Nick Papps to The Post family,” continued Poole. “Nick has a keen sense for the stories that matter, an understanding of what makes Los Angeles tick and the ability to apply The Post’s unique voice to this vibrant market.”
“Our content is read everywhere from the corner store to the corner office,” added Sean Giancola, CEO of New York Post Media Group. “We are trusted by millions for our direct and plain-spoken approach to news, and The New York Post has been the voice of the people in New York for 200 years. California is a vibrant, dynamic market where our unique journalistic ethos will resonate and engage audiences in meaningful ways.”
The California Post will operate as a separate entity under the New York Post Media Group and will launch in early 2026.
If you are a reporter, editor or audience development professional, especially in the Los Angeles area, and looking for an opportunity to have an impact in the state of California, the team is in the process of staffing its LA-based operations. If you are interested in applying for a role at The California Post, please visit the New York Post Media Group’s Careers site: careers.nypost.com/.
About New York Post Media Group
New York Post Media Group is home to the oldest continuously-published daily newspaper in the United States, The New York Post, founded by Alexander Hamilton in 1801. Its portfolio also houses some of the nation’s premier digital destinations for news, sports and entertainment, including The California Post and fabled Page Six gossip column, a world leader in breaking celebrity news that has evolved into its own iconic and powerful brand. The Post Digital Network is composed of the flagship NYPost.com, TheCaliforniaPost.com, PageSix.com, including Page Six Style, and Decider.com, covering streaming television and movies. The New York Post Media Group is owned by News Corp (Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV).
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/post-heads-west-new-york-post-media-group-launches-the-california-post-302520925.html
SOURCE The New York Post
Antea Group USA Contributes to Environment Analyst's “Corporate Guide: Identifying and Remediating PFAS”
St. Paul, Minn., August 4, 2025 /3BL/ – Antea Group USA is proud to announce its contribution to “Corporate Guide: Identifying and Remediating PFAS” published by Environment Analyst.
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals,” have rapidly become one of the most pressing environmental and financial liabilities for both public authorities and privately held landowners and asset managers. In response to growing concerns around the health and environmental risks associated with these persistent substances, Environment Analyst has released a new free corporate guide to help organizations assess, address, and remediate PFAS contamination.
This guide brings together insights and best practices from subject matter experts who are leading the charge in PFAS investigation and cleanup. These experts offer practical knowledge grounded in field experience, with the aim of equipping organizations of all sizes with the tools they need to evaluate potential PFAS exposure and take proactive steps to mitigate risks.
Antea Group authored the “Investigating the Extent of PFAS Risk Exposure” chapter, which focuses on PFAS risk assessment and due diligence. Tailored for businesses that are just beginning their journey in understanding PFAS liabilities, the chapter outlines how to initiate investigations into the historic and current use of PFAS across assets, products, and supply chains. It also examines key risk pathways and highlights available data sources that can inform a strategic and efficient approach to PFAS management.
“Given the rapid evolution of PFAS regulations across the globe and the increasing tide of litigation, undertaking this initial, proactive investigation is no longer optional; it’s a fundamental requirement for responsible business in today’s environment,” states Jason Lagowski, Senior Consultant and PFAS Management Service Lead at Antea Group USA. “By proactively identifying potential exposure, you can get ahead of regulatory curves, build trust with stakeholders, and empower your organization to explore innovative, PFAS-free alternatives, ultimately building long-term business resilience.”
This guide aims to provide a valuable roadmap for navigating the evolving regulatory landscape and mitigating long-term liabilities tied to PFAS.
Antea Group Belgium and Antea Group Netherlands, also recently contributed to Environment Analyst’s Focus on Europe Insight Report, which provides a high-level overview of economic and environmental situations within the current political backdrop.
About Environment Analyst
Environment Analyst is an international membership community for the environmental services space, built around their market intelligence service. Their analysts help customers examine market opportunities in the environmental sector. They bring together business leaders and practitioners in peer-to-peer networks and share news and insight with member companies.
Their mission is to connect the environmental, ESG and professional services community, and provide the intelligence to deliver a sustainable transition. They aim to be the leading global partner supporting the environmental, sustainability & ESG community in its ambition to shape a better future. Learn more.
About Antea Group
Antea®Group is an environment, health, safety, and sustainability consulting firm. By combining strategic thinking with technical expertise, we do more than effectively solve client challenges; we deliver sustainable results for a better future. We work in partnership with and advise many of the world’s most sustainable companies to address ESG-business challenges in a way that fits their pace and unique objectives. Our consultants equip organizations to better understand threats, capture opportunities and find their position of strength. Lastly, we maintain a global perspective on ESG issues through not only our work with multinational clients, but also through our sister organizations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America and as a founding member of the Inogen Alliance. Learn more.
Post Heads West: New York Post Media Group Launches “The California Post”
New Los Angeles-Based Media Venture to Bring World Class Coverage and Indispensable Reporting to California
NEW YORK, Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — New York Post Media Group (NYPMG)—home of The New York Post, Page Six and Decider—is launching a new media venture, The California Post, in early 2026. The California Post will offer readers a unique and indispensable combination of fearless, common-sense journalism, celebrity and entertainment news, world class sports reporting and the legendary covers people expect from The New York Post—but from a distinctly Californian perspective. The California Post content will appear across multiple platforms and formats, including mobile and desktop sites, video, audio, social media and importantly, a daily print edition.
The California Post will be headquartered in Los Angeles and staffed by a robust team of tenacious editors, reporters and photographers dedicated to covering the stories that matter most to the people who live and work in the Golden State. Across print, digital and social channels, the team will chronicle the incredible state of California—a global power center of culture, sports, business and politics. The California Post will also leverage NYPMG’s national news gathering capabilities, sharing resources with The New York Post and adding even more value for readers.
This new venture is launching at the right time for NYPMG, California and Los Angeles. The Post brand, influence and reach has never been stronger, with The Post Digital Network, which includes NYPost.com, PageSix.com and Decider.com, attracting 90 million unique visitors in June alone. Ninety percent of Post digital readers already live outside of the New York media market. Los Angeles is home to the second largest concentration of Post readers, with 3.5 million monthly unique visitors—and 7.3 million across the state. This new masthead further positions The Post as a true national brand, substantially increasing its profile on the West Coast. The New York Post has achieved three consecutive years of profitability beginning in Fiscal Year 2022, an impressive achievement in a challenging environment for some publishers.
NYPMG has appointed News Corp veteran Nick Papps as The California Post‘s Editor-in-Chief. Papps has nearly two decades of editorial leadership, and has helped drive editorial and commercial success at multiple publications. He has also served as News Corp Australia’s West Coast Correspondent for nearly three years and was based in Los Angeles.
Now more than ever, Californians need a media outlet dedicated to common sense, clever coverage of the most important issues, many of which are ignored or dismissed by current print and digital outlets. Despite its vibrancy—as well as the upcoming Olympic Games and World Cup—California lacks a voice that will hold leaders to account as they attempt to tackle the most critical issues facing residents. In fact, Los Angeles is fast becoming a news desert, despite being home to nearly 13 million monthly digital news readers. Thousands of stories are going untold and countless perspectives aren’t being represented by a media ecosystem that has lost touch with the people—especially as the city and state face unprecedented challenges and leadership vacuums.
Perhaps that’s why The New York Post already outranks the leading LA-based publication when it comes to desktop viewership according to Comscore, and is gaining ground in every corner of the state.
“Los Angeles and California surely need a daily dose of The Post as an antidote to the jaundiced, jaded journalism that has sadly proliferated. We are at a pivotal moment for the city and the state, and there is no doubt that The Post will play a crucial role in engaging and enlightening readers, who are starved of serious reporting and puckish wit,” said News Corp Chief Executive Robert Thomson. “I am also pleased that Keith Poole’s remit is expanding, as he will now be responsible for covering not just New York, but California, the U.S., the world and, perhaps, Mars.”
“This is the next manifestation of our national brand,” said Keith Poole, Editor-in-Chief of The New York Post. “California is the most populous state in the country, and is the epicenter of entertainment, the AI revolution and advanced manufacturing—not to mention a sports powerhouse. Yet many stories are not being told, and many viewpoints are not being represented. With The California Post, we will bring a common-sense, issue-based approach to metropolitan journalism. We’ll tell the stories that our readers care about the most, but others overlook, and we’ll do so with clarity and our trademark conviction, across print, digital and the platforms where audiences live today.
“I am also thrilled to welcome Nick Papps to The Post family,” continued Poole. “Nick has a keen sense for the stories that matter, an understanding of what makes Los Angeles tick and the ability to apply The Post’s unique voice to this vibrant market.”
“Our content is read everywhere from the corner store to the corner office,” added Sean Giancola, CEO of New York Post Media Group. “We are trusted by millions for our direct and plain-spoken approach to news, and The New York Post has been the voice of the people in New York for 200 years. California is a vibrant, dynamic market where our unique journalistic ethos will resonate and engage audiences in meaningful ways.”
The California Post will operate as a separate entity under the New York Post Media Group and will launch in early 2026.
If you are a reporter, editor or audience development professional, especially in the Los Angeles area, and looking for an opportunity to have an impact in the state of California, the team is in the process of staffing its LA-based operations. If you are interested in applying for a role at The California Post, please visit the New York Post Media Group’s Careers site: careers.nypost.com/.
About New York Post Media Group
New York Post Media Group is home to the oldest continuously-published daily newspaper in the United States, The New York Post, founded by Alexander Hamilton in 1801. Its portfolio also houses some of the nation’s premier digital destinations for news, sports and entertainment, including The California Post and fabled Page Six gossip column, a world leader in breaking celebrity news that has evolved into its own iconic and powerful brand. The Post Digital Network is composed of the flagship NYPost.com, TheCaliforniaPost.com, PageSix.com, including Page Six Style, and Decider.com, covering streaming television and movies. The New York Post Media Group is owned by News Corp (Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV).
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/post-heads-west-new-york-post-media-group-launches-the-california-post-302520925.html
SOURCE The New York Post
Northwestern Mutual Sustainability and Impact: Delivering Financial Security
Originally published in Northwestern Mutual 2024 Sustainability and Impact Report
Helping Americans achieve financial security is at the core of our value proposition.
Every day, our work supports policyowners and clients in growing wealth and protecting what they’ve worked so hard for. We’re dedicated to expanding financial access in underserved communities, reducing the wealth gap, and empowering economic growth by helping to build generational wealth.
- $2.4T of life insurance protection in force1
- $335B of retail investment client assets held or managed by Northwestern Mutual2
- $175M Impact Investment Fund to increase access to capital to businesses that support and improve underserved communities
IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH FINANCIAL SECURITY
According to Northwestern Mutual’s 2024 Planning & Progress Study,3 the number of Americans feeling personal financial insecurity is on the rise.
This annual study found that among generations closest to retirement, just half of Boomers+ (49%) and Gen X (48%) believe they will be financially prepared for retirement.
We approach financial planning differently. We ask deeper questions and listen closely. We pursue longterm value over short-term gain. And we have access to a range of exclusive solutions designed to deliver better outcomes. Our comprehensive approach considers both risk management and growth because we believe that a financial plan optimized with insurance, investments, and guaranteed income is the best way to help policyowners and clients reach their goals.4
Our products and services
Northwestern Mutual’s products and services offer policyowners and clients a better way to money:TM
- Our comprehensive planning services offer policyowners and clients a wide range of financial options built to reinforce each other, like insurance for protection, investments for growth, and annuities for guaranteed income in retirement.
- Our risk-focused offerings, including permanent life insurance (PLI), term life insurance, disability insurance, and long-term care insurance, bolster access to financial resources during unexpected life events, while annuities can provide a guaranteed income that doesn’t change based on market volatility.
- Our range of wealth solutions, including advisory services and brokerage products, help clients grow their assets over time and build financial security.
- Our network of more than 22,000 advisors5 and team members across hundreds of locations in the United States understand the specific needs and circumstances of their communities. Northwestern Mutual advisors garner the trust of our clients by creating comprehensive, personalized plans to help secure their long-term financial futures.
We know that seamless customer service is vital to policyowners and clients. In 2024, we continued our work to remove inefficiencies in our customer service process. Efforts that began in 2023 have led to reduced costs, better service, higher call quality, and improved satisfaction scores. We regularly monitor our Net Promoter Score (NPS), which reflects the trust our clients have in us, earned through the dedication and collaboration of our employees and advisors.
POWERING CHANGE THROUGH RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT
Maximizing long-term value for our policyowners is our first and foremost goal as a mutual company. Our General Account strives to earn superior long-term investment returns while maintaining our unsurpassed financial strength.
General Account investments
Our General Account invests the premiums paid to us by policyowners across a diversified investment portfolio to generate superior risk-adjusted returns over the long term. Prudent investment management enables us to pay claims and benefits, innovate and grow our business, and share our success with policyowners in the form of dividends.
We seek to direct at least 5% of total investment assets toward investments with environmentally and socially responsible features while continuing to focus on our fundamental commitment to superior long term investment returns while maintaining exceptional financial strength. To this end, we invest a portion of General Account assets through our local and national Impact Investment Fund and Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures, among others. At the end of 2024, these investments totaled more than $26.4 billion, or 8.2% of total invested assets.
Our team evaluates potential investments through the lens of driving superior long-term investment returns while prudently managing risks. We define responsible investments in our General Account through two primary categories:
- Environmentally responsible investments: Supportive of or sensitive to the environment, such as bonds and loans linked to renewable and alternative energy projects, real estate investments that meet nationally recognized sustainable building and occupant wellness standards, and projects that support the lowcarbon transition
- Socioeconomically responsible investments: Promoting projects that increase affordable housing and healthcare access in underdeveloped areas or support businesses with owners from underserved groups
Impact Investment Fund
Our Impact Investment Fund directs capital to businesses that support and improve underserved communities, creating local and national economic benefits. These investments are focused on:
- Building safe and thriving communities
- Reducing the wealth gap and driving financial security
- Encouraging entrepreneurship and start-up growth
The Impact Investment Fund consists of a local Milwaukee allocation as well as a nationally focused allocation, with a total commitment of $175 million. As of 2024, the Fund has supported a total of 97 businesses in underserved communities that created over 1,100 jobs.
MKE Business Expansion Fund
As of 2024, the MKE Business Expansion Fund has invested nearly $3.4 million of capital across the community, supporting 34 local businesses.
One of these businesses, VC414, is a woman-owned venture capital firm that specializes in making investments in high-growth-potential start-ups founded by women and undercapitalized founders. VC414 deployed capital to Pruuvn, an alumnus of Northwestern Mutual’s accelerator program, demonstrating a synergy between our strategies for increasing access and opportunity for entrepreneurs who might otherwise be overlooked.
We also committed a total of $5 million with two community development financial institutions (CDFIs), Northwest Side CDC and Legacy Redevelopment Corporation, in 2024. CDFIs offer many types of financing, including microfinancing, and our investment facilitates increased access to financial resources. Three local businesses received financing as a result of these CDFI investments in 2024.
The MKE Business Expansion Fund has a real impact on individuals in our community. We invested in the Milwaukee Community Land Trust to support two meaningful projects in 2024:
- Rehabilitating homes in the Milwaukee area to serve as permanent residences for low- income families
- Partnering with SecureFutures to educate local high schoolers on the impact of homeownership and the importance of building credit, saving money, and planning for the future
National Impact Fund
As of 2024 year-end, the National Impact Fund has invested $109 million. Funding recipients included:
- Clear Vision Impact Fund, which provides capital to established, minority-owned businesses and expands access to products and services in underserved communities
- BlackRock Impact Opportunities Fund, which enables clients to invest in direct private market opportunities that accelerate positive economic outcomes for undercapitalized communities6
- Siguler Guff, which provides credit to small businesses in underserved communities, creating and retaining quality jobs where they are needed the most
NM Future Ventures
Through Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures, we support entrepreneurs who have been underserved in accessing venture capital. We prioritize investment in companies that align with our strategic business priorities, including companies that:
- Develop tools and platforms to help us deliver the best client experience
- Bring new technologies and enhanced analytics to market
- Work to shape the future of health and wellness
Beyond providing capital, investing creates opportunities to forge meaningful business partnerships—sharing our expertise to help their business grow while maximizing our return on investment.
Check out our 2024 Sustainability and Impact Report to learn how we’re building a better way to tomorrow
1 Source: S&P Capital IQ Pro. Prepared and calculated by Northwestern Mutual.
2 Combined client assets of Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (NMIS), and Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company (NMWMC) as of December 31, 2024. The advisory programs offered by NMWMC are in conjunction with brokerage services from NMWMC’s affiliate, NMIS. NMIS and NMWMC are both wholly owned subsidiaries of Northwestern Mutual.
3 https://news.northwesternmutual.com/planning-and-progressstudy-2024
4 How life insurers can provide differentiated retirement benefits, EY, 2022.
5 Not all Northwestern Mutual representatives are advisors. Only those representatives with “advisor” in their title or who otherwise disclose their status as an advisor of NMWMC are credentialed as NMWMC representatives to provide investment advisory services. For ease of reference, we refer to Northwestern Mutual representatives as advisors throughout this report.
CU SoCal Teams Up with LA Regional Food Bank to Fight Hunger
ANAHEIM HILLS, Calif., Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Credit Union of Southern California (CU SoCal) recently partnered with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank to support its mission of ensuring no one in the community goes hungry. A group of CU SoCal managers volunteered their time to sort and package food items for distribution to families in need across Southern California.
The volunteer event was part of CU SoCal’s ongoing commitment to their People Helping People philosophy. The LA Regional Food Bank was selected for its impact in addressing food insecurity and its deep roots in serving vulnerable populations throughout Los Angeles County.
“The experience was both humbling and energizing,” said Melissa Manning, Vice President of Business & Talent Development at CU SoCal. “It reminded us of the power of coming together for a greater cause—and inspired many of our team members to seek out similar volunteer opportunities with their families. That kind of ripple effect is exactly the lasting impact we strive for.”
Since 1973, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank has been a vital force in the fight against hunger, distributing millions of pounds of food each year to families, seniors, and individuals in need. CU SoCal is proud to support such a trusted partner in strengthening our communities. For more information on LA Regional Food Bank’s work and mission, visit lafoodbank.org.
About Credit Union of Southern California (CU SoCal)
Founded in 1954 as Whittier Area Schools Federal Credit Union, CU SoCal is a credit union open to those who live, work, worship, or attend school in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties, and Lake Havasu City. CU SoCal has a superior five-star financial rating from BauerFinancial, holds more than $3.3 billion in assets, and serves more than 180,000 Members. For more information, visit CUSoCal.org.
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cu-socal-teams-up-with-la-regional-food-bank-to-fight-hunger-302520886.html
SOURCE Credit Union of Southern California
Bath & Body Works Strengthens Climate Commitment with Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) Validation
Today, Bath & Body Works, Inc. recently announced that it has had its near-term science-based greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a globally recognized authority on corporate climate action.
Bath & Body Works commits to reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 63% by 2035 from a 2022 base year. Bath & Body Works also commits to reduce absolute scope 3 GHG emissions 63% within the same timeframe.
The SBTi is a corporate climate action organization that enables companies and financial institutions worldwide to play their part in combating the climate crisis. SBTi develops standards, tools and guidance which allow companies to set greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions targets in line with what is needed to keep global heating below catastrophic levels and reach net-zero by 2050. With this guidance, Bath & Body Works is taking meaningful steps to reduce its environmental impact and contribute to a more sustainable future.
In 2024, Bath & Body Works completed its 2022 Scope 3 emissions baseline assessment, which gave visibility into the full extent of its carbon footprint and paved the way to set these near-term (2035) science-based targets. These goals were submitted for validation in March 2025 and officially approved in July 2025.
“We are very proud of this milestone and what opportunities this unlocks to help combat climate change and address our company’s environmental footprint,” says Jeff King, Group Vice President and Head of ESG. “The journey ahead will be complex and challenging, but we are ready to take action and work together with our associates and partners in our value chain to protect the planet.”
These new science-based targets replace the company’s previous emissions goals and reflect an ongoing commitment to transparency, accountability and progress. To learn more about Bath & Body Works’ climate change journey and sustainability efforts, read pages 52-55 of the latest 2024 Sustainability and Impact Report.
