Month: September 2025

Originally published in Principal Financial Group 2024 Sustainability Report

Making financial education accessible to all

Beyond high-quality financial products, financial security depends on education, resources, and tools. Across the world, we’re working to make financial information and resources more accessible to all.

Our approach

We offer a suite of financial education materials for individuals and businesses:

• Principal® Hola Futuro provides culturally-relevant, Spanish-language financial wellness resources to help consumers set and meet financial goals and understand the importance of saving.
   
• For participants, we provide access to articles, videos, calculators, and financial worksheets through our Principal® Milestones resource.
   
• A feature in our Simple Asset Allocation B2C app in Thailand equips less experienced customers with specific resources to suggest investment plans based on their investment needs.
   
• Retirement education specialists meet with participants in group meetings or in one-on-one sessions in support of our financial education efforts.
   
• The digital Principal® Business Needs Assessment Tool helps employers in the U.S. assess their current financial plan and adjust accordingly. Users can also gain suggestions to help reduce risks to their business, employees, and lifestyle with next steps to help secure their financial well-being.
   
• In Southeast Asia and Latin America, our Investment Specialist teams and distribution affiliates host monthly webinars, providing investment outlooks, market updates, fund recommendations, wealth management tips, financial health advice, and other key insights.

Our actions and performance in 2024

This year, we hosted webinars and improved resources to boost financial literacy.

• We offered a free monthly webinar series in the U.S., open to all interested attendees, which customizes its content to the varied needs of participants at different life stages. In 2024, the subjects covered included financial basics, health care in retirement, college savings, estate planning, understanding investing, women and wealth,
  among others.
   
• We also offered webinars for small and midsize businesses (SMBs) in the U.S. to help them navigate their business needs. This year’s webinars focused on how to manage generational differences in the workplace, current and future economic and employment trends, and strategies to support employee mental health. In 2024, we received a 99% positive rating from webinar participants who completed our survey.
   
• We improved our participant outreach, making it clear and easier to understand, resulting in a 53% increase in participants taking action and a 21% increase in participant engagement year over year. Activity includes enrolling in their retirement plan, increasing their savings, meeting with one of our financial professionals, using a digital advisory tool, or updating their beneficiary. Engagement includes logging into our website, using our mobile app, calling our contact center, or engaging with digital outreach. This activity and engagement helps participants better prepare for retirement and build more confidence on their retirement journey.

Watch or register for our educational webinars for retirement

Watch or register for our educational webinars for businesses

To learn more, read the Principal Financial Group 2024 Sustainability Report.

Insurance products issued by Principal National Life Insurance Co (except in NY) and Principal Life Insurance Company®. Plan administrative services offered by Principal Life. Principal Funds, Inc. is distributed by Principal Funds Distributor, Inc. Securities offered through Principal Securities, Inc., member SIPC and/or independent broker/dealers. Referenced companies are members of the Principal Financial Group®, Des Moines, IA 50392.

4720175-082025

• New Brightlayer capabilities revolutionize electrical system design, construction and operation with seamless BIM integration and digital energy twin technology
• Eaton spotlights how training and education improves operational outcomes with digital twins at Autodesk University 

PITTSBURGH, September 16, 2025 /3BL/ – Intelligent power management company Eaton today announced a collaboration with Autodesk^®, the leader in design and make technology, to improve building lifecycle management. The collaboration leverages Eaton’s trusted energy management and optimization solutions with Autodesk Tandem^® to simplify complex energy system simulations and optimize electrical system performance across commercial buildings, data centers and more – advancing energy resilience and sustainability with new levels of speed, accuracy and flexibility.

With digital transformation, electrification and the shift to distributed energy sources, building owners are adapting to a changing power landscape. Together, Eaton and Autodesk are transforming building electrical systems into intelligent, data-driven ecosystems that continuously maximize functionality and unlock value for the future.

“Eaton and Autodesk are introducing new dynamic capabilities for the building and data center industries that will fundamentally change how electrical systems are designed, built and operated,” said Justin Carron, director of buildings and campuses at Eaton. “By combining actionable insights from energy management systems and reliability-centered maintenance programs with advanced visualization, simulation and modeling capabilities – we’re enabling a more intelligent and productive approach to building lifecycle management.”

“By bringing together Eaton’s energy expertise and Autodesk Tandem’s powerful data visualizations and integration capabilities, we’re giving building operators the tools to move from reactive to predictive strategies – unlocking new levels of resilience, efficiency and sustainability,” said Robert Bray, vice president and general manager of Autodesk Tandem. “It’s exciting to see how these capabilities are being applied to real-world operational challenges and helping shape a smarter, more digital future.”

Eaton’s Brightlayer Digital Energy Twin capability powered by Autodesk Tandem gives designers, contractors and building operators new tools to deliver smarter, more resilient and energy-efficient buildings. Utilizing data and insights from Eaton’s Brightlayer energy software, the Brightlayer Digital Energy Twin enables building and facility managers to simulate, monitor and optimize energy use and building performance. The Eaton digital energy twin technology mimics and predicts how a facility will operate under various conditions and provides analysis on the impact of potential infrastructure upgrades prior to implementation – helping enhance resilience, reduce costs and support sustainability goals.

Additionally, the collaboration introduces a new building information modeling (BIM) generation application for Autodesk Revit^® that enables design and engineering professionals to dynamically generate BIM files for electrical systems to simplify pre-construction planning and create a digital foundation for the future.

At Autodesk University, Eaton’s Chris Finen, national application engineer manager, will discuss how digital energy twin technology helps improve insights and operational outcomes, enabling the shift from descriptive to predictive maintenance and energy management.

Learn more about how Eaton is helping electrify the buildings of the future.

Eaton is an intelligent power management company dedicated to protecting the environment and improving the quality of life for people everywhere. We make products for the data center, utility, industrial, commercial, machine building, residential, aerospace and mobility markets. We are guided by our commitment to do business right, to operate sustainably and to help our customers manage power ─ today and well into the future. By capitalizing on the global growth trends of electrification and digitalization, we’re helping to solve the world’s most urgent power management challenges and building a more sustainable society for people today and generations to come.

Founded in 1911, Eaton has continuously evolved to meet the changing and expanding needs of our stakeholders. With revenues of nearly $25 billion in 2024, the company serves customers in more than 160 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com. Follow us on LinkedIn.

Contact:

Kristin Somers
+1.919.345.3714
Kristincsomers@eaton.com

Regina Parundik
Cobblestone Communications
+1.412.559.1614
Regina@cobblecreative.com

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Net-zero by 2050: We are proud to announce that the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has officially validated our new net-zero emissions target—reinforcing our commitment to climate leadership. Alongside this important step, we have also received approval on our updated near-term goals to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% and Scope 3 emissions by 27.5% by 2030. These targets reflect our continued progress through the Twentyby30™ sustainability program and our dedication to driving measurable impact across our value chain. 

Learn more about our SBTi alignment here: https://lnkd.in/egT4ue2B

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About Crown Holdings, Inc.

Crown Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a leading global supplier of rigid packaging products to consumer marketing companies, as well as transit and protective packaging products, equipment and services to a broad range of end markets. World headquarters are located in Tampa, Florida. For more information, visit www.crowncork.com.

Residential backyards are the first line of defense against flash floods. Did you know a healthy lawn acts like a giant sponge, soaking up intense rainfall that would otherwise overwhelm our storm drains? 

In part four of our 10-part series, we’ll explore how your own piece of Earth can help build a flood-resilient climate for a healthier planet.

Benefit #4: Minimizing flood risk

Natural turfgrass and other green elements act as natural buffers against heavy rainfall, reducing the strain on stormwater runoff systems and mitigating flooding. 

A 5,000-square-foot natural grass lawn on sandy-loam soil can capture approximately 2,000 gallons of rainwater before runoff occurs, effectively slowing the flow of water during intense storms and preventing erosion.

If an area of your yard collects excess rainwater, consider integrating “rain gardens” with deep-rooted native perennials to recharge local groundwater reserves more effectively.

The deep roots of native plants and a well-cared-for lawn create porous soils that soak up gallons of water, protecting your basement, neighborhood, community and planet. 

The crisp air and warm soil of fall is the best time to plant the seeds for a water-positive lawn. As always, mow high, fertilize carefully and water deeply but infrequently to create the healthiest lawn possible. 

Stay tuned for Benefit #5 in our series on creating a healthier atmosphere through your lawn.

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We’re incredibly proud to celebrate our very own Pauline Tay, Vice President of Human Resources – APAC at Griffith Foods!

Pauline was recently featured on the HR Impact Show podcast by EngageRocket, where she shared her valuable insights on building effective HR teams, leadership, and guiding organizations through change.

She also spoke about our 2030 Aspirations and her three-pillar framework for driving transformation across the APAC region. These aspirations are our action plans to nourish the world sustainably by restoring nature, improving livelihoods, and delivering affordable, sustainable nutrition for all.

Follow this link http://bit.ly/3Hux55W to listen to the full episode and learn more about the transformative work happening at Griffith Foods.

Our Sustainability Journey
At Griffith Foods, we are committed to driving positive impact through a regenerative mindset. Sustainability is connected to everything we do as a business, and by 2030, we are dedicated to significantly improving the future with a singular sustainable business strategy that we call our 2030 Aspirations. To learn more about Griffith Foods and its current sustainability efforts, visit them online and download the 2024 Sustainability Report. 

About Griffith Foods
At Griffith Foods, our purpose defines who we are, what we do, and why we exist, highlighting what makes us distinct and authentic in the marketplace. We help our partners meet the evolving needs and desires of consumers in ways that respect and sustain the planet. Our care and creativity mean we’ll find the right mix of global reach and local impact to serve the earth and nourish all of us who call it home.

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Las Vegas Sands

From March through June, Sands Team Members and community volunteers participated in a series of global events that made up the fourth annual Sands Cares Global Food Kit Build, netting nearly 50,000 food and meal kits for distribution to community organizations that work to alleviate hunger.

Marina Bay Sands kicked off the 2025 Sands Cares Global Food Kit Build series on March 3 and produced 6,000 food kits for long-time partner and Sands Cares Accelerator member, The Food Bank Singapore. Approximately 300 Team Members, retail tenants and Sands Hospitality Scholarship Program recipients assembled kits comprising biscuits, rice and canned food that are being distributed to beneficiaries through The Food Bank Singapore’s network of more than 300 organizations, including family centers, residential care homes and welfare organizations throughout Singapore.

Marina Bay Sands has partnered with The Food Bank Singapore since 2016 to address hunger among at-risk communities. Efforts also include donating unserved catered food from the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre, and Team Members regularly volunteer to sort and inventory food donations at The Food Bank Singapore’s warehouse.

The Sands Cares team at corporate headquarters in Las Vegas held its build event on June 3, with 100 Team Members packing 40,188 meal kits for families in need with The Pack Shack, which will benefit Three Square, Southern Nevada’s only food bank and the area’s largest hunger relief organization.

Sands China’s event at The Venetian Macao on June 25 culminated the 2025 Sands Cares Global Food Kit Build series. More than 300 Team Members, community volunteers from social service organization Caritas Macau and students from Macau Polytechnic University assembled 3,000 food kits containing items such as rice, oatmeal, canned food and soup packs.

The kits are being distributed by Caritas Macau to elderly residents, people with disabilities, low-income families and food bank recipients. Sands Cares Ambassadors, Sands China’s Team Member volunteer corps, are assisting with deliveries.

“Because of the enthusiasm and compassion of our Team Members, our annual kit build series has become a resounding success and another positive team-building activity to demonstrate our culture of service and dedication to our communities,” Ron Reese, senior vice president of global communications and corporate affairs, said. “Our regions pursue many activities to address hunger, but the food kit build series is our largest global endeavor and serves as a flagship for the hunger-relief work we do with local community partners.”

Ongoing efforts that complement the food kit build include donating usable food from resort restaurants and catering operations to food relief and social services organizations, financial contributions, food drives and volunteer events with local organizations.

The annual food kit build also contributes to Sands’ global community service ambition of contributing 250,000 Team Member volunteer hours between 2021-2025. Because of Team Members’ commitment to events like the Sands Cares Global Food Kit Build, Sands exceeded its volunteer hours target with 255,955 hours logged by the end of 2024, a full year ahead of schedule.

The Sands Cares Global Food Kit Build is one of three global Sands Cares initiatives, along with the Sands Cares Global Hygiene Kit Build with Clean the World/The WASH Foundation and the Sands Cares Accelerator. Together, these programs unify Sands’ regions and Team Members around the world in the common goal to address the critical needs their local communities.

To learn more about other Sands Cares food insecurity and hardship relief programs, read the company’s latest ESG report: https://www.sands.com/resources/reports/.

Taco Bell

IRVINE, Calif., August 4, 2025 /3BL/ – The Taco Bell Foundation announced it is awarding a record-breaking $28 million in Community Grants to nearly 500 nonprofit organizations across the U.S. – marking the largest annual grant investment in the Taco Bell Foundation’s 30+ year history. This $5 million increase underscores the Taco Bell Foundation’s deepened commitment to helping mission-aligned nonprofits expand their community impact, by funding programs that empower at-promise youth to overcome barriers and thrive in careers they love. Through its historic investment, the Taco Bell Foundation continues to connect youth with the tools they need to thrive and lead – now and into the future.

The Taco Bell Foundation’s Community Grants program uplifts youth in the communities that matter most to Taco Bell – those of its fans and Team Members. True to the brand’s spirit of celebrating cultural rebels, the Taco Bell Foundation supports nonprofits that think differently and take bold approaches to creating new opportunities for young people. Partner organizations deliver impactful programming for youth academic success, mentorship, college and career exploration and readiness, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and socio-emotional well-being.

“We believe that empowering young people is one of the most meaningful ways we can invest in the future,” said Lisa Lane Cardin, Executive Director of the Taco Bell Foundation. “It’s an honor to partner with these 500 nonprofit partners as they create real, lasting impact in the communities our fans, Team Members, and franchisees call home. This record investment is a testament to the power of community-driven change and the limitless potential that exists when we remove barriers and open doors.”

COMMUNITY-LED IMPACT THAT LASTS

This milestone year was made possible by something small: spare change. With an average Round Up donation of just 44 cents, Taco Bell fans – and the Team Members who champion Round Up – helped power life-changing impact across the country. In fact, the Taco Bell Foundation’s Round Up campaign was named the top point-of-sale fundraiser in Engage For Good’s 2025 America’s Charity Checkout Champions report, raising more than $50 million in 2024 – a 56% increase since 2022 and a powerful testament to the difference everyday generosity can make.

LOCALLY NOMINATED, NATIONALLY IMPACTFUL

Unlike many traditional grant models, the Taco Bell Foundation’s Community Grants program is nomination-based, empowering Taco Bell franchise owners and operators to champion the nonprofits doing good in their own neighborhoods. The result: targeted, trusted investments in the communities that matter most to Taco Bell fans and Team Members.

Career readiness is the most prominent focus among this year’s grant recipients, with 45% of funding supporting programs that prepare young people for the workforce. Academic success mentorship follows at 29%, while 11% of grants are dedicated to increasing college readiness – underscoring the Taco Bell Foundation’s commitment to empowering youth at every step of their educational journeys. That support also extends through the Live Más Scholarship, which has awarded more than $64 million over the past decade to help young people access education to pursue their passions.

HONORING LEGACY, WELCOMING NEW VOICES

Over the years, the Taco Bell Foundation has partnered with several national organizations including Junior Achievement, College Advising Corps, City Year, and most recently Notes for Notes, who have powerful models for helping youth at scale pursue their passions to succeed in their careers and lives.

“We’re honored to be a new Taco Bell Foundation national partner this year and so grateful they share a vision of investing in the next generation by using music as a means to unlock potential,” said Phillip Gilley, CEO & Co-Founder of Notes for Notes. “Their support has helped our 30 studios across the country deliver FREE, innovative and inspired programming that helps youth develop the confidence, creativity, compassion and community through music that prepares them for their next journey, musical or not. Thank you for helping us Produce Tomorrow’s Musicians!”

The Foundation also welcomed several new nonprofit partners this year. Among them is the California Restaurant Foundation, an organization that equips high school students with culinary and hospitality skills to pave the way for opportunities in the food service industry. Another new grant recipient, Braven, is a national organization that helps first-generation college students, and those from low-income backgrounds build the skills, confidence, and networks they need to launch meaningful careers after college.

To learn more about the Taco Bell Foundation and the Community Grants program, please visit https://www.tacobellfoundation.org/who-we-support/.

About Taco Bell Foundation

Taco Bell Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity that helps break down barriers to educate and inspire the next generation of America’s young leaders. Since 1992, the Taco Bell Foundation has reached more than 9 million young people across the country and has awarded more than $189 million in grants and scholarships, focused on education and career readiness. This impact is made possible through a range of programs, including Community Grants, which support more than 450 nonprofit organizations nationwide and the passion-based Live Más Scholarship. For more information about the Taco Bell Foundation, visit www.tacobellfoundation.org.

With the modernization of its chilled water system, Saint-Gobain Life Sciences has saved nearly 11,000 tons of CO2 emissions and gained key energy savings at its plant in Beaverton, Michigan. An essential component to operations of the site, the modernization of the chilled water system has resulted in a nearly 20% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to the time period directly before the project was complete.

Celebrating its 30^th anniversary this year and with Saint-Gobain’s global goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the Beaverton facility undertook a complex engineering analysis looking at system capacity, process rate and quality improvements at the site. This analysis led the facility to install two 110-ton chillers, a pump house and a piping system, resulting in a 50% increase in water cooling capacity.

“Continuous efforts to make our production processes more efficient and sustainable are key in helping us reach our sustainability goals, especially achieving net-zero carbon by 2050,” said Sung Yu, CEO of Saint-Gobain Life Sciences. “I want to sincerely thank and congratulate our team in Beaverton for putting their skills and innovative minds to the service of this project, which will set an example for other locations throughout North America.”

Today’s announcement follows several other recent initiatives showcasing Saint-Gobain’s commitment to sustainability:

• In April, Saint-Gobain published the 3^rd edition of its Sustainable Construction Barometer, both in the United States and in Canada, a global survey of thoughts and opinions on sustainable construction.
• In May, Saint-Gobain received a 2025 Better Practice Award from the U.S. Department of Energy for its energy management system implementation program through which more than 80 individuals belonging to 14 different business units were trained.
• In July, Saint-Gobain announced the creation of a Circular Economy Program for insulation fibers in its Kansas City, Kansas and L’Anse, Michigan facilities, resulting in savings of over one and a half million pounds of waste in its first year.
• Last month, through innovative production process improvements, Saint-Gobain Canada announced significant energy and water savings at its gypsum facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

With over 160 manufacturing locations in the United States and Canada, every current and future member of the company’s team plays a vital role in achieving its sustainability goals. A current list of job openings at all Saint-Gobain locations can be found on the company’s career website.

About Saint-Gobain

Worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and services for the construction and industrial markets. Its integrated solutions for the renovation of public and private buildings, light construction and the decarbonization of construction and industry are developed through a continuous innovation process and provide sustainability and performance. The Group, celebrating its 360th anniversary in 2025, remains more committed than ever to its purpose “MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER HOME”.

€46.6 billion in sales in 2024
161,000 employees, locations in 80 countries
Committed to achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2050

For more information about Saint-Gobain, visit www.saint-gobain.com and follow us on Twitter @saintgobain

MEDIA CONTACTS
Peter Clark
+1 603 513 8513

By Candace Higginbotham

The campus at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, or UAB, is buzzing. Classes recently began, and more than 20,000 undergraduate and graduate students are getting acquainted with new schedules, new roommates and new professors while gearing up for another productive semester.

The campus, home of the UAB Blazers, is located a mile and a half from the Regions headquarters in downtown Birmingham, and the two organizations are more than just friendly neighbors. They enjoy a longstanding and mutually beneficial relationship.

“UAB is a valuable customer and community partner,” said Regions Head of Community Engagement Leroy Abrahams. “They’re the largest employer and the largest research institution in the state. Through education, patient care and community engagement, UAB is a major driver of innovation and economic development in our area.”

It’s an exciting time at UAB, beyond the start of fall semester. The university is ranked in the top 8 percent of universities by U.S. News & World Report. The University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System Authority acquired Ascension St. Vincent’s Health System in central Alabama last year, which strengthens the state’s health care system. But it’s also a challenging time, with heightened budget concerns due to reduced federal grants, National Institutes for Health (NIH) funding and other economic factors.

Community partnerships such as the one between Regions and UAB, are more important than ever, so universities and research institutions can grow endowments and effectively withstand economic fluctuations.

Support Through Leadership

Several Regions executives serve in leadership roles at UAB, including Anil Chadha, Controller and Head of Corporate Finance at Regions. Chadha earned his bachelor’s degree at UAB in business administration, and though he left Birmingham to start his career, which included obtaining an MBA at Wake Forest University, he returned to Birmingham and has remained an active and enthusiastic UAB alum.

Chadha serves on both the Finance Advisory Board of the Collat School of Business and the UAB Athletics Foundation Board, which supports and advances student athletes.

“I enjoyed my time as an undergrad at UAB, and I value the strong education and life lessons I gained during those years,” Chadha said. “I’m committed to pay it forward and do what I can to ensure that future students benefit in similar ways. It’s an investment in the future of Birmingham.”

Dana Nolan, Head of Investor Relations at Regions, also received a bachelor’s in business at UAB and currently serves on the Business Advisory Council for Collat School of Business. Head of Corporate Banking Group Brian Willman is on the board of UAB Visual and Performing Arts and Shelia Simpson, manager of the Regions UAB branch, recently joined the board of the Regions Institute for Financial Education.

“Regions and UAB are both leaders in the Birmingham community in many ways, so it makes sense that we support each other and leverage our strong relationship to make our city even better,” Chadha said.

A Pipeline for Talent

Regions benefits from a strong representation of UAB graduates across various departments. Each year, the university provides a steady stream of high-potential candidates to fill key roles. The 2025 class from the Emerging Talent Program included eight interns and eight analysts from UAB.

“The Regions Finance division has greatly benefited from the recruiting efforts for UAB students,” Chadha said. “Many of our managers and high-performing associates are alumni, and we’re increasing the number of recruiting events, so we expect those numbers to grow.”

Financial Wellness

In 2015, Regions and UAB established the Regions Institute for Financial Education (RIFE), which has become an important resource for increasing financial literacy both on the UAB campus and throughout the Birmingham community. RIFE is part of UAB’s Collat School of Business and provides year-round programs and services. Dr. Stephanie Yates, the Regions Institute for Finance Education Endowed Professor, leads the program.

Tailored financial wellness sessions for undergraduates, graduate students, medical school students and MBA program participants are part of the ongoing curriculum, and events are also scheduled with UAB Athletics. RIFE also hosts youth financial education activities throughout the community. More than 40 sessions were delivered last year.

Dr. Yates and Mark Senter, Experiential and Sponsorship Marketing Program Manager at Regions and former board member of RIFE, are working together to offer four financial wellness sessions per month from September 2025 through April 2026. Special sessions tailored for student athletes will cover revenue sharing, NIL (name, image and likeness) and other relevant financial topics.

Another important program within RIFE is a collaboration with Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA, that delivers free tax services for qualified community members. Students from the Collat School of Business serve as interns that provide tax preparation and filing. According to Yates, 902 tax returns were filed in 2024.

“This program allows our Accounting students to develop practical professional skills while giving back to the community,” Dr. Yates said. “We saw a 55 percent increase in volume year over year, which is exciting. We’re responding to a need in our community while enriching the experience of students – it’s a win-win.”

Other RIFE programs are also making a real difference in the Birmingham community. The Live HealthSmart Alabama plan, part of UAB’s Grand Challenge, brings together businesses, schools, faith-based organizations and nonprofits to improve the health of Alabamians. RIFE partnered with the Strengthen Alabama Homes program, which is a state initiative that awards grant assistance to install severe-weather protection for qualified single-family homes. More than 125 homes have been repaired through the program, resulting in reduced homeowners’ insurance premiums for many community members.

The City as a Classroom

Another RIFE grant program, Housing Policies and Neighborhood Decline in Titusville, part of the Center for Study of Community Health, offers students an opportunity for experiential learning. Titusville, a historically black neighborhood five minutes from the UAB campus, was once a thriving, prosperous community but local housing policies and economic changes led to population loss and decreased home values.

UAB is partnering with residents, community groups and the City of Birmingham on initiatives to revitalize the area. According to Dr. Yates, this grant project allows students the opportunity to learn about the history of Titusville and the impact of development projects on land value and the community itself.

“The Titusville project also dovetails with our new curriculum, The City as a Classroom, providing instructor-led coursework that students can then apply to a hands-on learning experience in the community,” Dr. Yates said.

Student Scholarships

Regions funds two endowed scholarships to provide financial assistance to three UAB students each year. The Regions Academic Scholars Endowment has been in place for more than 20 years, benefiting 70 students with a full-tuition scholarship. Recent recipients include Rishab Rajeev Samant, a Cancer Biology major from Vestavia Hills, Ala. and James Hongjie Shi, a Neuroscience and Epidemiology major also from Vestavia Hills. Both students plan to pursue a career in medicine.

The Regions Bank Endowed Scholarship in Business was established in 2001 and supports students in the Collat School of Business who are interested in a career in banking. The most recent recipient is Jamarion Tinker, a Finance major from Sawyerville, Alabama.

“Investing in academic scholarships for UAB students is important for Regions,” said Dana Nolan. “It directly supports the bank’s talent pipeline, as we recruit extensively from this group, and it strengthens the broader community by fostering a well-educated, highly skilled workforce that drives economic growth.”

Program Sponsorship

Along with education and healthcare, UAB enhances the Birmingham-area community with a strong visual and performing arts program. UAB Arts includes the Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts, Alys Stephens Center, ArtPlay and UAB Institute for Arts in Medicine. Regions is a proud supporter of UAB Arts each year.

The Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center is home of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra as well as UAB’s Department of Music and Department of Theatre. The ASC has established itself as the premier hub for arts and education in the area with more than 100,000 visitors annually, hosting performances such as legendary singer Gladys Knight, storyteller Ira Glass from This American Life and Birmingham-born comedian Roy Wood Jr.

ArtPlay is a program that makes art accessible to a broad audience and cultivates an understanding of and appreciation for the arts throughout the community. The program offers classes in drawing, painting and sculpture, dance and creative writing, as well as offering camps and workshops for all ages. The Art Play Community Education program served 22,293 students, teachers and community members last year – the most in its history.

“UAB Arts reflects a strong commitment to community enrichment and contributes a vibrant and creative element to our city,” Brian Willman said. “Their purpose aligns with Regions’ mission to make life better, and I’m pleased the bank continues to support the program. And as a board member, I’m happy to play a role in helping them execute their vision.”

Another important facility for Birmingham and the surrounding area is Bartow Arena, known as the “Front Porch of UAB.” The arena is home to not only men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball teams, but it’s also a community center that hosts commencement ceremonies for local high schools as well as UAB orientation events, student expos and festivals.

Regions recently contributed to the capital campaign to renovate the arena and enhance the experience for student athletes hosting American Athletic Conference games, along with fans and community members.

“The Bartow Arena is integral to Birmingham,” Chadha said. “UAB has had a strong basketball program over the years, and the arena has become part of the identity of the university and the city. But its role in the community extends beyond athletics. The facility hosts tens of thousands of people annually and makes a significant contribution to the local economy.”

Along with the scholarships, sponsorships and campaign contributions, Regions also supports many programs within the university and health system, such as the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in the state.

“The Regions-UAB relationship is a powerful community partnership that works to change lives for the better and enrich communities throughout our state and beyond,” said Regions Birmingham Market Executive Christian White. “I look forward to continued collaboration focused on innovation, opportunity and growth so that together we can create a lasting impact.”

Equal Opportunity Employer/including Disabled/Veterans