Month: April 2026

MetLife

NEW YORK, April 13, 2026 /3BL/ – MetLife Foundation announced new recipients of its Community Impact Grant Program (CIGP), providing more than $6.5 million to nonprofit organizations addressing essential community needs. By tackling critical issues, the program supports nonprofits providing the services and resources people rely on to build financial security and resilience, reflecting MetLife and MetLife Foundation’s long‑standing commitment to helping people and communities move forward with greater confidence and access to opportunity.

Launched in 2023 and expanded globally in 2025, CIGP supports organizations with solutions focused on food security, mental well‑being, environmental sustainability and vibrant communities. In this latest round, more than 100 nonprofit organizations across the globe received grants, including:

• Banco de Tapitas in Mexico, focuses on environmental sustainability through its vocational training program on the use, transformation and craftsmanship of recycled plastic.
• Cedar Hill Shares Food Pantry in Dallas, Texas, addresses food security among adults and students through nutrition, literacy and financial health programs.
• General Incorporated Association BowL in Japan, helps individuals return to work after facing mental health challenges through their Workplace Mental Wellness Support Program.
• Super Power Agency in the U.K., helps foster vibrant communities by hosting creative writing and expression workshops to increase the overall self-esteem, confidence and self-respect of kids.

“Through the Community Impact Grant Program, MetLife Foundation invests in nonprofits that are strengthening the well-being of people and our communities,” said Tia Hodges, President and CEO of MetLife Foundation and Head of Corporate Giving and Employee Volunteerism at MetLife. “Together, we’re helping individuals and families navigate challenges and move forward with greater stability and resilience.”

As with previous rounds of CIGP funding, MetLife employees assisted in the selection process, volunteering their time to review grant applications from nonprofit organizations. Since its launch, the Community Impact Grant Program has awarded over $9 million to 207 nonprofit organizations, reaching 1.6 million people across the U.S., Asia, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East. The program is a key part of MetLife Foundation’s broader efforts to advance inclusive economic mobility and financial health, while helping build the resilience of communities where MetLife operates.

To learn more about the work of MetLife Foundation and the full list of recipients, visit MetLife.org.

About MetLife Foundation

At MetLife Foundation, we are committed to driving inclusive economic mobility. We collaborate with nonprofit organizations and provide grants aligned to three strategic focus areas – economic empowerment, financial health and resilient communities – while engaging MetLife employee volunteers to help drive impact. MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 and for 50 years has continued MetLife’s long tradition of community engagement and involvement. Since its inception, MetLife Foundation has contributed over $1 billion to strengthen communities where MetLife has a presence. To learn more about MetLife Foundation, visit www.metlife.org.

For Media:
Olivia Janicelli
347-751-5728
olivia.janicelli@metlife.com

On Thursday, May 7, 2026, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History will help mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with the opening of Bison: Standing Strong, an exhibition that explores the cultural, ecological, and historical legacy of bison from ancient times to the present.

Drawing from across the Smithsonian’s vast collections, the exhibition features fossils, mounted specimens, anthropological objects, and imagery that trace the species’ dramatic arc, from its deep evolutionary roots and central role in Indigenous cultures to its near extinction in the late 19th century and subsequent recovery. Smithsonian taxidermist William Temple Hornaday witnessed this devastation firsthand and helped spark national awareness through influential museum displays and living bison exhibits on the National Mall, later contributing to the founding of the National Zoo and the modern conservation movement. As Director Kirk Johnson notes, the bison’s story of decline and resurgence is a quintessentially American one, closely tied to the Smithsonian’s early leadership in conservation.

A major exhibition highlight is the dramatic inclusion of Bison latifrons, an extinct Ice Age giant whose horns span up to seven feet across. The fossilized skull, which is on loan from the Idaho Museum of Natural History courtesy of the Bureau of Reclamation, was transported cross country by FedEx to the Smithsonian for this exhibition. The Bison latifrons will soon offer visitors a powerful glimpse into the sheer scale and evolutionary history of bison in North America, underscoring how long these animals have shaped and been shaped by the landscape.

To learn more, go to Bison Standing Strong.

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

Article and Interview by Amanda Theisen of Sunrise Banks

​Laura Wildenborg’s background in environmental sustainability takes center stage in her current role as VP of Strategic Lending at Sunrise Banks, a values-based community bank with locations in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She is the driving force behind the company’s Net Zero Banking program, an innovative way for customers to use their accounts to positively impact climate change.

Over the last several years, Wildenborg focused on developing a strategy for the bank to reach net-zero carbon emissions across the company by 2050. She recently stated “I analyzed the financed emissions of our loan portfolio, which highlighted the critical role of decarbonization in climate action. That work helped me see how the relationship between deposits and lending could be leveraged to support our customers’ carbon reduction efforts while advancing our bank’s own net zero goals.”

Her ideas for Net Zero Banking go even further. With Net Zero Deposits, customers can direct their money towards Net Zero Financing loans for climate-friendly projects, such as energy-efficient building upgrades, electric vehicles, or solar panel installations.

Read the full interview and listen to the Social Currency podcast here – https://greenmoney.com/how-laura-wildenborg-is-guiding-customers-on-net-zero-banking-path

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ATLANTA, April 13, 2026 /3BL/ – The Ray has published its annual report—State of The Ray 2025—documenting a landmark year in which the organization achieved unprecedented national impact. Moving beyond its foundational roots in Georgia, The Ray spent 2025 mapping the geospatial data needed to develop the policy frameworks and on-the-ground implementations that will redefine American infrastructure.

The year’s hallmark achievement was the creation of a comprehensive national right-of-way (ROW) dataset in partnership with the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). By mapping the energy potential and suitability of the entire U.S. roadside, The Ray is providing the data-driven solutions required to transform thousands of miles of passive land into active corridors for energy security and grid stability. As we prepare to expand our partnerships with state Department of Transportation (DOT) agencies this year, the insights we now possess make us your right-of-way experts.

On the ecological front, the Natural Capital Program proved the fiscal value of living infrastructure through several 2025 milestones. The Ray secured a $10,000 grant from the UIC Rights-of-Way as Habitat Working Group for three native pollinator meadows in Charleston County, SC, while executing site-specific habitat projects with Goodyear in Michigan and Ryder in North Carolina. These initiatives, alongside a landmark agreement with the Georgia DOT (GDOT) for ten statewide installations, utilize deep-rooted native vegetation to provide mechanical slope stabilization. By effectively reducing pollution and atmospheric elements, these projects offer a pragmatic solution to decrease mowing frequency and lower maintenance costs for state agencies.

Operational safety and circularity also reached new heights before the end of the year. In partnership with ATLDOT and Liberty Tire Recycling, LLC, The Ray completed the first municipal application of Recycled Rubber-Modified Asphalt (RMA) in downtown Atlanta—upcycling 500 tires into a more durable, quieter road surface. Simultaneously, the expansion of the Pi-Lit® Impact Detection System with GDOT has modernized asset management by providing real-time alerts within 60 seconds of a vehicle impact, ensuring critical safety hardware is repaired immediately.

“2025 was the year we realized a high level of impact on a truly national scale. Our work is no longer just a blueprint for the future; it is the technical and operational standard that federal and state partners use to build a smarter, safer, and more resilient transportation system today.”

— Allie Kelly, Executive Director

At the heart of these successes is The Ray’s unique Public-Private-Philanthropic-Partnership (P4) model. By aligning the philanthropic community’s resources with the private sector’s technical ingenuity and the public sector’s regulatory authority, we provide a neutral platform for rapid innovation. This collaborative framework is our essential tool for reimagining infrastructure—allowing us to prove that our transportation networks can be safer, cleaner, and more productive for the communities they serve.

Let’s drive the future.

Media Contact

Dallen McLemore, Communications Specialist, The Ray

229.449.6168 | dallen@theray.org | @TheRayHighway

ATLANTA, April 13, 2026 /3BL/ – The Ray has published its annual report—State of The Ray 2025—documenting a landmark year in which the organization achieved unprecedented national impact. Moving beyond its foundational roots in Georgia, The Ray spent 2025 mapping the geospatial data needed to develop the policy frameworks and on-the-ground implementations that will redefine American infrastructure.

The year’s hallmark achievement was the creation of a comprehensive national right-of-way (ROW) dataset in partnership with the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). By mapping the energy potential and suitability of the entire U.S. roadside, The Ray is providing the data-driven solutions required to transform thousands of miles of passive land into active corridors for energy security and grid stability. As we prepare to expand our partnerships with state Department of Transportation (DOT) agencies this year, the insights we now possess make us your right-of-way experts.

On the ecological front, the Natural Capital Program proved the fiscal value of living infrastructure through several 2025 milestones. The Ray secured a $10,000 grant from the UIC Rights-of-Way as Habitat Working Group for three native pollinator meadows in Charleston County, SC, while executing site-specific habitat projects with Goodyear in Michigan and Ryder in North Carolina. These initiatives, alongside a landmark agreement with the Georgia DOT (GDOT) for ten statewide installations, utilize deep-rooted native vegetation to provide mechanical slope stabilization. By effectively reducing pollution and atmospheric elements, these projects offer a pragmatic solution to decrease mowing frequency and lower maintenance costs for state agencies.

Operational safety and circularity also reached new heights before the end of the year. In partnership with ATLDOT and Liberty Tire Recycling, LLC, The Ray completed the first municipal application of Recycled Rubber-Modified Asphalt (RMA) in downtown Atlanta—upcycling 500 tires into a more durable, quieter road surface. Simultaneously, the expansion of the Pi-Lit® Impact Detection System with GDOT has modernized asset management by providing real-time alerts within 60 seconds of a vehicle impact, ensuring critical safety hardware is repaired immediately.

“2025 was the year we realized a high level of impact on a truly national scale. Our work is no longer just a blueprint for the future; it is the technical and operational standard that federal and state partners use to build a smarter, safer, and more resilient transportation system today.”

— Allie Kelly, Executive Director

At the heart of these successes is The Ray’s unique Public-Private-Philanthropic-Partnership (P4) model. By aligning the philanthropic community’s resources with the private sector’s technical ingenuity and the public sector’s regulatory authority, we provide a neutral platform for rapid innovation. This collaborative framework is our essential tool for reimagining infrastructure—allowing us to prove that our transportation networks can be safer, cleaner, and more productive for the communities they serve.

Let’s drive the future.

Media Contact

Dallen McLemore, Communications Specialist, The Ray

229.449.6168 | dallen@theray.org | @TheRayHighway

CLEVELAND, April 13, 2026 /3BL/ — Homeownership remains a cornerstone of the American dream; however, according to KeyBank’s 2026 Financial Mobility Pulse Poll, 25% of Americans say homeownership currently feels out of reach. Some keys to closing this gap? Financial education, strategic planning, and expert guidance. By tapping into these resources, prospective buyers can transform uncertainty into action that can help make homeownership achievable.

The data reveals a moment of recalibration rather than retreat. 13% of Americans believe homeownership is within reach in 2026, This signals that current affordability pressures may prompt potential buyers to explore creative pathways like down payment assistance programs, first-time buyer incentives, and personalized financial coaching.

“Homeownership remains one of the most powerful tools Americans have to build long-term wealth and strengthen their communities,” said Victor Alexander, Head of Consumer Banking at KeyBank (NYSE: KEY). “Today’s buyers are approaching homeownership with more intentionality and planning than ever before, and that’s where banks can make the biggest difference. When people have the right tools and support, the path to homeownership can move from possibility into reality. At KeyBank, we’re committed to simplifying the journey with clear guidance, helpful resources, and impactful solutions designed for today’s market. “

Fair Housing Month: Making the Path to Homeownership More Accessible

April is Fair Housing Month, a time to recognize that homeownership should be accessible to every American, regardless of background or starting point. While each buyer’s journey looks different, prospective homeowners do not have to navigate the process alone.

Banks, housing counselors, and community partners offer a range of tools that can help reduce barriers, including:

• Down payment assistance programs
• Low down‑payment mortgage options
• First‑time homebuyer education
• One‑on‑one financial guidance

“The opportunity for banks and financial institutions is clear: equip Americans with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to turn aspiration into achievement, said Eric Fiala, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer at KeyBank. “From financial education to innovative financing solutions, the right resources can empower buyers to navigate today’s market with confidence — and write their own homeownership success stories.”

What Americans Can Do to Make Homeownership Achievable

While affordability remains a challenge, there are practical steps Americans can take — now or over time — to make progress toward owning a home:

1. Start with a clear financial picture

Understanding your credit score, debt‑to‑income ratio, and savings is the foundation of any homebuying plan. KeyBank’s mortgage affordability calculator can help clarify where you stand today.

2. Explore down payment assistance options

Many state and local programs, as well as lender‑supported solutions, offer grants, credits, and low down‑payment options that can significantly lower upfront costs.

3. Talk to a banker early and often

You don’t need to be ready to buy to start the conversation. Connecting with a banker 12–18 months ahead is one step that can help improve readiness through credit planning, savings strategies, and realistic timelines. Keep that conversation going as your financial picture becomes more clear.

4. Rethink the timeline, not the goal

For many Americans, homeownership is becoming a multi‑year plan rather than an immediate step. Progress rather than speed is what matters most.

A Call to Action: Empowerment Over Uncertainty

KeyBank’s 2026 Financial Mobility Pulse Poll highlights the emotional and financial strain Americans are feeling, but it also underscores the importance of education, planning, and partnership. As housing affordability challenges persist, equipping consumers with the right tools and guidance can help keep the door to homeownership open.

KeyBank remains committed to supporting financial mobility and helping customers make progress toward their financial dreams.

To learn more about the survey findings, visit the KeyBank 2026 Financial Mobility Pulse Survey Executive Summary.

Methodology

This survey was conducted online by Schmidt Market Research in January 2026 polling 1,000 Americans ages 18-70. All respondents have sole or shared responsibility for household financial decisions and maintain a checking or savings account. The survey examined respondents’ spending and savings habits, levels of financial confidence, stress and resiliency factors, economic sentiment, and debt impacts.

ABOUT KEYCORP

KeyCorp’s roots trace back more than 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $184 billion at December 31, 2025.

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 950 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 Member FDIC.

NMLS #399797. Equal Housing Lender.

CFMA #260403-4302378

 

CLEVELAND, April 13, 2026 /3BL/ — Homeownership remains a cornerstone of the American dream; however, according to KeyBank’s 2026 Financial Mobility Pulse Poll, 25% of Americans say homeownership currently feels out of reach. Some keys to closing this gap? Financial education, strategic planning, and expert guidance. By tapping into these resources, prospective buyers can transform uncertainty into action that can help make homeownership achievable.

The data reveals a moment of recalibration rather than retreat. 13% of Americans believe homeownership is within reach in 2026, This signals that current affordability pressures may prompt potential buyers to explore creative pathways like down payment assistance programs, first-time buyer incentives, and personalized financial coaching.

“Homeownership remains one of the most powerful tools Americans have to build long-term wealth and strengthen their communities,” said Victor Alexander, Head of Consumer Banking at KeyBank (NYSE: KEY). “Today’s buyers are approaching homeownership with more intentionality and planning than ever before, and that’s where banks can make the biggest difference. When people have the right tools and support, the path to homeownership can move from possibility into reality. At KeyBank, we’re committed to simplifying the journey with clear guidance, helpful resources, and impactful solutions designed for today’s market. “

Fair Housing Month: Making the Path to Homeownership More Accessible

April is Fair Housing Month, a time to recognize that homeownership should be accessible to every American, regardless of background or starting point. While each buyer’s journey looks different, prospective homeowners do not have to navigate the process alone.

Banks, housing counselors, and community partners offer a range of tools that can help reduce barriers, including:

• Down payment assistance programs
• Low down‑payment mortgage options
• First‑time homebuyer education
• One‑on‑one financial guidance

“The opportunity for banks and financial institutions is clear: equip Americans with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to turn aspiration into achievement, said Eric Fiala, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer at KeyBank. “From financial education to innovative financing solutions, the right resources can empower buyers to navigate today’s market with confidence — and write their own homeownership success stories.”

What Americans Can Do to Make Homeownership Achievable

While affordability remains a challenge, there are practical steps Americans can take — now or over time — to make progress toward owning a home:

1. Start with a clear financial picture

Understanding your credit score, debt‑to‑income ratio, and savings is the foundation of any homebuying plan. KeyBank’s mortgage affordability calculator can help clarify where you stand today.

2. Explore down payment assistance options

Many state and local programs, as well as lender‑supported solutions, offer grants, credits, and low down‑payment options that can significantly lower upfront costs.

3. Talk to a banker early and often

You don’t need to be ready to buy to start the conversation. Connecting with a banker 12–18 months ahead is one step that can help improve readiness through credit planning, savings strategies, and realistic timelines. Keep that conversation going as your financial picture becomes more clear.

4. Rethink the timeline, not the goal

For many Americans, homeownership is becoming a multi‑year plan rather than an immediate step. Progress rather than speed is what matters most.

A Call to Action: Empowerment Over Uncertainty

KeyBank’s 2026 Financial Mobility Pulse Poll highlights the emotional and financial strain Americans are feeling, but it also underscores the importance of education, planning, and partnership. As housing affordability challenges persist, equipping consumers with the right tools and guidance can help keep the door to homeownership open.

KeyBank remains committed to supporting financial mobility and helping customers make progress toward their financial dreams.

To learn more about the survey findings, visit the KeyBank 2026 Financial Mobility Pulse Survey Executive Summary.

Methodology

This survey was conducted online by Schmidt Market Research in January 2026 polling 1,000 Americans ages 18-70. All respondents have sole or shared responsibility for household financial decisions and maintain a checking or savings account. The survey examined respondents’ spending and savings habits, levels of financial confidence, stress and resiliency factors, economic sentiment, and debt impacts.

ABOUT KEYCORP

KeyCorp’s roots trace back more than 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $184 billion at December 31, 2025.

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 950 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 Member FDIC.

NMLS #399797. Equal Housing Lender.

CFMA #260403-4302378