GENYOUth, San Francisco Unified School District, Bay Area Host Committee, the 49ers Foundation, and Purpose-Driven Partners Launch “Super Schools” to Strengthen Nutrition Security and Physical Activity, Helping Bay Area Students Thrive — School Grant Applications Now Open!

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — GENYOUth, the national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping schoolchildren thrive by living well-nourished and physically active lives, today announced the launch of Super Schools. To celebrate the upcoming Super Bowl LX, this community-based initiative will provide nutrition equipment grants and NFL FLAG-In-School kits to 60 Bay Area schools in under-resourced communities to enhance opportunities for nutrition security and physical activity among students. In collaboration with San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD); the Bay Area Host Committee; Dairy Council of California; and purpose-minded corporate sponsors including Amazon Access, Domino’s, the NFL Foundation, PepsiCo, and the PepsiCo Foundation, Super Schools will help increase access to 9.0 million school meals annually and expand opportunities for daily physical activity, benefitting over 33,000 students throughout the Bay Area.

Super Schools kicked off today at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Academic Middle School in San Francisco with a celebratory event featuring special appearances by San Francisco 49ers DE (1990-96) Dennis Brown, and local community officials. With energized students in attendance, the assembly ignited excitement with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for new school meal equipment proven to positively impact participation including Grab-and-Go mobile meal carts, insulated milk coolers, and a point-of-sale (POS) system based on a school’s needs. Students then participated in an NFL FLAG-In-School Kit unboxing and flag football clinic where officials from the San Francisco 49ers coached participants on the field while highlighting the critical connection between proper nutrition and physical activity in supporting student success.

Super Schools provides a comprehensive package of essential equipment and resources designed to transform students’ access to healthy foods and build enjoyment through physical activity. The initiative fosters student nourishment by overcoming barriers including time and stigma, delivering meals directly to where students are – whether in hallways, classrooms, or cafeterias – so they can easily access the nutritious meals they need to thrive. The NFL FLAG-In-School kit provides students with fun, inclusive opportunities to stay active through flag football while supporting a lifelong love for staying active.

“One in five children in the Bay Area lives in poverty¹, and more than three-quarters of school-aged kids across the country aren’t getting the daily physical activity their growing bodies and minds need². These aren’t just statistics — they represent real children falling behind every single day. We cannot wait. School nutrition and physical activity programs are lifelines — vital to helping students grow, learn, and thrive,” said Ann Marie Krautheim, M.A., R.D., L.D., CEO of GENYOUth. “We are deeply grateful to our purpose-driven partners, whose support is helping us create a culture of wellness in schools. Together, we’re ensuring every child has the nourishment, movement, and opportunity they need to reach their full potential.”

“We’re thrilled to launch the Super Schools program in our district. Community collaboration removes barriers and ensures that our students get access to proper nutrition and physical activity – critical for their health, focus, and academic success,” said San Francisco Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Maria Su. “We are grateful to GENYOUth and other mission-driven supporters for their ongoing dedication to our students’ wellness and development.”

“Super Schools is a crucial part of the Bay Area Host Committee’s goal of driving lasting social and economic impact across our local communities,” said Patty Hubbard, Chief Marketing Officer, Bay Area Host Committee. “With the support of organizations who share our passion to make a tangible difference in the health and wellness of children, we are proud to collaborate with GENYOUth to tackle food insecurity and physical inactivity and deliver the equipment and resources Bay Area schools need to help their students thrive in and out of the classroom.”  

“At Amazon Access, we believe everyone should have access to healthy food – regardless of their zip code,” said Nancy Dalton, Director, Amazon Access. “Organizations like GENYOUth play a critical role in empowering the next generation to succeed. We’re proud to collaborate with GENYOUth to support quality school meal programs for students throughout the Bay Area.”

“We understand as a restaurant business that food has transformative power – when students face hunger, it becomes a barrier to reaching their full academic potential. This understanding drives our dedication to promoting student nutrition and well-being through our Domino’s Smart Slice Pizza program, which delivers both taste and nutritional value to school cafeterias nationwide,” said Joe Jordan, Chief Operating Officer and President – Domino’s U.S. “Domino’s has been a committed partner with GENYOUth from day one. Our support of Super Schools is a critical part of Domino’s community engagement efforts, helping us tackle food insecurity challenges within the neighborhoods we serve.”

“The PepsiCo Foundation seeks to ensure that every child in our communities knows where their next meal is coming from,” said C.D. Glin, President of the PepsiCo Foundation and Global Head of Social Impact at PepsiCo. “Access to nutritious food is essential in addressing childhood hunger. It fuels physical health, supports cognitive development, and enables academic success. By working with trusted partners like GENYOUth and local communities, we are focused on creating more equitable access to the nutritious meals children need today while helping to build a healthier, more sustainable future.”

“As a former professional football player and someone who has spent much of his career around athletics, I see first-hand the critical role school nutrition and physical activity plays in the lives of students. Our physical, mental, and emotional well-being are so intertwined. By helping ensure students have access to school meals and physical activity programs, we can empower them to be their best selves,” said Dennis Brown, San Francisco 49ers DE (1990-96).

“The 49ers Foundation and NFL FLAG-In-School’s commitment is to make physical activity inclusive, enjoyable, and accessible to all. I am honored to be here with GENYOUth and supporters helping create more opportunities for students to be more active and discover the fun and confidence that comes from play,” echoed Justin Prettyman, Vice President, Philanthropy & Executive Director, 49ers Foundation.

“Dairy Council of California is proud to collaborate with GENYOUth to expand access to nutritious meals and physical activity in Bay Area schools. Dairy plays a vital role in school meals, delivering essential nutrients that support children’s growth and learning,” said Amy DeLisio, CEO, Dairy Council of CA

Applications are now open for schools to apply for Super Schools grants at https://funds.genyouthnow.org/. Grants will be awarded in the coming months, leading up to Super Bowl LX and its premier purpose-driven culinary event, Taste of the NFL presented by PepsiCo and the PepsiCo Foundation, on Saturday, February 7, 2025, of which GENYOUth is the charitable partner. In GENYOUth’s commitment to end student hunger, net proceeds raised from the Taste of the NFL will benefit schools in the Bay Area and throughout the nation. The collective impact of the 2024 Taste of the NFL event held in New Orleans generated $2.2 million in revenue, which benefited approximately 1,000 schools and 540,000 students by increasing access to 146 million school meals in all 32 NFL club markets.

For more information on Taste of the NFL, visit TasteoftheNFL.com.

To help GENYOUth end student hunger, visit GENYOUthNow.org/donate.

¹ Public Policy Institute of California
² 2024 U.S. Report Card, compiled by the Physical Activity Alliance

About GENYOUth
GENYOUth is a 501c3 national nonprofit dedicated to helping school children thrive by living a well-nourished and physically active life. A catalyst for youth health and wellness, GENYOUth has supported over 77,000 U.S. schools to equip them with the resources needed to ensure millions of children have equitable access to nutrition and physical activity. Founded by America’s dairy farmers and the NFL, GENYOUth convenes a network of private and public partners, including Fortune 100 companies and foundations, to ensure all children are nourished and active to be their best selves. Committed to ending student hunger and promoting physical activity, GENYOUth provides grants that increase access to healthy school meals for food insecure students and empower kids to develop lifelong healthy habits through movement and activity. GENYOUth is the official charitable partner of Taste of the NFL, a purpose-driven Super Bowl culinary experience, and Taste of the Draft, both of which raise awareness and generate funds to fight hunger and food insecurity. To learn more and support GENYOUth, visit www.GENYOUthnow.org and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

About Bay Area Host Committee
The Bay Area Host Committee (BAHC) is the region’s first long-term sports entity, dedicated to uniting the Bay Area through sport by building pride, connecting communities, and reenergizing the region. As a nonprofit, BAHC partners with local teams, civic leaders, and businesses to bring world-class sporting events to the Bay Area—driving lasting economic, cultural, and social impact. BAHC is proud to have Boston Consulting Group (BCG), EA SPORTS, Kaiser Permanente and other visionary organizations as founding partners, supporting its mission to bring communities together and create lasting legacies through world-class events and sports. For more information, visit www.bayareahostcommittee.com or email us at info@bayareahostcommittee.com

About the 49ers Foundation
For over 30 years, the 49ers Foundation has harnessed football to educate and empower Bay Area youth through collective and innovative community-focused strategies. From award-winning STEAM education and nationally recognized youth football programs, to impactful community partnerships with leading nonprofits, the 49ers Foundation is tirelessly dedicated to inspiring the confidence and collaboration youth need to tackle what is possible. Since 1991, the 49ers Foundation has invested more than $70 million back into historically underserved Bay Area communities in support of its commitment to remain faithful to the next generation. 49ers.com/foundation

About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated nearly $92 billion in net revenue in 2024, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales. 

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo. 

About the PepsiCo Foundation
The PepsiCo Foundation, the philanthropic arm of PepsiCo, invests in the essential elements of a sustainable food system with a mission to support thriving communities. Working with nonprofits and experts around the globe, we’re focused on helping communities obtain access to food security, safe water and economic opportunity. We strive for tangible impact in the places where we live and work—collaborating with industry peers, local and international organizations, and our employees to effect large-scale change on the issues that matter to us and are of global importance. Learn more at www.pepsicofoundation.com.  Follow us on Instagram and  LinkedIn.

About Domino’s Pizza®
Founded in 1960, Domino’s Pizza is the largest pizza company in the world, with a significant business in both delivery and carryout. It ranks among the world’s top public restaurant brands with a global enterprise of more than 21,500 stores in over 90 markets. Domino’s had global retail sales of over $19.4 billion in the trailing four quarters ended June 15, 2025. Its system is comprised of independent franchise owners who accounted for 99% of Domino’s stores as of the end of the second quarter of 2025. In the U.S., Domino’s generated more than 85% of U.S. retail sales in 2024 via digital channels and has developed many innovative ordering platforms.

About Amazon Access 
Amazon Access is a one-stop-shop for customers to explore programs, discounts, and features that make shopping on Amazon even easier and more affordable, like payment with SNAP EBT, Access Discounts, and Prime Access – a discounted membership for qualifying government assistance recipients and income-verified customers that is half of the cost of a regular Prime membership. Grounded in convenience equity, Amazon Access strives to reduce barriers for lower income individuals to access what they need to live healthy lives. Visit amazon.com/access to learn more.

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SOURCE GENYOUth

At Mondelēz International, we strive to make a positive impact in the communities in which we live and work through our philanthropic partnerships, innovative investments, and the volunteering and giving efforts of our colleagues all over the world.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Approximately 40,000 volunteer hours spent by our people giving of their time, talents and in service to their communities.(44)
  • Approximately $48M cash and in-kind donations (USD).(45)

STRATEGIC APPROACH

HUMANITARIAN AID & DISASTER RELIEF

As a global company, we believe it is important to respond to natural and humanitarian disasters in communities our business touches, and our efforts focus on supporting leading NGOs around the world. Since 2012, the Mondelēz International Foundation has made an annual contribution to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ Disaster Response Emergency Fund. We have similarly donated each year to the American Red Cross’ Annual Disaster Giving Program. To amplify our support, we strive to offer local employees matching gift opportunities and provide in-kind donations.

SUSTAINABLE FUTURES: OUR IMPACT INVESTING PLATFORM

As part of our efforts to drive positive impact and work toward a better future for people and planet, Mondelēz International supports innovations focused on social and environmental solutions that align with our Snacking Made Right mission through our Sustainable Futures impact investment platform, launched in 2020.

Our Sustainable Futures impact investment platform aims to support social entrepreneurs through investing flexible catalytic capital to seed, grow and scale systemic solutions that aim to address challenges like climate change and packaging circularity, and that help build thriving communities.

MONDELĒZ CHANGEMAKERS: EMPLOYEE VOLUNTEERING & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

The Mondelēz Changemakers program enables our people to play a direct and impactful role in their communities by creating opportunities for them to give their time, talents, and service.

ACTION PLANS AND PROGRESS

SUPPORTING FLOOD RELIEF IN BRAZIL

In spring 2024, the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul faced severe storms and floods, which devastated the affected communities and impacted many of our colleagues. Our local business, along with its employees and the Mondelēz International Foundation, sprang into action with in-kind and goods donations; emotional support and financial aid for colleagues; an internal donation campaign paired with a match of employee gifts to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies; and volunteer efforts.

HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT IN UKRAINE

In 2022, we pledged $15M to support humanitarian relief in Ukraine. In 2024, we continued contributing to fulfilling that commitment by supporting an established local NGO with a country-wide infrastructure, Charity Fund Blagomay. Blagomay’s efforts focus on providing supplies and equipment to healthcare facilities, schools, and orphanages near where we have manufacturing operations.

To date, in coordination with our Foundation, we have provided $11.5M in humanitarian support to Ukrainian relief efforts.

IMPACT INVESTMENTS IN 2024

To date, we have seen encouraging results from the portfolio companies we support through our Sustainable Futures impact investment platform, and have further expanded our portfolio in 2024:

Zíro – (Colombia) provides small merchants with affordable inventory financing, enabling them to better maintain consistent stock levels, increase sales, and build financial stability. With a projected reach of 100,000 small merchants over the next three years, Zíro is working to level the playing field, by helping small businesses have the financial tools they require to
grow sustainably.

eAgronom – (Estonia) supports the transition to regenerative agriculture by helping farmers improve soil health, reduce carbon emissions and enhancing financial resilience through sustainable practices. With over 1 million hectares already under sustainable farming practices through its support, eAgronom enables farmers to access carbon credit markets, helping create additional revenue streams while helping strengthen their ability to adapt to climate- related challenges.

INVESTING IN OUR SWEET HOME CHICAGO

We are proud to call Chicago home to our Global Headquarters. In 2024, we expanded upon our $1M commitment over 5 years to the West and South sides of the city, near where our office and our biscuit bakery are located. We added Urban Rivers, an environmental non-profit organization focused on turning urban waterways into accessible wildlife sanctuaries, to our community partner roster, which already included The Hatchery and the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Windy City Harvest program. Partnering with these organizations enhances support of our vision of helping to build an economically, nutritionally, and environmentally thriving community. Our Chicago headquarter employees volunteered their time on several activities, including during our annual Purpose Day in October, to serve as mentors to budding entrepreneurs, collect trash from the Chicago River and more.

OVER 1,000 MEALS DONATED IN THE UK

A local team in Bournville, home of Cadbury, reached the impressive milestone of collecting and donating a total of 1,045 meals to a food bank in the run-up to the Christmas holiday. Employees from across the Bournville office and manufacturing site were invited to contribute pantry staples and everyday toiletries. This collection marks the largest since the site began partnering with the local food bank in 2022.

MENTORING THE NEXT GENERATION IN MOROCCO

Employee volunteers in Morocco participated in their local signature program, Coaching for the Best, by developing and delivering training programs for disadvantaged youths. The content facilitates the mentees’ integration into the working world and offers them internship experience with Mondelēz Morocco. To date, more than 200 young people have benefited from this program.

METRICS

2024 PROGRESS
  2024 2023 2022 2021
Total hours of volunteering (#) (44) 40,000 29,000 19,000 15,000
Total number of volunteers (#) (44) 9,000 8,000 10,000 4,000
Cash and in-kind donations (USD) (45) $48M $56M $54M $50M

View the full 2024 Snacking Made Right Report. 

 

(44) 2024 reported information includes Clif bar.

(45) 2024 reported information includes Clif bar, Chipita, Ricolino and Gourmet Foods and in-kind donation figures generally reflect direct costs (which differs from previous years).

 Streaming drives 55.8% of total TV time for Hispanic viewers, outpacing 46% for all of the U.S.

Report also found that Hispanic consumers are redefining today’s ad environment through their distinct media consumption habits and passion for sports.

NEW YORK, Sept. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Hispanic consumers are leading the way when it comes to consumption of streaming content, a new Nielsen report finds.

In fact, streaming drives 55.8% of total TV time for Hispanic viewers, surpassing the 46% for the rest of the U.S. Furthermore, Hispanic audiences outpaced general U.S. viewership of streaming services YouTube, Netflix and Disney, that same report found.

 The above is one of the notable findings in Nielsen’s latest Diverse Intelligence Series report. Coinciding with Hispanic Heritage Month, this month’s edition, titled Curating The Narrative: How Hispanic Viewers Are Creating Their Media Experiences, takes a deep dive look at this demographic’s media consumption and viewership habits.

Representing nearly 20% of the U.S. population and more than $4.1 trillion in purchasing power, U.S. Hispanics command cultural and economic power. Their digital- and mobile-first media consumption behaviors are driving and influencing broader trends in today’s media/entertainment, technology and sports landscape.

“Brands that want to succeed in this environment must understand that Hispanic audiences are not waiting to be represented. They are building their own platforms, amplifying their culture, and demanding authenticity,” said Stacie de Armas, SVP, Inclusive Insights at Nielsen. “Marketers must engage Hispanics authentically to take advantage of one of the most powerful and influential audiences in America today.”

Key findings include:

Media Consumption & Viewership Habits:

  • Looking at total time spent with TV, streaming now drives 55.8% of total TV time for Hispanic audiences, outpacing the general U.S. population (46%)
  • Despite the shift to streaming, broadcast and cable remain a cultural touch point for Hispanic audiences, driven more by storytelling, shared experiences and variety shows. General drama makes up the largest share of Hispanics’ time with broadcast programming, and 18% of all Hispanics’ time spent with broadcast is spent with sports or sports adjacent content.
  • Yet, it’s genres like variety shows and conversational programming that stand out uniquely strong for Hispanic viewers totaling nearly 20%. This signals a preference for emotionally resonant, family-oriented, and interactive formats, whether it’s Casa de Famosos, Juego de Voces or even American Idol.
  • Radio and podcasts account for 79% of all daily audio time with ad supported platforms, with 62% of Hispanic podcast listeners more likely to call a number from a podcast ad than the general population.

Redefining Digital

  • 56% of Hispanics wish they saw more representation while scrolling social feeds (63% among Spanish speakers).
  • They are 115% more likely to use CapCut, 80% more likely to use Linktree, and 29% more likely to use AI platforms like ChatGPT than the general population.
  • Despite this engagement, less than 1% of digital ad spend from U.S. online retailers went to Spanish-language websites in Q1 2025, exposing a major investment gap.
  • Nearly 96% of the Spanish-language online spend allocation was directed via YouTube, a platform that accounts for nearly 21% of Spanish-speaking audiences’ TV time.

Reshaping Soccer’s Future

  • Hispanics are 39% more likely to be avid MLS fans than the general population, with fandom rooted in community and family.
  • 40% of all U.S. Hispanics already identify as World Cup fans, with enthusiasm strongest among first- and second-generation audiences.
  • Hispanic sports fans are 11% more likely to buy from a sponsoring brand and 12% more likely to recommend sponsors, showing the clear ROI of authentic sports partnerships.
  • 70% of Hispanic World Cup fans plan to engage on social media and World Cup mobile apps.

“Today’s report contains many actionable and timely insights for marketers,” de Armas said. “First, there is a wonderful, two-fold growth story: Hispanic consumers are one of today’s fastest-growing demographics, commanding both economic, cultural and technological clout. Secondly, this is coming at a time when streaming is also reaching a critical inflection point, including surpassing broadcast and cable combined for the first time, which we reported on back in May. It’ll be interesting and noteworthy to track the momentum of these two growth vectors moving forward.”

The full report can be found here: https://www.nielsen.com/insights/2025/hispanic-dis-2025/ .

About Nielsen
Nielsen is a global leader in audience measurement, data and analytics. Through our understanding of people and their behaviors across all channels and platforms, we empower our clients with independent and actionable intelligence so they can connect and engage with their audiences—now and into the future. Learn more at www.nielsen.com and connect with us on social media (X, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram). Audience Is Everything®

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SOURCE Nielsen

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J., Sept. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Veterans disability attorney Eric Gang, founder of Gang & Associates, was recently featured in Foreign Affairs Observer discussing the growing expansion of National Guard deployments and the critical distinction between state and federal activation.

As National Guard units are increasingly mobilized in response to domestic crises, Gang underscores that whether a guardsman is called up by a governor or the president determines their eligibility for lifelong federal benefits. “If a guardsman is injured in the line of duty under federal activation, he is considered a veteran, and that opens the door to VA benefits, from disability compensation to education support and home loans,” Gang explained in the feature.

Gang, recognized as one of the nation’s leading veterans’ disability attorneys, has long advocated for clarity in the law regarding when Guard service counts as federal duty. He successfully argued Watkins v. McDonough (2022), a landmark case establishing that a service member is considered on active duty starting at 12:01 a.m. on the date listed in their orders. This ruling ensures that guardsmen injured even en route to their duty station are covered by VA benefits.

With Guard units now being deployed to urban areas facing violent crime, Gang warns that the risks for service members are significant. “It’s one thing to support disaster relief,” he noted. “It’s another to be placed in the middle of unrest, where guardsmen may be shot at, assaulted, or exposed to infectious diseases.”

Gang stressed that the men and women serving should not be caught in political crossfire: “They are innocent parties. They don’t decide where they are sent or who sends them. They deserve clarity about their status and the assurance that, if they are harmed in service, their country will take care of them.”

As deployments expand, Gang continues to be a leading national voice on the legal protections and benefits owed to guardsmen.

About Eric Gang, Esq.

Eric Gang is the founding partner of Gang & Associates, a law firm dedicated exclusively to veterans’ disability law. With decades of experience and a track record of precedent-setting cases, Gang has established himself as one of the nation’s foremost advocates for veterans seeking the benefits they have earned.

Contact:

Eric Gang
(908) 850-9999
https://www.veteransdisabilityinfo.com/

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SOURCE Gang & Associates LLC

Originally published on Aflac Newsroom

With graduation in the rearview mirror and the summer season winding down, we have a wave of new professionals entering the workforce. Whether you’re one of these new grads settling into the beginning of your career or a seasoned professional starting a new chapter, you’ll probably be peppered with advice like, “build your network,” “focus on solutions, not problems,” and “always be eager to learn.” These are all true, but something not discussed often enough — and something you can start working toward on day one — is this:

Make sure your name is being said for the right reasons.

What does that mean, and how do you build that reputation? Well, you can boil it down to three key actions:

  1. Be the person who your managers and your colleagues can count on, their go-to person on a specific topic or skillset. Maybe you’re exceptional at budgets and spreadsheets, or perhaps you’re a great writer or public speaker — and never underestimate the power of a stunning presentation deck. Whatever that talent may be, find what you’re good at and jump on opportunities to show what you’re capable of — your leadership will take notice. Over time, you’ll continue honing those skills and, eventually, you’ll become a trusted voice at the table.
  2. Be willing to take on new challenges. It’s amazing what can happen when you keep an open mind. For example, I’m a lawyer, but in the middle of my career, I was asked to move outside of the legal function, which is where I had spent my entire career. Honestly, it was pretty scary. As a lawyer, I was trained to manage work and advocate for causes. Lawyers aren’t typically trained to manage and lead people and company culture, but when Aflac Chairman and CEO Dan Amos asked me to take over the chief human resources officer role, I said yes. Through that experience, I learned more about the business and the people who make it run than I ever would have if I had stayed in my comfort zone. Now that I’m back in the general counsel role, I’m able to bring a more unique and well-rounded perspective that helps me better balance the needs of my team and the business.
  3. Be vocal but know your stuff. The great thing about a new beginning is that you bring to the table fresh ideas or thoughts on how to improve things. Speaking up shows initiative, but don’t let yourself get caught off guard — be sure you can back it up with details on why a particular action is needed, how it will benefit your team and the business, and what is needed to make it happen.

Wherever you are in your professional journey — whether you’re just starting your first job or making a career shift — I offer you many congratulations, and I hope, like I did, you enjoy all of the excitement these new challenges and experiences will bring.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not a solicitation for insurance. Aflac includes Aflac and/or Aflac New York and/or Continental American Insurance Company and/or Continental American Life Insurance Company.

Aflac WWHQ | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999

Z2500817 Exp. 9/26

September 9, 2025 /3BL/ – Direct Relief today announced the four recipients of the 2025 Organon Community Health Awards, an initiative that supports community-based solutions to improve reproductive health outcomes in underserved areas across the United States.

Each awardee will receive $200,000 over two years to implement programs that expand contraceptive access and education, particularly in regions where healthcare access is limited or unavailable.

“These awards represent Direct Relief’s commitment to strengthening local health systems through targeted support for community-driven solutions,” said Paulina Ospina, Director of Programs at Direct Relief. “Each recipient demonstrates innovation in breaking down barriers that prevent individuals from accessing the contraceptive care they need, while empowering local healthcare providers with essential resources.”

Nearly half (45%) of pregnancies in the U.S. are unintended, with the highest rates among low-income individuals, people of color, and young adults aged 15-24. The awards support clinics playing a crucial role in bridging the gap in access to care.

2025 Award Recipients

  • Port Ministries Free Health Clinic – Chicago, Illinois: Port Ministries will expand access to reproductive health services to its patients by increasing clinic hours, integrating contraceptive counseling into primary care visits, and enhancing bilingual sexual health education.
  • Wellness Pointe – Longview, Texas: Wellness Pointe will add staff focused on providing personalized contraceptive counseling across seven counties in East Texas. It will also support community health workers providing education and working to reduce obstacles to care faced by their patients.
  • Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida – Immokalee, Florida: Funding will help the organization deliver culturally competent, multilingual contraceptive counseling through community health workers, mobile health units, and educational materials tailored to Hispanic and Haitian communities in Collier County.
  • Newark Community Health Centers – Newark, New Jersey: Newark Community Health Centers will expand services with existing NCHC staff to provide equitable access to contraception, improve reproductive health education, and reduce disparities in reproductive healthcare for men and women aged 14-50 within the service area.

“Through our collaboration with Direct Relief, we are proud to support these community-specific initiatives, which help drive access and education in the reproductive health space for some of the most vulnerable in the United States,” said Doral Fredericks, Head of Medical Affairs and Outcomes Research at Organon. “Expanding education and care for women and girls of reproductive age is fundamental to providing the tools they need to take charge of their health.”

A Model for Cross-Sector Collaboration

The Organon Community Health Awards reflect Direct Relief’s approach to leveraging cross-industry partnerships for humanitarian impact. The collaboration between Organon, a global independent healthcare company focused on women’s health, and Direct Relief, demonstrates how donated resources and expertise can be matched with urgent health needs.

ATLANTA, Sept. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Red Dog Equity LLC, an Atlanta-based private equity firm, announced today that it sold Superior Waste Industries, LLC, a Shawnee, OK-based environmental services holding company, to GFL Environmental Inc. (NYSE: GFL) in an all-cash transaction. Superior was established in March 2022 by Billy Dietrich, a waste industry veteran with over 30 years of experience at leading environmental services companies, to acquire Central Disposal, a Shawnee, Oklahoma-based fully-integrated solid waste management company founded by Mike Adcock. Superior Waste went on to acquire Harley Hollan later in 2022, establishing its footprint in the Tulsa, OK market, Sue’s Recycling and Sanitation in 2024, which extended Superior’s reach into Vian and Eufaula, OK, and SDS Roll-off Dumpsters, deepening its commitment to the Shawnee, OK market in 2024. 

“We couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome of our partnership with Billy Dietrich and the teams at Superior Waste and its subsidiaries,” said Toby Chambers, co-managing partner at Red Dog Equity. He added, “Investing in partnership with an outstanding entrepreneur, what we call a ‘Red Dog,’ focusing on people, systems, and processes, and being disciplined acquirers were the keys to the successful outcome here.” When asked his thoughts about GFL, Chambers stated, “We’ve known Patrick Dovigi, the Founder and CEO of GFL, for over fifteen years and are confident GFL will take excellent care of Superior’s team and customers.”

“We’re grateful to Billy [Dietrich], the Adcock family, all those on Superior’s teams who came to work every day to provide service to their communities, and our investor partners at TPO [the Pritzker Organization] and Monroe [Capital]”, said Tom Connolly, co-managing partner of Red Dog Equity. He continued, “We’re very proud of the company Billy built at Superior Waste and the outcome we were able to achieve for our investors.”

“Building a solid waste business like Superior has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember, and Red Dog was the perfect partner for me,” said Billy Dietrich, founder and CEO of Superior Waste. He added,” They supported me every step of the way.”

Stifel acted as exclusive financial advisor to Superior on this transaction.

About Red Dog Equity LLC
Red Dog Equity LLC is a private equity firm that invests in lower middle-market companies poised for strong growth in partnership with driven, entrepreneurial business leaders (“Red Dogs”). To learn more, please visit: www.reddogequity.com.

About Monroe Capital
Monroe Capital LLC (“Monroe”) is a premier asset management firm specializing in private credit markets across various strategies, including direct lending, technology finance, venture debt, alternative credit solutions, structured credit, real estate and equity. Since 2004, the firm has been successfully providing capital solutions to clients in the U.S. and Canada. Monroe prides itself on being a value-added and user-friendly partner to business owners, management, and both private equity and independent sponsors. Monroe’s platform offers a wide variety of investment products for both institutional and high net worth investors with a focus on generating high quality “alpha” returns irrespective of business or economic cycles. The firm is headquartered in Chicago and has 11 locations throughout the United States, Asia and Australia.

Monroe has been recognized by both its peers and investors with various awards including Private Debt Investor as the 2024 Lower Mid-Market Lender of the Year, Americas and 2023 Lower Mid-Market Lender of the Decade; Inc.’s 2024 Founder-Friendly Investors List; Global M&A Network as the 2023 Lower Mid-Markets Lender of the Year, U.S.A.; DealCatalyst as the 2022 Best CLO Manager of the Year; Korean Economic Daily as the 2022 Best Performance in Private Debt – Mid Cap; Creditflux as the 2021 Best U.S. Direct Lending Fund; and Pension Bridge as the 2020 Private Credit Strategy of the Year. For more information and important disclaimers, please visit www.monroecap.com

About The Pritzker Organization
The Pritzker Organization is the merchant bank for the business interests of the Tom Pritzker family. Additional information can be found at www.pritzkerorg.com.

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/red-dog-equity-sells-superior-waste-302551290.html

SOURCE Red Dog Equity LLC

To help customers meet their sustainability goals, Kimberly-Clark Professional can now collect qualifying used dispensers1 to help make cement for building materials.

ROSWELL, Ga., Sept. 9, 2025 /3BL/ – Kimberly-Clark Professional™ today announced the launch of its Thrive™ sustainability service that helps businesses reduce waste, track lifecycle progress and make a measurable environmental impact.

Core to the service is a first-of-its-kind program2 that helps customers in North America upgrade their restrooms while diverting used qualifying dispensers1 from landfills. Kimberly-Clark Professional set out to remove the barriers for customers who might have concerns about disposing of the old equipment they will no longer need.

Through the Thrive™ Dispenser Service, Kimberly-Clark Professional team members will collect qualifying used plastic dispensers1 directly at customer sites and prepare them for shipment. Once ready, customers simply send them to one of Kimberly-Clark Professional’s trusted sustainability partner facilities for processing.

To further support waste diversion, customers can even leave dry, leftover paper products inside the dispensers. Once received, the dispensers are sorted, shredded and transformed into an alternative fuel source, a substitute for fossil fuel, used in the production of cement and building materials.

This streamlined process makes it easy for facilities to contribute to landfill diversion and sustainability goals without disrupting operations.

“Our customers are looking for practical, measurable ways to meet their sustainability goals,” said Susan Gambardella, President of Kimberly-Clark Professional. “Thrive offers a solution that’s easy to implement and makes a tangible, positive impact toward waste reduction.”

The Thrive™ service is available to commercial customers in the U.S. and Canada that replace 100 or more eligible dispensers at a facility. Kimberly-Clark Professional coordinates the installation of new Scott®, Kleenex®, or ICON™ dispensers to replace the old units. Thrive offers a fully traceable service to help businesses quantify, track and report landfill diversion metrics. Customers even receive an Environmental Impact Achievement Certificate to showcase their sustainability efforts to employees and guests.

Facility managers interested in learning more can contact their Kimberly-Clark Professional sales representative or visit Thrive™ Sustainability Services | Kimberly-Clark Professional.

1: Qualified products are eligible for landfill diversion so long as after use they are non-hazardous as classified by federal, state and local regulations.
2: Based on publicly available information as of August 2025.

About Kimberly-Clark Professional 
Kimberly-Clark Professional partners with business to achieve their goals while enhancing the well-being of their employees and guests with quality hygiene and personal care solutions. Key brands in this away-from-home segment include Kleenex, Cottonelle, Scott and WypAll. To see how Kimberly-Clark Professional is helping businesses create a better clean, together, please visit the Kimberly-Clark Professional website

SOURCE Kimberly-Clark Professional

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LINCOLN, Neb., September 9, 2025 /3BL/ – In partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, Clayton has supported the planting of 5 million trees in U.S. forestlands of greatest need. The 5 millionth tree planting marks a major milestone in the partnership that originally began in 2022.

To celebrate the occasion, a White Oak tree sourced from SiteOne Plant Nursery was planted in Maryville, Tenn. at the Clayton headquarters, during a ceremony featuring remarks from Kevin Clayton, Clayton CEO, and Dan Lambe, Arbor Day Foundation CEO.

“Five million trees is more than a milestone for Clayton — it’s a legacy,” said Dan Lambe. “Our team is proud to work alongside bold, forward-thinking corporate leaders that understand the importance of restoring forests that will serve people and nature for decades to come.”

“At Clayton, we are committed to being a force for good by investing in the communities we live in and the planet we all share,” said Kevin Clayton. “This important milestone shows how collaboration and authentic partnerships can help us scale impact with trusted organizations like the Arbor Day Foundation.”

Clayton has helped restore more than 12,000 acres of land across the United States with lasting conservation commitments predominantly on public lands, as well as private conservation easements and in forests managed by non-governmental organizations. These projects were strategically designed to support ecosystems and communities by protecting drinking water supply, preventing soil erosion, providing habitat for wildlife and creating natural buffers against extreme weather events.

Through its partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, Clayton plants one new tree to replace every tree estimated to be used in its building projects. In addition to its work in reforestation, Clayton has deepened its commitment to sustainability by investing in renewable energy, installing 2.12 megawatts of solar capacity at various facilities and diverting over 123 million pounds of waste from landfills annually through ISO® 14001:2015 waste reduction efforts in Clayton home building and supply facilities last year alone.

The Arbor Day Foundation has helped plant more than 500 million trees around the world since 1972. Visit arborday.org to learn more about why reforestation is a critical part of shaping a better future for the planet.

About Clayton

Founded in 1956, Clayton is committed to opening doors to a better life through homeownership. Clayton is a leading single-family, values-driven home builder dedicated to attainable housing, sustainable practices, and creating a world-class experience for customers and team members. The company’s portfolio includes a comprehensive range of site-built, modern manufactured, Tiny, CrossMod® and modular housing. In 2024, Clayton built more than 60,000 homes across the country. For more information, visit claytonhomes.com.

CrossMod is a registered certification mark of the Manufactured Housing Institute.

ISO is a registered trademark of the International Organization for Standardization.

About the Arbor Day Foundation

The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. They foster a growing community of more than 1 million leaders, innovators, planters, and supporters united by their bold belief that a more hopeful future can be shaped through the power of trees. For more than 50 years, they’ve answered critical need with action, planting more than half a billion trees alongside their partners.

And this is only the beginning.

The Arbor Day Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pursuing a future where all life flourishes through the power of trees. Learn more at arborday.org.

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