Author: sHq_LoGiNz

How Digital Experience Optimization helps organizations proactively eliminate workforce disruptions and build self-healing, productivity-enhancing digital environments.

Slow applications, unstable collaboration tools, recurring password resets, and service desk delays may appear minor in isolation. But across an enterprise environment, these persistent disruptions compound into lost workforce hours, operational inefficiencies, and growing frustration with the digital workplace. 

For many organizations, the problem is not system availability alone. It is the inability to proactively identify and resolve issues before users feel the impact. 

Why reactive IT is no longer enough 

Traditional IT operations were designed around reactive support models: users encounter problems, submit tickets, and wait for resolution. These models were built to restore systems after failure, not to continuously optimize the workforce experience or prevent disruption before users feel the impact. In increasingly complex hybrid environments, that approach creates a continuous cycle of disruption and recovery that slows operations, impacts productivity and user satisfaction, and places additional strain on already overloaded support teams.

How digital experience optimization reduces workplace disruption

Organizations are now shifting toward a different approach, one focused not simply on maintaining system availability, but on continuously improving the digital experience of the workforce. 

This is where Digital Experience Optimization (DXO) is changing the equation. By combining endpoint visibility, experience analytics, and automation, DXO is designed to allow organizations to move beyond reactive support models and proactively detect, diagnose, and remediate issues in real time, often before users experience disruptions or mission performance is affected. 

The future of IT operations is not faster recovery after disruption: it’s preventing disruption from occurring in the first place. Organizations that reduce digital friction will create a measurable advantage in workforce productivity, mission performance, and operational resilience.

Tim Gilday, VP, Enterprise Digital Experience Practice Lead

Building self-healing digital work environments

The most significant shift is the rise of self-healing environments. Automated remediation capabilities can detect and resolve common issues, restore degraded services, and proactively address friction without requiring service desk intervention. Increasingly, problems can be addressed before users are impacted.  

The impact extends beyond IT efficiency. Organizations adopting experience-driven operations are reducing service desk volume, accelerating issue resolution, improving workforce productivity, and strengthening trust in the digital environment supporting the mission. 

Digital experience as a strategic advantage

As agencies and enterprises continue modernizing their environments, digital experience is becoming a strategic operational priority, not simply an IT metric. The organizations that gain advantage will be those that move beyond reactive support and build resilient, self-healing environments capable of minimizing disruption before it affects the workforce. 

At Leidos, we believe this shift requires more than modern infrastructure alone. It requires designing digital environments that anticipate user needs, reduce friction, and create experiences that enable people to perform at their best, what we call “Delight by Design.” 

Because in modern mission environments, every moment of digital friction carries a cost. 

Related

• Designing What’s Next: Turning IT Modernization into “Delight By Design” 
• Breaking Defense: Tim Gilday and Bethany King on the Future of Experience-Driven IT Operations 
• From Compliance to Confidence: Designing Government Experiences That Build Trust 
   

Originally published on Aflac Newsroom

By Tera Ladner, senior vice president and global chief information security officer, Aflac

Cybersecurity is often discussed as a problem to solve — a skills gap to close, a threat to mitigate, a workforce shortage to manage. From where I sit as a top information security officer at Aflac, a leader in supplemental insurance in the U.S. and Japan, I see it differently.

Cybersecurity is a people opportunity.

Yes, we need advanced tools and technical rigor. But long-term resilience depends on something far more foundational: whether the next generation can see themselves as part of this field. That decision, formed early, can shape careers, communities and entire industries.

That’s the thinking behind CyberInspire, an initiative powered by Aflac that is focused on engaging kids, empowering girls and educating adults about cybersecurity as a viable, rewarding career path. At the heart of CyberInspire is Empower Girls, the program that started it all. The initiative helps girls see that they belong in this space — that a career in cybersecurity isn’t out of reach, and that there’s a whole world of opportunity open to them. At the event, they don’t just hear about it — they experience it. They take part in hands-on activities, see live demos and meet people from companies they would never have expected to have a role in technology or cybersecurity.

Empower Girls traces its roots to Aflac Northern Ireland, where colleagues were inspired by the EmPowerCyber event hosted by Newcastle United Foundation in partnership with Sage. Building on that model, the team partnered with CyberFirst to create a similar experience in Northern Ireland.

What began as a single Empower Girls event quickly demonstrated its potential. After taking part in that first event, I saw firsthand the impact of creating space for young people to engage with cybersecurity in a meaningful way.

Bringing that inspiration back to the United States, we expanded the concept into our CyberInspire program.

Today, Empower Girls remains a cornerstone of that effort, while CyberInspire has evolved into a broader movement. Together, they are helping show students — early and often — that careers in cybersecurity and technology are not only in demand, but engaging, impactful and, perhaps most importantly, within reach.

Cybersecurity is more than a technical discipline

One consistent takeaway from these events is how often students are surprised to learn that cybersecurity isn’t solely about writing code or stopping bad actors — it’s about problem-solving, communication, ethics, critical thinking and teamwork.

That’s an important message, especially for students who are just starting to develop those skills. They may not yet see themselves as “technical,” so we use this opportunity to expose them to the various facets of cybersecurity through interactive workshops from cracking ciphers and exploring digital forensics to learning how to spot online manipulation.

They also get to meet professionals who don’t all look the same or who, like myself, don’t have linear career paths. That’s by design, because this field benefits from engaging people with backgrounds in law, marketing, psychology, education and beyond. CyberInspire emphasizes that there isn’t one “right” way into technology — just a willingness to learn and the confidence to try.

This approach works. In 2025 alone, we saw measurable impact: Students are returning for multiple years, parents are asking about career pathways and educators are telling us these experiences have changed how girls see themselves in STEM spaces.

Connecting inspiration to opportunity

While a lot of discussion happens around potential jobs in tech, the goal isn’t to rush career decisions, but to present choices. We start with exposure and awareness because when students understand the breadth of what’s possible, they’re better equipped to make informed decisions later, whether that leads them directly into cybersecurity or into adjacent fields that support it.

And I’ve seen this in action. In our second year of this event in Columbus, I’ve noticed that students aren’t just attending to learn about opportunities in the tech world. They’re actively engaging, asking deeper questions about how technology shapes the world around them. In short, they’re inspired, and this motivation will stick with them beyond their years as students, regardless of the career path they ultimately choose.

A shared responsibility

Cybersecurity will continue to evolve. Threats will change. Technologies will advance. But the need for capable, ethical and resilient people will remain constant.

That’s where programs like CyberInspire come in. They work because professionals across industries choose to show up, sharing time, experience and perspective with students who are still discovering their potential.

That’s also what I value most about the Empower Girls movement. One event inspires another, and people come together to make them happen — not as individuals, but as a collective effort. It’s a shared movement, driven by professionals who care deeply about opening doors for the next generation. Together, we’re reaching thousands of young people in communities around the world, helping them see what’s possible and where they might fit.

If you’re a technology or business leader, I encourage you to consider how you might support similar efforts, whether through volunteering, mentorship, partnerships or local education initiatives. You don’t have to be a cybersecurity expert to make a meaningful impact. You just need to be willing to invest in what comes next.

Because the future of cybersecurity isn’t only something we defend — it’s something we help build.

Aflac | WWHQ | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999

Z2600461
EXP 7/27

 

CVS Health survey finds more than 60 percent of consumers say they are likely to get a flu shot this season.

Expanded testing and treatment services help make CVS Pharmacy a convenient destination for seasonal care

Originally published on CVS Health Company Newsroom

WOONSOCKET, R.I., August 28, 2026 — CVS Health® (NYSE: CVS) announced that updated 2026-2027 flu vaccines are now available at CVS Pharmacy® and MinuteClinic® locations nationwide. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), annual flu vaccination is one of the most effective ways to help reduce the risk of flu-related illness and complications. Patients can schedule vaccination appointments online at CVS.com, MinuteClinic.com or through the CVS Health app. Walk-in appointments are also available at CVS Pharmacy and MinuteClinic locations.

As families prepare for the fall and winter respiratory virus season, CVS Health offers a range of services designed to support preventive care and help patients manage seasonal illnesses. In addition to flu vaccination, patients can access testing and treatment options at select CVS Pharmacy and MinuteClinic locations, providing connected care before, during and after illness. With health care professionals serving communities across the country, CVS Health remains committed to helping patients stay protected throughout the season.

Most Americans plan to get vaccinated this flu season

According to a survey of U.S. consumers commissioned by CVS Health , 63% of Americans say they are likely to receive a flu vaccine this season. That is similar to the last two years when 63% said they were planning to get a flu shot in 2025 and 62% said they were planning to get a flu shot in 2024. Among those planning to get vaccinated:

• 68% plan to get a flu vaccine by the end of October.
• 34% of consumers want a flu shot before the illness is spreading widely; 28% want to get vaccinated before spending time with someone who may be vulnerable to influenza, like a newborn, older adult or someone who is ill; and 24% want to get the flu shot to help avoid missing school, work or other responsibilities.
• Habit and personal protection are the most significant motivators among people who intend to get the flu shot, with 39% of people saying they get a flu shot every year and 37% saying they get a flu shot to protect their health or their family’s health.
• 43% of consumers say they plan to get a flu shot at a retail pharmacy, while 34% plan to get the flu shot at a doctor’s office.

“Getting vaccinated is one of the simplest and most effective steps people can take to help protect themselves and those around them during flu season,” said Amy Compton-Phillips, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, CVS Health. “As respiratory viruses continue to circulate each year, it’s important that people and families have convenient access to trusted health care professionals who can answer questions, provide recommended vaccinations and help them stay healthy throughout the season.”

CDC recommends annual flu vaccination for nearly everyone

The CDC recommends that everyone ages six months and older, with rare exceptions, receive an annual flu vaccine, with September and October generally being ideal times for vaccination ahead of peak flu activity. The updated 2026-2027 vaccine is designed to help protect against flu strains that experts anticipate will be most common this season.

To further support patients during respiratory illness season, participating CVS Pharmacy locations are offering convenient testing options, including a combination test that can detect Influenza A, Influenza B, and COVID-19 with a single swab. In states where pharmacists are authorized to both test and treat eligible patients for flu and COVID-19, patients can receive an assessment and, when appropriate, treatment recommendations during the same visit. Participating states include California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Patients can learn more about testing options by visiting CVS.com. MinuteClinic also offers testing for Influenza A, Influenza B, and COVID-19 in all clinic locations.

“Patients want health care that is easy to access and fits into their busy lives,” said Sid Tenneti, Senior Vice President and Interim President, Pharmacy and Consumer Wellness, CVS Health. “Whether someone is looking to get vaccinated, needs help understanding symptoms, or is seeking testing and treatment options, CVS Pharmacy is committed to providing connected, convenient care in the communities we serve.”

Convenient vaccination options for patients

Vaccination appointments are available seven days a week at CVS Pharmacy locations, including those inside Target stores, as well as at MinuteClinic. Patients can schedule appointments online at CVS.com, MinuteClinic.com or through the CVS Health app. The online scheduler allows patients to book appointments at CVS Pharmacy and MinuteClinic for up to four people at once and receive multiple CDC-recommended vaccinations during a single visit, including flu, COVID-19, hepatitis B, RSV, MMR, and shingles vaccines. Organizations can also partner with CVS Health to host vaccination clinics at the workplace or within their communities, meeting patients where they are and making it easier to access recommended vaccinations.

In addition to vaccinations, MinuteClinic offers evaluation and treatment for select seasonal illnesses, including flu-like symptoms, with testing available for eligible patients. More information and appointments are available at MinuteClinic.com.

Year-round access to recommended vaccinations

CVS Pharmacy and MinuteClinic offer more than 15 commonly recommended vaccinations throughout the year to help protect against preventable diseases. Patients who receive any CDC-recommended vaccine at CVS Pharmacy will also receive a $5 off $20 to use on in-store purchases. Most preventive vaccines are available at no cost through many insurance plans, including Medicare Part B coverage for eligible vaccines. Out-of-pocket costs may vary based on insurance coverage and vaccine type.

Patients who receive a CDC-recommended vaccination at CVS Pharmacy may also be eligible for promotional savings and ExtraCare Rewards®, subject to program terms and conditions.

Video and photo assets from CVS Pharmacy and MinuteClinic are available here.

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About CVS Health

CVS Health is a leading health solutions company simplifying health care one person, one family and one community at a time. As of June 30, 2026, the Company had approximately 9,000 retail pharmacy locations, more than 1,000 walk-in and primary care medical clinics and a leading pharmacy benefits manager with approximately 87 million plan members. The Company also serves an estimated 37 million people through a broad range of health insurance products and related services. The Company’s integrated model uses personalized, technology driven services to connect people to simply better health, increasing access to quality care, delivering better outcomes, and lowering overall costs.

Media contacts

Amy Thibault
401-318-2865
Amy.Thibault@CVSHealth.com

Roslyn Guarino
781-974-3962
Roslyn.Guarino@CVSHealth.com

 

Marathon Petroleum Corp. (MPC) has been named one of Yello and WayUp’s Top 100 Internship Programs of 2026, marking the third consecutive year the company has earned national recognition for its internship and co-op experience.

The annual recognition, announced in connection with National Intern Day, highlights MPC’s commitment to providing internship and co-op experiences that help students build skills, stay engaged and explore pathways to successful full-time careers.

“At MPC, we believe the future of energy starts with the people we invest in today. Through hands-on projects and mentorship, our interns and co-ops develop valuable skills, build professional connections and see how their contributions are part of something bigger. Their fresh perspectives strengthen our organization and help us meet the evolving energy needs of tomorrow,” said Salina Cinco, Talent Acquisition Director. “Being recognized as a Top 100 Internship Program for a third consecutive year is an honor and a reflection of our continued commitment to creating meaningful early-career opportunities.”

Since its launch by Yello and WayUp, the yearly Top 100 Internship Programs list has recognized standout internship programs based on factors including compensation, program structure, career development opportunities and company culture. MPC first earned a spot on the list in 2024 and has remained on the list through 2026, reflecting strong intern and co-op return rates and positive career outcomes across the company’s early talent pipeline.

For more than 50 years, MPC has been committed to developing early career talent supported by the company’s Campus and Emerging Talent program. Each semester, MPC’s Campus and Emerging Talent team visits colleges and universities across the country to recruit students for opportunities that support business needs and help build the company’s future workforce.

2025 Intern and Co-op Program Highlights

• MPC engaged with 45 universities across 18 states
• 540+ interns and co-ops joined MPC from 80+ institutions spanning 32 states
• 140+ interns and co-ops transitioned to full-time roles

As MPC begins the fall recruiting season, the Campus and Emerging Talent team expects to fill more than 600 intern and co-op positions through the end of 2027, giving students more opportunities to gain practical experience, build professional skills and explore career paths in the energy industry.

Learn more about how MPC’s internship and co-op program supports our strategy to build a strong talent pipeline in the company’s 2025 Sustainability Report.

Originally published by Essence
By Cristina del Canto
Sponsored by Entergy

For more than a century, Entergy has provided reliable, affordable power to the communities they serve across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. But the company’s mission extends far beyond delivering electricity. Their commitment comes to life through an extensive set of customer programs designed to support families facing financial challenges, and partnerships that are expanding economic opportunity across the Gulf South region.

Many households in the Gulf South’s communities experience persistent financial hardship, and energy insecurity can affect every aspect of life, from health to housing to economic mobility. Entergy invests in targeted solutions that help customers stay connected and maintain stability. In 2000, Entergy was one of the first public utilities to develop specific low-income customer assistance programs. Today, the company offers a wide range of resources that make it easier for individuals and families to navigate difficult circumstances. These include direct financial assistance, flexible billing options and partnerships with community organizations that help customers access federal and state aid.

One of Entergy’s most helpful tools for customers is the Bill Toolkit website, which provides bill management resources, energy efficiency guidance and links to financial assistance programs. The Power to Care program offers emergency bill payment relief for older adults and customers with disabilities, ensuring that those who are most vulnerable can maintain access to essential electric service. Through Entergy’s partnership with Single Stop, a one-stop online platform, their customers can also easily identify available financial assistance, education, training and other support resources.

During the extreme heat of summer 2025, Entergy shareholders, customers, employees and retirees together donated $3 million to help customers who are struggling to pay their energy bills. Through the “Beat the Heat” program, Entergy offers bill payment assistance, cooling fans, energy efficiency kits, home weatherization help and collaboration with local community organizations.

Entergy’s customer programs even extend to their hosting of Super Tax Days at various Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites, which provide free tax preparation services that help eligible families maximize refunds and access critical tax credits. Those tax refunds can make a big difference to a household struggling to make ends meet.

“Of course we offer things like other utilities, including home energy audits, rebates and incentives that help customers lower their consumption and reduce monthly bills,” said John Hudson, Entergy’s chief external affairs officer and president of the Entergy Charitable Foundation. “But what we are really trying to achieve is a comprehensive set of programs that create a more stable path forward for our customers who may otherwise face difficult choices.”

Entergy’s approach to affordability extends beyond their customers’ current energy bills. The company is investing in grid modernization and energy efficiency improvements that lower long-term delivery costs, enhance reliability, and build a more sustainable energy future. Customers and communities benefit through fewer outages, stable energy rates, and programs that help reduce usage and expenses.

Affordability also ties to economic growth for the Gulf South region. Entergy’s specialized services for large commercial users and data centers are attracting major industries, creating jobs and strengthening local economies. Through the company’s Fair Share Plus pledge, these large customers are paying the full cost of their required infrastructure upgrades, helping keep rates lower for households and small businesses. Across Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, these projects are expected to save Entergy customers about $7 billion over 20 years.

Entergy remains committed to supporting its most vulnerable customers and fostering more resilient communities through partnerships that are transforming the Gulf South region.

For 115 years, Whirlpool Corporation appliances have been part of America’s most important moments from childhood kitchen memories to daily laundry routines. To celebrate, Whirlpool is inviting consumers to share photos of memories featuring its iconic brands and enter a sweepstakes for 115 new appliances — one for every year they’ve all been a part of America’s homes.

The Whirlpool Corporation 115 Anniversary Sweepstakes invites consumers to submit photos at www.whirlpoolcorp115sweeps.com clearly showing Whirlpool, KitchenAid, JennAir, Maytag, Amana and/or InSinkErator playing a meaningful part of their story.

Whirlpool Corporation is the only American-owned kitchen and laundry appliance company and its products can be found in 3 out of 4 U.S. homes. The sweepstakes is designed to commemorate the company’s legacy, brought to life in homes throughout the country.

“Generation after generation, Whirlpool has been proud to earn and maintain the trust of its consumers by delivering innovative home appliances that improve life at home every day,” said Marc Bitzer, Whirlpool Corporation Chairman and CEO. “This milestone is a celebration of the memories we’ve helped create and a glimpse into the special moments – large and small – that we’ll continue to be a part of for decades to come. After 115 years, we are proud to be the only major appliance company that started in America, stayed in America, and continues to invest in workers and factories across the country.”

How to Enter

To learn more about the anniversary sweepstakes, giveaway and to submit a photo for a chance to win, visit www.whirlpoolcorp115sweeps.com and follow the on-screen instructions. Each submission should also include a caption of up to 300 characters that tells the story of the memory the photo contains. Participants will also be able to see a gallery of the photos others have submitted.

Entry deadline:

Entries may be submitted beginning at noon ET on August 20, 2026 and must be received by 11:59pm ET on September 27, 2026. Winners will be notified via email on September 28, 2026.

Prizes:

The sweepstakes winners may receive one of the following prizes:

• 30 KitchenAid^® Pure Power Blenders
• 70 KitchenAid^® Artisan^® Series 5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixers with Premium Accessory Pack
• 5 Whirlpool^® Smart Front Load Washers with FreshFlow^™ Vent System
• 5 Maytag^® 5.0 cubic foot Smart Front Load Washers with Pet Pro Option
• 5 Whirlpool^® Third Rack Dishwashers with Advanced ProDry^™ System

Where applicable, Whirlpool Corporation will arrange and pay for standard delivery, installation and haul-away of an existing appliance.

Eligibility:

No purchase or payment is necessary to enter or win. A purchase or payment of any kind will not increase your chances of winning. The sweepstakes is open only to legal residents of the forty-eight (48) contiguous United States and the District of Columbia who are eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of entry. Void in Alaska, Hawaii and where prohibited by law.

View original content here.

 

At Henkel, our pioneers are driven by an unwavering spirit to explore, create, and transform possibilities into progress and improve life for generations to come. Learn their stories.

In this story, you will discover:

• Creating Community Impact: The experiences that shaped Lissette’s commitment to helping people feel supported, prepared and seen.
• Turning Ideas into Purposeful Innovation: How she brings resilience, learning and future-focused thinking into her Henkel role.
• Taking the First Step: Lissette helps colleagues prepare for the future by encouraging action today and making AI more approachable through hands-on learning.

Introducing Lissette

Lissette Cruz, Director of Blue Sky Innovations and AI Solutions for Henkel Consumer Brands (HCB) in the hair professional category, is always looking for what could be next. Her role is grounded in exploring new possibilities and turning promising ideas into solutions that can support the future of the business. Drawing on 23 years of experience as a licensed hair professional, Lissette brings a firsthand understanding of the people and needs behind the ideas she explores.

That perspective extends beyond her day-to-day role. As a community volunteer and President of the Culver City chapter of the Henkel Women’s Network, an employee resource group (ERG), Lisette brings the same approach to supporting others: understand the need, imagine a better experience, and bring others along to make an impact.

Lissette shares what inspires her to be a pioneer for good

Creating Community Impact

Long before Lissette was helping Henkel explore what could be next, a personal experience sparked ideas and actions to make life better for others.

As a high school student who couldn’t afford a prom dress, Lissette remembers having to sort through donated options in her school’s front office. “You would have to sift through a box in front of other students,” she says. “It didn’t always feel good.”

That experience stayed with her. Years later, as a stylist, Lissette saw an opportunity to give other students a different experience. She partnered with a nearby boutique to display donated dresses on racks so they could choose a free prom dress in a more dignified way.

Years later, she mobilized colleagues to bring that prom dress initiative to Henkel’s Culver City office in partnership with the local Boys & Girls Club. What began with an experience from her own life became an opportunity to help a new generation of students feel supported and respected.

That same instinct to see a need and act on it inspired Lissette’s “Care to Go” package initiative at Henkel in 2025. After seeing someone who appeared to be unhoused tending to a wound and wishing she had supplies to help, she saw an opportunity to prepare employees to respond when they encountered someone in need.

The team assembled nearly 400 bags containing essentials such as water, bandages, wipes, and food that employees could keep in their cars and distribute as needed. The effort gave employees a practical way to help, extending its impact beyond the office and into the communities where they live and travel each day.

Turning Ideas into Purposeful Innovation

For Lissette, the instinct to understand a need and imagine something better also shapes the way she approaches innovation.

In her Blue Sky role, Lissette draws on her previous experience behind the chair as a licensed hair professional, to bring a firsthand perspective to the innovation process. She understands the realities hairdressers face and helps teams consider how new ideas can better support them, the clients they serve and the future of the business.

She also helps teams look beyond immediate priorities and stay open to ideas that may not fit today, but could create value with the right timing, learning or collaboration. For Lissette, ideas are something to revisit, reshape and learn from overtime.

“It’s never looking at your missed innovations or ideas as a graveyard. It’s a treasure chest.”
– Lissette Cruz, Director of Blue Sky Innovations and AI Solutions for Henkel Consumer Brands

That mindset was shaped in part by one of her most challenging innovation experiences: a first-to-market innovation that did not go as planned. What initially felt like a setback became a defining lesson in resilience and reinforced Lissette’s belief that every idea can create value through the lessons you learn to make the next idea stronger.

Lissette holds a Guinness World Record for the most natural hair extensions applied in one hour. After nearly a year of working up the courage to try, she broke the existing record on her first attempt. When a recording issue meant the achievement could not be verified, she found the resilience to do it all over again. For Lissette, the experience was ultimately about finding the courage to take the first step and persevering when things didn’t go as planned.

Taking the First Step

As Henkel celebrates its 150th anniversary under the motto “Future? Ready!,” Lissette sees future readiness as something that begins with what you are willing to do today.

“Truly being future ready means taking action today,” she says. “It doesn’t mean that you have to solve for the future. It means you have to take the first step.”

Lissette has put that philosophy into practice by helping colleagues take their own first steps with emerging technology. One example is the Copilot Cup. Lissette designed a team-based challenge for colleagues to build their AI skills, explore new ways of working and generate product ideas. The challenge engaged more than 480 colleagues and reached a 98% participation rate.

From creating a more dignified prom experience for students, to turning an impulse to help into hundreds of “Care to Go” packages, to helping colleagues feel more confident exploring AI, Lissette turns ideas into purposeful action.

“Lissette has a remarkable ability to identify opportunities to make a difference and bring people together to create action. Whether supporting students, helping community members in need, or empowering colleagues through her work with Henkel Women’s Network, Lissette leads with heart and purpose, creating an impact that extends far beyond her day-to-day role.”
– Linda Leonard, Regional Head of D&I and Corporate Citizenship, Henkel North America

Homeownership is more than a roof over your head. It’s security, identity, legacy, and a powerful path to building wealth. But for many first-time buyers, rising costs and stagnant wages are putting that dream out of reach.

KeyBank and Arrive (formerly Portland Housing Center) are making the path to homeownership more attainable and turning more dreams into reality. Watch the video to learn more.

 https://www.youtube.com/shorts/WBUOGBr6xDI

 

Originally published on CVS Health Company Newsroom

WOONSOCKET, R.I., August 27, 2026 /3BL/ – CVS Pharmacy®, the retail division of CVS Health® (NYSE: CVS), announced the launch of its Home Team Heroes contest, a new, nationwide initiative that’s designed to recognize youth soccer players who are making a meaningful difference in their communities. The contest, which is an extension of CVS Health’s ongoing, multi-year commitment to strengthening its communities through soccer, is now accepting nominations for soccer athletes ages 7-15 who exemplify leadership, service and positive community impact, both on and off the pitch.

Two grand prize winners will be awarded a $25,000 grant in their name to their non-profit soccer organization, and their photo will also be featured on packaging for select Well Market® snacks, CVS Pharmacy’s store brand consumables line. The limited-edition winners’ packaging will be available in select CVS Pharmacy stores next year. Additionally, the grand prize winners will receive a block party for their team at a nearby CVS Pharmacy location. CVS will also select two runner-up winners, who will receive a $10,000 grant to their non-profit soccer organization.

“The Home Team Heroes contest exemplifies CVS Health’s commitment to not only improving community wellbeing, but also to celebrating the everyday players who help make their communities stronger,” said Sid Tenneti, Senior Vice President and Interim President, Pharmacy and Consumer Wellness, CVS Health. “We’re thrilled to share the winners’ stories through packaging on select Well Market snacks. This first-of-its-kind initiative for our brand will help elevate the winners’ stories to a broader audience, reflecting how these players’ positive impacts can reach far beyond their hometowns.”

Additionally, CVS is continuing its collaborations with major soccer faces to help amplify the contest – including NWSL and U.S. national team players as well as Alex Morgan, an NWSL icon and two-time Women’s World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist. The stars will share their own stories of what soccer and community support has meant to them and encourage parents to celebrate the young players who are demonstrating leadership among their teams and giving back to their communities.

“Soccer didn’t start for me under stadium lights; it started on a local field in Diamond Bar, California, surrounded by coaches and teammates who believed in me. I know firsthand how playing soccer and being part of a team can help build confidence, belonging and leadership, which is why I’m proud to work with CVS to recognize young players through the Home Team Heroes contest,” said Alex Morgan. “It’s about honoring these players not just for their accomplishments on the field, but for how they’re showing up for the people around them.”

Parents or guardians can enter their children to win at CVSHomeTeamHeroes.com now through September 25, 2026. To enter, nominators must complete the online entry form, which includes answering three short-response questions about how their nominee is making a difference in their community, how soccer has shaped who they are on and off the field, and what being named a Home Team Hero would mean to them.

Entries will be evaluated based on the nominees’ demonstrated community impact, such as their ongoing acts of service or volunteerism with a nonprofit, their school or community organization; mentorship of younger teammates or schoolmates; proven leadership in school clubs, teams or similar programs; demonstration of good sportsmanship; and more. For full official contest rules and details, please visit CVSHomeTeamHeroes.com.

Winners will be selected and announced later this year, with their stories brought to life across national CVS channels and in the communities each calls home.

To learn more about how CVS Health is supporting its communities through soccer, visit cvs.com/content/soccer.

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About CVS Health

CVS Health is a leading health solutions company simplifying health care one person, one family and one community at a time. As of June 30, 2026, the Company had approximately 9,000 retail pharmacy locations, more than 1,000 walk-in and primary care medical clinics and a leading pharmacy benefits manager with approximately 87 million plan members. The Company also serves an estimated 37 million people through a broad range of health insurance products and related services. The Company’s integrated model uses personalized, technology driven services to connect people to simply better health, increasing access to quality care, delivering better outcomes, and lowering overall costs.

Media Contact

Kara Page
Kara.Page@CVSHealth.com

 

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