Author: sHq_LoGiNz

by Holly Mosher, Belle Farm

My business partner Kathleen had been looking at some land in Wisconsin for over a year when we first spoke about it. The City of Middleton (near Madison) asked Kathleen if we would consider building much-needed housing. I knew that Madison was always on the Best Places to Live lists and that they were growing rapidly compared to the rest of the country. I thought back to what my father always said: “You need to sell things that people need, and people NEED housing.” I also saw so many people struggling with affordability, both in rentals and ownership. So, building housing could be a social enterprise creating housing while also doing so in a green way aligned with our values.

I encouraged Kathleen to visit an intentional community in Georgia called Serenbe. She was struck by the thoughtful land planning and the sense of place — the walkability and the way nature and community were interwoven. We worked closely with their team in order to build something similar in Wisconsin. The result was Belle Farm, a gorgeous walkable neighborhood featuring a wonderful mix of housing, neighborhood amenities, and commercial spaces. With Phil Tabb and the team helping us design the overall layout of the land, a sense of community and flow emerged. Our guiding principles are wellness, sustainability, time outside, camaraderie, presence, respite, and so much joy.

Read Holly’s full article and see renderings as this real estate project is now fully underway with single family homes, multi-family units and an apartment complex, all here- https://greenmoney.com/mixed-use-social-enterprise-and-green-housing-at-belle-farm

 

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NEW YORK, February 9, 2026 /3BL/ – Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose® (CECP) announced today that three distinguished executives will join the organization’s Board of Directors: Steve Beard, Chairman and CEO of Covista, Steven H. Collis, former Executive Chair of Cencora, Inc., and Ann Fairchild, interim President and CEO of Siemens USA.

“CECP continues to attract exceptional leaders who understand that corporate purpose drives business success,” said Daryl Brewster, CEO, CECP. “Steve Beard, Steven Collis, and Ann Fairchild bring decades of experience leading purpose-driven organizations and a deep commitment to creating positive societal impact. Their strategic insights and proven track records in building sustainable, values-driven businesses are invaluable as we guide companies on their purpose journeys.”

Steve Beard is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Covista (formerly Adtalem Global Education), America’s largest healthcare educator serving more than 97,000 students across five accredited institutions. The company graduates 24,000 healthcare professionals annually, with 290,000 alumni practicing across the country. Beard was named CEO in 2021 and elected Chairman of the Board in 2024. Under his leadership, Covista transformed from a diversified education and training company to one centered on healthcare education. He joined the company in 2018 as General Counsel and soon became Chief Operating Officer, where he led the now divested financial services segment and the portfolio repositioning that enabled Covista’s new strategic direction. Prior to Covista, Beard served as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at Heidrick & Struggles International. He serves as board chair of A Better Chicago, a venture philanthropy expanding opportunity for underserved Chicago youth. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his law degree from the Maurer School of Law at Indiana University-Bloomington.

“Expanding access to quality education is how we’re helping to solve one of society’s most pressing workforce challenges.” said Steve Beard, Chairman and CEO, Covista. “At Covista, we’ve seen how purpose-driven work creates meaningful impact for students, communities and healthcare systems. I look forward to working with CECP and its network to advance the connection between corporate purpose and sustainable business success.”

Steven H. Collis is former Executive Chair of Cencora, Inc. (NYSE: COR) (formerly AmerisourceBergen), a leading global pharmaceutical solutions organization headquartered in the Philadelphia region. Collis served as President and CEO of Cencora from 2011 to 2024, during which time he delivered phenomenal growth in domestic and international markets. He led the company through several strategic investments and acquisitions that enabled expansion of services and solutions, built unprecedented partnerships, and deepened expertise to speed innovation and improve access to healthcare in meaningful ways. With more than 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical solutions industry, Collis is passionate about health equity and global inclusion and has a depth of experience in supply chain efficiency, specialty pharmaceuticals, oncology, and international business growth.

“Throughout my career at Cencora, I witnessed firsthand how purpose-driven leadership creates healthier futures and drives business performance,” said Steven H. Collis, former Executive Chair, Cencora Inc. “CECP’s work in helping companies integrate purpose into their core strategies is essential in today’s business environment. I’m honored to join the Board and contribute to advancing corporate purpose as a driver of sustainable value creation.”

Ann Fairchild serves as interim President and CEO of Siemens USA, the company’s largest market, where she leads strategy and engagement across the United States. Siemens employs approximately 45,000 people nationwide and delivers $21.1 billion in annual revenue, supporting critical infrastructure and industrial innovation across all 50 states. With more than 25 years at Siemens, Fairchild is a trusted executive leader known for supporting business growth while strengthening governance, compliance, and enterprise risk management. She has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s U.S. strategy through expertise in corporate governance, M&A, regulatory policy, and operational excellence, while building high-performing, mission-driven teams. Fairchild serves on the Siemens Corporation Board of Directors and the Board of the German American Business Council, where she advances transatlantic business collaboration with policymakers and industry leaders. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Commerce from the University of Virginia and a J.D. from the College of William & Mary School of Law.

“I’m honored to join the board of an organization that has consistently demonstrated how purpose and performance go hand in hand,” said Ann Fairchild, interim President and CEO, Siemens USA. “At Siemens, purpose is core to how we develop and apply technologies like Industrial AI to create real-world impact. I look forward to working alongside the talented CECP team to drive sustainable growth, foster innovation, and create lasting value for its network of leading companies.”

CECP is the only nonpartisan business counsel and network dedicated to driving measurable returns on purpose. It promotes responsible purpose-driven business as it increases customer loyalty, builds employee engagement, improves brand trust, attracts top talent, connects with strategic investors, and contributes to the bottom line. More than 200 of the world’s leading companies seek to improve their return on purpose through access to CECP’s solutions in insights and benchmarking. With our companies, we harness the power of purpose for business, stakeholders, and society.

Since its founding in 1999, CECP has developed the gold-standard for companies to achieve a return on purpose by providing affiliated companies with tangible frameworks, data, strategies, and goal setting. CECP advises its companies through custom benchmarking and flagship publications such as Giving in Numbers™, the largest and most historical data set on corporate community investment trends. The organization is regularly quoted by top-tier publications as a go-to source on corporate purpose. CECP has grown to a movement of more than 200 of the world’s largest companies from ten industries that represent $8.3 trillion in revenues, $33 billion in total community investment, 31.4 million hours of employee engagement, and $21 trillion in assets under management.

The new members will join the current Board of Directors, which includes:

Co-Chairs:

• Barbara Humpton, CEO, American Rare Earth (formerly CEO, Siemens USA)
• Bill McNabb, Former Chairman and CEO, The Vanguard Group, Inc.

Board Members:

• Alex Gorsky, Executive Chairman, Johnson & Johnson
• Amit Bajaj, President, TCS North America
• Calvin Butler, President and CEO, Exelon Corporation
• Douglas R. Conant, Former Chair, CECP; CEO, ConantLeadership, DRC LLC
• Fran Horowitz, CEO, Abercrombie & Fitch Co.
• James White, Former Chairman, President, and CEO, Jamba Juice
• Jessica Foster, CEO, RHR International LLP
• John Wood, Vice Chair, Heidrick & Struggles
• Kelly Grier, Former EY US Chair and Managing Partner (CEO)
• Mauricio Gutierrez, Former President & CEO, NRG
• Megan Myungwon Lee, Chairwoman and CEO, Panasonic Corporation of North America
• Richard Edelman, CEO, Edelman
• Sara Armbruster, Former CEO, Steelcase Inc.
• Shelly Lazarus, Chairman Emeritus, Ogilvy & Mather
• Theodore Dysart, Managing Director, Russell Reynolds Associates

CECP’s Board of Directors also includes the following Directors Emeriti:

• Co-Founders
  • Peter Malkin, Chairman Emeritus, Empire State Realty Trust
  • Paul Newman, Actor and Philanthropist, in memorium
• Alan G. Hassenfeld, Former Chairman, Executive Committee, Hasbro, Inc. in memoriam
• Kenneth T. Derr, Former Chairman & CEO, Chevron Corporation, in memoriam
• Henrietta Fore, Chairman and CEO, Holsman International
• Surya Kant, Senior Advisor, Tata Sons; Former Chairman, TCS North America
• Harold McGraw, III, Chairman Emeritus, S&P Global
• Marilyn Carlson Nelson, Former Chairman and CEO, Carlson Holdings, Inc.
• David Rockefeller, Former Chairman & CEO, Chase Manhattan Corporation, in memorium
• Michael I. Roth, Former Executive Chairman & CEO, Interpublic Group
• Paul Volcker, Former Chairman, Federal Reserve, in memorium
• Sanford Weill, CEO, Casa Rosa Ventures, LLC
• John C. Whitehead, Former Co-Chair, Goldman, Sachs, & Co., Former Deputy Secretary of State, in memorium

CECP also works with a group of CECP Ambassadors, which includes:

• Mitch Barns, Former CEO, Nielsen
• Lynne Doughtie, Former Chairman & CEO, KPMG
• Bill Goodwynn, CEO, Discovery Education
• Ralph Izzo, Chairman of the Board, PSEG
• Hubert Joly, Former Chair & CEO, Best Buy
• David Kenny, Former CEO, Nielsen
• Deanna Mulligan, CEO, Ceres Life Insurance Company
• Phillipe Krakowsky, CEO, Interpublic Group
• Duncan L. Niederauer, Former CEO, NYSE, Euronext
• Penny Pennington, Managing Partner, Edward Jones
• John Veihmeyer, Former Chairman & CEO, KPMG
• Mark Weinberger, Former Chairman & CEO, EY

 

CECP Media Contact

Katie Leasor

kleasor@cecp.co

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About Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP)

Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose® (CECP) is the only nonpartisan business counsel and network dedicated to driving measurable returns on purpose. We promote responsible purpose-driven business as it increases customer loyalty, builds employee engagement, improves brand trust, attracts top talent, connects with strategic investors, and contributes to the bottom line.

More than 200 of the world’s leading companies seek to improve their return on purpose through access to CECP’s solutions in insights and benchmarking. With our companies, we harness the power of purpose for business, stakeholders, and society.

For more information, visit http://cecp.co.

February 9, 2026 /3BL/ – The Ray is pleased to announce the official launch of its redesigned website—theray.org—marking a pivotal shift in the organization’s digital presence as it scales innovative infrastructure solutions across the United States. This online upgrade reflects The Ray’s rapid evolution over the past three years from a single testbed in Georgia to a nationally recognized nonprofit managing large-scale projects from coast to coast.

The year-long project was executed in partnership with expert UX-UI designer Max Brooks and The Ray’s in-house Marketing and Communications team. Grounded in market research and user testing, the new platform is designed to serve as a high-performance tool for national-scale engagement, streamlining how government and industry partners interact with The Ray’s core services.

A Modern Engine for Change

The new website serves as a bridge between complex infrastructure innovation and the partners who make it possible. Key enhancements include:

Strategic Content Architecture: Information is organized around core business objectives to facilitate connections among partners, industry leaders, and sponsors.

Intuitive UX-UI Design: A professional, modern aesthetic mirrors The Ray’s identity as a leader in safety, energy + mobility, geospatial solutions, natural capital, and waste.

Mobile Optimization: A fully responsive experience that ensures partners and stakeholders can access information seamlessly while working on the go.  

Streamlined Navigation: A simplified user journey that allows visitors to quickly discover who we are, what we do, where we do it, and how to get on the map.

“Our mission has always been to demonstrate that highways can be safer, more productive, and better integrated with our natural surroundings, but it was time for our digital footprint to match our current impact. As we continue to advance colocation projects, aligning energy and mobility using geospatial solutions, all while implementing regenerative landscapes, a brand refresh was vital. The Ray is scaling proven, resilient technologies to a national standard. Our new website provides the visibility and tools needed to shape the next generation of infrastructure improvements and to invite world-class partners to build a more efficient future with us.”

— Allie Kelly, Executive Director of The Ray

Explore the Future of Infrastructure

The Ray invites the media, potential partners, and the public to explore the new site and discover how the organization is redefining American roadsides nationwide.

Click here to visit the new website.

Originally published on PSEG NewsRoom

NEWARK, N.J., February 9, 2026 /3BL/ – PSE&G’s latest Clean Energy Future-Energy Efficiency (CEF-EE) report demonstrates continued savings for customers across New Jersey. From program implementation beginning in October 2020 through September 2025, nearly 480,000 customers participated in PSE&G’s energy efficiency programs. Collectively, that participation is delivering more than $900 million in annual customer savingsⁱ.

These savings reflect a broad range of energy efficiency offerings designed to help customers use less energy and better manage utility costs. Offerings include energy assessments, appliance and HVAC rebates, lighting solutions, equipment upgrades and energy efficiency products available through the PSE&G Marketplace, giving customers multiple ways to take action based on their needs and preferences.

Additional program highlights include:

• More than 105,000 home energy assessments completed
• Nearly 350,000 smart thermostats sold via PSE&G Marketplace
• Approximately 150,000 rebates claimed for upgrades to energy-efficient appliances
• Approximately $940 million in rebatesⁱⁱ delivered to help offset the cost of energy-saving upgrades and products
• More than 30,000 appliances recycled through the PSE&G recycling program

Business Customers Benefit
Energy efficiency plays an important role for PSE&G’s business customers across New Jersey, serving organizations of all sizes. We offer a range of solutions that support businesses in improving operational efficiency and managing energy use and utility costs. These programs also provide incentives that help offset the cost of energy efficiency upgrades and give businesses greater flexibility to reinvest resources into other operational priorities.

Approximately 20,000 businesses have implemented more than 32,000 projects to help improve energy efficiency and manage energy use as part of our energy efficiency programs. Among those small businesses, approximately 2,000 have participated through our Direct Install Programⁱⁱⁱ, resulting in nearly $25 million in annual utility bill savings^iv to those customers.

One example is St. Joseph’s Health, which is undertaking energy efficiency projects at its facilities in Paterson and Wayne, New Jersey. Supported by PSE&G incentives, these projects are expected to help reduce energy use and manage operating costs over time. “Every dollar we’re not spending on energy is a dollar we can put back into patient care,” said Scott Reilly, director of maintenance and engineering at St. Joseph’s Health.

Program Impact and Affordability
Across both residential and business customers, participation in PSE&G’s energy efficiency programs has also contributed to energy and environmental outcomes. To date, customers have achieved approximately 3.1 million megawatt hours of electric savings annually, enough to power about 453,000 homes^v each year. Natural gas savings are approximately 80 million therms per year. Combined, these efforts are helping to avoid approximately 2.3 million tons of carbon emissions avoided annually, equivalent to removing more than 500,000 gasoline-powered cars from the road for one year^vi.

As affordable energy remains a concern, growing regional demand for electricity will continue to put pressure on the energy system. PSE&G stands ready to work with the state on near- and long-term solutions, including energy efficiency, as well as additional power generation and transmission and distribution solutions to support reliability and help maintain stable energy costs.

“Energy efficiency is one of the tools we use to help customers reduce energy use and manage their utility costs,” said Lauren Thomas, vice president of Clean Energy Solutions – Customer Solutions at PSE&G. “Maintaining affordability and enhancing the customer experience remain central to this work. The investments we make through these programs largely flow back into New Jersey, supporting local businesses, contractors and trade allies while delivering value for customers.”

In addition to customer and business impacts, energy efficiency investments also support workforce development across New Jersey. Through PSE&G’s sponsored Clean Energy Jobs Program these efforts have helped place more than 7,300 individuals into clean energy careers^vii, supporting the skilled workforce needed to deliver energy efficiency projects and serve customers across the state.

PSE&G aims to be a trusted energy advisor, providing customers with resources and tools to help better manage utility costs and make more informed decisions about energy use. For more information on PSE&G’s energy efficiency programs, visit homeenergy.pseg.com for residential customers or bizenergy.pseg.com for business customers.

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PSE&G
Public Service Electric & Gas Co. is New Jersey’s oldest and largest gas and electric delivery public utility, as well as one of the nation’s largest utilities. PSE&G has won the ReliabilityOne® Award for superior electric system reliability in the Mid-Atlantic region for 24 consecutive years. In 2025, for the fourth consecutive year, J.D. Power named PSE&G number one in customer satisfaction for residential electric service in the East among large utilities. PSE&G is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Inc., (PSEG) (NYSE:PEG), a predominantly regulated infrastructure company named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for North America for 17 consecutive years (www.pseg.com).

Forward-Looking Statements
This release includes forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements regarding anticipated or expected energy savings, cost saving and greenhouse gas emissions avoidance. There can be no assurance that such energy and costs savings and greenhouse gas emissions avoidance will be realized in the amounts described and / or in the timeframes anticipated. Such statements are based on management’s beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management but are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Factors that may cause actual results to differ include, without limitation: the ability to implement our energy efficiency business strategy, and customer adoption of our energy efficiency offerings. All forward-looking statements made in this release are qualified by these cautionary statements and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements The forward-looking statements contained in this Report are intended to qualify for the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

ⁱ Retail bill savings are based on rate class averages for residential and small commercial customers.

ⁱⁱ The figure reflects one-time rebates provided to help offset the upfront costs of energy-saving upgrades and products for residential and business customers. The rebate amount is not included in the annual customer savings.

ⁱⁱⁱ The PSE&G Small Business Direct Install Program is designed to deliver comprehensive, cost-effective, energy efficiency equipment for eligible PSE&G business customers, with 12-month individual facility electricity average peak demand usage of less than 300 kW peak demand or less than 40,000 therms.

^iv Retail bill savings are based on rate class averages for small commercial customers.

^v Based on the median annual consumption of PSE&G’s residential customers.

^vi Vehicle equivalency is based on EPA conversion factors.

^vii The Clean Energy Jobs Program placement numbers are reported through December 2025 to reflect the most current available data.

CONTACT:

Media Relations
Anide Eustache
862-370-5500
anide.eustache@pseg.com

Mile High United Way and KeyBank are teaming up once again to help Coloradans file their taxes at no cost during the annual Super Refund Saturday event, scheduled for February 21 at the Tigria Community Center in Aurora, Colorado.

The event, running from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., brings together KeyBank employees and volunteers from Mile High United Way’s Tax Help Colorado program to assist low- to moderate‑income individuals and families. The goal is to ensure eligible taxpayers claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a federal benefit that can significantly boost refunds for qualifying workers.

Appointments for the free tax‑preparation services can be booked through Tax Help Colorado’s website. Participants do not need to be KeyBank customers to receive assistance.

Mile High United Way President and CEO Christine Benero said the partnership continues to play a critical role for families who rely on their tax refund as a major source of annual income. “For many of these families, their refund check is the biggest check they receive all year,” Benero said. She emphasized that the collaboration helps ensure residents get the refunds they are owed.

KeyBank Colorado Market President Chris Picardi called Super Refund Saturday a cornerstone of the bank’s community commitment. “We are once again excited to work with Mile High United Way to support our neighbors with free tax preparation services,” he said.

The EITC provides financial relief to working individuals and families meeting certain income and filing requirements. To receive the credit, eligible taxpayers must file a return—even if they are not required to do so otherwise. Income thresholds vary depending on filing status and number of children.

Organizers encourage attendees to bring required documents, including a state‑issued photo ID, Social Security cards or ITIN letters, W‑2 and 1099 forms, unemployment statements if applicable, childcare payment documentation, and bank account information for direct deposit. Those filing jointly should bring documentation for both spouses.

Super Refund Saturday aims to make the tax‑filing process accessible and less confusing while helping Coloradans retain refunds that often make a substantial difference in their household budgets.

Originally published by Mastercard

The power of data

In today’s digitized world, data is everywhere – it provides insights into behavior and actions, informs decision-making, and drives innovation. When handled in a responsible, trusted manner, data can unlock improved experiences for both consumers and small businesses. One way this is achieved is through open finance, which enables the secure, consented sharing of financial data.

With its use of alternative data to build a more holistic picture of an individual’s or small business’s financial health, open finance helps drive inclusion for those that historically may have lacked access to diverse financial services.

At the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, our Mastercard Strive USA program is helping a growing number of small businesses get capital, go digital, and grow know-how and networks. Since 2022, the program has:

• Delivered business support services to more than 1.97 million small businesses^[1]
• Enabled the deployment of $47+ billion in loans via more than 700 community institutions^[2]

Small businesses continue to be the backbone of our economy employing nearly half of the American workforce, 70% of new jobs created since 2019^[3], and representing 43.5% of America’s GDP^[4]. The need to efficiently reach and support small businesses is greater than ever, especially as many continue to face challenges in accessing capital and achieving growth. A recent study by Goldman Sachs states that more than 75% of surveyed small businesses are worried about access to credit^[5].

One powerful avenue to bridge this gap is through Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). With over 1,400 CDFIs across the US^[6] including community development banks, credit unions, loan funds, and venture capital funds - CDFIs specialize in serving underserved communities by providing access to credit and business coaching – from financial health to support like marketing and accounting.

In recent years, the critical role of CDFIs has come to the forefront. From helping small businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic to climate-related disasters like hurricanes and wildfires, CDFIs have acted as first responders for acute economic crises. In fact, CDFIs deployed billions in federal relief to small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). One analysis found that more than 25%^[7] of loans made by CDFIs went to businesses in high poverty areas, more than double the share of loans made by the nation’s top 50 banks^[8].

While capital is critical fuel to help small businesses grow, so too is long term relationship building – maintaining and deepening that relationship over time delivers benefits to both the CDFI and the entrepreneur. To increase stickiness, CDFIs can leverage open finance to help small businesses with the personalized insights they seek to continue to operate and scale. Our research shows that 85% of entrepreneurs are looking for customized financial recommendations^[9] derived from their business data which CDFIs, with their proximity and trusted relationships, can deliver effectively.

CDFIs support small businesses in meaningful ways that drive growth, but the institutions themselves face significant challenges including staffing, high acquisition costs, thin operating margins, and high customer turnover. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s 2023 CDFI Survey, three out of four CDFIs^[10] saw an increase in demand for products and services over the past year, and a similar percentage expects demand to continue increasing. The data shows that it is essential for CDFIs to embrace digital solutions that provide real-time insights and streamline service delivery – helping them meet the growing demand from entrepreneurs in a cost-effective and scalable way.

Unlocking insights to drive inclusion

Community Reinvestment Fund, USA (CRF) is a CDFI headquartered in Minneapolis, MN and has been a community lender for more than 35 years. It has grown from a local lender to a national support organization for hundreds of CDFIs across the country by building and delivering digital platforms that enable liquidity through participation programs, direct lending, and technology services to the community development finance industry. Specifically in recent years, it has received generous support from Mastercard Strive USA, among other funders, to build and enhance digital technology solutions that help CDFIs across the U.S. reach and better serve the small businesses in their communities.

To help address the technical, staffing, and financial constraints CDFIs face, CRF Insights was launched as an interactive dashboard for CDFIs to view real-time data and insights about their small business customers. These insights can help business coaches and lenders develop tailored advisory services to position their customers for success with the potential to improve reporting outcomes and enhance portfolio management processes. CRF Insights leverages Mastercard’s Open Finance, powered by Finicity, a Mastercard company, which provides secure, consented data to provide a more complete view of a small business’ financial health.

When a business uses Mastercard’s open finance integration with CRF Insights, it can retrieve up to two years of transaction data in a matter of seconds. This near real-time process replaces the painstaking manual collection of statements and data input with a safe, streamlined technology service. CDFIs, business support organizations, and small businesses all benefit from the streamlined process and additional insights that come from the open finance integration of CRF Insights.

Enabling the consented data via open finance (where users consent to which accounts to link and which data to share) helps enrich CRF Insights – fueling a structured and normalized view that offers CDFIs a more comprehensive view of the success of the small businesses they support. According to Accompany Capital, a NYC-based CDFI that has been using CRF Insights to support their lending and portfolio management efforts since the pilot launch in Spring of 2024, “Insights’ open-finance capabilities can provide a streamlined approach to accessing borrowers’ complete financial picture from a shared point of view, enabling the organization to structure better outcomes for the clients they serve and avoid collections whenever possible. This data-driven approach empowers the team to proactively restructure loans, when necessary, support borrower re-engagement, and align internal teams around a shared understanding of the client’s financial position.”

This is just one example of how open finance can be a game-changer for financial inclusion, allowing small businesses to unleash the power of their data to access innovative and improved financial experiences.  

A partnership rooted in trust

Mastercard has long been committed to protecting financial data for consumers and small businesses guided by our data and tech responsibility principles, which encapsulate the foundational promises that we extend to our work with customers and partners. Trust and transparency are key to a digital economy that works for all. This is at the center of our global approach to open finance and will continue to be.

Our partnership with CRF, a Mastercard Strive USA partner, unlocks the possibility to offer more insights to CDFIs to better meet the needs of their customers across the US, helping small businesses thrive today, and in the future. To date, CRF has injected more than $3.6 billion^[11] to stimulate job creation and economic development across the U.S. and, alongside its CDFI partners, has deployed federal funding with our support in NY, NJ, IL, CA, NV and several other states. CRF’s programmatic approach is responsible for $1.2 billion of this deployment to more than 25,000 businesses since 2020^[12]. The organization plans to build upon these efforts and aims to launch several state/regional small business loan programs in the coming years. As our relationship evolves, we look forward to the continued partnership with CRF to deliver access to innovations, capital, and support to small businesses across the US that enables them to thrive.

Continue reading here.

Follow along Mastercard’s journey to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere.
 

^{[1] DAI, Mastercard Strive USA: Small Business Reach & Capital Deployed, 2022-2024.
[2] DAI, Mastercard Strive USA: Small Business Reach & Capital Deployed, 2022-2024.
[3] Source: https://home.treasury.gov/news/featured-stories/small-business-and-entrepreneurship-in-the-post-covid-expansion
[4] Source: See the data behind America’s small businesses. | U.S. Chamber of Commerce
[5] Source: Small Businesses are Facing a Credit Crunch | Goldman Sachs
[6] Source: CDFI Fund- CDFI Fund Annual Report Fiscal Year 2024
[7] Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10028688/pdf/10.1177_08912424231163485.pdf
[8] Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10028688/pdf/10.1177_08912424231163485.pdf
[9] Source: Open Banking Solutions for Small Businesses
[10] Source: 2023 Federal Reserve CDFI Survey | Richmond Fed
[11] Source: CRF Data 2025
[12] Source: CRF Data 2025}

International Olympic Committee news

With seven days to go to the Opening Ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, the President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Annalena Baerbock, issued a solemn appeal urging all Member States to uphold the Olympic Truce. This is a longstanding tradition ensuring safe passage for athletes and officials attending the Olympic Games. President Baerbock welcomed the leadership of Olympic athletes in promoting peace and human understanding through sport and the Olympic ideal.

Key facts

• 30 January marks the first day of the Olympic Truce period for Milano Cortina 2026.
• UNGA President Annalena Baerbock issued a solemn appeal calling on all UN Member States to support and uphold the Truce.
• President Baerbock recalled that the Olympic Games bring together athletes from all parts of the world in the greatest of international sports events as a means to promote peace and mutual understanding.

The appeal emphasises that: “The Olympic Truce proves that, even in times of division, humanity can still find common ground through sport, and that through friendly competition we can rise above our divisions and reaffirm our common humanity.”

The appeal recalls the unique role of the Olympic Games in bridging divides: “The Games will bring together athletes from all parts of the world in the greatest of international sports events as a means to promote peace, mutual understanding, the rule of law and goodwill among nations and peoples — goals that are also part of the founding values of the United Nations.”

“I solemnly appeal to all Member States to demonstrate their commitment to the Olympic Truce for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and to undertake concrete actions at the local, national, regional and world levels to promote and strengthen a culture of peace and harmony based on the spirit of the Truce,” President Baerbock said.

Read the complete text of the solemn appeal here

The Olympic Truce

The tradition of the “Olympic Truce”, or “Ekecheiria”, was established in Ancient Greece to allow safe participation in the ancient Olympic Games for all athletes and spectators.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to revive the concept of the Olympic Truce for the Olympic Games, with a view to protecting, as far as possible, the interests of the athletes and sport in general, and to harness the power of sport to promote peace, dialogue and reconciliation more broadly.

Since 1993, the United Nations General Assembly has repeatedly expressed its support for the Olympic Truce ideal and for the IOC’s mission by adopting, every two years – one year before each edition of the Olympic Games – a resolution entitled “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal”.

The Olympic Truce Resolution for Milano Cortina 2026 was adopted on 19 November 2025 by the 80^th Session of the UNGA in New York. The resolution calls on Member States to observe the Olympic Truce from seven days before the start of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games (6 to 22 February 2026) until seven days after the end of the Paralympic Winter Games (6 to 15 March 2026), ensuring safe passage and participation for athletes and officials.