Author: sHq_LoGiNz

A first-of-its-kind home for adults with disabilities has opened in Miami – with support from Truist – bringing purpose to life and expanding what’s possible in care.

In March, Truist teammates joined civic leaders, partners, and residents to celebrate the grand opening of The Village of Casa Familia, an affordable housing community designed to help adults with intellectual, developmental, and other related disabilities transition into independent living.

Behind the scenes, the development came together through close coordination across multiple parties and funding sources, with Truist playing a key role in getting the project off the ground.

When the mission hits home

Kathy Farrell, head of Truist Asset Finance, spoke at the ribbon cutting in Miami. While her team supported the financing behind Casa Familia, the project’s mission also hit close to home for her.  Her youngest child, TJ, is on the autism spectrum. The 19-year-old loves music and football and can name every college mascot. But he can also experience sensory overload and benefits from consistent support when it comes to navigating day-to-day tasks.

“You’re always thinking about the future,” Farrell said. “What does independence look like? It’s not just about having a place to live. It’s also about having the right kind of support.” 

^{Kathy Farrell with her son, TJ, after his high school graduation in 2025.}

In May 2025, TJ graduated from a specialized high school and moved into a transition program in Central Florida, where he’s building skills for independent living. Options like that, however, are very limited and not always easy to find. Advocates say that’s what makes Casa Familia so important. It’s the only community of its kind in South Florida, at a time when the need is growing.

Nearly 75-percent of adults with a disability live with a parent or guardian, underscoring the lack of long-term housing solutions.

“Projects like Casa Familia go beyond housing; they’re about creating a true sense of home and belonging,” Farrell said. “Strong communities are built when everyone can live safely, independently, and with purpose. We’re proud to support efforts like this that don’t just provide shelter but create environments where people can truly thrive.”

A community designed with purpose

The Village of Casa Familia was built with that need in mind.

The development features 50 apartments across two three-story buildings, providing housing for 62 adults, along with an 11,000-square-foot community center designed for connection.

Residents have access to spaces for growth – from an art studio and demonstration kitchen to a fitness center, game room, movie theater, and a sensory “chill” room. Outdoor amenities include walking paths and a resort-style pool and spa.

Rent is capped at 30 percent of tenant income and staff are on site to connect residents with services.

More than housing, Casa Familia says it’s a model for what inclusive, community-centered living can look like.

With Autism Acceptance Month recognized in April, the timing of the ribbon cutting reinforces the broader need to expand access and inclusion for individuals with diverse needs.

Complex deal, clear impact

Bringing The Village of Casa Familia to life required careful collaboration and creativity.

Truist partnered with the nonprofit Casa Familia and developer Atlantic Pacific Companies to structure a financing package that brought together at least eight sources of funding, including from the state, county, city and Truist. Each came with its own requirements, timelines, and conditions.

Truist was the largest source, providing $24 million through a construction loan and Low-Income Housing Tax Credit equity.

Complex deals like this with a layered capital stack depend on alignment across public and private stakeholders.

“These are the kinds of transactions that take real coordination,” said Lesli Carroll, Commercial Real Estate Banker at Truist. “You’re aligning a lot of moving pieces. But when it comes together, it creates something that wouldn’t be possible otherwise.”

^{Truist teammates, Eric Rosen, David Kosmalski, Lester Gonzalez, Sharis DerAvakian, Kathy Farrell, Lesli Carroll, Ryan Ammann, at the ground opening of the Village of Casa Familia.}

This project is a strong example of how when teams from across the bank come together, complex deals turn into something simple: homes for people with few other places to go.

April 28, 2026 /3BL/ – Direct Relief and The Pfizer Foundation today announced the third cohort of the Innovation Awards in Community Health, supporting infectious disease prevention and management in underserved communities. Through $4.5 million in grants over two years, the program will support 16 U.S. safety-net community health organizations across 11 states, expanding access to prevention, education, screening, testing, treatment, and care.

Now in its fifth year, the program has funded efforts that reached more than 1.3 million people and delivered more than 519,000 vaccinations. This new cohort builds on that impact, supporting frontline health providers advancing locally driven solutions to address persistent public health challenges, including HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), hepatitis, tuberculosis (TB), respiratory illness, and vaccine-preventable infectious diseases.

“Advancing community health depends on new, creative ideas and the trusted individuals who put them into action,” said Amy Weaver, CEO of Direct Relief. “Through our partnership with The Pfizer Foundation, we’re investing in innovation at the local level to expand care in ways that reflect community needs and strengthen the systems that sustain it over time.”

The awards, funded by The Pfizer Foundation and implemented by Direct Relief, aim to strengthen the capacity of safety-net providers serving communities facing the greatest barriers to care.

Applications were reviewed, with grantees selected based on community need, patient population, and ability to expand access to care—ensuring support reaches providers best positioned to deliver impact where it is needed most.

“Community health centers play a vital role in helping people stay healthy by bringing trusted health services closer to them,” said Darren Back, President, The Pfizer Foundation. “Through our ongoing partnership with Direct Relief, we are proud to support ​health centers across the country as they expand access to lifesaving vaccines and provide culturally responsive education and support, helping more people stay protected and strengthening the health of their communities.”

2026 Award Recipients include:

• Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic, Homer, AK, will expand access to STI prevention, testing, treatment, and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for residents on the Kenai Peninsula — the region’s only dedicated provider for low-income, uninsured, and underinsured patients.
• Norton Sound Health Corporation, Nome, AK, will expand access to vaccinations and STI screenings across 16 remote Tribal communities in the Bering Strait Region, strengthening preventive care capacity and countering misinformation in communities with limited health infrastructure.
• Cahaba Medical Care Foundation, Centreville, AL, will expand vaccination and infectious disease screening across six central Alabama counties, providing free flu and COVID-19 vaccines for uninsured patients and increasing HIV, Hepatitis C, and STI testing through clinics, dental sites, and school-based centers.
• Amistad Y Salud Clínica Amistad, Tucson, AZ, will expand access to a wider range of adult vaccinations and integrate them into women’s health screenings and primary care visits, addressing critical preventive care gaps for uninsured patients.
• Adelante Healthcare Inc., Phoenix, AZ, will establish a permanent Sexual Health & HIV Care Center in West Phoenix offering comprehensive services — including HIV/STI testing and treatment, pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP/PEP), behavioral health, and care coordination — to reach populations facing the greatest health disparities.
• Native Health, Phoenix, AZ, will expand an existing childhood and adult vaccination program to reach underserved and minority populations across Maricopa County, and launch a statewide, multi-modal education campaign to build vaccine confidence among American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
• Pocatello Free Clinic, Pocatello, ID, will launch a sustainable immunization program integrating routine vaccination into every clinic visit and outreach event for low-income adults, building a scalable workflow that supports future vaccine additions.
• Heartland Medical Clinic Inc., Lawrence, KS, will expand STI testing, treatment, and education to fill care gaps created by major Title X funding cuts, supporting testing and treatment for uninsured patients and ensuring continued, reliable services for vulnerable residents.
• Methodist Health System Foundation, Slidell, LA, will increase testing and treatment access for underserved adolescents and young adults by enhancing services at a community college health center and boosting education and awareness at local high school and college sites in St. Bernard Parish.
• Tunica Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, Marksville, LA, will launch a community-driven rural health promoter model to expand access, outreach, and health education in Central Louisiana, integrating clinical care with community-based support to reduce barriers and advance health equity.
• Coastal Family Health Center, Gulfport, MS, will expand coordinated infectious disease prevention and care for uninsured, underinsured, and underserved Gulf Coast residents by strengthening the linkage between primary care and social service providers.
• North Mississippi Primary Health Care, Inc., Ashland, MS, will expand community-based infectious disease services through a mobile health unit delivering free STI screening, education, and treatment linkage to rural communities with rising syphilis and gonorrhea rates across North Mississippi.
• Fundación Manos Juntas, Oklahoma City, OK, will expand and modernize its vaccination program by adding HPV vaccines, upgrading vaccine management systems, developing bilingual education materials, and strengthening outreach to improve vaccine access and confidence for uninsured patients.
• The Free Medical Clinic, Oak Ridge, TN, will expand free, mobile infectious disease screening — including TB, STIs, and Hepatitis C — and health education across underserved Appalachian East Tennessee communities, with immediate counseling, referrals, and care navigation for those who test positive.
• Neighborhood Health, Nashville, TN, will expand access to integrated hepatitis testing and treatment by offering onsite viral hepatitis diagnosis and care, filling a gap no other safety-net provider in Nashville currently addresses, alongside expanded vaccination and harm reduction services.
• Cabell-Huntington Health Department, Huntington, WV, will expand free, community-based HIV, Hepatitis C, and STI testing alongside education, vaccinations, PrEP linkage, and prevention resources for people facing substance use, housing instability, or limited healthcare access.

The Innovation Awards in Community Health program launched in 2020 and has since supported more than 40 safety-net health organizations across the United States.

To read more about the Innovation in Care Awards, click here.

Something has shifted in the sustainability landscape — have you noticed? It’s not just policy change or regulatory breakthroughs, but a change in character, with companies focusing on deeper, more durable aspects of sustainable business.

As companies ease back on bold pledges and roll out fewer public branding campaigns around issues like climate and diversity, many are still at work on areas like operational integration, data infrastructure, investment in decarbonization, and securing high-level support for sustainability as a business fundamental.

In this issue of Sustainability Highlights, we share recent headline news capturing this shift.

As reported by ESG Dive, the Science Based Targets initiative finds that companies holding both near-term and net-zero climate targets grew 61% year over year in 2025, with over 12,000 companies now holding validated targets or commitments. The rate of target-setting has tripled since 2023 and is accelerating fastest in Asia, with healthcare, IT, and materials — sectors not traditionally associated with climate leadership — showing the strongest growth. As SBTi CEO David Kennedy put it, this is happening “despite political headwinds.”

At the same time, Fast Company reports that some of the world’s most visible companies — Big Tech among them — have gone quiet on climate, even as they continue to invest in decarbonization. In a separate piece, Fast Company explores the maturing of sustainability as a business practice — moving from advocacy and public rhetoric into behind-the-scenes work like measurement, integration, and executing existing strategies.

One aspect of this maturity shows in how businesses manage the “sustainability dichotomy” among red and blue state, which Trellis examines. Each company operating in multiple U.S. jurisdictions must navigate a varied landscape, ranging from proactive emissions disclosure mandates to politically-led hostility towards ESG commitments and initiatives. Managing this divide is now considered a core competency for sustainability teams. 

G&A Institute’s latest blog on New Jersey’s proposed Climate Corporate Accountability Act adds another data point to the state-level picture. New Jersey is among the growing list of states advancing their own corporate climate disclosure requirements, reinforcing the decentralization trend we’ve tracked throughout 2026.

As the field matures, so do the tools companies use to measure and communicate their progress. G&A has published a new blog on unlocking the strategic power of the S&P Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) — one of the most widely used sustainability benchmarking tools, and one that many companies still underutilize. We’ve also released a new resource paper on engaging the value chain for Scope 3 decarbonization and the next installment in our 2026 CDP Response Cycle Series, covering what’s new and what’s next. All three are available in our G&A Blog/Research section below. For companies looking for support on CDP responses, SBTi target-setting, Scope 3 inventories, or S&P CSA responses – explore G&A’s full portfolio of services.

For professionals tracking the broader landscape, this issue also covers the ISO-GHG Protocol working group on unified product-level accounting, the growth of global emissions trading systems to 38 worldwide, Mexico’s new mandatory corporate sustainability requirements, and the largest U.S. renewable project now generating electricity.

This is just the introduction of G&A’s Sustainability Highlights newsletter this week. Click here to view the full issue.

AEG’s L.A. LIVE and Pizza City Fest reinforced their commitment to workforce development and community investment by donating $10,000 to the Culinary Careers Program (C•CAP) during the Fourth Annual Pizza City Fest, held April 25–26 atop the Event Deck at L.A. LIVE.

The donation supports C•CAP’s mission to prepare underserved high school students and adults for careers in the culinary and hospitality industries. As part of the festival, students from the program worked side-by-side with professional pizzaiolos, gaining hands-on experience assisting chefs and serving thousands of slices to nearly 5,000 attendees over the two-day event.

Pizza City Fest, featured 40 Southern California pizzerias showcasing a wide range of styles—including Chicago Tavern-style, New York-style, Detroit, Grandma Pie, and Neapolitan—along with live demonstrations, panel discussions, entertainment, and interactive competitions. Beyond celebrating pizza culture, the festival created a meaningful bridge between education and employment.

Since expanding to Los Angeles in 2023, Pizza City Fest has partnered with C•CAP, which serves more than 25,000 students and adults annually through culinary training, job readiness programs, apprenticeships, and mentorship, while awarding over $2.5 million in scholarships each year.

“C•CAP has been our charitable partner since day one,” said Steve Dolinsky, founder of Pizza City Fest. “Watching students build skills, confidence, and professional connections, sometimes even receiving job offers on the spot, is incredibly rewarding. Establishing a dedicated L.A. LIVE Pizza City Fest scholarship is another way we’re investing in the future of this community.”

AEG’s contribution was presented during the festival on Saturday, April 25, with support from the Los Angeles Kings Ice Crew and mascot Bailey, underscoring AEG’s broader commitment to youth opportunity, education, and career pathways across Los Angeles.

“I came up through the hospitality and culinary world, so I know firsthand how transformational the right opportunity can be,” said Andrew Simon, General Manager of L.A. LIVE. “Supporting C•CAP through Pizza City Fest is about opening doors, believing in potential, and empowering the next generation of culinary professionals.”

Through partnerships like Pizza City Fest, AEG and L.A. LIVE continue to leverage major cultural events as platforms for community impact, workforce development, and economic mobility, creating experiences that nourish both the city’s culture and its future talent.

CINCINNATI, April 28, 2026 /3BL/ – Charmin’s commitment doesn’t stop at a better bathroom experience. Through a partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, P&G and Charmin are supporting forest restoration while helping strengthen communities across the country. As part of this effort, 1 million trees were planted between 2020 and 2025 in areas impacted by natural disasters, and today they announce a new commitment: plant another 1 million trees by 2030. Why? It’s simple – Charmin loves trees, no butts about it.

“Charmin is committed to helping keep forests as forests, which is why we participate in several initiatives to protect, grow and restore forests,” said Chris Reeves, Certified Forester and Senior Scientific Communications Leader at P&G. “Our partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation helps us make an impact in areas beyond our supply chain that have been affected by natural disasters.” To learn how Charmin protects, grows and restores forests, go to Charmin.com/en-us/sustainability.

As natural disasters intensify, the Arbor Day Foundation is focused on replanting in communities and forests where trees have been lost. They work with on-the-ground planting partners who know the areas best and understand the recovery, ensuring the right trees are planted with purpose. But recovery goes beyond trees — it’s about fostering partnerships that strengthen communities against future challenges.[i]

“A more hopeful future can be shaped through the power of trees,” said Dan Lambe, Chief Executive at the Arbor Day Foundation. “We are proud to partner with brands like Charmin that are bold enough to be part of our effort to plant trees in the areas that need them most. Our partnership with Charmin has already made a positive impact in multiple disaster-affected communities and we’re eager to continue this important work.”

How does Charmin approach responsible forestry?

Charmin helps protect, grow and restore forests. The brand protects by only using pulp certified by the Forest Stewardship Council^TM, which are standards that help protect wildlife and support thriving local communities. Grow means for every tree used, at least two are regrown. And it restores by partnering with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant trees in areas affected by natural disasters like wildfires or hurricanes, helping make a difference by transforming and strengthening communities and bringing hope, healing and benefits back to neighborhoods and forests. Learn more at Charmin.com/en-us/sustainability.

Does Charmin use pulp certified by the Forest Stewardship Council?

Charmin only uses pulp that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, which is an organization that sets standards that help protect wildlife and support thriving local communities.

Why is tree planting important?

Home to 1.6 billion people and 80% of all plant and animal species, our world’s forests are the cornerstone of life itself. They provide us with countless benefits, including cleaner water and air, habitat for wildlife, food security and a place for recreation and wellness. Forest restoration efforts positively impact communities and wildlife around the country. Learn more from the Arbor Day Foundation.

How long have Charmin and the Arbor Day Foundation been partners?

Procter & Gamble and the Arbor Day Foundation have partnered since 2020. P&G joined a group of like-minded corporate partners as part of the Arbor Day Foundation’s Evergreen Alliance, a community of leaders driving innovation, discovery, and action in the Foundation’s work to plant trees, engage tree planters, and elevate awareness of the value of forests. The Evergreen Alliance helped the Foundation meet the Time for Trees® initiative to plant 100 million trees and inspire 5 million tree planters by 2022. 
 

About Procter & Gamble

P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always^®, Ambi Pur^®, Ariel^®, Bounty^®, Charmin^®, Crest^®, Dawn^®, Downy^®, Fairy^®, Febreze^®, Gain^®, Gillette^®, Head & Shoulders^®, Lenor^®, Olay^®, Oral-B^®, Pampers^®, Pantene^®, SK-II^®, Tide^®, Vicks^®, and Whisper^®. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit https://www.pg.com for the latest news and information about P&G and its brands. For other P&G news, visit us at https://www.pg.com/news. 
 

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.

Contacts

Aliza Solc 
MSL New York 
Aliza.Solc@MSLGroup.com

[i] https://www.arborday.org/our-work/natural-disaster-recovery

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In this bonus episode of Rethinking EHS, Angelique Dixon speaks with Ross Griffiths, Managing Director of Environment Analyst, to unpack the key forces shaping the global environmental and sustainability consulting sector. The conversation dives into evolving ESG trends, where the focus is moving from intent to measurable business value, as well as the rising demand for energy solutions, digital transformation, and the accelerating growth of EHS services. With insights across regions the episode highlights how environmental and EHS challenges are now core business priorities.

Listen now

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube

Time Stamps

00:00:40 What is Environment Analyst?

00:02:45 54% Industry Growth – Why It Matters

00:03:35 From Climate Momentum to Uncertainty

00:05:10 ESG Isn’t Dead – It’s Evolving

00:06:20 Energy Costs Are Reshaping Everything

00:07:15 Why ROI Matters More Than Ever

00:10:05 EHS Is the Fastest Growing Segment

00:19:45 This Is a Business Problem, Not Political

Guest Quotes

Ross Griffiths:

“I do think that if your bid writers or your project managers or your report authors cannot translate those environmental solutions into value creation, I think you could be exposed.”

News Summary

• LG Electronics’ 2026 TV lineup has received eco-certifications from three globally recognized bodies, reflecting the company’s sustainability commitment.
• Recognitions cover Carbon Trust CO₂ certifications for LG OLED TVs, including Reducing CO₂ certification for the G6 series (varying by model size and region) and Resource Efficiency certification from Intertek for eight series.
• LG OLED TVs are expected to reduce plastic consumption and lower CO₂ emissions in 2026, while the broader TV lineup is projected to recover more end-of-life plastic through recycling.

SEOUL, South Korea, April 28, 2026 /3BL/ – Global consumer electronics innovator LG Electronics has earned multiple globally recognized eco-certifications for its 2026 TV lineup, underscoring the company’s sustainability efforts across the full product lifecycle, from manufacturing and distribution to end-of-life management. The achievements also highlight LG’s progress in lowering CO₂ emissions, delivering carbon savings and expanding the use of recycled plastics made from post-consumer waste materials.

Reducing CO₂¹ and Measured CO₂² Certifications from Carbon Trust

LG OLED TVs have received Reducing CO₂ and Measured CO₂ certifications from the Carbon Trust for the sixth consecutive year, with certification types varying by model size and region. The 2026 G6 83-, 77- and 65-inch models earned Reducing CO₂ certification, while the G6 55-inch model secured Reducing CO₂ certification outside Europe and Measured CO₂ certification within Europe.

The Carbon Trust, an independent climate consultancy focused on supporting the transition to a zero-carbon future, assesses carbon emissions across a product’s entire lifecycle, including materials, production, use and end-of-life. LG OLED TVs contribute to carbon reduction by utilizing self-emissive technology that eliminates the need for a backlight and reduces the number of components and materials.

Resource Efficiency Certification from Intertek

LG’s 2026 TV lineup has received Resource Efficiency certification from Intertek, a globally recognized testing and certification body. The certification was awarded to eight series³ based on evaluations of material efficiency,⁴ energy efficiency⁵ and recycled content.

E-Cycle Excellent Products Certification from E-Cycle Governance

For the fourth consecutive year, LG TV models have been recognized by Korea’s E-Cycle Governance as E-Cycle Excellent Products, based on 11 criteria that include recyclable design, reduced use of hazardous substances and ease of disassembly. The certification extends to LG’s lifestyle TV lineup in 2026, with the 32-inch StanbyME 2 newly awarded. In addition, OLED evo C series models – including the 55-, 48- and 42-inch C6 – have received certification.

The certifications reflect the company’s sustainability priorities, with LG OLED TVs expected to reduce plastic consumption by approximately 15,000 tons and CO2 emissions by around 80,000 tons in 2026 versus an equivalent number of LCD TVs. In the use phase, the 83-inch OLED evo G6 and 83- and 77-inch OLED evo C6 models have achieved an EU Energy Label rating of D for the first time. Across its broader TV lineup⁶, LG has recycled approximately 20,000 tons of end-of-life plastic over the past three years, and the company plans to further expand the use of recycled plastics in 2026.

“Our 2026 TV lineup demonstrates how environmental responsibility and premium performance can come together in a meaningful way,” said Lee Choong-hwoan, head of the Display Business at the LG Electronics Media Entertainment Solution Company. “These certifications represent measurable progress in how we design, build and manage our products over their full lifecycle.”

¹ Applies to 83-, 77- and 65-inch G6 models and the 55-inch G6 except Europe.

² Applies to 55-inch G6 in Europe.

³ Applies to W6, G6, C6, B6, MRGB95, MRGB9M, MRGB85 and QNED85 models.

⁴ Covers recyclable design, reduced use of hazardous substances and repairability.

⁵ Based on the following energy efficiency standards: the Energy Labelling Regulation (EU) 2017/1369, the California Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 20, and the Regulation on Energy Efficiency Management Equipment under Article 15 of the Energy Use Rationalization Act of Korea.

⁶ Includes OLED, QNED and Nano UHD models.

# # #

About LG Electronics Media Entertainment Solution Company

The LG Media Entertainment Solution (MS) Company is a recognized innovator in televisions, audio, displays and its award-winning smart TV platform, webOS. The MS Company enhances the media entertainment experience with its OLED TVs, renowned for perfect black and perfect color, and premium LCD QNED TVs, all powered by the webOS platform with advanced user experience, AI-driven features and LG Shield security. The MS Company also offers Information Technology solutions (gaming monitors, business monitors, laptops, projectors, cloud devices and medical displays) as well as Signage solutions (Micro LED signage, digital signage, hospitality displays and signage software solutions) that are designed to maximize customers’ work efficiency and deliver strong value. For more news on LG, visit www.LG.com/global/newsroom/.

About LG Electronics USA

LG Electronics USA Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics Inc., a smart life solutions company with annual global revenues of more than $60 billion. In the United States, LG sells a wide range of innovative home appliances, home entertainment products, commercial displays, air conditioning systems and vehicle components. LG is an 11-time ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year. www.LG.com.

Media Contacts:

LG Electronics USA

Chris De Maria
+1 908 548 4515
christopher.demaria@lge.com

LG Electronics North America

John I. Taylor
+1 202 719 3490
john.taylor@lge.com