Tag: 3BL

CINCINNATI, September 17, 2024 /3BL/ – A new bipartisan task force is tackling one of America’s most pressing problems – the national housing crisis – and is seeking to elevate the most innovative solutions from across the country to produce and preserve housing across all income levels in every part of the country.

This work will be led in part by Fifth Third Community Development Corporation President Susan E. Thomas, a national leader in community development banking and development. Of the four bipartisan National Housing Crisis Task Force co-chairs, Thomas is the only co-chair from the private sector.

The other co-chairs are Utah Governor Spencer Cox, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, and Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb.

“The solutions are out there, but they are being deployed piecemeal, in individual communities,” Thomas said. “The task force will identify the best examples of innovative financing and land disposition tools, policies to streamline market-rate and subsidized-affordable housing development and help replicate them in communities across the country.”

Thomas has seen firsthand the impact of innovation in housing through her work with Fifth Third’s Empowering Black Futures Neighborhood Program, which creates and implements innovative place-based strategies to effect positive change in nine historically disinvested neighborhoods across the Bank’s 11-state footprint.

Affordable housing is a cornerstone of Fifth Third’s Neighborhood Program, which is pioneering a new way to do community development by partnering with local organizations to build ecosystems that drive real change through both financial and social investments. This collective ecosystem approach is focused on identifying solutions to key challenges in partnership with the community, with the goal of creating lasting, transformative change.

“At Fifth Third, we view safe, affordable housing as a basic human right, and helping to solve this crisis is one of our top priorities,” said Kala Gibson, chief corporate responsibility officer for Fifth Third. “As a regional bank, we are deeply embedded within the communities we serve, and we see firsthand every day how housing security is connected to economic mobility, financial stability, improved health outcomes and economic mobility.”

Fifth Third’s Community Development Banking Group is actively helping to create housing inventory and remove barriers to affordability across the Bank’s footprint. This includes investing in low-income housing tax credits, new markets tax credits, community development financial institutions, and investment funds, as well as community-based lending for projects that create housing and provide other supportive services.

“In 2023, Fifth Third provided $722 million in loans and investments to support 3,684 units of housing – and we’re just getting started,” Thomas said.

The National Housing Crisis Task Force is an ambitious, two-year project to bring the most promising innovations in housing production, preservation, and finance to communities across the country. Supported by the Nowak Metro Finance Lab at Drexel University and Accelerator for America (AFA), the bipartisan task force includes 28 government, non-profit, and business leaders who will create a platform to share and replicate what’s working locally, nationally and internationally. The task force’s work was launched Tuesday, July 23 at an in-person meeting in Washington, D.C. Its first report is expected this fall.

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About Fifth Third

Fifth Third is a bank that’s as long on innovation as it is on history. Since 1858, we’ve been helping individuals, families, businesses and communities grow through smart financial services that improve lives. Our list of firsts is extensive, and it’s one that continues to expand as we explore the intersection of tech-driven innovation, dedicated people and focused community impact. Fifth Third is one of the few U.S.-based banks to have been named among Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies® for several years. With a commitment to taking care of our customers, employees, communities and shareholders, our goal is not only to be the nation’s highest performing regional bank, but to be the bank people most value and trust.

Fifth Third Bank, National Association is a federally chartered institution. Fifth Third Bancorp is the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank and its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ® Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.” Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com. Deposit and credit products provided by Fifth Third Bank, National Association. Member FDIC.

CINCINNATI, September 17, 2024 /3BL/ – A new bipartisan task force is tackling one of America’s most pressing problems – the national housing crisis – and is seeking to elevate the most innovative solutions from across the country to produce and preserve housing across all income levels in every part of the country.

This work will be led in part by Fifth Third Community Development Corporation President Susan E. Thomas, a national leader in community development banking and development. Of the four bipartisan National Housing Crisis Task Force co-chairs, Thomas is the only co-chair from the private sector.

The other co-chairs are Utah Governor Spencer Cox, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, and Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb.

“The solutions are out there, but they are being deployed piecemeal, in individual communities,” Thomas said. “The task force will identify the best examples of innovative financing and land disposition tools, policies to streamline market-rate and subsidized-affordable housing development and help replicate them in communities across the country.”

Thomas has seen firsthand the impact of innovation in housing through her work with Fifth Third’s Empowering Black Futures Neighborhood Program, which creates and implements innovative place-based strategies to effect positive change in nine historically disinvested neighborhoods across the Bank’s 11-state footprint.

Affordable housing is a cornerstone of Fifth Third’s Neighborhood Program, which is pioneering a new way to do community development by partnering with local organizations to build ecosystems that drive real change through both financial and social investments. This collective ecosystem approach is focused on identifying solutions to key challenges in partnership with the community, with the goal of creating lasting, transformative change.

“At Fifth Third, we view safe, affordable housing as a basic human right, and helping to solve this crisis is one of our top priorities,” said Kala Gibson, chief corporate responsibility officer for Fifth Third. “As a regional bank, we are deeply embedded within the communities we serve, and we see firsthand every day how housing security is connected to economic mobility, financial stability, improved health outcomes and economic mobility.”

Fifth Third’s Community Development Banking Group is actively helping to create housing inventory and remove barriers to affordability across the Bank’s footprint. This includes investing in low-income housing tax credits, new markets tax credits, community development financial institutions, and investment funds, as well as community-based lending for projects that create housing and provide other supportive services.

“In 2023, Fifth Third provided $722 million in loans and investments to support 3,684 units of housing – and we’re just getting started,” Thomas said.

The National Housing Crisis Task Force is an ambitious, two-year project to bring the most promising innovations in housing production, preservation, and finance to communities across the country. Supported by the Nowak Metro Finance Lab at Drexel University and Accelerator for America (AFA), the bipartisan task force includes 28 government, non-profit, and business leaders who will create a platform to share and replicate what’s working locally, nationally and internationally. The task force’s work was launched Tuesday, July 23 at an in-person meeting in Washington, D.C. Its first report is expected this fall.

###

About Fifth Third

Fifth Third is a bank that’s as long on innovation as it is on history. Since 1858, we’ve been helping individuals, families, businesses and communities grow through smart financial services that improve lives. Our list of firsts is extensive, and it’s one that continues to expand as we explore the intersection of tech-driven innovation, dedicated people and focused community impact. Fifth Third is one of the few U.S.-based banks to have been named among Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies® for several years. With a commitment to taking care of our customers, employees, communities and shareholders, our goal is not only to be the nation’s highest performing regional bank, but to be the bank people most value and trust.

Fifth Third Bank, National Association is a federally chartered institution. Fifth Third Bancorp is the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank and its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ® Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.” Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com. Deposit and credit products provided by Fifth Third Bank, National Association. Member FDIC.

Originally published in FedEx’s 2023 FedEx Cares Report

Our opportunity

$96b Greater Memphis GDP is $96b and growing faster than much of the U.S.1

50k Memphis aims to add 50k new quality jobs by 20302

5th Memphis’ poverty rate of 21.4% is 5th highest in the nation among cities with 500k+ population3

Our strategy

Our work is focused on helping more Memphians have an equal chance to participate in our city’s education system and workforce to achieve financial stability. Alongside innovative nonprofits, we are investing in the inclusive economic growth we believe is essential to our city’s future. Through the dedication of team member time and expertise, and focused efforts to address both short-term critical needs and long-term social challenges, we are committed to being a part of the solution for a more prosperous and equitable Memphis.

1 “Total Gross Domestic Product for Memphis, TN-MS-AR (MSA).” Federal Reserve Bank of St. Lous, (2023). 
2 “Prosper Memphis 2030.” Greater Memphis Chamber, (2023). 
3 “While Overall Poverty in Memphis Dipped, Child Poverty Rates Remain Flat, New Data Shows.” Commercial Appeal, September 21, 2023.

Creating a safe place for young people to connect, raise their voices, and catalyze community change

BRIDGES offers a safe haven for youth in Memphis to unite, advocate, and foster positive change in their community. Many young people in Memphis face limited access to life skills and opportunities to engage in community problem-solving. With support from FedEx, BRIDGES aims to cultivate capable leaders who reflect the city’s rich diversity of cultural, religious, racial, and socioeconomic residents. Serving 3,000 students, BRIDGES emphasizes helping participants step out of comfort zones, embrace diversity, and develop skills like problem solving, decision-making, and communications.

Breaking economic barriers: how Hire Local is reshaping futures for Memphians

Hire Local is an innovative local workforce development program established by the Memphis Medical District Collaborative that connects Medical District employers seeking local talent to Medical District residents seeking employment opportunities. With one in three Memphians making less than a living wage, support for residents to access quality jobs is critical to fighting poverty in our headquarters city. With support from FedEx, Hire Local works with employers like Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare and Baptist Memorial Hospital to provide participants with job shadowing and interviews for roles with a clear career path. In 2023, MMDC placed 43 Memphians in new hospital careers.

I was in a low place in my life, feeling hopeless…I completed this class feeling seen, heard, and proud of who I am.

Terrica Hire 
Local Graduate

FedEx earned the Volunteer Memphis Corporate Impact Award

Leadership Memphis/Volunteer Memphis recognized FedEx for our commitment to volunteerism and to making a positive impact in our community. This award is given to organizations that exemplify excellence and those that create innovative volunteer programs to encourage employees and the public to donate their time to making a difference.

Caring for one another with dignity and joy

FedEx is proud to support Church Health, a Memphis-based nonprofit, that makes the highest quality health care accessible to more Memphians so everyone – regardless of income – can live their life with dignity and joy. For over 36 years, Church Health has offered medical, dental, eye care, and more to those facing economic challenges. In 2023, the organization aided 12,800 unique patients, conducted 2,300 nutrition classes, and performed 32,000 dental procedures, all made possible by a team of 1,000 volunteer medical professionals.

Building a better tomorrow

FedEx supports Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis to provide affordable housing in Shelby and Fayette counties. In 2023, FedEx volunteers contributed 1,537 hours (valued at $43,220) and helped construct four homes in the Memphis area. Team members also donated time to help organize merchandise and enhance operations at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, where sale of new and gently used items helps generate more funding to support Memphis Habitat’s work.

1,537 hours of volunteer time

Read more

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

Originally published in FedEx’s 2023 FedEx Cares Report

Our opportunity

$96b Greater Memphis GDP is $96b and growing faster than much of the U.S.1

50k Memphis aims to add 50k new quality jobs by 20302

5th Memphis’ poverty rate of 21.4% is 5th highest in the nation among cities with 500k+ population3

Our strategy

Our work is focused on helping more Memphians have an equal chance to participate in our city’s education system and workforce to achieve financial stability. Alongside innovative nonprofits, we are investing in the inclusive economic growth we believe is essential to our city’s future. Through the dedication of team member time and expertise, and focused efforts to address both short-term critical needs and long-term social challenges, we are committed to being a part of the solution for a more prosperous and equitable Memphis.

1 “Total Gross Domestic Product for Memphis, TN-MS-AR (MSA).” Federal Reserve Bank of St. Lous, (2023). 
2 “Prosper Memphis 2030.” Greater Memphis Chamber, (2023). 
3 “While Overall Poverty in Memphis Dipped, Child Poverty Rates Remain Flat, New Data Shows.” Commercial Appeal, September 21, 2023.

Creating a safe place for young people to connect, raise their voices, and catalyze community change

BRIDGES offers a safe haven for youth in Memphis to unite, advocate, and foster positive change in their community. Many young people in Memphis face limited access to life skills and opportunities to engage in community problem-solving. With support from FedEx, BRIDGES aims to cultivate capable leaders who reflect the city’s rich diversity of cultural, religious, racial, and socioeconomic residents. Serving 3,000 students, BRIDGES emphasizes helping participants step out of comfort zones, embrace diversity, and develop skills like problem solving, decision-making, and communications.

Breaking economic barriers: how Hire Local is reshaping futures for Memphians

Hire Local is an innovative local workforce development program established by the Memphis Medical District Collaborative that connects Medical District employers seeking local talent to Medical District residents seeking employment opportunities. With one in three Memphians making less than a living wage, support for residents to access quality jobs is critical to fighting poverty in our headquarters city. With support from FedEx, Hire Local works with employers like Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare and Baptist Memorial Hospital to provide participants with job shadowing and interviews for roles with a clear career path. In 2023, MMDC placed 43 Memphians in new hospital careers.

I was in a low place in my life, feeling hopeless…I completed this class feeling seen, heard, and proud of who I am.

Terrica Hire 
Local Graduate

FedEx earned the Volunteer Memphis Corporate Impact Award

Leadership Memphis/Volunteer Memphis recognized FedEx for our commitment to volunteerism and to making a positive impact in our community. This award is given to organizations that exemplify excellence and those that create innovative volunteer programs to encourage employees and the public to donate their time to making a difference.

Caring for one another with dignity and joy

FedEx is proud to support Church Health, a Memphis-based nonprofit, that makes the highest quality health care accessible to more Memphians so everyone – regardless of income – can live their life with dignity and joy. For over 36 years, Church Health has offered medical, dental, eye care, and more to those facing economic challenges. In 2023, the organization aided 12,800 unique patients, conducted 2,300 nutrition classes, and performed 32,000 dental procedures, all made possible by a team of 1,000 volunteer medical professionals.

Building a better tomorrow

FedEx supports Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis to provide affordable housing in Shelby and Fayette counties. In 2023, FedEx volunteers contributed 1,537 hours (valued at $43,220) and helped construct four homes in the Memphis area. Team members also donated time to help organize merchandise and enhance operations at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, where sale of new and gently used items helps generate more funding to support Memphis Habitat’s work.

1,537 hours of volunteer time

Read more

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

Originally published on Illumina News Center

Karina Katalina Moreno has taken a circuitous route to her American dream. She grew up in Monterrey, Mexico, about 140 miles (225 km) south of Laredo, Texas, and got her degree in biotech engineering at Tecnológico de Monterrey. Following a brief stop in Barcelona, Spain, she earned her master of science degree at the University of Edinburgh.

Family brought Moreno back to Monterrey. Her mother was diagnosed with lung cancer, and she moved in to help care for her parents and three siblings. She worked as a science teacher at a local high school and helped her mom get to and from treatment.

“After my mom passed away, I thought, okay, this is life, I knew it was coming,” she says. “She was diagnosed with stage three lung cancer, and the doctors told us she wouldn’t have a lot of time. She was a real fighter, and stayed with us for three more years. But 13 days after my mom died, my dad passed from COVID. At that point I felt lost. My life changed so much in two weeks that I didn’t know what I was going to do with my life.”

Coming to Illumina 
Moreno had worked in pharma and cosmetics but always wanted to pursue a career in biotech. In 2023, a friend encouraged her to apply at Illumina and, after a rigorous interview process, she was hired as a quality control stability scientist. In this role, she focuses on measuring reagent stability, which has already paid big dividends in extended expiration dates.

She’s been with Illumina for about a year and a half, but Moreno is already making her mark. She is well known in Building 6, at Illumina’s San Diego campus, for her seemingly endless supply of Mexican candy—it’s part of her ongoing mission to share her culture.

iLatinx 
Moreno is the treasurer of iLatinx, a growing employee resource group (ERG) at Illumina. The group has more than a hundred active members and hosts many events that focus on building community: attending San Diego Padres and Wave games, celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, and working with the Make-a-Wish Foundation and the Clearity Foundation.

The group has also committed to mentoring young women. For the past two summers, iLatinx has partnered with the Women at Illumina Network ERG to sponsor Girls Who Lead days at the company.

“We have around 60 girls who come to Illumina and go to the lab with us,” Moreno says, “but we try to involve them in other activities, as well, because not everyone works in the lab. Some people handle money or are in charge of production. We want to show them all their options.”

The iLatinx group has big plans for this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 to October 15: a career panel, salsa classes, a mariachi band, and lots of treats. They highlight different countries each year: Last time it was Mexico and Peru; this year will be Colombia and Venezuela, among others.

“People like to learn about the different cultures at Illumina, and we try to find people from those places who can share their flags, food, and local customs,” Moreno says. “We want everyone to know they don’t have to be Latino to be part of this community. They only need to like the food, music, and culture.”

Her safe space 
An avid athlete, Moreno has been active in team handball since she was young and now plays on teams in San Diego and Baja California. At Illumina, she participates in flag football, basketball, and softball. When she’s not working or playing, she often visits her family in Monterrey. But looking at the life she’s built, she is incredibly grateful to have found a home in San Diego and Illumina.

“Everybody is really open [at Illumina], and that makes me feel great,” says Moreno. “I have this accent and nobody cares, and I can wear a flower shirt, which is typical in Mexico, or sing in Spanish, and nobody is going to say anything. For me, it’s a really safe space.”

Over 300 partners participated in our 2024 Bring Your Child to Work Day hosted by our employee-led Working Families Business Resource Council.

It was truly an event filled with joy, excitement, and tons of laughter. It was a great initiative that allowed partners to share their work environment and experiences with their families.

Here’s what was arranged for everyone on the day.

Magic showHula hoop artistDrawing competition which captured the hearts and minds of the childrenFood stalls which included popcorn stalls and chocolate fountains

The day concluded on a high note as partners and their children took center stage for some heartwarming performances. It was so nice to see all the children showcase their talents and skills in front of all the attendees at the Celebrate Life event, leaving their families with a sense of pride.

“We are proud of the efforts of our Working Families Business Resource Council India team and wish to thank them for putting together an event that impacted our partners and families and one that truly reflect our culture of care.” Grace Vasanthi, Executive Sponsor – Working Families India Chapter.

Tennessee’s Empower Me Center helps people with disabilities ‘live their best lives’

Six-year-old Gabryelle listened to the story with growing sadness. Her friend was recounting a magical weekend spent playing in a treehouse built by his grandfather. But Gabby—wheelchair bound due to cerebral palsy—would never get to enjoy a sanctuary among the leaves.

Gabby shared her sorrow with Michelle Hill, Chief Executive Officer of Empower Me Center, a non-profit organization in Lebanon, Tennessee, the seat of Wilson County in the middle of the state.

Hill empathized with little Gabby, consoling the child in her grief. But Hill is not one to accept limitations placed on people with disabilities. If Gabby wanted a treehouse, Hill would find a way.

And she did.

Soon, Gabby had her Dream House—a wheelchair-accessible treehouse, built by a young man with mild cerebral palsy who took on the project with a team of volunteers. Nearly two decades later, the Dream House still stands on the property of the Wilson County Fairgrounds.

Gabby’s story is an example of the lengths to which the Empower Me Center will go to help people with disabilities live their life to the fullest.

The non-profit began in 1999, initiated by parents who wanted their children with disabilities to play in a basketball league. Hill, an occupational therapist, had been looking for a volunteer opportunity and became director of the league.

It worked so well that families and youth wanted more. They asked for a summer camp, so a summer camp was established. They asked for more events in the winter and spring, and those were added, too.

“Our whole mission has been to try to meet the needs of our families, and our whole organization has evolved based upon what those needs are,” Hill explains.

“We’re up to 17 different year-round events on top of our regular programming,” she adds, noting the center’s staff includes occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech language pathologists, teachers, and college students pursuing healthcare or education degrees.

Empower Me Center is in the process of building a new state-of-the art facility. It will have two buildings, splash pad, playground, baseball field and soccer field, all designed for people with disabilities.

Community donations are essential to offsetting participant costs because the center wants to make activities low-cost or free, and they don’t receive funding from state or federal sources.

Enbridge recently contributed a $7,500 Fueling Futures grant to ensure participants can access Empower Me Center’s inclusive programming. Our hope is this contribution will help children and adults with disabilities forge friendships and develop their independence and self-esteem. People of all abilities add to the vibrancy of the Wilson County community.

Hill explains that people with disabilities often have difficulty finding their purpose. For example, Gabby, now grown, has struggled with her sense of worth.

“She’d say, ‘I can’t move. What do I have to offer this world?’” Hill recounts.

But Hill, always looking for possibilities, saw how Gabby could contribute meaningfully.

“I told her, look around. Look at these friends you have here. You know what you are for them? You are their voice.”

Now, Gabby is a center spokesperson who joins Hill on community visits to advocate for those who can’t speak for themselves.

“That is her gift,” Hill says.

Helping people find their gift is what inspires Hill daily in her role. “I view myself as a servant helping these individuals live their best lives.”

Electric vehicles (EVs) use four times more copper than conventional vehicles. The Resolution Copper Project has enough copper to manufacture almost 220 million EVs, or about half the global supply, by 2040. At 1.3 miles underground, getting to that copper safely and sustainably is the top priority for the Resolution Copper Project.

This project is a joint venture between mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP. These companies identified a copper deposit in the southeastern U.S. large enough to potentially to supply nearly 25% of US copper demand.

Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK) has a variety of options to help customers achieve sustainability goals— from visibility into current state to hardware that reduces energy use to software that identifies opportunities for optimization.

For Resolution Copper Mining, Rockwell targeted reducing energy use by implementing variable speed drives and increasing worker safety with distributed control. Since switching to variable frequency drives as part of its initial ventilation and chilling system upgrades in July 2023, Resolution Copper has seen a 5% increase in system efficiency and a 10% decrease in utility costs. That energy reduction equals about $1 million a year, a savings that Resolution Copper plans to allocate toward other sustainability initiatives.

Learn more about how Rockwell is helping Resolution Copper achieve substantial energy savings and increased system efficiency.

September 17, 2024 /3BL/ – Albertsons Companies, Inc., along with the Albertsons Companies Foundation, announces the recipients of this year’s Nourishing Neighbors Innovation Spark Grants. Three innovative nonprofit organizations will receive $9 million in multiyear grants to support new programs designed to create long-term solutions and empower individuals and families to achieve lasting food security. Nourishing Neighbors is a charitable program of Albertsons Companies Foundation, and this is the second year the program has awarded Innovation Spark Grants designed to move people out of food insecurity.

“Nourishing Neighbors has been instrumental in addressing the complexities of food insecurity, an issue that impacts over 18 million* American households, by helping ensure our neighbors in need have access to nutritious meals,” said Jennifer Saenz, EVP of Pharmacy and E-Commerce for Albertsons Cos. and Board Chair for Albertsons Companies Foundation. “Through the Nourishing Neighbors Innovation Spark Grants, we hope to enhance the work of innovative nonprofit organizations focused on building sustainable food security for individuals and families. This strategic support is designed to foster self-reliance and long-term stability in our communities.”

The following nonprofit organizations were selected to receive a Nourishing Neighbors Innovation Spark Grant of $3 million each in recognition of their innovative approaches, expertise and the potential for significant impact in eradicating hunger within local communities.

Alpenglow Impact is a nonprofit organization working to improve well-being and build financial stability by supporting people during challenging times. The group’s largest program, Gift Card Bank , assists those who need it most by turning donations into gift cards, which are then distributed to neighbors in need. Initiated amidst the pandemic, this nationwide effort has extended support to nearly four million individuals. With the Nourishing Neighbors grant, Alpenglow Impact aims to launch a pilot program designed to assist low-income student mothers who are from underserved communities. This program will support their journey through community college to graduation, enable them to accrue a significant amount of savings and guide them in developing a financial strategy to invest in their future, with the goal of breaking the cycle of hunger for their families and future generations.Hunger Free America , a long-time partner of the Albertsons Companies Foundation, is a national nonprofit organization working to enact the policies and programs needed to end domestic hunger and ensure that all Americans have sufficient access to nutritious food. The Nourishing Neighbors grant will fund a project to enable at least 200 individuals in Maryland and Illinois who are unemployed, underemployed or employed in low-wage jobs to boost their long-term economic advancement by increasing their work skills and wages. The initiative will offer 16-week apprenticeships with comprehensive support and guidance, preparing participants for roles in the social service sector. Apprentices and Hunger Free America staff will work together to help thousands of families decrease their hunger and improve their nutritional security by carrying out outreach and enrollment activities for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Women Infants and Children (WIC) and other resources, thereby enhancing the grant’s impact and promoting sustainable solutions to hunger within their communities.The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) , serving a region with the nation’s fourth highest number of people facing food insecurity†, is dedicated to bridging the hunger gap in North Texas by providing access to nutritious food. The Nourishing Neighbors grant will be used to enhance the food bank’s initiatives, focusing on the development and maintenance of programs that extend past food distribution to create more connected, self-sufficient and food-secure communities. In partnership with a network of more than 500 partner agencies including food pantries and other direct-food providers, NTFB will utilize an innovative data mapping system to strategically determine need and evaluate resources invested in a geographic area. This approach enables NTFB to provide financial support and skills training to empower partner agencies in specifically identified ZIP codes to go beyond just food distribution. Through capacity building grants and additional supportive services, NTFB will equip partner agency programming that addresses underlying barriers to food security such as housing assistance, healthcare access and workforce development. These critical programs are designed to help close the hunger gap and empower individuals and families to acquire the skills, resources and knowledge necessary to support themselves, leading to sustainable solutions to food insecurity.

The recipients of last year’s Nourishing Neighbors Innovation Spark Grants included Share Our Strength , United Way Bay Area and FIND Food Bank . Over the past year, each recipient has made notable progress toward achieving the objectives they established with the aid of these grants. Share Our Strength has allocated funds to four organizations dedicated to assisting single mothers in overcoming poverty by accelerating wages and income for those working in cities such as Washington, D.C., Chicago and Denver. United Way Bay Area has selected 100 low-income families in Alameda County to receive monthly stipends and free financial coaching through SparkPoint Centers as part of a guaranteed basic income pilot. Additionally, FIND Food Bank has integrated nine college campuses into an innovative workforce development, market-style food distribution program that is enhancing the life skills and availability of nutritious food options for students.

“We developed the Nourishing Neighbors Innovation Spark Grants to help ignite the potential within communities, fueling innovative programs that aim not just to feed our neighbors in need, but to empower individuals to achieve food security,” said Christy Duncan Anderson, Executive Director of Albertsons Companies Foundation. “It is through collective effort and strategic support that lasting change can be realized. Together, we can transform the landscape of hunger and nourish the seeds of progress in every neighborhood.”

To learn more about Nourishing Neighbors, click here. See original press release at Albertsons Companies Newsroom and read more about Albertsons Companies and our Recipe for Change on our website. 

*USDA Household Food Security in the United States in 2023: Household Food Security in the United States
†North Texas Food Bank: North Texas Food Bank Impact Stats

Communities that are considered underserved often struggle to attain healthcare services. One of those groups are smallholder farmers in remote areas of Sub-Saharan Africa who depend on livestock for their livelihood, while facing considerable barriers to access vital animal health resources. Over the last six years, more than 40,000 farmers have been supported by Boehringer Ingelheim’s LastMile program. We met one of them.

Grace Njeri Kamau just finished milking her cows at her small family farm on the hills overlooking Lake Naivasha. “When I came here, I had a dream,” she shares. Grace and her husband David Kinyanjui Giathi own a small plot of land of less than three acres on which they farm kale, spinach, and other crops. For Grace, the dream she had since she first saw the farm her husband inherited was being able to sell the milk from her own cows to the local market and improve her family’s life. In particular, to finance her children’s education and give them brighter prospects.

Even in a fertile region like Nakuru County, above East Africa’s Great Rift Valley, three acres is not enough land to provide for the livelihood of a family of six on crops alone. To support them and their four daughters, Grace has been working the farm, while David drives a Matatu taxi on the dangerous roads towards Nairobi. The job often takes him long distances away from the farm, limiting the time he is able to spend with the family.

When animals are healthy, humans are healthier too

Smallholder farmers play a vital role in sustaining food security in Africa, as they do for over two billion people worldwide. To empower these farmers, providing education, resources, and sustainable practices contributes to a more resilient agricultural landscape. By connecting farmers with retailers and veterinarians, the access program LastMile fosters an ecosystem of quality animal health services. This, in turn, contributes to the local economy and strengthens the communities served.

Like Grace and David, many smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa live at or below the poverty line, with less than $1.90 USD per day to sustain themselves and their families. Additionally, they face considerable barriers to access information and resources for their animals’ health and subsequently their own health. From road infrastructure to educational resources, the challenges for Kenya’s smallholder farmers are immense. In remote areas such as these, the connection between thriving animals and thriving humans is particularly strong. Enhanced access to knowledge, products, and services can offer entire communities a route to escape poverty.

“Smallholder farmers in Kenya are often severely limited by the small plots of their farms. Combined with the high population pressure on the available farmland in comparatively densely populated areas, it becomes a real challenge to make available land sustain daily needs, like healthcare.“

Dr. David Chemimir
Business Unit Manager, SSA/SD4G at Boehringer Ingelheim IMETA and LastMile Project Manager

Building capacity for underserved communities

For Grace, turning her dreams of improving her family’s lives into reality proved to be more challenging than she had anticipated. “We went to Nyandarua County and bought a cow that was already older. We were told it would produce 10 liters, but when we brought it home, it only produced two liters. We had to sell it at a loss. But with Serah’s help, we got to start again and bought the cow we have now.” Serah Gatheru works as a LastMile Livestock Service Provider (LLSP) with the LastMile program. For two years she has been regularly visiting the farm and has advised Grace and David on how to keep their animals healthy and productive.

Since the program’s launch in 2018, LLSPs like Serah have engaged thousands of farmers. The LLSPs act as a central connection point between the farmers, veterinarians, and local retailers of animal health products to build a network able to support the community’s animal health needs. The program seeks to engage groups of farmers and co-operatives to generate a broad reach and connect as many farmers as possible to service providers. To the smallholder farmers mostly living in remote areas that are often underserved by veterinarians and that lack other animal health resources, what LLSPs bring first and foremost, is vital knowledge, as David explains: “LastMile has significant impact as an educational program that enables access to information. The power of knowledge is the biggest gift we can give. Each farmer will be educated on how to feed his animals, what role genetics plays, how to improve productivity, and how to best take care of their livestock. When we set out, we had hoped to reach 30,000 farmers, but now we have reached over 40,000.”

Removing barriers to health equity

Initially, Serah chose to get her qualification as a veterinary technician to take advantage of the employment opportunities in Kenya’s large agricultural sector. “But working with smallholder farmers and the LastMile program has really shown me the value of my work and how much satisfaction it can bring,” she shares.

Together with Serah, Grace has maintained her animal’s health over the past two years, despite various diseases affecting much of the cattle in the community. Implementing a tailored feeding plan for proper nutrition, ensuring better availability of products and medication at her local retailer, and strictly adhering to hygienic practices for housing and milking, has helped Grace prevent serious health problems in her animals.

Today, the dream of a successful milk business has become a reality for Grace. Since her initial contact with Serah and the LastMile program, the farm has added another productive milk cow and is about to add a third. They are now pursuing bigger ambitions to make the farm a true family venture which will be able to support all of them, allowing David to give up his job as a driver and be on the farm full-time, as well as financing a good education for their daughters.

Empowering individuals to strengthen entire communities

Though this may seem like an individual success, it benefits the surrounding farmers as well. Prevalent diseases like mastitis or foot and mouth disease are often transmitted between farms, so that multiple farms are affected simultaneously. This can lead to drastic drops in productivity, thus endangering the livelihoods of the entire community.

Through education, access to resources, and a supportive network, LastMile empowers smallholder farmers to improve their livelihoods. Enhancing their productivity and connecting farmers with vital services creates lasting positive change for this underserved group. “The local community are good, hard-working people that want to utilize the little land they have well. We are introducing our neighbors to LastMile, and the benefits speak for themselves.” Together with LastMile, Grace has set an example the community is looking up to.

“We are introducing our neighbors to Last Mile and the benefits speak for themselves.“

Grace Njeri Kamau, smallholder farmer in Nakuru County

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Find out more about Boehringer Ingelheim’s global sustainability initiatives, ranging from creating more sustainable healthcare solutions and community engagement with impact to environmental stewardship in Imagine: our sustainability story hub.

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