Tag: 3BL

Technology experts in education say signing up for T-Mobile’s Project 10Million, the company’s initiative aimed at delivering internet connectivity to millions of underserved student households, can help set children up for success in the classroom and beyond — and why it’s as important now as ever.

John Sousa, the Chief Information Officer for the East Orange School District in New Jersey, says the Covid pandemic highlighted a significant issue he had long been aware of: the digital divide among students.

“There was already an imbalance,” says Sousa, reflecting on how online state-required testing prior to the pandemic exposed the lack of internet access for some families. “The pandemic only exacerbated the digital divide for many of the 11,000 students in our district.”

Of course, Sousa’s school district was far from alone in this challenge. In 2020, between 15 million to 16 million U.S. students were living in households without reliable internet access, according to a report by Boston Consulting Group and nonprofit Common Sense.

In response to these growing challenges, Sousa reached out to T-Mobile during the pandemic to explore solutions for improving internet access for his district’s students.

“I got in touch with T-Mobile and asked how we can provide connectivity when as much as 20% of our community is in this gap that exists for families that can’t afford to provide high-speed internet to the students,” says Sousa. “And how can we make it a seamless transition between T-Mobile, the school and the students so that we don’t have overlap or confusion on the exact need we are facing”

Sousa says that T-Mobile jumped right in and provided approximately 3,800 hotspots through Project 10Million, the Un-carrier’s $10.7 billion education initiative. Announced in 2019 and launched in 2020, Project 10Million aims to close the digital divide in education by offering free internet connectivity and mobile hotspots for up to 10 million eligible student households. Additionally, the program provides school districts with free or heavily subsidized data plans and ensures that all participants have access to affordable laptops and tablets.

By the end of last year, T-Mobile had provided $6.4 billion in products and services and connected nearly 6 million students across the country through Project 10Million and other education initiatives.

“The hotspots have given us peace of mind because we no longer have to worry about missing any students who still lack access,” says Sousa. “We’re largely understaffed and don’t have the resources that we would need to manage the project the way that it needed to be managed. T-Mobile’s team worked out all those details, delivered it all and helped get the broadband access out there to students that are stuck in the digital divide.”

Sousa says in a school district with many families who are homeless or living without regular access to connectivity, Project 10Million has become an invaluable service.

As students head back to school this fall, internet access is ever more critical for kids to learn and thrive in an increasingly digital world. Yet today, 24 million U.S. households still lack reliable internet.

That’s why, as families make their annual back to school checklists for new backpacks and pencils, Sousa says he wants those in need to know that adding Project 10Million might be one of the most important things to help prepare for a successful school year.

BANNER P10M
Study Guide Check List

• Project 10Million is T-Mobile’s $10.7 billion initiative committed to offering free connectivity to up to 10 million eligible students across the country.

• T-Mobile also works with school districts by giving them free connectivity and subsidized data plans. Plus, everyone in the program has access to affordable laptops and tablets.

It’s easy to get started! Check eligibility and sign up for Project 10Million at:
www.t-mobile.com/Project10Million

Forestry best management practices (BMPs) are voluntary practices that forestry professionals follow to protect water quality in the areas that they manage. In Georgia and Alabama, BMPs require that the litter layer on top of the soil be left on ephemeral channels when trees are harvested along ephemerals. Ephemeral channels are channels formed by water during or immediately after a precipitation event where the top layer of the forest floor is disturbed, and soil is exposed. Previous owners of one of our tracts had harvested all the pine and hardwood trees from along the ephemeral ditches and then converted the area to pine plantation. Our foresters identified areas where the prior conversion risked increased erosion and decided to establish them as hardwood streamside management zones (SMZs).

To achieve this transition back to hardwood, a buffer was established as an additional protected area. The existing pine was removed from the buffer area and all hardwood currently growing inside the buffer area was protected. The growth of the hardwood inside the newly established buffer area was aided by additional sunlight that reached the trees due to the removal of the pines. The buffer areas are recorded and protected as young hardwood stands in our GIS mapping system and are allowed to grow freely into riparian hardwood buffers. We believe that this enhances water quality, wildlife habitat, and biodiversity.

Originally published on Aflac Newsroom

Do good. Spread love. Lend a hand. These are phrases commonly heard in life that encourage more meaningful connections with our communities. The Aflac team based in Connecticut has become a shining example of this very sentiment.

Since 2021, this team has regularly participated in activities focused on social assistance. One organization, for example, is ReadyCT, which helps provide more than 500,000 students in low-income areas of the Connecticut public school system with the necessary tools to prepare them for future success. Aflac employees regularly volunteer their time, offering professional insights on job interviews, business tips for professional interaction and attire, and resume reviews to help these young students get a head start in their careers.

The Aflac team in Connecticut also works with the Cove Center for Grieving Children, which supports young people who have lost a loved one, providing a fully funded camp experience called Camp Compassion. With employee donations in tow, several team members drove to Kent, Connecticut, to help set up the cabins and, for each camper, left behind a backpack filled with essentials. Of course, the swag included an Aflac plush duck on each bed.

Aflac employees also recently helped raise money for the Cove Center, traveling from various states to participate in a golf tournament to benefit the camp, raising nearly $70,000.

The spirit of service and support that abounds in Aflac’s culture is an undeniably vivid example of the impact that making a difference can have at work and in society. Being a profitable company is important, but it does not solely define our mission — after all, care is at Aflac’s core.

# # #

Aflac herein refers to American Family Life Assurance Company and/or American Family Life Assurance Company of New York and/or Continental American Insurance Company and/or Continental American Life Insurance Company.

AGC2400918 EXP 7/25

Each year, through Baker Tilly Wishes, the Baker Tilly Foundation provides 15 grants of $10,000 to not-for-profits – each nominated by our team members. This grant program, combined with the generosity of local team members, helped House of Hope fully fund their therapy dog.

A friendly face for those in need

The Japanese word kibo means “hope.” It’s also the name of House of Hope’s new therapy dog.

Longtime House of Hope volunteer and Tax Director, Dana Delsman, came up with the name and played a vital role in helping the organization attain the furry friend.

“Kibo really is the sweetest. He greets people as they enter the shelter and comforts them during therapy sessions,” Dana said. “Asking for help can be challenging but having a friendly face like Kibo greet you makes things a little easier.”

A full-service shelter for those in need

Beginning as a resource center for pregnant and parenting young women and their children in Green Bay, Wisconsin, House of Hope evolved throughout its 20 years to help anyone experiencing homelessness in Northeast Wisconsin.

Their model focuses on providing not only emergency shelter but a positive support system that equips people with tools to improve their situation and find housing. Many of the organization’s residents are young parents with children under five.

Throughout Dana’s nine years of volunteering, she has helped House of Hope double its capacity by purchasing the building next door. Despite the extra space, Dana says there often are waiting lists to join the shelter.

“Their programs encompass a wide range of services, including mental health support and alcohol and other drug abuse (AODA) counseling,” Dana said.

Beyond the walls of their building, House of Hope distributes rent assistance to others in the community and has developed affordable housing.

The story of Kibo

Recognizing the effectiveness of therapy dogs in providing emotional support, comfort and companionship, House of Hope utilized the $10,000 Baker Tilly Wishes grant to acquire and train Kibo. The estimated total costs of the veterinarian bills, training and pet supplies were $12,000.

To make up for the remaining $2,000, Dana worked with her local office to hold a fundraiser. Thanks to her fellow team members and a matching donation by principal John Krause, Dana achieved her goal and raised over $2,400 for the shelter.

Now, Kibo lives at the shelter full-time and is working his way through training.

“Acquiring a therapy dog will significantly enhance our ability to provide impactful therapeutic interventions tailored to the unique needs of residents,” Dana said. “I believe Kibo will play a pivotal role in creating an environment of healing, trust and emotional support.”

Learn more about Baker Tilly.

In this special Climate Week episode, ESG Talk and The Week in Sustainability team up to demystify greenhouse gas emissions. Join us as hosts Steve Soter, Andie Wood, and Alyssa Zucker kick off a four-part series focused on practical solutions for carbon accounting, management, and achieving net-zero goals.

Listen Now

Looking for more? Subscribe to the ESG Talk podcast on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

ESG Talk is brought to you by Workiva, the world’s only unified platform for financial reporting, ESG, audit, and risk. Learn more at workiva.com.

An innovative hydrogen fuel cell-powered concept tractor has made its debut thanks to a collaboration by STEYR, a brand of CNH, and TU Wien.

Based on a standard STEYR 4140 Expert continuously variable transmission (CVT) tractor, the development was a collaborative effort between CNH’s St. Valentin-based engineering team in Austria and their project partners, who worked together to design, create and test the tractor and its hydrogen fuel cell power unit.

The STEYR FCTRAC hydrogen fuel cell tractor project’s aim was end-to-end sustainability, via a BioH2Module developed to complement the tractor. This produces hydrogen from biogenic raw materials and residues, meaning 15-16 kg dry biomass is needed to produce hydrogen equivalent to around 3.5 l of Diesel. The power unit only emits water vapour, and there is no compromise in terms of power.

The FCTRAC, which has a 14 kWh high-voltage battery and 400 V electrical system, develops 95 kW, matching its diesel equivalent. The fuel cell and electric drive systems take the place of the diesel engine, while the fuel tank is replaced by a compressed hydrogen storage system and a high-voltage battery.

“The STEYR FCTRAC attracted considerable attention recently at the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, the venue for the Austrian State Prize for Technology awards, for which it was nominated in the ‘Mobility Technologies category’, a section which honours groundbreaking Austrian technical innovations,” says Marco Lombardi, Head of Case IH and STEYR brands EMEA.

RESTON, Va., August 29, 2024 /3BL/ – The Department of Defense (DoD) has selected CACI International Inc (NYSE: CACI) to receive its seventh prestigious Nunn-Perry Award for excellence in the DoD Mentor Protégé Program. This honor recognized CACI’s collaboration with its partner, EXPANSIA, a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business that rapidly delivers government and commercial technologies, including Agile software development, secure cloud infrastructures, and digital materiel management. 

“CACI has a successful track record of delivering Agile-at-scale methodologies, DevSecOps, and more to modernize government systems. With this partnership, we assisted EXPANSIA by strengthening their business model and bringing their supply chain innovations to the DoD enabling them to bid from a prime position,” said CACI Executive Vice President of Business Development Jerry Parker. “Our combined efforts benefit the warfighter and reinforce our commitment to supporting small businesses in the federal marketplace.”   

EXPANSIA focuses on how to rapidly deliver government and commercial technology with agility. Bolstered by the Mentor Protégé Program, EXPANSIA is now poised to enable the use of advanced and additive manufacturing to address critical supply chain gaps across the Air Force’s sustainment enterprise.

“We are grateful for the DoD’s ongoing commitment to the Mentor Protégé Program and re-investing so EXPANSIA, and other thriving small businesses, can continue to flourish their capabilities for the military end users around the globe” said EXPANSIA Co-Founder and Chief People Officer Tynel Jarnagin. “CACI has been an amazing mentor, and we are honored to accept the Nunn-Perry Award.”

Since initiating their Mentor-Protégé Agreement (MPA) in 2020, CACI and EXPANSIA have cultivated an enduring collaboration marked by sustained success and mutual growth. Their collaborative efforts were forged primarily to meet the demands of several U.S. Air Force (USAF) programs. With CACI as a mentor, EXPANSIA has experienced a 36% employee growth and has primed and won more than $33 million in DoD opportunities. 

“We are excited and honored to have played an instrumental role in EXPANSIA’s success and growth,” said CACI Executive Director of Small Business Wayne Pizer. “CACI will continue to support the DoD’s critical missions by introducing them to new, innovative companies that advance major defense programs and can help them to achieve their goals.” 

The DoD Mentor Protégé Program was established in 1990 and the award is named for the contributions of Senator Sam Nunn and former Secretary of Defense William Perry, both of whom played critical roles in the implementation of the DoD Mentor Protégé Program. The program has since expanded, providing developmental assistance to Women-Owned Small Businesses, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses, and others.

CACI also partnered with Morgan State University, a public historically Black research university in Baltimore, Maryland, to provide annual strategic planning to EXPANSIA as well as Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) implementation services to improve their performance.

About EXPANSIA

EXPANSIA is a service-disabled veteran-owned company that empowers organizations to deploy technology faster with data, people, and ecosystems. As experts in continuous-delivery methods that drive digital adoption, we are dedicated to innovation, efficiency, and technology that benefit warfighter mission outcomes. EXPANSIA specializes in integration, automation, and sustainment modernization through technology-enabled delivery models, digital engineering, and cloud-ready solutions. In 2024, we are celebrating 10 years of success. Visit www.EXPANSIAgroup.com.

About CACI

At CACI International Inc (NYSE: CACI), our 24,000 talented and dynamic employees are ever vigilant in delivering distinctive expertise and differentiated technology to meet our customers’ greatest challenges in national security. We are a company of good character, relentless innovation, and long-standing excellence. Our culture drives our success and earns us recognition as a Fortune World’s Most Admired Company. CACI is a member of the Fortune 1000 Largest Companies, the Russell 1000 Index, and the S&P MidCap 400 Index. For more information, visit us at www.caci.com.

There are statements made herein which do not address historical facts, and therefore could be interpreted to be forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated include, but are not limited to, the risk factors set forth in CACI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, and other such filings that CACI makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Any forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon and only speak as of the date hereof.

# # #

Corporate Communications and Media:    
Lorraine Corcoran        
Executive Vice President, Corporate Communications 
(703) 434-4165, lorraine.corcoran@caci.com                             

Investor Relations: 
George Price 
Senior Vice President, Investor Relations
(703) 841-7818, george.price@caci.com

RESTON, Va., August 29, 2024 /3BL/ – The Department of Defense (DoD) has selected CACI International Inc (NYSE: CACI) to receive its sixth Nunn-Perry Award for excellence in the DoD Mentor Protégé Program. This prestigious honor recognizes CACI’s collaboration with Mayvin, a woman-owned small business management consulting firm that provides a wide range of professional and technical services. 

“Our mentorship has enabled Mayvin to integrate Agile methodologies, improve processes, and deploy rapid acquisition expertise for global logistics needs enhancing the quality of life support for soldiers and joint warfighters across major DoD commands, special operations units, and threat reduction support units,” said CACI Executive Vice President of Business Development Jerry Parker. “Witnessing these impressive outcomes driven by our partnership inspires us to aim higher in our tailored approach to small business support.”

Mayvin focuses on delivering innovative solutions in program management, engineering and mission support, and IT infrastructure services. The company supports critical missions across various government agencies, including the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, and DoD.

The Mentor-Protégé Agreement (MPA) with CACI and Mayvin, as sponsored by the Department of the Army Small Business Office, was built on their current working relationship and desire to support the Army. Since the agreement’s inception in September 2021, CACI and Mayvin have partnered to support various Army and Joint programs. 

“We are honored to receive the 2023 Nunn-Perry Award alongside our mentor, CACI,” said Mayvin Chief Executive Officer Lisa Rosenthal. “This award highlights the significant impact our partnership has had on the DoD Industrial Base and Technology Transfer. We are proud of the strides we have made providing innovative solutions and exceptional services to our warfighters.” 

Since working with CACI, Mayvin has expanded into five new federal customers, experienced a 132.5% employee growth, and increased revenue by more than $40 million. 

“Under CACI’s strategic mentorship, Mayvin has been brought to new heights,” said CACI Executive Director of Small Business Wayne Pizer. “We are proud to support a company whose unique expertise and recent successes have been instrumental in advancing the Army’s critical missions.”

The DoD Mentor Protégé Program was established in 1990 and the award is named for the contributions of Senator Sam Nunn and former Secretary of Defense William Perry, both of whom played critical roles in the implementation of the DoD Mentor Protégé Program. The program has since expanded, providing developmental assistance to Women-Owned Small Businesses, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses, and others.

CACI also partnered with Morgan State University, a public historically Black research university in Baltimore, Maryland, to provide annual strategic planning to EXPANSIA as well as Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) implementation services to improve their performance.

About Mayvin

Mayvin is a global technical and knowledge-based services firm supporting the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and Justice. We work across multiple domains including SETA, Engineering, Science, and Technical Advisory, Advanced Integration and Cyber, Operations and Mission Support, and Intelligence within the U.S. Government, associated Combatant Commands, Allies, and partners. Navigating the complex world of integrating technology into the modern battlefield requires knowledge. At Mayvin, we bring knowledge to you. For more information, visit www.mayvin.com. 

About CACI

At CACI International Inc (NYSE: CACI), our 24,000 talented and dynamic employees are ever vigilant in delivering distinctive expertise and differentiated technology to meet our customers’ greatest challenges in national security. We are a company of good character, relentless innovation, and long-standing excellence. Our culture drives our success and earns us recognition as a Fortune World’s Most Admired Company. CACI is a member of the Fortune 1000 Largest Companies, the Russell 1000 Index, and the S&P MidCap 400 Index. For more information, visit us at www.caci.com.

There are statements made herein which do not address historical facts, and therefore could be interpreted to be forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated include, but are not limited to, the risk factors set forth in CACI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, and other such filings that CACI makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Any forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon and only speak as of the date hereof.

# # #

Corporate Communications and Media:                                      
Lorraine Corcoran 
Executive Vice President, Corporate Communications
(703) 434-4165, lorraine.corcoran@caci.com 

Investor Relations: 
George Price 
Senior Vice President, Investor Relations
(703) 841-7818, george.price@caci.com

At the Seattle Seahawks recent Football Fest, Albertsons Companies’ Seattle Division partnered with the team, KING 5 news and Northwest Harvest to host a food drive to provide the snacks that kids love best for summer meal sites around the Northwest. More than 38,000 snacks were donated, and our Albertsons Companies’ Owns Brands team led the way by donating enough kid-approved foods to fill an eCommerce truck.

See original post on Instagram and read more about Albertsons Companies and our Recipe for Change on our website.

On National Aviation Day, American Airlines honors the incredible achievements of the aviation industry and reflects on the boundless potential it holds for the future. In a field where innovation and exploration are fundamental processes, American is committed to building a diverse pipeline of future aviation professionals.

Empowering the next generation is crucial to the continued progress and advancement of modern flight. American supports several endeavors that offer hands-on instruction and interactive learning for young minds, including the American Airlines CR Smith Museum’s award-winning Aviation STEM Summer Camp.

With a focus on STEM, the week-long summer camp provides a robust, in-depth curriculum and exposure to inspiring industry professionals. This summer, American sponsored 56 students from Clinton P. Russell Elementary School and Girls Inc. of Tarrant County for a fully funded summer camp opportunity. Students were immersed in STEM concepts and aviation with the goal of helping them build confidence and recognize that career opportunities in these industries are within reach. By providing impactful educational programming to children of all backgrounds, American and the CR Smith Museum are broadening the aviation community.

“The camp provided our students with invaluable exposure to aviation. It was truly the experience of a lifetime, opening doors and kindling dreams that will shape their futures,” said Chara Pace, Principal of Clinton P. Russell Elementary. “Our students returned with a clear vision of their potential future in the aviation industry by exploring careers from aircraft mechanics and engineers to pilots and flight attendants.”

American celebrates the past and continues to build a strong foundation for the future through the diverse talents of tomorrow’s leaders and is proud to provide a framework that equips young aviators with the skills and confidence to reach new heights.

Enrollment in the 2025 summer camp begins in March 2025. Visit the CR Smith Museum website to learn more about the enriching educational programming available for students in the Dallas-Fort Worth community year-round. These development initiatives are made possible through the generous support of museum donors and members. For more information on giving opportunities, visit crsmithmuseum.org/donate.