Tag: 3BL

DÜSSELDORF, Germany, June 24, 2024 /3BL/ – Henkel is committed to elevating awareness among agriculture and construction vehicle and equipment (heavy vehicle and equipment) designers, manufacturers, and tier suppliers about the role advanced materials can play in enabling sustainability across the value chain – from R&D to manufacturing to use in the field. The company announced its ‘Respect the Planet, Rethink Design’ program, which prioritizes four pillars of sustainability – Climate, Circularity, Safety, and Nature – and demonstrates Henkel’s enablement of them all through its cutting-edge adhesive, surface treatment, and electronic materials portfolios.

Henkel Global Market Segment Manager, Heavy Equipment, Eric Zhai explains the inspiration behind the effort, which is designed to deliver results that amplify its customers’ commitment to sustainability. “As many in our industry are aware, sustainability is a central value at Henkel; it’s in our DNA,” he shares. “Our heavy vehicle and equipment customers are aligned on these practices, too, and we think there are opportunities to collaborate for even more impactful results. Our effort aims to show manufacturers that building tough, long-lasting equipment does not have to come at the expense of responsible environmental and human safety protocols. These are not mutually exclusive ambitions, and Henkel has proven solutions that help achieve these objectives simultaneously.”

Focusing on four defined sustainability pillars, Henkel’s ‘Respect the Planet, Rethink Design’ program leverages the technology advantages of its product line to facilitate the design, build, and use of vehicles and equipment that prioritize people and the environment, while enabling robust, reliable performance. Examples include:

Climate – Formulas for metal cleaning processes that reduce required bath temperatures, lower chemical consumption, and decrease energy use. Structural adhesives enable lightweighting, allowing reliable bonding strength and the integration of lighter, alternative substrates for improved fuel efficiency.Circularity – Certain Henkel processes enable automated dosing and material reusability. Additionally, the company is exploring renewable bio-based polyurethane hot melts, low pressure molding materials, and recycling/reuse-enabling debonding solutions.Safety – Materials formulated without substances under discussion, and compliance with safety agency ratings and environmental compatibility standards protect health and well-being.Nature – Natural resources like water are preserved through products and processes that reduce consumption and allow wastewater recycling.

As a key material supplier to the agriculture and construction equipment sector, Henkel helps customers overcome barriers to sustainable design through innovative product development and consultative sustainability programs. The company has consistently shown that deep engagement with its team can deliver measurable results.

“Time and time again, we have demonstrated how our involvement at the R&D phase can drive sustainable outcomes from end to end,” says Zhai. “Examples include cleaning and metal pretreatment innovations that have enabled low-temperature cleaning to operate at 38°C instead of 60°C achieving significant energy reduction; using structural adhesives to replace welding that can provide a carbon footprint reduction up to 15%; as well as tin-free and solvent-free adhesive sealant innovations used for bonding and sealing applications”.

As part of its ‘Respect the Planet, Rethink Design’ campaign, Henkel will share application case studies, conduct technical presentations at industry conferences, and host sustainability innovation workshops with customers at global Inspiration and Technical Centers. To learn more, visit the company’s website. To schedule a sustainability workshop with Henkel, contact the team.

BELLEVUE, Wash., June 24, 2024 /3BL/ – The Un-carrier is painting even more towns magenta. T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) unveiled its latest 25 Hometown Grant recipients, tallying up to 300 communities across 47 states, including, for the first time, Rhode Island. The grantees will each receive up to $50,000 in funding from T-Mobile to kickstart local development projects that enhance communities, such as building adaptive playgrounds, launching small business initiatives and beautifying downtowns.

T-Mobile has provided more than $13 million in Hometown Grants since it kicked off its five-year commitment to small towns and rural communities in April 2021. To date, Hometown Grants has created more than 78,000 volunteer hours, rallying people to come together and uplift their towns.

“Hometown Grants is T-Mobile’s way of giving people in small towns a chance to build a more resilient future, and it’s incredibly inspiring to see the impact it’s had on 300 communities knowing there’s many more to come,” said Jon Freier, President, Consumer Group, T-Mobile. “When we started this program three years ago, we knew it had the power to make a difference, but to see so many people come together for their towns is truly extraordinary.”

Here are the next 25 Hometown Grant recipients and their projects:

Saraland, Ala.: Improve local park amenities and create inclusive and secure recreational spaces throughout the city for participants of all abilities to help accommodate the needs of all residents in Saraland.Thomasville, Ga.: Transform a vacant building into a gateway to The Ritz Amphitheater, seamlessly blending art, culture, and local businesses, while enhancing the identity of Downtown Thomasville’s Creative District, historically known as The Bottom.Tybee Island, Ga.: Revitalize the Tybee Post Theater’s interior, including new seating, to provide a more comfortable experience for the community and continue to support cultural events, educational programs and community engagement initiatives.Fairfield, Idaho: Build an adaptive, accessible playground at Idaho’s Medical Camp through Camp Rainbow Gold, an organization that aims to provide emotionally empowering experiences for children with cancer and their families.Salmon, Idaho: Replace fabric mesh ceiling panels at the Whitewater Therapeutic and Recreational Riding Association’s indoor riding arena to ensure continued access for recreational, cultural and therapeutic activities to the community’s youth, elderly and those with special needs.Sycamore, Ill.: Beautify downtown Sycamore by adding planter gardens for seasonal flowers outside local businesses and murals painted by local artists.Madison, Ind.: Assist in purchasing trolley vehicles, which will provide free routes around the community and between hotels and businesses for residents and visitors during conferences and special events.Pineville, Ky.: Activate an alleyway in downtown Pineville, making both the pocket park and historic theater more accessible while also adding modern conveniences.Ruston, La.: Transform the former City Pool into a community skatepark for the youth, providing a secure and inclusive environment for skaters of all ages. The conversion to a community skatepark not only meets the recreational needs of Ruston’s youth but also presents an invaluable platform for physical exertion and creative expression.Saco, Maine: Revitalize Riverfront Park by adding picnic tables, seating, bike racks and installing security cameras to provide a safe, relaxing place for the community to enjoy outdoor recreational activities along the Saco River.Three Rivers, Mich.: Renovate part of the Huss Project for a community bike shop—repairing used bikes with and for our neighbors, developing an earn-a-bike youth bike program with partners, and adding a bike-powered community compost program for our urban farm—to increase mobility, accessibility, and connectivity throughout our city.Greenville, Miss.: Launch the Delta Entrepreneurial Corridor, supporting over 300 small businesses by providing business planning resources, financial literacy programs and more.Hazlehurst, Miss.: Install a new playground with accessible, state-of-the-art playground equipment in the heart of Hazlehurst to provide a safe and fun place for children.Glasgow, Mont.: Revitalize the Children’s Museum of Northeast Montana, including new hands-on science exhibits, repairs to the building’s roof, improvements to the public restrooms and the addition of a washer and dryer, to help maintain a clean, safe environment.White Sulphur Springs, Mont.: Renovate Springs Park, including a new site design, new playground equipment, ADA-accessible parking and provide better access to the Rotary Picnic Shelter, creating a year-round safe and inclusive community space for users of all ages and abilities.Aberdeen, N.C.: Create the Aberdeen Garden Park, a first-ever greenspace including a pergola, water feature, benches, pathways and a pollinator garden for the community to enjoy.Mount Airy, N.C.: Install wayfinding signage downtown to streamline navigation, increase traffic for visitors and residents and boost local business revenue.Hartington, Neb.: Complete Phase 2 of the Cedar County Fair Grandstand, including ADA upgrades to the venue’s seating, to increase accessibility, safety and inclusivity.Bridgeton, N.J.: Build the Follow Bridgeton Media Makerspace, a state-of-the-art community center with a recording studio, video production studio, soundstage, classrooms, and coworking spaces for members of our community to engage with civic life by learning about — and creating — the local news, information, and stories that matter to them.Elmira, N.Y.: Replace two basketball courts at Pirozzolo Park to keep this vital community resource and promote physical activity and youth sports.Ithaca, N.Y.: Renovate the Community School of Music and Arts; 2nd floor Windows Abatement & Restoration ProjectBristol, R.I.: Install a historical and educational landmark within Independence Park to honor those affected by Bristol’s participation in slavery and the Transatlantic Human Trade, recognizing their contributions to Rhode Island and the nation.Giddings, Texas: Build an informational and interactive digital kiosk at Veterans Park, serving as a location finder for the Veterans Honor Wall and search tool for available community resources, services and events.Danville, Va.: Expand the backpack weekend feeding program into Pittsylvania County, adding a cargo van to transport much-needed food items to youth to increase school attendance, decrease behavioral issues and provide nutritional resources outside of the classroom.Clarkston, Wash.: Build a Learning Garden at the Heights Branch Library, including a concrete patio, a smart-scaped garden, raised garden beds for youth community gardening and StoryWalk™ book reading path, providing an outdoor space to enable educational and recreational programs for all ages and promote healthy habits and environmental responsibility.

To select Hometown Grant recipients, T-Mobile partners with Main Street America to oversee the grant program and assess applications based on their level of detail, community impact, feasibility and other considerations. Learn more about Main Street America’s work to advance shared prosperity, create resilient economies, and improve quality of life here.

T-Mobile’s commitment to small towns goes beyond Hometown Grants, with initiatives like Project 10Million, which offers internet connectivity and mobile hotspots to eligible students to help close the digital divide. Plus, T-Mobile 5G Home Internet and Business Internet give homes and businesses across the country access to reliable and affordable broadband options.

In addition, T-Mobile has awarded funds to small businesses through Hometown Grants. Since inception, more than $1 million has been allocated to fuel small business projects like revitalizing farmers’ markets, supporting business incubators and making improvements to city main streets.

As the country’s largest, fastest and most awarded 5G network, T-Mobile is all in on making sure that no community, big or small, gets left behind. Recently, T-Mobile announced expanded Ultra Capacity 5G network performance for nearly 60 million customers over nearly 300,000 square miles from Auction 108.

For more information about T-Mobile’s commitment to small towns, visit www.t-mobile.com/hometowngrants. And to see how Hometown Grants are creating change, go here.

Follow @TMobileNews on X, formerly known as Twitter, to stay up to date with the latest company news.

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T-Mobile 5G Home Internet: Not available in all areas. Delivered via 5G cellular network; speeds vary due to factors affecting cellular networks. Project 10Million: Verify National School Lunch Program eligibility at signup.

About T-Mobile

T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) is America’s supercharged Un-carrier, delivering an advanced 4G LTE and transformative nationwide 5G network that will offer reliable connectivity for all. T-Mobile’s customers benefit from its unmatched combination of value and quality, unwavering obsession with offering them the best possible service experience and undisputable drive for disruption that creates competition and innovation in wireless and beyond. Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile and Mint Mobile. For more information please visit: https://www.t-mobile.com

Media Contact 
T-Mobile US, Inc. Media Relations 
MediaRelations@t-mobile.com  

Investor Relations Contact 
T-Mobile US, Inc. 
Investor.Relations@t-mobile.com   
https://investor.t-mobile.com

BOISE, Idaho, June 24, 2024 /3BL/ – KeyBank awarded a $300,000 grant to Jesse Tree to support the organization in reducing eviction and boosting health and housing resources for low-income Treasure Valley families. Jesse Tree offers individualized support, education, and one-time rental assistance to keep Idahoans housed and empowered to find stability during a financial crisis. 

Since its founding in 1999, Jesse Tree has prevented eviction and homelessness for more than 8,000 families – that’s more than 24,000 people – and administered over $10 million in one-time rental assistance. The grant from KeyBank will be utilized to support Jesse Tree’s Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program, as well as a community health resource position to serve clients. 

ERA provides case management and financial assistance to low-income renters at a high risk of eviction and homelessness. Jesse Tree’s services include attending eviction court with tenants, negotiating agreements with landlords and their attorneys, paying outstanding rent owed, creating housing stability plans, and providing financial literacy education and employment connections. 

Since nearly one-quarter of those receiving assistance from Jesse Tree are being evicted due to health- related reasons, the organization staffs a community health resource professional focused on longer- term service and connecting clients to necessary health resources. 

“Jesse Tree’s main goal with the ERA Program is to help our neighbors avoid an eviction, which can create a lifelong barrier to securing housing and employment,” said Scott Schlange, KeyBank Idaho Market President. “This grant will help Jesse Tree keep more low-income families in the Treasure Valley housed and connected to vital health support services.” 

Jesse Tree fielded over 28,000 calls and texts and 3,500 applications in 2023, attending 1,802 eviction hearings in the Treasure Valley. 

“This funding will allow our organization to progress to meet the demand for our services,” said Ali Rabe, Executive Director of Jesse Tree. “Over the next three years, Jesse Tree will be able to grow our community health program with the support of KeyBank and continue to provide more direct emergency financial assistance to tenants facing temporary hardship. We are so grateful for this partnership with KeyBank, and their dedication to keeping our neighbors housed!” 

About Jesse Tree

 Jesse Tree was founded in 1999 in Boise, Idaho, to provide financial assistance to low-income renters at risk of homelessness. Jesse Tree’s founders had conversations with people living outside and noticed the same pattern: a temporary financial crisis coupled with a lack of support led to eviction. The solution was clear. If people had received support during their crisis, they would have never experienced homelessness. Following these conversations, Jesse Tree’s founders pooled funds to create the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program. This program provides one-time rental assistance and individualized case management services to low-income renters at risk of experiencing homelessness. The ERA program remains the organization’s main program. The primary goals are to prevent immediate housing loss and eviction by providing tenants with emergency rental assistance and to empower tenants to gain financial stability through case management. Over the last five years, 95% of clients served remain stably housed.

About KeyCorp

KeyBank’s roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, KeyCorp is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $187 billion at March 31, 2024. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,200 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications, and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is a Member FDIC. 

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CONTACT:    
Jesse Tree | Ali Rabe | 208-283-4010 | ali@jessetreeidaho.org
KeyBank | Jennifer Shermer | 303-902-9419 | Jennifer@KeetonPR.com         

SAN MATEO, Calif., June 24, 2024 /3BL/ – Franklin Templeton has released its annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report that addresses its approach to responsible corporate citizenship and outlines its efforts and accomplishments as it looks toward a better future for clients, shareholders and employees as well as the communities it serves around the world.

The fiscal year 2023 report details Franklin Templeton’s progress on the firm’s six dimensions of CSR – stewardship and sustainable investing; environment; diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I); employee experience; community engagement; and responsible corporate practices. The firm also reports sustainability data using two widely used disclosure frameworks, the Sustainable Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).

To access the report, visit the Corporate Social Responsibility page on the Franklin Resources website.

About Franklin Templeton

Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE:BEN] is a global investment management organization with subsidiaries operating as Franklin Templeton and serving clients in over 150 countries. Franklin Templeton’s mission is to help clients achieve better outcomes through investment management expertise, wealth management and technology solutions. Through its specialist investment managers, the company offers specialization on a global scale, bringing extensive capabilities in fixed income, equity, alternatives and multi-asset solutions. With more than 1,500 investment professionals, and offices in major financial markets around the world, the California-based company has over 75 years of investment experience and over $1.6 trillion in assets under management as of May 31, 2024. For more information, please visit franklintempleton.com and follow us on LinkedIn, X and Facebook.

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(Coastal Conservation Association Florida issued the following news release on June 5, 2024.)

The team deployed 2 million clams in the IRL using state-of-the-art drone for precise distribution

EDGEWATER, Fla., June 24, 2024 /3BL/ – Coastal Conservation Association Florida (CCA Florida), the state’s leading organization dedicated to marine fisheries conservation, education and advocacy, joined Duke Energy, Capt. Blair Wiggins of Indian River Lagoon Clam Restoration Project, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and University of Florida (UF) Whitney Lab at the Riverside Conservancy Center to deploy 2 million clams using patented drone and continue their efforts for the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) Billion Clam Initiative.

The Billion Clam Initiative focuses on revitalizing and preserving the delicate ecosystem in the IRL by using state-of-the-art technology to systematically distribute clams on a large-scale basis.

The advantage of spreading clams with a drone will help overcome predation pressures and enable larger numbers of clams to be restored to the IRL. Drone distribution will also help plant clams in specific locations and densities, vastly accelerating the maturation process when compared to manual spreading.

“The Billion Clam Initiative is a broad-scale, science-backed collaborative effort that is using innovative technologies to drop millions of clams into the IRL.” CCA Florida Director of Habitat and Environmental Restoration Frank Gidus said. “We are proud to work with our awesome partners, like the Duke Energy Mariculture Center, as our efforts are improving the water quality in the Lagoon for today and generations to come.”

Since 2017, the partners have planted 40 million clams in the IRL. To help kickstart the Billion Clam Initiative, CCA Florida and the Duke Energy donated $100,000 in October 2023.

“Duke Energy’s Crystal River Mariculture Center has grown into one of Florida’s most successful fish hatcheries and conservation allies,” said Sharon Arroyo, Duke Energy Florida vice president of government and community relations. “To date, Duke Energy and its Mariculture Center, with help from CCA Florida, have released nearly 5 million fish and crustaceans along Florida’s coasts and has donated approximately $200,000 worth of submerged aquatic vegetation for habitat restoration projects in lakes, springs and shorelines across the state. Thanks to an outstanding collaboration with CCA Florida and others, we’ve been able to expand this work and revitalize and preserve even more of Florida’s most precious ecosystems.” 

Clams are filter feeders, removing excess nutrients from inshore coastal waters, as a result, creating clearer water. Improved water clarity allows more sunlight to penetrate the ecosystem and supports the growth of essential seagrasses, a vital need for the IRL. The restorative work from the clam planting will form the foundation for rebuilding shellfish populations, benefitting the needs for today and tomorrow.

About CCA Florida

The Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) was founded in 1977 after drastic commercial overfishing along the Texas coast decimated redfish and speckled trout populations. One of 19 state chapters, CCA Florida became the fifth state chapter in 1985. A 501(c)3 non-profit, the purpose of CCA is to advise and educate the public on conservation of marine resources. Through habitat restoration projects, water quality initiatives and fisheries advocacy, CCA Florida works with its over 18,000 members including recreational anglers and outdoor enthusiasts to conserve and enhance marine resources and coastal environments. Join the conversation on Facebook or learn more at ccaflorida.org.

About Duke Energy Florida

Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 12,300 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. The company’s electric utilities serve 8.4 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an ambitious clean energy transition, keeping reliability, affordability and accessibility at the forefront as the company works toward net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050.

The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including expanded energy storage, renewables, natural gas and nuclear.

More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition.

Duke Energy Media contact: Audrey Stasko 
Media line: 800.559.3853

CCA Media Contact: Mary Hillyer Peelen Walther 
Phone: 407.617.0604 
Email: mhpwalther@ccaflorida.org

View original content here.

International Olympic Committee news

Thirty-six athletes from 11 different countries, hosted by 15 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and competing across 12 sports were named today as members of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team for Paris 2024. The announcement was made by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, Thomas Bach, during a live-streamed ceremony from Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland. Appearing at the Olympic Games for the third time, the IOC Refugee Olympic Team will represent the more than 100 million displaced people around the world.

“We welcome all of you with open arms. You are an enrichment to our Olympic Community, and to our societies. With your participation in the Olympic Games, you will demonstrate the human potential of resilience and excellence. This will send a message of hope to the more than 100 million displaced people around the world.”

Thomas Bach IOC President

“At the same time, you will make billions of people around the world aware of the magnitude of the refugee crisis. Therefore, I encourage everyone, around the world, to join us in cheering for you – the IOC Refugee Olympic Team,” IOC President Thomas Bach said, when addressing all of the team members, who had joined the meeting virtually.

The composition of the team was approved by the IOC Executive Board (EB) and was based on a number of criteria including, first and foremost, each athlete’s sporting performance and their refugee status as verified by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. Beyond that, the team represents the more than 100 million displaced people around the world. Consideration has also been given to a balanced representation of sport and gender, as well as the spread of countries of origin. The full list of athletes is available here.

Chef de Mission for the Refugee Olympic Team Masomah Ali Zada, who competed for the Refugee Olympic Team at Tokyo 2020, and was present today during the ceremony, welcomed the athletes: “All of you had a dream, and today your dream to compete at the Olympic Games is closer than ever. With all the challenges that you have faced, you now have a chance to inspire a new generation, represent something bigger than yourselves and show the world what refugees are capable of.”

“I want to tell you: this will be your moment in Paris, enjoy it. I am looking forward to working with all of you to make this the experience of a lifetime.”

Masomah Ali Zada Chef de Mission for the Refugee Olympic Team

The vast majority of the athletes were selected from among the refugee athletes supported by the IOC through the Refugee Athletes Scholarship Programme, funded by the IOC’s Olympic Solidarity programme and managed by the Olympic Refuge Foundation. The 36 selected athletes are hosted by the National Olympic Committees of Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and USA. They will compete in athletics, badminton, boxing, breaking, canoeing, cycling, judo, sport shooting, swimming, taekwondo, weightlifting and wrestling.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said: “The Refugee Olympic Team should remind us of the resilience, courage and hopes of all those uprooted by war and persecution. These athletes represent what human beings can do, even in the face of extreme adversity.”

“The team also reminds us that sport can be transformative for people whose lives have been disrupted in often harrowing circumstances. Transformative not just for Olympians, but for everyone. Sport can offer respite, an escape from daily worries, a sense of safety, a moment of enjoyment. It can give people the chance to heal physically and mentally, and become part of a community again.”

Filippo Grandi UN High Commissioner for Refugees

An emblem for the 100 million

For the first time, the Refugee Olympic Team will compete under its own team emblem – a unifying symbol bringing together diverse athletes and giving the team its own unique identity.

Hailing from different corners of the world, each team member is an individual with their own story. Like the 100 million they stand for, they also have the shared, lived, experience of their journeys – the emblem aims to convey this through its way marker arrow design.

At the centre of the emblem there is a heart, originating from the Olympic Refuge Foundation logo, to represent the belonging the team hopes to inspire and that athletes and displaced people around the world have found through sport.

Ms Ali Zada said: “This emblem brings us all together. We are all unified by our experience – though all different, we have all had a journey to get to where we are. The athletes are not representing a specific country, they are representing the Refugee Olympic Team – having our own emblem creates a sense of belonging and empowers us to also stand for the population of more than 100 million people who share this same experience. I cannot wait to wear it proudly!”

From the Olympic Games to supporting displaced people at all levels

Supporting refugees and displaced populations remains a key priority for the IOC, and is part of Recommendation 11 of Olympic Agenda 2020+5. The Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF) was established in 2017 to build on this commitment. The Foundation functions in lieu of a traditional National Olympic Committee, managing the Refugee Athlete Scholarship-holders and the IOC Refugee Olympic Team for Paris 2024.

In addition to supporting elite athletes in their participation in the Olympic Games, the ORF works to provide access to safe sport for people affected by displacement worldwide. Through partnerships or its programmes across the globe, the ORF aims to build a movement where displaced people can enjoy the benefit of sports, wherever they may be, and through which sports can be adopted at all levels as a tool for supporting for refugees.

Since its inception in 2017, the work of the ORF has resulted in almost 400,000 young people being able to access safe sport. More than 1,600 coaches have been trained in delivering safe sport sessions, and its programmes have supported young people in 11 countries across all five continents.

Refugee Olympic Team Media Kit and Factsheet

Follow their journey on social media

As the 36 athletes prepare to compete at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, their progress can be followed on social media:

Refugee Olympic Team – XRefugee Olympic Team – InstagramRefugee Olympic Team – FacebookOlympic Refuge Foundation – LinkedIn

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The International Olympic Committee is a not-for-profit, civil, non-governmental, international organisation made up of volunteers which is committed to building a better world through sport. It redistributes more than 90 per cent of its income to the wider sporting movement, which means that every day the equivalent of USD 4.2 million goes to help athletes and sports organisations at all levels around the world.

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For more information, please contact the IOC Media Relations Team:
Tel: +41 21 621 6000, email: pressoffice@olympic.org, or visit our web site at www.ioc.org.

Broadcast quality footage

The IOC Newsroom: https://newsroom.olympics.com/

Videos

YouTube: www.youtube.com/iocmedia

Photos

For an extensive selection of photos available shortly after each event, please follow us on Flickr.

To request archive photos and footage, please contact our Images team at: images@olympic.org.

Social media

For up-to-the-minute information on the IOC and regular updates, please follow us on X and YouTube.

Everybody knows someone, at least that’s what the statistics reveal. Currently, there are nearly 49 million Americans living with a substance use disorder in the U.S. Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals there were more than 107,543 U.S. drug-related deaths last year. Additionally, according to a study by RAND Corp, more than 40 percent of Americans know someone who died from an overdose.

However, these are not just numbers. These numbers represent lives – our children, siblings, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, coworkers, and neighbors. And, a substance use disorder, a treatable chronic disease, knows no boundaries. It is impacting all sectors of society.

There is strong evidence that investing in drug prevention and addiction treatment makes good financial sense. The ongoing existence of addiction is more expensive than the cost of treating it. Not only would investments in treatment result in the rehabilitation of millions of people with substance use disorders, but it would also save the American people billions of dollars through improved workplace productivity, reduced criminal justice costs, and reduced medical costs. According to a recent study from Fors Marsh, a certified B Corp that conducts and implements research to solve complex challenges for public and private sector clients, substance use results in $740 billion in total costs nationally each year. If there was a greater investment, society would start to see the numbers reduce.

Most importantly, people need to understand that people with substance use disorders should not be defined by their disease and that with the right treatment, people can and do recover every single day.

For families needing support for someone who has a substance use disorder, here are a few recommendations to keep in mind:

Step #1: How to determine the right treatment 
Is the person willing to receive help? If so, there is often a short window of willingness and so one needs to move fast to get them the help they need while they are still willing to receive help.

A person can take an assessment to find out what level of care is needed for themselves or a loved one. Not everyone needs 28-day in-patient care. It is also necessary for many people to go to detox first —detoxing on one’s own from alcohol or benzodiazepines can be fatal.

Step #2: Find and compare treatment centers 
Once a person knows the suggested level of care, they can continue with Shatterproof Treatment Atlas to provide options and start making phone calls to secure a bed or a space in an intensive outpatient program. Treatment Atlas is a confidential and free nonprofit platform that helps someone find treatment facilities that provide appropriate, high-quality addiction treatment. The platform also helps determine the necessary treatment based on:

Location of the program,Facility protocol to follow best practices,Known information on insurance and alternate methods of payment selected,What groups are served and,The types of treatment services offered.

Step #3: Review insurance plan benefits and coverage 
Insurance coverage for addiction treatment varies by a person’s plan and where they live. It’s complicated but it’s doable. A person can find most of these online through their insurance portal’s website. They are called “certificates of coverage.” An insurance provider can answer any questions and that number can be found on the back of an insurance card.

Conclusion 
While investing in care, there are several ways to address substance use, reduce its costs to society, improve public health, and help individuals achieve stable, long-term recovery and become productive members of society.

By ensuring loved ones have access to resources, we can change how communities support and treat people impacted by substance use disorders.

Addiction can and should be treated with science and compassion – the way we do with any other chronic illness – and we hope that you can invest your time and resources in the same way.

Gary Mendell is the founder and CEO of Shatterproof, a national nonprofit that guides society, especially families, through the complexities of a substance use disorder; informs the public on prevention, treatment and recovery from addiction; and educates the public to reduce the stigma of addiction and ensure that everyone who uses substances or has a substance use disorder can have a full and successful life in recovery.

After losing his son Brian to addiction, Mendell founded Shatterproof to spare other families the pain his had experienced.

Mendell is a frequent speaker on how our society can end the stigma unjustly associated with addiction, including testifying in front of the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis and before the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance on Treating Substance Misuse in America. He has also been honored numerous times for his leadership related to reversing the course of the opioid epidemic. He has been a guest several times on CNBC and MSNBC to provide his perspective on commonsense solutions to the opioid epidemic, and his opinions are frequently reflected in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.

Logitech Blog

It’s June, that time of year when many of us don our rainbow flag t-shirts, stake out prime spots at local Pride parades, and select the perfect tracks for our Pride party playlists. It’s also a time to remember that Pride is much more than parties and rainbows. It’s a celebration of hard-won queer joy and visibility, and a protest against the forces still working to dehumanize the LGBTQ community and deny them fundamental human rights.

For me, as the proud mom of a trans daughter, Pride month is a reminder to take stock of my role as an ally and ask whether I am truly doing all I can to create a world where my daughter and other trans kids can grow up with the same rights that the rest of us take for granted. And one thing I know for sure is that to be an ally requires more than the occasional social media “like” and a rainbow flag. To be an ally is to take action; to vote, to volunteer and perhaps most importantly to speak up–especially when it’s uncomfortable, when your voice wavers and your knees shake (mine sometimes still do).

This principle of active allyship holds true both for people and the companies where many of us work. In 2022, Logitech launched a partnership with GLAAD, the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization. Logitech’s partnership with GLAAD focuses on the intersection of LGBTQ representation and technology. Recently, I joined many of my Logitech colleagues and Blair Durkee, Associate Director of GLAAD Gaming as she shared the groundbreaking results of GLAAD’s inaugural Gaming Report, which Logitech sponsored.

The groundbreaking report revealed that LGBTQ people are a large and enthusiastic part of the gaming community (1 in 5 active gamers is LGBTQ) and yet, are all but absent from gaming content (less than 2% of gaming content includes LGBTQ stories). While these stats don’t surprise me – the mom of an LGBTQ gamer who joyfully shares each rare instance of LGBTQ and gender expansive content she comes across – the report sent shockwaves through the industry. By taking action, in partnership with GLAAD, we are mobilizing some of the largest players in gaming. It’s not just the right thing to do, it’s smart business to create content relevant to people who make up 20% (and quickly growing) of your audience.

Blazing the trail for representation in gaming is just one example of Logitech’s active allyship. We spoke up to support marriage equality in Switzerland. In the US, we joined 300+ companies like Microsoft, Sony and General Motors to publicly oppose the onslaught of state laws undermining the rights of LGBTQ people, and in 2023 we joined a coalition of businesses condemning extremist threats against companies celebrating Pride. At Logitech, we actively live our value of equality by standing vocally and consistently with LGBTQ people everywhere.

As we celebrate Pride 2024, the human rights of the LGBTQ community are under attack. Over 65 countries criminalize LGBTQ relationships between consenting adults, and last year in the US over 500 laws targeting LGBTQ people were proposed and nearly 100 were signed into law. I’ll be honest, I lose sleep over these numbers. I also know that action is far more effective than worry, and I am energized and proud to be part of a company that is an active ally 365 days a year. We have the power as people and as members of the corporate community to write the history that we want to be part of. Let’s celebrate Pride 2024 with action.

Originally published on Rayonier.com

We believe that having the right mix of capabilities now, as well as building a strong and diverse pipeline of talent for the future, is vital to our continued success. We have initiated a variety of outreach and educational programs designed to raise awareness about our company, as well as the broader forestry sector, among students of all ages.

Internship Program

We take great pride in offering annual college internship opportunities within both our U.S. and New Zealand operations. Through our internships, we have the privilege of mentoring and supporting the development of the next generation of leaders, while also cultivating a robust pipeline of talent for future roles. Our internships provide students with a comprehensive introduction to our company, its operations, and its unique culture. Interns gain valuable insights into the wide range of roles and career opportunities available to them, helping them to make informed decisions as they plan for their future.

In 2022, we had a total of 11 students participating in our internship program, with nine based in the U.S. and two in New Zealand. These interns included three underrepresented ethnic and gender-diverse students. Interns held positions within our forestry operations, business development, GIS, technology, portfolio management, silviculture research, and accounting departments. Our interns are provided competitive pay and a number of benefits such as holiday pay, a housing allowance, and phone stipends. Annually, in the U.S., we fund two forestry scholarships through Alabama A&M University, a historically black university, and the University of Florida. These scholarships center on fostering greater inclusion and diversity. In addition, each of our New Zealand interns received a scholarship to support their future studies. We view this program as an important component of our broader efforts to both attract the best candidates and promote diversity in the forestry sector. 

Educational Initiatives

Our educational initiatives, which also serve as a resource for recruiting talented and diverse candidates include: 

Funding forestry awareness programs Participation in youth educational programs throughout our communities Supporting and funding forestry undergraduate and graduate students and programs 

For more information on responsible stewardship at Rayonier, visit our website. To view our current Sustainability Report in full, click here.

Originally published on Rayonier.com

We believe that having the right mix of capabilities now, as well as building a strong and diverse pipeline of talent for the future, is vital to our continued success. We have initiated a variety of outreach and educational programs designed to raise awareness about our company, as well as the broader forestry sector, among students of all ages.

Internship Program

We take great pride in offering annual college internship opportunities within both our U.S. and New Zealand operations. Through our internships, we have the privilege of mentoring and supporting the development of the next generation of leaders, while also cultivating a robust pipeline of talent for future roles. Our internships provide students with a comprehensive introduction to our company, its operations, and its unique culture. Interns gain valuable insights into the wide range of roles and career opportunities available to them, helping them to make informed decisions as they plan for their future.

In 2022, we had a total of 11 students participating in our internship program, with nine based in the U.S. and two in New Zealand. These interns included three underrepresented ethnic and gender-diverse students. Interns held positions within our forestry operations, business development, GIS, technology, portfolio management, silviculture research, and accounting departments. Our interns are provided competitive pay and a number of benefits such as holiday pay, a housing allowance, and phone stipends. Annually, in the U.S., we fund two forestry scholarships through Alabama A&M University, a historically black university, and the University of Florida. These scholarships center on fostering greater inclusion and diversity. In addition, each of our New Zealand interns received a scholarship to support their future studies. We view this program as an important component of our broader efforts to both attract the best candidates and promote diversity in the forestry sector. 

Educational Initiatives

Our educational initiatives, which also serve as a resource for recruiting talented and diverse candidates include: 

Funding forestry awareness programs Participation in youth educational programs throughout our communities Supporting and funding forestry undergraduate and graduate students and programs 

For more information on responsible stewardship at Rayonier, visit our website. To view our current Sustainability Report in full, click here.