Tag: 3BL

International Olympic Committee news

As the first Games fully aligned with Olympic Agenda 2020, Paris 2024 is showing how bringing the Games to a country can bring social, economic and health benefits to its people. The legacy of Paris 2024 is already visible across the nation – from getting people more involved in sport to creating equal economic opportunities for everyone and catering to the needs of local communities.

Sport for health and education

The Paris 2024 “Bouger Plus” (Move More) campaign aims to bring more sport to more people, as part of an ambition to combat sedentary lifestyles and obesity – a growing issue among the French population.

Paris 2024 successfully advocated and supported the implementation of a daily 30-minute exercise period at all French schools. Adopted as a national policy, the campaign is being progressively introduced into all 36,250 primary schools. The positive impact of daily exercise on pupils is already visible, with 94 per cent of teachers reporting an improvement in children’s well-being, attention and concentration.

To further promote physical activity among young French people, schools and higher education establishments can be awarded the Generation 2024 label, recognising their joint efforts with local authorities and sports clubs to actively foster sports practice. So far, more than 8,700 schools and higher education establishments across the nation have obtained the label.

In Seine-Saint-Denis, where half of kids aged 11 do not know how to swim, Paris 2024 has offered free swimming and water safety lessons to more than 9,400 children since 2020. The “1,2,3 Nagez!” (1,2,3 Swim!) project has now reached kids across the whole of France, teaching more than 26,000 children essential swimming skills.

The Terre de Jeux 2024 label, meanwhile, brings local authorities, sports clubs, federations and leagues together to collaborate on projects that promote the Games and get people in France more involved in sport. More than 50,000 projects have been facilitated by partnerships under the Terre de Jeux accreditation.

And Paris 2024 set up the first-ever Olympic legacy-focused investment fund, Impact 2024, to finance projects that promote health, well-being, education, inclusion, equality and environmental improvements. With EUR 47 million in funding distributed, the endowment fund has supported more than 1,100 grassroots projects to date.

Social and economic legacy

In line with its “Games wide open” slogan, Paris 2024 is creating equal economic opportunities for everyone. Aiming for more inclusive, more responsible and more sustainable Games, it developed a Social Charter, a first in Olympic host history.

The Social Charter was signed in 2019 by public and private stakeholders, trade unions and employer organisations, and its 16 commitments focus on decent working conditions, social inclusion and ensuring small- and medium-sized enterprises get access to project contracts.

The Social Charter commitments are clearly being met, as some 181,000 people have found employment in Games-related jobs. As for keeping it local, 90 per cent of the Paris 2024 Games suppliers are French, while 78 per cent of them are small- and medium-sized businesses, with more than 500 local businesses from the social and solidarity economy (ESS).

Venue legacy

As per Olympic Agenda 2020, the Games adapt to host city needs, and not the other way around. To reduce cost and carbon emissions, hosts are required to prioritise existing and temporary venues and only build new infrastructure where there is a long-term need for it, and to the highest sustainability standards possible.

The location of one of the few venues built for the Games, the Aquatics Centre, is a strategic choice. Located at the heart of Seine-Saint-Denis, which lacks sports facilities and where one in every two 11-year-olds cannot swim, the venue will become a multi-sports facility after the Games, catering to the needs of the local population over the long term.

After hosting 15,000 athletes from over 200 nations, the Olympic Village will provide more than 2,800 new homes to the local population. A quarter of these new apartments will become public housing, and the rest will be rented out at affordable prices for low-income residents. Additional offices, shops, restaurants and leisure centres on site are planned, with the hope being to reduce the unemployment rate in the district, which currently exceeds 20 per cent.

This blog is part of our focus on Cisco employees who are “Striving for Sustainability” by finding opportunities to integrate sustainability in their day-to-day work.

When I announced the company’s next generation environmental sustainability strategy, The Plan for Possible, last July, it led Cisco employees to wonder how to further integrate sustainability into their work. And this can be done in many ways, no matter what area you work in.

Meet Pelin Salem. She is a Radio Regulatory Technical Leader at Cisco who spearheaded an initiative on test optimization at Cisco to reduce testing time, improve energy efficiency, and help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. She shares more about her interest in sustainability, her professional background, and how collaboration is vital when developing new climate solutions.

When did your interest in sustainability begin?

Pelin: I have always been connected to nature and animals, volunteering for environmental and animal welfare causes. As a 7th grader, I served on the youth leadership team for a Turkish non-governmental organization (NGO) known as the TEMA Foundation (The Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion). I organized a youth march to protest the pollution generated by an iron and steel works factory, which was very well received and helped the community acknowledge that the next generation is trying to do something good and help.

Later in my life, while living in Sonoma, California, during the fall of 2017 with my then 6-month-old daughter, we experienced the fear of a natural disaster when a fire burned down half of the surrounding neighborhoods, and ash rained from the sky for weeks. It was very heartbreaking, and several of our friends and colleagues woke up in the middle of the night to their houses burning, and they had to run away barefoot from their homes and lost everything they owned. It was a difficult time to see everyone suffer, and there were aftereffects, like the air quality not improving for several months in that region. Since climate change can exacerbate natural disasters like wildfires, I knew we could not continue what we were doing. It made me realize that I should do my absolute best to support sustainability initiatives.

Tell us more about your professional journey and what brought you to Cisco.

Pelin: My journey began with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering (EE), then I immersed myself in the defense industry while pursuing my master’s degree in EE. However, academia beckoned, and I seized the opportunity to embark on a Ph.D. journey. When my husband was offered a position at a newly established international research institution, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia, I paused my studies to join him. At KAUST, I delved into bioscience pursuing a second master’s degree, driven by a desire to merge my radio frequency (RF) expertise with biomedical research that could make a positive impact on humankind. After a rewarding break to focus on raising my daughter and completing my Ph.D., I found my professional home at Cisco in January 2019. The company’s supportive culture and leadership resonate deeply with me, and I envision it as where I’ll build my future career and retire someday.

Can you explain how you started your work supporting sustainability at Cisco?

Pelin: I currently work as a Radio Regulatory Technical Leader within the Corporate Compliance team under the Product and Component Operations Team. Prior to my current role, I served as a New Product Introduction Test Development Engineer within the Industrial Internet of Things business unit (IOTBU). During my time in the IOTBU, I focused on designing manufacturing test lines in the factories for new products. This involved close collaboration with our manufacturing partners to design efficient test lines.

Cisco’s commitment to quality meant rigorous testing of products, which contributed to GHG emissions, especially in energy-intensive testing areas like the 2-Corner and 4-Corner test sections where the manufactured Cisco products are tested at the high-low temperature and voltage specification limits to support top performance at the edges of the defined operational conditions. 2-Corner testing is done at High Temperature – High Voltage and Low Temperature – Low Voltage corners, whereas 4-Corner testing has additional corners as follows: High Temperature – Low Voltage and Low Temperature – High Voltage. Limited capacity in these areas could lead to delays in production schedules.

To tackle these challenges, I initiated the “Test Optimization Dashboard” project in March 2021. This project aimed to automate and visualize the impact of test optimization efforts, reducing the time needed for optimization and increasing team enthusiasm. Working closely with sustainability subject matter experts (SMEs), we developed methods to measure GHG emissions reductions resulting from optimization.

After successful pilots, I presented our findings to executives, gaining support for wider implementation across business units. Transitioning to automated workflows streamlined the optimization process, significantly reducing manual entry. Collaborating with experts, we developed plans for further improvements, including an artificial intelligence (AI)-based model to estimate energy consumption.

Our ongoing efforts include collecting data to train AI models for GHG emissions tracking. By highlighting the environmental impact of testing processes and advocating for optimization, we aim to advance sustainability, product quality and innovation.

This sounds like a complex project. What kind of support did you receive for it?

I am grateful for all the SMEs collaborating with me on this Cisco-wide effort. Cisco has top talent in such diverse areas, and I feel privileged to know them and get to work with them. My current organization was also supportive and provided me with the space to continue contributing to Cisco’s sustainability goals beyond my “regular job” duties.

I am forever grateful that our Executive Vice President and General Manager of Cisco Networking Jonathan Davidson opened such important doors for me and this project, and his support was invaluable for the Test Optimization Dashboard to reach a 75% enablement rate across Cisco. Receiving invaluable support and guidance from my executive mentors and sponsors immensely helped ideate, locate resources, and develop solutions that can help advance sustainability in manufacturing processes.

We know it takes a multifaceted approach when it comes to sustainability. What can Cisco employees do in their day-to-day jobs to help reduce our company’s environmental impact?

Pelin: Everybody can do so much. For example, Cisco has a goal that 100% of new Cisco products and packaging incorporate Circular Design Principles by Cisco´s fiscal year 2025. And, in another example, packaging engineers are helping to eliminate plastic bags, papers, and remove accessory items that are not required for a standard configuration in our packaging wherever possible.

Some engineers at Cisco work on IoT technology used in smart building technology that senses when lights should be turned off or blinds should be lowered. And our operations team moved away from paper cups and other single-use items in our break rooms and cafeterias.

Is there anything you do in your personal life to be more sustainable, and if so, what advice do you have for others?

Pelin: At home, I prioritize sustainability by reducing waste, conserving energy, choosing environmentally friendly products, supporting local and organic options, minimizing water usage, utilizing lower-emissions transportation (driving an electric vehicle or using public transit, keeping flight GHG emission scores under consideration when choosing flights, etc.). I also educate my daughter (who just turned 7) on making better choices for the planet.

Let’s start small with actions like recycling properly, conserving energy, and supporting local businesses. Every effort, no matter how small, helps to contribute to a more sustainable future.

Thank you for giving me this opportunity to share my story and I hope it will be inspiring for others to start making change for a more sustainable future within their domains.

View original content here.

June 28, 2024 /3BL/ – A new report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) revealed that more than a year of conflict has caused the worst levels of acute food insecurity in Sudan’s history and one of the worst in the world. Across ten states, approximately 755,000 people are suffering famine-like conditions (IPC Phase 5), and 8.5 million people are experiencing emergency levels of hunger (IPC Phase 4). To date, more than 10 million people have been displaced, with two million fleeing to other countries.

“We are deeply shocked by the dire situation affecting millions of Sudanese,” said Samy Guessabi, Action Against Hunger’s Sudan Country Director. “This situation is especially critical for populations trapped in conflict zones and without access to protection.”

The civil war, which broke out in April 2023, led to an unprecedented deterioration of food security, with more than 25.6 million people – more than half of the country’s population – expected to face crisis or worse conditions (IPC Phase 3 or higher) between June and September 2024, which coincides with the lean season. Famine-like conditions already have swept through Greater Darfur, South and North Kordofan, Blue Nile, Al Jazirah, Khartoum, and five other states. There is a real risk of famine in 14 areas if the conflict escalates.

The conflict has also devastated key infrastructure, health care facilities, water and sanitation services, agricultural lands and other assets. Movement is severely restricted and most people who can access markets are unable to purchase basic necessities due to inflation. Food prices have increased by up to 296% since the start of the conflict for some commodities.

Although hunger has increased, funding has not kept pace. Action Against Hunger is urgently appealing to governments, international organizations and donors to increase their support and solidarity with Sudan.

“The magnitude of this crisis requires a coordinated and sustained response to avoid an even greater humanitarian catastrophe,” said Guessabi.

About Action Against Hunger in Sudan

Action Against Hunger has been working in Sudan since 2018. Since the start of the conflict, Action Against Hunger teams have intensified emergency response efforts. Operating in White Nile, Blue Nile, South Kordofan and Central Darfur, teams supported nearly half a million people last year alone. Despite difficult security conditions, the organization continues to provide food assistance, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene services, and protection, especially to women and girls, as they face increased risk of gender-based and sexual violence when trying to access resources and humanitarian aid.

About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 28 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 55 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

Our snacks are made safely, responsibly and mindfully. It’s how our consumers can feel confident that the snacks they consumer and enjoy are safe and high quality.

In 2023, we continued having a high percentage of our manufacturers and suppliers certified to food safety schemes that are benchmarked by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). This further supports our ability to offer consumers safe, high-quality snacks they can enjoy and feel good about.

2023 PROGRESS2020202120222023Internal manufacturing certified GFSI 100 %100 %100 %100 %External manufacturing certified GFSI 94 %97 %99 %99 %Raw material supplier certified GFSI 100 %100 %100 %100 %Food contact packaging suppliers certified GFSI 97 %98 %97 %97 %

 

MAINTAINING HIGH STANDARDS

We design consumer safety into all our products right from the outset so they are safe for consumption. To do so, we use a comprehensive quality management system to set standards that ensure the integrity of our snacks and their ingredients.

This includes advanced, science-based risk identification and management processes that help us assess and control factors that could potentially compromise processes and finished products, covering ingredients and packaging alike.

Our management standards covering raw materials, processes and end products are of the highest quality. And our food safety systems are based on the internationally recognized and recommended Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system.

Altogether, our comprehensive approach to safety means our consumers can continue to trust our products.

REGULAR TRAINING AND REVIEWS

Giving our people ongoing training is an important aspect of embedding our standards into our business. In 2023, we trained approximately 8,800 employees and approximately 4,200 suppliers on issues concerning food quality and safety. And auditors of our manufacturing sites and suppliers alike review training records to confirm that all relevant training is completed and recorded.

We review our product quality policies every year based on industry benchmarking and best practices. We also make our own supplier quality expectations publicly available.

GLOBAL FOOD SAFETY SCIENTISTS

Many of our food safety scientists are subject matter experts on the boards of global standard-setting organizations such as the Food Allergy Research and Resource Program (FARRP), European Hygienic Engineering and Design Group (EHDG) and the GFSI.

CHAMPIONING GLOBAL FOOD SAFETY

We are proud to be part of the GFSI as it continues to benchmark and raise food safety standards around the world. Since joining the GFSI in 2006, we have implemented its schemes at all of our plants and expect our suppliers to do so as well. We promote our participation in GFSI with our stakeholders and across the industry.

We support food safety at the highest level of our organization: Our Chairman and CEO is currently co-chair of the CGF Food Safety Coalition, which helps steward the food safety agenda across the world.

View the full 2023 Snacking Made Right Report

June 28, 2024 /3BL/ – Ceres strongly denounces today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn the 1984 decision in Chevron v. National Resources Defense Council. Known as the “Chevron Deference” ruling, the decision overturns a 40-year legal precedent that allowed experts at federal agencies to resolve ambiguities in laws passed by U.S. Congress. Today’s decision to dismantle the longstanding “Chevron Deference” limits federal agencies’ ability to interpret and enforce statutes they administer.

Ceres CEO and President Mindy Lubber said in a statement:

“This devastating decision will hamper federal efforts to strengthen the economy while protecting the environment, vulnerable communities, and public health. Businesses, investors, and individuals rely upon and support the certainty evidence-based and data-driven decisions from agencies provide to comply with complex laws. The data collected and analyzed by agency experts comes after extensive public stakeholder comment as part of the rulemaking process. The court system is simply not equipped to make these decisions. This is the key role of experts within government agencies, and they are best qualified to make decisions about complex technical and scientific matters that require specialized knowledge and expertise.

Today’s decision will lead to the challenge of more regulations in already overwhelmed lower courts, and inject more uncertainty as businesses make major long-term investment decisions that bring benefits to communities across the country. Federal agencies must have the authority to interpret ambiguous statutes and to take decisive and timely action, neither Congress nor the courts can act as quickly or thoroughly as these agencies.”

In April, Ceres published a report on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s track record on such decision-making, which confirmed the integrity of its analysis and market predictions in four separate regulatory Clean Air Act programs.

Today’s decision comes one day after another devastating ruling from the Supreme Court that blocked the EPA’s ‘Good Neighbor Plan.’ The plan aims to reduce emissions from power plants and other industrial sources contributing to air pollution in downwind states.

About Ceres

Ceres is a nonprofit advocacy organization working to accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more just, and sustainable world. United under a shared vision, our powerful networks of investors and companies are proving sustainability is the bottom line—changing markets and sectors from the inside out. For more information, visit ceres.org.

Media Contact: Diane May, dmay@ceres.org, 617-247-0700 ext. 220

June 28, 2024 /3BL/ – Ceres strongly denounces today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn the 1984 decision in Chevron v. National Resources Defense Council. Known as the “Chevron Deference” ruling, the decision overturns a 40-year legal precedent that allowed experts at federal agencies to resolve ambiguities in laws passed by U.S. Congress. Today’s decision to dismantle the longstanding “Chevron Deference” limits federal agencies’ ability to interpret and enforce statutes they administer.

Ceres CEO and President Mindy Lubber said in a statement:

“This devastating decision will hamper federal efforts to strengthen the economy while protecting the environment, vulnerable communities, and public health. Businesses, investors, and individuals rely upon and support the certainty evidence-based and data-driven decisions from agencies provide to comply with complex laws. The data collected and analyzed by agency experts comes after extensive public stakeholder comment as part of the rulemaking process. The court system is simply not equipped to make these decisions. This is the key role of experts within government agencies, and they are best qualified to make decisions about complex technical and scientific matters that require specialized knowledge and expertise.

Today’s decision will lead to the challenge of more regulations in already overwhelmed lower courts, and inject more uncertainty as businesses make major long-term investment decisions that bring benefits to communities across the country. Federal agencies must have the authority to interpret ambiguous statutes and to take decisive and timely action, neither Congress nor the courts can act as quickly or thoroughly as these agencies.”

In April, Ceres published a report on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s track record on such decision-making, which confirmed the integrity of its analysis and market predictions in four separate regulatory Clean Air Act programs.

Today’s decision comes one day after another devastating ruling from the Supreme Court that blocked the EPA’s ‘Good Neighbor Plan.’ The plan aims to reduce emissions from power plants and other industrial sources contributing to air pollution in downwind states.

About Ceres

Ceres is a nonprofit advocacy organization working to accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more just, and sustainable world. United under a shared vision, our powerful networks of investors and companies are proving sustainability is the bottom line—changing markets and sectors from the inside out. For more information, visit ceres.org.

Media Contact: Diane May, dmay@ceres.org, 617-247-0700 ext. 220

PRINCETON, N.J., June 28, 2024 /3BL/ – Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) has been named to the prestigious 2023 Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) North America, validating the company’s meaningful progress, evolved strategy and aspirational goals toward its environmental, social and governance efforts.

BMS has made significant strides toward their ESG goals, including efforts to increase workforce representation, reduce environmental impact, enhance data privacy and cyber security programs and establish principles for responsible artificial intelligence.

Additionally, the company has strengthened corporate governance by incorporating new ESG metrics into executive compensation.

The DJSI North America represents the top 20% of the largest 600 North American companies in the S&P Global Broad Market Index who have demonstrated outstanding performance across economic, environmental and social criteria. The index is a widely respected benchmark for investors who integrate sustainability considerations into their portfolios.

“BMS is committed to driving long-term business value and continuously improving our ESG performance,” said Korab Zuka, vice president, Purpose and ESG, Bristol Myers Squibb. “The recognition by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America honors the company’s efforts to enhance our sustainability practices and positively impact the health of people, society and the planet.”

BMS’ ESG strategy focuses on advancing patient health and fostering a high-performing, inclusive workforce, while expanding the boundaries of science and reducing environmental impact.

Learn more about BMS’ ESG strategy and commitments in its 2023 ESG Report.

About Bristol Myers Squibb 

Bristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information about Bristol Myers Squibb, visit us at BMS.com or follow us on LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.

PRINCETON, N.J., June 28, 2024 /3BL/ – Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) has been named to the prestigious 2023 Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) North America, validating the company’s meaningful progress, evolved strategy and aspirational goals toward its environmental, social and governance efforts.

BMS has made significant strides toward their ESG goals, including efforts to increase workforce representation, reduce environmental impact, enhance data privacy and cyber security programs and establish principles for responsible artificial intelligence.

Additionally, the company has strengthened corporate governance by incorporating new ESG metrics into executive compensation.

The DJSI North America represents the top 20% of the largest 600 North American companies in the S&P Global Broad Market Index who have demonstrated outstanding performance across economic, environmental and social criteria. The index is a widely respected benchmark for investors who integrate sustainability considerations into their portfolios.

“BMS is committed to driving long-term business value and continuously improving our ESG performance,” said Korab Zuka, vice president, Purpose and ESG, Bristol Myers Squibb. “The recognition by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America honors the company’s efforts to enhance our sustainability practices and positively impact the health of people, society and the planet.”

BMS’ ESG strategy focuses on advancing patient health and fostering a high-performing, inclusive workforce, while expanding the boundaries of science and reducing environmental impact.

Learn more about BMS’ ESG strategy and commitments in its 2023 ESG Report.

About Bristol Myers Squibb 

Bristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information about Bristol Myers Squibb, visit us at BMS.com or follow us on LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.

Originally published on Aflac Newsroom

COLUMBUS, Ga., June 28, 2024 /3BL/ — Three-time women’s national championship-winning University of South Carolina Head Basketball Coach and Olympic legend Dawn Staley joined Aflac, a leading provider of health supplemental insurance in the U.S., to deliver 16 My Special Aflac Ducks at Prisma Health Children’s Hospital-Midlands. The social robotic duck uses innovative technology to help children prepare for medical procedures, communicate their feelings, practice distraction techniques and more.

“After my first My Special Aflac Duck delivery last year, I wore a necklace crafted by a patient, serving as a constant reminder to maintain perspective in all situations. Aflac and I are deeply committed to giving back, particularly to children facing sickle cell — an often overlooked community,” said Coach Staley. “Today’s event carries even greater significance, especially on the heels of World Sickle Cell Day. While an undefeated season and national championships are tremendous accomplishments, nothing outweighs the special place these children hold in my heart.”

The duck was designed in consult with more than 100 children, families and medical professionals in partnership with Empath Labs and uses medical play and lifelike movement to help children cope with their treatments. My Special Aflac Duck was featured in a three-year clinical study spearheaded by researchers at Emory University and conducted at eight hospitals across the country. The study, which focused on children with cancer, was released in April, showed that My Special Aflac Duck helps young patients cope with treatment-related distress and anxiety. The robotic companion was named one of Time Magazine’s 50 Best Inventions and named Best in Show at CES and South by Southwest in 2018.

Pediatric sickle cell patients went on a scavenger hunt through the hospital before the children were surprised with their new, cuddly companions to keep. The sickle cell version of My Special Aflac Duck has a special cape designed to mimic a blanket, reflecting sickle cell patients who are often sensitive to changes in temperature. The cape doubles as art therapy to delight children serving as a water-activated, color-changing canvas.

“As a father of four young children in the Midlands, witnessing the joy on these amazing kids’ faces when they received their My Special Aflac Duck and watching them meet Coach Staley reminds me of how incredibly gratifying it is to work for a company like Aflac where giving back is ingrained in our culture,” said Aflac Senior Vice President of Group Voluntary Benefits Bob Ruff. “Special thanks to Prisma Health Children’s Hospital-Midlands for helping us create a memorable day for these deserving kids to enjoy.”

Since My Special Aflac Duck was first introduced in 2018, Aflac has delivered more than 30,000 ducks to children in the United States, Japan and Northern Ireland. In 2022, Aflac expanded the program to include sickle cell patients, and nearly one-third of the My Special Aflac Ducks donated have been given to children diagnosed with sickle cell disease.

Aflac’s commitment to pediatric cancer and blood disorders spans decades with Aflac employees, independent agents and The Aflac Foundation, Inc. contributing more than $182 million to childhood cancer and blood disorders treatment and research since 1995.

“Our clinical team is dedicated to providing the best possible medical care for children in our community, both within our walls and beyond. Children with blood disorders like sickle cell face unique challenges, and we aim to highlight their experiences,” said Dr. Stuart Cramer, medical director of Prisma Health Children’s Hospital-Midlands. “We are deeply grateful to Aflac for its commitment to supporting children with cancer and blood disorders, such as sickle cell disease, through the use of their interactive My Special Aflac Duck, which brings joy and laughter during difficult times. We are also thrilled to have Coach Staley, a long-term champion of Prisma Health Children’s Hospital-Midlands, join forces with Aflac to continue bringing smiles to the families we serve.”

Health care providers, support organizations and families can order My Special Aflac Duck free of charge for children 3 years or older who have been diagnosed with cancer or sickle cell disease at myspecialaflacduck.com.

ABOUT AFLAC INCORPORATED 
Aflac Incorporated (NYSE: AFL), a Fortune 500 company, has helped provide financial protection and peace of mind for more than 68 years to millions of policyholders and customers through its subsidiaries in the U.S. and Japan. In the U.S., Aflac is the No. 1 provider of supplemental health insurance products.1 In Japan, Aflac Life Insurance Japan is the leading provider of cancer and medical insurance in terms of policies in force. The company takes pride in being there for its policyholders when they need us most, as well as being included in the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere for 18 consecutive years (2024), Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies for 23 years (2024) and Bloomberg’s Gender-Equality Index for the fourth consecutive year (2023). In addition, the company became a signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) in 2021 and has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index (2023) for 10 years. To find out how to get help with expenses health insurance doesn’t cover, get to know us at aflac.com or aflac.com/espanol. Investors may learn more about Aflac Incorporated and its commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainability at investors.aflac.com under “Sustainability.”

1 LIMRA 2023 U.S. Supplemental Health Insurance Total Market Report

Media contact: 
Amy Persons, apersons@aflac.com 
Jon Sullivan, 706-763-4813 or jsullivan@aflac.com

Analyst and investor contact: David A. Young, 706-596-3264, 800-235-2667 or dyoung@aflac.com

Aflac | Aflac New York | WWHQ | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999

SOURCE Aflac

Originally published on Aflac Newsroom

COLUMBUS, Ga., June 28, 2024 /3BL/ — Three-time women’s national championship-winning University of South Carolina Head Basketball Coach and Olympic legend Dawn Staley joined Aflac, a leading provider of health supplemental insurance in the U.S., to deliver 16 My Special Aflac Ducks at Prisma Health Children’s Hospital-Midlands. The social robotic duck uses innovative technology to help children prepare for medical procedures, communicate their feelings, practice distraction techniques and more.

“After my first My Special Aflac Duck delivery last year, I wore a necklace crafted by a patient, serving as a constant reminder to maintain perspective in all situations. Aflac and I are deeply committed to giving back, particularly to children facing sickle cell — an often overlooked community,” said Coach Staley. “Today’s event carries even greater significance, especially on the heels of World Sickle Cell Day. While an undefeated season and national championships are tremendous accomplishments, nothing outweighs the special place these children hold in my heart.”

The duck was designed in consult with more than 100 children, families and medical professionals in partnership with Empath Labs and uses medical play and lifelike movement to help children cope with their treatments. My Special Aflac Duck was featured in a three-year clinical study spearheaded by researchers at Emory University and conducted at eight hospitals across the country. The study, which focused on children with cancer, was released in April, showed that My Special Aflac Duck helps young patients cope with treatment-related distress and anxiety. The robotic companion was named one of Time Magazine’s 50 Best Inventions and named Best in Show at CES and South by Southwest in 2018.

Pediatric sickle cell patients went on a scavenger hunt through the hospital before the children were surprised with their new, cuddly companions to keep. The sickle cell version of My Special Aflac Duck has a special cape designed to mimic a blanket, reflecting sickle cell patients who are often sensitive to changes in temperature. The cape doubles as art therapy to delight children serving as a water-activated, color-changing canvas.

“As a father of four young children in the Midlands, witnessing the joy on these amazing kids’ faces when they received their My Special Aflac Duck and watching them meet Coach Staley reminds me of how incredibly gratifying it is to work for a company like Aflac where giving back is ingrained in our culture,” said Aflac Senior Vice President of Group Voluntary Benefits Bob Ruff. “Special thanks to Prisma Health Children’s Hospital-Midlands for helping us create a memorable day for these deserving kids to enjoy.”

Since My Special Aflac Duck was first introduced in 2018, Aflac has delivered more than 30,000 ducks to children in the United States, Japan and Northern Ireland. In 2022, Aflac expanded the program to include sickle cell patients, and nearly one-third of the My Special Aflac Ducks donated have been given to children diagnosed with sickle cell disease.

Aflac’s commitment to pediatric cancer and blood disorders spans decades with Aflac employees, independent agents and The Aflac Foundation, Inc. contributing more than $182 million to childhood cancer and blood disorders treatment and research since 1995.

“Our clinical team is dedicated to providing the best possible medical care for children in our community, both within our walls and beyond. Children with blood disorders like sickle cell face unique challenges, and we aim to highlight their experiences,” said Dr. Stuart Cramer, medical director of Prisma Health Children’s Hospital-Midlands. “We are deeply grateful to Aflac for its commitment to supporting children with cancer and blood disorders, such as sickle cell disease, through the use of their interactive My Special Aflac Duck, which brings joy and laughter during difficult times. We are also thrilled to have Coach Staley, a long-term champion of Prisma Health Children’s Hospital-Midlands, join forces with Aflac to continue bringing smiles to the families we serve.”

Health care providers, support organizations and families can order My Special Aflac Duck free of charge for children 3 years or older who have been diagnosed with cancer or sickle cell disease at myspecialaflacduck.com.

ABOUT AFLAC INCORPORATED 
Aflac Incorporated (NYSE: AFL), a Fortune 500 company, has helped provide financial protection and peace of mind for more than 68 years to millions of policyholders and customers through its subsidiaries in the U.S. and Japan. In the U.S., Aflac is the No. 1 provider of supplemental health insurance products.1 In Japan, Aflac Life Insurance Japan is the leading provider of cancer and medical insurance in terms of policies in force. The company takes pride in being there for its policyholders when they need us most, as well as being included in the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere for 18 consecutive years (2024), Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies for 23 years (2024) and Bloomberg’s Gender-Equality Index for the fourth consecutive year (2023). In addition, the company became a signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) in 2021 and has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index (2023) for 10 years. To find out how to get help with expenses health insurance doesn’t cover, get to know us at aflac.com or aflac.com/espanol. Investors may learn more about Aflac Incorporated and its commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainability at investors.aflac.com under “Sustainability.”

1 LIMRA 2023 U.S. Supplemental Health Insurance Total Market Report

Media contact: 
Amy Persons, apersons@aflac.com 
Jon Sullivan, 706-763-4813 or jsullivan@aflac.com

Analyst and investor contact: David A. Young, 706-596-3264, 800-235-2667 or dyoung@aflac.com

Aflac | Aflac New York | WWHQ | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999

SOURCE Aflac