Tag: 3BL

May 13, 2024 /3BL/ – SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios, in partnership with leading youth and young adult mental health nonprofit Active Minds, today launched a YouTube-based choose-your own-adventure-style interactive video designed to teach young people the new “stop, drop and roll” for emotional support: A.S.K., which stands for Acknowledge, Support and Keep-in-Touch. The program aims to close the gap of nearly 70 percent of young people who say they don’t feel prepared to support a friend through an emotional struggle by meeting young people where they are, including in the digital world. To explore the A.S.K. digital experience, visit http://asktohelp.com.

“The research shows that most young people live online – and while they want to help each other, they do not know how to help a friend who is struggling,” said Erika Soto Lamb, Vice President of Social Impact at SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios. “With the average American teenager spending more than seven hours a day looking at a screen, we wanted to meet young people where they are. The A.S.K. digital experience launching ahead of the 4th annual Mental Health Action Day on May 16th is designed to help young people learn and practice A.S.K., the new ‘stop, drop and roll’ for how to help a friend.”

“Youth and young adults are changing how they talk about and handle mental health in this country, and providing them with A.S.K is a simple and easy to execute three-step plan to support someone in need.” said Active Minds Founder and Executive Director Alison Malmon. “Through our work and partnerships at more than 1,000 schools and campuses across the nation, we witness the impact that comes out of youth and young adults mobilizing to become champions for mental health advocacy. With the rollout of the A.S.K. interactive YouTube program and digital experience, we are excited to inform and engage youth and young adults to lead change.”

This digital experience is part of the next phase of SHOWTIME/MTV’s Mental Health is Health Initiative, designed to support young people as they navigate, share, and support each other’s mental health. In this interactive choose-your-own adventure style YouTube video, users put themselves in the shoes of Charlie, a young person navigating how to support a friend. Charlie has just run into Luna at the local coffee shop and needs help guiding the conversation. As the user helps Charlie decide what to say, they will practice using A.S.K., the new “stop, drop and roll” of supporting a friend. By creating a new simple, yet effective and memorable way for anyone to help friends, colleagues, classmates, teammates, family members, SHOWTIME/MTV and Active Minds aim to teach people how to support each other through life’s emotional challenges.

“Video is an incredibly effective format for sharing mental health information in engaging, digestible, and emotionally supportive ways,” said Dr. Garth Graham, Global Head of YouTube Health. “YouTube Health is happy to partner with MTV and Active Minds to reach young people with important mental health resources and support mental health storytelling online.”

Alongside the release of the A.S.K. digital experience, SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios is partnering with Active Minds and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Center for Health Communication to explore how social media content about how to offer emotional support might help young people. This research study will test ways to boost the number of young people who feel capable of helping friends, while also helping to define best practices for disseminating evidence-based information about mental health to digital creators with millions of followers across digital channels. Ultimately, this work will result in the development of a Creator Guide that leverages evidenced-based frameworks like A.S.K. to help young people support their friends.

“We are excited to work with A.S.K. to conduct rigorous randomized controlled trial survey research,” says Matt Motta, a member of the Harvard Chan School Center for Health Communication research team and Boston University School of Public Health professor. “Insights from our work will allow us to assess how exposure to social media videos that feature evidence-based mental health content might make young people more comfortable with—and more capable of—emotionally supporting their friends.”

A.S.K., which launched at the VMAs last September, has already provided connection opportunities for young people across the county, appearing on more than 50 college campuses including participating in the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy’s “We Are Made to Connect Campus Tour,” at New York Comic Con with RuPaul’s Drag Race, at a Detroit Pistons game, at the White House Easter Egg Roll and on the sidelines of Art Basel Miami Beach, the Super Bowl and the NCAA Final Four Tip Off Tailgate.

About SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media Networks

SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media Networks is a global network of media assets that reaches over one billion people in more than 180 countries featuring some of the most iconic brands in entertainment including SHOWTIME, MTV, Comedy Central and Paramount Network among others – and, its Studios arm which produces 120+ series annually, including some of today’s biggest hits such as Yellowstone, Yellowjackets, Emily in Paris, 1883, 1923, George & Tammy, South Park, Tulsa King, RuPaul’s Drag Race, The Challenge and Jersey Shore, to name a few. SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios uses its reach for social impact, spearheading broad change-driven coalitions through its Mental Health is Health and youth voter access initiatives.

About Active Minds

Active Minds is the largest nonprofit in the United States mobilizing youth and young adults to change the culture around mental health. By amplifying the collective, diverse voice of youth and young adults, we are building a movement of lasting champions who improve mental health norms, forever changing how mental health is valued and prioritized in society. To learn more, visit www.activeminds.org.

About YouTube Health

YouTube Health’s mission is to make high-quality health information accessible to everyone. We partner with public health and clinical experts from all over the world to provide equitable access to the best and brightest thinking in medicine and public health available right on YouTube. Learn more at health.youtube.com.

About Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Center for Health Communication

Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health’s Center for Health Communication equips public health leaders to credibly communicate health information to an increasingly skeptical and fragmented world. Our goal: to define, teach, and share best practice in health and science communication. As part of this mission, our Center researches new strategies for connecting the public with the evidence-based information they need on the social platforms where they find their information.

May 13, 2024 /3BL/ – SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios, in partnership with leading youth and young adult mental health nonprofit Active Minds, today launched a YouTube-based choose-your own-adventure-style interactive video designed to teach young people the new “stop, drop and roll” for emotional support: A.S.K., which stands for Acknowledge, Support and Keep-in-Touch. The program aims to close the gap of nearly 70 percent of young people who say they don’t feel prepared to support a friend through an emotional struggle by meeting young people where they are, including in the digital world. To explore the A.S.K. digital experience, visit http://asktohelp.com.

“The research shows that most young people live online – and while they want to help each other, they do not know how to help a friend who is struggling,” said Erika Soto Lamb, Vice President of Social Impact at SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios. “With the average American teenager spending more than seven hours a day looking at a screen, we wanted to meet young people where they are. The A.S.K. digital experience launching ahead of the 4th annual Mental Health Action Day on May 16th is designed to help young people learn and practice A.S.K., the new ‘stop, drop and roll’ for how to help a friend.”

“Youth and young adults are changing how they talk about and handle mental health in this country, and providing them with A.S.K is a simple and easy to execute three-step plan to support someone in need.” said Active Minds Founder and Executive Director Alison Malmon. “Through our work and partnerships at more than 1,000 schools and campuses across the nation, we witness the impact that comes out of youth and young adults mobilizing to become champions for mental health advocacy. With the rollout of the A.S.K. interactive YouTube program and digital experience, we are excited to inform and engage youth and young adults to lead change.”

This digital experience is part of the next phase of SHOWTIME/MTV’s Mental Health is Health Initiative, designed to support young people as they navigate, share, and support each other’s mental health. In this interactive choose-your-own adventure style YouTube video, users put themselves in the shoes of Charlie, a young person navigating how to support a friend. Charlie has just run into Luna at the local coffee shop and needs help guiding the conversation. As the user helps Charlie decide what to say, they will practice using A.S.K., the new “stop, drop and roll” of supporting a friend. By creating a new simple, yet effective and memorable way for anyone to help friends, colleagues, classmates, teammates, family members, SHOWTIME/MTV and Active Minds aim to teach people how to support each other through life’s emotional challenges.

“Video is an incredibly effective format for sharing mental health information in engaging, digestible, and emotionally supportive ways,” said Dr. Garth Graham, Global Head of YouTube Health. “YouTube Health is happy to partner with MTV and Active Minds to reach young people with important mental health resources and support mental health storytelling online.”

Alongside the release of the A.S.K. digital experience, SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios is partnering with Active Minds and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Center for Health Communication to explore how social media content about how to offer emotional support might help young people. This research study will test ways to boost the number of young people who feel capable of helping friends, while also helping to define best practices for disseminating evidence-based information about mental health to digital creators with millions of followers across digital channels. Ultimately, this work will result in the development of a Creator Guide that leverages evidenced-based frameworks like A.S.K. to help young people support their friends.

“We are excited to work with A.S.K. to conduct rigorous randomized controlled trial survey research,” says Matt Motta, a member of the Harvard Chan School Center for Health Communication research team and Boston University School of Public Health professor. “Insights from our work will allow us to assess how exposure to social media videos that feature evidence-based mental health content might make young people more comfortable with—and more capable of—emotionally supporting their friends.”

A.S.K., which launched at the VMAs last September, has already provided connection opportunities for young people across the county, appearing on more than 50 college campuses including participating in the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy’s “We Are Made to Connect Campus Tour,” at New York Comic Con with RuPaul’s Drag Race, at a Detroit Pistons game, at the White House Easter Egg Roll and on the sidelines of Art Basel Miami Beach, the Super Bowl and the NCAA Final Four Tip Off Tailgate.

About SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media Networks

SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media Networks is a global network of media assets that reaches over one billion people in more than 180 countries featuring some of the most iconic brands in entertainment including SHOWTIME, MTV, Comedy Central and Paramount Network among others – and, its Studios arm which produces 120+ series annually, including some of today’s biggest hits such as Yellowstone, Yellowjackets, Emily in Paris, 1883, 1923, George & Tammy, South Park, Tulsa King, RuPaul’s Drag Race, The Challenge and Jersey Shore, to name a few. SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios uses its reach for social impact, spearheading broad change-driven coalitions through its Mental Health is Health and youth voter access initiatives.

About Active Minds

Active Minds is the largest nonprofit in the United States mobilizing youth and young adults to change the culture around mental health. By amplifying the collective, diverse voice of youth and young adults, we are building a movement of lasting champions who improve mental health norms, forever changing how mental health is valued and prioritized in society. To learn more, visit www.activeminds.org.

About YouTube Health

YouTube Health’s mission is to make high-quality health information accessible to everyone. We partner with public health and clinical experts from all over the world to provide equitable access to the best and brightest thinking in medicine and public health available right on YouTube. Learn more at health.youtube.com.

About Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Center for Health Communication

Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health’s Center for Health Communication equips public health leaders to credibly communicate health information to an increasingly skeptical and fragmented world. Our goal: to define, teach, and share best practice in health and science communication. As part of this mission, our Center researches new strategies for connecting the public with the evidence-based information they need on the social platforms where they find their information.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been the subject of growing concern due to their persistence in the environment and potential health risks. Now, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking a significant step forward in understanding and addressing PFAS contamination through a comprehensive data gathering initiative involving publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) and industrial facilities.

In a recent Federal Register notice, the EPA announced its plans to collect data on PFAS discharges from thousands of upstream industrial facilities, as well as collecting data on the presence of these chemicals in POTW influent, effluent, and sewage sludge. This initiative lays the groundwork for potential Clean Water Act limits on PFAS across various sectors and sources.

Why is This Data Collection Effort Necessary?

According to the EPA, there is currently limited publicly accessible data on PFAS discharges to POTWs, the relative contributions of residential, commercial, and industrial sources, and the fate of PFAS in wastewater treatment processes. By gathering comprehensive data, the EPA aims to fill these knowledge gaps and inform future regulatory actions.

The EPA’s initiative involves gathering basic data from 400 POTWs through a questionnaire, the selection of approximately 200 to 300 POTWs based on questionnaire responses, and the collection of sampling data from said subset of 200 to 300 POTWs. According to the EPA, this data will be instrumental in developing technology-based effluent limitations guidelines (ELGs) for different industry sectors and informing risk assessments and management options.

One of the key findings driving this initiative is that most POTWs currently lack processes and technologies to effectively remove PFAS from wastewater. As a result, PFAS are discharged into surface waters or accumulate in sewage sludge, posing potential risks depending on sewage sludge management practices.

The data collected will not only help identify and prioritize industrial sources of PFAS, but will also establish a national dataset of sewage sludge characteristics. This dataset will be crucial for informing future risk assessments and regulatory decisions regarding sewage sludge management.

EPA Data Collection Methodology

The EPA’s approach involves a two-phase sampling program, with selected POTWs collecting and analyzing samples of industrial user effluent, domestic wastewater influent, POTW influent, POTW effluent, and sewage sludge for specific PFAS and ancillary parameters.

To ensure the success of this initiative, the EPA has consulted extensively with stakeholders, including representatives from the POTW industry, state regulators, and environmental agencies. This collaborative approach ensures that the data collection efforts are comprehensive and relevant to the needs of all stakeholders involved. The EPA hopes to begin collecting sampling data in 2024 and 2025.

How to Respond if Your Organization Receives a Directive to Sample

If you operate an industrial facility and are selected as part of this program for the collection of effluent samples, there are a few key items to keep in mind:

Determine the correct location for the collection of effluent samples. Ideally, this will be an easy location to access and will be located as close as possible to the connection with the municipal sanitary sewer.Collect an influent water sample as well as it is not uncommon to observe PFAS in water coming into a facility from municipal-supplied water sources.Collect quality assurance samples. Matrix spike and matrix spike duplicates, duplicate samples, and blank samples are great ways to validate and confirm data integrity.Sample collection should be completed by a trained professional experienced with potential PFAS sources to eliminate doubt in the sample results and prevent potential cross contamination.

For more guidance, check out our recent blog post. While many of the above items may not be required as part of this program and likely will not be required to be reported to the EPA (such as quality assurance samples and influent water samples), the collection of these samples will help validate potential sources of PFAS and data integrity.

Wrap Up

In conclusion, the EPA’s ambitious data gathering initiative marks a significant step forward in addressing PFAS contamination in water treatment systems. By collecting comprehensive data from POTWs and industrial facilities, the EPA aims to better understand the sources and fate of PFAS, paving the way for informed regulatory decisions and effective management strategies to protect public health and the environment.

Have questions? Reach out to our team of experts today to get them answered!

Report highlights progress in environmental, social, and governance efforts worldwide and details achievements in fostering an inclusive environmentKeysight significantly surpassed many 2023 Corporate Social Responsibility key impact goals

SANTA ROSA, Calif., May 14, 2024 /3BL/ – Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS) released its 2023 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report, highlighting the company’s recent environmental sustainability, social impact, ethical business and governance, diversity, and equity achievements. The report, with its accompanying 2023 CSR Data Report, encompasses Keysight’s sustainability performance in fiscal year 2023 and includes operations worldwide, unless otherwise noted. Data includes disclosures that have been prepared with reference to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) revised universal topic standards and aligned to the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) frameworks, as well as additional human capital metrics not included in the mentioned frameworks.

Keysight’s 2023 CSR Report showcases how the company progressed toward long-term goals, exceeded its key impact goals in the social space, and met its ethical business and governance goals. These goals were attained all while continuing to make positive contributions to purposeful technology and transparency with key environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting frameworks.

Made progress toward environmental sustainability goals

The company made progress in environmental sustainability related to its commitment to net zero emissions for business operations by the end of fiscal year 2040, aligning with the Paris Agreement’s preferred goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. Highlights include:

Approval of the company’s near-term science-based targets (SBTs) by the Science Based Targets initiative covering all three scopes of emissions.Completed the company’s first quantitative climate-related scenario analysis, covering a range of warming trajectories from 1.5°C to 3.3°C.Continued its practice of transparency with the release of the company’s first Taskforce on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) Report in 2023.Due to a full year of production from the Penang, Malaysia rooftop solar array, the company increased its total global renewable electricity portfolio to approximately 5%.Continuing progress toward its energy reduction goal, including the completion of an estimated 10,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of annual energy reduction projects.

Surpassed all social impact goals for fiscal year 2023

Keysight significantly surpassed its goals for positive social impact by focusing on community and education and advancing diversity and inclusion. Progress includes:

Continued science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education efforts and partnerships to further extend the company’s reach and equity impact. This resulted in more than 1.8 million students, future engineers and technology skill learners engaged in fiscal year 2023 surpassing our goal of 1.5 million students.Committing more than $319 million in value to strengthen communities through philanthropic, volunteerism and community engagement actions, which surpassed its $250 million goal for the fiscal year.Exceeded goals to increase the percentage of new hires globally that identify as women, and new hires in the US that identify as underrepresented minorities1, while moving towards more balanced representation overall and across our leadership team.

Met stated goals for ethical business and governance in fiscal year 2023

The company met its ethical governance goals by not incurring any material negative impacts to its income statement from CSR-related matters in fiscal year 2023. This achievement aligns to Keysight’s ethical operations and business commitments through the company’s robust governance, which is provided by its Standards of Business Conduct (SBC), corporate policies, board and risk oversight, and environmental, health, and safety programs to name a few.

Continued quest to build a better planet

The Keysight 2023 CSR and Data Reports demonstrate the company’s mission of accelerating innovation to connect and secure the world to help build a better planet through sustainably developed, leading-edge design, emulation, and test solutions. By providing these solutions, Keysight helps customers deliver breakthrough innovations in areas such as clean technology, social impact and wellness, and safety and security.

Looking forward, Keysight remains committed to its mid- and long-term targets supporting net zero emissions in its operations by the end of fiscal year 2040 and has announced another set of new metrics tracking progress in social impact — including DEI — and ethical governance throughout 2024 and into 2025.

Satish Dhanasekaran, President and Chief Executive Officer, Keysight, said: ” Keysight has long strived to make a positive impact on society and fiscal year 2023 was no different. Through technology that accelerates innovation to connect and secure the world, and our practice of employing a global business framework of ethical, environmentally sustainable, and socially responsible operations, we remained steadfast in our commitment and are proud to have made material progress on our results.”

Resources

2023 CSR Data ReportKeysight 2023 CSR Data Report2023 TCFD ReportKeysight CSR WebsiteKeysight DEI WebsiteKeysight CSR Resources HubKeysight CSR News, Awards & Recognitions

1Keysight uses the following definition of underrepresented minorities (URM): employees in the U.S. who identify as Black, African American, Hispanic, Latino, Asian, Pacific Islander, Native Hawaiian, Native American, Alaska native, or two or more races, or as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.

About Keysight Technologies

At Keysight (NYSE: KEYS), we inspire and empower innovators to bring world-changing technologies to life. As an S&P 500 company, we’re delivering market-leading design, emulation, and test solutions to help engineers develop and deploy faster, with less risk, throughout the entire product life cycle. We’re a global innovation partner enabling customers in communications, industrial automation, aerospace and defense, automotive, semiconductor, and general electronics markets to accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world. Learn more at Keysight Newsroom and www.keysight.com.

Keysight Media Contacts

Paul Erwin

Americas

+1 248 430 9075

paul.erwin@keysight.com

Fusako Dohi

Asia

+81 42 660-2162

fusako_dohi@keysight.com

Jenny Gallacher

Europe

+44 (0) 7800 737 982

jenny.gallacher@keysight.com

PR24-075 (CSR24)

Albertsons Companies’ SoCal Division’s Women’s Inspiration and Inclusion Network had an amazing time volunteering at Baby2Baby‘s annual Mother’s Day Celebration at The Grove in Los Angeles! 

We helped distribute nutritious food donated by Albertsons as well as other basic essentials and special Mother’s Day gifts to the moms and children they serve. Families also received a healthy lunch and enjoyed music, a trolley ride through The Grove and so much more. 

We loved connecting with the families and celebrating a group of wonderful moms.

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

PARIS, May 14, 2024 /3BL/ – The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) is pleased to present the participants of its newly formed Technical Committee.

As the consumer goods industry’s benchmark of choice to help drive trust and harmonisation among sustainability standards worldwide, the SSCI launched its Technical Committee to oversee the technical processes including reviewing the benchmarking process, incorporating lessons from past years, optimising efficiency, and fostering collaboration for a streamlined and impactful benchmarking experience.

The members of the committee are Elles de Jonge-Bosch, Manager Quality and Sustainability for EMD; Karin van den Houten – Bogaers, Director of Ethical Engagement and Human Rights, Ahold Delhaize; and Wyatt Maysey, Director of Sustainability, Taylor Fresh Foods. The committee is looking for a fourth member from the manufacturing sector.

Luiza Reguse, Senior Manager of the SSCI for the CGF, said, “Aware of the importance of sustainability standards in today’s global supply chains, the Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative is pleased to introduce the esteemed participants of our newly formed Technical Committee. This committee plays a crucial role in refining our benchmarking processes, drawing from past experiences, and fostering collaboration for a more impactful journey. We are dedicated to promoting a culture of sustainability excellence within our industry.

“Through the efforts of the Technical Committee, we aim to improve the practices of responsible business and inspire meaningful change throughout the supply chain. We invite companies and organisations passionate about advancing sustainability to join us in the Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) and contribute to our shared mission of creating positive environmental and social impacts worldwide.”

Member companies interested in participating in the Technical Committee are encouraged to contact the Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI).

– ENDS –

About the Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative

The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) builds trust in sustainability standards worldwide by benchmarking third-party auditing and certification programmes and recognising schemes that meet industry expectations. By providing an open-source list of recognised programmes, the SSCI delivers clear guidance on which schemes cover key sustainability criteria and apply relevant verification practices. The SSCI improves transparency in the market, facilitates decision-making on schemes at both buyer and supplier level and sets the responsible sourcing expectations for the industry. The Initiative currently focuses on social compliance and will expand the scope to environmental compliance in 2024. For more information, visit www.tcgfssci.com.

About The Consumer Goods Forum

The Consumer Goods Forum (“CGF”) is a global, parity-based industry network that is driven by its members to encourage the global adoption of practices and standards that serves the consumer goods industry worldwide. It brings together the CEOs and senior management of some 400 retailers, manufacturers, service providers, and other stakeholders across 70 countries, and it reflects the diversity of the industry in geography, size, product category and format. Its member companies have combined sales of EUR 3.5 trillion and directly employ nearly 10 million people, with a further 90 million related jobs estimated along the value chain. It is governed by its Board of Directors, which comprises more than 55 manufacturer and retailer CEOs. For more information, please visit: www.theconsumergoodsforum.com.

ATLANTA, May 14, 2024 /3BL/ – CARE News & Stories, a humanitarian media platform known for its unique blend of human-centered, visually-engaging storytelling, has been honored with the 2024 Communicator Award for Excellence in Writing. This distinguished honor was awarded to Mary Kate Wilson for her story “Lebanon Today: Seeking a Path Through Years of Loss.”

Published as part of CARE’s ongoing coverage of global crises, Wilson’s story offers an in-depth look at Lebanon three years following the catastrophic explosion of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate at the Port of Beirut. Her piece vividly portrays the lingering impacts on the city and its people, emphasizing their unwavering resilience and the slow, ongoing efforts to rebuild.

The Communicator Awards, overseen by the Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts, celebrates superior achievements in marketing and communications. It brings together top global brands and organizations like Disney, NASA, The White House Historical Association, Mastercard, AARP, IBM, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, PBS, and Reuters. CARE News & Stories’ achievement in this competitive arena highlights its commitment to delivering profound and engaging narratives that spotlight human experiences and societal issues.

“CARE’s commitment to storytelling is what sets it apart from other international humanitarian organizations,” said CARE’s Director of Content Strategy, Travis Nichols. “Mary Kate’s work exemplifies what we strive for at CARE News & Stories — timely, essential information told through a vibrant, engaging story that puts humanity at the center. This Communicator Award for Excellence in Writing is a testament to Mary Kate’s dedication and skill in bringing the stories of Beirut’s resilient communities into the global spotlight. We are immensely proud of her achievement and continue to be inspired by CARE’s commitment to telling stories that matter.”

Established in 2019, CARE News & Stories has rapidly set itself apart as a premier digital platform in delivering not just news about the humanitarian organization, but narratives that underscore the essence of CARE’s global mission to save lives, defeat poverty, and achieve social justice.

Last year, Editor and Publisher magazine awarded CARE News & Stories an “Eppy” for best website, noting its arresting design, rich content, and the seamless way of representing CARE’s core mission. 

As CARE News & Stories continues to expand its reach and deepen its impact, this recognition by the Communicator Awards will serve as both a milestone and a motivating force to continue pushing the boundaries of digital journalism in support of a greater good.

For further details about CARE News & Stories and its award-winning initiatives, as well as new stories about delivering aid in Gaza, providing maternal health in Sierra Leone, and the impacts of conflict in Haiti, visit  https://www.care.org/news-and-stories/news/.

About CARE News & Stories

Launched in 2019, CARE News & Stories is at the vanguard of digital humanitarian storytelling, delivering in-depth reporting and analysis within a visually-rich format.

Through its global network of content creators, CARE News & Stories ensures that every article not only informs but also connects and inspires its audience to action.

About CARE

Founded in 1945 with the creation of the CARE Package®, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE places special focus on working alongside women and girls. Equipped with the proper resources, women and girls have the power to lift whole families and entire communities out of poverty. This year, CARE and partners worked in 111 countries implementing 1,600 poverty-fighting development and humanitarian aid projects and initiatives that reached 174,000,000 people. To learn more, visit www.care.org.

NEW YORK and MUMBAI, India, MAY 14, 2024 /3BL/ – Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS), a global leader in IT services, consulting, and business solutions, has been recognized as one of the 50 most community-minded companies in the United States and named an honoree of ‘The Civic 50’, a prestigious annual list by the non-profit organization Points of Light. The 2024 list marks TCS’ eighth consecutive year of recognition and sixth time as the Information Technology Sector Leader.

Points of Light, one of the world’s largest nonprofit organizations, dedicated to accelerating people-powered change, based the list on the results of its annual survey on corporate social responsibility initiatives, ongoing service to its communities and positive societal impact.

Jennifer Sirangelo, President and CEO, Points of Light, said “Expectations for companies to be leaders in civic engagement continue to increase. TCS demonstrates how to maximize the full range of its assets – from people power to policy to financial contributions – to meet pressing needs and create thriving communities where they live and work. We’re thrilled to uplift and celebrate them as an honoree of The Civic 50 2024.”

Guided by the ethos of the Tata Group, TCS engages with communities across the globe through a variety of initiatives and employee volunteering activities such as the Hours of Purpose by Employees (HOPE), Go Innovate Together (goIT), Ignite My Future, and donations via its community innovation program. TCS also conducts intense training of its workforce on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Balaji Ganapathy, Chief Social Responsibility Officer, TCS, said, “True to our ethos of putting communities first, TCS is fostering inclusive growth while empowering vulnerable populations through economic upward mobility. This continued recognition serves as a testament to our long-term commitment to sustainable and measurable impact.”

In 2023, TCS employees clocked 5.5 million hours of employee volunteerism globally by supporting goals aligned with 17 of the sustainable development goals set by the United Nations and empowering marginalized members of society in areas of education, employment, and entrepreneurship. The goIT program, which promotes STEM education and careers in IT among students, reached more than 30,000 students globally and inspired 10,000+ digital innovations from students. In North America, the program reached 12,365 students (54% young women) through goIT curricula and participation in the TCS goIT Monthly Challenge.

Some key highlights of these initiatives include:

More than 171,000 hours of high-impact skill building and computer science programming for students under the age of 18 through goIT learning and exploration experiences to students and their teachers in around 60 North American citiesFirst-ever integration of Ignite My Future with Jaguar TCS Racing to create Behind the Scenes, a teacher-resource initiative that seeks to bring once-in-a-lifetime experiences and computational thinking into the classroom.Providing professional development and computational thinking resources to nearly 31,000 educators with a reach of about 1.8 million students since program inception and reaching 4,091 teachers and 221,695 students in 2023.Advocating for increased funding for the U.S. Department of Education’s Education Innovation and Research (EIR) program, holding more than 30 meetings with House and Senate offices to raise awareness and seek expanded programs, successfully achieving agreement for $87 million to be set aside specifically for STEM Education grants.

The Civic 50 honorees are companies with annual U.S. revenues of at least $1 billion and are selected based on four dimensions of their corporate citizenship and social impact programs: investment of resources and volunteerism, integration across business functions, institutionalization through policies, and systems and impact measurement. The Civic 50 is the only survey and ranking system that exclusively measures corporate community engagement.

Bertina Ceccarelli, Chief Executive Officer, NPower, said “NPower congratulates TCS on its eighth recognition as an honoree of The Civic 50. Committed to driving economic prosperity through digital skill building and sharing many common goals, we’re grateful for TCS’ partnership and we’re delighted for the opportunity to celebrate their efforts and this recognition.”

For more than a decade, The Civic 50 has served as the national standard for corporate citizenship and showcases how leading companies are moving social impact and community to the core of their business. Administered by True Impact with results analyzed by VeraWorks, the survey instrument consists of quantitative and multiple-choice questions that inform the scoring process.

About Points of Light

Points of Light is a nonpartisan, global nonprofit organization that inspires, equips and mobilizes millions of people to take action that changes the world. We envision a world in which every individual discovers the power to make a difference, creating healthy communities in vibrant, participatory societies. Through 145 affiliates across 39 countries, and in partnership with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages 3.7 million people in 16.7 million hours of service each year. We bring the power of people to bear where it’s needed most. For more information, visit pointsoflight.org.

About Tata Consultancy Services(TCS)

Tata Consultancy Services is an IT services, consulting and business solutions organization that has been partnering with many of the world’s largest businesses in their transformation journeys for over 56 years. Its consulting-led, cognitive powered, portfolio of business, technology and engineering services and solutions is delivered through its unique Location Independent Agile™ delivery model, recognized as a benchmark of excellence in software development.

A part of the Tata group, India’s largest multinational business group, TCS has over 601,000 of the world’s best-trained consultants in 55 countries. The company generated consolidated revenues of US $29 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, and is listed on the BSE and the NSE in India. TCS’ proactive stance on climate change and award-winning work with communities across the world have earned it a place in leading sustainability indices such as the MSCI Global Sustainability Index and the FTSE4Good Emerging Index. For more information, visit www.tcs.com.

TCS media contacts:

Corporate Communications & India 
Email: corporate.communications@tcs.com 
Email: saxena.kritika@tcs.com| Phone: +91 22 6778 9999 
Email: vanshika.sood@tcs.com | Phone: +91 22 67789098

USA 
Email:  james.sciales@tcs.com | Phone: +31 615 903387

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For the second consecutive year, Medtronic is ranked No. 2 on Fair 360’s (formerly DiversityInc) 2024 Top 50 Companies for Workplace Fairness—maintaining our highest-ever ranking on the list. It’s our third straight year in the top 10.

“We’re deeply honored to be recognized by Fair360 in this way,” said Dr. Sally Saba, Medtronic Chief Inclusion & Diversity Officer and President of the Medtronic Foundation. “We are committed to a culture at Medtronic where all employees belong, are respected, and feel valued for who they are and the life experiences they contribute. This kind of recognition indicates we’re making progress towards our goal of zero barriers.”

Candi Sneed knows that commitment firsthand.

She took advantage of our Medtronic Advancement Pathways & Skill-building (MAPS) program, which offers eligible employees the opportunity to pursue a debt-free college degree. The program pays 100% of tuition directly to the academic institution, with no need for reimbursement and no strings attached.

“It was a game-changer for me,” Candi said. “The program became especially important after my husband lost his job. I would have had to quit taking classes if it wasn’t for MAPS fully covering my tuition. I have no words for how much that meant to me and my family.”

Today, Candi is among our first group of MAPS graduates. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and is a senior analyst on an engineering team in Arizona.

Medtronic’s continuing position at the top of the Fair360 rankings demonstrates our ongoing commitment to inclusion, diversity and equity (ID&E) in the workplace, according to Matt Walter, Chief Human Resources Officer at Medtronic. “The business case for ID&E is clear – we know that diverse perspectives and an equitable and inclusive environment accelerates innovation, improves the wellbeing of our employees, and creates more opportunities to bring our life-saving technologies to more patients around the world,” Walter said. 

“Conversations about ID&E need to be about competitiveness. We can’t win in our markets without the best talent. That’s why ID&E matters,” added Torod Neptune, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer at Medtronic. 

Since 2001, the Fair360 survey has recognized large U.S. employers that model fairness in their talent strategies, workplace and supplier diversity practices and philanthropic engagement. Fair360 benchmarks companies’ programs, practices, policies, and outcomes to hire, retain, develop, and promote women, people of color, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+, and veteran employees. This year, 160 companies with more than 7 million employees submitted data and metrics on:

Leadership accountabilityHuman capital diversityTalent programsWorkplace practicesSupplier diversityPhilanthropy

“I’m delighted to recognize the companies on the Top 50 list for their ongoing commitment to workplace fairness,” said Luke Visconti, Founder and Chairman of Fair360. “The data shows that over the long-term, companies that consistently put their employees first and have strong track records of respecting and embracing diversity, equity and inclusion, are stronger performers and better equipped to adapt to market conditions.”

This year’s rankings and specialty lists were unveiled during the annual Fair360 Top 50 event, which was held on May 13.

Learn more about inclusion, diversity, and equity (ID&E) at Medtronic in their latest Global ID&E Annual Report.

Blackbaud, the leading provider of software for powering social impact, has published its 2023 Impact Report, sharing how the company has advanced its environmental, social and governance priorities in the past year.

“At Blackbaud, we’re committed to fueling impact and unleashing generosity – not only through our software, but by taking action on the issues that matter most to our people, our community and our planet.” said Mike Gianoni, president, CEO and vice chairman of the board. “This report gives a detailed look into the standards we hold ourselves to as corporate citizens and the positive changes we’re committed to making in the world. I am proud of the progress we have made and energized by all we have ahead of us.”

Achievements across Blackbaud’s key priorities in 2023 included:

People and Culture/HR: Blackbaud is committed to creating a great place to work, with a focus on employee engagement, development, well-being, inclusion and a long history of commitment to philanthropic work.

Philanthropy: 70% of Blackbaud employees volunteered in 2023.Employee Engagement: 91% participation in annual employee engagement survey, with 86% of employees saying they feel the work they do at Blackbaud is important.Inclusion: 43% of Blackbaud employees belonged to an affinity group—a 10% increase in 2023.

Fueling Social Impact: Blackbaud fuels the impact of its customers with software and resources that enable organizations to drive change and power vital learning that transforms lives and communities.

Individual Changemakers: Over one million fundraising pages were created, and 19 million donations were made on Blackbaud’s JustGiving® platform alone.Nonprofits and Charities: Organizations using Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT® and analytics saw a 21% increase in average gift size over a two-year period – growing funds used to support their social impact goals.Education Institutions: Over 3.2 million students participated in critical skills education through EVERFI® from Blackbaud®, totaling 8.8 million hours of learning across the globe.Companies: 2023 saw a 65% increase in employee volunteer hours powered by YourCause® from Blackbaud®, and 1.9M learners completed a workplace training powered by EVERFI from Blackbaud.

Driving Climate Solutions: Blackbaud is committed to reducing its environmental impact and supporting customers in their sustainability efforts. Blackbaud participates in CDP’s public disclosure and aligns its reporting with TCFD recommendations.

Decarbonization: 100% carbon neutrality for 2023 emissions and a 92% reduction in global GHG emissions since 2019.Responsible Operations: 23% energy reduction and 45% water reduction in Blackbaud’s global headquarters office since 2019 with the transition to remote-first workforce approach.Strategic Partnership: Blackbaud is a proud, multi-year philanthropic sponsor of Project Drawdown, a nonprofit focused on solutions to climate change.

Governance and Data Responsibility: Customer trust is a top priority and embedded in everything Blackbaud does.

Expertise: Blackbaud was named Governance Team of the Year in Governance Intelligence’s Annual Corporate Governance Awards, recognizing outstanding achievements in governance, risk, and compliance.Process: Blackbaud’s board of directors amended tenure limits for independent directors within its Corporate Governance Guidelines to assure that fresh ideas and viewpoints are represented on the board.Talent: The company appointed a Chief Privacy Officer to oversee data privacy and manage risks related to privacy compliance and privacy laws.Technology: Blackbaud increased the specialization of its cybersecurity team in incident response, vulnerability management, enterprise architecture and data protection, and enhanced its cloud-based security posture technology and on-premise encryption capabilities designed to protect against ransomware and malware.

To learn more about how the company is fueling change through its practices, commitments and technology, view the full 2023 Blackbaud Impact Report here.

About Blackbaud
Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB) is the leading software provider exclusively dedicated to powering social impact. Serving the nonprofit and education sectors, companies committed to social responsibility and individual change makers, Blackbaud’s essential software is built to accelerate impact in fundraising, nonprofit financial management, digital giving, grantmaking, corporate social responsibility and education management. With millions of users and over $100 billion raised, granted or managed through Blackbaud platforms every year, Blackbaud’s solutions are unleashing the potential of the people and organizations who change the world. Blackbaud has been named to Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Responsible Companies, Quartz’s list of Best Companies for Remote Workers, and Forbes’ list of America’s Best Employers. A remote-first company, Blackbaud has operations in the United States, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica and the United Kingdom, supporting users in 100+ countries. Learn more at www.blackbaud.com or follow us on X/Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Media Contact 
media@blackbaud.com

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