Tag: 3BL

Originally published by Fleet Equipment

To say that the potential for reducing fleet carbon emissions within PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay and Pepsi Beverage operations is considerable would be an understatement. In North America alone, the company owns more than 80,000 Class 1-8 assets, including on- and off-highway vehicles, trailers and material handling equipment.

“There are a number of ways we’re working to decarbonize our fleet operations,” said Adam Buttgenbach, director of fleet engineering and sustainability at PepsiCo. “Among them are optimizing delivery networks for maximum payload and reduced empty mileage. We have also been implementing scaled deployments of electric and other alternative fuel-powered vehicles.”

Continue reading here.

The Social Impact Partner Spotlight series highlights various Cisco non-profit organization partners that are helping transform the lives of individuals and communities. This blog features Cisco’s partnership with the NIIT Foundation, highlighting its impactful work around cybersecurity education and awareness.

India has the world’s second-largest internet user base. While digitization is rapidly increasing, the vulnerability towards cyber threats is also rising. A major threat to security is around personal information, organizational data, and national security. With an increased focus on cybersecurity in India, there are also job opportunities in this emerging industry.

Keeping these aspects in mind, the Cisco India Cash Grant Program (ICG), along with its implementation partner NIIT Foundation, a not-for-profit education society which has the mandate to reach the unreached, uncared for, and unattended to ensure inclusive development, launched Cyber Suraksha. Suraksha in Hindi means safety and Cyber Suraksha is a flagship Cisco purpose initiative for creating Cyber Security awareness amongst citizens of India and contributing to cybersecurity aligned skilling. Over a three-year grant period (2022-2025), the goal is to engage and impact one million individuals in the country. The program has already reached out to a diverse set of audiences, including senior citizens, persons with disabilities, border security force personnel, youth, and individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community.

The initiative offers three main courses, some of which are available through the partnership with Cisco Networking Academy.

The courses are:

Cyber Awareness: A 20-hour foundational program focused on building citizens’ knowledge on personal security. The program builds awareness of cyber security threats and how to be better protected against misuse of personal identity, cyber-bullying, financial fraud, online fraud, racial abuse, pornography, and gambling. The program is targeted at age groups 13 and above.Cyber Smart: An advanced program for college students who want to explore cyberspace and a career in this field. Students learn to develop an understanding of cybercrime, security principles, technologies, and procedures used to defend networks. The program is targeted at age groups 16 and above.Cyber Workforce: An employability program that helps students to build their skill set in cyberspace and move forward with a job in the industry. The program is targeted at age groups 18 and above, specifically for individuals wanting to work in cybersecurity.

Since its launch, the Cyber Suraksha initiative has led to:

500,000 individuals trainedMore than 3,300 youth placed in Cybersecurity jobs42 percent of participants in the training identify as female

“In this digital age, the need for Cybersecurity knowledge and awareness is paramount. We have noticed through experience that marginalized sections of society lack information about the ever-evolving risk within cyber space and this was a key driver to conceptualizing this program.” —Sapna Moudgil, Director, NIIT Foundation

Get involved:

To learn more about Cyber Suraksha, check out their program page and this video.Nominate an organization such as a non-governmental organization (NGO) or a school to be considered for the program, by reaching out to contact@niitfoundation.org.For further information on Cisco Networking Academy’s partnership with the NIIT Foundation, check out this blog.

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Betty Diaz, Director of Programs & Operations, Paramount Veterans Network has been named one of 34 Scholars who will form the George W. Bush Institute’s Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program’s sixth annual class. The program is a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at individuals serving our nation’s veterans and their families who are motivated to broaden their skillsets, knowledge, and influence across the country.

Participants were selected after a rigorous application and interview process. Throughout the five-month program, they will meet with a variety of nationally-known and distinguished professionals, educators, and experts in veteran transition and leadership development such as the eighth United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald, retired United States Air Force General Alfred Flowers, and Bush Institute Senior Fellow Dr. Deborah Birx. They will attend the first three sessions at the George W. Bush Presidential Center and travel to Washington, D.C. for the fourth session. The program will conclude at the Bush Center in October.

Betty Diaz serves as the Director of Programs and Operations for the Paramount Veterans Network at Paramount Global. In this role, she manages the day-to-day operations, oversees and organizes all cross-department programs to build synergy within Paramount, support veteran service organizations and non-profits to drive meaningful impact for the veteran and military community among and other military-related initiatives which include but not limited to veteran hiring, content creation and distribution, etc.

“I’m thrilled to join one of the most reputable leadership programs. I look forward to the opportunity to learn and lead with purpose, while inspiring others to make an impact in our communities.” ~Betty Diaz

The Veteran Leadership Program is part of the Bush Institute’s commitment to developing and supporting effective leaders, and it builds on the organization’s extensive body of work on veteran transition issues around employment, education, and health and well-being. An important part of this work is Check-In, which connects veterans, military service members, and their families to the most appropriate mental and brain health care anywhere in the country at no cost to the individual.

Each participant joins the program with a planned personal leadership project, which allows them to implement what they learn in the program in service of improving the lives of veterans and the military-connected community across the United States.

During the five-month program, Betty Diaz will develop her initiative in designing a program that focuses on improving the workforce. The project will support veterans who are transitioning out of the military and are interested in working in media or related fields. She hopes to impact the veteran and military family community by improving the workforce and media landscape.

“I am thrilled that Betty Diaz has been named as a 2024 Bush Institute Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program Scholar. Thrilled, impressed, proud – but not surprised. All of us involved with the Veterans Network at Paramount have seen her tireless dedication to improving the lives of our veterans. She is a passionate advocate who will thrive as a member of this year’s class. Knowing her as I do, I suspect she will give as much as she gets to her fellow scholars, elevating the experience for everyone involved with this terrific program.” – Jim Axelrod, Chief Correspondent & Executive Editor of Eye on America franchise, CBS Evening News

The new cohort of Scholars joins an active network of more than 200 alumni from five previous classes who are rising leaders – both veterans and non-veterans – from a wide range of sectors who are working to improve outcomes for veterans, military service members, and their families. They hold a variety of leadership roles in business, veteran-serving nonprofits, government, and academia; many are active-duty and reserve military service members.

The 2024 program will begin on June 25 in Dallas, Texas.

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George W. Bush Institute 
The George W. Bush Institute is a solution-oriented nonpartisan policy organization focused on ensuring opportunity for all, strengthening democracy, and advancing free societies. Housed within the George W. Bush Presidential Center, the Bush Institute is rooted in compassionate conservative values and committed to creating positive, meaningful, and lasting change at home and abroad. We utilize our unique platform and convening power to advance solutions to national and global issues of the day. Learn more at bushcenter.org.

Originally published by Walgreens Boots Alliance

My journey to Walgreens traces back to a pivotal moment in my childhood—a chance encounter at my local pharmacy that sparked a lifelong passion for healthcare. As a young girl, I accompanied my mother on a routine trip to Walgreens, unaware that this visit would shape the course of my future. 

As we stood in line at the pharmacy counter, my attention was drawn to the sight of a pharmacist engaged in conversation with a patient. Fascinated by the pharmacist’s ability to offer guidance and support, I felt a sense of purpose and possibility. 

In that moment, a seed was planted—an aspiration to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives through healthcare. Inspired by what I had witnessed, I began to envision myself in a similar role, dedicated to serving others with compassion and expertise. 

Today, I’m 24 years into an amazing career at Walgreens. In 2000, I started as a pharmacist and was soon promoted to pharmacy manager. From there I became a district pharmacy supervisor and ultimately a healthcare supervisor. In this role, I oversee 62 stores and support four district managers in Northwest Houston and surrounding areas. My work days can vary, but typically I spend my time identifying how my stores are helping to improve patient health outcomes and where the opportunities are to close gaps in care. I also visit stores regularly to provide clinical expertise and ensure compliance with federal and state regulations.  

When I’m not visiting stores, I’m leading meetings with my pharmacy managers to celebrate wins and identify opportunities for improvement. Or I’m participating in regional and corporate-level meetings for strategic planning to bring our organization’s purpose to life. 

Empowering women’s leadership and wellness 

Becoming a member and leader within the Women of WBA (WoWBA) business resource group was driven by my desire to connect with fellow women leaders to find a sense of community; have a direct impact on Walgreens’ diversity, equity and inclusion strategy; and enhance my own leadership skills. As the vice chair of WoWBA-US, I’m devoted to fostering inclusion and inspiring women within the organization to own and celebrate their uniqueness and achievements. It’s important to challenge yourself to grow and to be the best version of yourself. I’m dedicated to lifelong learning and personal development, and I encourage women of all ages to embrace the power of education. I’ve truly enjoyed supporting the professional development of the many team members I have worked with over the years. 

As a leader, I am committed to not only championing women’s professional growth, but also supporting their health and wellness. With May being Women’s Health Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s such a fitting time to encourage women to also prioritize their health. As women, we often take on numerous roles in our personal and professional lives, but it’s essential that we remember to prioritize our own wellbeing. From reproductive health to mental wellness and beyond, this month serves as a reminder for women to take charge of their health journeys.  

I am incredibly proud of the series of events WoWBA-US has planned for this month, which includes a panel discussion focused on work-life balance and decreasing stress, as well as a meditation event and virtual art exhibit. By advocating for regular check-ups, screenings and healthy lifestyle choices, we empower ourselves and others to lead fulfilling and vibrant lives.  

My commitment to women’s health extends beyond the workplace. As a mother, I strive to set an example for my daughter, showing her the importance of prioritizing self-care and personal wellbeing.   

Fun awaits beyond the office 

Traveling with my daughter is one of my greatest joys. Each year, we take on a handful of adventures together. Our recent ski trip to Canada was one for the ages. It was such a fun time to relax while playing in the snow. In addition to our love for travel, my daughter and I share a passion for the arts and music. This year, we’re anticipating our upcoming trip to Las Vegas to see New Edition in concert.  

Our trips are a source of happiness and inspiration for both of us. When I’m fulfilled outside of work, I find that I’m more creative, more motivated and more able to tackle professional challenges. As I lead my team, I carry with me the joy from our mother-daughter adventures. They remind me of the importance of finding harmony in both my personal and professional lives, and how that can positively impact everything I do. 

Cummins

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. /3BL/ – Global power technology leader Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) announced a $580 million project to drive economic and job growth in the Nash County community. Cummins has received approval for tax incentives to help move the project forward and the incentives received from the Nash County Commissioners office will support the continued investment within the area.

This strategic investment is set to generate approximately 80 additional new jobs, fostering both short-term employment opportunities and long-term job stability. As Cummins continues towards its Destination Zero Strategy and its plan to achieve zero emissions across its products, the investment will involve installing new equipment for the future of manufacturing and upgrading the assembly line for next generation products. This investment is part of Cummins recent investment of more than $1 billion across its U.S. manufacturing network.

“We are excited to be driving continued growth within Nash County and creating jobs that rely on high caliber technology for the future,” said Steve Pinkston, Cummins Rocky Mount Engine Plant Manager. “Cummins is focused on Destination Zero and getting there as quickly as possible. We need engagement from federal, state, and local governments like Nash County to achieve our goals and we are grateful for their support. When we receive engagement from local partners like this, it helps us move faster toward a more sustainable future.”

With a rich history of production for more than 40 years and producing over 5 million engines at RMEP, this milestone investment reaffirms Cummins’ dedication to the region’s economic vitality and sustaining its impactful presence for the foreseeable future. Currently, there are 2,000 employees contributing to the success and growth of Cummins at the RMEP facility.

Decarbonization is a growth opportunity for Cummins and the fuel-agnostic engine platform is a key component to help customers decarbonize today and make it easier to adopt alternative fuel types. These products are instrumental in supporting fleets on their journey toward Destination Zero by providing products that are economically viable, scalable and deliver the power, performance and durability with the evolving needs of customers.

Cummins is committed to improving the communities in which it operates to have a direct impact on the lives of its employees and the broader community. Over the past two years, RMEP employees have collectively devoted more than 20,000 hours to community engagement, forging meaningful alliances with educational institutions in surrounding districts. These partnerships extend to community colleges, public school systems, libraries, and various community organizations. RMEP takes pride in its collaboration with community partners, including the Boys & Girls Club of the Tar River Region, United Way Tar River Region, Strategic Twin-Counties Education Partnership (STEP), Down East Partnership for Children, Carolina Gateway Partnership, and the Rocky Mount Chamber of Commerce.

“This investment is not just about engines; it’s a testament to our unwavering commitment to the community and our vision for a sustainable and impactful future,” said Pinkston. “It means RMEP and Cummins are here to stay and we take pride in being the one of the largest employers in the tri-county area. Our role extends beyond the production floor; it’s about cultivating a thriving community where everyone can succeed. As we invest in innovation and growth, we’re also investing in the community that has been our home for four decades and counting.”

About the fuel-agnostic platform 
The new fuel-agnostic engine platforms feature a series of engine versions that are derived from a common base engine, which means they have a high degree of parts commonality. Below the head gasket of each engine will largely have similar components and above the head gasket will have different components for different fuel types. Each engine version will operate using a different, single fuel. This new design approach will be applied across the company’s legendary engine portfolios including the B6.7 and the X15, and the new 10-liter portfolio called the X10.

About the facility 
Rocky Mount Engine Plant is 1.3M square foot manufacturing plant that employs over 2,000 people and produces mid-range engines for a multitude of markets. The plant has been in operation since 1983 when it started as a joint venture with Case named Consolidated Diesel Company. In 2008, Cummins bought out CASE and RMEP became a wholly owned Cummins entity. RMEP is the first Cummins plant to produce 5 million engines and has produced more than 1 million more engines than any other Cummins Engine facility.

In addition to the five millionth engine, RMEP is recently celebrated facility improvements and renovations, including its 3.62 megawatt (MW) solar farm, which was recognized with a 2023 Better Project Award. The recognition highlights projects in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings/Better Plants initiative for accomplishments in implementing and promoting practices, principles and procedures around sustainable energy management.

Cummins implemented a water strategy in 2014 for its plants and facilities (including RMEP) and has been improving its stewardship ever since, achieving a 53 percent reduction in direct water use, adjusted by hours worked, in 2020 compared to a 2010 baseline. That reduction surpassed the company’s 2020 goal of 50 percent reduction compared to 2010, again adjusted for hours worked.

About Cummins Inc.

Cummins Inc., a global power solutions leader, is comprised of five business segments – Components, Engine, Distribution, Power Systems and Accelera by Cummins – supported by our global manufacturing and extensive service and support network, skilled workforce and vast technological expertise. Cummins is committed to its Destination Zero strategy, which is grounded in the company’s commitment to sustainability and helping its customers successfully navigate the energy transition with its broad portfolio of products. The products range from advanced diesel, natural gas, electric and hybrid powertrains and powertrain-related components including filtration, aftertreatment, turbochargers, fuel systems, valvetrain technologies, controls systems, air handling systems, automated transmissions, axles, drivelines, brakes, suspension systems, electric power generation systems, batteries, electrified power systems, hydrogen production technologies and fuel cell products. Headquartered in Columbus, Indiana (U.S.), since its founding in 1919, Cummins employs approximately 75,500 people committed to powering a more prosperous world through three global corporate responsibility priorities critical to healthy communities: education, environment and equality of opportunity. Cummins serves its customers online, through a network of company-owned and independent distributor locations, and through thousands of dealer locations worldwide and earned about $735 million on sales of $34.1 billion in 2023. See how Cummins is powering a world that’s always on by accessing news releases and more information at https://www.cummins.com/.

DALLAS, May 8, 2024 /3BL/ – Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: TCBI), the parent company of Texas Capital, announced the recipients of the Texas Capital Foundation’s second annual Honors Awards. The awards provide grants totaling $250,000 to support four nonprofit organizations addressing community needs across Texas.

The Honors Awards are a signature program of the Texas Capital Foundation, which Texas Capital launched in 2022 to fortify and elevate its commitment to Texas communities. The awards include three grants of $50,000 each that correspond to Texas Capital’s three community impact pillars of “Live,” “Learn” and “Lift.” A fourth $100,000 grant, the STAR (Supporting our Troops, Active and Remembered) Award, is presented to an organization that provides services to military members, families and veterans.

“The Texas Capital Foundation was established to expand and elevate Texas Capital’s philanthropic giving in the communities we serve across the state,” said Texas Capital President & CEO Rob C. Holmes. “We are proud to honor these four nonprofits as recipients of this year’s Honors Awards for their dedication to improving the lives of Texans and expanding the reach of services that are vital to building a brighter future for the state where we are fortunate to live and conduct business.”

The Texas Capital Foundation’s approach to grantmaking focuses on nonprofit organizations that operate in areas within the firm’s footprint. Through the Honors Awards, the Texas Capital Foundation aims to fund small to mid-sized organizations that serve the greatest needs of communities. Recipients are selected through a competitive grant application process.

The second annual Honors Awards winners are:

Skillpoint Alliance, an Austin-based nonprofit workforce development organization that provides in-demand workforce training to vulnerable members of the Central Texas and Permian Basin communities.SafeHaven of Tarrant County, a Fort Worth-based nonprofit with a mission to end domestic violence through safety, support, prevention and social change. As Tarrant County’s only state-designated family violence program, SafeHaven has enabled thousands of women and children to rebuild safe, independent lives for more than 40 years.Lucille’s 1913 Kitchen, a Houston-based nonprofit that is building a vertically integrated ecosystem to combat food insecurity and waste, create training and employment opportunities in traditionally under-resourced neighborhoods and empower communities to discover a self-sustainable livelihood through culinary and cultural arts.NextOp, a Dallas-based nonprofit with the mission to recruit, develop and place high-performing enlisted military personnel into industry careers. NextOp’s goal is to bridge the gap between the military and industries in need of diverse and skilled talent.

“We are very honored to receive the STAR Award and will use the funds to enable our planned North Texas expansion,” said Shelby Mounts, executive director at NextOps. “There are many veterans in the Greater DFW area and many more who want to come here for the region’s opportunities. Our career transition services aim to help connect these veterans to great careers. We look forward to building our relationship with Texas Capital and the DFW community for many years to come.”

“The recipients of this year’s Honors Awards were selected for their inspiring and innovative solutions to some of the greatest challenges facing our communities,” said Effie Dennison, president of the Texas Capital Foundation and head of Community Development & Corporate Responsibility at Texas Capital. “We are honored to recognize and support the work of these organizations to advance our shared mission of empowering communities across Texas.”

For more information about the Honors Awards, visit the Texas Capital Foundation website.

About Texas Capital

Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ®: TCBI), a member of the Russell 2000® Index and the S&P MidCap 400®, is the parent company of Texas Capital Bank d/b/a Texas Capital, is a full-service financial services firm that delivers customized solutions to businesses, entrepreneurs, and individual customers. Founded in 1998, the institution is headquartered in Dallas with offices in Austin, Houston, San Antonio and Fort Worth and has built a network of clients across the country. With the ability to service clients through their entire lifecycles, Texas Capital has established commercial banking, consumer banking, investment banking and wealth management capabilities. All services are subject to applicable laws, regulations, and service terms. Member FDIC. For more information, please visit www.texascapital.com. 

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CBRE

By Jen Siebrits Toby Radcliffe

The UK transition to net zero relies on increasing the use of renewably generated electricity. But with electricity demand predicted to double the in UK by 2050, renewable energy generation and power infrastructure will have to scale up rapidly. And so, there is a clear investment opportunity. However, traditional renewables investments can be challenging, with some connection dates as far away as 2035.

This is where real estate can play an important role. Specifically, capitalising on roof space for solar energy generation. While commercial rooftop solar will always require a grid connection, the timelines tend to be significantly shorter than utility scale generation sites (albeit there are still limitations for large systems on warehouse roofs).

So that’s the what and why, but what about the where? We know the need will increase in all cities, but demand will rise in some more than others. For a better understanding, we analysed ESO (Electricity System Operator) data to discover the minimum and maximum increase in electricity demand at city level.

The highest forecast, which shows changes on a trajectory to achieve net zero by 2050, suggests an average 24% increase in electricity demand across our cities in the next six years alone. Edinburgh and Glasgow had the highest increases of over 30%, which partly reflects its colder temperatures, but all cities show a significant increase. However, these estimates rely on improved energy efficiency, use of electricity for heating and an overall reduction in consumer demand. If this doesn’t happen, the pattern of demand will be different. For example, under a scenario where the UK fails to achieve net zero by 2050, the demand for electricity will be lower. However, even so, there is still an estimated 8% increase in electricity demand across our cities by 2030.

Regardless, in any case, in just six years electricity demand will have risen significantly. Because growth in grid capacity moves slower than this, these forecasts suggest that investing in rooftop solar in UK cities is a good strategy for utilising unused space and securing low carbon electricity as demand surges. However, solar installation is not always straight forward so site and location assessments are recommended to find the best opportunities.

Notes: The minimum and a maximum increase in electricity use reflect the different ways in which the UK power grid decarbonises. The higher range – the consumer transformation scenario – assumes the UK is on path to achieving net zero net zero by 2050 by electrifying heating, achieving high energy efficiency and reducing consumer demand. The lower estimate reflects a ‘falling short’ scenario, whereby the UK does not achieve net zero by 2050 and only takes limited steps to decarbonise power generation.

 

by Molly Frey, Frey Vineyards

Frey Vineyards started as a commitment to organic agriculture and winemaking when there was none. In 1980, young sweethearts Katrina and Jonathan Frey made their first barrel of wine. They both had become organic farmers under Alan Chadwick’s tutelage. Although they had respectively grown up in gardening families, after they studied under the charismatic Shakespearean teacher, together they embarked on their enterprise: founding America’s first organic winery. With the support of Jonathan’s brother Matthew, they built the first winery, became certified organic, and started fermenting Frey wine. There weren’t any other organic wineries at the time, and organics hadn’t caught the favor that it currently enjoys.

Surrounded by a hilly nature reserve in Northern California’s Mendocino County, the Frey Ranch started much earlier when doctors Paul and Beba Frey settled and raised their twelve children. Each of the Frey siblings took an interest in farming after their mother, Beba, passed on her desire from her youth spent in upstate New York growing food each summer. Since they were living on the Frey Ranch, there was a personal interest in supporting organics for the health of their community and their children (and now their grandchildren). Four generations of Freys now live in the areas surrounding the old winery site and vineyards.

Over the years, several of the Freys joined the Frey Vineyards team. Paul (Junior) has become internationally renowned as a no-sulfites-added winemaker. Luke Frey has been awarded similarly for his advancement in biodynamic agriculture. Tamara Frey has a successful career creating delicious meals with local, organic, and sustainable ingredients. Together, they made a winery that focused on more than just grapes. Nathaniel Frey’s incredible photography skill lent itself well to winery promotion. Other siblings with business acumen joined the board, and others still used their engineering skills to build the winery infrastructure further.

Read Molly’s very interesting article on how Frey Vineyards changed and continues to influence the marketplace – https://greenmoney.com/pioneers-in-organic-winemaking

RAHWAY, N.J., May 8, 2024 /3BL/ – Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, announced today that Merck for Mothers, the company’s global maternal health initiative, has reached more than 30 million women through programs promoting safe, high-quality, respectful care, surpassing its goal of reaching 25 million women by 2025. 

Merck for Mothers supports the company’s work in expanding access to health and accelerating progress toward the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3), which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. More specifically, the initiative is focused on creating a world where no woman has to die while giving life by helping to address the first target under SDG 3, reducing the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030. 

“I am so proud of our company’s long-standing commitment to our Merck for Mothers initiative, which is dedicated to improving maternal health outcomes around the world,” said Allison Goldberg, president, Merck Foundation. “Through Merck for Mothers, we have now helped more than 30 million women access high-quality, life-saving care around pregnancy and childbirth – surpassing our goal of reaching 25 million women by 2025. This milestone serves as a reminder that much work is left to be done, and we remain committed to helping create a world where no woman has to die while giving life.” 

Through wide-ranging approaches, Merck for Mothers harnesses the power of public-private collaboration to strengthen health systems and mobilize solutions to address the diverse and unique needs of moms, babies and families worldwide. The initiative’s milestone of 30 million women reached reflects the combined total impact of the programs and partnerships it supports in more than 70 countries, including:

India, where Merck for Mothers collaborated with the Federation of Obstetric and Gynecological Societies of India (FOGSI) and a consortium of stakeholders across the country to launch Manyata, a quality improvement and certification initiative specifically designed for private maternity providers. This initiative has supported quality improvements in 25 states and Union Territories across India and trained more than 23,000 providers in 2,800 maternity hospitals, delivering quality care to more than 1 million women.Brazil, where Merck for Mothers worked with the Sociedade Beneficente Israelita Brasileira Albert Einstein, a leading hospital network, and the Ministry of Health, to implement a new curriculum to train health providers on maternity care protocols. This effort trained 250 health providers and resulted in a 54% decline in the maternal mortality rate in two years in the Pernambuco State.Kenya, where, in response to a high unmet need for post-pregnancy family planning (PPFP), Merck for Mothers partnered with Jhpiego, a nonprofit organization affiliated with Johns Hopkins University, to fund a research study – PPFP Choices – facilitating greater access to evidence-based PPFP services throughout Kenya. PPFP Choices led to a 24% increase in PPFP uptake at participating sites.Nigeria – the country with the most maternal deaths worldwide – where with Pathfinder Nigeria, PharmAccess Foundation and the Kaduna State Ministry of Health, Merck for Mothers created the Saving Mothers, Giving Life project (SMGL 2.0). This project improved the quality of maternal health care in 25 private health facilities and led to a decrease in maternal and perinatal deaths by 60% and 16%, respectively.United States – the only high-income country in which maternal mortality is on the rise – where Merck for Mothers supports a variety of programs to address racial inequities in maternal health outcomes. For example, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Foundation, Merck for Mothers created the Hear Her campaign to disseminate critical information on pregnancy and childbirth-related complications, reaching more than 1.5 million people to date across the campaign’s website and social media channels.

To learn more about Merck for Mothers and stay informed on how the initiative is continuing to expand access to high-quality maternal care, please visit MerckforMothers.com.

About Merck 
At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than 130 years, we have brought hope to humanity through the development of important medicines and vaccines. We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world – and today, we are at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. We foster a diverse and inclusive global workforce and operate responsibly every day to enable a safe, sustainable and healthy future for all people and communities. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on 
X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

About Merck for Mothers 
Merck for Mothers is Merck’s $650 million global initiative to help create a world where no woman has to die while giving life. Applying Merck’s business and scientific resources, the initiative collaborates with partners to improve the health and well-being of women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. For more information, visit www.merckformothers.com.

Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA 
This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (the “company”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).

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Media Contacts: 
Leland Laury 
leland.laury@merck.com

Julie Cunningham 
(617) 519 – 6264 
julie.cunningham@merck.com

Investor Contacts: 
Peter Dannenbaum 
(732) 594 – 1579 
peter.dannenbaum@merck.com

Alexis Constantine 
(732) 594 – 1578 
alexis.constantine@merck.com

CINCINNATI, May 8, 2024 /3BL/ – Fifth Third’s Financial Empowerment Mobile, commonly known as the eBus, brings financial access and education directly into communities, especially underserved areas. For 2024, the eBus has been reimagined to offer enhanced experiences including immediate checking account opening, face-to-face consultation pods for private conversations, computer workstations for guests and broader services.

“At Fifth Third, we believe that lives are improved when people have the knowledge and tools to make wise financial decisions. With the eBus, we deliver financial tools and resources to communities that may not have easy access to such resources,” said Kala Gibson, chief corporate responsibility officer. “This is part of our commitment to build strong communities and our focus to keep customers at the center of everything we do.”

The increased offerings of the eBus include the services of SpringFour, a leading social impact financial wellness fintech, that connects visitors to more than 24,000 free local, statewide and national financial wellness resources from nonprofit and government agencies.

Through its digital self-service financial wellness solution, community members can accesssupport in 14 categories including food savings, rental resources, childcare, employment services, small business support and more.

Visitors enter their zip code and search for assistance in the specific category where assistance is required.SpringFour provides instant, localized results for human and social services organizations.Through the collaboration, the Bank and SpringFour will provide tablets on the eBus for visitors to access the service or give instructions for use on personal mobile devices.

The eBus begins its 2024 tour with a 20-day trip through Ohio – May 3 through May 31. For a complete schedule, click here.

“We love seeing banks step up to provide financial health assistance and resources to their customers and the broader communities where they do business. It’s great for communities and great for business, and we’re excited to work with Fifth Third to help the people they serve improve their financial health,” said Rochelle Nawrocki Gorey, SpringFour founder and CEO.

About SpringFour

Founded in 2005, SpringFour is the leading social impact financial wellness fintech that empowers banks, credit unions, fintech lenders, employers, mortgage servicers, nonprofits, and more to connect consumers with vetted, local nonprofit and government financial health resources. Trusted by Capital One, BMO, M&T Bank, OppFi, KeyBank, Fifth Third, Avant, Enova, Oportun, Mission Lane, and more, SpringFour’s product suite includes an innovative contact center tool, digital self-service products, and APIs that deliver payment performance, strengthen customer relationships, while driving ESG and social impact and consumer financial health and improving bottom lines. SpringFour is an award-winning fintech, recently chosen for Fast Company’s Brands that Matter award in 2023 and named a Real Leaders Top Impact Company in 2024. SpringFour’s CEO and Founder, Rochelle Nawrocki-Gorey, was named to Inc.’s 2024 250 Female Founders list and won Finovate’s 2023 Innovator of the Year award. SpringFour is a Certified B Corporation and WBE. To learn how SpringFour can benefit your organization, visit www.springfour.com.

About Fifth Third

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

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

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CONTACTS 
Adrienne Gutbier (Media Relations) 
adrienne.gutbier@53.com | 513-534-8038 
Matt Curoe (Investor Relations) 
matt.curoe@53.com | 513-534-2345