Tag: 3BL

Last week, at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) annual Better Buildings, Better Plants Summit in Washington, D.C., Chemours’ representatives, Catherine Collison and Josie Stoner, accepted two Better Plants Awards on behalf of the company. The summit, which focused on innovative strategies for energy efficiency, decarbonization, and waste reduction, recognized Chemours with two awards for our sustainable advancements in manufacturing. It is the second year in a row Chemours has been recognized with two Better Plants Awards.

The Better Practice Award recognized Chemours’ introduction of an internal bonus metric based on implementing sustained energy efficiency projects. In the first year of implementation, this initiative cut energy intensity across the company by 3.5%. The new program improved energy efficiency across 14 sites through process improvements, small capital projects, and control strategies.

Chemours also brought home a Better Project Award which recognizes outstanding accomplishments at individual facilities. The award went to our Corpus Christi, Texas manufacturing site for achieving over $1 million in annual savings on waste disposal costs. The team who worked on the project optimized the performance of an existing distillation column to significantly increase its recycling yield—effectively reducing waste by 60% in a single process step. The project increased yield and recycling without sacrificing quality or catalyst integrity in the reaction and the approach is being investigated for use at other Chemours locations.

“We are immensely proud to be recognized by our partners at the Department of Energy,” said Dr. Amber Wellman, Chemours’ Chief Sustainability Officer. “These awards reflect the exceptional efforts our teams have put into enhancing energy efficiency and reducing waste at our manufacturing sites,” she continued.

“As a winner of both a Better Project and Better Practice award, The Chemours Company has demonstrated an innovative pathway to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions that other organizations can learn from,” said Carolyn Snyder, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Buildings and Industry at the U.S. Department of Energy.

Not only did Chemours take home some hardware from the summit, but the company was also given a platform to present some of the great work our teams are doing to achieve our sustainability goals.

Catherine Collison had the opportunity to present on the energy efficiency program that earned Chemours the Better Practice Award—detailing the development of the internal metric and how the company executed the improvements that resulted in notable energy savings.

She also joined a session with DOE officials titled “Taking the Hy Road: Clean Hydrogen for Industry,” where she discussed Chemours’s role in the hydrogen economy and our strategy behind preparing for the potential implementation of clean hydrogen at our facilities as a lever for decarbonization.

Chemours’ recognition at the DOE’s Better Buildings, Better Plants Summit speaks to our unwavering commitment to sustainability and responsible manufacturing.

“As a science-based company, sustainability is core to everything we do—be it in our sustainable product offerings or our commitment to produce essential chemistries responsibly,” Dr. Wellman explained following the recognition.

“These awards serve not just as a recognition of our success, but also as an inspiration for us to continue pushing forward in achieving our ambitious sustainability goals.”

As a partner in DOE’s Better Plants and Better Climate Challenge, Chemours is driving reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and energy intensity at its U.S. sites, which align with and support the company’s 2030 Sustainability Goals.

At the heart of Eli Lilly’s purpose lies a deep understanding: their insulin is more than just a product—it’s essential for peoples’ health and survival.

This purpose, to unite caring with discovery to create medicines that make life better for people around the world, is embedded deeply within the organization. The company focuses on ensuring their medicines are inclusive to all patients by investing in clinical testing diversity and removing obstacles that might prevent patients from accessing their medicine—both at and beyond the pharmacy counter. And, to ensure patients have reliable access to life-saving medications for years to come, Eli Lilly has invested $100 million towards achieving climate goals by 2030. Through this commitment, Eli Lilly is not only safeguarding the planet but reaffirming the company’s dedication to the well-being of every individual who relies on their medicines.

We invited Jim Greffet, Head of ESG Strategy at Eli Lilly, to explain how the company’s environmental and social commitments are grounded in purpose strategy, as well as how the company helps its employees lead purposeful careers.

Listen for insights on:

Purpose’s role in long-term strategyImproving health outcomes through philanthropic investmentsUnderstanding equity and inclusion at your company through the “employee journey”Inspiring employees to identify environmental solutions and investing in them

Listen to this and other episodes of Purpose 360 Podcast here.

Purpose 360 Podcast is a masterclass in unlocking the potential of purpose to ignite business and social impact. Hosted by Carol Cone, CEO of Carol Cone ON PURPOSE, Purpose 360 illuminates the impact of purpose, from engaging employees and fostering deeper consumer loyalty to inspiring product innovation and increasing market share.

Carol Cone ON PURPOSE (CCOP) is a pioneering social impact consultancy helping companies, brands, and nonprofits harness the power of purpose to advance their business and societal impact. CCOP’s proven approach, developed over decades and hundreds of purpose assignments, meets clients at any point on their purpose journey to unlock opportunities to build reputation, inspire and engage employees, ignite organizational culture for innovation and growth, while supporting the greater good.

Originally published on wildlifehc.org

From external regulatory pressures to internal corporate commitments, there is a myriad of reasons why a company may begin thinking about its dependencies and impacts on nature. WHC knows this all too well from 35 years of experience supporting the private sector in biodiversity-related efforts.

While the reasoning behind a corporate commitment to nature positivity varies from company to company, WHC has identified many commonalities across industries and sectors. With companies increasingly looking to engage in nature-positive actions, WHC aggregated these common findings into a model called the Nature-Positive Journey.

But what does this journey look like, and how can companies get started? WHC experts addressed these questions and more in a recent webinar focused on the how and why of corporate nature positivity.

Why get started now?

In order to set the scene for the Nature-Positive Journey, it’s important to understand why companies should embark on this journey now. The earth is currently experiencing a nature crisis, considered by many to the be planet’s sixth mass extinction event. There has been a documented 69% decrease in monitored global wildlife populations since 1970, and factors like habitat loss, overexploitation of nature, invasive species, disease and climate change are all drivers for biodiversity loss worldwide. These biodiversity losses will not only impact nature, but also the global economy, as over half of the world’s GDP is dependent on nature.

Because of these impacts, governments, financial institutions and corporations are beginning to take concrete action for nature. Due in part to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which was adopted by 196 countries at COP 15 in December 2022, governments are developing national action plans to reach nature-positive targets, including requirements for businesses. It is clear that, because of the dire state of biodiversity and these growing external pressures, now is the time for companies to act for nature.

Navigating the ecosystem of nature-related frameworks

Momentum is quickly gathering across many sectors to focus on nature-positive outcomes, resulting in various initiatives, tools and frameworks related to environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns. Many companies have relayed to WHC that the complicated landscape of these emerging frameworks can feel daunting, so having a clearer picture of their expectations and interoperability can help companies determine which frameworks best fit their needs.

A few notable frameworks include the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosure (TNFD) and the Science-based Targets for Nature (SBTN). TNFD focuses on nature-related risk management and disclosure, with these disclosures helping companies prepare for Target 15 of the GBF, and SBTN provides guidance for place-based impact management. While both frameworks ultimately develop action plans to meet and report on nature-related targets, TNFD focuses heavily on disclosure, whereas SBTN’s focus is more on acting and tracking measurable targets.

TNFD and SBTN are just two of the many frameworks, initiatives and regulations that currently exist, with more undoubtedly on the way. As such, it can be difficult to parse the connections between them and understand where each framework fits into an overall nature-related strategy. WHC is working to simplify this, using a sample scenario in the webinar to illustrate how various initiatives, as well as additional actions like WHC Conservation Certification®, each play a role in a company’s nature-related assessments, commitments, disclosures and transformation.

Watch WHC’s free, on-demand webinar to learn more about the various nature-related frameworks.

Hearing from companies about their place on the journey

Considering there are many frameworks and initiatives that support a goal of reaching nature positivity, many companies are wondering how to get started. Every company’s journey will look different, and there is rarely a straight path to nature positivity, as external and internal disruptions will inevitably have an impact. Despite this variability, WHC has identified six general phases on the Nature-Positive Journey. 

A company will typically start in the exploration phase, where it begins to understand its relationship with nature. Once a company has determined that biodiversity is material to its success, an internal commitment to take nature-related action often follows. Further assessments and planning help to identify specific nature-related risks, impacts, dependencies and opportunities across locations, business units and supply chains. Based on these findings, a company develops a nature strategy to address these impacts, which it often pilots and adapts at a subset of locations to collect feedback and adjust before adopting and launching it more broadly. Armed with this nature strategy, a company can go on to continuously innovate in the face of new regulations, competition and increased understanding of nature – becoming an industry leader.

Attendees on the webinar represented an interesting cross section of the private sector, and they provided useful data about the corporate nature-positive journey in a brief poll. When asked about their company’s current position on the nature-positive journey, most respondents indicated they are in the two earliest stages: Exploration (35%) or Assessment & Planning (27%). The majority of respondents were no further than the Exploration phase in their journey, with only 10% having reached the Adoption & Launch phase.

When asked about the barriers they see limiting their advancement on the journey, financial resources (35%) and lack of knowing where to start (27%) were the top responses. Specifically, a lack of knowing where to start was indicated as the biggest hurdle for those in the Exploration and Assessment & Planning phases, while a lack of financial resources was the top reason for not advancing in three phases: Commitment, Piloting & Adapting and Strategy Adoption & Launch.

These findings show that guidance and support early in the journey is a top need for many companies. WHC is working to meet this need by developing offerings that can help propel companies to the next step on the journey. From biodiversity fitness screenings to framework readiness assessments to the creation of a corporate nature strategy, WHC has created a menu of options to support companies at all phases of the Nature-Positive Journey.

Descriptions of these offerings, their placement on the nature-positive journey and real-life examples are available in WHC’s free white paper: The Corporate Nature-Positive Journey| Private Sector Biodiversity Methodologies, From Strategy to Implementation.

Ready to get started? 

By embarking on the Nature-Positive Journey and implementing a corporate nature strategy, companies benefit in a number of ways. Not only does a nature strategy demonstrate a company’s commitment to both people and planet, but it can also support other corporate-level strategies for climate or sustainability. A nature strategy helps a company align with various regulatory and financial expectations and supports business decision-making by putting a focus on nature-positive actions and lowering nature-related risks.

As biodiversity becomes more of a hot-button issue, and with the emergence of more voluntary nature and regulatory nature-related disclosures and expectations, it is clear that now is the time for companies to act for nature. Want to learn more? Watch WHC’s free, on-demand webinar for more details on the steps on the corporate Nature-Positive Journey and to learn how, no matter where you are, you can start taking action for nature.

St. Paul, Minn., April 9, 2024 /3BL/ – Antea Group is excited to announce that we have been awarded a 2023 Silver Medal from EcoVadis, the world’s most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings.

Antea Group scored a 65, placing the company in the 86th percentile globally. This puts us in the top 15% of companies assessed.

EcoVadis is the global standard for business sustainability ratings. The EcoVadis assessment evaluates 21 sustainability criteria across four core themes: Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement. More than 125,000 companies globally have been rated by EcoVadis.

“As environmental consultants, it is important for us to “walk the walk”, shares Peylina Chu, Vice President and ESG Business Strategy lead at Antea Group. “I’m so proud that our executive leadership team is committed to continuous improvement of the key environmental, social, and governance aspects of our business. Sustainability is a journey for Antea Group, and as we continue to focus on important aspects of our operations to enhance resiliency and strengthen our business operations, it’s rewarding to see recognition of our efforts in our EcoVadis score.”

EcoVadis’ business sustainability ratings are based international sustainability standards such as the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact, the International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards, and the ISO 26000 standard. The rating provides an evidenced-based analysis on performance and an actionable roadmap for continuous improvement.

Learn more about the ratings on the EcoVadis website.

About EcoVadis

EcoVadis is a purpose-driven company dedicated to embedding sustainability intelligence into every business decision worldwide. With global, trusted, and actionable ratings, businesses of all sizes rely on EcoVadis’ detailed insights to comply with ESG regulations, reduce GHG emissions, and improve the sustainability performance of their business and value chain across 220 industries in 180 countries. Leaders like Johnson & Johnson, L’Oréal, Unilever, LVMH, Bridgestone, BASF and JPMorgan are among 130,000+ businesses that use EcoVadis ratings, risk, and carbon management tools and e-learning platform to accelerate their journey toward resilience, sustainable growth, and positive impact worldwide. Learn more on: ecovadis.com, X or LinkedIn.

About Antea Group

Antea®Group is an environment, health, safety, and sustainability consulting firm. By combining strategic thinking with technical expertise, we do more than effectively solve client challenges; we deliver sustainable results for a better future. We work in partnership with and advise many of the world’s most sustainable companies to address ESG-business challenges in a way that fits their pace and unique objectives. Our consultants equip organizations to better understand threats, capture opportunities and find their position of strength. Lastly, we maintain a global perspective on ESG issues through not only our work with multinational clients, but also through our sister organizations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America and as a founding member of the Inogen Alliance.

HOUSTON and ROTTERDAM, Netherlands, April 9, 2024 /3BL/ – LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB) today published its annual sustainability report titled, Everyday Sustainability. The publication offers an in-depth review of the company’s progress over the last year toward establishing itself as an industry leader in sustainability by focusing on three critical sustainability challenges: ending plastic waste, taking climate action, and supporting a thriving society.

“We embrace sustainability as an opportunity to create value. Over the last year, we embedded sustainability into our new company strategy and progressed our sustainability-focused ambitions, while remaining laser-focused on safety, operational excellence and value creation. As we progress toward establishing ourselves as an industry leader in sustainability, we have moved from unlocking possibilities to making everyday sustainability a reality,” said Peter Vanacker, CEO of LyondellBasell.

In 2023, the company reported sustainability highlights including:

Issuing an inaugural $500 million green bond, with proceeds used to fund new or existing eligible green projects in the areas of circular economy, renewable energy, pollution prevention and control, and energy efficiency.Investing upstream in plastic-waste sorting and recycling operations in Europe, Asia and North America to help build a complete offering of sustainable solutions across multiple recycling processes.Reaching a final investment decision to build a first of its kind, commercial scale advanced recycling plant, MoReTec-1. The plant will be located at the company’s Wesseling, Germany site and will use the company’s proprietary MoReTec technology.Introducing a new product range called +LC (Low Carbon) solutions, which uses alternative sources of carbon to offer customers a lower carbon footprint compared to the fossil-based equivalent.Achieving almost 90% of the company’s 2030 target to secure at least half of its global electricity from renewable sources and implemented projects translating into an annual energy savings of nearly 4 million gigajoules.Increasing the number of women and people from underrepresented groups in senior leadership roles; women now make up 25% of such roles globally, a 3% increase from 2022 and people from underrepresented groups now make up 19% of executive roles in the U.S., a 5% increase compared with 2022.60 manufacturing sites achieved GoalZERO (zero injuries, zero incidents and zero accidents), and 67 sites were injury–free in 2023.

“We are committed to disclosing our sustainability performance, providing transparency and demonstrating how we support everyday sustainability,” said Vanacker.

For more information, read the 2023 LyondellBasell sustainability report, Everyday Sustainability here.

About LyondellBasell
We are LyondellBasell – a leader in the global chemical industry creating solutions for everyday sustainable living. Through advanced technology and focused investments, we are enabling a circular and low carbon economy. Across all we do, we aim to unlock value for our customers, investors and society. As one of the world’s largest producers of polymers and a leader in polyolefin technologies, we develop, manufacture and market high-quality and innovative products for applications ranging from sustainable transportation and food safety to clean water and quality healthcare. For more information, please visit www.lyondellbasell.com or follow @LyondellBasell on LinkedIn.

SOURCE LyondellBasell Industries

For further information: LyondellBasell Media Relations, Email: mediarelations@lyb.com, Phone: +1 (713) 309-7575

I began working at Quest Diagnostics in December 2020. Having recently moved from Maryland to New York, I was looking to start a new career but wasn’t sure what that was. Since I enjoyed driving, I decided to apply for a courier position with Quest Diagnostics. I was excited to receive the job offer and happy to find my coworkers were welcoming and friendly. Relocating to another state with my daughter and starting over wasn’t easy. The desire to be successful in my new career brought with it a high level of stress and anxiety. Fortunately, I ended up with a supervisor who understood, and despite making some early mistakes, was able to help me remain calm. 

I found that I loved driving more than I ever realized. This was a job that allowed me to be alone with my thoughts and really work through some issues. It gave me the opportunity to discover different areas of my new state and the chance to be outdoors.

When diagnosed with some personal medical issues, the support I received from my team was appreciated. I’ve had 2 surgeries in the last 3 years and was never made to feel pressured about having to take the time off to recover. Thankfully, I’m doing much better! (This is good because I am down 2 organs. Not sure I can afford to lose any more!)

I feel that Quest Diagnostics is a great place to work, and I’m always telling that to people who ask. Until now, I’ve never worked a job that I was excited to show up for every day. Throughout the years, I’ve worked in retail, warehouses, and medical positions, but I’m glad I made the decision to apply for a job at Quest Diagnostics. It is one of the best career choices I have ever made. 

Originally published on 3M News Center

ST. PAUL, Minn., April 9, 2024 /3BL/ — Scotch-Brite™ Brand is expanding its Greener Clean™ product line with the launch of the Scotch-Brite® Greener Clean™ Non-Scratch Soap Control Dishwand and Scotch-Brite® Greener Clean™ Bottle & Straw Brush. In continued efforts to design solutions that help advance a global circular economy, the brand has expanded its cleaning tools containing recycled content and plant-based materials, again without sacrificing durable cleaning power.

“Consumers are making more conscious purchasing decisions as they prioritize products that have a reduced impact on the environment. Scotch-Brite is committed to providing eco-friendly solutions that answer this need and are built to last,” said Amanda Dauphinais, vice president, 3M Home and Auto Care. “We are thrilled to be launching two new products featuring recycled content and plant-based materials that emphasize our commitment to sustainability. Both products harness Scotch-Brite’s cleaning expertise to deliver the brand’s superior scrubbing performance and optimal experience to get the tough jobs done.”

The Scotch-Brite Greener Clean Non-Scratch Soap Control Dishwand keeps consumer’s hands out of the mess while maintaining the brand’s signature multipurpose scrubbing power. Understanding the need to use less virgin material, the handle is made from 30 percent recycled content and 10 percent plant-based material and the non-scratch foam alternative scrubber is made from 50 percent recycled plastic. With a leak-free guarantee, not only does the product help eliminate kitchen grime, but also contains less virgin plastic. The Scotch-Brite Greener Clean Non-Scratch Soap Control Dishwand handle can continue to be reused with Scotch-Brite Greener Clean Non-Scratch Soap Control Dishwand Refills that are compatible with all Scotch-Brite dishwands.

The Scotch-Brite Greener Clean Bottle & Straw Brush is ideal for cleaning insulated mugs and cups, water bottles, glassware, food processors, blenders and so much more. Made from 30 percent plant-based material and 25 percent recycled content, consumers can feel good about their purchasing and cleaning behaviors. The cleaning duo boasts an innovative straw brush that neatly tucks inside the handle, safe to use on a variety of surfaces and designed with sisal bristles that provide long-lasting scrubbing power. To further enhance consumer experience, the handle can be reused with Scotch-Brite Greener Clean Bottle Brush Head Replacements.

Both products are dishwasher safe and gentle on a variety of surfaces. The Scotch-Brite Greener Clean Non-Scratch Soap Control Dishwand and Refill are currently available for purchase, retailing at $7.99 on Target.com and for $11.65 with three refills on Amazon.com. The dishwand will also hit Target stores shelves nationwide later this month. The Scotch-Brite Greener Clean Bottle & Straw Brush will be available for purchase later this month, and retails for $7.99 as a stand-alone product on Target.com or $14.99 with two replacement heads Amazon.com. These new products expand the line of Scotch-Brite’s Greener Clean collection.

About 3M 
3M (NYSE: MMM) believes science helps create a brighter world for everyone. By unlocking the power of people, ideas and science to reimagine what’s possible, our global team uniquely addresses the opportunities and challenges of our customers, communities, and planet. Learn how we’re working to improve lives and make what’s next at 3M.com/news.

About Scotch-Brite™ 
For 65 plus years, the Scotch-Brite™ Brand has been brightening homes and lives with cleaning expertise and innovative solutions that power through tough messes and let you enjoy the feeling of clean. With our ever-expanding line of products, we are a trusted leader in cleaning and a staple in households worldwide. Learn more at scotch-brite.com.

At Lenovo, we believe access to high-quality educational opportunities for every child around the world is critical to the betterment of society. However, according to UNICEF, over 600 million children worldwide are unable to attain minimum proficiency levels in reading and mathematics, even though two thirds of them are in school. Acknowledging this imperative gap, Lenovo actively collaborates with organizations across the globe dedicated to delivering transformative learning experiences for children. Through these partnerships, we aim to unlock the full potential of every child, bridging the educational divide and fostering a brighter future for all.

In line with its mission to provide smarter technology for all, Lenovo has been a proud partner to Solve Education! Foundation (SE!) since 2020. SE! is a global technology non-profit organization committed to enabling young people who are unable to attend school or the traditional education they receive is ineffective, to empower themselves through impactful learning opportunities to further their education. Since the onset of the partnership in 2020, SE! and Lenovo have reached 190,000 young people in nine countries.

Access to digital learning:

Specifically, Lenovo partners with SE!’s digital learning program that is designed to address educational needs of secondary school students and youth communities in Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. The objective of the program is to provide beneficiaries with essential educational basics – in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), literacy and other life skills – using SE!’s innovative learning platform. Leveraging support from Lenovo, the learning program creates personalized and engaging experiences, including game-based learning elements, to help young people develop essential skills and take control of their education.

“We are excited about our incredible journey with Lenovo,” said Janine Teo, CEO of SE! “Together, we’re changing lives of students in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Lenovo’s dedication to helping others learn, aligns perfectly with our mission, making our innovative educational programs even more powerful. This partnership is about believing in a future where every student can shine, and we’re eager to keep growing, reaching more students, and creating a world where everyone has the chance to succeed through education.”

Empowering transformation with digital inclusion:

Lenovo’s funding empowered SE! to extend its digital education initiative to rural areas, impacting students like Tesa in Maumere, Flores, Indonesia. Starting at a Pre-A1.1 English level in 2021, Tesa’s dedication has elevated her proficiency to Pre-A1.2. In a heartfelt letter, she expressed how the platform brought her closer to her dream of speaking fluent English.

Similarly, Danial from Malaysia, a student with dyslexia, improved from Pre-A.1 to A1.2 through SE!’s program. Initially shy in English, he confidently participated in the English Alphabet Story Battle competition, ranking among the top five finalists. His mother proudly noting the positive impact on his self-confidence says, “This was the first time I’ve seen my son on stage, alongside other participants, and he spoke English without using a script. I am so proud of Danial for improving his self-confidence.”

Lenovo employees are also deeply engaged with SE!. Lenovo Malaysia recently partnered with SE! to organize the ‘Learning Never Ends with Lenovo’ program. A total of 66 students and 15 Lenovo volunteers participated in the program where the students were grouped into small teams for activities conducted in English. Initially, students felt very nervous and hesitant to speak English, but with the support of Lenovo Malaysia volunteers, eventually found the confidence to eagerly participate.

“This was a valuable moment for me because I have witnessed firsthand how these students are utilizing technology to learn English,” said Lenovo Malaysia volunteer, Sean. “This was something I could never have imagined ten years ago when we mostly relied on textbooks. I am grateful to collaborate with SE! Foundation in empowering students through enjoyable activities like this.”

Strategies for Advancing and Enhancing the Future of the Program

Through Lenovo’s funding and device donations, SE! continues to enhance its educational content and reach more students around the globe, from Thailand to Nigeria to India and beyond. Today, SE! has reached over 190,000 learners and they aren’t slowing down any time soon. In 2022-23, Solve Education! Foundation was a grantee under the AVPN STEM Collaborative Fund, an initiative supported by Micron Foundation, XTX, Chevron, BHP, and Lenovo. With the grant under the collaborative SE! upgraded its ED the Learning Bot, their web-based learning platform. This involved developing a robust math content integrated into an adaptive AI element not requiring installation on mobile phones or devices as well as designing a system to utilize data and analytics to monitor learners’ progress and behaviour, making it adaptable and personalised to support students’ needs.

Looking ahead, Lenovo is preparing to extend its support into the next fiscal year, continuing to promote ed-tech as a powerful tool for change in underserved communities.

At Lenovo, we believe access to high-quality educational opportunities for every child around the world is critical to the betterment of society. However, according to UNICEF, over 600 million children worldwide are unable to attain minimum proficiency levels in reading and mathematics, even though two thirds of them are in school. Acknowledging this imperative gap, Lenovo actively collaborates with organizations across the globe dedicated to delivering transformative learning experiences for children. Through these partnerships, we aim to unlock the full potential of every child, bridging the educational divide and fostering a brighter future for all.

In line with its mission to provide smarter technology for all, Lenovo has been a proud partner to Solve Education! Foundation (SE!) since 2020. SE! is a global technology non-profit organization committed to enabling young people who are unable to attend school or the traditional education they receive is ineffective, to empower themselves through impactful learning opportunities to further their education. Since the onset of the partnership in 2020, SE! and Lenovo have reached 190,000 young people in nine countries.

Access to digital learning:

Specifically, Lenovo partners with SE!’s digital learning program that is designed to address educational needs of secondary school students and youth communities in Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. The objective of the program is to provide beneficiaries with essential educational basics – in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), literacy and other life skills – using SE!’s innovative learning platform. Leveraging support from Lenovo, the learning program creates personalized and engaging experiences, including game-based learning elements, to help young people develop essential skills and take control of their education.

“We are excited about our incredible journey with Lenovo,” said Janine Teo, CEO of SE! “Together, we’re changing lives of students in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Lenovo’s dedication to helping others learn, aligns perfectly with our mission, making our innovative educational programs even more powerful. This partnership is about believing in a future where every student can shine, and we’re eager to keep growing, reaching more students, and creating a world where everyone has the chance to succeed through education.”

Empowering transformation with digital inclusion:

Lenovo’s funding empowered SE! to extend its digital education initiative to rural areas, impacting students like Tesa in Maumere, Flores, Indonesia. Starting at a Pre-A1.1 English level in 2021, Tesa’s dedication has elevated her proficiency to Pre-A1.2. In a heartfelt letter, she expressed how the platform brought her closer to her dream of speaking fluent English.

Similarly, Danial from Malaysia, a student with dyslexia, improved from Pre-A.1 to A1.2 through SE!’s program. Initially shy in English, he confidently participated in the English Alphabet Story Battle competition, ranking among the top five finalists. His mother proudly noting the positive impact on his self-confidence says, “This was the first time I’ve seen my son on stage, alongside other participants, and he spoke English without using a script. I am so proud of Danial for improving his self-confidence.”

Lenovo employees are also deeply engaged with SE!. Lenovo Malaysia recently partnered with SE! to organize the ‘Learning Never Ends with Lenovo’ program. A total of 66 students and 15 Lenovo volunteers participated in the program where the students were grouped into small teams for activities conducted in English. Initially, students felt very nervous and hesitant to speak English, but with the support of Lenovo Malaysia volunteers, eventually found the confidence to eagerly participate.

“This was a valuable moment for me because I have witnessed firsthand how these students are utilizing technology to learn English,” said Lenovo Malaysia volunteer, Sean. “This was something I could never have imagined ten years ago when we mostly relied on textbooks. I am grateful to collaborate with SE! Foundation in empowering students through enjoyable activities like this.”

Strategies for Advancing and Enhancing the Future of the Program

Through Lenovo’s funding and device donations, SE! continues to enhance its educational content and reach more students around the globe, from Thailand to Nigeria to India and beyond. Today, SE! has reached over 190,000 learners and they aren’t slowing down any time soon. In 2022-23, Solve Education! Foundation was a grantee under the AVPN STEM Collaborative Fund, an initiative supported by Micron Foundation, XTX, Chevron, BHP, and Lenovo. With the grant under the collaborative SE! upgraded its ED the Learning Bot, their web-based learning platform. This involved developing a robust math content integrated into an adaptive AI element not requiring installation on mobile phones or devices as well as designing a system to utilize data and analytics to monitor learners’ progress and behaviour, making it adaptable and personalised to support students’ needs.

Looking ahead, Lenovo is preparing to extend its support into the next fiscal year, continuing to promote ed-tech as a powerful tool for change in underserved communities.

Originally published on DICK’S Sporting Goods Sideline Report

26.2 miles of beautiful tradition. The Boston Marathon is the oldest, and arguably the most prestigious, annual marathon in the world. Earning a Boston qualifying time is a feat many amateur runners dedicate months or even years to; however, a qualifying time is not a guaranteed entry into the historic race.

If there are more qualified applicants than the designated field size, the Boston Athletics Association (B.A.A.) sets a cutoff time. For this year’s 128th running of the Boston Marathon, presented by Bank of America, the cutoff time was 5 minutes, 29 seconds (5:29) faster than the qualifying standards, which unfortunately resulted in more than 11,000 runners being turned away. But DICK’S Sporting Goods jumped in to put three of them on the course.

DICK’S worked with its partner, the B.A.A., to identify three deserving athletes from the Boston area who have qualified but never run in the Boston Marathon and offer them race bibs, giving them the opportunity to achieve their long sought-after goal.

“These amazing runners are such great examples of our belief that sports have the power to change lives,” said Vice President of Creative, Sponsorships & Entertainment at DICK’S Sporting Goods Mark Rooks. “Whether as a way to connect to the community, a mechanism for healing or a self-care practice, running has shaped these athletes into who they are today,” Rooks said.

DICK’S teamed up with Front Office Sports to chronicle John Neusch, Carly Curcuru, and CJ Reuland’s road to the Boston Marathon, including the moment they each learned they’d be running on April 15!

Read on to learn more about each of their journeys to Boston and what getting the chance to run in the race means to them.

THE QUEST FOR BOSTON

Inspired by his father, an avid runner, John Neusch joined his high school’s cross country team. He ran his last race in 1987, and 28 years went by before Neusch raced again. “Life got busy,” Neusch said. “With college, work and kids, I put running off to the side.”

As his sons grew older and he retired from teaching high school history and coaching after-school sports, Neusch found time to ease back into racing. He ran his first 10K in 2016. After finishing a few half marathons, Neusch’s brother encouraged him to try to qualify for the Boston Marathon. Neusch decided to take on the challenge. He ran his first marathon in 2017 but didn’t qualify. “Since then, it’s been my quest.”

Over the past eight years, Neusch qualified for Boston four times. He missed the cutoff each time, most recently by 18 seconds. When B.A.A. officials learned about DICK’S Boston Bound initiative, they recommended Neusch for his years of dedication and ambition. In February, DICK’S told Neusch that this April 15, he would be at the starting line in Hopkinton.

“I was shocked,” Neusch said. “I still can’t believe that this eight-year quest is actually coming to fruition.”

Neusch said he hopes to finish the race in 3:35 as his fiancé, sons, brother and former coworkers cheer him on along the course. More than anything, Neusch said he wants to savor the Boston Marathon experience. “Everyone I’ve talked to who finished the race said it’s more amazing than they thought it could be because of all the excitement,” said Neusch. “I want to take it all in.”

A PRIVILEGE TO RUN

As a young kid, Carly Curcuru tried her hand at several sports but admits she never thrived in any of them. That was until she discovered cross country. “I fell in love with it immediately,” Curcuru said.

Curcuru ran cross country throughout middle and high school and continued to run in her first semester at Tufts University, where she was named Rookie of the Year. “I was stoked about it,” Curcuru said. “I saw exponential progress for me at Tufts.”

All that changed when she suffered a significant injury while home for winter break. “I had tendonitis in both my knees and a calf strain,” Curcuru said, “and I just couldn’t shake it.”

Curcuru fell back into a dangerous eating disorder that she battled as a teenager, which led her to leave school and quit running. She was on bed rest with a heart rate so low that she couldn’t engage in any physical activity.

For a long time, Curcuru felt contempt towards running and saw it as the reason she had to leave school. But as she recovered, her passion for the sport returned.

“I realized I was looking at running the wrong way,” Curcuru said. “It’s such a privilege to be able to move my body.”

After running a few local half marathons, Curcuru set her sights on the Boston Marathon. “It’s always been on my bucket list,” she said.

She qualified for Boston with a 3:27 but missed the cutoff. Devastated, Curcuru started training for another Boston qualifier. That devastation melted away when DICK’S informed her she would be running Boston this year after all.

Even though she’ll be running 26.2 sooner than she expected, Curcuru said she’s ready to be a part of the iconic race. “I’m going to go out there and have a blast with it.”

SCRUBBING OUT AND LACING UP

CJ Reuland’s love of running started 20 years ago. Her dad took her to run a 5K in their Baltimore, Maryland neighborhood. “It was really rainy, and he didn’t have high expectations,” Reuland said, “but I was stubborn and ran the whole thing from start to finish.”

Reuland’s passion for running continued through school. During her sophomore year of college in 2016, she ran her first marathon. To her surprise, she came very close to qualifying for the Boston Marathon. “That’s when I decided to make Boston my goal,” she said.

As life would have it, Reuland graduated from medical school and moved to Boston to begin her general surgery residency at Massachusetts General Hospital. Despite working 12-hour days at the hospital, Reuland always finds time to run. “Running keeps me sane,” she said.

Since 2018, Reuland has qualified for the Boston Marathon three times but has always missed the final cutoff, including this year. “I wasn’t really surprised,” Reuland said, “There was a record-breaking number of entrants.”

But Reuland was surprised to learn from DICK’S Sporting Goods that she would be getting a bib to run Boston this year. “In the running community, the Boston Marathon is legendary,” Reuland said. “I can’t believe I’m finally going to get to run it.”

She has two goals for the marathon: to soak in the experience and to finish in 3:30 to qualify for next year’s race. Reuland hopes the atmosphere on April 15 will help give her an extra boost.

“The race is epic because of the energy,” Reuland said, “and the way the entire city comes together to celebrate it.”

Learn more about DICK’S Sporting Goods’ partnership with the B.A.A. here.

About DICK’S Sporting Goods

DICK’S Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS) creates confidence and excitement by inspiring, supporting and personally equipping all athletes to achieve their dreams. Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, the leading omnichannel retailer serves athletes and outdoor enthusiasts in more than 850 DICK’S Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy, Public Lands, Going Going Gone! and Warehouse Sale stores, online, and through the DICK’S mobile app. DICK’S also owns and operates DICK’S House of Sport and Golf Galaxy Performance Center, as well as GameChanger, a youth sports mobile platform for live streaming, scheduling, communications and scorekeeping.

Driven by its belief that sports have the power to change lives, DICK’S has been a longtime champion for youth sports and, together with its Foundation, has donated millions of dollars to support under-resourced teams and athletes through the Sports Matter program and other community-based initiatives. Additional information about DICK’S business, corporate giving, sustainability efforts and employment opportunities can be found on dicks.com, investors.dicks.com, sportsmatter.org, dickssportinggoods.jobs and on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X.

About the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.)

Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization with a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A. manages the Boston Marathon, and supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round programming. The 128th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America is scheduled to take place on Monday, April 15, 2024. The Boston Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, along with international marathons in Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. For more information on the B.A.A., please visit www.baa.org.

About Front Office Sports 

Front Office Sports is the leading multi-platform media and news organization covering the business of sports, boasting an audience that every month delivers more than 175 million social impressions, 35 million newsletter opens, 10 million video views, and two million page views. In addition, with over 15 distribution partners, FOS content appears on screens in more than 50,000 buildings and venues across North America. Front Office Sports was named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in 2021, Inc.5000 in 2023 recognizing the fastest-growing private companies in America, and AdWeek’s Hottest in Sports in 2022 and 2024.