Tag: 3BL

Funding will go to enrichment, mentoring and family skills programs in African American communities

GREENVILLE, S.C., February 22, 2024 /3BL/ – In recognition of Black History Month, the Duke Energy Foundation has provided $75,000 in grants to organizations in South Carolina that serve African American communities with programs, services and cultural experiences.

“For nearly 50 years, we have taken time in February to celebrate the immeasurable contributions Black people have made to our nation, our state and our neighborhoods,” said Mike Callahan, Duke Energy’s South Carolina state president. “This rich history continues to inspire organizations that support African American communities and build upon the legacy of those that came before. Through this funding, we are proud to help shine a light on that important work.”

Grants were awarded to the following organizations:

Florence Boys & Girls Club – $5,000 
 G-Lab: Gentlemen Learning & Building Legacies (Florence) – $5,000 
 City of Sumter academic and senior fitness programs – $10,000 
 City of Hartsville Pride Park – $5,000 
 A Father’s Way (Lancaster) – $5,000 
 Boys & Girls Club of the Lakelands Region (Greenwood) – $10,000 
 Upstate Fatherhood Coalition (Spartanburg) – $10,000 
 Westside Center (Anderson) – $5,000 
 The Urban League of the Upstate (Greenville) – $20,000

The Urban League of The Upstate, an affiliate of the National Urban League, has played a vital role in serving the Upstate community for over 50 years. Funding from Duke Energy has helped the Urban League develop a tour focused on historic African American neighborhoods and landmarks that were integral to the civil rights movement. The tour will include a visit to the historic McClaren Medical Building in downtown Greenville, which will house a cultural visitor center. This center will serve as a hub for learning, exploring, and celebrating African American history and achievements.

“Thanks to Duke Energy and the collaboration with Black History in Greenville, Black History Month will be a time to spotlight and celebrate the remarkable accomplishments that African Americans have made in the Upstate community,” said Dr. Gail Wilson Awan, president and CEO of Urban League of The Upstate. “As the Urban League continues its mission of advancing social and economic equality, the support of partners like Duke Energy is invaluable. Together, they are working towards creating a future where everyone has equal opportunities to succeed and thrive.”

Duke Energy Foundation

The Duke Energy Foundation provides more than $30 million annually in philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 27,600 people.

Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company has interim carbon emission targets of at least 50% reduction from electric generation by 2030, 50% for Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 upstream and downstream emissions by 2035, and 80% from electric generation by 2040. In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune’s 2023 “World’s Most Admired Companies” list and Forbes’ “World’s Best Employers” list. More information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy’s illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Contact: Ryan Mosier 
24-Hour: 800.559.3853

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Funding will go to enrichment, mentoring and family skills programs in African American communities

GREENVILLE, S.C., February 22, 2024 /3BL/ – In recognition of Black History Month, the Duke Energy Foundation has provided $75,000 in grants to organizations in South Carolina that serve African American communities with programs, services and cultural experiences.

“For nearly 50 years, we have taken time in February to celebrate the immeasurable contributions Black people have made to our nation, our state and our neighborhoods,” said Mike Callahan, Duke Energy’s South Carolina state president. “This rich history continues to inspire organizations that support African American communities and build upon the legacy of those that came before. Through this funding, we are proud to help shine a light on that important work.”

Grants were awarded to the following organizations:

Florence Boys & Girls Club – $5,000 
 G-Lab: Gentlemen Learning & Building Legacies (Florence) – $5,000 
 City of Sumter academic and senior fitness programs – $10,000 
 City of Hartsville Pride Park – $5,000 
 A Father’s Way (Lancaster) – $5,000 
 Boys & Girls Club of the Lakelands Region (Greenwood) – $10,000 
 Upstate Fatherhood Coalition (Spartanburg) – $10,000 
 Westside Center (Anderson) – $5,000 
 The Urban League of the Upstate (Greenville) – $20,000

The Urban League of The Upstate, an affiliate of the National Urban League, has played a vital role in serving the Upstate community for over 50 years. Funding from Duke Energy has helped the Urban League develop a tour focused on historic African American neighborhoods and landmarks that were integral to the civil rights movement. The tour will include a visit to the historic McClaren Medical Building in downtown Greenville, which will house a cultural visitor center. This center will serve as a hub for learning, exploring, and celebrating African American history and achievements.

“Thanks to Duke Energy and the collaboration with Black History in Greenville, Black History Month will be a time to spotlight and celebrate the remarkable accomplishments that African Americans have made in the Upstate community,” said Dr. Gail Wilson Awan, president and CEO of Urban League of The Upstate. “As the Urban League continues its mission of advancing social and economic equality, the support of partners like Duke Energy is invaluable. Together, they are working towards creating a future where everyone has equal opportunities to succeed and thrive.”

Duke Energy Foundation

The Duke Energy Foundation provides more than $30 million annually in philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 27,600 people.

Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company has interim carbon emission targets of at least 50% reduction from electric generation by 2030, 50% for Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 upstream and downstream emissions by 2035, and 80% from electric generation by 2040. In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune’s 2023 “World’s Most Admired Companies” list and Forbes’ “World’s Best Employers” list. More information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy’s illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Contact: Ryan Mosier 
24-Hour: 800.559.3853

View original content here.

CNH, through their investment arm CNH Ventures, is supporting the scientific development of the first viable compostable net wrap for bales in agriculture. The company’s investment in the Canadian start-up, Nature’s Net Wrap, aims to accelerate their mission to eliminate waste from the process of collecting and storing crops.

Shifting to compostable net wraps has the potential to significantly benefit farmers. It reduces landfill use, haulage and disposal costs. It also eliminates soil contamination, improves animal safety, and reduces the risk of water contamination, resulting in a reduction of approximately 2.5 million tons of plastic waste per year.

High growth in this market is propelled by the general demand for chemical and plastic-free solutions. Initial product launch is expected in 2024.

This latest investment furthers CNH’s commitment to sustainably advance the work of farmers everywhere.

Recycled glass is valuable for glass manufacturers. It is one of the four main ingredients in creating new glass bottles and jars. O-I Glass aspires to make glass recycling available in 100% of the communities where we operate. We are getting creative to build glass recycling programs to support our communities, and Glass4Good has been one of our most successful programs. 

“Glass is a very unique material,” said Bob Hippert, Sustainability Strategy Leader at O-I. “It’s 100% recyclable, it is infinitely recyclable, and you can melt it over and over again without losing quality. You can combine it with any recycled content level to create new containers.”

Recycled glass is important not only to O-I, but also to consumers and customers that are asking for higher recycled content in the containers O-I makes, Hippert explained.

Using recycled glass to create new glass containers makes the manufacturing process more sustainable by requiring less energy and creating fewer emissions. For every one ton of recycled glass used in the manufacturing process, more than one ton of raw materials is saved, and for every 10% of recycled glass used in the manufacturing process, energy consumption is reduced by about 3% and carbon emissions by 5%. 

Glass4Good Generates Recycled Glass

Among our corporate sustainability goals is incorporating an average of 50% cullet, or recycled glass, in each package globally by 2030. One of the largest challenges in achieving that goal is the varying availability of cullet for manufacturing. Sometimes communities do not have the right equipment or the right systems in place to collect glass for recycling.

“We need a lot of cullet, but not all of this cullet is available out there in the market for us to procure, so we want to reach the ecosystem around our plant communities,” said Sammy Holaschutz, Recycling Systems Development Leader at O-I.

Glass4Good Creates Community Incentives

Through the Glass4Good program, O-I incentivizes residents to recycle – O-I makes a charitable donation based on the amount of glass that the community recycles. 

“Glass4Good gave us an opportunity to give back to our communities while also increasing recycled content for our products and bringing glass recycling to our communities,” said Elizebeth Hupp, Global Social Engagement Leader at O-I.

O-I operates Glass4Good in four communities in which the company operates – Danville, VA, Greeley, CO, James City County, VA, and Jefferson County, PA.

Glass is collected at designated collection sites throughout the communities, is weighed and processed into clean cullet, then returned to O-I facilities to be made into new glass bottles, sometimes in as little as 30 days.

The impact of a recycled bottle extends beyond the environmental benefits through Glass4Good. O-I incentivizes residents to recycle their glass by making a charitable donation to a local organization based on the weight of recycled glass every quarter, helping to better each Glass4Good community. 

Since the program’s inception in 2021, Glass4Good has collected over 1,200 tons of glass, resulting in over $47,000 in charitable donations to local organizations.

In Danville, VA, O-I makes charitable donations to the United Way of Danville Pittsylvania County – which uses donated funds to support the Danville Pittsylvania Cancer (DPC).

“Glass4Good is helping to save lives,” said Cathy Gore, President and CEO of United Way of Danville Pittsylvania County. 

In 2023, donations from the Danville program ensured that DPC clients could attend 224 appointments, covering a cumulative distance of nearly 19,000 miles. 

“Each visit means a cancer patient is receiving lifesaving treatment,” Gore explained.

Glass4Good has been well received by communities. All four programs saw an increase in the amount of glass recycled in 2023 compared to the previous year, most notably an 84% increase in the Greeley, Colorado program. 

The Glass4Good program would not be possible without strong partnerships across communities, non-profit organizations, customers, and suppliers. The program highlights the impact that can be made through collaboration and innovation, particularly in breaking down the barriers of glass recycling. These important partnerships help O-I to divert glass from landfills and better the communities in which they operate, one glass bottle at a time.

In fiscal 2023, Walgreens launched the Health Equity Champions Network. Health Equity Champions connect team members and customers to the work Walgreens does in health equity and serve as a point of contact for health equity work in their region. The work we have done to establish internal forums for improved awareness, transparency and knowledge sharing regarding health equity is demonstrative of our organizational focus on health equity and empowering each employee to be a health equity ambassador.

Health equity 
We strive to provide essential care to the communities in which we are embedded. As one of the world’s largest providers of pharmacy and other healthcare services in local communities around the world, WBA understands the needs of the communities we serve. Walgreens Boots Alliance is uniquely positioned to make an impact on healthcare access and affordability. You can learn more about our endeavors to improve access to healthcare for millions of people in our 2023 Environmental, Social & Governance Report. These efforts are reflected throughout our business activities, advocacy work and ESG initiatives.

Championing health equity 
The COVID-19 pandemic taught us valuable lessons about the important role our stores, services and pharmacy team play in the health of our communities. We see our pharmacists as our frontline educators. They are not only accessible in the communities where they work but are also often active and trusted members of those communities. Walgreens and other pharmacies were able to make a huge impact throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Between February 2020 and September 2022, it is estimated that services provided by pharmacies such as administering vaccines and antiviral medications helped to save over 1 million lives and avoid over 8 million hospitalizations in the U.S. Through new policy changes coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, Walgreens will continue its work to increase access to vaccines and healthcare services and reach underserved communities.

The Company established three pillars by which we ensure our care remains accessible to communities:

Access: 78 percent of Americans live within 5 miles of a Walgreens or Duane Reade retail pharmacy. For those who do not, we continued the effort to go the extra mile to reach medically underserved communities with our mobile clinics. Our coach buses outfitted for health providers traveled coast to coast, meeting people where they were while distributing thousands of vaccines and other services.Partnerships: We understand that to reach those who need the most help, we cannot work alone. In fiscal 2023 the Company hosted over 1,000 clinics to address vaccine hesitancy and provide vaccines — working with community organizers and faith-based organizations to major companies. These events and partnerships have been instrumental in breaking down barriers and providing the tools needed to engage communities and overcome obstacles to care. Additionally, these partnerships will be leveraged across other health services.Education and information: We are committed to ensuring our communities have access to the information necessary to promote good health outcomes. Because our pharmacy team members live and participate in the communities they serve, they are seen as a credible source of information among their community members. Our pharmacy team members are actively combating misinformation and encouraging healthcare access.

For more information on WBA’s health equity initiatives please see the latest ESG Report.

February 22, 2024 /3BL/ – Rayonier (NYSE:RYN) announced that it has entered into additional underground pore space lease agreements with ExxonMobil covering approximately 33,000 acres of timberlands in the United States. These leases increase Rayonier’s total acres under pore space lease agreements with ExxonMobil to approximately 59,000 acres. ExxonMobil owns and operates the largest carbon dioxide (CO2) pipeline network in the United States, enabling a cost-efficient transportation system that accelerates carbon capture and storage (CCS) deployment for both ExxonMobil and third-party customers.

“We view this as an important milestone as we continue to advance initiatives that accelerate the world’s path to net zero,” said David Nunes, CEO of Rayonier. “We are pleased to have this relationship with ExxonMobil, the leader in carbon capture and storage in the US. We believe our timberland portfolio is well-positioned to benefit from the transition to a low-carbon economy, and we are pursuing various opportunities to realize value from the land-based solutions offered by our forests.”

About Rayonier

Rayonier is a leading timberland real estate investment trust with assets located in some of the most productive softwood timber growing regions in the United States and New Zealand. As of December 31, 2023, Rayonier owned or leased under long-term agreements approximately 2.7 million acres of timberlands located in the U.S. South (1.85 million acres), U.S. Pacific Northwest (418,000 acres) and New Zealand (421,000 acres). More information is available at www.rayonier.com.

View source version here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240221479498/en/

Investors: Collin Mings, 904-357-9100 
Media: Alejandro Barbero

Source: Rayonier Inc.

Southwire is proud to announce that it has been recognized as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity 2024 by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group. This survey of over 220,000+ individuals included representation at over 1.5 million companies in America.

“We are honored to be recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity,” said Rich Stinson, Southwire’s president and CEO. “We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce not only enhances our team members’ experiences but also drives collaboration and innovation. Southwire strives for every team member to feel valued, respected and empowered. This acknowledgment is a point of pride as we continue our commitment to these values.”

This recognition reflects Southwire’s dedication to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace that welcomes and celebrates the unique skills and experiences of its team members.

“Diversity is a widely discussed topic – and it remains a crucial factor as people look for an employer or a business partner,” said Nancy Cooper, global editor in chief for Newsweek. “Newsweek and market-data research firm Plant-A Insights are proud to introduce ‘America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity 2024,’ highlighting companies that are committed to offering diverse and inclusive work environment.”

Southwire maintains ongoing efforts to create a workplace that reflects and enriches the communities it serves. In 2023, Southwire’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategy featured a focus on People Leaders, Inclusive Workforce, Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), Reputation and Community, Equity and Governance and Value and Supply Chain.

“At Southwire, we believe that the people are the power behind everything we do,” said Cara Herzog, chief DEI officer for Southwire. “We want to be the Employer of Choice for a workforce whose perspectives, backgrounds, talents and experiences are not only accepted but embraced. We are incredibly proud of the progress we have made and even more excited about what the future holds. As an industry leader, we will continue to be a catalyst for positive change.”

To learn more about Southwire’s commitment to DEI, visit southwire.com/dei.

February 22, 2024 /3BL/ – Today Bath & Body Works announces its inclusion on Newsweek’s ranking of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women.

Newsweek partnered with data research firm Plant-A Insights for their second annual list of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women. For this large-scale study, the data firm interviewed over 142,000 women employees in the U.S. and collected over 845,000 comprehensive company reviews. This study stands as one of the most extensive independent evaluations of workplace environments in America.

Brands included on the list were ranked based on their performance across various metrics crucial to women in the workforce including compensation, work-life balance and proactive management on diversity.

Bath & Body Works has a strong record of female representation and leadership. Women make up 88% of the company’s workforce and more than half serve in top leadership roles on their Executive Committee, which includes CEO Gina Boswell.

“We’re proud to be recognized with this important distinction,” says Kelie Charles, Chief Diversity Officer for Bath & Body Works. “We believe a culture where everyone feels a sense of belonging, has a chance to be heard and is valued and treated with respect makes us a smarter, stronger brand.”

In addition to making Newsweek’s ranking of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women, Bath & Body Works recently has been recognized in several other ways including:

Best Managed Companies by the Wall Street JournalAmerica’s Most Responsible Companies by NewsweekAmerica’s Greatest Workplaces for Veterans by NewsweekAmerica’s Greenest Companies by NewsweekWorld’s Most Trustworthy Companies by NewsweekAmerica’s Greatest Workplaces by NewsweekAmerica’s Best Workplaces for Women by ForbesAmerica’s Greatest Workplaces for LGBTQ+ individuals by NewsweekMost Trustworthy Companies in America by NewsweekDiversity in Business Award by Columbus Business FirstForbes List of America’s Best Large EmployersForbes List of America’s Best Employers for WomenA Diversity First Top 50 Company by the Diversity Research Institute

For more information about Bath & Body Works’ people and culture, visit bbwinc.com/people.

ABOUT BATH & BODY WORKS

Home of America’s Favorite Fragrances®, Bath & Body Works is a global leader in personal care and home fragrance, including top-selling collections for fine fragrance mist, body lotion and body cream, 3-wick candles, home fragrance diffusers and liquid hand soap. Powered by agility and innovation, the company’s predominantly U.S.-based supply chain enables the company to deliver quality, on-trend luxuries at affordable prices. Bath & Body Works serves and delights customers however and wherever they want to shop, from welcoming, in-store experiences at more than 1,840 company-operated Bath & Body Works locations in the U.S. and Canada and more than 450 international franchised locations to an online storefront at BathandBodyWorks.com.

At Tapestry, we aim to foster a culture of purpose and fulfillment by embedding equity, inclusion and diversity throughout our organization, and attracting and retaining talent with a compelling and engaging employee experience. And we strive to create a work environment where employees feel empowered to contribute, develop and grow. We seek to build deep engagement with our talent through fulfilling work, purpose-specific tools and a strong focus on professional development.

Jerenz Rivera joined our North Las Vegas team as an associate and trainer in fulfillment; today, he’s a technician with our IT team. Find out how Jerenz paved his career path by making the most of the opportunities he’s found.

Want to learn more about what a career at Tapestry looks like? Check us out on Glassdoor and see what roles are open now.

At Tapestry, we aim to foster a culture of purpose and fulfillment by embedding equity, inclusion and diversity throughout our organization, and attracting and retaining talent with a compelling and engaging employee experience. And we strive to create a work environment where employees feel empowered to contribute, develop and grow. We seek to build deep engagement with our talent through fulfilling work, purpose-specific tools and a strong focus on professional development.

Jerenz Rivera joined our North Las Vegas team as an associate and trainer in fulfillment; today, he’s a technician with our IT team. Find out how Jerenz paved his career path by making the most of the opportunities he’s found.

Want to learn more about what a career at Tapestry looks like? Check us out on Glassdoor and see what roles are open now.