Tag: 3BL

The Public Affairs Council honored the winners of the 2024 Innovation Awards during its annual Advocacy Conference in Austin, Texas on January 30, 2024. International Paper won in the category of Grassroots Innovation for our Period Poverty Initiative to combat period poverty in communities and raise awareness of the issue facing women and girls. Meaghan Joyce, director of political & advocacy strategy, accepted the award on behalf of International Paper and provided an overview of the campaign during the award ceremony.

Period poverty is the lack of access to period products and education – it affects at least 500 million women and girls globally, even in the most economically developed countries. In the U.S., 1 in 5 girls have missed school due to the lack of access to period products – that is more than 3.5 million girls. It’s an issue that leads to a number of problems like school truancy, reproductive issues, health risks and unnecessary shame.

That is why IP launched its award winning Fighting Period Poverty in Our Communities program in 2020 by hosting a series of menstrual product packing and donation events globally to raise awareness about period poverty with employees and provide Period Care kits to people who need them the most in the communities where we operate.

IP partnered with our customer Procter & Gamble, maker of the Always brand, to assemble and distribute kits containing menstrual products. Last year, IP hosted packing events in 62 locations across nine countries, donating more than 31,000 kits containing 720,000 units of menstrual products.

A hallmark of the program is to advocate for passage of legislation like the Menstrual Equity for All Act, introduced in 2021 and 2023, to expand access to menstrual products in schools and government buildings. To date, 25 states have passed laws to provide free period products in some capacity. There is a need for national change to solve the issue of period poverty.

“The ingenuity, creativity and political savvy of our members once again amazes me,” says Council President Doug Pinkham. “This year’s Innovation Award winners take our understanding of innovation to a new and increasingly sophisticated level, offering a model for other organizations to aspire to. What they have done and continue to do is inspiring.”

“It is an honor to be recognized alongside some of the top advocacy organizations in the business,” said Meaghan Joyce. “Our period poverty initiative has grown exponentially in its four-year history and we’ll continue to innovate, expand and take action on this important issue. Collaboration is essential to combat period poverty and our ability to engage diverse stakeholders toward a common goal is a key to our success.”

Other winners include Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) in the Communications Innovation category for raising awareness of the challenges people in the disability community face in air travel and building support for accessibility improvements to air travel during FAA reauthorization, and Grupo Estrategia Politica (GEP)in the Lobbying Innovation category for their successful campaign that strengthened the efforts to regain the Category 1 safety classification for the Mexican aviation industry after it was downgraded to Category 2 by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

About the Public Affairs Council 
Both nonpartisan and nonpolitical, the Public Affairs Council is the leading global association for public affairs professionals. The Council’s mission is to advance the field of public affairs and to provide its 750 member companies, nonprofits and universities with the executive education and expertise they need while maintaining the highest ethical standards. Learn more at pac.org.

About International Paper
International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a global producer of sustainable packaging, pulp and other fiber-based products, and one of the world’s largest recyclers. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., we employ approximately 39,000 colleagues globally who are committed to creating what’s next. We serve customers worldwide, with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, North Africa and Europe. Net sales for 2023 were $18.9 billion. Additional information can be found by visiting internationalpaper.com.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., February 8, 2024 /3BL/ – Panasonic Corporation of North America and Olympian Katie Ledecky, the most decorated female swimmer in history, jointly announced a second virtual field trip from STEM Forward, an educational program created with worldwide edtech leader Discovery Education. Premiering February 15, 2024 at 1 PM ET and available on-demand, Panasonic’s new Innovators for Impact Virtual Field Trip (VFT) is designed to help educators inspire student innovation in science, technology, engineering, and math (“STEM”) and allow them to virtually travel to Japan with Katie Ledecky.

A 3-time Olympian, 21-time World Champion, and 10-time Olympic medal-winning swimmer, Katie is a proud STEM advocate. The Innovators for Impact VFT will follow Katie alongside a student to meet and interact with Panasonic STEM specialists who are exploring innovative ways of living and working today, and in the future.

“Any opportunity I have in life to inspire educators and students to live more sustainably, I’m going to take it,” said Katie Ledecky. “It was exciting to explore Panasonic’s innovations in its global headquarters in Japan and then be able to share that experience to help engage educators and students. From solar power to smart mobility, furthering STEM education and providing equal access to students can help today’s youth realize their impact.”

The Innovators for Impact Virtual Field Trip will explore how Panasonic combines innovation with impact, providing students with the knowledge to connect what they learn in school to the real-world. Educators and students who take part in the program will be able to take a virtual journey and learn about sustainable smart towns, various types of energy systems, and smart mobility.

An accompanying educator guide provides teachers with materials and classroom activities for before, during, and after the virtual field trip. In addition, a Family Activity and Digital Lesson Bundle takes the learning even further by providing engaging resources exploring insights from the Innovators for Impact Virtual Field Trip. Learn more and watch the Innovators for Impact Virtual Field Trip here.

“Panasonic was founded to have a positive impact on society. For over 100 years, we’ve lived by this mission, building products designed to enhance the human experience. The STEM Forward program is an excellent example of this effort and how people are integral to our success – including the students who will be the professionals of tomorrow,” said Megan Myungwon Lee, Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer of Panasonic Corporation of North America. “We are proud to continue to work alongside Katie Ledecky to show today’s educators and learners how they can have a positive impact on the world through STEM.”

In 2022, Katie joined Panasonic to launch the STEM Forward program with Discovery Education and hosted the Winning with STEM Virtual Field Trip which gave educators and students a tour of five of Panasonic’s Innovation Centers across North America. STEM Forward connects educators and students to the game-changing power of technology with standards-aligned resources for any learning environment at no cost. Building on Katie’s ongoing work with Panasonic as a STEM leader and member of Team Panasonic, STEM Forward provides educators, students, and families with dynamic digital resources that explore how technology improves lives and makes the world a better place. In addition, STEM Forward includes special Virtual Field Trips appropriate for wherever learning takes place.

“STEM innovation is the not-so-secret secret behind a better world. We are thrilled to connect today’s students to inspirational leaders, like Panasonic and STEM advocate Katie Ledecky, as they discover where STEM fits in their world and their plans for their futures,” said Amy Nakamoto, General Manager of Corporate Partnerships at Discovery Education.

You can learn more about STEM Forward at stemforward.discoveryeducation.com, or within Discovery Education Experience, the award-winning K-12 learning platform.

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About Panasonic Corporation of North America 
Newark, NJ-based Panasonic Corporation of North America is a leading provider of Consumer Lifestyle technologies, as well as innovative Smart Mobility, Sustainable Energy, Immersive Experiences, and Integrated Supply Chain solutions. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Holdings Corporation. One of Interbrand’s Top 100 Best Global Brands of 2023, Panasonic is a leading technology partner and integrator to businesses, government agencies and consumers across the region. Learn more about Panasonic’s ideas and innovations at na.panasonic.com/us.

About Discovery Education 
Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, innovative classroom tools, and corporate partnerships, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences engaging all students and supporting higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and trusted organizations to empower teachers with leading edtech solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.

Contacts 
Betsy Sagges 
Panasonic Corporation of North America 
Betsy.Sagges@us.panasonic.com

Grace Maliska 
Discovery Education 
gmaliska@discoveryed.com

Eastman

KINGSPORT, Tenn., February 8, 2024 /3BL/ – Eastman (NYSE: EMN) proudly announced that it received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index, the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. Eastman joins the ranks of 545 major U.S. businesses that also earned top marks this year.

“Eastman is a global material innovation company, but more importantly, we’re a people company,” said Julie McAlindon, Senior Vice President, Regions and Chief Supply Chain Officer, and executive champion of Eastman’s Equality resource group. “We care deeply about improving the quality of life for our team members and those who live in the communities in which we operate. This award is a recognition of the incredible efforts of our global team and our Equality Eastman Resource Group and exemplifies our commitment to I&D and our LGBTQ+ team members and allies.” 

“For well over two decades, businesses have played an important role in furthering LGBTQ+ equality by centering employee needs and voices when it comes to workplace inclusion. While there is much more work to be done, year-over-year growth in CEI participation is evidence of a business community that recognizes the responsibility and value in upholding equity and inclusion,” said RaShawn “Shawnie” Hawkins, Human Rights Campaign senior director of Workplace Equality. “Our goal at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation is to work in a spirit of partnership with companies, providing educational resources and leading benchmarking, and collaborating on ways for businesses to support the LGBTQ+ community at a time when we face unprecedented legislative attacks, heightened anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and physical violence. The CEI is an ever-evolving tool – a blueprint that companies can use to show up more effectively in supporting their LGBTQ+ employees and their families.”  

The results of the 2023-2024 CEI showcase how U.S.-based companies are promoting LGBTQ+ friendly workplace policies in the U.S. and abroad. The first year of the CEI included 319 participants, and the 2023-2024 CEI now includes 1,384 participants; further demonstrating the tremendous trajectory of the CEI, a record-breaking 1,340 businesses have non-discrimination protections specific to gender identity, up from just 17 in 2002. These critical non-discrimination protections cover 21 million employees in the U.S. and around the globe.  Eastman’s efforts in satisfying all the CEI’s criteria earned a score of 100 and the designation as recipient of the Equality 100 Award: Leader in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion.

The CEI rates employers providing these crucial protections to over 20 million U.S. workers and an additional 18 million outside of the U.S. Companies rated in the CEI include Fortune magazine’s 500 largest publicly traded businesses, American Lawyer magazine’s top 200 revenue-grossing law firms (AmLaw 200), and hundreds of publicly and privately held mid- to large-sized businesses.

The CEI rates companies on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars:

Non-discrimination policies across business entities; Equitable benefits for LGBTQ+ workers and their families; Supporting an inclusive culture; and, Corporate social responsibility.

The full report is available online at www.hrc.org/cei.
 

About the Human Rights Campaign Foundation
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people. Through its programs, the HRC Foundation seeks to make transformational change in the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ people, shedding light on inequity and deepening the public’s understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, with a clear focus on advancing transgender and racial justice. Its work has transformed the landscape for more than 15 million workers, 11 million students, 1 million clients in the adoption and foster care system and so much more. The HRC Foundation provides direct consultation and technical assistance to institutions and communities, driving the advancement of inclusive policies and practices; it builds the capacity of future leaders and allies through fellowship and training programs; and, with the firm belief that we are stronger working together, it forges partnerships with advocates in the U.S. and around the globe to increase our impact and shape the future of our work.

About Eastman
Founded in 1920, Eastman is a global specialty materials company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With the purpose of enhancing the quality of life in a material way, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. The company’s innovation-driven growth model takes advantage of world-class technology platforms, deep customer engagement, and differentiated application development to grow its leading positions in attractive end markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables. As a globally inclusive and diverse company, Eastman employs approximately 14,500 people around the world and serves customers in more than 100 countries. The company had 2022 revenue of approximately $10.6 billion and is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA.
 

Media contact
Candy Eslinger
423-229-3439
candyeslinger@eastman.com

SHANGHAI, February 8, 2024 /3BL/ – Otis Worldwide (NYSE: OTIS), the vertical transportation pioneer and industry leader, has achieved Gold-level TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) zero waste certification for all five of its manufacturing facilities in China. This underscores the company’s strong commitment to sustainability throughout its global network and makes Otis the first elevator company in China to earn a TRUE Gold rating.

Administered by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), TRUE certification confirms that more than 90% of waste is diverted from landfills, incineration and the environment.

As part of its global Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) goals, Otis has committed to achieve 100% factory eligibility for zero-waste-to-landfill certification by 2025.

“We are dedicated to delivering on our company’s global ESG goals to create value for our colleagues, communities, customers and shareholders – and our planet as a whole,” said Sally Loh, Otis China President. “It would not have been possible for us to achieve this important environmental milestone without every member of our team embracing zero-waste goals and championing China’s growing green economy.”

To meet the requirements of the global TRUE standard, Otis factories in Tianjin (2), Hangzhou, Chongqing and Jiaxing have adopted industry-leading sustainable waste management practices, optimized processes to promote resource efficiency, and developed closed-loop systems that recycle waste materials for reuse. 

Otis has put environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP) strategies in place and worked with upstream suppliers to eliminate non-recyclable packaging and introduce other waste-management improvements. Otis factories in China have been switching to paperless work practices, reusing pallets and containers for material handling, and composting kitchen waste for onsite vegetable gardens. 

The Otis facility in Florence, South Carolina was the first in the global elevator industry to be TRUE-certified in late 2022. All three Otis manufacturing plants in Spain received a local zero-waste-to-landfill certification in 2023. 

About Otis

Otis gives people freedom to connect and thrive in a taller, faster, smarter world. The global leader in the manufacture, installation and servicing of elevators and escalators, we move 2.3 billion people a day and maintain approximately 2.3 million customer units worldwide – the industry’s largest Service portfolio. You’ll find us in the world’s most iconic structures, as well as residential and commercial buildings, transportation hubs and everywhere people are on the move. Headquartered in Connecticut, USA, Otis is 71,000 people strong, including 42,000 field professionals, all committed to meeting the diverse needs of our customers and passengers in more than 200 countries and territories. To learn more, visit www.otis.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook @OtisElevatorCo.

SEATTLE, February 8, 2024 /3BL/ —YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish has received a $240,000 grant from KeyBank to support YWCA’s Pathways for Women, an emergency shelter in Lynnwood, WA serving unhoused adult women and women with children under 18. Pathways for Women operates 13 units and offers 45-day emergency housing plus intensive services and is the only shelter in South Snohomish County open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. This grant will support its Child Advocacy Program and deliver critical resources for families experiencing homelessness.

The Child Advocacy Program is part of the wrap-around services delivered by YWCA to help residents achieve and maintain long-term stability. It provides the youth who live at Pathways for Women with specialized support to enhance their academic success, such as homework assistance and liaising with the school. It also assists unhoused mothers with benefits such as childcare planning, individualized guidance to navigate school systems, and support for their child’s regular attendance at school.

This grant will enable the Child Advocacy Program to expand its focus by helping youth improve their overall well-being and heal from trauma, while broadening its reach to serve the children and parents living at three additional YWCA housing sites in the Lynnwood area.

“It’s of critical importance to help our most vulnerable neighbors as they navigate their next steps,” said Matt Hill, KeyBank’s Market President and Commercial Banking Sales Leader for the Seattle Cascades. “We are proud to support the YWCA as they provide the stability and safety that can help reduce the long-term impacts of trauma experienced by the children served and break the intergenerational cycle of poverty through increased educational opportunities and school engagement.”

“Families are being hit hard by rising rents and living costs, and the number of women and children experiencing homelessness in Snohomish County has been growing every year,” said Mary Anne Dillon, Executive Director of Snohomish County Programs at YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish. “We’re deeply grateful to KeyBank for their support of families facing homelessness and strengthening YWCA’s work to ensure all women and children in our community can not only survive but thrive.”

About YWCA 
YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish is the region’s oldest and largest organization focused on the needs of women and provides services and advocacy to support stable homes and economic advancement, reduce violence, improve health and promote racial equity and social justice. With programs that serve more than 7,800 people a year, YWCA is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women, stand up for social justice, help families, and strengthen communities. To learn more, please visit our website: ywcaworks.org

About KeyBank 
KeyCorp’s roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $188 billion at December 31, 2023. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,200 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC.

Since 2017, the Curiosity Cube, a shipping container turned mobile science lab from MilliporeSigma, the U.S. and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, has provided a chance for children to explore science in a structured yet flexible environment. After the program’s pause in 2020-2021 due to COVID-19, it is back to sparking curiosity across two continents for the second year in a row.

Across Europe and North America in 2023, the Curiosity Cube reached more than 40,000 students through 259 events in 184 communities. Employee volunteers walked students through three hands-on science experiments focused to spark curiosity in the next generation of scientists.

Spanning 129 North American events from March to November, the tour visited 95 communities in cities, including San Diego, Boston, Cleveland, Toronto and St. Louis. Over 24,000 students experienced interactive programming in the Curiosity Cube. Looking back at the 2023 tour, U.S. Curiosity Cube Lead, Natalie Randolph said, “My favorite part about the recent tour was seeing visitors interact with MilliporeSigma STEM experts who prioritized their time to make a positive impact in their communities.”

On the other side of the world, the European tour visited 11 countries, including Germany, the U.K., Italy, Switzerland and Spain from April to October. Through 130 events, more than 15,800 students conducted experiments centered around the impact of contamination on the planet and everyday life. When asked about the importance of the lessons on contamination, Europe Curiosity Cube Lead, Stefanie Rammer said, “Learning about contamination helped the students gain a better understanding of the world around them. Presenting the topic in a hands-on fashion allowed them to develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills. In the case of contamination, they learned about how it impacts the safety of food, germs on hard surfaces and how pollution impacts the environment.”

This program underscores MilliporeSigma’s continued commitment to making science education more equitable as one of many other initiatives, such as Curiosity Labs™. The Curiosity Cube team is developing new experiments and upgrading the Curiosity Cube in advance of its seventh tour, which will kick off in February 2024. More details about the Curiosity Cube’s 2024 tour will be announced soon. In the meantime, learn more at TheCuriosityCube.com and follow on Instagram at @CuriosityCube_MilliporeSigma.

Changing climate patterns and severe weather events are changing the game for global trade and logistics organizations. Rising sea levels are causing elevated tides and storm surges that are rendering coastlines susceptible to inundation – as a result, the industry is being forced to confront complicated economic and operational challenges, not to mention significant cost implications, writes Brian Enright, CEO of DP World Americas, in a recent article for Forbes.

This is “imposing significant costs on governments, corporations, NGOs, regional economies and other stakeholders. In 2019, flooding accrued a hefty price tag of $82 billion for global economies,” Enright notes, citing The Wall Street Journal. This figure starkly outpaces the economic damages from other weather-related events, such as wildfires. And there is potential for these costs to surge past $1.2 trillion annually, as rising waters threaten up to 3% of global GDP by century’s end.

“So, what does this mean for global supply chain networks?” Enright asks. “Efficient end-to-end supply chain logistics play a crucial role in facilitating global trade flow, while technological investments and innovative methodologies offer significant potential in cost reduction and resilience reinforcement.”

“Navigating Global Supply Chains’ Rising Tides” examines the critical intersection between environmental challenges, particularly heightened flood risks, and their profound impact on global trade, logistics, and economic stability. In it, Enright emphasizes the urgency of integrating environmental foresight and technological innovation into supply chain and logistic strategies to mitigate these risks and ensure economic resilience.

Key points from the article include:

Global Supply Chain Vulnerabilities: The article discusses how extreme flood events disrupt global supply chains, exemplified by the 2011 Mississippi River floods and the flooding in Thailand the same year, which caused substantial economic losses and operational disruptions. The 2021 floods in British Columbia, Canada, are also mentioned, showcasing the widespread impact of such events.The Need for Resilient Strategies: Stressing the importance of flood-proofing and prevention strategies, Enright argues that adaptability and preparedness are key to mitigating future risks and ensuring operational continuity. It advocates for investments in proactive risk reduction and the development of resilient supply chain networks.Technology and Innovation: A significant portion of the article is devoted to the role of technology and innovation in combating the challenges posed by climate change and flooding. It mentions the development of evolved cargo storage and racking systems, sophisticated surveillance and predictive analytics tools, intelligent infrastructure, and environmentally responsible transportation investments as examples of how technology can offer solutions.Proactive Measures and Collaboration: In closing, Enright underscores the importance of embracing proactive measures, sustainability, and collaboration to navigate the complexities of climate-induced challenges. It cites the involvement of companies in initiatives like the First Mover Coalition as an example of commitment to risk management and environmental stewardship.

To navigate the future successfully, global trade and logistics organizations will need to adopt an ethos of adaptability and innovation and be willing to rethink strategies in response to the changing climate.

“Navigating Global Supply Chains’ Rising Tides” makes a compelling case for the intertwined nature of trade, logistics, and climate change, urging stakeholders to adopt comprehensive strategies that leverage technology, foresight, and collaboration to safeguard against the escalating threats posed by environmental changes.

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As executive director of Crisis Control Ministry, Margaret Elliott knows how easy it is for people to fall behind on paying their utility bills, and once things start to snowball, it’s hard to stop those bills from piling up.

She sees it every day at Crisis Control Ministry in Winston-Salem, N.C., which helps people through an emergency financial crisis, providing money, food and other services.

“The majority of the people calling in for financial assistance are calling in for housing and utility needs,” she said. “And that has grown since the pandemic.”

Through Duke Energy’s Share the Light Fund, Elliott’s agency helps customers pay their energy bills. For more than 30 years, the fund has helped customers stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer – times when drastic dips and spikes in temperatures can wreak havoc on energy bills and budgets.

“How can we do good in the community?” said Share the Light Fund Program Manager Viva Webb. “One, being a good community partner, but two, for our customers, how can we help them when they’re struggling or fall behind?”

Share the Light Fund raises money and distributes it to agencies in North Carolina and South Carolina, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Florida. Duke Energy customers can apply for aid through those agencies.

In 2023, the Share the Light Fund distributed more than $6 million, helping over 16,000 Duke Energy customers pay their energy bills.

The pandemic provided other challenges for organizations like Crisis Control Ministry, needs that were met in 2023 by the Duke Energy Foundation through capacity building grants.

The grants help agencies build and improve their capacity to help their communities. For Crisis Control Ministry, the $80,000 grant meant a vastly improved phone system.

How to donate to Share the Light Fund

You can help, like Duke Energy employees, and donate to Share the Light Fund.

Paperless Billing customers can donate online when scheduling their monthly Duke Energy payment. Complete the section “Customer Contribution” to make a donation.If you receive a paper bill, you can add a donation when you mail in your monthly payment. Monthly bills have a notation in the upper right-hand corner to mark your donation. Locate the contribution election below the amount due on your payment stub. Write in the amount. Add the contribution amount to your bill payment.Donate by check or money order to Share the Light Fund, Duke Energy, Attn: Central Cash Remittance, P.O. Box 35469, Charlotte, NC 28235.

When the pandemic hit, the agency had to pivot from in-person to phone interviews with clients. But the phone system struggled to handle the number of calls. While the doors have reopened, clients now prefer to connect over the phone – eliminating obstacles like transportation and child care.

“It has given our clients a much better customer service experience, in that they don’t stay on hold forever, they don’t get lost in the queue, they actually have a queue, they can leave their number, we call them back,” Elliott said. “It is phenomenal.”

And Crisis Control Ministry can now help more people.

Elliott is also grateful for her agency’s relationship with Duke Energy.

“I really truly think they value the fact that when people are in a true crisis that they want them to stay in their house and be warm too,” she said. “And to stay cool in the summer.”

Jimmy Flythe, Duke Energy Director of Government and Community Relations for parts of western North Carolina, works with assistance agencies, including Crisis Control Ministry.

Flythe identified agencies to apply for the capacity building grants.

“A lot of these organizations are operating on a shoe-string budget,” he said. “They get funds to help them help their clients but they typically don’t have the funding to improve their ability to serve their clients.”

“We want people to be able to pay their energy bills,” he said, “and recognize when they don’t.”

Said Share the Light Fund Program Manager Webb: “We’re here to help you. Everyone needs power.”

Share the Light Fund agencies and programs vary by state and region.

North Carolina

Duke Energy Carolinas

Eligibility: Must be a Duke Energy Carolinas residential customer; must have a past-due balance, unpaid deposit for utility service or unpaid reconnection charge.

Call the agency in your county to determine if you are eligible for assistance. Duke Energy Carolinas customers can connect with agencies here.

Duke Energy Progress

Eligibility: Must be a Duke Energy Progress residential customer; must have a past-due balance, unpaid deposit for utility service or unpaid reconnection charge.

If you or someone you know needs assistance, call the CARELINE at 800.662.7030.

South Carolina

Duke Energy Carolinas

Eligibility: Must be a Duke Energy Carolinas residential customer; must have a past-due balance, unpaid deposit for utility service or unpaid reconnection charge.

Customers can connect with agencies here.

Duke Energy Progress

Eligibility: Must be a Duke Energy Progress residential customer; must have a past-due balance, unpaid deposit for utility service or unpaid reconnection charge.

Customers can find help here.

Ohio

Share the Light Fund is administered by The Salvation Army. Eligibility is based on need and does not necessarily follow government assistance guidelines.

Share the Light Fund provides one-time assistance to eligible customers to help avoid disconnection or maintain service. Customers who need assistance may complete an online application or call 513.762.5636. Customers can leave a voicemail and will receive a call back within 72 hours.

To qualify, customers: Must be a resident of Adams, Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton, Highland or Warren counties in southwest Ohio; have a heating account with Duke Energy; be the customer of record at Duke Energy; must have a past-due balance, unpaid deposit for service; or unpaid reconnection charge.

Customers cannot be on the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) Plus program unless funds are still available after March 31.

Clients who live in the following counties should not apply online, but should contact their local Salvation Army here: Adams, Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Highland and Warren. If there is not a Salvation Army near you, go to your nearest service unit.

Kentucky

Customers may apply for up to $300 in assistance throughout the program year.

Eligibility: Must be a Duke Energy natural gas and/or electric residential customer; household income must be at or below 200% FPL guidelines; must have past-due charges for natural gas or electricity, unpaid deposit; or reconnection charges.

To apply or for more information, call the Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission at 859.581.6607.

Indiana

The Indiana Community Action Energy Assistance Program (EAP) provides up to $300 to qualifying Duke Energy customers’ accounts to pay energy bills, deposits and reconnection/connection charges.

For details and eligibility, contact your local EAP agency.

Florida

Eligibility: Must be a Duke Energy residential customer; must have a past-due balance, unpaid deposit for utility service; or unpaid reconnection charge.

Duke Energy customers can connect with aid agencies here.

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Cencora (formerly AmerisourceBergen), a global healthcare company, released its 2023 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report. The report and the related ESG Reporting Index feature detailed information on Cencora’s ESG performance and its commitment to operations that benefit the planet and people more broadly. For the sixth year in a row, selected material topics and indicators contained in the report and index have been third-party verified by ERM Certification and Verification Services.

Cencora also released its 2023 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Progress Report, which outlines the company’s efforts to leverage benchmarks of availability for talent in the marketplace and enhance a culture of inclusion, bringing its teams under its new, united global brand, Cencora.

“Cencora’s approach to ESG is a direct reflection of our purpose and responsibility to create healthier futures,” said Gina Clark, EVP and Chief Communications & Administration Officer at Cencora. “Our critical role at the center of the global pharmaceutical value chain enables us to advance our key priorities supporting purpose-driven team members, resilient and sustainable operations, and healthy customers and communities. I’m proud of the impact we’ve had over the past year, but our work to achieve our ESG priorities, inclusive of our work in diversity, equity and inclusion, continues. Through partnership, innovation, and most importantly – purpose – these efforts will continue to be at the core of everything that we do.”

Cencora is continuously focused on operating as a responsible business and advancing ESG initiatives to create healthier futures around the world, starting with the health of people and the planet. Cencora fulfills its commitments to ESG by focusing its efforts on a defined strategy, shaped by several focus areas and external standards and frameworks the company voluntarily aligns with, including the Global Reporting Initiative, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the World Economic Forum Stakeholder Capitalism Metrics.

Cencora’s ESG strategy centers on three key priorities:

Purpose-Driven Team Members: Around the globe, Cencora puts people first by collaborating openly across the organization to foster a diverse, inclusive work environment and uphold the highest ethical and compliance standards. Highlights include:

Fostering Inclusion: A global DEI team promoted a culture of belonging and embraced the diverse workforce by launching a new training to empower all team members to support an inclusive work environment. Team members around the world were also engaged in listening sessions about inclusion, gaining valuable feedback in the process.Caring for Team Members: Team members were offered a suite of enhanced benefit programs to support holistic well-being and mental health including increasing parental leave in the U.S.Investing in Employee Resource Groups (ERGs): ERG membership increased, with over 5,400 active members globally, creating a more inclusive work environment and community.

Resilient and Sustainable Operations: Cencora is committed to operating responsibly in its vital role at the center of the pharmaceutical supply chain, ensuring people and animals have access to the medications they need while protecting the health of the planet. Highlights include:

Climate and Energy Management: A near-term science-based emissions target was set and received validation by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), with a goal to reduce Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 54.6% by FY2032, in line with the 1.5-degree scenario. Cencora reduced emissions by nearly 2% from its base year and investments in renewable energy around the world are continuously being made.Waste Management, Recycling and Sustainable Packaging: Cencora continued to incorporate sustainable packaging solutions, which resulted in more than 40% of World Courier shipments utilizing reusable packaging. Cencora also collaborated with a manufacturing partner to launch an injection pen recycling program, which is estimated to recycle 25 million pens per year.Supplier Diversity: Diverse suppliers were further embedded into Cencora’s Marketplace platform to connect verified suppliers, over 65% of which are diverse, with independent pharmacy customers to help them secure inventory and community needs.

Healthy Customers and Communities: Cencora broadens access to quality healthcare and accelerates positive health outcomes in communities and with customers around the world. Highlights include:

The Cencora Impact Foundation: An independent, not-for-profit charitable giving organization, the Foundation, with Cencora, donated more than $12 million in financial contributions and product donations to communities across the globe in 2023. Together with team members, more than $1.5 million in financial contributions to 840 organizations through matching gifts and volunteer/board service programs was provided.Supporting Global Crises: The Cencora Impact Foundation supported numerous disasters, including aid for impacted communities and support for team members through the Cencora Team Assistance Fund. In the wake of the devastating series of earthquakes that impacted Türkiye and Syria in February, the Cencora Impact Foundation donated $250,000 of relief funds to several nonprofit partners.Expanding Access to Healthcare: In FY23, Cencora continued to strive to improve health outcomes through numerous programs like the Alphega Pharmacy Oncology Support Program, which helps pharmacists offer better advice and support to patients living with cancer.Encouraging Innovation: A Community of Practice (CoP) to foster a collaborative product culture that enables team members to contribute to innovation was established.

Cencora has been included in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2024. Yearbook members are selected based on their score from the S&P Global 2023 Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA). To be listed in the Yearbook, companies must score within the top 15% of their industry and must achieve a CSA Score within 30% of their industry’s top-performing company.

For more information on the 2023 ESG Report and DEI Progress Report, please visit: https://esg.cencora.com/reports

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About Cencora 
Cencora is a leading global pharmaceutical solutions organization centered on improving the lives of people and animals around the world. We partner with pharmaceutical innovators across the value chain to facilitate and optimize market access to therapies. Care providers depend on us for the secure, reliable delivery of pharmaceuticals, healthcare products, and solutions. Our 46,000+ worldwide team members contribute to positive health outcomes through the power of our purpose: We are united in our responsibility to create healthier futures. Cencora is ranked #11 on the Fortune 500 and #24 on the Global Fortune 500 with more than $250 billion in annual revenue. Learn more at www.cencora.com. 

Media Contact: 
Michelle Engro; Sr. Manager, Public Relations, Cencora

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Abbott

Mixed reality experience allows blood donors to visit a digital world while remaining fully aware of their surroundings for a safe, relaxing donation68.4% of pilot study participants who reported pre-donation anxiety said the mixed reality experience helped ease feelings of anxiety89.2% of donors who tried mixed reality said they were likely to donate blood againInnovation is designed to attract new donors and motivate a younger generation to give blood

ABBOTT PARK, Ill., February 2, 2024 /3BL/ – A new study published online and available in the February print edition of the journal Transfusion shows the mixed reality technology for use during blood donation created by Abbott (NYSE: ABT) and Blood Centers of America (BCA) helps ease donors’ feelings of anxiety and boosts the likelihood they will return to give blood again.

Results from the pilot study reveal that mixed reality “is an innovative technology that holds promise to increase donor engagement, satisfaction, and retention,” researchers said.

Abbott, the global leader in screening blood and plasma, partnered with Blood Centers of America, the largest blood supplier network in the U.S., to launch a mixed reality experience for blood donors in June 2023. It is now available at several donation sites across the country, including in New York, Houston and the Chicago area. More blood donation sites will offer the experience soon.

The Abbott and BCA mixed reality innovation is an immersive digital experience designed to improve the blood donation process, attract new donors and motivate a younger generation to give blood. Donors wear lightweight mixed reality headsets to visit a digital world while remaining fully aware of their real-world surroundings. The effort aims to address the global challenge of sustaining a reliable blood supply.

The pilot study examined the experiences of 282 blood donors who tried mixed reality at 54 collection sites in Houston and the Quad Cities area in Iowa and Illinois.

Of the 142 donors who reported pre-donation anxiety, 68.4% said the use of mixed reality during donation decreased their reported anxiety. The top reported causes of pre-donation anxiety were fear that donation would hurt, fear of feeling badly after donating, fear of needles, fear of fainting and fear of the unknown.

For donors who tried mixed reality while donating, 89.2% said they wanted to come back to donate again.

“We found that using mixed reality while donating blood helps many donors relax and decreases stress,” said Theodore Kieffer, MD, U.S. area medical director for Abbott’s transfusion business and a co-author of the study. “It’s encouraging to see this innovation improve the blood donation experience and potentially inspire a younger generation to become donors.”

The mixed reality experience allows blood donation professionals to safely conduct the donation and interact with donors at every step of the process. Because the mixed reality glasses are transparent, donors’ eyes are always visible during donation to ensure constant monitoring and evaluation.

The mixed reality experience was designed based on research that natural settings are the most preferred environment as donors give blood. Participants visit a whimsical virtual garden while listening to soothing music, moving a cursor with their eye movement and planting seeds that grow into colorful trees and flowers.

The innovation was designed to help boost the sustainability of the nation’s blood supply and attract younger people since blood centers have lost about 30% of donors under the age of 30 over the last decade. On average, only 3% of the eligible U.S. population donates blood each year.

In the pilot study, 54% of donors with baseline reported anxiety said they would use mixed reality again, with the highest future interest in young donors.

“The adoption of mixed reality in blood donation is a significant innovation, particularly for attracting new donors. By making the donation process more engaging and less intimidating, this innovation can play a crucial role in increasing the blood supply,” said Jennifer Kapral, senior vice president at Blood Centers of America and a co-author of the study. “Mixed reality helps modernize the donation experience and also potentially increases the frequency and number of younger donors. It can really make a difference to get more people interested in donating and making it more fun when they do.”

Mixed reality is part of Abbott and BCA’s broader, ongoing effort to energize younger people to donate blood, motivate first-time donors and cultivate a new generation to help sustain the nation’s blood supply. In 2023, the combination of those efforts helped increase donations 11% among 16-24 year olds.

The pilot study was conducted at sites operated by Impact Life of Davenport, Iowa, and Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center in Houston during February and March 2023. Researchers affiliated with Stanford University and Stanford Blood Center, Johns Hopkins University and the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Abbott, Blood Centers of America, Impact Life and Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center conducted and authored the study.

To find out more about donation locations offering mixed reality visit bethe1donor.com/mixedreality.

About Abbott:

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 114,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Connect with us at www.abbott.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Youtube.

SOURCE Abbott

For further information: Abbott Media, Patrick O’Connell, 847-282-2649; Investor Relations, Ryan Aliff, 224-667-2299