Tag: 3BL

Inspiration for a greener world can come from unexpected places. For Merck scientist François Lévesque, it came from the pet store. This is the amazing story of how creativity and Green Chemistry made drug development more sustainable. 

About Merck

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

View original content here.

Watch the video here: How Indigenous perspectives can guide climate innovation for a just transition: IBM teams up with Net Zero Atlantic in Canada

The windswept province of Nova Scotia lies on Canada’s Atlantic coast, and comprises part of Mi’kma’ki, the traditional districts of the Mi’kmaq First Nations people. In recent years, Nova Scotia has become a promising site for the clean energy transition, with some of the world’s fastest offshore wind speeds and potential for hydrogen development.

But too often, conversations about the impact of energy development in the region do not include Indigenous perspectives or are inaccessible to people outside of the energy industry. Around the world, many vulnerable communities need support to participate in the energy transition. And while climate technology is minimizing impact and helping to make informed energy decisions, the next step in a just transition is to democratize this information and put it in the hands of communities.

Implementing science and technology alongside Indigenous knowledge and community engagement is an essential approach to address climate challenges, one that is known as “two-eyed seeing.” To support a just transition, IBM® joined forces with nonprofit Net Zero Atlantic through the IBM Sustainability Accelerator to help enable informed climate decision-making and empower participation in the clean energy transition for Indigenous communities in Atlantic Canada.

A user-first approach to climate tech

Net Zero Atlantic’s open source Atlantic Canada Energy System (ACES) Model is a powerful tool for analyzing and forecasting energy generation and infrastructure development scenarios. To describe and interpret future energy system opportunities with accuracy, both computing power and technical knowledge are often required from the user, which can frequently make such tools feel inaccessible.

The IBM Sustainability Accelerator and Net Zero Atlantic set out to transform this complex resource into a user-friendly, accessible application that would support the Mi’kmaq communities’ role in energy planning and the transition to net zero, taking a user-first approach from the onset of the project’s first phase, the IBM Garage.

“It’s a very new way of looking at an energy system model, really looking at it from the user perspective,” says Sven Scholtysik, Director of Research at Net Zero Atlantic. “It’s usually the other way around. People try to create the most accurate and most advanced model possible—but there’s very little insight into how people use it and what motivates them to use it.”

The design of “ACES Lite” is focused on enabling the user to navigate complex graphs, geographical models and data interpretations with ease. The application puts user experience first, utilizing IBM technology like hybrid cloud and IBM® Cognos® Analytics alongside the expertise of volunteers from IBM Consulting® and more. And through Net Zero Atlantic’s long-standing relationship with the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, ACES Lite has undergone important interactive testing sessions with Mi’kmaq users to generate usability feedback and refine the tool further.

“One of our key roles is to engage community. We do science, but we also engage community to bring forth the traditional knowledge that can be incorporated into that work,” says Lisa Young, Executive Director of the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources. “The idea guiding this development was, ‘How can this tool inform how the community engages in the conversation about the energy transition? How does it help them make informed decisions?’”

Two-eyed seeing and the importance of collaboration

Implementing technology alongside Indigenous knowledge is an approach known as two-eyed seeing, described by Mi’kmaq Elder Dr. Albert Marshall. Lisa Young shares that this is a guiding approach for the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources, and one that the project with Net Zero Atlantic and IBM has incorporated.

“Two-eyed seeing means utilizing the best of Western science and technology, but also pairing it with the best of Indigenous perspectives, knowledge, and wisdom—so, how to use that knowledge in a good way, having a positive impact on the environment,” says Young. “In order to bring that perspective, you have to engage community broadly, to help us bring the knowledge from the land and guide us on how we advance the work.”

Scholtysik emphasizes the value of collaboration on this project with both IBM and the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources. He notes the expertise and enthusiasm of the IBM project team as a highlight of the organization’s time in the IBM Sustainability Accelerator. Other communities in Canada, such as the government of Nova Scotia, offshore wind groups, and academic and research teams have also participated in the ideation and testing process thus far, expressing excitement about the tool’s potential applications across the province.

What’s next for ACES Lite

As a next step, IBM and Net Zero Atlantic will continue to pilot ACES Lite with user groups in Cape Breton, while also exploring new innovations and additions. Feedback from the community has helped to identify where the user experience can be enhanced—for example, an opportunity to enhance the visualization aspects of land usage associated with the development of diverse clean energy technologies, and incorporating a feature that represents the economic impact of such projects. Scholtysik looks forward to bringing the application to the public by the end of 2024 and can even see its potential for deployment in other regions undergoing energy transition.

“Energy system models are an excellent tool for people to have at their fingertips,” says Scholtysik. “Models like ACES Lite can make it easier for people to strategically plan for a future energy system that is sustainable, reliable and affordable. But what we really need to do is assess the impact of energy system transitions from a community perspective, and I think ACES Lite marks a first step in that direction.”

Learn more about the IBM Sustainability Accelerator

When you’ve spent your entire working life in the military, transitioning to civilian employment will always be difficult. But when Katy Newby unexpectedly found herself medically discharged from the Royal Air Force Police after 12 years of service, the sudden need to reinvent herself presented one of the most challenging experiences of her professional life.

“It was a massive shock, but rather than focusing on what went wrong, I just threw myself into being a mum to my fifteen-month-old daughter,” explains the Leidos Project Security Officer. “They say every cloud has a silver lining, and this meant that I was able to be her biggest influence through the early years of her life.”

While being a mother provided a new sense of purpose in those early years, as Newby’s daughter grew older and began school, she began to realise how much she had been giving up in terms of her professional life.

What I struggled with most in that period was losing my identity. When I left the armed forces, Corporal Newby was half of who I was. Being a mum is this huge, important purpose, but I still felt like I’d thrown myself into it so much that I’d put the other half of my life on the back burner.

Katy Newby

Project Security Officer, Leidos UK

After a couple of years of taking on various part-time jobs, Newby joined the MOD Guard Service, which reminded her how much she’d enjoyed working in security. Yet she also increasingly felt the need for a career that would provide more opportunities to progress professionally. So, in 2019, she headed to university to pursue a degree in organisational capability development, followed by a master’s degree in critical infrastructure security.

“I hadn’t been in education since I left school at 16, and I never even dreamt I’d get a degree, let alone a master’s,” says Newby. “But it turned out that I absolutely loved researching. I always want to know the whys and wherefores of how things happen, so it suits me right down to the ground. I remember crying when I found out that I’d been awarded a first, and that was really my wake-up call that I’d found something that I’m good at.”

The combination of her academic qualifications, on top of a decade plus worth of military service, made Newby an ideal candidate to join Leidos as a project security officer in July 2023. But what stood out to Newby was how much Leidos presented the perfect fit for her in turn.

“My interview gave me such a positive sense about working the team that I turned down other interviews because this just felt like it was meant to be,” she describes. “Five months in, I still absolutely love it. The fact that I can work from home is great for my family but I also don’t feel isolated from work at all because there’s an amazing sense of community. People see you as a whole person and trust you to do what needs to be done the way you think is best rather than dictating exactly what you should do. “

From sending out her first 40 post-military job applications and getting only three responses to the challenges of balancing her studies against part-time employment and childcare responsibilities, the past nine years may not have been easy for Newby. But as she first learnt back in her days as a military cadet, anything worth having is worth working for.

“I still struggle with the fact that I had no control over when I left the military,” she says. “But when I think about how I’ve gone to university and how I’ve found my own path back into security, I’m able to look back on that unexpected challenge as a positive opportunity to mastermind my own destiny.”

For more information on our Operation Military Veteran Programme visit: www.leidos.com/operation-mvp

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR UK CAREERS

Today Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) released its 2023 ESG Report, an annual report on the company’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy, approach and performance across four key pillars: Healthy Communities, Healthy and Inclusive Workplace, Healthy Planet and Sustainable Marketplace. 

Healthcare is at the center of WBA’s ESG framework, reflecting its operations and corporate vision to be the leading partner in reimagining local healthcare and well-being for all. 

Visit the report to learn more about the integrated healthcare, pharmacy and retail leader’s achievements over the course of its Fiscal Year 2023 (Sept. 1, 2022 – Aug. 31, 2023). Highlights include:

Healthy Communities: $373M1 donated over the past eight years, to support the health and wellbeing of the communities it serves. Achieved a major milestone celebrating 10 years of partnership with Vitamin Angels and reaching over 400 million women and children with life-changing vitamins; Addressed health disparities for underserved communities in the US with the distribution of more than $1.8M in vouchers for flu shots at Walgreens during fiscal year 2023; more than $26 million raised with Macmillan Cancer Support through its 14-year partnership with Boots.Healthy Planet: Further reduced Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions across its operations by 5%, achieving 25% since its 2019 baseline and is well on track to achieve 30% by 2030.Sustainable Marketplace: Walgreens spent over $700 million with diverse Tier 1 suppliers in the US; Boots eradicated wet wipes made with plastic fibers.Healthy & Inclusive Workplace: Delivered on its commitment to increase workforce representation of people with disabilities and was the first company in the S&P 500 to include disability representation as a separate, standalone metric within a disclosed incentive plan. The company achieved a nearly 3 percentage point increase in people with disabilities at all levels.

Tim Wentworth, Chief Executive Officer, WBA said, “As we take a moment to reflect on the progress we have made, we are focused on our legacy for the future and addressing the most urgent needs for our people, patients, and consumers today. We look forward to working with our valued partners over this next year, as we continue to build on our progress, and ongoing collaboration.” 

“At a moment when we face significant challenges across the globe, we have never been more confident that our commitment to people and the planet will help us show up to meet, and exceed, the needs of our customers, patients, team members and communities for the future.” 

Ornella Barra, EVP, Chief Operating Officer, International and Chair of the ESG Committee, WBA added, “Our people make us who we are: The service we give, the products we make, the positive impact we have, and it is their desire to innovate and imagine the future that ensures we continue to move forward.” 

Footnote: 1 Cash and non-cash valuation of community contributions 

About Walgreens Boots Alliance 
Walgreens Boots Alliance (Nasdaq: WBA) is an integrated healthcare, pharmacy and retail leader serving millions of customers and patients every day, with a 175-year heritage of caring for communities. 

A trusted, global innovator in retail pharmacy with more than 12,500 locations across the U.S., Europe and Latin America, WBA plays a critical role in the healthcare ecosystem. The company is reimagining local healthcare and well-being for all as part of its purpose – to create more joyful lives through better health. Through dispensing medicines, improving access to a wide range of health services, providing high quality health and beauty products and offering anytime, anywhere convenience across its digital platforms, WBA is shaping the future of healthcare. 

WBA employs approximately 330,000 people and has a presence in eight countries through its portfolio of consumer brands: Walgreens, Boots, Duane Reade, the No7 Beauty Company and Benavides in Mexico. Additionally, WBA has a portfolio of healthcare-focused investments located in several countries, including China and the U.S. 

The company is proud of its contributions to healthy communities, a healthy planet, an inclusive workplace and a sustainable marketplace. WBA has been recognized for its commitment to being an inclusive workplace. In fiscal 2023, the Company received a score of 100 from the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, scored 100 percent on the Disability Equality Index for disability inclusion and was named Disability:IN’s 2023 Employer of the Year. In addition, WBA has been recognized for its commitment to operating sustainably as the company is an index component of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI). More company information is available at www.walgreensbootsalliance.com. 

(WBA-GEN) 

Media Contact Info: Media Relations, (847) 315-2935, media@wba.com

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Originally published on Principal.com

DES MOINES, Iowa, January 26, 2024 /3BL/ – The Principal® Charity Classic with support from Sammons Financial Group will work with the Greater Des Moines Partnership to evolve the Legacy Project, into a community-driven, work-based learning program (Program) to prepare youth for future employment, particularly those at risk of not graduating or easily securing work.

The primary objective of the Legacy Project, funded by Principal Charity Classic proceeds, is to introduce youth to a variety of professional and technical skills that will increase their knowledge of and confidence in financial planning, customer service, teamwork and collaboration, delegation, and communication.

The Greater Des Moines Partnership will administer the Program and develop a standardized curriculum and work-based learning model that will be taught through existing summer youth internship programs throughout Iowa, starting in 2024 in the Des Moines metropolitan area. Funding will also be used to underwrite weekly learning, networking, and skill-building sessions with the summer interns.

“The Legacy Project supports the Principal Charity Classic’s mission of improving the lives of Iowa’s youth and will equip underrepresented or underprivileged students, with skills needed to meet challenges now and, in the future,” said Ken McCullum, board chair for the Principal Charity Classic.

As administrator of the Program, the Greater Des Moines Partnership will interact with participating community organizations, collect data, organize weekly learning sessions, train the organizations in the curriculum, and maintain and update the curriculum.

“We are thrilled to work with the Principal Charity Classic on this project as it marks a significant step towards empowering our youth,” said Jenae Sikkink, Senior Vice President of Talent Development and Inclusive Strategies for the Greater Des Moines Partnership. “We are excited about the opportunity to help provide our youth with skills and confidence to prepare them for their futures.”

The Legacy Project first launched in 2020 with funding from Sammons Financial Group. In its inaugural year, $50,000 was donated to The Directors Council (TDC), a Des Moines-based not-for-profit committed to developing social service programs focused on addressing racial disparities and inequities in the areas of employment, education, financial inclusion, health, and housing.

About Principal Financial Group 
Principal Financial Group® (Nasdaq: PFG) is a global financial company with 19,500 employees1 passionate about improving the wealth and well-being of people and businesses. In business for more than 140 years, we’re helping more than 61 million customers1 plan, protect, invest, and retire, while working to support the communities where we do business, and build a diverse, inclusive workforce. Principal® is proud to be recognized as one of the 2023 World’s Most Ethical Companies® by Ethisphere2, a member of the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index, and a “Best Places to Work in Money Management3.” Learn more about Principal and our commitment to building a better future at principal.com. 

1 As of September 30, 2023  
2 Ethisphere, 2023   
3 Pensions & Investments, 2023

About the Principal Charity Classic 
The Principal Charity Classic is an annual and award-winning PGA TOUR Champions event dedicated to investing in the future of Iowa kids. In 2023, the Principal Charity Classic raised $8 million for charity, bringing the tournament’s giving total to more than $53.7 million since 2007. Tournament funds benefit organizations that provide a broad level of support to Iowa kids in the areas of education and culture, financial security and stability, and health and wellness.

For more information, visit principalcharityclassic.com, or connect with the tournament on social media: Facebook facebook.com/principalcharityclassic, Twitter @PCCTourney, and Instagram @principalcharityclassic.

3348632-012024

The UN International Day of Education, commemorated each year on January 24th, serves as a crucial acknowledgment of education as a fundamental human right and a shared public responsibility. This recognition positions education as a key driver for sustainable development, contributing significantly to achieving all of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The day highlights the pivotal role of inclusive and equitable education in building peaceful, just and sustainable societies. The UN also emphasizes the role and power of education to address some of the most pressing global challenges – such as climate change, discrimination, violence, and societal inequalities.

In line with the global commitment to education and human rights, GRI facilitates reporting on education-related impacts through its dedicated Topic Standard on Training and Education, which includes disclosures on organizational approach to training, upgrading employee skills, performance and career development reviews, and transition assistance programs. GRI has also been a pioneer in setting standards for reporting on human rights. In 2021, GRI published a revision of its Universal Standards, integrating human rights reporting as a core element rather than an optional, stand-alone Topic Standard. This groundbreaking update requires all organizations using GRI Standards to report on how they respect human rights. By incorporating human rights impacts into the definition of material topics, GRI ensures these critical aspects are not overlooked, providing robust support for organizations to report on their responsibility to respect human rights.

Recognizing the crucial role of education in fostering sustainable development, GRI collaborates extensively with educational institutions and has established the GRI Academy– the training platform that offers individuals an opportunity to stay informed and gain expertise through globally applicable and recognized professional development programs, including the GRI Professional Certification program. Through the GRI Academy, individuals help foster a positive change on both local and global scales by enhancing their knowledge of sustainability reporting and global standards.

The GRI Standards serve as a catalyst to that positive change, empowering organizations to be transparent about their impacts on the environment, economy, and people. Considering that knowledge is power, the GRI Standard continue to educate, empower and enable stakeholders to make more informed decisions, thereby contributing to a more just and sustainable world.

Originally published on Aflac Newsroom

By Tamara Jakes, director, Aflac Employee Experience and cancer survivor

In 2003, life was pretty crazy for me. Most of my days were spent trying to keep up with my then 3-year-old, which didn’t leave much time for anything else. When it came time for my annual wellness check, I honestly didn’t overthink it until my test results returned a couple of days later — abnormal.

For those of you who have heard the words “you have cancer” or been there with a loved one who has heard them, my heart goes out to you. Because I know. I know the fear, confusion, anger and, of course, uncertainty. After additional testing, my doctor confirmed it was cervical cancer. I was only 29 years old, but I was saved by a routine wellness visit that I recommend for everyone. In fact, some cancer insurance policies like the one offered at the company I work for, Aflac, pay a benefit for wellness exams.

My medical team removed the cancer, and we were blessed with how well it worked — no additional treatment was required. However, it came with other burdens like a struggle with infertility. After several years of not being able to conceive and multiple miscarriages, I was even more angry at cancer than I had been when I first got my diagnosis. Then, after 11 years, my husband and I were finally blessed with our daughter Joy, named for the joy she brought into our lives.

With all of the ups and downs, you never really learn how to exhale after a cancer diagnosis. Regular checkups always filled me with dread, but after so many years of normal results, I had started to calm a little.

Just as I started to feel like my life was back on track and I was living “worry free,” the rug was ripped from under me again. At my routine annual exam, my physician noticed a lump on my neck — thyroid cancer. I was devastated. Why now? Why again?

I made a promise to myself: I wasn’t going to let cancer win. I wasn’t going to let it interrupt my life and everything I wanted to achieve. I beat it once and I would beat it again.

My surgery took place in February 2022, and I kept the first promise I made to myself: The following month, I graduated with my master’s degree. The treatment process followed and, by the end of May, I fulfilled the second promise: I didn’t let cancer win!

My cancer journey was filled with curve balls, twists and turns. But I had two lights in that time of darkness: emotional support from my family — both at home and at work — and financial support from my supplemental insurance policies and organizations like The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).

My advice to anyone who will listen is to:

Be proactive. Go to your regular checkups, stay close to your health care providers, and pay careful attention to your well-being. Studies show that an early diagnosis helps improve chances for survival and, like in my case, some insurance policies will even pay you for those wellness checks.Get involved. Find organizations, like LLS, CancerCare.org or the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, that are actively working toward better treatment options for those with cancer. Whether you give time, talent or money, your contribution makes a big difference to those in need.Protect yourself. When you receive a cancer diagnosis, every bit of your energy needs to be focused on fighting the disease, not finances. Talk to your employer to learn more about benefits available to you, and research savings plans and insurance policies that can help protect you against the financial impact of serious illnesses like cancer.

Lastly, a piece of advice for anyone regardless of the role you play — whether it’s as a patient, caregiver, loved one, etc. — you have an opportunity to be someone’s light in what will likely be one of the darkest times of their life. Take it.

This article contains the opinions of an Aflac policyholder and is not intended to portray any specific benefits or details of Aflac cancer insurance (also known as specified-disease insurance in some states) policies. Coverage may not be available in all states and benefits may vary based on plan options. Limitations and exclusions may apply. In Delaware, Policies B70100DE, B70200DE & B70300DE. In Idaho, Policies B70100ID, B70200ID, B70300ID, B7010EPID, B7020EPID. In Oklahoma, Policies B70100OK; B70200OK; B70300OK; B7010EPOK; B7020EPOK. In Virginia, Policies A75100VA–A75300VA. For more information about Aflac insurance policies, contact your Aflac agent or visit aflac.com. Aflac supplemental coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus. In New York, Aflac supplemental coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of New York. Aflac WWHQ | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999

Z2300500

A Regions associate wanted to make an impact in his community by being a youth mentor. Little did he know the impact that brotherly connection would make on him as well.

Their introduction, months in the making, was filled with anticipation, sweaty palms, and nervousness.

Weston, meet Sam; Sam, meet Weston.

It was a job interview of sorts, but not in the way you might think.

“The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri (BBBSEM) team mentioned Weston was a quieter kid, so I expected him to be a little shy at first, which he was,” said Sam Woodring, a Commercial Banking relationship manager with Regions Bank in St. Louis, recalling the day he met his “Little Brother.” “When we played an icebreaker game with our BBBSEM coordinator, I started to see him come out of his shell a bit.”

It’s been just over a year. But the bond is stronger than the length of time would suggest.

“We usually get together twice a month,” said Woodring. “We both like to do anything outside. We’ll hike, hit golf balls and go to the batting cages. Weston also really enjoys playing chess.”

For 120 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America has been matching volunteer adult mentors – “Bigs” like Woodring, as they’re known – with “Littles” like Weston across 300 affiliates nationwide.

The goal is to foster friendships, provide guidance and offer a different world perspective supporting the “Little’s” development.

So, what inspired Woodring to become a “Big?”

“I got involved because I was looking for a way to make an impact,” he said. “Being a mentor to a younger person in need of some extra attention was a good fit for my personality.”

Woodring’s not the only Regions associate supporting BBBSEM. Last September, the bank hosted 20 middle schoolers from the nonprofit’s Group Mentoring program at the Mizzou-vs.-Memphis football game as part of the bank’s “Big Bike Tour” in the area. The Group Mentoring model was launched to fuel young people’s pursuits of a meaningful, stable and independent life. (Read more about the Group Mentoring participants’ gameday and BBBS experiences below.)

Regions’ St. Louis Commercial Banking leader and market executive, Scott Hartwig, is also a BBBSEM advocate.

On the surface, bringing together “Bigs” and “Littles” might sound easy, but there’s both an art and science to creating lasting connections.

“The team at BBBSEM works really hard to make great matches,” said Woodring. “They gather a lot of background information on the ‘Bigs’ and ‘Littles,’ and this helps them make successful matches to foster great relationships.”

“There are a lot of volunteer opportunities that can make an impact, but being a ‘Big’ offers that chance in a unique, personal and deeper way.” 
Scott Hartwig, Regions Commercial Banking leader and market executive

Woodring’s match with Weston has yielded more than he ever imagined.

“My favorite part of being a ‘Big’ is getting to have fun while making a big impact on someone’s life,” he said. “Getting closer to my ‘Little’ as we spend more time together and watching him grow up has been a rewarding experience.”

An experience that’s encouraged Woodring’s growth, too.

“From being a ‘Big,’ I have learned you don’t have to be perfect,” he said. “If you consistently show up and have a good attitude, a lot of other things will take care of themselves.”

It’s all proof a little time and care make a big difference – for all involved.

Discover how another Regions associate was honored for being a “Big” in her community.

In Their Words: BBBSEM Participants Share Thoughts

What do you enjoy most about being a “Little” in Big Brothers Big Sisters?

That Big Brothers Big Sisters has shown me so much respect and responsibility in life. (Jeraime)

That we get to go on different trips and experiences. (Koran)

I enjoy that we go places, and that they can help with anything, and I can share stories with them. (Kevion)

What was your gameday experience like?

The stadium was cool and had a great food place. (Jeraime)

I like the stadium. It was nice, and I had never been there. I was surprised there were so many players on one team. (Kevion)

The stadium was nice, the snacks were good, and the fans made the game better. (Fontez)

I was familiar with the stadium because my uncle and grandfather used to practice and play there. (Ronnie).

What’s your favorite thing about your mentor?

I feel like I always have somebody to call, and he’s really cool. (Dontrell)

He tells us important things about life. (Koran) 

My favorite thing about my mentor is he’s a football coach and he’s Black. (Ronnie)

He’s cool; matter of fact, Mr. K is one of the coolest mentors I’ve ever met. If you want something, he will get it done for you no matter what. (Jeraime)

My favorite thing about my mentor is that he’s cool and he helps when we need help. (Fontez)

My favorite thing about him is that he’s cool and listens to everything I have to say. And he tries to help with anything he can. (Kevion)

During National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, AB’s Director of Social Research & Engagement, Saskia Kort-Chick reflects on how climate change may increase the risk of modern slavery, which can have material implications for investors. AB recently collaborated with Walk Free, an international human rights organization, on a report that explores climate-related modern slavery risks in depth and provides investors with tools on addressing and managing them. Read more on this report here: https://www.walkfree.org/reports/climate-change-and-modern-slavery/

AllianceBernstein

AllianceBernstein (AB) is a leading global investment management firm that offers high-quality research and diversified investment services to institutional investors, individuals, and private wealth clients in major world markets. We believe corporate responsibility, responsible investing and stewardship are intertwined. To be effective stewards of our clients’ assets, we strive to invest responsibly—assessing, engaging on and integrating material issues, including environmental, social and governance (ESG), and climate change considerations in most of our actively managed strategies. We also believe that strive to hold ourselves as a firm to similar practices that we ask of issues. Our stewardship practices, investment strategy and decision-making are guided by our purpose, mission and values.

Our purpose—pursue insight that unlocks opportunity—inspires our firm to act responsibly. While opportunity means something different to each of our stakeholders; it always means considering the unique goals of each stakeholder. AB’s mission is to help our clients define and achieve their investment goals, explicitly stating what we do to unlock opportunity for our clients. We became a signatory to the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) in 2011. This began our journey to formalize our commitment to identify responsible ways to unlock opportunities for our clients through integrating material ESG factors throughout most of our actively managed equity and fixed-income client accounts, funds and strategies. AB also engages issuers where it believes the engagement is in the best financial interest of its clients.

Because we are an active manager, our differentiated insights drive our ability to deliver alpha and design innovative investment solutions. ESG and climate issues are important elements in forming insights and in presenting potential risks and opportunities that can have an effect on the performance of the companies and issuers that we invest in and the portfolios that we build.

Our values provide a framework for the behaviors and actions that deliver on our purpose and mission. Values align our actions. Each value emerges from the firm’s collective character—yet is also aspirational.

Invest in One Another means that we have a strong organizational culture where diversity is celebrated and mentorship is critical to our success. When we invest in one another, we empower our employees to reach their potential, so that they can help our clients realize theirs. This enables us to partner with clients to design and deliver improved investment outcomes.Strive for Distinctive Knowledge means that we collaboratively identify creative solutions to clients’ economic, ESG and climate- related investment challenges through our expertise in a wide range of investment disciplines, close collaboration among our investment experts and creative solutions.Speak with Courage and Conviction informs how we engage our AB colleagues and issuers. We seek to learn from other parts of our business to strengthen our own views. And we engage issuers for insight and action by sharing ideas and best practices.Act with Integrity—Always is the bedrock of our relationships and has specific meaning for our business. Unlike many other asset managers, we’re singularly focused on providing asset management and research to our clients. We don’t engage in activities that could be distracting, or create conflicts—such as investment banking, insurance writing, commercial banking or proprietary trading for our own account. We are unconflicted and fully accountable.

As of September 30, 2023, AB had $669B in assets under management, $458B of which were ESG-integrated. Additional information about AB may be found on our website, www.alliancebernstein.com.

Learn more about AB’s approach to responsibility here.

PNC | Insights

It’s been estimated that as many as 22 U.S. veterans die by suicide every day. For those paired with a Guardian Angels Medical Service Dog, however, the rate so far stands at zero.

Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs is a nonprofit based in Williston, Florida, that raises, trains and donates medical service dogs to veterans, first responders and civilians with permanent visible and invisible disabilities. Hundreds of veterans are on a waiting list to be paired, and the vast majority can’t afford the roughly $25,000 it costs for a highly specialized service dog to help with PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, mobility issues and more.

Organizations like PNC help by sponsoring dogs, making it possible for more veterans to receive the life-altering support of a service dog. PNC has also been part of the family-friendly Community Mutt Strut fundraiser since its inception in 2016. The Pittsburgh-based event includes dog costume contests, pet- and veteran-related vendors and auction items, and boasts more than $1.5M raised and 66 dogs sponsored as a direct impact.

A medical service dog can often be the exact accommodation an individual with a disability needs to thrive in a corporate setting. Mike Clark, a business analytics manager on PNC’s Audit team, continued to struggle with PTSD and a post-traumatic brain injury for years after returning from his U.S. Army service to civilian life. But he got the support he needed from PNC, who worked with him and Guardian Angels to provide “Super Service Dog” Blade and completely transform Clark’s world – at work and at home.

Now Clark and PNC General Auditor Stacy Juchno talk about Blade’s impact over the years, how a recipient begins the process of transitioning an aging service dog into retirement, and whether there might be another service dog in Clark’s future.

Transcript

Michael, PNC Employee: Yeah, so I joined the military right out of high school, and I spent a year and a half in the Persian Gulf, that was the Bosnia conflict. I decided I wanted to go to college. Went to Penn State University, I joined the ROTC program. In my senior year, 9/11 happened. I didn’t have that typical opportunity of a college student to go do an internship. My internship at that time was Iraq. I finally hung up my uniform in 2015 and that’s when I decided that I was going to pursue a career in corporate America at that point. I had really bad post-traumatic stress, I had a traumatic brain injury that still hadn’t healed. I was scared, I didn’t really know if I wanted to disclose whether or not I had these disabilities at the time. But PNC made it easy to do it.

Stacy, General Auditor: I knew at the time, before I had actually met Mike, that there was a veteran at PNC that was in need of a service dog and I think Mike connected with Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs. He was one of the first folks that I know through anything we’ve done that he quickly got Blade and was prepared with Blade and now has a service dog.

And when I first met Mike, he was quiet, reserved, but present and when Mike joined Audit, he started to over the years start to work out of the quiet, reserved person and be a little bit more outgoing, taking on additional responsibilities, and I think with Blade with him over time helped open him up.

And now today, Mike is at every activity, every event, leading discussions, and I just think that I’ve seen this transformation over the last several years with Mike and it’s just absolutely phenomenal. He’s absolutely the light that walks in the room and brightens things up.

Michael: I mean, Blade’s going to be 12 years old in January, and I’m, as dogs age, they lose their eye sight starts to diminish, her ability to really kind of sit and stay for long periods of time have gone from her being able to sit there with me through an eight-hour day to four hours and she’s like nudging me, telling me it’s time for us to go home. And she’s been taking care of me all these years. Now it’s time for me to shift gears and take care of her. And so she tells me she’s ready to go home, then we’re going to take her home and Guardian Angels, they’ve really helped me develop techniques on how to get her to transition to retirement. And it’s something, things as simple as like talking to her and telling her, hey Blade, I’m going to work, you’re going to stay home. Be a good girl. I’ll see you in a few hours. Just constantly communicating that to her every day when I leave to come into the office is helping her kind of transition into this retirement mentality. PNC sponsored Blade from the beginning and just the fact that they’ve offered to get me another service dog when I need it, if I need it, really makes me, I just think that’s an amazing thing. At this point in my life, I’m not sure I’m ready for another service dog. I think I’m still – I have this bond with Blade that I’m just not there yet. It’s really time for us to shift into retirement mode. We’re both ready.