Tag: 3BL

Originally published on Aflac Newsroom

At first glance, James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville, North Carolina, looks like any other bustling pediatric center. But look a little closer — down near knee level — and you might spot an unexpected team member trotting confidently beside a Child Life Specialist: a golden retriever-Labrador-doodle mix named Samus Aran, or “Sam” for short.

Sam isn’t just any hospital visitor. She’s the hospital’s first full‑time facility dog, a milestone for Maynard Children’s Hospital and one that has captured the hearts of patients, families and staff alike.

Sam is one of many specially trained facility dogs in hospitals across the country that are becoming an important part of pediatric cancer care, offering comfort, motivation and emotional support to young patients facing some of the toughest treatments of their lives.

Since joining the team in 2023 — after years of planning, advocacy, and training — Sam has worked alongside Child Life Specialists to help children manage their hospital experiences through play, relaxation and companionship. Her presence has brought many smiles to patients undergoing treatment, including those in pediatric oncology units, and she’s quickly become a cherished member of the team.

A hero’s origin story

The Aflac Childhood Cancer Foundation was one of the first supporters of the Maynard Canine Crew through the Aflac Child Life Grant program, which has assisted with veterinary care, grooming and other canine necessities since Sam’s arrival in 2023.

“Facility dogs like Sam bring a level of comfort and connection that can change a child’s entire hospital experience,” said Buffy Swinehart, senior manager, Aflac Corporate Social Responsibility. “Supporting Child Life services is central to Aflac’s mission, because every child deserves to feel safe, supported and cared for during their medical journey, and Sam delivers that like he’s, well, a best friend.”

Sam’s name may ring a bell, as she’s named after a character in a popular video game. But while her namesake battles alien threats, this Sam uses her superpowers for something closer to home: comfort, connection and emotional support.

Born on April 9, 2022, Sam was raised and trained through Canine Assistants, a program known for its bond‑based approach — meaning Sam doesn’t follow strict commands but instead reads emotional cues and adapts to what each child needs. Her training included exposure to hospital environments and some field training in Atlanta, preparing her to navigate common hospital fixtures like walkers and wheelchairs.

A day in the life of a four‑legged healer

Now, as a full‑time member of the Maynard Canine Crew, Sam works 40 hours a week, making her a reliable presence during some of the hardest moments a child or family may experience. But don’t let the professional vest fool you — Sam is also a goofy girl with a love of apples, peanut butter cookies and all sorts of toys.

While Sam delivers cuddles in abundance, she’s specially trained to help children cope with anxiety, medical procedures and long hospital stays. Her therapeutic toolkit includes:

• Modeling how to lie still for imaging or other procedures
• Snuggling with children during stressful moments
• Reducing fear with her friendly, nonjudgmental presence
• Helping motivate children to walk, play or complete physical goals
• Demonstrating tasks like taking medicine from a syringe (yes, she practices this!)

“A lot of times it’s easier for kids to trust a dog than a person they don’t know,” said Ashton Ayers, Child Life Specialist and Sam’s handler. “Sam analyzes what someone needs and helps make the hospital feel more normal and less scary by helping prepare patients for treatments and procedures, and showing lots of love in the process.”

A hospital hallway becomes a little more like home

Research shows that interactions with therapy animals can reduce stress, ease anxiety and promote emotional well-being for children in hospital settings.¹ Spend even a few minutes watching Sam work, and it’s easy to see how her presence transforms the hospital environment — children who haven’t smiled all day break into laughter when she trots in with a toy in her mouth.

And it’s not just the children benefiting from her talents — Sam has become a grounding force for the hospital staff as well. The work of caring for critically ill children can be emotionally heavy, and the presence of a gentle, canine coworker can bring a sense of comfort.

Programs like Maynard Canine Crew demonstrate how animal-assisted interventions can transform a clinical environment into one that feels safer, more hopeful and, sometimes, a little more like home.

Learn more and support the mission

Want to learn more about how Aflac supports children and families facing childhood cancer and blood disorders, including initiatives like this one? Visit: AflacChildhoodCancer.org.

¹ Kelker HP, Siddiqui HK, Beck AM, Kline JA (March 14, 2025). Therapy Dogs for Anxiety in Children in the Emergency Department: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Journal of the American Medical Association. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2831511

Aflac includes Aflac and/or Aflac New York and/or Continental American Insurance Company and /or Continental American Life Insurance Company.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a solicitation for insurance.

WWHQ | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999
Z2600241 
Exp. 4/27

 

 

 

Originally published on Aflac Newsroom

At first glance, James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville, North Carolina, looks like any other bustling pediatric center. But look a little closer — down near knee level — and you might spot an unexpected team member trotting confidently beside a Child Life Specialist: a golden retriever-Labrador-doodle mix named Samus Aran, or “Sam” for short.

Sam isn’t just any hospital visitor. She’s the hospital’s first full‑time facility dog, a milestone for Maynard Children’s Hospital and one that has captured the hearts of patients, families and staff alike.

Sam is one of many specially trained facility dogs in hospitals across the country that are becoming an important part of pediatric cancer care, offering comfort, motivation and emotional support to young patients facing some of the toughest treatments of their lives.

Since joining the team in 2023 — after years of planning, advocacy, and training — Sam has worked alongside Child Life Specialists to help children manage their hospital experiences through play, relaxation and companionship. Her presence has brought many smiles to patients undergoing treatment, including those in pediatric oncology units, and she’s quickly become a cherished member of the team.

A hero’s origin story

The Aflac Childhood Cancer Foundation was one of the first supporters of the Maynard Canine Crew through the Aflac Child Life Grant program, which has assisted with veterinary care, grooming and other canine necessities since Sam’s arrival in 2023.

“Facility dogs like Sam bring a level of comfort and connection that can change a child’s entire hospital experience,” said Buffy Swinehart, senior manager, Aflac Corporate Social Responsibility. “Supporting Child Life services is central to Aflac’s mission, because every child deserves to feel safe, supported and cared for during their medical journey, and Sam delivers that like he’s, well, a best friend.”

Sam’s name may ring a bell, as she’s named after a character in a popular video game. But while her namesake battles alien threats, this Sam uses her superpowers for something closer to home: comfort, connection and emotional support.

Born on April 9, 2022, Sam was raised and trained through Canine Assistants, a program known for its bond‑based approach — meaning Sam doesn’t follow strict commands but instead reads emotional cues and adapts to what each child needs. Her training included exposure to hospital environments and some field training in Atlanta, preparing her to navigate common hospital fixtures like walkers and wheelchairs.

A day in the life of a four‑legged healer

Now, as a full‑time member of the Maynard Canine Crew, Sam works 40 hours a week, making her a reliable presence during some of the hardest moments a child or family may experience. But don’t let the professional vest fool you — Sam is also a goofy girl with a love of apples, peanut butter cookies and all sorts of toys.

While Sam delivers cuddles in abundance, she’s specially trained to help children cope with anxiety, medical procedures and long hospital stays. Her therapeutic toolkit includes:

• Modeling how to lie still for imaging or other procedures
• Snuggling with children during stressful moments
• Reducing fear with her friendly, nonjudgmental presence
• Helping motivate children to walk, play or complete physical goals
• Demonstrating tasks like taking medicine from a syringe (yes, she practices this!)

“A lot of times it’s easier for kids to trust a dog than a person they don’t know,” said Ashton Ayers, Child Life Specialist and Sam’s handler. “Sam analyzes what someone needs and helps make the hospital feel more normal and less scary by helping prepare patients for treatments and procedures, and showing lots of love in the process.”

A hospital hallway becomes a little more like home

Research shows that interactions with therapy animals can reduce stress, ease anxiety and promote emotional well-being for children in hospital settings.¹ Spend even a few minutes watching Sam work, and it’s easy to see how her presence transforms the hospital environment — children who haven’t smiled all day break into laughter when she trots in with a toy in her mouth.

And it’s not just the children benefiting from her talents — Sam has become a grounding force for the hospital staff as well. The work of caring for critically ill children can be emotionally heavy, and the presence of a gentle, canine coworker can bring a sense of comfort.

Programs like Maynard Canine Crew demonstrate how animal-assisted interventions can transform a clinical environment into one that feels safer, more hopeful and, sometimes, a little more like home.

Learn more and support the mission

Want to learn more about how Aflac supports children and families facing childhood cancer and blood disorders, including initiatives like this one? Visit: AflacChildhoodCancer.org.

¹ Kelker HP, Siddiqui HK, Beck AM, Kline JA (March 14, 2025). Therapy Dogs for Anxiety in Children in the Emergency Department: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Journal of the American Medical Association. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2831511

Aflac includes Aflac and/or Aflac New York and/or Continental American Insurance Company and /or Continental American Life Insurance Company.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a solicitation for insurance.

WWHQ | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999
Z2600241 
Exp. 4/27

 

 

 

Originally published on Aflac Newsroom

At first glance, James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville, North Carolina, looks like any other bustling pediatric center. But look a little closer — down near knee level — and you might spot an unexpected team member trotting confidently beside a Child Life Specialist: a golden retriever-Labrador-doodle mix named Samus Aran, or “Sam” for short.

Sam isn’t just any hospital visitor. She’s the hospital’s first full‑time facility dog, a milestone for Maynard Children’s Hospital and one that has captured the hearts of patients, families and staff alike.

Sam is one of many specially trained facility dogs in hospitals across the country that are becoming an important part of pediatric cancer care, offering comfort, motivation and emotional support to young patients facing some of the toughest treatments of their lives.

Since joining the team in 2023 — after years of planning, advocacy, and training — Sam has worked alongside Child Life Specialists to help children manage their hospital experiences through play, relaxation and companionship. Her presence has brought many smiles to patients undergoing treatment, including those in pediatric oncology units, and she’s quickly become a cherished member of the team.

A hero’s origin story

The Aflac Childhood Cancer Foundation was one of the first supporters of the Maynard Canine Crew through the Aflac Child Life Grant program, which has assisted with veterinary care, grooming and other canine necessities since Sam’s arrival in 2023.

“Facility dogs like Sam bring a level of comfort and connection that can change a child’s entire hospital experience,” said Buffy Swinehart, senior manager, Aflac Corporate Social Responsibility. “Supporting Child Life services is central to Aflac’s mission, because every child deserves to feel safe, supported and cared for during their medical journey, and Sam delivers that like he’s, well, a best friend.”

Sam’s name may ring a bell, as she’s named after a character in a popular video game. But while her namesake battles alien threats, this Sam uses her superpowers for something closer to home: comfort, connection and emotional support.

Born on April 9, 2022, Sam was raised and trained through Canine Assistants, a program known for its bond‑based approach — meaning Sam doesn’t follow strict commands but instead reads emotional cues and adapts to what each child needs. Her training included exposure to hospital environments and some field training in Atlanta, preparing her to navigate common hospital fixtures like walkers and wheelchairs.

A day in the life of a four‑legged healer

Now, as a full‑time member of the Maynard Canine Crew, Sam works 40 hours a week, making her a reliable presence during some of the hardest moments a child or family may experience. But don’t let the professional vest fool you — Sam is also a goofy girl with a love of apples, peanut butter cookies and all sorts of toys.

While Sam delivers cuddles in abundance, she’s specially trained to help children cope with anxiety, medical procedures and long hospital stays. Her therapeutic toolkit includes:

• Modeling how to lie still for imaging or other procedures
• Snuggling with children during stressful moments
• Reducing fear with her friendly, nonjudgmental presence
• Helping motivate children to walk, play or complete physical goals
• Demonstrating tasks like taking medicine from a syringe (yes, she practices this!)

“A lot of times it’s easier for kids to trust a dog than a person they don’t know,” said Ashton Ayers, Child Life Specialist and Sam’s handler. “Sam analyzes what someone needs and helps make the hospital feel more normal and less scary by helping prepare patients for treatments and procedures, and showing lots of love in the process.”

A hospital hallway becomes a little more like home

Research shows that interactions with therapy animals can reduce stress, ease anxiety and promote emotional well-being for children in hospital settings.¹ Spend even a few minutes watching Sam work, and it’s easy to see how her presence transforms the hospital environment — children who haven’t smiled all day break into laughter when she trots in with a toy in her mouth.

And it’s not just the children benefiting from her talents — Sam has become a grounding force for the hospital staff as well. The work of caring for critically ill children can be emotionally heavy, and the presence of a gentle, canine coworker can bring a sense of comfort.

Programs like Maynard Canine Crew demonstrate how animal-assisted interventions can transform a clinical environment into one that feels safer, more hopeful and, sometimes, a little more like home.

Learn more and support the mission

Want to learn more about how Aflac supports children and families facing childhood cancer and blood disorders, including initiatives like this one? Visit: AflacChildhoodCancer.org.

¹ Kelker HP, Siddiqui HK, Beck AM, Kline JA (March 14, 2025). Therapy Dogs for Anxiety in Children in the Emergency Department: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Journal of the American Medical Association. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2831511

Aflac includes Aflac and/or Aflac New York and/or Continental American Insurance Company and /or Continental American Life Insurance Company.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a solicitation for insurance.

WWHQ | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999
Z2600241 
Exp. 4/27

 

 

 

PALM SPRINGS, Calif., April 16, 2026 /3BL/ – Engage for Good today named Keep America Beautiful as its 2026 Nonprofit of the Year in recognition of the organization’s decades-long commitment to building cleaner, greener, and more vibrant communities, along with its pioneering model for how community action can unite people through shared purpose, pride, and a sense of belonging.

The Halo Awards annually recognize organizations that define the gold standard for what effective corporate–nonprofit partnerships look like. This year’s Nonprofit of the Year Award reflects Keep America Beautiful’s long legacy of educating the public and bringing together the business sector, governments, and local communities as shared stewards of clean, vibrant public spaces.

Since its founding in 1953, Keep America Beautiful has worked to raise awareness, inspire action, and advance practical solutions to reduce litter and improve recycling rates, while bringing people together to improve their neighborhoods and support vibrant communities. Through its partnerships with companies including Anheuser-Busch, The Coca-Cola Company, Niagara Cares, Altria, and Reynolds American, Keep America Beautiful continues to create accessible, meaningful pathways for people to care for the places they call home and work together to improve them.

“For more than 70 years, Keep America Beautiful has done something rare – built a model that turns corporate and community partnerships into tangible, visible change,” said Muneer Panjwani, CEO of Engage for Good. “Their work proves that when people feel genuinely connected to a place, they act to protect it. That’s exactly the kind of impact this award was created to celebrate.”

“We are deeply honored to receive this recognition from Engage for Good,” said Jennifer Lawson, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful. “We have always believed the biggest challenges are solved when people come together in partnership. When communities, systems, and partners move together, progress follows.”

In announcing the award, Engage for Good cited Keep America Beautiful’s sustained positive impact on communities across the country through its network of 763 local affiliates. In 2025, more than 2.3 million Keep America Beautiful’s million volunteers planted more than 190,000 miles of plants and trees, improved 621,000 acres of public land, and picked up 18 million pounds of litter at more than 60,000 cleanup events, delivering $64 million in value to local communities. In 2024, Keep America Beautiful launched the Greatest American Cleanup, a national campaign to pick up millions of pieces of litter and plant red, white, and blue flowers across the nation in honor of America’s 250th Birthday on July 4, 2026.

The award will be presented to Keep America Beautiful at the Halo Awards Gala during the Engage for Good Conference, taking place April 21–24 in Palm Springs, California. The event will bring together more than 700 corporate and nonprofit leaders to explore the strategies, partnerships, and innovations shaping the future of social impact.

About the Halo Awards

Now in its 24th year, the Halo Awards are the social impact sector’s longest-running recognition of excellence in corporate–nonprofit partnerships. Past awardees include Google, Procter & Gamble, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Macy’s, and more.

“The organizations that win this award aren’t just doing good work, they’re raising the bar for what this field expects of itself,” Panjwani added. “A Halo Award tells your partners, your leadership, and the communities you serve that your impact isn’t incidental, it’s strategic, rigorous, and built to last.”

Registration is open at https://events.engageforgood.com/conference.

# # # #

About Engage for Good

For more than two decades, Engage for Good (EFG) has been the trusted home for corporate and nonprofit leaders building partnerships that deliver real results. EFG has equipped leaders shaping cause marketing, CSR, ESG, and nonprofit partnership strategy with the connections, best practices, and community they need to build high-impact partnerships that drive both business and social value. With a community of over 19,000 impact leaders, EFG’s programs include the annual Engage for Good Conference, The Halo Awards, membership for impact professionals, and consulting services for nonprofits and companies. Learn more at engageforgood.com.

About Keep America Beautiful®:

Keep America Beautiful, founded in 1953, is a national nonprofit that inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. Through its powerful network of community-based affiliates, millions of volunteers, and strategic partners, Keep America Beautiful brings people together to transform public spaces into beautiful places. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Donate and take action at kab.org.

AUSTIN, Texas, April 16, 2026 /3BL/ – Wells Fargo, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) and Foundation Communities celebrated the grand opening of the 156-unit Norman Commons affordable apartment complex that will support families and individuals in Austin, Texas. The development received a $1.75 million grant from FHLB Dallas through Wells Fargo to assist with development costs.

The $58 million complex was developed by Foundation Communities and the Austin Housing Finance Corp. adjacent to Norman‑Sims Elementary and includes 10 percent of its units that prioritize families experiencing homelessness. A learning center provides free afterschool and summer programs for children, a healthy food pantry and classes for adults.

To cultivate a sense of place, developers partnered with local artists to create a public art piece that honors the neighborhood’s history and the culture of Black cowboys, who still ride in the neighborhood today.

“We’re grateful for the AHP grant that helped make Norman Commons possible, and we’re proud to open a community that provides Austin families with stability and opportunity,” said Walter Moreau, executive director of Foundation Communities.

AHP grants are awarded annually through FHLB Dallas member institutions to support development and rehabilitation of affordable housing for low-income households.

“Wells Fargo is proud to continue its longstanding support of Foundation Communities and help extend its community impact through FHLB Dallas AHP grants,” said Christopher Rios, Wells Fargo regional vice president. “Norman Commons reflects our shared commitment to expanding housing access and affordability in Austin.”

The application period for the 2026 funding cycle is now open through April 30. Applications must be made through an FHLB Dallas member. Last year, FHLB Dallas awarded $73.5 million in AHP grants across six states.

“It’s great to see Norman Commons come to life, and we’re really glad we could help support it with an AHP grant,” said Greg Hettrick, senior vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas. “Norman Commons gives kids and parents a real chance to grow, connect and build a stronger future together.”

About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank System created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $108.5 billion as of December 31, 2025, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced loans and other credit products to approximately 800 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. For more information, visit fhlb.com.

CONTACT:
Corporate Communications> Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas
fhlb.com, (214) 441-8445

The Carajás Mining Complex is Brazil’s largest mine and the world’s largest source of iron ore. Mine operator Vale is converting Carajás Plant 1 to operate entirely with natural moisture, aiming to reduce process water consumption by 100% and eliminate tailings waste while also increasing production capacity. Rockwell is Vale’s end-to-end integration partner for the retrofit project, responsible for orchestrating and integrating automation, electrical systems, and equipment from six different suppliers.

“It’s a very complex project,” said José Roberto Silva Muniz, Control and Automation, Iron Ore North Projects Engineering Team, Vale. “Precise planning is critical because we have just a few days at a time to stop production, upgrade systems, and ensure the plant immediately reaches specified performance. We preferred an industrial automation partner with technical skills who can work with us. Rockwell is supporting us for the entire project—the hardware, the software, and the management.”

Rockwell’s PlantPAx® Distributed Control System will help Vale securely control plant operations, including waterless production processes, to optimize productivity and reduce overall operations risks. Rockwell’s Engineer-to-Order (ETO) panels, drives, and other power management components are core to the plant’s electrical systems. Rockwell’s Lifecycle Services is providing engineering services that span the full project lifecycle, from design and commissioning to optimization and support.

“The Carajás project is inside the National Forest of Carajás, and we are responsible, together with Brazil’s government, to guarantee its care,” said Muniz. “It’s also an opportunity to help change the lives of people in a region of Brazil that is far away from large industrial centers and cities.”

Discover additional sustainability stories by reading the Rockwell Automation 2025 Sustainability Report.

The Carajás Mining Complex is Brazil’s largest mine and the world’s largest source of iron ore. Mine operator Vale is converting Carajás Plant 1 to operate entirely with natural moisture, aiming to reduce process water consumption by 100% and eliminate tailings waste while also increasing production capacity. Rockwell is Vale’s end-to-end integration partner for the retrofit project, responsible for orchestrating and integrating automation, electrical systems, and equipment from six different suppliers.

“It’s a very complex project,” said José Roberto Silva Muniz, Control and Automation, Iron Ore North Projects Engineering Team, Vale. “Precise planning is critical because we have just a few days at a time to stop production, upgrade systems, and ensure the plant immediately reaches specified performance. We preferred an industrial automation partner with technical skills who can work with us. Rockwell is supporting us for the entire project—the hardware, the software, and the management.”

Rockwell’s PlantPAx® Distributed Control System will help Vale securely control plant operations, including waterless production processes, to optimize productivity and reduce overall operations risks. Rockwell’s Engineer-to-Order (ETO) panels, drives, and other power management components are core to the plant’s electrical systems. Rockwell’s Lifecycle Services is providing engineering services that span the full project lifecycle, from design and commissioning to optimization and support.

“The Carajás project is inside the National Forest of Carajás, and we are responsible, together with Brazil’s government, to guarantee its care,” said Muniz. “It’s also an opportunity to help change the lives of people in a region of Brazil that is far away from large industrial centers and cities.”

Discover additional sustainability stories by reading the Rockwell Automation 2025 Sustainability Report.

By Renee Thompson, Sustainability Director, Wesco International

Sustainability and security have long been treated as separate concerns — one focused on the planet, the other on protecting business. Many people don’t realize how much common ground they share, and recognizing this connection is increasingly important.

Why These Two Things Are Being Talked About Together

At first glance, sustainability and security seem very different. Sustainability is about how an organization manages its environmental impact—generally focusing on topics like reducing energy use, cutting carbon emissions, and minimizing waste. Security is about protecting the organization from harm, focusing on safeguarding data, defending systems, and keeping operations running safely.

So why are the two increasingly being discussed together now? Because the risks they deal with are starting to overlap in ways that are hard to ignore. A major storm that floods a data center is, all at once, a climate event and a security incident. A supplier without environmental governance may also lack standards across the board, including those for handling sensitive data. These aren’t coincidences, they are patterns.

Both sustainability and security are really about the same thing: making sure your organization can keep operating, today and in the future.

The Shared Language of Resilience

The word that brings them together is resilience, the ability to withstand disruption and bounce back from setbacks. Security teams have used it for years to describe systems that can withstand attacks. Sustainability professionals often use it to describe how businesses and communities cope with climate events, resource shortages, and shifting regulations.

Once you frame the goals of both teams this way, the overlap becomes clear. Reducing an organization’s dependency on a single energy source makes an organization more environmentally responsible and less vulnerable to outages. Knowing exactly who is in your supply chain helps you track emissions and reduces the risk of a security breach.

Where the Overlap Shows Up in Practice

Think about the buildings and systems that organizations rely on every day. Office buildings, warehouses, and server rooms all consume energy and need to be physically secure. When an organization upgrades to smart building technology to reduce its energy footprint, it installs connected devices, such as sensors, automated controls, and networked systems. Those same systems need to be secured against unauthorized access. A greener building and a safer building are, in this case, the same building.

The same logic applies to supply chains. Most organizations today source products and services from dozens, hundreds, or possibly thousands of external partners. Tracking the environmental information of those partners, where materials come from, and how much carbon their operations produce, requires the same kind of detailed supplier mapping that security teams use to understand who has access to their systems and data. Many organizations are starting to combine these assessments into a single process, saving time while building a more complete picture of their overall risk.

Practical examples of where sustainability and security meet:

• Smart building upgrades that save energy also introduce connected devices that need to be secured.
• Supplier audits for environmental standards and security practices can be run together.
• Business continuity plans increasingly need to account for extreme weather events.
• Reducing energy waste in data centers lowers costs, emissions, and points of failure.
• Transparent reporting requirements for both sustainability and security push organizations to improve record-keeping and data governance across the board.

The Role of Regulation

In the EU, for example, Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CRSD) requires larger organizations to report not just on their carbon footprint but also on broader risks, including operational and digital risks that could undermine their ability to meet their sustainability commitments. This is new territory for most companies and their compliance teams, and it is nudging sustainability and security colleagues to work more closely together than they ever have before.

For many organizations, the compliance process itself is where collaboration begins. A shared deadline has a way of bringing people to the same table.

What This Means for People and Culture

Beyond systems and processes, there is a human dimension to this shift. People working in sustainability and security often face the same internal challenge – making the case for investment in something whose benefits are difficult to see. You cannot point to the cyberattack that didn’t happen, just as you cannot show someone the emissions that weren’t produced. Both require organizations to look into the future and trust that prevention is worth the cost.

The shared experience of advocating for future-focused thinking in organizations that often prioritize short-term results has become an unexpected bond between professionals in both fields. They are increasingly finding that they have more to learn from each other than they once assumed.

The best organizations are not asking whether this is a sustainability problem or a security problem. They are asking: What is the right thing to do to keep this organization safe and responsible in the long term?

A Starting Point, not a Destination

For most organizations, thinking about sustainability and security together is still relatively new. There is no single established model for how to do it. The important thing is to start looking for connections by noticing when a decision in one area has implications for the other, and to make sure the right people are in the conversation when it does.

That might mean a joint review of a supplier shortlist. It might mean including sustainability considerations in a business continuity plan. It may mean scheduling a regular conversation between two teams that have historically had little reason to meet. Small steps, consistently taken, tend to compound.

Over the next decade, the organizations that successfully navigate this collaboration will likely be the ones that stop treating these as separate problems a little earlier than everyone else.

Industry-recognized indoor air quality certification from SCS Global Services strengthens compliance with leading green building standards.

AJMAN, United Arab Emirates, April 16, 2026 /3BL/ – GIBCA Furniture has achieved Indoor Advantage™ Gold certification from SCS Global Services across its core product categories, becoming the first UAE-based manufacturer to secure this certification across its full product range.

“Performance today extends beyond functionality to include indoor air quality and environmental responsibility. Achieving Indoor Advantage™ Gold certification across our product portfolio reflects our long‑term commitment to responsible manufacturing and healthier indoor environments, while supporting architects and consultants with solutions that simplify compliance and meet the evolving expectations of the built environment,” said Imran Khan, General Manager for Gibca Furniture.

As indoor environments continue to take priority in building design, material selection is no longer limited to aesthetics and durability. Emissions, air quality impact, and compliance with global standards are now central to specification decisions, particularly across commercial offices, education, and healthcare projects.

By achieving Indoor Advantage™ Gold certification, Gibca Furniture provides architects and consultants with independently verified products that meet the CDPH/EHLB Standard Method (CA 01350), complying with stringent low‑emission criteria suitable for sensitive indoor environments such as offices, schools, and residential developments. This eliminates the need for additional testing, simplifies documentation, and supports faster, more confident specification—particularly for projects pursuing LEED®, BREEAM®, and WELL™ certifications.

The certification covers Gibca’s Hufcor operable wall systems, demountable partition solutions, and its HPL product range – systems that are widely used in projects where flexibility, performance, and long-term usability are critical.

Certified product categories include:

• 600 Series Acoustic Operable Walls: 641, 642, 643E, 645V, 363, 5630, GF Series
• Demountable Partition Systems: Auralis 30, Auralis 100, Auralux, Linea
• HPL Solutions: Kitchen Cabinets, Kitchen Countertops, Toilet Cubicles, Wall Cladding

For project teams, this certification directly supports compliance requirements tied to indoor air quality credits, helping reduce risk during design approvals and certification audits. It also ensures that materials used within enclosed environments contribute to healthier indoor conditions over the life of the building.

“GIBCA Furniture Company has shown a clear dedication to product transparency and indoor air quality by achieving certification across multiple product categories. The achievement reflects a growing commitment to delivering low‑emitting products that support high‑performance, sustainable buildings,” states Rob Emelander, Operations Director for Environmental Certification Services at SCS Global Services.

About GIBCA Furniture Company

Gibca Furniture, part of the GIBCA Group, is a leading space management solutions provider across the MENA region. Since the 1990s, the company has delivered workspace solutions across more than 75,000 installations spanning the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa. Gibca Furniture offers a comprehensive range of systems designed to support evolving interior requirements, including operable partitions, demountable partition systems, high-pressure laminate (HPL) applications, and acoustic solutions. With Hufcor now part of Gibca Furniture, the company further strengthens its offering in operable wall systems, bringing globally recognized solutions into the regional market with local expertise and execution. For more information, visit www.gfiuae.com

About SCS Global Services

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Originally published by Mastercard

By Vicki Hyman
Director, Global Communications, Mastercard

Financial health is often framed as a long-term goal: building wealth, buying a “forever home,” planning for retirement, perhaps even early retirement. But new global research from Mastercard suggests that for many consumers today, financial health is far more immediate and practical.

Across 11 markets, consumers defined being “financially well” first and foremost as paying bills on time without stress (50%) and being free from debt (50%; rising to 56% and ranking most important of those with low income), followed closely by having emergency savings (47%) and being able to comfortably afford everyday essentials (45%) — gas, not tropical getaways; medicine, not Michelin-star meals.

Longer-term goals like building wealth or retiring when they want fall much lower on the list, underscoring how rising costs, economic uncertainty and day-to-day pressures are reshaping what “doing well” really means.

The findings come from a 2026 survey of 9,605 consumers and 2,276 small businesses across the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, India and China, offering a broad view into how people are experiencing their financial lives today.

The survey found that fewer than 1 in 4 (24%) people describe their current financial situation as “very comfortable,” with nearly 3 in 10 (29%) saying they are “just getting by” or “struggling,” more common among lower income segments (46%) and those who are underbanked (35%).

But despite the pressures shaping today’s definition of financial health, optimism remains resilient, with 61% of consumers (65% underbanked) saying they believe their best days are still ahead.

Back to basics

When asked what it means to be financially well, consumers consistently prioritized stability over aspiration. Barely a third named building wealth, and just over a quarter said being able to retire when they want.

“People need to feel confident about getting through the day before planning for the future,” says Shamina Singh, president and founder of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth. “True financial health depends on whether people can use financial tools with confidence, manage short-term needs and weather unexpected shocks.”

That understanding underpins Mastercard’s next chapter in this space — a commitment to connect and protect 500 million people and small businesses on their pathways to financial health by 2030. The focus is on supporting the full journey, from access to active use, from use to security, and from security to long-term resilience, so that participation in the digital economy feels safe, practical and reliable.

This work follows Mastercard’s work during the last decade to bring more than 1 billion people and 65 million small businesses into the formal financial system, which was a critical first step in providing access to digital and financial tools.

This new commitment may look different in different markets. In Africa, farmers are creating a digital profile that can unlock affordable digital financial services through the MADE Alliance initiative. In Southeast Asia, factory workers are receiving digital wages, a safer option than cash, and one that gives them more control over their finances. In North America, small business owners are accessing affordable cyber solutions to protect their enterprises and AI-powered agents that can act as digital executives to gain deeper insights into their operations so they can grow smarter and faster.

And around the world, the Global Financial Health Coalition, launched last year by Mastercard, is convening leaders across the ecosystem to strengthen trust, expand protection and embrace innovation, moving people beyond short-term survival toward lasting financial confidence and opportunity.

“Advancing financial health at scale requires shared insight and collective action,” says Bunita Sawhney, chief consumer product officer at Mastercard. “By bringing different perspectives together, we can better understand what people and small businesses actually need — and design solutions that help them build resilience in ways that are trusted and relevant to their everyday lives.”

Global research data from Mastercard’s Global Financial Sentiment Survey 2026. Contact Jenna.Yasgur@mastercard.com for more information.

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