Tag: 3BL

Las Vegas Sands

Volunteerism and winter celebrations took center stage during November and December, with Sands Team Members participating in a variety of programs that included local charitable engagements, holiday events and roadshows hosted by the regions.

A few examples of holiday programs in Sands’ regions around the world included:

Aiding People with Disabilities and Families in Las Vegas

Corporate Team Members conducted a few holiday volunteer activations, including participating in Opportunity Village’s annual Las Vegas Great Santa Run to raise money for the nonprofit organization’s mission of serving people with intellectual and related disabilities to positively impact their lives and the lives of the families who love them. The run was held in early December, and 70 Team Members participated.

Also in December, several corporate Team Members helped decorate for the holidays at East Valley Family Services to support the nonprofit organization’s celebrations for its beneficiaries. East Valley Family Services provides Las Vegas families with a range of resources, including food assistance, health insurance advocacy, and support for elder caregivers and families facing hardship.

Supporting Caritas Macau and the Performing Arts in Macao

In November, Sands China donated MOP 300,000 (approx. $37,500) to Caritas Macau for two of its annual events, the 54th Charity Bazaar and the 2023 Charity Run, marking the company’s 20th year of supporting the social service organization. Sands China has long helped promote Caritas Macau’s services, and Team Members regularly volunteer for its events.

The Sands Cares Ambassador volunteer corps again supported these two events, with more than 100 Team Members participating. Efforts included running a game booth at the bazaar to raise funds for Caritas Macau and participating in the run, which raised funds for one of Caritas Macau’s new elderly care service programs.

Sands China established its Sands Cares Ambassador program in 2009 to give Team Members outlets for serving the local community through activities and initiatives that work toward creating a better Macao. With membership of more than 3,300 volunteers from all of Sands China’s properties, Sands Cares Ambassadors have contributed more than 302,000 hours of community service since the program’s founding.

For one of its December initiatives, Sands China teamed up with the Macau Band Directors Association for the Sands China Performing Arts Program Outreach Series – Winter Showcase, which featured three community performances. Supported by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, the initiative aimed to promote the vibrant performing arts scene in Macao.

More than 230 musicians from Macao and Japan participated in the showcase with outdoor performances at The Venetian® Macao and the Macao Cultural Centre Square. These free concerts offered a unique opportunity for the public to enjoy wind music during the winter season.

On Dec. 16, more than 110 members from Japan’s Hachioji High School Wind Orchestra performed in Macao for the first time at the Macao Cultural Centre Square, delivering a lively, large-scale marching band performance. Sands China invited more than 130 participants from Against Child Abuse (Macau) Association Child Protection Centre and Good Shepherd Sisters Women’s Mutual Help Centre, as well as Sands Cares Ambassadors, to enjoy this first show of the series to share the joy of the festive season with the community.

With Christmas approaching, Sands Cares Ambassadors presented Christmas gift packs to the members of the local nongovernmental organizations. The gift packs, made and packaged by Fuhong Society of Macau students and purchased by Sands China, are part of Sands China’s support for the Gift Pack Community Sharing Programme, which aims to provide job opportunities for people with disabilities by making gift bags, allowing them to develop their talents, while promoting social harmony.

At the end of the month, the Macau Youth Symphonic Band, a long-time hub for nurturing local music professionals, played festive holiday favorites on Dec. 28 at The Venetian Macao’s lagoon area, and well-known anime and J-pop songs on Dec. 30 at the Macao Cultural Centre Square.

Making a Difference in Singapore

From December 5-12, Marina Bay Sands hosted the Sands Cares Let’s Go M.A.D. (Make a Difference) roadshow for Team Members. The weeklong back-of-house series featured an array of activities in which Team Members were able to support the local community and extend their knowledge around ways to engage in community service.

A giving bazaar with APSN, a social service agency that supports residents living with intellectual disabilities; the Singapore Association for the Deaf; and local businesses, including The Shy Crafter and Olive & Woods, raised $4,000 through sales of food and handmade merchandise to Team Members.

More than 50 Team Members participated in a blood drive, and 22 Team Members participated in CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) workshops, both conducted by the Singapore Red Cross. All Team Members participating in the CPR/AED workshops passed the provider assessment and received CPR certifications.

The series also included hosting impact conversations to help Team Members deepen their understanding of intellectual and hearing disabilities, homelessness and dyslexia. In addition, Team Members learned sign language skills.

Finally, more than 800 Team Members signed into their profiles on Sands’ new volunteerism platform and gained a deeper understanding of its role in better organizing and tracking the company’s volunteerism initiatives through how-to videos and informational signage.

To learn more about Sands’ commitment to its communities around the world, read the company’s latest ESG report: https://www.sands.com/2022-environmental-social-and-governance-report/

Las Vegas Sands

Volunteerism and winter celebrations took center stage during November and December, with Sands Team Members participating in a variety of programs that included local charitable engagements, holiday events and roadshows hosted by the regions.

A few examples of holiday programs in Sands’ regions around the world included:

Aiding People with Disabilities and Families in Las Vegas

Corporate Team Members conducted a few holiday volunteer activations, including participating in Opportunity Village’s annual Las Vegas Great Santa Run to raise money for the nonprofit organization’s mission of serving people with intellectual and related disabilities to positively impact their lives and the lives of the families who love them. The run was held in early December, and 70 Team Members participated.

Also in December, several corporate Team Members helped decorate for the holidays at East Valley Family Services to support the nonprofit organization’s celebrations for its beneficiaries. East Valley Family Services provides Las Vegas families with a range of resources, including food assistance, health insurance advocacy, and support for elder caregivers and families facing hardship.

Supporting Caritas Macau and the Performing Arts in Macao

In November, Sands China donated MOP 300,000 (approx. $37,500) to Caritas Macau for two of its annual events, the 54th Charity Bazaar and the 2023 Charity Run, marking the company’s 20th year of supporting the social service organization. Sands China has long helped promote Caritas Macau’s services, and Team Members regularly volunteer for its events.

The Sands Cares Ambassador volunteer corps again supported these two events, with more than 100 Team Members participating. Efforts included running a game booth at the bazaar to raise funds for Caritas Macau and participating in the run, which raised funds for one of Caritas Macau’s new elderly care service programs.

Sands China established its Sands Cares Ambassador program in 2009 to give Team Members outlets for serving the local community through activities and initiatives that work toward creating a better Macao. With membership of more than 3,300 volunteers from all of Sands China’s properties, Sands Cares Ambassadors have contributed more than 302,000 hours of community service since the program’s founding.

For one of its December initiatives, Sands China teamed up with the Macau Band Directors Association for the Sands China Performing Arts Program Outreach Series – Winter Showcase, which featured three community performances. Supported by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, the initiative aimed to promote the vibrant performing arts scene in Macao.

More than 230 musicians from Macao and Japan participated in the showcase with outdoor performances at The Venetian® Macao and the Macao Cultural Centre Square. These free concerts offered a unique opportunity for the public to enjoy wind music during the winter season.

On Dec. 16, more than 110 members from Japan’s Hachioji High School Wind Orchestra performed in Macao for the first time at the Macao Cultural Centre Square, delivering a lively, large-scale marching band performance. Sands China invited more than 130 participants from Against Child Abuse (Macau) Association Child Protection Centre and Good Shepherd Sisters Women’s Mutual Help Centre, as well as Sands Cares Ambassadors, to enjoy this first show of the series to share the joy of the festive season with the community.

With Christmas approaching, Sands Cares Ambassadors presented Christmas gift packs to the members of the local nongovernmental organizations. The gift packs, made and packaged by Fuhong Society of Macau students and purchased by Sands China, are part of Sands China’s support for the Gift Pack Community Sharing Programme, which aims to provide job opportunities for people with disabilities by making gift bags, allowing them to develop their talents, while promoting social harmony.

At the end of the month, the Macau Youth Symphonic Band, a long-time hub for nurturing local music professionals, played festive holiday favorites on Dec. 28 at The Venetian Macao’s lagoon area, and well-known anime and J-pop songs on Dec. 30 at the Macao Cultural Centre Square.

Making a Difference in Singapore

From December 5-12, Marina Bay Sands hosted the Sands Cares Let’s Go M.A.D. (Make a Difference) roadshow for Team Members. The weeklong back-of-house series featured an array of activities in which Team Members were able to support the local community and extend their knowledge around ways to engage in community service.

A giving bazaar with APSN, a social service agency that supports residents living with intellectual disabilities; the Singapore Association for the Deaf; and local businesses, including The Shy Crafter and Olive & Woods, raised $4,000 through sales of food and handmade merchandise to Team Members.

More than 50 Team Members participated in a blood drive, and 22 Team Members participated in CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) workshops, both conducted by the Singapore Red Cross. All Team Members participating in the CPR/AED workshops passed the provider assessment and received CPR certifications.

The series also included hosting impact conversations to help Team Members deepen their understanding of intellectual and hearing disabilities, homelessness and dyslexia. In addition, Team Members learned sign language skills.

Finally, more than 800 Team Members signed into their profiles on Sands’ new volunteerism platform and gained a deeper understanding of its role in better organizing and tracking the company’s volunteerism initiatives through how-to videos and informational signage.

To learn more about Sands’ commitment to its communities around the world, read the company’s latest ESG report: https://www.sands.com/2022-environmental-social-and-governance-report/

At the 28th United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai, Trane Technologies called for accelerated climate action, highlighting the critical need for adoption of new and existing solutions at scale and steadfastly encouraging bolder accountability.

Trane Technologies is no stranger to COP, now known as the world’s biggest business gathering, having participated in the global summit every year going back to the first COP held in Berlin in 1995. This year, the company was represented by a team of leaders, including Scott Tew, vice president of Sustainability; Jose La Loggia, president of Commercial HVAC EMEA; Helen Walter-Terrinoni, director of global climate policy; and Adnan Javed, general manager of Commercial HVAC for the Middle East. The team shared our point of view on financing for industry decarbonization, workforce innovation, accelerating climate innovation and how building management and clean transport can reduce emissions in cities through events with the Business Council for Sustainable Energy, America is All In, Climate Action, the Financial Times and the Science Museum of Minnesota.

Upon the team’s return from the UAE, we sat down to gather their impressions from the historic event and hear how they plan to accelerate action in 2024.

Q: At the conclusion of COP, delegates agreed to what is being called “the UAE Consensus,” an agreement that begins to lay the groundwork for transitioning away from fossil fuels. What do you think about the agreement?

Scott Tew, VP Sustainability:  With the call to triple renewables deployment and transition energy systems away from fossil fuels, Dubai may be the most significant COP since the Paris Agreement in 2015. Is the agreement perfect? Of course not. Critics are pointing to “cavernous loopholes.” Is it a giant step in the right direction? Absolutely. 

More than 200 nations—and on the sidelines, just about every major global brand—came together and said it’s time to change. We are living through the fastest and most systemic overhaul of the global economy in human history. And we get to be a part of it. 

Trane Technologies has been doing this work for a long time, and we’re thrilled at this progress. The elements of the agreement track closely to our 2030 Sustainability Commitments, including targets aligned with 1.5 degrees Celsius, doubling the annual rate of improvements in energy efficiency, and transitioning away from fossil fuels in all energy systems to achieve net-zero by 2050. 

We’re proud to provide customers with clean, electric-powered solutions that dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions in buildings, industry and transport on the path to net-zero. It is truly thrilling to be a significant enabler of the transition that is underway in the sectors we serve. 

Hear more about Scott’s perspective in this video from Climate Action Group.

Q: Many people see the UAE Consensus as an exciting agreement. How does Trane Technologies plan to leverage this momentum? What else needs to change? 

Jose La Loggia, President, Commercial HVAC EMEA: Fifteen percent of global greenhouse gas emissions come from heating and cooling buildings. The great news is that the technology exists today to significantly decarbonize the built environment. We just have to change the way we think about it. 

Five years ago, annual global sales of electric vehicles were about 1 million. Now it’s above 10 million. Consumers understand electric vehicles, and they’re excited about them. Electrifying buildings is our next big opportunity.

At Trane Technologies, we’re working on shifting mindsets around this, helping consumers and business leaders to think about electric solutions like heat pumps as the sustainable choice, just like they would an electric vehicle. 

The other big shift is around capturing waste heat. The heating and cooling industries have existed in siloes for many years. Take, for example, a milk factory, where they need industrial temperature controls for pasteurization. Traditionally, we would run chillers, rejecting heat into the atmosphere, and then burn gas to fire boilers to create heat. But there are much more sustainable options.

Our big idea is simple. It’s about capturing that waste heat and redirecting it where it’s needed. Combining heating and cooling—with sophisticated controls—in a thermal management system can be 3-4 times more efficient than traditional methods. It saves money and reduces emissions. 

Why is this technology not being scaled faster? It’s about educating the market, helping consumers and business leaders see how big of an impact they can make on climate change by decarbonizing these spaces that have been overlooked as opportunities. 

Learn more about Jose’s perspective in his blog, Why Breaking Down Energy Silos is the Key to Decarbonization.

Q: How does Trane Technologies support customers in reducing greenhouse gas emissions? Could you share an example? 

Adnan Javed, General Manager, Middle East and Africa, Commercial HVAC: One of our customers is Pure Harvest Smart Farms, a sustainability-focused, controlled environment agriculture company based in the UAE. With the installation of a thermal management system, they are one of the first high-tech greenhouse projects in the Middle East.

Trane® designed a sustainable electrified thermal solution to meet the cooling and heating requirements of the greenhouses, which significantly improved performance. The reliability and efficiency of the electrified system directly impacted the production and cost of the produce coming from the greenhouse. The modular construction ensures minimum power and water consumption to ensure food can be locally produced at the lowest cost and highest quality. 

It’s a great example of electrification of heating and combined heating and cooling using a thermal system. And we are proud to have helped a successful local company in its drive to contribute to the UAE’s National Strategy for Food Security by reducing food imports, and their associated food miles and carbon footprint. 

Learn more about sustainable food producer Pure Harvest in this episode of the Healthy Spaces Podcast.

Q: Why does Trane Technologies go to meetings like COP? How does climate advocacy fit into decarbonization?

Helen Walter-Terrinoni, Director of Global Climate Policy: We are building a new global system. A new way to create value and source energy. We must work across industries, nonprofits and the public and private sectors to create solutions together. Accelerating decarbonization means not only developing new technologies but also advocating for policies that support them. Technology stands ready today to have a significant impact on climate change, but we can’t do it at scale—or equitably—without strong policies in place. As a credible climate policy leader, Trane Technologies strives to have an open dialogue with policymakers and all stakeholders to build a more sustainable future for everyone. Policymakers look to Trane Technologies to better understand how to decarbonize key sectors of the economy, including developing frameworks to accelerate the uptake of effective approaches like putting waste heat to work through thermal management systems. 

Read more from Helen in her blog, A Climate for Innovation.

January 10, 2024 /3BL/ – California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed 2024-2025 budget has paused all funding for implementation of newly signed laws, including the state’s nation-leading climate disclosure policies that passed into law in 2023. In the coming months, Ceres calls on legislative leaders and the Governor’s Office to work together to fully fund the work of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to oversee the Climate Accountability Package in the final budget. 

“Companies and investors cannot afford any delay in the implementation of California’s landmark climate disclosure laws. Not only do investors, consumers, and other stakeholders deserve better information about companies’ climate-related financial risks and impacts, but businesses themselves deserve the standardized, consistent, and economywide disclosure rules that this legislation promises,” said Steven Rothstein, managing director of the Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets. “Ceres believes it is imperative that full funding for both laws is included in the May budget. We look forward to working with lawmakers and Governor Newsom throughout the budget process to secure funding that ensures the full and timely implementation of this legislation.” 

Collectively known as the Climate Accountability Package, SB 253 and SB 261 will require thousands of large companies from across the U.S. to report pollution that is dangerously warming the planet from across their supply and value chains, as well as the risks they face from the effects of the climate crisis. However, failure to fund CARB’s work would effectively delay the laws’ implementation.  

A long-time supporter of corporate climate disclosure, Ceres was a co-sponsor of the two historic bills which were a priority of investors and consumer groups that demand more information into how businesses are managing the severe economic, business, and public health impacts of the climate crisis. 

Importantly, SB 253 and SB 261 also won key support from major businesses that will themselves be required to report their emissions and climate risks. In 2023, more than 30 companies, institutions, and industry groups publicly advocated for passage of one or both laws — including Apple, Google, Salesforce, Microsoft, Sierra Nevada Brewing, Adobe, Atlassian, IKEA USA, Palo Alto Networks, REI Co-op, and several clothing industry groups such as the American Apparel & Footwear Association. 

Many leading businesses already report their emissions and climate-related risks to investors, demonstrating that climate disclosure is feasible for companies of all sizes. The California policies will ensure standardized and consistent disclosure rules that apply across the entire economy and provide businesses with an opportunity to showcase their work managing climate pollution and its impacts to consumers and investors. 

About Ceres

Ceres is a nonprofit organization working with the most influential capital market leaders to solve the world’s greatest sustainability challenges. Through our powerful networks and global collaborations of investors, companies and nonprofits, we drive action and inspire equitable market-based and policy solutions throughout the economy to build a just and sustainable future. For more information, visit ceres.org and follow @CeresNews.

Media Contact: Helen Booth-Tobin, booth-tobin@ceres.org, 617-247-0700 ext. 214

Our purpose — to champion people to be well and thrive every single day — extends far beyond our own front doors. From our hometown of Oakland to our locations around the world, the important work of The Clorox Company Foundation supports community wellness in the places we operate and our teammates live and raise their families, promoting health security for all.

Wellness comes in many forms. Through our grant program, the foundation advances racial and environmental justice and youth education and development, enhancing both physical and mental well-being as well as fostering growth and prosperity. We’re proud to support the work of grant recipients like The Hidden Genius Program in Oakland, California, which equips young Black men with the skills, mentorship and guidance needed to excel in the technology industry, and The West Oakland Health Center, which seeks to foster communication and healing between the Oakland Asian American Pacific Islander and Black communities. These and other organizations we support play a pivotal role in bringing positive change, cultivating brighter prospects for the people they serve and creating lasting social impact.

We also advance wellness by being there for communities when they need us most — when our products can play a unique role in their recovery after natural disasters hit. We continued our long-standing disaster relief efforts including support after Hurricane Ian in Florida and flooding in Kentucky. Clorox continues to provide product and monetary donations to support public health and community rebuilding and safety efforts after these tragic events.

And, finally, through our workplace giving program, Clorox teammates stepped up by giving back, making $4.75 million in donations to nonprofit organizations they believe will help make the world a better place, with donations matched dollar for dollar up to $2,500 per person. The 2023 giving campaign yet again showed the generosity of spirit across our Clorox community.

I’m proud to share the work of the foundation over the past year, which supports our belief that only when people and our communities are well can they truly thrive.

Read The Clorox Company Foundation’s 2023 annual report.

There’s the proverbial knowledge sponge. On the flipside, there’s the dreaded fun sponge.

In this case, off the Texas coast, researchers believe they may be dealing with an environmental game-changer—the invaluable carbon sponge.

In October 2022, work began on a groundbreaking carbon sequestration study on the RGV Reef, a 1,650-acre artificial reef off South Padre Island in the Gulf of Mexico. The project is being managed by the Friends of RGV Reef, a non-profit group that created the reef in 2017, and University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) researchers, and funded through a $250,000 Fueling Futures grant from Enbridge.

At the outset, it was hoped that the study could provide a seminal moment in the battle against climate change. And at the project’s midway point, the UTRGV researchers are seeing promising results.

“The early data that we are seeing is delivering some encouraging results. The sponges and soft corals that cover the reef do contain high amounts of carbon,” says Dr. Richard Kline, Ph.D., Professor, School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences at UTRGV, whose team is leading the research.

“We suspected that reefs, man-made or natural, could sequester or capture carbon. Now, initial data shows that the reef’s structure, the bottom or sediment, and the biomass, fish and other marine life in the water column, is indeed capturing or trapping CO2, a known greenhouse gas, in some significant proportions.”

Since its creation, the RGV Reef has already brought back substantial populations of fish and attracted growing numbers of other sea life. The majority of the artificial reef consists of cleansed, intentionally sunken vessels, concrete rail ties, and cinder blocks.

“UTRGV’s research is the most comprehensive study in the world to determine the ability of artificial reefs to capture or trap carbon—and maybe provide a solution in dealing with our real-life climate challenges,” says Gary Glick, President of the Friends of RGV Reef.

“If reefs prove to be a major force or a way to capture carbon, then this research could benefit every country in the world that has a coastline,” he adds. “As human beings, we need to look at all the ways we can reduce emissions and capture greenhouse gases. Reefs may be an important tool in our bigger toolbox that we can use to help us achieve a cleaner and brighter future.”

After refining the data collection process, with supporting lab analysis, the study now enters its final 12-month phase.

“The study is driven by the data we’re collecting. At the end of the study, we will publish our findings for the world to see,” says Dr. Kline. “We’ll be able to know definitively if reefs have the ability to capture carbon in enough concentrations to have a significant impact.”

Whirlpool Corporation announced that it has been named to the 2023 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI) in recognition of the company’s dedication to responsible and ethical business practices. This marks the second consecutive year Whirlpool Corp. has been named to the World Index. The company is also on the North America Index for the 17th year.

“For 112 years we have held ourselves to the highest ethical standards in our business operations, and we are proud of our long history of purposeful innovation, sustainable operations and local community engagement,” said Marc Bitzer, chairman and CEO of Whirlpool Corporation. “Receiving this recognition once again validates the efforts of our thousands of employees and their dedication to our vision of improving life at home.”

For 112 years we have held ourselves to the highest ethical standards in our business operations, and we are proud of our long history of purposeful innovation, sustainable operations and local community engagement,”

Whirlpool Corp. advanced its environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy, reaching Zero Waste to Landfill (ZWtL) gold or platinum level at 100% of its large global manufacturing sites in 2022, a goal set in 2012. Zero Waste to Landfill is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to World Class Manufacturing, the foundation for the company’s sustainable manufacturing journey. Whirlpool Corp. continues to invest in plant efficiency and waste reduction by working closely with recycling and sustainability organizations to find new, innovative ways to eliminate waste and contribute to the circular economy.

To further reduce the company’s environmental footprint, Whirlpool Corp. has increased its focus on renewable energy. In 2022, two Virtual Power Purchase Agreements (VPPAs) were activated, which, when fully operational, are expected to yield renewable energy to cover 100% of electricity consumption by U.S. plants. In addition, four North American manufacturing facilities now feature nine wind turbines that source the equivalent of approximately 2,300 homes’ electricity use for one year. For each wind turbine, one $5,000 megawatt scholarship is given in Whirlpool Corporation’s name for STEM education per year in use.

As part of their 24 year relationship, Whirlpool Corp. supports Habitat for Humanity’s BuildBetter with Whirlpool program, an initiative dedicated to building more than 250 climate-resilient and energy efficient homes across the U.S. To help further reduce utility bills for Build Better with Whirlpool homeowners, the company added high-efficiency dishwashers to the refrigerators and ranges already included in each build. Whirlpool Corp. dishwashers are three to four times more water-efficient than hand washing, saving over 2,500 gallons of water per home per year¹. In addition, Whirlpool Corp. surpassed the $125 million milestone for in-kind donated product to Habitat for Humanity International in 2023. Since 1999, Whirlpool Corp. has donated more than 241,000 major home appliances to nearly 197,000 Habitat households across the U.S.

As a result of these and other ESG initiatives, Whirlpool Corp. has received additional recognition over the past year, including being named one of America’s Most JUST Companies for 2023, one of Fortune’s Most Admired Companies for the Thirteenth Consecutive Year in 2023 as well as inclusion on the U.S. News & World Report Best Companies to Work For in 2023.

The DJSI, including the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World), were launched in 1999 as the pioneering series of global sustainability benchmarks available in the market. The index family is comprised of global, regional and country benchmarks.

¹Based on favorable water and energy use comparison against KitchenAid Model No. KDTM354ESS, which was compared to manual handwashing among 40 study subjects using conditions and assumptions set forth in Gabriela Y Porras et al 2020 Environ. Res. Commun. 2 021004. Assumes 215 cycles/year.

View original content here.

M·A·C Cosmetics Germany was proud to sponsor and be the official partner of the 27th annual Operngala in Berlin. Held at the Berlin Opera, the event was a fundraiser for the organization Deutsche AIDS-Stiftung, which has been a longtime M·A·C VIVA GLAM grantee.

At the event, the M·A·C Germany team presented a check for 100,000€ for a new donation to support a project that Deutsche AIDS-Stiftung is leading called Cape Town Hope. This workstream will aim to directly address the HIV/AIDS pandemic by providing access to education, treatment, and ongoing support within the existing provincial and municipal health structures.

M·A·C hosted a group of 12 influencers to attend the event and represent the brand, providing them with a VIP experience with each talent getting styled with a full glam look by M·A·C Artists before the gala. Attendees included @aliciaawa, @baochiinguyen, @jeyisbaee, @oluwatolinobaa, @tschary and more, and generated over 4.5M impressions through the content they shared of the special evening, highlighting M·A·C VIVA GLAM’s support of Deutsche AIDS-Stiftung.

Learn more about M·A·C VIVA GLAM, the brand’s charitable campaign here.

On Oct 4, FedEx and the United Service Organizations (USO) teamed up for the 6th annual holiday packing event. Over 150 FedEx team members spent time kitting thousands of Holiday Care Packs at the FedExForum in Memphis.

Memphis Grizzlies coach, Taylor Jenkins, kicked off the event by rallying the FedEx troops with a quick pep talk and inspiring message to “put a smile in every bag packed” and bring cheer to America’s military service members.

Volunteers filled over 13,300 Holiday Care Packs which included items such as candy, snacks, holiday socks, a deck of playing cards, and more. The packages are expected to be delivered by FedEx to remote locations in the Pacific.

For some volunteers, giving back to service members is personal. During the event, Veterans Brock Carlson and Eddie Johnson explained why participating in volunteer events such as this are important to them.

Brock Carlson, Manager- Talent Acquisition FedEx Logistics

More than 30 years ago, Brock Carlson received his first holiday care package from the USO while serving in the Marine Corps during the Gulf War. Carlson had been overseas for four months and remembers the care package being the first one he received from home since his deployment.

“Receiving a package with items from home, filled with things we couldn’t get, was an incredible reminder that the world back home still existed,” Carlson said. “Knowing that somebody was thinking about me and went through the effort to send it was an amazing feeling.”

“FedEx Cares provides the chance for FedEx team members to give back to their local communities,” he said. “We’re driving forward to give back, and events like this give us the opportunity to deliver excellence to the people we care about in the places where we live.”

Eddie Johnson – Sr. Technical Specialist, FedEx Services

Eddie Johnson, an Air Force Veteran who volunteered at the USO event, felt the event brought him full circle. In the military, Johnson was in hospitality management and helped send out the MREs. Now he’s helping fill holiday care packages, giving him the chance to help those who once helped him.

“I think it’s the most important thing to do because one of the foundations that the Air Force taught me was integrity and taking care of your fellow soldier” Johnson said. “This is just me playing a part (in the) whole entire ecosystem as far as giving back.”

Over the last 20 years, FedEx and the USO have teamed up to create meaningful and fun-filled volunteer events to help deliver a small slice of home to the troops. This care package kitting event is just one of the many ways FedEx supports service members and their families through the USO.

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

In 2005, Glenn Goodson saw a commercial about boxing and fitness, and that sparked an idea to open his own gym. He soon became the proud owner of a franchise, but the budding Denver entrepreneur had a bigger vision.

With the help of small business specialist Alexis Hiltz, business access advisor Brandon Willis, and Elavon payments solution sales rep Vianey Edwards, Goodson was able to leave his franchise and turn his gym into a beacon of hope for the greater Denver community. Today, A1 Boxing Academy uses fitness, self-defense skills and unity to keep the area’s youth active and out of trouble.

“The U.S. Bank relationship meant a lot to the gym, because it allowed youth to come in that wouldn’t normally be able to afford it,” Goodson said. “The benefits of working with U.S. Bank were their customer service and friendliness, and their ability to accommodate the needs of the gym.”

Watch the video above to learn more about Goodson and his mission to help Denver’s youth, and how the collaboration with U.S. Bank continues to turn his dreams into a reality.