Tag: 3BL

Originally published on Aflac Newsroom

Within the walls of the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia, South Carolina, guests are immersed in the rich history, culture, achievements and natural wonders of South Carolina. Each year, the museum welcomes about 200,000 visitors, including more than 70,000 children who experience the museum with their classmates on school field trips.

Until recently, guests with disabilities could not fully experience the museum because of limited accessibility to essential spaces. A $200,000 lead gift from Aflac fueled the museum’s Reimagine the Experience campaign to improve accessibility, offer new accessibility-focused resources and enhance the museum experience for more than 1.1 million adults1 and about 250,000 children2 living with a disability in South Carolina — and the many tourists from outside of South Carolina who visit each year.

A call to action

In 2022, Senior Group Philanthropy Coordinator Amanda Grover learned about the museum’s accessibility campaign and funding needs. She quickly brought it to the attention of Aflac leadership and advocated for Aflac to be the first corporate partner to contribute.

“Aflac has a longtime relationship with the State Museum and has proudly supported several projects to advance the museum’s mission. Their campaign to increase accessibility resonated with me — and with so many on our leadership team — because many museum guests didn’t have the access and resources needed to fully experience it,” said Amanda. “I knew that with the right level of philanthropic support from Aflac, it would be transformative not only for the museum, but also for so many people with disabilities in South Carolina and beyond.”

Stepping up and giving back

The museum’s accessibility campaign aligned with Aflac’s commitment to fostering a sense of belonging for all and supporting communities served. With Aflac’s generous support and additional funding from the State legislature, all 10 of the museum’s public restrooms are now fully compliant, in accordance with The Americans with Disabilities Act. Aflac also funded two mothers’ rooms to provide privacy and comfort for nursing mothers and a wellness room to provide a quiet space for guests to rest and rejuvenate.

“Aflac has a long history of providing an inclusive environment for our own workforce, so we are very proud to help remove accessibility barriers and offer guests with disabilities the best possible experience at the museum,” said Bob Ruff, senior vice president, Group Voluntary Benefits, Aflac. “Supporting the State Museum’s vision to increase accessibility across its spaces and programs is one way we are expressing Aflac’s culture of care.”

For Jamie Wardrup, Aflac’s director of Premier Broker Relations, the South Carolina State Museum is a special place that he experienced with his family after moving to Columbia nearly 25 years ago. Wardrup champions the work of the museum and volunteers his time as a member of the museum’s board of directors.

“I’m proud of Aflac’s commitment to the museum, this important project, the Midlands community and South Carolina. Now, anyone and everyone will have the access they deserve — to have a fully engaging experience at the museum, a wonderful educational resource in our community,” said Jamie.

Celebrating accessibility for all

On Dec. 4, Bob, Amanda and Jamie were joined by Keyla Cabret-Lewis, Aflac’s vice president of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Talent Development, representatives of the Aflac donations committee, the museum team and community supporters to celebrate the completion of the Reimagine the Experience campaign.

“We’re grateful for our partnership with the museum on this project. It gives us an opportunity to work together to shine a bright light on the work that still needs to be done to make sure all populations, no matter how they think or move through our cities and streets, are included in our history, events and public spaces,” said Keyla. “It’s about recognizing the different ways people think, the diverse physical needs people might have and ensuring those who are disabled have access to all the same services and resources that are so easily taken for granted.”

1 CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/impacts/south-carolina.html 
2 S.C. DHEC: https://scdhec.gov/health/child-teen-health/services-children-special-health-care-needs/who-are-children-special

Photos courtesy of the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs.

Aflac’s family of insurers includes Aflac and/or Aflac New York, and/or Continental American Insurance Company and/or Continental American Life Insurance Company.

AGC2301913

This year financial services companies lost $17 billion as consumers switched to industry competitors that were considered more sustainable.

While keeping an eye on costs and returns, a rising group of consumers have a new reason to trade brand allegiances: sustainability. Turns out, over half of U.S. consumers deem it ‘important’ or ‘very important’ for financial service providers to exhibit a responsible ethos toward society and the environment.

This is according to the upcoming Size of Prize Report, from research technology company Glow, in collaboration with 3BL, Triple Pundit, and panel partner Cint. More than 3,000 U.S. consumers were surveyed on how sustainability impacted their purchase decisions across 12 different industries.

With a billion-dollar in losses hitting the financial services sector, what does this mean for other industries?

Find out by clicking here to be updated when the report has launched. 

This year financial services companies lost $17 billion as consumers switched to industry competitors that were considered more sustainable.

While keeping an eye on costs and returns, a rising group of consumers have a new reason to trade brand allegiances: sustainability. Turns out, over half of U.S. consumers deem it ‘important’ or ‘very important’ for financial service providers to exhibit a responsible ethos toward society and the environment.

This is according to the upcoming Size of Prize Report, from research technology company Glow, in collaboration with 3BL, Triple Pundit, and panel partner Cint. More than 3,000 U.S. consumers were surveyed on how sustainability impacted their purchase decisions across 12 different industries.

With a billion-dollar in losses hitting the financial services sector, what does this mean for other industries?

Find out by clicking here to be updated when the report has launched. 

TARRYTOWN, N.Y., December 13, 2023 /3BL/ – Consumers in the United States can look forward this coming year to SUNRAYS® mandarins independently certified as Sustainably Grown® by SCS Global Services. Forbel, a producer of SUNRAYS mandarins, has become the first citrus grower in Uruguay to achieve certification, and together with Peruvian SUNRAYS grower, Pampa Baja, are now the first Sustainably Grown certified citrus growers worldwide. This milestone achievement follows Jac. Vandenberg’s announcement last year of its goal to have all SUNRAYS mandarin growers Sustainably Grown® certified by the end of 2024.

“Collaborations and partnerships are critical to turning ideas into actions, and this achievement by our grower partners is a testament to that. We are proud to be working with the teams at Forbel and Pampa Baja who share the same deep passion for sustainability and the protection of our species. Their commitment to sustainability is now verified by their achievement of becoming the first citrus growers in the world to earn Sustainably Grown certification,” said John Paap, sustainability manager at Jac. Vandenberg, a fourth generation, family-owned and operated fresh produce importer.

Sustainably Grown is among the world’s foremost sustainable agriculture standards. It provides customers with assurance that products meet strict environmental standards, that farm workers and farm communities are protected and engaged, and that the farm is economically resilient.

“We are proud to work with Jac. Vandenberg and their SUNRAYS growers, who value healthy and sustainable farming practices.” said Kevin Warner, SCS Global Services Director of ESG certifications for the food and agriculture sector. “The Forbel team exceeded our expectations in meeting the stringent requirements of our standard, setting an important precedent in the Uruguayan fresh produce industry.”

Founded in 1986 in Paysandú, Uruguay, Forbel is one of Uruguay’s top five citrus exporters. The company is fully committed to sustainability, embracing regenerative farming practices that enable it to nurture robust and resilient agroecosystems in harmony with nature. Achieving the SCS Sustainably Grown certification marks a significant milestone that demonstrates the company’s commitment to meeting the new sustainability requirements globally.

“It has been a challenging and demanding process for the entire Forbel team, but the satisfaction is immense due to the success achieved,” says Malena Miglionico, Operations Manager, Product & Certifications at Forbel. “This accomplishment reinforces the company’s commitment to implement sustainability practices: economically viable, socially beneficial, and environmentally respectful”.

The first Sustainably Grown certified SUNRAYS mandarins, the “snack with impact®,” will be available in supermarkets across the United States this coming summer, shipped from these certified farms. Consumers can be confident that these mandarins, which will carry the Sustainably Grown certification mark, have been third-party certified against the most comprehensive standard for sustainable agriculture.

“The world as we know it is changing rapidly, putting the security of people and other species increasingly at risk. As the global climate becomes ever more unstable and erratic, our industry has seen firsthand the impact this has had on our supply chain,” said Paap. “At Vandenberg, nature has a prominent seat at the decision table. We take the current state of our planet and species extremely seriously, and that shows in everything we’ve been doing over the last decade, from our innovations in packaging to sustainable farming initiatives and participation in shaping industry practices and standards around sustainability. We all want to contribute to a better future. Offering visibility into the important work going on behind the scenes allows our consumers to participate and be a part of that positive impact.”

READ MORE

Learn More About Sustainably Grown Certification

About Jac. Vandenberg, Inc. 

Jac. Vandenberg is a fourth generation, family-owned and operated fresh fruit importer and marketer delivering fresh produce that is delicious, nutritious and delivers social and environmental impact. Its products include SUNRAYS® sustainable, zero waste grapes and mandarins. For more information, visit www.jacvandenberg.com.

About SCS Global Services 

SCS Global Services is a global leader in third-party environmental and sustainability verification, certification, auditing, testing, and standards development. Its programs span a cross-section of industries, recognizing achievements in climate mitigation, green building, product manufacturing, food and agriculture, forestry, consumer products, and more. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, SCS has representatives and affiliate offices throughout the Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and Africa. Its broad network of auditors are experts in their fields, and the company is a trusted partner to companies, agencies, and advocacy organizations due to its dedication to quality and professionalism. SCS is a chartered Benefit Corporation, reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices. For more information, visit www.SCSGlobalServices.com.

Media Contact: 
Shyama Devarajan 
Senior Marketing Manager, SCS Global Services 
sdevarajan@scsglobalservices.com

TARRYTOWN, N.Y., December 13, 2023 /3BL/ – Consumers in the United States can look forward this coming year to SUNRAYS® mandarins independently certified as Sustainably Grown® by SCS Global Services. Forbel, a producer of SUNRAYS mandarins, has become the first citrus grower in Uruguay to achieve certification, and together with Peruvian SUNRAYS grower, Pampa Baja, are now the first Sustainably Grown certified citrus growers worldwide. This milestone achievement follows Jac. Vandenberg’s announcement last year of its goal to have all SUNRAYS mandarin growers Sustainably Grown® certified by the end of 2024.

“Collaborations and partnerships are critical to turning ideas into actions, and this achievement by our grower partners is a testament to that. We are proud to be working with the teams at Forbel and Pampa Baja who share the same deep passion for sustainability and the protection of our species. Their commitment to sustainability is now verified by their achievement of becoming the first citrus growers in the world to earn Sustainably Grown certification,” said John Paap, sustainability manager at Jac. Vandenberg, a fourth generation, family-owned and operated fresh produce importer.

Sustainably Grown is among the world’s foremost sustainable agriculture standards. It provides customers with assurance that products meet strict environmental standards, that farm workers and farm communities are protected and engaged, and that the farm is economically resilient.

“We are proud to work with Jac. Vandenberg and their SUNRAYS growers, who value healthy and sustainable farming practices.” said Kevin Warner, SCS Global Services Director of ESG certifications for the food and agriculture sector. “The Forbel team exceeded our expectations in meeting the stringent requirements of our standard, setting an important precedent in the Uruguayan fresh produce industry.”

Founded in 1986 in Paysandú, Uruguay, Forbel is one of Uruguay’s top five citrus exporters. The company is fully committed to sustainability, embracing regenerative farming practices that enable it to nurture robust and resilient agroecosystems in harmony with nature. Achieving the SCS Sustainably Grown certification marks a significant milestone that demonstrates the company’s commitment to meeting the new sustainability requirements globally.

“It has been a challenging and demanding process for the entire Forbel team, but the satisfaction is immense due to the success achieved,” says Malena Miglionico, Operations Manager, Product & Certifications at Forbel. “This accomplishment reinforces the company’s commitment to implement sustainability practices: economically viable, socially beneficial, and environmentally respectful”.

The first Sustainably Grown certified SUNRAYS mandarins, the “snack with impact®,” will be available in supermarkets across the United States this coming summer, shipped from these certified farms. Consumers can be confident that these mandarins, which will carry the Sustainably Grown certification mark, have been third-party certified against the most comprehensive standard for sustainable agriculture.

“The world as we know it is changing rapidly, putting the security of people and other species increasingly at risk. As the global climate becomes ever more unstable and erratic, our industry has seen firsthand the impact this has had on our supply chain,” said Paap. “At Vandenberg, nature has a prominent seat at the decision table. We take the current state of our planet and species extremely seriously, and that shows in everything we’ve been doing over the last decade, from our innovations in packaging to sustainable farming initiatives and participation in shaping industry practices and standards around sustainability. We all want to contribute to a better future. Offering visibility into the important work going on behind the scenes allows our consumers to participate and be a part of that positive impact.”

READ MORE

Learn More About Sustainably Grown Certification

About Jac. Vandenberg, Inc. 

Jac. Vandenberg is a fourth generation, family-owned and operated fresh fruit importer and marketer delivering fresh produce that is delicious, nutritious and delivers social and environmental impact. Its products include SUNRAYS® sustainable, zero waste grapes and mandarins. For more information, visit www.jacvandenberg.com.

About SCS Global Services 

SCS Global Services is a global leader in third-party environmental and sustainability verification, certification, auditing, testing, and standards development. Its programs span a cross-section of industries, recognizing achievements in climate mitigation, green building, product manufacturing, food and agriculture, forestry, consumer products, and more. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, SCS has representatives and affiliate offices throughout the Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and Africa. Its broad network of auditors are experts in their fields, and the company is a trusted partner to companies, agencies, and advocacy organizations due to its dedication to quality and professionalism. SCS is a chartered Benefit Corporation, reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices. For more information, visit www.SCSGlobalServices.com.

Media Contact: 
Shyama Devarajan 
Senior Marketing Manager, SCS Global Services 
sdevarajan@scsglobalservices.com

For over four decades, AMD has invested money, time and technology in organizations around the globe to meaningfully impact the way we live today and help create a better tomorrow. In addition to volunteering time, AMD and our employees fulfill our global commitment as responsible neighbors through charitable giving.

In 2022, as part of our aspiration to promote sustainable livelihoods for Indian women and girls living in disadvantaged communities, we broadened our community programs focused on education.

The lack of required skills creates a major challenge to employment of some women in India today. To address this, AMD funds the Skill Bharath program run by CHORD India, which provides skill training for employability for underprivileged and vulnerable women in Hyderabad. With the support of AMD, more than 1,200 women aged 18 to 35 have already taken part in the training toward independence.

In 2022, we renewed our support in a project to empower 160 women with training in tailoring and textile design. All 160 women enrolled in the Skill Bharath program completed the course. The training aimed to build their confidence and make them more competitive in the employment market. Following the program, the participants either secured work or started home-based enterprises with the goal of achieving financial independence.

Our community efforts are also focused on helping younger women and girls for the country’s future workforce. This includes educational support through our long-term partnership with Udayan Care Foundation. The Udayan Shalini Fellowship Program seeks to benefit girls from lower-income backgrounds with educational and financial support and experimental learning. The girls receive individual mentoring from our workforce and their families are invited to take part in counseling. The program also assists the girls in broadening their horizons and encourages them to become socially responsible citizens. From October 2022 to March 2023, AMD supported 15 girls and their families, helping them improve life skills and understand the importance of learning.

For more information on Community Involvement at AMD, please visit: https://www.amd.com/en/corporate/corporate-responsibility/community.html

Originally published in AMD 2022-23 Corporate Responsibility Report

For over four decades, AMD has invested money, time and technology in organizations around the globe to meaningfully impact the way we live today and help create a better tomorrow. In addition to volunteering time, AMD and our employees fulfill our global commitment as responsible neighbors through charitable giving.

In 2022, as part of our aspiration to promote sustainable livelihoods for Indian women and girls living in disadvantaged communities, we broadened our community programs focused on education.

The lack of required skills creates a major challenge to employment of some women in India today. To address this, AMD funds the Skill Bharath program run by CHORD India, which provides skill training for employability for underprivileged and vulnerable women in Hyderabad. With the support of AMD, more than 1,200 women aged 18 to 35 have already taken part in the training toward independence.

In 2022, we renewed our support in a project to empower 160 women with training in tailoring and textile design. All 160 women enrolled in the Skill Bharath program completed the course. The training aimed to build their confidence and make them more competitive in the employment market. Following the program, the participants either secured work or started home-based enterprises with the goal of achieving financial independence.

Our community efforts are also focused on helping younger women and girls for the country’s future workforce. This includes educational support through our long-term partnership with Udayan Care Foundation. The Udayan Shalini Fellowship Program seeks to benefit girls from lower-income backgrounds with educational and financial support and experimental learning. The girls receive individual mentoring from our workforce and their families are invited to take part in counseling. The program also assists the girls in broadening their horizons and encourages them to become socially responsible citizens. From October 2022 to March 2023, AMD supported 15 girls and their families, helping them improve life skills and understand the importance of learning.

For more information on Community Involvement at AMD, please visit: https://www.amd.com/en/corporate/corporate-responsibility/community.html

Originally published in AMD 2022-23 Corporate Responsibility Report

LINCOLN, Neb., December 13, 2023 /3BL/ – The Arbor Day Foundation partnered with NBCUniversal to help plant 25,000 trees in forests where they are needed most around the United States. The 15-year partnership was recently highlighted during NBC’s two-hour “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” special.

“Trees are a force for good in our world’s forests, ushering in countless benefits for the climate and biodiversity,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “NBCUniversal’s partnership has helped us create lasting, meaningful impact through trees and we’re grateful for their commitment to fostering a healthier future for the planet.”

In the last 15 years, NBCUniversal has helped the Arbor Day Foundation plant more than 300,000 trees. Many of those trees have been planted in forests recovering from natural disasters. Tree plantings help provide critical habitat for wildlife, clean air and water, and slow the effects of climate change.

The Arbor Day Foundation is focused on planting 500 million trees in forests and neighborhoods of greatest need around the world by 2027. Supporters can donate at arborday.org.

About the Arbor Day Foundation

Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation is the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees. Together with our partners, we have helped plant more than 500 million trees in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world. Our vision is to lead toward a world where trees are used to solve issues critical to survival. Through our members, partners and programs, the Arbor Day Foundation inspires people across the globe to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information is available at arborday.org.

# # #

LINCOLN, Neb., December 13, 2023 /3BL/ – The Arbor Day Foundation partnered with NBCUniversal to help plant 25,000 trees in forests where they are needed most around the United States. The 15-year partnership was recently highlighted during NBC’s two-hour “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” special.

“Trees are a force for good in our world’s forests, ushering in countless benefits for the climate and biodiversity,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “NBCUniversal’s partnership has helped us create lasting, meaningful impact through trees and we’re grateful for their commitment to fostering a healthier future for the planet.”

In the last 15 years, NBCUniversal has helped the Arbor Day Foundation plant more than 300,000 trees. Many of those trees have been planted in forests recovering from natural disasters. Tree plantings help provide critical habitat for wildlife, clean air and water, and slow the effects of climate change.

The Arbor Day Foundation is focused on planting 500 million trees in forests and neighborhoods of greatest need around the world by 2027. Supporters can donate at arborday.org.

About the Arbor Day Foundation

Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation is the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees. Together with our partners, we have helped plant more than 500 million trees in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world. Our vision is to lead toward a world where trees are used to solve issues critical to survival. Through our members, partners and programs, the Arbor Day Foundation inspires people across the globe to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information is available at arborday.org.

# # #

CALGARY, Alberta, December 13, 2023 /3BL/ – Benevity, Inc., the leading provider of global corporate purpose software, announced that $150 million was donated through its platform on GivingTuesday. This marks another record-breaking year of giving, representing a 22% year-over-year increase and the highest amount of single-day donations ever on Benevity’s platform. 

“We are inspired that companies and their employees showed up in droves to drive incredible impact on GivingTuesday, despite a year of ongoing inflation and an uncertain economic landscape” – Kelly Schmitt, Benevity CEO

“We are inspired that companies and their employees showed up in droves to drive incredible impact on GivingTuesday, despite a year of ongoing inflation and an uncertain economic landscape,” said Kelly Schmitt, CEO of Benevity. “A number of major global events have galvanized individuals and companies to donate their time and money to important social issues this year. The continued increase in giving demonstrates the ongoing commitment organizations have to making a positive impact on the world, and we’re proud to be a part of that.”

This year, 620 companies took part in GivingTuesday campaigns through Benevity’s platform, an increase of almost 10% year over year. The average donation per person was up by 7% compared to last year and Benevity saw a 14% increase in the number of people participating, with 159,000 individuals supporting over 53,000 nonprofits in 118 countries and territories. The most popular causes that companies and individuals contributed to this year include Rocky Mountain Institute, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, World Central Kitchen and Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.

In addition to employee donations supported by company matching programs, over 253,000 volunteer hours were logged – an increase of 14% over 2022. Corporate granting also saw an uptick this year with companies committing over $12M in corporate granting funds to over 200 causes on GivingTuesday.

Overall, giving in the United States alone totaled $3.1 billion this year, according to GivingTuesday, a 0.6% increase from 2022.

“GivingTuesday continues to be a unifying force as companies and their people rally around the causes they care most about” – Sona Khosla, Benevity CIO

“This year was marked by an increasingly challenging social climate for companies as they balanced taking action on societal matters employees care about while also trying to avoid backlash for veering into polarizing issues. However, GivingTuesday continues to be a unifying force as companies and their people rally around the causes they care most about,” said Sona Khosla, Chief Impact Officer at Benevity. “This year’s GivingTuesday results remind us that companies and employees remain committed to doing good and that this one day should be used as a spark to ignite ongoing action in the year ahead.”

To learn more about Benevity and its approach to corporate purpose, please visit: https://benevity.com/.

About Benevity 
Benevity, a certified B Corporation, is the leader in global corporate purpose software, providing the only integrated suite of community investment and employee, customer and nonprofit engagement solutions. Recognized as one of Fortune’s Impact 20, Benevity offers cloud solutions that power purpose for many iconic brands in ways that better attract, retain and engage today’s diverse workforce, embed social action into their customer experiences and positively impact their communities. With software that is available in 22 languages, Benevity has processed more than $14 billion in donations and 72 million hours of volunteering time to support 450,000 nonprofits worldwide. The company’s solutions have also facilitated 1.1 million micro-actions and awarded 1.2 million grants worth $19 billion. For more information, visit benevity.com.

Media Contact: 
Zamira Tasneem | Media & Communications Manager | 1.416.451.6511 | press@benevity.com