Tag: 3BL

KOHLER, Wis., November 16, 2023 /3BL/ – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized Kohler Co. with a 2023 WaterSense Sustained Excellence Award for the company’s continual efforts to innovate water-efficient plumbing products, promote water conservation, and aid in the protection of this natural resource. This year’s award is Kohler’s 9th Sustained Excellence recognition and it’s the 14th year of recognition overall by the WaterSense program.

“As we continue to develop new innovations that reduce water consumption and help increase awareness of the growing need to protect natural resources, it is an honor to be recognized for our efforts, especially by the EPA WaterSense program,” says Craig Baker, VP of Global Product Innovation for Kohler.

Kohler is focusing on bringing environmental sustainability to the forefront in a meaningful and results-driven manner. Highlights from Kohler’s 2022 efforts include:

GHG emissions, water withdraw, and net waste intensity reductions: Achieved 17% reduction in operations Scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions, 10% reduction for operations water withdraw, and 23% reduction in operations net waste to landfill, intensity respectively.Global operational renewable energy: 54% of global operational electricity was from renewable sources in 2022. Additionally, 100% of U.S. and Canada operations were from renewable sources in 2022.Water savings and products: Based on results from the EPA’s WaterSense Partner savings calculator, KOHLER, Sterling and KALLISTA products saved approximately 88 billion gallons of water, 2 million metric tons of avoided CO2 emissions, and over $1.35 billion on water, sewer and energy bills in 2022.Environmentally favorable products: Global sales from environmentally favorable Kitchen and Bath products in 2022 were $1,013,782,940.Associate engagement: Nearly 850 Kohler associates around the globe act as Sustainability Champions, driving sustainability efforts and constant improvement throughout all areas of the company. A virtuous cycle, this program empowers all associates to be innovators and take ownership in the company’s journey towards a better planet.

To learn more about Kohler’s actions for a Better Planet, visit Kohler’s Believing in Better site.

Kohler’s environmental sustainability efforts are housed within its Believing in Better operating philosophy that is rooted in the notion that its best can always be better – for the planet, people, communities, and business. Within Believing in Better’s Better Planet pillar, Kohler’s Environmental Sustainability team is working in partnership with the business on reducing the company’s operational footprint while creating more environmentally favorable products and services to build a better planet. This pillar houses Kohler’s net-zero scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 2035 and net-zero waste to landfill by 2035 ambitions. The Believing in Better philosophy and Kohler’s sustainability goals continue to be embedded throughout the company and brands within Kohler’s global operations.

About EPA WaterSense

WaterSense, a partnership program sponsored by EPA, seeks to protect the future of our nation’s water supply by offering consumers and businesses simple ways to use less water with water-efficient products, homes, and services. For more information about WaterSense, visit www.epa.gov/watersense.

About Kohler Co.

For 150 years, Kohler Co. has been a global leader in design and innovation, dedicated to providing gracious living through kitchen and bath products; luxury cabinetry, tile and lighting; luxury hospitality experiences and major championship golf; and distributed energy solutions – Home Energy, Industrial Power Systems, and Powertrain Technologies. Privately held Kohler Co. was founded in 1873 and is headquartered in Kohler, Wisconsin. The company also develops solutions to address pressing issues, such as clean water and sanitation, for underserved communities around the world to enhance the quality of life for current and future generations.

KOHLER Kitchen & Bath, Energy, Golf + Resort Destinations

Contact:

Vicki Valdez Hafenstein
Kohler Co. Public Relations
victoria.valdezhafenstein@kohler.com

Whirlpool Corporation announced its support for the newly launched Matter 1.2 smart home connectivity update. This update is the first step in bringing major appliances from the kitchen and laundry room into the Matter ecosystem.

“The number of connected devices in homes are increasing,” said Murat Genc, Whirlpool Corporation global technology and data officer. “Our work to bring Matter support to Whirlpool Corp. appliances will improve user experience with more interoperability across these devices, while simplifying development and improving reliability.”

Launched in October 2022, Matter is the new language of the modern smart home, led by the Connectivity Standards Alliance and supported by hundreds of the world’s leading IoT (Internet of Things) and smart home companies. Products built on Matter will work with each other seamlessly and securely across platforms regardless of brand or manufacturer.

“With this Matter update and beyond, the sky’s the limit for how connected home appliances interact with the rest of the smart home,” said James Oh, Whirlpool Corporation vice president of product marketing. “As more home appliance categories are added to Matter in the future, the power and utility of IoT will be at consumers’ fingertips. This will be a journey, and Matter 1.2 is just the beginning.”

Development of the Matter 1.2 specifications for major appliances represents unprecedented collaboration among major home appliance manufacturers to unlock more smart home management options for consumers. Whirlpool Corp. is an active member of the group working on appliance support for the smart home standard, with a particular focus on washing machines, refrigerators, and dishwashers — all three of which are supported in the new version of Matter released today. The collective effort will unlock new use cases and consumer choice with regards to management and control of their smart home regardless of which operating system or platform they use.

Whirlpool Corp. will continue to be involved in the development of the specification for these three appliance categories, and work with the collective Matter team on support for additional appliances types in the laundry room and the kitchen.

“The development of the new specification outlines the path for cross-platform smart home connectivity,” said Ryan Craig, Whirlpool Corporation director of global IoT strategy. “Now we are free to focus on the implementation of Matter in upcoming smart home appliances across the entire Whirlpool Corporation brand portfolio.”

Bedrock smart home use cases like laundry cycle notifications will continue, but Matter 1.2 has the potential to enable new functionality as different Matter-enabled appliances from different manufacturers will be able to “talk” to one another. As the software is implemented, notifications could appear wherever is most convenient for the consumer – on a smart TV or home assistant – or a routine could be designed to use IoT-enabled lights to flicker or change color when a load of laundry is done.

Matter 1.2 is all about allowing the consumer the freedom to choose how they interact with their smart home.

View original content here.

New sustainability projects: including collaborations with The University of Sharjah (UAE); The University of Chicago Trust (India); The University of Illinois (U.S.); Instituto IGUÁ (Brazil); and Water Corporation (Australia) Training: IBM SkillsBuild launches roadmap of sustainability courses to benefit learners across communities underrepresented in technology and address market need for green and technology skills

ARMONK, N.Y., November 16, 2023 /3BL/ – As vulnerable communities worldwide continue to suffer outsized effects of climate change, IBM is empowering innovators with cutting-edge technologies and training. Ahead of COP28, IBM announced the latest investments in its effort to advance environmental sustainability through its social impact programs. A new set of environmental initiatives pioneering water solutions will be scaled through the IBM Sustainability Accelerator to benefit local communities across the globe. Simultaneously, a first-of-its-kind roadmap of sustainability skills courses, available for free through IBM SkillsBuild, will empower future climate action.

“With nearly half of the global population vulnerable to significant environmental distress, new strategies to help create a sustainable future are essential,” said Justina Nixon-Saintil, IBM Vice President & Chief Impact Office. “This means scaling solutions to help people immediately, while also cultivating a pipeline of future leaders at the intersection of technology and sustainability across industries.”

New IBM Sustainability Accelerator partners and projects: 

IBM is furthering its commitment to sustainable innovation with projects focused on water management solutions as part of its global social impact program, the IBM Sustainability Accelerator. The 2023 IPCC AR6 Synthesis Report identified that 3.3 billion people live in areas vulnerable to significant impacts from climate change1. With a commitment of $30 million worth of technology and services by IBM through the end of 2025, the program is adding five new projects focused on water management, offering IBM technologies, such as watsonx, and an ecosystem of experts.

The University of Sharjah will build a model and application to monitor and forecast water access conditions in the Middle East and North Africa, to help support communities in arid and semi-arid regions with limited renewable internal freshwater resources.The University of Chicago Trust in Delhi will aggregate water quality information in India; build and deploy tools designed to democratize access to water quality information and help improve water resource management for key government and nonprofit organizations.The University of Illinois will develop an AI geospatial foundation model to help predict rain fall and flood forecasting in mountain headwaters across the Appalachian Mountains in the U.S.Instituto IGUÁ will create a cloud-based platform for sanitation infrastructure planning in Brazil, alongside local utility providers and governments.Water Corporation will design a self-administered water quality testing system for Aboriginal communities in Western Australia.

The IBM Sustainability Accelerator program is already supporting communities in the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia on sustainable agriculture and clean energy efforts.

New IBM SkillsBuild Sustainability Roadmap

New research from IBM and Morning Consult confirms a growing skills gap in sustainability that poses a threat to the workforce across industries. 71% of business leaders surveyed anticipate their business will emphasize sustainability skills criteria in their hiring in the next two years, with 92% expecting to invest in sustainability training in the next year.

To help build this pipeline of sustainability talent, IBM SkillsBuild is providing free training that connects cutting edge technologies to ecology and climate change. With AI-powered recommendations available for each learner, this interdisciplinary coursework connect topics such as ecology and biodiversity, with technology training in AI and data analytics. This is a comprehensive curriculum to help equip the next generation of leaders with skills for the green economy.

Learners can benefit from a holistic environmental tech training journey from IBM SkillsBuild with digital credentials available each step of the way.

Introductory courses will help establish a foundation with historical insights and fundamentals to connect sustainability and technology.Mid-level offerings in design thinking and green entrepreneurship will encourage learners to grow their skills.Advanced coursework will ask learners to apply their skills to sustainability topics across AI, cybersecurity, and ESG reporting.

These offerings build on IBM’s commitment to skill 30 million people by 2030, with a focus on underrepresented communities. Through collaborations across social service, economic development, and vocational organizations, as well as government agencies, and universities, IBM SkillsBuild makes free online learning widely available, to communities that are underrepresented in technology. These include organizations that will help skill women, including mothers returning to the workforce, ethnic minorities, low-income individuals, and refugees.

About IBM Sustainability Accelerator 

Launched in February 2022, the IBM Sustainability Accelerator is a social impact program that addresses multiple environmental threats around the world. Each year, the accelerator selects five projects to scale solutions that benefit communities that face challenges such as climate change, pollution, extreme weather and more. The program currently has three active cohorts; the first one is focused on sustainable agriculture, the second on clean energy, and the third on water and sanitation. For more information, visit https://www.ibm.com/impact/initiatives/ibm-sustainability-accelerator

About IBM SkillsBuild 

IBM SkillsBuild is a free education program focused on underrepresented communities in tech, that helps adult learners, and high school and university students and faculty, develop valuable new skills and access career opportunities. The program includes an online platform that is complemented by customized practical learning experiences delivered in collaboration with a global network of partners. The open version of IBM SkillsBuild is an online platform offering over 1,000 courses in 20 languages on AI, cybersecurity, data analysis, cloud computing, and many other technical disciplines — as well as in workplace skills such as Design Thinking. Most importantly, participants can earn IBM-branded digital credentials that are recognized by the market. The enhanced partner version of IBM SkillsBuild may also include workshops, expert conversations with IBM coaches and mentors, project-based learning, access to IBM software, specialized support from partners through the learning process, and connection to career opportunities. Visit skillsbuild.org to learn more.

1 AR6 Synthesis Report, A.2.2, from IPCC, 2023: Summary for Policymakers. In: Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Core Writing Team, H. Lee and J. Romero (eds.)]. IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland, pp. 1-34, doi: 10.59327/IPCC/AR6-9789291691647.001).

Pilot program will provide students at Dillard, SUNO and Xavier access to financial aid, resources and investment accounts to build a brighter, more prosperous tomorrow

NEW ORLEANS, November 15, 2023 /3BL/ – At a press conference today, Entergy launched a new initiative – The Power of Prosperity – a partnership with Single Stop and Stackwell to support Historically Black College and University, or HBCU, students to ensure their success and position them to build generational wealth. The Power of Prosperity initiative will be offered free of charge to 1,500 freshmen and first-year transfer students at Dillard University, Southern University at New Orleans and Xavier University of Louisiana through a $700,000 donation provided by Entergy shareholders to the university partners. The program is being launched as a one-year pilot for HBCUs in Orleans parish, with plans to expand to other HBCUs in Entergy’s service territory in the future.

“We are proud to stand with Dillard, Southern and Xavier University to launch The Power of Prosperity initiative,” said Deanna Rodriguez, president and CEO of Entergy New Orleans. “Entergy is committed to fostering the success of our region’s HBCUs. This partnership with Single Stop and Stackwell will help close the racial wealth gap by connecting scholars with the resources to succeed academically and begin building generational wealth. We are confident their success will make a positive impact on the community we serve.”

The Power of Prosperity program will help remove barriers to students’ academic success by providing students and their families with free access to financial support and resources through Single Stop. Single Stop is a national nonprofit that combats poverty and promotes economic mobility by connecting individuals to available resources through their “one-stop shop” platform. A study conducted by The RAND Corporation found that college students who used Single Stop services, including its tax services, have a 15% higher rate of academic persistence than their peers. On average, families served by Single Stop are eligible for benefits and supports valued at more than $17,000.

Watch the video of the news conference here.

“We are honored to join forces with Entergy in this significant initiative,” said Martin Hanna, president and CEO of Single Stop. “Single Stop is steadfast in its commitment to empowering students and communities by providing seamless access to crucial public benefits and community resources. Incorporating our comprehensive platform into this effort is a pivotal move towards equipping students and their families with the support needed for lasting economic stability.”

The second component of The Power of Prosperity is designed to equip students with the knowledge and tools to begin building generational wealth. Students will be provided with $100 seeded investment accounts and access to financial literacy education and coaching through a partnership with Stackwell Capital, a digital investment platform designed to help close the racial wealth gap by empowering more people in the Black community to leverage the power of the stock market to grow their wealth.

“At Stackwell, we believe that in order to do groundbreaking work, you have to be on the ground,” said Trevor Rozier-Byrd, founder and CEO at Stackwell. “We are excited to further our investment in the New Orleans community through The Power of Prosperity initiative in partnership with Entergy and Single Stop. This initiative is a testament to our collective belief in the transformative power of HBCUs and their talented students that will be leaders in our community for generations to come.”

The impact of The Power of Prosperity program extends to the broader community with an estimated economic impact of more than $25 million in terms of the added financial aid and investment accounts for students.

With roots in the New Orleans community stretching back over a century, Entergy is dedicated to eradicating poverty and creating opportunities for the community we serve. Entergy recognizes that generational wealth is a foundation for economic stability, access to opportunity and long-term prosperity – and understands the vital role that HBCUs play in shaping the landscape for its students and communities. In recognition of these realities, Entergy’s partnership with the HBCUs will help remove barriers to student success, equip them with tools and knowledge and build a path to multigenerational wealth for a brighter tomorrow.

“Recognizing that education alone is not sufficient to close the racial wealth gap, our goal is for students to graduate with a degree and an investment account that will help them build generational wealth,” said Rodriguez.

Learn more about Entergy’s commitment to building a more diverse, inclusive and equitable workforce in its communities here.

About Entergy

Entergy is a Fortune 500 company that powers life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We’re investing in the reliability and resilience of the energy system while helping our region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. With roots in our communities for more than 100 years, Entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship. Since 2018, we have delivered more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to local communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. Learn more at entergy.com and connect with @Entergy on social media. #WePowerLife

About Single Stop

A nonprofit organization founded in 2007, Single Stop’s mission is to equip others to build pathways to economic well-being by leveraging partnerships and technology to connect people to valuable resources. By combining their community networks and cutting-edge technology, Single Stop’s unique one-stop-shop model helps organizations provide their clients with centralized access to tools essential for building a pathway to a sustainable future.

Single Stop is a company of The Fedcap Group. Since 1935, The Fedcap Group has developed scalable, innovative, and potentially disruptive solutions to some of society’s most pressing needs. The work of The Fedcap Group is structured within four major areas of practice—workforce development, educational services, health services, and economic development—and delivered through a growing number of top-tier companies—each focused on helping people achieve long-term financial well-being.

About Stackwell

Stackwell Capital, Inc., is a leading fintech company that has created a digital investment platform for the Black community. With a mission to eliminate the racial wealth gap in America, Stackwell provides the financial investment tools and guidance necessary to help build lasting wealth, equity, and equal opportunity. Stackwell has developed a unique ecosystem of strategic partners in financial services, higher education, professional sports, and created an ever-growing NIL student-athlete ambassador program. Stackwell was a member of the 2022 Financial Solutions Lab and MassChallenge U.S. Early-Stage accelerator programs. For more information, visit stackwellcapital.com.

Not a single liter of fuel has entered Gaza since Oct. 7.Without fuel, Gaza’s population has no access to safe, clean water.There’s very little water left: Currently, there is only enough water for each person to have three liters of water per person per day, far less than the 15 liters that is typically necessary to survive.80% of the water in Gaza comes from aquifers and, without fuel to pump the water, it is impossible to access it. This leads people to drink water from dangerous sources to avoid death from thirst.

November 15, 2023 /3BL/ – As of tomorrow, all remaining critical water infrastructure in Gaza will be completely shut down. In recent weeks, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has supported infrastructure for a limited supply of water.

Starting Nov. 16, it will no longer be possible to pump water from wells, desalinate drinking water or pump water through the main supply network. The lack of fuel will also mean that bottled water from trucks waiting to cross into Gaza from Egypt will not be able to be transported to the population. Millions of people there are increasingly desperate for clean water to survive.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza is more critical than ever. “We have reports that the fuel available in Gaza has completely run out, which means that all essential services, including telecommunications, will be totally disrupted,” says Chiara Saccardi, Action Against Hunger’s Middle East Officer. “This will severely affect the people of Gaza and our ability to provide humanitarian aid. Critical water and sanitation infrastructure will be paralyzed, exposing displaced and vulnerable families to increased health risks and hampering their chances of survival.”

The rains expected in the coming day will add to the sewage already flowing through the streets.  The contaminated water is thus likely to lead to an increase in disease outbreaks, which will spread rapidly in overcrowded displacement shelters.

The importance of fuel

Without fuel, telecommunications services, including internet and online financial services, will not be operational as of Thursday. “Humanitarian organizations with staff in Gaza will not be able to support the coordination of our response to this crisis, already constrained by the insecurity and challenges we face,” says Saccardi. “In addition, our cash assistance activities will cease to function. ATMs and online banking services will become impossible without a fuel-dependent connection.”

The amount of water has been reduced by about 68% since the war began in Gaza. Much of this is due to a lack of fuel to pump water from underground sources, which account for 80% of Gaza’s water. The water infrastructure throughout Gaza once relied heavily on the power plant, which has not had fuel to operate since Oct. 11. Other power sources remain disconnected, including all cross-border power lines.

Much of Gaza’s water infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed in continued shelling. To date, of the 655 key water supply facilities, 25 have been completely destroyed and 114 have been damaged by the conflict. The water supply network, the treated water distribution network, and sewage pumping stations have also been damaged.

“People are resorting to unsafe and high-risk sources,” says Pablo Alcalde, Head of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene at Action Against Hunger. “It’s nearly impossible to operate water purification plants, leading to the transmission of diseases and an alarming focus of disease outbreaks.”

He adds, “The deepest aquifer, which has been until now one of the main sources of water, is not available due to the lack of fuel, both for extraction and for its desalination.”

Action Against Hunger staff are also already experiencing dangerous effects due to the lack of water and fear the cold weather predicted for the days ahead. “All the water tanks in our house are damaged, so we can hardly store water anymore,” one colleague in Gaza says. “We have ended up recycling water from cleaning or washing. With the storms and rain coming, many people living in crowded areas will be unprepared for the drop in temperatures and flooding.”

Action Against Hunger is working with local suppliers inside Gaza to distribute basic supplies such as water, food, hygiene products, diapers, blankets, and mattresses as efficiently and quickly as possible. We have already distributed thousands of bottles of water, hundreds of mattresses, and hygiene products inside the Gaza Strip, in coordination with local and international actors, despite many difficulties.

About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 28 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 55 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

WASHINGTON, November 15, 2023 /3BL/ – Pepco and more than 100 U.S. and Canadian energy companies are taking the opportunity to join Utilities United Against Scams as part of International Fraud Awareness Week, Nov. 12-18 and remind customers to be vigilant and on the lookout for imposters using energy-related scams to steal money and personal information.

Scams occur throughout the year, but Pepco generally sees an increase in attempted scam reports during the holiday season. Scammers take advantage of their victim’s stress and higher than usual activity levels that come with the holiday season, to trick customers into providing their personal or financial information and making false payments under the pretense of keeping their service active. Scammers are also attempting to take advantage of those still facing economic challenges while recovering from the impacts of the pandemic in an effort to pressure families and businesses who may be struggling with past-due balances.

“Customer safety and well-being are high priorities, and we want to ensure our communities are aware and prepared of scammers’ attempts to defraud or steal from them,” said Morlon Bell-Izzard, senior vice president and chief customer officer for Pepco Holdings. “We are grateful to join forces with our utility partners to shine a light on this important issue to ensure our customers can protect themselves and take a stand against fraudulent activity.”

Common schemes involve scammers’ use of technology to replicate a company’s phone number through caller ID—also known as “spoofing”—threatening to turn off a customer’s service unless they make a direct payment with a prepaid cash card. Some scams involve imposters posing as Pepco employees to gain entry into a customer’s home to steal belongings, with other activities involving scammers sending emails to businesses, requesting that they send Pepco payments to fake pay sites.

Here are some tips to help identify scams:

Pepco will never come to a customer’s home or business to:

Ask for immediate payment with a prepaid cash card or cryptocurrency.Ask for their Pepco account number or other personal information, such as a driver’s license number.If a person comes to your home or business regarding disconnection of service, please contact the company to discuss the status of your account.

Pepco will never call a customer to: 

Ask for their account number.Ask for personal information, such as their Social Security number or bank information.Ask them to make a direct payment with a prepaid cash card.

To identify an actual Pepco employee, remember: 

All Pepco field employees wear a uniform with the Pepco logo, including shirt and safety vest.Pepco employees visibly display a company ID badge with the Pepco logo and employee’s name.

Commercial customers are also advised to protect themselves from potential scam attempts. These offenders impersonate Pepco and other trusted organizations through email or other forms of communications to deceive businesses into providing financial information or making an urgent payment.

To help protect their business from scams, employees at local businesses should:

Carefully review emails originating from outside your organization’s network.Check the name of the sender and business and make sure it matches the name and business in the email address. Look for typos or slight image alterations within the email.

If a customer ever questions the legitimacy of a call or visit to their home regarding disconnection of service, they should contact Pepco at 202-833-7500. Any customer who believes they have been a target of a scam is urged to contact their local police and call Pepco immediately to report the situation.

To learn more about preventing scams, visit pepco.com for more tips and information.

Pepco also reminds customers to visit pepco.com/WaysToSave to learn about energy efficiency programs and energy saving information to help them reduce their energy usage. The company also encourages customers to visit pepco.com/EnergyAssistance or call 202833-7500 for more information about helpful energy assistance programs and services.

To learn more about Pepco, visit The Source, Pepco’s online newsroom. Find additional information by visiting pepco.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/PepcoConnect and on X at twitter.com/PepcoConnect. Pepco’s mobile app is available at pepco.com/MobileApp.

Pepco is a unit of Exelon (Nasdaq: EXC), a Fortune 250 company and the nation’s largest utility company, serving more than 10 million customers. Pepco provides safe and reliable energy service to approximately 919,000 customers in the District of Columbia and Maryland.

Contact:
Chuck McDade
Pepco Communications
202-872-2680 (media hotline)

Originally published by Taco Bell

IRVINE, Calif., November 15, 2023 /3BL/ – The Taco Bell Foundation announced the opening of its ninth annual Live Más Scholarship (LMS) application, offering up to $10 million to enable the next generation of leaders to pursue their passion and ignite change in their community. This year’s award is available for both Taco Bell customers and team members and will provide funds and resources needed to fuel bold ambitions. Passionate students pursuing their dreams can share their 2-minute submission for a chance to be awarded up to $25,000 in funding.

“This program started as a way to support students whose dreams had no bounds, and it has since transformed into something far beyond your run-of-the-mill scholarship,” said Jennifer Bradbury, Executive Director of the Taco Bell Foundation. “There is nothing more fulfilling than watching scholars blow us away year after year with their creativity and drive, and I can’t wait to see what this next class of scholars has in store.”

Nine years, 2,731 scholars and $39 million later, the Live Más Scholarship is a program unlike any other. This annual scholarship program is designed for students who are passionate about creating a better future and making a positive impact in society. The Live Más Scholarship is passion-based, not achievement-based, and therefore does not require students to submit grades, essays or test scores. The funds are applicable to multiple education paths, including community colleges and trade schools, and support all interests including creative arts, social justice, medicine, education, entrepreneurship – you name it.

Students ages 16 to 26 are encouraged to apply using the non-traditional video application format. The application consists simply of a two-minute video where applicants can express their passion, articulate the positive impact they aspire to create in the world and describe how education will pave the path to achieve that goal.

This program is more than just a check with your name on it – winners will join a community of passionate changemakers and gain access to career development opportunities, professional connections, and a nationwide mentorship network. Last year, Kimberly Uehisa, a student passionate about medicine and health education, was awarded the Live Más Scholarship and went on to become even more embedded in the Taco Bell Foundation community as she was selected as finalist for the Taco Bell Foundation’s Ambition Accelerator program. Individuals like Kimberly see the Live Más Scholarship as a jumping off point – it’s only the beginning of their journey as a social change trailblazer.

The application period opens today, November 1, 2023, and will close on January 3, 2024. Recipients will be announced in April 2024. The award amounts are $5,000, $10,000 or $25,000 per student. Of these awards, the Taco Bell Foundation will allot approximately $3 million for Taco Bell team members who have been a part of the Taco Bell family for at least 30 continuous days.

The Taco Bell Foundation partners with Taco Bell restaurants across the country to raise money through the Round Up program, where customers can choose to round up their order total to the nearest dollar to support Taco Bell Foundation year-round. Round Up funds help support Live Más Scholarships for consumers, while donations from Taco Bell franchise owners and Taco Bell Corp. support Live Más Scholarships for Taco Bell team members.

If you are interested in a fun way to support the scholars, Taco Bell is bringing back its nostalgic Coin Drop game in the Taco Bell app after its introduction earlier this year, starting on Giving Tuesday and running until December 11*. A digital “coin” will appear when customers opt to Round Up their total to the nearest dollar in the Taco Bell app while ordering (or visit ta.co/coindropamoe to request a coin without making a purchase or rounding up). Raising an impressive $182,000 for the Taco Bell Foundation and the Live Más Scholarship program during its introductory run, Taco Bell Rewards Members** can join in on the Coin Drop excitement on November 28 for a chance to win the game and snag Cinnamon Twists, a Crunchy Taco, or a Bean Burrito while doing their part for a good cause.

For more information on the Live Más Scholarship, including eligibility requirements and frequently asked questions, or to apply, visit www.tacobellfoundation.org/live-mas-scholarship.

About Taco Bell Foundation 
Taco Bell Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity that helps break down barriers to educate and inspire the next generation of America’s young leaders. Since 1992, the Taco Bell Foundation has reached more than 5 million young people across the country and has awarded more than $155 million in grants and scholarships, focused on education and career readiness. For more information about the Taco Bell Foundation, visit www.tacobellfoundation.org.

*NO PURCHASE OR ROUND UP NECESSARY. Must be a legal resident of 50 U.S. or D.C., 16+ and registered for a Taco Bell® Rewards Program account on the Taco Bell® mobile app. Promotion begins 11/28/23 7:00am PDT and ends 12/11/23 11:59pm PDT. To receive one game play without making a purchase or rounding up, complete the form here agree to the Terms and Conditions and Official Rules and hit submit before 12/11/23 11:59pm PDT. LIMIT: You can earn one coin per day regardless of your method of participation. Subject to Terms and Conditions and Official Rules. Void where prohibited. 

**Taco Bell Rewards program is available at participating U.S. locations and subject to terms and conditions.

BETHESDA, Md., November 15, 2023 /3BL/ – WHC (Wildlife Habitat Council) announces the winners of its 2023 Insect Hotel Challenge. WHC invited corporate members, partners and community organizations to submit their insect hotel designs illustrating the creativity and innovation of this conservation effort. Insect hotels provide habitat for bees, beetles and other insects, with items like hollow tubes, leaves and bark offering shelter and nesting space.

The contest received 21 entries from corporate conservation teams, youth organizations and individuals working to support local insect and pollinator populations. WHC determined a winner for each of the following categories: large-size hotel, small- to mid-size hotel, use of found materials and renovation of an existing hotel. Congratulations to the winners:

Best Large-Size Hotel – General Motors Argentina

Located on the grounds of the GM Rosario Plant in Santa Fe, Argentina, this bug hotel was housed in the body of a car that was going to be disposed of. Instead of throwing it away, employees repurposed the car into a hotel filled with wood pallets, logs with pre-drilled holes, nesting tunnels, twigs, bark and the remains of other vegetation.

“We are thrilled about our first place in the Insect Hotel competition, an achievement that reflects our commitment to sustainability and creativity,” said Norberto Tinazzo, GM Sustainability Engineer. “This project highlights our passion for sustainability and demonstrates that innovative solutions can emerge from unexpected situations. We take pride in having created something meaningful for the environment and hope it inspires others to adopt sustainable practices to preserve our planet.”

Best Small- to Mid-Size Hotel – Olympus Energy

Olympus Energy used this insect hotel to supplement an existing pollinator garden at its site in Jeannette, Pennsylvania. Volunteers supplied recycled materials found at their homes or at work sites, including bricks, wooden pallets, pinecones, walnuts, woody stems and untreated logs. The design of the hotel was inspired by a previous farmhouse and barn on the property to honor the past while creating a new structure for the future.

“Olympus is proud to participate in projects that support biodiversity and sustainable ecosystems in the communities where we operate,” said Laura Karosic, Environmental Compliance Manager with Olympus. “Building an insect hotel was a fun and creative way to further support populations of native bees and other beneficial insects on our WHC-Silver Certified pollinator garden on the Gaia Well Pad property.”

Best Use of Found Materials – Conservation Blueprint

The construction of this insect hotel in Saint Paul, Nebraska, was a collaborative effort, drawing on the skills of an entire family. Situated in the middle of a wildflower garden at prairie conservation company Conservation Blueprint, this hotel provides shelter for native bees and wasps. The design incorporated dried milkweed pods, mud rock with holes, bark, cut stems from the last growing season, bamboo sticks and pieces of tin roofing from an old barn. By the halfway point of the construction process, the hotel was already being used by pollinators.

“When I first heard about the contest, I wasn’t sure I was up for the challenge,” said student Jared Mack, who worked with his parents and siblings on the construction of the hotel. “I knew, however, that people (and insects) were counting on me. One of my favorite moments of the whole thing was when I had finished putting in the bamboo sticks and called it a day. Then, when I got back up to the site to work on it again, there were already insects living inside!”

Best Renovation of an Existing Hotel – WM Southern Services Landfill

WM chose to renovate an existing bug hotel at its Southern Services Landfill site in Nashville, Tennessee. The team modeled the hotel after Nashville’s AT&T Tower, also known as the “Batman Building,” doubling the height of the existing bug hotel and adding pointy “ears” to match the famous skyscraper. Intended for bees, butterflies, wasps and beetles, the hotel includes pinecones whose sap attracts specific insects.

“We are thrilled to receive this recognition for our insect hotel,” stated Kerrington Howard, who helps lead the WHC project. “This award is a win for the environment and the beneficial insects that will find a safe haven in our hotel. We believe small actions make a big difference, and this insect hotel is one of the steps WM is taking to further its commitment toward biodiversity and a more sustainable future.”

Insect hotels not only provide crucial shelter for wildlife, but they also offer opportunities to involve community members in the hotel’s construction and educate young people about the importance of conserving insects. Through these projects, conservation teams are inspiring and educating a new generation of environmental stewards.

About WHC:

WHC (Wildlife Habitat Council) has been working at the nexus of business and biodiversity for 35 years and is the only international NGO focused exclusively on enabling private sector action for nature. WHC’s corporate members are leading national and multi-national corporations, and their collective efforts have resulted in more than 1,500 WHC-certified programs around the world. Learn more at www.wildlifehc.org.

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis., November 15, 2023 /3BL/ – Cintas Corporation (Nasdaq: CTAS) today held a grand opening ceremony at its newest Cleanroom facility, located outside of Milwaukee.

The state-of-the-art facility in Menomonee Falls creates additional capacity in Cintas’ national Cleanroom footprint.

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The new Milwaukee-area facility will support high-growth and innovation industries in the region, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical device manufacturing, compounding pharmacies, electronics manufacturing, aerospace and defense, nanotechnology, semiconductor, automotive and optics, among other industries. 

“Cleanroom is an exciting, growing business for us, and we’re especially excited to expand our resources in the Upper Midwest where we already have a long, successful history,” said Nick Grote, Cintas Cleanroom Regional Business Director. “This new Menomonee Falls location was built to support the growth of high-tech and innovation industries in the region, as well as the vast network of technology, research, and development operations throughout the Upper Midwest, the North Central region of the U.S. and Canada.   

“As we’ve seen in the last 18 to 24 months, innovation- and research-based industries are expanding quickly around North America. We’re excited that we can service these important industries and meet their very specific needs as they continue to innovate for our collective future,” Grote added.

Local Job Creation

The Menomonee Falls Cleanroom facility has immediate openings for 10-15 new jobs and expects to add an additional 15-20 employees during the next 2-4 months. The facility already employs 40 people.

Job openings are available at careers.cintas.com, and job seekers can also register their interest in Cleanroom and other local Cintas positions on the site.

“Cintas has been doing business in Wisconsin for more than 30 years, and we’re excited to continue growing our operations with so many new jobs at this location,” said Mark Brede, General Manager of the Menomonee Falls Cleanroom.

What Are Cintas Cleanrooms?

Cintas Cleanrooms use a highly specialized laundering process with strict standard operating procedures and stringent requirements that meet and maintain ISO 9001 certification. 

The Cleanroom process removes particulates from specialized employee workwear required in highly controlled high-tech manufacturing, research and testing environments.

Cintas’ Cleanrooms developed contamination control equipment, systems and technology to meet the stringent requirements of their customers and deliver quality, value and service for industries that require contamination-control solutions for their workwear. 

Dedicated Cleanroom quality managers monitor Cintas’ Cleanroom facilities as part of a comprehensive total quality management program.

About Cintas Corporation
Cintas Corporation helps more than one million businesses of all types and sizes get Ready™ to open their doors with confidence every day by providing products and services that help keep their customers’ facilities and employees clean, safe, and looking their best. With offerings including uniforms, mats, mops, towels, restroom supplies, workplace water services, first aid and safety products, eye-wash stations, safety training, fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems and alarm service, Cintas helps customers get Ready for the Workday®. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas is a publicly held Fortune 500 company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS and is a component of both the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index and Nasdaq-100 Index.

Media Contacts:
Lizz Summers, Cintas Director of Communications – Rental Division | summerse2@cintas.com | 513-972-2859

LAKE CHARLES, La., November 15, 2023 /3BL/ – LyondellBasell along with the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) announced the use of the equivalent of 520,000 plastic retail bags to pave 4,875 square yards of parking lot at the Louisiana Integrated PolyEthylene JV LLC. The project utilized 8,000 pounds of LyondellBasell CirculenRevive polymers, sourced from plastic waste utilizing advanced recycling process. The asphalt project is an example of LyondellBasell’s commitment to end plastic waste in the environment that would otherwise end up in landfills or even the environment.

“LyondellBasell continues to advance sustainability and fosters innovative solutions that will transform the plastics industry,” said Armando Lara, site manager of the Louisiana Integrated PolyEthylene JV Site. “Projects like this are exciting testaments to the capabilities we have to reuse products through recycling that would otherwise go to waste.”

This is the second project LyondellBasell has completed with PLASTICS to reuse recycled polymers in paving projects at manufacturing facilities that we own and operate.

“With the completion of their second plastic to asphalt project, LyondellBasell is demonstrating true leadership and commitment to ending plastic waste in the environment. The Plastic to Asphalt program continues to grow as companies choose to substitute traditional paving methods, which utilize fossil fuels, for the use of recycled polymer technologies. The projects showcase the versatility of recycled polymers and their use in diverse applications, such as construction and building projects,” said PLASTICS’ Vice President of Sustainability, Patrick Krieger.

In June of 2020, PLASTICS announced the completion of research on a new formulation of asphalt binder using the “Dry Process.” This formulation offers many of the same benefits of traditional polymer-modified asphalt, including improved strength properties, and increased lifespan, at a decreased cost.

LyondellBasell partnered with Circulus, the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) at Auburn University, Prairie Contractors, LLC, RC Paving, and Siema Construction to bring the project to life.

About LyondellBasell 
We are LyondellBasell – a leader in the global chemical industry creating solutions for everyday sustainable living. Through advanced technology and focused investments, we are enabling a circular and low carbon economy. Across all we do, we aim to unlock value for our customers, investors, and society. As one of the world’s largest producers of polymers and a leader in polyolefin technologies, we develop, manufacture and market high-quality and innovative products for applications ranging from sustainable transportation and food safety to clean water and quality healthcare. For more information, please visit www.lyondellbasell.com or follow @LyondellBasell on LinkedIn.