Tag: 3BL

The UN Global Compact Network UK has launched the SDG Playbook for SMEs, the go-to guide for smaller companies to unlock the competitive advantages of embracing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The SDGs remain the greatest catalyst for global action. Companies – no matter how big or small – need to raise their sustainability ambitions to the standards laid out by the SDGs.

The SDG Playbook for SMEs – produced in partnership with Irwin Mitchell – provides the building blocks for small and medium-sized enterprises to integrate the SDGs into core business functions. Doing so can lower operational costs and risk, strengthen customer loyalty, unlock new revenue streams, and improve relations with employees, suppliers, and other stakeholders.

Engaging with the SDGs isn’t just about doing the right thing for society and the planet – the firms that will be successful tomorrow are the ones that today place sustainability at the core of their business model.

Whether you’re a small business at the start of your journey, or a large multinational engaging smaller companies in your supply chain, take action today to future-proof your business.

Download the report here.

About the UN Global Compact Network UK 

The UN Global Compact Network UK is part of the world’s largest responsible business initiative connecting UK companies and other organisations in a global movement dedicated to driving sustainable growth. Through an extensive programme of activity, we promote practical sustainability leadership, share knowledge across sectors, and actively shape the responsible business environment to create a world we want to live and do business in. 

The United Nations Global Compact’s universally recognised Principles, rooted in UN treaties, provide a robust foundation from which we lead UK business action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We use our power to convene business and other organisations to find practical solutions to global challenges.

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The UN Global Compact Network UK has launched the SDG Playbook for SMEs, the go-to guide for smaller companies to unlock the competitive advantages of embracing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The SDGs remain the greatest catalyst for global action. Companies – no matter how big or small – need to raise their sustainability ambitions to the standards laid out by the SDGs.

The SDG Playbook for SMEs – produced in partnership with Irwin Mitchell – provides the building blocks for small and medium-sized enterprises to integrate the SDGs into core business functions. Doing so can lower operational costs and risk, strengthen customer loyalty, unlock new revenue streams, and improve relations with employees, suppliers, and other stakeholders.

Engaging with the SDGs isn’t just about doing the right thing for society and the planet – the firms that will be successful tomorrow are the ones that today place sustainability at the core of their business model.

Whether you’re a small business at the start of your journey, or a large multinational engaging smaller companies in your supply chain, take action today to future-proof your business.

Download the report here.

About the UN Global Compact Network UK 

The UN Global Compact Network UK is part of the world’s largest responsible business initiative connecting UK companies and other organisations in a global movement dedicated to driving sustainable growth. Through an extensive programme of activity, we promote practical sustainability leadership, share knowledge across sectors, and actively shape the responsible business environment to create a world we want to live and do business in. 

The United Nations Global Compact’s universally recognised Principles, rooted in UN treaties, provide a robust foundation from which we lead UK business action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We use our power to convene business and other organisations to find practical solutions to global challenges.

Read More

Research shows when we hear a story, the activity in our brains mirrors the activity in the brain of the storyteller—a phenomenon known as “neural coupling.” Neuroscientists have found that “the greater the anticipatory speaker-listener coupling, the greater the understanding.” Stories quite literally get us on the same wavelength, increasing connection and understanding.

Our chair and CEO Dave Regnery regularly rallies us around the idea that one company can change an industry, and one industry can change the world. As chief communications and marketing officer, my team’s job is to make that idea tangible – through really good stories.

And because we’re talking about sustainability, transparency is imperative. Our challenge is to find a way to weave rigorous, framework-aligned, third-party assured data through our story in a way that prizes its accuracy and increases its relevance for all our audiences.

Credibility is our currency. The reason we get to tell this story is because we know it’s true.

Educating our team 

We want to help employees, customers, investors, partners, policymakers and community leaders understand climate change and technology so we can take action together.

This begins with education. And we start with ourselves.

Andrew Winston, member of the Trane Technologies’ Advisory Council on Sustainability and co-author of Net Positive with Paul Polman, is focusing more on education and upskilling in his advisory work. Andrew cites “growing awareness that people need real fluency in sustainability in general and climate in particular.”

Offered through our learning management system, customized training modules are designed to grow our employees’ baseline understanding of the greenhouse gas effect, carbon intensity of the electric grid and carbon neutrality.

This fall, we’re launching a new curriculum to help employees understand exactly how their specific role contributes to our sustainability goals. In our performance plans, every single one of us has a sustainability goal that maps directly to one of our 2030 Sustainability Commitments.

I believe if we can equip our workforce with a real understanding of their impact, then our capacity for good grows by magnitudes.

Educating the market

Fifteen percent of global greenhouse gas emissions come from heating and cooling buildings and another 10% from food loss and waste. The great news is that technology exists today to significantly decarbonize the infrastructure we depend on.

Why is this technology not being scaled faster? Because we need to educate the market about what’s possible.

As a marketing and communications team, we’re doing that through content that breaks down sustainability and climate terminology and storytelling that elevates the voices of experts and the stories of our customers.  

When it comes to sustainability terminology, we’re careful to use definitions approved by trusted third parties, like the UN Net-Zero Coalition, CDP and the U.S. Green Building Council. We’ve built a series of YouTube shorts to help others understand this vocabulary, too. Sustainability Simplified includes videos on net-zero, decarbonization and carbon neutrality with more in the pipeline.Heat pumps can help play a major role in decarbonizing the built environment, but there is a lack of knowledge in the market about this technology. So we created this Five Cool Facts about Heat Pumps infographic to debunk myths. For example, did you know that if every home in the U.S. adopted heat pumps it would be like taking 32 million gas-powered cars off the road?We’re curating crucial conversations through our Healthy Spaces podcast, where we’re exploring the connection between human and planetary health. We talk with scientists, entrepreneurs and climate activists about how technology and innovation are transforming the spaces where we live, work and play.Our customers are the real heroes—taking action to decarbonize their operations, and we’re sharing their stories on our blog and through in-person experiences at special events like Climate Week NYC.

Building toward a net-zero future begins with understanding what it means. Education is an important way to take action.

Educating the future 

To meet our sustainability goals, we recognize the need for a diverse and well-prepared workforce. Armed with a commitment to work differently, we’ve established the Trane Technician Apprenticeship program, a four-year, paid training program that helps remove barriers to great career opportunities. This program, aimed at cultivating early career talent, offers comprehensive on-the-job education and holds national accreditation in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor.

We are equally dedicated to educating the individuals who will not only carry forward our current efforts – but also have the power to positively transform them. Under our Sustainable Futures citizenship strategy, we’ve pledged 500,000 employee volunteer hours and $100 million by 2030 to support underrepresented communities of learners and future leaders. This funding will empower students to explore STEM career opportunities, offering enriched learning environments and sustainability-focused curricula.

This summer I had the opportunity to join our corporate citizenship team at Youth Science Day at the Science Museum of Minnesota. More than 1,500 kids gathered for STEM demonstrations and hands-on learning experiences, and I had the chance to read a story to the whole group. It was a really powerful moment. I was reminded of the power of storytelling, why we do what we do—and who we’re doing it for.

Education, a path toward common good

The best writers are avid readers, and my team reads a lot. We consume business and industry news, we review studies from NGO partners and government agencies, and we monitor online conversation about sustainability and climate technology. After this record-breaking summer, there is a lot of doom and gloom out there.

But as sustainability communicators, we can’t afford to become paralyzed by climate anxiety or overwhelmed by the magnitude of our challenge. We have a really important story to tell. Our job is to continue to find new ways to tell it with transparency, clarity and—most of all—optimism.

LINCOLN, Neb., October 23, 2023 /3BL/ – New data from NatureQuant, a technology and research company, will empower the Arbor Day Foundation to better serve neighborhoods in need of trees.

“We’re always looking to leverage the latest data and technology to guide our approach to tree planting in cities and neighborhoods,” said Dan Lambe, Arbor Day Foundation chief executive. “This update from NatureQuant heightens our precision as we develop high-impact projects and improve the health of people in underserved communities.”

The recent update from NatureQuant includes an updated Nature Priority Index (NPI) score for each U.S. census tract. The NPI score is an aggregate of socioeconomic data and information on how much nature and tree canopy currently exist in the area. The Arbor Day Foundation uses this information to identify where trees can make the most impact in urban areas. The census boundaries in this update now reflect 2020 data, the latest census information available, which includes about 11,000 more tracts.

The Arbor Day Foundation is working to plant 500 million new trees by 2027, with a focus on forests and neighborhoods of greatest need. Research shows that people living in urban areas with a high tree canopy are often mentally and physically healthier than those in low-canopy areas. Urban and community trees also help protect people from life-threatening heat, filter air pollution, improve property values and reduce traffic noise.

In its most recent fiscal year, the Arbor Day Foundation helped to plant and distribute more than 630,000 community trees worldwide, representing a 23% increase. The Foundation expects to continue to see an upward trend in community tree plantings following the historic $1.5 billion investment from the Inflation Reduction Act. The funding is devoted to creating equitable access to trees in cities and neighborhoods around the country.

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.

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SAC executives Jeremy Lardeau, Vice President Higg Index, and Joyce Tsoi, Director, Collective Action Programs, APAC, presented at Fashion Summit (HK), the sustainable fashion event funded by Create Hong Kong and organized by the Clothing Industry Training Authority (CITA), in support of the 2024 theme: “Actions to the Sustainability Journey.” After opening speeches from Richard Cheng, Chairman of Fashion Summit (HK) 2023, Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, GBS, JP Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, HKSAR Government, Hon. Sunny Tan, Member of the HKSAR Legislative Council (Textiles & Garment), and Yang Xiaodong, Vice President of the China Garment Association, Jeremy Lardeau, Vice President Higg Index, offered a keynote presentation on sustainability analytics in the apparel industry.

Lardeau initially shared background information about the SAC, the global multi-stakeholder nonprofit alliance that represents a diverse global membership of over 280 members – about 50% of the apparel and textile industry – in 36 countries. Lardeau explained that over the past two years, the organization has seen the greatest amount of growth, demonstrating the collaborative momentum of the industry coming together to address systemic challenges and co-develop solutions with an approach based in equal partnership.

Lardeau explored how the SAC’s work is anchored by the Higg Index, a suite of tools that measures social and environmental impact through five core tools based in three key categories: two Higg Product Tools and three Higg Facility Tools. “Developed in collaboration with our members, and employed throughout the decade as working tools achieving measurable sustainability goals, the Higg Index stands today as the leading example of end-to-end sustainability measurement index, for any industry,” Lardeau said. “These tools have matured into comprehensive, robust offerings ready to scale and form a template for our industry’s pursuit of impact improvements. Nonetheless, they will continue to evolve, as science improves and our understanding of the industry’s challenges deepen, allowing us to support our members and the industry.”

He then shared examples of how the tools serve the industry:

In collaboration with the World Resources Institute, the SAC leveraged Higg FEM data from nearly 18,000 facilities, and detailed material impact data from Higg MSI, to develop the most detailed apparel industry carbon emissions inventory. This work then helped identify and quantify the key interventions that can achieve a 1.5 degree aligned climate reduction target for the industry.In partnership with Reset Carbon, the SAC used the Higg tools to dig deeper into facility level analysis, showing that of the 18,000 textile facilities that engaged in Higg Facility Environment Management (FEM) assessments, around 1,500 are responsible for 80% of their combined total carbon emissions. These were identified primarily as Tier 2 and laundry facilities located in China, Bangladesh, India, and Turkey. By quantifying the impact of interventions at this cohort of facilities, the data showed that offsite renewable electricity and energy efficiency are the two biggest levers for reducing carbon emissions at scale.

Finally, Lardeau closed with a challenge: “How do we finance, enable and execute these interventions, in a way that is fair and equitable across the value chain partners?” Building on this idea, Joyce Tsoi, SAC’s Director, Collective Action Programs, APAC, moderated a panel hosted by the Clothing Industry Training Authority that featured Delman Lee, Vice Chair of TAL Apparel Ltd. and SAC Immediate Past Board Chair, Andrew Lo, CEO of Crystal International Group Ltd., and Teresa Yang, Vice Chairman of Esquel Group.

As initial framing, Tsoi shared that companies around the globe are making bold commitments to combat climate change:. A recent Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi) report shows the highest number of companies set targets on record in 2022 alone than the entire seven years prior. And although an annual 4.2% emissions reduction is required for a 1.5ºC alignment for science-based targets, it was found that a typical SBTi-approved company has set even more ambitious goals, with a linear rate of 8.8% scope 1+2 reductions per year. In order to achieve these goals, Tsoi shared, companies will need to secure full organizational support for the company’s decarbonization priorities to achieve a just and equitable low carbon transition.

As all three panelists represent companies that have committed to long-term net zero goals by 2050, Tsoi asked questions that allowed them to share the pillars of their climate action programs, how they are incentivizing and empowering staff at all levels to take climate action, and how they are building collaborative ecosystems across organizations, sectors, and value chains to achieve a just and equitable low-carbon transition.

Discovery Education, worldwide edtech leader, and Comcast released a new study showing that U.S. schools are well-positioned to help families get online with low-cost, high-speed Internet options through the federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).

However, the study also found that educators lack centralized resources and direct support necessary to successfully overcome barriers to the digital divide. Released to help support this year’s Digital Inclusion Week theme of “Building Connected Communities.”

Key findings include:

Nearly all educators surveyed feel strongly that digital equity is more important today than ever before.

82% of families and 80% of educators surveyed feel strongly that high-speed Internet at home is extremely important to fulfilling learning outcomes.

While two-thirds of families and educators acknowledge their school’s interest in closing the digital divide, only one-third are aware of actionable measures being taken by the school district.

Only 39% of parents were aware of the ACP, and of those that were aware, just 13% of parents have signed up. What’s more, only 22% of educators surveyed strongly agree that administrators in their school districts are equipped with the necessary information to communicate options for high-speed internet access at home.

Data shows multiple disconnects between what parents pointed to as actual barriers to broadband adoption versus what teachers perceived as parents’ barriers to adoption. Addressing these will be critical to ensuring that school districts and digital navigator programs are effective in closing the digital divide for students.

There was a 52-percentage-point difference between the share of teachers who thought that cost of service was the primary barrier to adoption for families versus the actual share of parents who pointed to cost as a barrier.Significantly larger shares of teachers thought that families did not live in buildings that were wired for broadband, did not know how to set up the Internet, and did not have devices than the share of parents who raised these barriers.

Findings from the study also support a recommendation for school systems to partner with proven and trusted programs such as those that include support from Digital Navigators — to help streamline communication, advocacy, and adoption strategies that lead to equitable opportunities for all students. Ensuring all ACP-eligible families are signed up is equally important in supporting district connectivity goals.

To help further address these issues, Comcast is helping school administrators more quickly and easily access additional resources to get more households enrolled in the ACP during the back-to-school season through the Online For All Back to School Challenge, led by the U.S. Department of Education and Civic Nation.

A new online tool from Comcast is designed to help administrators quickly and easily assess ACP eligibility in their school districts. They can also learn about which schools have the lowest broadband adoption rates in their area. This valuable data will enable school leaders to better tailor communications around the ACP and direct families to resources that can assist in supporting Internet adoption.

Ensuring every student in America has access to reliable, high-speed Internet in the classroom and at home is a top priority for Comcast’s Project UP.

BRODERICK JOHNSON, EVP of Public Policy and EVP of Digital Equity, Comcast Corporation

“The combination of historic investments in universal broadband, public-private collaboration, and private industry support will together ensure that neither availability nor affordability stand in the way of achieving connectivity for everyone,” said Broderick Johnson, EVP of Public Policy and EVP of Digital Equity, Comcast Corporation.

“At Discovery Education, we are on a mission to prepare learners for tomorrow by creating innovative classrooms connected to today’s world. Today, no matter where learning takes place, access to and adoption of high-speed Internet is an essential ingredient for student success. As Comcast’s education partner in this work, we’re proud to support efforts to ensure students and families have the tools necessary to meet the demands of the modern learning environment,” said Amy Nakamoto, EVP of Social Impact, Discovery Education.

“Today, 17 million unconnected households are eligible for low-cost, high-speed Internet under the Affordable Connectivity Program. Civic Nation is partnering with the U.S. Department of Education, school districts, and organizations across the country through Online For All to close this gap and ensure every student and family has equitable access to learning, both at home and in the classroom,” said Kyle Lierman, CEO of Civic Nation.

Additional findings from the study include:

While educators believe their school district leaders are aware of the negative impacts the digital divide has on learning outcomes, there are numerous other factors being prioritized over home Internet adoption.

86% of educators surveyed elevated student well-being as the most important issue for schools to address, followed by school safety, and equity and inclusion more broadly. This places more emphasis on policymakers, school officials, institutions, and the private sector to show how digital equity and home broadband adoption facilitate broader equity issues and level the playing field for families seeking opportunities for their children.

Further, coupling Internet access and adoption with an ability to address other school concerns, such as providing supports for student well-being and growth, has the ability to keep digital equity as a top priority for school leaders and help them serve broader needs for their students.

There is widespread agreement that the pandemic forcefully evolved and rapidly closed gaps in the digital divide as schools moved swiftly to remote learning. This cultural shift was met with success stories of connectivity and technological advancements, but also shined a light on students and families who did not experience equitable access to learning because of lack of connectivity or devices, or other barriers that made remote learning cumbersome.

This study and partnerships were made possible by Project UP, Comcast’s comprehensive initiative to advance digital equity and help build a future of unlimited possibilities. Part of Comcast’s $1 billion commitment is prioritizing Internet connectivity and its impact on education. In addition, through providing low-cost broadband through Internet Essentials to families and the Internet Essentials Partner Program (IEPP) for schools, Comcast continues to ensure there are no barriers to home connectivity that could impede learning.

To review a full copy of the study, please click here.

Discovery Education, worldwide edtech leader, and Comcast released a new study showing that U.S. schools are well-positioned to help families get online with low-cost, high-speed Internet options through the federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).

However, the study also found that educators lack centralized resources and direct support necessary to successfully overcome barriers to the digital divide. Released to help support this year’s Digital Inclusion Week theme of “Building Connected Communities.”

Key findings include:

Nearly all educators surveyed feel strongly that digital equity is more important today than ever before.

82% of families and 80% of educators surveyed feel strongly that high-speed Internet at home is extremely important to fulfilling learning outcomes.

While two-thirds of families and educators acknowledge their school’s interest in closing the digital divide, only one-third are aware of actionable measures being taken by the school district.

Only 39% of parents were aware of the ACP, and of those that were aware, just 13% of parents have signed up. What’s more, only 22% of educators surveyed strongly agree that administrators in their school districts are equipped with the necessary information to communicate options for high-speed internet access at home.

Data shows multiple disconnects between what parents pointed to as actual barriers to broadband adoption versus what teachers perceived as parents’ barriers to adoption. Addressing these will be critical to ensuring that school districts and digital navigator programs are effective in closing the digital divide for students.

There was a 52-percentage-point difference between the share of teachers who thought that cost of service was the primary barrier to adoption for families versus the actual share of parents who pointed to cost as a barrier.Significantly larger shares of teachers thought that families did not live in buildings that were wired for broadband, did not know how to set up the Internet, and did not have devices than the share of parents who raised these barriers.

Findings from the study also support a recommendation for school systems to partner with proven and trusted programs such as those that include support from Digital Navigators — to help streamline communication, advocacy, and adoption strategies that lead to equitable opportunities for all students. Ensuring all ACP-eligible families are signed up is equally important in supporting district connectivity goals.

To help further address these issues, Comcast is helping school administrators more quickly and easily access additional resources to get more households enrolled in the ACP during the back-to-school season through the Online For All Back to School Challenge, led by the U.S. Department of Education and Civic Nation.

A new online tool from Comcast is designed to help administrators quickly and easily assess ACP eligibility in their school districts. They can also learn about which schools have the lowest broadband adoption rates in their area. This valuable data will enable school leaders to better tailor communications around the ACP and direct families to resources that can assist in supporting Internet adoption.

Ensuring every student in America has access to reliable, high-speed Internet in the classroom and at home is a top priority for Comcast’s Project UP.

BRODERICK JOHNSON, EVP of Public Policy and EVP of Digital Equity, Comcast Corporation

“The combination of historic investments in universal broadband, public-private collaboration, and private industry support will together ensure that neither availability nor affordability stand in the way of achieving connectivity for everyone,” said Broderick Johnson, EVP of Public Policy and EVP of Digital Equity, Comcast Corporation.

“At Discovery Education, we are on a mission to prepare learners for tomorrow by creating innovative classrooms connected to today’s world. Today, no matter where learning takes place, access to and adoption of high-speed Internet is an essential ingredient for student success. As Comcast’s education partner in this work, we’re proud to support efforts to ensure students and families have the tools necessary to meet the demands of the modern learning environment,” said Amy Nakamoto, EVP of Social Impact, Discovery Education.

“Today, 17 million unconnected households are eligible for low-cost, high-speed Internet under the Affordable Connectivity Program. Civic Nation is partnering with the U.S. Department of Education, school districts, and organizations across the country through Online For All to close this gap and ensure every student and family has equitable access to learning, both at home and in the classroom,” said Kyle Lierman, CEO of Civic Nation.

Additional findings from the study include:

While educators believe their school district leaders are aware of the negative impacts the digital divide has on learning outcomes, there are numerous other factors being prioritized over home Internet adoption.

86% of educators surveyed elevated student well-being as the most important issue for schools to address, followed by school safety, and equity and inclusion more broadly. This places more emphasis on policymakers, school officials, institutions, and the private sector to show how digital equity and home broadband adoption facilitate broader equity issues and level the playing field for families seeking opportunities for their children.

Further, coupling Internet access and adoption with an ability to address other school concerns, such as providing supports for student well-being and growth, has the ability to keep digital equity as a top priority for school leaders and help them serve broader needs for their students.

There is widespread agreement that the pandemic forcefully evolved and rapidly closed gaps in the digital divide as schools moved swiftly to remote learning. This cultural shift was met with success stories of connectivity and technological advancements, but also shined a light on students and families who did not experience equitable access to learning because of lack of connectivity or devices, or other barriers that made remote learning cumbersome.

This study and partnerships were made possible by Project UP, Comcast’s comprehensive initiative to advance digital equity and help build a future of unlimited possibilities. Part of Comcast’s $1 billion commitment is prioritizing Internet connectivity and its impact on education. In addition, through providing low-cost broadband through Internet Essentials to families and the Internet Essentials Partner Program (IEPP) for schools, Comcast continues to ensure there are no barriers to home connectivity that could impede learning.

To review a full copy of the study, please click here.

Bacardi Limited continues to change lives and help build the next generation of bartenders through its Shake Your Future program. In Bermuda, where the program launched earlier this year, the program has led to the win of the latest Taste of Bermuda Cocktail Competition. Kierra Lee, a student of the inaugural Shake Your Future Bermuda program, seized the top prize in the Taste of Bermuda: Set The Bar Cocktail Competition. Kierra’s remarkable victory stands as a testament to her exceptional talent and dedication, making her the first female champion in the competition’s ten-year history. She captured the hearts of judges and audiences with her innovative cocktail creation, ‘Papas Dream’ inspired by her grandfather and made with GREY GOOSE Essences Strawberry & Lemongrass, ST-GERMAIN elderflower liqueur and sweet flavors including yuzu extract.

Shake Your Future, a program originally created by Bacardi in 2018 in France, has since expanded its reach around the globe to include Italy, Germany, UK, India, and South Africa. This pioneering program provides free professional bartender training to unemployed young adults, with a commitment to extending the same opportunities to 10,000 individuals globally by 2030. In Bermuda, the program was launched in February 2023, in collaboration with the Bermuda Government’s Department of Workforce Development.

The inaugural Bermuda cohort saw seven participants embarking on a transformative ten-week journey. This program included four intensive weeks of training at the European Bartending School in London, where they earned their international bartender certification. Upon their return to Bermuda, participants continued to refine their skills, focusing on personal branding and marketing, and embarked on a valuable four-week work placement with some of Bermuda’s top bars and restaurants.

Kierra Lee’s unwavering commitment and determination throughout this journey ultimately led her to secure a permanent position at one of Bermuda’s top restaurants. Her extraordinary journey culminated in her participation in the Taste of Bermuda: Set The Bar Cocktail Competition, where

Bacardi has announced the second cohort of Shake Your Future this November, offering more aspiring talents, like Kierra, the opportunity to excel in the art of mixology. Kierra Lee’s journey serves as a powerful testament to the transformative influence of mentorship and support that the Shake Your Future program provides.

Top of Form

To find out more about Shake Your Future, visit: https://www.bacardilimited.com/esg/shakeyourfuture/

Bacardi Limited continues to change lives and help build the next generation of bartenders through its Shake Your Future program. In Bermuda, where the program launched earlier this year, the program has led to the win of the latest Taste of Bermuda Cocktail Competition. Kierra Lee, a student of the inaugural Shake Your Future Bermuda program, seized the top prize in the Taste of Bermuda: Set The Bar Cocktail Competition. Kierra’s remarkable victory stands as a testament to her exceptional talent and dedication, making her the first female champion in the competition’s ten-year history. She captured the hearts of judges and audiences with her innovative cocktail creation, ‘Papas Dream’ inspired by her grandfather and made with GREY GOOSE Essences Strawberry & Lemongrass, ST-GERMAIN elderflower liqueur and sweet flavors including yuzu extract.

Shake Your Future, a program originally created by Bacardi in 2018 in France, has since expanded its reach around the globe to include Italy, Germany, UK, India, and South Africa. This pioneering program provides free professional bartender training to unemployed young adults, with a commitment to extending the same opportunities to 10,000 individuals globally by 2030. In Bermuda, the program was launched in February 2023, in collaboration with the Bermuda Government’s Department of Workforce Development.

The inaugural Bermuda cohort saw seven participants embarking on a transformative ten-week journey. This program included four intensive weeks of training at the European Bartending School in London, where they earned their international bartender certification. Upon their return to Bermuda, participants continued to refine their skills, focusing on personal branding and marketing, and embarked on a valuable four-week work placement with some of Bermuda’s top bars and restaurants.

Kierra Lee’s unwavering commitment and determination throughout this journey ultimately led her to secure a permanent position at one of Bermuda’s top restaurants. Her extraordinary journey culminated in her participation in the Taste of Bermuda: Set The Bar Cocktail Competition, where

Bacardi has announced the second cohort of Shake Your Future this November, offering more aspiring talents, like Kierra, the opportunity to excel in the art of mixology. Kierra Lee’s journey serves as a powerful testament to the transformative influence of mentorship and support that the Shake Your Future program provides.

Top of Form

To find out more about Shake Your Future, visit: https://www.bacardilimited.com/esg/shakeyourfuture/

LOUISVILLE, Ky., October 20, 2023 /3BL/ – Fifth Third is proud to team up with New Directions Repair Affair program by funding free home renovations for elderly and disabled low-income homeowners in West Louisville’s Russell neighborhood.

Fifth Third has contributed over $120,000 in additional money in 2023 to help Repair Affair complete at least 15 high skill restorations, including the installation of wheelchair ramps, roofs, windows, HVAC, electrical, and plumbing.

“Fifth Third Bank’s generosity over the years has made such a difference for so many of the senior homeowners in need across our community,” said New Directions CEO Lori Flanery. “We’re grateful for their continuing support and commitment to the Russell neighborhood, to this program, and the important assistance we are able to provide.”

Marking its 30th anniversary this year, Repair Affair has improved 4,569 homes across Jefferson, Clark, and Floyd counties with assistance from paid contractors and 46,502 volunteers.

“Fifth Third is excited to support the Repair Affair program, especially as part of the Empowering Black Futures Neighborhood program,” said Kentucky Regional President Kim Halbauer. “The program provides critical home repairs that allow owners to age in place and build generational wealth.”

Repair Affair works with Russell: A Place of Promise to identify homeowners who meet these qualifications:

Be 55 or over or certified disabledHave income 50% or below the area median incomeOwn and live in their home

Want to get involved? Here are two ways: Make a donation | Sign-up to volunteer 
 

About Fifth Third 
Fifth Third is a bank that’s as long on innovation as it is on history. Since 1858, we’ve been helping individuals, families, businesses and communities grow through smart financial services that improve lives. Our list of firsts is extensive, and it’s one that continues to expand as we explore the intersection of tech-driven innovation, dedicated people and focused community impact. Fifth Third is one of the few U.S.-based banks to have been named among Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies® for several years. With a commitment to taking care of our customers, employees, communities and shareholders, our goal is not only to be the nation’s highest performing regional bank, but to be the bank people most value and trust.

Fifth Third Bank, National Association is a federally chartered institution. Fifth Third Bancorp is the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank and its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ® Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.” Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com.

About New Directions Housing Corporation 
A nonprofit community development corporation, New Directions creates and sustains affordable housing in partnership with residents and stakeholders. With more than 900 affordable rental units and the region’s largest program offering home repairs and rehabilitation to low-income homeowners, New Directions is a member of both NeighborWorks America and Metro United Way. New Directions visit www.ndhc.org/.

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MEDIA CONTACT 
Tiffani Jett 
Vice President, Regional Marketing 
502-562-5241 | Tiffani.Jett@53.com