Tag: 3BL

The Bill Conway Founders Charity Golf Classic is a special highlight for Covia. Since 2007, Covia has been hosting the Bill Conway Founders Charity Golf Classic to celebrate former Director Bill Conway and his legacy of community investment and to further support those in our community whose need for assistance continues to be great. Held at the nationally ranked Sand Ridge Golf Club, this outing raises critical funds for the community. Participants enjoy spectacular fall golf on 370 acres of woodlands, pastures and wetlands certified as an Audubon International Signature Wildlife Sanctuary.

On Tuesday, October 10, Covia hosted more than 115 golfers in support of United Way’s efforts to unite people and resources to measurably improve the self-sufficiency of individuals and families.

This year marks our 16th consecutive year hosting the Charity Golf Classic. Over the course of these many years, our cumulative contributions to United Way from this event have exceeded $2 million! Much of our success is due to the commitment of our many partners, customers, and community friends. Their support of the Conway Classic allows United Way to continue its great work.

We also greatly appreciate the volunteer support. Our heartfelt thanks for their time and talent! Our employees are proud to support all the communities where we live and work, and we’re grateful for their dedication.

Chairman and CEO Mike O’Grady along with a group of Northern Trust employees recently volunteered with Cara Chicago, which helps people boost their job prospects through resources, education and encouragement.

About Northern Trust
Northern Trust Corporation (Nasdaq: NTRS) is a leading provider of wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking to corporations, institutions, affluent families and individuals. Founded in Chicago in 1889, Northern Trust has a global presence with offices in 25 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., and across 22 locations in Canada, Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region. As of June 30, 2023, Northern Trust had assets under custody/administration of US$14.5 trillion, and assets under management of US$1.4 trillion. For more than 130 years, Northern Trust has earned distinction as an industry leader for exceptional service, financial expertise, integrity and innovation. Visit us on northerntrust.com. Follow us at Northern Trust Corporation on LinkedIn.

Interest and participation in women’s sports has been on the rise as observed most recently during the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 with record breaking attendance numbers and ticket sales. However, women of color have been historically underrepresented in sports leadership roles.

AEG’s LA Galaxy, in collaboration with The Play Equity Fund and Capitanes del Futuro, organized an empowering two-day career exploration event at Dignity Health Sports Park (DHSP) in Carson, CA for Hispanic and LatinX students from the Girls Academic Leadership Academy (GALA) in Los Angeles, CA to learn about careers in professional sports.

The two-day event kicked off on September 26th with an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of DHSP led by LA Galaxy’s mascot Cozmo. The tour was followed by a panel featuring LA Galaxy employees from various departments including broadcasting, programming, creative, global partnerships, content marketing, game presentation, ticketing, team administration and marketing. Each bringing their own expertise and experience, the panelists shared their own personal experiences working and breaking into the sports industry. After the panel, students participated in round table discussions with the panelists to ask questions and gain valuable insights into potential career paths in sports.

“This career exploration event was a wonderful opportunity to foster and empower the next generation of leaders,” said Mariah Rodriguez, Community Relations Specialist at the LA Galaxy. “We wanted to expose these girls to an industry that they might have not considered prior to coming here today but hopefully we ignited an interest to pursue a career in sports.”

Returning on September 30th, the GALA students had the opportunity to see firsthand what it is like to work on game day, which coincided with the LA Galaxy’s Hispanic Heritage Theme Night match. As a final surprise after the game, LA Galaxy player Diego Fagundez made a special appearance and presented each student with a captain’s armband, symbolizing leadership and empowerment.

“This is honestly a huge opportunity and I wish there was something like this going on when I was in school,” said Calysta Tyree, Social Media Producer at the LA Galaxy. “As a young Latina woman who now works in sports its super crucial to see not only females in these spaces but also the representation of our culture.”

Capitanes del Futuro combines the passion for soccer with education and career building opportunities. It exposes youth to the full set of possibilities, so they can become the future leaders America needs. Capitanes del Futuro is a unique program built around the world of soccer, to prepare the next generation of Hispanic leaders and help them embrace their Hispanic values as their superpower.

The Play Equity Fund is focused on bringing the transformational power of sport and play to all children, regardless of their race, gender, zip code or socioeconomic status. The Play Equity Fund is the only nonprofit focused solely on Play Equity as a social justice issue. As an organization, The Play Equity Fund finances and scales effective and impactful programs, including school-based sports, coaching education, infrastructure development and juvenile justice programs.

The storytelling begins with the drummers, each of their beats bringing those present into balance with the pulse of the earth.

Vocalists join the thunderous rhythm, their tones merging music with spirit as the sound fills the peak of the towering tent.

The Ojibwe people’s traditional clothing, too, recounts the narrative, shows the history of craftsmanship in the careful bead and feather work.

The story of this performance is one of celebration. It’s the 25th anniversary powwow of the Swan Lake First Nation (SLFN), held this past Canada Day long weekend in south-central Manitoba.

Every year, the powwow attracts more than the SLFN’s 1,500 members; it also calls to visitors from near and far who attend to experience the culture, heritage and stories of the Nation.

The event is held on the Nation’s powwow grounds, on Treaty 1 lands in the Pembina Valley, on the bank of SLFN’s namesake—Swan Lake—so termed for its shape like the long neck and head of a swan. In the Nation’s Saulteaux language, the lake is called Gaubiskiigamaux, meaning “the lake that is curved.”

The site is surrounded by rich, agricultural land; eight kilometers of unpaved roads crisscross farm plots and animal pastures leading to the grounds. As is typical with unpaved roads, dust from vehicles can cause serious safety issues. Airborne dust poses health risks when inhaled, and it damages crops and vegetation. Dust clouds also cause dangerous visibility issues for drivers.

Safety being the foundation of everything we do at Enbridge, we saw an opportunity to support SLFN’s 25th anniversary powwow by proactively making the roadways safe for attendees. We awarded SLFN a $50,000 Fueling Futures grant to help cover costs of controlling dust on the unpaved roads, and we partnered with two Canadian companies to make it happen.

Cypher Environmental donated a portion of its environmentally friendly, non-toxic dust-control solution for the project, and Subcan Inc., a heavy construction service provider, provided in-kind machinery and labour to apply the product to the roads.

The three-way partnership is a prime example of community pooling resources to make a positive impact in the community.

“You recognize that there’s a very big component that corporations should be playing in promoting better environments, better health,” says John Palson, director of engineering at Cypher. “You have to contribute back.”

Adding to the safety of the powwow was a key driver of the partnership.

“The most important part of our partnership with Swan Lake First Nation is care of the environment and safety,” explains Charissa Dobson, co-owner of Subcan.

The approach to dust suppression helped keep powwow participants and visitors safe, so attendees could focus on the story—celebrating the Nation’s arts, culture and heritage.

WASHINGTON, October 17, 2023 /3BL/ – The higher education industry is at an inflection point, with institutions grappling with diminishing resources, shifting demographics, declining enrollment and the unanticipated impact of global events. Leading advisory, tax and assurance firm Baker Tilly US, LLP (Baker Tilly) in partnership with the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), announces the release of their Path to Sustainability toolkit. This comprehensive road map provides colleges and universities regardless of their current fiscal position with actionable insights and best practices to navigate these complexities and create a stable and thriving operating environment.

“As trusted advisors to the higher education sector, Baker Tilly is committed to empowering institutions with the tools and knowledge needed to overcome financial hurdles and achieve sustainability and student success,” said Dave Capitano, partner and higher education practice leader at Baker Tilly. “This deliverable is a culmination of our collaboration with NACUBO and a project team of seasoned higher education thought leaders, pooling our collective expertise to address the unique challenges educational institutions are facing.”

The guide delivers data-driven approaches and strategic recommendations that can be universally applied to facilitate informed discussions on campuses. It challenges existing assumptions and myths while offering leading practices to drive synergetic, intentional decision-making. By addressing critical financial sustainability questions, the toolkit equips institutions with the insights necessary to maneuver through uncertain times.

“The Path to Sustainability framework is a valuable resource for institutional leaders, financial officers and decision-makers across the higher education landscape,” said Jim Hundrieser, Vice President for Consulting at NACUBO. “Our joint work is intended to foster an environment that drives strategic yet difficult decisions leading to institutional sustainability and student success outcomes. Baker Tilly and NACUBO serve as collaborative consultants to higher education leaders, dedicated to supporting the long-term financial health and success of all colleges and universities nationwide.”

Learn more about Baker Tilly’s higher education advisory practice below.

Learn more

About Baker Tilly US, LLP (bakertilly.com)

Baker Tilly US, LLP (Baker Tilly) is a leading advisory CPA firm, providing clients with a genuine coast-to-coast and global advantage in major regions of the U.S. and in many of the world’s leading financial centers – New York, London, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago. Baker Tilly is an independent member of Baker Tilly International, a worldwide network of independent accounting and business advisory firms in 148 territories, with 38,000 professionals and a combined worldwide revenue of $4.3 billion. Visit bakertilly.com or join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. 

About NACUBO (nacubo.org)

We are the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO). Since 1962, we have been an indispensable source of clear, trusted knowledge for campus leaders. We provide a bold voice, collaboration, and resources to tackle higher education’s evolving challenges. Our mission is to help you ensure the success of your institution. Visit nacubo.org.

As part of its 170th anniversary celebration, Otis encouraged colleagues to join its 3 in ‘23 Volunteer Challenge, a campaign encouraging colleagues to volunteer in their local communities for three hours before the end of the year. Through mentoring programs, STEM initiatives, support for local non-profit organizations and more, Otis colleagues across the globe are rising to the challenge!

In Florence, SC 40 Otis colleagues recently volunteered for the United Way’s Day of Caring. Together, they made a difference alongside 200+ other volunteers, giving back to the local community.

Otis volunteers in Connecticut have been partnering with multiple organizations to help support local communities. In Farmington, CT 100 colleagues partnered with Happy Hope Factory to help assemble STEAM care packages to bring joy to hospitalized children in nearby communities. Otis volunteers helped get over 200 kits assembled and shipped out.

Members of the Otis HOLA employee resource group (ERG) had an amazing time volunteering with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Hartford to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, organizing a snack drive and dedicating time to support local kids. Just a few miles away members of the Otis world headquarters Legal department volunteered at the New Britain YWCA working outside on a Fall landscaping beautification project where they got their hands dirty, raked, weeded, and planted flowers.

In Europe more than 60 colleagues from Germany, France, Italy and Spain dedicated over 800 hours to help support the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, among the largest inclusive sports competition of its kind.

Further east, more than 50 Otis China colleagues from Beijing, Hebei and the Otis Tianjin headquarters joined hands to spend a weekend volunteering at the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation Science & Culture Center for Young People. This was our first volunteer activity at the Center since Otis began its collaboration with the Foundation earlier this year.

And in Malaysia, Otis colleagues recently hosted a Kids Safety Ambassador Program in partnership with its customer, Angsana Johor Bahru Mall, and local government authorities. The exciting program taught local children escalator and elevator safety tips through fun animations, quizzes and coloring contests. One of the highlights was incorporating the Otis “Little Engineers” STEM volunteer program, which gave the children an opportunity to build miniature elevator models alongside Otis volunteers.

Special thanks to these and all the Otis volunteers around the world for their efforts and rising up to meet the 3 in ‘23 challenge!

Click here to learn more about how Otis is working to encourage early STEM learning through volunteerism as we work towards achieving 500,000 volunteer hours by 2030.

As part of its 170th anniversary celebration, Otis encouraged colleagues to join its 3 in ‘23 Volunteer Challenge, a campaign encouraging colleagues to volunteer in their local communities for three hours before the end of the year. Through mentoring programs, STEM initiatives, support for local non-profit organizations and more, Otis colleagues across the globe are rising to the challenge!

In Florence, SC 40 Otis colleagues recently volunteered for the United Way’s Day of Caring. Together, they made a difference alongside 200+ other volunteers, giving back to the local community.

Otis volunteers in Connecticut have been partnering with multiple organizations to help support local communities. In Farmington, CT 100 colleagues partnered with Happy Hope Factory to help assemble STEAM care packages to bring joy to hospitalized children in nearby communities. Otis volunteers helped get over 200 kits assembled and shipped out.

Members of the Otis HOLA employee resource group (ERG) had an amazing time volunteering with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Hartford to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, organizing a snack drive and dedicating time to support local kids. Just a few miles away members of the Otis world headquarters Legal department volunteered at the New Britain YWCA working outside on a Fall landscaping beautification project where they got their hands dirty, raked, weeded, and planted flowers.

In Europe more than 60 colleagues from Germany, France, Italy and Spain dedicated over 800 hours to help support the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, among the largest inclusive sports competition of its kind.

Further east, more than 50 Otis China colleagues from Beijing, Hebei and the Otis Tianjin headquarters joined hands to spend a weekend volunteering at the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation Science & Culture Center for Young People. This was our first volunteer activity at the Center since Otis began its collaboration with the Foundation earlier this year.

And in Malaysia, Otis colleagues recently hosted a Kids Safety Ambassador Program in partnership with its customer, Angsana Johor Bahru Mall, and local government authorities. The exciting program taught local children escalator and elevator safety tips through fun animations, quizzes and coloring contests. One of the highlights was incorporating the Otis “Little Engineers” STEM volunteer program, which gave the children an opportunity to build miniature elevator models alongside Otis volunteers.

Special thanks to these and all the Otis volunteers around the world for their efforts and rising up to meet the 3 in ‘23 challenge!

Click here to learn more about how Otis is working to encourage early STEM learning through volunteerism as we work towards achieving 500,000 volunteer hours by 2030.

ATLANTA, October 17, 2023, /3BL/ – Climate change is exacerbating more frequent and extreme heat waves, hurricanes, and other climate disasters, yet fossil fuels are still the go-to source of backup power during emergencies. A coalition of Atlanta-based partners has come together to make disaster response more sustainable in Georgia through the building of solar microgrid trailers that serve as mobile solar power stations to provide clean and portable power. These solar trailers, which can also be used for live events, are easily towed to where they are needed most to power cell phones, Wi-Fi, refrigeration, lighting, medical devices and other critical services.

A new solar trailer, powerful enough to charge an electric vehicle, was officially unveiled at the ninth annual Ray Day event on Sunday, October 15, 2023. RayDay celebrates the life and legacy of Ray C. Anderson, an industrialist turned environmentalist and brings people together, encourages conversations and connections and spreads the word about sustainability. Following the event, the trailer will be staged with the North Georgia Disaster Response Ministry of The United Methodist Church to provide emergency clean power for their disaster response team and community relief hubs.

Each solar trailer is rapidly deployable and can be towed to where it is needed most. In between disasters, it can also help offset the use of traditional gas or diesel generators at local live events and festivals. “In addition to providing cleaner energy for communities in crisis, the mobile solar microgrid trailer is an outreach and education tool that can be used to promote and celebrate resilience,” said Jamie Swezey, Program Director at Footprint Project.

“In times of disaster, gaining access to a source of power is one of the most essential yet challenging parts of response and recovery,” said Roland Fernandes, Global Ministries’ chief executive. “Thanks to this partnership, responders in Georgia will be able to bring their own environmentally sustainable power source with them, providing vital emergency power without the environmental damage caused by traditional fossil fuels.”

Several Atlanta-based organizations came together to support this project. The Ray C. Anderson Foundation provided financial support. Cherry Street Energy donated the solar panels for the microgrid and is coordinating the trailer build with The Footprint Project, who will also organize the deployment of the trailer. The North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church and United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) will use the trailer for disaster response situations. The partners share a vision of promoting a more sustainable society and a just, equitable transition to net-zero emissions.

CONTACT: Dan Curran of Curran PR for all involved organizations; media@umcmission.org; 770-658-9586. Images and b-roll available upon request.

###

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATIONS

Ray C. Anderson Foundation – www.raycandersonfoundation.org

The Ray C. Anderson Foundation is a Georgia-based, private family foundation that seeks to promote a sustainable society by supporting and funding educational and project-based initiatives that advance knowledge and innovation in sustainability.

Cherry Street Energy – www.cherrystreetenergy.com

Cherry Street builds, owns and operates next generation, high-performance energy infrastructure powering cities, businesses, and institutions with reliable, renewable energy. The Company’s easy-to-adopt platform allows large-scale customers to achieve the benefits of solar energy without the cost or complexity. Cherry Street sells power directly to the City of Atlanta, Fulton County, Emory University, and leading businesses across Georgia and is expanding across the Southeast.

Footprint Project – www.footprintproject.org

Footprint Project is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide cleaner energy for communities in crisis. They accomplish this by deploying mobile solar systems to support disaster relief and recovery operations, building resilience with communities that are disproportionately affected by climate disasters, and upcycling renewable energy components to keep them out of landfills.

North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church – www.ngumc.org

Comprised of nearly 700 churches, more than 1,400 clergy members, and approximately 320,000 lay members, The North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church seeks to fulfill the mission of our denomination: “To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”

United Methodist Committee on Relief – www.umcmission.org/umcor

As the humanitarian relief and development arm of The United Methodist Church, the United Methodist Committee on Relief – UMCOR – assists United Methodists and churches to become involved globally in direct ministry to persons in need. UMCOR comes alongside those who suffer from natural or human-caused disasters – famine, hurricane, war, flood, fire or other events—to alleviate suffering and serve as a source of help and hope for the vulnerable.

Trailer Mural Art – The colorful mural on the trailer wrap was designed by Cienna Minniefield, an Atlanta-based Black artist. “The design was inspired by the Magnolia flower, which is commonly found in the South. The use of vibrant colors and abstract visual elements inspires joy, freedom and peace. The flower is a reminder of home, the lush evergreens of Atlanta, the city of trees,” said Cienna Mayfield. The words “Brighten the Corner Where You Are” refers to a phrase Ray Anderson always included in his speeches, referring to the individual power we all hold for creating a better world for tomorrow’s children. The phrase comes from a hymn written by Ina Mae Duley Ogdon. The use of the phrase on the trailer is both a nod to Ray’s legacy and the power of the sun in brightening lives as the trailer is used in service.

ATLANTA, October 17, 2023, /3BL/ – Climate change is exacerbating more frequent and extreme heat waves, hurricanes, and other climate disasters, yet fossil fuels are still the go-to source of backup power during emergencies. A coalition of Atlanta-based partners has come together to make disaster response more sustainable in Georgia through the building of solar microgrid trailers that serve as mobile solar power stations to provide clean and portable power. These solar trailers, which can also be used for live events, are easily towed to where they are needed most to power cell phones, Wi-Fi, refrigeration, lighting, medical devices and other critical services.

A new solar trailer, powerful enough to charge an electric vehicle, was officially unveiled at the ninth annual Ray Day event on Sunday, October 15, 2023. RayDay celebrates the life and legacy of Ray C. Anderson, an industrialist turned environmentalist and brings people together, encourages conversations and connections and spreads the word about sustainability. Following the event, the trailer will be staged with the North Georgia Disaster Response Ministry of The United Methodist Church to provide emergency clean power for their disaster response team and community relief hubs.

Each solar trailer is rapidly deployable and can be towed to where it is needed most. In between disasters, it can also help offset the use of traditional gas or diesel generators at local live events and festivals. “In addition to providing cleaner energy for communities in crisis, the mobile solar microgrid trailer is an outreach and education tool that can be used to promote and celebrate resilience,” said Jamie Swezey, Program Director at Footprint Project.

“In times of disaster, gaining access to a source of power is one of the most essential yet challenging parts of response and recovery,” said Roland Fernandes, Global Ministries’ chief executive. “Thanks to this partnership, responders in Georgia will be able to bring their own environmentally sustainable power source with them, providing vital emergency power without the environmental damage caused by traditional fossil fuels.”

Several Atlanta-based organizations came together to support this project. The Ray C. Anderson Foundation provided financial support. Cherry Street Energy donated the solar panels for the microgrid and is coordinating the trailer build with The Footprint Project, who will also organize the deployment of the trailer. The North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church and United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) will use the trailer for disaster response situations. The partners share a vision of promoting a more sustainable society and a just, equitable transition to net-zero emissions.

CONTACT: Dan Curran of Curran PR for all involved organizations; media@umcmission.org; 770-658-9586. Images and b-roll available upon request.

###

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATIONS

Ray C. Anderson Foundation – www.raycandersonfoundation.org

The Ray C. Anderson Foundation is a Georgia-based, private family foundation that seeks to promote a sustainable society by supporting and funding educational and project-based initiatives that advance knowledge and innovation in sustainability.

Cherry Street Energy – www.cherrystreetenergy.com

Cherry Street builds, owns and operates next generation, high-performance energy infrastructure powering cities, businesses, and institutions with reliable, renewable energy. The Company’s easy-to-adopt platform allows large-scale customers to achieve the benefits of solar energy without the cost or complexity. Cherry Street sells power directly to the City of Atlanta, Fulton County, Emory University, and leading businesses across Georgia and is expanding across the Southeast.

Footprint Project – www.footprintproject.org

Footprint Project is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide cleaner energy for communities in crisis. They accomplish this by deploying mobile solar systems to support disaster relief and recovery operations, building resilience with communities that are disproportionately affected by climate disasters, and upcycling renewable energy components to keep them out of landfills.

North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church – www.ngumc.org

Comprised of nearly 700 churches, more than 1,400 clergy members, and approximately 320,000 lay members, The North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church seeks to fulfill the mission of our denomination: “To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”

United Methodist Committee on Relief – www.umcmission.org/umcor

As the humanitarian relief and development arm of The United Methodist Church, the United Methodist Committee on Relief – UMCOR – assists United Methodists and churches to become involved globally in direct ministry to persons in need. UMCOR comes alongside those who suffer from natural or human-caused disasters – famine, hurricane, war, flood, fire or other events—to alleviate suffering and serve as a source of help and hope for the vulnerable.

Trailer Mural Art – The colorful mural on the trailer wrap was designed by Cienna Minniefield, an Atlanta-based Black artist. “The design was inspired by the Magnolia flower, which is commonly found in the South. The use of vibrant colors and abstract visual elements inspires joy, freedom and peace. The flower is a reminder of home, the lush evergreens of Atlanta, the city of trees,” said Cienna Mayfield. The words “Brighten the Corner Where You Are” refers to a phrase Ray Anderson always included in his speeches, referring to the individual power we all hold for creating a better world for tomorrow’s children. The phrase comes from a hymn written by Ina Mae Duley Ogdon. The use of the phrase on the trailer is both a nod to Ray’s legacy and the power of the sun in brightening lives as the trailer is used in service.

This past summer a pop culture phenomenon descended upon us in a firestorm of physics and fashion. With both the Oppenheimer biopic and the live-action Barbie movie premiering on the same day, the internet latched on to the portmanteau “Barbeheimer,” creating enough double-feature hype to bounce the summer box office back to pre-pandemic levels.

It’s one thing to stir up chatter and inspire memes online. It’s another thing entirely to see the degree of real-world follow-through that Barbeheimer produced. Broken records don’t lie – there was a significant amount of public interest in what both of these films had to offer.

One of the more fascinating elements of the Barbeheimer phenomenon: the public enthusiastically engaging with these films around their common themes of how humanity grapples with social, environmental, and governance (ESG) issues.

ESG Themes in Barbenheimer 

Sustainability and the existential crisis of Barbenheimer 

From a business perspective, ESG is a framework that evaluates and addresses a company’s environmental, social, and governance performance. It’s a strategic approach that acknowledges the impact a company has on various stakeholders beyond just financial considerations. And yet it is a significant part of an organization’s financial reputation, attracting more investors and yielding greater long-term profits.

That’s the view from the C-suite. The view from the ground is a bit broader.

The intertwining themes in both Barbie and Oppenheimer touch on serious ESG issues, demonstrating how the acronym is – with a nod to the first nuclear test site – three aspects of one singular concept: sustainability.

The core idea of sustainability is to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This means a hundred different things for each person, but as a whole, humanity has a powerful drive to ensure we are leaving a better world for those who follow.

Sustainability is woven deeply into the fabric of both films: death, life, progress, community, and individuality. Each of these subjects touches on that existential question: will there be a world left for tomorrow?

It’s no wonder that people the world over flocked to see these films.

Governance and its impact on social and environmental issues 

Governance was a central theme in both films, with Oppenheimer at the helm of the Manhattan Project and Barbie(s) running their women-can-have-it-all world. Each of these films clearly demonstrated the downstream impact of choices made by those in a position of leadership.

The real-world environmental and social consequences of the nuclear weapons developed by that team of scientists in the 1940s will be felt for countless generations to come. And the social issues faced in the world of Barbie act as a funhouse mirror reflecting very real issues impacting our society right now.

Even though governance comes last in the acronym, it is a fundamental part of the ESG equation due to the extreme power wielded by organizational leaders. In a report by PwC, governance had the greatest impact on both consumers and employees in terms of how they viewed an organization.

In fact, the intersection of governance and social was made clear by consumers citing “addressing the widening pay gap” as a factor that they wish to see more corporations taking action on.

Dollars Reflect Demand, and The People Want ESG 

Only a handful of months after their release, both films have shattered records, with Oppenheimer claiming the spot as the highest-grossing biographical film of all time, and Barbie standing tall as the highest-grossing global release in Warner Bros.’ 100-year history.

This outsized success should be a wake-up call for both Hollywood and corporations at large to take note of what these films deliver – because it is what the people want.

People are not only actively engaging with media that explores these important ESG themes, they are prepared to continue spending on sustainable products. The 2023 PwC report on ESG trends states: “More than 60% of people are basing their purchasing behaviours on sustainability and ethical criteria, and this is growing by 10% each year. They’re also prepared to pay more for ethically sourced, sustainably made products.”

The journey to sustainability begins with a single step. If you’re ready to deliver the future to a public ready to invest in hope, we can help get you started.