Tag: 3BL

Recently, Yum China has been named to Fortune’s 2023 Change the World list, an annual list that recognizes a select group of companies that have had a positive social impact through activities that are part of their core business strategy. Yum China is one of 59 companies selected by Fortune’s reporters and editors for inclusion in the 2023 list – and is the only restaurant company to be included.

Fortune highlighted the impact of Yum China’s flagship One Yuan Donation program, noting that the campaign as a whole has channeled over $30 million to rural development initiatives since its inception. The program, currently in its 16th year of operation, was launched in 2008 in partnership with the China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD). By enabling customers in China to conveniently make small donations when they place their orders, the program is contributing to poverty alleviation and rural revitalization by improving the diet and nutrition of children in remote areas and enhancing their access to digital education. Over the years, Yum China have continuously fine-tuned the program to increase its impact, including extending fundraising channels from its stores to its own online platforms. Since its establishment, more than 130 million customers have donated directly to the One Yuan Donation Program.

Fortune also recognized Yum China’s Grow Local Initiative, specifically its achievements in introducing local produce, from Yunnan truffles to Tartary buckwheat, to the Company’s e-commerce platforms and menu items. Fortune also noted that Yum China is striving to reduce its food waste and carbon emissions, in part by establishing food banks to distribute excess food to the local community.

Yum China’s sustainability strategy is an essential component of the Company’s long-term business growth strategy. With a focus on three strategic pillars – Food, Environment, and People, Yum China always strives to Create A Responsible Ecosystem by building sustainable restaurants, creating a sustainable supply chain, and contributing to sustainable communities in collaboration with all stakeholders. In recent years, the Company has continued to make significant progress towards its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) goals. This includes actively executing on its plan to decarbonize its business, continuously exploring ways to optimize its operations by reducing its reliance on natural resources and increasing waste recycling, keeping food safety as the Company’s top priority, and adhering firmly to the Company’s “People First” philosophy.

Fortune’s annual Change the World list identifies companies that have made an important social or environmental impact through their profit-making strategy and operations. The Change the World list recognizes companies that have had a positive social impact through activities that are part of their core business strategy. As Fortune assesses nominees, among the factors that matter most are measurable social impact, business results, and degree of innovation.

To view the full Fortune 2023 Change the World list visit here.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., October 10, 2023 /3BL/ – Discovery Literacy – an educational program from Discovery Education, Dollar General Literacy Foundation, and the National Afterschool Association – presents a new five-part, no-cost professional learning video series to help educators develop the critical literacy skills of students in grades K-2. Discover Literacy provides teachers, parents, and caregivers with access to a powerful suite of in-school and after-school digital resources at no cost.

The new “Basics of Literacy” video series helps educators master literacy instruction that can help students strengthen reading confidence. Building upon a suite of learning modules and ready-to-use activities, the new five-part video series addresses the critical areas of effective reading instruction as determined by the National Reading Panel Report, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Learn more about the new “Basics of Literacy” video series and the Discover Literacy program here.

Discover Literacy provides educators, students, and afterschool professionals with standards-aligned resources that provide hands-on learning for an explicit, systematic approach to instruction, as well as opportunities to practice new skills. The program also helps up-skill teachers and after-school professionals with research-based support for professional learning.

“With research-based resources like these in hand, educators are empowered to put literacy front and center, no matter the lesson plan,” said Denine Torr, Executive Director of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.

Learn more about Discover Literacy at DiscoverLiteracydg.com or within Discovery Education Experience, the company’s K-12 learning platform. Connecting educators to a vast collection of high-quality, standards-aligned content, ready-to-use digital lessons, intuitive quiz and activity creation tools, and professional learning resources, Discovery Education provides educators an enhanced learning platform that facilitates engaging, daily instruction.

“Literacy is the cornerstone of learning. This topic is so important, we want to help make sure educators have everything they need to effectively approach this topic with students,” said Amy Nakamoto, Executive Vice President of Social Impact at Discovery Education. “We are proud to partner with Dollar General and the National Afterschool Association to provide educators innovative resources that help support them in teaching the critical literacy skills students need for future success.”

For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources and professional learning solutions visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

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About Discovery Education  
Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, innovative classroom tools, and social impact programs, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences engaging all students and supporting higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and trusted organizations to empower teachers with leading edtech solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.

Contacts  
Grace Maliska  
Discovery Education  
gmaliska@discoveryed.com

Operating a successful purpose-led company comes with its share of challenges — even to the companies that excel at it. Driving meaningful impact, investing in a sustainable future, and fostering employee engagement all require strategic decision making and often significant internal transformations.

So how are the best companies navigating these challenges? An unwavering commitment and a well-defined strategic approach set purpose-driven champions apart from their peers. At PwC, this is brought to light through “Positive Equation,” the company’s purpose strategy, as well as its values, which are ingrained in day-to-day operations.

We invited Shannon Schuyler, Chief Purpose & Inclusion Officer at PwC, to return to Purpose 360 to speak about the nuances and challenges of maintaining a purpose-driven approach through the lens of her work, challenges, and progress at PwC.

Listen for insights on:

Using values as a driving force to support your organization’s purposeHow PwC reorganized internally to align with its purpose strategyEngaging employees through their personal purposeEarly predictions for 2024

Listen to the full episode and others here.

As originally published in the 2022 .gay Impact Report

A New and Safer Digital Experience With .gay

When it comes to domain extensions, .gay stands apart with its clear commitments to support LGBTQIA+ communities. The .gay Rights Protections Policy provides a clear and enforceable protocol to take down hateful content and deal with any intentional slandering of LGBTQIA+ individuals or groups.

20% of all new .gay registration revenue (not just profit!) is donated to LGBTQIA+ organizations to help address key issues facing these communities.

By championing these initiatives, .gay aims to create a platform where LGBTQIA+ people can feel celebrated, supported, and most importantly, protected.

“Finding my .gay domain and the platform of creatives it unites gave me an instant sense of safety and community in an online environment. I hope it ignites many inspiring connections and collaborations!”

– Jake, www.OhHeyJake.gay

DONATIONS THROUGH 2022:

$181,206.14 raised and donated to LGBTQIA+ community beneficiaries, GLAAD and CenterLink.

REGISTRATIONS THROUGH 2022:

Over 19,000 active .gay registrations.

BRAND REACH THROUGH 2022:

More than 750,000,000 people reached through social media channels and influencer partnerships.

View and download the full 2022 .gay Impact Report here.

About .gay 
The .gay domain extension provides a distinctive digital space devoted to connecting and celebrating members of LGBTQIA+ communities and their allies. For individuals, organizations, businesses and brands, .gay serves as a virtual Pride flag and inclusive badge of honor. For every new domain registered, .gay donates 20% of registration revenue to LGBTQIA+ nonprofit groups to help address key issues facing these communities.

About GoDaddy Registry 
GoDaddy Registry is one of the world’s largest domain registry providers. We operate top-level domains (TLDs) on behalf of sovereign nations, city governments, global brands and other domain registries. With more than two decades of industry leadership, we serve as the Registry Operator for industry-leading TLDs like .co, .us, .biz and .nyc — and manage the backend registry technology for hundreds more.

Many of us have an old laptop or tablet sitting in our junk drawer, but don’t always know where to dispose or donate such items. Each year, 50 million tons of e-waste are generated globally. Laptops and tablets often contain precious minerals that must be mined if not reused or recycled. Pyxera Global wants to make it easier for households and businesses to work together to reduce e-waste.

Residents of the continental U.S. wishing to donate their laptops and tablets may request a free FedEx shipping label with donation instructions by visiting the Done with It (Powered by Evercycle) website. The pilot program will accept items through December 15, 2023.

TERRA’s Done with It mail-in recycling program has been selected to provide collection services for the pilot and will direct the donated devices to a secure FedEx facility located in middle Tennessee. To protect donor privacy, every device will have its internal memory wiped and/or physically destroyed in accordance with the R2v3 certification standards.

“The logistics industry plays a crucial role in our economy,” said Ben Fogg, Global Sustainability Manager for FedEx Logistics. “The pilot with Pyxera Global explores the role logistics companies can play in the circular economy and close the loop on electronic materials normally destined for landfill. With our goal to achieve carbon neutral global operations by 2040, we know that a stronger supply chain for critical mineral recycling is vital to support the batteries for electric vehicles and other low-emissions technologies.

If a donated device is repairable, it will be sent to Electronics Recycling Solutions (ERS), a Nashville-area social enterprise that is also R2v3-certified and dedicated to training adults with developmental disabilities in high-demand repair skills. If the device cannot be fixed, it will be broken down and its component parts with the lithium-ion batteries sold to American Battery Technology Company (ABTC). ABTC will recover the materials necessary for a domestic battery metals supply chain, ultimately used for powering electric vehicles.

Informed by the design and execution of the pilot, Pyxera Global recently released a framework intended to serve as a blueprint for the logistics industry to embrace their role enabling a circular economy that benefits people and planet. The initial report – Powering Sustainability through Circular Logistics – is built on the premise that transitioning to a circular economy is a crucial step towards achieving a sustainable future.

“Logistics and delivery companies are uniquely positioned to play a critical role in this transition through circular logistics, providing collection, sorting and redistribution,” says John Holm, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Pyxera Global. “This report highlights how logistics companies can shape a sustainable re-use economy for consumer products and provide services for manufacturing and retail companies on their journey toward more circular practices.”

For more information about the types of products that can be accepted and how to best pack your shipment, go to the Done with It website to learn more.

About Pyxera Global

For over 30 years, Pyxera Global has been dedicated to enhancing resiliency worldwide by harnessing the collective resources of corporations, government, and communities to drive positive social change for people and the planet. Pyxera Global offers strategic advisory and implementation services for corporations and governments with a shared commitment to bolstering local economies while respecting planetary boundaries.

About FedEx Corp.

FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce, and business services. With annual revenue of nearly $90 billion, the company offers integrated business solutions through operating companies competing collectively, operating collaboratively, and innovating digitally as one FedEx. Consistently ranked among the world’s most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 500,000 employees to remain focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. FedEx is committed to connecting people and possibilities around the world responsibly and resourcefully, with a goal to achieve carbon-neutral operations by 2040. To learn more, please visit about.fedex.com.

Originally published on CFO

CFOs play an essential role as companies gear up to comply with the growing demand for disclosure of climate-related data and other environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) metrics. Although formal SEC climate disclosure guidance is most applicable to public companies, the impact will be felt far and wide among private and mid-sized companies, and the time to prepare is now.

Middle-market companies are likely already feeling pressure from stakeholders, with consumers, vendors, employees, and boards pushing for visibility into ESG-related initiatives. At this point, it’s not uncommon for middle-market companies to receive requests from vendors to report specific ESG metrics. Those requests will only increase as vendors and companies upstream initiate or develop their ESG strategies and look to their supply chains to influence and improve the metrics for which they have stated goals and targets. CFOs will be responsible for integrating sustainability practices into their companies’ policies, procedures, financial reporting, and decision-making processes.

Continue reading here. 

Originally published on Built From Scratch

October marks Careers in Construction Month. This monthlong initiative focuses on increasing public awareness of construction careers and inspiring the next generation of craft professionals.

DID YOU KNOW?

There are approximately 400,000 job openings in the construction industry40% of construction workers expected to retire by 203194% of contractors struggle to find skilled workers

Right now, there are more than 7 million people employed in the construction industry nationwide — a number that’s expected to grow over the next decade. The Home Depot and The Home Depot Foundation are committed to training the next generation of skilled tradespeople, diversifying the industry and helping fill the skilled labor gap through their Path to Pro programs.

The Home Depot’s Path to Pro program provides jobseekers and hiring professionals alike with resources, trades training and career networking opportunities, available in English and Spanish. As the skilled trades population becomes increasingly diverse, ensuring accessibility to trades training and resources is critical to bridging the labor gap between the number of skilled trade workers and unprecedented demand for trade jobs. Path to Pro’s resource library, introductory trades training and access to the Path to Pro Network are free and available to anyone with internet access.

The Home Depot Foundation’s skilled trades training program, Path to Pro, which launched in 2018, provides free training for future skilled workers through industry-leading nonprofit organizations. These partnerships have introduced more than 200,000 people to the skilled trades and have trained more than 41,000 participants through programming available to youth, high school students, underserved communities and separating U.S. military.

“Many skilled people are now retiring, and we don’t have enough young people joining the trades. Just like my dad, my grandfather was a construction worker, and a lot of methods and knowledge has been passed down from my grandfather and my dad to me,” says Tyler Dykhouse, a Path to Pro scholarship recipient.

In August, The Foundation announced a $6 million investment in skilled trades training as part of its $50 million commitment to train the next generation of skilled tradespeople. With these philanthropic grants, the Foundation launched a brand-new entrepreneurship program and will provide free, skilled trades training and scholarships for more veterans, military families, high school students and separating service members

To learn more about The Home Depot and The Home Depot Foundation’s commitment to trades training, visit our website or check out the 2023 ESG Report.  

Keep up with all the latest Home Depot news! Subscribe to our bi-weekly news update and get the top Built from Scratch stories delivered straight to your inbox.

WASHINGTON, October 10, 2023 /3BL/ – To help support the development of environmental, open space and resiliency projects across the District of Columbia and Maryland communities, Pepco and Sustainable Maryland announced the nine recipients of the 2023 Sustainable Communities Grants Program. The one-time grants, totaling $100,000, support environmental stewardship programs, community gardens, and enhanced resiliency for local communities. This funding is made available through Pepco’s Sustainable Communities Grant program.

“The projects and organizations highlighted today are working to make a lasting impact on the environment and in the communities we serve,” said Valencia McClure, Pepco region president. “We are proud to partner with them and our broader communities as we work to reach our shared climate objectives and advance a cleaner and safer environment for everyone.”

Pepco launched the Sustainable Communities Grant program in 2020. To date, the program has provided $350,000 in grants supporting environmental, open space and resiliency efforts in the communities where Pepco serves.

“The municipalities and nonprofits that comprise the 2023 Pepco Sustainable Communities grantees are to be commended for their progressive leadership on environmental stewardship and climate resilience within their communities,” said Mike Hunninghake, Director of Sustainable Maryland. “The towns and organizations represented in the program continue to grow each year, adding to the breadth of impactful and inspirational projects across Montgomery County, Prince George’s County and the District of Columbia.”

This year, Pepco and Sustainable Maryland have awarded grants to the following municipalities:

Town of Upper Marlboro ($8,000) – The grant will be used in Budget Priority Emergency Resiliency Support from the Town’s Community Emergency Response Team.Centro de Apoyo Familiar ($10,000) – The grant will be used to educate diverse Hispanic youth and communities on topics such as indoor air and water quality, healthy homes, and environmental justice.City of Takoma Park ($10,000) – The grant will be used for invasive species management, increasing biodiversity, and expanding educational opportunities.DC Greens ($10,000) – The grant will support operations and fruit and vegetable production at The Well at Oxon Run during the 2024 season.Edgewood Alley Green ($10,000) – The grant award will be used to acquire two additional lots, expanding the existing green space which promotes inclusive, safe, and healthy recreational opportunities.Glenmont Forest Neighbors Civic Association ($10,000) – The grant will be used to install a community garden that will increase community resiliency and environmental stewardship within an area that is highly diverse.Joe’s Movement Emporium ($10,000) – The grant will be for CreativeGREENWorks which engages youth and young adults of color from Prince George’s County in environmental stewardship and skill building.One Montgomery Green ($12,000) – This grant will support the organization’s program focused on engaging Montgomery County high school students in climate change and community-based plans and activities.Housing Authority of the City of College Park ($20,000) – The grant will be used to improve quality of life and emergency preparedness for low-income seniors living in city properties.

Pepco’s Sustainable Communities Grant program provides grants for projects focusing on open space preservation, improvements to parks and recreation resources, and environmental conservation. The program also provides grants to support resiliency projects that demonstrate innovation in providing a safe and reliable resource for a community during a time of emergency. Municipalities, recreational authorities, and nonprofits in the Pepco service area can apply for a Sustainable Communities grant each year. A committee with representatives from Pepco, the University of Maryland, and nonprofit and state agencies will review each application and select the projects to receive funding.

The Sustainable Communities Grant program is part of Pepco’s Climate Commitments in the District of Columbia and Maryland, multi-faceted, action-oriented efforts to help the District and Maryland achieve their clean energy and climate goals. As part of the commitment, the company is taking actionable measures to reduce its greenhouse gas footprint and deliver innovative solutions that will empower customers and communities to achieve greater greenhouse gas reduction. The effort supports the broader Path to Clean goal of Pepco’s parent company, Exelon, to reduce its operations-driven emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and achieve net-zero operations by 2050.  

Interested organizations can learn more about the Sustainable Communities Grant Program and how to submit a grant request at pepco.com/SustainableCommunities.

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

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About Pepco:
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.

About Sustainable Maryland:
Sustainable Maryland (SM) is a free and voluntary outreach and certification program that helps Maryland communities pursue a sustainable future. Serving the University’s land grant mission, SM provides local jurisdictions with a unique framework with which to benchmark local sustainability initiatives, and a comprehensive suite of policies, resources, direct support, and incentives designed to help communities advance a broad range of sustainability goals.

INDIANAPOLIS, October 10, 2023 /3BL/ – Intend Indiana (Intend) and PNC Bank (PNC) announced an agreement for a $2.5 million investment that will support Intend Indiana’s multifamily housing initiative for the state’s most vulnerable residents. PNC’s support includes a $1 million equity equivalent investment (EQ2) and a $1.5 million line of credit. The financing will be leveraged to address the statewide deficit of over 120,000 housing units needed for individuals and families in low- and moderate-income areas that have historically been undervalued and overlooked.

“As a national main street bank, PNC is focused on making a real impact in communities throughout Indiana,” said Patricia Gamble-Moore, PNC Community Development Banking market manager for Indiana. “This EQ2 investment enables us to provide low-cost capital solutions to solve for Indiana’s affordable housing shortage and reinforces our commitment to work with leading organizations like Intend Indiana to address the housing affordability gap and economic vitality of the communities we serve.”

The $1 million EQ2 is PNC Bank’s first equity equivalent investment in Indiana created to increase affordable housing options, and the first for Intend. An EQ2 is a deeply subordinated loan product with features that allow it to work like revolving equity and help investors like Intend to support longer-term lending activities of Community Development Financial Institutions. PNC’s investment will help accelerate Intend’s community development-related initiatives, in particular housing for those experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness.

“Intend Indiana is incredibly thankful to PNC for making this substantial investment into our organization so we can deliver on our mission of connecting people to opportunity,” says Steven Meyer, chief executive officer of Intend Indiana. “PNC’s commitment will help expand our ability to make a long-term impact in our communities by providing security and stability for those who need it most.”

One of the first projects PNC’s investment will help fund is The Passage, a multifamily development supported by Intend’s Edge Fund. Edge Fund is a mission-driven community development financial institution (CDFI) that helps increase affordable housing options in Indianapolis by providing mortgages, construction loans and bridge loans for both single and multi-family housing. The Passage will provide 39 affordable housing units for low-income individuals and those with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Indianapolis. Eight units will be set aside for permanent supportive housing units integrated throughout the property.

“Market rents and homeownership are often beyond what many individuals and families can afford in Indiana,” added Gamble-Moore. “At PNC, we are proud of the work we are doing with local developers and fund investors to increase and preserve the supply of affordable housing.”

PNC’s investment stems from its $88 billion Community Benefits Plan, which provides loans, investments and other financial support to bolster economic opportunity for low- and moderate-income (LMI) individuals, communities, and people of color over a four-year period that began Jan. 1, 2022. As part of the allotted $88 billion, PNC has committed to provide at least $14.5 billion in community development loans and investments across all markets, including at least $400 million for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) that help meet the banking and financial service needs of traditionally underserved communities.

About Intend Indiana 
Intend Indiana, Inc. (Intend) is a nonprofit that advances comprehensive community development through innovative financing and development solutions that create and preserve affordable housing, support neighborhood revitalization efforts and foster small business development. Incorporated in 1987 to serve the near northside neighborhoods of Indianapolis, Intend has grown to provide community solutions across the state. Learn more about Intend Indiana by visiting https://intendindiana.org/.

About PNC Bank 
PNC Bank, National Association, is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). PNC is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com.

Media Contacts: 
Denise Herd, Herd Strategies 
317-796-0514 
denise@herdstrategies.com

Maria Pasic, PNC Bank 
312-342-1565 
maria.pasic@pnc.com

With battery cost being a critical factor in making electric vehicles (EVs) more affordable, it’s vital to have an efficient workflow in a huge test laboratory.

In this episode of the Auto Tech Talks podcast series, let’s look at the typical workflow inside an EV battery test lab.

Our expert shares how automating lab management of the modern battery test lab can help save both time and money. Enterprise-wide lab management tools allow developers to track and manage test orders and resources. With data visibility across thousands of test channels, they can even track the test status of individual battery cells under test.

This frees up the developer’s time to focus on improving battery quality at the cell, module, and pack levels. Tune in to the podcast to learn more.