Tag: 3BL

Inspiring young minds to pursue STEM education is no easy task. MilliporeSigma, the U.S. and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is dedicated to making this easier by tapping into its network of more than 27,000 employees to help. As a leader in the Life Sciences, the company is dedicated to enabling access to science education to support the global scientific community now and in the future.

In 2016, MilliporeSigma launched SPARK™, a first-of-its-kind, large-scale employee volunteer program to spark curiosity in the next generation of scientists by engaging them in hands-on science learning. SPARK™ unites employees worldwide with a commitment to give back through skills-based and non-skills-based volunteering. The program focuses on equity and inclusion, especially for underrepresented populations in science, including people of color and women, to show students the possibilities for a career in science.

Since the program’s launch in 2016, employee volunteers have logged over 124,000 hours through more than 3,300 SPARK™ events. This has impacted nearly 350,000 students in 46 countries who have experienced the world of science from scientists and life science professionals in their own communities.

One of the key program’s employee volunteers participate in through SPARK™ is Curiosity Labs™. The flagship program, which takes place either directly in the classroom or at a MilliporeSigma facility, is designed to educate and inspire students around the world through hands-on, interactive science lessons that encourage them to explore, wonder, and ask why. As of 2023, this program has helped spark curiosity in STEM for more than 57,600 students in 27 countries around the world.

With Curiosity Labs™, teachers can currently choose from a menu of eight lesson options, with new lessons added annually. All lessons are aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and are developed in partnership with the Institute for School Partnership at Washington University in St. Louis, as well as MilliporeSigma life science experts. The goal of each lesson is to encourage curiosity and the use of scientific methods to answer questions.

This year saw the launch of two new lessons on biologic therapies and germ detection. The lesson on biologic therapies introduces participants to how they are used to treat health conditions and the process for developing new medications. The germ detection lesson simulates how illnesses spread through surface contamination and how to detect and prevent them from happening.

To learn more about SPARK™, Curiosity Labs™, and the company’s other sustainability initiatives, please visit the company’s SSBI webpage.

ALBANY, NY, September 25, 2023 /3BL/ – KeyBank’s Key4Women program celebrated its annual networking forum in the Capital Region earlier this month. Best-selling author Fran Hauser served as the event’s keynote speaker, sharing insight with attendees on how to build a career you love while remaining true to yourself.

More than 200 people were in attendance as Hauser answered questions from Key4Women’s National Director, Rachael Sampson, as well as audience members. The author is best known for her book, “The Myth of the Nice Girl: Achieving a Career You Love Without Becoming a Person You Hate.” She’s also an avid startup investor, long-time media executive and champion of women in the workforce.

“The Capital Region is the birthplace of the Key4Women program, and it’s wonderful to see so many people look forward to this annual forum,” said Sampson. “It’s truly an inspiring morning allowing women to meet, network and learn from others across various industries. We’re so proud to host an event designed to help women thrive in their careers and personal lives.”

The annual Key4Women forum is dedicated to celebrating, supporting and encouraging the progress of women in business. The Key4Women program, which launched in 2005, offers:

Customized financial services and advice from Key4Women certified advisors
 Exclusive member events and forums with industry experts to help foster professional and business development while creating lasting connections with industry leaders and professionals
 Timely and robust thought leadership content and insights covering the latest in financial and business trends to help women succeed
 Strong support of national and local women organizations

Also during the event, Annmarie Lanesey, Founder and CEO of CanCode Communities, and Girls on the Run Capital Region were recognized for their dedication to bettering the Albany region.

SWORDS, Ireland, Sept. 25, 2023 /3BL/ – Trane Technologies (NYSE:TT), a global climate innovator, is pleased to announce its Cooling Cart Origin Film documentary received two awards at the 44th Annual Telly Awards. The documentary won a Silver Telly Award in the Non-Broadcast: Short Film Documentary category and a Bronze Award in the People’s Telly for Non-Broadcast.

The film is a feature story from Operation Possible, Trane Technologies’ employee-powered social innovation program that addresses the most pressing social and environmental challenges. Operation Possible harnesses Trane Technologies’ global workforce to accelerate innovation for positive change for both people and the planet. The cooling cart is the result of Operation Possible’s first challenge and tackles the issues of food loss and hunger.

“Our film focuses on how a single idea from one of our team members – the cooling cart – blossomed into a solution with great potential to reduce food loss, reduce emissions and improve the quality of life for street vendors around the world,” said Carrie Ruddy, senior vice president and chief communications and marketing officer, Trane Technologies. “When we launched our employee-powered innovation program, Operation Possible, we knew that powerful storytelling would be an important way to connect people to what’s possible and inspire innovation. This award recognizes how a great story can inspire change.”

Produced by Trane Technologies’ partner, Not Impossible Labs, the film highlights the many challenges street vendors in India face every day and documents the design process used by Trane Technologies’ employees to develop and pilot a solution that addresses those challenges.

Operation Possible was recently named a finalist in the Purpose-Driven Consumer Communications Award at this year’s Reuters Responsible Business Awards. The cooling cart has also been recognized by Fast Company as one of its 2023 World Changing Ideas, winning in the Developing World Technology category. In addition, it received an honorable mention in the Sustainability/Energy category.

The Telly Awards honors video and television across all screens, with the Awards’ 44th annual edition, “Break through the static”, boasting nearly 13,000 entries from 50 countries in 5 continents. The winners were picked by leaders of video platforms, television, streaming networks and production companies including Netflix, ESPN Films and BBC World Series. 
 

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About Trane Technologies 
Trane Technologies is a global climate innovator. Through our strategic brands Trane® and Thermo King®, and our portfolio of environmentally responsible products and services, we bring efficient and sustainable climate solutions to buildings, homes and transportation. For more on Trane Technologies, visit tranetechnologies.com.

About The Telly Awards 
The Telly Awards is the premier award honoring video and television across all screens. Established in 1979, The Telly Awards receives over 12,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents. Entrants are judged by The Telly Awards Judging Council — an industry body of over 200 leading experts including advertising agencies, production companies, and major television networks, reflective of the multi-screen industry The Telly Awards celebrates. Partners of The Telly Awards include NAB, SeriesFest, Stash Media and Production Hub.

September 25, 2023 /3BL/ – The Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR) is pleased to announce that Martine Ferland, President and CEO at Mercer, and Christopher Swift, Chairman and CEO at The Hartford will take part in the annual HACR CEO Roundtable at the 31th Annual HACR Symposium: The Power of Hispanic Inclusion™. The session is set for 2:00 pm ET on Wednesday, October 11, and will culminate the two-and-a-half-day event, set to take place in Times Square, New York City.

Since 2007, the HACR CEO Roundtable has been the flagship forum of the Annual HACR Symposium: The Power of Hispanic Inclusion™, which itself is in its 31st year. The roundtable is the oldest continuous annual Fortune 500 CEO forum for a Hispanic audience in the country. Over forty CEOs have participated since its inception.

“It is a great privilege to have two proponents of Hispanic inclusion in this year’s HACR CEO Roundtable,” said HACR President and CEO, Cid Wilson. “These are two CEOs in the employee benefits industry with dual perspectives on DEI within their own companies and their client companies. We’re delighted to once-again host CNBC Reporter Bertha Coombs as moderator to lead this dialogue.”

Ferland is President and Chief Executive Officer of Mercer, a $5 billion global consulting leader in human resources, health, wealth, and careers. She also serves as Vice Chair of Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC), Mercer’s parent and global professional services firm in the areas of risk, strategy, and people. She is often asked to express her views on diversity and inclusion, healthy societies, sustainability, longevity, and workforce transformation through technology, and is one of Mercer’s most engaged leaders in charitable outreaches. She serves as a trustee for the New York Academy of Medicine and is active in Mercer’s global volunteering program, Mercer Cares, which partners with organizations to create high-impact initiatives in education, disaster preparedness, and recovery.

Swift was named CEO of The Hartford in 2014 and is a long-time DEI advocate and champion of mental health in the workplace. The company is a 2023 Catalyst Award winner, included in the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, and was named as a 2022 Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. In addition to his leadership within The Hartford, Swift has promoted DEI within the broader business community. He was an early signatory to the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion Pledge and serves on the Governing Committee for its Racial Equity Fellowship initiative. He is also a Catalyst CEO Champion for Change and has signed on to Paradigm for Parity, a coalition of business leaders committed to achieving gender parity at leadership levels by 2030.

Coombs covers financial markets, business news stories and health care throughout the business day for CNBC. Over twenty years at CNBC, Coombs has covered the tech sector from the Nasdaq Marketsite and general market news from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Before joining the network, she reported for the pioneering streaming business network, Yahoo Finance Vision. Prior to that, she served as a reporter for ABC News One and a substitute anchor for “World News Now” and “World News This Morning.”

Coombs will return to the HACR stage for the fourth time to moderate the HACR CEO Roundtable. She is a graduate of Yale University. Born in Havana, Cuba, she speaks fluent Spanish.

The HACR CEO Roundtable was created in 2007 to provide CEOs from Fortune 500 and HACR corporate member companies a platform to discuss best practices related to inclusive employment, retention strategies, increasing Hispanic consumer market outreach, and diversity in the corporate boardroom.

The 31st Annual HACR Symposium: The Power of Hispanic Inclusion™ will gather corporate leaders in diversity and inclusion from October 9 -11 for two-and-a-half days of programming on the latest data-based equity and inclusion best practices. The Washington DC-based nonprofit Hispanic inclusion organization will unveil the findings of its 2023 HACR Corporate Inclusion Index™ report on October 9 during the event.

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Founded in 1986, the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR) is the nation’s leading corporate advocacy organization, representing 14 national Hispanic organizations in the United States and Puerto Rico. Its mission is to advance the inclusion of Hispanics in corporate America in the areas of employment, procurement, philanthropy, and governance. Through its corporate leadership advancement programs, best-practice conferences, research initiatives, and public engagements, HACR is illuminating The Power of Hispanic Inclusion™ throughout corporate America.

NEW ORLEANS, September 25, 2023 /3BL/ – Entergy New Orleans is piloting the first vehicle-to-grid (V2G) project inside of Entergy’s service territory, in partnership with First Student, the largest school transportation company in North America.

Entergy New Orleans will provide new electric service to support the installation of five electric vehicle chargers with V2G capabilities, and First Student will provide five electric buses. While plugged in, the new buses will have the ability to transfer energy back into the grid when called upon through Energy Smart’s Commercial Demand Response Program.

“This partnership with First Student is another step toward helping modernize our customers’ fleets and reducing emissions in New Orleans,” said Deanna Rodriguez, Entergy New Orleans president and CEO. “Additionally, the implementation of groundbreaking technology like V2G chargers for the New Orleans grid shows that our company and community are moving quickly towards a cleaner energy future.”

The five new electric buses will be federally funded through a $1.9 million EPA Clean School Bus Rebate grant won by Crescent City Schools in 2022. Since the grant was awarded, Entergy New Orleans worked with First Student to identify Harriet Tubman Charter School as an ideal site to support the project and a potential future expansion.

“First Student is committed to creating a more sustainable future by electrifying our nation’s school bus fleet, and collaborating with Entergy New Orleans is a significant milestone in reaching that goal,” said Kevin Matthews, Head of Electrification at First Student. “Our partnership signifies a shared commitment to cleaner energy solutions. The introduction of V2G chargers to the New Orleans grid not only represents progress but also demonstrates our dedication to pioneering technology that will shape an efficient energy landscape for the community.”

The electric buses are projected to go into service in early 2024. Entergy New Orleans is the first Entergy operating company to pilot this groundbreaking technology. The bi-directional capabilities of V2G chargers have the potential to make a significant contribution to the long-term, sustainable, clean energy transition by adding capacity to strategically deliver relief to the electric grid during periods of high demand.

The V2G charging project expands upon other Entergy New Orleans electrification efforts, such as the public EV charging program, which launched in 2022. In partnership with the City of New Orleans, the utility has installed EV chargers at 25 locations, which are free to use. Entergy New Orleans has also recently launched a residential-focused Level 2 EV charging program, through Energy Smart, which provides a financial incentive to shift EV charging to off-peak hours to help manage grid impacts related to the growing number of EVs.

For more information on Entergy New Orleans’ EV programs and commitment to sustainability, visit https://www.entergy-neworleans.com/cleanenergyfuture/.

About Entergy New Orleans

Entergy New Orleans, LLC provides electricity to more than 209,000 customers and natural gas to more than 110,000 customers in Orleans Parish, Louisiana. Entergy New Orleans is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation, an integrated energy company engaged in electric power production, transmission and retail distribution operations. Entergy delivers electricity to 3 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy owns and operates one of the cleanest large-scale U.S. power generating fleets with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including 7,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, Entergy has annual revenues of $10 billion and approximately 12,000 employees.

About First Student

As a leading school transportation solutions provider in North America, First Student strives to provide the best start and finish to every school day. With a team of highly trained drivers and the industry’s strongest safety record, First Student delivers reliable, quality services, including full-service transportation and management, special-needs transportation, fleet electrification, route optimization, and scheduling, maintenance, and charter services with a fleet of more than 46,000 buses.

By Dana Obrist

At a time when stock prices are slumping and inflation is soaring, farmland looks to be an appealing investment, according to a 2022 article from Barron’s. The story notes that farmland is a real asset that performs well in inflationary environments, delivers stable returns over long holding periods, and exhibits low correlation to financial assets.

So, whether you currently own farmland or are considering investing in this type of natural resource asset, there are a lot of considerations when it comes to management.

This is where Regions’ Brooks Wall and his team come in. A niche group in the financial industry, Walls’ farmland asset team consists of farm managers, account officers, wealth advisors and tax professionals dedicated to helping clients navigate the holistic financial wellbeing of these land assets.

“The Natural Resources and Real Estate group was established to manage natural resources and real estate assets held in trust at the bank,” explained Wall. “Most bank trust departments hire outside management companies to manage their clients’ assets. In 1956, Regions’ predecessor First National Bank of Birmingham, brought that function in-house, hiring a team of professionals that really understand the complexities of managing these assets.”

With approximately 125,000 acres of farmland under management, Wall and his team are more likely to be found out in the field, quite literally, than in a typical banker’s office.

In addition to managing these natural resource assets as trustee and fiduciaries for a client’s trust, the team can also facilitate agency agreements with landowners.

“With an agency agreement, we don’t hold the title as we do with trusts, but in these cases, the landowners are still needing someone to manage the land,” said Wall. “In many cases it’s an aging landowner who just needs a little help or maybe the next generation that doesn’t want to sell the farm but doesn’t have the time or desire to manage it.”

One of our responsibilities as farm managers is making sure clients are aware of and signed up for the appropriate programs. We are also there to help negotiate lease agreements with a reputable farmer to ensure soil health and productivity is maintained.

Brooks Wall, Regions Natural Resources asset manager

This is the benefit of an agency agreement, created to help manage these properties for the client while maintaining an income stream and reaching growth potential for the landowner who may have inherited the land or purchased the land as an investment.

There are government subsidies available for landowners, but in order to receive those subsidies, you must sign up for the programs,” said Wall. “One of our responsibilities as farm managers is making sure clients are aware of and signed up for the appropriate programs. We are also there to help negotiate lease agreements with a reputable farmer to ensure soil health and productivity is maintained.”

Regions’ clients are also able to take advantage of our affordable liability insurance coverage for their property. Our farm managers work with local crop insurance agents to ensure that our client’s crop income is covered at optimum rates specific for each client.

While Regions Natural Resources and Real Estate group serves clients throughout the bank’s 15-state footprint, the majority of farmland under management is in northwest Alabama, the Tennessee River Valley, Mississippi Delta, Arkansas, Illinois, and Georgia growing key agriculture crops including corn, cotton, soybeans, wheat, and rice. Wall oversees a team of five farm managers, including Jake Pustejovsky, a ranchland manager based in Houston, who also focuses on real estate assets throughout Texas.

“Investing in ranchland is a growth opportunity for many looking for alternative assets,” said Pustejovsky. “We often serve as trust advisors for our clients who invest in ranchland to either hold as raw land for pure appreciation value and future sale or lease to a rancher as grazing lands or livestock fields.”

A growing business, ranchland management and pastureland management are another focus of Regions farmland management team within Natural Resources and Real Estate. Pustejovsky knows firsthand the unique needs and challenges of ranchland owners.

We often serve as trust advisors for our clients who invest in ranchland to either hold as raw land for pure appreciation value and future sale or lease to a rancher as grazing lands or livestock fields.

Jake Pustejovsky, Regions ranchland manager

“On the agency side, ranches are very project- and goal-specific,” said Pustejovsky. “We can buy land, sell land, move trees around for different needs. It hits a lot of categories including recreational, livestock, or raw land held for eventual sale for new commercial or residential development.”

He noted that while traditional row crop farmland is very consistent, ranching can cover a lot of different aspects – and his focus is working with the ranchland owner to achieve their financial goals.

Regions’ farmland team recently helped a Mississippi client who was looking to raise cash. With help from the specialized banking team, a portion of the land was sold, and proceeds were used to add irrigation wells and complete some needed land leveling on the remaining tract. The rent on the upgraded property is equal to the rent previously received on the larger non-irrigated land.

“Our client was able to raise the money needed, improve the remaining land, increasing its value, and maintaining the income,” said Wall. “This is just one example of how our team of farmland managers work with clients and banking professionals to help out clients achieve their financial goals.”

For more on Regions Natural Resources and Real Estate:

Creating Wealth and Sustainability Through Timberland InvestmentsKeeping the Family Farm: Inheritance and Succession Planning

This information is general in nature and is not intended to be legal, tax, or financial advice. Consult an appropriate professional concerning your specific situation and irs.gov for current tax rules. The purchase of an insurance product through Regions Bank or any of its affiliates is completely optional. Regions Bank may not condition an extension of credit or the provision of other services on either: 1) the purchase of an insurance product through Regions Bank or any of its affiliates, or 2) an agreement not to obtain or a prohibition on obtaining, an insurance product from an entity not affiliated with Regions Bank.

Regions provides links to other websites merely and strictly for your convenience. Linked websites are operated or controlled by a third party that is unaffiliated with Regions. The privacy policies and security at the linked website may differ from Regions privacy and security policies and procedures. You should consult privacy disclosures at the linked website for further information.

Trust and investment management services are offered through Regions Private Wealth Management, a business unit of Regions Bank. Investment advisory services are offered through Regions Investment Management, Inc. “RIM”. RIM is a Registered Investment Adviser and wholly owned subsidiary of Regions Bank, which in turn, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Regions Financial Corporation.

A new survey conducted by The Harris Poll and Action Against Hunger reveals that Americans are concerned that climate change is impacting food security. The research showed that 78% of Americans say rising food prices are making it harder for them to afford groceries and 72% believe that climate change is already contributing to rising food prices in the U.S.

KeyBank and Operation HOPE, Inc., a national non-profit dedicated to financial empowerment for underserved communities, celebrated the beginning of a new era in homebuyer and financial education in Buffalo. KeyCorp Chairman and CEO Chris Gorman, and Operation HOPE Chairman John Hope Bryant took part in a celebration at KeyBank’s East Delavan branch located at 752 East Delavan Avenue. The event marked the start of HOPE Inside, which delivers financial education programming and coaching, including homebuyer education, to help empower community members with knowledge and tools to create a secure financial future.

KeyBank has a dedicated Operation HOPE financial coach placed in its East Delavan branch to provide education and programming to everyone including adults, youth, disaster survivors, and employees at no cost.

KeyBank and Operation HOPE’s partnership is focused on two key areas:

Homebuyer Education. HUD-certified Operation HOPE coaches will offer group homebuyer education classes and coaching sessions to provide individuals with knowledge, skills, and resources to help overcome common challenges first-time homebuyers face as they go through the home loan process.
 Financial Education. Credit and money management education, where onsite Operation HOPE coaches will assist and lead individuals through guided steps on how to improve money management and provide support throughout their financial journey.

“KeyBank’s purpose is to help our clients and communities thrive. An important part of building thriving communities is providing access to financial tools and planning,” said Chris Gorman, Chairman and CEO, KeyCorp. “Through this groundbreaking relationship with Operation HOPE, we are proud to take a significant step in empowering Buffalo community members with the knowledge and tools to build a more secure financial future.”

“By joining forces with Keybank, we can expand Operation HOPE’s reach and impact, bringing financial education and resiliency to those who need it the most,” said John Hope Bryant, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Operation HOPE. “Together, we are creating a pathway to financial success and homeownership, empowering individuals and families to build a better future for themselves and their communities. Our shared commitment to empowering underserved communities lays the foundation for a more prosperous future in Buffalo.”

KeyBank’s homebuyer focus with Operation HOPE is just one way the bank is making access to homeownership easier and more equitable. This program follows Key’s introduction of the KeyBank Neighbors First CreditSMi,Key Opportunities Home Equity Loanii and the increase of KeyBank Home Buyer Credit SMiii, two Special Purpose Credit Programsiv offered for qualifying properties in eligible communities to help borrowers on their path to owning a home, as well as a commitment to invest more than $25 million in grants, fee waivers, and marketing over five years to increase mortgage lending in majority-minority neighborhoods and more than $1 million to homebuyer education and other community support.

NOTICE: This is not a commitment to lend or extend credit. Conditions and restrictions may apply. All home lending products, including mortgage, home equity loans and home equity lines of credit, are subject to credit and collateral approval. Not all home lending products are available in all states. Hazard insurance and, if applicable, flood insurance is required on collateral property. Actual rates, fees and terms are based on those offered as of the date of application and are subject to change without notice. Mortgage and Home Equity Lending products offered by KeyBank are not FDIC insured or guaranteed.

ABOUT KEYBANK

KeyBank’s roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $195 billion at June 30, 2023. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,300 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC. NMLS #399797. Equal Housing Lender.

ABOUT OPERATION HOPE, INC.

Since 1992, Operation HOPE has steadfastly advanced America from civil rights to “Silver Rights,” empowering millions of low and moderate-income youth and adults across the nation through its visionary community uplift model, HOPE Inside. Lauded as the Innovator of the Year by American Banker magazine, Operation HOPE has impacted over 4 million individuals and facilitated over $4 billion in economic activity within disenfranchised communities. This transformative approach has converted check-cashing customers into banking clients, renters into homeowners, small business dreamers into successful owners, minimum wage workers into living wage consumers, and uncertain disaster victims into financially empowered survivors. Recognized with Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Award for fostering entrepreneurship, and honored with the prestigious 4-star charity rating for fiscal management and commitment to transparency and accountability by Charity Navigator, Operation HOPE continues to level the economic playing field for underserved Americans. Recently, HOPE launched The 1865 Project, an initiative designed to drive economic equity. For more information: OperationHOPE.org. Join the conversation on social media at @operationhope.

Copyright © 2023 KeyCorp®. All Rights Reserved CFMA #230907-2234428

iEligibility is determined based on both census tract and community location. Not all census tracts within a listed community are eligible. Not all properties in communities that are listed may qualify. Eligible communities are subject to change without notice. Available on primary residence purchases only.

iiKey Opportunities Home Equity Loan is a rate discount program provided as a permanent rate reduction that will be reflected in the Promissory Note interest rate. Interest rate discount is not combinable with any other offers. Not available in all states. To apply for a home equity loan, you must: Be 18 years of age or older Live within the following states: AK, CO, CT, ID, IN, MA, ME, MI, NY, OH, OR, PA, UT, VT, or WA Agree to provide additional personal and business information, if requested, such as tax returns and financial statements Certify that all information submitted in the application is true and correct Authorize the bank and or a credit bureau to investigate the information on the application Please read our Disclosures. If you applied for your credit account online within the last 90 days, you may also review the original disclosures provided to you.

iiiEligibility is determined based on both census tract and community location. Not all census tracts within a listed community are eligible. Not all properties in communities that are listed may qualify. Eligible communities are subject to change without notice.

ivSpecial Purpose Credit Programs are, generally, programs that are established to meet special social needs or the needs of economically disadvantaged persons by extending credit to persons who would probably be denied credit or would receive it on less favorable terms, under certain conditions. See 15 U.S.C. § 1691(c)(1)-(3); 12 C.F.R. § 1002.8(a).

Thursday, September 28 at 1 PM ET / 12 PM CT / 11 MT / 10 PT

Register Now

September 22, 2023 /3BL/ – On the job hunt? Looking to advance within your company? Want to make the leap into a new field? Whatever the motivation, if you’re trying to strengthen your resume, skills-based volunteering is a great pathway to consider as you meld career development with making a difference alongside amazing social causes.

Attend our free webinar on Thursday, September 28 at 1 PM ET/10 AM to learn how volunteering your expertise can benefit your career. Webinar participants will leave with: 

Understanding the expertise nonprofits are looking for, and how your corporate experience will translateTips for leveraging skills-based volunteering for resume building or professional advancementA walk-through of how to find Taproot volunteer opportunities that are the right fit for your professional talents and social impact interests

Register now for this free one-hour event! Bring your colleagues—the more, the merrier.   

This webinar will be recorded and shared with all registrants. Taproot Plus is free of cost and accessible to all business professionals, nonprofits, charitable organizations, fiscally sponsored social good organizations, and public schools located in the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Canada, and India. We recommend creating your free account before this event.

CHICAGO, September 22, 2023 /3BL/ – Thirty-one Hispanic students from all over the country are confidently embarking on their college journey after being awarded a combined half a million dollars as recipients of the McDonald’s HACER® National Scholarship. Founded in 1985, HACER® has become one of the largest programs committed to providing college scholarships and resources for Hispanics, awarding more than $33 million in scholarships to more than 17,000 students nationwide.

In its 38th year, the scholarship program continues to provide educational opportunities to help narrow the gap that exists for Hispanic college-bound students, further reinforcing McDonald’s long-standing commitment to feeding and fostering the diverse communities it serves.

In a positive stride forward, recent research has unveiled a promising trend: the number of Hispanic students pursuing a college education is steadily increasing year over year. Projections indicate that by 2026, Hispanic enrollment in higher education will surpass 4 million students, with a growth rate exceeding that of any other racial-ethnic group by more than 10%1. However, despite this upward trend in enrollment, there remains a persistent disparity at four-year institutions, where Hispanics’ graduation rate is 13% lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers2. According to a 2021 Pew Research Center survey, the primary reasons cited by the majority of Hispanic students without a bachelor’s degree and not currently enrolled in school are the need to contribute to their family’s financial support and the inability to afford a four-year degree3.

“Everyone deserves a fair chance at chasing their dreams. We recognize the financial hurdles many students and their families face in pursuing a college education, and for this reason McDonald’s and our Hispanic Owner/Operators remain committed to our investments and fostering educational opportunities,” said Richard Castro, a McDonald’s Owner/Operator and national HACER® scholarship chairperson. “We’re proud to celebrate our newest recipients and encourage aspiring college students to kickstart their journey toward a brighter future by applying for HACER®.”

This year’s HACER® recipients share a common theme: resilience. Here is a glimpse into just a few of their inspiring backgrounds:  

Salomon Bibas, Miami, Florida: A student who developed an app mockup for laryngectomees—patients who have had their voice box at least partially removed—to effectively communicate after his father’s untreatable vocal chord illness forever impacted his speech. His decision to pursue his studies in engineering were also partially motivated by the Tepuis of Venezuela, some of the oldest geologic formations in South America, to help tackle and minimize devastating climate impacts.Angie Espinoza, Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania: A student who founded a student-led international nonprofit organization to distribute supplies to underserved communities in the Dominican Republic, including fully equipped bookbags with school supplies, menstrual care products, athletic footwear and briefs. Samuel Rodriguez, San Leandro, California: A student dedicated to mentoring other young men and empowering them to prioritize their mental health and pursue goals. His own journey of triumph over adversity, including overcoming the challenges of a home fire and a car accident, fuels his passion for making a positive impact. 

The McDonald’s HACER® National Scholarship aims to change the narrative from disparity to empowerment by offering mentorship, academic resources and financial aid to support students every step of the way. Recipients are selected based on academic achievement, community involvement, and financial need through a rigorous selection process that includes an application, questionnaire, and interviews with a panel of judges representing academia, business, media and McDonald’s USA.

Hispanic college-bound high school seniors and their parents are encouraged to visit mcdonalds.com/hacer to learn more about the resources offered in English and Spanish, and for details on how to apply. The next scholarship application period opens in October 2023 and runs through February 2024, continuing our commitment to initiatives educating the next generation of youth.

McDonald’s and its Hispanic Owner/Operators congratulate the 2023 HACER® National Scholarship recipients:

Texas

Amy Marquez from Riesel, TX attending Texas State UniversityCristal Hernandez from Garland,TX attending University of Texas at ArlingtonDamian Brown from Corpus Christi,TX attending Stephen F. Austin State University  David von Paumgartten from Buda, TX attending The University of Texas, DallasFrancelis Santiago Moreno from San Antonio, TX attending Universidad de Puerto Rico Recinto de CarolinaKaren Abad from Houston, TX attending Carnegie Mellon UniversityMarcela Mata from Mount Pleasant, TX attending Meredith CollegeMatthew Lucio from Brownsville, TX attending The University of Texas, Austin  Vanessa Veloz from Mineola, TX attending The University of Texas, DallasVictoria Blankenship from Sherman, TX attending Texas A&M University, College Station

California

Danna Chavarin from Sylmar, CA attending California State University of Northridge (CSUN)Maya Prieto from San Pedro, CA attending California State University, Long Beach  Paola Chavez from Tulelake, CA attending Oregon Institute of Technology  Sahid Mendoza from Delhi, CA attending University of California, Merced Samuel Rodriguez from San Leandro, CA attending University of California, Riverside  Vianna Chavez from Riverside, CA attending University of California, Los Angeles Yulianna Valdez from Montague, CA attending Shasta College

Connecticut

Roselyn Nahuatlato from West Haven, CT attending University of ConnecticutValentina Salazar from Unionville, CT attending University of Connecticut

Minnesota

Ashley Sosa Bustillos from Brooklyn Center, MN attending St. Catherine University  Ashley Villar from Rochester, MN attending University of St Thomas. St Paul Minnesota

New Jersey

Jaden McClarnon from Holmdel, NJ attending Pennsylvania State UniversityJordana Romero-Jimenez from Scotch Plains, NJ attending Seton Hall University

Florida

Salomon Bibas from Miami, FL attending University of Florida

Illinois

Lilia Rodriguez from Hampshire, IL attending Illinois State University

Indiana

Ariana Gualajara from Winamac, IN attending Ball State University  

Kansas

Robin Robles from Overland Park, KS attending Creighton University

New Hampshire

Vanessa Flanders from Gilford, NH attending SUNY Cortland

Pennsylvania

Angie Espinoza from Tobyhanna, PA attending University of Pittsburgh

Rhode Island

Anjelica Guarcas from Providence, RI attending Bentley University

Washington

Vanessa Hernandez Crisostomo from Vancouver, WA attending University of Washington, Seattle Campus

About McDonald’s USA

McDonald’s USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to millions of customers every day. Ninety-five percent of McDonald’s approximately 13,500 U.S. restaurants are owned and operated by independent business owners. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter @McDonalds and Facebook at www.facebook.com/mcdonalds.

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