Tag: 3BL

A deep commitment to developing communities—and helping the individuals within them to reach their full potential—is why Fifth Third Bank’s Corporate Responsibility Office exists. The Fifth Third CRO team leads the effort to reverse negative cycles among low- and moderate-income Americans to help build strong foundations for the future. Fifth Third is working to boost affordable housing and combat low homeownership rates in underserved communities and to increase access to capital and technical assistance for small businesses to start, grow and thrive.

Community Engagement

Critical to this work is Fifth Third having a collaborative working relationship with the leaders of our communities. We operate a national Community Advisory Forum comprised of leaders who work in a variety of industries and advise us on issues of corporate responsibility. The national forum is chaired by Kala Gibson, executive vice president and chief corporate responsibility officer. In addition to our work with CAFs, we undertake regular stakeholder priority surveys to ensure we are serving communities in the most effective, impactful and sustainable ways. These surveys have helped inform our $2.8 billion Accelerating Racial Equality, Equity and Inclusion initiative, including our innovative $180 million Empowering Black Futures Neighborhood program.

Delivering on Our Commitment 

It was our privilege to let our CAF and other community stakeholders know, early in 2023, the results of our most recent Community Reinvestment Act performance examination. Fifth Third received an “Outstanding,” the highest rating possible, on its most recent exam conducted by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Fifth Third received “Outstanding” ratings on each of the examination’s three tests: Lending, Investments and Service. Fifth Third converted from an Ohio state-chartered bank to a national bank in 2019. The rating period was Jan. 1, 2017 to Dec. 31, 2021 under the OCC, a time period that correlated closely with the Bank’s delivery of its $32 billion, five-year Community Commitment from 2016- 2020. Fifth Third exceeded the commitment with $41.6 billion in community support, 30% above goal.

In 2022, Fifth Third announced a new $100 billion environmental and social finance target that continues our commitment to sustainable and inclusive growth through 2030. Social impact categories under the target include affordable housing, access to essential services and other categories such as employment generation, food security and socioeconomic advancement and empowerment. Tim Spence, Fifth Third president & CEO said, “Strong banks need strong communities to succeed. Improving the well-being of the communities where we live and work is foundational to who we are as a bank. The ‘Outstanding’ rating from the OCC reflects that commitment.”

This story originally appeared in the Fifth Third Bancorp 2022 Sustainability Report, which published on June 30, 2022.

In July, as part of their Tech and Innovation Internship, 25 high school and college students from our digital equity partner Coded by Kids (CBK) visited Comcast Headquarters for a full day of connecting and learning with Comcast employees about the future of tech. With back-to-school season in full swing, these students will have much to reflect on as they start a new year and continue to develop their interests in coding.

Students started the day with a campus tour and product experience demo, followed by a panel discussion at LIFT Labs, our hub for entrepreneurship and innovation inside the Comcast Technology Center. Featured speakers included members of BENgineers and TECHWomen, our technology resource groups supporting Black and women technologists and engineers. As part of our national volunteerism program Team UP, the panelists volunteered to share their career journeys and advice for developing product management and engineering skills. They spoke thoughtfully about the importance of passing the torch to the younger generation and what most excites them about tech.

Comcast is a company that allows us to pay it forward, especially to those who are young. These kids are the future and will eventually be the ones passing the torch.

QUINCY IHEME

Manager, Software Development & Engineering, BENgineer

To close the day, the CBK students presented their tech projects and asked for feedback from BENgineers and TECHWomen volunteers. In small groups, they addressed potential solutions to issues across several industries including connecting consumers with local farmers to reduce food waste, using AI to combat loneliness and sleep quality issues in Generation Z, providing parents of young students access to affordable and safe after-school programming, and more. Our volunteers eagerly listened and provided notes to each team to further develop these ideas.

“This experience has really shown [them] a new light, that there are people out there that support you, ready to give insight and mentorship. Seeing their excitement about the opportunity to talk through their ideas with people in Comcast, it’s really cool,” said Lennin Antunish, Coded by Kids Team Lead.

Coded by Kids is an organization that prepares underrepresented young people to succeed as tech and innovation leaders through project-based learning and mentorship. Their programs are designed to provide young people of all backgrounds with beginner to advanced level tech skills in areas where the lack of diversity, equity, and inclusion are the greatest.

This day of learning and exploration is just one part of CBK’s Tech and Innovation Internship, a robust 8-week program designed to build technical and professional skills that will prepare high school and college students for opportunities in the workforce and entrepreneurship. As part of the CBK-led 1Philadelphia initiative, the internship program serves as a partnership model for how local organizations can work together to create meaningful pathways for young people interested in the tech industry.

We are proud to support CBK’s vision to create equity in the world through technology and innovation as part of Project UP, our $1 billion commitment to connect tens of millions of people to the internet and tech opportunities that advance economic mobility. Through our partnership with Coded by Kids, we are helping to create unlimited possibilities for generations to come.

As a CBK chaperone said during the event, “This is a unique exposure for these kids… it’s a reminder of what’s possible.”

MetLife

NEW YORK, September 15, 2023 /3BL/ – MetLife Foundation announced that it has reached over $1 billion in giving. The Foundation was established in 1976 as an independent charitable arm of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife), and since its founding, has made significant contributions to strengthen communities where MetLife has a presence.

Today, MetLife Foundation focuses on driving inclusive economic mobility and addressing the needs of underserved and underrepresented communities around the world. The work of MetLife Foundation continues to improve the financial health and well-being of individuals and families, creating positive impacts for society and communities.

“Supporting and protecting families, businesses and communities has always been core to our strategy, and the work MetLife Foundation does helps us deliver on our purpose,” said MetLife President and CEO, Michel Khalaf. “As we celebrate this milestone, we renew our commitment to continue to help all our stakeholders build a more confident future.”

Since its inception, MetLife Foundation has established commitments and partnered with nonprofits to provide grants and create programs in support of its mission, notable among them being:

In 2005, MetLife Foundation expanded its grantmaking outside of the U.S., and committed $200 million to a global campaign to bring financial inclusion to low-income communities around the world.MetLife Foundation’s giving has focused on responding to crises globally including the September 11 attacks, the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan, COVID-19, among others.Over the years, MetLife Foundation has provided grants to support access to affordable housing and has partnered with organizations like Habitat for Humanity, which the Foundation works with in 13 countries – including the U.S., Korea, India and Bangladesh.MetLife and MetLife Foundation have proudly partnered with UNCF (United Negro College Fund) for nearly 80 years to support students attending HBCUs.MetLife’s 2030 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commitments include a pledge from MetLife Foundation to award $150 million in funding to support underserved and underrepresented communities. Since 2021, $60.9 million has been awarded to help close the income and wealth gap.MetLife Foundation has awarded over $18 million for Alzheimer’s Disease research through MetLife Foundation Awards for Medical Research, leading to a greater understanding of the disease.

To mark the milestone, MetLife Foundation and Food Bank For New York City are hosting a food packing event on September 14, 2023, in Vanderbilt Hall located in Grand Central Terminal, with MetLife volunteers. MetLife Foundation and Food Bank For New York City have been partners for 15 years, and this event coincides with Hunger Action Month and MetLife’s annual initiative – Volunteering with Purpose – where MetLife colleagues lend their time, talent and passions to benefit their communities.

“We are honored to have our longstanding partner, Food Bank For New York City, join us to recognize this achievement,” said Mike Zarcone, Head of Corporate Affairs for MetLife and Chairman of MetLife Foundation. “Our partners and MetLife colleagues amplify the efforts of the Foundation, and this event will help fight back against food insecurity for our neighbors in New York City and communities around the world.”

Additionally, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York Representative Brandon Williams issued proclamations recognizing MetLife Foundation achieving $1 billion in giving and its work in New York City and New York more broadly. In Mayor Adams’ proclamation, he declared September 14, 2023, as MetLife Foundation Day in New York City.

To learn more about the work of MetLife Foundation, visit www.MetLife.org. 

About MetLife Foundation 

At MetLife Foundation, we are committed to driving inclusive economic mobility for underserved and underrepresented communities around the world. We collaborate with nonprofit organizations and provide grants aligned to three strategic focus areas – economic inclusion, financial health and resilient communities – while engaging MetLife employee volunteers to help drive impact. MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 to continue MetLife’s long tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. Since its inception, MetLife Foundation has contributed over $1 billion to strengthen communities where MetLife has a presence. To learn more about MetLife Foundation, visit www.MetLife.org.

Media Contacts:

MetLife

Olivia Janicelli

(212) 578-3547

olivia.janicelli@metlife.com

Originally published on Built From Scratch

Being able to use his hands to create something out of nothing is what John Haynes enjoys most about the skilled trades industry. The retired U.S. Air Force Veteran watched his dad and grandfather in construction growing up, so it was only natural to learn the skills needed to lay the foundation for his future. He went on to start his own construction company after his 20 years of military service. He uses the knowledge he’s gained over the years to train the next generation of students.

As a veteran, John is able to help those transitioning out of the military follow in his footsteps. He teaches carpentry at the Home Builders Institute in Fort Liberty, North Carolina, a national partner of The Home Depot Foundation’s Path to Pro program. John is dedicated to not only making a difference but seeing the future of skilled trades continue to move forward.

“I don’t do this for the money, I am doing this job to help The Home Depot Foundation fill all these positions in our industry. We need the younger generation to step up and relieve my generation and to do this job safer and better than we did. At this stage of my life, I feel this is what I am supposed to do; train these men and women getting out of the service, so they don’t have to worry ‘what do I do now”?”

– John Haynes U.A. Air Force Veteran and Carpentry Instructor

Upon finishing the program, John’s students will have increased access to finding a career in the construction and home improvement industry, as they’re connected to hiring professionals. “Giving my knowledge and experience back to these service members is the least that I can do,” he shares. “This industry is in need more than ever for hard working men and women. The military way of life gives these members the work ethic these construction trades are looking for.”

The Home Depot and The Home Depot Foundation are committed to educating more people in skilled trades. The Path to Pro Skills Program offers a free training program for those interested in pursuing and growing a career in the skilled trades and prepares them for their first job. If you’re interested in learning more visit Path to Pro.

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.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month and as a part of our ongoing perfumer series, we’re spotlighting renowned perfumer Patty Hidalgo. Hidalgo created several Bath & Body Works’ fragrances, including Strawberry Poundcake, Tiki Beach, Vetiver Glow and Oceanside Palm. Patty chose these fragrances to showcase her love of travel and food, and we’re offering Wallflowers and 3-wick candles in a special time capsule collection.

Bath & Body Works believes that it’s important to highlight professionals from historically underrepresented groups in fragrance to raise awareness of their important contributions and stories while signaling what’s possible for the next generation of perfumers.

We’re proud to support the American Chemical Society Scholars Program which awards renewable scholarships to undergraduate students from historically underrepresented groups majoring in chemistry-related disciplines and careers.

In 2023, the Bath & Body Works Foundation donated $200,000 to support both the American Chemical Society Scholars Program and the mission of the American Chemical Society Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect. This donation will help open doors for the next generation of leaders in chemistry-related fields, like perfumers, and more.

To learn more about this effort, visit https://www.bbwinc.com/people/community-engagement/foundation.

Cummins

After building its 5 millionth engine, Cummins Inc.’s Rocky Mount Engine Plant (RMEP) in North Carolina is continuing its long history of innovation in engine technology and manufacturing. The next stop? Building fuel-agnostic engines in its VPI Lab.

VPI, or value package introduction, is the Cummins’ process for commercializing technology for the market through the definition, design, development and introduction of products, services and information for customers.

In 2022, Cummins unveiled the company’s industry-first fuel-agnostic internal combustion powertrain solution. The fuel-agnostic engine platform can be optimized for different low-carbon fuel types using a high degree of parts commonality to help reduce carbon emissions in commercial transportation.

RMEP’s VPI Lab will begin building prototype engines before they’re approved to hit the main assembly line. Various projects are in progress at the plant to upgrade the current production line and create a new low-volume production line, both of which will be capable of building both current and new Cummins’ products.

Plant personnel made upgrades to the VPI Lab to replicate the production environment for building the prototype engines. Run by two engineers, seven technicians and supported by a large cross-functional team, the lab uses prototype parts and replicates the manufacturing process of the assembly line to build the engines. This allows the team to identify errors, issues or roadblocks, ultimately decreasing downtime when the engine eventually moves to production.

Lab specialists validate the designs from a form, fit and function perspective. They make improvements as needed. It’s critical to spot any needed changes during the VPI phase, as it’s far more difficult to change the design and order of operations on the assembly line after the new engine goes into production.

“There’s a lot of work that goes into preparing our RMEP to manufacture a new product here,” said Chief Engineer Crystal Gwynn. “The VPI team works hard to identify any issues and get them resolved before full production manufacturing begins.”

Building the prototype engines at the same site where they’re manufactured opens up opportunities for collaboration between teams at the plant. Employees in the lab can train colleagues on new products and gain input to make each engine better.

“We want to build it first,” Howell says. “Since the engine will be manufactured here as well, we want to build it first, too. We know what we’re looking for, and we know how the engine is assembled. We want to refine that inside the plant.”

The naked eye can only detect a few thousand stars in a clear sky despite the presence of around 200 sextillion stars in the universe. If you pity the astronomer who has to deal with a number as large as that, think about the job of a virus hunter trying to stop new potential pandemics.

Similar to the ratio of stars to visible stars, only a small fraction of the approximately 10 nonillion existing viruses on our planet actually poses a threat to humans. The key to being a good virus hunter, then, is not just identifying them but determining which viruses have the power to infect humans, become an outbreak or even turn into an epidemic or pandemic.

Fortunately, more than a few good virus hunters are on the case.

Members of the Abbott Pandemic Defense Coalition have recently contributed to two studies that involve the scrutinization of a virus to establish whether it has the potential to become an outbreak. Here is a behind-the-scenes look at how the Coalition decides if these viruses are not a cause for concern, or if they should stay on our radar.

Bangui Virus: An Ancient Virus, Found Again

While discovering an ancient virus seems like the start to a new TV series, a new study, published in the Virus Evolution journal and supported by the Abbott Pandemic Defense Coalition, had a more anticlimactic ending.

As part of the Coalition’s viral surveillance work, Abbott scientists trained in metagenomics and next-generation sequencing assembled the genome of what they believed to be a novel bunyavirus from a person in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The team used this cutting-edge technology as well as compared the sample to specimens collected by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and here’s what we know:

The virus was first collected by the CDC in the 1970s in the Central African Republic, and when the agency sequenced the sample again, in light of the APDC’s findings, they determined it is called the Bangui virus.The virus has a low evolution rate, since the virus sequence the Coalition found 50 years later was nearly identical to the sequence identified by the CDC.Abbott scientists believe it’s an ancient virus, dating back to 10,000 years ago.The Coalition also screened blood samples of other individuals from the DRC and found no other cases.

Because of this, researchers in the study found that this ancient mosquito-vectored virus is likely not a cause for concern. Phew.

Astrovirus: A Stomach Bug, Increasing in Severity

In contrast, the Abbott Pandemic Defense Coalition has recognized that a different virus and its mutation may pose a threat to our health.

Astroviruses were first discovered in humans around 50 years ago and are known to infect hosts like cats, dogs, cattle, deer and pigs. The virus typically presents in humans in the same way as the stomach flu, causing gastroenteritis and symptoms like muscle weakness and loss of balance.

Similar to COVID-19, there are different variations of the astrovirus, and Abbott researchers found a strain of the virus in a person with a fever that belonged to a genotype (MastV-Sp6Gt7) reported to cause neurological disease.

The findings, which were recently published in the journal Emerging Microbes & Infections, determined that this variant of astrovirus was different from the strain that has co-evolved with humans for thousands of years.

In the study, researchers determined that the MastV-Sp6Gt7:

Has been quickly spreading across the globe in the last 20 yearsMutates at a higher rate than other astrovirusesCauses severe neurologic disease in the immunocompromised

Because of this, researchers believe this variant is one we should proactively monitor, highlighting the need for diagnostics capable of detecting it.

Global Detectives for Pandemic Preparedness

Determining which viral threats could turn into new potential pandemics improves the likelihood of us being prepared for the next outbreak. By examining characteristics of different viruses — such as evolution, transmission and mutation rates — we can determine which pathogens need priority tracking, response and reactive diagnostic technology.

We can’t count every virus. But, with a team uniquely equipped to face this challenge, we can count on being well-prepared to fight the next viral outbreak.

Originally published on Illumina News Center

The 2022–23 “tripledemic” season—in which influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) all surged at the same time—was especially bad for Arizona, says Efrem Lim, an Arizona State University (ASU) virologist with the Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics at the Biodesign Institute. “What was really unusual with this tripledemic was that the RSV and flu season came about a month or two months earlier than when we typically see it. And the fact that they coincided created a very big burden on our health care system.”

One challenge during this tripledemic was accurately diagnosing a person with flu-like symptoms. Viral respiratory infections are especially easy to misdiagnose, and the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the problem. If an older adult with RSV is instead treated for influenza by mistake, this can delay appropriate care and risk their condition worsening, leading to unnecessary antibiotic use or inappropriately targeted antivirals, an extended hospital stay, and increased risk of spreading the infection to other vulnerable members of their family and community.

In May 2023, GSK and Pfizer released the first two FDA-approved RSV vaccines for adults 60 years and older. In August 2023, the FDA approved a Pfizer vaccine for pregnant people to protect infants at highest risk of mortality from RSV. “The vaccines are a big game-changer,” says Lim, an associate professor with the ASU School of Life Sciences. “This is a big deal. We’ve never ever had vaccines for RSV.”

The Lim Lab is located on the ASU Tempe campus. The moderate-sized, CLIA-certified lab is equipped with two Illumina NextSeq 2000 instruments and employs genomics to study human viruses. It also sequences clinically relevant specimens from major hospitals in Maricopa County, where a majority of the state’s population resides, and reports results to the Arizona public health department and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These entities currently collect data on RSV-associated hospitalizations through the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance Program. Lim wants to raise community awareness about the RSV vaccine and emphasizes the important role of genomic surveillance—to make sure the vaccines are maintaining protection over time.

Lim and his team conducted a sequencing study of 100 RSV-A specimens and 27 RSV-B specimens from cases at Arizona hospitals during the height of the tripledemic, between November 2022 and April 2023.

Using the Illumina Respiratory Virus Oligo Panel (RVOP v2) hybrid capture, they achieved 100% genome coverage to a viral load of Ct < 33. “That’s the surprising thing,” Lim says. “Normally, it’s hard to get full genome coverage, particularly when a sample has a very low viral load. So, it’s very promising having this product’s increased sensitivity when you’re trying to get as much information from the virus as you can from every person that’s infected.”

The study team sequenced the samples to determine which subtypes of RSV were present and gain clues into how they were evolving and spreading. Next, they mapped those sequences onto the parts of the viral genome that would be targeted by the vaccine to see if there were mutations that could escape and cause problems. Specifically, they examined the parts of the viral genome that are predicted to be involved in exposure of surface proteins that interact with antibodies.

Discovering mutations
The RSV vaccines target the F protein antigenic sites of the virus. Lim explains: “For us, the best case would be that we didn’t find any mutations in the F protein, which means our vaccines are fine and should probably work. Unfortunately, in this case, we started seeing mutations already existing in these viruses in our communities.” He and his team found seven different mutations in RSV-A and five in RSV-B. It’s unclear whether those specific mutations will affect vaccine response. “This was not what I was expecting. Maybe one mutation, two mutations—not this many. But again, mutations happen naturally. Not all of them cause a problem. But we need to make sure we’re keeping up with our sequencing surveillance to catch anything and then update our vaccines accordingly.”

The team’s study, “Genomic Sequencing Surveillance and Antigenic Site Mutations of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Arizona, USA,” was published this month in Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Lim says that to his knowledge, no one is routinely sequencing the RSV-positive samples circulating in the community. This is likely because no previous RSV vaccine had been available and because routine respiratory viral sequencing was uncommon before COVID-19. The availability of new vaccines changes the equation for molecular surveillance. The viruses that cause flu, COVID-19, and serious RSV disease are all prone to rapid changes in their genomes, so population-level sequencing is especially important for both the original design of new vaccines and for monitoring to make sure vaccines still “match” the strains that are causing the most disease. 

Looking ahead, Lim is interested in expanding pathogen surveillance for public health. He tells his students to think not just about the viruses but about the applications and technologies available for public health surveillance.

“Everyone thinks that only doctors save lives, and I’m trying to tell them that researchers are an important part of the public health system as well. The things you do prevent outbreaks, and if you can improve a vaccine’s design, you can save many more lives in the future. It is what researchers do.”

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From growing up in a Mexican orphanage to creating the wildly successful Maggie’s All Natural Fresh Salsa’s & Dips starting with an $800 investment, Maggie Cook’s story shows how anyone can find their way through adversity to achieve their greatest potential.

Presenter

Magie Cook

Businesswoman Founder, Maggie’s Salsa

Magie Cook, whose birth name is Magdalena De La Cruz Cook Garcia, is a Latino businesswoman who was born in an orphanage in Mexico. She grew up in poverty along with 68 brothers and sisters. She missed her opportunity to play basketball for the Mexican National team because she broke her collarbone. Shortly after she immigrated to the US on a basketball scholarship at the University of Charleston.

After obtaining her college degree, and not being able to find a job, Magie became homeless and lived on the streets. When someone recognized her, she was given a place to stay. A few weeks later, she entered a Fresh Salsa competition for the State of West Virginia and won unanimously. At this event, she was given $800 to start her business.

Not knowing anything about business and with perseverance, she created Maggie’s All-Natural Fresh Salsas & Dips, a company that grew into a multi-million-dollar business within 4 years and distributed products across 38 states to major supermarkets such as Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, Whole Foods and many more. At the height of her success in 2015, Maggie’s Salsa sold to Campbell’s Soup. Shortly after, she went back to Mexico and rescued 31 orphaned children from a drug cartel.

As a CEO, Magie shares her unconventional and unique techniques that made her super successful in life and in business. She was given a Nobel Entrepreneurial Prize in Mexico, the Small Business Administration gave her the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the University of Charleston Awarded her into the Hall of Fame, and West Virginia inducted her into their Generation Next, 40 under 40. Magie is a board member of AFIRE Pinellas, an organization that provides educational scholarships to kids with disabilities.

Opening Remarks

Diana Bellini

Senior Relationship Strategist PNC Private Bank

Diana Bellini is a vice president and a senior relationship strategist; in her role, she coordinates a team to assist clients in pursuing the peace of mind that comes from knowing that the important aspects of a financial life are thoughtfully orchestrated. Diana has the knowledge, experience and desire to help bring about successful outcomes as a trusted advisor.

Prior to joining PNC Private Bank in 2019, Diana was a Vice President and a Relationship Manager within BNY Mellon’s Asset Servicing division. Her duties included having overall accountability for the seamless delivery of the firm’s comprehensive suite of asset servicing products and services. For over a decade at BNY Mellon, Diana helped direct strategic priorities to promote and ensure long term partnerships with clients and stakeholders.

Diana graduated with a Bachelor of Science in business management from King’s College and with a Graduate Certificate in organizational leadership from Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business. Diana was past president and board advisor of ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals for America) Pittsburgh Chapter, a past board member of Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania, and a volunteer with Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania.

In 2016, Diana was selected as one of the recipients of the Pittsburgh’s Magazine 40 under 40. Diana received the 2019 company of distinction award from Girls Scouts of Western Pennsylvania for her leadership role at creating a cybersecurity program for girls in K 5th grade. In 2022, Diana became a board member of the Marco Island Center for the Arts and Marco Island Noontime Rotary Club. She is a volunteer with Our Daily Bread Food Pantry. Diana is currently a committee member of the PNC Private Bank Diversity, and Inclusion Council.

Moderator

Jeffrey Martinez

Head of Branch Banking PNC Bank

Jeffrey (Jeff) Martinez is Executive Vice President and Head of Branch Banking at PNC Bank. In his current role, Jeff is responsible for more than 2,500 branches, and nearly 17,000 employees, through PNC’s coast to coast footprint. He also serves as a Chair for PNC’s Military Advisory Council and is the Executive Sponsor of PNC’s Latino and Multicultural Employee Business Resource Group.

Martinez joined PNC in 2014 and adds more than 20 years of retail banking experience to PNC’s senior leadership team. Prior to PNC, he held various roles at JPMorgan Chase for more than 10 years, including responsibilities as a First Vice President, District Manager. Martinez also served the country for nine years in the U.S. Army National Guard. He deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and has been awarded three Army Commendation Medals and New Jersey’s Distinguished Service Medal.

Martinez is passionate about giving back to the communities where he lives and works and is involved with several non-profit organizations. He is the Treasurer of the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, a LatinoJustice PRLDEF Board Member, and a Member of the NJCU Foundation Board and the Hudson County Community College Employer Advisory Board. Martinez is also an executive advisor to CAALE, whose mission is centered on supporting education within our community and he works with the Association of Latino Professionals for America to educate students and professionals through informative presentations hosted at New Jersey and New York universities.

Martinez earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business management from Rutgers University and completed the CBA Executive Banking School Program at Furman University.

Closing Remarks

Steven González

SVP, Regional President & Head of Corporate Banking, Austin PNC Bank

Steven González is regional president for PNC Bank in Austin. In this role, González has direct oversight of business development, building and maintaining client relationships and leading philanthropic initiatives in support of the Austin community.

González currently serves as market leader for PNC’s Corporate Banking business in Austin and will continue in the role in addition to the regional president position. With more than 15 years of financial industry experience in Austin, González’s background includes a range of middle market and corporate banking roles, with responsibilities that included credit analysis, treasury management and business development. As the market leader for Corporate Banking, he and his team help companies with annual revenue greater than $50 million grow their businesses while delivering products and services, along with well-informed and timely advice to help them accomplish their business goals.

He prioritizes community involvement and is an active participant in the region. He currently serves on the Andy Roddick Foundation Leadership Council.

González received a Bachelor of Business Administration specializing in accounting and finance from The University of Texas at El Paso.

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Viatris at UNGA

Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, second only to COVID-19, claiming 1.6 million lives worldwide in 2021.1 TB generally affects the most vulnerable people – those who live in poverty, are marginalized or economically and socially excluded.2 Ongoing conflicts across Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East have further exacerbated this situation.3 Globally, the cumulative reduction in the tuberculosis incidence rate from 2015 to 2021 was 10% and has faced significant setbacks due to COVID-19 disruptions in care.4 Much more needs to be done to reach the World Health Organization’s (WHO) End TB Strategy milestone target of 50% reduction by 2025.5

Multi-Drug Resistant TB (MDR-TB) remains a growing public health crisis, with only about one in three people accessing treatment in 2020.1 Multi-Drug Resistant/Rifampicin-Resistant (MDR/RR) and Extensively Drug-Resistant (XDR) TB, together commonly referred to as DR TB, represent the greatest threat to the progress that has been made, especially as COVID-19 disruptions negatively impacted treatment.

The significance of DR TB within the broader context of Antimicrobial Resistance

Drug-resistant TB is a major driver of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).6 Of the 700,000 people the WHO estimates die every year from AMR, nearly one-third are due to drug-resistant TB – by far the largest single contributing cause. The WHO estimates that the number of deaths due to AMR could rise to 10 million people a year by 2050 under the most alarming scenario if no action is taken.7

Increasing Global Access to Treatment

Providing sustainable access to high-quality medicines and healthcare is a universal need. At Viatris, we realized that we had a powerful platform, as the world’s largest producer of HIV drugs by volume, to help those living with TB around the world, including the regions where the TB burden is the highest – in low- and lower- middle-income countries. As such, our commitment to access begins with our ability to sustainably deliver high-quality medicines to people, regardless of geography or circumstance, and we offer a range of anti-TB medication options. Our efforts extend beyond delivering treatment options, as we believe that increased awareness and education are also crucial to help advance the WHO’s treatment recommendations, which include MDR-TB guidance.

These steps to expand access to healthcare for previously unmet needs of patients suffering from DR-TB are a small part of the global fight to end TB. We know we can do more – and are committed to continue partnering to make a difference for those impacted by TB.

India:

TB remains a pressing public health concern in India – the country shoulders a significant portion of the global TB burden. Viatris has partnered with the Government of India and non-governmental and civil society organizations for many years to improve TB care in India. In a dedicated effort to combat the disease and improve treatment outcomes, HEAL Foundation, supported by Viatris, recently launched the India Fights TB initiative. The new program aims to spread awareness and enhance treatment adherence among TB patients in India. Partnerships and collaborations such as these are critical to support early diagnosis and enhance treatment adherence.

Other key initiatives in India have included:

Partnered with India’s planning commission to increase awareness, enhance screening and provide access to quality healthcare in the model district of Bahraich in Uttar PradeshFacilitated screening of over 1 million people and helped 700 patients access the public health TB programRecognized by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for contributions to expanding access to TB health in India under the TB Pledge formulated in 2019

South Korea:

With the highest rate of TB incidence among OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) members*, TB remains a serious public health problem in South Korea. Viatris has worked to develop critical partnerships and collaborations to support sustainable access to medicines for TB patients in South Korea. Together with an array of organizations including medical thought leaders, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the STOP TB international network, access for a new XDR-TB treatment was achieved, making it possible to facilitate care for XDR-TB patients without a charge or delay.

*Source: https://www.who.int/teams/global-tuberculosis-programme/tb-reports

References:

1 World Health Organization. Tuberculosis. [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2023 Aug 17]. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tuberculosis

2 Equi-TB. [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2023 Aug 17]. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/57a08c98e5274a31e00012fa/HTBLivtb_vulnerable.pdf

3 World Health Organization. Tuberculosis deaths and disease increase during the COVID-19 pandemic. [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2023 Aug 17]. https://www.who.int/news/item/27-10-2022-tuberculosis-deaths-and-disease-increase-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

4 World Health Organization. Global tuberculosis report 2022. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2022. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.

5 World Health Organization. The End Tb Strategy. [Internet]. 2015 [cited 2023 Aug 17]. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-HTM-TB-2015.19

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