Tag: 3BL

For the sixth year in a row, Cadence has partnered with Team4Tech to provide communities around the world with access to cutting edge tools and technologies. Together, Cadence employees and Team4Tech joined forces with a select nonprofit partner to engage in a three-month philanthropic project to improve the livelihood of communities using technology. With over 100 applicants for the Cadence and Team4Tech Spring 2023 project, 10 Cadence employees were selected for a volunteer project in India. This diverse team of employees came from eight Cadence sites around the globe, including offices in Brazil, Germany, India, Israel, the United Kingdom, and the United States. For the first time in our six-year history with Team4Tech, we partnered with an organization based in a country where Cadence operates—this was an especially unique opportunity for Cadence employees in India to make an impact in their very own communities!

Cadence’s team of volunteers had the pleasure of teaming up with Barefoot College International (BCI), a nonprofit based in India that provides rural communities, especially women and girls, around the world with programming and resources to become self-reliant. With a presence in over 90 countries, the Cadence team volunteered in BCI’s home nation to create innovative educational solutions that will improve the rate of positive learning outcomes for thousands of children and reintegrate hundreds of people who left school before completing their education back into formal education. Altogether, the project with BCI took 12 weeks to complete, which included a 10-day onsite trip to two of BCI’s sites:  Kishangarh in Rajasthan and Kisauli in Himachal Pradesh.

To accomplish the goal of improving educational solutions using technology and expertise, Cadence volunteers formed three sub-teams where each team was tasked with enhancing an area of BCI’s Digital Community Schools system. In partnership with BCI staff, two teams worked to “integrate cutting-edge technology into BCI’s Digital Community School curriculum and rethink the BCI EduBox solution, a unique set of tools including a solar-powered projector and tablets designed to create an offline digital hub for education,” explained Team4Tech Program Director, Chris Meehan. The third team of volunteers worked to enhance BCI’s process to produce educational content more efficiently by introducing artificial intelligence (AI) tools, which significantly cut down time spent on their content creation process. Together, Cadence volunteers donated over 1,250 hours of labor while working alongside BCI staff, which has a pro bono consulting value of $262,000 (USD).

Throughout the project, Cadence volunteers worked closely with BCI staff to create a positive impact on the women and children served by their organization in rural areas. In keeping with Cadence’s culture, the employee volunteers embodied thoughtful collaboration when working alongside staff and community members. When describing her experience on working with Cadence volunteers, BCI’s Program Head of Wellness and Education Initiatives, Monalisa Padhee, explained, “My feedback is integrated in the way [things] are made or it is contextualized, [which] was a real highlight for me because we can talk about collaboration, but really seeing that collaboration is wonderful.” The work of Cadence volunteers and BCI staff will ultimately impact around 3,000 students and community members this year, culminating in approximately 50,000 individuals being positively impacted over the next five years!

The project not only yielded a positive impact on the community served by BCI, but it also proved to be a valuable leadership opportunity for Cadence volunteers. When describing her experience on the project, Cadence volunteer Radhika Chawla explained, “Volunteering is important because I think it gives us a perspective…[and] expands your horizons. It makes you see the world in a different way.” By truly embodying Cadence’s One Team culture, the team of volunteers was able to leverage their professional expertise and knowledge in technology to create lasting change for communities in need alongside nonprofit partners like BCI.

Read on to see how this trip impacted some of this project’s participants:

“That was the kind of mission I love—a mission with goals that are done in a unique way. Gathering 10 people from different countries who didn’t know one another in rural area with a sparkle in their eyes and a goal to make education better, expanding the span of knowledge to those in need.” – Tuval Biran, Sr. Account Executive, LinkedIn Post

“The amalgamation of witnessing diverse cultures and the tech exposure received by developing VR Games for their courses made this an enriching experience. Seeing the team’s passion showed us how fast people can adapt and grow with the right opportunities and support.” –  Radhika Chawla, Software Engineer II,  LinkedIn Post

“After coming back from volunteering in India, I have been left with an ever-lasting enthusiasm to continue on this path. Equally, this has been a fantastic experience to meet new people and engage with different communities. My hope is to continue to form a long-lasting partnership with Team4Tech and Barefoot Collage International[.]” – Lucy Down, Technical Communications Manager, LinkedIn Post

“Our time in India has really reinforced my deep commitment to make a positive impact on the world through my work—a commitment I made several years ago. The journey with BCI has just begun, and we are eager to be a small part of creating a world where educational opportunities are abundant and accessible for all, while fostering leadership growth within our own team.” – Amy Migliori, Scientific Partnership Business Development, LinkedIn Post

“This experience with Cadence and BCI has reaffirmed my belief in the potential of technology to revolutionize education and create opportunities for learners around the world. It has ignited a passion within me to continue exploring innovative ways to merge technology and education, making a lasting impact on the lives of individuals and communities.”  – Renan Moreira, Software Engineer I, LinkedIn Post

“This program gave me opportunity to meet new people, learn about different cultures and work with a diverse team that has unique skills and different perspectives…I got [the] chance to really connect and spend time with the community and seeing first-hand how our small actions can make a difference in someone’s life.”  – Minu Sachdeva, Sr. Principal Program Manager,  LinkedIn Post

“The dedicated teachers and staff at both Barefoot College International and Team4Tech showed us how we could have a meaningful impact on students that will affect their lives positively as well as their families for generations to come.“ – Linda Smyth, Principal Program Manager, LinkedIn Post

“It was amazing to see so many people from different backgrounds and cultures coming together to work towards such an important cause… I hope the partnership between #Cadence and #Team4Tech continue to bring benefits to other institutions and communities around the world.” – Luiza Trindade, Software Engineer, LinkedIn Post

To learn more about BCI’s work around the world and ways you can support their mission, visit their website.

Can handbags have the power to create real, meaningful change? Yes, they can. Our On Purpose social enterprise initiative, based in Masoro Rwanda, is proof positive. Since 2013, kate spade new york has been investing in women’s mental health and empowerment, starting with our partnership with Abahizi Rwanda.

Abahizi is an independent, employee-owned handbag manufacturer and a certified B Corporation. Seeing its impact on the women of Abahizi—and the way the women have transformed their community—has been an inspiring journey. On Purpose turns 10 this year, and we couldn’t be prouder. It’s just part of our company’s mission to empower women and girls around the world by supporting their mental health.

Learn more here: https://www.katespade.com/social-impact/on-purpose

NEW ORLEANS and NEW YORK, July 20, 2023 /3BL/ – The New Voices Foundation is proud to announce the winners of the New Voices $150,000 POWER PITCH sponsored by the Entergy Charitable Foundation. Three Black women entrepreneurs pitched on the Global Black Economic Forum Stage at the ESSENCE Festival of Culture™ presented by Coca-Cola ® on Saturday, July 1st for a $75,000 grant, $50,000 grant, and $25,000 grant and business coaching.

The Foundation has held many pitch competitions virtually and in-person around the country since July 2018, providing more than $1,250,000 in non-dilutive capital and over $650,000 of supportive services to pitch entrepreneurs. Entergy’s sponsorship is part of a $250,000 donation from the Entergy Charitable Foundation to support the work of the New Voices Foundation in expanding economic opportunities for entrepreneurs of color.

“New Voices Foundation advances economic equity by closing gaps in access to capital, revenue, entrepreneurial education, and networking opportunities. Our growing and diverse ecosystem allows us to positively impact Black women-owned businesses as we disrupt the status quo in wealth generation,” said Richelyna Hall, Chief Impact Officer of New Voices Foundation.

The Foundation was thrilled to return to New Orleans, and partner with Entergy at the ESSENCE Festival of Culture™ presented by Coca-Cola to support these growing Black women-owned companies and their founders through the New Voices $150,000 POWER PITCH.

“Entergy is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion and we recognize the importance of supporting underrepresented female entrepreneurs,” said Deanna Rodriguez, president and CEO of Entergy New Orleans. “This grant will provide much-needed resources to help deserving, women-owned black-owned businesses thrive and contribute to the growth of our community. We are proud to be a part of their journey and look forward to seeing their continued success.”

The winners are:

$75,000: Brooke Hill, Co-Founder & CEO, Swella Beauty – Over 13 million Black women in America lack access to reliable quality braid services. Unlike other demographics with designated salon chains that provide efficient standard services, Black women do not have this convenience. Swella solves the fragmented, time-consuming, antiquated process of receiving braids by providing a one-stop shop for all things hair braiding, integrating patent-pending technology and streamlined processes to deliver a premium salon experience.

$50,000: Felicia Jackson, CEO/President, CPRWrap – CPRWrap is a disposable CPR template that addresses responder hesitation by having an easy-to-use template with clear, numbered instructions, a built-in, one-way breathing barrier, and visual hand placements that give the victim the best chance that a bystander might have the confidence to provide effective, immediate care.

$25,000: Mabel & Shaira Frias, Co-Founders, LUNA MAGIC – LUNA MAGIC is a fast-growing indie beauty & lifestyle brand founded by sisters Mabel and Shaira Frías. By combining their passions for beauty and lifestyle, the Frias Sisters created a vibrant brand that celebrates their mutual love for their multicultural heritage, culture, and music—in living color. LUNA MAGIC is distributed nationwide at Target, CVS, and Walmart retail stores.

About New Voices

New Voices Foundation is a ground-breaking, community-building effort designed to build a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem for women of color to advance their significant contributions to our economy and society. Driven by its PACE (Purpose.Access.Capital.Expertise.) model, New Voices offers its community of 30,000 women of color entrepreneurs access to capital, leadership development, skill-building, and networking opportunities via entrepreneurial summits, accelerators, bootcamps, pitch competitions, mentoring and coaching, and more.

About Entergy

Entergy (NYSE: ETR) is a Fortune 500 company that powers life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We’re investing in the reliability and resilience of the energy system while helping our region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. With roots in our communities for more than 100 years, Entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship. Since 2018, we have delivered more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to local communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. Learn more at entergy.com and follow @Entergy on social media. #WePowerLife

Visiting the homes of women involved in the project is key to understanding the benefits that the Efficient Cookstoves project brings on an individual level, whilst ensuring that the cooking technologies deployed are appropriate to the local context and the needs of the users.

C-Quest Capital regularly visits community members who have recently been provided with a clean cooking solution to document their personal stories of impact. This is the story of Joyce Muteithia, a cookstove user and mother of four.

“Time is precious: once it passes, that’s it.”

Joyce Muteithia lives in a small rural settlement off the beaten track in Kitui County, Eastern Kenya, and the journey to her home was a bumpy ride. The four-wheel drive our project partner was travelling in had given up prematurely on the rough, thorny terrain, meaning the last kilometre to the settlement had to be covered on foot. When the team arrived, as if by magic, Joyce appeared calling out “Karibu, Karibu!” (translating to ‘Welcome, welcome!’), ushering the team into her brick house and out of the sweltering sun. With a big grin, Joyce brought the team into her kitchen, where her new ‘smart stove’ had been installed. She sat down and began to cook lunch, a local meal called ‘githeri’, consisting of boiled beans and maize. Delighted to share her story, Joyce told the team that her cooking time had been cut down by two-thirds thanks to her new stove, with significantly less firewood required for cooking daily meals.

Her previous traditional three-stone fire required so much firewood that it required her to walk an average of 20 kilometres a day in search of fuel. Since transitioning to her clean cookstove, Joyce’s life has been completely revolutionised. Countless hours have been saved that would have been spent cooking or on the arduous fuel hunt, giving her the freedom to venture into income-generating activities and spend time with her family.

Now that Joyce has significantly more time on her hands, she uses her donkeys to collect water for the local primary school, which in exchange covers her children’s school fees.

With her leftover time, she takes care of her ageing mother-in-law, and the nieces and nephews under her care. With her eyes on her mother-in-law, she told the team how the cookstove had changed her life for the better: “Time is precious and once it passes that’s it. Before we received our efficient ‘smart stove’ I used to spend about four hours a day searching for firewood. Now that I have more time, I can enjoy my family’s company. The stove has brought a lot of joy and happiness to my home.”

Joyce additionally spoke of the positive impact the stove has had on her family’s health and wellbeing, mentioning: “Even my husband is delighted with the stove because the children can prepare meals without the worry of getting burnt, as the fire is enclosed!” Impressed by this safety feature, Joyce has become an ambassador in her village for the uptake of the efficient cookstoves provided by the project: “as a village woman it is a must-have.”

Joyce’s story is just one of the hundreds that echo the same message: one clean cookstove can create a ripple effect of positive change, transforming a woman’s life. The cookstove benefits not only her own health and wellbeing but also improves the lives of her family and her community.

Register now and be sure you don’t miss the next Impact Relations Institute Impact Council on Wed, Aug 9 at 12pm ET / 9am PT. We’ll be joined by two titans of the social impact space: Joseph Kenner, President & CEO of Greyston Bakery, and Sean Greenwood, Director of PR & Communications at Ben & Jerry’s.

The Impact Relations Institute, in partnership with 3BL Media, will host a conversation on how brands can leverage or incorporate lived experiences into their brand story, responsibly, using the longstanding partnership between these two brands as a jumping off point. Since 1982, Greyston Bakery has been on a mission to unlock the power of human potential through inclusive employment through their Open Hiring process. Its workers, who have overcome various barriers to employment, have been baking the delicious brownies found in Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie and Half-Baked flavors since 1987.

Joseph & Sean will discuss the important details brands need to consider when forming purposeful partnerships, including the consideration and preparation that needs to happen before putting forward spokespeople for media interviews that touch on their lived experiences. Register here to secure your spot.

Moderator: Melissa Orozco (Founder & CEO, Yulu PR) 

About Joseph Kenner: Since Joe became President and CEO of Greyston Bakery, one of the county’s most well-known social enterprises, the company has delivered  millions of dollars in economic impact through job placements and expanded employer and service provider relationships. He frequently shares his expertise on purpose-driven business and building a more inclusive economy through employment, workforce development, and social services.

Joe has been featured in a variety of local and national media, including ABC Nightly News, Bloomberg, CNBC, Yahoo Finance, Forbes, USA Today, The Wall Street  Journal, Quartz and The Journal News. He serves on the Board of Directors of Conscious Capitalism, Inc., the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council, the New York City Workforce Investment Board, the B Team, Tompkins Bank, and is an Advisory Council member of the REDF Impact Investing  Fund (RIIF). 

About Sean Greenwood: Sean currently serves as Ben & Jerry’s Director of Public Relations and Communications, where he shares the company’s story and mission, namely, that businesses can thrive when they lead with their values and consider more than simply making a profit. 

As an advisor and founding Board member of the Global Impact Relations Network, Sean has worked closely with the Executive Director to develop Impact Relations’ go-to-market strategies, and regularly provides strategic counsel on the direction of the organization.

Project will provide low-cost, clean energy to Duke Energy’s Indiana customers

PLAINFIELD, Ind., July 19, 2023, /3BL/ – Duke Energy is expanding its Indiana solar energy resources. The company has signed an agreement with renewable energy developer Ranger Power for up to 199 megawatts of solar power to serve the equivalent of roughly 35,000 homes.

The company has filed a request with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to approve the agreement. Pending regulatory approval, the energy generated from Ranger Power’s Speedway Solar facility will be sold to the company under a 20-year power purchase agreement.

“The emission-free solar power that this new facility generates will help us continue to diversify our generation resources and make meaningful progress toward a cleaner energy future,” said Stan Pinegar, president of Duke Energy Indiana.

Construction on the 1,700-acre facility located south of Gwynneville, Ind., began in March 2023. It’s expected to reach commercial operation by September 2025.

“We are thrilled to bring this significant investment in clean energy to Shelby County and the state of Indiana,” said Adam Cohen, CEO of Ranger Power. “Speedway Solar will deliver significant economic and environmental benefits for decades to come – powering businesses and homes in Indiana.”

Under the company’s most recent Indiana Integrated Resource Plan, Duke Energy is proposing to add 2,218 megawatts of solar power, 450 megawatts of solar with energy storage and 6,200 megawatts of wind energy. These new investments in renewable energy are in addition to the continuing operation of the company’s Crane solar plant in southern Indiana, the recent expansion of its Markland hydroelectric plant and additional solar and wind power the company purchases.

Duke Energy Indiana

Duke Energy Indiana, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides about 6,600 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 890,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it Indiana’s largest electric supplier.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 27,600 people.

Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company has interim carbon emission targets of at least 50% reduction from electric generation by 2030, 50% for Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 upstream and downstream emissions by 2035, and 80% from electric generation by 2040. In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune’s 2023 “World’s Most Admired Companies” list and Forbes’ “World’s Best Employers” list. More information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy’s illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Contact: McKenzie Barbknecht 
Phone: 800.559.3853

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LAUSANNE, Switzerland and SAN JOSE, Calif., July 19, 2023 /3BL/ – Yesterday Logitech International (SIX: LOGN) (Nasdaq: LOGI) was invited and honored to participate in the US National Label for Consumer IoT Security launch at the White House in Washington DC. The event, sponsored by the National Security Council, was led by chairwoman of the FCC, Jessica Rosenworcel, and included members of both organizations, as well as other leading tech companies focused on and making strides in product security for consumers.

Logitech is an active contributor in industry efforts to integrate security into the core standards that its products use. Through its participation in the Product Security Working Group (PSWG) and Matter Working Group within the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), the company continues to work with others in the industry to write and certify the standards by which next generation products will operate.

“Much like we are empowering our customers to make environmentally informed product choices by providing carbon labels on our products, we want to provide that same transparency about the security of the products they put in their homes and offices,” said Jay Wilder, head of software at Logitech. “Logitech is proud to have been involved in the PSWG to help develop a best-in-class standard for IoT security. We would also like to thank the President and the Administration for making this a national priority and an example for the world to follow.”

“The U.S. Cyber Trust Mark will give consumers a way to know if the smart devices they’re purchasing are secure, and give companies a label to show their products meet cybersecurity standards. Together with our industry partners, we are making our homes, classrooms, and workplaces safer and less vulnerable to cyberattacks,” said Anne Neuberger, White House deputy national security advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technologies.

Additionally, at the event, Logitech showcased a number of products across its various categories that highlighted features in both security and sustainability. As a leader in designing, manufacturing and marketing products that help connect people to digital and cloud experiences, Logitech remains focused on designing possibilities that extend human capability by helping ALL people pursue their passions and doing so in a way that is good for the planet.

About Logitech

Logitech helps all people pursue their passions and is committed to doing so in a way that is good for people and the planet. We design hardware and software solutions that help businesses thrive and bring people together when working, creating, gaming and streaming. Brands of Logitech include Logitech, Logitech G, ASTRO Gaming, Streamlabs, Blue Microphones and Ultimate Ears.

Founded in 1981, and headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, Logitech International is a Swiss public company listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (LOGN) and on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (LOGI). Find Logitech at www.logitech.com, the company blog or @logitech.

Logitech and other Logitech marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Logitech Europe S.A. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. For more information about Logitech and its products, visit the company’s website at www.logitech.com

Smita Rode, Corporate Communications – USA, srode@logitech.com

Source: Logitech International

In the heart of Houston, where diversity thrives, the Montrose Center stands as a beacon of hope and support for the LGBTQ community.

Established in 1978 under the name Montrose Counseling Center, the facility’s service and program offerings have expanded far beyond counselling and therapy over the years.

“The center was first created to provide a safe space for our LGBTQ community through culturally competent mental health services,” says Alex Torres, Volunteer Manager at the Montrose Center. “As the community has grown and changed in the past years, we’ve come to encompass different services.”

The center and its team of trained clinicians, therapists and volunteers provide support to the community through substance use treatment, senior and youth services, rehousing services, and an anti-violence program that serves survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual assault, and hate crimes, to name a few.

Hatch Youth Services is one of four key initiatives run by the Montrose Center. The youth group is for LGBTQ youth, ages 13 to 20, through which the center offer plenty of resources, including a tri-weekly drop-in session that incorporates educational seminars with social events.

“Providing a safe space for our youth is really going to help them develop in their future years,” says Torres. “In addition to the educational programming, it’s important for these kids to have a place to just blow off some steam and hang out with their friends.”

“Speaking from personal experience, I would have loved something like this growing up,” says Torres. “I feel like it would have shaped me a little bit better and given me a more positive outlook on the world.”

Enbridge’s Fueling Futures corporate citizenship program supports safe, vibrant and sustainable communities. In 2023, a Fueling Futures grant of $10,000 to the Montrose Center has directly supported programming within Hatch Youth Services such as educational sessions, mental health counseling, rehousing services, and social events.

In 2021, 62% of clients were making less than $20,000 per year, 52% were uninsured for health and 70% were people of color.

People can support not only the Montrose Center but the 2SLGBTQ+ community at large by finding their local community center and supporting through donations, volunteering, or simply spreading awareness so others know about their presence and support available.

“We’re here for to empower LGBTQ Houston,” says Torres. “This is a safe, affirming place where you can be you.”

Originially published on PR Newswire

Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, today launched Catalyze, a new partnership program aimed at accelerating access to renewable energy across the global semiconductor value chain.

Unveiled during SEMICON West 2023, Catalyze is a first-of-its kind program of collaboration among key semiconductor and technology industry leaders to address the supply chain emissions within their industry. The program joins other Schneider Electric supply chain partnership initiatives that seek to leverage the power of supply chain cohorts, including the Energize program for the pharmaceutical industry, and Walmart’s Gigaton PPA program. 

Intel, one of the world’s leading semiconductor design and manufacturing companies, and Applied Materials, Inc., the world’s largest semiconductor and display equipment company are the inaugural corporate sponsors of the Catalyze program. Together with Schneider Electric, the companies will encourage suppliers from throughout the semiconductor industry ecosystem to join the Catalyze program and help accelerate the value chain’s transition to renewable energy and a low carbon future.

Continue reading here.

PHILADELPHIA, July 19, 2023 /3BL/ – Aramark and BLK & Bold, the first Black-owned nationally distributed coffee brand in the U.S., have reached a multi-year agreement that will make the company’s lineup of hot and cold coffee products available to Aramark Refreshments clients this year.

In keeping with BLK & Bold’s mission to positively impact communities through the daily morning routine of drinking coffee or tea, Aramark is further building its portfolio of diverse suppliers in the refreshments space and expanding upon its values, beyond the cup.

“Aramark Refreshments provides more than beverages and curated coffee services; we offer inspired break experiences that foster an inclusive office environment and create a sense of community,” said Patrick Liebler, President of Aramark Refreshments. “As part of our organization’s diverse supplier strategy, we’re developing with companies who exemplify inclusion and community and share in our mission to curate office spaces where employees can recharge with a quick snack and enjoy meaningful moments. BLK & Bold is a great fit, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to add them to our portfolio and offer their products to our clients.”

BLK & Bold was started by two best friends and their love for coffee. BLK & Bold founders, Pernell Cezar and Rod Johnson (pictured above) created the company with an interest in investing in the youth community. Cezar and Johnson believe that coffee plays a role in connecting people to their rituals and fuels communities. With that philosophy, the company gives 5% of its proceeds to nonprofit organizations across America that are dedicated to guiding America’s less resourced youth. As one of Aramark’s newest diverse suppliers, BLK & Bold will deliver on clients’ desire to bring on more cause related partners and vendors and give back to the communities in which they work and live.

“It is and will always be important for us to address socio-economic disparities, not only in dialogue but also by creating a funnel to resources,” said Cezar, CEO and co-founder of BLK & Bold. “We will continue to act as a leader, not only in spaces we’ve cultivated, but in partnership. We must continue to invest in diverse voices to solve issues within our communities. This is one of many ways to make a difference.”

In addition to being the first Black-owned nationally distributed coffee brand in the U.S., BLK & Bold is a certified B Corporation. BLK & Bold can be found nationally in 11,000+ retail stores such as Target, Albertsons, Safeway, Walgreens, and various regional grocers, in addition to the workplace. BLK & Bold was listed last year as one of the 50 fastest growing certified minority businesses (MBE) by the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). Learn more about this partner at blkandbold.com.

Aramark’s overall responsible-sourcing strategy includes continuously partnering with a broad network of expanding diverse and small/disadvantaged organizations and businesses. BLK & Bold is a great business Aramark is adding to its portfolio in furtherance of our commitment to supplier diversity. For information on Aramark’s Supplier and Diversity Program, visit: Supplier Diversity – Aramark.

About Aramark

Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) proudly serves the world’s leading educational institutions, Fortune 500 companies, world champion sports teams, prominent healthcare providers, iconic destinations and cultural attractions, and numerous municipalities in 19 countries around the world with food, facilities, and uniform services. Because our culture is rooted in service, our employees strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and the planet. Aramark has been recognized on FORTUNE’s list of “World’s Most Admired Companies,” DiversityInc’s “Top 50 Companies for Diversity” and “Top Companies for Supplier Diversity,” Newsweek’s list of “America’s Most Responsible Companies 2023,” the HRC’s “Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality,” and scored 100% on the Disability Equality Index. Learn more at www.aramark.com and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.