Tag: 3BL

Clorox’s ESG goals are integrated into our IGNITE strategy because we believe they drive growth and create positive value for our brands, people and communities. We’ve focused on where we can make the biggest impact — Clean World, Healthy Lives and Thriving Communities — and have 20 public-facing goals in these areas.  

In this installment of our “Steps to … ” series, we spoke with Laura Baruch, our vice president of Total Rewards and sponsor of the Mental Health Champions ERG, about how Clorox is prioritizing total well-being, with a focus on our work around mental health, for our teammates and their families.

Why is promoting health and well-being fundamental to Clorox? 

As a company with a diverse portfolio of wellness-related brands reaching households around the globe, we understand that we can only deliver on our purpose when our people are equipped to be well and thrive. To us, this means protecting the safety of our teammates and supporting their total well-being — at work and beyond.

We often talk about our holistic approach to supporting the physical, mental and financial health of our people. We back that up by providing a powerful combination of benefits, programs and resources tailored to the diverse needs of our global workforce. Consistent with our IGNITE strategy, we put people at the center and genuinely embrace our responsibility to enhance the health and well-being of all our Clorox teammates and their families.

From an ESG perspective, how do you evaluate and track something so personal as health and well-being?

While our approach aims to empower our teammates to take ownership of their own wellness journeys, we as an employer have made bold commitments to ensure we’re doing our part to foster an environment that enables them to do so. This includes:

Promoting workplace safety: We closely monitor our operations and continually educate our teammates on how to identify, control or eliminate physical risk. This effort is just one of the ways Clorox has worked to maintain a recordable incident rate significantly below our target and the industry average.Ensuring financial well-being: We offer market-leading retirement benefits and no-cost financial coaching services to help our teammates prepare and save for retirement. These resources assist with budgeting, retirement planning, estimating healthcare expenses, insurance needs and more. Clorox is committed to supporting our teammates’ financial well-being, which is why we’ve set an aspirational retirement readiness goal of 75% (as measured by a metric called the income replacement ratio).Encouraging preventive physical and mental health care: It can be challenging to measure our teammates’ well-being, but we believe the key to driving better health outcomes is encouraging our people to get their preventive health screenings. Our goal is to have one-third of eligible teammates complete their age-based preventive health screenings every year. While I’m proud 29% took advantage of this benefit last year (exceeding our industry benchmark by 3 points), we have more progress to make!

We understand these goals and metrics only reflect the wellness of our workforce in a few areas, so we’re actively exploring how to measure the impact our benefits and resources have on the overall health of our people.

Do Clorox’s efforts to champion the overall well-being of its teammates include mental health?

Mental health is unquestionably and intrinsically linked to our overall well-being. Not only does mental health directly impact our physical health, but it influences our ability to do our jobs well, feel fulfilled, connect with others, and contribute positively within our organization and the broader community. If we want to help people be well and thrive, mental health must be an integral part of how we support our team.

While research tells us that one in four people will be affected by a mental illness at some point in their lives, it’s important to remember we don’t need a diagnosis in order to use resources to improve our own mental health. Every one of us experiences highs and lows in mental health. The recent rise in mental health concerns driven by the global pandemic has created a clear call to action for employers to not only destigmatize talking about mental health openly, including in the workplace, but also to offer mental health resources for teammates and their families.

As we’ve navigated through the past few challenging years, I’m proud of how Clorox has supported our teammates, specifically with their mental well-being. Since 2020, we’ve enhanced our benefits by working with global partners to provide mental health resources, no-cost counseling sessions, education sessions, caregiver support and mindfulness tools to our global workforce.

How do you prioritize which support structures and wellness resources to provide to a global workforce like we have at Clorox? Can you provide some examples specific to mental health? 

Championing well-being globally is an incredibly rewarding yet daunting endeavor, as there’s no one-size-fits-all mobile app or program subscription that can tackle this challenge for everyone.

That’s why we’ve worked to establish a range of resources that support a number of different needs — from help finding a therapist, to tools for navigating day-to-day anxiety, to help with caregiving challenges. Here are just a few:

As the executive sponsor of Clorox’s Mental Health Champions employee resource group, I’ve witnessed first-hand how instrumental this community has been to raising awareness and destigmatizing mental health. This group helps Clorox identify gaps and opportunities to better support teammates’ and their family members’ mental health while providing a safe space for people to connect and share their experiences with resources that have helped them.We provide employee assistance programs globally, which offer supportive resources such as no-cost therapy sessions with counselors and trained clinicians to help with life transitions and family, legal, financial, and work issues. Additionally, we offer mindfulness resources as another form of preventive care to help manage stress, lessen anxiety and improve sleep year-round, not only in moments of crisis. Roughly 25% of our U.S. teammates have enrolled in this program within the past year, a level of engagement that is both unprecedented and indicative of how critical this support really is.One of our most highly regarded benefits are monthly Quiet Days, when we ask all teammates to not schedule meetings and to limit emails so they’re able to focus on key priorities or take time off to recharge. We also recently reframed our sick leave — now called Health and Mental Well-Being Time Off— to be more inclusive of mental health needs for teammates and their families.

What are some examples of mental health education, training and/or resources you would encourage other organizations to adopt?

Our commitment to supporting mental health as part of overall well-being is one of the many reasons so many of my teammates and I are proud to work at Clorox. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when evaluating how best to support your workforce:

Understand what your teammates need. Conduct internal surveys and/or focus groups to understand what resources your workforce values most and where there are opportunities to expand the support provided to your teammates and their families.Reduce the stigma by openly talking about mental health within your organization. Having senior leaders talk about the importance of mental health and potentially share how it has impacted their lives is truly impactful, and opens the door for others to share their own experiences.Create forums for teammates to learn and share insights about mental health. Schedule workshops; bring in external speakers who are subject matter experts; and offer mental health first-aid training to help your teammates identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health challenges. Most importantly, provide both in-person and virtual opportunities for teammates to connect with each other.

Our ESG commitment is driven by our purpose to champion people to be well and thrive every single day. Learn more about our ESG goals here. Want to make a positive impact on the world? Learn about Clorox careers here.  

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

What do Girls Garage, a design and construction school for youth; La Cocina, a kitchen incubator for food entrepreneurs; the SF LGBT Center, which supports the LGBTQ community, have in common? These Bay Area nonprofits recently received a boost in funding thanks to the U.S. Bank Legends of Possible team member recognition program for top performers.

In May, more than 800 U.S. Bank team members from across the country gathered in San Francisco to celebrate being named a U.S. Bank Legend, an annual recognition for company employees that go above and beyond. As part of the celebratory trip, recipients were invited to select a local nonprofit for a donation to be made on their behalf. The result was a combined $100,000 donation to these nonprofits.

Project Analyst Christine Bailey, one of this year’s Legends recipients, selected Girls Garage to receive a donation on her behalf. Bailey chose this organization because she supports a nonprofit in Charlotte, North Carolina, with a similar mission.

“I know there was a lot that went into creating a very special experience for us at Legends. When I saw that we could select a local nonprofit for a donation to be made on our behalf, it was a great moment to pause and really be appreciative that we work for company that takes the time to give back to the communities around us,” Bailey said.

You can read more about the nonprofits that benefited from donations on behalf of the U.S. Bank Legends of Possible program below. 

Empowering female immigrant food entrepreneurs in San Francisco 
In San Francisco, kitchen incubator La Cocina has helped more than 130 women of color and immigrants launch food businesses by providing affordable commercial kitchen space, industry-specific technical assistance, and access to market opportunities to talented entrepreneurs.

La Cocina recently launched the first women-led food hall in the U.S. with the opening of La Cocina Municipal Marketplace, which currently features seven food businesses led by La Cocina participants. The marketplace hosts pop-up dinners featuring current chef cohorts and community events like trivia night, serving as a bright spot in the heart of the Tenderloin neighborhood.

The grant provided by U.S. Bank will support La Cocina’s general operations. In the last three years, U.S. Bank has provided more than $100,000 in grant funding to La Cocina.

Creating design and construction opportunities for girls and gender-expansive youth 
In a workshop in Berkeley, California, community members ages 9-18 have access to free and low-cost programs in carpentry, welding, architecture, engineering and activist art. Girls Garage is the first-ever design and building workshop for female, nonbinary, and gender-expansive youth in the United States, serving 185 students each year. To date, participants have built 183 projects ranging from furniture for a domestic abuse shelter to a greenhouse for a community garden and fruit stand for an organization serving refugee families.

Funding provided by U.S. Bank will support general operations at Girls Garage. In addition, U.S. Bank has committed $300,000 over the next three years to Girls Garage.

Supporting LGBTQ communities and allies in San Francisco 
The SF LGBT Center supports the needs of the LGBTQ community and allies through robust programming, including employment services, small business services, financial services, youth services, community programs, and arts and culture events. Many of these programs are made possible by a strong network of volunteers.

During a recent Pride month event at the center, the U.S. Bank Good Truck supported LGBT-owned small business Gnome Bath & Body by providing free soap samples from the truck to event attendees.

The latest grant from U.S. Bank will support general operations at the center. In addition, U.S. Bank provides regular volunteers for center programs and various sponsorship and grant funding throughout the year.

To learn more about U.S. Bank at work in the community, visit usbank.com/community.

As originally published by GoDaddy’s Venture Forward research initiative

The soaring rate at which Black U.S. entrepreneurs start businesses is one of the biggest economic success stories of the post-pandemic era. Venture Forward, a GoDaddy one-of-a-kind research initiative established in 2018 to quantify the impact of online microbusinesses on their local economies, defines microbusiness as businesses that have fewer than ten employees, a unique domain and an active website.

20% of microbusinesses started in 2020 or after are owned by Black entrepreneurs, up 6% since 2019, according to the latest Venture Forward national survey of microbusiness owners.

According to Pew Research Center, the Black majority ownership rate for U.S. businesses of any size is only 3%, making the microbusiness sector one of the most diverse pockets of the economy right now.

The research: GoDaddy’s Venture Forward provides a unique view into the attitudes, demographics, and needs of these entrepreneurs. The initiative’s U.S. national survey started in 2019 and occurs twice a year, typically capturing responses from over 3,500 entrepreneurs per instance to identify and explore trends, as well as deliver insights to advocates of microbusiness entrepreneurs.

GoDaddy analyzes more than 20 million online microbusinesses in the U.S. who have a unique domain and active website. They are often too small or too new to show up in government statistics. While these microbusinesses may be small, their impact on the U.S. economy is outsized . For example, for every one online microbusiness entrepreneur an additional 6.7 jobs are created at the county level. 

Go deeper: The fastest-growing ownership segment in the February 2023 survey was Black women, who increased their share from 8% to 13% since 2019. Like most microbusiness owners, they are primarily self-funded. Women, in general, face serious inequities in securing access to capital. Only 2% of all venture capital funding goes to U.S. female-only founder teams, according to PitchBook.

When analyzing the data, the diversification of microbusinesses is most apparent across generational lines. Some 85% of baby boomer owners are white, but only 60% of Generation Z and millennial owners are white.

By the numbers: 

Small business owners are surprisingly bullish: 87% of Black microbusiness owners have a positive outlook for their business over the next 6 months, compared to 73% of the entire sample.Black business owners are more ambitious than most: Only 21% say they want to remain a solopreneur or stay small compared with 36% for the entire sample. (Unless they’re retired: More than half (53%) of retirees don’t want employees.)The most common channel for owners to conduct business? A website. 28% of owners invest in their website first. Setting up a website is a challenge for 1 out of 5 owners.

Fifth Third published its 2022 Sustainability Report on June 30. In it, the Company’s Board of Directors shared messages about its responsibility to ensure the Bank meets its sustainability commitments.

“Fifth Third Bank recognizes the critical role of financial institutions in our society. The Board, including each of its committees, is committed to excellence and to implementing strong policies, procedures and practices to ensure we are delivering long-term sustainable value to our clients, employees, communities and shareholders, regardless of the economic environment. As a Board we are committed to Fifth Third’s holistic approach to creating sustainable and inclusive programs.” 

–Nicholas K. Akins, Board Chair.

Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee:

“We believe that a strong corporate governance program is the foundation for a sustainable company. Accordingly, we are committed to being a leader in sustainability practices and performance. We will drive this work with all stakeholders in mind and ensure we do so with integrity and care.”

–Thomas H. Harvey, Chair, Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee

The Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee oversees the Company’s Sustainability program, including practices and reporting related to environmental topics, governance practices and other corporate social responsibilities that are significant to our business and stakeholders.

Risk & Compliance Committee:

“Through its 165-year history, Fifth Third Bank has been a source of strength and stability for our economy. Our strong risk management foundation allows us to provide better solutions for our customers in all economic environments, while ensuring regulatory and operational excellence. We are continuously assessing and implementing solutions that will best protect our stakeholders.”

–Emerson L. Brumback, Chair, Risk & Compliance Committee

The Risk & Compliance Committee oversees risk management practices, including sustainability topics such as enterprise risk management, information security and data privacy.

Audit Committee:

“One of the primary purposes of the Audit Committee is oversight of Fifth Third’s policies, procedures and controls. This oversight helps foster accountability and transparency. Our practices enable Fifth Third to live our purpose and to achieve our ambition to be the one bank people most value and trust.” 

–Eileen A. Mallesch, Chair, Audit Committee

The Audit Committee oversees the integrity of our financial reporting and governance programs.

Finance Committee:

“A top priority for Fifth Third Bank is to generate and maintain sustainable value for all stakeholders. Through a collaborative, one bank approach, we consistently validate the soundness and inclusivity of our strategic financial planning processes.”

—Gary R. Heminger, Chair, Finance Committee

The Finance Committee exercises all the powers of the Board in management of business, properties and affairs during the intervals between meetings of the Board of Directors.

Human Capital & Compensation Committee:

“We believe an actively engaged workforce is one of our most valuable assets. Employees are the backbone and public face of Fifth Third Bank. Therefore, we focus not only on attracting top talent, but also on developing and retaining our employees. We do this by creating a respectful and inclusive culture where they can thrive and are encouraged to innovate and grow.” 

–Michael B. McCallister, Chair, Human Capital & Compensation Committee

The Human Capital & Compensation Committee oversees strategies and policies regarding compensation, talent management, and succession planning and other employment practices.

Technology Committee:

“It is vitally important that our customers feel confident that their financial and information assets are safe with Fifth Third Bank. We are continually innovating to create systems designed to assess, monitor, and enhance technology that can withstand current and future financial environments to give Fifth Third clients superior products along with the peace of mind they deserve.” 

–Jorge L. Benitez, Chair, Technology Committee

The Technology Committee oversees our technology, information security and data privacy strategies, which are critical to the interests of all stakeholders.

Continue reading the 2022 Sustainability Report at www.53.com/sustainabilityreport.

CLEVELAND, July 5, 2023 /3BL/ – KeyBank Community Development Lending and Investment (CDLI) provided $117.7 million of financing to Brinshore Development and Mile High Affordable Housing, leading developers of affordable multifamily communities, for the construction of two properties in Colorado.

CDLI provided $56.9 million of financing to fund the new construction of Ralston Gardens Apartments, a 102-unit family project in Arvada, Colorado, which will serve low-income families at 30%, 50%, 60%, and 70% of the Area Median Income (AMI). The building will contain 66 one-bedroom, 32 two-bedroom, and four three-bedroom units. Construction financing is being arranged by KeyBank with a $26.7 construction loan and a $14 million permanent loan through the Fannie Mae MTEB Program. KeyBank is also providing $16.2 million of total tax credit equity.

Ralston Garden Apartments, which is centrally located to transit hubs, shopping, parks, and local schools, received additional support and engagement from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (CDOH), which provided a $4.3 million Housing Development Grant (HDG) loan.

CDLI also provided $60.7 million of financing for the new construction of Northfield Flats, a 129-unit project in Denver that will consist of 42 one-bedroom, 83 two-bedroom, and four three-bedroom units. All units will be available for families earning no more than 30%, 50%, 60%, 70% and 80% of the AMI. Construction financing is being arranged by KeyBank with a $28.2 construction loan and a $14.8 million permanent loan through the Fannie Mae MTEB Program. KeyBank is also providing $17.7 million of total tax credit equity. The project received local support with a $3.1 million Housing Trust Fund (HTF) loan from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (CDOH) and a $4.5 million loan from Denver’s Department of Housing Stability (HOST).

Northfield Flats is conveniently located within the Northfield retail complex in Central Park, Denver’s premier mixed use master planned community. The property is located directly adjacent to the Shops at Northfield, a retail, entertainment, and dining center.

“KeyBank is invested in the expansion of its community impact, and we continue to provide more capital to low-income communities throughout the country,” said Victoria O’Brien, Head of Equity Originations at KeyBank CDLI. “As we further grow our platform in the Western region and collaborate with sponsors, we’re able to offer better affordable housing options to the individuals and families we serve.”

Brinshore Development, based in Chicago, is a national developer with a focus on development throughout the United States and has a current portfolio of 9,000 residential units valued at more than $1.3 billion in 100 communities. The second sponsor, Mile High Affordable Housing, is focused on affordable housing opportunities in Colorado, and has successfully developed eight affordable housing projects with more than 700 units.

Kortney Brown, Stephen Sparks and Robbie Lynn of KeyBank Community Lending and Investment structured the financing. Sam Adams of KeyBanc Capital Markets Public Finance Group provided the bond underwriting.

About KeyBank Community Development Lending and Investment

KeyBank Community Development Lending and Investment (CDLI) finances projects that stabilize and revitalize communities across all 50 states. As one of the top affordable housing capital providers in the country, KeyBank’s platform brings together construction, acquisition, bridge-to-re-syndication, and preservation loans, as well as lines of credit, Agency and HUD permanent mortgage executions, and equity investments for low-income housing projects, especially Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) financing. KeyBank has earned 10 consecutive “Outstanding” ratings on the Community Reinvestment Act exam, from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, making it the first U.S. national bank among the 25 largest to do so since the Act’s passage in 1977.

About KeyBanc Capital Markets

KeyBanc Capital Markets is a leading corporate and investment bank providing capital markets and advisory solutions to dynamic companies capitalizing on opportunities in changing industries. Our deep industry expertise, broad capabilities and unique ideas are seamlessly delivered to companies across the Consumer & Retail, Diversified Industries, Healthcare, Industrial, Oil & Gas, Real Estate, Utilities, Power & Renewables, and Technology verticals. With over 800 professionals across a national platform, KeyBanc Capital Markets has more than $50 billion of capital committed to clients and an award-winning Equity Research team that provides coverage on nearly 600 publicly traded companies. Securities products and services are offered by KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., member FINRA/SIPC, and its licensed securities representatives, who may also be employees of KeyBank N.A. Banking products and services, are offered by KeyBank N.A.

About KeyCorp

KeyCorp’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 $198 billion at March 31, 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.

In fiscal 2022, Chris Martland, Senior Procurement Manager at the Cloquet Mill, received a grant for Log A Load For Kids to purchase gift cards to support families visiting their child at one of the regional Gillette Children’s clinics in Northern Minnesota. Gillette’s mission is treating children who have brain, bone and movement conditions, helping them to realize all they can achieve. This partnership helps Gillette provide comprehensive services, highly trained specialists, an integrated team approach, family-centered care and a lifetime of services to its patients. Chris has been the Board Chair of Minnesota Log A Load For Kids for the past 10 years. The organization began in 1988, when loggers and others in the forest products community donated the financial value of a load of logs to their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

In 2021, Minnesota Log A Load For Kids contributed $45,000, and since 1997 has contributed $648,970 to Gillette Children’s through Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

On June 26, the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) issued its inaugural sustainability standards: IFRS S1 and IFRS S2. These are standards that, in the words of ISSB Chair Emmanuel Faber, “have been designed to help companies tell their sustainability story in a robust, comparable and verifiable manner.” Faber also emphasizes that, “we have consulted closely with the market to ensure the Standards are proportionate and will result in disclosures that are relevant for investment decision-making.”

These are standards that have broad support from international policymakers, market regulators, investors, companies. Upon publication of the standards, Erkki Liikanen, Chair of the IFRS Foundation Trustees, stressed that the global baseline approach is, “supported by the G20 and others,” including the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), the Financial Stability Board, and the G7.

But what do these standards mean for your business? And how should you prepare?

Continue reading on Workiva

Originally published on DICK’S Sporting Goods Sideline Report

TOGETHER, WE CHANGE LIVES

Today we’re bringing you the latest quarterly giving series from The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation to highlight the great work being done in support of our mission to help inspire and enable youth sports participation.

In our first quarter of 2023, we:

Launched a new grant program, “75for75,” to celebrate our company’s 75th anniversary;Renewed a $1.5 million partnership between The DICK’S Foundation and Good Sports;Launched a new $1.5 million partnership between The DICK’S Foundation and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC);Doubled down with teammate support from our distribution centers; andDistributed over 340 grants in 41 states, helping to give over 58,000 youth athletes the chance to play!

Read on to learn more. 

GIVING BACK TO CELEBRATE 75 YEARS

To celebrate our company’s 75th anniversary, The DICK’S Foundation is giving away 75 grants of $75,000 to under-resourced youth sports programs around the country that are changing lives through sport — on and off the field. In 2023, “75for75” will distribute more than $5.6 million to support student athletes across the country. 

Today, we proudly feature six remarkable stories from a few of our first 75for75 recipients. With more organizations in our line up, we’re just getting started.

BRIDGE LACROSSE: DALLAS, TX

Bridge Lacrosse is a sports-based youth development nonprofit with a mission to use lacrosse to broaden the horizons of youth living in North Texas urban communities. Their pride in that mission was reflected by Executive Director David Higbee when he spoke after receiving the 75for75 grant.

“We’ve had kids who were running around here when they were little and now, they’re back as part of Bridge,” said Higbee. “When we see these kids return as adults to volunteer, it shows the impact that Bridge had on them.”

The funds from the grant will assist with the resources needed for Bridge to put on their spring season in 2024 and beyond.

HIGH POINT HIGH SCHOOL: HIGH POINT, NC

Serving as a safe haven for area youth, the softball program at High Point High School needed help. Not only was their playing field unsafe, but they were in desperate need of equipment and uniforms.

“Playing softball on this team has excited these ladies because it was a safe place for them. Many had never played organized softball before,” said head coach Martha King. “This team really desires to play on a field they can be proud of.”

In April, DICK’S surprised High Point Central High School with a 75for75 grant ahead of their final home softball game of the regular season. The funds will help give the program a complete transformation as they will be able to make improvements to their field and purchase new equipment and uniforms.

SOCCER UNITY PROJECT: BOSTON, MA

Using the power of soccer to build community, unite people from diverse backgrounds and promote equality at the youth level, the Soccer Unity Project is making a difference in Boston. This past spring, DICK’S surprised them with a 75for75 grant, and the impact will be felt throughout the organization. They will use the funds to support their citywide clinics, summer programs, adaptive soccer equipment, recreational leagues and more.

“Kids in Boston are able to play soccer because of the support we receive as we are changing the culture of youth soccer to one of inclusion and connection,” said Soccer Unity Project Founder Caroline Foscato. “We are truly so appreciative of DICK’S and their belief and support of our work.”

AMORY HIGH SCHOOL: AMORY, MS

When an EF3 tornado tore through northeast Mississippi, USAF Veteran and DICK’S Tupelo Store Manager Tyler Roberts knew he had to help. Just 26-miles down the road, the town of Amory had been devastated by destruction, and the flood had destroyed the Amory High School softball field.

When he reached out to Coach Jessica Seger, she told him the unthinkable: “We’re going to keep playing.”

Sometimes, in the smallest towns, you’ll find the strongest hearts. Read more.

FIGURE SKATING IN HARLEM: HARLEM, NY

Figure Skating in Harlem is much more than skating; it’s a safe space in an under-resourced community for young girls to achieve academic excellence and physical well-being. Founded in 1997, Figure Skating in Harlem helps its students build life skills like leadership, self-confidence and teamwork. The program also focuses on academics, spoken word and tutoring.

This past March, an ordinary day on the ice turned into a $75K celebration for the young girls and staff at the organization when they were surprised with a 75for75 Sports Matter Grant. Read more.

WESTINGHOUSE ACADEMY: PITTSBURGH, PA

Our first 75for75 grant recipient was the Westinghouse Academy varsity football team. This program recently became the first Pittsburgh City League team in 25 years to play for a state championship. But what’s most impressive about the program is the culture coach Donta Green created for his players, emphasizing hard work, discipline and high standards of academics and behavior on and off the field.

“In a place like Westinghouse, there are a lot of opportunities for a kid to go down the wrong path. The trauma that our kids have to experience is not normal,” said Green. “It’s an ongoing battle, but we can’t afford to stop because I don’t know where I would be or where my kids would be without football.” Watch more.

CONNECTING WITH OUR PARTNERS

In addition to our 75for75 grant program, we continued to make a difference with youth sports organizations across the country through partnerships.

The Foundation renewed a $1.5 million partnership with Good Sports to provide 20 of the most under-resourced communities across the country with $75,000 worth of youth sports equipment to drive equitable access in youth sports and physical activity.

The Foundation also partnered with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) to launch the Game On-Community Places to Play Initiative, a new $1.5 million partnership that will provide funding and technical assistance to community-rooted organizations working to create and renovate multi-use youth sport spaces in under-resourced communities.

Additional information regarding these partnerships will be shared throughout the year.

OUR DCS GIVE BACK

The DICK’S Sporting Goods Distribution Centers (DCs) also make sure to get involved in their respective communities as it takes a full-team effort to help save youth sports.

Since 2016, the DCs raised more than $1.5 million to support the Sports Matter program.

Throughout the first quarter, our Plainfield DC held teammate sales and auctions in support of The Foundation. In 2023 alone, our teammates at the Plainfield DC have raised over $6,000 for youth sports programs in need.

Meanwhile, in March, representatives of the Goodyear DC presented Copper Canyon High School of Glendale, Arizona with a $10,000 grant to purchase new tennis rackets, softball bats and uniforms.

THESE MOMENTS ARE MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SPORTS MATTER FUND. IF YOU’D LIKE TO DONATE, VISIT WWW.SPORTSMATTER.ORG.

In a world where connectivity is increasingly essential, the digital divide stands as a formidable obstacle. Millions of Americans are denied opportunities to improve their daily lives, succeed in work and school, and have a fair chance in the global economy, all of which come from broadband and digital connectivity.

AT&T is deeply committed to bridging this digital divide. With a comprehensive $2 billion commitment, AT&T aims to bring the life-changing benefits of internet access to underserved communities. The commitment’s approach goes beyond access to and affordability of high-speed internet to encompass digital skills education and essential community resources to ensure the safe and successful adoption of technology.

We invited Mylayna Albright, Assistant Vice President of CSR, to explain how AT&T’s work to bridge the digital divide has opened doors, empowered communities, and led to meaningful social and economic progress.

Listen for insights on:

What the digital divide looks like now and AT&T’s threefold approach to addressing itSelecting and maintaining local community partnershipsRemaining nimble as a large organization executing a nation-wide programInviting employees to participate in and live the corporate purpose

To listen to this episode and others, visit Purpose 360 Podcast.

Originally published in Webster Bank’s 2022 Corporate Responsibility Report

As a values-driven organization, our colleagues are the cornerstone of our success.

As such, we believe that Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) is critical to our growth and success as a leading commercial bank. This commitment starts with Webster’s senior leadership team, who work to ensure that our commitment to DEIB is integrated with the way we do business. Meeting the increasingly diverse needs of our clients is a key to our long-term success. Having a workforce with diverse backgrounds and experiences better helps our clients and the communities we serve achieve their financial goals.

Our commitment to diversity starts with our goal to attract, retain and develop a workforce that is diverse in background, knowledge, skills and experience.

Our DEIB Council serves as a platform where senior leaders and representatives of our various Business Resource Groups shape the strategy and actions of our DEIB efforts. The Council makes recommendations on ways to integrate DEIB in the areas of education and awareness, talent development, colleague engagement and client and community service.

Comprised of 39 colleague members across the organization, the DEIB Council is co-chaired by our Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President of Business Banking. This oversight sends a clear signal that DEIB is a priority for Webster.

We have a Managing Director of DEIB, whose responsibilities include expansion of DEIB programs, growing partnerships within our local communities, increasing engagement and partnerships with diverse clients and promoting a diverse workforce in an open, inclusive environment. In 2022, we developed diversity scorecards to measure the recruitment, retention and promotion of underrepresented groups—reinforcing that DEIB is a driver of performance. DEIB remains a vital component of Webster’s corporate responsibility reporting framework, which we formally communicate through this Report and other regulatory filings.

Teshia Levy-Grant is Webster’s Managing Director of DEIB. She is committed to strengthening the Bank’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts with our colleagues, clients and community partners together to boost collaboration, encourage innovation and help Webster best reflect the communities we serve.

2022 saw expansion of our DEIB Business Resource Groups (BRGs), including the establishment of more formal governance structures. Through innovative programs, community outreach and partnerships, our eight BRGs continued to connect with our colleagues and stakeholder communities. DEIB “road shows” were conducted across our footprint to raise awareness of and participation in BRG activities, and our BRGs ended the year with a total of 820 colleague members.

Webster proudly supports a host of Business Resource Groups that provide our colleagues with an authentic experience of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. Based on mutual respect and acceptance, these groups recognize and explore our individual identities in an environment that fosters personal and professional growth. Through a robust slate of activities and events, we celebrate the rich cultures and experiences that make up our workforce while embracing the unique contributions we bring to work each day.

African and Caribbean Heritage Connection (ACHC)Allies for Disabilities and Accessibility (ADA)Amigos Connected @ WebsterMilitary Veterans Community Network (MilCom)Multi-Generations BRGPan Asian CollectiveWebster PRIDEWebster Women’s Network (WWN)

To learn more about Webster Bank’s commitment to corporate responsibility, visit our CR webpage.

For full details about Webster Bank’s 2022 Corporate Responsibility Report, visit here.