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Fifth Third Bank, a leader in advancing environmental sustainability, has become a corporate sponsor of the Common Orchard Project for 2023. The Common Orchard Project is a non-profit organization that works to install and maintain hundreds of small orchard plantings across Greater Cincinnati.

In April 2023 and November 2022, Fifth Third Bank employees and members of the Bank’s Sustainability Enterprise Business Resource Group worked alongside the Common Orchard Project on local volunteer projects.

In April, Bank volunteers worked at Common Orchard’s Camp Washington Urban Farm, a two-acre plot that serves as the main resource hub and demonstration site for the Common Orchard Project. It is home to a 40-tree demonstration orchard, nursery space, hoop house and skid steer-powered composting operation. The Farm is available in the community as an ecotherapy space for residents to connect with nature.

Bank volunteers planted apple trees and blackberries on trellises and pawpaw and persimmon in a native orchard planting. BRG members also assisted with up-potting perennial plants that will go out to 30 community orchards throughout the region.

In November 2022, the Fifth Third team helped to plant fruit trees in the Evanston neighborhood in Cincinnati.

The Fifth Third Sustainability BRG is an enterprise, or company-wide, BRG that comprises more than 850 employee members from across its footprint. The Sustainability BRG is focused on employee development, community involvement and business innovation.

“Fifth Third’s commitment to sustainability is closely aligned to the purpose of the Common Orchard Project,” said Jeremy Faust, director of operational sustainability, Fifth Third Bank. “The orchards provide increased food access, tree canopy and walkable greenspace in neighborhoods that have experienced disinvestment. Fifth Third’s own sustainability initiatives are designed to accomplish similar goals. We look forward to continued work with the Common Orchard Project to improve lives and the well-being of our communities.”

Fifth Third’s sponsorship of the Common Orchard Project includes financial support and increased community-based and volunteerism events. The Common Orchard Project has planted 30 orchards in Ohio to date and plans to plant 30 more by 2024.

More information about Fifth Third’s Purpose-driven culture and its commitment to corporate sustainability can be found in its 2021 Environmental, Social and Governance Report.

One of the most significant business challenges we face is hiring the next generation of workers and retaining our top talent. The manufacturing industry in the United States now relies on a mature workforce from the baby boomer generation, and a significant number of employees will be retiring in the next few years. During 2022, the loss of these skilled workers coincided with one of the tightest US job markets in decades.

Compounding the labor shortage was the “Great Resignation” that followed the onset of the COVID pandemic, together with fierce competition for a smaller pool of candidates. All these factors have made it increasingly difficult for employers in our industry to find and hire good workers. Sappi is therefore being more creative and aggressive in our efforts to recruit employees, elevate our brand awareness, increase our visibility on social media, and educate the public on the premium and sustainable products we create.

To improve our recruiting efforts, we have added a number of new recruiting tools to our toolbox, including hiring a dedicated internal recruiter from Gen Z who can speak the language of that younger age group.

We have also increased our participation in job fairs and enhanced our presence on recruiting sites such as LinkedIn, Glassdoor and Indeed. We have increased the financial incentives for employees to better identify successful candidates for open positions. Sappi employees across the company are recruiting at high schools, trade schools, colleges and universities, using newly printed collateral targeted to both the hourly and salaried workforce. We have significantly expanded our presence on social media to showcase the Sappi culture and the benefits of working at Sappi, spotlighting employees and demonstrating the advantages of sustainability in our industry, including our ability to provide renewable, recyclable, woodfiber-based products that can replace plastics.

We have invested in radio and television ad campaigns, and we continue to advertise in the specials sections of daily papers that highlight the forest products industry and careers in engineering. To promote employee retention and pride, we have revamped our employee newsletter, which we will publish at least three times a year, distribute throughout our facilities and mail to every employee at their homes.

By far the most significant investment we have made is creating an extensive video campaign that highlights our people in various positions throughout the company. These videos showcase our world-class manufacturing and research-and-development facilities and demonstrate the impact of the sustainable and environmentally friendly work we do at Sappi. Our career-specific videos are used for recruiting in positions for research and development, forestry, sales and engineering.

This is a new world for recruiting. We are taking our message to potential employees wherever they are, whether it is online, in print, or on social media or TV and radio. As the labor market continues to shrink, these efforts will become even more vital.

Griffith Foods Global Director of Sustainable Sourcing, Juliana Meneses, recently presented at EcoVadis’ Annual Sustain Conference, a 2-day event created to connect sustainable supply chains. There were over 450 in-person attendees at the Trianon theatre in Paris in addition to 3,000 virtual participants across 82 countries.

Juliana joined representatives from Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and Amazon, speaking about cross collaboration for success in sustainable procurement. The group explored why a procurement strategy never resides in one team and requires strong internal collaboration to ensure successful implementation. Juliana also presented the Griffith Foods EcoVadis program, highlighting our performance metrics and progress since joining EcoVadis in 2019. Watch the session here.

Together, EcoVadis and Griffith Foods are working to drive improvement and accelerate positive impact on our planet and society. The EcoVadis assessment evaluates how well a company has integrated sustainability and corporate social responsibility principles into its business management system. It thoroughly reviews ethics, labor & human rights, sustainable procurement, and environmental practices. In addition to these assessments, EcoVadis continues to provide improvement areas that are taken into consideration as we continue to develop new solutions and continuously improve sustainability management across the business.

Griffith Foods is the caring, creative product development partner helping food companies meet the evolving needs of consumers while sustaining the planet. As a family business for more than 100 years, Griffith Foods is known for true, collaborative innovation. Our relationships with farmers, customers and others allow us to create delicious, nutritious foods that are better for people and better for the planet. Our people are united in advancing our purpose: “We blend care and creativity to nourish the world.” For more information, visit GriffithFoods.com.

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Bread Financial (NYSE: BFH), a tech-forward financial services company providing simple, personalized payment, lending and saving solutions, today released its 2022 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Performance Report, highlighting the significant progress made against Bread Financial’s recently enhanced ESG strategy and framework. In its 10th year of public ESG reporting, the Company’s 2022 report represents a significant milestone for Bread Financial, marking a decade of increased transparency and accountability regarding its responsible business practices.

The report showcases Bread Financial’s ESG performance across five key areas: managing business responsibly, empowering customers, engaging associates, protecting the planet and creating possibilities for communities. Building on its strong foundation, in 2022 the Company made advancements by deepening cross-functional internal engagement and further embedding environmental and social criteria throughout its business model.

“I am extremely proud of the progress Bread Financial has made to advance our ESG initiatives, as illustrated in our 2022 report,” said Ralph Andretta, president and chief executive officer, Bread Financial. “By integrating environmental stewardship, social responsibility and good governance practices into our business strategy, we are not only driving financial performance, but also creating a more resilient, competitive organization that benefits all of our stakeholders. As we continue to evolve as a purpose-driven financial services company, our well-established ESG practices enable us to reduce risks, deliver responsible growth, and ensures we hold ourselves accountable to the ever-changing needs of our society and planet.”

In 2022, Bread Financial made notable progress to align ESG principles with its business goals and governance strategy through actions such as:

Placing significant focus on the integration of environmental and social criteria into its enterprise risk management program and developing an ESG risk framework.Fulfilling all objectives in its 2022 Climate Action Roadmap, including a comprehensive energy audit of company facilities, a climate risk assessment and scenario analysis.Holding an education session for its Board of Directors on ESG best practices for reporting, frameworks and expectations from investors.Redefining the Company’s community investment strategy in alignment with its brand transformation.

“Together with our Board of Directors, the Bread Financial leadership team and all associates, we are accelerating our ESG ambitions and deepening our commitment to responsible business practices,” said Dana Beckman, head of sustainability, Bread Financial. “2022 was a year about solidifying the integration of ESG into our key business imperatives, governance and operations. As we look forward to communicating our continued progress, we will shift our focus to creating even more long-term value and opportunity for our many stakeholders.”

The 2022 report also details the company’s actions and impacts during the year across critical focus areas, including:

Engaging in responsible business practices through an enhanced supplier diversity program to ensure minority-owned and small businesses are considered in every vendor request for proposal, with diverse and minority owned supplier spend totaling 6% in 2022.Promoting consumer financial wellness by establishing an internal cross-functional taskforce and partnering with industry expert Financial Health Network to inform and develop a holistic consumer-focused financial health strategy.Creating frictionless customer experiences by incrementally investing more than $125 million in innovation, tech modernization and product development to create a more seamless customer experience.Engaging associates by launching a mental wellness resource that includes free therapy, 24/7 crisis support, coaching and personalized support.Protecting the planet through a third-party partnership to evaluate low carbon solutions aimed at reducing GHG emissions and completing a comprehensive energy audit to quantify energy consumption across sites.Creating possibilities for our communities by investing more than $9 million in the community, matching nearly $950,000 in associate community investment gifts and logging over 3,700 volunteer hours.

Of particular note, the 2022 report is also the inaugural year for the Company to align its ESG disclosures in accordance with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) for improved and increased reporting on its climate-related risks and exposures. In addition to the TCFD, Bread Financial also referenced other established ESG reporting frameworks and standards including, Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Consumer Finance Standard and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) in developing its reporting and disclosures framework.

Media Contact
Rachel Stultz

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Event to take place under the High Patronage of Mr. Emmanuel Macron, 
President of the French Republic

Campaign calls for strong presence and commitments from incoming World Bank President Ajay Banga, the US’ Janet Yellen, and G20 Nations at the Summit for a New Financial Pact, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, in Paris on June 22 and 23

‘Power Our Planet: Live in Paris’ is hosted in partnership with the City of Paris, and produced by Live Nation 

PARIS and NEW YORK, May 23, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Today Global Citizen, the world’s leading international advocacy organization on a mission to end extreme poverty NOW, announced its return to the iconic Champ de Mars in Paris on Thursday, June 22 with ‘Power Our Planet: Live in Paris’. A free, ticketed event, ‘Power Our Planet: Live in Paris’ will feature performances from Lenny Kravitz, Billie Eilish, H.E.R., Jon Batiste and special guests Ben Harper, FINNEAS, and Mosimann to drive commitments from world leaders and the private sector to confront the climate crisis head on.

Under the high patronage of Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, ‘Power Our Planet: Live in Paris’ will rally global leaders attending the New Financial Pact Summit, chaired by President Macron. The Power Our Planet campaign, which is co-chaired by Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados, is calling for a seismic shift in the way the world’s financial systems work to give the world’s poor and developing nations access to the financing they urgently need to quicken their transition to clean energy, strengthen their resilience against natural disasters, and address their most urgent needs.

Global Citizen’s Power Our Planet campaign is galvanizing millions of people around the world to take action, raise their voices and demand urgent changes from governments, Multilateral Development Banks, and major corporations, including:

Keep Promises Already Made: Deliver the outstanding $16.7 billion of the committed $100 billion in climate financing for lower-income countries; transfer $100 billion in IMF Special Drawing Rights from wealthy countries to poor countries; increase foreign aid budgets; and enact global carbon emissions taxes.Free Up Funding: Make up to $1 trillion in financing available to countries in need through policy reforms at the World Bank and other multilateral development banks; and include natural disaster and pandemic clauses in loans to poorer nations.Transition to Clean Energy: Corporations should commit to join the United Nations’ Race-to-Zero by setting science-based targets; publish time-bound action plans for climate transitions; and make transformative investments for a lower-carbon transition in emerging economies.

Increased access to financing would help bolster governments’ ability to resist climate change by, for example: helping 1.5 million farmers in Zambia withstand climate disasters like droughts and floods; protecting 1.8 million hectares of land in Ghana by 2030; ending deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon by 2030; and strengthening the resilience of national electric grids in island nations like Antigua and Barbuda to withstand Category 5 hurricanes.

‘Power Our Planet: Live in Paris’ will pave the way for this urgent funding to be delivered throughout the year, including at the G20 summit in New Delhi, India in September; the Global Citizen Festival held during the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, USA in September; the IMF and World Bank meetings in October; and culminating at COP28 in Dubai, UAE in November.

“Our world needs urgent change. Outdated global financial systems are perpetuating the conditions that keep vulnerable countries and their citizens trapped in the cycle of extreme poverty,” said Hugh Evans, Co-founder and CEO, Global Citizen. “We congratulate Ajay Banga on his appointment as President of the World Bank, and there is an urgent and immediate opportunity for him to show leadership the world truly needs.”

“We need a world with more solidarity. Crises are multiplying and the number of those who place their hope in peace and multilateralism will only grow if we, as a global community, demonstrate that we are there to help the most vulnerable,” said Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic. “Because inequality and poverty are the grounds of today’s and tomorrow’s wars. Because there will be no climate transition worldwide if we don’t fight for more justice and equity. Halfway to the sustainable development objectives, we need a new financial pact between all countries, so that the world of tomorrow is more united.”

“This year – and this summit – are critical for the restoration of justice and equity within the global financial systems that continue to abandon and overlook poor and climate-vulnerable countries,” said Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados. “We need the presence and commitments of world leaders at the New Financial Pact Summit in Paris. I call on leaders of the G7, G20 and wealthy nations across the globe to step up, and let us act together in the interest of our planet and humanity. Join us in Paris.”

“The next generation are inheriting a planet that’s being devastated by climate change,” said Lenny Kravitz. “We have the power to change things with our voices and our actions. Join me on June 22, from wherever you are, and act today to save tomorrow.”

An alliance of world leaders representing both Global North and Global South countries has joined the Power Our Planet campaign alongside Global Citizen and Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley, including supporters Emmanuel Macron, President of France; Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone; Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain; José Ramos-Horta, President of Timor Leste; Biman Prasad, Deputy Prime Minister of Fiji, the Government of Ghana, the Government of Namibia, the Government of Zambia, and the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).

Power Our Planet’s coalition of supporters also includes leading activists, philanthropic foundations, nonprofit organizations, and private sector leaders, including Dr. Rajiv Shah, President, Rockefeller Foundation; Mark Malloch Brown, President, Open Society Foundations; Benedict Oramah, President of AfreximBank; Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization; Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi; Kate Higgins, CEO, Cooperation Canada; Jennifer Jones, President of Rotary International; Ban Ki-Moon, Former Secretary-General of the United Nations; Eloise Todd, Executive Director & Co-Founder, Pandemic Action Network; and Ineza Umuhoza Grace, Co-Founder of the Loss and Damage Youth Coalition and 2023 Global Citizen Prize winner. 

The Power Our Planet campaign is supported by: Aspire Artemis Foundation Inc.; Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens; BASICS International; Beyond Bretton Woods; the Center for Environmental Peacebuilding; Climate Finance Group for Latin America and the Caribbean; Common Good Marketplace; Connected Development; Don’t Gas Africa; E3G; Education Cannot Wait: Focus 2030; Germanwatch; Glasgow Actions Team; Global Alliance for a Green New Deal; The Global Fund; The UN Global Fund for Education in Emergencies; Green Republic Farms; Hungry for Action; International Climate Change Development Initiative; International Climate Financing WG; International Fund for Agricultural Development; Jane Goodall Institute France; Malala Fund; The ONE Campaign; OWIT Brussels – Organization of Women in Trade; Oxfam; Plastic Punch; Power to Girls Foundation; Primavera Zur; Project Everyone; Re:Wild, SDG2 Advocacy Hub; Sustainable Development Solutions Network; Shamba Centre for Food and Climate; She Leads Climate Action; Stage For Change; Strategic Youth Network for Development; Sungulo Comm NPC; Support Humanity Cameroon (SUHUCAM); United Nations Foundation.

The Power Our Planet campaign and the ‘Power Our Planet: Live in Paris’ event is hosted in partnership with the City of Paris, is produced by Live Nation, and supported by Cisco and Citi as well as Afrexim Bank, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Open Society Foundations, The Rockefeller Foundation, and the Seadream Family Foundation. ​​A series of thought leadership events focused on driving action from the private sector is being supported by Cisco and Citi. The ‘Power Our Planet: Live in Paris’ broadcast will be produced by Done and Dusted.

‘Power Our Planet: Live in Paris’ will be livestreamed globally across Global Citizen’s platforms on Thursday, June 22. Global Citizen is grateful for the support of leading media companies across the world including: AIM Group, Arena Holdings, Bella Naija, Brut. Media, EIB Network, Vanguard Media, Zikoko, and Amazon Music who will host the livestream on their Twitch channel “Amazon Music on Twitch,” with more streaming and broadcast platforms to be announced.

For more information visit globalcitizen.org/powerourplanet, download the Global Citizen app, and follow Global Citizen on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

– Ends –

About Global Citizen 
Global Citizen is the world’s leading international advocacy organization on a mission to end extreme poverty NOW. Powered by a worldwide community of everyday activists raising their voices and taking action, the movement is amplified by campaigns and events that convene leaders in music, entertainment, public policy, media, philanthropy and the corporate sector. Over the past 10 years, $43.6 billion in commitments announced on Global Citizen platforms has been deployed, impacting nearly 1.3 billion lives. Established in Australia in 2008, Global Citizen’s team operates from New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Berlin, Melbourne, Toronto, Johannesburg, Lagos and beyond. Join the movement at globalcitizen.org, download the Global Citizen app, and follow Global Citizen on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and Twitter.

Press Kit
Click here for artwork 

Media Credentials 
Applications are now open for media credentials to attend and cover ‘Power Our Planet: Live in Paris’. Please complete the application form here.

Press Kit: Click here for artwork 

Contact
Global Citizen media inquiries: media@globalcitizen.org

TOLEDO, Ohio, May 23, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Owens Corning (NYSE: OC) today published its 2022 Sustainability Report, Our Mission at Work, outlining the company’s progress toward its 2030 sustainability goals.

“In 2022, we made progress toward many of our 2030 goals while delivering strong financial results,” said Board Chair and Chief Executive Officer Brian Chambers. “In doing so, we demonstrated the power of our company’s mission to build a sustainable future through material innovation.”

The report is the 17th sustainability report from Owens Corning, which published its first report in 2006. The 2022 report is the first under the leadership of Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer David Rabuano, who is leading the company’s next-chapter sustainability strategy.

“In 2023 and beyond, sustainability will remain at the heart of our business and a critical value creator for Owens Corning, our customers, and other stakeholders,” said Rabuano. “As we shift into the next chapter of our sustainability strategy, we will build on the foundational efforts that have been central to sustainability within our organization – and with the engagement of our 19,000 employees worldwide, we will take the action needed to reach the next level.”

Across all three of its businesses, Owens Corning offers an extensive portfolio of products that can help customers save energy and lower emissions. In 2022, 63% of the company’s revenue came from this category of products, spanning roofing, insulation, and composites.

The company’s guiding sustainability aspirations are to:

Increase the positive impact of its productsHalve the negative impact of its operationsEliminate injuries and improve the quality of life for its employees and their familiesAdvance inclusion and diversity and have a positive impact in its communities

Notable accomplishments outlined in this year’s report include:

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions: In 2022, the company achieved a 22% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions from a 2018 baseline. These results move the company closer to its goal of a 50% reduction in absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 market-based GHG emissions by 2030.Switching to renewable electricity: Globally, approximately 56% of the company’s electricity came from renewable sources, including wind, hydro, solar, and geothermal energy, in 2022. This metric is defined as the renewable energy sourced from the grid and the energy enabled by our Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and Virtual PPAs, including on-site generation. In 2022, the company entered into a VPPA in Spain that is expected to come on line in stages throughout 2023 and 2024. With a contract capacity of 81.9 MW, it is expected to produce 223 GWh per year.Circular economy: Owens Corning is a partner in the ZEBRA (ZerowastE Blade ReseArch) project in Europe, a cross-sector consortium working to develop the first 100% recyclable wind turbine blade. In 2022, the project achieved a milestone with production of the first prototype blade, with Owens Corning’s wind science and technology team developing new high-performance glass compatible with the resin. As a material engineering partner, the company also delivered a test matrix to support blade design and the production and delivery of 25 tons of fabrics.Building an inclusive workplace: The company progressed toward its 2030 goal to have people of color fill 22% of U.S. mid-level leader, director, and vice president roles with 17% of leadership roles belonging to people of color in 2022, about a 2% increase from 2021. The company also moved forward on its goal to have women fill 35% of global roles at that same level, with nearly 29% of leadership roles belonging to women last year.Maintaining an unconditional focus on safety: In 2022, the recordable incident rate was 0.65. This performance is 81% better than the manufacturing industry average, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2021 (the most recent data available).Serving the community: Owens Corning and the Owens Corning Foundation provided $7.6 million in cash and in-kind giving to support nonprofit organizations with a focus on safe and efficient housing, basic health and wellness, and educational opportunity.

The report was prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards. In addition, the report addresses disclosures and material issues related to CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project), the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) and Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UN Global Compact Communication on Progress, and other stakeholders’ requests, including the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).

Detailed information about the company’s sustainability strategy, goals, and progress are available at owenscorning.com/sustainability.

About Owens Corning 
Owens Corning is a global building and construction materials leader committed to building a sustainable future through material innovation. Our three integrated businesses – Composites, Insulation, and Roofing – provide durable, sustainable, energy-efficient solutions that leverage our unique material science, manufacturing, and market knowledge to help our customers win and grow. We are global in scope, human in scale with approximately 19,000 employees in 31 countries dedicated to generating value for our customers and shareholders and making a difference in the communities where we work and live. Founded in 1938 and based in Toledo, Ohio, USA, Owens Corning posted 2022 sales of $9.8 billion. For more information, visit www.owenscorning.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance and financial condition, and often contain words such as “expect,” “aspire,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “see,” “will,” “would,” “target,” and similar expressions and variations or negatives of these words.

Forward-looking statements include statements that relate to the purpose, ambitions, aspirations, commitments, targets, plans, objectives, and results of Owens Corning’s sustainability strategy. Forward-looking statements include statements related to the standards and measurement of progress against the company’s sustainability goals, including metrics, data and other information, which are based on estimates and assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time. The actual conduct of the company’s activities and results thereof, including the development, implementation, achievement or continuation of any goal, program, policy or initiative discussed or expected in connection with Owens Corning’s sustainability strategy may differ materially from the statements made herein. The use of the word “material” for the purposes of statements regarding our sustainability strategy and goals should not be read as equating to any use of the word in the company’s other disclosures or filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors and actual results may differ materially from any results projected in the statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, without limitation: levels of residential and commercial or industrial construction activity; demand for our products; industry and economic conditions including, but not limited to, supply chain disruptions, recessionary conditions, inflationary pressures, interest rate and financial market volatility and the viability of banks and other financial institutions; availability and cost of energy and raw materials; levels of global industrial production; competitive and pricing factors; relationships with key customers and customer concentration in certain areas; issues related to acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures or expansions; climate change, weather conditions and storm activity; legislation and related regulations or interpretations, in the United States or elsewhere; domestic and international economic and political conditions, policies or other governmental actions, as well as war and civil disturbance (such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine); changes to tariff, trade or investment policies or laws; uninsured losses, including those from natural disasters, catastrophes, pandemics, theft or sabotage; environmental, product-related or other legal and regulatory liabilities, proceedings or actions; research and development activities and intellectual property protection; issues involving implementation and protection of information technology systems; foreign exchange and commodity price fluctuations; our level of indebtedness; our liquidity and the availability and cost of credit; our ability to achieve expected synergies, cost reductions and/or productivity improvements; the level of fixed costs required to run our business; levels of goodwill or other indefinite-lived intangible assets; price volatility in certain wind energy markets in the U.S.; loss of key employees and labor disputes or shortages; defined benefit plan funding obligations; and factors detailed from time to time in the company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The company does not undertake any duty to update or revise forward-looking statements except as required by federal securities laws.

ATLANTA, May 23, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Points of Light, the world’s largest nonprofit dedicated to accelerating people-powered change, announced The Civic 50 honorees of 2023.  Now in its eleventh year, The Civic 50 has provided a national standard for corporate citizenship and showcases how leading companies are moving social impact, civic engagement and community to the core of their business. The Civic 50 honorees are companies with annual U.S. revenues of at least $1 billion and are selected based on four dimensions of their corporate citizenship and social impact programs: investment of resources and volunteerism, integration across business functions, institutionalization through policies and systems, and impact measurement.

The Civic 50 builds on Points of Light’s Civic Circle®, which helps identify the many ways companies and their employees can take action to accelerate positive social change and provides a strategic framework to help activate and scale their full potential for doing good.

This will mark the third year of tracking data related to companies’ progress on commitments to racial equity and their communities since Points of Light introduced new racial equity questions in 2021. Additionally, this year’s data will also reflect key trends observed from the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the community and employee engagement sector.

“Companies are expected to take action on social issues more than ever before, with Points of Light finding 82% of people globally expecting this,” said Diane Quest, interim President and CEO, Points of Light. “The Civic 50 honorees create a model framework for how companies can engage employees and consumers and leverage their assets in an intentional way to move the needle forward on causes they care about. Congratulations to the 2023 honorees of The Civic 50, and thank you for your efforts in transforming the communities where you work and live.”

The Civic 50 Honorees of 2023

AbbVie Inc.AdobeAFLACAltria GroupAres ManagementBlue Cross and Blue Shield of LouisianaBlue Cross Blue Shield of MassachusettsBlue Shield of CaliforniaCaesars EntertainmentCapital OneCharles Schwab & Co., Inc.CitiComcast NBCUniversalComerica BankConagra BrandsCSAA Insurance GroupCVS HealthDeloitteDelta Air LinesDow, Inc.DTE EnergyElevance HealthEntergy CorporationGen Digital IncGeneral MillsHasbro, Inc.Health Care Service CorporationHewlett Packard EnterpriseJohn DeereKellogg CompanyKeyBankKPMG LLPLiberty Mutual InsurancePacific LifePIMCOPoint32HealthPrudential FinancialRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Standard Chartered BankSteelcaseSubaru of America, Inc.Tapestry, IncTata Consultancy ServicesTEGNA Inc.The Hershey CompanyToyotaUnitedHealth GroupUnumUPSVertex PharmaceuticalsWynn Resorts, Limited

The process resulted in a tie between two companies and so 51 companies are recognized on this year’s list.

The Civic 50 Sector Leaders & Volunteer Award 

Consumer Discretionary: Hasbro, Inc.Consumer Staples: The Hershey CompanyFinancials: KeyBankHealthcare: UnitedHealth GroupIndustrials: Delta Air LinesInformation Technology: Tata Consultancy ServicesMaterials: Dow, Inc.Telecommunications: TEGNA Inc.Utilities: Entergy Corporation

Volunteer Leader Award : Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana

This award recognizes the company for having the leading volunteering culture and embracing volunteerism as a priority for civic engagement. 

Strategic Volunteering Award : Steelcase

This award recognizes the company for its strategic efforts to drive impact by engaging employees through pro bono and skills-based and volunteer initiatives. 

Key Insights from The Civic 50 2023 Honorees   

Empower more than 350,000 employees to volunteer more than 6 million hours in their communities.Engage 31% of employees, on average, in external volunteering, compared to 17% for most US companies overall.[1]Engage over half of employees (54%), on average, in internal company volunteering such as employee resource groups and company-sponsored issue education opportunities.Give more than $1.7 billion in financial resources and more than $9.7 billion worth of in-kind goods and services to support charitable causes.Donate more than twice what most US companies do in cash and in-kind contributions to charitable causes as percentage of revenue (more than .55% versus .18%).[2]90% fund social-justice advocacy organizations and 88% are run by CEOs who publicly promoted racial justice.88% integrate community engagement activities with employee health and wellness strategies.82% establish department goals relating to community engagement.82% provide employees paid time off to volunteer.

[1] US data from Giving in Numbers, 2022 by CECP. 

[2] US data from Giving in Numbers, 2021 by CECP. 

On June 27 at 1 p.m. ET, we will host a special webinar and release a report with additional key insights, trends and benchmarking data from this year’s honorees.

The Civic 50 survey is administered by True Impact and the results are analyzed by VeraWorks. The survey instrument consists of quantitative and multiple-choice questions that inform the scoring process. The Civic 50 is the only survey and ranking system that exclusively measures corporate community engagement. To learn more about The Civic 50, visit pointsoflight.org/civic50survey or email civic50@pointsoflight.org.

About Points of Light 

Points of Light is a nonpartisan, global nonprofit organization that inspires, equips and mobilizes millions of people to take action that changes the world. We envision a world in which every individual discovers the power to make a difference, creating healthy communities in vibrant, participatory societies. Through 145 affiliates across 39 countries, and in partnership with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages 3.7 million people in 16.7 million hours of service each year. We bring the power of people to bear where it’s needed most. For more information, visit pointsoflight.org.

About True Impact 

True Impact is a social impact reporting solution that helps Fortune 500 companies and their nonprofit partners measure how much their philanthropy benefits society. For more information, visit trueimpact.com.

About VeraWorks 

VeraWorks is a global firm that advises and supports companies on ESG (environment social governance), CSR (corporate social responsibility) and purpose, including on how to offer employees the opportunity to do societal good through their everyday jobs. For more information, visit veraworks.com.

By Anne Kelly, Vice President of Government Relations at Ceres

Last year was the most consequential for climate, clean energy, and environmental justice policy in U.S. history. The Ceres BICEP Network — representing some of the most recognizable and trusted brands in the U.S. — was a major part of the action.

Our members proved their leadership in championing the Inflation Reduction Act before Congress, and they followed up by advocating to the Biden administration for the smartest possible implementation of the nation’s largest-ever climate legislation. In the states, BICEP companies have helped pass major clean energy and transportation policies designed to accelerate the shift to a more sustainable economy. And while celebrating these important victories, BICEP members spent much of 2022 sowing the ground for critical upcoming policy efforts.

Following the success of our LEAD on a Clean Economy 2023 advocacy push on Capitol Hill last week, Ceres honored our 2023 BICEP Award winners. Each award recognizes a company, a business leader or a lawmaker who went above and beyond to publicly and effectively advocate for a federal or state climate, energy or transportation measure. We were pleased to present 16 awards this year, showcasing the range of our work across industries and sectors, and at each level of government.

2023 BICEP Crown: Abigail Campbell, head of climate and infrastructure policy at Siemens USA. For years, Abby and Siemens have been key partners in supporting clean energy, clean transportation, and clean infrastructure policy. In 2022, she earned our top honor as a strong advocate for both the passage and the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act, as well as important clean vehicle policies passed in states across the country. We are especially grateful to Abby and her team for raising their voices through op-eds, social media and in direct meetings with lawmakers to ensure Siemens’s policy advocacy is highly public and, as a result, even more influential.

2023 BICEP State Climate Policy Champion: Nestlé. Nestlé again proved that it sees state policy as crucial to achieving its own bold climate and sustainability goals by eagerly working to support clean transportation, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and other policy initiatives in regions across the U.S. We are especially grateful to Meg Villareal, manager of policy and public affairs at Nestlé, for her steadfast advocacy and leadership.

2023 Federal Policy Champions: Danone N.A. and Logitech. Both companies were persistent and vocal champions of the Inflation Reduction Act, answering every call to help pass the most impactful climate legislation in U.S. history. Danone has also been a decisive and reliable partner in advocating for a 2023 Farm Bill that prioritizes equitably addressing the climate crisis.

2023 Most Valuable Partner: Business Forward. Business Forward played a critical role in garnering company support for the Inflation Reduction Act and has continued to be a vital partner for Ceres. In the few days between the deal was announced and the historic law was passed by the U.S. Senate, Business Forward worked with Ceres to recruit some 40 major companies to sign a letter of support, which was referenced on the Senate floor and at the White House podium.

2023 BICEP Internal Champion: Ciara O’Dea and Erik Hansen of Workday. Together, this duo has brought Workday’s advocacy to new heights at both the federal and state levels, including in its home state of California where it has played a strong role in helping to advance some of the nation’s leading climate policies.

2023 BICEP Transportation Policy Advocate: Ford Motor Company. We are pleased to recognize Ford’s efforts at both the state and federal levels. In addition to its crucial support of the Inflation Reduction Act’s electric vehicle incentives that create good-paying jobs and strengthen U.S. supply chains, Ford has also been a leading advocate for the Advanced Clean Cars II rule in California and several other states, recognizing that public policy is key to meeting the clean vehicle goals of the company and the industry.

2023 BICEP Climate Smart Agriculture Groundbreaker: Joseph Brinkley, director of regenerative agriculture at Bonterra Organic Estates. An integral member of the Ceres Climate Smart Agriculture and Healthy Soil Working Group, Joseph has been an enthusiastic and highly educational participant in meetings with lawmakers from both parties in support of a 2023 Farm Bill that equitably prioritizes regenerative agriculture.

We were also proud to recognize the following policymakers for their monumental work in the last year.

2023 Ryan Martel Capitol Hill Climb Award: Adrian Deveny from the office of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Named for our beloved federal policy director who we tragically lost in 2022, this award is among our highest honors and is given to a Congressional staffer who embodies the principles Ryan — a former Senate staffer himself — held dear. Adrian personally knew Ryan in their days on Capitol Hill and is well-deserving of this award for his tireless work to negotiate and pass the Inflation Reduction Act, a piece of legislation that Ryan helped to mold through his years of strident advocacy.

2023 Congressional Climate Champion: Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island. Sen. Whitehouse has more than earned this award through his clear prioritization of climate policy, his work to influence and pass federal legislation, and his efforts to highlight examples of responsible — and irresponsible — engagement on climate policy by companies and trade groups.

2023 Congressional Climate and Environmental Justice Champion: Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona. Rep. Grijalva is the first-ever recipient of this award in honor of his efforts alongside the late Rep. A. Donald McEachin to engage stakeholders to shape comprehensive and ambitious federal environmental justice legislation. The resulting legislation — the A. Donald McEachin Environmental Justice for All bill — has Ceres’s wholehearted support for passage in the current Congress.

2023 Administration Climate Champion: U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm. Sec. Granholm’s path-breaking leadership has guided the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act, as well as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, to ensure innovative technologies bring clean energy jobs and justice to every state and district in the country.

We congratulate each and every one of our 2023 awardees. More importantly, we thank them for their dedication and unwavering commitment to climate action during an historic year for U.S. climate policy. We also thank the entire Ceres BICEP Network for its ongoing efforts in support of public policy to build a stronger, more just, and more resilient clean energy economy.

Thanks to inquiring minds, 34,000 fewer young bellies were impacted by empty cupboards and empty stomachs in 2022.

I Can for Kids Foundation (iCAN) was formed in 2015 after a television segment on student hunger over the school summer break sparked an idea in the minds of co-founder Bobbi Turko and her daughter—what if we could do that here?

iCAN partners with 25 frontline social service agencies to address food insecurity in Calgary, and provide support to households with children. The organization started as a summer food program to support students who had lost access to lunch programs over the school break—but transformed dramatically amidst the onset of COVID-19 to provide grocery gift cards once a month to families.

“We evolved from offering the seasonal summer program to a year-round grocery gift card program—and our new approach is here to stay,” says Turko, who in addition to her co-founder status is also the executive director of the organization.

Paramount to the iCAN programming is data. The organization’s study with the University of Calgary analyzed the impact of grocery gift cards on the health and well-being of recipients, and the results reinforced both the advantages and preference for this type of support

“We don’t do anything just because we think it’s a good idea. We are steeped in research and everything we do is backed by evidence,” says Turko.

A particularly eye-opening finding from the study suggests that up to 70% of food received in hampers ends up discarded. Whether for dietary reasons, freshness or simply preference, providing grocery gift cards versus food provisions puts the control back in the hands of those in need.

“We’re disrupting a tradition 40 years in the making, but it’s actually a far more effective and efficient way of supporting people,” says Turko. “There are a variety of ways that our grocery gift cards impact families, from relieving financial stress to improving diet quality and reducing food waste.”

In 2022, Enbridge made a $15,000 Fueling Futures donation to I Can for Kids Foundation as part of our commitment to building vibrant and sustainable communities near our operations. The funding purchased grocery gift cards for families, supporting approximately 750 kids.

As pioneers—or at least early adopters—of the grocery gift card as a way of providing more dignified support to families in need, iCAN does not shy away from sharing the information gleaned from the University of Calgary study and other key research surrounding food insecurity in Canada.

“We feel very responsible with the research to share it as far and wide as we can,” says Turko. “At the end of the day, if the participants aren’t feeling that they’re receiving the best support available, then we have a responsibility as a member of this sector to do better.”

A host of information and data, including how to support the organization directly, can be found online.

“We are so fortunate to be able to share our findings with a community to help them realize that there are other opportunities for support and that maybe it’s time to change,” says Turko.

“How can we do better?”

Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB), the leading provider of software for powering social impact, today released its 11th annual Industry Review: Employee Engagement and Corporate Social Responsibility Report, which analyzes corporate social responsibility (CSR) program data and employees’ philanthropic behavior. The report provides insights and trends from more than 400 participating companies and their 8 million+ employees using data collected between January and December 2022 within Blackbaud’s YourCause® CSRconnect®, GrantsConnect®, and NPOconnect® solutions. Companies evaluated in this report represent a subset of the total client base. 

“After a few challenging and transformative years, employees’ are participating in volunteering, giving, and various social impact actions and activities with a notable increased desire to get back to in-person engagements,” said Andrew Troup, director of giving and engagement of Blackbaud Corporate Impact. “Companies are evaluating their social impact strategies and looking for ways to capitalize on the momentum of increased employee engagement while making sure their programmatic offerings align toward trends for year-round giving programs, disaster relief initiatives, and a diverse volunteer portfolio that includes a balance of in-person and virtual engagement opportunities.”  

Key findings from this year’s Industry Review:  

More employees engaged with giving and volunteering. The combined engagement rate, which measures participation across the total employee population, increased. And employees volunteered more hours, recording over 8.5 million ─ a 34% increase since 2021.In-person volunteering continued to increase. Of the more than 8.5 million volunteer hours recorded, 82% took place at in-person events. This incredible resurgence and shift back toward in-person engagements and interactions shines a light on the impact volunteering has with providing a sense of community and employee belonging.More companies are engaging their employees year-round with giving. 92% percent of companies with giving offer year-round programs, which is an increase of 11% from 2021.Companies and their employees rallied together to support disaster relief. Total funding for disaster increased to over $12.2 million with 84% donated to campaigns supporting Ukraine.

New this year, the report includes a preview of how organizations that are using EVERFI from Blackbaud products are making an impact. EVERFI from Blackbaud enables corporations, foundations and nonprofits to quickly reach thousands of K-12 learners in a classroom setting to deliver education to impact 21st century skills. The report includes a preview of how organizations across all industries are using EVERFI products to sponsor critical skills education including financial education, health and wellness, social emotional wellness and more.

“The combined forces of YourCause and EVERFI, along with the commitment from Blackbaud to fuel impact, provides companies and organizations of all sizes a powerful suite of solutions to invest in their communities through grantmaking, education initiatives or employee volunteer opportunities,” said Tom Davidson, executive vice president of Blackbaud Corporate Impact. The information contained in this report is just the tip of the iceberg for the kind of board-level reporting corporations can provide on their social impact activities.”

With CSRconnect and GrantsConnect from the YourCause portfolio, companies have access to the largest global charity database. YourCause has expanded its global partnerships to allow companies to amplify and scale their impact by providing access to more charities from around the world, all while feeling confident in the vetting process that stays up to date with local legal standards.

Download the full Industry Review report here.

Click here to learn more about Blackbaud’s CSR solutions for companies.

About Blackbaud
Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB) is the leading software provider exclusively dedicated to powering social impact. Serving the nonprofit and education sectors, companies committed to social responsibility and individual change makers, Blackbaud’s essential software is built to accelerate impact in fundraising, nonprofit financial management, digital giving, grantmaking, corporate social responsibility and education management. With millions of users and $100 billion donated, granted, and invested through its platforms every year, Blackbaud’s solutions are unleashing the potential of the people and organizations who change the world. Blackbaud has been named to Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Responsible Companies, Quartz’s list of Best Companies for Remote Workers, and Forbes’ list of America’s Best Employers. A remote-first company, Blackbaud has operations in the United States, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica and the United Kingdom, supporting users in 100+ countries. Learn more at www.blackbaud.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

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