Tag: 3BL

Fifth Third Bank, National Association, surprised 44 newborns and their families for being born on a special day: 5/3. Babies born across eight hospitals in the Louisville area on “Fifth Third Day” received a $1,053 Gift of College® gift card to be used toward a 529 college savings account.

“It was an honor to welcome the newest members of our community on a day that is near and dear to Fifth Third,” said Kim Halbauer, regional president of Kentucky for Fifth Third Bank. “Finding ways to strengthen families and communities is core to what we do, and I can’t think of a better way to support parents and children than helping them start saving for a college education.”

The new parents also received care packages with a DoorDash gift card, and gifts for the baby including a onesie, milestone blanket and diapers. The 44 Louisville newborns also received a horse stuffed animal, since it was Derby Week.

Celebrating new parents, babies and college educations

Between Fifth Third Days in 2017 and 2022, the Bank has gifted 399 babies with $1,053 to go toward a 529 college savings account, in partnership with Gift of College. The Bank has hosted Fifth Third Day Babies in Cincinnati, Chicago, Columbus, Ohio, Grand Rapids, Mich., Indianapolis and Charlotte, North Carolina. This year brought that total to 493.

“This means everything. To have a baby is a blessing but being able to start his future is definitely a blessing, too,” said Todd Wingate, father to Fifth Third Baby, Tee Wingate, who was born at Baptist Health Louisville. Tee’s parents are the recipient of one of the $1,053 Gift of College gift cards.

Tee’s mother Katia Colin added: “It is very exciting. It doesn’t seem real!”

529s: Investing in your child’s future

Opening a 529 account early in a child’s life can lead to endless educational and career possibilities. And once a 529 account is opened, friends, extended family, and even employers can contribute as well – creating a circle of support for parents in preparing for their child’s future.

“Starting the investing process when a child is brand new provides plenty of time for additional contributions to be made and to compound and grow in value,” said Patricia Roberts, chief operating officer of Gift of College and mother of a recent debt-free college graduate. “A gift like this is an investment in a child’s future and one of the very best gifts new parents and their child can receive.

“As a mom who’s been there, I know the value of starting the savings process early and the many doors educational savings can open down the line. I immediately began sleeping better at night once I knew we had a plan in place for our child’s future. Looking back, opening a 529 account when our child was an infant was one of the best decisions we made. “

Children with college savings are more likely to pursue and complete higher education. No matter what path a child chooses to pursue, savings will help make them easier to achieve. And post-secondary education is linked to higher pay, upward mobility, improved health and other valuable benefits.

Sweepstakes for all

You don’t have to be born on 5/3 to start saving for a sunny future! This year, Fifth Third is extending its Fifth Third Babies gift of $1,053 to open a 529 college savings plan to all our communities with the 5/3 Babies Sweepstakes1. Parents can enter to win $1,053 by following and commenting on Fifth Third Bank’s TikTok, Facebook and Instagram sweepstakes posts between May 10 and 29. Five winners will receive a head start on their college savings fund.

About Fifth Third

Fifth Third is a bank that’s as long on innovation as it is on history. Since 1858, we’ve been helping individuals, families, businesses and communities grow through smart financial services that improve lives. Our list of firsts is extensive, and it’s one that continues to expand as we explore the intersection of tech-driven innovation, dedicated people and focused community impact. Fifth Third is one of the few U.S.-based banks to have been named among Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies® for several years. With a commitment to taking care of our customers, employees, communities and shareholders, our goal is not only to be the nation’s highest performing regional bank, but to be the bank people most value and trust.

Fifth Third Bank, National Association is a federally chartered institution. Fifth Third Bancorp is the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank and its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ® Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.” Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com. Deposit and credit products offered by Fifth Third Bank, National Association. Member FDIC.

1 No purchase necessary to enter or win sweepstakes. Odds of winning depends on number of eligible entries received. Sweepstakes begins May 10, 2023, at 12:00 AM EST and ends May 29, 2023, at 11:59 PM EST. Must be a U.S. resident at least 18 years old to enter. Sweepstakes is only open to residents of Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.

Alkermes is proud to be selected as a 2023 Top 100 Companies Leading in Wellbeing by Ibec! This recognition acknowledges companies in Ireland who are leading the way in supporting employee wellbeing. Alkermes has been listed as part of this index since its creation in 2021. Learn more about this honor: https://lnkd.in/dZwAGpc

Global thinking with local delivery of Environment, Health & Safety and Sustainability (EHS&S) consulting services sets apart the Inogen Alliance. For the past two decades, our strong partnerships have opened our global portfolio of expertise to our multinational clients through one single local point of contact. We just held our spring meeting in Tokyo, Japan, and like all our meetings, this one was somewhere between an innovative EHS&S conference and a big family reunion. As a diverse group of independent businesses we each bring our own ideas, processes, innovations and tools to the Alliance, and each meeting helps us strengthen our collaborative approach to solving EHS&S challenges for our clients in ways that no one Associate could do alone. The diversity of thought sets us apart and accelerates our strategies with a consistent global approach but with local cultural nuances giving our clients the best of both worlds.

During this Spring Meeting we convened our global Working Groups. Our ten global working groups focus on either a service area or industry across Water Services, Energy Transition, Environmental Remediation, Mergers & Acquisitions, Digital Solutions, Health & Safety, Sustainability, Retail, Technology and Marketing. These working groups meet regularly, bringing together hundreds of EHS, Sustainability and ESG experts to collaborate on challenges, share new innovations or solutions, monitor and understand market trends, and create a peer-to-peer global network in service of our multinational clients.

Global Water Services and Stewardship 

To show the scale of some of our global teams, the Water Working Group currently includes Associates in 21 countries. Water specifically needs to be understood at a local level but has global implications for many industries. Having coverage and insights from 21 different countries adds an incredible depth of knowledge to our teams. During the regular Working Group meetings they have technical presentations for benchmarking and growth and roundtable discussions. Five Associates from this group are also co-sponsoring as Inogen Alliance at the Global Forum with Alliance for Water Stewardship 16-17 May, 2023. We are very proud that we have the largest global AWS certified consultants as an Alliance.

“For most of our clients water has become a fundamental pillar in new sustainable business models which aim to achieve the ambitious net zero impact on the environment. We are seeing a significant shift in the way companies are managing their water resources, as on-site water management alone simply isn’t enough to tackle global water crises and long-term climate change effects. Water stewardship is taking water management to another level by integrating social and cultural interests of all stakeholders when developing a water protection plan. Our global water working group in Inogen Alliance works towards understanding, tracking, satisfying, and anticipating external needs with the aim of supporting our clients in achieving ambitious milestones, innovative solutions and resilient strategies for conserving our most precious resource on Earth: water,” Beatrice Bizzaro, HPC Italy, Water Working Group leader.

Global Energy Transition Trends

Nearly 50 members from 17 associate organizations participate in our global Energy Transition working group. Working Group meetings each have a theme, so far including Hydrogen, Off-Shore Wind, Solar, Batteries, and Green Ammonia, with each theme including case studies and a discussion of emerging trends and challenges. The Spring Associate meeting provided a great opportunity to gather feedback regarding working group progress, and to discuss global market trends. Many associates are actively working for clients in support of the energy transition. Across Asia, wind, solar and transmission projects are booming; in Europe, off-shore wind and ammonia project development markets are very active. Meanwhile, in Mexico there is still heavy investment in fossil fuels and a lack of commitment to green energy investments. In African countries there is an increasing demand for energy transition projects but also support needed to conduct feasibility studies and energy efficiency program development. In the US the inflation reduction act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act are funding billions of dollars in US clean energy projects benefiting most sectors of the energy ecosystem. Investments that are gaining momentum include off-shore wind, hydrogen, carbon capture & sequestration, geothermal, and fleet decarbonization.

Bill MacDonald, Antea Group USA, Energy Transition Working Group leader states “The collective energy transition project experience of the Alliance membership rivals any global consulting firm. Our mission is to collaborate with each other to expand our consulting capabilities geographically, and to win multinational client opportunities.”

A Focus on Remediation Services and Innovations

Many of our Associates started their EHS&S consulting in traditional remediation services. Because of our history, Remediation Working Group has been one of the longest-standing groups, and has been active in creating both internal and external webinars and thought leadership on new innovations. Remediation is a very local business so the Alliance believes it is crucial to have local experts that bring knowledge of the local environment and regulations. There was also discussion on how ESG is also becoming a driver for remediation services with circular economy and reuse of building materials and carbon values. These discussions and technical presentations help the Alliance to bring efficiencies and innovation to this traditional service offering.

Progressing Global Sustainability and ESG Topics

The Alliance’s Sustainability Working Group includes our Steering Committee, ESG Subcommittee, Sustainability Stewards, and an ESG Board committee. This group drives the Alliance’s internal ESG efforts, which include Inogen Alliance materiality assessment, stakeholder engagement, the implementation of our ESG strategy, and development of our annual ESG report. The Spring meeting included a facilitated discussion around the changing regulatory climate globally as it relates to ESG as well as the ethical obligations of consultants to ensure our work is not used for greenwashing. We also discussed our ESG journey within the core Alliance operations, and our role in influencing the 75 independent Associate companies as their ESG programs take shape and evolve. The Inogen Alliance ESG report focuses on Alliance operations and meetings. However, progress updates are also available in the latest Environment Analyst report with our summary here. Beyond our internal initiatives, trends within ESG consulting services are also a critical priority to the ESG Working Group. The team has consistent dialogue around changes both in market demand and emerging ESG legislation. These discussions help the broader alliance both to anticipate needs within specific locales, and to provide unique insights to global clients navigating differing regional ESG expectations and requirements.

Global Collaboration Across Inogen Alliance Working Groups

The rest of our global Working Groups presented on similar service updates, market trends and upcoming topics as we collaborate globally between our Associate companies on both knowledge sharing, insights and trends as well as on client opportunities and projects. Our biannual meetings remind us of the importance of this collaboration and always bring up new ideas and opportunities to refocus and reflect on as we continue to evolve and grow to best service our multinational clients but also to grow as individuals with careers in each of our Associate companies. Continue to watch for more updates from our ten global working groups with articles, webinars, social posts on LinkedIn and more. If you have a question related to one of our working group topics, please send us a message and we’ll integrate this into our working groups and knowledge sharing globally.

Inogen Alliance is a global network made up of dozens of independent local businesses and over 5,000 consultants around the world who can help make your project a success. Our Associates collaborate closely to serve multinational corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, and we share knowledge and industry experience to provide the highest quality service to our clients. If you want to learn more about how you can work with Inogen Alliance, you can explore our Associates or Contact Us. Watch for more News & Blog updates here and follow us on LinkedIn

Quest HealthConnect™ is dedicated to increasing access to quality extended care services that:

Enable health plans and clinical providers to more effectively assess vulnerable patients and close critical gaps in care
Help to increase access to quality healthcare by delivering individualized care options that connect patients where they are—whether at home, in a local Quest patient service center, or another convenient setting
Improve satisfaction among members of healthcare plans, particularly those enrolled in Medicare and managed Medicaid
Facilitate early detection of chronic and acute illness
Enhance member education and their ability to take full advantage of their benefits
Improve overall quality of care

Enabled by a national network of trusted, long-standing relationships with medical professionals, Quest HealthConnect provides a personalized approach, often at members’ homes, through an on-site Health Risk Assessment (HRA). HRAs factor in crucial social determinants of health combinations—including housing and transportation, psychosocial factors, access to nutritious food, financial barriers, and access to community services and resources—to help members understand their health risks and take steps to improve their overall health.

Health plans use data obtained from the HRAs to:

Coordinate care with physicians who can guide patients in taking appropriate preventive care measures to reduce identified health risks
Help members get ahead of common chronic medical conditions, including cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, and kidney disease

In addition to HRAs, Quest HealthConnect offers additional services, including screenings for diabetic retinopathy, diabetes, osteoporosis, and colorectal cancer

Reade more

By Candace Higginbotham and Jeremy King

VICKSBURG, Miss., May 8, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Regions Bank announced Ginger Donohue, manager of Regions’ Beechwood branch in Vicksburg, Mississippi, is the first recipient of the bank’s newly launched Lee Ann Petty Heart of Service Award.

Designed as Regions’ highest associate honor for community engagement, the Lee Ann Petty Heart of Service Award recognizes exemplary volunteerism that goes above and beyond in supporting the quality of life in communities served by the bank. Longtime Regions associate Lee Ann Petty served as volunteer services coordinator in Regions’ Community Affairs division. She passed away on Dec. 30, 2020, following a courageous battle against cancer.

No matter where you look, you will be hard pressed to find anyone who pours more of their heart into serving others than Ginger.

Wendi Boyen, community advocacy and financial wellness manager for Regions

Yet her sincere commitment to serving others continues to inspire thousands of Regions associates in several states.

And because of her own incredible dedication to making a positive impact, Regions is proud to honor Ginger Donohue with the inaugural award that pays tribute to Petty’s legacy.

“No matter where you look, you will be hard pressed to find anyone who pours more of their heart into serving others than Ginger,” said Wendi Boyen, community advocacy and financial wellness manager for Regions. “Not only do our Vicksburg customers know she is looking out for them, the community knows it, too. Regions Bank’s mission is to make life better for the people and places we serve. Ginger Donohue puts our mission into action every single day.”

Donohue, a 21-year veteran of Regions Bank, has lived and worked in Vicksburg all her life. To many, she’s known as “Ms. Vicksburg.” While she supports several organizations, she has a particular soft spot for children – especially those in need.

Donohue organizes an annual school supply drive, gathers toys and gifts for holiday campaigns, raises money for scholarship funds, teaches Bible school and serves as an instructor for Regions Next Step financial wellness classes at Vicksburg High School, among other activities.

In one recent year, she logged nearly 200 volunteerism hours. That’s the equivalent of five standard full-time work weeks.

Indeed, as this powerful new video from Regions illustrates, Donohue’s life of service has been a natural progression, starting when she was a girl collecting donations door-to-door with her mother for Easterseals and March of Dimes.

Ginger is one of the most humble, giving, loving, supportive people I have ever met in my entire life.

Michele Connelly, executive director of United Way of West Central Mississippi

“My momma was passionate about giving back and was very involved in many nonprofit organizations,” Donohue said. “And my daddy had an incredible work ethic. He always said, ‘If you have a dollar, give a quarter away. If you don’t have any money, then you give your talents and your time.’”

In addition to serving children, Donohue’s talents and time are also poured into leadership roles with the Vicksburg Kiwanis Club and the boards of the Vicksburg-Warren Chamber of Commerce and United Way of West Central Mississippi.

“Ginger is one of the most humble, giving, loving, supportive people I have ever met in my entire life,” said Michele Connelly, executive director of United Way of West Central Mississippi. “She’s the epitome of someone who understands the importance of giving back – why it’s necessary to give back. She’s not doing it to put on a resume or move faster up the corporate ladder. She’s not doing it to make friends. She’s doing it because she knows there are people in the community who need what she can provide.”

Donohue credits Regions for giving her the support and encouragement to serve.

“Without Regions, I couldn’t do what I do for Vicksburg,” she said. “Not only do they ‘let’ me do what I want to do for the community, they ‘want’ me to do what I love to do. And my Beechwood branch team is like family, and they get out there and volunteer with me.”

Vicksburg may be a smaller city. But Donohue’s dedication knows no limits.

I do what I do because it’s what Momma, Daddy and God want me to do – and I want to make them proud. And I want to pass that along to my children and my grandchildren.

Ginger Donohue, manager of Regions’ Beechwood branch in Vicksburg, Mississippi

“We have one branch in this market, but Ginger makes sure the Vicksburg community knows that Regions is here,” said Regions Community Development Manager LoRose Moore. “That’s very important for our business, as well as our community engagement.”

In recognition of Donohue’s service, Regions is making a $2,500 donation to United Way of West Central Mississippi. In addition, Donohue was honored at Regions’ 2023 Chairman’s Club celebration in Boston, where the company recognized its top performers this week. She will receive a commemorative plaque and five bonus vacation days – to take time for herself after dedicating so much time to others.

“I do what I do because it’s what Momma, Daddy and God want me to do – and I want to make them proud,” Donohue concluded. “And I want to pass that along to my children and my grandchildren.”

About Regions Financial Corporation
Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF), with $154 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation’s largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions Bank, operates more than 1,250 banking offices and more than 2,000 ATMs. Regions Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at www.regions.com.

CEO Amina Razvi recently spoke at the Sustainable Fashion Forum, which took place in Portland, Oregon, April 21-22. The event, of which the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) was a partner, brought together designers, industry experts, scientists, influencers, and policy advisors to discuss, share ideas and explore actionable solutions to drive change across the textile and apparel industry.

Speaking on a panel titled, “Leadership in the era of accountability”, CEO, Amina Razvi, joined Kestrel Jenkins, Host and Producer of the Conscious Chatter Podcast on the SFF mainstage for an exclusive fireside chat to discuss the complex challenges of implementing sustainability across the textile and apparel supply chain and how to overcome these obstacles.

The conversation began with Amina sharing how the SAC was created, and the challenge companies grappled with, working in silos and lacking a universal approach to measuring sustainability performance. She highlighted the importance of collaboration and a holistic approach to sustainability, stressing the importance of all stakeholders coming together to align efforts and co-create solutions.

On the need for standardized data and tools to drive the industry forward, Amina shared how the SAC’s Higg Index suite of tools were developed as a way to drive visibility and accountability, which is at the core of the SAC’s mission. She went on to add that the tools are continuously evolving, in line with the very latest science and research and how the SAC collaborates with its members and key stakeholders to develop and evolve these tools.

Reflecting on the conversations with the NCA and other consumer authorities in 2022, Amina shared insights and key learnings, highlighting the opportunity it created to collaborate more closely on overcoming the difficulties in communicating sustainability performance to consumers, and the important role incoming directives and state-led guidance needs to play in supporting industry transformation. She also emphasized the need for a harmonized approach to legislation and measurement.

Speaking on the need for a harmonized approach to sustainability, Amina discussed the unique role the organization has to play in bringing the industry together and leveraging the global community the SAC has built to help everyone achieve their targets and goals. By aligning efforts, co-creating solutions, and improving sustainability metrics, the industry can achieve its sustainability goals.

The fireside chat closed off with Amina’s sharing a call to action for greater collaboration along the entire supply chain, saying, “If we remain on the binary thinking of it’s your way or my way, then that’s not a path to collaboration. It’s about establishing common ground so we can move forward together”.

Originally published in GoDaddy’s 2022 Sustainability Report

Inclusive Entrepreneurship

We empower and champion entrepreneurs everywhere.

As we foster and inspire a growing wave of inclusive entrepreneurship, GoDaddy is changing the way people around the world work and live for the better. We recognize that the entrepreneurial journey is as diverse and unique as entrepreneurs themselves — and we know that barriers along that journey aren’t experienced equally.

To us, that highlights the importance of delivering customized experiences at every stage of an entrepreneur’s journey, with one-on-one support and resources that are responsive to individual needs and circumstances.

That’s why we’re committed to providing equitable resources that support and empower everyone, including entrepreneurs in and from underserved communities.

We’ve shared our beliefs in previous reports and statements, and our core message remains the same today. When it comes to inclusive entrepreneurship, commitment and consistency matter. We believe:

Inclusive entrepreneurship helps fuel local economies globally, increases generational wealth, decreases wealth gaps and ultimately improves lives 
 Everyone — no matter their age, race, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, location or other experience or identity — should have the opportunity to pursue their independent ventures and forge their own path

Empower by GoDaddy

As our signature social impact program, Empower by GoDaddy allows us to partner with local community organizations and nonprofits 
to help propel entrepreneurship in underserved communities. Together, we provide in-person and virtual educational workshops, technology tools, mentorship opportunities and peer networks to thousands of small and microbusiness owners across the U.S., Europe and Canada.

Through GoDaddy employee volunteerism and strong relationships with our partners, we offer entrepreneurs practical and emotional support including:

Workshops and training on accepting payments, branding, marketing, website building and other foundational business topics 
 One-on-one and group mentorship and coaching 
 Wraparound services such as access to technology, childcare and transportation

Empower by GoDaddy’s 10-course series features customized learning experiences for the entrepreneurs we serve. In our sixth year, we launched Empower by GoDaddy in Canada and expanded language offerings for the program to include French in addition to English, German and Spanish.

In 2022, we met with nonprofit and community organization partners regularly, strengthening these partnerships while facilitating collaboration and improving resource sharing. We are delighted to have provided $1.92 million in funding to these partners through Empower by GoDaddy in 2022.

GoDaddy team members play an integral role in Empower by GoDaddy by serving as coaches and mentors. Our highly skilled and passionate employees taught 83 workshops and supported an additional 477 Empower by GoDaddy workshops led by our community partners, resulting in more than 9,700 learning engagements with entrepreneurs in 2022.

Empower(ing) Stories

In 2022, Empower by GoDaddy continued to impact the lives of entrepreneurs and their extraordinary businesses. Here’s just one example of the many entrepreneurs we are proud to serve.

HARP VISION 
For Tyron and April Harper, the husband- and-wife duo behind Harp Vision, what started as a personal journey to relieve their own chronic pain morphed into a business idea that transformed into a business reality. In Baltimore, Maryland, Empower by GoDaddy helped turn their ideas into action. Now, these Empower by GoDaddy graduates have a wellness brand of all-natural products to help relieve pain and improve quality of life.

“We work closely with local small business incubators such as Impact Hub Baltimore and Empower by GoDaddy in order to network, learn about new tools and skills to grow our business, and generally stay connected to the entrepreneur scene that surrounds us. Having a digital presence has been vital to growing our clientele. We leverage GoDaddy tools to build our website to reflect our mission, enable ecommerce and take our business to the next level.”

Tyron and April Harper — Harp Vision HARP-VISION.COM

You Empower

In 2022, GoDaddy launched the pilot You Empower program to provide dedicated support to Empower by GoDaddy entrepreneurs in select markets.

Full-time, U.S.-based GoDaddy employees volunteered to be based in these communities through 12-week rotational programs, and while there, they provided digital learning in one-on-one and group environments to help entrepreneurs achieve their business goals.

The pilot ensured that GoDaddy employees had enriching personal development experiences and that You Empower participants got much- needed digital support and training.

“This experience afforded me the opportunity to see things I would have never seen [being in Alabama]. The program gave me an understanding of who I am — the uniqueness of who I am. I now approach my work with even more conviction. I can help anyone lean in more and stretch.”

Desmond Sweet, GoDaddy Learning Program Manager And You Empower Volunteer

About This Report 
Unless otherwise noted, the GoDaddy 2022 Sustainability Report outlines our environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies, activities, progress, metrics and performance for the fiscal year that ended on December 31, 2022. This report references the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards and includes select Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Standards metrics for the Internet Media and Services sector.

GoDaddy is committed to regular, transparent communication about our sustainability progress, and to that end, we will share updates on an ongoing basis through our website and will continue to publish an annual Sustainability Report.

To learn more, please read our 2022 Sustainability Report.

OnQ Blog

Every year on April 26, World Intellectual Property Day reminds us of the importance of inventing — and the diverse community of creators who drive breakthrough innovations. It’s certainly a day to celebrate, as nothing conveys optimism like the act of creating something new. But innovation cannot occur in a vacuum. To flourish, it requires two things: a continually replenished pool of innovators and a robust legal system to protect their inventions. Here at Qualcomm, we know that the protection of intellectual property (IP) through a strong patent system lies at the heart of our success. At the same time, we are striving to grow and diversify the universe of patent holders to include historically underrepresented groups — including women.

By protecting and rewarding innovation, IP laws shape our lives for the better. Patent licensing plays a key role in spurring innovation, giving inventors of all backgrounds the incentive they need to create, finance their research, and make their ideas commercially viable. At Qualcomm, our philosophy is to continually innovate and create a foundation upon which others can build and succeed. Licensing our IP is an integral part of this approach. It democratizes innovation, taking cutting-edge inventions and making them accessible to a broad range of players across industries.

That said, it’s equally imperative that the population of inventors continually grows. Recognition of this is implicit in the theme of World IP Day 2023, “Women and IP: Accelerating innovation and creativity.” Everyone should have the opportunity to invent and patent their ideas. Not only do more diverse inventor communities result in more varied problem-solving but breaking down barriers creates more — and better — innovation. It results in more jobs, boosts the global economy, closes wage and wealth gaps, and yields new ways to improve society.

A recent global report from the World Intellectual Property Organization showed that women are still gravely underrepresented in IP ownership around the world; they often face significant challenges in accessing the knowledge, skills, resources, and support they need to thrive. That is why we are proud to work with Invent Together in initiatives such as . This is a free online learning platform designed to guide inventors through the benefits of patenting and the process of obtaining a patent — particularly for historically underrepresented groups in the patent-heavy sciences and engineering fields. In addition to women, these groups include people of color, LGBTQIA+, people from lower-income communities, and people with disabilities.

True innovation depends on diversity. World-class research and development (R&D) teams who have a broad wealth of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives play a critical role in ensuring that our — and everyone’s — products live up to their potential. We encourage and celebrate innovation across all backgrounds, from school-aged children who participate in our Thinkabit Lab programs across the country, to our engineers who receive special recognition for patenting their inventions, to participants in our Female Founders Summit start-up competition.

For centuries, the American patent system has served as a model for strong IP rights. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, intellectual property in the U.S. supports more than 45 million jobs and contributes over $6.6 trillion to the nation’s economy. IP-intensive industries have become the backbone of our economy. It is critically important to protect the fundamentals of the system that makes this all possible. And it will go a long way towards preserving our status as the world’s preeminent innovation economy.

Qualcomm is first and foremost an innovation company. In order to continue funding our R&D, we patent our inventions and license them to companies in several industries who incorporate those inventions into their products, including mobile, automotive, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Today, we hold over 140,000 patents and pending applications, and our patent portfolio is the most widely and extensively licensed in the wireless industry, with over 300 companies licensed.

But we cannot do it alone. World IP Day gives us the opportunity to reflect on how patent protections have driven economic growth and job creation in the U.S. and around the world. Countries with strong IP systems have higher levels of foreign investment, more innovation, increased R&D activity, higher percentages of workers employed in good-paying jobs, and greater potential to produce and export complex, knowledge-intensive products. If we keep IP protections strong and ensure that the pool of inventors continues to grow and diversify, we best position society to reap the global benefits of innovation.

by Thomas Newmark of Finca Luna Nueva Lodge 

Make chocolate in the rainforest? Of course! You’ll take a thousand-year journey through the history of growing cacao and making chocolate, even using an ancient cacao grinding stone recovered from the Caribbean slope of the great Atlantic rainforest in Costa Rica. Plus, you get to drink and eat the tour, experiencing the spicy Mayan “Drink of the Gods,” the silky sweetness of our hot chocolate, and bars of chocolate flavored the way you, the jungle chocolatier, like it!

Learn about the brightly flavorful medicinal honey of the famous “Mariola” stingless bees? Yes, those bees are what we consider the livestock of this farm, pollinating native plant species and creating delicious honey. You’ll see how we’ve created homes and habitats for them and how they support the great biodiversity in our fields.

So, if it’s a farm-to-table experience in the rainforest you’re seeking, we’re here to fill your senses. We can check that box! But what about filling your souls? Is there a rainforest medicine that gives you hope about the planet? We think so, and it’s called regenerative farming. Farming is so often blamed for many of the world’s ills, and many environmentalists feel that we need to limit farming to a bare minimum of acres, in order to conserve wilderness. Simply put, this approach says intensively and destructively farm some areas in order that other areas can survive. That ecological concept is called “sparing,” and it’s NOT how we approach farming here at Luna Nueva. Instead, we have a mindset of “sharing,” where we produce food in a way that mimics how rainforests create food energy. We and others call this concept of farming “regenerative,” reflecting that we grow food in a way that repairs and enriches our ecosystem. 

Read Tom’s complete article here and then get ready to pack your bags – https://greenmoney.com/regenerate-and-rejoice-at-finca-luna-nueva-lodge

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DES MOINES, Iowa, May 8, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Today, the Wells Fargo Foundation announced a $7.5 million grant to Habitat for Humanity International to help make homes more affordable and accessible for everyone. Through the 2023 Wells Fargo Builds program, the grant funding will enable local Habitat for Humanity affiliates to build and repair more than 360 homes nationwide, including accessibility modifications to meet the needs of low-income older adults and people with disabilities.

The grant was announced in Des Moines, Iowa as part of a citywide repair event with Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity where roughly 130 Wells Fargo and community volunteers completed critical home repairs and updates to help up to a dozen local homeowners. In Iowa and across the U.S., roughly 20% of the population will be 65 or older by 2030. Yet more than 19 million older adults are living in homes that are in disrepair or ill-equipped to meet changing mobility needs around the home, according to Habitat for Humanity International.

As part of the week-long Wells Fargo Builds project, volunteers installed home modifications such as grab bars and wheelchair ramps for homeowners like Robert, a 66-year-old who needed to make his house more accessible for himself and two adult children who use wheelchairs. Jessi, a social worker with two young kids at home, now has an updated front porch with sturdy new steps and railings. These modifications will help prevent falls during Iowa’s harsh winters and enable the homeowner to maintain the condition of her home, which is often a family’s greatest asset.

“As a company, we’re committed to bringing homeownership to more families so they can pass that legacy on and grow generational wealth,” said Mary Mack, CEO of Consumer and Small Business Banking for Wells Fargo and Habitat for Humanity International board member. “We’re proud to join Habitat for Humanity once again to create more quality, affordable and accessible homes through new construction and renovation projects to help families and older adults remain in their homes and communities they love.”

“Safe and accessible housing is a key social determinant of health and helps to improve longevity and overall quality of life,” said Tolli Love, chief development officer at Habitat for Humanity International. “With the support of Wells Fargo this year, we will work together to make a greater impact in communities across the country, including advancing both housing and health equity for older Americans.”

For nearly three decades, Habitat for Humanity International and Wells Fargo have worked together to increase access to affordable homes and homeownership. Since 2010, Wells Fargo and the Wells Fargo Foundation have donated more than $129 million to Habitat for Humanity International and local affiliates, including grant funding for new home construction and repairs, disaster response and rebuilding efforts, and Habitat’s Aging in Place program to enable people to remain in their homes as they age.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a leading financial services company that has approximately $1.9 trillion in assets, proudly serves one in three U.S. households and more than 10% of small businesses in the U.S., and is a leading middle market banking provider in the U.S. We provide a diversified set of banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through our four reportable operating segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth & Investment Management. Wells Fargo ranked No. 41 on Fortune’s 2022 rankings of America’s largest corporations. In the communities we serve, the company focuses its social impact on building a sustainable, inclusive future for all by supporting housing affordability, small business growth, financial health, and a low-carbon economy.

News, insights, and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.

Additional information may be found at www.wellsfargo.com | Twitter: @WellsFargo

About Habitat for Humanity

Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity found its earliest inspirations as a grassroots movement on an interracial community farm in south Georgia. Since its founding in 1976, the Christian housing organization has grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower.To learn more, visit habitat.org.