Tag: 3BL

By Shawna Ryan, T-Mobile Stories

Amy Viettry learned at a young age that she’d have to largely rely on herself and her own determination if she were to blaze a trail in corporate life, and indeed life itself.

“My parents came here to America to create opportunity for me,” the T-Mobile Senior Program Manager says, “and they’ve pushed me to be successful on my own because they knew they couldn’t line up all the ducks for me.”

As the daughter of refugee immigrants from Vietnam, Amy said the language barrier was just one of many obstacles that put a lot of the responsibility on her shoulders when it came to her schooling — and impacted her career ambitions.

Yet, she’s never lost sight of the sacrifices her parents made by creating a life for her in America. Today, with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in her pocket, she is committed to trailblazing a way for others like her to succeed by leading a company program aimed at high school students looking for support with their STEM career and education goals.

“We talk about networking all the time and it’s hard when you have to start with zero network,” she explains. “I don’t have parents who can say I know someone at this college to meet with you or someone at a company I can get you an interview with. I come from a low-income family that’s supporting me and my three siblings. I couldn’t afford college, so I started working right away at 18.”

The T-Mobile Explorer Prep Program follows the company’s goal of hiring diverse early career talent in STEM fields. During the two 8-week summer internships, students can earn a professional certificate in their field of interest while gaining on the job experience.

After completing the program, students are eligible to apply for a full-time employment development role that unlocks tuition assistance for higher education. The program also provides a pathway for students to pursue higher education.

For Amy, as T-Mobile’s first program manager for the Explorer Prep Program, this presents a unique opportunity for high school students to jumpstart their careers in technology.

The conventional pathway into a career after completing high school and then college, Amy explains, isn’t always the most accessible or equitable path. For her, the chance to explore an alternative was exactly what she needed to succeed and what others like her deserve.

“There are so many students that might be the first to try to go to college or who come from households that can’t afford to pay for college and are fearful of going into debt from hefty student loans,” she says. “This program is there to support them. For me, this is obviously very close to my heart. I’m living proof this can work, even if it is untraditional.”

While the Explorer Prep program is currently offered at select partner schools in the Seattle and Kansas City areas, close to T-Mobile’s two headquarters, Amy hopes its early success will expand its reach to more students in need.

We spoke with Amy about how the Explorer Prep Program works and how she is using her experiences to inform its optimal inclusivity.

Can you tell us a little about how growing up the child of immigrant parents has impacted you and your career choice?

My mom is Chinese and my dad is Vietnamese. Both were living in Vietnam and came over as refugees from the Vietnam War. I grew up in a low-income neighborhood, but I went to school in an affluent white neighborhood. My dad was the only source of income and worked seven days a week to provide for me and my three siblings while my mom took care of us at home. I’m so grateful because they never made me feel less privileged. I never felt like I didn’t have money, I just knew that there were things that I couldn’t have that other kids could.

School was a challenge because I had to do a lot of things on my own that I saw others’ parents were handling for them. I had to fill out my own FAFSA and see school counselors and get school documents to register myself for things. I’d have to comprehend it all and explain it to them. There were so many kids out there I felt that had more support and connections when it came to getting into colleges. It’s just about knowing people who can help!

I didn’t get my bachelor’s degree until 10 years after I graduated high school. I knew my family couldn’t afford college, especially if it was just in the hopes of figuring out what exactly I wanted to do next. I started working right away at 18 knowing that my family wouldn’t be able to continue supporting me. I got a job at T-Mobile in 2012. Fast forward to 2016 and I asked myself, “Why am I not taking advantage of this tuition assistance that my company’s offering?” So, I enrolled into tuition assistance and I got my bachelor’s degree in 2020.

Immediately after getting my bachelor’s degree, I enrolled in my master’s and have just graduated! It was a great opportunity for me to be able to get something later because our company offered that help. It’s one reason why The Explorer Prep Program is so close to my heart. I’m living proof this can work, even if it is untraditional.

Can you explain how the Explorer Prep Program works?

The program started in 2020 and it’s a two-consecutive summer experience program for high school students who are interested in pursuing a career in STEM. We’re starting at the high school level and it’s a great way for us to really help provide students the exposure that they’re looking for in the industry to get their minds thinking sooner. When you think back to high school, many remember having no idea what they wanted to do but they’re applying to a four-year university anyways and paying for general education classes. Students often switch majors and have no idea what a career in the field they’re pinpointing even looks like. This program caters to both the students that don’t know what they want to do and also to the students that know exactly what they want to do. Our targeted audience is simply students that might not have the means to go to college and that’s where that diversity comes in. It’s inclusive of everyone.

There are three fields that we’re looking for: software engineers, cyber security engineers and user experience designers. We’re looking to be able to build a pipeline of diverse, top talent at a younger age than college level. They join the summer of their junior year and the summer after they graduate high school. The application process goes through the schools, and my school partners review those applications and send to our recruiters, who then select 30 student candidates to come in May for what we call the Manager Match Event, which is set up like an interview. It’s all in conjunction with local colleges for them to get a two-year certification in the career track that they want to go into. And they’re paid during it all. The program is small right now with Seattle Public Schools, Edmonds School District and Kansas City Public Schools, but there’s hopes of building it out with more partner schools.

Why is this program an important disruption to the status quo when it comes to the usual paths to education and career in your opinion?

It’s an untraditional way to get into a career because it’s kind of the reverse. The traditional route is you go to high school, you do a four-year university, you get into a college internship and you cross your fingers that you’ll get a career out of it, right? This way is flipped around. You start taking college courses your senior year in high school and you start doing internships your high school summers. But it’s actually so much more focused than an internship. It’s a summer experience with a clear path towards their future.

While students typically go for that four-year bachelor’s degree to get a career, what we’re offering is a chance to get the experience to make the right career choice for you. You get a certification, which is a specialized certificate in a field of your choice, and then we offer you an exclusive interview for full-time employment with T-Mobile. Once you become an employee with T-Mobile, we offer tuition assistance. If you still want to pursue your bachelor’s degree, we got you! So, yes, it’s untraditional but we’re offering something that students weren’t able to get before.

Since becoming the first program manager to lead this, I’ve implemented a new recruiting strategy that invites the whole family onto our campus because parents are essentially the decision makers for these high school students, and we need to explain why we are doing this. Growing up, even I thought it had to be a four-year university to get your bachelor’s to then get a career. That’s how we were trained to think. I think it’s important to talk to the parents and explain to them that there is a way to help your kids get their dream job without having to get caught up in student loan debt if that’s the concern. Let me tell you how. Let me introduce you to the professionals who will be mentoring your children and helping them find their own pathway to career success, and how that can also lead to education success as well!

May 5, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Institutional investors are continuing to flag votes during this proxy season at Climate Action 100+ focus companies to bring attention to key shareholder resolutions that encourage more robust climate action. This includes management proposals, where, just this week, Climate Action 100+ flagged votes for directors at four focus companies. Informed by five years of investor engagement supported by Climate Action 100+ including high shareholder votes in recent years, these director votes seek to improve corporate governance on climate issues to mitigate exposure to climate risk. 

Climate Action 100+, of which Ceres is one of five investor network partners, flags key shareholder proposals and other votes for investors to consider when they vote their proxies. This season, the initiative has (to date) flagged 17 shareholder proposals and signatory-declared votes on management proposals at six companies related to company progress against the expectations of Climate Action 100+. In addition to more robust corporate governance on climate, investors are calling for disclosure on key issues including greenhouse gas emissions targets, transition plans including policies to ensure a just transition for workers and communities, and reporting on methane measurements. 

Director accountability 

Mercy Investment Services is urging shareholders to vote against the reelection of three directors at Valero for failure to adequately manage the risks that climate change and the energy transition pose to its core business of refining and selling fossil fuels. After nearly a decade of dialogue, and more than four years of engagement with Valero’s senior management, there has been limited progress on aligning with the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).  Forecasts from the International Energy Agency indicate that the global demand for petroleum liquids, including refined products such as Valero’s core transportation fuels, is expected to shrink in the coming decades, and Valero lags its peers in setting out a transition plan that includes lower carbon energy sources. Valero’s annual general meeting is on May 9.   

At Chevron, Wespath Benefits and Investments is urging shareholders to vote against the election of two directors. This is due to the company’s failure to provide a meaningful response to a shareholder resolution approved by a majority of the company’s shareholders concerning climate-related lobbying and a failure to establish sufficient governance to address risks from misalignment between the company’s lobbying practices and its stated support of the Paris Agreement. Chevron’s annual general meeting is on May 31. 

“One of the main roles of corporate boards is to ensure that companies take the long view on matters of strategy. For oil and gas companies, while current product demand may be robust, the long-term holds significant risks to that demand as the world decarbonizes,” said Andrew Logan, senior director of oil and gas at Ceres. “Boards that do not take these risks into account are simply not doing their jobs. Boards that ignore significant shareholder votes on climate issues or refuse to engage seriously with the investors who filed them, are placing investors and their own companies at real financial risk.” 

The Church of England Pensions Board is calling for votes against the reelection of members of the supervisory board at Volkswagen AG due to failure to produce requested disclosure on lobbying as well as an update to their targets during fiscal year 2022. The Church of England Pensions Board has been engaging with Volkswagen AG (VW) for over four years on its approach to climate change, urging the company to set stronger emissions reduction targets and to provide public disclosure on its lobbying activities regarding climate change policy. VW’s GHG targets and transparency regarding climate lobbying lags its German peers—including Mercedes Benz and BMW, which both have produced lobbying disclosures and have been independently assessed as having stronger short- and medium-term emissions reduction targets by the Transition Pathway Initiative. Volkswagen’s annual general meeting is on May 10. 

Results of proxy season voting so far:  

A 2021 study by BlackRock shows that 75% of proposals that garnered at least 30% of votes resulted in companies taking action, while proxy advisor Glass Lewis recently recommended that any resolution winning 20% or more of votes should lead to engagement between investors and company boards.    

At Engie, 24% of investors voted for a resolution on the modification of the articles of association on the company’s climate strategy, reflecting a growing request for comprehensive climate strategies presented as climate transition plans.  At Lockheed Martin Corporation, 35% of shareholders voted for a resolution filed by As You Sow for the company to set net zero targets and implement climate transition planning. This is especially important as proposed legislation will require federal contractors to set science-based targets. At Marathon Petroleum, 16% of shareholders voted for a resolution filed by International Brotherhood of Teamsters for a report on a climate-related just transition plan, an important signal as investor expectations reflect inclusion of Just Transition as a key measure of corporate progress towards net zero. Also at Marathon Petroleum, 22% of shareholders voted for a resolution filed by the New Jersey Division of Investment Fund for a report on asset retirement obligations. As an emerging area of concern for investors regarding stranded asset risk, this is an encouraging outcome for a first-time resolution type. At PACCAR Inc., 46% of shareholders voted for a resolution filed by Calvert Research & Management asking for the company’s climate lobbying practices to be in line with the Paris Agreement, signaling growing investor support for climate lobbying disclosure. 

Editor’s Note:  

The flagged votes process is designed purely for information-sharing purposes and to highlight upcoming key votes at the initiative’s focus companies. It is at the discretion of each signatory investor to determine how they vote.  Climate Action 100+ does not require or seek collective decision-making or action with respect to acquiring, holding, disposing and/or voting of securities. Signatories are independent fiduciaries responsible for their own investment and voting decisions.   

Read Climate Action 100+’s full disclaimer here.   

About Ceres  

Ceres is a nonprofit organization working with the most influential capital market leaders to solve the world’s greatest sustainability challenges. Through our powerful networks and global collaborations of investors, companies, and nonprofits, we drive action and inspire equitable market-based and policy solutions throughout the economy to build a just and sustainable future. For more information, visit ceres.org and follow @CeresNews. 

Media Contact: Reginald Zimmerman, rzimmerman@ceres.org, 617-247-0700 ext. 136 

Originally published in GoDaddy’s 2022 Diversity and Pay Parity Annual Report

We’re building a culture that values diversity and prioritizes the importance of making opportunity inclusive for all. Not only because it fosters a more successful work environment, but because it creates a foundation for a more successful global community.

Representation makes us—and our communities— stronger.

Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) are more than buzzwords at GoDaddy.

Representation not only makes GoDaddy a better place to work, but it also makes us more innovative, creative and competitive within the tech industry. Our employees’ different viewpoints and life experiences help us improve our products and reach more people. And empowering a diverse range of entrepreneurs in our communities strengthens society at large.

As a company that publishes its representation and pay parity results yearly, we are proud to affirm that we continue to achieve pay parity for women and underrepresented communities in almost all areas of our business. We conduct training about unconscious biases and are continually working to reduce its impact within our organization. Additionally, we are making significant inroads when it comes to increasing consistency in performance reviews, promotions and pay.

These, along with our other efforts outlined in GoDaddy’s 2022 Sustainability Report, continue to earn GoDaddy recognition from external organizations.

We’re proud of the strides we’ve made, but in an ever-changing world, our efforts will always be a work in progress. That’s why it’s important to be transparent and share both our successes and defined areas for improvement. By being open about where we are today, we invite accountability for our DEIB initiatives in the future.

“We believe ‘You Belong Here’. And while acquiring great talent is never easy, our ability to identify, attract and hire diverse talent is essential to our continued efforts to build and cultivate a highly engaged, respectful and inclusive culture.”

– DAVID W., VICE PRESIDENT OF TALENT ACQUISITION

Joining forces from near and far.

GoDaddy is powered by a global workforce.

GoDaddy is a global company with employees around the world. We operate a hybrid workplace model, with some employees in offices and others working remotely. While this allows GoDaddy to best serve its diverse customer base, it can also create physical and temporal distance between teams. To close this gap, GoDaddy strives to create an environment that fosters communication and collaboration between employees, creates meaningful opportunities for engagement, and cultivates an inclusive community.

Included in these efforts are our 11 employee resource groups (ERGs) that bring together employees around common missions, identities, affinities and interests. Members of these ERGs often include allies and champions. ERGs provide a community for employees to develop relationships, enable their own and others’ professional development, engage in corporate projects and programs, learn from each other, and have fun.

To learn more about our ERGs and other employee programs, visit GoDaddy’s 2022 Sustainability Report.

Our employee resource groups cultivate community and change.

“Acceptance and support have never lacked during my last 10+ years working at GoDaddy, and I’m grateful to see that it’s only increasing as time goes on. I would not have stayed with GoDaddy as long as I have if I believed that the company’s fundamental core values didn’t align with my own.”

– JANE D., CARE PRODUCT OPERATIONS MANAGER, SERVICES

Please read our 2022 Diversity and Pay Parity Annual Report for more information.

By Jason Hartke, Ph.D.

In May of last year, the Healthy Workplaces Coalition jumped on to the federal policy scene in Washington, D.C., launching with more than 40 organizational members working together to advocate for healthier and safer buildings. Less than a year later, the Coalition has nearly doubled its membership as more and more organizations, industry leaders and trade associations rally around its mission to advance policies that support healthy workplaces.

By educating national policymakers, the Coalition works to shine a light on policy proposals that aim to provide critical federal support to help businesses implement workplace improvements and strategies that can advance the health, safety and well-being of employees and all others inside these facilities. In the past two Congressional sessions, there has been growing momentum for healthy building policy with nearly a dozen bills introduced that seek to incentivize businesses to create and maintain healthy workplaces.

Last month at its most recent Coalition meeting, members gathered to discuss and map out policy opportunities for the year, while also taking time to highlight relevant studies and other reports recently published. It was the Coalition’s first in-person meeting, which was hosted at the headquarters of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), an incredible space that in 2017 became the first project in the world to earn WELL and LEED Platinum certification.

On behalf of the meeting’s host, Lauren Earley, who leads government relations and public affairs at ASID, provided welcoming remarks. “Like all organizations, and of particular interest to our group gathered here today, the pandemic changed the way we work, and ASID, along with most other organizations in this modern world are exploring how to establish policies for continued utilization of our office spaces,” said Earley. “ASID is honored to serve on the Steering Committee of the Healthy Workplaces Coalition – and to host the first in-person meeting – working to raise awareness about the importance of healthy workplaces, ensuring the public, policymakers, and businesses understand that health and safety are critical to doing business now and beyond COVID-19.”

Later in the meeting, Jeff Johnson, Executive Director of Government Affairs at the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), provided an overview of findings from a recent IFMA report, titled Experts Assessment. The report detailed several significant shifts in how organizations are now operating and how it will affect the future of facility management. Duane Desiderio of the Real Estate Roundtable also provided a timely economic outlook into the current commercial real estate market. His presentation helped spur a larger discussion about possible policy implications relevant to the Coalition’s 2023 priorities.

The Coalition created two working groups, one focused on indoor air quality (IAQ) policy opportunities and another focused on identifying executive actions that could help accelerate healthy workplaces.

During the meeting, the Coalition also welcomed the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) as its newest Steering Committee member. The Steering Committee is made up of 12 organizations which help lead the larger coalition. Other Steering Committee members include ISSA – The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association, American Institute of Architects (AIA), ASHRAE, American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), Building Owners and Managers Association International (BOMA), Green Seal, International Interior Design Association (IIDA), International Facilities Management Association (IFMA), The Real Estate Roundtable (RER), and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

In addition to sitting on the Steering Committee, the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) serves as the Coalition’s co-secretariat, overseeing the group’s quarterly meetings and ongoing policy activities.

If interested in joining the Coalition, please reach out to us at jason.hartke@wellcertified.com.

View original content here.

Mandi McReynolds looks back on her discussion with Jared Forman, managing partner of ESG and climate risk at FORVIS. The two discuss risk management and ESG, including scenario analysis and how Workiva benefited from a FORVIS risk scenario workshop in this episode of ESG Talk.

Listen Now

Looking for more? Subscribe to the ESG Talk podcast on Apple, Spotify, Google, and YouTube.

Anchorage, Alaska, May 5, 2023 /3BL Media/—KeyBank has announced a $100,000 gift to the Cook Inlet Housing Authority (CIHA). The funds will be used to support CIHA’s low-income residents toward health and stability through grants to CIHA’s Protein Food Pantry and the Housing Stability Program. CIHA is the Tribally Designated Housing Entity (TDHE) for the Cook Inlet Region receiving federal housing funds through an Indian Housing Block Grant established in the 1996 Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination (NAHASDA) act.

CIHA’s Protein Food Pantry provides healthy food to senior residents living on fixed incomes who often struggle with food insecurity. Through this program, they can access protein-rich food once a month, contributing to their health and allowing them to allocate their budgets elsewhere, such as for medicine, rent and utilities. With KeyBank’s funding, the pantry will be able to purchase additional food and expand the reach of the program by at least 25%.

The Housing Stability program provides resource and referral services to CIHA residents who are fighting to make ends meet. The KeyBank funds will be used to purchase items such as grocery gift cards, bus passes, rent and utility payments, and supplies and training required to obtain employment.

“Our funding priorities at KeyBank make up four pillars: neighbors, workforce, education and service, and we know that safe and stable housing and access to healthy food is crucial to each one of these,” said Alaska KeyBank President Lori McCaffrey in announcing the gift. “At KeyBank we are dedicated to building stronger communities and improving the lives of our neighbors and underserved communities. We are delighted to play a role in helping CIHA’s clients meet their most basic needs.”

“We are extremely grateful for the partnership of KeyBank in our affordable housing work. Their investment not only in the financing of our developments, but equally as important, directly in programming to support the success of our residents is meaningful, impactful and important. This funding helps stabilize individuals, families and elders who may need just a little extra support in order to continue their journey to self-sufficiency and independence,” Carol Gore, President/CEO, Cook Inlet Housing Authority.

About Cook Inlet Housing Authority (CIHA)

Cook Inlet Housing Authority’s mission is to create housing opportunities that empower our people and build our communities. Cook Inlet Housing develops, owns and operates affordable housing in the Cook Inlet region of Alaska. https://cookinlethousing.org

About KeyBank

KeyCorp’s roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $198 billion at March 31, 2023. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,300 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC.

Originally published on DICK’S Sporting Goods Sideline Report

Since 2011, hundreds of at-risk women and children at shelters across the Detroit area have had access to food, personal care products and clothes. That access, in part, is thanks to Moosejaw teammate Mike Ash.

Mike started with Moosejaw, a new subsidiary of DICK’S Sporting Goods, 14 years ago when he was in college. Now he leads the warehouse receiving department team while running his own charitable organization called Attack Hunger.

Mike founded Attack Hunger after his best friend’s sister was killed by domestic violence.

“That kind of put me on track to help women and children’s shelters,” said Mike.

He formed the organization on the principle of helping others. Mike said Attack Hunger is successful thanks to coordinated donation and fundraising efforts with different groups, organizations and companies, including collaborations with Moosejaw.

“Moosejaw has helped out at every turn that we possibly needed them to,” Mike said.

“Partnering with Mike Ash and his Attack Hunger initiatives allows Moosejaw to make a positive impact on our geographic community and not just our outdoor community,” said Kelli Patterson, Moosejaw’s Vice President of Marketing. “I’ve always been blown away at Mike’s dedication to giving back and supporting women and children in need, and he does it out of the goodness of his heart and the sense of responsibility to his community that is just inherent in him. The fact that our teammates at Moosejaw frequently come together to donate cash, food and supplies to Attack Hunger really proves just how proud our whole team is of him.”

The two have partnered on several food drives and fundraisers, including selling Attack Hunger t-shirts in stores and online.

“I know it’s been fun for our designers and product developers to partner with Mike and create playful graphic tees to represent the partnership, plus we get to give 10% of sales right back to Attack Hunger to keep on doing right by our community,” said Kelli.

Attack Hunger also has a merchandise booth at The Rust Belt Market. Proceeds of all Attack Hunger merchandise go right back into the organization.

Successful donation and fundraising efforts have allowed Attack Hunger to expand from helping four different shelters to six. “We can add them without taking away anything that we’re already giving to the previous four shelters,” Mike said. Deliveries are made to the shelters about once every three weeks.

One of those shelters is Alternatives For Girls, which helps homeless and jeopardized girls and young women avoid violence, teen pregnancy and exploitation while offering support and resources to be safe and make positive choices. Director of Fund Development Erika Jones said she appreciates the continued support from Attack Hunger.

“The donations provided from Mike and his team go directly to those we serve,” said Erika. “It not only helps with nourishment, but also shows that there are people that truly care about those we serve and the work we do, and for that we are grateful.”

Attack Hunger has not only changed the lives of at-risk women and children, but Mike’s too. “Attack Hunger has become a part of me over the years,” said Mike. “I could never see myself not doing this or other work like it. It’s just what I do.”

Mike said in the future he hopes to expand Attack Hunger further to help even more women and children. He also wants to host an event for inner-city kids to promote inclusion in the outdoors, sports and nutrition. “Hopefully down the line I can make this grand idea I have in the back of my head come to fruition,” said Mike.

You can follow Mike’s incredible efforts on attackhunger.com or the Attack Hunger Facebook and Instagram pages.

Lori Shaffer, Kimberly-Clark’s vice president of global nonwovens, recently participated in an ‘Empower Hour: Women in Leadership’ panel and led a breakout session at the 9th annual American Manufacturing Summit in Chicago.

During the conversations, Lori discussed the people and experiences that have inspired her leadership style, how her personal purpose impacts how she shows up as a leader, insights into how purpose is embedded in Kimberly-Clark’s DNA, and ways to leverage purpose to both attract and retain manufacturing talent.

“Being a leader is having a front row seat to seeing someone realize their hopes and dreams and grow into the person they were meant to be,” said Lori. 
 

About Kimberly-Clark 
Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) and its trusted brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. Fueled by ingenuity, creativity, and an understanding of people’s most essential needs, we create products that help individuals experience more of what’s important to them. Our portfolio of brands, including Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle, Poise, Depend, Andrex, Pull-Ups, GoodNites, Intimus, Neve, Plenitud, Sweety, Softex, Viva and WypAll, hold No. 1 or No. 2 share positions in approximately 80 countries. We use sustainable practices that support a healthy planet, build strong communities, and ensure our business thrives for decades to come. We are proud to be recognized as one of the world’s most ethical companies by Ethisphere for the fifth year in a row. To keep up with the latest news and to learn more about the company’s 150-year history of innovation, visit kimberly-clark.com.

On May 3, Fifth Third Bank and its nearly 20,000 employees celebrated Fifth Third Day XXXII by fighting food insecurity in the communities they serve. The Bank is providing 10 million meals across its 11-state retail footprint this month through a combination of volunteerism, donations and fundraising efforts. 

In celebration of Fifth Third Day (May 3 or 5/3 on the calendar), Fifth Third presented a check in the amount of $5,000 to A Son Never Forgets Foundation. The foundation was established by Cincinnati Bengals Defensive player DJ Reader in honor of his mother and father. The Foundation focuses on providing positive messages surrounding health, wellness and the importance of education. 

“Giving back has always been a priority for me,” said Reader. “My parents taught me early on that through gratitude and hard work, by uplifting those around me, we would all rise and succeed. I’m thrilled to see this partnership come together and really kickoff ASNF.”

In addition to the check presentation, Reader and Fifth Third Day employees packed 800 snack packs on Fifth Third’s Madisonville campus. Reader then traveled to nearby Shroder High School to distribute snacks and gift cards to faculty. Additionally, Reader is establishing a Resource Room at the high school, which provides snacks, school supplies and health screenings for the students in need.

“At Fifth Third, we’re committed to supporting the communities we serve and are so proud to stand alongside DJ and his family in this work,” said Marybeth McManus, head of operations at Fifth Third Bank. “Our support of DJ Reader and the A Son Never Forgets Foundation not only benefits neighbors in our community but our neighbors next door at Shroder High School.”

Earth Day may be on April 22, but environmental sustainability is always top of mind here at Cisco.

Cisco’s Green Team Network (CGTN) has been driving sustainability as part of Cisco’s Inclusive Communities (Employee Resource Groups) for the last 10 years. CGTN envisions a more environmentally sustainable business and world by empowering each other to drive social and environmental change at work and in their homes.

The Network is working towards this goal by raising awareness of today’s most pressing sustainability challenges. They connect employees with the tools and resources to drive actions through service projects and campaigns. Above all, CGTN encourages employees to have fun and connect while making Cisco a more sustainable company.

The 24 global teams host events year-round such as tree plantings, cleanup events, and educational sessions on waste reduction, home gardening, and beekeeping.

Hear more about what sustainability means to members of our GTN.

Stephania Trejos

Demand Gen Project Manager, Global Virtual Sales & Engineering (GVSE)

“Sustainability to me is the balance that exists between human actions and nature’s processes that allow our planet to function properly.

Sustainable living is a harmonious and symbiotic relationship between humans and our natural resources.

We can impact this relationship for good or for bad depending on what we think, what we do, and how we act.

As a Cisco employee, I appreciate all the opportunities and support we are given to make our world a better place.

Using Time2Give and our Inclusive Communities, we can support causes that are important to us, such as environmental non-profits, and connect with others who share our interests and values.

As co-leader of the Green Team Network in Costa Rica, I want to inspire others to feel the satisfaction and joy that comes from giving our time, energy, and resources to help our planet and our communities.

Throughout the year, I help organize giving back events for our GTN members in partnership with local non-profit organizations whose mission is to build a more sustainable environment for our surrounding communities.

Taking care of this beautiful planet we call home requires changing our mentality, spurred by our love of others and for nature. Make a difference by joining one of your local Cisco Green Team networks today.”

Muthu Varadharajan

Senior Leader, Systems Engineering Sales, Cisco

“Sustainability to me is a state under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony to support one another.

Climate change is real, our planet is warming, and we need to act now. From far places like Antarctica to near ones like the Colorado river, we see its impact today.

I live in Colorado, and climate change has affected the entire Colorado River Basin. There are about 7 U.S. states including the upper basin Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and the lower basin states Arizona, California and Nevada that rely on water from the shrinking Colorado river.

Rising temperatures fueled by the burning of fossil fuels has intensified the worst drought in centuries, and the flow of the Colorado has declined about 20%. Reservoirs have dropped to record-low levels, and the shortage continues to worsen.

Cisco is committed to helping people work, live, play, and learn in an environmentally friendly way.

We are reducing our own carbon footprint, engaging customers, partners, and employees in efforts to manage our impact on the environment and developing IT solutions to help address climate change.

A colleague and I formed the Green Team Chapter for Colorado. Our chapter includes a growing team of Cisco employees who share a common passion for saving the Planet.

Our Green Team has various interests, including teaching beekeeping to help support existing beekeepers, planting trees, collecting wildflower seeds, building fences, trails and habitats, and promoting biodiversity.”

Marina Pinheiro Morando

Client Operation Delivery Manager, Cisco Americas Commerce Operations

“I’m a Cisco Green Team Brazil co-leader, and to me, sustainability is the capacity to protect the planet for today and for future generations.

That is why it is so crucial to take care of myself, take care of the planet, and take care of all species (animals, plants, and people).

Our habits and attitudes can make a huge difference for a more sustainable and beautiful world.

Every action you take for planet Earth and spread to other people, including your family, neighborhood, friends, colleagues at work, and the community, will transform the environment.

So do not wait. Let’s respect, protect, and take actions. Awareness, reducing, recycling, reusing — small and big actions can have a great impact!

The Earth is changing, and everyone is responsible for creating and maintaining a sustainable environment and circular economy.

Critical needs like water and food are being aggressively impacted and we have big challenges ahead of us when it comes to climate change, including economic, social, and environmental.

No action means more problems, less resources, and public health crises, like pandemics. It is now or never, start this journey today!

I am taking steps to live sustainably, are you? Join us!”

Catarina Pereira

Virtual Partner Account Manager for the United Kingdom (UK)

“I’m a Cisco Lisbon Green Team co-lead for around 2.5 years, and a member of this network since I joined Cisco.

My main goal with all the activities led by the Green Team is to create awareness and to try and get people to understand that every drop in the Ocean matters.

We’re trying to help Cisconians be more educated about sustainability, we also love to be hands on, and encourage and support people to go and do one little thing at a time.

If you stop buying bottled water, that’s okay. If you’re living a zero-waste lifestyle, that’s fine. If you’re doing what you can (using cloth napkins for instance) and feel you still have a long way to go, that’s also fine. Little by little, if we’re all conscious of what we can do, everything adds up.

Sustainability was always important to me. Up until a few years ago, I used to say sustainability was important because nature was a sacred place where we could slow down, enjoy and be happy. But also, I began to realize we live in a place with finite resources, so we need to understand how we want to manage our “warehouse and its inventory”.

Then I became a mom, and I also wanted my daughter to be able to enjoy planet Earth the same way I was able to enjoy it when growing up.

Today, I think sustainability is important for all of us because we want to continue to enjoy Earth’s “inventory” the same way we did in the past. It’s in our hands to move the needle and build a beautiful legacy.”

Whether you are a Cisco employee or not, you can take action to start your sustainability journey today.

Take a carbon footprint assessment that can help identify the largest areas of impact in your daily life. From there, figure out what steps you can take to reduce your impact. This could look like taking public transportation or sourcing locally grown produce.

And don’t forget to share what you have learned. What changes have you found that make the biggest impact in reducing your personal footprint?

View original content here