Tag: 3BL

A diverse workforce is not only fundamental to the company’s future success, but it’s also a part of its rich history. Taking a look back in time, the company highlights the contributions of Black leaders and company milestones that have made an impact on diversity and innovation in its past, present and future.

A long history of Black inventors and innovators

1. Susan Jenkins paved the way for black women in science at Merck

Susan Jenkins began a long career at Merck in 1957 when she joined Merck Research Laboratories (MRL) as one of its first female Black chemists. She was part of the team that first synthesized ribonuclease. Later, she joined the company’s corporate equal employment affairs department and served as a black university liaison. By the end of her career here, Susan was senior vice president of human resources and was emblematic of how important having Black women leaders in science was to creating an inclusive work environment.

Susan returned to the company almost 50 years later to attend the presentation of the Citation for Chemical Breakthrough award from the American Chemical Society (ACS) division of the History of Chemistry. The Citation for Chemical Breakthrough was awarded in honor of the series of five articles published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society describing the first total synthesis of an enzyme. These articles were authored by Dr. Ralph Hirschmann and his colleagues in 1969, one of whom was Susan.

2. William Bowers’ advocacy for civil rights at work and across the country

Merck alumni include numerous prominent Black civil rights leaders, including William “Bill” Bowers. Bill joined the company in 1951 as a technician, a position he held until 1969 when he received a bachelor of science degree in business management from Rutgers University. He earned his degree with assistance from the company’s educational grant program while balancing his full-time job, four children and many leadership positions in his community, including vice president of the Westfield Community Development Corporation.

Bill retired from a project management position at the company in 1993. He was a vocal proponent for civil rights nationally and within the company, having participated in the 1963 March on Washington. He was a co-founder of Black Employees at Merck (BEAM), which later became Merck’s Black Employees Network (BEN) and is known today as LEAD – Merck’s League of Employees of African Descent, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020.

3. Baseball star Jimmy Dean found a second career at Merck

During the late 1940s, Negro League baseball featured a star pitcher named Jimmy Dean. Famous for his sinker-ball, Jimmy pitched for the Philadelphia Stars facing legends like Jackie Robinson and Hank Aaron.

After the integration of Major League Baseball started to draw athletes and fans away from the Negro Leagues, Jimmy returned to school and began working for Merck. Jimmy traveled extensively, put three sons through college and after 33 years, he retired from his position as a technical analyst in 1990.

Our commitment to diversity in science careers

1. Investing in future science leaders

In 1968, Merck began sponsoring the Technical Training Program (TTP), a non-profit organization in Newark, New Jersey, which offered classes and on-the-job laboratory experience for students interested in pharmaceutical industry careers. TTP primarily targeted young people from educationally and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Among TTP’s first graduating class were William “Gary” Mickle and Darrell Harris who became laboratory technicians in MRL. Gary would ultimately work in MRL for over 35 years.

2. Prioritizing equal opportunities for Black and minority employees

In 1968, Merck appointed Lawrence “Larry” Branch vice president of personnel relations, responsible for coordinating and recommending programs for employment, training, and promotion of persons from all minority groups. This new position marked the beginnings of Merck’s Office of Equal Employment Affairs — one of the first in the country to prioritize equity for black employees, among many other initiatives. Over the years, the Office of Equal Employment Affairs continued to evolve, establishing company-wide programming to address complex workplace issues such as racism, sexism and other barriers to equality. The programming was so successful it served as a model to other corporations, government organizations and community groups.

3. Merck celebrated for innovative diversity programs that support its Black employees

During the 1980s, Merck was recognized for its leadership in equal opportunity employment. As national politics surrounding affirmative action grew to be more complex, the company maintained its focus on welcoming and supporting diverse employees. The 1983 book “The Hundred Best Companies to Work for in America” listed Merck as  No. 15, specifically citing its diversity initiatives.

That same year Merck’s commitment to equal opportunity earned recognition from the United States Department of Labor with its Exemplary Voluntary Efforts Award. Then in 1989, the company was included on Black Enterprise magazine’s first-ever list of the 50 Best Places for Blacks to Work. Ever since, Merck has maintained a consistent presence on lists praising corporate diversity published by Black Enterprise, Forbes and more.

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NEW YORK, March 7, 2023 /3BL Media/ – A new survey released today by PwC US and Workiva Inc. (NYSE: WK) finds 70% of business leaders report they are not waiting for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to finalize the climate disclosure rules and will proceed with compliance regardless of when they become U.S. law.

Assurance and technology are key to compliance 
Readiness varies across companies, and even business leaders that say they feel prepared also acknowledge there will likely be significant challenges to complying with the SEC’s proposed climate disclosure rules including deadlines, resourcing, technology, and budget.

Independent assurance will be a necessary component to meeting deadlines with investor-grade, transparent, and trustworthy data. Seventy percent of executives report their companies already seek voluntary, independent assurance–and will continue– even if it is not required for reporting scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions. Almost all leaders (96%) say they will proceed with assurance, regardless of whether it is included in the final SEC rules.

“Decisions in the capital markets are being made related to ESG, and it is our belief that market participants and other stakeholders are entitled to the same quality of information as they expect from financial related disclosures,” said Kevin O’Connell, Trust Solutions ESG Leader at PwC. “Many ESG issues can be material to a company’s core strategy and long-term value creation. Regardless of when the SEC rules are finalized, investors and stakeholders have made clear: this is important. Companies should be preparing by transitioning to investor-grade and tech-enabled reporting to help accelerate their reporting process, and looking to implement effective governance and internal controls.”

While 68% of executives report their company already uses technology for ESG reporting, 85% are concerned their company does not have the right technology in place to support the level of reporting required in the proposed rules, despite almost all anticipating it will play an important role in meeting potential new requirements.

“Having the right technology, people, and timelines will be critical to complying with the proposed rule changes and other stakeholder demands for ESG transparency,” said Julie Iskow, president and chief operating officer, Workiva. “Our research also indicates that independent assurance is expected to play a major role in companies meeting expected requirements. ESG reporting is complex, requiring the ingestion, capture, management, and reporting of financial and non-financial data from many disparate sources. The more that ESG reporting is integrated into the decision-making processes of companies, boards and investors, the more important it is that the information is trustworthy.”

Businesses are investing in ESG reporting 
Although 95% of business leaders say their company is prioritizing ESG reporting more now than before the rule was proposed, four in ten admit their company isn’t fully prepared to meet the expected disclosure requirements. That lack of preparation isn’t due to a lack of knowledge—leaders are acutely aware of the proposal and believe it sets clear expectations around what data and information needs to be disclosed; however, they expect to need more time once the rule goes into effect.

Many companies have already prioritized reporting and begun taking proactive measures. All executives shared that their company has taken at least one action in anticipation of the rule becoming law, with many taking more than one. While these actions vary, the most common include: investments in ESG reporting technology (40%) and people (33%), and accelerating (35%), or establishing, if necessary (33%), climate ambitions or goal timelines.

There are a number of steps that leaders should begin considering to help make sure their companies are prepared when the proposed rules go into effect. To meet investor demands and get ahead of the final rules from the SEC, forward-thinking organizations should begin tackling their ESG data and reporting strategy now.

Read the full report here: Change in the Climate.

Join Workiva and PwC US for a free webinar on March 14, 2023 at 2 p.m. EST exploring how companies are preparing for the SEC climate disclosure requirements and planning to address barriers to compliance. For details, visit workiva.com/sec-webinar.

About the Survey 
Workiva and PwC US jointly commissioned a study to evaluate corporate executives’ level of preparedness regarding the SEC’s proposed climate disclosure rule. In total, 300 corporate executives were surveyed between December 2022 and January 2023. Corporate executives are defined as senior-level decision makers with knowledge or responsibility for ESG reporting at U.S.-based public companies with at least $500 million in annual revenue. To access the report detailing all survey results, visit workiva.com/sec-survey.

About Workiva 
Workiva Inc. (NYSE:WK) is on a mission to power transparent reporting for a better world. We build and deliver the world’s leading cloud platform for assured integrated reporting to meet stakeholder demands for action, transparency, and disclosure of financial and non-financial data. Workiva offers the only holistic, unified SaaS platform that brings customers’ financial reporting, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), and Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) together in a controlled, secure, audit-ready platform. Our platform simplifies the most complex reporting and disclosure challenges by streamlining processes, connecting data and teams, and ensuring consistency. Learn more at workiva.com.

Follow Workiva on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/workiva 
Like Workiva on Facebook: www.facebook.com/workiva 
Follow Workiva on Twitter: www.twitter.com/workiva

About PwC 
At PwC, our purpose is to build trust in society and solve important problems. We’re a network of firms in 155 countries with over 327,000 people who are committed to delivering quality in assurance, advisory and tax services. Find out more and tell us what matters to you by visiting us at www.pwc.com.

STAMFORD, Conn., March 7, 2023 /3BL Media/ – United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE: URI), the world’s largest equipment rental company, announced it was included on the Wall Street Journal Management Top 250 list, developed by the Drucker Institute, which recognizes companies for “doing the right things well.” The Management Top 250 ranking measures corporate effectiveness by examining performance in five areas: customer satisfaction, employee engagement and development, innovation, social responsibility and financial strength.

The Management Top 250 is one of the most prestigious ranking efforts dedicated to measuring corporate effectiveness. The Drucker Institute, a unit of Claremont Graduate University, developed its holistic Top 250 company ranking based on the principles of its founder, Peter F. Drucker. To determine the final rankings, the Drucker Institute evaluated 902 publicly traded companies and analyzed 34 data inputs provided by 14 third-party sources.

“This honor reflects the Work United™ focus by all of our employees at United Rentals and I couldn’t be more proud,” said Matt Flannery, Chief Executive Officer at United Rentals. “We are committed to advancing our service, safety and sustainability goals, while providing long-term value for our stakeholders.”

Over the last year, United Rentals has received numerous accolades, including the Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Award, America’s Most JUST Companies and America’s Most Responsible Companies 2023, as well as long-standing recognition as a Gold Military Friendly Employer. Information on career opportunities can be found on the United Rentals Careers website.

About United Rentals

United Rentals, Inc. is the largest equipment rental company in the world. The company has an integrated network of 1,462 rental locations in North America, 13 in Europe, 27 in Australia and 19 in New Zealand. In North America, the company operates in 49 states and every Canadian province. The company’s approximately 24,600 employees serve construction and industrial customers, utilities, municipalities, homeowners and others. The company offers approximately 4,600 classes of equipment for rent with a total original cost of $19.61 billion. United Rentals is a member of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, the Barron’s 400 Index and the Russell 3000 Index® and is headquartered in Stamford, Conn. Additional information about United Rentals is available at unitedrentals.com.

Ted Grace
Chief Financial Officer
O: (203) 618-7122
C: (203) 399-8951
tgrace@ur.com

Source: United Rentals, Inc.

Originally published in Southern Company’s 2021 Corporate Responsibility Executive Summary Report

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) are essential aspects for our company. At Southern Company, Our Values foster a diverse, inclusive, equitable and innovative culture so that employees can execute our business strategy with agility and accountability. Our Moving to Equity work reflects our committment to DE&I in our workforce and our communities. Our community efforts include partnerships with diverse suppliers and philanthropic investments in historically underrepresented and marginalized communities.

We have refocused our efforts toward a more holistic goal of diversity, equity and inclusionEnergy justice has been added as a focus area in our Moving to Equity initiativeSouthern Company is committed to supplier diversity that reflects the diversity of our customer base and energizes our success

Spotlight: Moving to Equity 

Following events in 2020 highlighting racial injustice in our society, we adopted Moving to Equity as our framework to demonstrate a collective commitment to our work. Subsequently, we published a 2021 Moving to Equity report updating stakeholders on progress in our commitment areas.

Key efforts and commitments include: 

Talent: committing to a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace to better serve our customers and communities; increasing and improving outreach, recruitment, hiring and retention of diverse groups at all levels of the workforce; ensuring equity in leadership development programs; and seeking diverse candidate slates for all positions, including management roles.Culture: promoting an actively anti-racist culture to ensure that all groups, especially historically underrepresented and marginalized groups, are wellrepresented, included and fairly treated within all levels of the organization, and that everyone feels welcomed, valued and respected.Community: committing $225 million over five years to advance racial equity and social justice in our communities with a focus on criminal justice, economic empowerment, the advancement of educational equality and energy justice.Political Engagement: advocating for racial equity through our political engagement, policy positions and ongoing public dialogues.Suppliers: aiming to increase our minority business enterprise spend to 20% and total diverse spend to 30% by 2025, and committing to developing and doing business with more Black-owned businesses in our industry and communities.

We provide updates on our progress through our Boldly Forward website and an annual Moving to Equity report.

Commitment to Undertake a Racial Equity Audit 

Southern Company has committed to undertake a racial equity audit, conducted by a third party in 2023, in response to feedback from key stakeholders. The audit will focus on Southern Company’s implementation of initiatives to support racial equity and inclusivity within our workforce and the communities we serve, as set forth in our Moving to Equity commitment framework. As part of the process, we will engage key stakeholders including employees and civic organizations relevant to the audit. We anticipate publishing a report based on the audit at the end of 2023.

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Jeremy Fresz’s Suncor roots run deep and his connection to the community is hereditary. He inherited a love for volunteering from his grandparents who have been volunteering in Fort McMurray since the 1960s. He works at our Base Plant site like his grandfather did, and he’s one of many Suncor employees who care for their communities. 

Collectively, Suncor employees volunteered over 100,000 hours, and, together with Suncor and the Suncor Energy Foundation, donated more than $6.36 million to communities across North America in 2022.

“My grandpa was employee number 184 at Base Plant,” shares Jeremy, a senior asset management advisor at Suncor’s Base Plant in northern Alberta. “He started in January 1967 when Suncor first began commercially producing crude oil, but what I’m really proud of is how he and my grandma threw themselves into the community as soon as they moved to Fort McMurray.”

Jeremy’s grandparents spent a lot of time at the rink taking on various volunteer roles with their kids’ hockey teams. When they retired, they shifted their focus to support the senior community in Fort McMurray and played a significant role in building the Seniors Activity Centre for the Golden Years Society, which promotes wellness and fellowship through activities for seniors in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.

Like his grandparents, Jeremy is engaged in his community, but this hasn’t always been the case. “When my kids were young, I shared with my grandma how hard it was to make time for volunteering,” recalls Jeremy. “She looked at me and said, ‘well, you know, we did all that when we had kids. It’s just what you do.’ It gave me the kick I needed to make time and start doing more.”

Today, Jeremy is an active volunteer with his kids’ basketball teams, his church and at Suncor planning volunteer and fundraising activities throughout the year. By tracking his volunteer time in Suncor’s employee giving program, SunCares, he earns volunteer reward dollars to donate to organizations important to him and his family, including the Golden Years Society.

Jeremy isn’t alone in his passion for community—last year, Suncor employees tracked 105,125 volunteer hours in SunCares, a significant increase from the 80,000 volunteer hours tracked throughout 2021. Over the last three years, the pandemic changed the way employees volunteered and highlighted the different ways employees cared for their communities. To continue supporting employees, SunCares expanded its volunteer rewards eligibility to include acts of caring for neighbours, friends and colleagues. As pandemic restrictions began to lift last year, so did the concerns around meeting and volunteering in person.

“People are excited to get together and do things,” says Jeremy. “We’ve had great turnout at events we’ve planned, and even on days when the weather is miserable there are lineups of folks at barbecues.”

These changes were seen across Suncor too. In 2022, employees participated in more than 80 fundraising and volunteer activities. The majority of these events were organized by regional Suncor employee volunteer networks and included activities like game-show style fundraisers, delivering food and gift packages to seniors over the winter holidays, and painting over graffiti at a local park. Other fundraising activities included the Ride to Conquer Cancer, where a Suncor team of Alberta cyclists raised over $161,000 for the Alberta Cancer Foundation, and Movember, where Suncor employees across the company raised over $34,000 for men’s health.

In 2021, Suncor welcomed Syncrude to the family when it assumed operatorship. Last year, Syncrude and its employees donated more than $1.7 million to the United Way in Fort McMurray, United Way of the Alberta Capital Region and the United Way of Calgary and Area, as well as $339,000 to community organizations through the Syncrude Good Neighbours Program.

Visit Suncor.com to learn more about Suncor’s community investment efforts.

Inogen Alliance is proud to announce that we will be an official sponsor of the upcoming eighth annual AWS Global Water Stewardship Forum with Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS). The forum runs from 16-17 May in Edinburgh, Scotland. As an Alliance, we are representing our global presence at this event with five Associates including Antea Group USA, Antea Brasil, Chola MS Risk Services Limited (CMSRS) in India, denkstatt in Austria, and HPC Italia with our global water working group leader Beatrice Bizzaro.

According to Alliance for Water Stewardship website, “The AWS Global Water Stewardship Forum is one of the key events in which our community of members, implementers, and stakeholders share knowledge and learning on the evolution of water stewardship practice and forge new directions through dialogue and partnerships. Held annually in Edinburgh, Scotland, since 2016, it has become the must-attend event for the international water stewardship community.”

Interactive in-person sessions will discuss three cross-cutting topics across the two-day event:

Water Stewardship in ActionUniversal Themes AWS System

“Inogen Alliance has been supporting clients all over the world in undergoing a transformation that, for the first time, is leading to a holistic approach when dealing with water management. We truly believe in working hand in hand with clients to reach ever more ambitious targets. Water efficiency and water quality are a great starting point, but the commitment to water stewardship principles is a further steppingstone to developing an integrated and more meaningful system towards a more sustainable future, without leaving anyone behind,” Beatrice Bizzaro, HPC Italy, Inogen Alliance global water working group leader.

This is a unique opportunity to exchange your water stewardship experiences with industry leaders and build connections with members of the wider AWS community. The event has already sold out, but if you didn’t manage to get a ticket, you can join the AWS waitlist. Or watch for more content and themes to come from our global team that will be attending.

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.

WASHINGTON, March 7, 2023 /3BL Media/ – As a girls’ rights organization, Plan International USA believes when girls lead the way, they can change the world. In honor of International Women’s Day on March 8, Plan is partnering with brands and government stakeholders so that girls can take over positions of leadership, ensuring the voices of these young women and girls are heard in the critical conversations on gender equality.

“Girls and young women are leaders today,” Plan International USA’s President & CEO Shanna Marzilli said. “Giving girls, in all their diversity, not just a seat at the table, but a respected and heard position is necessary to building a world where women can thrive in all aspects of leadership.”

In celebration of International Women’s Day, Plan partnered with Bank of Montreal, UNIQLO and Vertex to host Takeovers, where our youth leaders, ranging from ages 16-22, step into executive positions for a day. Plan Youth Advisory Board member Rose became chief administrative officer and general counsel of Fast Retailing USA, Inc, the parent company to UNIQLO. During her Takeover experience, Rose leveraged her experiences leading diversity and inclusion recruitment for Plan’s youth programs to provide recommendations for UNIQLO’s women’s networking group. The Takeover was an extension of UNIQLO’s global partnership with Plan International as part of the brand’s PEACE FOR ALL project.

“We loved welcoming Rose to UNIQLO for International Women’s Day, sharing an inside look to our stores and headquarters, and the many talented women leading the way here,” Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel of Fast Retailing USA Serena Peck said. “Rose’s insights as a youth advocate provided an incredibly valuable perspective that will help us continue to grow and elevate women’s voices. We’re happy to have deepened our work with Plan International USA in our shared vision for a better world for all.”

At Bank of Montreal, Plan youth advocate Ava stepped into the role of Chief Communications and Social Impact Officer Kimberly Goode. Along other BMO executives, Ava took the stage at a culmination event for Black History Month where she shared her experiences.

“BMO is a long-term sponsor of Plan International in the U.S. and Canada, partnering to create opportunities to build confidence in young women and provide exposure to those actively working to create zero barriers to inclusion,” Chief Communications and Social Impact Officer at BMO Kimberley Goode said. “Watching Ava step into my seat gave me such confidence in the impact the next generation will have. They are ready to live their purpose and boldly grow the good in business and life as future leaders.”

In addition to Takeovers, Luna Silvana Abadía, a Youth Advisory Board member at Plan, will be a U.S. delegate for the U.N.’s Commission on the Status of Women. CSW67 will examine the role technology plays in achieving gender equality. Silvana Abadía will represent the views of girls all over the world through the results of Plan’s State of the World’s Girls report, which highlights the effects of online gender-based violence.

“As an activist and young person, I use social media every day,” Silvana Abadía said. “We desperately need policies that address long-term harassment like the kind I faced for two years. I will use my position at CSW67 to encourage leaders to work with young people to understand their experiences and set greater corporate accountability and human rights standards.”

Silvana Abadía will join Cailin Crockett, senior advisor for the White House Gender Council, Varina Winder, senior advisor for the Secretary of State Office of Global Women’s Issues, and Jamille Bigio, senior coordinator for gender equality and women’s empowerment at USAID, on a virtual panel discussing the U.S. government’s commitment to ending online gender-based violence on March 24. The event, hosted by Plan, is titled ‘Will the White House, State and USAID combat online gender-based violence?’

Join Plan as we celebrate girls and women this March 8 and every other day of the year. Learn more and register for the March 24 panel event by visiting: www.planusa.org/iwd.

For more information or interviews, please contact: 
Maria Holsopple 
Director, Corporate Communications 
Email: maria.holsopple@planusa.org

Mobile: 540.383.3628

About Plan International USA 
Powered by supporters, Plan International USA partners with adolescent girls, young women and children around the world to overcome oppression and gender inequality, providing the support and resources that are unique to their needs and the needs of their communities, ensuring they achieve their full potential with dignity, opportunity and safety. Founded in 1937, Plan is an independent development and humanitarian organization that is active in more than 80 countries.

For more information, and to learn about our commitment to safeguarding, please visit www.PlanUSA.org.

NEW ORLEANS, March 7, 2023 /3BL Media/ – As part of the companies’ commitment to developing healthy, vibrant communities with greater access to education and workforce opportunities, Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans launched a new child savings account program, Kids to College. The companies will donate $175,000 to help low- and moderate-income Louisiana families establish child savings accounts. Eligible families can sign up for a Kids to College account to receive a $50 match from Entergy.

“Education is the cornerstone for a successful Louisiana,” said Phillip May, president and CEO, Entergy Louisiana. “With these funds not only are we ensuring the next generation is set up for success, but we’re also helping deliver a brighter future for the communities in which we all live and serve. I’m so proud and humbled to play a small part in that success.”

“Everyone deserves the opportunity to continue their education and we want to partner with families to help make those dreams a reality,” said Deanna Rodriguez, president and CEO, Entergy New Orleans. “This will give so many a step forward on a path that they otherwise may not receive. Investing now in our future is how we lift up our communities for future success.”

A Child Savings Account (CSA) is a savings account designed specifically for postsecondary education. These accounts allow families to put money away to start saving for their children to attend a two- or four-year college, trade school or technical school.

Families may sign up for a Kids to College account for each child under age 16.  Eligibility requirements to qualify for Entergy’s $50 match include:

Must be an Entergy customer.Families must meet income thresholds of either single parent or guardians with up to $52,000 annual income or dual earner households with $60,000 annual income.The child savings account must reach a $50 balance to receive the matching funds.

Entergy is powering Kids to College by dedicating matching funds for CSAs across our four-state service area. The program is made possible thanks to an endowment fund created in honor of Entergy’s late Chairman and CEO J. Wayne Leonard.

Eligible individuals can sign up for an account through the Kids to College portal entergy.com/kids.

About Entergy Louisiana

Entergy Louisiana, LLC provides electric service to more than 1 million customers in 58 parishes and natural gas service to more than 94,000 customers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

About Entergy New Orleans
Entergy New Orleans, LLC is an electric and gas utility that serves Louisiana’s Orleans Parish. The company provides electricity to more than 209,000 customers and natural gas to more than 110,000 customers.

Both companies are subsidiaries of Entergy Corporation, an integrated energy company engaged in electric power production, transmission and retail distribution operations. Entergy delivers electricity to 3 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy owns and operates one of the cleanest large-scale U.S. power generating fleets with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including 7,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, Entergy has annual revenues of $10 billion and approximately 12,000 employees.

Over $75 Million Distributed to 77,000 Customers in North CarolinaCollaboration Key to Success in Assisting Customers in Need

CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 7, 2023 /3BL Media/ – As rising prices for many goods and services hit families and businesses across its territory over the last year, Duke Energy helped nearly 190,000 residential customers gain access to nearly $200 million in funds to help pay their energy bills in 2022.

Initiated at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Duke Energy Agency Team collaborates with over 1,500 agencies in helping customers in need with bill payment assistance. This work includes proactive engagement of customers to educate them of their eligibility for dollars available through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). In 2022, the team helped to distribute more than $191 million to over 189,000 customers in Duke Energy’s service territory. LIHEAP funds the State of North Carolina’s Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) and Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP). In North Carolina, the team helped distribute more than $75 million to assist almost 77,000 customers.

Currently, the team is working with partners to send over 50,000 text messages and emails to inform customers in Mecklenburg County, N.C., of their income eligibility for LIEAP assistance.

“It is more important than ever for all parties to work collaboratively to help households in need,” said Lesley Quick, vice president, customer technology, advocacy, regulatory and business support. “Through our proactive outreach to customers, we are reaching those who previously could not access assistance. This partnership with our nonprofit agencies allows us to better assist the customers in the communities we serve.”

“Our partnership with Duke Energy is invaluable, ” said Ginny Harper, community program coordinator with Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services (DSS). “During FY22, our collaboration with Duke Energy’s Agency Team helped allow us to provide over $8.8 million in heating and cooling costs to Mecklenburg County households. The work we’re doing creates a win-win-win by providing needed financial assistance for customers and reinforcing Duke’s commitment while increasing their visibility within Mecklenburg. Lastly, it potentially opens the door for DSS to receive additional funding to assist even more residents of Mecklenburg County. We appreciate Duke Energy’s partnership and the value they provide to our county.”

Eligibility criteria may include age and income restrictions. Interested customers may find more information at Low-Income Energy Assistance at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy Agency Team is part of the company’s larger strategy of supporting customers in need, which also includes collaboration with elected officials at the state and federal levels to increase assistance levels and expansion of customer participation in energy efficiency programs and services to mitigate high bills.

To assist customers struggling with energy costs, Duke Energy also offers a robust set of programs including Budget Billing, Installment Payment Plans, Share the Light Fund and Due Date Extensions.

Duke Energy Carolinas

Duke Energy Carolinas, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 19,500 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2.8 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 24,000-square-mile service area in North Carolina and South Carolina.

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

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

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

Contact: Keith Richardson 
24-Hour: 800.559.3853

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Originally published on DICK’S Sporting Goods News Room

PITTSBURGH, March 7, 2023 /3BL Media/ — DICK’S Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS) and Just Women’s Sports (JWS), the leading multimedia platform exclusively dedicated to women’s sports, are partnering with WNBA Champion, 2x WNBA MVP and Olympic gold medalist Elena Delle Donne; WNBA MVP and champion, Olympic gold medalist, and 4x NCAA champion and 4x Most Outstanding Player Breanna Stewart; 2018 NCAA champion and MVP Arike Ogunbowale; 2021 WNBA champion and Olympic gold medalist Stefanie Dolson; 2022 NCAA champion Destanni Henderson; and 2021 WNBA Rookie of the Year Michaela Onyenwere to launch their second annual women’s college basketball Bracket Challenge, offering $150,000 to the winner.

Starting today, fans can register to participate on the official JWS x DICK’S Bracket Challenge website. On March 12, once tournament teams have been named, fans can begin filling out their selections. Bracket submissions will close on March 17 at the start of the first tournament game. In addition to the grand prize, $250 DICK’S gift cards will be awarded to the second and third place winners. This is the second year DICK’S and JWS have partnered on a Bracket Challenge with the goal of engaging women’s basketball fans and athletes alike.

“Basketball has been one of the most transformative agents in my life, and I am excited to help spread the word for basketball fans and athletes of all ages,” said Delle Donne. “The tournament is a special time of year and with such parity in the women’s game, I’m interested to see who fans pick to win it all.”

Emily Syverud, the 2022 JWS x DICK’S Bracket Challenge winner, followed the women’s college basketball season via Just Women’s Sports and filled out her bracket based on the insight she picked up along the way, rooting for her dad’s alma mater – University of Iowa – and her favorite powerhouse teams. Emily, a graduate from the University of Minnesota Medical School, used the winnings to help pay off her medical school student loans, donate to Twin Cities nonprofits like Keystone Community Services and treat her fiancé to a ski trip in Switzerland for his 30th birthday.

“It was great to see increased interest in the women’s tournament last year,” said Kate Fedishen, DICK’S Sporting Goods Vice President of Global Brand and Category Marketing. “We hope to encourage even more fans to fill out a women’s bracket and enjoy one of the most exciting times of the sports year: March basketball!”

“We had incredible success with our partner DICK’S Sporting Goods last year and are excited to launch our second annual Bracket Challenge,” said Haley Rosen, Just Women’s Sports’ Founder, and CEO. “Just Women’s Sports’ mission is to bring hype and excitement across the women’s game and we’re giving the passionate fans of women’s college basketball a way to experience and be a part of this year’s tournament.”

JWS x DICK’S Bracket Challenge Details
The 64-team Bracket Challenge will give fans an accessible and exciting destination with news and analysis to help make predictions and compete among friends. In addition, fans can follow an array of All-Star athletes on the JWS website as they try to walk away with a perfect bracket.

For complete contest rules, please visit: justwomenssports.com/bracketchallengerules

Category: Company

MEDIA CONTACT
Just Women’s Sports: press@justwsports.com
DICK’S Sporting Goods: press@dcsg.com

About Just Women’s Sports Inc.
Just Women’s Sports Inc. is a digital-first consumer media brand dedicated to 100% women’s sports, 100% of the time. Through digital content, original programming, live events and more, JWS brings fans everything they need to see and know in the world of women’s sports.

Just Women’s Sports is proudly backed by an All-Star group of investors, including Blue Pool Capital, Will Ventures, and Thirty Five Ventures, as well as a roster of world-famous athletes including Billie Jean King, Allyson Felix and Abby Wambach.

Find Just Women’s Sports online at justwomenssports.com and on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook.

About DICK’S Sporting Goods
DICK’S Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS) creates confidence and excitement by personally equipping all athletes to achieve their dreams. Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, the leading omnichannel retailer serves athletes and outdoor enthusiasts in more than 850 DICK’S Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy, Public Lands, Going Going Gone! and Warehouse Sale stores, online, and through the DICK’S mobile app. DICK’S also owns and operates DICK’S House of Sport and Golf Galaxy Performance Center, as well as GameChanger, a youth sports mobile platform for live streaming, scheduling, communications and scorekeeping .

Driven by its belief that sports make people better, DICK’S has been a longtime champion for youth sports and, together with its Foundation, has donated millions of dollars to support under-resourced teams and athletes through the Sports Matter program and other community-based initiatives. Additional information about DICK’S business, corporate giving, sustainability efforts and employment opportunities can be found on dicks.com, investors.dicks.com, sportsmatter.org, dickssportinggoods.jobs and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

SOURCE DICK’S Sporting Goods