Tag: 3BL

You know it’s a healthy building crowd when the “we spend 90% of our lives indoors” stat comes up multiple times. While we’re all hearing that statistic more often, it bears repeating. What happens inside our buildings has a huge impact on our health, perhaps most notably the air we breathe. Poor indoor air quality is now recognized as one of the world’s leading (yet largely preventable) environmental health risks. That’s why last Friday’s congressional briefing on Indoor Air Quality for a Healthier America focused on elevating indoor air quality as a central advocacy priority and a key focus of public policy action.

That theme came to life throughout the briefing, a standing-room-only event where national policymakers and leading experts across public health, building science, facility management and business made the case that healthier indoor environments are essential to healthier people.

Opening the briefing in the Gold Room of the Rayburn House Office Building, Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY), pictured above, underscored the growing momentum behind efforts to improve indoor air quality, noting that despite decades of progress addressing outdoor pollution under the Clean Air Act, indoor air quality remains largely unregulated and underfunded. He pointed to bipartisan legislation he has reintroduced called The Indoor Air Quality and Healthy Schools Act, which would drive federal resources and action to protect Americans from poor indoor air quality.

Another national lawmaker who spoke at the briefing, Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), pictured left, noted his reintroduction of The Airborne Act, important bipartisan legislation that would create critical incentives for commercial building owners to conduct IAQ assessments, specifically a $1 per square foot tax credit not to exceed the cost of conducting the assessment.

Tonko closed his remarks with a nod to the leaders assembled in the room. “We are a powerful compact of organizations to speak forcefully to this issue.” The briefing itself reflected a diverse group of hosting organizations brought together by ASHRAE, including the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA),Green Building Initiative (GBI), Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, International Facility Management Association (IFMA), SMART, and U.S. Green Building Council.

Several clear themes emerged during the briefing. Here are five main takeaways:

1. Indoor air quality is a foundational public health issue
Dr. Whitney Austin Gray, SVP of Research at IWBI, pictured left, emphasized that improving buildings is ultimately about improving human health. “If we do not invest in our children and secure healthy environments for the future, we are already behind — and healthy air is going to be a critical component of that.”

Gray highlighted research showing that healthier buildings can produce measurable gains in workplace satisfaction, well-being, mental health and performance. “We’ve documented improvements including a 30% increase in environmental satisfaction, 26% improvements in well-being, and even significant gains in cognitive function when indoor environments are improved.” She noted that in addition to significant health benefits, investing in healthy buildings pays back in terms of increased productivity, real estate performance and talent retention and recruitment.

Looking ahead, Dr. Gray emphasized that brain health will be an important frontier in the conversation around healthy buildings. “Right now, our lifespan is longer than our brain span. If we want to close the gap, we have to start thinking about everything we put into our brains, including the air we breathe.”

2. Indoor air pollution affects millions of Americans every day
Kenneth Mendez, President and CEO of AAFA, pictured left, connected the science of indoor air with the lived experience of millions of patients. “One in four Americans has allergies, and 28 million Americans have asthma, including six million children,” he said.

Mendez also explained that people are often told to stay indoors when outdoor air quality is poor, yet we now know that, according to the EPA, indoor environments are three to five times more polluted than outdoor air and lack any protective regulations.

“When you come indoors, we don’t have those same standards. That’s why we need greater attention to indoor air quality,” he said. He also explained how improving indoor building environments, particularly in our schools and workplaces, could significantly reduce asthma attacks, missed school days and lost productivity.

3. The science of indoor air pollution is clear, and the health risks are significant
Bethany Chirico, Chief Experience Officer at AIHA, detailed the pollutants commonly found in indoor environments and their health impacts. “Indoor air often contains particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, mold, bacteria and viruses — all of which can affect people’s health and well-being,” she said. And often these pollutants can accumulate in our indoor spaces.

She added that while our indoor air is often worse that outdoor air, “people cannot opt out of breathing it.”

Chirico pointed out that exposure to poor indoor air quality is linked to a variety of health problems, from short-term impacts such as headaches or asthma attacks to long-term risks including respiratory illnesses, heart disease and cancer.

4. Proven solutions already exist
Bill Bahnfleth, a Fellow and Presidential Member of ASHRAE, explained that several ASHRAE standards are available to help improve indoor air quality, but need more support to ensure they are more widely implemented.

“The science is very clear that we need to do something about indoor air quality, and we have the tools to move forward if we have the will to put them into action,” he said. ASHRAE has developed baseline standards for ventilation and indoor air quality, as well as newer guidance for controlling infectious aerosols. However, Bahnfleth said, adoption remains uneven across states and jurisdictions.

The takeaway: more policy alignment is needed to better translate existing science into more widespread adoption of these minimum baseline standards.

5. Implementation requires action from building professionals and policymakers
Laurie Gilmer, a Fellow with IFMA, highlighted the critical role of facility managers in maintaining healthy buildings, saying, “The people who operate buildings are on the front lines of keeping occupants safe, healthy and productive.” She also acknowledged how indoor air quality can affect far more than just physical health. “The air we breathe indoors affects cognitive performance, creativity, focus and decision-making,” she said. She referenced several strategies that leading organizations are deploying to help improve indoor air quality, such as source control, improved ventilation, filtration and better maintenance.

Also on the implementation front, schools emerged as one of the most urgent priorities during the briefing. As noted by Anisa Heming, Director of the Center for Green Schools at the US Green Building Council, improving school buildings represents both a key sector of focus and a tremendous opportunity to safeguard children’s health. The latest 2025 State of Our Schools report — led by IWBI, the 21st Century School Fund, and the National Council on School Facilities — found that schools face an annual investment shortfall of nearly $90 billion. This massive funding gap clearly represents the worsening condition of school facilities, which in turn jeopardizes indoor air quality and the health of the more than 50 million students who attend school every day.

A Final Takeaway
The congressional briefing demonstrated that momentum is building across science, academia, industry and policy. As Dr. Gray noted, progress will require collaboration across disciplines. “If you do not partner, if you do not operationalize these solutions, then we won’t be successful,” she said. . “At IWBI, we partnered with more than 200 global leaders to form the Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air. We have the science globally. Now it will be a question of who will implement it first to lead investment in the future of children and workforces.”

The briefing also underscored the importance of collaboration. Thanks to ASHRAE (with key leadership from its Director of Government Affairs, Alice Yates, pictured above), the briefing brought together these leading nine organizations for an impactful discussion on Capitol Hill that elevated indoor air quality as a central issue linking public health, building performance and national resilience.

An obligatory selfie at the U.S. Capitol by the author.

View original content here.

Originally published on Cotopaxi Stories.

In the heart of Ecuador’s Cotopaxi province, a rolling tapestry of simple fences, fields with livestock and vegetables, and cinderblock homes with tin roofs unfolds across highland moors. Clouds weave in, out, and through the foothills, softening the edges of a landscape that feels heavy, tender, and timeless.

Over generations, the countryside here has shifted in quiet but steady ways. Land once shared and tended to by a community cooperative has been subdivided and transferred to families. Rivers that once rose to meet bridges now trickle through the landscape. And women, who were once unable to participate in community spaces and share their voices, now meet routinely as students and teachers, entrepreneurs and leaders. Today, the organization is theirs. They decide, and they lead.

Ermelinda Chacha, 52, has experienced the region’s evolving nature.

As far back as I can remember, we lived on the land, looking after the animals for days at a time and planting things, like barley and potatoes. Back then, women couldn’t go anywhere—not to meetings, nothing—and my mom couldn’t go out [from our home] if she was pregnant.

Ermelinda Chacha

In 1983, when Ermelinda was 10 years old, Diocelinda Iza and four other women started sowing a new future for women and girls in the Cotopaxi province. They established what is today known as the Organización de Mujeres Indígenas y Campesinas “Sembrando Esperanza”—the Organization of Indigenous and Peasant Women “Sowing Hope,” in English—known more simply as OMICSE. The organization started with 15 women (and, at the time, was called the Organización de Mujeres de la UNOCANC), and Diocelinda served as its first president.

Over the years, OMICSE, with support from organizations like CARE Ecuador and the Cotopaxi Foundation, has defended women’s rights and promoted gender equality throughout the region.

Read the full story here.

Learn more about CARE here.

Originally published by GoDaddy’s Small Business Research Lab

New research from GoDaddy and UCLA Anderson Forecast finds that small business data can offer earlier, and in some cases stronger, signals of U.S. economic performance than traditional measures such as the stock market.
Full report here.

In the fourth quarter of 2025, GoDaddy’s Participation Index rose year-over-year, capturing renewed growth in digital small business activity nationally. Historically, increases in the index have been associated with stronger payroll employment growth and declines in unemployment within three to four quarters.

We’ve always known small businesses are the backbone of the economy. What’s new is evidence that small business formation, especially the rise of digital entrepreneurship, may also help anticipate where parts of the economy are headed.

The report, “What Small Businesses Tell Us About The Economy That Wall Street Can’t,” analyzes national data from 1990–2025 and incorporates real-time digital entrepreneurship data from GoDaddy. It finds that while stock market returns are statistically linked to economic outcomes, those relationships are relatively modest. By comparison, small business formation shows a stronger relationship with GDP growth, payroll employment, and unemployment — and often appears earlier in the data.

A one percent increase in small business births is associated with roughly:

• 0.18 percent higher GDP growth
• 0.16 percent higher payroll employment growth
• A 0.15 percentage point decline in unemployment

Importantly, increases in new business formation are associated with higher payroll employment roughly three quarters later and lower unemployment about four quarters later.

At the local level, GoDaddy’s entrepreneur data shows a strong correlation (0.84) with establishments employing fewer than five people. Often, the first moment an idea feels real is when someone gets online, secures a domain, and builds a website. That gives GoDaddy a unique lens into early-stage economic activity, and by sharing this data quarterly, we’re helping make that visibility accessible in a sometimes opaque or confusing economic environment.

Different indicators capture different parts of the economy. What this analysis shows is that early-stage small business activity captures dimensions of local economic change that equity markets alone cannot.
– William Yu, Economist at UCLA Anderson Forecast

The findings do not imply causation or serve as standalone forecasts. Rather, they show that stock market performance alone provides an incomplete picture of economic conditions, particularly when it comes to jobs and local opportunity.

This report is an important contribution to how we understand the real economy because it shines a spotlight on where Main Street employers and their employees live and work.

By pairing decades of macroeconomic data with GoDaddy’s real-time view of digital entrepreneurs, these data show what our local chamber of commerce partners see every day: small businesses are one of the most direct and timely signals of economic health in communities across America.

– Curtis Dubay, Chief Economist at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

This research reinforces why looking at, talking about, and supporting small businesses is not just nice — it’s economically smart and essential. Small businesses deserve to be central in economic conversations, not peripheral to them.

Introducing Small Street alongside Wall Street and Main Street offers a more complete lens for understanding how economic momentum is taking shape across communities.

As traditional economic indicators are often delayed or limited in scope, this research shows why small business activity, particularly digital-first entrepreneurship, deserves greater attention in economic analysis.

– Alexandra Rosen, Global Head and Economist, GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab

Download Report

In this follow-up to our last episode on AI in the tech industry, Host Angie Dickson, President of the Inogen Alliance and EVP of Antea Group USA, sits down with Karl Huntzicker, Global VP of Health and Safety at Salesforce, to look ahead at the future of AI in EHS.

Karl shares how the move from bots to agents marks the beginning of what he calls the “agentic era,” where digital tools are not just answering questions but taking action, conducting investigations, and helping EHS professionals focus where it matters most. The discussion highlights opportunities for augmentation, the evolving idea of a digital workforce, and the hope that AI will finally allow EHS leaders to achieve long-standing goals.

 

Listen now on:

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

YouTube

 

Time Stamps

00:32 Bots vs. Agents – What’s the Difference?

04:00 From Incident Investigations to the Agentic Era

07:13 Augmenting EHS Teams Without Losing Focus on People

10:22 The Digital Workforce: Opportunities and Challenges

13:00 Becoming “Bionic” – Augmentation and Superpowers

14:13 Hopes for the Next Five Years in EHS

 

Guest Quotes

“I really want to look back in five years and say we built agents that made sense, that helped our employees, that provided care to our employees, and that moved the health and safety program forward.” – Karl 

In this follow-up to our last episode on AI in the tech industry, Host Angie Dickson, President of the Inogen Alliance and EVP of Antea Group USA, sits down with Karl Huntzicker, Global VP of Health and Safety at Salesforce, to look ahead at the future of AI in EHS.

Karl shares how the move from bots to agents marks the beginning of what he calls the “agentic era,” where digital tools are not just answering questions but taking action, conducting investigations, and helping EHS professionals focus where it matters most. The discussion highlights opportunities for augmentation, the evolving idea of a digital workforce, and the hope that AI will finally allow EHS leaders to achieve long-standing goals.

 

Listen now on:

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

YouTube

 

Time Stamps

00:32 Bots vs. Agents – What’s the Difference?

04:00 From Incident Investigations to the Agentic Era

07:13 Augmenting EHS Teams Without Losing Focus on People

10:22 The Digital Workforce: Opportunities and Challenges

13:00 Becoming “Bionic” – Augmentation and Superpowers

14:13 Hopes for the Next Five Years in EHS

 

Guest Quotes

“I really want to look back in five years and say we built agents that made sense, that helped our employees, that provided care to our employees, and that moved the health and safety program forward.” – Karl 

In this follow-up to our last episode on AI in the tech industry, Host Angie Dickson, President of the Inogen Alliance and EVP of Antea Group USA, sits down with Karl Huntzicker, Global VP of Health and Safety at Salesforce, to look ahead at the future of AI in EHS.

Karl shares how the move from bots to agents marks the beginning of what he calls the “agentic era,” where digital tools are not just answering questions but taking action, conducting investigations, and helping EHS professionals focus where it matters most. The discussion highlights opportunities for augmentation, the evolving idea of a digital workforce, and the hope that AI will finally allow EHS leaders to achieve long-standing goals.

 

Listen now on:

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

YouTube

 

Time Stamps

00:32 Bots vs. Agents – What’s the Difference?

04:00 From Incident Investigations to the Agentic Era

07:13 Augmenting EHS Teams Without Losing Focus on People

10:22 The Digital Workforce: Opportunities and Challenges

13:00 Becoming “Bionic” – Augmentation and Superpowers

14:13 Hopes for the Next Five Years in EHS

 

Guest Quotes

“I really want to look back in five years and say we built agents that made sense, that helped our employees, that provided care to our employees, and that moved the health and safety program forward.” – Karl 

CAMDEN, N.J., March 10, 2026 /3BL/ – Subaru of America, Inc. and Gifts for Good™ today announced the first-year results of their national customer appreciation gifting program, a key feature of Subaru’s Love-Encore™ vehicle delivery experience. Subaru customers who purchase a new vehicle and return to their participating retailer for a Subaru Love-Encore delivery receive a gift of their choice; each directly benefiting a nonprofit organization or social enterprise that supports people in need, animals, or the environment. The milestone marks a successful first year of transforming customer gratitude into tangible, measurable impact for people, communities, and the planet.

The program launched on March 1, 2025, as part of the complementary follow-up delivery experience, which invites new customers back to the retailer 14 to 45 days after purchase to meet with a dedicated expert who can answer any questions they have about their new Subaru. As Gifts for Good’s largest corporate partner, Subaru introduced values-driven gifts that allow customers to either choose a mission-aligned product or direct the gift’s value to charity. Each physical gift option is a quality, ethically sourced product that comes with a story card so customers can read about the impact the gift selection has made. Customers also have the option to make a difference by redeeming the gift value towards a charitable impact.

IMPACT AT A GLANCE (Year 1)

• 141,184 gifts redeemed (50% directed as charitable contribution gifts)
• 54,213 rides to treatment for cancer patients
• 594,188 hours (about 68 years) of care for rescue animals across America
• 13,669 U.S. students in need supplied with a year of school supplies
• Eight tons of e-waste potentially diverted from landfills
• 8,368 trees planted through reforestation projects
• 11,580 meals provided to people in the U.S. facing food insecurity
• 8,806 blankets provided to American children entering foster care

Jenise Steverding, Chief Impact Officer, Gifts for Good: “One of the best parts of our platform is that it empowers customers to choose a physical gift or give their gift value to charity. With half of all Subaru gift redemptions supporting charitable outcomes, the program clearly resonates—generating real and measurable impact.”

Tim Tagye, Vice President of Field and Distributor Operations, Subaru of America, Inc.: “Gifts for Good understands the intersection of upholding our brand values and our commitment to the customer experience. At Subaru, we look for partners who view impact and engagement as fundamentally linked, and the Gifts for Good platform meaningfully extends the Subaru experience beyond the showroom, creating a lasting impression throughout the ownership journey.”

Subaru customer gift selections supported mission-driven partners, including Best Friends Animal Society (animal welfare), Kids In Need Foundation (school supplies), and Comfort Cases (supporting children entering foster care).

Corey Gordon, Chief Executive Officer, Kids In Need Foundation: “Thanks to our valued partnership with Gifts for Good and their work with Subaru, essential resources are going directly into the hands of students and teachers who need them most. We’re proud to be part of this shared effort and the meaningful impact it’s making in classrooms and communities across the country.”

Subaru of America, Inc. and Gifts for Good™ have announced first-year results of their national customer appreciation gifting program, a key feature of Subaru’s Love-Encore™ vehicle delivery experience. As Gifts for Good’s largest corporate partner, Subaru introduced values-driven gifts that allow customers to either choose a mission-aligned product or direct the gift’s value to charity.

The gifting experience was designed to reflect what Subaru customers care about—giving back, ethical products, pets, and the outdoors—offering both mission-driven physical gifts and charitable options tied to real outcomes. In the first year, customers sent 34,075 thank-you notes to Subaru through the gifting platform, underscoring the program’s resonance with new owners.

To ensure every eligible customer can participate, Gifts for Good collaborated with Subaru’s IT team to develop a secure VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) – based eligibility validation method at the retailer upon completion of the Love-Encore visit, enabling participation even for customers without email addresses or internet access.

Many of the physical gifts for the Subaru program are picked and packed in partnership with Goodwill Southern California, supporting job creation and workforce training for individuals facing barriers to employment.

Laura Hertz, CEO, Gifts for Good: “Subaru customers have shown that when given the choice, they want their appreciation to do more. Achieving these kinds of outcomes in just the first year proves that a customer experience moment can also be a community impact moment—scaled nationally.”

To explore the Subaru Love-Encore gifting program and Subaru’s commitment to sustainable, ethical gift sourcing, visit: giftsforgood.com/subaru.

About Subaru of America, Inc.

Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts, and accessories through a network of about 640 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants, including Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc., the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise®, which is the company’s vision to show love and respect to everyone and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA and the SOA Foundation have donated more than $340 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged over 115,000 volunteer hours. Subaru is dedicated to being More Than a Car Company® and to making the world a better place. For additional information, visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube.

About Gifts for Good

Gifts for Good is the leading impact-driven gifting technology company that helps businesses create meaningful corporate gifts that give back. Specializing in products made by nonprofit and social enterprise partners, Gifts for Good makes it easy for companies to integrate giving into employee gifts, client appreciation, and branded merchandise. Since 2017, Gifts for Good has partnered with brands such as Google, Microsoft, Zoom and KPMG, benefiting over 3 million people worldwide and contributing over $4.9 million to charity. The company envisions a world where every gift purchased gives back. Learn more at giftsforgood.com.

###

Diane Anton
Corporate Communications Manager
(856) 488-5093
danton@subaru.com

Adam Leiter
Corporate Communications Specialist
(856) 488-8668
aleiter@subaru.com

Judd Watts
Director, Communications & Public Relations
Gifts for Good
marketing@giftsforgood.com

CAMDEN, N.J., March 10, 2026 /3BL/ – Subaru of America, Inc. and Gifts for Good™ today announced the first-year results of their national customer appreciation gifting program, a key feature of Subaru’s Love-Encore™ vehicle delivery experience. Subaru customers who purchase a new vehicle and return to their participating retailer for a Subaru Love-Encore delivery receive a gift of their choice; each directly benefiting a nonprofit organization or social enterprise that supports people in need, animals, or the environment. The milestone marks a successful first year of transforming customer gratitude into tangible, measurable impact for people, communities, and the planet.

The program launched on March 1, 2025, as part of the complementary follow-up delivery experience, which invites new customers back to the retailer 14 to 45 days after purchase to meet with a dedicated expert who can answer any questions they have about their new Subaru. As Gifts for Good’s largest corporate partner, Subaru introduced values-driven gifts that allow customers to either choose a mission-aligned product or direct the gift’s value to charity. Each physical gift option is a quality, ethically sourced product that comes with a story card so customers can read about the impact the gift selection has made. Customers also have the option to make a difference by redeeming the gift value towards a charitable impact.

IMPACT AT A GLANCE (Year 1)

• 141,184 gifts redeemed (50% directed as charitable contribution gifts)
• 54,213 rides to treatment for cancer patients
• 594,188 hours (about 68 years) of care for rescue animals across America
• 13,669 U.S. students in need supplied with a year of school supplies
• Eight tons of e-waste potentially diverted from landfills
• 8,368 trees planted through reforestation projects
• 11,580 meals provided to people in the U.S. facing food insecurity
• 8,806 blankets provided to American children entering foster care

Jenise Steverding, Chief Impact Officer, Gifts for Good: “One of the best parts of our platform is that it empowers customers to choose a physical gift or give their gift value to charity. With half of all Subaru gift redemptions supporting charitable outcomes, the program clearly resonates—generating real and measurable impact.”

Tim Tagye, Vice President of Field and Distributor Operations, Subaru of America, Inc.: “Gifts for Good understands the intersection of upholding our brand values and our commitment to the customer experience. At Subaru, we look for partners who view impact and engagement as fundamentally linked, and the Gifts for Good platform meaningfully extends the Subaru experience beyond the showroom, creating a lasting impression throughout the ownership journey.”

Subaru customer gift selections supported mission-driven partners, including Best Friends Animal Society (animal welfare), Kids In Need Foundation (school supplies), and Comfort Cases (supporting children entering foster care).

Corey Gordon, Chief Executive Officer, Kids In Need Foundation: “Thanks to our valued partnership with Gifts for Good and their work with Subaru, essential resources are going directly into the hands of students and teachers who need them most. We’re proud to be part of this shared effort and the meaningful impact it’s making in classrooms and communities across the country.”

Subaru of America, Inc. and Gifts for Good™ have announced first-year results of their national customer appreciation gifting program, a key feature of Subaru’s Love-Encore™ vehicle delivery experience. As Gifts for Good’s largest corporate partner, Subaru introduced values-driven gifts that allow customers to either choose a mission-aligned product or direct the gift’s value to charity.

The gifting experience was designed to reflect what Subaru customers care about—giving back, ethical products, pets, and the outdoors—offering both mission-driven physical gifts and charitable options tied to real outcomes. In the first year, customers sent 34,075 thank-you notes to Subaru through the gifting platform, underscoring the program’s resonance with new owners.

To ensure every eligible customer can participate, Gifts for Good collaborated with Subaru’s IT team to develop a secure VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) – based eligibility validation method at the retailer upon completion of the Love-Encore visit, enabling participation even for customers without email addresses or internet access.

Many of the physical gifts for the Subaru program are picked and packed in partnership with Goodwill Southern California, supporting job creation and workforce training for individuals facing barriers to employment.

Laura Hertz, CEO, Gifts for Good: “Subaru customers have shown that when given the choice, they want their appreciation to do more. Achieving these kinds of outcomes in just the first year proves that a customer experience moment can also be a community impact moment—scaled nationally.”

To explore the Subaru Love-Encore gifting program and Subaru’s commitment to sustainable, ethical gift sourcing, visit: giftsforgood.com/subaru.

About Subaru of America, Inc.

Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts, and accessories through a network of about 640 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants, including Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc., the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise®, which is the company’s vision to show love and respect to everyone and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA and the SOA Foundation have donated more than $340 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged over 115,000 volunteer hours. Subaru is dedicated to being More Than a Car Company® and to making the world a better place. For additional information, visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube.

About Gifts for Good

Gifts for Good is the leading impact-driven gifting technology company that helps businesses create meaningful corporate gifts that give back. Specializing in products made by nonprofit and social enterprise partners, Gifts for Good makes it easy for companies to integrate giving into employee gifts, client appreciation, and branded merchandise. Since 2017, Gifts for Good has partnered with brands such as Google, Microsoft, Zoom and KPMG, benefiting over 3 million people worldwide and contributing over $4.9 million to charity. The company envisions a world where every gift purchased gives back. Learn more at giftsforgood.com.

###

Diane Anton
Corporate Communications Manager
(856) 488-5093
danton@subaru.com

Adam Leiter
Corporate Communications Specialist
(856) 488-8668
aleiter@subaru.com

Judd Watts
Director, Communications & Public Relations
Gifts for Good
marketing@giftsforgood.com

CAMDEN, N.J., March 10, 2026 /3BL/ – Subaru of America, Inc. and Gifts for Good™ today announced the first-year results of their national customer appreciation gifting program, a key feature of Subaru’s Love-Encore™ vehicle delivery experience. Subaru customers who purchase a new vehicle and return to their participating retailer for a Subaru Love-Encore delivery receive a gift of their choice; each directly benefiting a nonprofit organization or social enterprise that supports people in need, animals, or the environment. The milestone marks a successful first year of transforming customer gratitude into tangible, measurable impact for people, communities, and the planet.

The program launched on March 1, 2025, as part of the complementary follow-up delivery experience, which invites new customers back to the retailer 14 to 45 days after purchase to meet with a dedicated expert who can answer any questions they have about their new Subaru. As Gifts for Good’s largest corporate partner, Subaru introduced values-driven gifts that allow customers to either choose a mission-aligned product or direct the gift’s value to charity. Each physical gift option is a quality, ethically sourced product that comes with a story card so customers can read about the impact the gift selection has made. Customers also have the option to make a difference by redeeming the gift value towards a charitable impact.

IMPACT AT A GLANCE (Year 1)

• 141,184 gifts redeemed (50% directed as charitable contribution gifts)
• 54,213 rides to treatment for cancer patients
• 594,188 hours (about 68 years) of care for rescue animals across America
• 13,669 U.S. students in need supplied with a year of school supplies
• Eight tons of e-waste potentially diverted from landfills
• 8,368 trees planted through reforestation projects
• 11,580 meals provided to people in the U.S. facing food insecurity
• 8,806 blankets provided to American children entering foster care

Jenise Steverding, Chief Impact Officer, Gifts for Good: “One of the best parts of our platform is that it empowers customers to choose a physical gift or give their gift value to charity. With half of all Subaru gift redemptions supporting charitable outcomes, the program clearly resonates—generating real and measurable impact.”

Tim Tagye, Vice President of Field and Distributor Operations, Subaru of America, Inc.: “Gifts for Good understands the intersection of upholding our brand values and our commitment to the customer experience. At Subaru, we look for partners who view impact and engagement as fundamentally linked, and the Gifts for Good platform meaningfully extends the Subaru experience beyond the showroom, creating a lasting impression throughout the ownership journey.”

Subaru customer gift selections supported mission-driven partners, including Best Friends Animal Society (animal welfare), Kids In Need Foundation (school supplies), and Comfort Cases (supporting children entering foster care).

Corey Gordon, Chief Executive Officer, Kids In Need Foundation: “Thanks to our valued partnership with Gifts for Good and their work with Subaru, essential resources are going directly into the hands of students and teachers who need them most. We’re proud to be part of this shared effort and the meaningful impact it’s making in classrooms and communities across the country.”

Subaru of America, Inc. and Gifts for Good™ have announced first-year results of their national customer appreciation gifting program, a key feature of Subaru’s Love-Encore™ vehicle delivery experience. As Gifts for Good’s largest corporate partner, Subaru introduced values-driven gifts that allow customers to either choose a mission-aligned product or direct the gift’s value to charity.

The gifting experience was designed to reflect what Subaru customers care about—giving back, ethical products, pets, and the outdoors—offering both mission-driven physical gifts and charitable options tied to real outcomes. In the first year, customers sent 34,075 thank-you notes to Subaru through the gifting platform, underscoring the program’s resonance with new owners.

To ensure every eligible customer can participate, Gifts for Good collaborated with Subaru’s IT team to develop a secure VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) – based eligibility validation method at the retailer upon completion of the Love-Encore visit, enabling participation even for customers without email addresses or internet access.

Many of the physical gifts for the Subaru program are picked and packed in partnership with Goodwill Southern California, supporting job creation and workforce training for individuals facing barriers to employment.

Laura Hertz, CEO, Gifts for Good: “Subaru customers have shown that when given the choice, they want their appreciation to do more. Achieving these kinds of outcomes in just the first year proves that a customer experience moment can also be a community impact moment—scaled nationally.”

To explore the Subaru Love-Encore gifting program and Subaru’s commitment to sustainable, ethical gift sourcing, visit: giftsforgood.com/subaru.

About Subaru of America, Inc.

Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts, and accessories through a network of about 640 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants, including Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc., the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise®, which is the company’s vision to show love and respect to everyone and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA and the SOA Foundation have donated more than $340 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged over 115,000 volunteer hours. Subaru is dedicated to being More Than a Car Company® and to making the world a better place. For additional information, visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube.

About Gifts for Good

Gifts for Good is the leading impact-driven gifting technology company that helps businesses create meaningful corporate gifts that give back. Specializing in products made by nonprofit and social enterprise partners, Gifts for Good makes it easy for companies to integrate giving into employee gifts, client appreciation, and branded merchandise. Since 2017, Gifts for Good has partnered with brands such as Google, Microsoft, Zoom and KPMG, benefiting over 3 million people worldwide and contributing over $4.9 million to charity. The company envisions a world where every gift purchased gives back. Learn more at giftsforgood.com.

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Diane Anton
Corporate Communications Manager
(856) 488-5093
danton@subaru.com

Adam Leiter
Corporate Communications Specialist
(856) 488-8668
aleiter@subaru.com

Judd Watts
Director, Communications & Public Relations
Gifts for Good
marketing@giftsforgood.com

Global supply chains are entering a new phase. In his latest Forbes Business Council article, “Why Capability—Not Geography—Will Define the Next Decade of Trade,” Morten Johansen, COO of DP World in the Americas, explains why the next era of trade will be shaped less by where production happens and more by the capabilities that support it.

As companies continue to rethink global supply chains amid geopolitical shifts, tariff uncertainty, and growing demand for resilience, nearshoring has emerged as a key strategy. But Johansen argues that simply moving production closer to end markets does not automatically solve supply chain challenges.

Nearshoring’s Next Phase

The initial promise of nearshoring was straightforward: shorter supply chains, faster delivery times, and lower transportation costs. Yet in practice, companies relocating production have often discovered that proximity alone cannot guarantee efficiency or reliability.

Without strong logistics networks, efficient customs systems, digital visibility, and skilled labor pools, nearshored operations can still face costly delays and bottlenecks.

This is why Johansen describes the next phase as “Nearshoring 2.0”—a shift toward building integrated supply chain ecosystems that prioritize capability alongside location.

Building Trade Ecosystems That Work

In the article, Johansen outlines the capabilities businesses should evaluate when choosing supply chain locations. These include:

• Reliable infrastructure and multimodal transport connectivity
• Efficient regulatory and customs frameworks
• Digital tools that provide real-time supply chain visibility
• Skilled workforces that support advanced logistics and manufacturing
• Sustainable operations that reduce environmental impact

When these elements are aligned, supply chains become more resilient and adaptable—able to move goods, data, and capital seamlessly across borders.

Digitalization and Sustainability Shape Trade Decisions

Johansen also highlights how technology and sustainability are increasingly influencing where companies invest and build supply chains.

Digital platforms now allow businesses to monitor shipments in real time, predict disruptions, and optimize routes — capabilities that are quickly becoming essential in modern logistics.

At the same time, companies are placing greater emphasis on environmental performance, looking for partners and locations that support renewable energy use, lower emissions, and more sustainable logistics operations.

Capability Is the New Competitive Advantage

As Johansen explains, the next decade of global trade will not simply be defined by geography. Instead, companies that invest in capability-driven supply chain ecosystems —combining infrastructure, technology, sustainability, and talent — will be best positioned to compete in an increasingly complex global marketplace.

Read Morten Johansen’s full Forbes Business Council article