Tag: 3BL

Originally published on newsroom.marykay.com 

DALLAS, October 9, 2025 /3BL/ – On Saturday, October 4^th, the Mary Kay Ash Foundation^® painted the town of Addison pink for the 21^st Annual MK5K^® event. The pink movement spread from coast to coast through Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants who held their own fundraising events in communities and cities representing nearly every state and territory across the U.S.

Participants could run, walk, bike, or get creative to compete in the annual event that has raised over $250,000 for the Mary Kay Ash Foundation^® with fundraising efforts running through October 31^st. The Foundation^® raises and distributes funds to invest in breakthrough cancer research and clinical trials to find a cure for women-related cancers and also provides annual grants to nonprofits dedicated to ending domestic violence. 

Since 1996, the Mary Kay Ash Foundation^® has contributed more than $98 million to organizations aligned with its two-fold mission. In addition, it supports awareness initiatives, community outreach programs, and advocates for legislation to ensure women are healthy and safe. 

“Each year, we race to help improve the health and safety of all women, and I’m ecstatic to see the growth in participation and the financial impact we make year after year. The annual MK5K was created to raise funds that support all women – not just those who work tirelessly to carry on my great-grandmother’s dream of empowering women around the world,” said Jessica Bair, great-granddaughter of founder Mary Kay Ash. “It’s amazing to see the support from our sponsors and donors, corporate volunteers and runners, and all the virtual runners who participate in this event across the U.S.”

In recent years, the rise of virtual “runners” who participate in the event has made a huge impact to the amount of funds raised each year. 

“There is something profoundly moving about witnessing thousands of women and their families unite, both in person and virtually, for the MK5K,” said Anne Crews, Vice President of Public Affairs at Mary Kay Inc. and Mary Kay Ash Foundation Board Member. “This event is more than a race; it’s a powerful symbol of solidarity and hope. Every step taken reflects the Mary Kay Ash Foundation’s unwavering commitment to transforming lives through groundbreaking research in women’s cancers and vital support for survivors of domestic violence.”

The Foundation is tickled pink with the success of this year’s event, and the race is on for the next MK5K, which is scheduled for Saturday, October 3, 2026. Here are the impressive results from this year’s event:

• $258,700 raised
• 2,656 participants
• 378 fundraising teams
• 7,942 miles logged
• 147 miles (1-mile fun run)
• 7,795 miles (5K)
• 2,149 generous donors
• 16 corporate sponsors

Did You Know? 

• The Mary Kay Ash Foundation® announced partnership with The National Domestic Violence Hotline (“The Hotline”) – the nation’s leading resource for survivors and those seeking to support them – to create a nationwide initiative focused on trauma-informed education, community engagement, and life-saving tools to help individuals recognize and respond to abuse. The partnership provides training webinars, downloadable resources, and a series of short videos.
• The Mary Kay Ash Foundation® awarded a $100,000 grant to the Baylor Scott & White Dallas Foundation Amy Selkirk Breast Cancer Research Fund to further support the second year of a first of its kind clinical trial conducted by Joyce O’Shaughnessy, MD, Celebrating Women Chair in Breast Cancer Research. This trial explores weight loss inhibitors to prevent breast cancer recurrence in overweight patients.
• The Mary Kay Ash Foundation® awarded a $400,000 multi-year grant in support of the newly established Texas Cancer Interception Institute, a first of its kind program utilizing cutting edge biomarker technology, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) blood-based assays offered on a huge scale to improve cancer care with an emphasis on early detection.
• The Mary Kay Ash Foundation® awarded nearly $3 million in cancer research and domestic violence shelter grants around the country in 2025.
• The Mary Kay Ash Foundation® has awarded more than $98 million to women’s shelters and domestic violence service providers, as well as cancer research programs and related causes throughout the U.S. For more information, visit marykayashfoundation.org  

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About Mary Kay Ash Foundation® 

Guided by Mary Kay Ash’s dream to enrich the lives of women everywhere, the Mary Kay Ash Foundation® raises and distributes funds to end domestic violence and invest in breakthrough cancer research to find cures for women-related cancers. Since 1996, the Mary Kay Ash Foundation has contributed more than $98 million to organizations aligned with its two-fold mission. In addition, the Foundation supports awareness initiatives, community outreach programs, and advocates for legislation to ensure women are healthy and safe. Together, we can make the world better for women. To learn more about how to educate, advocate, volunteer, donate, and join life-saving work to support and empower women, visit marykayashfoundation.org, or find us on Facebook and Instagram.

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by Howard Kwong, senior manager, Public Affairs, APAC at Cascale

At Cascale’s Annual Meeting 2025 in Hong Kong, one theme rose above all others: the power of collaboration. From shifting regulations in Europe to emerging opportunities across the Asia-Pacific, our members face a complex and rapidly evolving policy landscape. No single company can navigate these challenges alone; no single government can rewrite the global sustainability story.

Through policy workshops, panels, and roundtables, our policy and public affairs team brought together policymakers, brands, manufacturers, and industry experts to exchange perspectives, share practical needs, and identify opportunities for joint action. These sessions captured member insights, created alignment on political priorities, and laid the groundwork for collective next steps.

In today’s complex trade environment, policy matters. Timely, authoritative, and practical policy matters even more, as is consistently proven by our members who tell us of the importance of our team and the work we do. I valued all connected dots along this policy-shaping journey, including a US manufacturer who shared his vision on brand engagement at the Manufacturer Interview Group then spoke again at our policy roundtable, a Cambodia-based regional industry association who inspired to drive policy advocacy together and invited me to join their Annual Meeting in November, a South Korean manufacturer shared his sustainability progress since we last met at the Cascale Forum in Ho Chi Minh City in May. As senior manager of public affairs for the APAC region, I’ve seen firsthand the growing involvement in the green transition by APAC members (also representing our largest membership growth from 2024 to 2025). We witnessed this enthusiasm in Hong Kong when we met for the Annual Meeting 2025. So without further delay, here are our team’s top insights and expectations from our four policy sessions.

The Green Deal’s New Chapter: Implications for Global Supply Chains

The session opened with a welcome video from Harvey Rouse, Ambassador and Head of Office of the European Union Delegation to Hong Kong and Macao, who outlined the latest EU sustainability policy developments and emphasized that “maintaining the drive to foster sustainability must remain a top priority of the EU.”

During the interactive discussion that followed, participants shared their reactions to the latest developments in sustainability policies. The major keywords were “confusing,” “unrealistic,” and “complex.” A live poll revealed that over 57 percent of participants view the  Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation and Digital Product Passport (ESPR/DPP) as the most relevant Green Deal Policy, followed by the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D) and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

Moderated by GIZ’s Felicia Hoeer, the panelists, Li & Fung’s Jonathan Salmon, Marina Prados Espinola of Policy Hub, Sally Peng from FTI Consulting and AmCham, explored how recent adjustments to the EU Green Deal, such as strategic delays and the shelving of initiatives like green claims, are shaping the global sustainability landscape. The session unpacked the ripple effects of these regulatory shifts, including the growing influence and readiness of manufacturers and suppliers, especially in the APAC region.

Key Takeaways

• EU regulatory changes create uncertainty, but also opportunities for APAC to lead
• Collaboration, data readiness, and proactive industry engagement are critical for compliance and progress
• Voluntary action and innovation remain essential complements to policy frameworks

What’s next: To address the uncertainty many members are facing, Cascale will continue essential knowledge-sharing initiatives to guide members on upcoming regulations. In order to advance on the Green Deal’s ambitions, Cascale works closely with Policy Hub to engage with policymakers.

APAC Policy Priorities Workshop: Energy and Opportunity

We kicked off with a brief panel discussion with Eric Jen from Ren Energy and Trimco’s Mayko Tatsuyama Mathisen, an APAC Policy Member Expert Team (MET) member. They examined the evolving policy and legislative landscape across Asia-Pacific, focusing on energy transitions and Cascale’s strategic pillars: combating climate change and ensuring decent work for all. Members of the newly formed APAC Policy MET joined industry experts to identify opportunities, gaps, and pathways for collaboration.

Key Takeaways

• Policy alignment is essential to accelerate renewable energy adoption
• Regional collaboration strengthens industry influence on APAC legislation
• Supporting energy transitions is critical to both climate and decent work priorities

What’s next: We will consolidate those valuable insights to facilitate the upcoming APAC Policy MET discussions and inform the development of Cascale’s regional policy priorities.

Aligning Policy and Practice: Responsible Business Conduct

We aimed to bridge global policy and practical business conduct, focusing on how due diligence legislation, such as the CS3D, can drive fairer purchasing practices. Moderated by Solidaridad’s Tamar Hoek, with PDS Limited’s Buddhi Paranamana and Good Business Lab’s Renukaprasad B on the panel, the discussion explored how aligning tools like the Better Buying Purchasing Practices Index (BBPPI) with regulatory frameworks can support implementation. Speakers shared concrete steps brands can take to close gaps between commitments and action, and encouraged continued engagement through follow-up tools, reports, and policy collaboration.

Key Takeaways

• Due diligence laws are accelerating purchasing reform
• Aligning the Better Buying Purchasing Practices Index (BBPPI) with CS3D can help close industry gaps
• Practical, near-term actions support legal and ethical compliance

What’s Next: Cascale keeps elevating the suppliers’ voice in the policymaking process to unlock transformative change and leverage the Better Buying Purchasing Practices Index (BBPPI) in the due diligence legislation to close industry gaps.

CSRD in Practice: From Reporting Pain Points to Practical Solutions

This invite-only roundtable brought together key Cascale members to discuss the practical realities of complying with the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), supported by industry experts, Cascale’s Maravillas Rodriguez Zarco, SLCP’s Tom Mason, and Policy Hub’s Marina Prados Espinola. Members identified common CSRD pain points and reporting challenges. These will now be turned into recommendations for policymakers that will be helpful in providing greater clarity and support.

Key Takeaways

• Simplification is essential to translate lengthy reports into concrete, actionable steps
• Clear and timely guidance can help to avoid inconsistent auditing standards,  including the Double Materiality Assessment (DMA)
• Phased implementation to adopt a staged approach to streamline data collection and verification

What’s next: In the coming months, Cascale aims to share these results with policymakers through appropriate channels, such as targeted briefings or stakeholder dialogues. For more insights, read the full Annual Meeting Executive Summary 2025.

Reflections and Next Steps

The power of collaboration sparked in Hong Kong is driving our companies and governments to advance sustainable policies every day. Cascale remains committed to achieving our global public affairs strategic goals and policy priorities — through advocacy, knowledge sharing, and alignment of regulatory tools and industry positions. We will integrate valuable insights from this year’s Annual Meeting into our daily work, engaging closely with members — including the Public Affairs Strategic Council and the Policy Member Experts Terms in APAC and the U.S. —  as well as Policy Hub and other key policy stakeholders.

Even though the road ahead is challenging, I’m excited by the opportunity for us to dive even further to build greater alignment, inclusion, and clarity into our collective policy work. The commitment I’ve witnessed from members at our Annual Meeting sent a strong signal of what’s to come. As a marathon runner, there are no shortcuts, but what makes me thrilled is that we can run further, because we run together. We may not address all challenges at once, but we can run mile by mile. We are not only a partner, but part of each other. So let’s continue our Movement for All, the theme of the 2025 Cascale Annual Meeting, until we meet again: in Sri Lanka for the next Cascale Forum, as well as in Athens, Greece, for the next Annual Meeting, or in the many smaller gatherings that Cascale’s Public Affairs team will lead around the world.

SWORDS, Ireland, October 8, 2025 /3BL/ – Trane Technologies (NYSE:TT), a global climate innovator, proudly announces its inclusion in Forbes’ annual list of the World’s Best Employers. This prestigious recognition, compiled in collaboration with market research firm Statista, honors the leading global companies based on surveys of over 300,000 employees who evaluate their employers on criteria such as salary, talent development, and workplace atmosphere.

“Our people are the foundation of our work to challenge what’s possible, and we strive to create a work environment where our people uplift each other, make an impact on our planet, and thrive at work and at home,” said Dave Regnery, Chair and CEO of Trane Technologies. “We’re honored to be included on the Forbes list of the World’s Best Employers and it’s a testament to the dedication and passion of our team members worldwide.”

Through its strategic brands Trane® and Thermo King®, along with its innovative portfolio of solutions, Trane Technologies delivers sustainable and efficient heating and cooling solutions and services for buildings, industries, homes, and transportation globally. The company’s advanced technologies, as well as purpose-built digital solutions and AI, enable our customers to optimize performance while reducing energy use, carbon emissions and operational costs.

Trane Technologies is widely recognized as a leader in sustainability, integrating sustainable practices into the company’s core strategy and throughout its global operations as it progresses toward its 2030 Sustainability Commitments. Since 2019, Trane Technologies has reduced customer carbon emissions by 237 million metric tons, on track to meet its Gigaton Challenge goal of reducing one gigaton (or one billion metric tons) of customer carbon emissions by 2030.

The company is consistently celebrated as a top employer globally. In the past month, Trane Technologies was named to TIME’s World’s Best Companies list for the third consecutive year, Fortune’s list of the Best Workplaces in Manufacturing and Production for the second consecutive year and Forbes’ inaugural list of America’s Best Employers for Company Culture 2025.

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About Trane Technologies
Trane Technologies is a global climate innovator. Through our strategic brands Trane® and Thermo King®, and our portfolio of environmentally responsible products and services, we bring efficient and sustainable climate solutions to buildings, homes and transportation. Visit tranetechnologies.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of securities laws, which are statements that are not historical facts, including statements that relate to our sustainability commitments, and the anticipated impact of these commitments. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from our current expectations. Factors that could cause such differences can be found in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, as well as our subsequent reports on Form 10-Q and other SEC filings. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these events or how they may affect the Company.  We assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., October 8, 2025 /3BL/ – The Truist Championship, Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE: TFC) and Quail Hollow Club today announced a series of community-focused initiatives that will launch alongside the tournament’s return to Charlotte in 2026, reinforcing the event’s commitment to making a lasting impact on the region during tournament week and beyond. One of nine Signature Events on the PGA TOUR schedule, the Truist Championship returns to Quail Hollow Club, May 5-10, 2026.

The announcement was held at the Foundation For the Carolinas, next to Truist’s headquarters in Charlotte, with Truist Chairman and CEO Bill Rogers, Truist Championship Executive Director Adam Sperling, Quail Hollow Club President Johnny Harris, Truist Chief Consumer and Small Business Officer Dontá L. Wilson, Truist North Carolina West regional President Travis Rhodes and was emceed by lead voice of CBS Sports Jim Nantz. Plans were unveiled that highlight the tournament’s focus on honoring Charlotte’s history, empowering youth, strengthening community connections and supporting local businesses.

Key announcements included:

• Truist Tuesday – The Truist Championship will debut Truist Tuesday, a new monthly spotlight series designed to support and promote local organizations aiming to improve the community. The inaugural Truist Tuesday will take place on Tuesday of tournament week (May 5, 2026) and will honor Charlotte native and golf pioneer Charles Sifford through a matching grant in partnership with the Trail of History, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, culminating in the unveiling of a statue dedicated to his legacy.
   
• Birdies for Better – As a new charitable initiative tied to tournament play, beginning on November 12, 2025 Birdies for Better invites fans and donors to support area nonprofits by making a contribution to the charity of their choice leading into the Truist Championship. In addition, individuals will submit a guess for the total number of birdies recorded during the tournament for a chance to win exclusive prizes* Non-profit organizations are encouraged to register and will receive 100% of all funds raised through Birdies for Better Program, and may be eligible to receive a portion of funds from the tournament’s $100,000 bonus pool. (Charity Registration Link: https://registrations.pgatourhq.com/forms/bfbtruist/ )
   
• Access, Opportunity and Development Summit – Launching in fall 2026, this three-day event will bring together community partners, amateur golf programs, and local institutions for mentoring, networking, golf exhibitions, and professional development programming designed to expand access and opportunities through the game of golf.
   
• Small Business Support – The Truist Championship also announced a commitment to highlight and support small businesses during tournament week, creating opportunities for local vendors to showcase their work on the grounds of Quail Hollow Club.

“The Truist Championship is more than a world-class golf event — it’s a platform to bring people together and create meaningful impact throughout Charlotte,” said Sperling. “Through initiatives like Birdies for Better and our celebration of pioneers such as Charles Sifford, we are proud to partner with Truist, Quail Hollow Club, and the city of Charlotte to ensure this tournament leaves a lasting legacy that extends far beyond the competition inside the ropes.”

“At Truist, everything we do begins with our purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities, and the Truist Championship brings that purpose to life,” Rogers said. “Building on the success of the inaugural Truist Championship at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, and in partnership with the Quail Hollow Club and the PGA TOUR, we are delighted to bring this incredible tournament home to Charlotte. This impactful event will strengthen community connections, support local businesses, empower youth through access and development opportunities, honor Charlotte’s rich history, and create meaningful and memorable experiences.”

“We applaud Truist and the Truist Championship for the creation of these programs. The ability of professional golf to drive a positive impact for the community has always been part of what makes the events, and the game, so special,” said Harris.

The Truist Championship has been an official PGA TOUR event since 2003 and since its inception, the tournament has raised more than $32.5 million for charitable organizations for local and regional non-profit organizations.

For more information about the Truist Championship and its community initiatives, please visit www.truistchampionship.com.

About Truist Championship
The Truist Championship has been an official PGA TOUR event since 2003, contested annually at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. One of nine Signature Events on the 2026 PGA TOUR schedule, the Truist Championship features one of the premier fields in golf playing for a $20 million purse, with past champions such as Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy (4), Max Homa (2), Rickie Fowler and others adding to the tournament’s lore over two decades and counting. Since its inception, the event has generated over $32.5 million for local and regional charities. For more information, please visit TruistChampionship.com.

About Truist
Truist Financial Corporation is a purpose-driven financial services company committed to inspiring and building better lives and communities. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Truist has leading market share in many of the high-growth markets in the U.S. and offers a wide range of products and services through wholesale and consumer businesses, including consumer and small business banking, commercial and corporate banking, investment banking and capital markets, wealth management, payments, and specialized lending businesses. Truist is a top-10 commercial bank with total assets of $544 billion as of June 30, 2025. Truist Bank, Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. Learn more at Truist.com.

About Quail Hollow Club
On April 13, 1959, James J. Harris hosted a meeting at Morrocroft Farm that marked the Club’s formal beginning. On December 18, 1959, the twenty-one Founders of the Club executed its Certificate of Incorporation, which was filed on January 4, 1960, officially constituting Quail Hollow Club. The Course and the Clubhouse are located at 3700 Gleneagles Road in Charlotte, NC. Quail Hollow Club has what is considered by many to be one of the finest courses in the southeastern United States. The course was originally designed by famed golf course architect George Cobb in 1961 to capture the beauty as well as challenging terrain of the Piedmont region. In the intervening years, the course has undergone a series of improvements, including modifications to several holes by Arnold Palmer in 1986, and a redesign by Tom Fazio in 1997. Quail Hollow has been the site of the Kemper Open (1969-1979), World Seniors Invitational (1980-1989), the Truist Championship (2003- ), the PGA Championship (2017 & 2025), and the Presidents Cup (2022). Quail Hollow Club strives to bring the world’s best golfers to the Carolinas.

* No Purchase Necessary. Donation will not increase chance of winning. Starts 11/12/25 09:00 AMET, Ends 05/05/26 5:00 PM ET. Must be legal residents of the fifty (50) United States (excluding New York), eighteen (18) years of age or older to enter. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. Void where prohibited by law. See Official Rules at [https://www.truistchampionship.com/birdies/26truist-birdies-for-better-official-rules-100525.pdf]. Sponsored by PGA TOUR Charities.

 

During Climate Week NYC 2025, Tapestry continued its commitment to designing a better-made future through learning, collaboration, and innovation. From an employee-focused education session to executive insights on an industry panel, the company spotlighted its progress and purpose-driven partnerships.

Tapestry’s employee event featured leaders Peter Charles, Chief Supply Chain Officer; Logan Duran, VP & Global Head of Sustainability; Julia Furnari, Sr. Director, Social Impact, Tapestry Foundation; Taryn Bird, Sr. Director, Social Impact, Kate Spade New York; and Kim Matsoukas, Director, Sustainability, Coach. Together they reflected on the evolution of Our Social Fabric and Fabric of Change sustainability and social impact initiatives since 2019, and highlighted strategic partnerships that are helping drive impact at scale:

• Earlier this year, Tapestry became one of the first brands to make a financial commitment to the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF)Deforestation-Free Leather Fund. That commitment is in addition to the Tapestry Foundation’s $3 million philanthropic grant to WWF in 2022 to develop an innovative system to enhance leather traceability in Brazil.
• Tapestry’s investment in Generation Phoenix – recently expanded through a three-year supply agreement and quadrupled equity stake – demonstrated the company’s continued commitment to scaling sustainable material innovations.

In addition, Logan Duran, VP & Global Head of Sustainability, took part in a panel discussion during Climate Week NYC hosted by Textile Exchange. The conversation addressed how to make sustainability a larger part of everyday business decisions. Duran explained how Tapestry has made environmental and social responsibility a regular part of its operations.

Coach’s circular sub-brand, Coachtopia, also marked Climate Week by spotlighting one of its most successful collections to date, the Alter/Ego:

• The Alter/Ego Slouchy Shoulder Bag is made with 59% fewer carbon emissions than a comparable product in new materials.
• The Alter/Ego Large Crescent Shoulder Bag is made from 100% Upcrafted leathers (premium leather scraps left over from Coach Tabby and Brooklyn bags).

Stay tuned for more exciting sustainability updates in Tapestry’s Fiscal 2025 Corporate Responsibility Report launching later this year.

ROCKY HILL, Conn., October 8, 2025 /3BL/ – Henkel, a leading manufacturer of well-known consumer and industrial brands, such as Dial® soap, all® laundry detergent, and Loctite®, Technomelt® and Bonderite® adhesives, sealants, and functional coatings, is proud to host interactive educational events throughout the month of October in celebration of Manufacturing Day. The period of recognition is sponsored by the Manufacturing Institute — the workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM).

Throughout October, Henkel’s facilities in Delaware, OH; Salisbury, NC; Richmond, MO; Mentor, OH; and Greenville, SC will open their doors to high school students, building awareness and interest in the exciting careers available to future professionals in the manufacturing industry. Guided by Henkel’s site leaders, students will experience the company’s technology in action and learn about the diverse roles that drive efficiency, innovation, and sustainability through the manufacturing process.

Henkel’s Manufacturing Day events reaffirm the company’s commitment to education and continued investment in opportunities that provide students of all ages access to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) resources and STEM-related career information. Employees from various sites, including Bowling Green, KY, will also share information about careers in modern manufacturing at community events and career fairs.

“Welcoming students into our facilities across the US is one of the most impactful ways to show the exciting evolution of the manufacturing industry,” said Rajat Agarwal, President, Henkel North America. “Manufacturing today is driven by innovation, cutting-edge technology, and passionate professionals who know that it plays a vital role in shaping a sustainable future. Henkel’s celebration aims to spark curiosity about the diverse opportunities that manufacturing has to offer and prepare future generations for success.”

“Since 2012, Manufacturing Day has introduced tens of thousands of students to career opportunities in manufacturing — jobs which offer strong wages, stability, and room for growth. This year, we’re proud to continue connecting people with real-world experiences that open doors to the future,“ said Carolyn Lee, President and Executive Director of the Manufacturing Institute. “Henkel is an excellent example in educating the future workforce through Manufacturing Day and other programs.”

Join Us!

Our Bite-Sized Briefing with True Impact

Join us to get up to speed on how our partner True Impact’s social impact measurement platform helps purpose-driven companies and their nonprofit partners measure, maximize, and report on the results of their philanthropy, whether through grants, donations, volunteering, or in-kind giving.

Thursday, October 9th, 1 – 1:30 pm ET

REGISTER HERE

October 8, 2025 /3BL/ – Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a global leader in IT services, consulting, and business solutions, invites students in the US and Canada aged 6-17 to enter the TCS goIT Monthly Challenge for October. This month, students are asked to contribute ideas for innovations capable of advancing human health and opportunity by addressing UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to human and environmental health and wellbeing. 

Health and wellbeing enable individuals to perform at their best and are essential for achieving personal and professional success. Since the environment can have such a strong impact on wellness, focusing on clean air, water and green spaces can improve health and happiness as much as reducing stress or improving physical fitness.

With the goIT Monthly Challenge for October, TCS asks students to consider SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing, and other SDGs that could advance human or environmental health.

Challenge Prompt: Create a tech-based solution that can help improve health and quality of life for individuals and communities by:

• Fostering physical and mental health
• Caring for the environment
• Promoting inclusive environments where everyone feels supported and valued

To participate, students follow tips found on the goIT Challenge website and use design thinking skills to create and pitch a digital innovation concept, such as a mobile app or a website, which could help advance these goals in their local communities or across the globe. Students are not required to create a functioning innovation but should demonstrate research and knowledge necessary to move the concept from idea to reality.

Participants can present ideas for tech-based solutions that improve health and wellbeing for people or the planet. They can also propose solutions to solve other related problems or propose new ways to ensure access to healthcare and health information. The possibilities are only limited by their imaginations.

How to enter:

1. Adults: Visit https://on.tcs.com/goIT-ENG with a student aged 6-17 to learn about the goIT Monthly Challenge, register, and submit entries.
2. Scroll down to get inspired by watching videos related to SDG 16 and considering others, such as SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, SDG 11: ​Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG 13: Climate Action.
3. Download the judging rubric and presentation template for extra guidance
4. Start researching and inventing!

Pitches submitted by October 31, 2025, will be judged by a volunteer panel of TCS employees, customers and partners. Monthly winners have an automatic head start on their entry in the annual goIT Global Innovator of the Year competition and the chance to earn mentoring and recognition that can be included in resumes and college applications.

* Students must register with a parent, teacher, or guardian.

About Tata Consultancy Services
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS) is a digital transformation and technology partner of choice for industry-leading organizations worldwide. Since its inception in 1968, TCS has upheld the highest standards of innovation, engineering excellence and customer service.

Rooted in the heritage of the Tata Group, TCS is focused on creating long term value for its clients, its investors, its employees, and the community at large. With a highly skilled workforce of over 600,000 employees in 55 countries and 180 service delivery centres across the world, the company has been recognized as a top employer in six continents. With the ability to rapidly apply and scale new technologies, the company has built long term partnerships with its clients – helping them emerge as perpetually adaptive enterprises. Many of these relationships have endured into decades and navigated every technology cycle, from mainframes in the 1970s to Artificial Intelligence today.

TCS sponsors 14 of the world’s most prestigious marathons and endurance events, including the TCS New York City Marathon, TCS London Marathon and TCS Sydney Marathon with a focus on promoting health, sustainability, and community empowerment.

TCS generated consolidated revenues of over US $30 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025. For more information, visit www.tcs.com

Follow TCS on LinkedIn| Instagram | YouTube| X

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October 8, 2025 /3BL/ – Medtronic plc, a global healthcare technology leader, has released its fiscal year 2025 (FY25) Impact Report, “Unlocking the future of health,” detailing progress toward its impact goals. A landmark year for the company’s impact journey, Medtronic not only achieved but also exceeded its Scope 1 and 2 emissions intensity target in FY25, reducing emissions by 60% versus a 50% target. This was made possible, in part, through sourcing 50% of energy from renewable and alternative sources.

“For over 75 years, we have been driven by a pioneering spirit; that same spirit continues to shape our future,” said Geoff Martha, Medtronic chairman and CEO. “It’s what pushes us to improve people’s health through cutting-edge innovations. It’s also what motivates us to minimize our environmental footprint and support the employees and partners that make our business possible.”

The Medtronic FY25 Impact Report details the following notable achievements:

Patients: Driving innovation to improve health outcomes and expand access

Reinforcing its commitment to put patients first and elevate standards of care, Medtronic seeks to transform patient experiences by making them more personalized, connected, and accessible. In FY25, the company:

• Expanded access and affordability by serving more than 79 million patients, raising the goal to serve 82 million patients in FY26.
• Exceeded product quality goal by implementing key design changes in selected products and maintaining a focus on product safety, which resulted in a 34% reduction in aggregate product complaints in FY25, surpassing our goal of 10%.
• Advanced product innovation, surpassing its commitment to flow 20% of revenue from new products and therapies¹ to R&D innovation.
• Alleviated the healthcare practitioner shortfall, training over 1.15 million healthcare professionals over the past three years to support better patient outcomes, toward a goal of 1.2 million by FY26.
• Improved outcomes through more inclusive solutions. To address disparities in pulse oximetry readings, which can overestimate oxygen levels in patients with darker skin, Medtronic opened a clinical physiology lab in Denver, completed four premarket trials, and educated 17,000 clinicians on how skin pigmentation affects readings.

People: Breaking down barriers for our employees and communities

Medtronic strives to support employee health, well-being, and growth while improving the lives of people in local communities. In FY25, the company:

• Inspired future generations with the launch of Medtronic Spark, a global ten-year initiative to get one million students from low-income households into health tech careers, helping address emerging industry talent shortages.
• Built a more inclusive supplier network, supporting 17,476 jobs in FY25 through small and diverse supplier spend and delivering $2.2 billion in total economic impact.²
• Supported lasting community impact with a $103 million FY25 contribution from Medtronic and Medtronic Foundation through cash contributions and grants, product donations, and employee volunteering and giving.

Planet: Reducing the impact of products and operations

Medtronic is committed to reducing emissions, responsibly using resources, and innovating products for a smaller environmental footprint. In FY25, the company:

• Continued pursuing science-based climate goals with an ongoing aim to achieve net carbon neutrality in its own operations by FY30 and net zero by 2045. In FY25, the company’s near-term goals were validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), confirming their strategic alignment with climate science.
• Achieved target of 20% energy intensity reduction and set a new FY30 target of a 35% reduction versus a FY20 baseline.
• Exceeded targets to reduce waste intensity and water use, reaching 21% and 19% reductions respectively, and is now raising its ambitions with FY30 targets of a 40% decrease for waste intensity and a 30% decrease for water use (versus FY20).
• Surpassed packaging weight reduction goal, achieving a 48% reduction in packaging weight for four high-volume product families, significantly beyond its 25% aim, and is now targeting a 25% weight reduction for another 20 high-volume products by FY30.
• Delivered a trusted quality, circular product — the Nellcor™ pulse oximetry solution — which offers a recycling and reprocessing program. In FY25, Medtronic provided this program to over 1,000 U.S. hospitals, diverting over 474,000 pounds from landfill and producing approximately four million reprocessed sensors.

Standards and framework alignment

The Medtronic 2025 Impact Report reflects the company’s key impact topics in alignment with leading reporting frameworks and standards, including the Global Sustainability Standards Board’s (GSSB) Global Reporting Initiative (GRI); the International Sustainability Standards Board’s (ISSB) Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Standards; the Financial Stability Board’s (FSB) Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD); and the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Stakeholder Capitalism Metrics.

About Medtronic
Bold thinking. Bolder actions. We are Medtronic. Medtronic plc, headquartered in Galway, Ireland, is the leading global healthcare technology company that boldly attacks the most challenging health problems facing humanity by searching out and finding solutions. Our Mission — to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life — unites a global team of 95,000+ passionate people across more than 150 countries. Our technologies and therapies treat 70 health conditions and include cardiac devices, surgical robotics, insulin pumps, surgical tools, patient monitoring systems, and more. Powered by our diverse knowledge, insatiable curiosity, and desire to help all those who need it, we deliver innovative technologies that transform the lives of two people every second, every hour, every day. Expect more from us as we empower insight-driven care, experiences that put people first, and better outcomes for our world. In everything we do, we are engineering the extraordinary. For more information on Medtronic, visit www.Medtronic.com and follow on LinkedIn.

Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic’s periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

Contacts:

Jane Di Leo
Public Relations
jane.e.dileo@medtronic.com

Ryan Weispfenning
Investor Relations
+1-763-505-4626

CALGARY, Alberta, October 8, 2025 /3BL/ – Benevity, Inc., the leading, global provider of social impact software, today announced the launch of Season 4 of Speaking of Purpose by Benevity® – a podcast featuring executive leaders in candid conversations  on the current forces shaping business, leadership, and social good.

Hosted by Sona Khosla, Chief Impact Officer at Benevity and Head of Benevity Impact Labs, the podcast features eight bold and authentic episodes with inspiring changemakers who get to the heart of what it means – and – takes to harness the power of purpose, sustainability and social impact at a global scale.

“Lately, we aren’t hearing enough courageous voices out in the world,” said Khosla. “This season of Speaking of Purpose elevates bold changemakers from global corporations and small nonprofits who are undeterred in leading with purpose in a moment where it feels especially difficult to do so. These leaders remind us that we are no longer living in a world of binaries – that in fact, leading with purpose is completely in harmony with generating profits.”

Season 4 launches today with Khosla’s conversation with Rose Marcario, former CEO of Patagonia, who redefined corporate success through bold, values-driven decisions. From urging customers not to buy Patagonia products on Black Friday, to embedding purpose into every aspect of the business, Marcario demonstrates how moral conviction and business strategy can coexist—and succeed. Under her leadership, Patagonia’s revenue quadrupled.

The rest of the season features compelling conversations with:

Charu Adesnik, Deputy Director and COO of the Cisco Foundation
Soraya Alexander, incoming CEO of Benevity and former COO of GoFundMe 
Michael Thatcher, CEO of Charity Navigator, and Victoria Vrana, CEO of GlobalGiving
Shaady Salehi, Executive Director of the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project
Dr. Andrew Jones, Principal Researcher of The Conference Board
Maya Colombani, Chief Sustainability, Human Rights and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer of L’ORÉAL Canada

Now in its fourth season, Speaking of Purpose continues to spotlight the intersection of business and purpose, offering actionable strategies and real-world stories for leaders who want to scale positive impact while strengthening their organizations.

Episodes release bi-weekly and, along with prior podcast seasons, are available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and the Benevity Website.

About Benevity

Benevity, a certified B Corporation, is the global leader in enterprise social impact software. Benevity’s all-in-one platform empowers the world’s most purpose-driven companies to seamlessly integrate corporate social responsibility into their core business strategy – driving measurable, scalable, and lasting impact. Benevity has supported more than $34.5 billion to more than 500,000 nonprofit organizations and enabled more than 8.5 million changemakers worldwide since 2008, empowering organizations to build trust, engage employees, boost retention, and drive innovation. Its unified platform supports giving, volunteering, granting, and employee mobilization – backed by intelligent insights and a secure, global infrastructure. For more information, visit benevity.com.

Press Contact
Indrani Ray-Ghosal
press@benevity.com