Tag: 3BL

We are committed to developing solutions to help individuals access resources, care and financial support throughout their lives, including those in rural and underbanked communities. Doing so promotes greater financial stability and wellness, while helping MetLife attract new customers. We hold insurance information outreach programs in several markets, often working with local bank branches to provide information to customers. We focus on the accessibility and affordability of our products and services to provide options that help address the insurance coverage gap.

Products That Drive Financial Wellness

Promoting financial wellness can improve people’s capacity to plan for the future, encouraging more individuals to access coverage. Learn more about financial wellness products. 

We offer virtual educational workshops that cover a range of financial topics. For employees who prefer more assistance, they can meet one-on-one with a dedicated financial professional who can help address their specific financial situation. 

Based on MetLife’s 2025 U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study (EBTS), the majority of U.S employees are concerned about outliving their retirement savings, a finding that has encouraged MetLife to find ways to help retirees have a more confident future. 

We have collaborated with retirement technology solutions company Micruity on the development of MetLife’s Universal Digital Retirement Platform in the U.S., an education, planning and annuity-purchasing tool that seamlessly and securely connects to existing employment benefits, third-party administrator and recordkeeping systems. The collaboration aims to empower defined contribution plan participants to make informed choices as they approach retirement. In addition, MetLife has started offering our MetLife Guaranteed Income Program®, a fixed immediate income annuity, through the retirement income solution provided by Fidelity Investments®. The collaboration gives employers that use Fidelity to administer their defined contribution plan, like a 401(k), access to our product. 

In LatAm, we increased the number of markets that offer MetLife Xcelerator, a platform that integrates insurance solutions into partners’ products and services to democratize access to financial protection. Through MetLife Xcelerator, we partner with digital banks, e-wallets, e-commerce platforms, retailers and traditional financial institutions to create a fully digital and customized insurance experience.

How Our Products Support a Wide Array of Needs

MetLife’s solutions, along with accessible education and resources, help individuals from all backgrounds build a more confident future. In our U.S. Group Benefits business, we support our customers through our products and plans in three ways: 

1. Product and pricing—We have one of the broadest portfolios of products that serve a range of populations and unique needs; 

2. Access—We are committed to providing product access through inclusive benefit solutions and services, including our broad provider networks, benefit price points and wide range of service providers; and 

3. Customer experience—We provide care and support to drive a welcoming experience (language support, digital servicing and accessibility, and customized communications). 

Globally, we develop and continuously improve our products and services to meet the unique needs of our customers and changing demographics. We have products that provide financial protection to a broad range of people, including veterans, seniors, young adults, caregivers and people from a wide variety of backgrounds, cultures, professional experiences and abilities. Continuing to evolve our offerings helps us capitalize on market opportunities and maintain long-term growth.

Read more about how MetLife is expanding access to financial services through its sustainability efforts in our  2024 Sustainability Report.

The increased frequency and severity of storms including hurricanes, microbursts, and torrential rains all hold the possibility of severe damage to utility assets and loss of power. Each storm event is unique, but they all require safe and rapid restoration of power while meeting the utility’s goal of restoring stability across impacted communities. 

We spoke with Sean Mauldin, Leidos Director of Distribution Engineering, to understand what utilities can learn from severe storm events, how to make systems more resilient, and how to plan for future events. Answers have been edited for clarity and length.

Each storm is different and presents distinct challenges for utilities. What are some key lessons from past severe weather events that utilities can apply to prepare for future storms?

When preparing for a severe weather event, utilities can benefit from reviewing past storms. What occurred during previous similar weather events? Were the impacts in line with expectations based on past infrastructure improvements? Does the possibility exist for a similar impact during future severe weather? Did recent smart grid enhancements increase identification and restoration efforts and reduce the outage footprint? 

By evaluating both failed components as well as the successful performance of hardened assets, utilities can effectively use the knowledge gained from previous events to potentially reduce impacts to the power grid for future events.

Budgets are often top of mind for utilities. When considering the rise in storm frequency and severity, what information supports a utility’s approach to capital spend planning? 

System resiliency planning has shifted in recent years. Historically, most severe weather events were treated as singular occurrences, and repair costs were recouped through rates. However, the steady increase in both the number of storm events and their severity has caused utilities to treat these events as inevitable costs. The cost of capital repair and replacement following a storm event can be up to ten times higher than replacements conducted as part of a targeted program. Several factors contribute to the increased costs of post-storm repairs, including the rapid deployment of crews and equipment to assess, repair, and restore power; the repair and replacement of damaged grid components; and the procurement and deployment of emergency power generation equipment. Furthermore, utilities face revenue losses from unbilled kilowatt-hours during outages, further compounding the overall costs associated with asset damage.

By reducing the impact of storm damage to a power system’s assets, utilities can reduce the repair costs that they’ve built into their budgets. As utilities develop capital spend plans that improve day-to-day reliability and incorporate hardening strategies, they can use historical storm damage data to inform their approach to damage prevention. A data-driven assessment of the most vulnerable parts of the power system will allow a utility to maximize their capital spending planning.

The frequency of severe weather events is increasing. How can utilities use root cause analysis of failed components to help guide their standards development?              

With the increase of severe weather and the heightened risk of damage to the grid, it is vital that utilities obtain accurate data on what failed, and whether future loss can be prevented through design changes. Considering the frequency of storm damage recovery, utilities must maximize the value of every storm recovery dollar. By performing root cause analysis of storm-related component failures, utilities can gain critical insight into design improvements and how to mitigate damage in the future. Critical to this effort are timely and accurate outage investigations and data collection in the field — conducted separately from recovery efforts and performed by non-restoration crews. 

Effective tools for conducting post-storm analysis are increasingly available. What is your guidance for utilities on using these data to drive innovation?     

Operating in our current data-driven environment, utilities run the same risk as all businesses — data entropy. It’s easy to utilize new tools to collect vast amounts of information about an event, but parsing significance from these data is a different matter. Data collection is just the first step, but analyzing and interpreting those findings into actionable solutions is key to reducing future risks. Leidos’ deep capabilities in data science can be applied to develop innovative approaches to preparing for future storm events. We may not be able to stop the storm, but we can help utilities reduce the financial and public impact. 

 

Originally published by The Clinton Health Access Initiative

ABUJA, NIGERIA, October 29, 2025 /3BL/ Recently, the Innovative Cancer Medicines (ICM) initiative announced the enrollment of the first Nigerian patient in a pioneering demonstration project to provide an immunotherapy drug used to treat cancer. The goal of the initiative is to develop an approach that explores sustainable and effective administration of innovative immuno-oncology therapies in low- and middle-income countries.

The ICM initiative is a collaboration between the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI), along with Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) and Roche, working with the National Hospital in Abuja, an oncology center in Nigeria recognized for its excellence.

Low- and middle-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, have historically faced challenges in accessing cancer treatments that have been available in high-income countries for decades. Yet Africa is one of the most affected regions globally, with the number of cancer deaths on the continent expected to double by 2040.¹ Among the various cancers affecting the region, colorectal cancer represents a particular concern and is the focus of this initiative. In Nigeria alone, colorectal cancer accounts for approximately 6.4% of all cancers and is responsible for nearly 5,900 deaths a year.²

“This demonstration project will show to the world that we have institutions in Nigeria that are ready, with the right investments, to introduce and sustainably provide innovative diagnostics and medications,” said Dr. Abubakar Bello, Chief Consultant, Clinical and Radiation Oncologist, National Hospital Abuja and the project’s Principal Investigator.

“This milestone shows that Nigerian healthcare institutions can deliver world-class cancer care,” said Dr. Adekunle Iziaq Salako, Hon. Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Nigeria. “This demonstration project will provide critical evidence on how advanced immunotherapy can be integrated into our health system.”

“This project demonstrates that with the right partnerships and health systems investments, cutting-edge cancer treatments can be delivered with the same operational excellence found anywhere in the world,” said Dr. Olufunke Fasawe, CHAI Vice President of Integration, Country Director, Nigeria.

Over the next two years, the ICM partnership will support the National Hospital Abuja’s demonstration project in Nigeria which features nivolumab, an immunotherapy agent that is already approved by drug regulators in other countries to address cancers of public health significance. The demonstration project will report on its progress which includes health systems-strengthening investments required to scale up the program.

“Immunotherapy is playing a revolutionary role in the fight against cancer,” said Sean Parker, Founder and Chairman of PICI. “It’s an ethical imperative that access to these lifesaving treatments not be limited to a privileged few. Our goal with ICM is to demonstrate the feasibility of using best-in-class treatments in clinics in low-resource areas and to inspire a bold, multitiered, access-oriented global approach in the fight against cancer. Two decades ago, partners around the world came together to ensure treatment for HIV for millions of people across sub-Saharan Africa. We hope this project inspires a similarly bold, multitiered global approach in the fight against cancer.”

“At Bristol Myers Squibb, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to benefit from medicines and innovations, regardless of geography or circumstance,” said Jasmine Greenamyer, Vice President of Global Purpose and Patient Experience at Bristol Myers Squibb. “Our involvement in the ICM initiative reflects our commitment to co-develop operational excellence and effective administration of innovative immuno-oncology therapies in countries like Nigeria. We are proud to collaborate and accelerate progress for patients and communities.”

“Where you live should not dictate your health, yet we know millions continue to face obstacles to health care,” said Roberto Taboada, Network Lead Anglophone West Africa, Roche Diagnostics, General Manager, Roche Nigeria. “At Roche, we believe that collaboration and cross-sector partnerships are what’s needed to increase access to innovation. The ICM partnership is a great example of the public and private sectors each playing a crucial role to spur and scale innovation. We are excited to see the meaningful difference that this brings to patients in Nigeria, and beyond.”

About the organizations:

The Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI): www.clintonhealthaccess.org

The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI): www.parkerici.org

Roche: www.roche.com

Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS): www.bms.com

¹The Lancet Oncology Commission
²World Health Organization. International Agency for Research on Cancer. https://gco.iarc.fr/today/data/factsheets/populations/566-nigeria-fact-sheets.pdfAccessed 10 September 2025.

SWORDS, Ireland, October 28, 2025 /3BL/ – Trane Technologies (NYSE:TT), a global climate innovator, today announced the launch of the industry’s first comprehensive thermal management system reference design, specifically engineered for the NVIDIA Omniverse DSX Blueprint for gigawatt-scale AI data centers. This pioneering solution sets new standards for performance, scalability, and rapid deployment, supporting the most demanding AI factories, including gigawatt-scale factories powered by the latest NVIDIA AI infrastructure.

“Trane Technologies’ new reference design exemplifies our commitment to delivering state-of-the-art solutions for the most advanced AI data center architectures,” said Mauro Atalla, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology and Sustainability Officer, Trane Technologies. “Our close collaboration with NVIDIA supports thermal management systems that significantly enhance performance and energy efficiency while ensuring rapid deployment and scalability. This innovation underscores our dedication to supporting the next generation of AI infrastructure with unparalleled reliability, resilience and industrial capacity.”

The new Trane Technologies thermal management system reference design delivers mission-critical temperature control, enabling data center operators to simultaneously manage power, water, and land resources, allowing for continuously optimized performance, energy efficiency and sustainability. Additionally, it supports the advanced power and cooling needs of NVIDIA GB300 NVL72infrastructure, ensuring optimal performance for Blackwell and next-generation NVIDIA Vera Rubin systems. As rack density increases per NVIDIA’s roadmap, Trane Technologies’ gigawatt-scale design can flexibly scale to efficiently meet these demanding applications, optimizing compute power.

“Power and thermal efficiency are now foundational to next-generation AI infrastructure that meets the demands of reasoning and other inference workloads,” said Dion Harris, senior director, HPC, Cloud and Infrastructure Solutions, NVIDIA. “NVIDIA is working with Trane Technologies to develop efficient cooling solutions and reference designs that enable higher density, greater uptime, and faster deployment of gigawatt-scale AI infrastructure.”

The Trane Technologies reference design integrates the NVIDIA Omniverse DSX Blueprint for AI Factory Digital Twins. This allows project developers to aggregate 3D data from disparate sources with OpenUSD, helping engineers to address the complex challenges of designing, simulating and deploying gigawatt scale AI Factories with unprecedented speed and flexibility. This builds on Trane Technologies’ leveraging NVIDIA Omniverse Blueprint for Real-Time Digital Twins, enhancing sustainability and optimizing operations through advanced simulation and AI.

In September, Trane Technologies announced the extension of Trane’s chiller plant control facility programming application specific to the unique operating needs and conditions of modern data centers. Trane continues to harness deep systems knowledge and expertise to continuously strengthen its comprehensive thermal management systems portfolio for data centers through innovations like scalable liquid cooling platforms, an efficient fan coil wall platform, larger capacity and higher operating ambient temperature air-cooled chillers, and a modern Computer Room Air Handler (CRAH) solution, engineered for AI workloads, sustainability, and future growth. For more information about Trane’s services for data centers, visit www.trane.com/datacenter.

# # #

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 product and service innovations and the anticipated benefits of these innovations. 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.

Case IH, a brand of world-class equipment, technology and services company CNH, has developed the world’s first ethanol-fueled sugarcane harvester, which it is currently testing. Farming doesn’t get much more sustainable than a harvester that runs on the very crop it reaps.

Ethanol fuel made from fermented and distilled sugarcane juice is a major boon for agribusiness. By taking advantage of an abundant and renewable resource, ethanol offers a viable alternative to fossil fuels. This is not only true in Brazil — the world’s second-largest producer of ethanol — because numerous biofuel producers around the world, including the United States, India and others, stand to gain.

Ethanol produces at least 90% less nitrogen oxide (NOx) than diesel and greatly reduces the dependency on direct fossil fuel use for farmers. It is also much cheaper than diesel due to lower production and transportation costs.

Many Case IH customers in Brazil grow sugarcane, making it widely available even in remote rural areas. New equipment can be integrated into ongoing farm operations without the need to invest in adapting infrastructure. By growing sugarcane and using machinery run on ethanol, farmers can become more self-sufficient and save costs, creating a virtuous cycle inside their operations.

The Austoft 9990

The Austoft 9990 boasts a host of technological innovations and went through over 300 hours of field-testing. Intelligent Feed Rate Control, which automatically adjusts the harvesting speed according to the density of the sugarcane, allows gains of up to 10% in productivity. It is also equipped with the FieldOps™ telemetry system, which allows the operator and management team to monitor machine performance in real time, increasing operational efficiency. To date, nearly ten thousand of these machines have been produced at CNH’s plant in Piracicaba in the southeast of Brazil.

Developing the Austoft 9990 into an ethanol-fueled harvester required more than simply swapping one engine for another. It involved countless hours of engineering, adaptation and testing, and installing new software, fuel injectors and additional fuel and exhaust sensors. Larger radiators were added to cool the engine, which was running hotter.

Find out more about how ethanol is being used to power a Case IH sugarcane harvester here.

NEW YORK, October 28, 2025 /3BL/ – Tapestry is proud to celebrate the launch of The Fashion ReModel, a collaborative project led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation that brings together brands across the fashion industry to demonstrate that circular business models can drive bottom line success.

As a Network Partner of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Tapestry is exploring how to bring more circular products to the market. The Coach Soho Bag, launched in 2024, was developed in collaboration with Bank & Vogue (BVH) using repurposed post-consumer denim. Based on BVH’s calculations, the use of post-consumer denim resulted in up to 80% lower GHG emissions and up to 95% less water usage as compared to conventional first-use denim.

“It definitely took time to break the mold of the linear system,” said Megan Dawson-Elli, Sr. Manager of Product Sustainability & Circularity at Tapestry. “This is the first time we’ve been able to do it with an external partner, and that has enabled even a larger scale.”

The Fashion ReModel aims to demonstrate why circular business models have moved past the experimental stage; and how it’s woven into the fabric of the world’s most forward-thinking brands. Tapestry’s partnership with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation reflects a shared commitment to building a resilient and sustainable future for fashion.

Learn more here: https://links.emf.org/4o9CKhW

Read about Tapestry’s commitment to circularity and sustainability in the FY2024 Corporate Responsibility Report: https://assets.tapestry.com/tapestrycorp/assets/docs/2024/TAPESTRY-FY2024-CR-REPORT.pdf

NEW YORK, October 28, 2025 /3BL/ – Tapestry is proud to celebrate the launch of The Fashion ReModel, a collaborative project led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation that brings together brands across the fashion industry to demonstrate that circular business models can drive bottom line success.

As a Network Partner of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Tapestry is exploring how to bring more circular products to the market. The Coach Soho Bag, launched in 2024, was developed in collaboration with Bank & Vogue (BVH) using repurposed post-consumer denim. Based on BVH’s calculations, the use of post-consumer denim resulted in up to 80% lower GHG emissions and up to 95% less water usage as compared to conventional first-use denim.

“It definitely took time to break the mold of the linear system,” said Megan Dawson-Elli, Sr. Manager of Product Sustainability & Circularity at Tapestry. “This is the first time we’ve been able to do it with an external partner, and that has enabled even a larger scale.”

The Fashion ReModel aims to demonstrate why circular business models have moved past the experimental stage; and how it’s woven into the fabric of the world’s most forward-thinking brands. Tapestry’s partnership with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation reflects a shared commitment to building a resilient and sustainable future for fashion.

Learn more here: https://links.emf.org/4o9CKhW

Read about Tapestry’s commitment to circularity and sustainability in the FY2024 Corporate Responsibility Report: https://assets.tapestry.com/tapestrycorp/assets/docs/2024/TAPESTRY-FY2024-CR-REPORT.pdf

Craig Martinez never expected to trade in his police badge for a magenta one. But after nearly three decades in law enforcement and the military, the calling that had defined his life — to protect, to serve, to help those in need — found a new uniform at T-Mobile.

Today, Martinez leads public safety strategy for T-Mobile’s emergency response teams, ensuring that first responders across the country have the connectivity and technology they need when every second counts. And earlier this year, Martinez drew on his firsthand understanding of emergency operations to help launch T-Mobile’s T-Priority — a cutting-edge 5G solution built specifically for first responders. For him, the work is still about answering the call, but on a scale he never imagined.

“This opportunity meant I still get to help first responders and communities not only where I live but across the country,” Martinez said.

That spirit of service is also at the heart of T-Mobile’s annual holiday time Giving Season, the company’s celebration of how employees show up for their communities and each other. Funded by the T-Mobile Foundation, which aims to make a difference by mobilizing its brand, technology and people for social good, the company encourages all employees to give back throughout the year in big and small ways, volunteering time or donating to charities they are passionate about. In 2025, the spotlight shines on first responders: the firefighters, EMTs and officers who run toward danger so the rest of us can stay safe.

Starting on National First Responders Day, Oct. 28, the T-Mobile Foundation will provide employees a $25 donation credit to put toward an organization of their choice during its Giving Season, which runs through Nov. 21. Additionally, the T-Mobile Foundation will provide a 2:1 match on employee donations to selected first responder causes that include Tunnel to Towers, American Red Cross, First Responder Children’s Foundation and American Heart Association.

The company is also empowering its customers to take part in charitable efforts on a national scale through T-Mobile Tuesdays via the T-Life app. On National First Responders Day, customers are encouraged to click to have T-Mobile donate up to $250,000 to Tunnel to Towers, supporting the families of fallen first responders. On Giving Tuesday, Dec. 2, people can click to donate to First Responders Children’s Foundation, with T-Mobile matching and donating up to $200,000 in total.

Since 2020, T-Mobile has given $43 million and volunteered more than 134,000 hours to support over 20,000 nonprofits across the U.S. during Giving Season.

For Martinez, it’s personal.

“I always said if I decided to retire after 27 years of being in law enforcement and the military, I need to do something that I love because I couldn’t see myself doing anything else,” Martinez said.

A marine fresh out of high school who rose to the rank of police chief in Utah, Martinez’s extensive background in roles such as patrol, investigations and public information officer has equipped him with a unique set of skills to lead T-Mobile’s public safety teams.

“At T-Mobile we have almost 50 retired police officers on our public safety teams with almost 1,400 years of combined experience,” he explained. “To me that says something. It’s a huge benefit not only for my first responder brothers and sisters but for the company as a whole, because when I talk to police leaders about why T-Mobile is such a powerhouse, we know we are the best choice. We understand their needs and are always in their corner to make sure they have the tools and connectivity in any type of setting.”

For half a decade, Martinez says he and members of T-Mobile’s emergency response teams across the country have been a constant partner with agencies and its responders — advising them on connectivity needs and community support. From natural disasters like Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, to more recent events this year such as wildfires in California and floods in Texas, he has been involved in every stage of preparing and responding to support first responders and the communities they serve no matter where they are or the circumstance.

“We’re ready today for the event that may happen tomorrow,” he said. “The way I love to look at it is you don’t have to get ready if you stay ready.”

Martinez says his team has more tools than ever at their disposal, like 5G-powered drones and AI and automation-driven technology that monitors performance and makes real-time adjustments to cell towers. He’s also constantly assessing how to best use T-Priority to provide connectivity in places that are experiencing extreme network congestion during emergencies or without traditional cell coverage.

“What I really love about our teams is the fact we are coordinating across all of T-Mobile all the time to support first responders and the community as a whole,” Martinez said.

Through T-Priority, T-Mobile delivers an evolving suite of technologies designed specifically for public safety and emergency response. This program combines a dedicated 5G network slice — providing lower latency, faster speeds and the highest priority access across all 5G bands on its network — with new tools that extend connectivity even further.

And T-Priority also continues to grow through new collaborations with organizations such as Airgain, Cellhub/TriCascade, Global Telecom, Sonim and Siyata Mobile. These organizations are equipping first responders and public safety agencies with an even wider range of connected devices — from rugged smartphones and in-vehicle routers to fleet management and situational awareness tools — all capable of supporting real-time video, data and voice communication in the field.

T-Mobile launched T-Satellite with Starlink as part of the broader T-Priority ecosystem. It’s the first direct-to-cell satellite service in the country that enables life-saving emergency texts where no cell tower could reach. The company most recently announced the technology is also powering data on popular apps like WhatsApp, Google Maps and AllTrails on most smartphones from the last four years. That means essential tools like app-based voice and video chat, mapping, weather and social media sharing are also now part of the T-Satellite experience.

“Ultimately the way I look at connectivity and the solutions and services that we provide is the ability to affect lives,” Martinez said. “In law enforcement and firefighting, time saves lives. The speed and reliability of secure communications can save lives. Things like T-Priority and T-Satellite can save lives. We already have quantified data that shows that these solutions have affected lifesaving efforts. The proof is there.”

It’s another reason why T-Mobile’s Giving Season is focusing on first responders this year — because behind every emergency response are men and women whose quiet heroics keep communities safe, often without recognition.

“I love the support that T-Mobile and our senior leaders are giving to first responders because honestly, we’re doing the right thing,” Martinez said. “I just flew back from New York, attending events with members of Tunnel to Towers. I watched the CEO Frank Siller stand on a stage with hundreds of people in attendance and specifically shout out T-Mobile for what we’re doing to give back to our first responders. It made me emotional.”

The emotion and pride that washed over Martinez that day is not just as a T-Mobile employee, but as someone who spent his life in the same shoes as the first responders being honored. He says Giving Season is just another way for him to keep answering the call. For all of T-Mobile and its employees, it’s a chance to stand with him — and with every first responder who shows up when it matters most.

Learn more here about the many tools and advanced technological solutions Martinez and the T-Mobile Emergency Response teams use to help support first responders and keep communities connected when it’s most important. And don’t forget to visit T-Mobile Tuesdays via the T-Life app on National Responders Day, Oct. 28, and Giving Tuesday, Dec. 2, where you can click to donate to Tunnel to Towers and First Responders Children’s Foundation respectively.

Craig Martinez never expected to trade in his police badge for a magenta one. But after nearly three decades in law enforcement and the military, the calling that had defined his life — to protect, to serve, to help those in need — found a new uniform at T-Mobile.

Today, Martinez leads public safety strategy for T-Mobile’s emergency response teams, ensuring that first responders across the country have the connectivity and technology they need when every second counts. And earlier this year, Martinez drew on his firsthand understanding of emergency operations to help launch T-Mobile’s T-Priority — a cutting-edge 5G solution built specifically for first responders. For him, the work is still about answering the call, but on a scale he never imagined.

“This opportunity meant I still get to help first responders and communities not only where I live but across the country,” Martinez said.

That spirit of service is also at the heart of T-Mobile’s annual holiday time Giving Season, the company’s celebration of how employees show up for their communities and each other. Funded by the T-Mobile Foundation, which aims to make a difference by mobilizing its brand, technology and people for social good, the company encourages all employees to give back throughout the year in big and small ways, volunteering time or donating to charities they are passionate about. In 2025, the spotlight shines on first responders: the firefighters, EMTs and officers who run toward danger so the rest of us can stay safe.

Starting on National First Responders Day, Oct. 28, the T-Mobile Foundation will provide employees a $25 donation credit to put toward an organization of their choice during its Giving Season, which runs through Nov. 21. Additionally, the T-Mobile Foundation will provide a 2:1 match on employee donations to selected first responder causes that include Tunnel to Towers, American Red Cross, First Responder Children’s Foundation and American Heart Association.

The company is also empowering its customers to take part in charitable efforts on a national scale through T-Mobile Tuesdays via the T-Life app. On National First Responders Day, customers are encouraged to click to have T-Mobile donate up to $250,000 to Tunnel to Towers, supporting the families of fallen first responders. On Giving Tuesday, Dec. 2, people can click to donate to First Responders Children’s Foundation, with T-Mobile matching and donating up to $200,000 in total.

Since 2020, T-Mobile has given $43 million and volunteered more than 134,000 hours to support over 20,000 nonprofits across the U.S. during Giving Season.

For Martinez, it’s personal.

“I always said if I decided to retire after 27 years of being in law enforcement and the military, I need to do something that I love because I couldn’t see myself doing anything else,” Martinez said.

A marine fresh out of high school who rose to the rank of police chief in Utah, Martinez’s extensive background in roles such as patrol, investigations and public information officer has equipped him with a unique set of skills to lead T-Mobile’s public safety teams.

“At T-Mobile we have almost 50 retired police officers on our public safety teams with almost 1,400 years of combined experience,” he explained. “To me that says something. It’s a huge benefit not only for my first responder brothers and sisters but for the company as a whole, because when I talk to police leaders about why T-Mobile is such a powerhouse, we know we are the best choice. We understand their needs and are always in their corner to make sure they have the tools and connectivity in any type of setting.”

For half a decade, Martinez says he and members of T-Mobile’s emergency response teams across the country have been a constant partner with agencies and its responders — advising them on connectivity needs and community support. From natural disasters like Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, to more recent events this year such as wildfires in California and floods in Texas, he has been involved in every stage of preparing and responding to support first responders and the communities they serve no matter where they are or the circumstance.

“We’re ready today for the event that may happen tomorrow,” he said. “The way I love to look at it is you don’t have to get ready if you stay ready.”

Martinez says his team has more tools than ever at their disposal, like 5G-powered drones and AI and automation-driven technology that monitors performance and makes real-time adjustments to cell towers. He’s also constantly assessing how to best use T-Priority to provide connectivity in places that are experiencing extreme network congestion during emergencies or without traditional cell coverage.

“What I really love about our teams is the fact we are coordinating across all of T-Mobile all the time to support first responders and the community as a whole,” Martinez said.

Through T-Priority, T-Mobile delivers an evolving suite of technologies designed specifically for public safety and emergency response. This program combines a dedicated 5G network slice — providing lower latency, faster speeds and the highest priority access across all 5G bands on its network — with new tools that extend connectivity even further.

And T-Priority also continues to grow through new collaborations with organizations such as Airgain, Cellhub/TriCascade, Global Telecom, Sonim and Siyata Mobile. These organizations are equipping first responders and public safety agencies with an even wider range of connected devices — from rugged smartphones and in-vehicle routers to fleet management and situational awareness tools — all capable of supporting real-time video, data and voice communication in the field.

T-Mobile launched T-Satellite with Starlink as part of the broader T-Priority ecosystem. It’s the first direct-to-cell satellite service in the country that enables life-saving emergency texts where no cell tower could reach. The company most recently announced the technology is also powering data on popular apps like WhatsApp, Google Maps and AllTrails on most smartphones from the last four years. That means essential tools like app-based voice and video chat, mapping, weather and social media sharing are also now part of the T-Satellite experience.

“Ultimately the way I look at connectivity and the solutions and services that we provide is the ability to affect lives,” Martinez said. “In law enforcement and firefighting, time saves lives. The speed and reliability of secure communications can save lives. Things like T-Priority and T-Satellite can save lives. We already have quantified data that shows that these solutions have affected lifesaving efforts. The proof is there.”

It’s another reason why T-Mobile’s Giving Season is focusing on first responders this year — because behind every emergency response are men and women whose quiet heroics keep communities safe, often without recognition.

“I love the support that T-Mobile and our senior leaders are giving to first responders because honestly, we’re doing the right thing,” Martinez said. “I just flew back from New York, attending events with members of Tunnel to Towers. I watched the CEO Frank Siller stand on a stage with hundreds of people in attendance and specifically shout out T-Mobile for what we’re doing to give back to our first responders. It made me emotional.”

The emotion and pride that washed over Martinez that day is not just as a T-Mobile employee, but as someone who spent his life in the same shoes as the first responders being honored. He says Giving Season is just another way for him to keep answering the call. For all of T-Mobile and its employees, it’s a chance to stand with him — and with every first responder who shows up when it matters most.

Learn more here about the many tools and advanced technological solutions Martinez and the T-Mobile Emergency Response teams use to help support first responders and keep communities connected when it’s most important. And don’t forget to visit T-Mobile Tuesdays via the T-Life app on National Responders Day, Oct. 28, and Giving Tuesday, Dec. 2, where you can click to donate to Tunnel to Towers and First Responders Children’s Foundation respectively.

Direct Relief announced today that it has delivered more than $2 billion in medical and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, underscoring the nonprofit’s role as one of the largest private philanthropic supporters of the country’s health system.

In addition to the $2 billion in aid, Direct Relief has committed more than $60 million in financial support to local healthcare providers and organizations providing care in Ukraine and other countries, including Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, that have opened their doors to Ukrainian refugees.

From the first airlifts of trauma kits in February 2022 to the installation of battery-backup systems in hospitals during winter blackouts, Direct Relief has worked in continuous collaboration with Ukraine’s Ministry of Health, regional authorities, and local healthcare providers.

Forty-four tons of medical aid bound for Ukraine departed from Direct Relief’s warehouse on June 17, 2022. (Lara Cooper/Direct Relief)

“Surpassing the $2 billion mark is not just a measure of what has been delivered. It’s a reflection of the trust placed in Direct Relief by donors and the resolve of Ukraine’s health providers, who have held their system together under extraordinary strain,” said Amy Weaver, CEO of Direct Relief. “This milestone underscores what can be achieved when private philanthropy and mission-driven partners act decisively together. As the war continues, our focus remains on ensuring consistent access to care, from medicines and rehabilitation to resilient power, mental health support, and essential medical services for displaced and vulnerable populations.”

In partnership with the Ministry of Health, Direct Relief has aligned its support with Ukraine’s national recovery priorities — supporting health facilities serving internally displaced people, rehabilitating critical infrastructure, expanding access to advanced therapies for chronic and rare diseases, and funding organizations providing psychosocial and trauma recovery programs. This sustained engagement reflects a transition from crisis response to system reinforcement, ensuring that aid continues to deliver impact well beyond the immediate emergency.

“Direct Relief has been consistently supporting Ukraine’s healthcare system throughout the war. This assistance is coordinated with the Ministry of Health, ensuring that resources are directed where they are needed most. We highly value this partnership, which saves Ukrainian lives and strengthens the resilience of healthcare services. In the most challenging moments — when hospitals operate under shelling, when the power goes out but doctors continue treating patients — the support of Direct Relief is especially tangible,” said Viktor Liashko, Ukraine’s Minister of Health.

“It stands as an example of effective international solidarity, embodied in concrete results: modern equipment, medicines, backup power systems, and the development of rehabilitation and mental health services. We are deeply grateful to the Direct Relief team and to everyone helping to reinforce Ukraine’s healthcare system, ensuring it remains effective, strong, and resilient.”

Essential Medicines and Supplies

Delivery of Direct Relief-donated medicines in March, 2023, to Kharkiv, Ukraine (Kharkiv Renovation Fund)

At the center of Direct Relief’s work is the provision of critical medicines and supplies. To date, the organization has delivered more than $2,046,000,000 in wholesale value, including more than 449 million defined daily doses of essential medicines used for trauma care, chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancer, and maternal and child health. These shipments are directed by real-time requests from the Ministry of Health and local providers to ensure every delivery meets urgent and specific clinical needs.

Rehabilitation & Prosthetics: Restoring Lives, Rebuilding Futures

Team sports and regular exercise sessions at the gymnasium are part of life at Unbroken National Rehabilitation Center in Lviv. (Unbroken)

As Ukraine’s health system continues to absorb the human cost of war, thousands of civilians and service members have lost limbs and now face long paths to recovery. Direct Relief’s support for rehabilitation and prosthetics has focused on strengthening national institutions and independent organizations working to restore mobility and rebuild lives.

Among them is the Unbroken National Rehabilitation Center in Lviv, now a national hub for advanced rehabilitative care. With support from Direct Relief and others, Unbroken has transformed a seven-story building into a fully equipped center where patients living with limb loss and other injuries relearn daily routines.

Direct Relief also supports the Protez Foundation, a U.S.- and Ukraine-based nonprofit that manufactures and fits custom prosthetics for civilians and soldiers injured in the conflict. The foundation has expanded its workshops and training programs with help from Direct Relief, enabling hundreds of amputees to receive modern prosthetic limbs and specialized therapy, free of charge.

Ukrainians who have lost limbs during the war are given prosthetics and learn rehabilitation exercises at the Protez Foundation. (Olivia Lewis/Direct Relief)

A growing number of those receiving care are also joining the workforce to help others. At U+ System in Kyiv, a Direct Relief–supported organization, veterans who once depended on prosthetics now produce and fit them for new patients — part of an emerging trend of amputees becoming prosthetists. “When a technician is an amputee himself, it’s easier to share this experience and help patients realize how they can recover after such a trauma,” said surgeon Oleksandra Mostepan.

Protez has launched a similar initiative, employing veterans and equipping workstations for people with disabilities. “We already have two veterans working — Danyl and Mykola — and we’re preparing more,” said Yury Aroshidze, the foundation’s CEO.

Together, these programs are redefining rehabilitation in Ukraine, shifting it from a story only defined by loss to one that includes leadership, skill-building, and community resilience.

Expanding Access to Health Services Across Ukraine

Ukrainian NGO Charity Fund Modern Village and Town, with the support of Direct Relief, provided medical consultations to kids in need of care in Kirovohrad, Ukraine. Specialists examined and consulted with 250 children from newborn to 18 years old, free of charge. (Photo courtesy of Charity Fund Modern Village and Town)

As millions of people have been displaced internally, and many communities continue to experience intense conditions, Direct Relief supports medical outreach programs that expand access to both primary and specialized healthcare for residents and internally displaced persons throughout Ukraine. These programs strengthen local health capacity by equipping healthcare facilities, mobile teams, and regional networks to deliver consistent, high-quality care to people who have lost access to regular medical services.

Through these efforts, Direct Relief helps health providers respond to the evolving needs of their communities. This includes managing chronic conditions and prenatal care, as well as providing essential consultations, medicines, and diagnostics in areas hosting displaced populations.

By reinforcing healthcare delivery networks nationwide, Direct Relief ensures that people affected by conflict and displacement can access safe, reliable care close to where they live. This work sustains the continuity of Ukraine’s health system through unprecedented challenges.

Power Resilience for Health Facilities: Keeping the Lights on in Crisis

In the town of Derhachi, five miles northwest of Kharkiv, two Tesla Powerwalls donated by the Polish government were installed last November at the local 100-bed hospital. “Now we can be sure that all operations will go ahead and that no patients are lost because of power outages,” said head surgeon Oleg Donchak. (Nick Allen/Direct Relief)

Electric grid attacks have become a recurrent tactic in Ukraine, severing power to homes and health facilities alike. To address power outages at critical facilities, Direct Relief supported the purchase and installation of battery-backup systems under its Power for Health initiative, donating more than 2,000 battery storage units to hospitals and health facilities across the country.

This critical infrastructure powers surgical suites, neonatal incubators, oxygen concentrators, and electronic health records systems during blackouts. At Kharkiv Regional Hospital alone, the battery units help the facility operate autonomously, absorbing grid outages and enabling continuous care.

Ukraine’s Minister of Health, Viktor Liashko, noted that each attack on the energy grid directly threatens patients’ lives, saying, “Every day, our medical facilities are subjected to targeted attacks … Ensuring uninterrupted medical care under any conditions … is our main task in the realities of war.”

In one harrowing case, doctors performed a critical surgery during a blackout by switching to battery power mid-procedure, an operation that would have otherwise been interrupted. Such incidents underscore the life-saving role of backup power in wartime.

By investing in resilient energy systems, Direct Relief helps preserve the backbone of Ukraine’s health infrastructure — allowing doctors to save lives even when the grid goes dark.

Healing the Invisible Wounds of War: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support

A Ukrainian emergency psychologist interacts with children in a flood-affected community. (Melinda Endrefy/Hromada Hub)

Beyond physical devastation, the war has inflicted deep psychological wounds on the people of Ukraine. Daily threats of violence, displacement, and loss have left millions facing anxiety, depression, and trauma. In response, Direct Relief has made mental health and psychosocial support a central element of its ongoing humanitarian work, supporting organizations that are building national psychosocial support networks and expanding the availability of trained counselors and clinical psychologists.

In addition, Direct Relief is supporting an effort to train mental health professionals and civil defense first responders to assist people in the immediate aftermath of attacks, flooding, and other crises. The model is designed to help communities stabilize quickly and recover.

Sustained Commitment

A mother plays with and puts a cover on her son on the way between Medyka and Przemyśl in Poland. (Photo by Oscar Castillo for Direct Relief)

Since February 2022, more than 2,300 medical facilities in Ukraine have been damaged, including 305 fully destroyed, according to the Ministry of Health. The World Bank and European Union estimate that the country’s health sector faces $19.4 billion in recovery needs — a scale of loss that underscores both the urgency and the importance of sustained private humanitarian engagement.

Direct Relief accepts no government funding, relying solely on private donations and in-kind contributions to maintain the speed and flexibility required in crisis response. The organization will continue to support the country’s health system — from medicine deliveries and rehabilitation programs to expanded healthcare access, resilient power, and mental health — to ensure care remains available into the future.