Tag: 3BL

Tapping into different voices, perspectives, and experiences helps businesses solve problems, reveals new opportunities to grow, and encourages contributions that better support people and communities. At Henkel North America, diversity is a path to progress, innovation, and impact. Our employees and partners are united by our purpose: Pioneers at heart for the good of generations. They collaborate to tackle challenges, find solutions and open new perspectives – allowing us to deliver products, services, and innovations that enrich and improve everyday life.

We invite you to “meet” our pioneers in our series, “Pioneers for Good.”

Introducing Bill Downs

For nearly four decades, Bill Downs has been more than an HR Business Partner at Henkel North America—he’s been a steady force for empathy, intention, and community. Based in Richmond, MO, Bill works to ensure that every employee feels valued, supported, and seen.

“I’m proud and honored to be leading a small but mighty HR team. During my time at Henkel, I have been incredibly fortunate to work alongside coworkers at multiple locations and with countless organizations and charities,” says Bill.

Bill extends his lifelong commitment to helping others beyond Henkel, volunteering with organizations such as Relay for Life and March of Dimes, as well as local food drives and education institutes. His dedication to fostering communities both within and outside of Henkel exemplifies his pioneering spirit.

Resilience Through Advocacy

Bill’s advocacy efforts are rooted in resilience and personal crossroads. Bill experienced complications from surgery that led to lasting mobility challenges. Coupled with significant personal loss, these experiences took a toll on his mental health. Through these challenges, he transformed adversity into advocacy, becoming a voice for inclusion and accessibility.

“Through my life I have learned that we’re not alone,” Bill shares. “Whether we have seen or unseen disabilities. Sometimes we need to ask for help; and help is real and it’s there.”

This insight inspires Bill to center his leadership around intention and empathy and has been the driving force behind his work with Henkel’s Awareness of Visible and Invisible Disabilities (AVID) Employee Resource Group (ERG). AVID aims to create a workplace where employees have the opportunity to be seen in a way that celebrates the uniqueness of every individual.

“Every time I meet someone new that has a disability, it opens up new avenues of focus areas [for AVID] and ways we can innovate to be advocates for accessibility,” Bill explains.

Driving Impact Across Henkel

Through many projects and initiatives, AVID has made significant strides in promoting accessibility and inclusion. One notable achievement was recommending the use of NaviLens smart code technology in partnership with all® free clear laundry detergent— a groundbreaking step toward making everyday products more accessible for people with visual impairments.

Bill’s work with AVID makes an impact across Henkel. They organize education webinar events partnering with other ERGs such as Henkel’s Military ERG and organizations such as Disability IN. Bill also supports a monthly newsletter which is a collaborative effort of the HR Operations and D & I teams and distributed to employees at our manufacturing facilities. The newsletter highlights culturally important moments through spotlights of different ERGs while connecting all Henkel employees to relevant resources.

His accomplishments with AVID are not solely inspired by his compassion and high regard for others, but also a reflection of his lived experiences. Having his own challenges with mobility strengthened his passion to advocate for employees with both visible and invisible disabilities, ensuring that no one at Henkel ever feels alone or overlooked.

When it comes to being an ally to those with visible or invisible disabilities, it’s extremely important that people actively educate themselves, advocate for accessibility and inclusion, listen empathetically, offer support without assumption, and with permission, amplify voices for a more inclusive society.

Bill Downs, HR Business Partner at Henkel North America

In 2025, Bill had the honor of accepting the Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion award on behalf of Henkel, alongside his longtime colleague and friend Angie Parker, Senior Manager in Diversity and Inclusion. The recognition is a symbol of progress for inclusion in the workplace. “This award doesn’t mean we have everything figured out. It means we’re doing the right things and pushing forward to change,” Bill says.

Bill’s approach to leadership is grounded in purpose, resilience and empathy. Bill has shown how to face personal challenges and to foster an environment that encourages everyone to feel empowered to push forward and thrive.  As he quotes from Finding Nemo’s Dory, “Just keep swimming.”

EMERYVILLE, Calif., October 22, 2025 /3BL/ – SCS Standards and Assurance Systems is pleased to announce the publication of version 2.0 of the SCS-111 Certification Standard for Rigid Core Resilient Flooring. The Standard and associated certification label (Assure Certified™) were first introduced by SCS Global Services for the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) in January of 2020. SCS-111 builds upon the well-established FloorScore® program by incorporating additional performance criteria. In addition to evaluating indoor air quality, it includes rigorous testing for rigidity, durability and performance, and low heavy metals and ortho-phthalates content.

Version 2.0 of SCS-111 has been revised to add a new ASTM testing method requirement, ASTM F3781 – Standard Test Method for Measurement of the Fracture Resistance of a Modular Resilient Flooring’s Profiled Edge(s) to an Applied Vertical Force. This additional performance criteria, based on an objective test method established through ASTM’s consensus-based process, will provide customers with an added level of assurance and confidence in product performance for the product’s intended use.

“SCS-111 provides customers the highest level of confidence in the safety and performance of Rigid Core products, supporting the growth of this rapidly expanding market,” states Victoria Norman, Executive Director, SCS Standards and Assurance Systems.

“The enhanced testing will improve the clarity and utility of the standard for product manufacturers seeking to certify products as Assure Certified,” states Bill Blackstock, President and CEO of RFCI. “Simply put, this robust certification delivers the confidence consumers demand.”

To download a copy of the standard, please visit the SCS Standards Website: Certification Standard for Rigid Core Vinyl Flooring | SCS Standards

For SCS-111 Certification Services, please visit the SCS Global Services Website:  ASSURE CERTIFIED™ | SCS Global Services

About SCS Standards and Assurance Systems

SCS Standards and Assurance Systems is an organization committed to the development of standards that advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Standards are developed in alignment with best practices and guidelines provided by internationally recognized bodies to ensure a robust, transparent, and collaborative approach. SCS Standards and Assurance Systems is the official standards development body for Scientific Certification Systems, Inc. For more information, visit www.SCSstandards.org.  

About SCS Global Services

SCS Global Services is a global leader in third-party environmental and sustainability verification, certification, auditing, testing, and standards development. Its programs span a cross-section of industries, recognizing achievements in climate mitigation, green building, product manufacturing, food and agriculture, forestry, consumer products, and more. Headquartered in Emeryville, California and celebrating 40 years in business, SCS has representatives and affiliate offices throughout the Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and Africa. Its broad network of auditors are experts in their fields, and the company is a trusted partner to companies, agencies, and advocacy organizations due to its dedication to quality and professionalism. SCS is a chartered Benefit Corporation, reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices. SCS is also a Participant of the United Nations Global Compact and adheres to its principles-based approach to responsible business.

Media Contact

Victoria Norman

Executive Director, SCS Standards and Assurance Systems

Send an email

Poor purchasing practices place risks on both suppliers and workers, leaving global brands vulnerable to human rights violations in their supply chains. To combat this and help drive responsible purchasing practices across the industry, Cascale Better Buying collects anonymous data from suppliers on the purchasing practices of their brands and retailers, and publishes aggregated findings from these surveys twice a year, via two index reports.

Intro to Purchasing Practices, Better Buying

The first report is the Better Buying Partnership Index (BBPI) which Better Buying publishes in February and the second, larger report is the Better Buying Purchasing Practices Index (BBPPI), which we publish in October. For the BBPPI, we focus our reporting efforts on seven key categories that suppliers report are the biggest challenges in providing decent work and wages. These data and insights are fed back to those buyers, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses in their purchasing practices, so they can begin their journey towards improvement.

Ahead of the publication of the BBPPI 2025, here’s a quick breakdown of those seven categories:

1. Purchasing Practice #1: Planning and Forecasting measures the visibility buyers provide suppliers into ordering plans. This category also measures the accuracy of the buyer company’s planned production with suppliers as compared with the orders they actually place.
2. Purchasing Practice #2: Design and Development captures the extent buyers are late or inaccurate in providing necessary technical details about products to be sampled or put into production. This category also looks at how often suppliers receive orders for products they develop.
3. Purchasing Practice #3: Cost and Cost Negotiation captures whether suppliers receive sufficient funds to meet all the buyer’s expectations when production has been completed. This includes costs of all design details and the cost of compensation for workers that meet buyer codes of conduct and legal requirements.
4. Purchasing Practice #4: Sourcing and Order Placement considers two topics – whether supplier compliance to codes of conduct is incentivized, and how fluctuation affects month to month order volumes.
5. Purchasing Practice #5: Payment and Terms measures whether suppliers are paid on time and at the price agreed in the contract.
6. Purchasing Practice #6: Management of the Purchasing Process looks at whether the time suppliers need for production is offered and then maintained during the process of developing products and bringing them to market.
7. Purchasing Practice #7: Win-Win Sustainable Partnership includes the internal alignment of buyer staff on corporate social compliance goals and the buyer’s contribution to reducing industry-wide audit duplication.

Bonus: Soft Goods Versus Hard Goods

In our Better Buying reports, you will see us reference both soft goods and hard goods. Soft goods are consumer products made from flexible materials, primarily textiles and fabrics, that generally have a shorter lifespan than hard goods. Hard goods encompass durable, non-apparel products that have a slower consumption cycle, such as electronics, furniture, and appliances. Think of hard goods as the opposite of soft goods.

Now that you’ve had your Purchasing Practices 101, we remind you to stay connected and informed for our BBPPI 2025 report coming soon.

Don’t Miss an Update from Better Buying

CALGARY, Alberta, October 22, 2025 /3BL/ – Benevity Inc., the global provider of social impact software, today announced the release of a first-of-its-kind research report exploring the state of corporate grantmaking around the world. This latest report from the Benevity Impact Labs, The Grants Confidence Gap: Uncovering the Hidden Barriers to Effective Corporate Grantmaking, is based on responses from 120 global companies.

The report reveals that while 74% of organizations say they are implementing best practices in grantmaking, only 51% feel they are doing so effectively exposing a lack of confidence in their work. This confidence gap can pose challenges for teams under increasing pressure to demonstrate tangible social and business value, while also exposing untapped opportunities to transform well-intentioned granting programs into truly high-impact ones.

“We often talk about impact in terms of dollars and outcomes, but the data shows that confidence is another subtle indicator of an effective grantmaking program,” said Sona Khosla, Chief Impact Officer at Benevity. “We hope that this new research will allow teams to transform their programs into platforms for real, sustained change by identifying areas where they can improve their practices. The fact that so many companies are already embracing best practices proves that the will is there. The opportunity is to support grantmakers in doing it well.”

The study takes a deep dive into the foundational practices of a successful modern granting program, what makes a best-in-class grantmaking program, and how grantmakers feel about their ability to deliver with excellence.

Key Findings

The Grants Confidence Gap report studies four key areas of practices and highlights where there is opportunity:

• Strategic Alignment and Execution: Nearly all organizations participating in the self-assessment reported having key supports in place: leadership buy-in, annual budgets and even dedicated staff. Yet a deeper dive reveals misalignment in the confidence grantmaking teams have in the value executives assign to grantmaking programs, both in terms of buy-in and budgetary support.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Impact: Responses that fall under the heading Stakeholder Engagement and Impact have some of the lowest “do it well” self-assessments. The study reveals that there are a lot of organizations engaging broadly with many stakeholder groups, but most report that they are not generating the kind of success they expect.
• Innovation and Adaptability: Grantmakers are practicing many of the tenets of trust-based philanthropy, an increasingly popular movement in recent years. While fewer express deep confidence in these practices, the scores in this section performed notably better than the average “do it well” score of 51% for all practices in the report.
• Communication: While 62% of organizations communicate impact data to employees, only 41% believe they do it effectively. Most organizations focus communications efforts on ESG reporting and public-facing communications, indicating an opportunity to reinforce brand value, especially with employees.

“The real barrier isn’t effort, it’s making the hard choices,” said Sona Khosla, Chief Impact Officer at Benevity. “Grantmaking teams care deeply, but to grow programs and partnerships over time, there are decisions to be made about where to invest precious time and how best to build trust. When organizations align around what truly matters, the confidence gap will narrow, creating more opportunities for programs,partnerships and impact to grow.”

The Grants Confidence Gap Report is based on data collected through the Benevity Impact Index, a comprehensive, proprietary self-assessment completed by CSR and grantmaking practitioners that benchmarks companies on the depth and breadth of their impact programs and investments across eight key areas considered critical for success.

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 over 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.

About Benevity Impact Labs

Benevity Impact Labs is a social innovation lab that brings new data, research and insights to help companies, nonprofits and individuals accelerate their impact and inclusion efforts. With unparalleled access to the world’s most iconic brands, Benevity Impact Labs combines Benevity’s robust data and insights with third-party research to report on the top trends shaping corporate purpose and to provide measurable proof of the value of social impact.

# # #

Media Contact:
Indrani Ray – indrani.ray@benevity.com

DP World and Supply Chain Dive’s studioID unveil new insights on how artificial intelligence is reshaping logistics for efficiency, resilience, and sustainability — now available in a new podcast episode.

As supply chains around the world adapt to new realities of disruption, decarbonization, and digitalization, one technology is standing out as a catalyst for progress: artificial intelligence (AI).

DP World and Supply Chain Dive have released a new report, Smarter, Safer, Stronger: How AI Can Transform the Global Supply Chain, exploring how AI is transforming the movement of goods worldwide. The report – and a companion podcast episode – spotlight how forward-thinking logistics leaders are leveraging data-driven insights to unlock operational efficiency and build more sustainable trade networks.

Listen now: Listen to the podcast
Read the report: Download the full report

Smarter Supply Chains Through AI

The report finds that three out of four logistics leaders are already adopting AI to improve forecasting, reduce costs, and strengthen their resilience against disruption. From route optimization to predictive maintenance, AI is fast becoming essential for efficiency and competitiveness.

At DP World, these innovations are already taking shape through its proprietary logistics platform, CARGOES Flow, which uses predictive analytics and automation to enhance supply chain visibility and operational precision. This technology not only improves performance – it advances DP World’s broader sustainability commitments under the Our World, Our Future strategy, supporting the company’s path toward net-zero emissions by 2050.

Insights from the Report

The podcast episode unpacks the key findings from the Supply Chain Dive report, offering practical examples of how AI is reshaping trade and logistics today:

• Smarter Operations: Leveraging AI to forecast demand, optimize equipment use, and streamline port operations.
• Sustainability in Action: Using data intelligence to cut fuel consumption, reduce emissions, and minimize waste.
• Resilient Networks: Harnessing predictive analytics to mitigate risk and ensure supply chain continuity.

These insights reveal how digital transformation is helping logistics providers not only adapt to disruption, but turn it into a competitive advantage.

The Road Ahead

As AI continues to evolve, its impact on logistics will only deepen — connecting every part of the supply chain, from ports and terminals to last-mile delivery. Through innovation and collaboration, DP World is helping to shape a future where global trade flows smarter, faster, and greener.

Explore more insights: Download the full report
Listen to the podcast: Watch here

FedEx and Futurpreneur have teamed up to help Canada’s next wave of business founders, delivering free, practical guidance through an insightful webinar series called Expert Exchange sponsored by FedEx. This program aims to support young entrepreneurs, including those from equity-deserving communities, with hands-on tips that help them hit their small-business goals and build a more inclusive entrepreneurial landscape.

What makes Expert Exchange different

This isn’t your typical training program. Expert-led sessions cover real-world topics for early-stage startups—think government contracting opportunities, networking and other essentials that help young entrepreneurs move forward. The lineup intentionally blends everyday startup challenges with emerging technologies and new opportunities shaping today’s small business landscape. Plus, workshops are delivered in English and French, increasing accessibility to more communities.

Early momentum

Expert Exchange was launched in March 2025, and in just six months, the series has hosted almost 20 workshops and attracted approximately 1,000 participants. That response shows strong interest and engagement from a diverse mix of aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs. It also highlights how industry-driven learning can empower Canada’s next generation of business owners with practical knowledge and resources, while strengthening inclusive prosperity.

Why it matters

Entrepreneurship fuels innovation, job creation and economic resilience. By offering free, practical education through Expert Exchange, FedEx and Futurpreneur help lower barriers for aspiring business owners and push toward a more inclusive economy—one where more voices from different communities contribute to Canada’s entrepreneurial future.

What’s next

FedEx and Futurpreneur are growing Expert Exchange, making expert guidance even more accessible and strengthening the supportive network for diverse young founders. They’ll keep tailoring the workshops to the needs of emerging entrepreneurs, helping turn ideas into viable, sustainable businesses that benefit local and national economies.

As the program expands, the organizations look forward to helping more founders on their journey to success and fostering a vibrant, inclusive business community across the country.

Want to learn more?

If you’re an aspiring founder seeking guidance, or just curious about how Canadian entrepreneurship is evolving, Expert Exchange is a great source of knowledge, community and opportunity. It’s a strong example of corporate-community collaboration delivering real, measurable outcomes for Canada’s next generation of entrepreneurs.

Click here to stay connected and learn about upcoming Futurpreneur and Expert Exchange workshops.

Click here to learn about FedEx Cares, our global community engagement program.

Originally published by GoDaddy

TEMPE, Ariz., October 22, 2025 /3BL/ — Media veterans and authors Laura Brown and Kristina O’Neill know what it’s like to turn a career setback into a launchpad. Now, as they hit the road to promote their new book, All The Cool Girls Get Fired, they are teaming up with GoDaddy (NYSE: GDDY) to provide others with the advice, inspiration and tools to navigate their own daunting career transitions.

Drawing from decades of experience in high-stakes leadership at the helm of InStyle and WSJ Magazine, respectively, Brown and O’Neill know the challenges — and opportunities — that come with losing a job. Through deeply personal anecdotes and a wealth of actionable advice, the book guides readers to pivot with pride and purpose.

With chapters featuring women like Oprah Winfrey, Katie Couric and Jamie Lee Curtis, All the Cool Girls Get Fired celebrates how unexpected turns can lead somewhere extraordinary. GoDaddy Airo turns that inspiration into action, offering AI-powered tools to establish a domain, design a website and branding, support online marketing and more in a matter of minutes.

“When Laura was setting up LB Media, and again, when we dreamt up All the Cool Girls Get Fired, we set up our emails on GoDaddy,” say Brown and O’Neill. “For a nascent business, it was invaluable insurance. And now, we’ve been able to build out our website and digital presence with the brand’s AI technology, GoDaddy Airo. It has allowed women from all around the world to get in touch with us, forming the community that is the spine of the book.”

“At GoDaddy, we believe in turning challenge into opportunity — a philosophy we share with Laura and Kristina and the many powerful voices who offer their own stories in All The Cool Girls Get Fired,” says Amy Jennette, GoDaddy Small Business Trends Expert. “With GoDaddy Airo’s easy-to-use tools for establishing a digital presence, you can look like you know what you’re doing even when you don’t.”

As part of the partnership, GoDaddy is offering new U.S. customers a domain for just $4.99 to get started. Visit allthecoolgirls.godaddy to learn more, and find real-time updates from the book tour on Instagram at @allthecoolgirlsgetfired.

All The Cool Girls Get Fired is available for purchase everywhere books are sold. 

About GoDaddy

GoDaddy helps millions of entrepreneurs globally start, grow, and scale their businesses. People come to GoDaddy to name their idea, build a website and logo, sell their products and services and accept payments. GoDaddy Airo^®, the company’s AI-powered experience, makes growing a small business faster and easier by helping them to get their idea online in minutes, drive traffic and boost sales. GoDaddy’s expert guides are available 24/7 to provide assistance. To learn more about the company, visit www.GoDaddy.com.

About Laura Brown

Laura Brown is the founder of LB Media, and the chair of (RED)’s Creative Council. Previously, she was editor-in-chief of InStyle, executive editor of Harper’s Bazaar, and senior editor at W.

About Kristina O’Neill

Kristina O’Neill is head of Sotheby’s Media and editor in chief of Sotheby’s Magazine. Previously, she served as editor in chief of WSJ. Magazine, executive editor at Harper’s Bazaar, and worked at New York magazine and Time Out New York.

Source: GoDaddy Inc.

NORTHAMPTON, Mass., Oct 22, 2025 /3BL/ – Over the past year, 3BL, the leading platform for sustainability and impact communications, has rolled out a series of powerful product upgrades and architectural advancements designed to transform how organizations share, measure, and optimize their ESG and impact stories.

From deep audience insights to AI visibility tracking, these updates reflect 3BL’s continued commitment to innovation, ensuring brands have the tools and data needed for their communications.

Transformative New Capabilities for Communicators 

• Disclosure Score: Aggregates data from major ESG ratings agencies to provide a snapshot of how your company is perceived, helping benchmark performance and guide strategy.
   
• Custom Distribution: Enables precise control over how and where content is shared, optimizing reach and engagement across targeted audiences.
   
• Content Mailer: Automatically alerts your distribution lists when new content goes live, keeping key audiences informed and engaged.
   
• LLM Interactions: Tracks how often your content appears in large language model (LLM) experiences, offering future-ready insights for AI Optimization (AIO).
   
• AVE/Yield Metrics: Quantifies ROI by translating content performance into measurable media value across 3BL’s premium network.
   
• Enriched Audience Demographics: Provides in-depth engagement data by industry, role, department, and geography to strengthen content strategy.

Platform and Architecture Upgrades

• Analytics Platform Re-launch: Upgraded with faster load times, improved visualizations, and flexible export options (PNG, PDF, CSV).
   
• Modernized Data Architecture: Migrated to a unified data warehouse for stronger governance and security.
   
• Proactive Data Quality: Automated testing now detects data anomalies in near real-time, ensuring accuracy and reliability.

Empowering the Next Era of Sustainability Storytelling

“Our investment in evolving 3BL’s products and services reflects our mission to help organizations amplify the voices driving impact, inspire meaningful action, and build trust with their stakeholders through purpose-driven storytelling,” notes Brittany Partridge, Senior Product Manager at 3BL.

Interested in learning more about 3BL’s capabilities? Visit here. 

About 3BL 
3BL is the leading sustainability and social impact communications partner, connecting organizations’ stories of purpose and progress with the audiences who matter most.

3BL partners with over 1,500 companies – from global corporations and mid-sized enterprises to NGOs and nonprofits – to elevate their reputations as players in the world of responsible business. We do this through unrivaled news and content distribution, bespoke storytelling support, and our digital media division, TriplePundit.

Concerned Citizens of Cook County (4C) and Georgia Interfaith Power & Light (GIPL) received a two-year Drawdown Georgia Climate Solutions & Equity Grant in 2025-26 to provide education about the energy landscape in South Georgia, to implement clean energy and energy-efficient alternatives, and to provide resources and technical assistance to individuals and local congregations to help reduce energy burdens.

Members of a Georgia-focued funding collaborative visited with them in late September to see the grant in action at three local congregations, central to the target communities: St. James AME Church, Bethel Baptist Church and Piney Grove Missionary Baptist Church.

Persistent Inequities Prevail in Adel, Georgia

“Money doesn’t flow south of Macon,” was a quote often heard by the funders during their visit to Adel. South Georgia communities are really suffering. FEMA funds have still not reached many who were impacted by Hurricane Helene a year ago, and Adel, in particular, seems to have been left behind. “After Hurricane Helene, people started realizing and verbalizing ‘nobody’s coming.'” said Dr. Treva Gear, founder of 4C. “The Drawdown Georgia grant we received was almost too good to be true.”

Polluting industries – including aluminum anodizing, propane tank refurbishing, bitcoin mining, and biomass pellet processing – have operated or continue to operate within steps of homes and churches in Adel’s disinvested neighborhoods. It’s a modern day “tale of two cities.” One side of Adel suffers from extreme environmental injustices and public health effects, while the rest of the city’s population seems unaware. The potential for growth and jobs have long incentivized more dirty industries for economic gains, so long as the undesirable effects are only felt on the “other side of the railroad tracks.”

Eight months of power bill records were recently “lost” when a cryptocurrency company fled town with over a million dollars in debt. When the City of Adel’s power bills were finally distributed, rates were inconsistent and the brunt of big industry’s energy impact was factored more heavily into the bills of the town’s most poverty-stricken residents. 

4C and GIPL were originally awarded their grant to work through the faith community in disinvested parts of Adel and Cook County to use funds secured from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), to ground their work in three churches that were identified as trusted community based partners. All three churches have the ability to function as community centers for education now, and have potential to become resilience centers in the future.

Planning a Brighter Future Together

The GIPL team worked with leaders in three historically marginalized congregations in energy-burdened communities. Congregation leaders met with the GIPL team multiple times to establish trust and to fully understand the options and benefits. They really had to be convinced that there wasn’t a “catch.” They agreed to free energy audits, and they carefully studied the results with GIPL and their local contractors, identifying the upgrades that would deliver the most energy savings and thermal comfort for each congregation’s unique needs.

Because of GIPL’s existing programs and partnerships, there was no charge to the congregations for their energy audits and scheduled upgrades. GIPL was able to leverage other grants to complement the Drawdown Georgia grant. Based on data in the U.S. Department of Energy’s LEAD Tool, the energy burden (average percentage of income residents spend on energy costs) in the targeted communities of Adel exceeds 18%. GIPL has been able to leverage funding, discounts and rebates to allow them to create work plans that will allow each congregation to complete 70% of the recommended upgrades identified in their energy audits, and the congregations can expect to see automatic savings within 1-2 months of project completion.

Each church is “saving” a minimum investment of $10,000 that they couldn’t have afforded for their energy efficiency projects, since GIPL has managed to cover the costs. Otherwise, their only option would have been diverting money from crucial local missions if they had tried to make upgrades themselves.

Now, with no monetary investment, they are expected to see savings of 10-15% on energy bills once the repairs are complete. For the congregations, that translates directly into local missions; more food they can serve to the hungry, more money they can put into youth programs, and more help they can provide to neighbors who live in the communities surrounding them.

For the pastors and deacons, these upgrades will provide a welcome relief on Sunday mornings and prior to other times of worship and fellowship. Currently, someone has to go to each church at least two hours in advance to turn on the tired and inefficient window air conditioning units in the cooling season or electric space heaters in the heating season; usually just enough to make the sanctuaries and fellowship halls “relatively comfortable and bearable.”

Repairing The Way to a Brighter Future

St. James AME Church, where the funders’ tour started, will receive new thermostats, blown in insulation in the roof cavity and surrounding other main areas for worship and gathering, and electrical wiring upgrades, energy efficient lighting, HVAC mini splits, and occupancy sensors for restrooms. That particular church is 139 years old.

Piney Grove Missionary Baptist Church has completed their projects since the funders visited. They retrofitted the lighting in their sanctuary, and they received blown in insulation in the roof above the sanctuary and other key areas. They also installed modern thermostats.

Bethel Baptist Church will receive modern thermostats, a new electrical panel and updated wiring, occupancy sensors for lights, lighting upgrades and blown in insulation.

GIPL hopes to have all of the upgrades completed by the end of the year, and the congregations are hopeful that they will be able to have their traditional community Thanksgiving and Christmas meals in comfort.

Acheiving Resilience

Looking to the future, GIPL says they consider these to be long-term partnerships and pilots for scaling similar projects in other parts of South Georgia. They are already engaging each congregation in talks to discuss what it would take to make each church a resiliency center, with clean, off-grid power options like solar and battery storage. They seek to provide places where neighbors can go when they experience extreme weather events and power outages like Hurricane Helene dealt to the area just over a year ago.

Until then, Dr. Gear and the members of 4C plan to make plenty more “good trouble” and advocate for their friends and neighbors.

This grant was funded by a cohort of funders that included the Atticus Fund, Ghanta Family Foundation, The Ray C. Anderson Foundation, Reilly Family Fund, Tull Charitable Foundation, and The Wilbur & Hilda Glenn Family Foundation.

Click here to watch “Abandoned: Greed, Neglect and Environmental Injustice in Adel” a documentary created by Georgia Conservation Voters Education Fund.

About Concerned Citizens of Cook County

Concerned Citizens of Cook County (4C) is a non-profit organization that seeks to be a positive force for change in Cook County by promoting equity and advocating for social and environmental justice. In fulfilling this purpose, they provide support and information designed to lift people up and give access to people who feel excluded from their communities. 4C is particularly concerned about the negative health and environmental impacts of an array of industrial facilities in communities of color and poverty in Adel, GA and Cecil, GA.

Originally published on DICK’S Sporting Goods Newsroom

PITTSBURGH, October 22, 2025 /3BL/ — DICK’S Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS) announced recently that it expects to hire approximately 14,000 seasonal teammates for the upcoming 2025 holiday season. The company’s eighth-annual “National Signing Day” will take place on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, marking the official start of this year’s recruiting push for seasonal positions. Over 9,100 teammates will be hired to support DICK’S Sporting Goods, DICK’S House of Sport, and Public Lands locations, while over 500 additional teammates will be hired for Going, Going, Gone! locations nationwide.

Outside of the National Signing Day efforts, Foot Locker, now a DICK’S Sporting Goods company, will add approximately 4,750 team members across Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, WSS and Champs store locations in North America this holiday season. In addition to seasonal hiring, DICK’S has continued expanding its House of Sport footprint, with plans to open 13 House of Sport stores before the holidays.

“The holidays are one of the most exciting times for our stores, and our seasonal teammates bring incredible energy to serving our athletes and customers,” said Julie Lodge-Jarrett, EVP, Chief People, Purpose and Transformation Officer at DICK’S Sporting Goods. “Their passion and enthusiasm make all the difference during the busiest shopping days of the year, and we’re thrilled to welcome thousands of new teammates to help athletes find the perfect gifts this season.”

Seasonal teammates joining DICK’S this holiday season will be part of a company consistently recognized for its workplace culture, including being named on the Fortune Best Workplaces in Retail List and receiving a Great Place to Work certification for five years in a row.

As in previous years, all DICK’S and US Foot Locker stores and distribution centers will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2025, to allow teammates to spend the holiday with loved ones. Athletes will be able to shop online throughout Thanksgiving Day, with stores reopening on Black Friday.

The company is seeking applicants who are passionate about sports and customer service, eager to inspire and support athletes and customers, and enthusiastic about connecting them with the best sports apparel, footwear and equipment. Seasonal teammates receive competitive pay and teammate discounts.

For DICK’S seasonal hiring, interested candidates can apply now by visiting dicks.com/jobs and searching for their nearest location to complete a seasonal job application, then visit their local DICK’S location on National Signing Day, Wednesday, October 22, 2025 to interview and meet the team. Hiring will continue beyond that date until all seasonal positions are filled.

For Foot Locker seasonal hiring, interested candidates can apply online at careers.footlocker.com.

About DICK’S Sporting Goods  

DICK’S Sporting Goods creates confidence and excitement by inspiring, supporting and personally equipping all athletes to achieve their dreams.

Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, DICK’S is a leading omni-channel retailer and an iconic brand in sport and culture. Its banners include DICK’S Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy, Public Lands and Going Going Gone! in addition to the experiential retail concepts DICK’S House of Sport and Golf Galaxy Performance Center. As owner and operator of Foot Locker, including Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, Champs Sports, WSS, and atmos, DICK’S serves the global sneaker community across 20 countries in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, plus a licensed store presence in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. DICK’S also owns and operates GameChanger, a youth sports mobile platform for live streaming, scheduling, communications and scorekeeping.

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

Media Contacts
DICK’S Sporting Goods – press@dcsg.com
Foot Locker- mediarelations@footlocker.com

Category: Company

SOURCE DICK’S Sporting Goods, Inc.