Tag: 3BL

By Kirtee Yadav, Julie Rose

Cisco and the Cisco Foundation’s distinctive approach to supporting nonprofit organizations often begins with funding, but it rarely ends there. Our aim is always to bring the best of all that Cisco has to offer to the organizations we support—and the skills, time, and expertise of our people are our proudest offering of all.

For many years, our social investment sector managers have provided consulting and advisory support to the organizations they select for funding, emphasizing the unique power of strategy, technology, and data to facilitate operational success and scaling. Now, a new skill-based volunteering program is deepening our consultative contribution to our social impact partners by matching them with expert technologists within Cisco.

“Bringing everything Cisco has to the table to assist our nonprofit partner organizations is a key element of our social impact investing framework. Our engaged employees are an incredible resource to help increase our nonprofit partners’ impact around the world.”
—Charu Adesnik, Executive Director of the Cisco Foundation and Director of Cisco Social Impact Investments

An extra layer of support for Cisco nonprofit partner organizations

Known as Tech for Social Good, this innovative program empowers Cisco employee volunteers to harness their professional skills and knowledge to assist grantee organizations that have already been vetted and selected as especially high-potential by Cisco’s Social Impact Investment and Cisco Foundation teams.

Working collaboratively with each organization to address pressing social and environmental challenges, our volunteers help our grantees with consulting and strategic advice around digitization, data architecture, data science, AI, operational efficiency, and more. They also provide tech career mentorship to individuals who use the services of Cisco’s nonprofit partners.

Kirtee Yadav leads the Tech for Social Good program, with Sandeep Milar serving as executive sponsor. Kirtee works at Cisco as a Customer Experience Product Manager, while Sandeep serves as executive vice president of Cisco’s CX Product Management organization.

“The Tech for Social Good Program leverages Cisco’s technological expertise to address critical social and environmental challenges. By empowering tech professionals to collaborate with nonprofits and community organizations, we are not only driving innovation but also fostering a more inclusive future for all.”
—Sandeep Milar, SVP of Cisco’s CX Product Management organization and Tech for Social Good executive sponsor

Enabling a win—win situation

Why would Cisco employees dedicate their time to tech consulting with nonprofits? According to Taproot Foundation, which connects nonprofits with volunteers who donate their professional expertise in support of nonprofit missions, skills-based volunteering is a win for all involved. Volunteers get to support causes they are passionate about—and nonprofits gain access to the specialized resources needed to achieve their vision. Plus, it’s a great opportunity for employees to use their professional skills (and learn new ones); build deeper networks and community; and find personal fulfillment. And Cisco’s employee base is deeply engaged. For the last five years, over 80% of our employees have volunteered, donated, or participated in other forms of community impact. Our employees have always been genuinely passionate about giving back—and especially aware of the power of technology to connect and uplift people at unprecedented scale.

Abhishek Kumar, an engineering leader in the CX Engineering organization, drives innovation around AI and Generative AI while leading a team of data scientists. He notes, “I’m honored to contribute to the Tech for Social Good program. My advisory role focused on empowering organizations to navigate the AI landscape effectively, enabling them to make informed decisions about technology adoption that would best serve their unique missions.”

Gops Sukumar, a technology leader and product innovator working on AI with a doctoral specialization in Generative AI, also loves helping community organizations think through the best approaches to enhancing success via artificial intelligence. “As a technologist, I wanted to put my digital skills and experience towards solving problems for humanity in my own small but meaningful way. Through Tech for Social Good, I’ve helped organizations navigate complex AI challenges, where large AI systems had to be built, or else allied ecosystems had to be developed.”

Read on for two examples of what we have achieved by combining our strategic grantmaking process with high-skill volunteers within Cisco who are looking to share the best of their professional skillsets with outstanding social impact organizations.

Entrepreneurship for All

Accelerating economic and social impact in communities nationwide by opening more pathways to entrepreneurship, EforAll is investigating how AI can support their operations and programming. The Tech for Social Good program connected the organization with an expert Data Scientist and Cisco volunteer, DivyaJyoti Rajdev, to great effect. “Our volunteer was very, very helpful,” said Gary Chamberlain, EforAll’s Chief Technology Officer. “She provided feedback about the overall approach and some very creative suggestions for improving it, avoiding bias, and steering the results toward our entrepreneurs’ needs.”

AnnieCannons

AnnieCannons trains, prepares, and connects individuals who have experienced human trafficking to sustainable careers in tech. Recently, six Cisco and Splunk employees participated in AnnieCannon’s Career Week presentations, providing information and inspiration. Feedback from the participants was universally positive:

“Hearing the guest speakers’ journeys gave me a fresh perspective on career growth and adaptability.”

“It was so reassuring to hear that even industry leaders faced setbacks and still built successful careers.”

“I never considered certain career paths before, but now I see how I can use my skills in different ways!”

Real Skills, Real Impact

We are always proud to respond as “one Cisco” in support of our social impact partners—reaching across programs and departments to offer all that we can in support of a nonprofit’s health, growth, and long-term success. Through such collaborations, we can achieve exponential impact—together.

For more information and to get involved:

• Cisco Foundation
• Cisco Social Impact Investments
• Taproot Foundation Resources on Skills-Based Volunteering

To learn more about the impact Cisco employees are making, check out our “What We Accomplished” eBook about how we have supported our employees’ giving back efforts and transformed our collective contributions in the process.

View original content here.

Driving growth in our region
Entergy is benefiting from companies expanding or establishing new operations in the Gulf South. That’s in part because our service area provides access to international markets with proximity to the Mississippi River and the ports along the Gulf Coast. The region already has abundant infrastructure for energy and transportation and available labor. Energy prices are relatively low, and our communities are supportive of growth.

These advantages are creating an environment for growth. Since 2009, we’ve experienced a compound annual growth rate for large industrials of 5%. We have a customer-led plan to invest for continued growth, reliability and resilience while maintaining a strong balance sheet and managing risk for all stakeholders.

Through 2028, we plan to invest $37 billion to meet this expected growth. Our distribution plan is designed to improve reliability and resilience, including accelerated resilience projects already approved by our regulators. Our generation and transmission plans will support customer growth while also improving reliability and resilience.

How we’re delivering value
We’re working to deliver value to all of our key stakeholders:

• We’re building a system that provides reliable, resilient and affordable electric service while also serving growing demand.
• We’re actively pursuing economic development opportunities to bring new businesses to our communities.
• We facilitate stakeholder engagement to align all stakeholders with our strategy, our actions and the expected benefits for all.
• We provide our employees with competitive compensation, professional development and meaningful work.
• We support our communities through philanthropy and advocacy.
• We’re growing responsibly with a focus on balance sheet strength and conservative planning to provide predictable outcomes.

Read the full report here.

MoneyLion is the newest addition to the Gen family of trusted brands!

We’re thrilled to welcome MoneyLion to Team Gen. Together, we’re on a mission to help people grow, manage and secure their digital and financial lives. It’s time for the next gen … of Gen!

Originally published on DICK’S Sporting Goods Press Releases 

NEW YORK, April 30, 2025 /3BL/ – GameChanger, the #1-rated youth sports app for live streaming, statistics, scheduling, and scorekeeping, announced its first national brand campaign: For the Sport of Love. The campaign shines a spotlight on the unsung heroes of youth sports – the coaches, parents, and families who show up every day, driven not by fame or fortune, but by love. GameChanger is a DICK’S Sporting Goods company.

From pregame pep talks, long drives, early mornings, tough losses, and joyful celebrations, to coaches offering comfort, parents cheering in the rain or watching on GameChanger while completing a cross-country work trip, For the Sport of Love captures the emotional highs and lows of competition and honors the everyday sacrifices that fuel youth sports.

“This campaign is a reminder that behind every box score and highlight, there’s a deeper story, and someone who made it possible,” said Sameer Ahuja, GameChanger president and DICK’S Sporting Goods senior vice president. “So often, it’s a coach, parent, or loved one who shows up without fanfare but with unwavering commitment. For the Sport of Love is our way of saying thank you to those who give so much, simply out of love. It feels only right that GameChanger’s first national brand campaign honors the families, coaches, and supporters who lift our youth up, day after day.”

Filmed entirely in California, the campaign features real athletes and coaches from across the greater Los Angeles area. Teams include Millikan High School and LA Premiere Prep (boys basketball), Ontario Christian and St. Joseph’s High School (girls basketball), Corona High School (baseball and softball), Orange Lutheran High School (baseball), Notre Dame High School (softball), Prime and Surfside Volleyball Clubs (girls volleyball), Calabasas High School (boys soccer), and Newbury Park Elite Football Club (girls soccer).

The new campaign will run across top digital and social media platforms, including Meta, YouTube, CBS Sports, Bleacher Report, ESPN, Conde Nast, and Hearst. For the Sport of Love was directed by Curt Morgan, Founder and ECD of the agency, WOLVVS.

About GameChanger:
GameChanger empowers athletes, coaches, and families to stay connected through live streaming, scorekeeping, team management tools and developmental resources. Available on iOS, Android, and the web, GameChanger covers over 9M+ games annually and 1M+ teams a year. The live streaming and team management technology is available for all youth sports, with deep stats and scorekeeping capability for baseball, softball, volleyball, and basketball. GameChanger is based in New York City and is owned and operated by DICK’S Sporting Goods.

About WOLVVS:
WOLVVS is a creative content studio built for brands that demand more than just marketing—they want stories that move people and therefore move the world. With a cinematic approach rooted in film, culture, and precision craft, WOLVVS creates unforgettable branded experiences for some of the world’s most iconic companies. From concept to final frame, every project is driven by an obsessive commitment to authenticity, emotional impact, and visual excellence.

Media Contact:
Zack Yohman
GameChanger, Head of Communications
zack.yohman@gc.com

NORTHAMPTON, Mass., April 30, 2025 /3BL/ – In the latest episode of the “What the…?” video series, 3BL welcomes Trenton Allen, Managing Director and CEO of Sustainable Capital Advisors, for a timely and urgent conversation about the future of climate finance.

As the impact of climate change intensifies and federal funding enters a period of uncertainty, Allen joins host Mary Mazzoni to explore the evolving financial landscape and the communities caught in the middle. Together, they unpack what’s at stake when crucial federal programs are paused and how nonprofits and local governments can stay the course in the face of disruption.

Allen offers a grounded yet optimistic perspective, drawing on decades of experience in finance to spotlight opportunities for innovation and resilience, reminding us that “Climate isn’t an environmental issue. It’s an economic issue, it’s a health issue, it’s a family issue.”

Key takeaways from the episode include:

• The ripple effects of federal funding uncertainty on community projects
• How climate finance can drive down energy burdens and create local economic opportunity
• Why traditional financial tools, like municipal bonds and CDFI capital, still matter
• Real-world success stories from New Orleans to Marin County showing climate finance in action

This episode is a must-watch for sustainability leaders, nonprofit professionals, and anyone interested in how climate solutions can deliver measurable, equitable benefits, especially where they’re needed most.

Watch the full episode 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.

SEATTLE, April 30, 2025 /3BL/ – Today at the SPC Impact Conference for sustainable packaging, SCS Global Services (SCS), an international leader in third-party environmental and sustainability certification and an approved certification body for the Association of Plastics Recyclers (APR), announces a new streamlined SCS Recycled Content and APR certification.

Now, under this latest program partnership with APR, SCS further expands its certification portfolio by offering a streamlined two-for-one audit for its recycled content certification clients that are producers of plastic chips, pellets, flakes and resins—allowing them to also meet APR’s additional certification requirements. In addition to widely recognized SCS Recycled Content certification, having APR certification expands global recognition and market access for companies, especially for those with business interests in China.

The Association of Plastics Recyclers is an international non-profit and the only organization in North America focused exclusively on improving recycling for plastics. APR helps companies across the plastics recycling value chain with design guidance and recognition, recycled content certification and specifications, policy education and advocacy and much more.

“As a recognized certifier for APR since 2020, we are excited to streamline the process to provide our clients a one-stop-shop pathway to achieving international marketplace recognition for their sustainability efforts” says Youssra Elkhatib, SCS’ Program Manager for Circular Materials. “This initiative will provide ease of certification for plastic pellet, chip, resin and flake manufacturers as well as an opportunity to showcase their achievements on the global stage as an APR certified organization.”

“This is a significant step forward, aligning efforts to help our clients and the recycling industry increase PCR certifications, allowing more availability and confidence in the supply chain,” said Rita Phillip, Program Director, PCR Certification for the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR). “Our two organizations are leading the way demonstrating that collaboration between certification bodies and scheme owners is possible and moves initiatives forward.”

SCS is globally recognized for recycled content certification in products and packaging for over 35 years. The standard, now in Version 8.0, has been continually updated over the years and has now been expanded to cover consumer electronics products.

READ MORE

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 over 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. For more information, visit www.SCSGlobalServices.com.

Media Contact

Stephanie Flynn
Marketing Project Manager
Email

Albertsons Companies’ Southwest division team recently came together for the Million Hour Volunteer Rally, packing over 500 food bags for teens at Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Centers. Store associates’ efforts added over 300 volunteer hours towards the goal of 1 million hours.

See original post on LinkedIn and read more about Albertsons Companies and our Recipe for Change on our website.

Cummins

Scott Saum, Cummins Water Works Program Manager, on his work and the wealth in his life:

Q: What is the greatest wealth in your life?

Scott Saum: The greatest wealth in my life is my family. My wife and I have been married for five years, and we have a wonderful nine-month-old daughter. We couldn’t be happier.

Q: What do you do and why do you do it?

Scott Saum: I’m the program manager for Cummins Water Works in the Corporate Responsibility function. The program’s goal is to strengthen communities through sustainable water initiatives. We look to stand up community projects that improve water quality, water quantity and access to wash water, sanitation, and hygiene in communities around the world. I do what I do to make the world a better place.

Q: What unexpected skill has become invaluable to your professional toolkit?

Scott Saum: In my role, I work with people around the world from a variety of cultures and backgrounds. The ability to collaborate with teams and remain flexible when conflict arises is vital to my role and the success of our projects.

Q: What can Cummins Water Works do to impact the energy transition?

Scott Saum: The goal is to be net water positive in each region by 2030 and in each Cummins community by 2050.

At Cummins, we track our water consumption at every location worldwide, whether it’s a factory, office facility or warehouse. We also aim to establish community projects that offset that water consumption in each community.

We try to tailor projects to meet the needs of each community and support a variety of initiatives, including tree plantings, wetland restoration, cover crop adoption, litter pickups, restroom construction and hand and hygiene education.

Jean Ekwa, Strategic Communications & PR Lead, Tech To The Rescue

The power of AI is shaping industries, revolutionizing business, and transforming how we solve complex challenges. But while corporations and governments are investing heavily in AI innovation, many nonprofits risk being left behind—lacking the resources, expertise, or infrastructure to harness AI for impact. How can technology leaders support these organizations?

In a recent Tech for Good Talks podcast, Alice Damasceno, Director of Corporate Citizenship and ESG Communications for Lenovo Latin America, sat down in São Paulo with Ana Camerano from Tech To The Rescue (TTTR), a global nonprofit foundation that connects ambitious nonprofits with technology companies willing to support them with pro-bono solutions. They discussed Lenovo’s vision for AI-driven impact, the company’s approach to corporate citizenship, and how the Lenovo AI for Social Impact Lab is giving nonprofits the tools and resources they need to integrate AI.

A partnership turning innovation into action

Lenovo and TTTR share a common belief: AI should be accessible and inclusive.

That’s why Lenovo joined TTTR’s AI for Changemakers Accelerator, an initiative backed by other major tech players. The accelerator matches nonprofits with skilled volunteer technologists who help them design and implement AI solutions tailored to their missions.

The Lenovo AI for Social Impact Lab takes this support a step further—equipping ten selected nonprofits with cutting-edge Lenovo hardware, AI tools, and expert guidance to help them turn their AI aspirations into real-world impact.

For Lenovo, this collaboration is part of a broader vision to make AI a force for inclusion rather than a driver of inequality. As Alice Damasceno explained in the podcast, Lenovo sees its role in social impact not just as a donor but as a strategic enabler—ensuring that technology is developed and deployed in ethical and equitable ways.

How AI drives social change

For Lenovo, corporate citizenship is more than philanthropy—it is about leveraging technology to serve people and the planet. Alice Damasceno explains that Lenovo’s approach is centered on Smarter Technology for All, ensuring that innovation advances business while addressing critical social and environmental challenges.

During the conversation, Damasceno shared inspiring real-world examples of how Lenovo is applying AI to solve pressing issues:

• Indigenous Language Preservation – Lenovo works to integrate endangered languages into Motorola devices, ensuring that Indigenous communities can access and use technology in their native tongues.
• AI-Powered Assistive Technology – With partners like the Scott-Morgan Foundation, Lenovo develops AI-driven avatars that allow ALS patients to communicate even after losing their ability to speak.
• Disaster Relief Technology – Following natural disasters, Lenovo provides immediate aid and AI-driven tools to help communities recover more effectively.
• AI for Accessibility – A Lenovo project in Brazil uses AI to translate Brazilian sign language (Libras) into text, making digital services more inclusive for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

These examples highlight a fundamental shift in how corporations approach social impact—not just through financial contributions but through strategic, tech-driven interventions that create sustainable change.

The role of corporate citizenship in a changing world

Reflecting on her career in social impact, Alice Damasceno emphasized the growing role of technology companies in shaping a more inclusive, sustainable future.

Corporate citizenship, she explains, is not an afterthought but an integral part of how Lenovo operates—embedding ESG principles, diversity and inclusion, and community engagement into its core business strategy.

“The world’s challenges are complex, but technology can be part of the solution,” says Damasceno. “By engaging employees, partnering with nonprofits, and investing in AI-driven impact projects, we are creating a model where businesses can thrive while driving meaningful change.”

The Lenovo AI for Social Impact Lab helps ensure that AI innovation doesn’t remain a privilege of corporations—it becomes a tool for global problem-solving, available to those who need it most.

Looking ahead: how the tech industry can respond

As AI and emerging technologies continue to evolve, the collaboration between corporations, nonprofits, and impact-driven organizations will be critical in ensuring that these innovations benefit society.

This is a long-term commitment for Lenovo—part of its broader Smarter AI for All strategy, ensuring that AI innovation serves people, not just profits. For Tech To The Rescue, this partnership is a blueprint for how corporations and nonprofits can collaborate to make AI a true tool for social transformation.

“If we don’t make AI accessible to mission-driven organizations, we risk deepening the digital divide,” said Damasceno in the podcast. “But when we give nonprofits the right tools, knowledge, and partners, they can solve problems in ways we never imagined.”

The real question isn’t whether nonprofits should use AI—the question is whether the tech industry will step up to ensure they can.

Watch the full conversation here

In the bustling city of Dubai, the spirit of community and generosity came alive during a recent FedEx Cares volunteer event. This particular initiative was dedicated to packing hundreds of care packages filled with essential food items for those in need. The event was held at one of FedEx’s busy facilities, where the volunteers ingeniously repurposed the conveyor belts normally used for sorting packages for delivery.

A group of enthusiastic FedEx team members gathered, ready to make a difference. They were greeted with a variety of supplies, and with a shared sense of purpose and excitement, the volunteers got to work.

The conveyor belts, usually busy with parcels destined for customers worldwide, had been transformed into assembly lines for the care packages. Volunteers lined up along the belts, each assigned a specific task. The belts moved steadily, and with teamwork and coordination, each care package was filled with love and care.

The atmosphere was electric with a sense of camaraderie. Laughter and chatter filled the air as volunteers worked side by side. Every now and then, a cheer would erupt as boxes were completed and sent down the line. High-fives were exchanged frequently, and huge smiles were a constant sight.

As the last of the care packages were sealed and stacked, the team paused to celebrate their achievement. Group selfies captured the moment, with everyone beaming proudly. The sense of accomplishment was palpable; they had come together to make a significant impact on their community.

With the task complete, the care packages were carefully loaded onto FedEx delivery vehicles. These vehicles, usually carrying commercial packages, were now filled with boxes of hope and support. The volunteers watched with satisfaction as the vehicles departed to deliver the care packages to their destinations across the city.

The celebration continued with a sense of fulfillment and joy. The FedEx team had not only leveraged their logistical expertise but had also reinforced the power of community and collaboration. It was a day marked by brilliant teamwork, heartfelt efforts, and the knowledge that their actions would bring comfort and relief to many.

A few hours later, the volunteers dispersed, carrying with them memories of a day well spent. The FedEx Cares event in Dubai was a testament to the positive impact that can be achieved when people come together with a common goal. It was a day of giving back, of making a difference, and of spreading kindness in the heart of the city.

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