Tag: 3BL

CINCINNATI, October 10, 2024 /3BL/ – For more than a century, Fifth Third Bank has managed private foundations, empowering individuals, families and institutions to realize their visions and leave a legacy for the greater good. ​It all started with Bank president, Jacob G. Schmidlapp. A pioneer, ahead of his time, he established the Jacob G. Schmidlapp Trust in 1903.

Today, the Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank works diligently to ensure these foundations fulfill their mission of giving back to worthy charitable causes. From October 1 – November 22, 2024, the Cincinnati, Dayton, Northern Kentucky and Piqua regional grant application process is open for grants that will be awarded by April 1, 2025.

“The Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank is committed to healthy, strong and vibrant communities,” said Heidi B. Jark, senior vice president and managing director of The Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank.

“Our Grant Application Process is designed to connect those organizations seeking support with opportunities to enable them with needed resources. Our goal is to make that process as transparent, accessible and easy as possible,” Jark added.

Eligible organizations include nonprofit organizations that operate in Cincinnati, Dayton, Northern Kentucky, and Piqua and are designated under section 501(c)(3) and subsections 509(a)(1), 509(a)(2), and 509(a)(3) Types I and II by the Internal Revenue Service.Churches and religious organizations, through non–denominational programming administered by such organizations will be considered (examples include food pantries, after school programs, housing initiatives, etc.).​The following are not eligible for Foundation Office grants: individuals​, government or government agencies​, public or private K-12 schools​ and athletic, band and other booster clubs​. In addition, events such as walks, runs, dinners and galas are also ineligible.For complete details, please visit our Guidelines for Grantseekers.

New this year, there are two application links. Organizations are welcome to apply to both applications, if they find they have appropriate requests.

Regional Application 
This grant application is for organizations applying for a grant from multiple foundations administered through The Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank.The Ohio Valley Foundation Application 
The Ohio Valley Foundation funds small equipment, technology, and capital improvement projects in the Ohio Valley. Organizations can request grants up to $25,000.

The Foundation Office 
The Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank, National Association, serves as trustee, co-trustee or agent for more than 300 private and corporate foundations that grant millions of dollars annually to worthy charities across the United States. The foundations support a variety of causes, from education to the arts and from basic-needs organizations like shelters and counseling centers to environmental projects and animal rescue.

To learn more about The Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank, please visit 53.com/foundationoffice.

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CONTACT:
Adrienne Gutbier (Media Relations)
Adrienne.gutbier@53.com
513-534-8038

In an era where sustainability is becoming more than just a trend, Coachtopia is taking a bold step forward with the launch of its “Alter/Ego” collection. Each bag has been meticulously crafted from specific leather scraps left over from the creation of iconic Coach styles, including the Tabby, Hampton, and Brooklyn Bags. These remnants, which might otherwise have been destined for landfill, are given a new lease on life in the form of stylish and durable accessories.

The Alter/Ego collection comprises five new bag styles, all of which use Coachtopia’s signature Checkerboard Upcrafted Leather technique to reimagine the small and irregular scraps of leather that are left over after specific Coach bag patterns are cut from Coach leather hides. As these styles are made with the same leathers as those used in Coach’s most iconic products, the Alter/Ego collection has a 59-80% lower carbon footprint than comparable styles made with new materials and exceptional value—the price of each style reflecting the production efficiencies of crafting with this so-called “waste” material.

“Since we launched Coachtopia in April 2023, our mission has been to pioneer circularity in fashion by reimagining waste, design and the end of life of our products—and the Alter/Ego collection is another step forward in that mission,” says Joon Silverstein, SVP Global Marketing and Sustainability at Coach and Head of Coachtopia. “We’ve gone from making with pre-existing waste to thinking forward to future waste—and finding new ways to design out waste from the outset. Most importantly, thanks to all the experimentation we’ve been doing in Coachtopia, we’ve been able to create scalable processes that will bring the wider Coach brand further along the road to circularity, taking bold steps to drive transformative change.”

Congratulations to the entire Coachtopia team for bringing this campaign and collection to life. Join us in celebrating the new collection and our commitment to a more circular future in fashion. 

View the Alter/Ego collection, along with Coachtopia’s latest campaign, “The Wasted Parts,” featuring actor and Coachtopia community member Lola Tung here.

WASHINGTON, October 9, 2024 /3BL/ – There has been a catastrophic 73% decline in the average size of monitored wildlife populations* in just 50 years (1970-2020), according to World Wildlife Fund‘s (WWF) Living Planet Report 2024. The report warns that parts of our planet are approaching dangerous tipping points driven by the combination of nature loss and climate change which pose grave threats to humanity. 

The Living Planet Index, provided by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), tracks almost 35,000 vertebrate populations of 5,495 species from 1970-2020. The steepest decline is in freshwater populations (85%), followed by terrestrial (69%) and then marine (56%). 

Habitat loss and degradation and overharvesting, driven primarily by our global food system are the dominant threats to wildlife populations around the world, followed by invasive species, disease and climate change. 

Significant declines in wildlife populations negatively impact the health and resilience of our environment and push nature closer to disastrous tipping points– critical thresholds resulting in substantial and potentially irreversible change. Regional tipping points, such as the decimation of North American pine forests, the destruction of the Amazon rainforest, and the mass die-off of coral reefs, have the potential to create shockwaves far beyond the immediate region, impacting food security, livelihoods, and economies.**  

“Nature provides the foundation for human health, a stable climate, the world’s economy, and life on earth. The Living Planet Report updates fifty-year trend lines of how much we’ve lost and tipping points that lie ahead,” said WWF-US President and CEO Carter Roberts. “It highlights the most powerful tools to stem the loss and match the scale of this slow-motion catastrophe. A wake-up call that we need to get going, and fast.”

Some of the species populations captured in the Living Planet Index include a 57% decline in nesting female hawksbill turtles between 1990 and 2018 on Milman Island in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, a 65% decline in Amazon pink river dolphins and an 88% decline in Chinook salmon in the Sacramento River in California. More recently, over 330 Amazon river dolphins died in just two lakes during a period of extreme heat and drought in 2023.  

The Living Planet Index also reveals populations that have stabilized or increased due to effective conservation efforts, such as an increase in the sub-population of mountain gorillas of around 3% per year between 2010-2016 in the Virunga mountains in East Africa, as well as an increase from 0 to 6,800 in bison populations across central Europe between 1970 and 2020. 

WWF Chief Scientist Rebecca Shaw, said: “Sharp declines in wildlife populations are a clear and urgent warning. These steep drops signal that nature is unraveling and becoming less resilient. When nature is compromised, it is more vulnerable to climate change and edges closer to dangerous and irreversible regional tipping points. When this happens in too many places around the globe, it threatens the very air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat.”

While global leaders have already agreed on ambitious goals to halt and reverse nature loss (the Global Biodiversity Framework), cap global temperature rise to 1.5ºC (the Paris Agreement), and increase human well-being (the UN Sustainable Development Goals), the Living Planet Report warns that national commitments and on the ground action fall far short of what’s required to achieve those goals and avoid dangerous tipping points. 

The international biodiversity and climate summits taking place this year – COP16 and COP29  – provide an opportunity for global leaders to rise to the challenge. WWF is calling for countries to develop and implement ambitious national nature and climate plans to halt biodiversity loss and cut emissions by reducing global overconsumption in food and energy in an equitable manner. WWF is also urging government and private sector leaders to scale up public and private investments and better align their climate, nature and sustainable development policies. Governments and businesses should act rapidly to eliminate activities with negative impacts on biodiversity and climate, and redirect finance toward activities that will deliver on global sustainability goals.  

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Notes to Editors

For media requests, please contact:

Amy Fallah | WWF-US | amy.fallah@wwfus.org| 703-473-1442 

Link to full report, executive summary, and media summary 

Link to photos

Link to b-roll

*The Living Planet Index shows an average 73% decline in monitored vertebrate wildlife populations (mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish). The percentage change in the index reflects the average proportional change in monitored animal population sizes at sites around the world, not the number of individual animals lost, nor the number of populations lost.**For example, losses of populations of large fruit-eating animals (tapirs, toucans, tamarins, deer), which provide an essential seed-dispersal function in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, can lead to a decline in tropical forest carbon storage. When these animals are lost through hunting and illegal trade, they can no longer disperse the seeds of larger, hardwood trees and the forest becomes dominated by smaller, softwood trees. The smaller trees store less carbon, exacerbating climate change.Please note that successive iterations of the LPI are not directly comparable as they contain different sets of species. It is also important to note the significance of the 1970 baseline for the various regions monitored. In both Europe and North America large scale impacts on nature were already apparent before the start of the index in 1970, explaining why there is less of a negative trend. North America registered an average decline of 39%, while Europe and Central Asia registered a decline of 35%.For further information on the hawksbill turtle, Amazon river dolphin, Chinook salmon, mountain gorilla and European bison local population case studies above and for other examples please see pages 32-33 of the full report. Energy and food systems are the main drivers of climate change and nature loss. Fossil fuels contribute approximately 70% of greenhouse gas emissions. Food production is the leading cause of habitat loss, accounts for 70% of water use, and is responsible for over a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions. 

About WWF

WWF is one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, working in nearly 100 countries for over half a century to help people and nature thrive. With the support of more than 5 million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, halt the degradation of the environment and combat the climate crisis. Visit http://www.worldwildlife.org to learn more and keep up with the latest conservation news by following @WWFNews on Twitter and signing up for our newsletter and news alerts here.

About ZSL

Founded in 1826, ZSL is an international conservation charity, driven by science, working to restore wildlife in the UK and around the world; by protecting critical species, restoring ecosystems, helping people and wildlife live together and inspiring support for nature. Through our leading conservation zoos, London and Whipsnade, we bring people closer to nature and use our expertise to protect wildlife today, while inspiring a lifelong love of animals in the conservationists of tomorrow.

October 9, 2024 /3BL/ – One year into the Israel- Gaza conflict, and the biggest escalation of violence in years in the region, Action Against Hunger is expanding humanitarian assistance to reach the most vulnerable families in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon.

To date, nearly 42,000 Palestinians have died and around 100,000 have been injured. More than 1.9 million people are displaced in Gaza and the entire population is facing food insecurity. Humanitarian needs will only grow with the oncoming winter and escalating displacement, both of which are expected to increase malnutrition in the Gaza Strip and now the needs of thousands of families in Lebanon as well. Over the last year, teams on the ground have faced serious challenges, including limited ability to deliver aid and the lack of protection for humanitarian workers.

Limited Access to Aid in Gaza

“All land crossings need to be opened for goods and personnel, ensuring the provision of critical services such as water, electricity, fuel and food,” said Jean Raphael Poitou, Action Against Hunger’s Middle East Advocacy Officer. “The protection of all humanitarian and health workers is essential to save lives.”

At the end of July, the UN estimated that 86% of the Gaza Strip was marked as unsafe by Israeli forces. Only 15 square miles is what remains of the so-called “safe zone,” with more than two million people unable to access basic hygiene, protection, food and water in accordance with human rights and international humanitarian law. “The concept of ‘safe zones’ or ‘humanitarian zones’ in Gaza is non-existent,” said Poitou. “We continue to call for a permanent ceasefire so that we can deliver the humanitarian aid needed by the entire population of the Gaza Strip and Lebanon and avoid further civilian casualties.”

Despite great difficulties, Action Against Hunger continues to operate in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Lebanon, distributing fresh and dry food, drinking water and hygiene kits, and providing other necessities to vulnerable communities.

Increased Humanitarian Response in Gaza and the West Bank

With winter coming, needs will only increase. “In addition to everything we have been doing, there is a new priority with the arrival of the cold, especially in Gaza, where there are thousands and thousands of people who have been displaced for a year, moving several times, leaving behind clothes and shoes and with tents that have already been destroyed,” said Anguera. “We fear an increase in disease, because it is a coastal area, with many people sleeping on the beach in storms and torrential rains, or in areas with rubbish where rainwater accumulates.”

The collapse of Gaza’s health system, restricted access to sufficient food, clean water and hygiene items, the destruction of agricultural land and local markets, blocked roads, and poor shelter conditions have led to malnutrition, a serious health condition that previously did not exist in the Gaza Strip.

“A year ago, the image of an aid worker measuring the arm circumference of a Gazan child didn’t exist because there was no malnutrition,” said Anguera. In response, Action Against Hunger has implemented both prevention and nutritional treatment programs for children and pregnant and lactating women, two of the most vulnerable populations in Gaza.

“All children in Gaza are at risk of malnutrition,” said Cristina Izquierdo, the Nutrition Coordinator for Action Against Hunger’s emergency team, who has worked in Gaza several times in the past eight months. “”We provide a holistic response, addressing the underlying causes of malnutrition. Access to water is insufficient and hygiene conditions are horrible. That’s why we are also working in this area and on food security.”

Over the past year, despite insecurity and blockades, Action Against Hunger has provided assistance to more than one million people in Gaza and the West Bank, including. This includes more than 916,000 people in the Gaza Strip who have benefited from Action Against Hunger’s water, sanitation and hygiene activities, including the distribution of safe drinking water, hygiene kits and the installation of toilets. In addition, more than 175,000 people have benefited from Action Against Hunger’s food security and livelihood interventions, which include the distribution of fresh and dry food and hot meals, as well as increased support to farmers. More than 47,000 people, especially children and mothers, have had access to Action Against Hunger’s nutritional support.

Since the beginning of the conflict, the organization has increased its staff in the area from 60 to 130 humanitarian workers. “For years, Action Against Hunger has been working with farmers and herders in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank,” said Anguera. “Despite the conflict, we maintain our goal: to promote resilience, so that people don’t have to leave the land they work on. We work so that people have infrastructure, pipelines and roads, so that they can raise their animals.”

Around 75% of Gaza’s farmland has been destroyed.

“Food security is about dignity and autonomy. It is about not having to depend on external aid,” said Anguera. “In Gaza and the West Bank, we face the destruction of local markets and increased violence by Israeli settlers. Farmers have been displaced, infrastructure is closed, fuel remains a constraint for transportation. It is key for Action Against Hunger to be able to continue supporting farmers.”

Emergency Response in Lebanon 

Between September 16 and September 27, 2024, more than 1,000 people, including 87 children, were killed by increased hostilities in Lebanon. In Lebanon, increased tension on the border with Israel has displaced more than one million people, according to Lebanese authorities. Prior to this escalation, the number of internally displaced persons had already grown by 1,800% due to the violence on the border.

“In Lebanon, where we have been present since 2006, we have a team of 240 people. In this country, since October 2023, we have supported more than 160,000 people through cash assistance, nutrition and health activities, food aid, and water, sanitation, and hygiene services,” said Anguera.

In the face of the crisis and regional escalation, Action Against Hunger teams are scaling up their activities, working closely with local authorities, the UN and other organizations to reach affected communities, including Syrian refugees in Lebanon, who had fled one conflict only to find themselves caught in the middle of another. Since the first hours of the escalating conflict in Lebanon, Action Against Hunger has been distributing water, food, blankets, and other necessities to vulnerable people and coordinating with authorities and institutions to increase support in collective shelters open to the population.

Hunger as a Weapon of War

“Hunger is being used as a weapon of war in Gaza,” said Poitou. “It shows the failure of the international community to enforce respect for international humanitarian law. We cannot allow key civilian infrastructure to continue to be destroyed, aid to be blocked or agricultural land to be destroyed. This is using hunger as a weapon of war. It is imperative that international humanitarian law is applied to protect civilians, as well as to ensure that hostages are returned home and that all available mechanisms to protect humanitarian and aid workers are put in place and respected.”

About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger is a global leader creating a future where every life is well nourished. We innovate to prevent malnutrition and respond to hunger hotspots, working in 59 countries and reaching more than 21 million people each year. Together, we are promoting resilience and working to end hunger for everyone, for good.

Nasdaq

Watch keynotes and sessions

Our panels feature impactful discussions with industry experts and peers on topics including leadership in a sustainable future, navigating regulatory and voluntary reporting, and AI’s impacts in sustainability and capital.

Welcome Remarks

Oliver Albers, Executive Vice President of Investment Intelligence, Nasdaq

Introduction and Kick Off

Nina Eisenman (MC), Head of Corporate ESG Strategy and Reporting, Nasdaq

Keynote From UNGC: The State of the Climate Transition Globally in 2024

Jesper Brodin, President and CEO Vice Chair Ingka Group, IKEA UN Global Compact

Fireside Chat: Finance’s Role at the Intersection of Climate, Regulation and Investor Capital

Jessica Fries, Executive Chair, A4S (moderator) | Sarah Youngwood, Chief Financial Officer, Nasdaq | Michael Kobori, Chief Sustainability Officer, Starbucks

General Session: AI for Sustainability & Capital: Balancing Benefits and Impacts

Mike Stiller, Head of Strategic Initiatives, Nasdaq (moderator) | Kurt Harrison, Co-Head, Global Sustainability Practice, Russell Reynolds | Kimberly Knickle, Research Director, ESG and Sustainability, Verdantix | Natasha Tuck, Director, Sustainability and ESG, Dolby

General Session: Climate Leadership: Mobilizing Action for a Sustainable Future

Erika Spence, Head of ESG Data, Nasdaq (moderator) | Maria Simon, Product Lead, Nasdaq Sustainable Bond Network | Rajiv Bazaj, VP of Sustainability Solutions, Constellation | Michele Demers, Chief Executive Officer, Boundless | Ingrid De Ryck, Chief Sustainability Officer, AB InBev | Jessica Zarzycki, Portfolio Manager, Fixed Income, ESG/Sustainability Strategies, Nuveen

General Session: What’s Next for “ESG?” Perspectives From Bonds to Boards

Athen Bozoglu, Head of Portfolio Marketing, Nasdaq | Sarah Williamson, Chief Executive Officer, FCLTGlobal | Carol W. Geremia, President and Head of Global Distribution, MFS Investment Management | Rose McKinney-James, Managing Principal, Energy Works LLC and Director MGM Resorts International

General Session: Navigating Interoperability Across Regulatory & Voluntary Reporting

Steve Vargas, Head of ESG Advisory, Nasdaq (moderator) | Amma Anaman, Office of the General Counsel, Nasdaq | Cristina Gil White, Interim Chief Executive Officer, GRI | Mohammed Ali, Vice President, Sustainability and Regulatory Affairs, Agnico Eagle | Neil Stewart, Director of Corporate Outreach, IFRS Foundation

General Session: Durable Path to Net Zero

Fredrik Ekström, Head of Carbon Markets, Nasdaq (moderator) | Antti Vihavainen, Chief Executive Officer, Puro.earth | Chris Leeds, Head of Carbon Markets Development, Standard Chartered Bank | Injy Johnstone, Research Fellow in Net Zero Aligned Offsetting, Oxford University | James Mulligan, Head of Carbon Neutralization Science and Strategy, Amazon

Closing Remarks

Nina Eisenman, Head of Corporate ESG Strategy and Reporting, Nasdaq

Watch Keynotes and Sessions.

More than 1,000 employees and contractors currently supporting Hurricane Helene restoration efforts will begin to deploy to support peer utilities in Florida following anticipated power outages caused by Hurricane Milton.

Approximately half of those still working in the areas devastated by Helene will remain in support of Helene restoration while the other half of the workforce will move into Florida in anticipation of Milton’s landfall. Over the next few days, we expect to shift additional resources that are released from Helene to support Florida utilities. Entergy will continue to offer as many workers as possible to the affected area while balancing people and resources here to meet the needs of its customers.

Milton, currently a Category 5 hurricane, is forecast to make landfall later this week as a Category 3 or Category 4 hurricane. The storm is expected to bring catastrophic and deadly storm surge, as well as damaging hurricane-force winds over the Florida Peninsula still recovering from the impact of Hurricane Helene.

“Forecast predicted this storm season would be an active season,” said Louis Dabdoub, vice president, incident response. “I am grateful our team is in the position to lend a helping hand to our neighbors. My prayers are with everyone who will be impacted by this storm, and all of those recovering from the damage caused by Hurricane Helene. I am proud our company values community and is committed to helping our industry peers in their time of need.”

Sending power restoration crews to help is part of long-standing mutual assistance agreements where utilities support one another in times of need. When requested, Entergy’s utilities will send as many workers as they can spare to the affected area while keeping enough at home to meet the needs of our customers.

In addition to meeting bi-annually, mutual assistance companies provide labor and materials to each other when needed to strengthen their partnership. Entergy participates in four different mutual assistance organizations.

ROME, N.Y., October 9, 2024 /3BL/ – National Grid emergency response teams were among the first on the scene in the Mohawk Valley after tornadoes ripped down trees, tore off roofs, toppled church steeples and claimed the life of one person. In furtherance of our commitment to our customers and the communities where we live and work, and after consultation with local stakeholders to identify ongoing needs in the community, National Grid has donated $125,000 to support regional organizations and municipalities that are still healing after the storms.

The funding, provided by the company’s shareholders through National Grid’s Project C, our Community Investment Program, will support local relief services, cleanup efforts, and community enhancements.

“National Grid crews went to work immediately to clean up the storm’s damage and begin restoring power to our customers as quickly as possible,” said Sally Librera, National Grid’s New York President. “We were welcomed with open arms by our neighbors, some of whom were dealing with some extraordinarily difficult conditions, and we are thankful for the cooperation with state and local officials that assisted us in our work. That partnership is critical to our operations, and we strive to keep those relationships strong with our communities and customers. Today’s donation is our way of saying that we are here long after the lights are back on to support our them.”

National Grid worked with local and state partners to gain access to its infrastructure in neighborhoods, along commercial corridors, and in hard-to-reach areas after the tornado outbreak. An EF-2 tornado, with winds up to 135 mph, struck the city of Rome, while an EF-1 tornado with top winds of 100 mph hit Canastota. Additionally, severe thunderstorms with excessive winds caused extensive damage in the city of Oneida and impacted lives across the Mohawk Valley. As part of our emergency response, National Grid deployed more than 3,000 power restoration experts — including line, service, tree, damage assessment and public safety crews – who worked around the clock in dangerous weather conditions to restore service to the 72,000 affected customers in the area.

“The response to the tornado that struck the City of Rome on July 16th, and the relief efforts that have transpired since, have been a total team effort that could not have occurred without the assistance of key partners like National Grid,” said Anthony Picente, Oneida County Executive. “Oneida County is grateful for the vital role National Grid played in the process and for the generous donation they have made to our Rome Victim Recovery Fund and to other areas of need.”

Caring for local communities, compassionately addressing challenges customers face and collaborating with community partners are guiding principles of National Grid’s Project C initiative, which seeks to transform communities and ensure an equitable future for all customers.

National Grid’s donation will be distributed to the following organizations:

Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties 
In the wake of the storm, Oneida County created The Rome NY Emergency Response Fund through the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties to support recovery efforts by individuals and community organizations. Funds received by the fund are distributed to local nonprofit organizations and municipalities to support recovery efforts and provide Rome residents with financial support to repair their properties, cover insurance deductibles or temporarily relocate. National Grid will provide $50,000 to this fund to support the ongoing work to help the community heal. So far, more than $1 million has been distributed from the fund.

“We admire and thank National Grid for stepping up and reminding us that in the aftermath of destruction, our community always comes together,” said Alicia Fernandez Dicks, president/CEO of the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties. “A donation of this size will help many individuals who were affected by the tornado in July. Our Foundation launched the Rome, NY Emergency Response Fund immediately after the tragic event as a way for residents and businesses to donate toward recovery efforts. These efforts are ongoing, in partnership with the City of Rome and Oneida County, and expected to continue considering the great need for support in the affected neighborhoods and surrounding areas.”

City of Rome 
Trees provide an important service to urban areas. In addition to absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen, they offer shade from the summer sun and help lower the ambient temperature of neighborhoods. The tornado knocked down hundreds of trees in the city and damaged public parks. A $25,000 donation has been earmarked to restoration of trees in the city. Additionally, National Grid’s forestry department will support the tree replanting as advisors, providing guidance on species selection, planting locations, and other concerns.

“On behalf of the City of Rome, I want to sincerely thank National Grid for their tireless efforts to restore power to our residents following the devastating July 16 tornado,” said City of Rome Mayor Jeffrey A. Lanigan. “Your generous $25,000 donation to plant trees and restore our public spaces is a true testament to your commitment to our community. The mature trees we lost were not just part of our landscape, but a vital piece of our identity, and your support will help us rebuild and heal. We are incredibly grateful for your partnership during this time of recovery.”

National Grid’s donation also aligns with the company’s 10,000 Trees program, which is designed to promote the placement of low-growing trees to significantly avoid or minimize utility line conflicts in the future. The program is open to all municipalities and county agencies responsible for tree and urban forest management within National Grid’s Upstate New York electric service area. Nonprofit tree committees, operating for and approved by a municipality through a supporting resolution, may also apply. For information related to recommended tree species or planting techniques, customers are encouraged to contact their local Cornell Cooperative Extension or NYS Department of Environmental Conservation or visit the Cornell Urban Horticulture Institute.

National Grid employees were in Rome on Sept. 18 as part of the company’s annual Project C Week of Service. Teams of employees volunteered to remove debris, cut back trees and deliver other beautification efforts along the Mohawk River Trail and North James Street.

American Red Cross 
In the aftermath of the tornadoes, the American Red Cross established a 24-hour shelter at Griffiss Business and Technology Park. This critical service provided aid, comfort and a place to sleep for people forced from their homes due to the storms’ damage. Griffiss also provided National Grid with assistance during our dry ice and bottled water distribution, allowing us to co-locate at their space.

“We are so grateful for the partnership with National Grid,” said Lisa Smith, Executive Director, American Red Cross Central and Northern New York. Every eight minutes someone needs the Red Cross. National Grid’s generous support ensures we can bring hope and healing to our communities where it’s needed most.”

A donation of $12,500 will be earmarked for American Red Cross disaster relief services in the region. Disaster relief is one of the organization’s most vital programs, as their staff and volunteers show up to provide temporary shelter, food, clothing and other immediate assistance to people affected by all types of emergencies, from house fires to natural disasters.

Food Bank of Central New York 
Food Bank of Central New York saw increased demand for its services as their partnering food pantries were affected by the storm. The agency was able to increase deliveries to alternative distribution points in the days following the storm to ensure that fresh foods were available to those in need. National Grid’s $12,500 donation would go to support their efforts in the Mohawk Valley.

“When natural disasters affect individuals and families living in our service area, Food Bank of Central New York is prepared to assist alongside many public and private partners, including National Grid,” Karen Belcher, Executive Director at Food Bank of Central New York, stated. “We were honored to work alongside our longtime partners, Project Fibonacci Foundation and St. John the Baptist Church, by providing more than 700 households with nonperishable and perishable foods during a large community food distribution in Rome to help those impacted by the tornado. We are thankful for the work of all of our partners, and for National Grid for their generous donation to aid in our food distribution efforts.”

The company is a longtime supporter of Food Bank of Central New York, which leads the fight against food insecurity in 11 Upstate New York counties including Herkimer and Oneida. In addition to financial contributions, employees from the company regularly volunteer to help sort and pack food donations that are delivered to the community.

Village of Canastota 
Canastota’s tornado damage is not to be understated. Several homes along Barlow Road were damaged and one person died as a result of the storm. The nature of the storm caused complicated repairs for National Grid crews, who were welcomed by the community to front-yard barbecues and community food truck gatherings while working in the area.

“On behalf of the residents of the Village of Canastota, I would like to sincerely thank all of the staff and volunteers from National Grid who came to the village and assisted us with numerous projects to help beautify our community,” said Rosanne Warner, mayor of the village of Canastota. “Not only was National Grid and their caring staff there for us after the devastating tornado but they came back multiple times to help us complete projects that are making a difference in people’s everyday lives. We thank them from the bottom of our hearts for the kind donations of not only time and funds, which will be used to purchase a new handicapped pool lift for our municipal pool. Without their assistance, the village never would have been able to replace the aging unit that we can no longer obtain parts for. National Grid’s unwavering dedication to the communities has a larger impact on some of most delicate residents and for all of their support, we thank them immensely.”

A $12,500 donation to the village will be used to beautify and make improvements at the Spencer Street Pool and Playground, including equipment and field upgrades.

The park was also a beneficiary of company volunteers during the Project C Week of Service. Teams of employees made accessibility upgrades to the park and pool to make the park more inclusive for those with mobility issues.

City of Oneida and the Oneida Improvement Committee 
Oneida suffered significant damage from the line of thunderstorms that caused the tornadoes on July 16. Working together with the mayor’s office and city police, National Grid will provide $12,500 to the Oneida Improvement Committee, which will work with the city to build a so-called “pocket park” on a vacant lot bordering both Messenger and Phelps Streets. The lot would be cleared and converted into a lit park area for the community to use.

“The pocket park will serve as a valuable gathering place for our community, encouraging outdoor activity, relaxation, and connection with nature,” said Rick Rossi, mayor of the city of Oneida. “It’s through charitable efforts like this from National Grid that we can continue to make meaningful improvements that benefit everyone, we truly appreciate their support.”

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About National Grid 
National Grid (NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through our networks in New York and Massachusetts. National Grid is focused on building a smarter, stronger, cleaner energy future — transforming our networks with more reliable and resilient energy solutions to meet state climate goals and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For more information, please visit our website, follow us on X, watch us on YouTube, like us on Facebook, and find our photos on Instagram.

Contact: Jared Paventi | 315.427.1092 | jared.paventi@nationalgrid.com

BOULDER, Colo., October 9, 2024 /3BL/ – Leave No Trace, an internationally renowned nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the outdoors, honored Subaru of America, Inc. with its 2024 Corporate Excellence Award for the company’s work as a leader in corporate responsibility. Subaru representatives were presented with the Corporate Excellence Award during the Leave No Trace Global Summit, held in Boulder, Colorado. The awards honor individuals, agencies, businesses, and organizations dedicated to furthering the Leave No Trace mission, going above and beyond for the Leave No Trace movement, and inspiring others to do the same.

Since 1999, the Subaru/Leave No Trace education teams have served as the nonprofit’s mobile education arm. They are comprised of paired individuals who live and work on the road, delivering cutting-edge educational programs from coast to coast to children and adults of all experience levels and ages.

Dana Watts, Executive Director, Leave No Trace: “This Subaru-sponsored program has inspired widespread stewardship of our shared public lands. I’m so proud of what this partnership has accomplished, and I’m thrilled to acknowledge their enduring support.”

A short video documenting the automaker’s contributions to Leave No Trace was presented during the Global Summit on Oct. 8, 2024, and can be viewed here.

Alan Bethke, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Subaru of America, Inc.: “At Subaru, our commitment to environmental sustainability and conservation remains steadfast, and we’re proud to have been Leave No Trace’s largest and longest-running corporate partner for the past 25 years. Developing a strong connection with the country’s leading environmental education program has helped advance access to environmental resources and education for 240 million outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds, ultimately benefiting the world for future generations.”

About Leave No Trace 
Leave No Trace is an international movement, program and nonprofit organization that uses the power of science, education and stewardship, to ensure a sustainable future for the outdoors and the planet. The organization accomplishes this mission by delivering state-of-the-art education and research to millions of people across the country U.S., alone each year. For more information: www.LNT.org.

About Subaru of America, Inc. 
Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts, and accessories through a network of more than 630 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise, which is the company’s vision to show love and respect to everyone, and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA and the SOA Foundation have donated more than $300 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged nearly 88,000 volunteer hours. As a company, Subaru believes it is important to do its part in making a positive impact in the world because it is the right thing to do. For additional information visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

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Diane Anton 
Corporate Communications Manager 
Subaru of America, Inc. 
danton@subaru.com

Adam Leiter 
Corporate Communications Specialist 
Subaru of America, Inc. 
aleiter@subaru.com

Mark Eller 
Marketing and Communications Director 
Leave No Trace 
Mark@LNT.org

BOULDER, Colo., October 9, 2024 /3BL/ – Leave No Trace, an internationally renowned nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the outdoors, honored Subaru of America, Inc. with its 2024 Corporate Excellence Award for the company’s work as a leader in corporate responsibility. Subaru representatives were presented with the Corporate Excellence Award during the Leave No Trace Global Summit, held in Boulder, Colorado. The awards honor individuals, agencies, businesses, and organizations dedicated to furthering the Leave No Trace mission, going above and beyond for the Leave No Trace movement, and inspiring others to do the same.

Since 1999, the Subaru/Leave No Trace education teams have served as the nonprofit’s mobile education arm. They are comprised of paired individuals who live and work on the road, delivering cutting-edge educational programs from coast to coast to children and adults of all experience levels and ages.

Dana Watts, Executive Director, Leave No Trace: “This Subaru-sponsored program has inspired widespread stewardship of our shared public lands. I’m so proud of what this partnership has accomplished, and I’m thrilled to acknowledge their enduring support.”

A short video documenting the automaker’s contributions to Leave No Trace was presented during the Global Summit on Oct. 8, 2024, and can be viewed here.

Alan Bethke, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Subaru of America, Inc.: “At Subaru, our commitment to environmental sustainability and conservation remains steadfast, and we’re proud to have been Leave No Trace’s largest and longest-running corporate partner for the past 25 years. Developing a strong connection with the country’s leading environmental education program has helped advance access to environmental resources and education for 240 million outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds, ultimately benefiting the world for future generations.”

About Leave No Trace 
Leave No Trace is an international movement, program and nonprofit organization that uses the power of science, education and stewardship, to ensure a sustainable future for the outdoors and the planet. The organization accomplishes this mission by delivering state-of-the-art education and research to millions of people across the country U.S., alone each year. For more information: www.LNT.org.

About Subaru of America, Inc. 
Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts, and accessories through a network of more than 630 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise, which is the company’s vision to show love and respect to everyone, and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA and the SOA Foundation have donated more than $300 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged nearly 88,000 volunteer hours. As a company, Subaru believes it is important to do its part in making a positive impact in the world because it is the right thing to do. For additional information visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

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Diane Anton 
Corporate Communications Manager 
Subaru of America, Inc. 
danton@subaru.com

Adam Leiter 
Corporate Communications Specialist 
Subaru of America, Inc. 
aleiter@subaru.com

Mark Eller 
Marketing and Communications Director 
Leave No Trace 
Mark@LNT.org

October 9 Event Showcased Sustainability Initiatives Including “Flipping the Switch” on Solar Panel Field and Planting the First Tree in New Forest Management ProgramVeolia’s New Gum Springs Facility is Setting the Industry Standard for Decarbonization and Protecting Natural Resources

BOSTON, October 9, 2024 /3BL/ – Demonstrating a deeply held commitment to environmental sustainability, Veolia North America today hosted a celebration at its new hazardous waste treatment center in Gum Springs, Arkansas, highlighting a series of unprecedented initiatives to make the plant the most sustainable operation of its kind in the U.S. 

The October 9 ceremony put a spotlight on VNA’s commitment and investment in sustainability and workforce development at the Gum Springs operation, where a new state-of-the-art facility for the high-temperature thermal treatment of hazardous waste is set to open in 2025. To prepare for the new facility’s opening, VNA is protecting surrounding natural resources and supporting decarbonization strategies in carbon-intensive industries.

The sustainability features showcased at the ceremony include: 

A 5-megawatt solar panel installation, recently completed to provide a clean source of electricity at the plant. A ceremonial “Flip the Switch” activation will include leaders from VNA and Today’s Power Inc., which led construction of the installation.A forest management program, covering over 1,000 acres surrounding the facility, which includes over 600 acres of active reforestation and the planting of 100,000 trees in 2025. The ceremony will include the planting of the first tree sapling.A first-of-its-kind innovation for capturing heat to generate electricity. This feature will make use of a 7-megawatt steam turbine to generate power.Advanced technologies for monitoring wildlife and biodiversity near the facility. In partnership with the National Museum of Natural History (MNHN) in Paris, France, a cutting-edge LEKO (Light Emission and Kinetic Observation) biodiversity monitoring tool is installed on the property, using sensors to listen, identify, and count species in the surrounding habitat. 

“Together, these initiatives demonstrate Veolia’s vision for creating a brighter future for the hundreds of communities in the U.S. and Canada where we provide essential environmental services in waste, water and energy,” said VNA President and CEO Fred Van Heems. “Veolia’s global GreenUp strategy for growth hinges on our commitment to providing innovative solutions for environmental challenges, and we are backing that commitment up through the work and vision we are carrying out at Gum Springs.”

Bob Cappadona, President and CEO of VNA’s Environmental Solutions and Services business, which oversees the Gum Springs operation. “The work we do at Gum Springs is consistent with the aspirations that we all have for a cleaner world and cleaner future for our children, because we provide the most scientifically proven method for managing complex waste materials in a way that protects our natural resources,” Cappadona said. “That’s why we are celebrating these pioneering initiatives with our colleagues and neighbors in Arkansas.”

Today’s Power Chief Operating Officer Learon Dalby said the work done by the Today’s Power team to complete the solar field will contribute to a cleaner electricity delivery system in Central Arkansas. “Today’s Power Inc. is pleased to work with Veolia and the South Central Electric Cooperative to provide the 5MW solar facility to support their renewable energy needs. TPI is proud to have built this facility, and we look forward to a continued strong relationship with Veolia and South Central Electric Cooperative as the ongoing operator of the project.”

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ABOUT VEOLIA

Veolia group aims to become the benchmark company for ecological transformation. Present on five continents with nearly 218,000 employees, the Group designs and deploys useful, practical solutions for the management of water, waste and energy that are contributing to a radical turnaround of the current situation. Through its three complementary activities, Veolia helps to develop access to resources, to preserve available resources and to renew them. In 2023, the Veolia group provided 113 million inhabitants with drinking water and 103 million with sanitation, produced 42 million megawatt hours of energy and treated 63 million tonnes of waste. Veolia Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE) achieved consolidated revenue of 45,351 million euros in 2023. www.veolia.com  

ABOUT VEOLIA NORTH AMERICA 

A subsidiary of Veolia group, Veolia North America (VNA)  is the top-ranked environmental company in the United States for three consecutive years, and the country’s largest private water operator and technology provider as well as hazardous waste and pollution treatment leader. It offers a full spectrum of water, waste, and energy management services, including water and wastewater treatment, commercial and hazardous waste collection and disposal, energy consulting and resource recovery. VNA helps commercial, industrial, healthcare, higher education, and municipality customers throughout North America. Headquartered in Boston, Mass., Veolia North America has more than 10,000 employees working at more than 350 locations across the continent. 

ABOUT TODAY’S POWER INC.

Based in North Little Rock, Arkansas, Today’s Power, Inc. was founded in 2014 by Arkansas Electric Cooperatives Inc. (AECI) to support the 17 electric cooperatives across Arkansas in their renewable needs. Today TPI is an integral part of helping the electric cooperative and public power market as well as commercial customers of all sizes, with the company’s footprint expanding to cover a 7-state area, totaling over 75 solar sites to date.

Veolia Contact:
Matt Burgard
Communications Manager, Veolia North America
matthew.burgard@veolia.com
(203) 859-4168

Today’s Power, Inc. Contact
Taylor Baker
tbaker@todayspower.com
(501) 590-5959