Tag: 3BL

In 2004, the PNC Foundation was faced with a challenge: it had focused grantmaking on meeting the unique needs of the communities in the company’s 12 markets. While this enabled custom solutions to local challenges, the PNC Foundation struggled to clearly articulate the impact its philanthropy was driving.

Recognizing the need to align grantmaking with one cause, the PNC Foundation first turned to employees for input. Overwhelmingly, employees expressed a passion for early childhood education. This led to the launch of PNC Grow Up Great, a $500 million, multi-year, bilingual initiative aimed at preparing children from birth to age five for success in school and life. Fast forward to today, Grow Up Great is celebrating its 20th anniversary, having positively impacted more than 10 million children through grants and educational programs across the U.S.

We invited Sally McCrady, Chair and President of the PNC Foundation, to share how Grow Up Great has sustained lasting impact over two decades. She highlighted the program’s strategic direction, driven by strong leadership engagement, active employee volunteerism, and a commitment to asking, “Is this going to help children?” By staying true to this mission and fostering a culture of service, Grow Up Great has become a powerful force for early childhood education, inspiring long-term success both within PNC and in the communities it serves.

Listen for insights on:

Managing a philanthropic initiative so it remains relevant and impactfulWorking alongside and supporting partners in growing their capabilities and offeringsEngaging employees through skills-based volunteerism

Listen to this and other episodes of Purpose 360 Podcast here.

Purpose 360 Podcast is a masterclass in unlocking the potential of purpose to ignite business and social impact. Hosted by Carol Cone, CEO of Carol Cone ON PURPOSE, Purpose 360 illuminates the impact of purpose, from engaging employees and fostering deeper consumer loyalty to inspiring product innovation and increasing market share.

Carol Cone ON PURPOSE (CCOP) is a pioneering social impact consultancy helping companies, brands, and nonprofits harness the power of purpose to advance their business and societal impact. CCOP’s proven approach, developed over decades and hundreds of purpose assignments, meets clients at any point on their purpose journey to unlock opportunities to build reputation, inspire and engage employees, ignite organizational culture for innovation and growth, while supporting the greater good.

Marathon runners understand that the human body provides energy from different forms throughout a race to be able to keep running. When energy reserves start to wane, the runners find hydration stations to fill back up and keep pace throughout the race. The energy grid also requires energy reserves to stabilize demand during peak times, and energy storage systems (ESS) provide that capability. Integrating ESS is critical to grid modernization as this shift is reshaping how the world generates, distributes, and consumes electricity.

Grid modernization is focused on transforming the current electrical energy infrastructure to meet the demands of the 21st century and beyond. This change of the grid and energy industry is complex and ongoing. Collaboration between utilities, technology companies, policymakers, and consumers is essential to overcome the challenges and seize the opportunities presented by grid modernization. Key to this transition will be the integration of multiple technologies into the energy grid, including energy storage.

History of energy storage in the power grid

Energy storage systems are most known for battery energy storage systems (BESS), but that is not where ESS started. Pumped hydroelectric storage started in the late 19th century in Europe and grew throughout the 20th century in regions with suitable water systems. The oil crises that spread throughout the late 20th century spurred research into alternative energy storage sources. Advances in battery technology transformed BESS from being primarily lead-acid to lithium-ion chemistries.

The integration of renewable energy sources like wind and solar has also driven the need for ESS. Utility-scale ESS has become increasingly common, playing a critical role in grid stabilization and enabling further renewable energy generation. Other storage technologies like flow batteries, thermal energy storage, and compressed air energy storage are also gaining traction. The history of energy storage is a journey from curiosity to necessity and will continue to play an indispensable role as the world transitions through grid modernization to a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Energy storage systems supporting grid modernization

Several energy storage systems are playing a pivotal role in enhancing the power grid’s reliability, efficiency, and sustainability, including:

Lithium-ion batteries: Lithium-ion battery technology has seen rapid growth due to its high energy density, fast charging capabilities, and declining costs. It is also a more versatile chemistry, suitable for applications from electric vehicles to grid-scale storage. Lithium-ion also plays a key role in renewables by quickly storing excess solar power and wind energy for later use.Pumped hydroelectric storage: Pumped hydroelectric storage is a mature technology that has proven reliability and long duration storage capabilities. It is ideal for large-scale energy shifting by balancing daily and seasonal energy fluctuations. Its only restriction is that it requires specific geographical conditions for implementation.Flow batteries: Flow batteries can store energy for extended durations, making them suitable for seasonal energy shifts. They also possess deep discharge capabilities without performance degradation. However, they remain an emerging technology still under development and gaining commercial visibility.Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES): Similar to pumped hydroelectric storage, CAES can store energy for extended periods and requires specific geological formations for air compression. One key benefit of CAES is its ability to efficiently convert energy with minimal losses.Thermal energy storage: Thermal energy storage can retain energy for days or even months. It includes multiple forms, like molten salt, ice, and hot water storage. Thermal energy storage is compatible with solar thermal and geothermal energy, providing integration with renewable heat sources.

There are several other emerging technologies like solid-state batteries, hydrogen storage, and gravity-based storage that are being evaluated for implementation at scale. These technologies, whether individually and in combination, are modernizing the grid into a more stable and resilient system.

Benefits and challenges of energy storage for grid modernization

More advanced ESS is critical in transforming the traditional power grid into a smarter and energy-efficient network. Grid modernization brings numerous benefits to the system and users alike. Utility providers benefit as energy storage can improve grid efficiency by shifting power consumption to off-peak hours and optimizing the use of existing grid infrastructure—reducing overall strain on the current grid network. ESS is also critical to the integration of renewable energy sources by smoothing out the excess renewable energy during periods of high generation and releasing it during high demand or low generation. This can help defer the need for new power plants.

Users benefit as energy storage can provide backup power during outages, reducing the frequency and duration of blackouts. ESS can also help lower operating costs by optimizing the use of energy resources and reducing the need for expensive peak-load generation.

While energy storage offers significant benefits for grid modernization, some challenges remain for acceptance and implementation to grow. The initial investment in ESS can be significant, although costs are decreasing over time as development continues to advance. Some energy storage technologies have relatively short storage durations, which can limit their effectiveness in managing long-term energy stability. The mining, production, and disposal of batteries can have negative environmental impacts. Integrating ESS into the existing power grid requires careful planning and coordination to ensure system interoperability.

Addressing these challenges will be crucial for the successful deployment of energy storage systems and the modernization of the power grid. Successful implementation requires collaboration between utilities, technology providers, regulators, standards developers, and customers.

The Road Ahead

The transformation of the grid and energy industry is complex and ongoing. The full potential of energy storage systems for grid modernization can be realized by investing in infrastructure upgrades, developing innovative technologies, and increasing visibility of energy storage availability. This will ensure the world can create a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable energy grid for the future. Like a well-trained marathon runner, the power grid will have a stable supply of energy sources going forward.

In the next blog post of the grid modernization series, we will explore solar power. Bookmark this post and check back again next month for a link to the next blog post. Read all blog posts in this series on grid modernization and network communications.

Originally published in Principal Financial Group 2023 Sustainability Report

Inclusion in the workplace: Growth in diversity

We are committed to attracting and retaining a workforce with broad perspectives that is well-positioned to serve the diverse needs of our customers.

To measure progress against our strategy and ensure equal employment opportunity, we track representation within our U.S. employee population with an aspiration of aligning to market availability. To determine availability benchmarks, as a federal contractor we reference the Census EEO Tabulation created by the U.S. Census Bureau, OFCCP, and other agencies, which provides a single resource for statistical demographic data by location.

We track and report representation within our U.S. employee population to ensure fair and equitable treatment for all. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made and understand this is a journey.

In 2023, we made additional progress against availability benchmarks: 

Increased the number of women in leadership positions to 41.0%, compared to availability benchmarks of 43%. Increased the number of people of color in leadership positions to 10.1%, compared to availability benchmarks of 13%.Increased the number of people of color in non-leadership positions to 18.1%, compared to availability benchmarks of 19%.Increased the number of persons with disabilities to 5.0%, compared to availability benchmarks of 7.0%.Increased the number of veterans to 3.2%, compared to availability benchmarks of 5.5%.

Our goal1 is to achieve and sustain availability benchmarks. Considering external and internal historical trends, we’re on track to achieve availability benchmarks which are our goals by 2026.

Within our leadership bands, people of color in senior management positions increased to 23%, up from 18% in 2022. Additionally, people of color in management positions increased to nearly 8%, up from 7% in 2022. In our total U.S. workforce, we’ve seen a 4.2% increase of people of color, from 15.6% in 2022 to 16.3% in 2023. Additionally, in 2023 persons with disabilities made up approximately 5% of our U.S. workforce, up from 4.5% in 2022, and veterans made up approximately 3.2%, up from 3.1% in 2022.

Global representation We continue to track and report gender representation across our global workforce. In 2023, women made up 54% of our global workforce, 30% of our IT department, and 26% of our engineering workforce. In the U.S., approximately 61% of employees promoted in 2023 were women, up from 56% in 2022. Globally, our workforce spans five generations. The average age of our global workforce is 42.

11% growth of persons with disabilities in our U.S. workforce from 2022 to 202323% people of color in senior management positions in the U.S. in 20233% growth of veterans from in our U.S. workforce from 2022 to 202354% women across our global workforce in 2023

We continue to track and report demographic information for our U.S. and global workforce, where available and aim to add other dimensions of diversity as we enhance system capabilities. This allows us to continue making progress toward our diversity goals.

Scored 100 out of 100 on the Disability Equality Index (DEI) for our disability inclusion efforts 
Disability:IN (July 2023)Recognized as a 2024 Military Friendly Employer 
Military Friendly (November 2023)Recognized as one of 2024 Best Places to Work in IT for the 22nd consecutive year 
Computerworld (November 2023)

Global employee representation by gender and employment category2

Job Category: Executives

Female: 5; 38%Male: 8; 62%

Job Category: Senior Management

Female: 4; 29%Male: 10; 71%

Job Category: Management

Female: 1,313; 47%Male: 1,500; 53%

Job Category: Professionals and administrators

Female: 9,321; 55%Male: 7,668; 45%

Total Workforce

Female: 10,643; 54%Male: 9,186; 46%

Recognized as one of The Best Employers for Women 2023 
Forbes (July 2023)

Named a 50 Out Front: Best Place to Work for Women and Diverse Managers Diversity MBA (July 2023)

Inclusion in the workplace: Pay equity 

One of the guiding principles of our global pay philosophy is to be market driven. This means that total pay is set and administered in alignment with the external labor markets in which we compete for talent. We use third- party market data to help ensure base salary and incentives are appropriately aligned. We obtain this data through our annual participation in salary surveys administered by unaffiliated consulting firms. Employees receive an annual compensation statement that explains the components of their pay and how their performance influences the awards they receive.

Pay equity is central to our compensation practices and policies. We conduct an annual global pay audit with a credible third-party to identify unexplained differences in pay between employees doing similar work in commensurate positions. On a global level, our pay audit includes a gender pay gap assessment, and in the U.S., our pay audit includes both a gender and a racial pay gap assessment. While we do not currently disclose the specific results of our pay audit, we continue to be proud of our gender and racial pay equity performance, which support that our pay aligns with our stated non- discriminatory compensation philosophies.

To promote pay transparency, we continue to post the minimum and maximum salary ranges for all open positions in the U.S.—both internally and externally. We believe that disclosing the salary range for all U.S.-based open positions is not only crucial to giving individuals more agency—especially women and people of color—but it’s also a necessary step to reducing pay disparities, creating a fair application and recruitment process, and finding highly qualified candidates. As of December 31, 2023, the ratio of the annual total compensation of the CEO to the annual total compensation of the median employee was 194:1.

Read more about our employment policies and global pay philosophy

To learn more, read the Principal Financial Group 2023 Sustainability Report.

Additional information on our commitments to advance inclusion, representation, accessibility, and equity within our workplace, business practices, and communities can be found in the 2023 Global Inclusion Report.

1Goals are subject to change as/if availability benchmarks change. Goals are currently established for Principal Financial Group U.S. workforce only.

2Includes 15 individuals who did not report their gender. Figures presented here include our global workforce.

Insurance products issued by Principal National Life Insurance Co (except in NY) and Principal Life Insurance Company®. Plan administrative services offered by Principal Life. Principal Funds, Inc. is distributed by Principal Funds Distributor, Inc. Securities offered through Principal Securities, Inc., member SIPC and/or independent broker/dealers. Referenced companies are members of the Principal Financial Group®, Des Moines, IA 50392.​

3777749-092024

We’re dedicated to cutting our absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 28% by 2030, with a long-term goal of reaching net zero by 2050. In celebration of Zero Emissions Day, and as part of our ongoing commitment to a sustainable future, we’re proud to highlight that we’ve reduced emissions by 18% since 2019.

About Regency Centers Corporation (NASDAQ: REG)

Regency Centers is a preeminent national owner, operator, and developer of shopping centers located in suburban trade areas with compelling demographics. Our portfolio includes thriving properties merchandised with highly productive grocers, restaurants, service providers, and best-in-class retailers that connect to their neighborhoods, communities, and customers. Operating as a fully integrated real estate company, Regency Centers is a qualified real estate investment trust (REIT) that is self-administered, self-managed, and an S&P 500 Index member. For more information, please visit RegencyCenters.com

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Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

Last month, U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance provided a $2 million equity-equivalent investment (EQ2) in Raza Development Fund (RDF) to help fund community health centers in Latino neighborhoods across the state of California. The partnership was one of many investments – ranging from New Market Tax Credits transactions to successful expansions of financial solutions across various U.S. Bank business lines – that Impact Finance has made in the past six years in RDF, the largest national, Latino-focused Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).

“This transformative investment in Comunidad Sana, our health equity initiative, not only allows us to expand our reach but also strengthens the essential work of community health centers. These centers are lifelines in underserved communities, providing critical health services and ensuring that quality care is accessible to all. By deepening our commitment to health equity, we are fostering healthier communities, reducing disparities, and laying the foundation for long-term, systemic change,” said President & CEO Annie Donovan.

Driven by a mission to close wealth and opportunity gaps in Latino and other under-resourced communities across the United States, RDF provides financial solutions to community-based organizations focused on health, education, affordable housing, climate resilience, homeownership and entrepreneurship.

In addition to the EQ2 investment to support Raza’s Comunidad Sana Fund, which plans to deploy capital to Federally Qualified Health Centers and other community health centers in Latino communities across the state of California, Impact Finance and RDF in August 2024 closed on a $10 million Racial Equity Direct Purchase Bond through U.S. Bank’s Impact Capital Program that will help support RDF lending programs within the state of California.

“RDF values U.S. Bank as a key partner and strong supporter of our mission,” said Donovan. “Our collaboration encompasses various forms of financial support, knowledge sharing and strategic partnerships. Our relationship with U.S. Bank exemplifies the power of these collaborations. Through shared values and a commitment to advancing economic opportunity, we’ve built a partnership that allows us to amplify our collective impact.”

Lastly, through U.S. Bank’s Community Development Entity, Impact Finance provided RDF a $100,000 grant to support the organization’s upcoming 25th anniversary, a two-day Latino Leadership Summit to be held in Los Angeles, and a landscape study of Latino-led and Latino-serving CDFIs.

“These recent opportunities help expand the existing relationship between U.S. Bank and RDF, and more importantly help support the mission for the largest Latino-focused CDFI in the country,” said U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance Vice President Garrett Murdock.

CDFIs play a critical role in bringing investment and resources to underserved communities and to organizations that may not have access to traditional financing. Last year, Impact Finance committed $534 million in loans to CDFIs and other community development intermediaries.

“We are proud of the longstanding partnership with U.S. Bank. Over the years, U.S. Bank has been a trusted ally in supporting our mission and innovation, and together we continue to deliver exceptional financial solutions that make capital available to our underserved communities,” said RDF Chief Financial Officer Tony Lopez. “U.S. Bank has taken the time to understand our mission and connect with our team and the communities we serve. This strong relationship has not only empowered RDF to be a responsible steward of capital but also created impactful opportunities that benefit the people and communities at the heart of our work.”

Combining the financial strength and expertise of institutions like U.S. Bank with the deep local knowledge and mission-driven focus of CDFIs, helps create lasting, positive change, Donovan said.

“Together, we’re shaping a future where opportunity and financial inclusion are accessible to all,” she said.

Tomorrow’s women in tech are getting a boost in their career journeys, with inspiration, encouragement, and support through a partnership between AMD in Dublin and Connecting Women in Tech (CWiT). At an event in 2023, Ruth Cotter, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Communications and HR at AMD, met with the AMD Women’s Forum (AWF) in Ireland to discuss the exciting initiatives underway to encourage girls and women in STEM and close the gender gap.

CWiT is a network of more than 20 companies with a mission to attract, retain, and promote women in tech. This mission closely aligns with that of AWF, which advocates for girls and women in STEM fields and inspires them to pursue careers in the technology industry.

CWiT membership requires a commitment to getting involved in initiatives, and in 2023, these included supporting the volunteer organization “Teen Turn,” the STEM teacher internship program, and the STEM engagement initiative “Digital Futures.”

It is essential to introduce girls to STEM at a young age and build their confidence to promote gender equality and foster diversity and inclusion in the workforce. That’s exactly what Teen Turn does: through this organization, young girls from disadvantaged backgrounds or areas are empowered to develop essential problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and creativity, preparing them for future careers in industries that drive innovation.

In 2023, AMD hosted transition-year Teen Turn girls (secondary students aged 15 to 16) in our Dublin office for two weeks during the summer, giving them the opportunity to gain experience working in tech.

To inspire innovative learning, in partnership with the Dublin City University STEM Teacher Internship Programme, AMD funds two interns per year for 12 weeks, primarily in engineering. This provides teachers with hands-on engineering experience they can draw on to demystify and excite young children about STEM.

As part of the Digital Futures Initiative, AMD engineers also visit schools and share an engaging presentation that illustrates what it is like to have a career in tech. Digital Futures is a program developed to raise students’ awareness of the diversity of career opportunities in the technology sector and promote STEM careers throughout Ireland. In 2023, more than 1,000 young people joined to find out more about STEM careers.

Learn more at https://www.amd.com/en/corporate/corporate-responsibility/diversity-belonging-inclusion.html.

Originally published in AMD 2023-24 Corporate Responsibility Report.

In the early 2000s, Dr. Shannon Hader led the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s collaboration with the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health that provided tens of thousands of people with much-needed HIV care.

Shannon, a public health and infectious disease specialist, returned to the United States in 2006 to witness a vastly different situation in the nation’s capital. Washington, D.C. was facing a public health crisis with the highest rates of HIV in the nation. Shannon found that the district was resorting to an outdated HIV response system, so she prioritized the use of updated data and began introducing some of the innovative practices from the work in Africa to the work in the U.S.

“For a long time, it’s been very easy to pretend that the wealthy countries are fine – that it’s the non-wealthy countries that aren’t doing well,” she explains. “However, the reality is every single country in the world has more to do to help end the HIV epidemic. As the epidemic and tools evolve, our practices must evolve with them.”

That’s the crux of a new report, Going the Extra Mile to End the HIV Epidemic, that she helped author with Dr. Junko Tanuma of the National Center for Global Health and Medicine in Japan, and Mercy Shibemba, a health equity advocate for young people living with HIV in the UK. The report, commissioned and funded by Gilead, offers a roadmap that could help countries achieve the United Nations’ goal of eliminating HIV by 2030. It also maintains that the tools are available to end the epidemic, but countries need to do more.

“There’s really no reason why we can’t achieve it,” says Mercy. “But we’re less than six years away from the United Nations’ goal of eliminating HIV by 2030 — and no country is close to that goal, despite having the tools and resources that can help us get to zero.”

To measure progress, the authors examined programs in nine Western countries, highlighting key takeaways from each nation’s approach and potential areas for improvement. Despite major advances in scientific innovation, access to care and growth of health systems, there are still millions of people around the world living with HIV.

The report emphasizes the need to implement national strategies focused on four key areas. These include broader use of prevention, large-scale screening for diagnosis, expansion of community-based care and use of tools to measure quality of life and gauge success. It also examines the social factors that still stand in the way of progress, such as stigma, discrimination and health equity and access to care.

Mercy’s own journey is an example of these obstacles, as she was born in 1998 with HIV but her sister, who is a few years younger, wasn’t. “The thing that separated us was equity and access, which are key issues that can help end the epidemic,” she says.

Mercy grew up worrying people would reject her if they discovered she was living with HIV. She believes it’s this fear of stigma and discrimination that still prevents many from getting the care they need today.

Shannon agrees, noting, “HIV is also a social issue, therefore we need to meet people where they are to help overcome stigma and discrimination.”

Now Dean of International Service at American University in Washington, D.C., Shannon regularly appeals to global leaders to help their communities work on progress in the prevention, testing and treatment of HIV within the next five years. She also looks to Gilead to continue to develop transformative therapies for those living with HIV and other diseases.

Both women reflect on what the epidemic could look like in 2030 and beyond, with Shannon saying hopefully, “My wish for you, Mercy, is that you’ll know what it’s like to live in a world where someday the epidemic has ended and there is a cure.”

Originally published by Gilead Sciences

For 8 years, House+Home ambassadors in Mexico (mostly Whirlpool employees and family members) have teamed up with Apoya tu Bosque Local to plant more than 5,000 endemic trees covering over 5.24 hectares.

Just this year, 100 House+Home ambassadors have planted more than 850 trees!

About Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is a leading kitchen and laundry appliance company, in constant pursuit of improving life at home and inspiring generations with our brands. The company is driving meaningful innovation to meet the evolving needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, JennAir, Maytag, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, and InSinkErator. In 2023, the company reported approximately $19 billion in annual sales, 59,000 employees, and 55 manufacturing and technology research centers. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com.

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SANTA ROSA, Calif., October 8, 2024 /3BL/ – Conservation Corps North Bay’s (CCNB) new facility in Sonoma County will be unveiled to partners, donors, and community members in October’s Grand Opening, highlighting its larger capacity for storage of recyclables, easier access for corpsmembers, and increased reach of its natural resources services.

With support from funders such as Cal Recycle, Wells Fargo, REDF, Ginnie and Peter Haas Jr., and The William G. Irwin Charity Foundation, CCNB purchased and is making renovations to a 25,000-square-foot building at 3555 Airway Dr. off Industrial Dr. in North Santa Rosa, which is accessible by walking or biking and close to public transportation routes.

Since the move began in March of this year, the new building represents more capacity for CCNB’s Zero Waste program to expand their E-waste, mattress, and other recycling collection efforts, and the ability to provide more fire fuel reduction, flood prevention, and trail restoration services across Sonoma County.

“We are grateful to all who have been involved in making this vision a reality. In the six months since we made this move, we have seen immediate increases in recycling drop offs, quantity of field projects, and number of local young adults applying for our program. We can’t wait to welcome more as our capacity continues to grow.” 
-Angel Minor, CEO

About Conservation Corps North Bay 
Conservation Corps North Bay (CCNB) is a paid job training program that helps young adults navigate barriers to achieve their career goals. CCNB’s mission is to develop youth and conserve natural resources for a resilient, sustainable, and equitable community. You can learn more at www.ccnorthbay.org.

Anastasia Pryor, Director of Development and Communications 

apryor@ccnorthbay.org 

(415) 763-3105

CINCINNATI, October 7, 2024 /3BL/ – The Fifth Third Foundation is proud to support the American Red Cross and local nonprofit organizations across the southeastern U.S. as they provide care, comfort and support to local communities affected by Hurricane Helene.

A longtime supporter of the American Red Cross Disaster Responder Program, Fifth Third has contributed $350,000 to Red Cross Disaster Relief, including $100,000 specifically designated to provide aid in the Carolinas.

Additionally, the Fifth Third Foundation has committed $125,000 to nine community-based nonprofits and food banks across North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and North Florida that are providing support directly to local communities ravaged by the hurricane.

“Our hearts are heavy as the sheer devastation caused by Hurricane Helene becomes clearer across the Southeast,” said Kala Gibson, chief corporate responsibility officer for Fifth Third. “The ways we show up for each other have always been a hallmark of Fifth Third. We consistently find ways to support our Fifth Third family and the wider community – through every challenge and every opportunity. We will continue to seek opportunities to provide support as our communities across the southeast recover.”

The Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters across the country every year, providing comfort and hope during what might be the worst days of people’s lives. Donations from Disaster Responder Program members like the Fifth Third Foundation enable the Red Cross to prepare communities for disasters big and small, respond whenever and wherever disasters occur and help families during the recovery process.

“Hurricane Helene has impacted the Carolinas in ways no one could have expected. The outpouring of support from our employees has been remarkable as we continue to find ways to help locally,” said Lee Fite, Fifth Third regional president for the Carolinas. “These commitments from the Fifth Third Foundation to both the American Red Cross and local non-profits are incredible investments in the recovery efforts. The rebuilding will take time, and we will remain steadfast in our support of our customers and employees who call the Carolinas home.”

Before Helene made landfall, hundreds of Red Cross disaster workers were deployed to the Southeastern United states from across the country. As of Oct. 2, the Red Cross has deployed over 1,200 disaster workforce volunteers to Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas. In some of the hardest hit areas that are accessible, 60 Red Cross emergency response vehicles are distributing meals, water, and critical relief supplies. In the days and weeks to come, the Red Cross will work alongside community partners and local officials to ensure people get the assistance that they need to get back on their feet.

“Thanks to Fifth Third Foundation’s extraordinary support, the Red Cross is able to shelter and support families impacted by disasters big and small across the country,” said Anne McKeough, chief development officer at the American Red Cross. “We are proud to count on supporters like Fifth Third Foundation as we work together to provide much-needed comfort and care to people left in need from more frequent and intense hurricanes, tornados and storms, worsening wildfires, home fires and other crises.”

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About Fifth Third

Fifth Third is a bank that’s as long on innovation as it is on history. Since 1858, we’ve been helping individuals, families, businesses and communities grow through smart financial services that improve lives. Our list of firsts is extensive, and it’s one that continues to expand as we explore the intersection of tech-driven innovation, dedicated people and focused community impact. Fifth Third is one of the few U.S.-based banks to have been named among Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies® for several years. With a commitment to taking care of our customers, employees, communities and shareholders, our goal is not only to be the nation’s highest performing regional bank, but to be the bank people most value and trust.

Fifth Third Bank, National Association is a federally chartered institution. Fifth Third Bancorp is the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank and its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ® Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.” Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com. Deposit and credit products provided by Fifth Third Bank, National Association. Member FDIC.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.