CSRwire Press Releases, Events and Reports

Hooters Makes $40,464 Donation to the MDA

2009-11-13 17:47:22 -0500

On Monday, November 16th a check will be presented to the Muscular Dystrophy Association in the amount of $40,464 raised by 60 Hooters Restaurants located in the southeast. The Hooters Girls and employees raised the funds in just 4 weeks through various fundraising events. The check presentation will take place in Atlanta, at the Hooters of Cumberland located at 2977 Cobb Parkway at 5:00 PM. "Hooters has a solid and extensive relationship with the MDA," stated Bonnie Rhinehardt, Division Vice President for Hooters of America, Inc. "I am extremely proud of the management, Hooters Girls and staff that pulled together and exceeded our goal for this cause." Hooters restaurants are involved with many invaluable charitable organizations at the national and local level. Over the past ten years, Hooters restaurants have donated over $8 million to various causes, including Make-A-Wish Foundation, Operation Homefront, Special Olympics and the V Foundation for Cancer Research. About Hooters of America, Inc. Hooters of America, Inc. is the franchisor and operator of over 450 Hooters restaurants in 42 states and 26 foreign countries. The first Hooters opened in 1983 in Clearwater, Florida. Hooters is well-known for its brand of food and fun, featuring a casual beach-theme atmosphere, a menu that features seafood, sandwiches and Hooters nearly world famous chicken wings, and service provided by the All-American cheerleaders, the Hooters Girls. For more information about Hooters visit www.hooters.com.

First Book Awarded Charity Navigator's Highest Four-Star Rating for Third Consecutive Year

2009-11-13 14:57:12 -0500

First Book, the nonprofit providing new books to children in need, has been awarded with a 4-Star rating for the third consecutive year by Charity Navigator, the nation's leading charity evaluator. Only 13% of the charities rated by Charity Navigator have received at least 3 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that First Book consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way and outperforms most other charities in America. "We are particularly pleased to receive this 4-star rating as Charity Navigator is well-known for the rigor of its careful analysis of the financial stability and efficiency of the nation's top nonprofits," said Jane Robinson, First Book chief financial officer. Charity Navigator highlights the fine work of efficient charities and provides donors with essential information needed to give them greater confidence in the charitable choices they make. Based on the most recent financial information, this "exceptional" designation from Charity Navigator differentiates First Book from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust. Charity Navigator, which does not endorse nonprofits, uses an objective, numbers-based rating system to assess the financial health of more than 5,500 of America's best-known charities. The group's professional analysts examine tens of thousands of nonprofit financial documents. Charity Navigator's rating system examines two broad areas of a charity's financial health -- how responsibly it functions day-to-day, as well as how well-positioned it is to sustain its programs over time. Each charity is then awarded an overall rating, ranging from zero to four stars. About Charity Navigator Founded in 2001, Charity Navigator has become the nation's largest and most-utilized evaluator of charities. Last year alone, more than four million donors used the award-winning site. The site is easily navigable by charity name, location or type of activity and also features opinion pieces by Charity Navigator experts, donation tips, and top-10 and bottom-10 lists which rank efficient and inefficient organizations in a number of categories. More information is available at www.charitynavigator.org. About First Book First Book provides new books to children in need, addressing one of the most important factors affecting literacy -- access to books. An innovative leader in social enterprise, First Book has distributed more than 65 million free and low cost books in thousands of communities. First Book now has offices in the U.S. and Canada. For more information about the nonprofit First Book please visit www.firstbook.org.

Highlighting 10 Years of Increasing Competitiveness through Improved Labor Standards

2009-11-13 13:19:34 -0500

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, the International Labour Organization, and Better Work are inviting media to a full-day event highlighting 10 years of increasing competitiveness through the improvement of labor standards. On November 19, the event will bring together more than 200 participants, including policymakers, businesses, international and U.S. employer organizations and trade unions, opinion leaders, donors and technical agencies, the broader think tank and policy research community, and senior staff of the World Bank and IFC. Several garment companies also will be represented, including American Eagle Outfitters, Gap Inc., Jones Apparel, Levi Strauss & Co, Martha Stewart Living, Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, Walt Disney, and Wal-mart. A full list of participants is available upon request. Participants will review the achievements of the Better Factories Cambodia and Better Work programs that have benefited more than 1.2 million workers worldwide, and discuss ways to reach millions more by expanding to new industries. Date: Thursday, November 19, 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Media may choose to attend one or all sessions according to availability and also are invited to a luncheon scheduled for 12:45 p.m., located at the lobby level. Venue: IFC Auditorium, 2121 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. Speakers:

Michael Kobori, Vice President, Supply Chain Social and Environmental Sustainability, Levi Strauss & Co
Sandra Polaski, Deputy Under Secretary for International Affairs, U. S. Department of Labor
Rachel Kyte, IFC's Vice President, Business Advisory Services
Ros Harvey, Global Program Manager, Better Work
Cham Prasidh, Senior Minister, Minister of Commerce, Cambodia
Dr. Gazi Shbeikat, Minister of Labor, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

To register or for more information please contact Katia Theriault About IFC IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, creates opportunity for people to escape poverty and improve their lives. We foster sustainable economic growth in developing countries by supporting private sector development, mobilizing private capital, and providing advisory and risk mitigation services to businesses and governments. Our new investments totaled $14.5 billion in fiscal 2009, helping channel capital into developing countries during the financial crisis. For more information, visit www.ifc.org. For more information about ILO, visit www.ilo.org. For more information about Better Work, visit www.betterwork.org.

HBCU College Fair Hosted by Siemens

2009-11-13 12:16:00 -0500

In partnership with the Building Technologies Division of Siemens Industry, Inc. and its Sustainability Education Program, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Department of College and Career Preparation is offering an unprecedented opportunity for the Class of 2010 to connect with the admissions personnel from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The day-long event, held at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers in Chicago today, introduces CPS seniors to HBCUs-schools that they might not normally consider because they're either out of state or perceived as beyond their financial means. "During these tough economic times many of our students are struggling to find the money to pay for college," said Ron Huberman, CPS chief executive officer. "Not only does this event expose our students to some of the best institutions in the nation, the scholarships provided can help make their dream of going to college a reality." Through this event, thousands of CPS seniors can virtually tour 40 HBCUs and meet the admissions staff in one location. Each student has a chance to register with schools that interest them and provide data on their academic records. Later in the evening, HBCU staff members from 23 schools announce the names of individual students and the amounts of scholarships they were willing to offer prospective candidates. Like an awards show, this part of the evening provides an exciting and lucrative cap to the entire event and approximately 300 students were offered partial, annual and full-ride scholarships collectively worth more than $35 million. It's an established fact that HBCUs create an ideal educational environment for students with diverse backgrounds. Spanning the current and last two centuries, HBCUs have a legacy of providing a strong cultural, spiritual and academic platform from which students can launch and then fulfill their higher-education goals. Unfortunately, because HBCUs are predominantly located in southern states, students and parents living in Chicago are rarely exposed to students or alumni and likely not aware of the institutions or the educational opportunities they may offer. Similarly, the admissions staffs of these venerable institutions are faced with budgetary concerns that prevent them from traveling and reaching out to prospective students in the North. Through the financial support of Building Technologies' Sustainability Education Program, for the fifth year in a row HBCUs and CPS students have an opportunity to connect. "We recognized that a student's academic career is vulnerable at major transitional points," said Michael Moats, Siemens Sustainability Education Program director. "We like to create opportunities where our support and positive intervention can really help less privileged students rise above challenges; ones that usually don't get in the way of kids from more affluent families. With the HBCU fair, we help CPS students move past geographic and financial barriers -- things that would normally keep them from considering HBCUs -- schools with a rich tradition of fostering the academic and civic achievement of students from diverse backgrounds." Since 2001, Siemens Building Technologies has helped HBCUs award millions of dollars in scholarships to students in Chicago. The outreach program continues to sponsor summer bridge programs to help students prepare for the world of work after high school, trunk parties to help provide college-bound students with needed school supplies, and adult learning programs. Sustainability Education is also active nationwide supporting STEM initiatives and green curricula development. The goal is to provide students opportunities that will lead to careers in energy-related fields, including environmental and energy engineering as well as 21st century green technician jobs. The program partners with professional and philanthropic organizations such as the Association for Career Technical Education and the Ford Motor Company Fund. About Siemens: Building Technologies A division of Siemens Industry, Inc. (SII), Building Technologies (BT) Division is a leading provider of energy and environmental solutions, building controls, electrical distribution equipment, fire safety and security systems solutions. BT's solutions enable America's buildings to be more comfortable, secure and environmentally friendly as well as less costly to operate. With a U.S. headquarters in Buffalo Grove, Ill., BT employs 7,400 people and provides a full range of services and solutions from more than 100 locations coast-to-coast. Worldwide, the company has 28,000 employees and operates from more than 500 locations in 51 countries. The Building Technologies Division posted worldwide revenues of $9.02 billion in fiscal 2008. www.usa.siemens.com/buildingtechnologies Siemens Industry Siemens Industry, Inc. (SII) is the U.S. affiliate of Siemens' global Industry Sector business -- the world's leading supplier of production, transportation and building technology solutions. The company's integrated hardware and software technologies enable comprehensive industry-specific solutions for industrial and infrastructure providers to increase their productivity, sustainability and profitability. The Industry Sector includes six divisions: Building Technologies, Industry Automation, Industry Solutions, Mobility, Drive Technologies and OSRAM SYLVANIA. With nearly 222,000 Siemens Industry Sector employees worldwide, the Industry Sector posted a worldwide profit of $5.82 billion on revenues of $57 billion in fiscal 2008. www.usa.siemens.com/Industry

Anvil Knitwear Launches TrackMyT.com

2009-11-13 12:11:03 -0500

Anvil Knitwear, Inc. today announced the launch of TrackMyT.com, a groundbreaking, interactive Web site that chronicles and brings to life the complete journey and environmental impact of a t-shirt, from cotton-seed to consumer. The site, which specifically tracks t-shirts for youth ages two to 12, allows users to explore cotton farms, a gin and spinners, as well as Anvil’s textile mill, cut and sew plants, and distribution facility – all by inputting a unique tracking number printed on their very own shirt. With a highly dynamic experiential approach, the Web site is designed to appeal to kids and adults alike. It features surprise pop-up messages and graphics, alongside lesson plans for teachers that focus on the environmental, historical and social aspects of manufacturing, buying and owning a t-shirt. The idea for TrackMyT.com began as a response to the federal government’s recent Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, which this year required manufacturers of children’s products to provide labels allowing consumers to trace the product’s history. Anvil made a commitment to go beyond the letter of law. "Our goal in creating this site was not only to comply with industry requirements, but to turn it into an educational experience and teach about our footprint and ecological impact," said Anthony Corsano, Chief Executive Officer of Anvil, a leader in the sustainable apparel industry and the sixth-largest organic program in the world. "TrackMyT.com teaches kids, parents and educators how to be more environmentally responsible." In keeping with Anvil's commitment to being an environmentally and socially responsible company, the site explores the differences between organic and conventional cotton farming, and calculates the carbon footprint of each step in the manufacturing process. Because many consumers are unaware that an average of 60 percent of a shirt’s carbon contribution comes from a lifetime of washing and wearing (as opposed to its manufacturing), the site identifies ways the user can minimize his or her carbon footprint as a t-shirt owner. To create the site, Anvil partnered with the Webby-award winning AgencyNet, a digital advertising and marketing agency that specializes in developing emotionally engaging digital brand experiences and communication strategies. "It's hard to put into words just how proud I am of TrackMyT.com. I really believe this is one of our finest moments," Corsano said. "And it's one more way Anvil demonstrates that we not only understand and care about the future, but that we are committed to being responsible and good citizens of this world." About Anvil Knitwear Anvil Knitwear, Inc., a socially and environmentally responsible manufacturer of sportswear and accessories, is a leader in the sustainable apparel industry with its AnvilOrganic®, AnvilRecycled™ and AnvilSustainable™ brands. Anvil was ranked as the world’s sixth-largest organic program for 2008 and the largest domestic purchaser of U.S.-grown certified organic cotton and transitional cotton (cotton in conversion to organic farming methods). Anvil offers 16 affordable eco styles made from a variety of fibers such as certified organic cotton, transitional cotton, recycled cotton, and recycled PET bottles and blends, as well approximately 70 traditional styles. Anvil’s website www.TrackMyT.com offers educational information on the making of its youth tees. For more information about Anvil, please visit www.anvilknitwear.com and www.anvilcsr.com.

The Home Depot Foundation Announces Winners of Awards of Excellence for Affordable Housing Built Responsibly

2009-11-13 09:06:43 -0500

Today, The Home Depot(R) Foundation (THDF) announced the winners of its fifth annual Awards of Excellence for Affordable Housing Built Responsibly. The winners receive a total of $175,000 to further their goal of producing affordable, efficient and healthy housing, which is a major funding focus of THDF. The Home Depot Foundation believes building in a responsible and environmentally friendly way is simply a smart way to build quality, affordable housing. In particular, THDF emphasizes the monthly savings families enjoy from lower utility, maintenance and transportation costs associated with homes built to recognized green standards. The Awards of Excellence for Affordable Housing Built Responsibly identify, recognize and showcase the outstanding and innovative work of nonprofit organizations in the area of ‘green’ design and management of affordable housing. The award recipients were selected based on a number of criteria, including the physical design and building performance, as well as how well they met the needs of the local community while maintaining affordability for the residents. The first place winner in the Home Ownership category is:

First Place – Habitat for Humanity, St. Louis, MO (HFHSL): In a two-year blitz build, Habitat for Humanity St. Louis (HFHSL) has reinvigorated the Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood in Midtown St. Louis. The Jeff-Vander-Lou Neighborhood project, completed in 2008, is comprised of 27 single family homes that are 49 percent more energy efficient than homes built to code. In addition, the homes meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Platinum standards and earned the EPA’s Indoor Air Package (IAP) certification. HFHSL was able to build to green standards without adding any incremental costs to the development by utilizing available rebates and incentives. View the case study and video.

The first place winner and the runner up in the Rental category are:

First place – National Community Renaissance (National CORE), La Quinta, CA: National CORE revitalized a distressed mobile home park into a beautiful and affordable 80-unit green housing development, called Vista Dunes, which meets LEED Platinum standards. Meeting this stringent certification standard added no incremental costs to the project. As a result of energy-efficient building, residents typically have 67% lower utility bills than homes built to standard code in the area. To ensure the continuing high-performance of the apartments, the project team developed a manual and a DVD to inform residents how to maintain the green features of their new homes. New residents also receive hands on training from the property maintenance manager and a National CORE employee. View the case study and video.
Runner Up– Office of Rural Farm-Worker Housing from Yakima, WA: Completed in 2008, the 26 rental townhomes at Pear Tree Place are certified by Enterprise’s Green Communities program. As a result of the quality construction, residents, who typically earn less than $40,000 annually usually save 35 percent on their energy bills and 31 percent on their water bills, yet greening the project added less than 1% to the total development costs. View the case study and video.

"Building healthy, safe homes that families can afford to live in over the long-term is our purpose and our passion," said Kelly Caffarelli, president of The Home Depot Foundation. "We hope that identifying, recognizing and showcasing the outstanding and innovative work being done by nonprofits around the country will not only offer insight, but also inspiration, to others developing sustainable communities and housing for those of modest means." Winners were selected from projects submitted by nonprofit housing developers throughout the country. An advisory committee of experts from a variety of affordable housing, community development, building sciences and environmental organizations participated in the selection process. The committee included representatives of 360GREEN, Inc., Global Green USA, Enterprise Community, Partners, Inc., Forest Stewardship Council-US, Housing Assistance Council, Jay Hall and Associates, Inc., Mercy Housing Lakefront, Southface, US Green Building Council, The Noisette Company, LLC, City of Atlanta Office of Sustainability, National League of Cities, and the Madison Area Community Land Trust. Full case studies and videos on each winner are available at www.homedepotfoundation.org. About The Home Depot Foundation The Home Depot Foundation was created in 2002 to further the community building goals of The Home Depot. The Home Depot Foundation is dedicated to building affordable homes for working families that are healthy to live in and affordable to own. To make homes healthy and affordable, the Foundation encourages developers to incorporate responsible design and use durable and quality materials to ensure that homes are more energy and water efficient, have good indoor air quality, and provide a safe and healthy space to live. Since its formation, The Home Depot Foundation has granted $120 million to nonprofit organizations and supported the development of more than 65,000 affordable, healthy homes. For more information, visit www.homedepotfoundation.org or follow THDF on Twitter - @HomeDepotFdn.

Chef One Presents Dumpling Festival Proceeds to Food Bank For New York City

2009-11-12 17:19:46 -0500

On October 24th, Chef One, a Brooklyn food manufacturer, hosted the first ever New York City Dumpling Festival at Sara D. Roosevelt Park in Manhattan, benefiting the Food Bank For New York City. The park was filled to capacity and the event successfully raised $17,092.87, which the Chef One Board has decided to match, doubling the total to $34,185.74. On Friday, November 13th, Chef One will present a check to the Food Bank, to help the Food Bank fight hunger in New York City. We invite you to help us commemorate our joint efforts in bringing public awareness to the hunger issues facing New York City. When: Friday, November 13, 2009 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Where: Community Kitchen & Pantry of West Harlem 252 W. 116th Street New York, NY 10026 What: Chef One presents Dumpling Festival proceeds to Food Bank For New York City. TMI Food Group announces donation of additional 10,000 pounds of noodles to Food Bank. (TMI Food Group is composed of Twin Marquis Inc., Chef One Corp, and TMI Trading Corp.) Who: Tricia Rumola, Director of Business Partnerships, Food Bank For New York City Joseph Tang, President of TMI Food Group Terry Tang, CEO of TMI Food Group

GfK Custom Research North America Identifies New 'Age Of Green Pragmatism'

2009-11-12 13:20:49 -0500

Market research firm GfK Custom Research North America has identified a new "age of green pragmatism," finding Americans' attitudes towards environmentalism is shifting away from altruistic motivations towards more practical drivers such as saving money, health, getting value and promoting safety. While more consumers are reporting that they are making lasting changes in their environmental behavior, new data from GfK Roper Consulting shows 60% of Americans find green products are still too expensive (up six points from 2006). Additionally, nearly one third (28%) report they are "too busy" to do what it takes to go green. "Faced with today's muted economy, consumers are looking for more realistic ways to go green through simple cost-cutting and energy-saving practices," says Tim Kenyon, Senior Analyst for GfK Roper Consulting, GfK Custom Research North America's consumer trends division. "In today's climate, it's absolutely essential for marketers to understand the factors that are driving both the adoption of and rejection of eco-action in order to communicate effectively. They must also focus their innovation on making going green easier and cheaper for everyday Americans." Green experts from GfK will be in Chicago at the 3rd Annual Good and Green®...The Green Marketing Conference on November 17th and 18th. Through a series of presentations, GfK will address several pressing questions facing the environmental marketing community, including the degree to which the economy is affecting green consumption and what consumers expect from businesses vis-a-vis the environment in this climate. For more information or to register for the conference visit: www.goodandgreen.biz. About GfK Custom Research North America Headquartered in New York, GfK Custom Research North America is part of the GfK Group. The GfK Group offers the fundamental knowledge that industry, retailers, services companies and the media need to make market decisions. It delivers a comprehensive range of information and consultancy services in the three business sectors Custom Research, Retail and Technology and Media. The no. 4 market research organization worldwide operates in more than 100 countries and employs over 10,000 staff. In 2008, the GfK Group's sales amounted to EUR 1.2 billion. For further information, follow us: www.gfkamerica.com, www.gfkinsights4u.com, www.twitter.com/gfkamerica.

Nike and Doernbecher Children’s Hospital Collaborate to Empower Kids Through Design

2009-11-12 13:08:35 -0500

Nike and OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital are uniting for the sixth year to create the Doernbecher Freestyle footwear collection, which pairs young patients with Nike designers to raise money for Oregon's premier children's hospital. The young Doernbecher patients work alongside Nike designers to create footwear that expresses their personal stories, while raising awareness and funds for the hospital. To date the program has raised more than $2 million dollars. All profits from the collection benefit Doernbecher by supporting advanced pediatric research, providing healthcare to uninsured patients, funding the purchase of state-of-the-art medical equipment, and training the next generation of pediatric specialists. "We are proud to support this one-of-a-kind project," said Elliott Hill, Vice President of Global Retail for NIKE, Inc. "Doernbecher Freestyle is about empowerment through design, bringing together bright young patients and some of our most talented Nike designers to give back to Doernbecher Children's Hospital." The young designers range in age from 11 to 14 and all have courageously battled serious illness at Doernbecher. Through the Doernbecher Freestyle Project each child is given the unique opportunity to design a pair of Nike's and is granted complete artistic freedom as he or she works alongside a Nike designer through the entire design process -- from selecting a shoe style to choosing materials, colors, patterns and other individual details. "We are so grateful for Nike's continued vision and generosity. In the six years of the Freestyle program, the company's hard work has translated into more than $2 million for Doernbecher," said Sue Nicol, Executive Director of the Doernbecher Foundation. "Apart from the significant financial impact, Nike is providing a priceless experience for some really brave kids. Their moment in the spotlight as a Nike shoe designer is one they'll never forget." The Doernbecher Freestyle collection will be available for purchase at Niketown stores, nike.com, and at select Nike retailers beginning November 14, 2009. This year's collection features popular basketball, running and skateboarding styles, including a retro Nike Air Jordan VI. The 2009 Doernbecher Freestyle Design Team and Footwear Collection:

Bradley Bowlby, 11, (Stevenson, Washington): Nike Air Force I Low Bradley's desire to get dirty in style is reflected with a custom camouflage design featured on the outsole and upper.
Collin Callsen, 11, (Stayton, Oregon): Nike P-ROD 3 Skate Shoe Collin's playful attitude comes through with a personalized logo at the bottom of the shoe's tongue and fun graphics on the upper inspired by his love of hunting, dirt bikes, skulls and playing pool.
Jordan Dark, 12, (Mt. Angel, Oregon): Nike Air Jordan VI Retro Jordan's creativity comes to life in this shoe that takes inspiration from the Jordan 12, 5, 9 and 6, a play on his birth date of 12-5-1996.
Anna Finley, 11, (Salem, Oregon): Nike Air Max Zenyth Anna's vivid imagination and love of color is highlighted in this multi-colored shoe with hand-drawn balloons, animals, trees, hearts and music notes.
Makayla Hansen, 12, (Elgin, Oregon): Nike Skinny Dunk High Makayla's love for playing basketball and riding her bike is clear with a multi-colored basketball design on the upper and five bikes waiting to be discovered under the ankle support straps.
Molly Anne Modeste Martin, 14, (Lake Oswego, Oregon): Nike Shox NZ Molly's colorful Nike Shox design incorporates symbols of her life's passions and beliefs-a silhouette of herself running track, a basketball hidden under the top eyelet, a music note, and "Just Do It" embroidered on the back of one heel and "Together" on the other.

To find the location of your nearest Nike retailer or purchase the Doernbecher Freestyle Collection directly, visit www.nike.com. Suggested Retail prices start from $88. For more information and imagery, visit www.nikemedia.com. About Nike NIKE, Inc. based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world's leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly-owned Nike subsidiaries include Cole Haan, which designs, markets and distributes luxury shoes, handbags, accessories and coats; Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories; and Umbro Ltd., a leading United Kingdom-based global football (soccer) brand. For more information, visit www.nikebiz.com About the Doernbecher Children's Hospital and the Doernbecher Foundation Doernbecher Children's Hospital is Oregon and southwest Washington's premier pediatric health center, providing the region's widest range of children's health care services and serving as the primary center for pediatric research and specialist education programs at Oregon Health & Science University. As part of Oregon's only academic health center, Doernbecher offers patients exceptional primary care and access to the region's most advanced treatments. The Doernbecher Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that exists to secure private philanthropic support for the hospital. The foundation raises funds from individuals, companies, foundations and organizations, and invests and manages gifts in accordance with donors' wishes.

ACCION Takes Equity Stake in Saija Finance, a Microfinance Institution Serving India’s Poorest

2009-11-12 13:00:06 -0500

ACCION International, a pioneer and leader in global microfinance, announced today that it has invested $500,000 for a 49.5 percent equity stake in Saija Finance Private Limited, a microfinance start-up that provides financial services to microentrepreneurs and low- and middle-income families in one of India’s most underserved regions. The investment was made through ACCION’s equity investment arm, the ACCION Gateway Fund, and represents the fund’s fourth investment in India. Other Gateway investments in India include Swadhaar FinServe, Lok Capital and United Villages. Based in the city of Patna, state of Bihar, Saija was founded by entrepreneurs and husband and wife team S.R. Sinha and Rashmi Sinha, and currently operates two branches in that city. Registered as a non-banking financial company (NBFC), it is the only Bihar-based microfinance institution, and serves the country’s poorest state. Bihar, with a per capita income of approximately $160, a 90 percent illiteracy rate, and 37 million of its 90 million people living below the poverty line, is one of the most densely populated agglomerations of poor people anywhere in the world, reports the World Bank. Over the next five years, Saija plans outreach to households in several of the poorest states in India: Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Saija aims to serve 400,000 customers by 2014 with group and individual loans, microinsurance and remittances, and will also roll out financial literacy training, as well as consumer protection assessment work through ACCION's Center for Financial Inclusion. For the last year, ACCION has been providing technical assistance to Saija, primarily through the secondment of commercial and operations managers. Going forward, ACCION's technical assistance will assist Saija in testing and deploying innovative technologies and delivery channels, such as mobile phone-based payment services or point of sale (POS) terminals. With its investment, ACCION will also play an active governance role in the organization, joining founders S.R. Sinha and Rashmi Sinha. "Bihar faces some of the most extreme poverty in the world," said Michael Schlein, president and CEO of ACCION. "It is a very difficult environment. And yet, in a relatively short time, Saija has shown that it has what it takes to thrive and innovate in one of the world’s most challenging markets. We’re delighted to partner with Saija in its drive to deliver a full array of financial services to a vastly underserved population." "As we ramp up our outreach to India’s poorest states, we are fortunate to have ACCION as a partner to help us grow in the right way, mindful of the needs of our customers and with the technical know-how to develop cutting-edge services tailored to those needs," said S.R. Sinha, co-founder of Saija. About ACCION in India ACCION first launched microfinance operations in India in 2005, in order to make a substantive contribution to the outreach and impact of microfinance in major urban areas. Through its subsidiary, ACCION Technical Advisors India, headquartered in Bangalore, ACCION today provides management services, technical assistance, training and investment to MFIs across the country. Current partners include Swadhaar FinServe in Mumbai; YES SAMPANN, the microfinance initiative of YES Bank, also in Mumbai; Grameen Financial Services Private Limited, in Bangalore; and now Saija Finance in Bihar. ACCION also runs an industry training center in Bangalore, and has recently expanded its successful client education program, 'Dialogue on Business,' to meet the unique needs of the sub-continent.

Greenbuild 2009 Conference Goes “Carbon-Neutral” with the Help of Renewable Energy and Offset Donations

2009-11-12 12:56:16 -0500

Leonardo Academy announced today that the emissions resulting from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)'s annual Greenbuild International Conference & Exposition have been offset through the generous donations of carbon offsets and renewable energy certificates (RECs) from Milliken & Company and WindCurrent, respectively. This marks the 8th year that Leonardo Academy's Cleaner and Greener® Program has donated its services to the USGBC for quantifying and procuring the offsets for the event's greenhouse gas emissions and emissions that affect health. Based on projected Greenbuild attendance and energy use, the donations to this year's conference in Phoenix, Arizona, have offset 100 percent of the greenhouse gas, sulfur dioxide, and mercury emissions, as well a portion of the nitrogen oxides and particulate emissions associated with the event. Due to this emission reduction achievement, Greenbuild 2009 earned Gold-level certification through the Cleaner and Greener® Program. Greenbuild, an annual conference hosted by the USGBC, brings together sustainability-minded people from all over the world to address the future of the built environment. In an effort to make Greenbuild a sustainable event, renewable energy certificate (REC) provider WindCurrent donated 3,100 MWh of RECs to completely offset the electricity use from the event, and Milliken donated 12,500 metric tonnes of carbon offsets to offset the remainder of the greenhouse gas emissions. WindCurrent's donation of RECs included Green-e certified wind-generated renewable energy from wind farms in the eastern United States. The carbon offsets donated by Milliken were created through carbon sequestered in the company's existing forests, which were assessed according to the Leonardo Academy Draft Standard for Trial Use for Emissions Inventories, Offsets, Reduction Credits, and TAGs. This donation from Milliken, a founding member of the USGBC, stems from a long-term commitment to the organization. Leonardo Academy's Cleaner and Greener® Program calculated the emissions resulting from the energy used at the event facility, as well as for travel, meals, and lodging associated with the event. This year's conference is expected to host more than 20,000 attendees, who will incur over 2 million vehicle miles and over 40 million flight passenger miles in transit to and from the Phoenix event, which will make a weighty contribution to the event's emissions impact. In addition to the substantial donations made by Milliken and WindCurrent, Greenbuild vendors, exhibitors, and general attendees also have the opportunity to offset the emissions associated with individual attendance by purchasing offsets through the Cleaner and Greener® website (www.cleanerandgreener.org/greenbuild2009.html). Donated and purchased emissions offsets will be permanently retired to offset the carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions (methane, CH4 and nitrous oxide, N2O) as well as the health--impacting sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOX), particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) and mercury (Hg) emissions resulting from the use of the convention center and the travel, meals, and lodging connected to the conference. The pre-event estimates of the event emissions and offset achievements are posted on Leonardo Academy’s Cleaner and Greener® website(www.cleanerandgreener.org). This website also breaks down the total event emissions to the level of emissions per attendee, and provides a means for attendees to offset their personal event emissions. Following Greenbuild, the emissions and offset achievements will be updated to reflect actual event attendance and additional donations made during the event. Michael Arny, President of Leonardo Academy, stated, "Milliken and WindCurrent have, through their donations, brought to light the importance of two very different, but equally important emissions topics: the sequestration of carbon in existing forests and the continued support of renewable energy. It is wonderful that both of these companies have stepped up to make Greenbuild a carbon-neutral event again this year." About Milliken (www.sustainablecarpet.com) Milliken & Company, a founding member of US Green Building Council, achieves carbon negative certification without purchased credits. The privately-held international chemical and textile manufacturer uses alternative energy and generates zero waste to landfill from carpet manufacturing. Supporting its No Carpet to Landfill Pledge, all Milliken carpet products may be renewed, reused or recycled. Milliken champions sustainable principles and practices internally and in partnership with others. Together with USGBC, the company annually recognizes the achievements of local USGBC organizations by presenting the annual Chapter Awards of Excellence during Greenbuild. About WindCurrent (www.windcurrent.com) The WindCurrent company has been providing LEED-spec Renewable Energy Certificates to US institutions since 2002. Its current customers include the US Department of Energy, the World Bank, the National Institute of Health, M&T Bank, and Random House. WindCurrent has also greened most of the US federal buildings across the planet. About the U.S. Green Building Council (www.usgbc.org) The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. With a community comprising 78 local affiliates, more than 20,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 131,000 LEED Accredited Professionals, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product from 2009-2013. USGBC leads an unlikely diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, and teachers and students. Buildings in the United States are responsible for 39% of CO2 emissions, 40% of energy consumption, 13% water consumption and 15% of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85% of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs. About Leonardo Academy (www.leonardoacademy.org) Leonardo Academy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1997 that is dedicated to advancing sustainability and putting the competitive market to work on improving the environment. We develop and distribute strategies, guidance, metrics, standards, education, and information on how to increase sustainability. We also help companies, organizations, families, and individuals successfully promote, encourage, and implement sustainability. Our integrated approach makes sustainability very practical for our clients. We provide sustainability assessments and strategies for companies and organizations, LEED® implementation and certification, emissions footprint analysis plus emission reduction and offset strategies, sustainable land management, sustainability education and training, and certification of emission reduction and offset achievements through our Cleaner and Greener® Program for events, companies and organizations.

2009 Corporate Citizenship Awards Dinner

2009-11-12 10:34:58 -0500

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center invites you to a celebration in our Nation's Capital. The 2009 Corporate Citizenship Awards Dinner December 1, 2009 U.S. Chamber of Commerce Washington, D.C. Reception Begins at 6:00 p.m. Awards Dinner Begins at 7:00 p.m. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center's Corporate Citizenship Awards showcase business, trade associations, and chambers of commerce that have demonstrated ethical leadership and corporate stewardship, have made a positive difference in their communities, and have contributed to the advancement of important economic and social goals. Four awards will be presented at the Awards dinner: The U.S. Community Service Award Finalists include ARAMARK, Health Care Services Corporation, Office Depot Foundation, Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas, and UPS The International Community Service Award Finalists include Abbott, General Electric, Goldman Sachs, Intel Corporation, and Procter & Gamble The Partnership Award Finalists include Chevron Corporation / Discovery Channel Global Education Partnership, CVS Caremark Corporation / Boundless Playgrounds, Inc., The Estee Lauder Companies, Inc. / Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Ford Motor Company / National Latino Children's Institute, Nationwide Insurance / American Red Cross The Corporate Stewardship Award Finalists include Best Buy Co., Inc., ITT Corporation, Oracle Corporation, The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., and Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. To learn more about the finalists, visit http://www.uschamber.com/bclc/awards. To register for the 2009 Corporate Citizenship Awards Dinner, visit http://www.uschamber.com/bclc/awards/dinner.htm For more information call BCLC at 202-463-3133 or email BCLC@uschamber.com. Join us as we honor the highest ideals of corporate citizenship... Additionally, the U.S. Chamber's Business Civic Leadership Center is also hosting a Luncheon Forum on Business & Society Relations at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC on December 1st. To learn more and register, visit: http://www.uschamber.com/bclc/dec1_lunch.htm

U.S. Chamber Seeks Nominations to Recognize America's Most Sustainable Communities

2009-11-12 10:31:20 -0500

In an effort to recognize innovative community programs that can serve as national models for sustainable development, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) today began seeking applicants for the third annual "Siemens Sustainable Community Awards" competition. "As the economy begins to rebound, more communities than ever are thinking creativel y about not just surviving, but thriving economically, socially and environmentally," said Stephen Jordan, senior vice president and executive director of the BCLC. "The Siemens Sustainable Communit y Awards highlight proven models and shine a spotlight on public-private partnerships that are leading the way." To be eligible for the Siemens Sustainable Community Awards, communities must meet a variety of sustainable community criteria. These requirements include partnership and stakeholder involvement, as well as demonstrable improvements to the local environment, business community and quality of life. The award will recognize three communities in the small, midsize, and large categories. Nominations will be accepted until January 29, 2010. Local governments, community-based coalitions, chambers of commerce, community developers and other local agencies are encouraged to submit their work. "Siemens is proud to sponsor the Sustainable Community Awards for the third consecutive year," said Jim Whaley, vice president of the Siemens Corporation. "It's often at the local level that we see the best ideas and practices to improve our social, economic and environmental welfare and make it more sustainable." A select committee of external experts reviews submissions and determines the finalists from each category. The judging panel consists of leading professionals with backgrounds in environment, business, academics, government and economic development. The three winning communities will be announced in May 2010 at BCLC’s National Conference on Corporate Communit y Investment in Houston, Texas. To submit a nomination and learn more about the Siemens Sustainable Community Awards and BCLC's National Conference on Corporate Community Investment, visit BCLC's website. Siemens AG (NYSE: SI) is a global powerhouse in electronics and electrical engineering, and operates in the industry, energy and healthcare sectors. For more than 160 years, Siemens has built a reputation for leading-edge innovation and the quality of its products, services and solutions. With 428,000 employees in 190 countries, Siemens reported worldwide sales of $116.6 billion in fiscal 2008. With its U.S. corporate headquarters in New York City, Siemens in the USA reported sales of $22.4 billion and employs approximately 69,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico. For more information on Siemens in the United States, visit http://www.usa.siemens.com BCLC is a 501(c)3 affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and is a resource and voice for businesses and their social and philanthropic interests. The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

8th Annual Green Festival Partners with Green Bash LLC to produce first official After Dark Parties in San Francisco and celebrate 35th anniversary of Common Ground magazine November 13-15, 2009 ~ 3 nights, 4 shows, many worthy causes

2009-11-12 10:06:48 -0500

An estimated 45,000 members of the Bioneers, Burning Man, Harmony Festival and LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) community are expected to attend the 8th annual Green Festival in San Francisco November 13-15, 2009. But for the first time ever, after the daytime Festival shuts down, the eco-conscious can keep the green vibe alive and find their late night groove at four official After Dark musical extravaganzas that are sure to be a highlight of this growing annual destination event. Green Festival has partnered with www.GreenBash.com and Common Ground magazine to organize an aural and visual feast of live, DJ and performance art at four distinct cause-oriented shows in three popular after hours venues to help spread the green message for non-profit sustainability causes like Common Vision, Global Exchange, Green for All, Art in Action, Grind for Green, Communitree, and the Green Cities Institute. Special guest speakers include SF District 5 Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi and Green Festival Executive Director and Global Exchange co-founder Kevin Danaher. Sean Ahearn, Green Bash's CEO and a partner and executive at Harmony Festival, the Bay Area's longest-running outdoor conscious festival, explains, "This first official series of After Dark parties promises to be an interesting mix of Burning Man meets Bollywood meets Euro-Green Pop. Bands like Delhi 2 Dublin, Non Stop Bhangra, David Starfire, and Mukti are all deeply committed to the Green Festivals' credo. And I'm especially excited to bring in The Green Children, a young duo out of Europe who is supported by Mohhamed Yunnis from Grameen Bank. They'll be doing a cameo of their song "Hear Me Now" and talk about their work in India & Bangladesh." Green Bash offers a wide variety of conscious flavors throughout the weekend with genres spanning from Hip-Hop, Neo-Tribal Techno, World Fusion, and live performances from Burning Man's El Circo Performance Troupe. Ahearn says, "We want to connect all of these talented bands, performers, DJs and visual artists to a new crowd who shares a similar taste in conscious music and healthy lifestyle." The official San Francisco Green Bash After Dark Party line-up is: FRIDAY 9pm-3am (21+): Green Spirit Dance - Benefit for Green Cities Institute Club 1051 Folsom, 1051 Folsom, San Francisco, CA USA $15ADV/$20DOOR/$50VIP Dinner included Delhi 2 Dublin | Non Stop Bhangra | Dholrhythms | The Green Children | El Circo Performance Troupe | DJ David Starfire Pleasure Maker: Afrolicious | Mukti & Friends | Guara Vani | Jaya Lakshmi SATURDAY 8:30pm-4am (ALL AGES): The Return of HAMSA LILA - Benefit for Common Vision The Regency Ballroom, 1300 Van Ness @ Sutter St, San Francisco, CA USA $22ADV/$28 DOOR/$50VIP (no dinner) HAMSA LILA with special guest Airto | Planetary Pulse featuring : Airto Moreira, Rasaki Aladokun, Faisal Zedan and more TBA | Climbing PoeTree | LYNX & Janover | Jef Stott | DJ Dragonfly | Live painting by Ryan Johnson | Photography by SUKI | Visuals by JacobEye SUNDAY SHOW I 8pm-4am (21+): COMMUNITREE Pulse of the Green - Benefit for The Green Youth Arts & Media Center Club 1051 Folsom, 1051 Folsom, San Francisco, CA USA $15 ADV/$20DOOR DEAD PREZ w/ Davey D (Hard Knock Radio) | Sake One | Wisdom w/ DJ Skwint & Seasunz | J-Boogie & Aima the Dreamer | FiyaWata | Kevin Danaher | David Satori | El Diablo | Sidecar Tommy | Sweet Anomaly | Lotus Drops | Turf Unity | DJ Twelvz SUNDAY SHOW II 8pm-3am (21+): EVOLVE CULTURE - Benefit for suicide prevention for US Vets Iraq-Afghanistan 540 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA USA $20ADV/$25 DOOR/$50VIP (no dinner) SoulEye and DC | R/D (LA) | Random Rab (El Circo)| Hideyo Blackmoon | An-ten-nae | Lafa Taylor | Wisdom (feat. dj Sqwint) | Rigzin | Anahata Sound | Tone of Orchid | JHuman | Chrysalis | Bomb Goddess | Selassie | dj Jocelyn & Club Exotica | Phalanx | dj Malarkey | dj Garth | Abai | Heyoka | Tawk | Knowa Knowone | dj Deceptikon Tickets for all events are available via: http://www.greenbash.com/tickets.html Surprise guests and a complete listing of artists and details at http://www.greenbash.com

At each of these four very special After Parties, Green Festival and Green Bash LLC is also pleased and deeply honored to celebrate the 35th anni-versary of Common Ground magazine. Since 1974, this vibrant publication has served the LOHAS community and those who are curious about sustainable communities and holistic health and helped readers live healthier lives and create a sustainable society. Common Ground (www.CommonGroundMag.com) and its dedicated staff supports wellness and healthy living by informing readers about natural foods, nutrition, and integrative healthcare. Green Festival and Green Bash encourage the support of their sponsors and advertisers.

Joseph Malki, a partner in Seven-Star, Inc., producers of Green Festivals, explains, "San Francisco is not just a city that hosts a few big green conscious events and then 'poof - back to normal'. San Francisco is 'on' 24/7 when it comes to the principles of social justice, sustainable economies, and ecological justice. The history of the city is filled with suffragettes, peace activists, labor and environmental heroes, and it's the most ethnically diverse population of any urban city in North America. Our badge of honor is the spirit of American rebellion against injustice and a center for ingenuity and creativity. If we can invoke that spirit all the way to the dance floor without being preachy then we will have a done our job." Green Bash CEO Sean Ahearn adds, "We want to thread Green Festivals' message of sustainability into people's DNA through the power of sound, dance and celebration. This is where we have an opportunity to really make that lasting point around ecological and social justice - that sustainability is fun. It has to be, or the global problems will just drive you mad. Green Bash’s main message is that even when you party, you can make a difference."

Caterpillar-Sponsored EMBARQ Wins Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government Environmental Partnership Award

2009-11-12 09:30:22 -0500

The World Resources Institute (WRI) Center for Sustainable Transport, EMBARQ, has been awarded the 2009 Roy Family Award for Environmental Partnership from Harvard University. The honor is recognizing EMBARQ's Mexico City Metrobus transit project that is designed to address traffic congestion, air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and safety. Key to the project's success was the Caterpillar Foundation's $7.5 million grant to assist in the development of the initiative. "As an integral part of our sustainable development strategy, Cat supports the mobility that drives economies and connects people," said Doug Oberhelman, Caterpillar Group President and member of WRI Board of Directors. Oberhelman was recently named Caterpillar Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer–Elect effective January 1, 2010. "We are providing the technologies and expertise that not only improve air quality but also assist in reducing congestion and frustration caused by a growing transportation system in Mexico City and around the world," said Oberhelman. In 2005, Metrobus opened along 12 miles of the central transportation artery in Mexico City. The route was extended an additional mile in 2008 and later expanded another 14 miles with the launch of the "Eje 4" corridor. By introducing cleaner, more efficient buses and convincing roughly 250,000 passengers to now travel by bus each day, Metrobus has resulted in a 50 percent reduction in travel times and a reduction of 43,000 tons per year in greenhouse gases. EMBARQ worked on the project with various Mexico City agencies that have now formed the Center for Sustainable Transport in Mexico, a not-for-profit agency that is providing ongoing assistance to the Metrobus system. Along with the Cat Foundation, the World Bank, Global Environment Facility, Shell Foundation and Hewlett Foundation have provided financial support. "Each partner contributed to the success of Metrobus in different ways," said Nancy Kete, Director of EMBARQ. "By coming in from the outside, the group brought new ideas, international prestige and global best practices." Caterpillar continues to be actively involved in EMBARQ's efforts by offering strategic guidance, helping identify additional cities and exploring ways to improve sustainable transportation in targeted cities. The bi-annual Roy Family Award celebrates outstanding public-private partnerships that enhance environmental quality through the use of novel and creative approaches. About Caterpillar: For more than 80 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making progress possible and driving positive and sustainable change on every continent. With 2008 sales and revenues of $51.324 billion, Caterpillar is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines. The company also is a leading services provider through Caterpillar Financial Services, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services, Caterpillar Logistics Services and Progress Rail Services. More information is available at http://www.cat.com.

The Nation's Best Math and Science Students Earn Top High School Honors and Strive for $100,000 Scholarship

2009-11-12 09:27:30 -0500

WHAT: Could tomorrow's Albert Einstein or Alexander Graham Bell currently be a student in high school? What did the next generation of innovators come up with this year? Find out when the regional finalists of the 2009 Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology -- America's premier science research competition -- head to California Institute of Technology November 20 & 21. At stake is a $3,000 prize for one individual, $6,000 for one team, and an invitation to the National Finals in New York City for a shot at the $100,000 Grand Prize! WHO: Fifteen whiz kids unveil graduate level research projects to a distinguished panel of university judges. Past Siemens Competition winners and Alumni have tackled some of the world's hardest and most pressing problems through math and science. Their feats include: invention of anti-bacterial coatings for medical devices, research of cures for drug-resistant Tuberculosis, exploring zebrafish spines for an inside look at bone growth, reinventing string theory, and developing a device to generate energy from ocean waves. What research will the Nation's brightest teen minds unveil this year? The 2009 Siemens Competition regional finalists are: Individual Finalists:

Alex Han, The Harker School, San Jose, CA
David Liu, Lynbrook High School, San Jose, CA
Tito Thomas, Troy High School, Fullerton, CA
Lynnelle Ye, Palo Alto High School, Palo Alto, CA
William Zhang, La Jolla High School, La Jolla, CA

Team Finalists:

Cassandra Buru and Jian Liu, Northview High School, Johns Creek, GA
William Han and Frank Zhao, Westview High School, Portland, OR
Ryan Lindeborg, Dana Hills High School, Dana Point, CA; and Andrew James Swoboda, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria, VA
Samantha Piszkiewicz and Nicolai Doreng-Stearns, Laguna Beach High School, Laguna Beach, CA
Katherine Wang and Sreetha Sidharthan, Interlake High School, Bellevue, WA

WHERE: On the campus of the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA WHEN: Friday, Nov. 20 – Dabney Lounge 9:45 am – 12:00pm: Students set up projects 5:00 pm – 6:15pm: Public viewing of projects Saturday, Nov. 21 – Ramo Auditorium 9:00 am – 2:45 pm: Students present to judges MORE: Want to be the first to find out who will head to the National Finals in New York? Log into and follow Siemens Foundation on Twitter (http://twitter.com/SFoundation) on Saturday, November 21, 2009 between 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm PST, when we announce the winners live! The Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology is a signature program of the Siemens Foundation, which provides more than $7 million in support of educational initiatives in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math in the United States. The Siemens Competition is administered by the College Board. More information can be found at www.siemens-foundation.org. Winners of the regional events are invited to compete at the National Finals at New York University in New York City, December 3 – December 7, 2009. Visit www.siemens-foundation.org on December 7, 2009 at 9:30am EST to view a live webcast of the National Finalist Award Presentation. Interviews and Photo Ops available with students, judges and Siemens Foundation executives

The Nation's Best Math and Science Students Earn Top High School Honors and Strive for $100,000 Scholarship

2009-11-12 09:23:33 -0500

WHAT: Could tomorrow's Albert Einstein or Alexander Graham Bell currently be a student in high school? What did the next generation of innovators come up with this year? Find out when the regional finalists of the 2009 Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology -- America's premier science research competition -- head to Carnegie Mellon University November 20 & 21. At stake is a $3,000 prize for one individual, $6,000 for one team, and an invitation to the National Finals in New York City for a shot at the $100,000 Grand Prize! WHO: Seventeen whiz kids unveil graduate level research projects to a distinguished panel of university judges. Past Siemens Competition winners and Alumni have tackled some of the world's hardest and most pressing problems through math and science. Their feats include: invention of anti-bacterial coatings for medical devices, research of cures for drug-resistant Tuberculosis, exploring zebrafish spines for an inside look at bone growth, reinventing string theory, and developing a device to generate energy from ocean waves. What research will the Nation's brightest teen minds unveil this year? The 2009 Siemens Competition regional finalists are: Individual Finalists:

Cynthia Chen, The Brearley School, New York, NY
Ruoyi Jiang, Ward Melville High School, East Setauket, NY
Joshua Pfeffer, North Shore Hebrew Academy High School, Great Neck, NY
Jason Shieh, The Bronx High School of Science, Bronx, NY
Kevin Zhao, Ward Melville High School, East Setauket, NY

Team Finalists:

Shaunak Bakshi and Peter Massey, Manhasset High School, Manhasset, NY
Erica Chung, Bergen County Academy for the Advancement of Science and Technology, Hackensack, NJ; and David Park, Herricks High School, New Hyde Park, NY
Jiayi Lin and Ellis Darby, New Explorations into Science, Technology and Math High School, New York, NY
Anirudh Nandan, Los Alamitos High School, Los Alamitos, CA; Salonee Shah, W. Tresper Clarke High School, Westbury, NY; and Michelle Leonetti, Long Beach High School, Lido Beach, NY
Xiao Zhou and Israt Ahmed, Francis Lewis High School, Fresh Meadows, NY; Stephanie Chen, Stuyvesant High School, New York, NY

WHERE: On the campus of Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA WHEN: Friday, Nov. 20 – Rangos 1 Ballroom, 2nd Floor University Center 9:30 am – 11:00 am: Students set up projects 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm: Public viewing of projects Saturday, Nov. 21 -- McKenna Peter Wright Rooms 8:00 am – 12:45 pm: Students present to judges MORE: Want to be the first to find out who will head to the National Finals in New York? Log into and follow Siemens Foundation on Twitter (http://twitter.com/SFoundation) on Saturday, November 21, 2009 between 7:15 pm and 9:00 pm EST, when we announce the winners live! The Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology is a signature program of the Siemens Foundation, which provides more than $7 million in support of educational initiatives in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math in the United States. The Siemens Competition is administered by the College Board. More information can be found at www.siemens-foundation.org. Winners of the regional events are invited to compete at the National Finals at New York University in New York City, December 3 – December 7, 2009. Visit www.siemens-foundation.org on December 7, 2009 at 9:30 am EST to view a live webcast of the National Finalist Award Presentation. Interviews and Photo Ops available with students, judges and Siemens Foundation executives

Bayer and United Nations Environment Programme Launch 19th Annual International Children’s Painting Competition in Elementary and Middle Schools

2009-11-12 09:00:07 -0500

Bayer Corporation and the United Nations Environment Programme's Regional Office for North America (UNEP RONA) today called for entries in the 19th annual International Children's Painting Competition (ICPC). The ICPC is open to 6- to 14-year-olds. Their art is to focus on protecting Earth's life forms and natural resources in keeping with the competition's theme - Biodiversity: Connecting with Nature. The artwork can be created using crayons, colored pencils, paints, etc., and must be submitted on either letter- (8.5 x 11 inch) or legal-sized (8.5 x 14 inch) paper. Entries must be received by UNEP RONA no later than April 15, 2010. For complete entry rules, visit www.BayerUS.com/MSMS. Regional winners will be announced on April 30, 2010. First-place winners will be selected from each of UNEP's six regions: Africa; Asia and the Pacific; Europe; Latin America and the Caribbean; North America; and West Asia. The North American first-prize winner will receive two fully-paid trips. The first trip will be to Pittsburgh, the host city for World Environment Day on June 5. While there, the winner will help open the third annual North American ICPC exhibition. The second trip will be to the 2010 Tunza International Children's Conference in Aichi, Japan. Tunza is UNEP's worldwide youth forum, which brings students together to discuss environmental issues and share experiences. Bayer Corporation's participation is part of its national award-winning Making Science Make Sense® program. It advances science literacy through inquiry-based, hands-on science learning, employee volunteerism and public education. "Bayer wants to help develop the next generation of scientists and environmentalists," said Greg Babe, Bayer Corporation President and CEO. "Our ICPC participation is part of Bayer's long-standing commitment to science education, corporate social responsibility and sustainable development." "Biodiversity is a priority issue for UNEP, particularly since 2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity," added UNEP RONA Director Amy Fraenkel. "Human activities worldwide are causing the loss of plant and animal species at a far higher rate than natural extinction. We're working with Bayer to educate young students on how they can help preserve our planet's biodiversity. The activities range from planting trees and picking up litter to protecting endangered species' habitats." About Bayer Corporation and Making Science Make Sense® Pittsburgh-based Bayer Corporation is a subsidiary of Bayer AG, an international health care, nutrition and high-tech materials group based in Leverkusen, Germany. In North America, Bayer had 2008 net sales of approximately 8 billion euros (about $12 billion) and employed 17,000 at year-end. Bayer's three subgroups, Bayer HealthCare, Bayer CropScience and Bayer MaterialScience, improve people's lives through a broad range of essential products that help diagnose, prevent and treat diseases; protect crops and enhance yields; and advance automobile safety and durability. For more information, go to www.bayerus.com. Making Science Make Sense (MSMS) is Bayer's company-wide program to advance science literacy through hands-on, inquiry-based science education, employee volunteerism and public education. Currently, 12 Bayer U.S. sites operate local MSMS programs. They include a corps of more than 1,000 employee volunteers. About United Nations Environment Programme Established in 1972 following the United Nation's Conference on the Human Environment, UNEP's provides leadership and encourages environment-oriented partnerships. It works to inspire, inform and enable nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising future generations. The Regional Office for North America (RONA), located in Washington, D.C., is one of six regional offices for UNEP. RONA's mission is to foster cooperation on environmental issues in North America, thereby promoting effective responses to global environmental challenges. RONA's strategy to achieve these goals includes promoting collaboration between UNEP and various sectors of North American society, facilitating the participation of the region in UNEP-sponsored global events and activities, developing environmental education initiatives, and organizing environmental awareness-raising campaigns. For more information, please visit www.rona.unep.org. About Bayer and UNEP Bayer AG is the first company to forge a long-term youth and the environment partnership with UNEP. The partners first began cooperating in Asia in the late- 1990s. In 2004, Bayer and UNEP signed an agreement to globalize the partnership that, in August 2007, was extended another three years. The partners have organized a dozen environmental projects around the world. They include the TUNZA International Youth and Children's Conference; regional youth networks; the Bayer Young Environmental Envoy Program; the Eco-Minds science forum in the Asia-Pacific; the International Children's Painting Competition and TUNZA Magazine. In addition, Bayer Corporation supports UNEP's World Environment Day activities in North America. Further information on the partnership is available on the Internet at: www.unep.bayer.com. Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

New Reports Offer Practical Guidance on Human Rights Reporting for Companies

2009-11-12 08:19:56 -0500

Two new reports released this week examine trends in corporate measurement and reporting on human rights performance and provide practical guidance for companies engaging on this emerging area of corporate citizenship and accountability. As part of a collaborative project "Human Rights: A Call to Action" launched last year to mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Global Reporting Initiative, the United Nations Global Compact and Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative commissioned two studies to advance efforts on human rights reporting. The first, a survey of recent sustainability reports by over 50 leading companies, examines trends in current corporate disclosures on human rights and highlights good practice examples as well as ongoing shortcomings in reporting in this area. The second report offers a practical guide for companies on steps they can take to improve their coverage of human rights as part of their sustainability reports and was developed through extensive expert consultation over the past year. Mary Robinson, President of Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative said: "My colleagues and I at Realizing Rights have been pleased to collaborate with GRI and the Global Compact on improving guidance for corporate reporting on human rights issues. We believe our findings and recommendations will be of significant help to companies and other stakeholders working to improve sustainability reports as a key tool in enhancing transparency and accountability around the world." Georg Kell, Executive Director of the United Nations Global Compact, said: "As companies everywhere are developing a better understanding of the relevance of human rights to their strategies and operations, these new reports will be of great value in improving corporate reporting and ultimately help companies on their path to continuous performance improvement." A final output of this important initiative is a set of recommendations on updates to the human rights elements of the Global Reporting Initiative’s G3 Guidelines - the world's most widely-used sustainability reporting framework. Published today, the recommendations will form the basis for stakeholder consultation in early 2010. Ernst Ligteringen, Chief Executive of the Global Reporting Initiative, said: "The GRI Guidelines were designed to evolve alongside our collective knowledge of the field of sustainability. In recent years the work of UN Special Representative John Ruggie and greater understanding of business' role in human rights have increased this collective knowledge. These developments informed the Human Rights Working Group who have proposed a particularly insightful set of recommendations on changes to the GRI Guidelines. I now look forward to that knowledge being shared with a wider public, to receive feedback from the many stakeholders for whom the measurement, management and reporting of human rights is a key business issue." Download the reports from: http://www.globalreporting.org/HumanRights About The Global Reporting Initiative The Global Reporting Initiative has pioneered the development of the world’s most widely used sustainability reporting framework and is committed to its continuous improvement and application worldwide. This framework sets out the principles and indicators that organizations can use to measure and report their economic, environmental, and social performance. www.globalreporting.org About the United Nations Global Compact Launched in 2000, the UN Global Compact brings business together with UN agencies, labour, civil society and governments to advance ten universal principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. Through the power of collective action, the Global Compact seeks to mainstream these ten principles in business activities around the world and to catalyze actions in support of broader UN goals. With over 7,000 signatories based in more than 135 countries, it is the world's largest voluntary corporate citizenship initiative,. www.unglobalcompact.org About Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative Founded by Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Realizing Rights convenes key stakeholders in new alliances to integrate human rights, gender equality and enhanced accountability into efforts to address global challenges and governance shortcomings. www.realizingrights.org

New 'On Paper' Series Podcast Features Project POTICO

2009-11-12 08:11:53 -0500

NewPage Corporation, North America's largest coated paper producer, announced today the release of a new On Paper podcast featuring Project POTICO. In this episode of On Paper, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and NewPage discuss the benefits of a corporate and non-profit partnership to drive real change in the global environment. Craig Hanson, director of people & ecosystems of WRI and Rick Willett, president and chief executive officer of NewPage, explain their landmark initiative for Indonesia called Project POTICO. The goal of Project POTICO (Palm Oil, Timber, Carbon Offsets) is to prevent deforestation by diverting planned oil palm plantations away from virgin rainforests and instead have them established on already logged-over or degraded areas. Virgin forests slated for conversion to oil palm plantations will be "swapped" with non-forested lands that are suitable for oil palm. This strategy will ensure that oil palm can expand to meet demand, generating local revenue and jobs, while halting the destruction of pristine rainforests. The standing forestland then will be sustainably managed to generate revenue from low impact uses of the forest, such as timber production according to Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) guidelines. The concession swap may also be eligible to generate carbon offsets. "The goal for the next year is to get several deals done," adds Hanson. "Getting the oil palm concession that was slated to go in a virgin forest retired; the concession actually established on degraded land; the certification process in place for the oil palm to become certified; the certification system in place for timber extraction; and all the analysis readied for carbon offsets - basically getting the three elements of POTICO in place." A long-term advocate of responsibly managing North America's natural resources, NewPage recognized the need to bring awareness to the way forests were being managed in other parts of the world. Inspired by WRI's focus on data and research, NewPage became a partner to drive positive change for Indonesian forests and the people and species that live there through responsible forest management. "We are really supportive of long-term forest management," Willett explains. "We have very good forestry practices in North America where the forests are well managed and are growing faster than they are being harvested. However, there are still issues internationally, and playing a role in having the world subscribe to a global standard for well managed forests is very important to our company, customers and employees." To download this podcast free of charge, visit www.OnPaperSeries.com or www.iTunes.com. To learn more about Project POTICO visit www.ProjectPOTICO.org. About On Paper Podcast Series The On Paper Podcast Series, presented by NewPage Corporation, is an ongoing solutions-based dialogue that provides a platform for professionals to share how their organizations implement sustainable practices. With dozens of episodes featuring representatives from the most innovative of corporate America, across a variety of industries, On Paper has garnered more than one million downloads. Visit www.onpaperseries.com to listen to individual episodes and subscribe to receive notices of new episode releases. About NewPage Corporation Headquartered in Miamisburg, Ohio, NewPage Corporation is the largest coated paper manufacturer in North America, based on production capacity, with $4.4 billion in net sales for the year ended December 31, 2008. The company's product portfolio is the broadest in North America and includes coated freesheet, coated groundwood, supercalendered, newsprint and specialty papers. These papers are used for corporate collateral, commercial printing, magazines, catalogs, books, coupons, inserts, newspapers, packaging applications and direct mail advertising. NewPage owns paper mills in Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Nova Scotia, Canada. These mills have a total annual production capacity of approximately 4.4 million tons of paper, including approximately 3.2 million tons of coated paper, approximately 1.0 million tons of uncoated paper and approximately 200,000 tons of specialty paper.

Bacta-Pur(R) Affordably Eliminates Sewer Arteriosclerosis and Overflows

2009-11-12 07:59:17 -0500

IET-Aquaresearch Ltd releases new BACTIVATOR(R) v.4 (http://bactapur.com/en/bactivator-ls-series-4.htm), using a purely biological process to digest grease in drains and sewers. The operating cost, for restaurants and food service establishments, is less than one half penny per meal served. The benefits to cities don't stop with elimination of arteriosclerosis of sewers; the beneficial bacteria optimize wastewater treatment and can reduce energy consumption thus reducing causes of global warming... Bacta-Pur(R) cultures that eat the grease are so safe that they have also been used in aquaculture, garden ponds, bird sanctuaries, aquaria, lobster tanks and even in the Giant Panda research Institute in China. Grease accumulations cause sewer overflows and contamination of communities and water bodies. These problems are universal and are associated with spread of cholera and other diseases. Grease, from restaurants and other food service establishments, is an important cause of the blockages, destruction of municipal infrastructure and production of toxic and noxious odors. Cities spend vast sums to unblock the mess and to deal with complaints from outraged citizens. Regulations can be no better than the affordable technology, which can justify their existence. These are difficult times for businesses and many restaurants have closed. Regulations must not drive restaurants out of business. The new BACTIVATOR(R) v.4, of the Bacta-Pur(R) System, provides the purely biological and affordable solution. The BACTIVATOR(R) grows and conditions communities of friendly / beneficial bacteria, without added often toxic chemicals such as surfactants, emulsifiers, which just send the grease down stream. If restaurants raise the cost of a complete meal by one penny, the operating costs for the Bacta-Pur(R) System are free, grease problems can become history, and the restaurant contributes to protecting the environment and to reducing global warming. The Bacta-Pur(R) System was developed by aquatic ecologists and is based on a rather unique marketing approach: environmental protection doesn't have to be expensive; it can actually save money for municipalities and companies. Clients save money and increase profits, and the result of using the Bacta-Pur(R) System is environmental protection and restoration. IET-Aquaresearch Ltd is a Canadian company whose headquarters are near North Hatley, Quebec, Canada. The company's website is www.bactapur.com. Bacta-Pur(R) is a registered trademark of Aquaresearch Canada Ltd used under license.

SC Johnson Makes Commitment to Clinton Global Initiative

2009-11-11 18:10:56 -0500

In its continuing initiatives around Doing What's Right, SC Johnson, A Family Company, recently announced its first commitment as part of its involvement in the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI). Founded by former President Bill Clinton in 2005, CGI brings world leaders from a variety of backgrounds together to create partnerships that result in innovative and measurable solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. SC Johnson is rolling out a new anti-Malaria information, education and communication (IEC) program, based on the success of the company's previous anti-malaria initiatives. In partnership with the Global Business Coalition (GBC), an organization focused on helping companies fight malaria on a global scale, a repository of malaria-related information will be created for Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), governments, businesses and community health groups to help them support their local populations in Africa and other parts of the world where families are at risk of contracting malaria. All of the information will be shared with these groups electronically either via the GBC website or via email. This program will provide valuable resources and best practices for organizations and people motivated to educate others on the risks of malaria, as well as its prevention and treatment. In essence, it will be a one-stop-shop for anti-malaria information. By making the commitment to CGI, SC Johnson is demonstrating the importance it places on fighting malaria. It also allows the company to draw on CGI's resources when needed. "SC Johnson is honored to make this commitment to the Clinton Global Initiative. CGI has an outstanding record of doing what's right by creating partnerships that deliver results," said SC Johnson Executive Vice President - Worldwide Corporate & Environmental Affairs Jane Hutterly. "Through our collaboration with the Global Business Coalition, we can make our goals a reality. Together we can make a difference by empowering people with education and tools to fight the ravages of malaria." This program takes a train-the-trainer approach to information distribution. The materials will appear in both English and Portuguese. Given their over-sized images and hard-hitting messages, they should have an effect regardless of the prevailing language of a region. SC Johnson's IEC program will be hosted on GBC's website and should be available to anyone with access to the Internet by year end. SC Johnson's Commitment to Doing What's Right SC Johnson has a wide variety of efforts to drive global development and growth that benefit the people around us and the planet we all share. From exceptional philanthropy, volunteerism and education to new business models that bring economic growth to the world's poorest communities, we're helping to create stronger communities for families around the globe. For example:

The company led the industry by increasing transparency and further demonstrating our commitment to doing what’s right with the voluntary launch of our innovative ingredient disclosure initiative, which openly communicates product ingredients, including fragrances, dyes and preservatives.
SC Johnson continued to make strides using its patented Greenlist(TM) process, with use of "Better" and "Best" rated materials increasing to 47 percent of total materials.
Through cogeneration with landfill gas, wind power and biofuels, almost 36 percent of SC Johnson’s total electricity usage worldwide came from renewable energy.
The company's base of the pyramid efforts in Kenya and other countries continued, and it has kicked off a supply chain initiative with Rwandan pyrethrum farmers and the Borlaug Institute at Texas A&M.
SC Johnson continued to provide valued support to the communities where we operate, with our 10-year cumulative giving surpassing $180 million.
The company sets aside 5 percent of pre-tax profits globally for corporate giving - nearly four times the average - and works with partners, such as Conservation International. Around the world, our subsidiary companies contribute an average of 2 percent of pre-tax profits and partner with local foundations.

About SC Johnson: SC Johnson is a family-owned and managed business dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, and insect control. It markets such well-known brands as GLADE®, OFF!®, PLEDGE®, RAID®, SCRUBBING BUBBLES®, SHOUT®, WINDEX® and ZIPLOC® in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN®, BAYGON®, BRISE®, ECHO®, KABIKILLER®, KLEAR®, and MR. MUSCLE®. The 123-year old company, with more than $8 billion in sales, employs approximately 12,000 people globally and sells products in more than 110 countries. www.scjohnson.com About Clinton Global Initiative: Learn more at clintonglobalinitiative.org About Global Business Coalition: Learn more at gbcimpact.org

Help SC Johnson Help Team Earth

2009-11-11 18:02:49 -0500

Looking to do some good? One good deed might be as close as your computer keyboard. SC Johnson, maker of well-known brands including Glade®, OFF!®, Scrubbing Bubbles®, Ziploc® and Windex®, has launched a blog to collect environmental tips and inspire dialogue. For each tip shared, SC Johnson will give $1 to Conservation International's Team Earth project, up to $25,000. "We know the families who buy our products also care about the environment and are trying to make a difference in their homes, such as by recycling. We wanted to team up with these consumers to make a difference, together," explained Kelly Semrau, Vice President of Global Public Affairs and Communication for SC Johnson. "Knowing the average mom spends 12 hours online each week* researching, connecting with friends and family, and sharing information - we knew an online program would be a fast and easy way for her to participate." The new blog, at www.scjohnson.com/TeamEarthTips, invites families to share stories about how they minimize their impact on the earth. From now through November 18, for every tip or tactic posted on the blog, SC Johnson will contribute $1 to Conservation International's Team Earth effort aiming to raise $25,000 by the end of the program on the 18th. Team Earth is a worldwide sustainability effort uniting businesses, non-profit organizations, scientists, educators and individuals to address the most pressing environmental issues facing humanity. SC Johnson is a founding member of Team Earth, and was proud to kick off the initiative with actor Harrison Ford, the CEOs of Starbucks and Harrah's Entertainment, and others. More information is available at the Team Earth website: www.teamearth.com "Conservation International says that every year, the earth loses 32 million acres of tropical forests - an area the size of England. We want to help, and to engage our consumers as we do so. Online efforts like our Team Earth Tips are one small way to get the dialogue started," said Semrau. "Facebook has over 300 million active users. One in five Internet users now Tweets or uses other tools to share updates about themselves.** We can all do a lot of good if we put the power of these tools into spreading and supporting Team Earth and other sustainability initiatives. Together, we can do so much more." About SC Johnson: SC Johnson is a family-owned and managed business dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, and insect control. It markets such well-known brands as GLADE®, OFF!®, PLEDGE®, RAID®, SCRUBBING BUBBLES®, SHOUT®, WINDEX® and ZIPLOC® in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN®, BAYGON®, BRISE®, ECHO®, KABIKILLER®, KLEAR®, and MR. MUSCLE®. The 123-year old company, with more than $8 billion in sales, employs approximately 12,000 people globally and sells products in more than 110 countries. www.scjohnson.com * Source: Yankelovich MONITOR 2009. ** Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project

‘Tis the Season to Give, Receive and Bake!

2009-11-11 17:56:45 -0500

This holiday season, Organic Valley, a farmer-owned cooperative of more than 1,300 organic family farmers nationwide, is giving customers a charitable way to spread the cheer. Through the end of the year, shoppers can visit their local grocers or food co-ops and participate in the Celebrate Organic-Local Heroes contest. Not only will shoppers be able to take advantage of $10 worth of coupons and stock up on Organic Valley products for holiday baking, they'll also be helping to fill the shelves of local food banks just by participating in the promotion. To enter the Celebrate Organic-Local Heroes contest, visit www.organicvalley.coop/celebrate. Every entrant will receive $10 in coupons for Organic Valley products plus festive holiday recipes in a special issue of the co-op's Rootstock magazine, while supplies last. Five winners drawn from all entries will receive one year of free Organic Valley products. Three of those five winners will be selected as Local Heroes and Organic Valley will make a $2,500 cash donation on their behalf to their local food pantry. "For many, the holidays are a time filled with spirited gatherings and memories associated with delicious food and baking," said Sarah Bratnober, marketing communications director for Organic Valley. "We want to honor those cherished traditions, yet be mindful and supportive of individuals and families who need assistance putting food on the table each day. By assisting community-based hunger relief organizations, the Celebrate Organic contest aims to embrace the true spirit of the season." Organic Valley Family of Farms: Independent and Farmer-Owned Organic Valley is America's largest cooperative of organic farmers and is one of the nation's leading organic brands. Organized in 1988, it represents 1,333 farmers in 32 states and one Canadian province, and achieved $527.8 million in 2008 sales. Focused on its founding mission of saving family farms through organic farming, Organic Valley produces a variety of organic foods, including organic milk, soy, cheese, butter, spreads, creams, eggs, produce and juice, which are sold in supermarkets, natural foods stores and food cooperatives nationwide. The same farmers who produce for Organic Valley also produce a full range of delicious organic meat under the Organic Prairie Family of Farms label. For further information, call 1-888-444-MILK or visit www.organicvalley.coop, www.organicprairie.coop and the cooperative's farmer website, www.farmers.coop. Organic Valley is also on Twitter www.twitter.com/organic_valley and Facebook www.facebook.com/pages/Organic-Valley/20674850824

Initiative G2 Seeking Bid Partners for CEC’s RFP for CA Residential Building Retrofit Program

2009-11-11 15:06:07 -0500

Initiative G2, a certified CA Women's Business Enterprise, announced ongoing discussions with three large U.S. electric utilities and California municipalities regarding plans to roll out major energy reduction education programs in 2010 to meet new federal mandates. Initiative G2 is focused on supporting energy efficiency education programs among utility consumers, with an emphasis on outreach and behavioral change. Initiative G2 is seeking potential bid partners, participating in the California Energy Commission's RFP 400-09-403 related to SEP funding for the California Comprehensive Residential Building Retrofit Program, and needing an experienced First Tier solution provider to join their coalition. In 2009, Initiative G2 successfully delivered 2.4 million CFLs to the doors of 1.2 million residents of Los Angeles in coordination with the energy reduction objectives of the LADWP (Los Angeles Dept. of Water & Power). Initiative G2 "demonstrated strong initiative and a positive attitude toward program accomplishment." said Lucia Alvelais, LADWP's Manager of Residential Energy Efficiency. "Their application of effort and innovative spirit serve as valuable assets to any company and project." Initiative G2 is perfectly positioned to join with municipalities that are bidding for CA CRBRP funding to perform residential energy efficiency retrofits and create new jobs. Tara Henson, Initiative G2's Senior Vice President said that, "Recent discussions have revealed declining compliance numbers for some existing programs, and Initiative G2 is responding with programs that begin with pre-awareness studies that target low compliance or underserved populations with opt-in delivery programs, and conclude with post-awareness studies and success metrics." Utilities and municipalities who find themselves more and more pressed for ongoing reductions in energy use across their consumer base, and increased scrutiny from consumers and governmental regulators, have expressed their enthusiasm for Initiative G2's custom built, fully trackable, end-to-end programs. Initiative G2 uses bilingual packaging and education around our ConserVerde.com brand to educate and communicate with Hispanic consumers within a distribution population. To view selected pre-awareness study data in the form of in-person "man-on-the-street" interviews, go to www.conserVerde.com "These projects are important to all of us," says Terri Simpson, CEO of Initiative G2. "The health of the planet is at stake. Our programs are dynamic and always aimed at achieving positive long term results across broad segment of the population. Utilities and municipalities realize the importance of being green, and we can certainly provide important leadership towards supporting them in achieving those goals." About Initiative G2 Initiative G2 helps companies, organizations and communities respond positively to energy and water reduction goals. Initiative G2 plans and executes measurable, effective, economically sound and ultimately successful custom programs in coordination with public utilities and municipalities that integrate with existing operations, meet and exceed their mandates for trackable education and overall energy reduction across a broad population. As a carbon neutral company, we encourage our clients and partners to operate their programs as carbon neutral as well. For more information visit www.initiativeg2.com or call 888-CFL-3656 About Initiative G2's LADWP Program Initiative G2 delivered 2.4 million CFL bulbs to L.A. county residents from April - June 2009. The LADWP CFL replacement program is projected to save $61.3 million in fuel costs for generating electricity and will save Angelinos $100 per household on energy bills over the lifetime of the bulbs," added Simpson. "Replacing two incandescent light bulbs with CFLs will avoid the burning of 800 pounds of coal and its associated emissions."

From super soft tissues to luxurious face rounds, a new range of organic, reusable personal care products take aim at throw-away thinking.

2009-11-11 13:00:59 -0500

Created from soft, organic fair trade cotton, Better for Grownups' new range of reusable products - from facial tissues to family wipes to cotton rounds - offers a luxurious and convenient alternative to everyday disposables. Housed in carefully designed, sustainable packaging, with convenient systems for storage, washing and reuse - the entire range was created to be used over-and-over again. Welcome to the Reusable Revolution Husband and wife team Zac and Leah Carter are organic cotton geeks. As creators of the hugely popular Better for Babies range of reusable diapers, the Carters were already working with some of the ﬁnest, most sustainable cotton around. They realised that they were looking at a huge opportunity: "This isn't about sacriﬁce." Explains Leah, "Parents would rave about our beautiful, soft diapers, and we realised that maybe grownups could beneﬁt too. We wanted to create products that feel better and look better than their disposable counterparts - and that leave the world in a better state too." Convenience through Design The Carters' are hyper-conscious of usability, as Zac explains: "If we're going to ask people to reuse, we've got to make it easy, and we've got to make it better than throwing stuff away. Luckily, most people would rather wipe their nose on supersoft, organic cotton sateen than on scratchy, paper-thin wood ﬁbers." From the storage compartment in Better for Grownup's facial tissues box, to the handy wash bag for facial rounds - the entire range has been designed with convenience and ease of use in mind. Reversing Historical Trends The coupleʼs journey into reusability has also awakened them to the historical trends that pushed disposability: "Since the ﬁrst half of the 20th Century, Americans have been bombarded with a barrage of disposable products under the pretext of 'convenience' and 'hygiene'. But consumers are discovering that true quality means products that can be used over-and-over again." Better for Farmers Too Reuse is just one part of the equation. As pioneers of sustainable, ethical business, Better for Grownups sources its cotton from organic farmers according to the principles of fair trade, avoiding both the pesticide exposure and economic exploitation so rife in the international cotton trade. Redeﬁning Luxury While Kleenex may have been the convenient, even glamorous choice in the 1930s, the Carters' are conﬁdent that Better for Grownups is an idea whose time has come. With environmental consciousness at an all-time high, todayʼs consumer is looking for quality, durability and comfort. The initial product launch of tissues and cotton rounds will soon be followed by family wipes - and other products are in the pipeline: "The prevalence of cheap, disposable items means we're not short of potential products. As parents, Zac and I envision a future where nothing is wasted. Hopefully Better for Grownups will play its part in creating that world."

Live Positively: Our commitment to making a positive difference in the world.

2009-11-11 10:51:51 -0500

Transurban Sustainability Report 2009

2009-11-09 10:09:34 -0500

Webinar: Chemicals Policy Reform and its Importance for Business

2009-11-06 09:51:36 -0500

On Friday, November 13 at 11 am PST, Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, the Business NGO Working Group for Safer Chemicals and Sustainable Materials and the American Sustainable Business Council will host a webinar on chemicals policy reform and its importance for business. Click here to register for the Webinar This webinar will provide an opportunity to understand The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and its reform as well as to hear from some leading businesses on why policy reform is important to them. The Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 is broken. The U.S. EPA has only required testing on about 200 of the more than 82,000 chemicals that have been on the market since the law passed in 1976. Federal action is needed. For the first time in decades, we have a real opportunity to fix this problem at its source- and to start to rebuild our economy based on safer chemicals, materials and products that protect future generations from serious health and environmental harm. Downstream users of chemicals are now demanding federal change. It is time to pass a strong bill to reform TSCA-and start putting common-sense limits on toxic chemicals. Click here to register for the Webinar

Leadership Skills For Change Agents

2009-11-01 00:00:24 -0400

Instructor: Bob Willard, author of The Sustainability Advantage and other books. (Toronto) Webinars will be Mondays at 5pm Pacific time (8pm Eastern) Nov 2, 9, 16, 23. This course prepares sustainability professionals at any level in the organizational hierarchy to lead an organizational change to a sustainable enterprise. It connects the dots between timeless leadership practices and how to transform an organization to a sustainability culture. At the end of this course, participants will be able to: 1. Lead the integrate sustainability into their organization, using a seven-step sustainability change process. 2. Build an effective, relevant business case to support their company's transformation to being a sustainable enterprise. 3. By able to apply effective change leadership practices during the sustainability change process, capitalize on change paradoxes, and avoid potential derailers of their initiatives. 4. Help others be more effective sustainability champions. Bob WIllard is a leading expert on the business value of corporate sustainability strategies. He has given hundreds of keynote presentations to corporate, government, university, and NGO audiences on the bottom-line benefits of sustainability strategies. He has authored three books, The Sustainability Advantage, The Next Sustainability Wave, and The Sustainability Champion’s Guidebook, plus created a DVD of his presentation, The Business Case for Sustainability. He worked 34 years with IBM Canada, is on the faculty of the Sustainable Enterprise Academy, and serves on the advisory board of the Natural Step Canada. He has a PhD in sustainability from the University of Toronto. See www.sustainabilityadvantage.com for more information about him and his resources for sustainability champions.

2009 Net Impact Conference

2009-10-27 14:58:38 -0400

The 2009 Net Impact Conference will bring together the players behind the sustainable global enterprise movement, including sustainability and corporate responsibility practitioners, social entrepreneurs, and nonprofit leaders. What inspires them to challenge the status quo? What obstacles do they face? And what approaches have led them to success in changing the rules of the game? Retreat to beautiful Ithaca, New York, with more than 2,000 professionals, MBAs, and other students to explore what it really takes for individuals and organizations to be changemakers, innovators, and problem solvers. Join us November 13 - 14 in Ithaca, NY at The Johnson School at Cornell University to:

Hear personal perspectives from cutting-edge leaders like Jeffrey Immelt, CEO of GE, and Seth Goldman, President and TeaEO of Honest Tea
Connect with professionals and students with similar interests at intimately-structured networking events
Gather best practices from over 350 speakers prepared to answer your difficult questions

The unparalleled energy of the Net Impact Conference will leave you inspired and equipped to make real change in your social or environmental impact career.

Deloitte/LEAD Canada Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Training

2009-10-22 16:05:39 -0400

Deloitte & Touche LLP and LEAD Canada cordially invite you to join us to learn about the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards for sustainability reporting. GRI standards offer an accurate, comparable, and repeatable way to measure your business’ environmental and social performance. Here’s what the course will cover: Context, drivers, and best sustainability reporting practice Key steps involved in GRI’s reporting process Use of GRI’s materiality and reporting principles Role, prioritization, and engagement of stakeholders Linkages between GRI and Global Compact Application-level assessment and external assurance The course size is limited to 15 participants to maximize learning. Participants will receive their course completion certificates directly from GRI. Discover how a comprehensive sustainability reporting strategy can help not only to increase transparency and accountability, but also to identify areas for improvement and mitigate risk. Who should attend Managers responsible for their organization’s environmental sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. What’s included Registration fees include course handouts, refreshments, and lunches. Information and registration To request further information and/or register for courses, please e-mail mehrdad@prizmasolutions.com. Please indicate selected course, full name, job title, billing address, payment preference, and highlight your eligibility for any discounts. About LEAD LEAD is the first and most experienced GRI-certified training provider in North America. GRI certified LEAD as its Training Partner in Canada and the USA. LEAD’s GRI training initiative has been endorsed by the Certified General Accountants Association of Canada (CGA-Canada), the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Shareholder Association for Research & Education (SHARE). Deloitte is a Sustaining Partner of LEAD, hosting and contributing to GRI courses.

Opportunity Collaboration

2009-10-17 00:00:24 -0400

On October 17th, the Opportunity Collaboration will bring together leaders from all over the world to create change, leverage resources and create new alliances in the fight against poverty. Registration is still open for those interested in taking action. The Opportunity Collaboration is focused on networking, collaboration, problem solving and partnering to more efficiently address poverty alleviation and economic justice. Delegates are catalytic senior leaders who, by actions and accomplishments have shown pragmatic vision, passionate tenacity, extraordinary thinking and planning, adaptive leadership, non-ideological activism and a strong ethical grounding.

Great River Energy 2008 Social Responsibility Report

2009-10-15 14:18:58 -0400

Sustainability Showcase Award

2009-10-13 18:24:16 -0400

The California Sustainability Alliance is currently accepting nominations for its 2009 Sustainability Showcase Awards. Now in its second year, the Sustainability Showcase Awards recognizes the successful sustainable policies, programs, practices and technologies implemented by leading organizations. This year, the Alliance is seeking sustainability leaders in five sectors to share their successful strategies: Commercial Building Organizations, Multi-Family Housing Organizations, Local Governments,Water Agencies, and Sellers of Other Products or Services. Winners in each category will be honored at the California Sustainability Alliance Showcase Awards Luncheon to be held in February 2010 and will be featured in showcases on the Alliance's website. Of the five winning organizations, the organization that best exemplifies a comprehensive adoption of sustainability policies and practices in all aspects of its business and operations will be announced as the grand prize winner at the awards luncheon and featured in a video documentary highlighting its successes. IT'S NOT TOO LATE!!! Send in your nominations. Nominations will be accepted until midnight, November 20, 2009. Early entry submissions will have the opportunity to have their applications reviewed with information on any amendments and revisions that may need to be made prior to the closing date. Organizations selected for the Alliance's Showcase will be announced on December 1, 2009. To learn more about the Showcase Award or download the application, go to http://www.sustainca.org/showcase/showcase2009

In Good Company CSR Conference

2009-10-07 08:56:59 -0400

Registration for this event runs from October 5 - 27 2009. The event will take place in Toronto on October 27, 2009. Breathing Strategy into Corporate Social Responsibility: The Business Case for Strategic CSR This conference will bring together some of Canada’s most inspiring business and cause leaders in an engaging dialogue focused on sharing how to: Measure the Return on Social Investments (ROSI) Design signature CSR programs that stand out Focus and align community investment programs with business objectives Develop meaningful volunteer programs and stakeholder engagement practices Measure the effectiveness of your environmental and social initiatives Attract and retain great talent and customers through strategic CSR Featured Speakers Include: Martin Connell, Co-Founder of Ace Bakery, past chair of the Canadian Center for Philanthropy Don Green, Co-Founder, ROOTS Andy Macaulay, Co-Founder and CEO, Zig Heather Reisman, Founder and CEO of Indigo Books & Music Gavin Thompson, Director of Corporate Citizenship, Microsoft Canada Bob Willard, Environmental Expert and bestselling author of The Sustainability Advantage This is a not for profit event. Proceeds are shared amongst the non-profits and charities being profiled during the conference. CSRwire subscribers are able to receive an additional 25% off their ticket price by typing “csrwire” into the discount code field on the event registration page. Very limited Seating, get your ticket today!

Doing the Right Things

2009-10-05 15:19:45 -0400

Practical Tools and Methods for Change Agents: The ISIS Agreement

2009-10-01 00:00:24 -0400

Instructor: Alan AtKisson, author of The ISIS Agreement and Believing Cassandra (Stockholm) Webinars will be Mondays at noon Pacific time (9pm Europe), Oct 5, 12, 19, 26

Corporate Responsibility 2008 Report

2009-09-30 09:01:23 -0400

2009 Global Corporate Citizenship Conference: Focus on Emerging Market Development

2009-09-25 13:37:59 -0400

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center 2009 Global Corporate Citizenship Conference is designed to be high impact with rich networking opportunities among and between leading corporate citizens and their nonprofit and government partners engaged in emerging market development. Attend the 2009 Global Corporate Citizenship Conference: Focus on Emerging Market Development if you want to PARTNER with business, government, or non-governmental organizations to tackle new, innovative and creative ideas for private sector involvement in overseas development assistance. In a day-and-a-half high-impact conference, you will also have the opportunity to: - Attend a pre-conference welcome reception at the Embassy of Sweden - Participate in business round tables discussions and teach ins on how to effectively work with governmental and MLO partners - Hear from leaders in the corporate development community and learn best practices across sector - Network with business, government, and NGO leaders who share your interests The Conference will: 1) Highlight the incentives and obstacles affecting private sector involvement in overseas development. 2) Showcase best practices for private sector engagement in emerging markets. 3) Present areas for collaboration through public-private partnerships. * Join us on September 30th for a special pre-conference welcome reception at the spectacular Embassy of Sweden located in the historic Georgetown Waterfront on the Potomac River. Sweden currently holds the presidency of the European Union. View resources from the 2008 Global Corporate Citizenship Conference including photos, videos, participants, speaker biographies, agenda, and more at: http://bclcglobal.uschamber.com

Carbon Capture and Storage 2009

2009-09-22 00:00:23 -0400

The 2009 Carbon Capture and Storage World Summit, set for September 22 – 24, 2009 in Washington DC, will provide the latest in policy and funding information, as well as technology and industry updates. “Program development is underway," said Conference Producer Valerie King. "We're looking forward to providing an environment in which industry leaders can meet, network and discuss the important issues facing policy and funding." Key topics to be discussed include business concepts and technology for the steel, coal and concrete industries. One pre-conference seminar will be held prior to the conference on Tuesday, September 22 and several networking opportunities and interactive panel discussions will also be provided. At a time when clean energy is more prominent than ever, Carbon Capture and Storage 2009 conference is the event to network with key leaders across several industries and receive a comprehensive overview on carbon capture and storage.

Corporate Social Responsibility: Strategies to Create Business and Social Value

2009-09-21 14:37:09 -0400

Facing the challenges of a deepening global recession and limited financial resources, many companies are charting a new course. As business leaders navigate this evolving terrain, they must satisfy the demands of customers, employees, investors, and governments—and develop new strategies that address the economic, social, and environmental impact of their business practices. Corporate Social Responsibility: Strategies to Create Business and Social Value provides the strategic clarity you need to align corporate social responsibility (CSR) with business strategy and manage successfully through the downturn.

EABIS Colloquium 2009 - The role of business in society

2009-09-21 00:00:23 -0400

The EABIS Colloquium is one of the world's largest multi-stakeholder conferences to explore Corporate Responsibility issues in management practice, research and education. The Colloquium attracts each year an audience of 300+ high level executives, researchers, professors, policy-makers and other stakeholders. The 2009 highlights include: - Thought leadership from renowned international figures in business, academia, policy and civil society - Exchange of best practice and case studies promoting new, innovative and socially responsible styles of management - Networking opportunities to meet informally with leading academic researchers and practitioners to gain insights relevant to your business' circumstances - Access to new knowledge, development and learning projects - Gala dinner and international awards ceremony Three days after the last EABIS Colloquium (Cranfield, Sept 2008), Lehman Brothers collapsed, unleashing a financial, economic and – increasingly – socio-political and governance crisis. The financial crisis especially has highlighted deep flaws in past approaches to the governance of the firm and of economic systems. The 2009 Colloquium will therefore focus on: "The Role of Business in Society: Challenges and Issues for Global and Corporate Governance". > How is the role of business in society likely to change? > To what extent can governance mechanisms foster Corporate Responsibility at Global, company and individual levels? These are the central issues which, among others, the EABIS 2009 Colloquium will address in high-level debates: - Social, Political and Economic Perspectives on the Failure of Governance in the Global Economy - The Governance of the Firm and Managing Sustainable Value Creation in Markets & Society - Future Implications for Executive Development and Learning in Business Schools, Companies and Corporate Universities

Ethical Sourcing Forum – North America 2010

2009-09-16 22:03:46 -0400

Visualize. Rethink. Solve! These crucial elements of sustainability decision-making form the basis of the next Ethical Sourcing Forum in New York on March 18-19th, 2010. Join Intertek Sustainability Solutions as we host the ninth annual ESF-North America The Ethical Sourcing Forum is a unique industry event that brings together members of the global sustainability community in order to address emerging sustainability and ethical supply chain challenges. ESF North America 2010 is where you will find applied innovation and the latest solutions-development processes that yield social and environmental progress while advancing core business objectives. Business the world over is changing as players learn to visualize a new future and rethink the strategy needed to get there. Visualize. Rethink. Solve! Learn how these decision-making elements can drive sustainability success! Register now and sponsor emerging sustainability leaders!

15% of each corporate delegate registration will contribute to StartingBloc’s work in support of its Fellows
ESF participants receive a formal StartingBloc letter of appreciation and recognition on StartingBloc’s website

The Economics of Peace

2009-09-16 15:56:16 -0400

This October, Praxis Peace Institute and RSF Social Finance are pleased to present The Economics of Peace in Sonoma, California. This unique 5-day event will address the pressing economic issues of our time and provide critical and collaborative tools for the economy of the future. The purpose of The Economics of Peace is to make visible the many emerging and innovative economic, market, financial, and exchange practices that are focused on environmental sustainability, social justice, and peace. The conference will feature lectures, workshops, and plenaries on topics such as:

Spain's Mondragón Cooperatives (the world's largest consortium of worker-owned businesses)
Regional capital markets
Complementary currencies
Local living economies
New approaches to economic policy
Cultural myths of money
Race and class in new economic thinking

World Renowned Speakers Include: James Galbraith, Vandana Shiva, David Korten, Riane Eisler, Mikel Lezamiz (Mondragón Cooperatives), Jacob Needleman, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, Sam Keen, A.T. Ariyaratne; Melissa Bradley-Burns, and Judy Wicks. Workshop Leaders and Panelists Include: John Bloom, C.J. Callen and Pilar Gonzales (Conversation on Money, Race, and Class); Charles Eisenstein (Sacred Economics); Bob Graham (Microcredit);Hazel Henderson (Ethical Markets); Richard Logie (Global Exchange Trading Systems); Terry Mollner (Common Good Investing); Daniel Pinchbeck (Evolver); Kelley Rajala, Derek Huntington, and Mary Rick (Local Living Economies); David Ransom (Social Change); Don Shaffer (Regional Capital Markets); Norman Solomon (Green New Deal); Woody Tasch (Slow Money); Andrew Kimbrell (Salmon Economics); Trent Schroyer (Sustainable Economic Cultures); Stephanie Rearick (TimeBanking); Tom Greco (Complementary Currencies) Co-sponsors Include: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, E.F. Schumacher Society, BALLE (Business Alliance for Local Living Economies), Mother Jones Magazine, New Resource Bank, the North Bay Bohemian, Green America, the Sonoma Community Center, Westerbeke Ranch, Esalen Institute, Sonoma County GoLocal, Sustaining Technologies, Yes! Magazine, and others.

EABIS Colloquium 2009 – The Governance Conference

2009-09-07 08:00:25 -0400

The role of business in society: issues and challenges for corporate and Global governance The EABIS Colloquium is one of the world’s largest multi-stakeholder conferences to explore Corporate Responsibility issues in management practice, research and education. The Colloquium attracts each year an audience of 300+ high level executives, researchers, professors, policy-makers and other stakeholders. Programme Highlights:

New EABIS Research Exchange to broker corporate knowledge needs with latest academic research activities and thinking
Interactive multi-stakeholder debates to explore critical dimensions of governance in theory and practice
Dedicated networking events for corporate participants
Presentation of 70-80 papers and case studies by top scholars and managers
Book launch events for new EABIS member publications
Gala Dinner in Barcelona's Opera House - El Gran Teatre del Liceu

Sustainability & Social Responsibility Conference

2009-09-04 09:00:24 -0400

This one-and-a-half day program offers supply management professionals an unprecedented opportunity to hear from leading multinational companies that have already implemented successful sustainability and social responsibility programs. http://www.ism.ws/education/content.cfm?ItemNumber=19580 REGISTRATION Registration fee is $795 (USD) for ISM members and $995 (USD) for nonmembers. Team discounts and student rates are available. PRE-CONFERENCE In addition to the Sustainability and Social Responsibility Conference, ISM will hold a pre-conference seminar on November 3-4, 2009 titled “Finance for the Supply Management Professional.” Pre-conference fees are $1,295 (USD) for ISM members and $1,595 (USD) for nonmembers. Attend both programs and save $200 off the registration fee for the complete package. HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS Conference attendees can benefit from early bird ISM discounted room rate of $149 plus tax per night through October 12, 2009. The Marriott Inn and Conference Center UMUC in Adelphi, MD was named the country's first environmentally friendly hotel and conference center. The hotel has received its LEED certification from the US Green Building Council. EXHIBITING/SPONSORSHIPS For information on exhibiting/sponsorships, contact Trish True or Kathy Braase at ttrue@ism.ws or kbraase@ism.ws or call 480-752-6276 ext. 3086 or 3061.

Piraeus Bank's Annual Corporate Responsibility Report 2008

2009-09-04 08:16:24 -0400

SRI in the Rockies Conference

2009-09-01 12:35:06 -0400

This year's conference, "From Crisis to Opportunity: Investing for a Sustainable Economy," will be presented by First Affirmative Financial Network in collaboration with the Social Investment Forum. Conference attendees can benefit from "early bird" registration discounts through September 1, 2009. In 2009, SRI in the Rockies will highlight new opportunities for advisors and investors who embrace innovative investment strategies focused on environmental, social, and governance issues. More than 50 organizations have signed on as sponsors in support of this year's conference.

Sustaining Sustainability: Organizational Assessments and Systems

2009-09-01 00:00:23 -0400

Instructor: Dorothy Atwood with the Zero Waste Alliance and EPA's Local Resource Center representative for environmental management systems (Portland, OR) Discover how to build systems to sustain your sustainability initiative, so it's not dependent upon the passion of one person. Build the skeleton of a sustainability management system and get an overview of useful sustainability assessments which you can use to track your progress.

Green Awards 2009

2009-08-13 11:25:07 -0400

Launched in 2006 to critical acclaim, the Green Awards were set up to recognise and reward creative work that communicates the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility, sustainable development and ethical best practice in any sector and across any marketing discipline. In the four years since its inception, the awards have become an established event on the global eco-calendar highlighting the best examples of green marketing and sustainability communications that have made a real difference in the fight against global warming. The reception will take place in central London where we will be serving organic drinks and canapes. No bottled water will be available in support of www.londonontap.org/. As part of our support for 'No Meat on Mondays' we will only be serving vegetarian and vegan food. www.supportmfm.org/

Radical Collaboration: A celebration of the new partnership between GenGreen, 3rdWhale and Creative Citizen

2009-08-12 11:58:51 -0400

GenGreen LLC, (www.GenGreenLife.com), 3rdWhale Mobile, Inc., (www.3rdwhale.com) and Creative Citizen (www.CreativeCitizen.com) invite members of the media to join us to celebrate our new strategic partnership, “Mobilizing the Green Revolution”, with an evening of information, inspiration and connection. As leaders in the environmental movement, GenGreen and their network GenGreenLife.com, 3rdWhale Mobile and Creative Citizen are pooling their resources to create the largest database of verified green businesses and organizations in the U.S. with the goal of advancing and increasing the collective strength of our Green Movement. This event will feature the first-ever public demonstration of upcoming mobile applications for the iPhone and other devices by GenGreen and 3rdWhale to enable businesses and consumers to identify green suppliers, making it easy to locate everything from the closest farmers market to electronics recycling drop off locations. The combined GenGreen/3rdWhale database, as well as content from other partners including Mother Nature Network, CSRWire and Creative Citizen, will soon be available to users throughout North America.

A Healthy Approach to Life: Corporate Responsibility Report 2008

2009-08-06 11:00:03 -0400

Green Buildings Open House

2009-08-03 15:59:22 -0400

GREEN BUILDINGS OPEN HOUSE, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2009 10:00 am - 4:00 pm See how your neighbors are reducing their energy bills and carbon footprint through the power of the sun, wind, and smart building design. On Saturday, October 3, the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association is welcoming the public to visit local sustainable homes and buildings throughout Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware to see clean renewable energy at work. The Green Buildings Open House is presented in conjunction with the American Solar Energy Society’s National Solar Tour. Homeowners and facility managers will be showing visitors the latest in renewable energy technologies, sustainable building materials, and energy efficient appliances. Take a local tour to learn how you, too, can save by going green. To find the Green Buildings Open House sites nearest you, visit www.nesea.org.

Life Cycle Assessment 101

2009-08-01 00:00:20 -0400

Instructor: Tom Gloria, eQuilibrium (Boston, MA) August 2009. Webinars on Tuesdays at 6:00pm Pacific Time, Aug 4, 11, 18, 25 This is an introductory course on life cycle assessment. Participants will learn the steps involved and complete a simple LCA in a business simulation using an Excel spreadsheet. This is a great introductory course for: --sustainability professionals wondering if LCA would be a good field to get into --sustainability practitioners who may need to hire a firm to do a detailed LCA and need to know enough about the process to manage the project --sustainability professionals who need an introduction to LCA before taking the 'deep dive' into the certification training. Webinars of roughly an hour will be on Mondays at 5pm Pacific time. Plan to do several more hours of work a week. This class does not teach you how to use a common LCA database like SimaPro and is not sufficient to pass the LCA certification. It is a prerequisite for the LCA certification training that we hope to offer later (although experienced LCA professionals can 'test out' of this course).

State of the World Forum

2009-07-28 10:28:11 -0400

The purpose of the Belo Horizonte State of the World Forum is to launch the global 2020 Climate Leadership Campaign, a central part of which will be the launch of the Brazil 2020 Climate Leadership Campaign and the Brazil 2020 Youth Campaign. The Forum will also provide the occasion for the premiere of Globo’s national public education campaign on global warming. This Forum marks the first time that people will be coming together from around the world to strategize and start enacting a global plan of action to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2020 and re-align our relationship to ourselves, each other and the earth.

Resetting Responsibilities

2009-07-21 08:01:20 -0400

Walmart Sustainability Milestone Meeting to be Webcast live at Walmartstores.com

2009-07-14 16:00:20 -0400

To learn how Walmart is accelerating and broadening our company's sustainability efforts. The company also will share its plans to address consumers’ increasing expectations for more sustainable products and how measuring sustainability can drive innovation in the supply chain and in products consumers purchase.

Baxter Highlights Progress Toward Sustainability Priorities in 10th Annual Sustainability Report

2009-06-18 16:31:20 -0400

Ford’s 10th Annual Sustainability Report Details Progress on Blueprint for Sustainability

2009-06-15 14:16:38 -0400

GREEN CITIES How Urban Sustainability Efforts Can and Must Drive America’s Climate Change Policies

2009-05-07 00:00:00 -0400

Improving Outcomes

2009-05-05 00:00:00 -0400

2008 Corporate Responsibility Report

2009-05-01 00:00:00 -0400

American Electric Power 2009 Corporate Sustainability Report

2009-04-28 00:00:00 -0400

2008 Global Citizenship Report

2009-04-27 00:00:00 -0400

Building a Foundation for Sustainability

2009-04-27 00:00:00 -0400

Our Commitment to the Future.

2009-04-14 00:00:00 -0400

2008 Corporate Responsibility Report

2009-03-26 00:00:00 -0400

The Four Dimensions of Sustainability White Paper

2009-03-02 00:00:00 -0500

ICMM Annual Review 2008 - Embracing Change

2009-02-25 00:00:00 -0500

Novo Nordisk Launches Fifth Integrated Annual Report Accounting for Financial, Social and Environmental Performance

2009-02-03 00:00:00 -0500

Sustainability Report 2008

2009-01-19 00:00:00 -0500

Article 13 UNGC 2008 Communication on Progress

2009-01-15 00:00:00 -0500

The Color of our World

2009-01-12 00:00:00 -0500

Verification of Certification Activities in West African Cocoa Sector: Strategy Report

2009-01-10 00:00:00 -0500