CSRWire News

Today, eBay for Charity announced that the program  reached a major milestone ahead of its 2020 goal: $1 billion in total funds raised for charities around the world.

Charitable giving on the platform is on the rise. To date, eBay for Charity has more than 83,500 global charities registered on platform – up 26% year-over-year – and is enabling $211 every minute in charity funding by eBay buyers and sellers, an increase of almost 10% compared to last year. Through eBay for Charity, 100 percent of funds raised go back to intended nonprofits.

“The eBay community is passionate about shopping with purpose, and this vibrant community of buyers and sellers has enabled us to reach an incredible milestone ahead of schedule,” said Brenda Halkias, General Manager, eBay for Charity. “eBay for Charity provides an opportunity to support causes that matter, and there are many unique ways for buyers, sellers and charities to get involved.”

“In 2018 alone, the eBay community raised a record $102million from more than 20 million charity listings and we’re on track for another record-breaking year! We’re so thankful to our buyers and sellers for their generosity and we encourage everyone to shop with purpose and continue to make a positive impact in the world.”

How We Got Here:

Following the September 11th attacks, eBay created “Auction for America,” which raised $10 million to benefit organizations supporting families of the monumental tragedy. With an outpouring of support, eBay officially launched eBay for Charity in 2003, which has since grown to become one of the world’s largest and most active giving communities, demonstrating eBay’s purpose to empower people and create economic opportunity. 

Since the program’s inception, charities including GRAMMY charities, TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund, The V Foundation, GLIDE, BBC Children in Need and The Prince’s Trust use eBay for Charity to reach their fundraising goals.

Last year, charities collectively raised more than $83 million selling directly on eBay and a staggering $10.5 million from more than 9 million listings was raised by community sellers, the everyday heroes selling on behalf of charities, in the US and UK.

Notably, community-based Goodwill® organizations collectivelyraised $25 million via the platform in 2018, the British Heart Foundation raised more than £27 million since 2011 and Boston-based bookstore for rehabilitated teens, More Than Words, is having a record-breaking year and cites eBay as their biggest driver for funds raised.

eBay for Charity has also partnered with hundreds of celebrities including George Clooney, Jimmy Kimmel, Jay Leno, Shawn Mendes, Steph Curry, Yara Shahidi, Kate Moss, David Beckham, Andrea Boccelli, Miranda Lambert, Chase Elliot and more, who have contributed to the $1 billion milestone by donating one-of-a-kind items and experiences to benefit their favorite causes. This year, two annual eBay for Charity auctions — the Power Lunch with Warren Buffet benefitting GLIDE and the ESPYs auction for The V Foundation — both had record-breaking fundraising years.

Get Involved:

Empowering People and Communities: Watch eBay for Charity’s New Video Series

To celebrate the $1 billion milestone, eBay partnered with three sellers from around the U.S. to create a new video series that spotlights how a single purchase on eBay for Charity can have a positive ripple effect among charities, its recipients and their local communities.

These video portraits — featuring Goodwill San Francisco, More Than Words and Africa Direct— showcase the compelling stories of nonprofit leaders and community members who are committed to bettering society. Watch the series at YouTube.com/ebay channel.

Shop with Purpose

There are many ways to shop with purpose through eBay for Charity:

• Bid on high profile auctions such as Vans or Bon Appétit which are live right now

• Buy a Gift That Gives Back

• Buyers can give a donation at checkout

• Sellers can donate a portion of their sales

• Purchase one of the millions of charity listings on ebay.com/charityshop every day (when shopping on eBay look for the gold and blue charity ribbon for items that benefit charity)

About eBay for Charity

eBay for Charity enables members of the eBay community to connect with and support their favorite charities in the U.S. and abroad. Every time a user buys or sells on eBay, it’s an opportunity to support causes that matter the most and to help with their fundraising goals. With more than 183 million active buyers globally and more than 83,500 charities enrolled on the site, eBay is home to one of the world’s largest and most active giving communities. Since 2003, the eBay community has raised more than $1 billion for charity. For more information visit ebayforcharity.org. 

Chevron announced a contribution of $100,000 from the Chevron Global Community Fund to the American Red Cross to support relief efforts for wildfires in California.

Chevron, with operations all around California and 140 years of history in the state, is committed to being a strong and reliable partner in the communities where its employees live and work. The company will also match any qualifying donations to wildfire relief efforts made by employees and retirees.

“So many people in the state have felt a devastating impact from these fires,” said Chevron Chairman and CEO Michael Wirth. “Our thoughts are with everyone as they work to recover and rebuild, and with all the responders still working hard to put the fires out.”

The contribution follows the California Fire Foundation’s announcement last month of a four-year, $2 million partnership with Chevron to continue underwriting the foundation’s direct victim assistance program, Supplying Aid to Victims of Emergency (SAVE).

Chevron (NYSE: CVX) is one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies. Through its subsidiaries that conduct business worldwide, the company is involved in virtually every facet of the energy industry. Chevron explores for, produces and transports crude oil and natural gas; refines, markets and distributes transportation fuels and lubricants; manufactures and sells petrochemicals and additives; generates power; and develops and deploys technologies that enhance business value in every aspect of the company’s operations. Chevron is based in San Ramon, Calif. More information about Chevron is available at www.chevron.com.

Published: November 2019

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation has named Stanley Black & Decker Best Corporate Steward as part of its 2019 Citizens Awards. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the annual awards program, which recognizes the most innovative and impactful corporate citizenship initiatives raising the bar on social responsibility and spearheading the transformation to a strong, healthy and sustainable future.

“On behalf of Stanley Black & Decker’s 60,000 employees, I am proud and humbled by this prestigious recognition of our efforts,” said Stanley Black & Decker President and CEO Jim Loree. “In late 2016, we set out to elevate our commitment to corporate social responsibility, by first defining our CSR strategy and then activating our purpose – ‘For Those Who Make The World.’ I believe that business has a responsibility to be a force for good for our employees, our customers, our communities and society in general. While we still have more work to do, we are making meaningful progress as an organization.”

Stanley Black & Decker’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy is aligned with the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The strategy focuses the company's efforts on three key pillars: empowering makers, innovating with purpose and creating a more sustainable world. By 2030, Stanley Black & Decker plans to enable 10 million creators and makers to thrive in a changing world, innovate our products to enhance the lives of 500 million people, and be carbon positive in its global operations, meaning its carbon capture is greater than its carbon emissions. To learn more about the company's CSR strategy, visit www.stanleyblackanddecker.com/social-responsibility.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Citizens Awards honor businesses for their significant positive impact in communities around the world. For 20 years, this awards program has illustrated how every day businesses serve as a powerful force for good and lead the charge in creating innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Companies and chambers of commerce from around the globe compete for the Citizens Awards, making them one of the most prestigious honors in corporate citizenship.

“Stanley Black & Decker embodies all that it means to be a Corporate Steward in 2019. We’re excited to recognize the vision of their 2030 CSR Strategy and their achievements with the program so far,” said U.S. Chamber Foundation Senior Vice President Marc Decourcey. “The company’s focus on three pillars – people, product, and planet – ensures Stanley’s ongoing positive impact by empowering the makers and creators of the world while building toward a more sustainable future.”

The Chamber Foundation announced the winners of the 2019 Citizens Awards on November 14 at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. Learn more about the awards program here.

About Stanley Black & Decker:

Stanley Black & Decker is a purpose-driven, $14 billion revenue industrial organization. Stanley Black & Decker has 61,000 employees in more than 60 countries and operates the world’s largest tools and storage business, the world’s second-largest commercial electronic security services company, a leading engineered fastening business as well as Oil & Gas and Infrastructure businesses. The company’s iconic brands include Black & Decker, Bostitch, CRAFTSMAN, DEWALT, FACOM, Irwin, Lenox, Porter Cable and Stanley. Stanley Black & Decker is a company for the makers and innovators, the craftsmen and the caregivers, and those doing the hard work to make the world a better place. Learn more at www.stanleyblackanddecker.com.

CONTACT Shannon Lapierre +1 (860) 259-7669 shannon.lapierre@sbdinc.com Chief Communications Officer Abigail Dreher +1 (860) 515-2759 Abigail.Dreher@sbdinc.com Director, Public Affairs

The life of a professional athlete is divided into two distinct arcs, during and after sports. Career paths during their playing years are plagued with adversity. Athletes must commit to rigorous physical training and conditioning, and endure painful injuries along the way. Most will spend years trying to redefine their lives after sports. But one trait shared by successful athletes in the modern era is a desire to give back to the neighborhoods where they honed their skills and the cities in which they played.  A new sub-set of pro-athlete has turned to impact investing as a post-sports career, and their projects are gaining steam and turning heads today at the SRI industry’s most important annual meeting. 

A panel of former professional athletes this week addressed The 30th Annual SRI Conference in Colorado Springs – the largest and longest running meeting of sustainable, responsible, impact and ESG investors. 

“The Next Wave of Impact – The Professional Athlete” was curated by Danny Hughes and included:  former NBA player Antonio Davis, CEO, Eminence Consulting; former NFL player Warrick Dunn, founder of Warrick Dunn Charities; former NBA player Devean George, CEO of George Group North; former Ms. Olympia Sheryl Grant, CEO of Sheryl Grant Enterprises; and former NFL player Derrick Morgan, managing partner of KNGDM Group. 

Throughout his 11-year career in the NBA, Devean played for the Los Angeles Lakers (with whom he won three NBA Championships), the Dallas Mavericks, and the Golden State Warriors.  Today, Devean George is president and CEO of George Group North, and executive director of a charitable nonprofit, Building Blocks. His real-estate company specializes in multifamily residential development, mixed-use projects, property redevelopment and management, while Building Blocks is focused on mentorship programming, affordable housing, and sustainable community development.

Devean George said: “Real community transformation involves more than just building affordable housing building, it requires a holistic operation that is self-sustaining within these communities. The “Building Blocks” model integrates affordable housing with a co-op grocery store and our after school Building Blocks programming, which includes commercial kitchen and skills training. These programs have long-term impact in a community. We are deploying this model outside of the Twin Cities, in Atlanta, Milwaukee, Oakland and other areas where impact is needed.”

During the panel discussion from the main stage of The SRI Conference, the retired athletes explained to an audience of more 900 SRI practitioners, including RIAs, portfolio managers, mutual funds, institutions and social entrepreneurs, that successful impact endeavors depend on the “influence capital” they all have committed in one form or another. Their stories, emotional at times, conveyed the personal connections they shared with groups they are helping, demonstrating the real power of impact.

Paula DeLaurentis, CEO of The SRI Conference, said: “A growing number of high-profile athletes are turning to impact investing to make a difference after they leave the playing field. The SRI/ESG/impact investing community is here to provide these athletes with the knowledge, encouragement, and connections they need to be successful in this area.

After announcing his retirement from the NFL last summer, Tennessee Titans linebacker Derrick Morgan launched a $200 million Opportunity Zone fund to invest in marginalized communities, specifically in markets for housing, community development and job creation. Morgan engaged on a personal level to ensure that his OZ fund had a positive social impact, while turning a profit a well. But he didn’t stop there. With his strong business acumen and impact vision, Morgan also created the KNGDM Impact

Fund to raise  to invest in and help sustain real estate and operating businesses in Opportunity Zones.

Responding to a question about what’s pushing athletes into impact projects, former NFL star Warrick Dunn said: “My life experiences growing-up and my career definitely influence what I’m doing to help finance and build for homes for single moms. It’s well known what I went through, my struggles and personal story. But it’s more than that … this is my passion. We make sure that it all comes together, and recently we just gave away to a single mother in need our  173rd home.”  

For former Ms. Olympia fitness Sheryl Grant, empowerment for women of color is the inspiration. Grant draws crowds by the hundreds across the country for her F.I.T. for business programming - F.I.T (Faith - Intuition - Tenacity) to help women (particularly women of color) break through the glass ceiling in corporate settings, and build the skill sets to be C-level executives and eventually to own businesses.  She also works with -senior-level execs at major corporations to help build more diverse boards and leadership teams.

Sheryl Grant said: “I believe members of the professional athlete community, the panelists on this stage, have much more to contribute to Impact Investing efforts than meets the eye.  A lifetime dedicated to teamwork, sacrifice, commitment and more, a professional athlete can make a difference in an impact project as advisors, board member, product development, brand ambassador, and yes, as an investor when it makes sense.  We are about making a difference and welcome the opportunity to have a huge positive effect on millions of lives.”

SRI CONFERENCE & COMMUNITY SPONSORS

The SRI Conference sponsors include: Aberdeen Standard Investments, Act Analytics, Advisor Partners, Allianz Global Investors, American Century Investments, Appleseed Capital, Axiom, Brown Advisory, Calvert Impact Capital, Calvert Research and Management, Capital Good Fund, Capital Impact Partners, Clean USA Power, College for Financial Planning, Community Capital Management, Dell, Earth Equity Advisors, Energy Income Partners, Entelligent, EQIS Capital Management, First Affirmative Financial Network, Folio Institutional, General Mills, Green Century Funds, Gurtin Municipal Bond Management, Hope Enterprise Corporation, Iroquois Valley Farms, Jantz Management, Kiva, Matthews Asia, Miller/Howard Investments, Morningstar, Inc., MSCI, Natixis Investment Managers, Open Invest, Parnassus, Pax World Funds, Praxis Mutual Funds, RBC Global Asset Management, Riskalyze, Sarasin Asset Management, Saturna Capital, Self Help Federal Credit Union, Shelton Capital, S&P Dow Jones Indices, TerraCycle, Thornburg Investment Management, Tides, Trillium Asset Management, Uncommon Giving, Vanderbilt Financial Group, Vanguard, Vert Asset Management, and WaterEquity.

ABOUT THE SRI CONFERENCE

The SRI Conference is the premier annual gathering of the sustainability/SRI/ESG/impact investing world.  The 30th SRI Conference is taking place November 11-15, 2019 at The Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs, CO.  For more information, go to www.SRIConference.com.

Folio Financial, Inc. is the parent company of The SRI Conference & Community.  Folio Financial (formerly FOLIOfn, Inc.), Folio Investing, Folio Institutional, First Affirmative, and VIA Folio together comprise the Folio brands, delivering innovation that benefits investors and those who serve them.

In the last decade, multinational corporations have rapidly increased purchases of renewable electricity throughout their global operations in order to access competitive electricity prices and distinguish their brands through environmental leadership. China has become a major market for this new procurement as companies increase the amount of renewable energy sourced for their own operations. At the same time, Chinese manufacturers are also transitioning to clean energy throughout their product supply chains.

While there are many new and existing mechanisms in China that enable companies to access renewable energy, the Chinese voluntary market is still early in its development, and much more can be done to create market conditions that facilitate a significant scale-up of private investment.

The report Accelerating Corporate Renewable Energy Engagement in China, released by Center for Resource Solutions with funding by Google, LLC., reviews the current state of the Chinese voluntary renewable energy market, including existing and emerging procurement mechanisms and new retail electric providers, and offers recommendations for policy and market tools that will complement the new demand for renewable energy throughout China.

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT

The report is also available in Chinese.

Webinar: Accelerating Corporate Renewable Energy Engagement in China

Accompanying the release of the report, Center for Resource Solutions will host a free webinar that will review the key findings and summarize the report’s recommendations. It will assess the current procurement options in the Chinese voluntary renewable energy market and present how each option differentially interacts with China’s renewable energy policies. It will conclude with recommendations for how the market might be strengthened to boost voluntary procurement of renewable energy.

Tuesday, December 17th, 2019  9:00 AM PT / 12:00 PM ET

REGISTER

Xylem Inc. (NYSE: XYL), a leading global water technology company dedicated to solving the world’s most challenging water issues, is partnering with the Cityzens Giving annual charitable campaign launched today, a Manchester City Football Club global community initiative, which helps young leaders around the world change lives through the power of football.

Now in its’ sixth year, Cityzens Giving sees City Football Group and its partners once again donating £400,000 to six community football projects run by young leaders in cities around the world.

Over the course of the six-week campaign, fans will hear first-hand from the young leaders in each of the six projects and will be asked to vote for the one that resonates most with them. The more votes a project gets, the greater the funding it will receive.

Last year, the safe water project in Bangalore, supported by Xylem, received the most votes, and received the largest grant of the £400,000 in funding.

As a partner of Manchester City, Xylem is proud to be supporting a new safe water project in Cape Coast, Ghana, as one of the six initiatives in the campaign. The project, “Kicking for Change,” will combine football, safe water education and equipment to provide clean water access to schools and communities to help prevent waterborne illnesses and keep children in school.

While Ghana has made large strides in reducing poverty through economic growth, more than 60% of the population still lacks access to safe drinking water, leaving them vulnerable to water-related illness and disease. Children in Ghana, girls especially, often have to walk extremely long distances to collect water, making them late for school, or absent altogether due to illness from waterborne diseases.

This project will use football to teach children about life-saving water and sanitation education, keeping them healthy and in school, and will be combined with a new clean water source in the community. This project is delivered in partnership with Play Soccer Ghana, and is generously supported by Xylem.

“Xylem is committed to raising awareness of global water challenges and our partnership with Cityzens Giving for this project will provide a powerful opportunity to share in a community commitment to solving water” said Joseph Vesey, Xylem Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. “We look forward to watching the votes and to moving forward on a great initiative for the youth of Cape Coast, Ghana, to help advance education for young girls, water security and work towards a more sustainable future.”

Ferran Soriano, Chief Executive of City Football Group, said:

“At City Football Group we are incredibly proud of Cityzens Giving. Over the past five years the campaign has gone from strength to strength and we are passionate about letting our fans choose from projects around the world and empowering our Young Leaders to inspire their local communities.

“The sixth year of the Cityzens Giving campaign sees more young people than ever before connecting with their communities and using football to find solutions to the social issues they are facing. More than 10,000 young people around the world are now engaged each year through our Cityzens Giving projects. Our Cityzens decide where the effort and the money go, making a positive difference in the world through the power of football.”

Starting today, fans from across the City Football Group network can vote for their preferred cause at: mancity.com/cityzensgiving.

About Xylem

Xylem (XYL) is a leading global water technology company committed to developing innovative technology solutions to the world’s water challenges. The Company’s products and services move, treat, analyze, monitor and return water to the environment in public utility, industrial, residential and commercial building services settings. Xylem also provides a leading portfolio of smart metering, network technologies and advanced infrastructure analytics solutions for water, electric and gas utilities. The Company’s approximately 17,000 employees bring broad applications expertise with a strong focus on identifying comprehensive, sustainable solutions. Headquartered in Rye Brook, New York, with 2018 revenue of $5.2 billion, Xylem does business in more than 150 countries through a number of market-leading product brands.

The name Xylem is derived from classical Greek and is the tissue that transports water in plants, highlighting the engineering efficiency of our water-centric business by linking it with the best water transportation of all – that which occurs in nature. For more information, please visit us at www.xylem.com.

About Xylem Watermark

Xylem Watermark is Xylem’s corporate citizenship and social investment program. Xylem Watermark’s mission is to provide and protect safe water resources for communities and to educate people about water issues. By working with best-in-class non-profit partners and leveraging the expertise, time and passion of Xylem’s employees and stakeholders, Xylem Watermark is able to address the full spectrum of global water challenges. For over 10 years, Xylem Watermark has been generating social impact by delivering clean water to communities in need, responding to water-related disasters with humanitarian assistance, and empowering communities through education about water, sanitation and hygiene and the value of water.

About Cityzens Giving

Since the launch of Cityzens Giving more than five years ago, over 1000 Young Leaders have been trained with over 10,000 young people across 20 cities now engaged each year through the projects. Each year, fans are given the opportunity to choose how funds, donated by City Football Group and its partners, are split between six different projects.

In addition to funding, every season young leaders are invited to Manchester City’s Young Leaders Summit held at City Football Academy to share learning about how they are using the power of football to address social issues in their local communities.

In October 2016, Cityzens Giving won Corporate Citizenship Campaign of the Year at the annual Beyond Sport Awards, designed to support and reward the best projects across the globe that are using sport for positive social change.

For more information, please visit www.mancity.com/cityzensgiving.

CONTACT Houston Spencer +1 (914) 240-3046 Houston.spencer@xyleminc.com Rayna Sidhu +44 161438717 Rayna.Sidhu@cityfootball.com

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation has named Stanley Black & Decker Best Corporate Steward as part of its 2019 Citizens Awards. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the annual awards program, which recognizes the most innovative and impactful corporate citizenship initiatives raising the bar on social responsibility and spearheading the transformation to a strong, healthy and sustainable future.

“On behalf of Stanley Black & Decker’s 60,000 employees, I am proud and humbled by this prestigious recognition of our efforts,” said Stanley Black & Decker President and CEO Jim Loree. “In late 2016, we set out to elevate our commitment to corporate social responsibility, by first defining our CSR strategy and then activating our purpose – ‘For Those Who Make The World.’ I believe that business has a responsibility to be a force for good for our employees, our customers, our communities and society in general. While we still have more work to do, we are making meaningful progress as an organization.”

Stanley Black & Decker’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy is aligned with the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The strategy focuses the company's efforts on three key pillars: empowering makers, innovating with purpose and creating a more sustainable world. By 2030, Stanley Black & Decker plans to enable 10 million creators and makers to thrive in a changing world, innovate our products to enhance the lives of 500 million people, and be carbon positive in its global operations, meaning its carbon capture is greater than its carbon emissions. To learn more about the company's CSR strategy, visit www.stanleyblackanddecker.com/social-responsibility.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Citizens Awards honor businesses for their significant positive impact in communities around the world. For 20 years, this awards program has illustrated how every day businesses serve as a powerful force for good and lead the charge in creating innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Companies and chambers of commerce from around the globe compete for the Citizens Awards, making them one of the most prestigious honors in corporate citizenship.

“Stanley Black & Decker embodies all that it means to be a Corporate Steward in 2019. We’re excited to recognize the vision of their 2030 CSR Strategy and their achievements with the program so far,” said U.S. Chamber Foundation Senior Vice President Marc Decourcey. “The company’s focus on three pillars – people, product, and planet – ensures Stanley’s ongoing positive impact by empowering the makers and creators of the world while building toward a more sustainable future.”

The Chamber Foundation announced the winners of the 2019 Citizens Awards on November 14 at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. Learn more about the awards program here.

About Stanley Black & Decker:

Stanley Black & Decker is a purpose-driven, $14 billion revenue industrial organization. Stanley Black & Decker has 61,000 employees in more than 60 countries and operates the world’s largest tools and storage business, the world’s second-largest commercial electronic security services company, a leading engineered fastening business as well as Oil & Gas and Infrastructure businesses. The company’s iconic brands include Black & Decker, Bostitch, CRAFTSMAN, DEWALT, FACOM, Irwin, Lenox, Porter Cable and Stanley. Stanley Black & Decker is a company for the makers and innovators, the craftsmen and the caregivers, and those doing the hard work to make the world a better place. Learn more at www.stanleyblackanddecker.com.

CONTACT
Shannon Lapierre +1 (860) 259-7669 shannon.lapierre@sbdinc.com Chief Communications Officer Abigail Dreher +1 (860) 515-2759 Abigail.Dreher@sbdinc.com Director, Public Affairs

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Corporate Citizenship Center named FedEx the winner of the 2019 Citizens Awards, in the category of Best Disaster Response & Community Resilience Program. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the annual awards program, which recognizes the most innovative and impactful corporate citizenship initiatives raising the bar on social responsibility and spearheading the transformation to a strong, healthy and sustainable future.

The award recognizes FedEx for the company’s collaboration with International Medical Corps. FedEx and International Medical Corps have innovated disaster response by redesigning an emergency field hospital to create rapidly deployable medical assets and health facilities to more effectively respond to global disasters.  FedEx logistics experts worked with International Medical Corps to make the field hospital more flexible to support varying types of disasters, including natural disasters, infection disease outbreaks, and more. The field hospital is stored near the FedEx World Hub in Memphis to enable the rapid deployment of the hospital following disasters.

Since the collaboration began, FedEx and International Medical Corps have:

• enabled health centers to conduct 290,000 consultations and delivered 14,700 hygiene kits to Puerto Ricans following Hurricane Maria

• delivered 30,000 pounds of medical shelters and personal protective equipment to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to treat patients, ensure health workers’ safety, and help support 993,000 Ebola screenings

• offered continued care to almost 4,000 patients in Florida after Hurricane Michael

And most recently, FedEx responded to the devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian, the worst storm to ever hit the Bahamas. Together with International Medical Corps, we sent components of the field hospital and much needed supplies to the island of Grand Bahama where an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 people remain. In the town of High Rock, the only health center was completely destroyed. International Medical Corps’ set up a health facility that has been able to provide outpatient medical services for the women, men, and children in need. Set up immediately following Dorian, the health center continues to provide medical care today.

More than 1 million people have already received services as a result of the collaboration between FedEx and International Medical Corps. Together, we are better prepared to respond to disasters and are building greater community resiliency.

To celebrate the launch of its annual philanthropic Subaru Share the Love® Event, Subaru of America, Inc. today hosted a celebratory kickoff event aimed at combating hunger in the automaker’s local community of Camden. Partnering with the Food Bank of South Jersey, hundreds of employees at Subaru headquarters in Camden, NJ packed and donated 15,000 ‘KidzPacks’ or the equivalent of 60,000 meals. The KidzPack program provides four nutritionally balanced meals to more than 750 children to sustain them over the weekend. Through this event and corresponding donation, Subaru will provide necessary nutrition to alleviate weekend hunger for Camden’s food insecure youth for the entire school year.

Camden County, there are more than 17,200 food insecure children. The 15,000 ‘KidzPacks’ donation from Subaru marks a 125 percent increase compared to the automaker’s 2018 donation and a new record for the most KidzPacks prepared and donated at one time.

“As we launch our annual Subaru Share the Love Event to support national and local charities, we wanted to once again show our dedication to those in our hometown,” said Thomas J. Doll, President and CEO, Subaru of America, Inc. “We hope this special event and landmark KidzPack donation will have a positive impact on the children of Camden, giving them every advantage to grow and learn without hunger.”

“We are thrilled to once again work with Subaru to help serve the nutritional needs of our youngest community members,” said Fred C. Wasiak, President and CEO, Food Bank of South Jersey. “With this donation from Subaru, the Food Bank of South Jersey will be able to provide meals on a weekly basis to hundreds of children for an entire school year.”

During the 2019 Subaru Share the Love Event, running now through January 2, 2020, Subaru will donate $250 for every new Subaru vehicle purchased or leased at more than 632 participating Subaru retailers nationwide to the customer's choice of the following national charities: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®), Make-A-Wish®, Meals on Wheels America® and National Park Foundation. Subaru retailers will also have the opportunity to add a local hometown charity for their customers to support and there will be no cap on the total donations each partnering charity can receive.

In addition to the SOA headquarters event, employees at Subaru regional offices and distribution centers throughout the U.S. partnered with local food banks and pantries to help feed neighbors in their respective communities.

To learn about the Subaru Share the Love Event, please visit www.subaru.com/share.

About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 630 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill production plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is the only U.S. automobile production plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise, which is the company’s vision to show love and respect to everyone, and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA has donated more than $165 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged more than 40,000 volunteer hours. As a company, Subaru believes it is important to do its part in making a positive impact in the world because it is the right thing to do.

For additional information visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

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CONTACT

Diane Anton Subaru of America, Inc. 856-488-5093 danton@subaru.com    MWW PR Subaru@mww.com

The Shed at New York City’s Hudson Yards has emerged as one of the most important additions to the cultural landscape since opening in April. Durkan hosted an exclusive event there this week for more than 200 guests in town attending BDNY. The flooring manufacturer, a division of Mohawk Group, brought together architecture, design and hospitality professionals on Sunday for an unforgettable evening of socializing and unwinding from the annual trade show. Together they experienced a dynamic presentation featuring three hands-on architects responsible for recent projects that are decidedly innovative.

In addition to exploring the most talked about construction for the arts since Lincoln Center, special guests interacted with the masterful custom flooring that Durkan produced for the eighth-floor Tisch Skylights. Rockwell Group, which collaborated on the architecture for the project, specified wide-plank solid white oak hardwood composed into a unique configuration for the 7,500-square-foot rehearsal and event space. Each day natural light pours in from two skylights and floor-to-ceiling window banks that face the Hudson River and the now-iconic Vessel centerpiece.

Headlining the evening’s program, which was titled “Gathering Places: Buildings That Foster Creativity and Conversation,” were Rockwell’s Greg Keffer, partner and studio leader, along with Anne Marie Lubrano, partner, Lubrano Ciavarra Architects, and Adam Rolston, managing and creative director of INC Architecture & Design. Stacy Shoemaker Rauen, editor-in-chief of Hospitality Design magazine, served as moderator. While much of the discussion focused on The Shed, Lubrano’s work for the TWA Hotel at JFK and Rolston’s for the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge also were featured.

“The selection of The Shed for the evening’s backdrop was unique, unusual and intriguing. The venue is all about the arts and is such a remarkable piece of engineering. Durkan could not have selected a better location to showcase these projects,” said Kathy Kesler, ASID, NCIDQ, interior architect and president of Miami-based Interspace Design Group. “Having three different areas to network and learn in this beautiful space was a unique concept with social integration and a great way to end our first day of BDNY.”

David Duncan, senior vice president of sales at Durkan, who helped facilitate the flooring installation at the Hudson Yards structure, said, “The Shed is a great source of pride for all involved because of its unparalleled place on the cultural scene as home to every type of art—music, dance, theater and the visual arts. It was critical that the architecture and interior design be a match to this higher purpose, and so we feel extremely privileged to have Durkan product play such an integral part of the built environment.”

This year at Boutique Design New York (BDNY), Durkan invited guests to experience a curated showcase of the latest broadloom, carpet tile and enhanced resilient tile collections for hospitality interiors. Also highlighted was the flooring manufacturer’s commitment to delivering industry-leading customer tools that not only enhance the creative process, but also reduce environmental impact.

BDNY is the leading trade fair and conference for hospitality design professionals, serving the eastern United States, Canada and Europe. For two high-energy days each November, BDNY brings together some 8,000 interior designers, architects, purchasing agents and owners/developers with more than 750 manufacturers and marketers of exceptional design elements for hospitality interiors.

Durkan’s latest collections, comprehensive hospitality flooring solutions and customer tools showcased at BDNY included: Free Play, a multi-category carpet collection based on the Surrealists’ cadavre exquis (or “Exquisite Corpse”) approach to creative collaboration; Sakiori, a woven enhanced resilient tile that combines the soft look of textiles and carpet with the durability of hard surface while paying homage to the makers of yesterday and today; and Large & Local, a domestically-manufactured, FloorScore certified collection of wide-plank enhanced resilient tile inspired by the beauty of the North Georgia mountains.

Inside Durkan’s booth this year at BDNY was p.s. (Personal Studio), the manufacturer’s latest interactive tool for customers to design, personalize and review custom flooring products online. P.s. gives access to best-in-class customer solutions to customize color, patterns and backgrounds of running line products, visualize them in room settings, and order digital or printed samples—with just the click of a button. Durkan’s innovative technology elevates the customer experience while greatly reducing the need for many of the non-digitized materials often produced as part of the hospitality flooring specification process.

About Durkan
From hotel lobbies and corridors to guest rooms and ballrooms, theaters, casinos and convention centers, Durkan is world-renowned as an industry leader in innovative design solutions and high style, high-performance hospitality carpet and hard surface flooring solutions. Durkan’s products are offered in a wide range of exclusive innovative pattern and texture technologies, including Definity™, an advanced generation precision sculpturing technology that produces the highest definition of texture, pattern and color available in hospitality carpet; and Synthesis™, which provides a three-dimensional layering effect using a custom base and Precision Dye Injection (PDI) surface that enables unprecedented image quality. For more information about the hospitality division of Mohawk Group, visit www.Durkan.com or call 800-241-4580.

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Contact:
Luke Chaffin
762.204.5607
luke_chaffin@mohawkind.com

The PNC Foundation announced today that it is awarding a $150,000 grant to the Cincinnati Parks Foundation and Cincinnati Parks as part of the 15th anniversary celebration of PNC Grow Up Great. This bilingual $500 million, multi-year initiative of PNC helps prepare children from birth to age 5 for success in school and life.

The grant will replace a 20-year-old playground at Inwood Park, located at 2326 Vine St. The new playground will be accessible to all children and will benefit an underserved community two miles from downtown Cincinnati. Inwood Park is one of eight parks identified in the organization’s Neighborhood Parks Campaign, focusing on the vitalization and improvement of eight facilities spread across neighborhoods throughout the city. 

“We are honored to work with Cincinnati Parks and the community of Mount Auburn on this project,” said Kay Geiger, PNC regional president for Cincinnati.  “Investing in the revitalization of Inwood Park not only enhances the neighborhood, it shows the residents of the Mount Auburn community that we believe in the future of their historic neighborhood.  This playground will be the first of its kind within the Cincinnati Parks facilities and will transform the way our community comes together to thrive and interact through the power of play."

In August, local children were asked to describe what their dream playground would look like, including drawing playground ideas, voting on playground elements and participating in an open discussion. Cincinnati Parks will use the children’s ideas for inspiration in the playground’s final design.

"We are especially excited to be working with the surrounding community and identifying what they'd like to see the project include, after all it's their park,” said Kara Kish, interim director of Cincinnati Parks. “We are also thrilled to once again work with the PNC Foundation and the Parks Foundation on this opportunity to build an engaging feature for future generations of children to enjoy." 

In addition to the $150,000 grant, Geiger announced that in April, PNC customers, employees and other community members collected 2,550 children’s books for distribution to early learning organizations as part of the “Great Big Book Drive.”  The books were donated to sites that Child Focus, Inc. serves, along with Community Action Agency Head Start, Cincinnati Public Schools and other local early learning centers.  PNC also announced that it donated 15 iPads to Children, Inc., Child Focus, Cincinnati-Hamilton County CAA, Northern Kentucky CAC and the William L. Mallory Early Learning Center at Cincinnati State.

PNC Bank provides employees with 40 hours of paid time off each year for Grow Up Great volunteerism. Employees can earn grants of up to $3,000 each year to be awarded to a partner early learning organization. For the anniversary year, PNC is doubling that amount to up to $6,000. To date, employee volunteerism has resulted in $7.2 million in grants across PNC’s markets.

Since 2004, PNC Grow Up Great has focused on helping children, especially underserved children, beyond the classroom by supporting learning and social-emotional development at home and across communities through free resources and tools provided to parents, guardians, caregivers and neighborhood organizations.

Access to high-quality early childhood education and resources is critical. Research shows that quality early education reduces dropout rates, poverty and crime while improving the skills of tomorrow’s workforce. 

Highlights of PNC Grow Up Great’s impact over the last 15 years include:

• Awarding more than $165 million in grants through the PNC Foundation to support young children in the communities we serve.

• Encouraging families, caregivers and teachers to inspire a love of learning through educational resources and experiences for more than five million children. 

• Demonstrating leadership by leveraging our relationships with the business community, policymakers and other key stakeholders to elevate discussions about the importance of access to high-quality early childhood education.

• Donating employee time, skills and expertise in support of the mission. Through Grow Up Great, PNC employees have contributed more than 940,000 volunteer hours and 1.4 million items for use in classrooms and the personal well-being of young children. 

The PNC Foundation, which receives its principal funding from The PNC Financial Services Group (www.pnc.com), actively supports organizations that provide services for the benefit of communities in which it has a significant presence. The foundation focuses its philanthropic mission on early childhood education and community and economic development, which includes the arts and culture. Through Grow Up Great, its signature cause that began in 2004, PNC has created a bilingual $500 million, multi-year initiative to help prepare children from birth to age 5 for success in school and life.

CONTACT
Craig Friedman +1 (614) 463-6647 craig.friedman@pnc.com @Craig_PNC

Aramark is launching an exclusive new WearGuard® Eco Collection that offers an apparel solution for customers committed to minimizing their impact on environment, it was announced today. The eco-conscious apparel is created with recycled fiber blends, including traditional recycled polyester, oyster shell polyester and REPREVE® performance fiber manufactured entirely from recycled plastic bottles.

“Our customers are more environmentally conscious than ever before and this exciting new solution is one way we are responding to an increasing demand for sustainable products,” said Brad Drummond, Chief Operating Officer of Aramark’s Uniform and Refreshments sector. “I couldn’t be more excited about this new offering and how it will help reduce our customers’ impact on the environment while continuing to provide them with comfortable, stylish, durable apparel options.”

Manufacturing recycled blends keeps waste out of landfills, uses less water and energy to make, and emits fewer greenhouse gases in the process. For example, recycled polyester requires 90 percent less water and 85 percent less energy to produce than polyester and reduces CO2 emissions by 50 to 60 percent.

Aramark is partnering with Unifi, Inc., a global textile solutions provider that creates the REPREVE® fiber for clothing and other consumer products. Unifi has transformed more than 15 billion plastic bottles into recycled fiber and Aramark will be using the moisture-wicking fabric for its exclusive apparel.

“This approach supports our commitment to reduce waste before it is generated and to make the world a better place for our associates, clients, consumers, communities and the environment,” Drummond noted. 

Aramark’s new eco-friendly apparel is available exclusively to direct sale customers and more product and ordering information can be found at shoparamarkuniform.com.

Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world's largest leisure travel company, recently announced seven new hires and internal promotions as part of the development of its new companywide ethics and compliance function, first announced in August 2019 and led by Peter Anderson, chief ethics and compliance officer.

The additions include three new corporate compliance leaders reporting directly to Anderson, who is building an extensive ethics and compliance program to drive a culture of compliance, learning and integrity inside the corporation and across its nine global cruise line brands. More specifically, the goal is to meet or exceed all legal and statutory requirements and promote the highest ethical principles.

“This new team underscores our commitment to ethics, compliance, the environment and health, safety and security,” said Anderson. “We are in the process of developing a world-class, enduring culture of compliance among every one of our 150,000 employees. Compliance and ethics is at the heart of everything we do. The leadership, experience and passion of this very talented and determined team will play an instrumental role in our mission.”  

To promote full integration and teamwork around ethics and compliance throughout the entire corporation, these leaders will also work closely with other newly-selected leaders who are based within the various operating companies.

The ethics and compliance team leaders include the following personnel and positions:

Kelly Clark – Senior Vice President, Deputy Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer
The deputy chief ethics and compliance officer will support the overall implementation of the ethics and compliance program with primary responsibility for interacting with the company’s cruise line brands to maintain open communications, as well as monitor local program implementation.

In this capacity, Clark will also prioritize the ethics-focused elements of the ethics and compliance program, working across functional lines to understand and support existing program processes. She will also advocate for new systems and processes to improve program oversight, and will be responsible for spearheading other important program initiatives.

Under Clark’s stewardship, Holland America Line and Seabourn – two Carnival Corporation brands currently organized under Holland America Group – have received Ethics Inside Certification since 2011 from Ethisphere, the provider of independent verification of corporate ethics and compliance programs. Ethisphere awards Ethics Inside Certification exclusively to companies that demonstrate the existence of a superior employee and leadership culture that promotes ethical business practices. Ethisphere also recognized Holland America Line to its World’s Most Ethical Companies list for five consecutive years, from 2011 to 2015.

Clark previously served in various roles for Holland America Group, including as vice president, counsel and special advisor to the CEO; chief ethics officer and general counsel; and senior vice president, safety, environmental and regulatory services. She also worked as general counsel and chief ethics officer for Holland America Line and Seabourn.

Chris Donald – Senior Vice President, Environmental Corporate Compliance Manager
The environmental corporate compliance manager oversees and implements all legal obligations in Carnival Corporation’s Environmental Compliance Plan (ECP) as well as works with the independent parties conducting oversight and analysis of this plan. In addition to leading the environmental efforts within the brands, Donald is responsible for:

• Driving improvements in waste management, technology and design (including food waste).

• Establishing, monitoring and assessing key performance indicators for environmental compliance.

• Overseeing the Environmental Officers who provide onboard environmental compliance oversight on all of the company’s ships.

• Driving and evolving the company’s Operation Oceans Alive program designed to foster a culture of compliance, learning and ocean stewardship.

Since joining Carnival Corporation in 2007, Donald has held a number of key positions that will help him carry out his increased responsibilities. More specifically, he has previously supported the company’s policy development, internal audits and investigations. Prior to his role in environmental compliance, he was also corporate senior director, safety and occupational safety, and led the company’s Engine Room Fire Risk Mitigation program, which included the design and rollout of extensive upgrades to fire detection and suppression systems across the company’s global fleet.

Gerry Ellis – Vice President, Health, Safety and Security Corporate Compliance Manager
The Health, Safety and Security (HSS) corporate compliance manager must ensure the regulatory compliance and effectiveness of the company’s global HSS programs, as well as monitor the Maritime Policy and Analysis department to maintain compliance with applicable HSS-related policies and procedures.

Ellis has more than 40 years of industry experience, including over 23 years with Carnival Corporation. He served at sea for 18 years in a range of positions from deck cadet to captain on a variety of ships, including tankers, container ships, ferries, private yachts and cruise ships, in addition to shoreside management positions, including maritime investigations director, marine operations manager, port operations manager, director of port development, director of compliance, director of shipbuilding and design, director of safety policy; and vice president, marine and technical operations.
 
Martha de Zayas – Vice President, General Corporate Compliance Manager
Among the three corporate compliance managers, this position has the broadest range of compliance topics to oversee, including:

• Codes of conduct, anti-corruption, anti-trust and anti-retaliation.

• Conflicts of interest, third-party due diligence screening and economic sanctions/Office of Foreign Asset Control screening.

• North America data privacy and records retention.

• Americans with Disabilities Act shoreside and shipboard programs.

• The corporate Compliance Reporting Hotline program.

De Zayas joined Carnival Corporation in 1995 as associate general counsel, managing commercial and employee-related litigation. Since March 2018, she has served as vice president of ethics and compliance.

Sandra Rowlett – Vice President, Incident Analysis Group Investigations Leader
As the Incident Analysis Group investigations leader, Rowlett is responsible for all efforts to investigate certain Health, Environment, Safety and Security (HESS) issues – including near misses – independently of the brands. She also manages the recently expanded team of nine investigators, and assists in improving the investigative functions throughout the entire organization.

For 28 years, Rowlett held various positions within the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), including air traffic control investigator and senior executive with oversight of aviation, railroad, pipeline and hazardous materials investigations. Before joining the NTSB, Rowlett was an air traffic controller for Los Angeles International Airport and the United States Air Force. She reports to Ellis.

H Jordan Weitz – Senior Director, Compliance Risk Management Leader
As the Compliance Risk Management leader, Weitz is responsible for developing a more proactive and strategic focus to the company’s compliance programs grounded in data analytics, metrics and compliance risk assessments. Weitz has more than 20 years of experience, including 17 years in the cruise industry, covering all aspects of risk management including processes, risks, controls, audits, investigations, digital forensics and proactive analytics. He is also a certified fraud examiner. Weitz reports to Clark.

Brigett Potts – Director, Compliance Training Leader
As the Compliance Training leader, Potts is responsible for reviewing and summarizing all current compliance training relating to the areas within the ethics and compliance function and program to:

• Develop a corporate compliance training strategy and plan.

• Measure training effectiveness.

• Introduce new and innovative compliance training tools.

• Implement basic ethics and compliance training for all employees.

Potts joined Carnival Cruise Line in 2017 as the Environmental Regulatory and Operating Line Training Manager (OLTM). In October 2018, she became chairperson of the OLTM group, where her leadership exemplified a passion for training as she led process change across the organization. Prior to joining Carnival Cruise Line, she was an associate attorney handling cases in both federal and state courts. She reports to Donald.

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About Carnival Corporation & plc
Carnival Corporation & plc is the world’s largest leisure travel company and among the most profitable and financially strong in the cruise and vacation industries, with a portfolio of nine of the world’s leading cruise lines. With operations in North America, Australia, Europe and Asia, its portfolio features Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O Cruises (Australia), Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK) and Cunard.  

Together, the corporation’s cruise lines operate 104 ships with 249,000 lower berths visiting over 700 ports around the world, with 17 new ships scheduled to be delivered through 2025. Carnival Corporation & plc also operates Holland America Princess Alaska Tours, the leading tour company in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon. Traded on both the New York and London Stock Exchanges, Carnival Corporation & plc is the only group in the world to be included in both the S&P 500 and the FTSE 100 indices.

With a long history of innovation and providing guests with extraordinary vacation experiences, Carnival Corporation has received thousands of industry awards – including recognition by the Consumer Technology Association™ as a CES® 2019 Innovation Awards Honoree for OceanMedallion™. A revolutionary wearable device that contains a proprietary blend of communication technologies, OceanMedallion enables the world's first interactive guest experience platform transforming vacation travel on a large scale into a highly personalized level of customized service. The prestigious CES Innovation Awards honor outstanding design and engineering in consumer technology products.              

Additional information can be found on www.carnival.com, www.princess.com, www.hollandamerica.com, www.seabourn.com, www.pocruises.com.au, www.costacruise.com, www.aida.de, www.pocruises.com and www.cunard.com.

Carnival Corporation Media Contacts:
Roger Frizzell, Carnival Corporation, rfrizzell@carnival.com, (305) 406-7862
Mike Flanagan, LDWW, mike@ldwwgroup.com, (727) 452-4538

CONTACT
Chris Cradduck +1 (214) 893-9119 chris@ldwwgroup.com

Morgan Stanley, National Geographic Society and the University of Georgia College of Engineering today announced a partnership to scale and enhance the citizen science movement to help prevent and reduce plastic waste in coastlines and waterways through support for the Marine Debris Tracker (Debris Tracker). The Debris Tracker is a mobile app that allows individuals to log plastic waste pollution as well as a suite of educational materials about the sources of, and solutions to, plastic waste. It is the only litter-tracking tool that enables users to learn by exploring and contributing to an open-data platform with over two million items tracked to date. Together, this partnership will improve understanding of the sources of plastic debris and pollution, generate scientific findings, inform solutions and inspire upstream design. 

This partnership is a significant step in Morgan Stanley’s Plastic Waste Resolution aimed at tackling the growing global challenge of plastic waste in our environment. Announced last April, the Morgan Stanley Plastic Waste Resolution represents a strategic, Firmwide commitment to catalyze, support and help scale the innovations and business-based solutions to reduce plastic waste. By 2030, these efforts will help prevent, reduce and remove 50 million metric tons of plastic waste from entering our rivers, oceans, landscapes and landfills. Recognizing that the challenge of plastic waste is a systemic issue that requires innovation, business model optimization and financing, Morgan Stanley is committed to partnering with diverse stakeholders – including research scientists and citizen scientists – to help address this challenge. 

“We firmly believe that citizen-science tools, like the Debris Tracker, are powerful examples of how spreading awareness can help lead to better data and wider public interest in an issue that is impacting communities around the world,” said Audrey Choi, Chief Sustainability Officer and Chief Marketing Officer at Morgan Stanley. “We’re excited to partner with transformative institutions like the National Geographic Society and the University of Georgia to help address the growing global challenge of plastic waste in our environment. This partnership will equip educators, volunteers and everyday explorers alike with the tools they need to get more involved where they live and play, and take steps to help curb plastic pollution.” 

The Debris Tracker is an open-data citizen science app, serving a varied audience of educational, nonprofit and scientific organizations as well as passionate citizen scientists. As its audience grows, its technology improves and the reach of the Debris Tracker expands, it will be critical that the tool continue to meet the rigorous scientific standards required to bolster research on this topic and provide a seamless and engaging experience for users of all ages. Through the partnership, Morgan Stanley has committed to support the growth and development of the tracker for ten years. 

University of Georgia Professor Dr. Jenna Jambeck, said, “We’re grateful to be working with Morgan Stanley on this important global problem. We’re confident this partnership will help to accelerate the Debris Tracker’s impact, expand our citizen science efforts, spread awareness about the issue and empower communities with data to help prevent plastic pollution.” 

As part of this agreement, the University of Georgia will seek to better understand and document how plastic waste travels from source to sea. National Geographic Society will also create a robust tool kit of educational resources to provide deeper understanding of the global plastic waste challenge and empower the next generation of scientists and explorers. 

Tunde Wackman, partnership solutions director at the National Geographic Society added, “We’re looking forward to deepening our work to address the global challenges of plastic waste in partnership with Morgan Stanley. Through their support, we will bring together science, technology and education to engage citizen scientists around the world to advance solutions to help combat the billion tons of plastic waste around the world.” 

For more information about the Debris Tracker, please see here. To read more about Morgan Stanley’s Plastic Waste Resolution, please see here. 

About Morgan Stanley

Morgan Stanley is a leading global financial services firm providing investment banking, securities, wealth management and investment management services. With offices in more than 41 countries, the Firm's employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals. For more information about Morgan Stanley, please visit www.morganstanley.com. 

About the University of Georgia

Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America – launching our nation’s great tradition of world-class public education. What began as a commitment to inspire the next generation grows stronger today through global research, hands-on learning and extensive outreach. A top value in public higher education, Georgia’s flagship university thrives in a community that combines a culture-rich college town with a strong economic center. 

About the National Geographic Society

The National Geographic Society is a global nonprofit organization that uses the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. Since 1888, National Geographic has pushed the boundaries of exploration, investing in bold people and transformative ideas, providing more than 14,000 grants for work across all seven continents, reaching three million students each year through education offerings, and engaging audiences around the globe through signature experiences, stories and content. To learn more, visit www.nationalgeographic.org.

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Disclosures

This material was published on November 13, 2019 and has been prepared for informational purposes only and is not a solicitation of any offer to buy or sell any security or other financial instrument or to participate in any trading strategy. This material was not prepared by the Morgan Stanley Research Department and is not a Research Report as defined under FINRA regulations. This material does not provide individually tailored investment advice. It has been prepared without regard to the individual financial circumstances and objectives of persons who receive it. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated (collectively, "Morgan Stanley"), Members SIPC, recommend that recipients should determine, in consultation with their own investment, legal, tax, regulatory and accounting advisors, the economic risks and merits, as well as the legal, tax, regulatory and accounting characteristics and consequences, of the transaction. The appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor's individual circumstances and objectives. 

This material contains forward-looking statements and there can be no guarantee that they will come to pass. Information contained herein is based on data from multiple sources and Morgan Stanley makes no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of data from sources outside of Morgan Stanley. References to third parties contained herein should not be considered a solicitation on behalf of or an endorsement of those entities by Morgan Stanley. 

Morgan Stanley, its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors do not provide tax, accounting or legal advice. Individuals should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving legal matters. 

By providing a link to a third party website(s), online publication(s), educational resources or tool(s), Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”) are not implying an affiliation, sponsorship, endorsement, etc. with the third party(s) or that any monitoring is being done by Morgan Stanley of any information contained within the aforementioned materials. Morgan Stanley is not responsible for the information contained on the third party’s web site or tool(s) or your use of or inability to use such site or tool(s). Nor do we guarantee their accuracy and completeness. The terms, conditions, and privacy policy of any third party web site or tool(s) may be different from those applicable to your use of any Morgan Stanley web site. The opinions expressed by the author are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Morgan Stanley. Securities, investments, strategies or products mentioned or discussed on the third party website or online materials are neither an endorsement nor solicitation by Morgan Stanley. The information and data provided by the third party web site or publication is as of the date of the material when it was written and is subject to change without notice. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. 

© 2019 Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Members SIPC. All rights reserved. CRC 2812315 11/2019 

Contacts

Media Relations:

Morgan Stanley

Mary Claire Delaney, 212-761-2427

Katherine Stueber, 212-761-1349

Mediainquiries@morganstanley.com

Today, The Early Times® Kentucky Whisky “Dogbassador,” Earl, a one-year-old male rescue puppy, graduates the K9s For Warriors training program after completing the final step in his nine-month journey.  The program contributes to a four-year partnership in which Early Times has donated over $225,000 to K9s for Warriors.

In March of this year, Early Times worked with The Kentucky Humane Society, a nonprofit organization and Kentucky's largest pet adoption agency, to identify and adopt the perfect candidate for the K9s For Warriors program, a nonprofit organization committed to training service canines for military veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and other trauma resulting from post 9/11 military service.

“The minute our team met Earl, we knew he was special and we had high hopes he would graduate and be matched with a veteran,” said Dallas Cheatham, Early Times senior brand manager. “50% of the dogs who begin training do not complete the program due to medical or behavioral incompatibilities. It takes a specific personality to become a service dog.”

Earl began his formal service training at K9s For Warriors in Ponte Vedra, Florida, in July. Throughout his time in training, Earl learned verbal cues such as “sit” and “down” and improved his focus and sensitivity to touch. A tug toy was used as a reward for him during training which allowed him to stay engaged and managed his energy. Earl trained at K9s For Warriors campus as well as many stores, parks and restaurants to get him accustomed to staying calm and relaxed with his future warrior in public.

“Earl has made tremendous growth from the first time I walked into his kennel to the dog he is today,” said K9s For Warriors K9 Trainer, Erik Kolbow. “He learned commands quickly and enjoyed his training sessions because his active brain got to work. He is a very smart dog with incredible affection and positive energy making him a great companion for a warrior.”

Once Earl passed all tests required to become a certified service dog, he was ready to be paired with a warrior. Upon being matched with his warrior in the November 2019 class, the K9s For Warriors team spent the next three weeks training Earl side-by-side with his warrior to facilitate life-long bonding. After graduating today, they will return to the warrior’s home to live out their new “leashes” on life together.

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About Early Times Kentucky Whisky:

From a rich history dating back to 1860, Early Times continues to use the same process of distilling, using crystal clear Kentucky water, select grains, and a special yeast. Early Times is matured in oak barrels to give it special smoothness and flavor. The Brown-Forman Company acquired Early Times in 1923. Today its smoothness is savored in over 40 countries. Visit www.earlytimes.com or Early Times’ Facebook page to learn more.

About K9s For Warriors:

K9s For Warriors is the nation’s largest provider of service dogs to military veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and/or Military Sexual Trauma (MST) as a result of military service post-9/11. The service dog program is unique and offers an innovative approach to recovering from the invisible wounds of war. Two lives are transformed with each pairing. The veteran reduces his/her risk of suicide while the rescue dog receives a newfound purpose. Find more information at www.k9sforwarriors.org|Facebook|Twitter

About Kentucky Humane Society:

A private nonprofit organization headquartered in Louisville, the Kentucky Humane Society is the state’s largest pet adoption agency and spay/neuter provider. A champion for companion animals, KHS is focused on creating more compassionate communities through leadership, education and proactive solutions. Learn more http://www.kyhumane.org.

 Rebuilding Together, the leading home and community revitalization national non-profit organization, today announced a new partnership with specialty retailer Cost Plus World Market, to provide critical home repairs to our neighbors in need and revitalize our communities.

From now until December 31, 2019, Cost Plus World Market customers have the opportunity to give back to their community by supporting Rebuilding Together's mission to repair the homes of people in need and revitalize our communities. While shopping in World Market stores, customers can elect to make a donation of $1, $3 or $5 to the non-profit organization at the register.

“At Cost Plus World Market we strongly believe everyone should be given the opportunity to build happy memories where they live," said Jack Schwefel, CEO, Cost Plus World Market. "We encourage our employees and customers to give back to their community and join us in supporting Rebuilding Together to ensure our neighbors have a safe place to call home."

Donations can also be made online at www.pledgeling.com/worldmarket, where an impact map displays a variety of home and community center projects across the country performed by Rebuilding Together. There is also a real-time impact calculator to show the total dollars raised to date. This campaign is powered by Pledgeling, the technology partner and platform that brings together companies and causes for world-changing impact.

“Cost Plus World Market understands the importance of giving back to our neighbors and strengthening our communities throughout the country,” said Caroline Blakely, President and CEO of Rebuilding Together. “Working hand-in-hand, we can provide critical home repairs to those who need it most and accelerate Rebuilding Together’s work to ensure everyone lives in safe homes and communities.”

Find out more about Rebuilding Together and Cost Plus World Market's partnership at pledgeling.com/worldmarket. Those interested in partnering with Rebuilding Together can find out more at rebuildingtogether.org/partner-us.

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About Rebuilding Together

Rebuilding Together is a leading national nonprofit organization with a mission to repair the homes of people in need and revitalize our communities. Each year, Rebuilding Together affiliates and nearly 100,000 volunteers complete about 10,000 rebuild projects. Learn more and get involved at rebuildingtogether.org.

About Cost Plus World Market

Cost Plus World Market (www.worldmarket.com) operates 276 stores in 39 states and the District of Columbia under the World Market® and Cost Plus World Market® trademarks. The stores feature an ever-changing selection of casual home decor and furniture, housewares, gifts, jewelry, decorative accessories, over 500 international wines, and gourmet foods and beverages offered at affordable prices and imported from more than 50 countries. Many items are unique and exclusive to World Market and are regularly supplied by an international network of individual and regional artisans developed over the Company’s more than 60 years in the import business.

About Pledgeling

Pledgeling (www.pledgeling.com) believes that the world is moving to an impact economy where the most successful companies in the future will be those with the greatest social impact. Pledgeling’s cloud-based technology platform makes charitable giving turnkey, from nonprofit discovery to technology integration to impact measurement, and provides the analytics to demonstrate how doing good drives business and social impact. Today, Pledgeling powers corporate giving and social impact programs for over 4,000 businesses. Headquartered in Venice, California, Pledgeling's ecosystem of business customers and nonprofits has raised tens of millions of dollars for over 25,000 nonprofits operating in over 100 countries around the world.

 New Holland Agriculture, a global agricultural brand of CNH Industrial N.V (NYSE: CNHI / MI: CNHI), has won the inaugural ‘Sustainable Tractor of the Year 2020’ award at Agritechnica 2019, the world’s largest agricultural trade show, currently taking place in Hannover, Germany.

The T6 Methane Power, the world’s first production methane tractor, was unveiled at the show and its precursor, the T6 Methane Powered Concept tractor, clinched the much coveted prize. The Tractor of the Year jury comprises journalists specializing in agricultural mechanization, representing leading European agricultural publications from 24 countries.

The T6 Methane Power is the culmination of New Holland’s pioneering work on the use of alternative fuels through its Clean Energy Leader strategy, and it is a significant step forward on the path to decarbonizing agriculture. Commercially available in 2020, it offers economic and practical advantages, which are further enhanced when using biomethane.

Its outstanding performance comes in an exceptionally eco-friendly package, delivering up to 30% lower running costs. In real field conditions the T6 Methane Power tractor produces 99% less particulate matter than an equivalent diesel configuration, and reduces CO2 emissions by minimum 10% and overall emissions by 80%. This tractor is a key element in New Holland’s Energy Independent Farm Concept, closing the loop of a true circular economy, from fields to energy generation and back to fields – a complete CO2-neutral cycle.

Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT) today released its fiscal year 2019 (FY19) Integrated Performance Report: The Power of Purpose [view report here].

The report focuses on Medtronic global corporate citizenship efforts, which include the economic, social, and environmental areas where the company can make the greatest impact. It details FY19 progress against four pillars of Medtronic global corporate citizenship and sustainability: Adding Value to Society, Promoting Environmental Stewardship, Supporting a Global Workforce, and Working Responsibly. Within the report, Medtronic addresses key issues critical to the company and its stakeholders, such as access to care, product stewardship, ethics in sales and marketing, responsible supply management, and product quality.

“Our foremost priority is to contribute to human welfare,” said Omar Ishrak, Medtronic chairman and chief executive officer. “Today we are executing on the strongest product pipeline in Medtronic’s history, bringing to market a long list of technology innovations that will, in the words of our Mission, alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life for millions of people around the world.”

The report also highlights the company’s commitment to recognizing the personal worth of all employees, including providing equal pay for equal work. In FY19, Medtronic achieved 99% overall for gender pay equity — and 100% in several countries, including the United States. A further U.S. ethnic diversity analysis found that for every $1.00 Caucasian employees earned, ethnically diverse employees in equivalent roles earned $0.99.

“While we are pleased with these results, I assure you that our journey won’t stop until we ensure and sustain 100% pay equity for all,” said Ishrak.

In FY19, Medtronic reported ethnically diverse talent held 22% of leadership positions in the United States — surpassing the company’s 2020 target of 20% or more. In addition, 38% of all global leadership positions were held by women, on track to meet the company’s 2020 target of 40% or more, putting us closer to our ultimate aspiration of 50%. Medtronic’s continued commitment to inclusion and diversity is further described through the company’s inaugural Global Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Report [view report here].

Other highlights from the 2019 Integrated Performance Report include:

• 75 million+ lives improved through Medtronic technologies and services

• $2.3 billion invested in research and development

• 275+ ongoing clinical studies

• $142 million invested in training for 80,000+ medical professionals

• $1 billion+ in philanthropic contributions to date

• 38% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 2013

• 35% of total energy needs sourced from renewables

• $4.3 million in operational cost savings from energy conservation projects

• $77.5 million spent on employee learning and development

The report was prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative Standard Core guidelines and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board disclosure standard for the Medical Equipment & Supplies industry. For the first time, Medtronic also shares its contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The report, corresponding Standards Supplement, and report executive summary are available for download here.

For more information, visit  Medtronic.com/citizenship.

About Medtronic

Medtronic plc (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is among the world's largest medical technology, services and solutions companies — alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life for millions of people around the world. Medtronic employs more than 90,000 people worldwide, serving physicians, hospitals and patients in more than 150 countries. The company is focused on collaborating with stakeholders around the world to take healthcare Further, Together.

Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

-end-

The Consumer Goods Forum is pleased to announce the official launch of the latest Collaboration for Healthier Lives (CHL) initiative in China. CHL is a key initiative of the CGF’s Health & Wellness work and aims to act on the critical role of the industry in preventing illness and empowering people to live healthier lives in countries and communities across the globe. The launch of the Chinese initiative follows previously launched and active initiatives in Colombia, Costa Rica, France, Japan, Mexico, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. 

CHL China’s journey began in the second quarter of 2019 with a kick-off meeting that served to identify and align on the key health and wellness issues for the initiative. This was followed by a series of best practice sharing discussions with Oliver Wyman and the CGF’s China team, as well as several in-depth research interviews with members (including Bright Dairy, Carrefour, Ele.me, METRO, PepsiCo and Walmart). The feedback from the interviews served as a solid foundation for preparations for the CHL China project design workshop that followed in Beijing in May.

In August 2019, a CHL China initiative discussion meeting took place in Shanghai where the project duration and topics were confirmed. The main topic decided was “Balanced Nutrition” with a focus on “Three Reductions” - salt, sugar and oil - and “Healthy Oral Hygiene”. Four working groups of the Health & Wellness China Steering Committee were also decided at this time: 

• Education and promotional content: Carrefour, Mondelēz International, Mengniu Dairy, Mars Incorporated, Nestlé and The Coco-Cola Company

• In-store interventions: Carrefour, METRO, Sun Art and Walmart

• Online interventions: Sun Art and Mondelēz International

• Metrics measurement: Bright Dairy, New Hope Liuhe, Mengniu Dairy and Nestlé

The initiative officially launched in September 2019 and a variety of in-store activations have been implemented in Carrefour and RT-Mart stores in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Shenyang. Digital activations have been designed in the Ele.me app and will launch later this year. To-date, the initiative has more than 20 multistakeholder partners from retail, manufacturing, academia and government. 

The launch of the Chinese initiative marks a key milestone in the CGF’s CHL journey and is the start of increased collaboration for balanced nutrition within Chinese communities. The newly announced  China Board of Directors will also support CHL China and help drive the positive change agenda in China more broadly. Jing REN from Carrefour and Duncan DU from Nestlé will lead the Health & Wellness work in China as Co-Chairs from November 2019.

Visit the CHL China webpage to find out more.

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About The Consumer Goods Forum

The Consumer Goods Forum (“CGF”) is a global, parity-based industry network that is driven by its members to encourage the global adoption of practices and standards that serves the consumer goods industry worldwide. It brings together the CEOs and senior management of some 400 retailers, manufacturers, service providers, and other stakeholders across 70 countries, and it reflects the diversity of the industry in geography, size, product category and format. Its member companies have combined sales of EUR 3.5 trillion and directly employ nearly 10 million people, with a further 90 million related jobs estimated along the value chain. It is governed by its Board of Directors, which comprises more than 50 manufacturer and retailer CEOs. For more information, please visit: www.theconsumergoodsforum.com

For more information, please contact:

Sharon Bligh
Director, Health & Wellness
The Consumer Goods Forum
hw@theconsumergoodsforum.com 

Joelle Mbuya Leclerc
Communications Officer
The Consumer Goods Forum
j.mbuya.leclerc@theconsumergoodsforum.com 

Rena ZHANG

CHL Contact in China
The Consumer Goods Forum
r.zhang@ theconsumergoodsforum.com

 Tom’s of Maine has begun shipping a first-of-its-kind recyclable toothpaste tube recognized by the Association of Plastic Recyclers. The tube is designed to be compatible with the #2 HDPE plastic stream and will begin shipping just ahead of National Recycling Day on November 15. 

Until now, toothpaste tubes haven’t been recyclable because most are made of a mixed material that doesn’t have a second life and has to be landfilled. The #2 plastic continues to have a strong recycling stream and is the same material used in most laundry detergent bottles. The new Tom’s of Maine recyclable tube is designed to be "circular," so that the material can be re-processed into new products and packaging.

“We’re thrilled to offer a first-of-its-kind recyclable toothpaste tube that’s been recognized by the Association of Plastic Recyclers, which sets the standard for North America. There is no oral care or personal care tube on the market with this APR recognition,” said Esi Seng, general manager at Tom’s of Maine. “We're already hard at work engaging with The Recycling Partnership and their network to communicate with recycling centers and win their acceptance of our recyclable tube. We're proud to be blazing a trail for other toothpaste brands to follow,” Seng added.

Tom’s of Maine Antiplaque & Whitening Peppermint Natural Toothpaste will be the first variant in the new tube, available on shelves in the coming weeks, with all full size Tom’s of Maine toothpastes in the new recyclable tube by the end of 2020. For more information, please visit: https://www.tomsofmaine.com/our-promise/caring-for-the-planet. 

“When it comes to recycling, shoppers interested in natural products are also more committed, active participants in working to keep waste out of landfills,” said Julie Sprague, stewardship manager at Tom’s of Maine. “This is another commitment we’re making as a company guided by a rigorous set of standards called our Stewardship Model, which ensures we’re operating sustainably and responsibly every day. Taking care of the planet is a goal we all share and this exciting launch is a new way we can work together in this ongoing effort,” Sprague added. 

To recycle the tube at home, people should check the back of their tube for the blue “flag” that tells you what to do: once empty, replace cap and recycle with #2 plastics. Tom’s of Maine tubes without the blue flag haven’t yet transitioned to the new recyclable material. Recycling practices vary by municipality and if a town doesn't accept #2 plastic, the Tom’s of Maine Natural Care Recycling Program, a partnership with TerraCycle, is a recommended option for recycling all personal and oral care packaging regardless of the brand. 

Tom's of Maine recently became a Certified B Corporation®, joining the ranks of top socially responsible companies. Through this accreditation, the company continues its commitment to transparency, caring for the planet and communities, and setting a positive example for future generations. 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of the brand still headquartered in Kennebunk, Maine. You can learn more about Tom's of Maine, its complete product portfolio and how the company makes its products by visiting www.TomsofMaine.com and www.Facebook.com/TomsofMaine. 

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About Tom's of Maine

Tom's of Maine has been making safe, effective natural personal care products for 49 years.  It all began when Tom and Kate Chappell moved to Maine in 1968 looking for a healthier, simpler life for their growing family. And when they couldn't find personal care products that were free from artificial flavors, fragrances, sweeteners, colors and preservatives, they decided to make their own. Tom's of Maine products – including toothpaste, deodorant, mouthwash, antiperspirant, bar soap, body wash, dental floss, and toothbrushes – are made from naturally sourced and naturally derived ingredients and never tested on animals. A Certified B Corporation, Tom’s of Maine is committed to upholding a purpose-driven business and has a long-standing commitment to supporting nature and healthy families. Tom's of Maine has supported hundreds of nonprofits by giving back 10% of its profits, and employees are encouraged to use 5% of their paid time (12 days) volunteering for causes they are passionate about. Most Tom's of Maine products are vegan, kosher, halal-certified and gluten-free. All packaging is recyclable through a partnership with upcycling leader TerraCycle or participating municipalities.   Visit us online at http://www.tomsofmaine.com/ or at http://www.facebook.com/TomsofMaine.  

Contacts

Rob Robinson, Tom’s of Maine
(207) 467-2268, robr@tomsofmaine.com 

Dain Percifield, BCW
(917) 378-4919, dain.percifield@bcw-global.com