Social Responsability – International World Of Business

We can’t have a world without poverty in a world with plastic pollution

Press Room Team — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 04:01:30 +0000

When future generations share the story of plastic pollution, it will include graphic images of turtles choking on plastic debris, zooming out to show beaches and communities laden with trash, and panning to medical reports showing microplastic in the average person’s bloodstream. This is a story that started as an environmental crisis, and quickly became an economic and health crisis. And it’s a story that intersects with the triple planetary crises we are grappling with today: biodiversity, climate, and pollution. We are on the brink of writing the next important chapter in this story.

We do know that plastic pollution must end. Of the 460 million tons of plastic produced in 2019, 353 million tons were discarded. This disposing includes the okay (recycling, even if it’s globally less than 9%), the bad (50% ending up in unmanaged dumps) and the ugly (the remainder simply ending up poisoning the environment).

We know that avoiding, minimizing, mitigating, and properly disposing of plastic waste is not simply good civic sense. It is a necessity. Too many municipalities simply can’t afford to manage the current trash loads, pushing them towards bankruptcy and straining their social contract.

Beyond communities littered with trash, microplastics are literally raining from the sky, and are found on mountaintops, and in our ocean. Microplastics and toxic chemicals (additives in plastic products) have found their way into our food, and into our bodies, and the long-term health effects remain to be seen.

And we now know that we can’t simply recycle our way out of plastics pollution, which presents its own series of challenges. The path out of plastic pollution must prioritize strategies like reducing our overall single-use plastic consumption and scaling up reuse — that offer the best opportunity for widescale change. We also need to figure out how best to deal downstream with residual (and often toxic) waste. All three lifecycle stages of plastics (upstream, midstream and downstream) are included in the recent discussions at the second session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-2).

Two issues thread the INC-2 discussions:

First, what does success look like? Robust and responsive plastics metrics will allow countries and companies to set targets, measure baselines, and quantify progress. Better data can also attract investment. It will be critical to ensure that these metrics are suitable for data-poor countries, often with low capacity and budgets to monitor or track plastic pollution.
Second, where will countries find additional financing to comply with targets and commitments under a new instrument to end plastic pollution? National budgets are not going to be enough. International public finance and private capital will be keys to success. The former must be accessible at the right price and targeted appropriately. It can be used to help guide policies and strengthen markets. Private capital can come in the form of technological innovation, and collected through extended producer responsibility schemes, fees, and taxes.

As the world looks toward actionable solutions to the plastic pollution crisis, I want to advocate for another key consideration: that the solutions do not penalize poor countries, or poor communities in every country. Plastics have been a boon to development, often delivering low-cost, available, and portable ways for communities to access basic goods, resources, build wealth, and contribute to growth. In many communities and for many micro- and small-businesses, single-use plastics are often the only available and affordable way to go about their day-to-day lives, do business, make money. We must design solutions with the needs and realities of the poorest communities in mind, to ensure a “just transition.”

Managing plastic waste will prove the concept that it is possible for economies to work for everyone, everywhere, and that economic growth can help end environmental crises, rather than cause them. Managing plastic waste is the next step towards the green, resilient, inclusive economies – circular economies – of tomorrow.

$100 Million in New U.S. Civilian Security Assistance for Ukraine

Press Room Team — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 13:33:01 +0000

The United States intends to provide an additional $100 million in civilian security assistance to enhance the capacity of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs to provide essential border security, sustain civil law enforcement functions, and safeguard critical governmental infrastructure in the face of President Putin’s premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified attack.

The increased funding will continue a steady flow of personal protection equipment, field gear, tactical equipment, medical supplies, armored vehicles, and communication equipment for the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service and the National Police of Ukraine. With the U.S. government’s vital assistance, Ukrainian law enforcement officers are playing a key role in rescuing victims of the Russian government’s brutal assault, leading and protecting convoys of those displaced by attacks, and providing security to civilian areas torn apart by ruthless and devastating bombing.

The United States continues to stand with the community of nations backing the people and government of Ukraine as they defend their democracy and country. We continue to urge Putin to end the violence, rein in his forces, including those who have committed war crimes, and choose the path of peace and diplomacy. We are committed to pursuing accountability for war crimes and other atrocities using every tool available, including criminal prosecutions.

Nielsen’s 2021 Responsibility Update Highlights ESG Commitment Through Change

Press Room Team — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 16:10:26 +0000

Through a historical and pivotal 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic and separation into two companies, Nielsen has remained strongly committed to its environmental, social and governance (ESG) priorities and performance. Today, we published our 2021 Interim Responsibility Update to provide our stakeholders with a snapshot of our ESG story during an unprecedented year.

“This 2021 Interim Responsibility Update covers our progress during this unprecedented year and helps us to close an important era for our business,” says David Kenny, Chief Executive Officer, Nielsen, in the update’s opening letter. “As we move forward as a media-focused company, our commitment to our environmental, social and governance values and standards remains as strong as ever, enabling us to move forward in our company’s purpose to power a better media future for all people.”

The update focuses on highlights across the key areas of Nielsen’s ESG strategy, including diversity, equity & inclusion (DE&I), human capital, environment, community engagement, data privacy & security and governance. This update also includes a refreshed Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) index. Highlights from our Interim Responsibility Update include:

We expanded focus and commitments on DE&I, including a commitment to fight racism with action and a small business support website to connect Black-owned small businesses with Nielsen resources. We also stood up for public policies like a permanent Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals solution and the removal of a proposed U.S. Census citizenship question.
We prioritized the health, safety and well-being of employees around the world during COVID-19, providing additional paid sick leave, remote work stipends and other programs, in addition to implementing strict safety protocols. We also expanded mental health programming and support, including a mental health hub, a time back challenge and a mental health day away.
We achieved our environmental goal to ensure that 0% of electronic waste (e-waste), processed through Nielsen’s infrastructure team, goes to landfills.
We donated over $25 million in pro bono work, skills-based volunteering and in-kind giving in 2020, more than doubling the annual goal of $10 million. Nielsen employees also logged almost 393,000 volunteer hours from 2016 through 2020, surpassing the goal of 300,000.

Espaillat, Meng Lead Call on Leadership to Eliminate Barriers to Federal Disaster Aid

Press Room Team — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 13:02:04 +0000

MEMBERS PUSH TO MODERNIZE FEMA THROUGH EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Today, Representatives Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and Grace Meng (NY-06) announced that they are leading an effort to eliminate barriers to federal disaster relief in the wake of Hurricane Ida.

Espaillat and Meng led a letter calling on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Chairman Peter DeFazio of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to include Espaillat’s bill, H.R. 3037 – the Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act of 2021 in upcoming emergency disaster supplemental appropriations.

“Hurricanes Ida’s consequences are far reaching, especially as we mourn the tragic loss of 82 Americans across eight states – and as we prepare to see more natural disasters brought on by the climate crisis, it’s imperative that the aid we offer is inclusive and accessible,” said Rep. Espaillat. “Including my Housing Survivors of Major Disasters bill in this emergency supplemental appropriations package will clarify and modernize FEMA’s federal housing disaster assistance programs and would protect safe, stable, and affordable housing for thousands of U.S. citizens across the country.”

“Modernizing our disaster relief programs will mean that once and for all, low-income disaster survivors will have access to crucial aid without being stuck in bureaucratic limbo – and that will be life-changing as families rebuild and get back on track,” Espaillat concluded.

“The remnants of Ida wreaked havoc on my congressional district, and so many constituents and other New Yorkers throughout our region continue to need help from the devastation they have been forced to endure. The federal government must be there for them and all who have been impacted by natural disasters. The process for seeking assistance must be as easy as possible, and modernizing FEMA’s federal housing disaster assistance programs would be a critical component to ensuring that this happens. I am proud to partner with Congressman Espaillat in calling for the removal of obstacles that block needed aid,” said Rep. Meng.

Recently, FEMA amended its Individual Assistance Program and Policy Guide (IAPPG) to allow multiple forms of documentation to prove ownership. The Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act would codify and expand this new FEMA policy, allowing disaster survivors from years past to retroactively receive much-needed assistance.

Others who signed the letter include Representatives Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), and Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18).

A copy of the letter can be viewed here and the text of the correspondence is below.

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, and Chairman DeFazio:

We write to express our support for emergency disaster supplemental appropriations due to the ramifications of Hurricane Ida and respectfully request that such act eliminate barriers to federal disaster relief caused by title-documentation challenges. We recommend doing so by including language put forth in H.R. 3037 – the Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act of 2021, which recently passed through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure with bipartisan support.

Ida’s consequences are far reaching, especially as we mourn the tragic loss of 82 Americans across eight states – a death toll we fear is steadily rising. In the aftermath of the natural disaster, New York, Louisiana, New Jersey, and Texas have deployed substantial resources for critical infrastructure repairs such as power restoration, reopening of roads, and public transportation recovery. While the country continues to survey the economic damage of the storm, it is estimated Ida’s total cost could figure as high as $95 billion — if not higher.

Identifying this significant impact, compounded by a decade of unprecedented natural disasters and a global pandemic, we must also recognize the hurdles that families face when trying to rebuild their lives and receive desperately needed aid. We have heard from our constituents that being denied FEMA disaster assistance due to title-documentation issues has left them stranded in dire times- searching for safe, stable, and affordable housing. In the rural South alone, FEMA has rejected up to a quarter of applicants because they cannot document ownership and in Puerto Rico roughly 77,000 households were denied assistance following the devastating Hurricane Maria for the same issue. As we work to build back better, it is critical that we modernize our disaster relief programs to ensure that every family receives the much-needed assistance they require.

Recently, FEMA amended its Individual Assistance Program and Policy Guide (IAPPG) to allow multiple forms of documentation to prove ownership. H.R. 3037 would codify and expand this timely FEMA policy which allows disaster survivors to use a “declarative statement” form attesting to their ownership of the property or through the submission of utility bills, credit card statements, pay stubs, and school registration. The FEMA policy applies retroactively to August 23, though H.R. 3037 would extend that timeframe back to 2017. These changes ensure that disaster survivors with low incomes would be able to access the assistance they need without being forced to endure a lengthy and complicated title clearing process or otherwise go without aid.

As we prepare to see more natural disasters brought on by the climate crisis, it is imperative that that the aid we offer is inclusive and accessible. H.R. 3037 – the Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act of 2021 is commonsense legislation that modernizes our disaster relief programs and will improve the immediate health and safety of thousands of US citizens across the country. It will allow the federal government to continue serving low-income individuals and communities of color who face unimaginable situations after natural disasters. Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to working together to address this crisis.

Sincerely,

#

Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his third term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government’s vital activities. He is also a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), where he serves as the Second Vice Chair and is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, where he serves as Deputy Whip. Representative Espaillat also currently serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/.

Supporting our team as they serve our country

Press Room Team — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 15:06:02 +0000

When asked about the past week, American Airlines first officer and Air National Guard Colonel Carla Riner described it as “rewarding, enlightening, exciting and heartwarming.” She’s spent it on military leave serving as Deputy Director of Mobility Forces supporting Operations Allies Refuge and Allies Welcome at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL).

In her role, Col. Riner manages all airlift assets — including both military aircraft and airliners in the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) — used to transport thousands of Afghanistan evacuees through PHL to safe harbors across the U.S. Working closely with airport, airline, government and military partners, her team coordinates flight routing, passenger manifests and other logistics critical to the ongoing movement of evacuees through PHL.

“It is a truly unique and fulfilling opportunity to serve in our nation’s effort to care for and protect those who fought for U.S. interests in Afghanistan over the last 20 years,” Col. Riner said. “From my first mission over Afghanistan supporting Operation Anaconda as a C-130 pilot with the 167th Airlift Wing to the important work we’ve been tasked with today, the Air National Guard has provided me the chance of a lifetime to serve my country and fulfill my dreams.”

A career that could span three lifetimes

When Carla joined American as a flight attendant in 1991, she never imagined a life on the flight deck. “I had no intention of flying for an airline or the military, but I got entranced by the idea of becoming a pilot — so I started working on my private pilot license in between trips for work.”

She recalled fondly that her fellow flight attendants would often tease her for studying on layovers between flights. But when a first officer working with her overheard, he suggested joining the Air National Guard as a way to pay for flight school. Intrigued, she started asking questions — and before long, Carla landed a position as the second female pilot for the 167th Airlift Wing.

“When I returned from flight training with the Air National Guard, it made for some really fun conversations with other crew members and our customers to work as both a C-130 pilot and a flight attendant.”

Carla applied and was hired to be a pilot for American in Miami flying the Boeing 727 in January 2001. But just nine months later, following terrorist attacks on 9/11, her unit was activated and deployed to support the U.S. entrance into Afghanistan and again in 2003 to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Following deployment, Carla returned home to find her and countless other pilots on furlough as the airline industry struggled to recover. She made the most of her time — balancing her exemplary service in the Air National Guard with aspirations of a career at a federal government agency.

Carla received her Juris Doctorate in 2008 and accepted a role with the National Archives in Washington, D.C., where she climbed the ranks to become Deputy Chief Operating Officer. During that time, Carla was also promoted to Colonel and held progressive posts as 167th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Commander and 130th Maintenance Group Commander. It was only after a 12-year break that she returned from furlough and joined the flight line as a first officer on the Airbus A320 in Miami.

Today, Carla serves in dual roles as a PHL-based first officer on the Boeing 787 and as Wing Commander for the 166th Airlift Wing in New Castle, Delaware, overseeing more than 1,100 Air National Guard members that provide tactical airlift support using C-130 aircraft.

AIT Worldwide Logistics reaffirms support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®

Press Room Team — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 13:57:45 +0000

ITASCA, Illinois, July 8, 2021 – AIT Worldwide Logistics is proud to announce its fifth year as a multi-market sponsor of St. Jude Walking and Running Athletics to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® in its mission of end childhood cancer.

I am always proud to see AIT teammates bring our company values to life through giving back, “said Vaughn Moore, AIT President and CEO.” And it’s hard to find a more worthy cause to help build. end childhood cancer and ensure that St. Jude families never pay a penny for treatments. “

During September, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, AIT’s global network teammates will be looking to raise at least $ 30,000, a sum the company has committed to matching. To raise the funds, teammates will participate in more than 20 scheduled walks and athletic races around the world, many of them virtually, as well as other online or social distancing activities.

“Despite the unexpected challenge posed by the pandemic during last year’s campaign, our fundraising teams came out powerfully for the children and families of St. Jude,” added Moore. “So I have no doubt that we will reach the goal again in 2021.”

Since AIT announced that St. Jude would be the company’s flagship charitable alliance in 2017, AIT teammates have brought together friends, family and community members to support the cause, raising more than $ 225,000 for Hospital.

St. Jude has spent the past 50 years developing treatments that have helped increase the overall survival rate for childhood cancer from just 20% to more than 80%. The hospital also educates care providers in countries around the world and freely shares the discoveries it makes in partnership with the World Health Organization. Learn more at www.stjude.org/together.

About AIT Worldwide Logistics

AIT Worldwide Logistics helps companies grow by expanding access to markets around the world where they can sell or purchase raw materials, components, and finished products. For more than 40 years, the Chicago-based transportation management leader has relied on a consultative approach to build a global network and trusted partnerships in nearly every industry, including aerospace, e-commerce, food, government, car care. health, life sciences and retail. Backed by easy-to-use and scalable technology, AIT’s flexible business model offers precisely engineered supply chain solutions for ocean, air and land transportation, on time and on budget. With expert teammates at more than 85 locations in Asia, Europe, and North America, AIT’s end-to-end service solutions also include customs clearance, warehousing management, and white glove services. Learn more at www.aitworldwide.com.

Our mission

At AIT, we vehemently seek opportunities to gain the trust of our customers by delivering exceptional logistics solutions globally, while passionately valuing our colleagues, partners, and communities.

A new commitment for vaccine equity and defeating the pandemic

Press Room Team — Fri, 02 Jul 2021 14:33:43 +0000

As preparations are made for the G7 Summit in the UK next week, top of the agenda is how to end the COVID-19 pandemic and secure the global recovery. Urgent challenges face us.

By now it has become abundantly clear there will be no broad-based recovery without an end to the health crisis. Access to vaccination is key to both.

There has been impressive progress on the vaccination front. Scientists have come up with multiple vaccines in record time. Unprecedented public and private financing has supported vaccine research, development and manufacturing scale-up. But a dangerous gap between richer and poorer nations persists.

In fact, even as some affluent countries are already discussing the rollout of booster shots to their populations, the vast majority of people in developing countries—even front-line health workers— have still not received their first shot. The worst served are low-income nations, which have received less than 1 percent of vaccines administered so far.

Increasingly, a two-track pandemic is developing, with richer countries having access and poorer ones being left behind.

Inequitable vaccine distribution is not only leaving untold millions of people vulnerable to the virus. It is also allowing deadly variants to emerge and ricochet back across the world. As variants continue to spread, even countries with advanced vaccination programs have been forced to reimpose stricter public health measures, and some have implemented travel restrictions. In turn, the ongoing pandemic is leading to deepening divergence in economic fortunes, with negative consequences for all.

It need not be this way. That is why we are calling today for a new level of international support for – and implementation of – a stepped-up coordinated strategy, backed by new financing, to vaccinate the world.

A recent proposal from IMF staff puts forward a plan with clear targets, pragmatic actions, and at a feasible cost. It builds on and supports the ongoing work of WHO and its partners in the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator initiative and its global vaccine access programme COVAX; as well as the work of the World Bank Group, the WTO and many others.

At an estimated $50 billion, it will bring the pandemic to an end faster in the developing world, reduce infections and loss of lives, accelerate the economic recovery, and generate some $9 trillion in additional global output by 2025. It is a win for all — while around 60 percent of the gains will go to emerging markets and developing economies, the remaining 40 percent will benefit the developed world. And this is without taking into account the inestimable benefits on people’s health and lives.

What does it entail?

First, increasing our ambition and vaccinating more people faster: WHO and its COVAX partners have set a goal of vaccinating at least 30% of the population in all countries by the end of 2021. But this can reach even 40% through other agreements and surge investment, and at least 60 percent by the first half of 2022.

To do so requires additional financing for low- and middle-income countries, with a very significant proportion in the form of grants and concessional financing. To urgently get more shots in arms, doses need to be donated immediately to developing countries synchronized with national vaccine deployment plans, including through COVAX. Cooperation on trade is also needed to ensure free cross-border flows and increasing supplies of raw materials and finished vaccines.

Second, insuring against downside risks such as new variants that may necessitate booster shots. This means investing in additional vaccine production capacity by at least one billion doses, diversifying production to regions with little current capacity, sharing technology and know how, scaling up genomic and supply-chain surveillance, and contingency plans to handle virus mutations or supply shocks.

All blockages to expanding supply must be removed, and we call on WTO members to accelerate negotiations towards a pragmatic solution around intellectual property. A number of low- and middle-income countries are also making moves to invest in their own local manufacturing capacity, which is key not to just end this pandemic but to prepare for the next one.

Third, immediately boosting testing and tracing, oxygen supplies, therapeutic and public health measures, while ramping up vaccine deployment, and the ACT-Accelerator initiative. WHO, UNICEF, the World Bank and Gavi have been conducting vaccine readiness assessments in over 140 developing countries, and providing on-the-ground support and financing to prepare for vaccine rollout.

What about the cost?

Of the $50 billion, there is a strong case for grants of at least $35 billion. G20 governments have sent positive signals, recognizing the importance of providing about $22 billion in additional funding for 2021 to the ACT-Accelerator.

Additional financing of about $13 billion is needed to boost vaccine supply in 2022 and further scale up testing, therapeutics and surveillance. The remainder of the overall financing plan—around $15 billion—could come from national governments supported by multilateral development banks, including the World Bank’s $12 billion financial facility for vaccination.

For the plan to work, there are two additional requirements: speed and coordination.

It calls for upfront financing, upfront vaccine donations, and upfront precautionary investments and planning – rather than commitments that may be slow to materialize. It is essential that all of this is made available as soon as possible.

It also requires coordinated global action, grounded in full transparency in the procurement and delivery process. The success of the strategy depends on all parties—public, private, international financial institutions, foundations—moving in tandem.

Investing $50 billion to end the pandemic is potentially the best use of public money we will see in our lifetimes. It will pay a huge development dividend and boost growth and well-being globally. But the window of opportunity is closing fast — the longer we wait, the costlier it becomes, in human suffering and in economic losses.

On behalf of our four organizations, today we announce a new commitment to work together to scale up needed financing, boost manufacturing and ensure the smooth flow of vaccines and raw materials across borders to dramatically increase vaccine access to support the health response and economic recovery, and to bring needed hope.

Our institutions are stepping up to turn this hope into reality:

The IMF is preparing an unprecedented Special Drawing Rights (SDR) allocation to boost the reserves and liquidity of its members. The WHO is seeking to identify financing so that the urgent needs of its Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan and the ACT-Accelerator partnership can be met, with COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP) incentivizing the sharing of know-how and technology. The World Bank will have vaccine projects up and running in at least 50 countries by mid-year—with the International Finance Corporation working to mobilize the private sector to boost vaccine supply for developing countries. And the WTO is working on freeing up supply chains for the plan to succeed.

As we step up our efforts, we look to the G7 for its full support of this ambitious plan through financing, donating doses and providing technical know how to expand production everywhere.

Ending the pandemic is a solvable problem that requires global action – now.

Let’s all pull together and get the job done.

This op-ed was originally published on The Telegraph, Washington Post, The Times of India, AllAfrica, Asharq Al-Awsat, El Pais, O Estadão, La Repubblica, Der Spiegel, Toronto Star, Zum, and Asahi Shimbun.

Donates $5 million to local communities as part of Rebuild and Transform Fund

Press Room Team — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 18:01:52 +0000

The U.S. Bank Foundation fund addresses systemic economic and racial inequities in small business, housing and workforce advancement

U.S. Bank has announced $5 million in donations to local communities as part of its $15 million U.S. Bank Foundation Rebuild and Transform Fund, addressing rebuilding in corridors impacted by social unrest and systemic racial inequities in small business, housing and workforce advancement. The Fund is part of the bank’s previously announced $116 million commitment to address social and economic inequities.

“Our focus is on listening to and learning from community leaders and responding to critical needs,“ said Reba Dominski, Chief Social Responsibility Officer for U.S. Bank. “Today we are proud to share the details of our philanthropic giving to 10 additional markets across the country that historically experience low economic mobility. We are investing in organizations led by people of color and providing general operating funds because we trust community leaders to know how, when and where to use these funds for the greatest impact.”

The markets receiving grants are: Charlotte, NC; Chicago, IL; Little Rock, AR; Louisville, KY; Milwaukee, WI; Nashville, TN; Ohio – Akron, Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Dayton; Phoenix, AZ; Portland, OR and St. Louis, MO. In total, 48 organizations will receive funding across these markets. A full list is included below. For more information, visit usbank.com/community.

Charlotte, NC
Aspire Community Capital
Charlotte LISC
Urban League of Central Carolinas

Chicago, IL
Cara
Chicago CRED
Far South CDC
Spanish Coalition for Housing
Oak Park Regional Housing Center
Chicago Urban League

Little Rock, AR
P.A.R.K. – Positive Atmosphere Reaches Kids
University District Development Corporation

Louisville, KY
Metro United Way – Black L.O.V.E Philanthropic Partnership
OneWest
Rebound
AMPED Russell Tech Business Incubator

Milwaukee, WI
ACTS Housing
Housing Resources, Inc.
Milwaukee Urban League
Riverworks
Running Rebels
Silver Spring Neighborhood Center
United Community Center

Nashville, TN
Boys and Girls Club of Middle Tennessee
The Housing Fund
Urban League of Middle Tennessee
YWCA of Nashville & Middle Tennessee

Ohio
Cleveland NID Housing Counseling Agency (Cleveland/Akron)
East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation (Cleveland, Akron)
Godman Guild (Columbus)
Housing Opportunities Made Equal (Cincinnati/Dayton)
MORTAR (Cincinnati/Dayton)
Northeast Ohio Hispanic Center of Economic Development – Hispanic Business Center (Cleveland/Akron)
Urban League of Southwestern Ohio (Cincinnati/Dayton)
YWCA (Columbus)

Phoenix, AZ
Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Trellis

Portland, OR
African American Alliance for Homeownership
Black United Fund of Oregon
Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon (MESO)
Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs (OAME)
Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives
Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center and Rosemary Anderson High School
Self Enhancement, Inc.
United Negro College Fund (UNCF)

St. Louis, MO
Employment Connection
Rung for Women
St. Louis Builds Credit
Urban League of St. Louis

Boeing Cargo Planes Deliver to Battle Covid-19

Press Room Team — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 17:55:12 +0000

The Boeing Dreamlifter, a converted Boeing 747-400 Large Cargo Freighter, flew from Hong Kong to Greenville, South Carolina, with 1.5 million medical-grade masks destined for health care professionals at Prisma Health, the largest health care system in South Carolina.

Normally, the company’s Dreamlifter planes are used to transport parts for the global aerospace supply chain, but Boeing realized the cargo flights could serve a greater purpose. Working in partnership with Prisma Health, Atlas Air Worldwide and Discommon, PPE was secured from trusted manufacturers in China and Boeing facilitated their transport, with Atlas Air operating the flights on behalf of Boeing.

Following the successful delivery in April, Boeing completed another mission in May using three Dreamlifter planes to transport more than 150,000 protective eye goggles and face shields from China for frontline workers at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).

By July, Boeing had completed 12 Dreamlifter missions helping states across the country obtain large amounts of PPE. On its twelfth mission, a Dreamlifter transported a half million protective masks to Utah to be used for students and teachers across the state to prepare for the beginning of the school year.

As part of the Utah mission, custom clothing store H.M. Cole donated 250,000 masks (100,000 of which were sized for children). And Cotopaxi, an outdoor gear brand based in Salt Lake City, donated an additional 250,000 masks after converting one of its jacket manufacturers for temporary face mask production.

In early April Boeing also began producing thousands of 3D printed face shields per week in its factories across the Unites States to donate to health care professionals battling COVID-19. The company has also donated tens of thousands of units of PPE – including face masks, goggles, gloves, safety glasses and protective bodysuits.

To date, Boeing has helped transport over four million units of PPE – including the in-house production of more than 39,000 3D-printed face shields – to front line health care professionals and other communities in need.

Along with their Dreamliner missions, Boeing is also leading the Confident Travel Initiative, partnering with airlines, global regulators, passengers and infectious disease experts to enhance aircraft cleanliness procedures and identify other solutions to reduce the risk of airborne illness transmission.

“Our commitment to ensuring the health of airline passengers and crews is unwavering,” said Mike Delaney, head of the Confident Travel Initiative at Boeing in a statement. “Air travel is coming back, and as that happens, we want passengers and crews to board Boeing airplanes without hesitation.”

For more information on Boeing’s efforts to combat COVID-19, visit boeing.com/covid19.

IDB Invest launches its largest USD bond to strengthen support for COVID-19

Press Room Team — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 14:15:03 +0000

IDB Invest, the IDB Group’s private sector institution (Aa1/AA/AAA), raised a record $1 billion in funding to support the development bank’s coronavirus response. This marks the largest fixed rate benchmark issue by IDB Invest.

The two-year bond pays an annual coupon of 0.75% and matures on May 4th, 2022. BMO, Citigroup, HSBC and JP Morgan acted as joint-bookrunners on the deal. Investors included mainly central banks as well as financial institutions, asset managers and insurance companies.

More than 30 investors across the globe participated in the successful issuance with orders totaling over $1.1 billion. The transaction represents IDB Invest’s largest public bond issuance and its sixth issue in the Eurobond market.

The high level of demand reaffirmed investor interest in IDB Invest’s sustainable development mission, strong credit profile and support for coronavirus alleviation in the private sector.

This bond issuance will contribute to funding IDB Invest’s corporate response to the coronavirus pandemic and follows its March announcement to direct up to $5 billion for companies in Latin America and the Caribbean impacted by the pandemic.

Investor Distribution

By Geography	By Investor Type
EMEA 47%	Central Banks/Official Institutions 56%
Americas 35%	Banks 26%
Asia 18%	Asset Managers & insurance Company 17%

Bond Summary Terms

Issuer:	Inter-American Investment Corporation, also known as IDB Invest (Ticker IDBINV)
Issuer rating:	Aa1 / AA / AAA (Moody’s / S&P / Fitch)
Format:	Reg S registered
Amount:	USD 1 billion
Settlement date:	May 4 2020
Coupon:	0.75% Annual, 30/360
Maturity date:	4 May 2022
Issue price:	99,997%
Listing:	London Stock Exchange
Clearing systems:	Euroclear and Clearstream
Joint lead managers:	BMO, Citigroup, HSBC and JPMorgan

About IDB Invest
IDB Invest, a member of the IDB Group, is a multilateral development bank committed to promoting the economic development of its member countries in Latin America and the Caribbean through the private sector. IDB Invest finances sustainable companies and projects to achieve financial results and maximize economic, social and environmental development in the region. With a portfolio of $12.1 billion in asset management and 333 clients in 24 countries, IDB Invest provides innovative financial solutions and advisory services that meet the needs of its clients in a variety of industries.