/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB) a leading provider of innovative and sustainable specialty chemical solutions has been selected as one of Corporate Responsibility Magazine's 100 Best Corporate Citizens for 2010. This prestigious list is widely accepted as the world's most respected corporate responsibility ranking and one of the top-three most important business rankings in the United States. Based on over 360 data-points of public information, the 100 Best Corporate Citizens List is scored in seven different categories including environment, climate change, human rights, philanthropy, employee relations and governance. Albemarle ranked #64 on the list, scoring particularly high in environment, climate change and philanthropy. "This is our first appearance on Corporate Responsibility Magazine's list of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens and this recognition is a direct result of our employee's proactive efforts to drive a sustainable and purpose-driven business model that delivers consistent and dependable value to our shareholders while making a positive impact on the world around us," said Mark C. Rohr, chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Each and every day, our employees bring their commitment, creativity, integrity and energy to our mission to be a positive force and a responsible corporate citizen. We are proud of their work and gratified they are being recognized in such a prestigious manner. Collectively, we remain energized by the opportunities our unique combination of innovation and stewardship can provide," Mr. Rohr concluded. About the 100 Best Corporate Citizens List Companies appearing on the 100 Best Corporate Citizens List are selected from among the large-cap Russell 1000 companies, based on data provided by leading environmental, social and governance investor data firm, IW Financial. The open and transparent methodology of the list is governed by a Methodology Committee of the Corporate Responsibility Officers Association (CROA) and is made available publicly at www.thecro.com. The 100 Best List was first published in 1999 in Business Ethics Magazine and has been managed by the Corporate Responsibility Officers Association and Corporate Responsibility Magazine since 2007. About Albemarle Corporation Albemarle Corporation, headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is a leading global developer, manufacturer, and marketer of highly-engineered specialty chemicals for consumer electronics, petroleum refining, utilities, packaging, construction, automotive/transportation, pharmaceuticals, crop protection, food-safety and custom chemistry services. The Company is committed to global sustainability and is advancing its eco-practices and solutions in its three business segments, Polymer Solutions, Catalysts, and Fine Chemicals. Albemarle employs approximately 4,000 people and serves customers in approximately 100 countries. To learn more, visit http://www.albemarle.com/. "Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding Albemarle Corporation's business that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.

/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP) a 2010 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award in recognition of its continued leadership in protecting our environment through energy efficiency. PepsiCo's accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 18, 2010. PepsiCo, an ENERGY STAR partner since 2004, is being honored for its long-term commitment to energy efficiency for the fourth consecutive year, and for the third time with "Sustained Excellence." PepsiCo is continually working to address the issue of climate change, from scaling up the company's use of renewable fuel sources to reducing energy consumption. In May 2008, PepsiCo introduced new Sustainable Engineering Guidelines that apply to all new construction and major reengineering projects worldwide. PepsiCo also significantly expanded its impact through an outreach program that encouraged more than 90 PepsiCo suppliers to join ENERGY STAR and focus on improving energy efficiency. Across the U.S., top companies and organizations are leading the way toward a more energy-efficient future through participation in ENERGY STAR. Last year alone Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved $17 billion on their energy bills and reduced greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those emitted by 30 million vehicles. "This award honors the commitment of PepsiCo personnel everywhere who drive the improvement in energy efficiency across all of our operations," said Rob Schasel, Director of Energy & Utilities at PepsiCo. "As a company, we look for simple and innovative ways to drive sustainability through our business -- from finding the most efficient way to light our buildings to deploying alternative energy supplies for our operations. We view our ENERGY STAR partnership as an important way to address climate change." PepsiCo's mission to reduce energy consumption is part of the company's commitment to sustainable growth, defined as Performance with Purpose. PepsiCo is on track to achieve the following time-bound goals: reductions in water consumption by 20%, electricity consumption by 20%, and fuel consumption by 25% per unit of production by 2015 as compared to 2006. The 2010 Sustained Excellence Awards are given to a select group of organizations that have exhibited outstanding leadership year after year. These winners have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by setting and achieving aggressive goals, employing innovative approaches, and showing others what can be achieved through energy efficiency. These awards recognize ongoing leadership across the ENERGY STAR program including energy-efficient products, services, new homes and buildings in the commercial, industrial and public sectors. Award winners are selected from more than 17,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program. "EPA is recognizing PepsiCo with our highest ENERGY STAR award - the 2010 Sustained Excellence Award," said Gina McCarthy, EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation. "PepsiCo's continued leadership and commitment to energy efficiency is a testament to what we can accomplish to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect our global environment." About PepsiCo PepsiCo offers the world's largest portfolio of billion-dollar food and beverage brands, including 19 different product lines that each generates more than $1 billion in annual retail sales. Our main businesses -- Frito-Lay, Quaker, Pepsi-Cola, Tropicana and Gatorade -- also make hundreds of other nourishing, tasty foods and drinks that bring joy to our consumers in more than 200 countries. With annualized revenues of nearly $60 billion, PepsiCo's people are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth, called Performance with Purpose. By dedicating ourselves to offering a broad array of choices for healthy, convenient and fun nourishment, reducing our environmental impact, and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace culture, PepsiCo balances strong financial returns with giving back to our communities worldwide. In recognition of its continued sustainability efforts, PepsiCo was named for the third time to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) and for the fourth time to the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index (DJSI North America) in 2009. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com. About ENERGY STAR ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency. Today, ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. More than 17,000 organizations are ENERGY STAR partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes, buildings and businesses. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ - Musician Pete Wentz to Serve as Campaign Spokesperson Now in its fourth year, the UNICEF Tap Project, a grassroots initiative from the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, returns to cities nationwide during World Water Week 2010 (March 21-27). The UNICEF Tap Project invites individuals to donate $1 or more for tap water at participating restaurants or online at tapproject.org to provide clean water to children around the world. Musician/entrepreneur and social philanthropist Pete Wentz will serve as this year's campaign spokesperson. Wentz will be the face and voice of the campaign, offering his support to raise awareness of the global water crisis and its impact on children. Since its inception in 2007, the UNICEF Tap Project has raised nearly $1.5 million in the U.S. to help provide clean water to millions of children around the world. This year's funds will primarily support Haiti, Central African Republic, Guatemala, Togo and Vietnam. "Lack of access to clean drinking water continues to be a leading killer for children under the age of five worldwide. In Haiti alone, less than 60 percent of people had access to safe water even before the earthquake," said Caryl Stern, president and CEO, U.S. Fund for UNICEF. "UNICEF Tap Project continues to be a simple, affordable and effective way to make a difference in a child's life and with the generous support of volunteers, restaurants, corporations, ad agencies, celebrities and community leaders we will be able to continue in our mission to reduce the number of preventable deaths from 24,000 daily to zero." Giorgio Armani's men's fragrance, ACQUA DI GIO FOR MEN, is the 2010 National Supporter of the UNICEF Tap Project. During the month of March, Armani will donate $1 for each purchase of Acqua di Gio for men fragrance sold in the U.S. Armani will also donate $1 for each person who signs up as a friend on the Acqua di Gio Facebook page (www.facebook.com/acquadigio) during the month of March, up to $50,000. Corporate supporter, Turner Broadcasting has been integral to this year's UNICEF Tap Project volunteer program. International advertising agency, Droga5, national media partner, Mediavest, and advertising agencies across the nation, including: 1013 Integrated (Hawaii), BYU AdLab (Provo, UT), Casanova Pendrill (Hispanic – Los Angeles and New York), Publicis in the West (Seattle), Sukle Advertising & Design (Denver), TBWA\Chiat\Day (Los Angeles), VCU Brand Center (Richmond, VA), have generously donated their time and creativity. Supporting the effort in the restaurant community are the UNICEF Tap Project's promotional partners, ZAGAT.com, OpenTable.com, SeamlessWeb.com, and Yelp.com, spreading the word to restaurateurs and patrons alike. There are nearly 3,600 UNICEF Tap Project volunteers registered to date. Critical to the success of the campaign, these volunteers are engaged nationally in activities such as restaurant recruitment and for the first year ever, they have expanded their efforts to include grassroots activities and events, such as "Tap at Night", benefit concerts, community-based water walks, and creating their own events. All proceeds raised by this corps of volunteers will benefit the UNICEF Tap Project. Approximately 900 million people worldwide lack access to clean water and nearly half of those people are children. Young children are the first to get sick and die from waterborne and sanitation-related illnesses including diarrheal diseases and malaria. UNICEF works in more than 100 countries around the world to improve access to safe water and sanitation facilities in schools and communities, and to promote safe hygiene practices. Over the past 15 years, more than a billion people gained access to improved drinking water and sanitation facilities thanks to UNICEF's efforts. Every day, 24,000 children die of preventable causes, and UNICEF is committed to doing whatever it takes to make that number zero. With $1, UNICEF can provide one child access to safe, clean water for 40 days. For more information or to register as a volunteer, visit www.tapproject.org. About UNICEF UNICEF has saved more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization in the world. Working in over 150 countries, UNICEF provides children with health care, clean water, nutrition, education, emergency relief, and more. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF's work through fundraising, advocacy, and education in the United States. UNICEF is at the forefront of efforts to reduce child mortality worldwide. There has been substantial progress – the annual number of under-five deaths dropped from 13 million in 1990 to 8.8 million in 2008. But still, 24,000 children die each day from preventable causes. Our mission is to do whatever it takes to make that number zero by giving children the essentials for a safe and healthy childhood. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org. About World Water Day In December of 1992, the United Nations General Assembly declared March 22nd of each year World Day for Water. Countries were invited to devote the day to concrete activities such as the promotion of public awareness, conferences, round tables, seminars and expositions related to the conservation and development of water resources.

Companies must make immediate and meaningful social and environmental improvements if they are to win in the resource-constrained 21st century. That's the message of a new Ceres report outlining the urgency, vision and competitive advantages for companies that fully embrace sustainability in their business as energy prices rise, water supplies are increasingly contested and the world’s population grows. "Sustainability performance is fundamental for business success in the 21st century," said Mindy S. Lubber, president of the investor coalition Ceres, which published the report, The 21st Century Corporation: The Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability. "If businesses deepen their efforts to solve social and environmental threats, it will position them to innovate and compete in the fast-changing, resource-constrained global economy. It is no longer enough for companies to have special projects or initiatives. Comprehensive sustainability strategies are expected." Lubber says companies should view sustainability as a competitive race. "This is about understanding risk – including the risk of not seeing the opportunities your competitors see," said Lubber. "We need accelerated performance improvements from companies that reflect the true scientific and economic impacts of unchecked carbon pollution, growing water scarcity and billions of people still living and working in poverty." Anne Stausboll, chief executive officer of the California Public Employees Retirement System, voiced strong support for the report's key findings. "We expect our portfolio companies to do what is necessary to position themselves for a sustainable economy," said Stausboll, whose office oversees more than $200 billion in assets. "Environmental and social issues are core to business performance in the 21st century. We are looking for companies that are managing these risks and developing opportunities." "Integrating sustainability is not just good for business; it is essential if we are to continue to grow economies and create jobs in a world of increasingly constrained resources," added Hannah Jones, Vice President of Sustainable Business & Innovation at NIKE, Inc. The report provides a practical roadmap for integrating sustainability into the DNA of business – from the boardroom, to copy rooms, and across entire supply chains. It calls for significant performance improvements from companies by 2020. Among the report's 20 key expectations for companies:

• make energy efficiency and renewable energy the foundation for company operations;
• design and implement closed-loop systems so that air and wastewater emissions are eliminated and zero waste is produced;
• require 75 percent of top tier suppliers to meet company sustainability performance standards;
• dedicate 50 percent of R&D investment to developing sustainability solutions;
• compensate and provide incentives for top executives and other employees to drive sustainability into the business.

The report makes it clear that the global economy has unprecedented challenges, whether from soaring population growth, resource constraints or a changing global climate that will require massive investment in low-carbon technology. Many companies recognize these emerging challenges and are already incorporating them into their planning. Adding to the shifting landscape for companies is the increasingly globalized nature of the market that has companies producing and selling products in all corners of the world, and laser-fast digital communication where company reputations on sustainability issues can be made – or destroyed – in a matter of hours. The report outlines more than 200 specific activities companies have undertaken that align with the four key chapters of the Roadmap – governance, stakeholder engagement, disclosure and performance – and the 20 expectations for action. Among the examples included in the Ceres report are: PepsiCo's Frito Lay potato chip facility in Arizona aiming to have zero emissions; IBM reducing energy and water use bills at one facility by $3 million a year while increasing its output by 33 percent; General Mills helping broccoli farmers switch from furrow to drip irrigation, reducing water use by 50 percent or nearly 1.2 billion gallons a year; and Gap's efforts to remediate the causes of excessive overtime work for suppliers. The report also highlights key forward-thinking management actions, such as National Grid tying aggressive carbon emission reduction goals – 45 percent by 2020 – to executive compensation; and Timberland's transparency on all fronts – through quarterly sustainability reporting and CEO conference calls on key challenges, and labeling their packaging with environmental and social impact information for customers. Still, the report concludes, these best practices are more the exception rather than the rule; no company is fully integrating sustainability considerations across all aspects of its business, including its governance systems, overall performance and top-to-bottom business strategy. "More must be done to produce the results we need to put our global economy on a sustainable path," Lubber said. "Incremental progress in tackling global climate change and other sustainability threats is not enough." The report roadmap focuses on four key areas, each of which includes key expectations and action steps:

Governance: Companies will embed sustainability from the boardroom to the copy room and will manage their entire value chain from a sustainability perspective. Five areas for elevating sustainability – board oversight, management accountability, executive compensation, corporate policies and management systems, and public policy.
Stakeholder Engagement: Companies will regularly engage in robust dialogue with stakeholders across the whole value chain, and will integrate stakeholder feedback into strategic planning and operational decision-making. Four areas for elevating sustainability – focus engagement activity, substantive stakeholder dialogue, investor engagement, and C-level engagement.
Disclosure: Companies will report regularly on their sustainability strategy and performance. Disclosure will include credible, standardized, independently verified metrics encompassing all material stakeholder concerns, and detail goals and plans for future action vision. Six areas for elevating sustainability – standards for disclosure, disclosure in financial filings, scope and content, vehicles for disclosure, product transparency, and verification and assurance.
Performance: Companies will routinely and systematically improve sustainability performance across their entire operations, extending from the initiation, design and delivery of products and services to the management of employees and the supply chain. Five areas for improving sustainability performance – operations, supply chains, transportation and logistics, products and services, and employees.

About Ceres Ceres is a leading coalition of investors, environmental groups and other public interest organizations working with companies to address sustainability challenges such as global climate change. For more information, visit http://www.ceres.org.

Join Intertek Sustainability Solutions, host of the Ethical Sourcing Forum (March 18 & 19, 2010), which is sponsored by Gildan Activewear this year, for a truly powerful program designed to guide sustainability practitioners in understanding how sustainability's future is unfolding, and what pragmatic steps they can take to anticipate, and actually participate in shaping that future. Backcasting is but one, albeit effective tool for visualizing sustainability possibilities and realizing solutions that will be examined at the Forum. Day one of this 14th Edition of the Ethical Sourcing Forum (New York City, March 18 and 19, 2010) will kick off with Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility's, David Schilling, leading an expert "plenary panel" that includes Matt Kistler, SVP of Sustainability for Walmart, Matthew Bishop of The Economist, Tim Wedding, a Deputy Director at the U.S. Department of Labor, as well as other leading sustainability stakeholders, to discuss: "The Arc of Sustainability Progress 2005-2015: Unforeseen Evolutionary Developments and What Sustainability Managers Must Do TODAY to Effectively Manage for TOMORROW" Other program highlights include:

• Scott Sharland, Executive Director of the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) and Monique Oxender, Global Manager of Supply Chain Sustainability at Ford Motor Company discuss the potential (and potential pitfalls!) of collaboration
• Matt Kistler, head of Walmart's sustainability program, discusses the company's "Sustainability Index"
• CSRWire's Joe Sibilia and co-author Dave Mager will discuss their new book "Street Smart Sustainability"
• Gildan Activewear (represented by Garry Bell, VP of Global Marketing) and Emil Efthimides , Environmental, Social and Governance data Manager at Bloomberg discuss the role of investment in driving CSR progress
• Eco-Fashion Activist Summer Rayne Oakes demystifies sustainable design and introduces S4 - high fashion's hot new platform for sustainable sourcing
• Experts in the 'Natural Step' process lead a Solve! Lab/Workshop on Backcasting: Developing Your Sustainability Roadmap
• WRAP, Transparency International-USA, IBM and the Electronics Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC) participate in a Roundtable discussion on "Supply Chain Integrity: What are the costs of Corruption?"

Click here for Complete Program Details and to Register! We look forward to seeing the Ethical Sourcing Forum Community again at what promises to be the most significant edition of our Ethical Sourcing Forum yet! Intertek Sustainability Solutions (ISS), a unit of Intertek Group (ITRK.L) - leading provider of quality and safety solutions serving a wide range of industries around the world - will host its 9th Annual Ethical Sourcing Forum (ESF) North America on March 18-19 in New York City, USA. ISS works with businesses to seamlessly integrate CSR and Sustainability with their brand and operations. We are proficient in delivering solutions dealing with immediate environmental and social concerns, but our ultimate value for clients has proved to be our ability to develop a portfolio of initiatives (such as stakeholder engagement programs and ethical supply chain management tools) that align social and environmental performance with business imperatives for maximum Return on Sustainability Investment (ROSI).

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ - The latest research from the MetLife Survey of the American Teacher series includes findings that point to two interesting conclusions: while educators express strong belief in the importance of high expectations and high standards for all students, those standards and expectations fall short in practice for many students. There are also significant gaps in teacher and student perceptions about academic success, particularly evident in schools serving high proportions of low-income students, secondary schools, and between girls and boys. The second of three reports, Part 2: Student Achievement, from the new MetLife Survey of the American Teacher: Collaborating for Student Success, includes the views of teachers, principals, and students on student goals and aspirations, the influence of teacher expectations, and factors educators believe would improve academic success. The survey was conducted by Harris Interactive® by telephone and online in October and November 2009. Released today, key findings in Part 2: Student Achievement include: Large majorities of teachers and principals believe strongly that high standards and high expectations for all students will improve achievement.

Most teachers (86%) believe high expectations for all students would have a major impact on achievement.

Teachers (77%) and principals (82%) strongly agree that most teachers in their school hold high standards for all students.

Most educators (64% of teachers; 69% of principals) strongly agree that all students need education beyond high school to be prepared for work or a career.

Standards and expectations for all students often are not very high.

• Fewer teachers and principals in schools with high proportions of low-income students strongly agree that most teachers in their school hold high standards for all students, compared to those in schools with low proportions of such students (teachers: 71% vs. 81%; principals: 78% vs. 91%).
• Most teachers (84%) believe they can enable all of their students to succeed academically, but only 36% of teachers say that all of their students have the ability to succeed.
• Half of teachers (51%), including most secondary teachers (71%), say students in their school only do enough work to get by.
• Teachers expect that an average of 50% of their students will attend a two- or four-year college after high school.

Many students believe their schools and teachers fall short.

• Over one-third of students (36%), including more boys (41%) than girls (31%), say they only do enough work to get by in school.
• Just over half (53%) feel strongly that all teachers in their school want them to succeed.
• Almost half (45%) say students in their school are promoted to the next grade level without being ready.
• Most students (79%) plan to attend college, but only half of students (55%) feel very confident they will achieve their goals for the future.
• More girls than boys have aspirations to attend college (85% vs. 73%) and believe they will achieve their goals (59% vs. 50%).

The survey also shows strong agreement among teachers and principals on a range of 14 factors both within and beyond the school that would improve student achievement. Among the most highly rated, by nearly nine in ten educators, are providing all students with core reading, writing, and math skills; having adequate public funding and support for education; and strengthening ties among parents and schools. The third and final report, Part 3: Teaching as a Career, is slated for release on March 24. Part 3 will examine collaboration in the context of professional growth and career path. Part 1: Effective Teaching and Leadership, released on February 17, looks at if, how, and to what extent collaboration is currently practiced in schools to improve student achievement. "The annual MetLife Survey of the American Teacher is not just about asking, but also about listening," said Dennis White, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation. "In this survey, 69% of teachers do not believe their voices are being adequately heard in the current debate on education. We can learn much from those closest to the classroom about working together to increase student success." About the MetLife Survey of the American Teacher: Collaborating for Student Success MetLife Survey of the American Teacher: Collaborating for Student Success (2009) was conducted by Harris Interactive among a national sample of 1,003 public school teachers of grades K through 12, and 500 principals of grades K through 12, by telephone, and 1,018 public school students in grades 3 through 12 online between October 14 and November 13, 2009. The data were weighted to key demographic variables to align with the national population of the respective groups. No estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. In addition, an online strategy session was conducted on September 15, 2009 among a group of 25 public school teacher leaders, principals, and public education thought leaders to inform the development of the survey. About MetLife MetLife is a leading provider of insurance and financial services with operations throughout the United States and the Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific regions. It has demonstrated its belief in education and contributes to its improvement in part through the sponsorship of the MetLife Survey of the American Teacher series since 1984 to give voice to those closest to the classroom. MetLife Foundation places strong emphasis on education and draws on the findings of the Survey to inform its grantmaking. For more information about MetLife, please visit the company's Web site at www.metlife.com. Additional information about the Foundation is available at www.metlife.org. The reports for the entire series are now available online at www.metlife.com/teachersurvey with links to the ERIC (Education Resources Information Center) website: http://eric.ed.gov. About Harris Interactive Harris Interactive is one of the world's leading custom market research firms, leveraging research, technology, and business acumen to transform relevant insight into actionable foresight. Known widely for the Harris Poll and for pioneering innovative research methodologies, Harris offers expertise in a wide range of industries and serves clients in over 215 countries and territories. For more information, please visit www.harrisinteractive.com.

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ - CGAP, an independent microfinance center based at the World Bank, today announced a new partnership with the UK Department for International Development (DFID) to expand ongoing global efforts to use information and communication technologies (ICT), especially mobile phones, to increase access to basic financial services for the poor. In addition to a 2006 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and CGAP funding, DFID will provide GBP 8 million to the CGAP Technology Program. "Giving people access to financial services can help them lift themselves out of poverty. I am therefore pleased that the DFID-supported Technology Program at CGAP will work to improve poor people's access to financial services such as payments, savings, loans, and insurance. The Program will also support the delivery of social protection payments in developing countries and make the transfer of international remittances cheaper and safer," said UK Minister for Development Gareth Thomas. Today's announcement builds on more than six years of work on mobile banking and access to finance. In that time, CGAP has provided financing and technical advice to projects with more than a dozen providers in Asia, Africa, and Latin America to develop innovative banking solutions, and conducted in-depth policy assessments of 13 countries. CGAP has also published a series of white papers focusing on business models, client needs, and regulatory conditions, which can be accessed at http://www.cgap.org/technology. "The idea that a mobile phone could replace a bank branch has gone from concept to reality at an amazing pace. Now with support from DFID and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, it's time to get beyond the early excitement of the past few years and shift into the build-out stage for mobile money so that millions of poor people everywhere get access to formal financial services," said Stephen Rasmussen, manager of the CGAP Technology Program. Communication technologies such as point of sale devices and ATMs, but also notably mobile phones, are increasingly connecting poor people to the financial grid. With CGAP technical support and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funding, CGAP's project partners in India, Mongolia, Pakistan and the Philippines have created the world's first mobile phone-enabled savings accounts aimed at reaching poor, unbanked people. "Savings is a highly neglected financial service available to the poor, and despite what most people may think, the poor do need a safe place to save money," said Amolo Ng'weno, deputy director at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. "Mobile phones and other front-end technology solutions can bring low-cost financial services to poor people, giving them opportunities to build financial security and improve their lives." Notes to editors

• A CGAP survey in 2009 found there are 2.7 billion people globally who don't have basic banking service, which matters because poor people need safe ways to send, receive, and save money.
• DFID's best known grant for financial inclusion was a challenge grant to Vodafone which helped create M-PESA, which in three years has reached more than 8.5 million people with mobile money transfer in Kenya.

Key areas of focus for the technology program at CGAP

• Helping policymakers develop regulations that support effective use of mobile technologies for financial inclusion.
• Harnessing existing government payments and remittance flows to provide banking services to large numbers of unbanked people.
• Improving broad industry knowledge and practice in the areas of customers, agents, business models and regulatory frameworks.
• Demonstrating innovation and scale in branchless banking projects resulting from CGAP's technical assistance and/or grant funding.

Facts about CGAP

• CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) is supported by over 30 development agencies and private foundations who share a common mission to alleviate poverty, and is housed at the World Bank.
• CGAP serves as technical advisor to the G-20 in the G-20's efforts to promote the use of technology to increase financial inclusion.
• Since 2007 CGAP has shaped 14 projects in nine countries with governments, telecom operators, microfinance institutions, and commercial banks.
• CGAP has led or partnered with others on market research covering more than 6,000 mobile money users in Kenya, Philippines, Brazil and South Africa.

About CGAP CGAP is an independent policy and research centre dedicated to advancing financial access for the world's poor. It is supported by over 30 development agencies and private foundations who share a common mission to alleviate poverty. Housed at the World Bank, CGAP provides market intelligence, promotes standards, develops innovative solutions and offers advisory services to governments, microfinance providers, donors, and investors. More at http://www.cgap.org. About DFID The Department for International Development is the UK Government's department that manages Britain's aid to poor countries and works to get rid of extreme poverty. You can find out more at www.dfid.gov.uk.

The Adobe Foundation today announced that its signature global philanthropy program, Adobe Youth Voices, has launched Adobe Youth Voices Essentials, a free, downloadable offering of the Adobe Youth Voices program for teaching youth 21st century digital media skills. Now available at www.youthvoices.adobe.com, Adobe Youth Voices Essentials enables educators to use key elements of Adobe Youth Voices curricula and other resources to create breakthrough digital media learning experiences for their students. The Adobe Youth Voices Essentials lesson plans and activities are designed to help educators launch, guide and sustain effective youth media programs. The materials guide educators on youth-centered instruction, media production, and strategies for exhibition and distribution. Adobe Youth Voices Essentials also provides real-world examples of media projects produced by teens involved in the Adobe Youth Voices program, providing inspiration for educators and students alike. Established in 2006, Adobe Youth Voices empowers youth in underserved communities to use technology to explore and express their perspectives on issues impacting them and their communities. The program gives educators the training and tools they need to develop unique experiences that inspire youth to become active and engaged participants in learning. In addition to building digital literacy, Adobe Youth Voices provides youth with real-world workplace skills such as teamwork and collaboration, as well as critical thinking and creativity. "Adobe Youth Voices is committed to encouraging youth to be creative, articulate contributors to their communities," said Michelle Mann, executive director of the Adobe Foundation. "We're proud to support educators in constructing meaningful and inspiring learning experiences for students around the world with the availability of Adobe Youth Voices Essentials." About Adobe Youth Voices Adobe Youth Voices is the Adobe Foundation's global philanthropic initiative that empowers youth from underserved communities with digital media skills so they can comment on their world, share their ideas and take action on issues that are important to them. By harnessing the energy and insight of young people 13-19 years old, Adobe Youth Voices aims to inspire a dialogue for change in their communities. The program teaches youth to express themselves through documentary film-making, photography, print journalism, radio diaries, animation, Web communications and other media. The Adobe Youth Voices global network now includes 158 sites, grantees and organizations in 31 countries, engaging over 20,000 youth and 1,000 educators in schools and out-of-school programs. Adobe Youth Voices Essentials enables all educators to take advantage of a subset of Adobe Youth Voices materials and curricula. These free step-by-step lesson plans and activities enable educators to help middle and high school-age youth create meaningful multimedia. For more information, visit www.adobe.com/go/youthvoices. About the Adobe Foundation The Adobe Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation created and funded by Adobe Systems Incorporated to leverage human, technological and financial resources to drive social change and community improvements.

First Lady Michelle Obama today asked parents to help build a nationwide map of playgrounds on kaboom.org, the Web site of national non-profit KaBOOM! The request came as Mrs. Obama promoted her "Let's Move!" anti-obesity campaign at a national conference of PTA members here. "It's about making sure our communities have safe places for kids to play," she said. "There's this terrific non-profit -- KaBOOM! -- that's working to do this. Right now they're working to map every single playground in the country so that parents can find the closest one in their neighborhood, and I encourage you to check it out and add the playgrounds in your own community to their list." The playspace map can be found on the KaBOOM! Web site, kaboom.org. Users can find local places to play, add their own entries, rate and review playgrounds, and more. Just as Ms. Obama discussed "food deserts," communities where parents don't have access to grocery stores to purchase healthy foods, there are also "play deserts" communities that lack parks and playgrounds for children to use every day. According to a Harris Interactive Poll KaBOOM! conducted, 82% of parents believe that children today do not spend enough time playing outside because 59% of them don't have access to a community playground, and those numbers increase to 69% in low-income communities. Answer the First Lady's call to help KaBOOM! create a national map of the state of play. Add your local parks and playgrounds into the KaBOOM! Playspace Finder. Rate them and see how they add up against other playgrounds in your area. Find underserved areas without playgrounds and use additional KaBOOM! tools to create a playgrounds for children in those communities. Once KaBOOM! has a comprehensive map of the state of play across the nation, we'll be better able to target underserved areas, influence public policy, and help parents ensure that their children will have a great place to play every day.

The company was just named number 41 on the 10th annual list of Top 50 Companies for Diversity® announced today by DiversityInc.com. SCJ is up from number 46 last year and is being recognized for its demonstrated use of measurable diversity best practices and results. "Diversity, respect and inclusion are at the core of the company's foundation," says Chairman and CEO Fisk Johnson. "Having different backgrounds and diverse perspectives is a strength on many dimensions. It also makes SC Johnson a great place to work as we learn more about each other and grow as a team." Rankings were based primarily on companies' responses to a survey about four key topics: CEO Commitment, Human Capital, Supplier Diversity and Corporate and Organizational Communications. To make the list, a company must be above average in all four areas. "The competition to be on the DiversityInc Top 50 list has grown again this year to 449 companies. In addition, the total data reflected increased diversity across all companies that competed. That means SC Johnson has achieved a spot on our list as competition increased and as the competitors increased their accomplishments. This takes a remarkable commitment from top leadership," said Luke Visconti, Chief Executive Officer of DiversityInc. "We're honored to be recognized for our ongoing commitment to our diverse workforce," says Maria L. Campbell, Director of Diversity. "Diversity always has been and will remain an important priority at SCJ. It’s simply the right thing to do." DiversityInc.com evaluated businesses representing 14 different industries, including financial, consumer, healthcare and pharmaceutical. The number of participating companies is up 12 percent from last year. To qualify for the list, participating companies must have more than 1,000 employees and must fill out a detailed questionnaire based completely on empirical questions. Also on the list this year are Colgate-Palmolive and Procter & Gamble. About SC Johnson SC Johnson is a family-owned and managed business dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, and insect control. It markets such well-known brands as GLADE®, OFF!®, PLEDGE®, RAID®, SCRUBBING BUBBLES®, SHOUT®, WINDEX® and ZIPLOC® in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN®, BAYGON®, BRISE®, ECHO®, KABIKILLER®, KLEAR®, and MR. MUSCLE®. The 124-year-old company, with more than $8 billion in sales, employs approximately 12,000 people globally and sells products in virtually every country around the world. www.scjohnson.com

/PRNewswire/ - Children International, a U.S.-based humanitarian organization, is allocating $100,000 in emergency funds to repair homes damaged by the recent 8.8 earthquake in Chile. Those resources will be delivered to the families immediately. The charity also announces it has created a fund for those interested in helping Children International rebuild homes that have been damaged or destroyed. Children International stated that 100% of the donations raised will go to rebuilding the homes of earthquake survivors. Children International's President and CEO Jim Cook said, "Now is the time to look to the future, and help victims rebuild their lives and homes. Children International has staff and volunteers on the ground to make a difference." Children International helps support 17,000 impoverished children and their families in Chile. The charity works to help marginalized, needy children and their families in and around the cities of Valparaiso and Vina del Mar. The organization provides medical and dental care, medicines, nutritional support, educational supplies and community development programs to poor children and will continue to work tirelessly to address emergency needs and comfort those children and families that are victims of the earthquake and its many aftershocks. About Children International: Established in 1936, Children International is a humanitarian organization with its headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri. Children International's programs benefit more than 335,000 children and their families in 11 countries around the world including Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Zambia, Honduras, India, the Philippines and the United States. For more information about Children International or to sponsor a child, visit www.children.org. To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/childreninternational/40368/

Hitachi America, Ltd., a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE: HIT/TSE: 6501) located in Tarrytown, NY and Pace University's Wilson Center for Social Entrepreneurship are co-sponsoring a free, full-morning education program aimed at sharing expertise and best practices with professionals from the county's nonprofit organizations. The program, "Philanthropy in the New Decade" will take place at Pace University's campus in White Plains, NY and will run from 8:30 am – 11:30 am on Thursday, March 25, 2010. The campus is located at 1 Martine Avenue. Guest speakers for the program are:

• Mark Popovich, Senior Program Officer, The Hitachi Foundation (www.hitachifoundation.org)
• Jay Frost, Principal, Frost on Fundraising (www.frostonfundraising.com)
• Betsy Hills Bush, Program Officer, Westchester Community Foundation and Adjunct Professor, Pace University (www.wcf-ny.org)

The program is free, but advance registration is required and seating is limited. Attendance is limited to members of nonprofit organizations. Registration can be done on line at: http://www.hitachi-america.us/about/community_relations/events_conferences/index.html The goal of the forum is to offer nonprofit leaders content-rich sessions that provide actionable steps to help their organizations weather today's difficult economic climate. This is the second year that Hitachi America, Ltd. has spearheaded this program and the first year that Pace University's Wilson Center for Social Entrepreneurship is serving as a co-sponsor. The Wilson Center for Social Entrepreneurship was created in 2005 to serve the nonprofit community and Pace University. The Center provides scholarly research, academic programs, advisory services and roundtable discussions to encourage excellence and enhance managerial leadership skills of professionals within the nonprofit sector. "Given the Wilson Center's mission and interest in providing education for those who work in nonprofit organizations, it is a pleasure for us to co-sponsor this program with Hitachi America," said Rebecca Tekula, PhD, Executive Director, Wilson Center. "We are excited to be putting on this educational program for our nonprofit colleagues," said Lauren Garvey, Director of Community Relations, Hitachi America, Ltd. "We believe that it is critically important to help the county's nonprofit organizations weather the current financial crisis. One of the best ways we can do that is by sharing our expertise and organizing programs like this one. I am excited that Pace University has joined us in putting on this program." About Hitachi America Hitachi America, Ltd., headquartered in Tarrytown, New York, a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., and its subsidiary companies offer a broad range of electronics, power and industrial equipment and services, automotive products and consumer electronics with operations throughout the Americas. For more information, visit www.hitachi-america.us. For information on other Hitachi Group companies in the United States, please visit www.hitachi.us. Hitachi, Ltd., (NYSE: HIT / TSE: 6501) is a leading global technology and industrial company with total revenues of ¥10,000 billion ($102.0 billion) for the year ended March 31, 2009. Hitachi's business is highly diversified, encompassing operations in the following seven segments: Information & Telecommunication Systems; Electronic Devices; Power & Industrial Systems; Digital Media & Consumer Products; High Functional Materials & Components; Logistics, Services & Others; and Financial Services. For more information on Hitachi, please visit Hitachi's website at http://www.hitachi.com. About Pace University For 104 years Pace University has produced thinking professionals by providing high quality education for the professions on a firm base of liberal learning amid the advantages of the New York metropolitan area. A private university with campuses in New York City and Westchester County, New York, Pace enrolls nearly 13,000 students in bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs in its Lubin School of Business, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Lienhard School of Nursing, School of Education, School of Law, and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems. www.pace.edu. Visit us on the web: Pace.edu | Facebook | Twitter | Flickr | YouTube Follow Pace students on Twitter: NYC | PLV

Sodexo, Inc., world leader in Quality of Daily Life solutions, was ranked first on the 2010 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity® list, cementing its position as a benchmark employer in leveraging diversity and inclusion expertise as a competitive advantage in business. This marks the fifth consecutive year that Sodexo has been recognized on DiversityInc's Top 50 list, and its steady climb to the top spot mirrors the consistent progress the company has made in its ongoing diversity journey. According to DiversityInc, Sodexo leads all companies in its ability to implement, measure and assess strong internal diversity initiatives. The publication cited Sodexo's Spirit of Mentoring program as an example for all organizations of a "focused, practical and extremely comprehensive mentoring effort" that includes advanced training, and benchmarks at regular intervals, to examine how mentoring pairs are relating to each other and accomplishing the goals of the mentoring partnership. In other awards announced by DiversityInc, Sodexo ranked first in the employment of executive women, and first for recruitment and retention of minority employees. The company ranked second in the employment of Latinos; third for employment of blacks; and tenth for employment of people with disabilities. In addition, the company ranked fifth for its global diversity efforts, which include an initiative -- Sodexo Women's International Forum for talent (SWIFt) -- to increase the number of women in leadership and operational positions throughout the world. "This award from DiversityInc reflects an intense, ongoing effort to ensure that diversity and inclusion are part of Sodexo's corporate culture," said George Chavel, president and chief executive officer of Sodexo North America. "Our diversity expertise helps us be more agile and responsive to customers and differentiates us from our competitors, and therefore directly contributes to our long-term business success." "Our diversity strategy seeks to create an environment where all employees feel engaged, and each individual feels they are valued and can contribute to the success of the company," said Rohini Anand, Sodexo senior vice president and global chief diversity officer. "We're pleased that DiversityInc recognizes the success of our diversity efforts." Sodexo has 120,000 employees at more than 6,000 client accounts in the U.S. It is the benchmark company for diversity and inclusion in its industry, and is consistently recognized among all companies in North America as a best place to work for minorities, multicultural women, veterans, and people with disabilities. Over the past five years, the minority management population has increased by 15 percent, and the female population increased by 8 percent compared to its fiscal 2004 baseline. Sodexo's progress with diversity and inclusion has been strong and consistent and is an integral part of the company's culture. DiversityInc also recognized Sodexo's diversity training and employee management metrics, its full range of progressive work-life programs, and its sharing of its diversity expertise with external partners. For more information, read Sodexo's annual diversity and inclusion report on www.sodexousa.com. The DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list, which will be published in the June 2010 issue of the magazine, is determined by a statistical analysis of responses to the publication's 200-question survey. Top 50 companies demonstrate consistent strength in four areas: CEO commitment, human capital, corporate and organizational communications, and supplier diversity. The 449 companies evaluated for this year's Top 50 list range from consumer-facing companies to industrial businesses, and range in size from small regional companies to businesses that operate globally. For more information on the methodology used to create the list of Top 50 Companies for Diversity, visit www.diversityinc.com/top50. Sodexo, Inc. Sodexo, Inc. (www.sodexoUSA.com), a member of Sodexo Group, is a leading provider of Comprehensive Service Solutions serving more than ten million customers daily in corporations, health care, long term care, retirement, schools, higher education, government and remote sites. Headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., Sodexo, Inc. operates in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, with $7.7 billion (USD) in annual revenue and 120,000 employees. The Sodexo Foundation (www.SodexoFoundation.org) is an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $12.7 million in grants to fight hunger in America. Visit the corporate blog at www.sodexoUSA.com/blog.

More than three-quarters (78%) of Americans believe a partnership between a nonprofit and a company they trust makes a cause stand out, according to the newly released 2010 Cone Nonprofit Marketing Trend Tracker. When the cause breaks through, consumers are more likely to feel positively about the nonprofit (56%) and actively support it. As a result of nonprofit-corporate partnerships:

• 59% of Americans are more likely to buy a product associated with the partnership;
• 50% are more likely to donate to the nonprofit;
• 49% are more likely to participate in an event for the nonprofit; and
• 41% are more likely to volunteer for the nonprofit.

Other nonprofit marketing elements that help capture consumer attention include having an association with a special event or time period (81%); a memorable color, logo or icon that symbolizes the cause or issue (79%) and the involvement of a celebrity or other notable spokesperson (61%). "Leading nonprofits are transforming their missions into breakthrough cause brands by harnessing the power of corporate partnerships to rally new supporters with a compelling call-to-action," explains Alison DaSilva, Cone's executive vice president of Cause Branding. "While we have seen many companies reap the benefits of cause-related partnerships, these results reveal the same benefits hold true for the nonprofit brand. Strategic corporate partnerships can help nonprofits stand out and create new, loyal ambassadors." Give Consumers Details American consumers are highly attuned to nonprofit-corporate partnerships in the marketplace today. Nearly two-thirds (61%) are actively seeking partnership details before deciding to advocate for or donate to the cause. And they want to see results – 75 percent want to hear about the results of partnerships, including the effect on the social issue or money raised for the cause. In light of this penchant for detail, fewer than half (45%) think nonprofits and companies disclose enough information about their partnerships. Don't Ignore Traditional Channels New media have emerged as powerful channels to reach and engage consumers around social and environmental issues and causes, but the Trend Tracker results reveal conventional channels, such as traditional media, advertising and events, still resonate. Americans indicate the following are effective ways for nonprofit organizations to reach them with a message or call-to-action:

• 81% by word-of-mouth from family or friends
• 80% through traditional media (e.g., newspapers, magazines, television)
• 74% in advertising
• 69% at events
• 66% in the store, on a package or at the register
• 64% through standard mail
• 59% through e-mail
• 49% through social media channels (e.g., Facebook, blogs, YouTube, Twitter)
• 29% on mobile devices (via text messaging)

For a copy of the 2010 Cone Nonprofit Marketing Trend Tracker fact sheet, please contact Casey Brennan (cbrennan@coneinc.com) or visit www.coneinc.com/2010-cone-nonprofit-marketing-trend-tracker.
About the survey: The 2010 Cone Nonprofit Trend Tracker presents the findings of an online survey conducted February 11-12, 2010 by Opinion Research Corporation among a representative U.S. sample of 1,055 adults comprising 510 men and 545 women 18 years of age and older. The margin of error associated with a sample of this size is ± 3%.
About Cone: Cone (www.coneinc.com) is a strategy and communications agency engaged in building brand trust. Cone creates stakeholder loyalty and long-term relationships through the development and execution of Cause Branding, Brand Marketing, Nonprofit Marketing, Corporate Responsibility and Crisis Prevention and Management initiatives. Cone is a part of the Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com).

/PRNewswire/ - Touting its new tagline Go greener(SM), TruGreen, the nation's largest professional lawn care service, today launched an initiative to help educate Americans on how unlocking their passion for their lawns can also positively impact the environment. TruGreen is the exclusive U.S. organic and sustainable lawn and landscape care sponsor of Earth Day Network. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day in 2010, TruGreen is suggesting to homeowners 10 sustainable lawn care tips at www.earthday.org/action/trugreen that qualify for Earth Day Network's Billion Acts of Green™ environmental service initiative. As part of its sponsorship, TruGreen will participate in Earth Day Network's flagship Earth Day event on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on April 25. Free to the public, the event will recognize achievements for mobilizing America to create a green economy. "Homeowners want to get the most out of their lawns, but often lack the time and expertise to create a lawn they can truly enjoy," said Stephen M. Donly, president and chief operating officer, TruGreen. "At TruGreen, we're not only partnering with homeowners to create a healthy, green lawn that's easy to care for, but we're also helping them do so responsibly." As part of its collaboration with Earth Day Network, TruGreen is also helping elementary and middle schools green up this year. Supporting Earth Day Network's green schools project, TruGreen will help America's youth enjoy green spaces, learn about the relationship between healthy turf and a healthy environment, and create gardens and landscapes. "We know from extensive scientific research that healthy turf contributes to a healthy Earth," Donly said. "As a leader in environmental stewardship, TruGreen is committed to making it easy for homeowners to achieve their lawns' full potential by delivering customized lawn care solutions that are effective, innovative and responsible." America Goes Greener TruGreen is inviting Americans to join The Green Generation™. To register Acts of Green, visit www.earthday.org/action/trugreen and access the five-minute TruGreen Acts of Green video featuring Kirk Hurto, Ph.D., vice president of technical services, TruGreen. Also featured is Bobby Sinclair(SM), Neighborhood Lawn Kid(SM) portrayed by child actor Noah Munck, who stars in TruGreen's new multimedia advertising campaign. The pair demonstrates several of the environmentally responsible lawn care tips. The complete list of 10 tips can be downloaded and printed from www.earthday.org/action/trugreen. Green specialists from TruGreen are available at 1-888-901-LAWN to provide assistance in creating an organic, healthy, green lawn as an active supporter of The Green Generation™. Each TruGreen-suggested Act of Green counts toward the Earth Day Network's Billion Acts of Green™ goal and represents each individual's commitment to become an environmental leader. Customized Green Spaces Part of TruGreen's innovative approach is providing a customized care plan that reflects the unique growing conditions, qualities and character of each lawn. To celebrate giving homeowners the freedom to customize their lawns, TruGreen is partnering with home improvement retailer Lowe's to offer The TruGreen Ultimate Backyard Makeover with a grand prize of a $30,000 Lowe's gift card. In addition, 50 first prize $1,000 Lowe's gift cards and 35 weekly prize $500 Lowe's gift cards will be awarded. The sweepstakes is open to legal U.S. residents 18 years or older. Go to www.TruGreen.com/sweepstakes now through October 15 to enter and to obtain official sweepstakes rules. Entrants can also participate by printing their name, complete address, daytime and evening phone numbers, age, and email address on a 3"x5" card and mail it to: TRUGREEN "ULTIMATE BACKYARD MAKEOVER" SWEEPSTAKES, P.O. Box 511425, New Berlin, WI 53151. No purchase is necessary to enter or to win. About TruGreen TruGreen is the nation's largest lawn care company, serving more than 2.5 million residential and commercial customers across the United States with lawn care, tree and shrub care. As the current industry leader, TruGreen continues to pioneer the development of new technology for lawn care, and devotes substantial resources to evaluate new products and equipment. The company is committed to responsible lawn care, including offering and promoting the use of natural, organic services and sustainable practices. Today, there are more than 250 TruGreen LawnCare branches in the United States and Canada, including more than 50 franchise locations. TruGreen is the exclusive U.S. organic and sustainable lawn and landscape care sponsor of Earth Day Network and the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. TruGreen is part of the ServiceMaster family of brands, one of the world's largest and most versatile service networks. About ServiceMaster ServiceMaster currently serves residential and commercial customers through a network of more than 5,500 company-owned locations and franchised licenses. The company's brands include TruGreen, TruGreen LandCare, Terminix, American Home Shield, ServiceMaster Clean, Merry Maids, Furniture Medic and AmeriSpec. The core services of the company include lawn care and landscape maintenance, termite and pest control, home warranties, cleaning and disaster restoration, home cleaning, furniture repair and home inspection. Billion Acts of Green and The Green Generation are trademarks of Earth Day Network. Used with permission. To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/trugreen/42463/

3M Canada Company and Mannington Commercial announced a joint project, where large format graphics used in the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games will be reclaimed and manufactured into high recycled content flooring. To support their sustainability objectives, when planning for building and vehicle graphics, 3M Canada looked for ways to reclaim the wraps after use, as a material stream for recycled products. About 200,000 square feet of the graphics seen during the games on vehicles and key venues such as the Richmond Olympic Oval and the Pacific Coliseum are in scope. All of the material will be diverted from landfills and remanufactured into Mannington commercial flooring. "We learned about Mannington's precedent for recycling mixed waste similar to our graphic materials into flooring," says Richard Chartrand, Vice President, Display and Graphics business, 3M Canada. "Most recycling facilities would quickly turn away from the colorful, irregular shaped lumps that the graphics result in after use, but Mannington was up for the challenge." "We have invested in technology that puts Mannington in a leadership position in recycled flooring," says Dave Kitts, Mannington Vice President - Environment. "One of the simplest ways to conserve resources is to reuse what you can. We've found second lives for many flooring products and were intrigued by the opportunity presented by 3M Canada." Mannington will recycle the graphics into Premium Tile, a product popular in commercial healthcare, education and retail applications. The Premium Tile product already contains post-consumer waste streams including drywall and VCT reclaimed from renovation sites, and is certified as an Environmentally Preferable Product, meeting the rigorous requirements of NSF-332-2007 certification. "As we have innovated to grow our recycling capabilities, we have been looking for waste streams to increase the amount of post-consumer content that we can use in our products," says John Emmons, Director of Commercial Manufacturing at Mannington. "The arrangement was not only a great way to support this 3M Canada initiative; it also made very good business sense." "3M's graphics created a dramatic visual impact at the 2010 Winter Games, and our partnership with Mannington is helping limit our environmental impact after the Games ended," said 3M Canada's Chartrand. "3M considers this recycling program a significant step in the right direction for creating a positive environmental shift in our industry." For more information, visit 3m.ca/2010. Mannington Commercial has distinguished itself as one of North America's premier manufacturers of high quality floor covering designs for hard and soft surfaces. Its range of choices in both categories is unparalleled, and its sustainability platform is built upon innovative measures to improve closed loop recycling, reduce waste streams and reuse waste materials. Mannington stands upon a better business ethic, better products and a better world for the good of the people who create and use their commercial and residential products. http://manningtoncommercial.com.

/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - From an early age, most of us learned the value of switching off the lights when leaving a room, turning off the water faucet, keeping the refrigerator door tightly closed and walking instead of driving short distances. At Kraft Foods, "greener" office buildings are reinforcing these childhood lessons, making it easier for employees to reduce their environmental impact. "Sustainability is an important part of our business strategy, and we want our workplaces to be a constant visible reminder to our employees," said Steve Yucknut, Vice President, Sustainability. "Our greener offices are inspiring employees to think and act differently at work. And together, we're changing behavior and getting results." Around the world, Kraft Foods has done the basics – reducing its office buildings' environmental impact by installing motion-activated lighting and more efficient plumbing fixtures. The company is doing even more by adapting buildings so employees can work more sustainably and be more flexible, productive and mobile. With wireless tools to work at home, on the road or with a customer without being "at the office," people use less energy in commuting, and there's less need for office space. Below are several success stories from Kraft Foods' offices around the world:

• UNITED STATES: Kraft Foods' Northfield headquarters recently became ENERGY STAR qualified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It is in the top 8 percent of commercial buildings in the country for energy efficiency and uses 33 percent less energy than similar commercial buildings. As a result, it's less expensive to operate and emits fewer greenhouse gases than its peers. The campus is surrounded by green space and walking trails for employees, and three lakes on site capture rainwater for reuse to handle half of the property's irrigation needs. The building is even cooled by ice – recycled water is frozen at night, and fans circulate the cool air the ice generates.
• AUSTRALIA: In Melbourne, the company's new office is a more space- and energy-efficient location that's strategically located to be walking distance to public transportation and hotels. The office has on-site facilities to encourage employees to bike to work – like bicycle parking, showers, changing rooms and lockers. It even has a rainwater collection system and graywater plant to recycle wastewater for on-site uses like landscape irrigation. The National Australian Built Environment Rating System gave the office 4.5 out of 5 stars by for its environmental performance.
• BRAZIL: Kraft Foods' Curitiba headquarters reduced its energy consumption nearly 10 percent in 2009 with creative ideas like shutting down some elevators in the evening and using "team cleaning" schedules to minimize lighting use after business hours.
• CANADA: Kraft Foods' Don Mills headquarters is Level 3 certified by BOMA BESt – Canada's national environmental certification program for commercial buildings – placing it in the top 20 percent of scores for certification. Buildings at this level of certification, such as the Don Mills headquarters, typically have been managing energy and environmental performance for several years.
• PHILIPPINES: Kraft Foods Philippines' Sucat headquarters now collects rainwater for use in local landscaping and toilet flushing, has skylights to bring natural light into the building and features a green park to encourage employees to spend time outdoors.
• SWITZERLAND: Kraft Foods' Zurich office is called the "Lightcube" for its extensive use of glass, automated window shades and a built-in weather station that regulates heating, cooling and ventilation. The building uses 50 percent less energy for lighting and 60 percent less energy for ventilation than conventional buildings and meets strict Swiss energy standards. In addition, the Lightcube's central location lets nearly two-thirds of employees take public transportation to work.

About Kraft Foods The combination of Kraft Foods and Cadbury creates a global powerhouse in snacks, confectionery and quick meals. With annual revenues of approximately $50 billion, the combined company is the world's second largest food company, making delicious products for billions of consumers in more than 160 countries. The combined company's portfolio includes 11 iconic brands with revenues exceeding $1 billion – Oreo, Nabisco and LU biscuits; Milka and Cadbury chocolates; Trident gums; Jacobs and Maxwell House coffees; Philadelphia cream cheeses; Kraft cheeses, dinners and dressings; and Oscar Mayer meats. Another 70+ brands generate annual revenues of more than $100 million. Kraft Foods (www.kraftfoodscompany.com) (NYSE: KFT) is a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Standard & Poor's 500, Dow Jones Sustainability Index and Ethibel Sustainability Index. NOTE TO EDITORS: An online video is available at www.kraftfoodscompany.com along with hi-res downloadable images of offices mentioned in the release. - make today delicious -

The Global Challenge Institute today announced the launch of The Katerva Challenge (www.katerva.com), a world-class, six-month event that uses competition, education, collaboration, and social media to solve universal problems that affect the world. In 2010, the Challenge's inaugural year, the task is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to slow the onset of climate change. Corporations, governments, institutions, and associations will create five-person teams tasked with solving this global plight by incubating original ideas with mass appeal. Winners will be chosen by online voting and an expert panel. "There are a great many challenges we are facing in the world today that can best be addressed by a global community effort," said Terry Waghorn, CEO of The Global Challenge Institute. "Today we have more knowledge, education, and problem-solving power within our grasp than ever before. We're excited to bring bright minds together around a single purpose each year for the betterment of mankind." Participating in the challenge is Blank Canvas International -- a sustainability consultancy from South Africa -- and Clean Air Champions -- a coalition of athletes dedicated to improving air quality. "We're thrilled about these teams, and the great interest received from large companies," said Ged Davis, a former Managing Director of the World Economic Forum and now member of the Katerva Challenge's expert panel. "We encourage them and others to join us in the race to reduce greenhouse gases." Global in nature and is collaborative by design, the Katerva Challenge provides participants with leadership development, and opportunity to network with the world's most innovative individuals and gain public recognition. Winners also receive a prize of USD $250,000 worth of business services. ABOUT THE GLOBAL CHALLENGE INSTITUTE The Global Challenge Institute (GCI) is a non-profit prize institute that designs and manages public competitions for the benefit of humanity. GCI's primary offering -- The Katerva Challenge -- helps global organizations unlock the wisdom of crowds to solve the world's most challenging problems. Encouraging the world's most innovative and prestigious organizations to dedicate their best people and resources to solving pressing global problems, GCI's competition gives back to each group via employee enrichment, marketing, product development, and business tools and services that accompanies annual participation. For more information, visit www.katerva.com.

The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) today made public several support efforts that have been underway to assist the ongoing disaster recovery efforts in Haiti and Chile. The Company announced additional support of the Haiti earthquake response through its support of a relief mission which took place on March 6 and 7 to bring surgeons, medical supplies and clothing to those in need, and an initial financial contribution to relief efforts in Chile as well. As part of its continued support of Haiti relief efforts, Dow collaborated with several Boston-area hospitals and like-minded companies to bring more than $750,000 in donated medical equipment to those in need – specifically an anesthesia machine and other specialized surgical equipment – via a relief flight that took place this weekend from the U.S to Haiti. The mission was one of the single, largest private sector relief efforts since a 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit the Republic of Haiti on January 12. On its return flight to the U.S., the airplane transported more than 40 orphans who've been cleared for adoption by the U.S. State Department. "The outpouring of support for both Haiti and Chile from the international community has been truly tremendous," said Bo Miller, Global Director of Corporate Citizenship. "Contributions from Dow and Dow employees have helped provide tangible and meaningful aid to the survivors of these earthquakes as they rebuild their homes, their communities and their lives. We're pleased that these donations are helping to support those in the human family at a time when they are in greatest need." Since the January quake, Dow has donated $500,000 to the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund, as well as an additional $250,000 through an employee matching gift program to support The United Nations World Food Programme. Nearly 2,000 Dow employees personally contributed more than $320,000 of their own funds to Haiti relief efforts as well. Dow is also providing innovative product solutions to help meet some of the most basic needs of the Haitian people, such as the need for clean water. Two ultra filtration water systems from Dow are being built to provide much needed water to between 5,000 and 10,000 people a day in partnership with Pure Water for the World. Also, together with key customers, Dow has donated raw materials used in the manufacture of mattresses which will assist people who lost their homes and belongings. According to Miller, these efforts are consistent with the Company's corporate citizenship and sustainability missions and its commitment to address the world’s most pressing challenges Dow's initial donation to Chile will provide support and relief to those who've been seriously affected by the 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck the southern region of Chile on February 27. Hogar De Cristo, a well-known and established relief organization based in Santiago, will receive $100,000 from Dow, while another $100,000 is being set aside for future rebuilding as the needs are fully assessed. The Company is also sending provisions from Santiago to Talcahuano to assist 70 employees located near the city. About The Dow Chemical Company Dow combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element" to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2009, Dow had annual sales of $45 billion and employed approximately 52,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 214 sites in 37 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

Global Impact, a leader in global philanthropy, announced today that Habitat for Humanity International will join its network of U.S.-based international charities. Founded in 1976, Habitat for Humanity International has built over 350,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1.75 million people in 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter. "Habitat for Humanity International addresses shelter, a fundamental need that aligns directly with our mission to assure help for the world's most vulnerable people," said Renée S. Acosta, President and CEO of Global Impact. "They are a leading charitable organization that will complement our existing portfolio." Global Impact raises funds for 55 of the most respected U.S.-based international relief and development charities. To be a member, an organization must demonstrate a commitment to international humanitarian relief and development and have a reputation for effectiveness and integrity in financial management, program implementation and service delivery to the world's neediest people. "We are excited about our new partnership with Global Impact as they spread the word of our international work," said Mark Crozet, Senior Vice President of Resource Development. "The organization will help Habitat for Humanity International serve more families in countries where there is a greater and greater need for tenant rights, affordable shelter and housing investment for the poor." Global Impact's commitment to financial integrity results in excellent ratings including the Charity Navigator Four-Star Rating, the Seal Holder status from the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance and an administrative and fundraising expense ratio of 5.16%, a small fraction of the 35% deemed acceptable by the Better Business Bureau. For details on adding Global Impact to your workplace giving campaign, including a complete list of member charities, visit www.charity.org/Workplace_Giving. For more information about donating to Habitat for Humanity International's work in the United States, visit www.habitat.org/partnerships/corporate_partnerships.aspx. About Habitat for Humanity International Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built, rehabilitated, repaired or improved more than 350,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1.75 million people. For more information, visit www.habitat.org. About Global Impact Global Impact is dedicated to raising funds to support humanitarian relief and development programs for the world's most vulnerable people. Since 1956, Global Impact has raised more than $1.2 billion for thousands of charitable organizations, including its 55 member charities, through a comprehensive set of programs. In addition to supporting critical international programs, Global Impact manages two of the largest workplace giving campaigns in the world: the Combined Federal Campaign of the National Capital Area, serving all Federal employees in the Washington DC area, and the Combined Federal Campaign-Overseas for civilian and military Department of Defense personnel stationed abroad. To learn more and for a copy of the 2009 Global Impact Annual Report, go to www.charity.org.