/PRNewswire/ - CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS) will be joining First Lady Michelle Obama and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce at the fourth annual "Business Steps Up: Hiring our Heroes" event to be held in Washington, D.C. today.  CVS Caremark, a Chairman's Circle sponsor of Hiring our Heroes, is participating in job fairs across the country as part of an effort to connect 100,000 veterans and military spouses with employment opportunities, the program's goal. Hiring our Heroes is a year-long nationwide campaign to help veterans and their spouses find meaningful employment.

"As a nationwide employer focused on transforming the delivery of health care services, CVS Caremark is committed to providing job opportunities and attractive career paths for members of the military.  We value their experience and training as leaders, innovators and team builders and see many opportunities for veterans to make a seamless transition from the military to a career at CVS Caremark," said David Casey, Vice President, Workforce Strategies and Chief Diversity Officer, CVS Caremark.

A veteran of the United States Marine Corps himself, having served in Operation Desert Storm, Casey added, "I understand how important it is to have a meaningful career opportunity and to have your transferrable skills recognized by a prospective employer when you return to the civilian workforce after military service."

Military spouses and veterans currently work in a wide variety of positions across the CVS Caremark enterprise, including at CVS/pharmacy retail stores, distribution centers, mail order pharmacies and MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics inside select CVS/pharmacy stores across the country. The company has also established a resource and networking group for employees who are military veterans, those currently serving and their supporters.

For its effort to date, CVS Caremark has been named as a finalist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Women Veteran and Military Spouse Employment and Mentoring Award.

About CVS Caremark
CVS Caremark is the largest pharmacy health care provider in the United States with integrated offerings across the entire spectrum of pharmacy care. We are uniquely positioned to engage plan members in behaviors that improve their health and to lower overall health care costs for health plans, plan sponsors and their members. CVS Caremark is a market leader in mail order pharmacy, retail pharmacy, specialty pharmacy, and retail clinics, and is a leading provider of Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans. As one of the country's largest pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs), we provide access to a network of approximately 65,000 pharmacies, including more than 7,300 CVS/pharmacy® stores that provide unparalleled service and capabilities. Our clinical offerings include our signature Pharmacy Advisor™ program as well as innovative generic step therapy and genetic benefit management programs that promote more cost effective and healthier behaviors and improve health care outcomes. General information about CVS Caremark is available through the Company's website at http://info.cvscaremark.com/.

/PRNewswire/ - The Rotary Club of Apopka, Fla., is Fueling Good as one of 12 winners in the CITGO Fueling Good summer program. Recognized by CITGO Petroleum for its ongoing efforts to provide humanitarian service and aid both locally and internationally, the non-profit organization was awarded $5,000 in CITGO Gift Cards to help extend its Ripple of Good and the impact of its work.

“We are extremely thankful for the generosity of CITGO,” said Bill Spiegel, President of Rotary Club of Apopka. “The award will help us raise more funds to support our wide range of programs throughout the year.”

The Rotary Club of Apopka provides a broad range of financial and physical services, including scholarships, food, shelter, mentoring, healthcare, safety and literacy initiatives. Rich in history and services, both locally and internationally, the club has established itself as a leader in service. The members of the Apopka community and those abroad have come to depend on its philanthropic efforts.

The Rotary Club of Apopka is one of 12 CITGO Summer Fueling Good campaign winners selected from more than 1,100 charities through a nationwide online vote. More than 100,000 votes were cast to help identify the latest winners in one of four categories: Environmental Protection and Restoration; Education and Social Investment; Energy Assistance and Conservation; and Health and Well-being.

The principles of Fueling Good can be seen in all aspects of the CITGO brand and are aligned with the social development principles of the CITGO shareholder, Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA), the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

Registration for the Winter program begins Dec. 1 and all 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations based in the 26 states and District of Columbia in which CITGO operates are invited to submit an entry at www.FuelingGood.com.

For regular updates and to join the conversation, “Like” CITGO Fueling Good at www.Facebook.com/CITGOFuelingGood and view videos of past winners at www.youtube.com/CITGOFuelingGood.

CITGO, based in Houston, is a refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. The company is owned by PDV America, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. For more information visit www.CITGO.com.

/PRNewswire/ - Today, Africare, the oldest non-profit organization in the United States working solely in Sub-Saharan Africa, welcomed nearly 1,000 leaders from government, business and international development organizations at the Africare Bishop John T. Walker Memorial Dinner in Washington, DC to celebrate a renewed investment in a "New Africa." The gala, one of the nation's largest annual fundraisers for Sub-Saharan Africa, honored former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazil's Vale, the world's second largest diversified mining company, and Donald F. McHenry, former Ambassador to the United Nations and Chairman Emeritus of Africare, for their respective leadership and commitment to investment and development in Africa.

"We celebrate Africa—a fast changing, rapidly globalizing and rising Africa [that] is making real economic, social and political progress," said Dr. Darius Mans, President of Africare, during his official gala remarks. "This 'New Africa' needs strong and willing partners—like Vale—to ensure that Africa's progress is not only sustained, but that it continues to grow so that all people of this great continent prosper."

The Former Brazilian President Lula, unable to attend due to recent illness, was also honored with Africare's Leadership Award for his countless contributions in trade, investment and diplomatic relations between Brazil and Africa. Lula continues his dedication and commitment to growing African partnerships through his new foundation called the Institute Lula. In Lula's speech, read by the Brazilian Ambassador to the United States, he said that "Brazil wishes to broaden its ties with Africa and to cooperate in the spirit of solidarity, so that the continent can find its path towards economic progress and social justice."  He highlighted Africare's motto "improving lives, building futures" as reflective of what development organizations need to be achieving, and noted the great similarities between Africare's development goals and those of  his own since the beginning of his public life.

Vale received Africare's Corporate Award for its staunch efforts to enhance the health, nourishment, empowerment and employment of the African people. Vale's operating objective is to ensure that local communities share in the growth and prosperity of its mining operations. In Mozambique, for example, they have created a foundation, headquartered in Maputo, which has supported health, agriculture, education and made infrastructure investments for a railway and a new port terminal on the northern coast of the country.

"Through local investments in local communities, we hope to act as a catalyst for sustainable economic growth across the continent of Africa," said Rafael Tiago Juk Benke, Vale's Global Head of Corporate Affairs. "We are deeply honored to receive this award from Africare, and proud to work alongside such organizations that are so committed to a growing and changing Africa."

The Africare Bishop John T. Walker Memorial Dinner is held each year in memory of Bishop John T. Walker, the first African- American Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, D.C. and Africare's longtime Board Chair. Bishop Walker distinguished himself as an exemplar of peace, justice and interracial harmony. The dinner plays an important role in enabling Africare to both broaden awareness about its work in Africa and to raise critically needed funds to deliver life-saving services. This year's dinner is made possible by the generosity of Vale, ExxonMobil, Chevron and The Coca-Cola Company as well as many others from the business community.

Past recipients of the Bishop Walker Humanitarian Service Award include His Excellency Nelson R. Mandela, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Jimmy Carter, U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young, former National Council of Negro Women Chair and President Emeritus, the late Dr. Dorothy I. Height, former Secretary of State Colin Powell and philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates.

Africare is a leading non-profit organization specializing in African development assistance to improve the quality of life in Africa. It is also the oldest and largest African-American led organization in that field. Since its founding in 1970, Africare has delivered over $1 billion in assistance and support — with over 2,500 projects and millions of beneficiaries —  to 36 countries Africa-wide. These projects have reached 6.5 million direct beneficiaries and approximately 30 million indirect beneficiaries. Africare has its international headquarters in Washington, D.C., with field offices currently in some 20 African countries.
http://www.africare.org

The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU), a leader in global payment services, today announced that Western Union Business Solutions will sponsor a webinar hosted by The Chronicle of Philanthropy focused on effective foreign exchange management strategies for international non-profit organizations. The webinar to be held November 22, 2011 at 2pm ET is titled, "Doing More With Less: Getting the Most Out of Your Limited Funds."

To register for the free webinar, go to http://philanthropy.com/webinars/westernunion_1.

The webinar will address the strategies that philanthropic organizations can use to effectively manage international payments, thus enabling them to move more money to those who need it, when and where they need it most. 

The current global economic slowdown has directly affected parties on all sides of philanthropic relationships, driving a sharp drop in donations while plunging people around the world further into poverty.  

With fewer dollars to work with, and greater demands placed on those dollars, non-profit and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that operate across international borders must manage their finances more efficiently, precisely, and transparently than ever. More must be done with less. Leading the webinar are:

• Karl Schamotta, Senior Market Strategist with Western Union Business Solutions
• Brendan Marsden, Charity Vertical Specialist with Western Union Business Solutions
• Lorraine Grant, Finance Manager with the Music For Life Institute
• Mark Walston, consultant for The Chronicle of Philanthropy, will moderate the panel

“At Western Union, we harness opportunities to drive shared value, simultaneously producing business and social value through services such as currency risk management and simplified global payments,” said Raj Agrawal, President, Western Union Business Solutions. “Our team understands the FX markets, and can deliver substantial and sustainable value to NGOs operating across borders.”

Additional focus will be given to:

• How to simplify the processes used to move money across the global financial system - cutting costs and increasing efficiency
• Using technology to track, monitor and control the remittance and receipt of funds - to build accountability and improve payment reliability
• Tools that can be used to protect future-dated payments against currency volatility so that exchange rate losses are reduced, and cash flows become more predictable

Western Union Business Solutions enables organizations of all sizes to manage their international transactions, reduce risk, and act on market opportunities through various services including corporate FX solutions that include foreign currency payments, currency risk management consultation and industry solutions.

About Western Union

The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a leader in global payment services. Together with its Vigo, Orlandi Valuta, Pago Facil and Western Union Business Solutions branded payment services, Western Union provides consumers and businesses with fast, reliable and convenient ways to send and receive money around the world, to send payments and to purchase money orders. The Western Union, Vigo and Orlandi Valuta branded services are offered through a combined network of approximately 485,000 agent locations in 200 countries and territories. In 2010, The Western Union Company completed 214 million consumer-to-consumer transactions worldwide, moving $76 billion of principal between consumers, and 405 million business payments. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.

/PRNewswire/ -

• Dundee Township Public Library in East Dundee, Illinois wins Soar with Reading Sweepstakes from more than 115,000 entries representing all 50 states
• JetBlue, PBS KIDS, and Random House Children's Books supported local libraries this summer through Soar with Reading program

Today, JetBlue (Nasdaq: JBLU) and Random House Children's Books granted the Dundee Township Public Library in East Dundee, Illinois $10,000 in books through its Soar with Reading program nationwide contest in which readers nominated their local libraries. Those that nominated a library were also entered to win a family vacation to the amazing Atlantis Paradise Island Resort in Nassau Bahamas from JetBlue Getaways. More than 115,000 entries were received through the sweepstakes portion of the program, representing libraries in all 50 states.

"A terrific ending to a busy summer!" said Icema Gibbs, director of Corporate Social Responsibility at JetBlue. "We are thankful for all the work done with our partners, PBS KIDS and Random House Children's Books, as we visited dozens of public schools and libraries around the country and hosted six official Soar with Reading events over the summer in support of this campaign. Thousands of kids benefited from this and hopefully it will inspire all of them to continue reading even when school is not in session and to let their imaginations soar!"

"We are thrilled to accept the generous sweepstakes prize from JetBlue Airways and their partners PBS KIDS and Random House Books. These books will go a long way in delighting our youngest patrons," said Roxane Bennett, library director. "We are very proud to be associated with an organization that puts a high value on books, and then acts on those values through an extensive initiative to encourage children to read. Reading can open up the world to a child, much like an airplane can. Children are much more likely to soar when presented with the opportunity and tools to so."

The library donation initiative is a part of Soar with Reading, a joint project launched this summer by JetBlue and PBS KIDS. Soar with Reading aims to keep children reading throughout the summer, harnessing a combination of in-flight and online literacy resources, community reading events and a partnership with First Book, a nonprofit organization that provides new books to children in need. For every reader who registered on SoarwithReading.com this summer, JetBlue made a book donation to a child through First Book, totaling 10,000 books.

Through the sweepstakes portion of the program, more than 115,000 entries were received representing libraries in all 50 states. Dundee Township Public Library in East Dundee, Illinois won $10,000 in books, a second library received $2,500 in books and five additional libraries received $500 in books, courtesy of JetBlue and Random House Children's Books.

About First Book
First Book has distributed more than 80 million books and educational resources to programs and schools serving children from low-income families throughout the United States and Canada.  By making new, high-quality books available on an ongoing basis, First Book is transforming the lives of children in need and elevating the quality of education. For more information, please visit www.firstbook.org or follow First Book on Facebook and Twitter.

About PBS KIDS
PBS KIDS, the number one educational media brand for children, offers all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and community-based programs.  Each quarter, more than 27 million viewers watch PBS KIDS on TV, and PBSKIDS.org, the number one kids' entertainment site for free video streaming, attracts more than 10 million unique visitors per month (Nielsen, NTI Q42010; comScore Video Metrix; Google Analytics). For more information on specific PBS KIDS programs supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit PBS.org/pressroom, or follow PBS KIDS on Twitter and Facebook.

About JetBlue Corporate Social Responsibility 
JetBlue is committed to the cities it serves through support and alignment with not-for-profit organizations that focus on children, education, communities and the environment. Through a variety of programs and activities, JetBlue crewmembers are encouraged to help make an impact and inspire greatness in others while enriching the lives of individuals and communities across the airline's network. Through JetBlue's Community Connection Volunteer Program and other Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, JetBlue partners with a variety of philanthropic and community-focused organizations, including KaBOOM!, DoSomething.org, The American Cancer Society and their Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walks; First Book, a not-for-profit organization with the mission to give children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books; and PBS KIDS, where JetBlue partnered to create Soar with Reading – Let Your Imagination Take Flight, a literacy campaign to help raise readers. In addition, JetBlue has created a platform called Jetting to Green which encourages environmentally-friendly practices through education and volunteerism.

About JetBlue Airways
JetBlue is New York's Hometown Airline(TM) with other focus cities in Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, and Orlando. Known for its award-winning service and free TV as much as its low fares, JetBlue offers the most legroom in coach of any U.S. airline as well as super-spacious Even More Space seats. JetBlue is also America's first and only airline to offer its own Customer Bill of Rights, with meaningful and specific compensation for customers inconvenienced by service disruptions within JetBlue's control. Visit www.jetblue.com/promise for details. JetBlue serves 66 cities with 650 daily flights and later this year plans to introduce service to St. Croix and St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands as well as La Romana, Dominican Republic and Liberia, Costa Rica. With JetBlue, all seats are assigned, all fares are one-way, and an overnight stay is never required. For information or reservations call 1-800-JET-BLUE (1-800-538-2583), TTY/TDD 1-800-336-5530, or visit www.jetblue.com.

About Random House Children's Books
Random House Children's Books is the world's largest English-language children's trade book publisher. Creating books for toddlers through young adult readers, in all formats from board books to activity books to picture books, novels, ebooks, and apps, the imprints of Random House Children's Books bring together award-winning authors and illustrators, world-famous franchise characters, and multimillion-copy series. The company's website, Kids @ Random (www.randomhouse.com/kids) offers an array of activities, games, and resources for children, teens, parents, and educators. Random House Children's Books is a division of Random House, Inc., whose parent company is Bertelsmann AG, a leading international media company.

Giving further credence to its reputation as a major world platform to transform environmental challenges into business opportunities, the 12th edition of the GLOBE Series of events has unveiled its strongest and most relevant conference program to date.

Built around the thematic concept of ‘Building a Sustainable Economy for the 21st Century’, the GLOBE 2012 agenda explores untapped and emerging opportunities for advancing the business of the environment.  The program casts a spotlight on business strategies, capital market mechanisms, clean technologies, urban sustainability innovations, and the cutting edge ideas that are poised to become winners over the next decade and beyond.

“Governments and corporations around the world are feeling the pressure of unstable markets, coupled with recessionary forces and spending restraints,” says John Wiebe, President and CEO of the GLOBE Foundation. “At GLOBE 2012 we’ll focus on how companies, investors, financial firms and governments can enhance environmental performance and advance sustainability, ultimately accelerating the development of a more sustainable economy and improving their own bottom line.”

At GLOBE 2012, internationally recognized thought-leaders will converse on topics such as: Efficient Water use by Corporations; Carbon Confusion: What’s Next for Global Climate Policy; Burning Issues for Tomorrow’s Cities: Bioenergy, District Heating and Waste-to-Energy Systems; Sustainable Consumerism: What’s Driving Demand for Today’s Eco-Friendly Products and Services?

To encourage discussion and interactivity, conference sessions will be dynamic panels of three to four speakers led by a moderator who will facilitate extensive discussion, question-and-answer periods, and audience participation. Register before November 30th and save $600.

For more information, visit www.GLOBESeries.com.

Find us on Twitter: @GLOBE_Series

About GLOBE
GLOBE 2012 is produced by the GLOBE Foundation, an international consultancy organization in the business of the environment. GLOBE’s expertise lies in project management, event development, and management and consulting in the fields of environment and energy, urban development, and corporate responsibility. The GLOBE Foundation is North America’s longest operating producer of environmental events.

This year's Corporate Citizenship Awards gala takes place at Washington, D.C.'s Newseum.

Entertainment will be provided by CMT artists.

Don't miss the opportunity to mingle with today's leaders in corporate citizenship. Officials from finalist companies, BCLC's sponsorship community, and preeminent civil society organizations will be in attendance.

More Info & Tickets: bclc.uschamber.com/Awards/citizens-awards-gala

Information and communication technologies are finally becoming part of the mainstream of social innovation. Mobile technology, for example, has already been deployed successfully in microfinance, health, disaster response and agricultural pricing, among other applications. Large networked platforms are also helping intermediate capital from environmental credits markets to primary offerings to venture funding.

Our panelists will tell us more about how technology is changing the world of social enterprise and share horizons for the future.

Sponsored by Liquidnet's Markets for Good, wine and snacks will be served afterwards for attendees to enjoy and connect.

Speakers

• Jalak Jobanputra, Investor and Entrepreneur, former Director, Omidyar Network
• Dr. Neal Lesh, Chief Strategy Officer, Dimagi and Co-Founder, Spark MicroGrants
• Giulia  Stellari, Co-Founder, AgSquared
• Mike Van Patten, Founder and Principal, Mission Markets

Moderator

• Jamie Daves, Founding Partner, Platform Equity and Venture Partner, City Light Capital

Register here!

From electronics to food packaging, managers with product stewardship, supply chain and environmental responsibilities across all industries stand to be impacted by the new conflict minerals regulation.

Join representatives from Intel Corp., Ford Motor Co., and Cabot Corp. for this encore web presentation as part of NAEM's Best of Forum series and discover how they are preparing for conflict mineral regulation from the beginning of the supply chain to the end retailer.

This issue could impact all manufacturers, so get ahead of the curve now!

Featuring presentations by:

• Gary Niekerk, Director, Global Citizenship, Intel Corp.
• Monique Oxender, Global Manager, Supply Chain Sustainability, Ford Motor Co.
• Andrew O'Donovan, General Manager, Cabot Corp.

The Boot Camp is back! The Boot Camp is a series of participatory, practical workshops where current and aspiring social entrepreneurs will learn how to sharpen the tools and build the relationships they need to get social ventures off the ground. Join us at this unique, hands-on event facilitated by leading practitioners and faculty from three of New York's top schools: Columbia SIPA, NYU Wagner and our new partner, SVA Design for Social Innovation.

Registration is now open for the 2011 Social Enterprise Boot Camp! Be sure to get your tickets early. All tickets include entry to the Networking / Reception event on Saturday night.

When you register you will be asked to select the workshops you want to attend on both days. We encourage you to visit our website to see our schedule, workshops and confirmed speakers.

Not able to make it to the Boot Camp workshops but still want to connect with attendees and speakers? Join us at the Speed Networking / Reception Event on Saturday, November 19th from 6:00pm-9:00pm. Tickets available here.

Email us, stay in touch through Facebook, follow us on Twitter and tell your friends to join our mailing list for updates!

/PRNewswire/ - Ygrene Energy Fund, a leading provider of energy retrofit programs for local governments, today announced it has partnered with Tampa-based sustainability consultancy EcoAsset Solutions to market Ygrene Energy Fund Florida, LLC (Ygrene Florida). Using an innovative financing model to enable building energy improvements, Ygrene Florida will partner with Florida's local governments to reduce energy costs in businesses and homes, stimulate local economies and create thousands of jobs.

EcoAsset Solutions, a wholly–owned subsidiary of Lykes Bros. Inc., has proven experience in the design and management of long-term sustainability programs for state and local governments. Together with Ygrene Energy Fund, EcoAsset will contribute its resources to Ygrene Florida to drive program implementation by local governments as well as property owner participation.

"Ygrene Florida provides an immediate, sustainable source of private capital to finance property upgrades with no cost to the local government. It's one of the most potent tools within our reach to strengthen the state's economy. Florida needs this," said John Wakefield, president and COO of EcoAsset Solutions. "By implementing Ygrene Florida's unique model, we anticipate creating thousands of jobs throughout the state over the next five years."

Ygrene Florida's turnkey energy efficiency program provides ready private capital to property owners who choose to improve the energy use of their commercial or residential building. The funding for eligible building improvements – including a range of energy efficiency retrofits, renewable energy installations as well as wind hardening improvements – is repaid via annual non ad valorem assessments on the property tax bill amortized over as much as 15 to 20 years. The savings resulting from the property improvements exceed the overall costs of the improvements.

Ygrene Florida has appointed Joseph Spector as director of operations to lead program implementation and marketing in Miami. Spector joins Ygrene Florida from senior management positions at Briggs & Stratton Corporation, a global manufacturer and distributor of power products and engines. He was responsible for the establishment of Briggs & Stratton operations in Mexico and Brazil, and most recently served as the managing director of Latin American operations in Miami.

"The Ygrene funding model cuts through layers of red tape and provides a fast, efficient approval process for local contractors to execute projects in unprecedented numbers," said Spector. "Businesses and homeowners will benefit from lower utility costs, higher property values and increased cash flow. Furthermore, governments unlock enormous job potential while accelerating smart city development and protecting their financial outlook."

About Ygrene Energy Fund Florida

Ygrene Energy Fund Florida, headquartered in Tampa, is the leading developer and administrator of Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing programs throughout the state. PACE is an innovative structure enabling property owners to finance energy savings improvements. Assembled by the Carbon War Room, Ygrene leads "The PACE Commercial Consortium" a coalition of leading financial, energy efficiency and climate change organizations to deliver no-cost, turnkey PACE financing on behalf of municipal governments. Founding members include Barclay's Capital, Lockheed Martin and Energi. Learn more at www.ygrene.us.

About EcoAsset Solutions

EcoAsset Solutions is an award-winning leader in providing Sustainability Management outsourcing services for the public and private sector. The company's aim is to be the trusted strategic service partner for organizations that are trying to design, implement and drive a sustainability agenda that improves competitiveness, grows revenue, and eliminates resource waste to improve profit margins. EcoAsset's mission is to provide solutions that prove the value of our client's sustainability investments. The company is a wholly–owned subsidiary of Lykes Bros. Inc., a fifth generation family-owned company with over one hundred years of experience and financial stability in managing large scale natural resources.

Enter PR News' CSR Awards to get recognized for your CSR efforts and to shine the spotlight on the people driving your CSR success. PR News recognizes that corporate social responsibility enhances reputation and builds positive bridges to communities, customers and the public at large—and in so doing affects the bottom line.

You can view the complete list of more than 30 entry categories here: http://www.prnewsonline.com/CSR_2011/.

PR News is also accepting entries for its first annual CSR A-List Awards, which is an esteemed list of 10 PR agencies that have a proven track record in developing and managing corporate responsibility programs for clients. Winners for both the CSR Awards and the CSR A-List Awards will be honored April 17, 2012 in Washington D.C.

The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC®) has recognized Group O as its 2011 National Minority Supplier of the Year in the category of companies with annual sales of $50 million or more. Group O Founder and Chairman Bob Ontiveros accepted the award at NMSDC's annual conference in Atlanta.

"The measure of success in the global business environment is changing rapidly and business service providers like Group O must continue to innovate and offer differentiated solutions," said Gregg Ontiveros, CEO of Group O. "NMSDC is a leader in helping diverse suppliers work toward that vision and we're honored to receive this recognition."

In October, NMSDC recognized Group O among 16 regional winners. These companies were nominated by their corporate customers and divided into four classes based on annual sales. The award selection process evaluated the nominees based on business growth, development and performance, community service, and the ability to overcome challenges associated with the company owner's heritage or background.

"Under the leadership of Robert Ontiveros, Group O has evolved into one of the largest Hispanic-owned firms in the U.S.," said NMSDC President Joset Wright. "For nearly four decades, the company has grown steadily in size and capacity, and adjusted to meet the  changing needs of its corporate customers. Its business success and support of the local community make it an excellent choice for our Class IV National Supplier of the Year."

About NMSDC

Providing a direct link between corporate America and minority-owned businesses is the primary objective of the National Minority Supplier Development Council, one of the country's leading business membership organizations. It was chartered in 1972 to provide increased procurement and business opportunities for minority businesses of all sizes. The NMSDC Network includes a national office in New York and 37 Regional Councils across the country. There are 3,500 corporate members throughout the network, including America's top publicly owned, privately owned and foreign-owned companies as well as universities, hospitals and other buying institutions. The Regional Councils certify and match 16,000 minority-owned businesses with member corporations that want to purchase their goods and services. For more information, visit www.NMSDC.org.

About Group O

Group O is a diversified service provider with solutions that optimize its clients' marketing execution, supply chain operations and strategic packaging needs. The company's Marketing Solutions group offers a full range of relevant loyalty and incentive programs, direct mail optimization services, and efficient consumer and trade fulfillment services. The Supply Chain Solutions group serves the heavy equipment and high-tech sectors with serialized, high-velocity and scalable forward- and reverse-logistics services, as well as strategic sourcing and procurement solutions. The Packaging Solutions group provides an extensive nationwide network of packaging materials, equipment, analytical and service offerings. Group O is ISO 9001:2008 and TL 9000-certified, and SAS 70 Type II-compliant. Headquartered in Milan, Illinois, Group O is the ninth-largest Hispanic-owned company in the United States and employs more than 1,500 employees. To learn more, visit www.GroupO.com.

Early last month Renewal2 Investment Fund announced the completion of the acquisition of Sensibility Soaps, the leading private label/contract manufacturer of certified natural and organic personal care products. The new company, renamed “Sensible Organics,” will continue to be headquartered in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania with the mission of becoming the leading private label manufacturer of environmentally friendly and chemical free personal care products.

Sensibility Soaps is a pioneer in the organics industry and became the first personal care manufacturer in the U.S. to receive organic certification by the USDA in 2003. Beginning with the manufacture of natural, cold-processed bar soaps in 1996, the company’s capabilities quickly expanded and is now recognized for its cutting edge R&D in the natural and organics industry and has a library of hundreds of innovative certified natural and organic formulations for skin care, bath and body, hair care and fragrance. Sensible Organics will honor the heritage of Sensibility Soaps and build on its platform by continuing to provide innovative leadership to the organic personal care market through its ongoing partnership with the USDA and through strategic partnerships with leading retailers such as Whole Foods.

Sensible Organics is the ninth company in Renewal2’s portfolio of triple bottom line businesses; which includes other notable green consumer product companies as Seventh Generation. Renewal2 was the lead investor in the deal and recruited top talent in marketing and consumer products to join the management team and board. Rob Robillard has joined as Chair of the Board. A beauty and retail industry veteran, Rob has built and led numerous high profile, high growth consumer brands including serving as the CEO of Living Proof, President of Kiehl’s and SVP of Marketing at L’Oreal Paris.

The Board has recruited Rick Ruffolo to the role of CEO & President to bring strong, experienced leadership to rapidly and strategically grow the business. Rick is an industry-recognized leader with over 20 years of consumer goods and retail executive experience at Procter & Gamble, SC Johnson, Bath & Body Works and Yankee Candle creating and growing brands in multiple product categories across nearly all channels of distribution.

“We’re at an important inflection point in the organic industry,” states Rick Ruffolo. “With the right business strategy, operational expertise and marketing support, along with the continued partnership of key retailers and industry organizations, Sensible Organics can provide consumers with attractive offerings that fit their lifestyles and help the organic personal care industry experience rapid sales growth and achieve even greater acceptance and usage over the next five years.”

On the environmental impact side, this investment is an important addition to the Renewal2 portfolio as the traditional personal care industry is toxic to both the natural environment and consumers’ health. According to the Environmental Working Group, industrial chemicals are basic ingredients in personal care products and one in eight of the 82,000 chemicals registered for use in U.S. Personal Care Products contain carcinogens, pesticides, reproductive toxins, endocrine disruptors, plasticizers, degreasers and surfactants. Consequentially, as many of these toxins are washed down taps and drains, there is increasing concern about the impact of these chemicals on wildlife, rivers and streams.

“At Renewal2, we are deeply concerned about the environmental impact that traditional person care products have on consumers and the natural environment,” states Paul Richardson, President of Renewal2 and Board Member of Sensible Organics. “Our investment in Sensible Organics means we can help grow the organic personal care products industry and we are confident that we have the right management team and board in place to see the new company’s impact and growth goals through.”

For more information about Sensible Organics, visit their website at www.sensibleorganics.us.

About Renewal2 Investment Fund

Based in Vancouver, BC, Renewal2 is a social venture fund that builds upon almost two decades of experience in successful high-impact investing. Renewal2 is dedicated to delivering financial returns by investing in leading environmental and social mission businesses in Canada and the U.S. www.renewal2.ca

Disclaimer: This is not an offer or solicitation to sell securities of, or financial interests in, the Fund. Investment in the Fund is limited to a restricted pool of investors, namely “Accredited Investors” and others not requiring disclosure by prospectus as defined under applicable securities laws.

Opportunity Green 2011 is the preeminent multi-disciplinary sustainability conference facilitating an exchange of industry best practices, ideas and business models in the midst of Fortune 500 business leaders and green entrepreneurs as they gather together to learn from speakers at the top of their fields, meet exhibitors displaying the latest innovations and collaborate about how to accelerate environment-friendly business practices, clean technology and innovation.

• Opportunity Green ranked #4 in "10 Best Conferences for Ideas and Entrepreneurship" - Worth Magazine, 2011
• 2010 Finalist, BizBash Event Style Award - Best Green Initiative
• 2011 Winner, California Product Stewardship Council Golden Arrow Award

"We chose the theme 'Accelerate' for this year's conference because the successes that have gotten sustainably-minded people and companies to where we are today accelerates and offers the momentum to drive to an even better future. At Opportunity Green we create a space for these individuals to share best practices, learn from each other and explore new possibilities—it's all fuel to reach our full future potential."

Program Highlights of Opportunity Green 2011

On opening day of the conference, Opportunity Green awards our 2nd Annual Eco Maverick to UNEP Ambassador & Award Winning Actor Don Cheadle. We honor Cheadle based on his exemplary service and commitment to the causes of both human rights and global environmental sustainability. We hope that this award will support his efforts to cast a spotlight on the reality that clean air, water and a thriving environment are human rights that should be safeguarded by individuals as well as companies and governments.

• Opening presentation of the "2011 Green Governor of the Year" award to Governor Peter Shumlin of Vermont followed by an in-depth interview by award-winning journalist, Simran Sethi
• The game-changers and cultural icons accelerating solutions to the world's most pressing issues including award-winning actor and UN Goodwill Ambassador, Don Cheadle
• Case studies and best practices from leaders in sustainable business such as: Ben Packard, VP of Global Responsibility of Starbucks; Hannah Jones, VP Sustainable Business
  & Innovation at Nike; Cindy Ortega, Senior VP Energy/Environment at MGM Resorts International; and David Crane, CEO/President of NRG Energy
• Pioneers in design such as Founder of Fuse Project and Conde Nast's "Designer of the Year"-2011, Yves Behar and Irwin Miller, Principal at Gensler
• Sessions and panels that will address preeminent eco issues such as "Opportunities in Modern and Energy Efficient Transportation", 'The Business of Organics, Food Systems
  and Sustainable Agriculture", "Greening of the Music Industry", "Water, the New High-Stakes Business", "How Social Media is Forging the Sustainable Frontier", and "Getting Buy-in for New Energy Technology"
• Taste of LA after-party on Thursday featuring award-winning sustainable eateries, entertainment and networking; presented by Southwest Airlines
• Over 40 interactive, informative and fun exhibits in the exhibitor hall
• The presentation of the Third Annual OG25 Innovative Green Start-Up Awards

OG25 Innovative Green Start-Up Awards Competition:

* On Friday, November 11, the Third Annual OG25 Innovative Green Start-Up Competition takes the main stage at the Opportunity Green Conference. Twenty-five finalists - representing the best and brightest entrepreneurial initiatives in clean technology, transportation, infrastructure, social innovation, water management, food systems, community development and more will compete in a fast pitch (one minute) presentation in hopes of being named "OG25 Green Start-Up of the Year". Past winners are Zimride (2010) and Ecovative Design (2009).

Key Sponsors and Partners of Opportunity Green Include:

* Opportunity Green is presented in partnership with The BMW Group and Gensler and hosted by UCLA Anderson School of Management Price Center for Entrepreneurial Studies with additional support from: Domtar Paper, Eastman Innovation Lab, Dell, eBay Green Team, AHA! Writers, Marsh & McClennan Companies, Yoxi, Los Angeles Center Studios, Southwest Airlines, Production Resource Group (PRG), Indo Teak Design, Kaiser Permanente, UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, UCLA Extension, American Apparel, Yoxi.tv, Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles World Airports, Southern California Gas Company, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Everpure Pentair Water, Energy Upgrade California, Bottlehood, Vapur, American Reclaimed Product Supply, Borrego Solar, Boxman Studios, Zimride, ChicoBag, QuickMobile, Boostability, NS Tech, Hotel Angeleno, Design Printing LA,Tern Bicycles, Native Energy, NS Tech, Yolo Colorhouse, Juice Bar, Bikes Belong, Wendel Rosen Black & Dean LLP, ICON Aircraft, Koncept Technologies, TreeLiving.com, ecoSolv, CRE Rentals, Tender Greens, Border Grill, Calamigos Ranch, and Sustainable Produce Urban Delivery (SPUD).

• Other partners include: CSR Wire, MIT Sloan Management Review, Sustainable Industries, Triple Pundit, Inhabitat, EcoTuesday, Elephant Journal, Goodlifer, Centre for Sustainability and Excellence, Art Center College of Design, Product Development and Management Association-Los Angeles Chapter, Alliance to Save Energy, Cleantech Group, Larta Institute, U.S. Green Building Council-Los Angeles Chapter, Net Impact-UCLA Anderson Chapter, Net Impact-USC Marshall Chapter, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, The American Institute of Architects, American Institute of Architects - Los Angeles Chapter, LA Green Drinks, Industrial Designers Society of America, Green Business Networking, ecofabulous, GigaOM, Dwell, Organic Spa Magazine, Mother Earth News, Green Builder Media, Los Angeles Downtown News, eventologie, Ecorazzi, Esse Law Group, Build It Green, ASID LA, AIGA (re)design Awards, LA Clean Tech Incubator, CR Magazine, Earth911, Earth Techling and GreenVC.org.

About Opportunity Green

Founded in 2007, Opportunity Green brings together leading companies and visionaries in technology, design, media and more, showcasing the hottest opportunities to drive profitability through sustainability. The conference exposes and connects participants to an interdisciplinary cross-section of ideas at the forefront of sustainable business practices through a variety of formats, including creative panels and experiential workshops. Opportunity Green is the largest multidisciplinary green business conference, attracting over 850 attendees from Fortune 500 powerhouses to cutting-edge startups. Opportunity Green is the proud recipient of the Golden Arrow Award for Overall Excellence in Product Stewardship from the California Product Stewardship Council and a finalist for "Best Green Initiative" in the BizBash West Event Style Awards. For more information on the conference, visit www.opportunitygreen.com.

/PRNewswire/ - Volkswagen AG today announced that it has donated $1 million to The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) to support comprehensive diversity education programs. 

The partnership contributes to Volkswagen AG's global efforts to promote education and help improve the lives of the people within the countries and communities where they operate. The donation to the ADL, a leader in anti-bias education, will help fund workshops for early-childhood educators, diversity training in schools and communities, programs aimed at addressing cyber-bullying, anti-bigotry efforts on college campuses as well as workshops that help companies develop more inclusive and respectful working conditions for employees. Volkswagen's partnership with ADL is one significant aspect of the company's global philanthropic efforts and another example of the company's commitment to education in the United States.

"Volkswagen AG is proud to support the Anti-Defamation League, which strives to celebrate diversity and inclusion," said Christian Klingler, Board Member of Volkswagen AG, responsible for sales, marketing and after sales. "ADL's initiatives and programs align with Volkswagen AG's commitment to diversity in our workforce and in countries all around the globe. At Volkswagen, economic success goes hand-in-hand with ecological and social goals. That is why the Group takes on responsibility for customers, employees, the environment and the community."

"We are extremely gratified to have Volkswagen's generous support as a partner in the fight against anti-Semitism, racism and bigotry," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "This great corporation has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to helping build better communities and improving society through their support of anti-bias education, diversity initiatives and multiculturalism. We salute Volkswagen for setting such a high bar for other corporations to emulate."

In addition, Volkswagen Group of America initiated its own Partners in Education program. Launched in September 2008, Partners in Education is designed to support students and teachers interested in advanced automotive technology and next-generation automotive engineering. The programs help students from kindergarten through high school, and even at the college and post-graduate level throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia and the greater Washington, D.C., area and in Tennessee, home of our new assembly plant.

About Volkswagen AG

The Volkswagen Group, with its headquarters in Wolfsburg, is one of the world's leading automobile manufacturers and the largest carmaker in Europe. In 2010, the Group increased the number of vehicles delivered to customers to 7.203 million (2009: 6.336 million), corresponding to a 11.4 percent share of the world passenger car market. In Western Europe just over one in five new cars (21.0 percent) comes from the Volkswagen Group. Group sales came in 2010 to 126,9 billion euros (2009: 105.2 billion). Profit after tax in the 2010 financial year amounted to 7.2 billion euros (2009: 0.9 billion). The Group is made up of nine brands from seven European countries: Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT, Skoda, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini and Scania. For more information, please visit www.volkswagenag.com.

About the Anti-Defamation League

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.

Mr. Michael Spanos, co-founder and Managing Partner of EuroCharity, will deliver a speech, moderate a special workshop on Sustainable Investment in Greece and present the "EuroCharity Yearbook: The Future of Responsible Investing" at TBLI CONFERENCE™ Europe 2011, the prime annual global networking and learning event on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and Impact Investing.

Furthermore, EuroCharity is Media Sponsor of this two-day event, which will take place in London on November 10-11, 2011 and attract more than 300 delegates from around the world. The conference will take place at the 5-star Grange St. Paul's Hotel, where the ESG Leaders Awards Ceremony will also be hosted on November 10. These Awards commend the performance of players who have shown outstanding achievements in the ESG and Impact Investing space.

Social Entrepreneurship

During the first day of the conference, Mr. Spanos will participate in a workshop entitled "Social Entrepreneurs." His presentation entitled "Social Entrepreneurship and Impact Investing" will focus on the interrelation between social entrepreneurship and investments that have a social and environmental impact. Furthermore, he will present EuroCharity’s social entrepreneurship model. Other participants in the workshop will include senior representatives from BiD Network (The Netherlands), Veolia Environnement (France) and Concern for Children and Environment Nepal (CONCERN-Nepal).

Workshop on Sustainable Investment in Greece

On the second day, Mr. Spanos will moderate a workshop, organised by EuroCharity, entitled "How to Rebuild the Greek Economy in a Sustainable Way." Speakers at this workshop will include: Ms. Dimitra Pragalou, Director of Investments at Invest in Greece, Mr. Ioannis Pappas, CEO, Green Evolution S.A., and Ms. Vivian Bouzali, Communication Director, Mytilineos Group of Companies. The aim of the 13th workshop of TBLI CONFERENCE™ EUROPE 2011 is to present Greece's investment opportunities, highlight best practices in sustainability by Greek firms, and promote the country’s current and future growth prospects related to the green economy.

Presentation of "EuroCharity Yearbook 2010: The Future of Responsible Investing"

During the conference, EuroCharity will have the opportunity to present to investors, fund managers, senior executives, sustainability index researchers, investment bankers and other key stakeholders, its last international album entitled "EuroCharity Yearbook 2010: The Future of Responsible Investing". It should be noted that many of the conference's participants and organisations have contributed to EuroCharity's fourth multi-stakeholder publication, including Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), Morgan Stanley, SAM/Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes, Mytilineos Holdings, Vigeo Rating, WWF International, Bloomberg, FTSE, Invest in Greece, UN PRI, UNEP FI, United Nations, etc.

About TBLI CONFERENCE™ Europe 2011

In existence for over 13 years, TBLI CONFERENCE™ consists of two annual conferences. These two-day events give the world's leaders on sustainability an opportunity to network and exchange information on the latest developments in screening, auditing, reporting, SRI analysis, corporate citizenship, indexes, and research. It constitutes the largest global conference in sustainable investing, every year attracting hundreds of corporate executives, organisations, hedge funds and other key stakeholders who share a common interest in responsible investment. Many asset owners also participate in the conference, offering unique opportunities for knowledge, communication, networking and attracting sustainable investments, which according to the latest data surpass USD 11 trillion. For further information: www.tbliconference.com.

Participation in the conference
In case you would be interested in participating in TBLI CONFERENCE™ Europe 2011, please contact EuroCharity on +30 210 927 1110-29 or at E-mail info@eurocharity.org.

As part of its values, EuroCharity is dedicated to become a 100% climate neutral and zero-waste company. This vision refers to both its operations (e.g., office, logistics, staff movements) and its products/services (e.g., Web portals, exhibitions, events, EuroCharity Yearbooks).

In view of this commitment, EuroCharity has recently (in October 2011) neutralised its two popular portals at www.eurocharity.gr/en and www.eurocharity.eu and received the CO2 Neutral Seal, a certification providing an integrated GHG Management approach.

By implementing this integrated approach, the CO2 Neutral Seal certifies that the appropriate accounting procedure was used and ensures accuracy, consistency and transparency in the offset procedure.

EuroCharity's portal www.eurocharity.gr/en is the first of its kind in Greece to be certified as being a "Carbon Neutral website."

This innovative solution not only helps certify the climate neutrality of EuroCharity's portals but is also a step forward for the social venture to becoming a climate neutral and zero-waste vision company.

The firm also plans to publish the 5th EuroCharity Yearbook entitled "Leadership for Sustainability," to be released in June 2012, in a 100% carbon neutral - climate neutral way.

CO2 Neutral Seal

The CO2 Neutral Seal is an innovative range of fully-transparent, high-quality and reliable carbon management services, for GHG emissions created from corporate or private IT usage, events and business operations. The certificates that are being issued are generated based on holistic approaches, while the offsetting process is supported by the utilisation of renewable energy projects from which the offsetting is done, along with proof of the retirement that can be traced and verified.

Based on advanced open-source tracking and calculation methodology, the carbon footprint of the two Web portals have been measured by EuroCharity's corporate member Green Evolution S.A. More specifically, through traffic data from Google Analytics and advanced calculations, Green Evolution has measured the carbon footprint of the computers visiting these two sites, the servers hosting the portals, and the networks that connect them. At the end of each month, CO2 Neutral Seal automatically neutralises the carbon emissions with high-quality carbon credits.

These emissions are continuously being fully offset from the issue date (October 20, 2011) through high-quality carbon credits generated by the 11.52 MW Hsikou Hydro Power project in Tainan, South-West Taiwan.

The impact achieved by this solution includes:

• Reducing GHG emissions / global warming mitigation
• Increasing awareness among portal visitors on climate neutrality and offset schemes to become carbon neutral
• Contributing to sustainable investment in a suburban region, which would not have happened in the absence of project activity. In this case: a small hydro project in Taiwan, a small island. The project is a run-of-river reservoir hydropower plant. The hydro power station was built into an existing irrigation system that belongs to a local farming cooperative. Hydropower is Taiwan's key to a green future. One that will be free of coal and nuclear energy. Clean energy is vital in Taiwan while, overall, energy consumption is compatible with Western Europe.
• Clean electricity supply to the equivalent of 12,789 households per annum.
• Generating a cost-effective tool for achieving EuroCharity's climate, environmental and energy efficiency targets.

/PRNewswire/ - Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today announced the five grand-prize winners of the first ever "Community Stars" social media challenge. To help mark the 125th anniversary of Mercedes-Benz and its invention of the automobile, Mercedes-Benz dealers launched the contest to identify local, grass-roots community service groups doing great work.  

Playing off of the 125th anniversary, the dealers awarded $125,000 to five select charitable organizations across the country ($25,000 to each of the five winners). The contest was specifically designed to bring awareness to local organizations whose efforts are often overshadowed by larger, multinational charitable organizations and NGOs.  

More than 183 applications were received on behalf of organizations representing causes that work to improve youth empowerment, education, the arts, the environment and/or human service.    

The five grand prize winners, each receiving $25,000, are as follows:

• Alabama Institute for the Deaf & Blind (Talladega, Ala.) – is a comprehensive education and rehabilitation system serving children and adults who are deaf, blind and multidisabled.
• Camp Okizu (Novato, Calif.) – provides camping programs for families affected by childhood cancer.
• Sleepyhead Beds (Kansas City, Mo.) – supplies beds to area children who would otherwise sleep on floors, sofas, or even in cars, benefiting the community -- and the environment -- by keeping the mattresses out of area landfills.
• The Children's Museum of Richmond (Richmond, Va.) – has several play exhibits that influence children's intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development; the prize will be invested into upgrading their "Waterplay" exhibit.
• V.A.C.C. Camp (Miami, Fla.) – in conjunction with the Miami Children's Hospital, hosts a free week-long overnight camp for ventilation-assisted children (children needing a tracheostomy ventilator, C-PAP, BiPAP, or oxygen to support breathing) and their families.

About Community Stars

To kick start the program, Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) launched the "Community Stars" tab on its Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/mercedesbenzusa) where organizations were encouraged to participate in this grass-roots contest. Additionally, MBUSA Facebook fans were called to action to suggest their favorite charitable organizations as well.  

Launched the first week in September, interested parties were challenged to create and upload a 60-second video to showcase their organization and exactly how they would use the awarded funds to forward their cause. Submissions were accepted until Friday, Sept. 23 from organizations in the following categories: Environment & Sustainability, Health & Service, Youth Empowerment, Music & Arts or Education.

Once the videos were submitted, a committee of Mercedes-Benz employees selected 15 finalists and then beginning Oct. 3, MBUSA Facebook fans were asked to vote through a simple voting mechanism. In a bid to better their standing, the finalists themselves were also encouraged to drive traffic to the "Community Stars" tab by asking others outside the MBUSA network to vote for them as well. The contest officially ended on Oct. 21, 2011.

About Mercedes-Benz USA

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service for all Mercedes-Benz and Maybach products in the United States.  MBUSA offers drivers the most diverse line-up in the luxury segment with 14 model lines ranging from the sporty C-Class to the flagship S-Class sedans and the SLS AMG supercar.  

MBUSA is also responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Vans and smart in the US.  More information on MBUSA and its products can be found at www.mbusa.com, www.mbsprinterusa.com and www.smartusa.com.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Accredited journalists can connect with and follow us at: Media Site: www.media.mbusa.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/mbusapressoffice Twitter: www.twitter.com/MBUSA_News

/PRNewswire/ - International services company OCS Ltd today signed a global sponsorship agreement with Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE: KMB) that gives the U.S. headquartered manufacturer of Huggies® brand disposable diapers the right of first refusal to sponsor OCS's Envirocomp composting facilities as they are installed around the world. OCS acquired Envirocomp in February 2011 and plans to establish Envirocomp facilities in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Australia and mainland Europe while expanding operations of its New Zealand facilities over the next 18 months.

Through a similar sponsorship in 2009, Huggies® brand diapers and Envirocomp established the first commercial nappy composting facility in Christchurch, New Zealand. Within the first year of operation, the facility exceeded its business plan and processed more than 15,000 diapers a day, which were mixed with green waste supplied by the local councils that resulted in compost suitable for commercial gardening or landscaping.

OCS is installing its second plant in the Wellington region with a $700,000 grant from the New Zealand Government's Waste Minimization Fund.

"We are delighted that the first agreement signed in New Zealand with Kimberly-Clark three years ago has resulted today in a global partnership with K-C as the master sponsor of the Envirocomp composting facilities," said Cecil Ryan, Regional Managing Director for OCS Europe. "Kimberly-Clark has backed Envirocomp from the start, working with its founder, Karen Upston, to build the business model and grow relationships with industry, local and central government. This has been a true partnership."

"At Kimberly-Clark, we believe in addressing the triple bottom-line of sustainability – in other words, what's good for our business should also be good for the planet and good for our communities," said Suhas Apte, Vice President, Global Sustainability for Kimberly-Clark.

"This sponsorship reinforces our commitment to continuously seek innovative solutions to demonstrate how to collect and process Kimberly-Clark's post-consumer diaper waste and thus reduce the environmental footprint of our products. Given our success with Envirocomp in New Zealand and OCS's expansion plans, we believe this relationship will help us achieve our broader sustainability goals. We will use the power of the Huggies® brand, one that is trusted by parents worldwide, to take a leadership role in helping reduce our waste in landfills."

Chris Cracknell, Chief Executive Officer for OCS Ltd said that the global agreement makes sense from an economic and environmental perspective for both companies. 

"This sponsorship deal is an important step for both companies and I believe this will change the way we dispose of diapers," said Cracknell. "OCS operates in 40 countries and Kimberly-Clark sells its products in over 150 countries. We are two global businesses both with strong commitments to sustainability. By working together, we can reduce the amount of consumer waste which goes to landfill."

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

About OCS

• OCS Limited is an operating division of the OCS Group that operates in over 40 countries worldwide.
• OCS in New Zealand was established in 2004 employs over 2,700 people from offices in 21 locations.
• Envirocomp is a subsidiary of OCS Limited.
  • For more information go to www.ocs.co.uk or www.envirocompglobal.com.

About Kimberly-Clark

Kimberly-Clark and its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 150 countries. Every day, 1.3 billion people – nearly a quarter of the world's population – trust K-C brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene and well-being. With brands such as Kleenex, Scott, HUGGIES, Pull-Ups, Kotex and Depend, Kimberly-Clark holds No. 1 or No. 2 share positions in more than 80 countries. To keep up with the latest K-C news and to learn more about the company's 139-year history of innovation, visit www.kimberly-clark.com.