On Monday June 16th, Innovest launched the Access to Medicine Index ranking of 20 pharmaceutical companies with regards to access to medicines. The ranking evaluates companies in the areas of Management, Influence, R&D, Patenting, Capacity, Pricing, Drug Donations, and Philanthropy.
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The Global Water Policy Project, based in western Massachusetts, aims to promote the preservation and sustainable use of Earth’s fresh water through research, writing, outreach, and public speaking. Founded in 1994 by Sandra Postel, a leading authority on international freshwater issues, the project fosters ideas and inspiration for redirecting society’s use and management of fresh water toward conservation and ecosystem health.
"When we view afternoon rain showers as an inconvenience and associate green lawns with beauty and bounty in the desert, it is clear that we have lost all touch with that which sustains us."
~ Remington Kiowa
U.S. consumers are changing the criteria they consider at the grocery store, valuing locally grown products over organic, according to the BBMG Conscious Consumer Report. This new national consumer study on purchasing behavior and social values found that adults have a strongly favorable response to eco-labels and attributes including biodegradable (48% strongly favorable), cruelty free (46%), and locally grown (45%), a measure that falls dramatically for USDA Organic (26%).
The BBMG Conscious Consumer Report also found that "Enlighteneds," the 10% of adult consumers who are most likely to purchase from companies that engage in socially responsible behaviors, are three times more likely than the average consumer to be early adopters, signaling that eco-friendly and local products will continue to gain an edge. Compared to average consumers, Enlighteneds expressed nearly double the strongly favorable responses for eco-labels like biodegradable (88% strongly favorable), cruelty free (87%), locally grown (85%) and USDA Organic (67%).
Consumers still say quality and price are paramount (66% say quality is very important, and 58% say price is very important). But Enlighteneds do as well, placing a much higher premium on quality (83% say it's very important) and price (69% very important) than average consumers.
"Consumers are more aware of the impact that their purchasing decisions have, and in every sector we're seeing values-driven criteria becoming part of consumers' decision-making process," said Mitch Baranowski, principal and co-founder, BBMG. "It's not just about choosing organic anymore. Determining whether or not a product is local has become more significant, demonstrating that relationships, trust and accountability are increasingly important when it comes to brand value."
Baranowski added, "There is no place where the trend toward localism is more evident than in America's supermarkets, where consumers are making the everyday purchases that have the greatest impact on their own health and households."
The BBMG Conscious Consumer Report details consumer attitudes towards leading social issues, trust labels, self-identification, corporate practices and the most socially responsible companies. Conducted by branding and marketing agency BBMG, in conjunction with research partners Global Strategy Group and Bagatto, the report combines ethnographic research in three U.S. markets with a national survey of 2,007 adults, conducted September 11-17, 2007. The margin of error is +/- 2.2 percentage points.
Via: (BBMG)
"Everyone understands that water is essential to life. But many are only just now beginning to grasp how essential it is to everything in life – food, energy, transportation, nature, leisure, identity, culture, social norms, and virtually all the products used on a daily basis."
~ World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
A new report highlighting promising policy innovations for the nation’s social sector was released today by the Aspen Institute's Nonprofit Sector and Philanthropy Program.
The report, Mobilizing Change: 10 Nonprofit Policy Proposals To Strengthen U.S. Communities, puts together in one place the proposals of leading thinkers in the field who are working to address social problems and improve the lives of those in need through improved nonprofit-government policies. The report calls for a bipartisan commission that would study the relationship between nonprofits and government and make recommendations for increasing social sector capacity.
Examples of the proposals discussed in the report include:
The report summarizes each proposal and explains how it would work, who would be affected, and the action required to make it happen. For each proposal, there are links to reports and articles written by the authors of the proposals.
Mobilizing Change: 10 Nonprofit Policy Proposals To Strengthen U.S. Communities can be downloaded here.
The Nonprofit Sector and Philanthropy Program seeks to improve the operation of the nonprofit sector and philanthropy through research and dialogue focused on public policy, management, strategy and other issues.
The Black philanthropic community of New England faces a tough challenge when they convene in Boston in June: how to allocate more than one billion dollars strategically when the need is many times as great. New England Blacks in Philanthropy (NEBIP) hosts the conference, "Black Philanthropy - Building Stronger Communities," from June 22-24, 2008 at John Hancock Hall, 200 Berkeley Street in Boston. Among key issues covered, the dwindling numbers of African-American grant makers in senior management positions.
Bithiah Carter, President of NEBIP, says "As funders, we must invest strategically in the Black community to foster self-sufficiency. In these troubled times, it's especially critical for us to initiate the conversation about how we create a framework for more inclusive philanthropic practices and take a more responsive approach to philanthropy in our communities."
Confirmed conference keynoters include the following nationally noted speakers who bring their own varied perspectives on the power and presence of Black philanthropy. Among them:
-Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, President of Spelman College
-Dr. James P. Comer, MD, Professor, Yale University
-Gail Snowden, Philanthropist and NEBIP 2008 Honoree
-Reverend Ray Hammond, MD and Reverend Gloria White-Hammond, MD, Bethel A.M.E. Church
The third such regional event in this decade, the conference will convene foundation and corporate grant makers, philanthropists, community leaders, business leaders and trustees and is open to all. Also welcome are Black researchers and consultants who study Black issues. The purpose of the conference is to examine, encourage and promote Black philanthropy as a means of economic empowerment and civic engagement. Attendees will explore issues of education, health, media and leadership.
Principal Sponsors are: State Street Foundation, The Boston Foundation, the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, and lead sponsor - Hartford Community Foundation.
Other sponsors and supporters to date include: United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley, Associated Grant Makers, Schott Foundation for Public Education, The Hyams Foundation, Third Sector New England, Greater Worcester Community Foundation, Sovereign Bank, and Anonymous Foundation.
More than 2000 golfers in 21 locations on five continents will be playing to raise funds for needy children in the sixth annual Christel House Open international charity golf tournament. Renamed the Group RCI Christel House Open in recognition of the tournament's title sponsor, the event will take place across the globe in India, Mexico, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and the United States to benefit children who are amongst the most impoverished in the world.
"Christel House transforms the lives of many children around the world, giving them an opportunity to break the cycle of poverty through education and opportunity," commented Geoff Ballotti, president and CEO of Group RCI. "Group RCI is the world's largest global timeshare exchange company, offering our over 3 million members the opportunity to explore 100 countries around the world and this event is our way of giving back to those who need it most. Given that we are a global company, the idea of a global golf event married our business footprint with our philanthropic goals."
Global proceeds are expected to top $800,000. One hundred percent of proceeds are used for programs and services directly benefiting the 2700 children of Christel House, with locations in India, Mexico, South Africa, the United States and Venezuela. "It's more than a school," added Christel deHaan, founder of RCI and Christel House International. "We provide many children with their only meal for the day, their health care, and mentors who teach them life-skills development."
In the United States, tournament sites are located in:
-- Phoenix, Arizona, at Camel Back
-- Vista, California, at Shadow Ridge
-- Eagle, Colorado, at Eagle Ranch
-- Boca Raton, Florida, at PGA National Resort and Spa
-- Daytona, Florida, at LPGA International
-- Kissimmee, Florida, at The Legends at Orange
-- Carmel, Indiana, at Crooked Stick
-- Boyne, Michigan, at The Monument at Boyne
-- Booneville, New York, at Woodgate Pines Golf Club
-- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, at Myrtlewood Palmetto
-- Williamsburg, Virginia, at Williamsburg Country Club
-- Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, at Christmas Mountain Village Resort
Joining the title sponsor Group RCI as event-wide sponsors are:
Via: (Christel House)
