The Next Democratic Wave…Moving our Money to Eco-intelligent Banks in Support of our Planet

The current challenges taking place in the banking industry are unprecedented and likely to persist well into the future. Yet, there is a select group of banks and credit unions that are experiencing growth and prosperity, under the radar. In fact, these financial institutions are “doing good by doing well”.

Keep in mind, these banks are not looking to exploit customers with higher fees or cut corners when we need them the most, in fact eco-intelligent banks have made a commitment to step up and protect our (stakeholders) interests as a way to achieve triple bottom line balance. That is, environment, enterprise and community all have a seat at the table for eco-intelligent banks.

Eco-intelligent banks as profiled by SustainLINK.org are lending to businesses, they consider societal interests, and perform in a manner that we define as honorable.
 
While the most tangible measure of a banks success is size, it is clear that the power of the depositor can change a bank’s fate forever, including make it a much smaller bank tomorrow.  Although banks would hate to see a percentage of their deposits walk out the door on any given day, would that change the bank’s behavior? A run on the bank and moving deposits to eco-intelligent banks in support of our planet, environment and community would be a great democratic experience, and might even impact our future.

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CSR, Social Media and the Recession

Given the economic downturn, several studies have come out over the past few months looking at the attitudes of both consumers and senior executives regarding the state of corporate social responsibility (CSR).   Throw in the (relatively) new world of social media, where news is spread in a matter of seconds, and the topic becomes even more interesting.  So what’s everyone thinking?

Senior Executives

The Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship surveyed 756 executives across the United States for its “The State of Corporate Citizenship, 2009” report.  And the findings are quite promising.  More than 50% of executives believe corporate citizenship is even more important in a recession, and while reputation came out as the number one driver (for 70% of executives), many are seeing additional benefits from a more sustainable approach.

According to the report, 65% of large companies (1,000+ employees) are designing and offering sustainable products or services and 85% are reducing costs through improved materials efficiency.  The benefits to employee engagement are also becoming more visible with 45% of companies compensating employees for ideas benefiting the bottom line and the environment or community, compared to 37% in 2007.

Consumers

So what about consumers, are they still giving their money to companies and brands that have a social purpose, despite the recession?  According to the 2009 Edelman goodpurpose(TM) Consumer Study, which surveyed 6,000 consumers in 10 countries, yes they are.

57% of consumers say a company or brand has earned their business because it has been doing its part to support good causes,  and perhaps more importantly, 67% say they would switch brands if another brand of similar quality supported a good cause.  Other interesting highlights:

• 66% believe that it’s no longer enough for corporations to merely give money away, but that they must integrate good causes into their day-to-day business

• 64% would recommend a brand that supports a good cause – up from 52% last year globally

• 59% would help a brand promote its products if there was a good cause behind it

• 64% expect brands today to support a good cause

• 63 percent of all respondents are looking to brands and companies to make it easier for them to make a difference (sounds like an opportunity!)

The Role of Social Media

So where does social media fit into all of this.  Well first of all, if you’re not using social media, you should probably start.  According to the 2009 Cone Consumer New Media Study, 78% of new media users interact with companies or brands via new media sites and tools, an increase of 32 percent from 2008, resulting in a range of positive results:

“When asked about their impressions of companies or brands present in new media, users said they:”

• Feel a stronger connection (72%, up from 56% in 2008)

• Feel better served (68%, up from 57% in 2008)

• Have a more positive image (74%)

• Are more willing to engage (70%)

• Have an improved opinion when one of their friends interacts (64%)

• Choose to “follow”/”friend”/”fan” because it helps showcase their personality online (52%)

So what does this mean for corporate social responsibility?  It’s an opportunity to engage in dialogue with those people that care.  The study found that 74% expect companies to join conversations about their responsibility  practices happening on new media, and they’re willing to act on the information they read:

• 30% have made a purchase based on POSITIVE information learned about a product, company or brand

• 23% have switched brands or boycotted a company based on NEGATIVE information learned about a product, company or brand.

It’s clear from these results that corporate social responsibility is here to stay.  Executives are increasingly seeing the business value, consumers are increasingly expecting it, and with the power that 140 characters holds these days, you probably can’t afford not to be involved.

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KooDooZ to Shape New Social Entrepreneurs in Classroom

KooDooZ Corporation to debut a new program of youth engagement by delivering social innovation curricula in a NFTE high school classroom. 

The week’s materials kicks off in tandem Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) at the Soledad Enrichment Action Girls Academy.  These high school students will be given tangible examples of how today’s youth can play a role in meeting some of the world’s most challenging problems — including poverty, access to education, disease control and sustainability. 

Case study examples comparing the tactics used by social intrapreneurs, social entrepreneurs, non-profits and government agencies that are already actively addressing one or more Millennium Development Goals will also be presented.  Invited by KooDooZ into the classroom are field experts:

1. Mark Horvath, founder of InvisiblePeople.TV, who will put a magnifying glass on U.S. homelessness and the advocacy tools he is using to encourage public and corporate support

2. Scott Fifer, founder of GO Campaign, who will share his experiences of working with grassroots organizations to provide access to education and help vulnerable children worldwide

3. Nedra Weinreich, president and founder of Weinreich Communications, who will reveal which innovative social marketing stratagems have effectively been implemented in the health sector to advocate awareness and behavioral change

4. Alexandra Teklak, creator of Aquamantra, who will share her experiences about the new rules of business sustainability and why she decided to create an energy enhanced natural spring water bottle in the world’s first 100% biodegradable, recyclable and compostable container

GEW is a worldwide event that touches the lives of millions of youth and was co-founded in 2008 by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation (based in the U.S.), and Make Your Mark, a business-led government-backed campaign (based in the U.K.). The week is estimated to exceed the 3 million people and 8,800 organizations around the globe that participated in the inaugural 2008 GEW.

“Young activists are a vehicle for change,” said Lee Fox, founder and chief innovation officer at KooDooZ. “Just give a kid the freedom and opportunity to own an idea, and you’ve cultivated an agent of change on the path of empowerment and innovation.”

“The world knows that entrepreneurship is the key to economic recovery, and the next generation of innovators holds that key,” said Carl Schramm, president and CEO of the Kauffman Foundation. “Now more than ever, we need to unleash the creativity and ingenuity of our youth by engaging them in the endless possibilities of entrepreneurship.”

About KooDooZ Corporation

KooDooZ.com rewards kids for achieving change around personal or societal challenges. Built as a “virtual meets virtuous” social networking site, KDZ (our site users) find their life balance of Heart, Mind, Body and Spirit through featured goals co-developed by brand and non-profit partners to meet service learning standards and/or to address social impact and cause marketing campaigns. KDZ are given challenge methodologies and milestones to track their hours for civic recognition, scholastic credit or personal achievements. As an added bonus, extended family and friends can choose to financially reward (micro-donate to) these young change-makers (or the non-profits they serve) via an integrated payment gateway on KooDooZ. Working at a grassroots level with such community organizations as schools, non-profits, religious groups, youth clubs and neighborhood businesses, KooDooZ offers our partners the opportunity to measure their investment in terms of “lives changed.” For more information, visit www.KooDooZ.com and follow @KooDooZ as well as @Cause4KDZ on Twitter.

About Global Entrepreneurship Week

With the goal to inspire young people to embrace innovation, imagination and creativity, Global Entrepreneurship Week will encourage youth to think big, turn their ideas into reality, and make their mark. From Nov. 16-22, 2009, millions of young people around the world will join a growing movement to generate new ideas and seek better ways of doing things. Tens of thousands of activities are being planned in dozens of countries. Global Entrepreneurship Week is founded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the Make Your Mark campaign. For more information, visit www.unleashingideas.org, and follow @unleashingideas on Twitter.  

Kauffman Foundation

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a private nonpartisan foundation that works to harness the power of entrepreneurship and innovation to grow economies and improve human welfare. Through its research and other initiatives, the Kauffman Foundation aims to open young people’s eyes to the possibility of entrepreneurship, promote entrepreneurship education, raise awareness of entrepreneurship-friendly policies, and find alternative pathways for the commercialization of new knowledge and technologies. It also works to prepare students to be innovators, entrepreneurs and skilled workers in the 21st century economy through initiatives designed to improve learning in math, engineering, science and technology. Founded by late entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing Marion Kauffman, the Foundation is based in Kansas City, Mo. and has approximately $2 billion in assets. For more information, visit www.kauffman.org, and follow @kauffmanfdn on Twitter.  

Make Your Mark

Make Your Mark is the campaign to give young people in the UK the confidence, skills and ambition to be enterprising – to have ideas and make them happen. Run by Enterprise Insight, which was founded by the four leading UK business membership organisations – the British Chambers of Commerce, the CBI, the Federation of Small Businesses and the Institute of Directors. Their Director-Generals sit on our board, which is chaired by entrepreneur Peter Jones, from BBC’s Dragon’s Den. It is supported by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and endorsed by the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. www.makeyourmark.org.uk 

 

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Sulusso Behind the Designers Interview Series: Amber Marie Bently, Jewelry designer

Amber Marie Bently is one busy woman, but she gave Sulusso a few minutes to share with us some insight into her sustainable jewelry company.

1.                  How did you get started in making jewelry?
 
I started making beaded jewelry after going into a bead store and seeing all the beautiful gems. Well, it got so popular that I decided to study gold smithing and I was hooked on jewelry making!
 
2.                  Sustainability in the jewelry sector is pretty rare, what inspired you to use ethically sourced gems?
 
I started worrying about where my stones came from as I looked deeper, the dealers didn’t care and tried to play smoke and mirrors with me at the Tucson Gem Show. But, I found someone there who showed me where I could find what I was looking for. Since that first contact, I have developed good relations with these vendors and if they can’t prove they are fair trade and ethically sourced, I wouldn’t talk to them. My morals haven’t changed!
 
3.       What one thing would you like all jewelry shoppers to know about traditional jewelry?
 
I guess I don’t know how to answer this. My jewelry is so UNtraditional.
 
4.       Who are you outside of the founder and designer of Amber Marie Bently Jewelry?
 
I am a business woman and a philanthropist. My husband and I own 330,000 square feet of commercial property. I am a total bookworm and science-fiction addict. I also teach gold smithing twice a week and am an aunt of 5!
 
5.       Who would you be most thrilled to know is wearing your jewelry?
 
Someone who loves it as much as I do!
 
6.       How do you juggle multiple businesses and your philanthropic pursuits?
 
I am very organized and section out my weeks according to what is most important but I always take Mondays to make my jewelry.

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McKesson Supports Veterans Through Small Business Program, Employee Service

Supporting Small, Minority-owned and Veteran-owned Businesses

McKesson recognizes the outstanding contributions made by small and diverse businesses to the economic health and diversity of communities throughout the United States. We offer minority-owned and women-owned small business healthcare suppliers the opportunity to enter into a mentoring relationship. Since 1994, these relationships have provided small business suppliers with extraordinary marketing and business management guidance, enabling them to expand their sales within the nation’s healthcare supply chain.

One of our notable partnerships is with Veterans Imaging Products, a Disabled Vietnam Veteran-owned and -operated small business.  Tom Schultz, founder of Veterans Imagaing Products, says about McKesson, “I can honestly say they’re the top corporation that I’ve met in America as far as trying to do business with veterans.” He explains the support his company has received through partnering with McKesson in a video: http://sites.mckesson.com/citizenshipreport/our-voices-contentId16.asp.

 

2009 McKesson Community Days Project Supports Hospitalized Veterans

In Fiscal Year 2009, nearly half of McKesson’s 32,000 employees participated in the Company’s annual Community Days volunteer event. This year’s project focused on creating care packages for hospitalized veterans at VA medical centers. In conjunction with National Volunteer Week, McKesson employees provided veterans with some of their most requested items, including a fleece blanket, personal hygiene items, a tote bag, and perhaps most important: a note of thanks for their service. Hundreds of McKesson sites worldwide participated in this effort, creating more than 16,000 care packages. 

“As a veteran myself, this cause is especially close to my heart, and McKesson’s support of our country’s veterans makes me extremely proud,” said John Figueroa , former U.S. Army Captain and current President of McKesson’s U.S. Pharmaceutical business.

Employee participation in Community Days has grown 500% in since Fiscal Year 2004.

More information on McKesson’s 2009 Community Days event including multimedia elements are available in an online press kit at www.mckesson.com/communitydays

More information about McKesson’s Corporate Citizenship efforts is available in the Company’s 2008-2009 Corporate Citizenship Report at www.mckesson.com/citizenshipreport

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PeaceKeeper Cause-Metics Supports The United Nations Through the Sale of PeaceKeeper UNIFEM Lip Gloss

PeaceKeeper launched a 75% organic lip gloss with the UNIFEM – The United Nation’s Development Fund For Women and its Trust Fund To Eliminate Violence Against Women – to raise awareness about UNIFEM’s important global work. UNIFEM is the women’s fund at the United Nations, dedicated to advancing women’s rights and achieving gender equality. It provides financial and technical assistance to innovative programs and strategies that foster women’s empowerment. UNIFEM works on the premise that it is the fundamental right of every woman to live a life free from discrimination and violence, and that gender equality is essential to achieving development and to building just societies. UNIFEM works in the following thematic areas: 

    * Enhancing women’s economic security and rights

    * Ending violence against women

    * Reducing the prevalence of HIV and AIDS among women and girls

    * Advancing gender justice in democratic governance in stable and fragile states 

PeaceKeeper took its UNIFEM lip gloss around the United Nations and invited women of all nationalities and skin tones to try it on and it looked STUNNING on everyone! This is true! Dirty Blondes, Brunettes, Olive Complexions, Women of Color and even Classic Blondes love its sheer burgundy tone. This gloss also looks AMAZING over any lipstick color!  
 
PeaceKeeper Cause-Metics is an enterprising philanthropic brand which makes donations to women’s health advocacy and urgent human rights issues. PeaceKeeper funds women who have been indentured or who live on a dollar a day. Therefore, what is important about PeaceKeeper is that we source raw ingredients like rosemary and spearmint from third world farmers and give micro-credit loans to the families of those farmers. This is called Beauty For Humanity –Good for You & Good For The World! Now That’s Beautiful™.
 
To learn more about PeaceKeeper and to order PeaceKeeper UNIFEM Gloss visit them at www.iamapeacekeeper.com.  

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