Local CITGO Marketer Atlas Oil Company Teams Up With Autism Alliance Of Michigan, 2013-2014 Relentless Tour For Anti-Bullying Awareness

Local CITGO Marketer Atlas Oil Company has teamed up with the Autism Alliance of Michigan and former Michigan State basketball player Anthony Ianni for the 2013-2014 Relentless Tour: Ianni Project to raise anti-bullying awareness across the state. On Dec. 17^th, Ianni traveled to Allen Park Middle School to share his story with students and encouraged them to become a part of the initiative. From there, Ianni made his way to the Brownstown CITGO location for the grand unveiling and fueling of the official 2013-2014 Relentless Tour Bus. Ianni spoke throughout three hour-long assemblies about his own struggles with bullying. The fueling and unveiling of the tour bus took place immediately following.

"We are very proud to team up with Anthony and the Autism Alliance of Michigan to support this important initiative," said Mary Zaleski, director of marketing at Atlas Oil Company. "Bullying is an issue for children and students across the country that must be addressed and we are happy to support such a great campaign, in hopes of putting an end to bullying in our community and across the country."

The 2013-2014 Relentless Tour: Ianni Project is a first-of-its-kind grass roots initiative designed to help eradicate bullying across Michigan. The tour will visit 659 schools spread across every Michigan school district over six months. After each stop, Ianni will leave behind a plaque to remind students of their commitment to end bullying.

After being diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder as a child, Ianni was told he would barely graduate from high school and would never have the opportunity to be an athlete. He beat the odds and went on to earn his Bachelor's Degree from Michigan State University and is the first known athlete with autism to play basketball in the Big Ten conference. After years of being bullied himself, Ianni has made it his mission to help those who face similar struggles and to end bullying by sharing his own story with students across the country.

For more information, visit www.CITGO.com.

SOURCE CITGO

Anheuser-Busch Sends More Than 206,000 Cans Of Water To Assist Residents In Portions Of West Virginia And Kentucky

Anheuser-Busch is providing 8,624 cases of emergency drinking water — or 206,976 cans — to the American Red Cross for their use in relief efforts associated with a chemical spill on the Elk River nearCharleston, W.Va., and weather related concerns impacting the water supply of residents in Floyd County, Ky.

Four trucks loaded with emergency drinking water from Cartersville, Ga., will be sent to three Anheuser-Busch wholesalers for distribution to their local American Red Cross operations.  The American Red Cross will then get the water where it's most needed.  The Anheuser-Busch wholesalers are Proud Eagle Distributing in South Charleston, W.Va.; Eagle Distributing Company in Huntington, W.Va. and Perry Distributors in Prestonsburg, Ky.  

"People in the region are in need of drinking water, and this is one way Anheuser-Busch can help our friends and neighbors," said Peter Kraemer, vice president of Supply and head brewmaster for Anheuser-Busch. 

Since 1988, Anheuser-Busch has donated more than 72 million cans of emergency drinking water following natural and other disasters.

Helping communities cope with disasters has been an Anheuser-Busch tradition since 1906 when Adolphus Busch made a donation to the American Red Cross for victims of the San Francisco earthquake.  Today, in addition to providing monetary support, Anheuser-Busch packages emergency drinking water and works with the American Red Cross and other emergency relief organizations for distribution to those in need. 

For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com.

SOURCE Anheuser-Busch

Sheetz Convenience Restaurants Come Through with Water Donation in West Virginia Contamination Crisis

Thousands of People without Potable Water Will Be Aided by Sheetz Emergency Contribution

Sheetz is making a special delivery of more than 5,000 gallons of bottled water to be distributed in the Charleston, West Virginia area to help those affected by the recent chemical spill along the Elk River.

Several of the company's distribution trucks are headed to Poca High School located on State Route 62 and The Charleston Civic Center to make the donation this evening.  Sheetz operates more than 460 locations in six states, including seven in the greater Charleston area and is ideally positioned to be able to direct resources wherever needed in emergency situations.

"Our team is always prepared and willing to help in these kinds of disasters," says Sheetz Executive Vice President of Operations, Travis Sheetz. "Customers depend on Sheetz to be there 24/7 whenever they need us.  If a situation occurs where they cannot come to us, we will do our best to go to them."

Deliveries are scheduled to arrive at designated donation points later this evening. Putnam County EMS personnel and volunteers will be on hand to help give away the product.

Other area Sheetz locations in Huntington, Milton, Barboursville, Hurricane, Teays Valley, and Scott Depot are cleared and open for business.

SOURCE Sheetz

Happiness Workshop to be Held at the World Trade Center Building, Dubai, UAE

Take the Happiness Challenge and join the Happiness Workshop that will be held at the World Trade Center Building, Dubai, UAE on 8 Febuary 2014.

The UAE has been ranked the 14th happiest country in the world, and was ranked first among the Arab countries in the second United Nations World Happiness Report.

"A country cannot develop without the happiness and satisfaction of the people. The happiness of one individual is the beginning of a stable, content and productive society"

"We always work to serve the nation and for the happiness of our citizens, and investing all that we have to develop capable human resources that can achieve success. My message to all UAE citizens is this: Be optimistic because in the past we have overcome many challenges, the present is filled with achievements, and the future is promising and built on ambitions." His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Gulf News-Published: 15 September 8, 2013

Got Happiness? Want to be Happy and Stay Happy no matter what?

Gloria Belendez-Ramirez is guest speaker, her book is endorsed by Jack Canfield, Author of Chicken Soup for the Soul. Her happiness and amazing spirit is so infectious, her message is simple, but powerful…. Be Happy, Stay Happy, No Matter What! She is a world renowned traveler and worked formally as an international interpreter speaking over 10 languages by the age of 29. She has connected with many cultures, religions and people all around the world.

Agenda includes:  taking 100% responsibility of your wealth, health and wellbeing, alignment and balance, living in the now, taking action and much more.

This will be a 4 hour workshop with surprise giveaways, lunch, networking and an opportunity to open doors you never knew existed.

If you are interested in participating in this life changing event, please email info@3scworld.com or call +971-4-4529600 for more information and to RSVP as seats are limited.  Additional information about Gloria can be found at:http://www.happiestgloria.com

SOURCE 3SC World

LAMtastic® Teen Entrepreneur Receives Porsche Driving Force Award

The National Center for Human and Civil Rights has awarded the Porsche Driving Force Youth Award to Lily Sandler, the 16-year-old co-founder of BLAMtastic®, LLC, an international consumer goods company.  Miss Sandler has been honored for her work in entrepreneurship to address issues facing women and young people.  She is the founder of The BLAMtastic® Legacy Foundation, which offers entrepreneurial education and support to women and young entrepreneurs.  The non-profit foundation has recently created the M2E2 Extreme Entrepreneurship Business Accelerator for women and young entrepreneurs.  It is the first of its kind in the country. 

Miss Sandler serves on the board of Independent Youth and volunteers with many youth advocacy organizations such as Kingonomics Sprout.UP.  She travels the country as an expert speaker on the issues of entrepreneurship and empowerment for young people.  Miss Sandler is a two-time keynote speaker for TEDtalks. 

In 2007-2008, then "tween" entrepreneurs, 10 and 9 year-old Lily and Melanie Sandler, started BLAMtastic® on a challenge by their mother, Renee, as a lesson in empowerment.  Now, years later, BLAMtastic®'s popular natural based American made products are available online at www.blamtastic.com, www.babyblamtastic.com and in many thousands of retail outlets acrossthe United States in retailers include Walmart, Toys R US, Learning Express, Baby Depot and Dunham's.  BLAMtastic® products are also distributed in South Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada and soon throughout South America.  The Sandler family has been named one of the 10 most impressive families in America by Disney's babble.com.

SOURCE BLAMtastic, LLC

Deloitte teams with humanitarian groups to prepare for crises

Deloitte is to help two humanitarian organizations design technology solutions to tackle some of the world's most pressing issues including natural disasters, famine, human rights violations, and conflicts. AtrocityWatch and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) were selected for the new global Deloitte Humanitarian Innovation Program. These technology-based solutions will improve how the organizations communicate, coordinate, and deliver on the ground help during crises.   

Details of the project were made public recently at a United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) event at the UN in New York.

"Deloitte believes that when the private and public sectors combine their skills and work together – in new and innovative ways - we can better tackle the big issues facing society today.  It's a responsibility and a privilege to bring what we do best to the vital work of these organizations," said Barry Salzberg, Global CEO, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited. "Adding our innovative thinking to the skills of startups, such as AtrocityWatch, and established organizations, like IOM, allows us to leverage each other's expertise to create solutions that better enable the sector to prepare and respond to crises."

Deloitte member firm professionals will team with AtrocityWatch, a technology startup that monitors global atrocities, to help develop a big data application that leverages social media and person-centered data around the world to provide early warning of potential mass atrocities. Deloitte member firm professionals will provide data analytics and cyber security expertise to help shape the creation of a mobile application to link people under threat with decision-makers who are in a position to respond.  

"AtrocityWatch's mission is to couple vanguard technologies and analytical techniques with humanitarian expertise to prevent atrocities around the world," said Geoff Green, Founder, AtrocityWatch. "Collaborating with the Deloitte Humanitarian Innovation Program will enable AtrocityWatch to deliver on our mission for decades to come."

Deloitte UK's Switzerland office will team with IOM, a leading intergovernmental organization that facilitates the orderly and humane management of displaced populations, to help with a systems model to manage refugee migration and allow the different organizations involved to stay better informed, coordinated, and connected to each other during crises. The model will use technology to enhance the information sharing between sector-specific responders such as those responsible for food distribution, infrastructure rehabilitation, shelter and health. These organizations work together in camps to coordinate the delivery of life-saving support.

"Accurate and timely information sharing is vital. Our goal through this collaboration is to design an operating model that will enhance the real-time processing of information between humanitarian cluster coordinators offsite with those on the ground managing the day-to-day needs of the humanitarian camps," said Mohammed Abdiker, Director of the Department of Operations and Emergencies, IOM. "This is especially relevant in the context of the current Philippines disaster response, where cross-sectoral concerns are closely linked with mobility. The new model, will further improve exchange of information, and help provide the population with multi-sectoral assistance."

Deloitte member firms will be executing this Program with joint humanitarian-Deloitte project teams over the next three to six months, with the projects formally commencing in early 2014.

The Deloitte Humanitarian Innovation Program was developed after broad consultations with leading humanitarian organizations that identified the need for innovation and collaboration with the private sector. The Program has already successfully delivered projects with UN OCHA and Save the Children International (SCI).

"When disasters strike, Save the Children International must be ready to rapidly transform its operations from every-day activities to a large-scale emergency response. The more efficiently we can do this, the more people in crisis our organization can potentially reach with life-saving food, shelter, and supplies," said David Wightwick, Deputy Humanitarian Director, Operations. "We asked Deloitte to assess how effectively we scale up and scale down our local operations during international humanitarian crises, knowing that they would draw on their broad experience of tackling similar challenges within the private and public sectors.  The resulting findings have provided us with a deep analysis of the way we operate, and a framework for how we can strengthen our model in the future."

Deloitte's intention is to share the outcomes of projects conducted under the Humanitarian Innovation Program so that the wider humanitarian sector can benefit from, and scale the solutions.

• Deloitte understands the fundamental and positive role business plays in shaping and creating the society of the future, and this year committed record amounts of skills and expertise to tackling challenging social issues through initiatives such as the Deloitte Humanitarian Innovation Program.
• Deloitte invested nearly US $180 million in communities in FY13 through a combination of skills-based volunteering, pro bono work and donations, including 870,000 pro bono and volunteer hours.

SOURCE Deloitte

Caesars Entertainment Becomes First U.S. Company to Receive the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Materiality Matters Check; Follow G4 CORE Guidelines

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainability Report "Vibrant Communities"

In 2012, Caesars Entertainment Corporation achieved a total savings of approximately 750 million kilowatt-hours since its benchmark-year in 2007, representing an 8.5 percent absolute reduction in electricity and gas. The savings equal enough energy to power a community of more than 30,000 during this period.  

Additional details of the company's efforts and commitment to enhance the environment, employee well-being, guest experience and economic development, are available in Caesars Entertainment's fourth Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainability report, "Vibrant Communities," released today.

The report is the first report from a U.S. company to be written in accordance with the GRI G4 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines CORE level. In addition, Caesars Entertainment submitted its report to the GRI for the Materiality Matters check, and GRI confirmed that all materiality disclosures are correctly located in the report as required by the G4 Sustainability Guidelines. The G4 Guidelines offer an international reference for disclosure of governance approach and of the environmental, social and economic performance and impacts of organizations.

"We're grateful for the recognition we've received for our CSR and sustainability initiatives, which are integrated into the way we operate our company," said Gary Loveman, Caesars Entertainment Chairman, CEO and President. "But we're even more proud of the effort our employees have made to help us achieve that progress."

Report highlights include:

• Environmental Stewardship: 
  • Completion of 37 corporate efficiency projects with an investment of $3.5 million delivering nearly 24 million kWh energy savings per year.
  • 24% waste diversion from landfill, measured for the first time.
• Commitment to employees:
  • 41% of women in management roles.
  • More than 3.6 million hours invested in employee training.
• Commitment to guests:
  • Increase in customer satisfaction scores 2.56 percent, reaching the highest satisfaction levels in our history.
  • In 2012, 85 percent of Caesars gaming revenues were related to customers' specific preferences, enabling Caesars to align special rewards with what customers wanted most. The hotel industry average was 56 percent.
• Commitment to communities: 
  • Caesars Entertainment takes a public stand on important issues to support vibrant communities and social justice, including supporting comprehensive immigration reform that both advances border security as well as streamlines the immigration process for those who are willing to work hard and complete the legal process.
  • In 2012, in the U.S. alone, Caesars employees donated more than 130,000 hours to support local communities.

"It's been a journey, but adhering to the G4 framework helped us identify and quantify the issues that matter most to our stakeholders and to our business, and we strive to strategically connect our sustainability efforts to the most critical global issues," said Caesars Entertainment's Vice President of Sustainability and Community Affairs Gwen Migita. "We hope that reporting our performance on issues related to our employees, the community, our guests and the environment offers a clear view as to how we conduct business and we welcome feedback."

The industry leader continually strives to make landmark progress in the corporate social-responsibility space. For the seventh consecutive year the gaming/entertainment heavyweight recently earned a perfect rating from the Human Rights Campaign's annual Corporate Equality Index.

"The purpose of a report such as this is to increase transparency," said Chris Perceval, director of corporate relations with the World Resources Institute. "As a major player in the gaming industry, it's imperative that Caesars not only illustrate but also measure its ethical, social, economic and environmental impact from the inside out. 'Vibrant Communities' offers a credible and realistic view of Caesars' challenges, progress and future targets. It is a high-quality report. We look forward to seeing where the company goes from here."

SOURCE Caesars Entertainment Corporation