The Stavros Niarchos Foundation approves a grant of €10 million to help support children’s programs and services

As part of its €100 million initiative, over the next three years, which aims to help ease the adverse effects of the current socioeconomic crisis in Greece, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation announced recently 3 new grants totaling €10 million, to help support those children and their families that are mostly impacted by the crisis. Since the beginning of 2012, the Foundation has already committed grants totaling €41 million as part of this initiative, and continues to evaluate additional programs on a daily basis. Specifically, the Foundation, in collaboration with the Greek Ministry of Interior, has approved a grant of €4.5 million to support nursery schools and childcare centers across the country. The initiative aims to help mothers who wish to enroll their children in daycare facilities and are unable to do so for financial reasons, so that they are able to join the work force.The Co-President of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, Mr. Andreas Dracopoulos, stated : “Through these grants, the Foundation continues its commitment to assist, to the extent of our abilities, all those that the current socio-economic crisis has impacted in the most severe and direct way. Our concern is especially for the children, who rely on us. Through food aid, immunization programs, and support for the country’s nursery schools, we hope not only to help the children, but also to provide some relief for their parents, currently facing unprecedented hardship”. See more here.

The Coca-Cola Foundation : New Grants to Spark Sustainability Efforts

Sixty-eight community organizations in 41 countries around the world were awarded a total of $10.5 million in grants from The Coca-Cola Foundation, the global philanthropic arm of The Coca-Cola Company, during the second quarter of 2012. These grants support the Foundation's global priority areas, including: $3.2 million for active, healthy living; $2.9 million for water stewardship; $780,000 for community recycling; $630,000 for education; and $3 million for other local priorities, such as youth development, community improvement, economic development and environmental responsibility. "These grants represent our ongoing investment in the sustainability and the well-being of thousands of communities around the world," said Ingrid Saunders Jones, Chairperson of The Coca-Cola Foundation. "Our investment is designed to have real impact, by helping local communities with innovative ways to meet global challenges." You can see the full list of the  projects and the grants beneficiaries here. 

Twitter enters the boardroom?

As social media spreads around the globe, one enclave has proven stubbornly resistant, according to FastCompany: the boardroom. Perceptions remain that social media is at best a soft PR tool and at worst a time sink for already distracted employees. A new report from McKinsey Global Institute, however, makes the business case for social media a little easier to sell. According to an analysis of 4,200 companies by the business consulting firm, social technologies stand to unlock from $900 billion to $1.3 trillion in value. At the high end, that approaches Australia’s annual GDP.  While 72 percent of companies use social technologies in some way, very few are anywhere near to achieving the full potential benefit, according to the survey of the consulting firm. In fact, the most powerful applications of social technologies in the global economy are largely untapped. Companies will go on developing ways to reach consumers through social technologies and gathering insights for product development, marketing, and customer service. Yet the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) finds that twice as much potential value lies in using social tools to enhance communications, knowledge sharing, and collaboration within and across enterprises. MGI’s estimates suggest that by fully implementing social technologies, companies have an opportunity to raise the productivity of interaction workers—high-skill knowledge workers, including managers and professionals—by 20 to 25 percent.

IKEA Foundation : “Soft Toys for Education “ campaign was able to donate 12,4 mil euro last year

Every year, the IKEA Foundation donates €1 for every soft toy sold in participating IKEA stores in November and December. The donation goes to Save the Children and UNICEF , and is spent on children’s educational projects.

The IKEA Foundation was able to donate  €12.4 million in 2011. 

Since 2003, the Soft Toys for Education campaign has:  raised €47.5 million, supported over 70 projects in nearly 40 countries, helped more than 8 million children receive a better education.

The projects improve education in Asia, Africa, and Central and Eastern Europe. With the funding, program  partners help schools become more child-friendly with well-trained teachers for all children, girls and boys, including those from ethnic minorities and those with special needs.

Diageo publishes its 2012 Sustainability & Responsibility Report

Diageo, the world’s leading premium drinks business, publishes its 2012 Sustainability & Responsibility Report. The report highlights progress and aspirations across the company’s key sustainability impacts including alcohol in society, water and the environment, socio-economic development, people, and governance and ethics.  The report has sections covering work with and impact on suppliers, customers and consumers.Diageo’s Sustainability & Responsibility Report 2012 is available on an interactive website here.