Points of Light Seeks the Most Community-Minded Companies in the United States

Today, Points of Light opens The Civic 50 survey, an annual initiative that recognizes the 50 most community-minded companies in the United States. Now in its seventh year, The Civic 50 serves to recognize stronger corporate commitment to community through engagement, volunteerism, and social impact strategies.

“Points of Light recognizes the key role that businesses play as leaders in their communities and stewards of resources,” said Natalye Paquin, president and CEO, Points of Light. “We’re proud to continue working with leading companies in understanding how they continue to prioritize their impact on doing social good through their investments. As we see each year, the momentum is growing for more and more companies to focus on this work.”

Participation in The Civic 50 survey is open to companies with revenue of $1 billion or higher, that are prioritizing community-building, enhancing corporate citizenship, and delivering innovative employee volunteer programs.

The Civic 50 serves as a roadmap, to view trends over time, and help see changes and leaders in corporate service. Honorees from The Civic 50 in 2018 are leading in prioritizing community-building and corporate citizenship. Findings from last year’s survey show:

70% have taken national leadership positions on public education or policy efforts, while employees have volunteered more than 13 million hours.
Employee volunteer program participation is increasing, with 100% supporting individual and group volunteer recognition.
60% measure employee engagement as a business outcome.

A technical assistance webinar will be held on the survey launch day, Thursday, Dec. 13, at 12 p.m. Applications will be accepted Dec. 13, 2018, through March 15, 2019. Results will be announced at the Points of Light Conference in June. Visit Civic50.org to register for the technical assistance webinar and participate in the survey.

The Civic 50 survey is an initiative of Points of Light and is powered by True Impact, a web-based measurement tool and benchmarking network for the charitable sector.

For more information, visit Civic50.org or email [email protected]

ABOUT POINTS OF LIGHT

Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service, mobilizes millions of people to take action that is changing the world. Through affiliates in 250 cities across 37 countries and partnerships with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages 5 million volunteers in 20 million hours of service each year. We bring the power of people where it’s needed most. For more information, visit www.pointsoflight.org.

ABOUT TRUE IMPACT

True Impact provides web-based tools and consulting support to help organizations measure the social, financial and environmental return on investment (ROI) of their programs and operations. For more information, visit www.TrueImpact.com.

Twin Cities Leaders Unite for the 2019 Points of Light Conference

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA (Dec. 12, 2018) – Points of Light announced today that a dynamic group of 38 influential Twin Cities leaders will serve as Host Committee members for the annual Points of Light Conference, to be held June 18-20, 2019, in St. Paul.

“This coming year, Points of Light affiliate HandsOn Twin Cities will celebrate its 100thanniversary as America’s first volunteer center – making St. Paul the perfect place to host the 2019 Points of Light Conference,” said Natalye Paquin, president and CEO, Points of Light. “In collaboration with our hometown hosts and partners, we are excited to share the history and culture of the region with our conference attendees.”

The 2019 Points of Light Conference, co-hosted this year with HandsOn Twin Cities, is the world’s largest service-related convening, bringing together nonprofit, government, business and civic leaders to gain and share the knowledge, resources and connections needed to galvanize the power of people to create change globally. This year’s event will challenge attendees to not only ask “how do we get more people to volunteer to make change,” but also “how can we create a society where it is easy for every individual to take action to accelerate change within their community and around the world?”

To meet this challenge, the conference team, along with our content partner the Minnesota Association for Volunteer Administration, who is well-known for providing cutting-edge research and content in volunteer engagement capacity building, is seeking workshop proposals from organizations and subject-matter experts in these specific content areas: Business with Purpose, Disaster Response and Preparedness, Faith, Civic Engagement Innovations from Around the World, Higher Education, Military and Veterans, National Service, Nonprofit Capacity Building, Nonprofit Volunteer Engagement/Service Enterprise, and Social Innovation.

This global event provides the singular opportunity for thousands to come together to collaborate and ensure the social sector continues to grow and innovate in this rapidly changing world. The convening will offer attendees a three-day experience full of carefully curated content and networking opportunities. The opening plenary will take place in the heart of downtown St. Paul and will feature a series of inspirational talks and performances. Sessions, workshops and forums will take place at the St. Paul RiverCentre, an award-winning space with soaring ceilings and natural light, situated on a bluff providing stunning views of the Mississippi River.

“This coming year, Points of Light affiliate HandsOn Twin Cities will celebrate its 100^thanniversary as America’s first volunteer center – making St. Paul the perfect place to host the 2019 Points of Light Conference,” said Natalye Paquin, president and CEO, Points of Light. “In collaboration with our hometown hosts and partners, we are excited to share the history and culture of the region with our conference attendees.”

Business and community leaders from across the region will spearhead the conference Host Committee, assisting in developing service opportunities for attendees based on the greatest needs in the surrounding community; and in identifying and cultivating high-quality speakers and engaging attendee experiences. The conversations and content are unique and profoundly relevant because the experience is shaped by local experts, leaders and influencers.

The following individuals will serve as members:

Kelly Acker, Assistant Vice President, Community Relations, U.S. Bank
Kate Barr, President and CEO, Propel Nonprofits
Anna Bosak, Community Affairs Specialist, HB Fuller
Jake Blumberg, Executive Director, GiveMN
Karmit Bulman, Executive Director, Minnesota Association for Volunteer Administration
Erika Carter, Communications Director, Bush Foundation
Diana Dalsin, Community Relations Manager, Bridging
Andy Goldman-Gray, Principal, AGG Marketing and Consulting
DeeDee Gorman, Community Relations Specialist, Senior, ECMC Group
Matt Halley, Executive Director, Cookie Cart
Rebecca Morris Hoeft, Chief Brand Officer, Sunrise Banks
Sam Holsen, Community Affairs, Xcel Energy
Stephanie Johnson, Manager, Community Relations, Minnesota Twins Baseball Club; Corporate Volunteer Council – Twin Cities Board President
Kris Kewitsch, Executive Director, Charities Review Council
Katie Knutson, Community Affairs Manager, Thrivent Financial
Heidi Kraemer, Senior Manager, Corporate Citizenship, IBM
Deb Krause, Vice President, Minnesota Health Action Group
Shannon Loecher, Director, Social Responsibility, UnitedHealthcare
Jamie Makepeace, Community Engagement Liaison, Office of Mayor Jacob Frey, Mayor of Minneapolis
Judson McNeil, President, Toro Foundation
Amy Meuers, Chief Executive Officer, National Youth Leadership Council
Jennifer Moe, Corporate Responsibility Manager, Target
Tracy Nielsen, Executive Director, HandsOn Twin Cities
Tiffany Orth, Manager, Make It. MSP., GreaterMSP
Jonathan Palmer, Executive Director, Hallie Q. Brown Community Center
Patty Pannkuk, Senior Vice President, Community Affairs Manager, Wells Fargo
Natalye Paquin, President and CEO, Points of Light
Kate Ritzer, Executive Assistant, Chief Executive Officer, Second Harvest Heartland
Eric Satre, National Account Executive, Visit Saint Paul – Convention & Visitors Bureau
Susan Schuster, Principal Community Relations Consultant, Communications and Social Responsibility, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
Anne Seaquist, Manager, U.S. Community Initiatives and Global Volunteer Programs, 3M
Rebecca Thomley, President and CEO, Orion Associates
Shannon Toren, Director, Ecolab
Karen Trouba, Senior Vice President, Bank of America
Kasey Tunnell, Guest Services Staff and Volunteer Coordinator, Ordway Theater
Janeen Vogelaar, Director of Marketing & Creative Services, KARE 11
Dominick Washington, Vice President, Marketing and Communications, Minneapolis Foundation
Minn Wang, Senior Manager, General Mills
Jamie Yanisch, Global Community Engagement Officer, Boston Scientific

For more on the 2019 Points of Light Conference, visit www.volunteeringandservice.org.

ABOUT POINTS OF LIGHT

Points of Light – the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service – mobilizes millions of people to take action that is changing the world. Through affiliates in 250 cities and partnerships with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages 5 million volunteers in 20 million hours of service each year. We bring the power of people to bear where it’s needed most. For more information, go to www.pointsoflight.org.

Statement from Natalye Paquin, Points of Light President and CEO, in Honor of President George H.W. Bush

“President George H.W. Bush was a kind, compassionate and humble man; a leader who believed in service for the betterment of society. As he aptly put it, ‘any definition of a successful life must include service to others.’ The call to serve your country and your fellow man – both of equal value – was a centerpiece of his presidency and his life. It was from the White House that he founded Points of Light, which has evolved into the largest nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting the power of individuals to create change. Today because of his work, Points of Light is an enduring part of his legacy.

“I encourage those paying tribute to President Bush to take a moment to pledge their service and recognize the service of others. To become their own point of light in communities around the world.”

“President Bush also recognized the difference individuals can make in their community and established the Daily Point of Light Award to lift up those who translate common interests into a common cause. It was because of this belief he personally signed each recipient’s certificate up until his passing.

About Points of Light

Points of Light Releases Global Family Volunteering Research Findings, Underwritten by The Walt Disney Company

Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service, released the “Global Volunteerism Journey Report,” a first-of-its-kind study that examines the similarities and differences in family volunteering from five countries around the world. Underwritten by The Walt Disney Company, the study was commissioned to assess the global state of volunteerism and key barriers to overcome, identify solutions and opportunities to increase family volunteering, and understand the best ways to communicate opportunities.

“Our commitment to creating a civic culture starts by creating a deeper global understanding of what it means to volunteer as a family,” said Natalye Paquin, president and CEO, Points of Light.

Central to the research are five global truths – critical insights that shed light on how nonprofits can meet families where they are to engage them in meaningful volunteer work. These include:

Both adults and children spend their limited free time on activities that are low commitment and allow them to bond with others.
While benefitting the community is still a top priority, there is also a desire to personally benefit from the volunteer experience.
Promoting local volunteer opportunities could increase engagement, since more are willing to participate if the activity can be done in/around the home or school.
Word of mouth will help build awareness of volunteer activities and events. Messaging should include simple, direct language.
Adults, children, key subgroups and markets all have different motivators and barriers to family volunteering. A successful approach volunteer strategy will tailor to these groups.

“Our commitment to creating a civic culture starts by creating a deeper global understanding of what it means to volunteer as a family,” said Natalye Paquin, president and CEO, Points of Light. “This knowledge can help local nonprofits turn data into insights, becoming more equipped to meet people where they are, make volunteering fun and engaging for all, and inspire people to get involved in their community.”

Kelton, a strategic consultancy that helps global businesses discover new paths to growth, surveyed more than 2,900 participants from eight global markets. Participants ranged from age 5 to age 55+. Points of Light affiliates, nonprofit partners who are the leaders of volunteerism in their communities, advising on the design and development of the Global Volunteerism Journey Report include One OC, Chicago Cares, HandsOn Bay Area and Hands On Orlando, HandsOn HongKong, Hands On London, ATADOS (Brazil), and Benenova (France).

Additional key findings of the report highlight the impact and potential of volunteering as a family, both for a positive volunteer experience and family bonding time, as well as to create positive impact on community issues. Some of those highlights include:

47% of adults have said they volunteered, but only 34% said they have volunteered with family.
63% of adults said they felt fulfilled after volunteering, and 55% of children said they felt proud.
Children are much more likely to volunteer with a parent (80%), while only 50% of adults said they have volunteered with their child.
Only 1 in 4 recent volunteers encouraged their children to participate in volunteer events.
Top barriers to volunteering included “not given the opportunity” and “hard to find opportunities.”

In an effort to put these helpful insights into practice, Points of Light is presenting this data at the International Association of Volunteer Effort’s 25^th Annual World Volunteer Conference. Additionally, working with organizations around the world, including The Walt Disney Company, Points of Light will hold Family Volunteer Day on Nov. 17, 2018. Now in its 28^th year, Family Volunteer Day is a day of service that celebrates the power of families who work together to support their communities and neighborhoods. Leveraging the newly launched report and their institutional knowledge, Points of Light will be providing counsel and grants to nonprofits to organize their own local service projects. The grants, made possible by the generous support of The Walt Disney Company, will support the eight Points of Light Network affiliates, as well as 100 grantees nationwide.

To assist with providing geography-specific insights, an e-book for each country drills further down to explore unique family volunteer trends and challenges in each individual country.

ABOUT POINTS OF LIGHT

Points of Light Civic Accelerator Launches Fall 2018 Class

The Points of Light Civic Accelerator – the first national accelerator dedicated to investing in civic ventures – announced the 11 ventures selected to participate in its fall 2018 program. The ventures come from across the country and include early-stage for-profits and nonprofits that improve financial health, create opportunities for economic mobility and prepare families for financial success in the 21^st-century economy.

The 11 teams will gather in Atlanta from Oct. 16-19 for the start of an intensive, 10-week entrepreneur boot camp that includes mentoring, education, peer support and networking. The teams will also meet in Chicago and Philadelphia during the program. Points of Light will offer two of the most promising ventures – as selected by the entrepreneurs themselves – a $50,000 investment following the conclusion of the program.

“We are excited to support, along with our funders and partners, such promising ventures increasing financial resilience and economic mobility for individuals and families facing the most significant barriers,” said Ayesha Khanna, founder of the Points of Light Civic Accelerator. “Forty-three percent of U.S. households can’t afford a basic monthly budget to cover food, housing, health care, transportation and childcare costs, forcing families to make difficult trade-offs. In addition, 50 percent of Americans have little or no savings and are unable to invest in their future, let alone withstand financial shock. Our ventures provide a wide range of solutions from financial education and pathways to building wealth, to access to affordable credit and banking services. We need these ventures to scale their bold solutions so that all can participate and succeed in the innovation economy.”

With founding supporters the PwC Charitable Foundation Inc. and Starbucks Foundation, along with Capital One, Dentons, Singing for Change, and hotel sponsor Hilton, this is the 12th cohort of the Civic Accelerator since its founding in 2012.

Application and selection committees reviewed more than 100 curated applications before selecting the finalists. The selected cohort of ventures represents various sectors and solutions to increase financial knowledge, access to services, income and employment for youth and adults across gender, class, race and geography. Eighty-two percent of the ventures are led or co-led by racial or ethnic minorities, and 64 percent are led or co-led by females.

The civic startups participating in the Civic Accelerator fall 2018 cohort include:

CapWay For-profit (Austin, Texas) – provides opportunity and access to financial content and services for unbanked, underbanked and working poor millennials.

DACA Time Nonprofit (Columbus, Ohio) – makes immigration paperwork easier, cheaper and more accurate.

FundingU For-profit (Atlanta) – proffers college completion loans to academically successful students who can’t access “last gap” bank loans due to low credit scores or lack of a co-signer.

Girls Going Global Nonprofit (Atlanta) – empowers underserved girls, ages 13-17, by providing the tools, mentorship and educational experiences to be global citizens.

Holberg Financial For-profit (Chicago) – helps employees reach their financial goals and reduce financial stress through health benefits companies offer to their employees.

Hopeworks Nonprofit (Camden, New Jersey) – creates technology solutions for businesses that provide opportunities and pathways to success for youth.

Medean For-profit (Chicago) – provides guidance and incentives for millennials to improve their financial well-being through a budgeting app using gamification and peer comparison.

Next Steps Network Nonprofit (Louisville, Kentucky) – is changing the market system of how manufactured homes are built, sold and financed, while preparing and supporting homebuyers.

Piecewise For-profit (New York) – helps student loan borrowers pay down their debt based on data generated by financial behavior.

Solve For-profit (Chicago) – makes it easier for community-based organizations to connect individuals to jobs and social services.

Tassel Turn Nonprofit (Chicago) – matches youth in foster care to personalized, evidence-informed, online education coaching to help them achieve economic independence.

About Points of Light

Points of Light – the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service – mobilizes millions of people to take action that is changing the world. Through affiliates in 250 cities across 37 countries and in partnerships with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages 5 million volunteers in 20 million hours of service each year. We bring the power of people to bear where it’s needed most. For more information, go to www.pointsoflight.org.

About the Points of Light Civic Accelerator

The Points of Light Civic Accelerator is the first accelerator program and investment fund in the country focused on civic ventures – for-profit and nonprofit startups that include people as part of the solution to critical social problems. The three-month, boot camp-style program convenes 10-15 teams in person and online with the goal of equipping each startup to seek investments and scale their social innovation. CivicX was launched in 2012, with founding support from PwC Charitable Foundation and Starbucks Foundation, and in partnership with Village Capital. In addition, we receive support from Capital One, Dentons, Singing for Change and official hotel sponsor Hilton. Visit cvcx.org for more information or follow the accelerator on Twitter at @civicacceleratr and across social media at #CIVICX.

Points of Light and Starbucks Pilot Innovative Employer-Led Service Program to Deepen Impact in Communities

Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service, and Starbucks have launched Starbucks Service Fellows, an innovative, employer-led service program inspired and informed by national service. The initial six-month pilot, launched this month, includes 36 Starbucks retail partners (employees) in 13 cities across the United States, who will serve with a Points of Light affiliate in their communities, collectively providing more than 17,000 hours of community service.

Only 1 in 4 recent volunteers encouraged their children to participate in volunteer events.

“We believe this bold program, designed in partnership with Starbucks, will redefine corporate engagement and the private sector’s ability to support civic engagement,” said Natalye Paquin, president and CEO of Points of Light. “Starbucks’ investment in the 13 communities served by this initiative will not only spark positive change through more than 17,000 hours of community service, but it also serves as a model for an employer-led capacity-building program that Starbucks and other corporate partners can scale globally in the future.”

For the initial pilot, Points of Light identified 13 organizations in its nonprofit affiliate network that would benefit from focused volunteer efforts that align with Starbucks’ global social impact priorities, with a focus on opportunity youth, refugees, veterans and military families, hunger, environment and disaster recovery. The 36 Starbucks partners, selected through a competitive application process, will work 20 hours in their store each week, while spending another 20 hours each week with their local Points of Light affiliate organization to help drive its mission, vision and programs forward through agreed-upon service activations. By working at least 20 hours at Starbucks, each fellow also remains eligible for Starbucks benefits like comprehensive healthcare, equity in the form of company stock, and the Starbucks College Achievement Plan. Starbucks worked with Points of Light to match partner volunteers with local affiliates, giving participating organizations the talent and support they need to maximize their impact locally, while enabling partners to serve their communities and gain experience and skills in the nonprofit sector, such as project management, volunteer recruitment, community engagement and stakeholder relationship management.

“Starbucks partners have a passion for service both in and out of their stores. The Service Fellows program powers that passion through philanthropy and partnerships to have the greatest impact” said Virginia Tenpenny, vice president of global social impact at Starbucks and executive director of The Starbucks Foundation. “Our Service Fellows pilot is an innovative model that combines work, service, and partnerships, a model that will inform how we catalyze our partners and grantees to create enduring change in our communities.”

This year’s fellows will service through February 2019 at the following Points of Light affiliates: Hands On Atlanta, HandsOn Bay Area, Boston Cares, HandsOn Broward, Chicago Cares, VolunteerNow (Dallas), Volunteer Fairfax, Volunteer Houston, HandsOn Miami, HandsOn Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul), HandsOn Greater Phoenix, Seattle Works and United Way of Greater St. Louis.

Since its founding, Starbucks has had a long-standing commitment to giving back in the communities it serves. Starbucks partners volunteer throughout the year, with company-wide moments honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a day of service, as well as inviting customers to volunteer during Global Month of Service each April. During the 2018 Global Month of Service, Starbucks partners around the world led more than 2,850 community service projects – equivalent to 95 projects a day throughout the month of April. Starbucks aspiration is for 100 percent of all stores globally to participate in service annually by 2020.

About Points of Light

Points of Light – the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service – mobilizes millions of people to take action that is changing the world. Through affiliates in 250 cities across 37 countries and partnerships with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages 5 million volunteers in 20 million hours of service each year. We bring the power of people to bear where it’s needed most. For more information, go to www.pointsoflight.org.

About Starbucks

Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting high-quality arabica coffee. Today, with stores around the globe, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at http://news.starbucks.com or www.starbucks.com.

About The Starbucks Foundation

Established in 1997, The Starbucks Foundation strengthens communities around the world by advancing opportunities for youth, veterans, refugees and coffee, tea and cocoa farmers and their families, supporting communities affected by disaster, and promoting civic engagement. The Starbucks Foundation is a U.S. 501 (c)(3) charitable organization under U.S. law, and receives funding primarily from Starbucks Corporation and private donations. Learn more at https://www.starbucks.com/responsibility/community/starbucks-foundation.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Meghann Gibbons
Points of Light
[email protected]
(404) 731 2673

Jessica Conradson
Starbucks Media Relations
[email protected]
(206) 318 7100

Points of Light Civic Accelerator Invests $100,000 in Two Startups Advancing Digital Inclusion

The Points of Light Civic Accelerator announced today that it will invest $50,000 each in Cell-Ed (Palo Alto, California), a for-profit enterprise, and STEM NOLA (New Orleans), a nonprofit enterprise. Both ventures are focused on bridging the digital divide and filling the growing digital talent pipeline.

The Civic Accelerator is the first accelerator and investment fund in the country focused on civic ventures – for-profit and nonprofit startups that solve social problems by tapping into human capital as part of the solution. The goal of the accelerator is to equip each startup to seek investments and scale their social innovations.

The investment came at the end of the Civic Accelerator’s 2018 cohort – it’s 11th bootcamp-style program. The spring 2018 program convened 12 startups over 10 weeks for three in-person, week-long sessions in San Francisco, New York and Atlanta, in addition to an in-depth virtual curriculum. Using vetted investment criteria, the program peer participants selected the two ventures that received $50,000 investments.

Cell-Ed offers a complete mobile solution to reach, train and upskill today’s workforce on any mobile device, including flip phones. “One of Cell-Ed’s greatest achievements must be this one: being honored by the awe-inspiring community of entrepreneurs who make up CivicX,” said Jessica Rothenberg-Aalami, founder and CEO of Cell-Ed. “With this investment and vote of confidence, we will keep delivering literacy, language and job skills to working adults’ cell phones so together we can bridge the digital, poverty and education divides in today’s workforce.”

STEM NOLA designs and delivers engaging educational programs and events that bring exposure, inspiration and training in STEM to underserved communities. “CivicX equipped us with the tools to improve our business model, operations and financials to better serve our community. Being selected by our peer cohort to receive a $50K investment was humbling, affirming and inspirational,” said Dr. Calvin Mackie, founder and president of STEM NOLA. “The investment will allow us to expand our development team and scale our efforts with a direct impact on the lives of children and families.”

Now in its sixth year, the Civic Accelerator has committed $950,000 in investment and has paired 135 startup teams with more than 150 mentors, partners and strategic advisors. The graduated teams have generated more than $94 million in revenue to date, and have reached more than 18.7 million individuals as they solve the most critical social problems facing communities across the country.

“It’s inspiring to work with our corporate partners and mentors to help accelerate these entrepreneurs who are increasing digital skills and access to new economy jobs,” said Ayesha Khanna, founder of the Civic Accelerator. “Nearly 80 percent of middle-skill jobs require basic digital proficiency, which is critical to the 2/3 of Americans without a college degree. We had 500,000 computing jobs open nationwide, yet we produced fewer than 43,000 computer science graduates last year. And 1 out of 6 people still lack access to basic internet. These ventures provide a wide range of solutions – from K-12 STEM education and technical up-skilling for working adults, to affordable access and digital services – as they bridge the digital divide and prepare the workforce of the future.”

The gradated ventures in the spring 2018 cohort are:

Cell-Ed For-profit (Palo Alto, California) – offers a complete mobile solution to reach, train and upskill today’s workforce on any mobile device, including flip phones.

ELiTE Education Nonprofit (New York) – increases public schools’ capacity to integrate rigorous and engaging computer science and engineering programs as a part of their culture and curriculum.

Haven Connect For-profit (Berkeley, California) – allows low-income applicants to easily find and apply to affordable housing through streamlined leasing and waitlist management.

honorCode Nonprofit (Atlanta) – coalesces educators and local business communities to build future workforce ecosystems within K-12 schools.

Neture Inc. For-profit (New York) – provides free and low-cost broadband internet access to underserved communities and disconnected households.

Noirefy For-profit (Chicago) – is a digital platform connecting diverse professionals from under-represented backgrounds to corporations for career advancement opportunities.

Sparrow For-profit (San Francisco) – is a U.S. wireless company bridging the digital divide and connecting people with purpose by donating to someone in digital poverty for every new customer.

STEM NOLA Nonprofit (New Orleans) – designs and delivers engaging educational programs and events that bring exposure, inspiration and training in STEM to underserved communities.

Tech Exchange Nonprofit (Oakland, California) – generates equitable technology access by providing community members refurbished computers, internet, training and tech support.

The Mentor Method For-profit (Washington, D.C.) – is an all-inclusive system for better diversity and inclusion through mentorship.

Unloop Nonprofit (Seattle) – enables people who have been in prison to succeed in careers in tech through intensive software development training, re-entry support, and career opportunities with tech employers.

Young Creative Agency Nonprofit (New Orleans) – connects under-represented young talent to real-world work and support networks that increase inclusion in the creative economy.

About Points of Light

About the Points of Light Civic Accelerator

The Points of Light Civic Accelerator is the first accelerator program and investment fund in the country focused on civic ventures – for-profit and nonprofit startups that include people as part of the solution to critical social problems. The three-month, boot camp-style program convenes 10-15 teams in person and online with the goal of equipping each startup to seek investments and scale their social innovation. CivicX was launched in 2012, with support from founding partners PwC Charitable Foundation and Starbucks Foundation, and in partnership with Village Capital. In addition, we receive support from Capital One, Comcast NBCUniversal, Vodafone, Dentons, Singing for Change and official hotel sponsor Hilton. Visit cvcx.org for more information or follow the accelerator on Twitter at @civicacceleratr and across social media at #CIVICX.

Points of Light Announces 2018 Honorees of The Civic 50 at Service Unites

Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service announced The Civic 50 honorees of 2018, recognizing them as the most community-minded companies in the United States. Since 2011, The Civic 50 has provided a national standard for superior corporate citizenship and showcased how companies can use their time, skills and other resources to improve the quality of life in the communities where they do business. The Civic 50 were officially recognized at Points of Light’s Service Unites 2018 conference in Atlanta, where thousands of leaders in volunteerism and civic engagement gather to learn and share the knowledge, resources and connections needed to galvanize the power of people to create change globally.

“Points of Light believes that people drive change in addressing society’s growing and most profound challenges. The business community plays an important role in creating and delivering innovative solutions that drive social good in the communities where they live and work,” said Natalye Paquin, president and CEO, Points of Light. “This year’s honorees of The Civic 50 collectively gave $1.9 billion to their communities, and volunteered for more than 13 million hours in 2018. By focusing on profits and purpose, these companies exemplify authentic leadership in community and civic engagement, reinforcing that employee volunteering benefits our communities, companies and the employees themselves.”

The Civic 50 honorees are public and private companies with U.S. operations and revenues of $1 billion or more, and are selected based on four dimensions of their U.S. community engagement program – investment, integration, institutionalization and impact.

The 2018 Civic 50 Honorees

AbbVie
Aetna
Aflac
Allstate
Altria Group, Inc.
AT&T^*
Banfield Pet Hospital
Caesars Entertainment^*
Capital One
CenterPoint Energy
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
Citigroup, Inc.
Comcast NBCUniversal
Comerica Incorporated
CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA Insurer
CVS Health
Dell
Deloitte
Delta Air Lines
Dr Pepper Snapple Group^*
DTE Energy^*
Entergy Corporation
FedEx Corporation
Food Lion
Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.^*

General Mills
Hasbro, Inc.
Health Care Service Corporation^*
The Hershey Company
Hogan Lovells^†
IBM Corporation
KeyBank^*
KPMG LLP^*
Marriott International
MGM Resorts International
Motorola Solutions, Inc.
PIMCO
Prudential Financial, Inc.
Raytheon Company
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
S&P Global
Symantec Corporation
Tata Consultancy Services^*
Toyota Financial Services
TSYS
UnitedHealth Group
UPS
Valero Energy Corporation^*
WellCare Health Plans, Inc.
Wells Fargo

^* Indicates a company that is a sector leader.
^† Indicates a company that is a Leadership in Volunteerism awardee.

The 2018 Civic 50 Sector Leaders

Consumer Discretionary: Caesars Entertainment
Consumer Staples: Dr Pepper Snapple Group
Energy: Valero Energy Corporation
Financials: KeyBank
Healthcare: Health Care Service Corporation
Industrials: KPMG LLP
Information Technology: Tata Consultancy Services
Materials: Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.
Telecommunications: AT&T
Utilities: DTE Energy

Key Statistics and Highlights from the Civic 50 2018 Honorees

Civic 50 companies are evolving from being supporters to engaging as stewards of social causes. Instead of confining themselves to writing checks or piggybacking off of not-for-profit sector work, Civic 50 companies are involving themselves in all aspects of the social causes which they champion.
- In 2018, 70 percent of Civic 50 companies took national leadership positions on four or more public education or policy efforts, an increase from 62 percent in 2017.
Civic 50 honorees continue to exemplify one of the core tenets of corporate citizenship: “doing well by doing good”. The 2018 honorees demonstrate that integrating community engagement initiatives into business strategy can support business interests. The 2018 honorees are using community engagement to drive key business functions, including employee engagement (86 percent), marketing/PR (78 percent), diversity and inclusion (74 percent), skill development (74 percent) and stakeholder relations (56 percent).
Leading innovations for purpose at work, Civic 50 honorees have found community engagement as a meaningful and valuable investment to inspire employee changemakers and create a strong culture of giving back.
- 68 percent of Civic 50 companies include community engagement as a formal component of employees’ performance reviews, an increase from 62 percent in 2017.
Civic 50 companies understand the importance of impact: to ensure the sustainability and success of their community engagement initiatives, Civic 50 companies are using measurement practices to not only measure quantifiable outputs, but social outcomes.
- Civic 50 companies are making sure to measure social outcomes as part of regularly implemented data collection. In 2018, 68 percent of Civic 50 companies collected and analyzed data on organizational grants and 42 percent did so for volunteerism.

The Civic 50 survey is administered by True Impact, a company specializing in helping organizations maximize and measure their social and business value, and analyzed by VeraWorks. The survey instrument consists of quantitative and multiple-choice questions that inform The Civic 50 scoring process. The Civic 50 is the only survey and ranking system that exclusively measures corporate involvement in communities. A key findings brief of 2018 findings will be released in summer 2018. For more information, please visit www.civic50.org.

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About Points of Light

Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service, mobilizes millions of people to take action that is changing the world. Through affiliates in 250 cities and partnerships with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages five million volunteers in 20 million hours of service each year. We bring the power of people where it’s needed most. For more information, visit www.pointsoflight.org.

About True Impact

True Impact provides web-based tools and consulting support to help organizations measure the social, financial, and environmental return on investment (ROI) of their programs and operations. For more information, visit www.trueimpact.com.

About VeraWorks

VeraWorks is a global consulting firm that helps managers and companies offer employees the opportunity to do societal good through their everyday jobs. For more information, visit www.veraworks.com.

Statement from Natalye Paquin, Points of Light President and CEO, in Honor of Mrs. Barbara Bush

“Barbara Bush embodied strength, grace, and dedication to family and faith. Her life was the very definition of what we at Points of Light hold up and support through our mission, a life that includes service to others. A tireless advocate for volunteerism, Mrs. Bush helped countless charities and humanitarian causes during her years in public life. In a recent interview, when talking about her continued work with her literacy foundation and President George H. W. Bush’s continued work with Points of Light, she shared how proud she was that all of her children and 17 grandchildren are working and serving others in their own way.

“It is an honor to have known a woman so full of life and curiosity. We shared a passion for literacy, education, and service to others; it is humbling to know that we have traveled the same path of dedicating so much of our lives to the issues we care deeply about. We are grateful for her enduring legacy that will serve to inspire others for generations to come.”

“We have been fortunate at Points of Light to call her a supporter, a partner and a friend. We were privileged to have Mrs. Bush inspire us at the nationally televised 2011 Points of Light Tribute event and during the 2012 National Conference on Volunteering in Service. In 2013, we joined together to celebrate the commitment of volunteers to improving literacy outcomes by presenting them with a Daily Point of Light Award in recognition of their efforts. And in 2015, we were proud to partner with the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation for Read Across the Globe in which more than 10,000 corporate and community volunteers, educators and youth came together to read to children in more than 26 countries, across 17 time zones at more than 500 venues.

About Points of Light

Points of Light Civic Accelerator Launches Spring 2018 Class

The Points of Light Civic Accelerator – the first national accelerator dedicated to investing in civic ventures – announced the 12 ventures selected to participate in its spring 2018 program. The ventures come from across the country and include early-stage for-profits and nonprofits focused on bridging the digital divide and filling the growing digital talent pipeline.

“To truly unleash the talent across the country and transform our economy, we need these ventures to scale their bold solutions that are bridging the digital divide and preparing the workforce of the future,” said Ayesha Khanna, founder of the Points of Light Civic Accelerator.

With founding supporters, the PwC Charitable Foundation Inc. and Starbucks Foundation, along with Capital One, Vodafone Americas Foundation, Comcast NBCUniversal, Dentons, Singing for Change, and hotel sponsor Hilton, the Points of Light Civic Accelerator kicks off its spring cohort with ventures working to advance digital inclusion and 21^st-century tech skills for all to succeed in the innovation economy. This will be the 11th cohort of the Civic Accelerator since its founding in 2012.

The 12 teams will gather in San Francisco from April 17-20 for the start of an intensive, 10-week entrepreneur boot camp that includes mentoring, education, peer support and networking. The teams will join the first ever SEED Conference of impact investors while in San Francisco. They will then travel to New York and Atlanta. Points of Light will offer two of the most promising ventures – as selected by the entrepreneurs themselves – a $50,000 investment following the conclusion of the program.

“We are excited to support, along with our funders and partners, such promising ventures increasing digital skills and access to new economy jobs,” said Ayesha Khanna, founder of the Points of Light Civic Accelerator. “Nearly 80 percent of middle-skill jobs require basic digital proficiency and we have 500,000 computing jobs open nationwide, yet we produced fewer than 43,000 computer science graduates last year. Our ventures provide a wide range of solutions from K-12 STEM education and technical up-skilling for working adults to affordable access and digital services. To truly unleash the talent across the country and transform our economy, we need these ventures to scale their bold solutions that are bridging the digital divide and preparing the workforce of the future.”

Application and selection committees reviewed more than 65 curated applications before selecting the finalists. The selected cohort of ventures represents various sectors and solutions to increase employability and access to digital services for youth and adults across gender, class, race and geographies. Fifty-four percent of the ventures are led or co-led by racial or ethnic minorities, and 69 percent are led or co-led by females.

The civic startups participating in the Civic Accelerator spring 2018 cohort represent California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, New York, Washington, and Washington, D.C: