Travelport Ltd., the parent company of the Travelport group of companies, today announced that it will co-sponsor The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) 2010 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards (http://www.tourismfortomorrow.com) along with The Leading Travel Companies (TLTC) Conservation Foundation, a not-for-profit organization which supports work that fosters sustainable tourism and protects culturally and ecologically sensitive areas around the world. Both Travelport and TLTC Conservation Foundation have been strategic partners of the WTTC for several years and have continuously supported the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. The Awards, presented annually under the stewardship of the WTTC, recognize best practices in responsible and sustainable tourism demonstrated by organizations and companies within the global Travel & Tourism industry. The winners and finalists will be honored at a special recognition ceremony at the WTTC 2010 Global Travel & Tourism Summit to be held in May in Beijing, China. Travelport CEO and President, Jeff Clarke will be in attendance to honor and address the winners and finalists of the awards in four key categories, Destination Stewardship, Conservation, Community Benefit and Global Tourism Business. "We are in a time when economic and environmental sustainability are inextricably linked, what we choose to do in one area can greatly impact the other. These awards shine as a beacon to inspire all individuals, communities and businesses to implement responsible and environmentally-conscious practices. Travelport is honored once again to be a co-sponsor of the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards and to be part of the overarching commitment to support all initiatives for global sustainability," said Jeff Clarke, Travelport CEO and President. "We are delighted that our strategic partner, Travelport, is taking part in recognizing and celebrating the work of the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards winners and finalists. It is important we all share in the effort to invoke global environmental awareness and actions for sustainability – not only for the Travel & Tourism industry, but most importantly, for our planet," added Jean-Claude Baumgarten, President, WTTC. The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards have gained international recognition and respect from the travel industry, governments and the international media as a result of a stringent judging process. This process includes a thorough review of each application by an independent panel of judges, which include some of the world's most authoritative experts of sustainable development, who also conduct on-site verification visits to all Award finalists. About Travelport Travelport is one of the world's largest travel conglomerates offering broad based business services to companies operating in the global travel industry. Travelport is comprised of the global distribution system (GDS) business that includes the Worldspan and Galileo brands; GTA, a leading global, multi-channel provider of hotel and ground services; IT Services and Software, which hosts mission critical applications and provides business and data analysis solutions for major airlines. With 2008 revenues of $2.5 billion, Travelport operates in 160 countries and has approximately 5,300 employees. Travelport also owns approximately 48% of Orbitz Worldwide (NYSE: OWW), a leading global online travel company. Travelport is a private company owned by The Blackstone Group, One Equity Partners, Technology Crossover Ventures and Travelport management. About the WTTC The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is the forum for business leaders in the Travel & Tourism industry. With Chief Executives of some one hundred of the world's leading Travel & Tourism companies as its Members, WTTC has a unique mandate and overview on all matters related to Travel & Tourism. WTTC works to raise awareness of Travel & Tourism as one of the world's largest industries, employing approximately 238 million people and generating nearly 10% of world GDP.

If tipping points that are mainly triggered by rising global temperatures were unleashed, the world's diverse regions and ecosystems would suffer from devastating environmental, social and economic changes, according to a new report by WWF and Allianz. We tend to think of climate change like the retreat or growth of a glacier, a slow and steady process, almost imperceptible, but following a manageable path. That is a mistake, warns the Tipping Points Report published by Allianz and WWF. Climate change is a lot more like an avalanche than just heavy snowfall. Pressure builds until a threshold, or tipping point is passed, and catastrophe ensues. Warming of global temperatures is likely to take an unpredictable turn - one that could cost the world hundreds of billions. If action is not taken immediately, sea level rise on the East Coast of the USA, the shift to an arid climate in California, disturbances of the Indian Summer Monsoon in India and Nepal or the dieback of the Amazon rainforest due to increasing drought, are likely to affect hundreds millions of people. The study explores impacts of these "tipping points," including their economic consequences and implications for the insurance sector. It also shows how close the world is to reaching "tipping points" in many regions of the world. "If we don't take action against climate change, it will happen in a disruptive and devastating way," said Kim Carstensen, the Head of WWF Global Climate Initiative. "Reaching a tipping point means losing something forever. I don't think anyone likes the idea of losing anything forever." According to the report, carried out by the Tyndall Centre, the impacts of passing "Tipping Points" on the livelihood of people and economic assets have been underestimated so far. The report therefore focuses on regions and phenomena where such events might be expected to cause significant impacts within the first half of the century. "As an insurer and investor, we must prepare our clients for these scenarios as long as we still have leeway for action," says Clemens von Weichs, CEO of Allianz Reinsurance. "Setting premiums risk-appropriately and sustainably is of vital interest to everyone involved, because this is the only way to ensure that coverage solutions will continue to exist." Allianz intends to address climate change by entering into dialogue with its clients at an early date. This will allow it to point out countermeasures in a timely way, and work together to develop specific coverage concepts, whether for existing assets or for future climate-compatible projects like alternative energy and water supply concepts, dyke construction, or protection against failed harvests. Global temperatures have already risen by at least 0.7 degrees Celsius. Global warming above 2-3 degrees in the second half of the century is likely unless extremely radical and determined efforts towards deep cuts in emissions are put in place before 2015. The melting of parts of the Greenland (GIS) and the West Antarctic Ice Shield (WAIS) could lead to a Tipping Point scenario, possibly a sea level rise of up to 0.5 meters by 2050. This is estimated to increase the value of assets at threat in all 136 global port mega-cities by around 25,000 billion USD. On the North-eastern coast of the USA and due to a localized anomaly, the sea level could rise up to 0.65 meters, increasing the asset exposure from 1,350 to about 7,400 billion USD The South Western Part of the USA, namely California, is likely to be affected by droughts and levels of aridity similar to the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. The annual damages caused by wildfires could be tenfold compared to today's costs and could reach up to 2.5 billion USD per year by 2050 increasing to up to 14 billion by 2085. 70 percent of working population may be put at risk by droughts in India. The future costs of droughts are expected to rise to approx. 40 billion USD per decade until the middle of the century. The committed dieback of the Amazon Rainforest as a consequence of a significant increase in the frequency of droughts in the Amazon basin could reach 70% by the end of the century in a tipping point scenario. The impacts include loss of biodiversity and massive carbon release. Costs could reach up to 9.000 billion USD for a surface of around 4 million square kilometers. "The Tipping Points report shows how quickly we are approaching the dangerous and irreversible level of global warming," Carstensen said. "Economic consequences of passing the climate tipping points are absolutely overwhelming." "There is still a chance to avoid the worst and this report shows how urgent it is to act immediately. An agreement in Copenhagen is the best, if not the only chance to prevent the worst impacts of devastating climate change." For further information: http://knowledge.allianz.com/en/globalissues/climate_change/climate_impacts/climate_tipping_points_study.html

ICMM presents "Human Rights in the Metals & Mining Industry: Handling and Resolving Local Level Concerns & Grievances", the second in a series of publications designed to help member companies deal with challenging issues in this area. The publication sets out good practice approaches to help companies design and/or enhance existing complaints procedures or mechanisms. Focussing on this issue, which was highlighted in the recent publication, "Human Rights in the Metals & Mining Industry: Overview, Management Approach and Issues" complements ICMM members' work at the operational level to build strong, trusting relations with local communities around their operations. This publication aims to:

• Describe a set of 'overarching design principles' that provide basic, high-level guidance for companies developing complaints mechanisms;
• Outline some basic criteria to help operations 'assess the nature of and potential for complaints' and so to develop a mechanism most appropriate to their situation;
• Present three possible types of mechanism, with incrementally greater levels of external engagement;
• Set out various ways in which global headquarters of companies can develop 'group-wide procedures' to support best practice locally.

The main audience for the guidance is ICMM's members and other interested companies in the mining industry. As practice in this space continues to evolve, particularly through the work of John Ruggie as part of his second mandate to the UN and practitioners such as the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) for IFC and MIGA, this guide is released as a 'Pilot Testing' version. The intention is that ICMM: (i) apply the approaches outlined in-country over the next 12-18 months through its member companies; (ii) capture emerging lessons learned from the piloting process; and (iii) review and update the pilot testing version. http://www.icmm.com/page/15822/news-and-events/news/articles/icmm-presents-new-guidance-note-on-handling-and-resolving-local-level-concerns-and-grievances

BLOOMBERG MARKETS® magazine, the global magazine for finance and business professionals, is the first U.S. news organization to receive Brazil's Paul Donovan Kigar Prize for "social responsibility, conscience, vision and interest in the defense of mankind and nature." The prize commission honored BLOOMBERG MARKETS magazine for its defense of Brazil's environmental resources in the story, "Plundering the Amazon." Authors Michael Smith and Adriana Brasileiro uncovered that multinational corporations are destroying the world's largest rain forest to build mines, farms and cattle ranches -- often in violation of national laws. The BLOOMBERG MARKETS magazine writers also cited major companies who purchase materials that result in illegal deforestation. Following publication, Cargill, Wal-Mart and four of the world's largest meat packers pledged to stop buying products that originate on deforested land. BLOOMBERG MARKETS magazine has become a leader in providing readers with original analysis and enterprise reporting. The publication has earned more than 35 journalism and design awards in 2009 alone, including the Society of American Business Editors and Writers Award for General Excellence, and the Business Journalist of the Year Award for Best Magazine Story. About Bloomberg Bloomberg is the world's most trusted source of information for businesses and professionals. Bloomberg combines innovative technology with unmatched analytic, data, news, display and distribution capabilities, to deliver critical information via the BLOOMBERG PROFESSIONAL® service and multimedia platforms. Bloomberg's media services cover the world with more than 2,200 news and multimedia professionals at 146 bureaus in 72 countries. The BLOOMBERG TELEVISION® 24-hour network reaches more than 200 million homes. BLOOMBERG RADIO® services broadcast via Sirius XM Radio and WorldSpace satellite radio globally and on WBBR 1130AM in New York. The award-winning monthly BLOOMBERG MARKETS® magazine, the BLOOMBERG.COM® financial news and information Web site and BLOOMBERG PRESS® books provide news and insight to investors. For more information, please visit http://www.bloomberg.com. The BLOOMBERG PROFESSIONAL service and data products are owned and distributed by Bloomberg Finance L.P. (BFLP) except that Bloomberg L.P. and its subsidiaries (BLP) distribute these products in Argentina, Bermuda, China, India, Japan and Korea. BLOOMBERG and BLOOMBERG NEWS are trademarks and service marks of Bloomberg Finance L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, or its subsidiaries. All rights reserved.

Sobeys Inc. today released its first annual Sustainability@Sobeys report, outlining the Company's long-term sustainability strategy, including reduction targets and progress to date. The report highlights initiatives introduced by the Company with a goal of improving environmental performance through responsible business practices, in the best interest of customers, employees, the Company and the communities it serves. "Our goal is to integrate a stronger sustainability mindset and performance culture within our day-to-day business activities," said Bill McEwan, president and chief executive officer, Sobeys Inc. "It is not an initiative separate from our core strategy; it's a deliberate and thoughtful process that balances the needs of our business with what we must do to address environmental and social impacts across the country and our international supply chain." "We're pleased and encouraged by the progress we have made to date. While we do not have all the answers today, we are committed to building upon our existing initiatives with the implementation of our long-term sustainability strategy, and to demonstrating continuous improvement year-over-year," McEwan continued. To advance its sustainability efforts, Sobeys has introduced various environmentally-focused practices that include:

• Establishing targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 15% and total waste production by 30% by 2013.
• Creating Sustainability Share Groups to share best practices and accelerate evaluation and adoption of new technologies and solutions in its warehousing, logistics and retail store operations across the country.
• Defining common measurement metrics and deploying tools for easier data capture, tracking, and reporting.
• Participating in Canadian, U.S. and international industry organizations to help identify and adopt industry-wide sustainability initiatives.

"Sustainability @Sobeys is grounded with clear goals and action plans that can make a real difference in reducing our environmental impact," said David Smith, vice president, retail strategy and sustainability, Sobeys Inc. "We recognize that to be truly successful in reaching these goals we need to involve our customers, employees and communities in identifying and pursuing sustainability solutions that make good environmental and business sense." For more information about Sustainability@Sobeys and to read the report, visit www.sobeyscorporate.com/sustainability. About Sobeys Inc. Sobeys Inc. is a leading national grocery retailer and food distributor headquartered in Stellarton, Nova Scotia. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Empire Company Limited (TSX:EMP.A), Sobeys owns or franchises more than 1,300 stores in all 10 provinces under retail banners that include Sobeys, IGA, Foodland, Price Chopper and Thrifty Foods, as well as Lawtons Drug Stores. Sobeys Inc. is committed to providing the most worthwhile experience for its customers, employees, franchisees, suppliers and shareholders. More information on Sobeys Inc. can be found at www.sobeyscorporate.com.

Free, live and interactive web event: An Economy Fit for a Low Carbon World - The Pre-COP Earthcast

• Can economies be redesigned for a low-carbon future?
• What opportunities does the financial crisis present?
• Is a constructive agreement likely at Copenhagen?

Wednesday, 25th November, 5:00pm UK Time, 9:00 am Pacific Standard Time, 12:00 pm Eastern Standard Time Click here for FREE REGISTRATION Tim Jackson developed the first Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare for the UK (a 'green GDP') in the 1990s, and is now one of the most influential advocates of worldwide economic reform. Focusing on climate change mitigation and happiness as measures of economic success, his recent book Prosperity Without Growth “has already begun to redefine the debate about how to achieve a future of human and planetary well-being" (Juliet Schor, Boston College) and we are thrilled to provide you with this opportunity to debate the issues online. In this special pre-Copenhagen Earthcast the expert panel will examine the challenges that lie ahead if current economic systems are to support the development of a low carbon future, and will be answering your questions submitted during the event. Tim Jackson will be joined by Robert Costanza, contributor to the Worldwatch Institute's The State of the World 2010 and ecological economist Peter Victor for a debate that will explore ways of reorganising economies so that emissions reductions and well being are prioritised. Tim Jackson is Economics Commissioner on the UK Sustainable Development Commission, Professor of Sustainable Development at the University of Surrey and Director of the ESRC Research Group on Lifestyles, Values and Environment (RESOLVE). Robert Costanza is the Gund Professor of Ecological Economics and Director of the Gund Institute for Ecological Economics at the University of Vermont, USA. Peter Victor is an ecological economist, author of Managing without Growth, and Professor in Environmental Studies at York University in Toronto, Canada. FREE DOWNLOAD: Read Chapter 1 of Prosperity Without Growth ahead of the Earthcast. "The best attempt I've seen to build a trans-disciplinary critique of economic growth, with prescriptions based in economic theory."-Ronan Palmer, Chief Economist, The Environment Agency "Endless growth on a finite planet, or endless misery-spreading recession, both represent impossible futures. Here are some very powerful steps towards a possible, indeed a very hopeful, alternate outcome!"- Bill McKibben, author of Deep Economy "In this brilliant analysis, Tim Jackson has laid bare a system in crisis and has lit the way forward."- Oliver James, author of Affluenza "Provokes official thought on the unthinkable. No small accomplishment! I hope this gets the serious attention it deserves." -Professor Herman Daly, author of Steady-State Economics and recipient of the Honorary Right Livelihood Award (Sweden's alternative to the Nobel Prize) "This is the best account of the financial crisis and the state of society I have read in a long Time ... the change that is needed will make us happier."- Clare Short, MP 20% DISCOUNT: Type ETHCST into the voucher code box in your shopping cart when ordering any book at www.earthscan-usa.com. To view an archived version of all previous events, visit http://www.earthscan.co.uk/earthcasts The slides used in each presentation are also available. Please contact Dan Harding (Dan.Harding@earthscan.co.uk) for more information. Earthscan website: http://www.earthscan.co.uk/ Earthscan contact: Dan Harding (Dan.Harding@earthscan.co.uk) Marketing Executive, Earthscan Dunstan House, 14a St Cross Street London, EC1N 8XA Tel: +44 (0)20 7841 1953 Fax: +44 (0)20 7242 1474 Stylus Publishing (US distributor for Earthscan) website: http://www.earthscan-usa.com/books/features.aspx Stylus Publishing Contact: Martha Hawley-Bertsch (Martha@styluspub.com)

Nine West Specialty Retail Stores across the U.S. are donating more this year to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital$reg; by giving the boot" to holiday store decor! Instead of spending on festive in-store decorations, Nine West has chosen to redirect their dollars to St. Jude. To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/ninewest/41330/ In addition to participating in the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital "Thanks and Giving®" campaign in which dollars will be collected from customers who shop the brand from 11.22.09 through 12.31.09, Nine West wanted to do even more for the cause. "We are thrilled that Nine West is once again a part of our annual Thanks and Giving campaign," said Marlo Thomas, National Outreach Director. "Their dedication to the campaign has an enormous impact on the lives of countless children and their families in communities across the country. I know their customers will be inspired by their caring and generous decision to 'give the boot' to holiday decorations so that they can give those much-needed funds to St. Jude." Jay Friedman, CEO of Jones Retail Corporation, explained it this way: "We know customers will appreciate any extra efforts we can make for a charitable cause, especially one that touches most of us, across the board at every level. Of all years to do this, we feel strongly that our consumers will understand and support this decision to give back!" Nine West has 190 Specialty Retail Stores across the U.S. To find out how to join Nine West in giving to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, visit the closest location, or http://www.ninewest.com. Jones Apparel Group, Inc. (www.jonesapparel.com) is a leading designer, marketer and wholesaler of branded apparel, footwear and accessories. The Company also markets directly to consumers through its chain of specialty retail and value-based stores and through its e-commerce web sites. The Company's nationally recognized brands include Jones New York, Nine West, Anne Klein, Gloria Vanderbilt, Kasper, Bandolino, Easy Spirit, Evan-Picone, l.e.i., Energie, Enzo Angiolini, Joan & David, Mootsies Tootsies, Sam & Libby, Napier, Judith Jack, Albert Nipon and Le Suit. The Company also markets costume jewelry under the Givenchy brand licensed from Givenchy Corporation, women's footwear under the Dockers® and Dockers® Women brands and infants', toddlers' and boys footwear (excluding girls footwear) under the Dockers® and Dockers® Premium brands, licensed from Levi Strauss & Co. and apparel under the Rachel Roy brand licensed from Rachel Roy IP Company, LLC. Each brand is differentiated by its own distinctive styling, pricing strategy, distribution channel and target consumer. The Company contracts for the manufacture of its products through a worldwide network of quality manufacturers. The Company has capitalized on its nationally known brand names by entering into various licenses for several of its trademarks, including Jones New York, Anne Klein New York, Nine West, Gloria Vanderbilt, l.e.i. and Evan-Picone, with select manufacturers of women's and men's products which the Company does not manufacture. For more than 30 years, the Company has built a reputation for excellence in product quality and value, and in operational execution.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) today announced that it is donating $1.55 million over the holiday season to help families and communities in need. The donation will be made directly to charitable organizations across the country to assist American families impacted by the prolonged recession and other socio-economic factors. PwC's donation is being made in lieu of organized holiday parties. The donation builds on the $1.55 million that PwC contributed during the holidays last year to charitable organizations in more than 60 communities throughout the United States. "As a firm, we are committed to making a difference for those less fortunate and who continue to face hardship through these challenging times," said Bob Moritz, U.S. Chairman and Senior Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers. "We hope that our actions inspire others to give back to their communities not only during the holiday season but throughout the entire year." PwC supports the community throughout the year, not just during the holidays. In their 2009 fiscal year, PwC and their partners and staff collectively donated nearly $30 million and more than 134,000 volunteer hours. "When PwC decided last year to forgo internal holiday celebrations and instead to make donations to those who truly needed some extra support during the holiday season, we were overwhelmed by the positive response we got from our communities, but also by our people," said Shannon Schuyler, US corporate responsibility leader, PricewaterhouseCoopers. "The holiday season is traditionally a time for giving and that giving is even more special when it helps families get shelter and share a warm meal together or enables a homeless child to have a cherished toy. Our people feel that we are providing money but also hope as we head into the New Year." The firm's holiday giving initiative arrives on the heels of the firm's annual Summer of Community Service, during which partners and staff led or participated in more than 200 community-based projects, volunteered more than 74,000 hours and impacted more than 97,000 children. In addition to the Summer of Community Service and other firm-sponsored projects, PwC grants all U.S. partners and staff 10 additional hours of paid time off for discretionary volunteerism. PwC also recently launched its annual Project Make [it] count program. This unique, low-cost, scalable volunteer effort provides grants to selected partners and staff who represent each of the firm's major offices and who will implement an idea that supports the firm's four corporate responsibility goals for the marketplace, people, communities and the environment. Grantees use the seed money to implement a project around an issue or cause that is important to them in any of the four areas. Between November and December, they will put their ideas into action and capture the experiences through a journal or video, which will be broadly shared in the new year. About PricewaterhouseCoopers PricewaterhouseCoopers (www.pwc.com) provides industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory services to build public trust and enhance value for our clients and their stakeholders. More than 163,000 people in 151 countries across our network share their thinking, experience and solutions to develop fresh perspectives and practical advice. "PricewaterhouseCoopers" refers to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or, as the context requires, the PricewaterhouseCoopers global network or other member firms of the network, each of which is a separate and independent legal entity. © 2009 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. All rights reserved.

After weeks of public voting and campaigning among 50 of America's most inspiring and creative non-profits, Tom's of Maine announces the five winners of its "50 States for Good" initiative. The program, which rewards non-profits that make a lasting difference in their local community, drew more than 280,000 online votes from across the country. The votes ultimately determined the five non-profit organizations to receive $20,000 each to fund important projects ranging from animal rescue and handicap access to community gardens. The five winning non-profit organizations are: The Corridor of Cruelty & Neglect, Houston Mobile Clinic, Houston, TX – Funding will be used to help an area of Houston dubbed the "Corridor of Cruelty & Neglect", where animals are often abandoned, injured or ill. A mobile clinic will work with animal rescue to get animals to the clinic for health care, sterilization and ultimately to help find homes for them. "Winning this contest allows us to help an area of Houston named The Corridor of Cruelty and Neglect in dire need of a way to stop the cycle of animal homelessness and abuse," said Hazel Green, grants manager, Spay-Neuter Assistance Program, Inc. "It allows us to call public attention to the horror that results from human cruelty, carelessness, and lack of knowledge about what can and should be done to relieve and prevent animal suffering. Winning is also confirmation of our long-held belief that people who love animals are among the most dedicated and passionate people on the planet." Project Access, Rutherford Housing Partnership, Rutherford County, NC – Funding will aid Project Access, a ramp building project to provide handicap access to an estimated 15-20 low-income homeowners in the county who are unable to safely access their own homes. "The Tom's of Maine award gives RHP a source to draw from to build ramps making remaining limited funds available for other urgent projects like roofing, replacing unsafe floors, etc," said Billy Honeycutt, RHP Board President. "It strengthens our ability to improve unsafe living conditions in Rutherford County." Free Fresh Produce: Gleaning for DC's Poor, Bread for the City, Washington D.C. – Funding will support weekly trips that send volunteers into the fields of regional farms, where they'll collect literally tons of fresh produce that would otherwise go to waste. A few hours of labor from a couple dozen volunteers can yield free produce that will feed a thousand or more families for a week. "Glean for the City provides our poor and vulnerable clients with the fresh produce that is largely unavailable/unaffordable in the neighborhoods they live in – all by rescuing food that would otherwise go to waste," said George A. Jones, executive director of Bread for the City. "Many thanks to Tom's of Maine for supporting our efforts with this exciting new project." Butterflies and Boulders: A School Greening Project, Friends of Coeur d'Alene Elementary School, Venice, CA – Funding will be used to remove 8,000 sq feet of asphalt, and replace it with drought tolerant plants that allow the annual rainfall to percolate into the soil rather than flood the school. This special garden and its integrated curriculum will teach lasting lessons of conservation and promote awareness of the local watersheds. "We are thrilled to be able to realize this project," said Coeur d'Alene Elementary School principal Andrew Jenkins. "Many thanks to Tom's of Maine and the amazing community of parents and teachers that make up our school. We can't wait to turn our campus into an outdoor classroom." Grow Food, Grow Hope Garden Initiative, Wilmington, OH – Funding will create a community garden for low-income families, grow bulk produce for area food banks and coordinate grower co-ops and farmers markets to increase fresh food access for low-income families. "Winning these funds will assist us in enhancing our anti-poverty focus through the Grow Food Grow Hope initiative. Our mission relies heavily on educating others, increase family confidence in the ability to put food on their tables and ultimately empowering them to develop a sustainable solution thus achieving lasting solutions to poverty," said Tara Lydy, director, Center for Service and Civic Engagement at Wilmington College. "The Tom's of Maine award enables us to build capacity and cultivate a deeper relationship with our community partners." "We'd like to thank everyone who took the time to vote and especially the 2,000 organizations who submitted applications," said Rob Robinson, director of Goodness Programs at Tom's of Maine. "Our five winners are excellent examples of organizations all over the country that are having a lasting, positive impact in our communities every day." With this initiative, Tom's of Maine is extending its ongoing commitment to doing good and supporting good in communities. After 40 years of donating profits back to community projects, this year the company left the decision to the public to decide what projects should receive the company's financial support. Tom's of Maine has a lengthy history of supporting critical issues such as clean waterways and greater access to quality, affordable dental care. In September, more than 2,000 applications were narrowed down to 50 finalists by a panel of judges based on the positive impact, achievability and level of community involvement of the project submitted. The judging panel for the finalist phase was composed of key leaders of the non-profit community including Robert Egger, founder of the DC Central Kitchen and V3 Campaign director; Zach Frechette, editor in chief of GOOD Magazine; Darius Graham, author of Being the Difference: True Stories of Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things to Change the World; Sam Davidson, founder of CoolPeopleCare.org and Geri Weis Corbley, founder and editor/publisher of the Good News Network. at a time. About Tom's of Maine Tom's of Maine is a leader in natural personal care with a longstanding commitment to supporting people, communities and the living planet. For almost 40 years, the company has sponsored hundreds of non-profit efforts by giving 10% of its profits back to the community and encouraging employees to volunteer by giving 5% paid time off. Each day, Tom's of Maine employees contribute to high sustainability standards and their ideas from wind power to recycled and recyclable packaging are critical to the company's sensitive way of doing business. Tom's of Maine enjoys partnering with its consumers, vendors and many community organizations to support lasting, positive change that is good for the earth and us all. Visit us online at http://www.tomsofmaine.com/.

The Arizona Technology Council presented Yulex Corporation with the Green Innovator of the Year award at the Governor's Celebration of Innovation gala Nov. 19 in Phoenix. The award, given each year to an Arizona-based company in the technology industry, recognizes the scientific advancements Yulex has achieved and its commitment to providing environmentally supportive and sustainable products. Yulex Corporation has made its headquarters in the Greater Phoenix area since 2007 and has put the region at the epicenter of a new sustainable, made-in-the-U.S.A. industry supplying biobased material to a diversity of industries for medical, consumer and industrial products. All Yulex products are derived from a desert plant called guayule (why-you-lee) which is grown in commercial farms throughout southern Arizona. The plant produces nonallergenic natural rubber and resins used in the manufacturing of products ranging from critical medical devices to shoes, apparel, sporting goods, and eventually tires. The company is developing transformation technology to convert the residual cellulosic biomass from the guayule plant to bioenergy for regional utilization. "Receiving this award is an honor and a testament to the clean tech business the Yulex team has built in Arizona," says Jeff Martin, President and CEO of Yulex Corporation. "We're experiencing growing demand for Yulex® natural rubber materials from manufacturers seeking to use renewable high-performance materials for their customers while minimizing the use of petroleum-based synthetics in their product designs." Yulex natural rubber, emulsions, foams, resins, and adhesives are all derived from guayule, a perennial plant native to the high deserts of North America that requires little water to grow, has many economic uses, and can be processed with minimal environmental footprint. See www.yulex.com for more information. ABOUT YULEX CORPORATION Yulex® natural rubber and emulsions are at the heart of a new sustainable enterprise taking root in the U.S. Southwest. Manufactured by Yulex Corporation, these bio-based materials come from guayule (why-you-lee), a versatile and drought-tolerant plant native to the North American high desert. Yulex emulsions, foams, binding agents, and resins cost-effectively out-perform synthetic petroleum-based products and are "greening" such products as shoes, apparel, and sporting goods, as well as medical products for hospitals. Yulex is made in the U.S.A. For more, visit www.yulex.com. ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S CELEBRATION OF INNOVATION "GREEN INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR" AWARD The Green Innovator of the Year award is presented to a company of business unit in a technology industry that has demonstrated extraordinary performance related to sustainable environmental practices. The company has achieved significant business success and technical innovation or scientific achievement in the past year, and either the company's product, business solution or the innovation itself is environmentally supportive and sustainable. The following requirements must be met: The company must be in operation for 24 months or more and based in Arizona, the innovation must be technological in nature or involve technology, and the innovation must be developed in Arizona. For more information, see www.aztechcouncil.org.

Research projects in the areas of Mathematics and Materials Science scored the highest marks this evening, as Lynnelle Ye of Palo Alto, California and the team of Ryan Lindeborg of Laguna Niguel, California and Andrew James Swoboda of Oakton, Virginia received the top honors at the Region One Finals of the 2009 Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology, the nation's premier high school science competition. Tonight's winners will receive thousands of dollars in college scholarships and be invited to compete at the National Finals in New York City on December 3-7, where the winners of six regional competitions across the United States will vie for scholarships ranging from $10,000 to the top prize of $100,000. The Siemens Competition, a signature program of the Siemens Foundation, is administered by the College Board. "These students have just earned their place among the nation's greatest high school scientists," said James Whaley, President of the Siemens Foundation, based in Iselin, New Jersey. "Each year, the students' work becomes more impressive, and in a record-setting year such as this one, their achievements become even more outstanding. We are proud to welcome them into our family of Siemens Scholars and look forward to their participation at the national finals in New York City." The students presented their research this weekend to a panel of distinguished judges from the California Institute of Technology, host of the Siemens Competition Region One Finals. Individual Winner Lynnelle Ye, a senior at Palo Alto High School in Palo Alto, California won the individual category and a $3,000 college scholarship for her Mathematics project in the field of game theory. Game theory is applied in fields ranging from economics to engineering to study systems where individuals compete in a shared environment. The project, titled Chomp on Graphs and Subsets, studied games in which two players take turns to eliminate nodes or edges of a graph. The player to remove the graph's last node wins the game. The aim of the research was to understand the best possible strategy for playing this game and to determine which player will win from each starting graph when each plays her best possible strategy. "Ms. Ye demonstrated a good understanding of prior research. She was able to build on tools developed by earlier researchers to solve a number of interesting open cases," said Dr. Michelle Effros, Professor of Electrical Engineering, at the California Institute of Technology. "Even seemingly simple games like graph chomp can be strikingly difficult to analyze mathematically. Studying this type of question helps us to build tools for reasoning about strategic behavior in more complicated environments." Ms. Ye is the 2008 China Girls Math Olympiad gold medal winner, garnering the highest score on the USA team that year. She is also a three-time Math Olympiad Summer Program (MOSP) qualifier and two-time attendee. She has qualified for the USA Math Olympiad three times, and been named to her school's Science Olympiad team since 2007. Ms. Ye has additionally qualified for the Research Science Institute. She has been President of her school's Math Club since 2007, and has served as Coach for the Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School MathCounts since 2006. Ms. Ye's dream job is to become a Professor of Mathematics when she completes her studies, as it is one of her top passions. She notes that her interest in the field was piqued when she somewhat accidentally qualified for her middle school's MathCounts team in sixth grade. Ms. Ye worked on this project with her mentor Mr. Tirasan Khandhawit, a Graduate Student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Team Winners Ryan Lindeborg, a sophomore at Dana Hills High School in Dana Point, California, and Andrew James Swoboda, a junior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia, won the team category and will share a $6,000 scholarship. The team's Materials Science project, titled Optimization of Platinum Nanoparticle Deposition on Nafion Membranes, looked at a novel method to maximize efficient platinum catalyst loading and enhance the performance of the proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell. Among other findings, the research showcased a method to decrease the use of platinum - a very expensive metal - within the PEM fuel cell by 50%, thereby making the technology more economical as well as more scientifically approachable. "The team research was impressive because it created a pathway to a better and more efficient operation of this particular fuel cell, which is a good problem to be thinking about given the changing energy landscape," said Dr. Julia R. Greer, Assistant Professor of Materials Science at the California Institute of Technology. "In addition to having a very clean, clearly described and well analyzed research, the teamwork here was impressive, which demonstrated a very important trait the students share with true scientific research teams to the judges." Mr. Lindeborg is active in the International Project Outreach Community Service Program. He has competed and won the Regional, State and National Improv Team Competition: Destination Imagination activities. He serves as the CIA Director for the Junior State of America State Cabinet, and is also the President of his school's Amnesty International chapter. He is an active member of Habitat for Humanity, Children's Miracle Network, Junior State of America, Family Assistance Ministries, Second Harvest Food Bank, Special Camp for Special Kids, Students Run the Los Angeles Marathon and the Friendship Shelter. Mr. Lindeborg is also Scholar Athlete with the highest GPA in his class, and also plays the saxophone. His dream job would be to work as an Orthopedic Surgeon, where he can combine sports and medicine. Mr. Swoboda is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and was a representative for FroshComm (Student Government for entering freshmen). He was also his high school's alternate for the Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership team. Mr. Swoboda is a member of his school's Varsity Soccer Team, the Team America Rocketry Challenge group, and is an active Club Soccer player and team Captain. His dream job is to be a Lead Design Engineer at Apple, as he has always had a keen interest in figuring out how things work and how to make them work better. He has published "What Seniors Write at America's Best High School," a non-profit book of college application essays written by seniors at his high school, and is currently working on the third edition. The team's mentor for this project was Mr. Jonathan Burk, a Graduate Student in The University of California in Santa Barbara, California. Regional Finalists Regional Finalists each received a $1,000 scholarship. Regional Finalists in the individual category were:

• Alex Han, The Harker School, San Jose, CA
• David Liu, Lynbrook High School, San Jose, CA
• Tito Thomas, Troy High School, Fullerton, CA
• William Zhang, La Jolla High School, La Jolla, CA

Regional Finalists in the team category were:

• Cassandra Buru and Jian Liu, Northview High School, Johns Creek, GA
• William Han and Frank Zhao, Westview High School, Portland, OR
• Samantha Piszkiewicz and Nicolai Doreng-Stearns, Laguna Beach High School, Laguna Beach, CA
• Katherine Wang and Sreetha Sidharthan, Interlake High School, Bellevue, WA

The Siemens Competition The Siemens Competition was launched in 1998 to recognize America's best and brightest math and science students. In another record-setting year, 2,151 students registered to enter the Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology in 2009 - more than ever before - for a total of 1,348 project submissions - a 14% increase in project submissions over 2008 figures and more than a 12% increase in the number of registrations. Entries are judged at the regional level by esteemed scientists at six leading research universities which host the regional competitions: California Institute of Technology; Carnegie Mellon University; Georgia Institute of Technology; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; University of Notre Dame; and The University of Texas at Austin. Winners of the regional events are invited to compete at the National Finals at New York University in New York City, December 3 - December 7, 2009. Visit www.siemens-foundation.org on December 7, 2009 at 9:30 am EST to view a live webcast of the National Finalist Award Presentation. You can also log into and follow the Siemens Foundation on Twitter (http://twitter.com/SFoundation) for the latest information and announcements throughout this year's competition. About the Siemens Foundation The Siemens Foundation provides more than $7 million annually in support of educational initiatives in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math in the United States. Its signature programs, the Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology and Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement, reward exceptional achievement in science, math and technology. The newest program, The Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge, encourages K-12 students to develop innovative green solutions for environmental issues. By supporting outstanding students today, and recognizing the teachers and schools that inspire their excellence, the Foundation helps nurture tomorrow's scientists and engineers. The Foundation's mission is based on the culture of innovation, research and educational support that is the hallmark of Siemens' U.S. companies and its parent company, Siemens AG. For further information, visit www.siemens-foundation.org. The College Board The College Board is a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the College Board is composed of more than 5,700 schools, colleges, universities and other educational organizations. Each year, the College Board serves seven million students and their parents, 23,000 high schools, and 3,800 colleges through major programs and services in college readiness, college admission, guidance, assessment, financial aid, enrollment, and teaching and learning. Among its best-known programs are the SAT®, the PSAT/NMSQT® and the Advanced Placement Program® (AP®). The College Board is committed to the principles of excellence and equity, and that commitment is embodied in all of its programs, services, activities and concerns. For further information, visit www.collegeboard.com.

Research projects in the areas of biophysics and chemistry scored top marks this evening, as Ruoyi Jiang of East Setauket, New York and the team of Xiao (Cathy) Zhou of Flushing, New York; Israt Ahmed of Woodhaven, New York; and Stephanie Chen of Bayside, New York received the highest honors at the Region Four Finals of the 2009 Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology, the nation's premier high school science competition. Tonight's winners will receive thousands of dollars in college scholarships and be invited to compete at the National Finals in New York City on December 3-7, where the winners of six regional competitions across the United States will vie for scholarships ranging from $10,000 to the top prize of $100,000. The Siemens Competition, a signature program of the Siemens Foundation, is administered by the College Board. "These students have just earned their place among the nation's greatest high school scientists," said James Whaley, President of the Siemens Foundation, based in Iselin, New Jersey. "Each year, the students' work becomes more impressive, and in a record-setting year such as this one, their achievements become even more outstanding. We are proud to welcome them into our family of Siemens Scholars and look forward to their participation at the national finals in New York City." The students presented their research this weekend to a panel of judges from Carnegie Mellon University, host of the Siemens Competition Region Four Finals. Individual Winner Ruoyi Jiang, a senior at Ward Melville High School in East Setauket, New York won the individual category and a $3,000 college scholarship for his biophysics project that investigated the molecular basis of a prominent mechanism of chemotherapy drug resistance. The project, titled Targeting Loop Dynamics in Beta I/Beta III Isotype Tubulin: The Application of In Silico Techniques in Combating Chemotherapy Drug Resistance, uses state of the art computational techniques to develop a molecular understanding of how Taxol functions to kill tumor cells. "Mr. Jiang's results allowed him to predict the long range effects of drug binding on the structure of that protein," said Dr. Gordon Rule, Professor in the Department of Biological Science at Carnegie Mellon University. "The technique was validated using Taxol, showing that his computational results are consistent with experimental data. These results suggest that this method may have an important contribution in the development of a new class of pharmaceuticals." Mr. Jiang has placed at a variety of science competitions including the National Science Bowl. Mr. Jiang received an Honorable Mention in the Toshiba ExploraVision Competition as well as recognition for his involvement in the Science Olympiad. He is editor of his school newspaper, Kaleidoscope, and a member of the Science Bowl Team. His favorite subject is AP Physics. Mr. Jiang hopes to become a research lab director upon completion of his studies. In addition to his academic accomplishments, he spends his free time doing volunteer work at Stony Brook University Hospital. He enjoys playing the violin and tennis and loves to draw. He also speaks fluent Mandarin. Mr. Jiang worked on this project with his mentor, Dr. Carlos Simmerling, Professor of Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry at Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, New York as well as Dr. George J. Baldo, Director of InSTAR in East Setauket, New York. Team Winners Juniors Cathy Zhou and Israt Ahmed of Francis Lewis High School in Fresh Meadows, New York along with their teammate Stephanie Chen of Stuyvesant High School in New York City won the team category and will share a $6,000 scholarship. The team's archeological project titled ESR Dating "Early Men" and Their Tools at Pradayrol, France and Ainikab I, Russia: "So Easy a Caveman Can Do It!" may provide new insights into hominid migration out of Africa. The team's dating results allow us to understand how hominids migrated through Europe and adapted to rapid climate change and the species with which they interacted. "The team dated one site in Russia in the Caucasus Mountains that documented some of the earliest hominid migration out of Africa into Europe and Asia. In another site in France, they documented evidence of Neanderthals at a date earlier than previously known," said Dr. Ruth Fauman-Fichman, Visiting Associate Professor in the Department of History at Carnegie Mellon University and Research Associate in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Pittsburgh. "The students spent many arduous hours preparing samples in the laboratory for their dating technique. This required them to integrate information from many areas. Archeology requires both enthusiasm for the subject and the ability to spend long hours in the laboratory and this team did both," she said. Ms. Zhou's favorite subjects are biology, physics, math, world history and English. She's currently taking AP Chemistry. Since 2007, she has been in the Junior ROTC as an Academic Team Member and Regional Competition Participant, scoring third place in the Academic Bowl, as well as serving on the Fencing Team. She is a member of the Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Science Research Institute and former Treasurer of her school's Media Production Club. Ms. Zhou would like to invent innovative technology that would improve environmental quality or space explorations. Thus, she plans to study environmental engineering or astronomy, upon entrance to college. In 2008, Ms. Zhou volunteered at Councilman John Liu's office in Flushing. She has been playing the flute for four years, and in her free time, she enjoys rollerblading and ice skating. She also rejoices in ballroom dancing, as well as exploring the Great Outdoors and water rafting. Ms. Zhou speaks fluent Mandarin and is also studying Spanish. Mr. Ahmed lists English, physics, world history, government and biology as his favorite subjects in school. His interest in government and history is evidenced by his participation in AP Government and his leadership role as President of his school's Global Warming Awareness Club. Like Ms. Zhou, he is a member of the RFK Science Research Institute. He hopes to one day become both a geneticist and a neurologist, in order to use the potential of stem cells to help cure diseases. Mr. Ahmed enjoys dancing in his free time, specifically, Pop and Locking and the basics of break dancing. In his free time he plays tennis and is involved with video editing and production. He was born in Bangladesh and speaks Bengali, Japanese, Spanish, Hindi and Latin. Ms. Chen's favorite classes include AP Biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics and English. She is also a member of the RFK Science Research Institute, and a member of Stuyvesant High School's Biology Olympiad, Problem Solvers and Young Arts Society. She is active in her school's German Club as well as the Japanese Culture Club. She plans to become a heart surgeon upon completion of her studies. Beyond her academic pursuits, Ms. Chen is very passionate about art, fashion design, modeling, and charity. Specifically, she is a member of iDesign and Charity a La Mode, both fashion design clubs. She is a member of Cosplay Club, Neo Gokuraku (an anime club) and Stuy Build, a community service club. In her spare time, Ms. Chen draws anime and designs clothing, and also plays piano and alto saxophone. She speaks Spanish and Mandarin, and is currently teaching herself German and Japanese. The team's mentor for this project was Dr. Bonnie Blackwell, Research Scientist at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Dr. Blackwell also directs the Robert F. Kennedy Science Research Institute. Regional Finalists Regional Finalists each received a $1,000 scholarship. Regional Finalists in the individual category were:

• Cynthia Chen, The Brearley School, New York, NY
.
• Joshua Pfeffer, North Shore Hebrew Academy High School, Great Neck, NY
• Jason Shieh, The Bronx High School of Science, Bronx, NY
• Kevin Zhao, Ward Melville High School, East Setauket, NY

Regional Finalists in the team category were:

• Shaunak Bakshi and Peter Massey, Manhasset High School, Manhasset, NY
• Erica Chung, Bergen County Academy for the Advancement of Science and Technology, Hackensack, NJ; and David Park, Herricks High School, New Hyde Park, NY
• Jiayi Lin and Ellis Darby, New Explorations into Science, Technology and Math High School, New York, NY
• Anirudh Nandan, Los Alamitos High School, Los Alamitos, CA; Salonee Shah, W. Tresper Clarke High School, Westbury, NY; and Michelle Leonetti, Long Beach High School, Lido Beach, NY

The Siemens Competition The Siemens Competition was launched in 1998 to recognize America's best and brightest math and science students. In another record-setting year, 2,151 students registered to enter the Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology in 2009 - more than ever before - for a total of 1,348 project submissions - a 14% increase in project submissions over 2008 figures and more than a 12% increase in the number of registrations. Entries are judged at the regional level by esteemed scientists at six leading research universities which host the regional competitions: California Institute of Technology; Carnegie Mellon University; Georgia Institute of Technology; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; University of Notre Dame; and The University of Texas at Austin. Winners of the regional events are invited to compete at the National Finals at New York University in New York City, December 3 - December 7, 2009. Visit www.siemens-foundation.org on December 7, 2009 at 9:30 am EST to view a live webcast of the National Finalist Award Presentation. You can also log into and follow the Siemens Foundation on Twitter (http://twitter.com/SFoundation) for the latest information and announcements throughout this year's competition. About the Siemens Foundation The Siemens Foundation provides more than $7 million annually in support of educational initiatives in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math in the United States. Its signature programs, the Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology and Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement, reward exceptional achievement in science, math and technology. The newest program, The Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge, encourages K-12 students to develop innovative green solutions for environmental issues. By supporting outstanding students today, and recognizing the teachers and schools that inspire their excellence, the Foundation helps nurture tomorrow's scientists and engineers. The Foundation's mission is based on the culture of innovation, research and educational support that is the hallmark of Siemens' U.S. companies and its parent company, Siemens AG. For further information, visit www.siemens-foundation.org. The College Board The College Board is a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the College Board is composed of more than 5,700 schools, colleges, universities and other educational organizations. Each year, the College Board serves seven million students and their parents, 23,000 high schools, and 3,800 colleges through major programs and services in college readiness, college admission, guidance, assessment, financial aid, enrollment, and teaching and learning. Among its best-known programs are the SAT®, the PSAT/NMSQT® and the Advanced Placement Program® (AP®). The College Board is committed to the principles of excellence and equity, and that commitment is embodied in all of its programs, services, activities and concerns. For further information, visit www.collegeboard.com.

In October, The Home Depot® Foundation worked with the Alliance for Community Trees to sponsor National NeighborWoods Month, a month long series of tree planting events by 24,000 volunteers in 231 cities across the country. As a result, more than 36,000 trees were planted in just one month. In addition to the NeighborWoods Month tree planting projects, volunteers also provided tree maintenance tips, training activities and educational seminars to improve urban communities. Team Depot volunteers were a critical part of National Neighborwoods Month. They led and participated in many of the projects across the country:

• In Asheville, NC, 24 Home Depot associates volunteered their time to plant more than 100 oak, dogwood and fruit trees and sixty holly shrubs at the Dearview Apartments.
• In Albuquerque, NM, 30 Home Depot volunteers planted a total of 300 trees at 100 homes in the Sawmill neighborhood and several other affordable housing communities.
• In Pittsburgh, PA, 50 Home Depot volunteers planted 20 trees throughout the East Liberty development.

The Home Depot Foundation is committed to efforts that support environmental stewardship and provide proactive solutions to helping create healthy sustainable communities and affordable housing. "Trees are an important component of responsible design to ensure that homes are affordable, energy efficient, safe and healthy," said Kelly Caffarelli, president of The Home Depot Foundation. "By partnering with ACT and local NeighborWoods organizations, The Foundation is able to further its goals of investing in the overall health and success of our communities." Many American cities have shrinking tree canopies, because it is difficult and expensive to maintain older shade trees and plant new ones, however many mayors have recognized that urban forests are an integral part of a city's infrastructure just as roads, buildings and bridges. Trees reduce cooling bills in summer with shade trees, help reduce greenhouse gases and make low-income neighborhoods more inviting. "This year's outstanding NeighborWoods Month celebration is a reflection of that growing movement for green cities. A dozen major cities have declared city-wide tree canopy goals, involving residents and the private sector to plant and care for trees," said Alice C. Ewen, executive director of the Alliance for Community Trees. "People everywhere are looking for simple, affordable ways to go green and improve their communities. Just by shading a home, you can cut summer energy use by a third, eliminating emissions that contribute to global warming. What's more, that same shade tree will clean the air, save you money, and enhance your home's curb appeal. Those are great benefits everyone can appreciate." For additional information about the 2009 National NeighborWoods Month events, please visit: www.neighborwoodsmonth.org. About The Home Depot Foundation The Home Depot Foundation was created in 2002 to further the community building goals of The Home Depot. The Home Depot Foundation is dedicated to building affordable homes for working families that are healthy to live in and affordable to own. To make homes healthy and affordable, the Foundation encourages developers to incorporate responsible design and use durable and quality materials to ensure that homes are more energy and water efficient, have good indoor air quality, and provide a safe and healthy space to live. Since its formation, The Home Depot Foundation has granted $120 million to nonprofit organizations and supported the development of more than 65,000 affordable, healthy homes. For more information, visit www.homedepotfoundation.org. About Alliance for Community Trees The Alliance for Community Trees was incorporated in 1993 as a problem-solving center for leaders of community-based urban forestry groups. Its founders shared a vision of healthy, functioning urban ecosystems nurtured by a broad base of community stewards. Today, ACT is a growing network of more than 150 organizations engaged in tree planting, care and education. Its members are involved in grassroots community greening, public education, policymaking, job training, and other activities to support urban forest stewardship. Together, they have planted 14.9 million city trees by engaging more than 4.3 million volunteers. Information on ACT and its members can be found at www.actrees.org.

Winners for this week's Brazilian Fair Trade Certified coffee cupping competition have been announced. Sebastiao Reguim of the producer association, Unipcafem, and Marcos Antonio Nali of the producer association, Pro-nova, won first place in the natural and semi-washed coffee categories. The competition, which is a specialized tasting process to assess quality, capped off several months of intensive quality training for farmers and was attended by high-ranking Brazilian and U.S. officials, representatives of the Brazilian coffee industry and international coffee buyers. The event was sponsored by U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Walmart, TransFair USA and the Brazilian non-profit SEBRAE, as part of the Responsible Sourcing Partnership project to benefit farmers throughout Brazil. The project aims to expand and improve the quality of Fair Trade Certified coffee supply though investments in infrastructure, technical assistance with production and postharvest processing, as well as training in coffee quality management. "The 2009 Fair Trade Cupping Competition is an important milestone of the Responsible Sourcing Partnership Project," said Lisa Kubiske, Charge d' Affaires a.i. for the U.S. Embassy in Brazil. "The competition recognizes and rewards premium quality coffee and demonstrates how the Brazilian producers are taking advantage of the economic, social and environmental benefits resulting from the adoption of Fair Trade practices." USAID, Walmart, TransFair USA and SEBRAE have partnered together on a three-year, public-private responsible sourcing partnership program. From 2007 - 2010, program partners will commit $1.9 million in investments and technical support to help 5,000 farmers from the Brazilian states of Sao Paolo, Minas Gerais and Espiritu Santo increase coffee quality, improve cooperative management and enhance marketing. "We want to congratulate the farmers that participated in the competition and appreciate them for their tireless efforts to bring our members the highest quality coffee," said Jill Turner-Mitchael, senior vice president of Merchandising, Sam's Club. "We are proud that through this partnership, we are giving these farmers the opportunity to continue to improve their operations, compete in the global market and provide a better life for their families and their communities." Producers and their families benefit from increased employment opportunities, expanded access to new domestic and international markets, increased use of environmentally-sound farming methods, better prices for their coffee beans and overall improvements in their quality of life. "These coffee farmers have spent the past two years tirelessly working to improve the quality of their crops. They have participated in training sessions, attended specialty coffee conferences, and for the first time, many of their cooperatives have skilled, inhouse cuppers," said Paul Rice, president and CEO of TransFair USA. "Because of the Responsible Sourcing Partnership Project, some of the best specialty coffee in Brazil has been uncovered, and we are so proud to say that it is Fair Trade Certified." In 2008, imports of Fair Trade Certified coffee into the United States grew more than 30 percent. Fair Trade Certification provides higher prices, support for sustainable agriculture and funds for democratically-elected development projects. The Responsible Sourcing Partnership Project is an innovative public-private union designed to amplify the benefits Brazilian farmers gain from Fair Trade, increasing their incomes and capacities going forward. About USAID/Brazil USAID is an independent federal government agency receiving overall foreign policy guidance from the Secretary of State. Our work supports long-term and equitable economic growth and advances U.S. foreign policy objectives by supporting global health, economic growth, agriculture and trade, democracy, conflict prevention, and humanitarian assistance. In Brazil, USAID supports Brazilian efforts towards sustainable socio and economic development, while strengthening the partnership between the United States and Brazil. For more information about USAID, visit brazil.usaid.gov About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT), or "Walmart," serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at more than 8,000 retail units under 53 different banners in 15 countries. With fiscal year 2009 sales of $401 billion, Walmart employs more than 2.1 million associates worldwide. A leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity, Walmart ranked first among retailers in Fortune Magazine's 2009 Most Admired Companies survey. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting www.walmartstores.com. Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com and www.samsclub.com. About TransFair USA TransFair USA, a FLO member organization, is the only independent, third-party certifier of Fair Trade Certified™ products in the United States. TransFair USA audits and certifies in accordance with FLO's internationally agreed standards, monitoring transactions between U.S. companies and their international suppliers to guarantee that the farmers and workers producing Fair Trade Certified goods were paid fair prices and wages. TransFair USA certifies coffee and more than 20 other product categories. For more information about TransFair USA, visit www.FairTradeCertified.org About SEBRAE The Service of Support for the Micro and Small Companies of the State of Minas Gerais -SEBRAE-MG was created in 1972. Its mission is to promote the competitiveness and the sustainable development of the micro and small companies as well as to promote the entrepreneurship in the State of Minas Gerais. It offers entrepreneurial orientation, promotes courses, lectures and projects of managerial training, encourages the formalization, approaching micro and small companies with the market and stimulates the generation of business. SEBRAE-MG, thus, contributes to induce the socioeconomic development of the State of Minas Gerais with the generation of revenue, work, income and better life conditions for the population.

Winners for this week's Brazilian Fair Trade Certified coffee cupping competition have been announced. Sebastiao Reguim of the producer association, Unipcafem, and Marcos Antonio Nali of the producer association, Pro-nova, won first place in the natural and semi-washed coffee categories. The competition, which is a specialized tasting process to assess quality, capped off several months of intensive quality training for farmers and was attended by high-ranking Brazilian and U.S. officials, representatives of the Brazilian coffee industry and international coffee buyers. The event was sponsored by U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Walmart, TransFair USA and the Brazilian non-profit SEBRAE, as part of the Responsible Sourcing Partnership project to benefit farmers throughout Brazil. The project aims to expand and improve the quality of Fair Trade Certified coffee supply though investments in infrastructure, technical assistance with production and postharvest processing, as well as training in coffee quality management. "The 2009 Fair Trade Cupping Competition is an important milestone of the Responsible Sourcing Partnership Project," said Lisa Kubiske, Charge d' Affaires a.i. for the U.S. Embassy in Brazil. "The competition recognizes and rewards premium quality coffee and demonstrates how the Brazilian producers are taking advantage of the economic, social and environmental benefits resulting from the adoption of Fair Trade practices." USAID, Walmart, TransFair USA and SEBRAE have partnered together on a three-year, public-private responsible sourcing partnership program. From 2007 - 2010, program partners will commit $1.9 million in investments and technical support to help 5,000 farmers from the Brazilian states of Sao Paolo, Minas Gerais and Espiritu Santo increase coffee quality, improve cooperative management and enhance marketing. "We want to congratulate the farmers that participated in the competition and appreciate them for their tireless efforts to bring our members the highest quality coffee," said Jill Turner-Mitchael, senior vice president of Merchandising, Sam's Club. "We are proud that through this partnership, we are giving these farmers the opportunity to continue to improve their operations, compete in the global market and provide a better life for their families and their communities." Producers and their families benefit from increased employment opportunities, expanded access to new domestic and international markets, increased use of environmentally-sound farming methods, better prices for their coffee beans and overall improvements in their quality of life. "These coffee farmers have spent the past two years tirelessly working to improve the quality of their crops. They have participated in training sessions, attended specialty coffee conferences, and for the first time, many of their cooperatives have skilled, inhouse cuppers," said Paul Rice, president and CEO of TransFair USA. "Because of the Responsible Sourcing Partnership Project, some of the best specialty coffee in Brazil has been uncovered, and we are so proud to say that it is Fair Trade Certified." In 2008, imports of Fair Trade Certified coffee into the United States grew more than 30 percent. Fair Trade Certification provides higher prices, support for sustainable agriculture and funds for democratically-elected development projects. The Responsible Sourcing Partnership Project is an innovative public-private union designed to amplify the benefits Brazilian farmers gain from Fair Trade, increasing their incomes and capacities going forward. About USAID/Brazil USAID is an independent federal government agency receiving overall foreign policy guidance from the Secretary of State. Our work supports long-term and equitable economic growth and advances U.S. foreign policy objectives by supporting global health, economic growth, agriculture and trade, democracy, conflict prevention, and humanitarian assistance. In Brazil, USAID supports Brazilian efforts towards sustainable socio and economic development, while strengthening the partnership between the United States and Brazil. For more information about USAID, visit brazil.usaid.gov About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT), or "Walmart," serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at more than 8,000 retail units under 53 different banners in 15 countries. With fiscal year 2009 sales of $401 billion, Walmart employs more than 2.1 million associates worldwide. A leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity, Walmart ranked first among retailers in Fortune Magazine's 2009 Most Admired Companies survey. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting www.walmartstores.com. Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com and www.samsclub.com. About TransFair USA TransFair USA, a FLO member organization, is the only independent, third-party certifier of Fair Trade Certified™ products in the United States. TransFair USA audits and certifies in accordance with FLO's internationally agreed standards, monitoring transactions between U.S. companies and their international suppliers to guarantee that the farmers and workers producing Fair Trade Certified goods were paid fair prices and wages. TransFair USA certifies coffee and more than 20 other product categories. For more information about TransFair USA, visit www.FairTradeCertified.org About SEBRAE The Service of Support for the Micro and Small Companies of the State of Minas Gerais -SEBRAE-MG was created in 1972. Its mission is to promote the competitiveness and the sustainable development of the micro and small companies as well as to promote the entrepreneurship in the State of Minas Gerais. It offers entrepreneurial orientation, promotes courses, lectures and projects of managerial training, encourages the formalization, approaching micro and small companies with the market and stimulates the generation of business. SEBRAE-MG, thus, contributes to induce the socioeconomic development of the State of Minas Gerais with the generation of revenue, work, income and better life conditions for the population.

CVS/pharmacy kicks off its annual in store fundraiser for the sixth year to support the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Thanks and Giving campaign, beginning this Sunday and running through December 12. CVS/pharmacy store colleagues will encourage customers to add $1 to their purchase at the register to support the lifesaving research of St. Jude, one of the world's premier centers for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other catastrophic childhood diseases. In the first five years of the campaign, CVS/pharmacy and its customers raised more than $13 million for the hospital. "We are thrilled that CVS/pharmacy is once again a part of our annual Thanks and Giving campaign," said Marlo Thomas, National Outreach Director. "Their dedication to the campaign has an enormous impact on the lives of countless children and their families in communities across the country who benefit from their caring and generous spirit." Funds raised by CVS/pharmacy for Thanks and Giving support the CVS Caremark Rehabilitation Services Center at St. Jude. Children with catastrophic diseases like cancer may experience developmental, cognitive or physical impairments as a result of their illnesses as well as the treatments used to save their lives. The new facility, which opened this summer, doubled the space dedicated to providing audiology, occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech-language pathology services to St. Jude patients. "We are delighted that our partnership with St. Jude has made it possible for us to support some extraordinary children to reach their greatest potential on their road to recovery," said Eileen Howard Dunn, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications and Community Relations, CVS Caremark. About St. Jude St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. St. Jude is the first and only pediatric cancer center to be designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tenn., St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. No child is ever denied treatment because of the family's inability to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fundraising organization. For more information, please visit www.stjude.org. About CVS/pharmacy CVS/pharmacy is the retail division of CVS Caremark Corporation (NYSE: CVS). The Company operates more than 7,000 CVS/pharmacy and Longs Drugs stores. CVS/pharmacy is committed to improving the lives of those we serve by making innovative and high-quality health and pharmacy services safe, affordable and easy to access, both in its stores and online at CVS.com. General information about CVS/pharmacy and CVS Caremark is available at www.cvscaremark.com.

In recognition of Universal Children's Day, established by the United Nations General Assembly as a day to promote the protection, welfare and education of the children of the world, Global Water Challenge (GWC) today released "Clean Start: Focusing on School Water, Sanitation and Hygiene." The report identifies the challenges and solutions associated with the global water crisis and its effect on children. It identifies access to clean drinking water as one of the leading health threats to children around the world today and the cause for millions of deaths and education loss each year. Every day, more than 300 million children attend schools without safe drinking water or access to a clean toilet. Without clean water, children cannot wash their hands and disease travels rapidly through crowded classrooms, causing sickness and forcing kids to miss and often drop out of school. In the long term, educational achievement is one of the most important determinants of health, life expectancy, economic productivity and the well-being of future generations. Those most burdened by this crisis are women and girls who are oftentimes forced to walk 6 km (3.7 miles) each day to secure water that is likely unsuitable for drinking. Girls who have to help their mothers fetch water often arrive to school late, or not at all. There are solutions available to help combat this crisis. GWC currently supports school programs that provide clean and safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene to communities around the world. Where schools lack access to water, GWC assists through the collection of rainwater - known as rainwater harvesting - or by building wells. If the school has access to only dirty water, GWC works to provide water filters and chlorine tablets. These current programs are taking place in countries around the world such as Kenya, Tanzania, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua. Schools are one way to reach thousands of children each day with these common-sense inputs for improved health. "It is clear that access to clean water, safe sanitation and hygiene are building blocks for healthy schools. With 300 million children in school and enrollment growing everyday, Global Water Challenge believes that it is imperative that governments work to scale up the most effective and sustainable solutions," said Dr. Tanvi Nagpal, director of water and sanitation programs at Global Water Challenge. This Universal Children's Day, GWC is urging people around the world to become part of the solution. On April 18, 2010, GWC will join Live Earth and Dow to host the Dow Live Earth Run for Water, a historic movement to help put an end to the global water crisis. The event will consist of a series of 6 km run/walks (the average distance many women and children walk every day to secure water) taking place over the course of 24 hours in countries around the world, featuring concerts and water education activities aimed at igniting a tipping point to help solve the water crisis. Ten percent of registration fees from run/walk events taking place in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York City and Washington D.C. will be donated to GWC to support water projects, including those that bring clean, safe drinking water and sanitation education to school children worldwide. For more information on registering for a run or donating funds, please visit http://liveearth.org/run. "This event will encourage the global community to take action on one of the most serious environmental issues today, the global water crisis," said Kevin Wall, founder and CEO of Live Earth. "It will raise the profile of this issue, educate the world’s citizens about its challenges and bring resources and solutions to the nearly one billion people around the world who lack access to clean, safe drinking water." The Dow Live Earth Run for Water will take place in hundreds of countries around the world, participants of the Dow Live Earth Run for Water are encouraged to RUN in a run/walk in their community or organize their own run/walk through the Friends of Live Earth program, SAVE water in their home and local community through conservation efforts, GIVE money to support clean, safe water projects and SPEAK UP by signing the Live Earth petition to express your support that eeveryone should have access to clean water, adequate for the health and well-being of the individual and the family. "Dow is committed to being a leader in addressing the global water crisis," said Ian Barbour, general manager at Dow Water & Process Solutions, a business unit of Dow. "As a company, we are developing innovative water treatment technologies, reducing water use at our manufacturing facilities and initiating creative partnerships like the Dow Live Earth Run for Water to ensure children and adults worldwide have access to this basic human necessity." For more information on the GWC White Paper, please visit http://action.globalwaterchallenge.org/childrensday. For more information on the Dow Live Earth Run for Water, please visit http://liveearth.org. About Global Water Challenge GWC is a diverse coalition that consists of leading organizations working to provide creative and sustainable solutions for universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation. GWC's mission is to generate a global movement to meet the urgent need for safe water and sanitation by spurring collective awareness and investment in water supply/sanitation innovation by corporate, public, and nongovernmental actors. Our challenge is to reach people with the tools and education they need to empower themselves. Access to clean water and sanitation leads to healthier, longer and more productive lives, and breaks the cycle of poverty. Water and sanitation are not just human rights, they are human necessities. More information about Global Water Challenge can be found at http://www.globalwaterchallenge.org. About Live Earth Founded by Emmy-winning producer Kevin Wall, in partnership with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, Live Earth was built upon the belief that entertainment has the power to transcend social and cultural barriers to move the world community to action. A for-profit company, Live Earth seeks to leverage the power of entertainment through integrated events, media and the live experience to ignite a global movement aimed at solving the most critical environmental issues of our time. More information about Live Earth can be found at http://liveearth.org. About The Dow Chemical Company With sales of $58 billion in 2008 and 46,000 employees worldwide, Dow is a diversified chemical company that combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element" to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. The Company delivers a broad range of products and services to customers in around 160 countries, connecting chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. On April 1, 2009, Dow acquired Rohm and Haas Company, a global specialty materials company with sales of $10 billion in 2008 and 15,000 employees worldwide. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

The Levi's® brand is proud to announce charity: water as the winning charity of its recent GO IV Fortune $100,000 green charity giveaway. Beginning in mid-October, GO IV Fortune players nominated hundreds of charitable organizations with a commitment to sustainability and the environment. The list was narrowed down to ten finalists and thousands of gamers voted for the charity they felt best embodied the Levi's® brand's pioneering spirit and rich legacy of promoting sustainability. Today charity: water was announced as America's choice. charity: water (www.charitywater.org) is a non-profit organization that brings safe and clean drinking water to people in developing nations. Almost 1 billion people on the planet don't have clean water - one in eight people don't have access to the most basic of human needs. In three years, charity: water has raised more than $11 million and funded 1,549 water projects in 16 countries. 100 percent of public donations to charity: water goes directly to fund these important water projects. The charity: water team rallied their followers and fans to join in the movement to bring water to developing nations and used social networking and word-of-mouth efforts to encourage people to vote for them in Levi's® GO IV Fortune challenge. "We're thrilled to accept the generous $100,000 charitable gift from Levi's. Almost a billion people on the planet currently lack access to clean drinking water, and 100 percent of the money will be used to bring clean and safe water to 5,000 people in need," says Scott Harrison, president and founder of charity: water. Levi Strauss & Co. is an industry leader in promoting sustainability issues. From pioneering labor and environmental guidelines for suppliers, to supporting more sustainable ways to grow cotton - values guide everything the company does. charity: water shares Levi's® passion for pioneering positive change and commitment to making our world a better place. The Levi's® brand is honored to support charity: water's mission to provide safe and clean drinking water to people in developing nations. The GO IV Fortune interactive challenge wraps up later this week and another $100,000 will be awarded to the player who cracked the final cipher on Tuesday, November 17. The winner, who will be announced next week, will go to an undisclosed location on Saturday, November 21 to dig up the buried $100,000 prize. About the Grayson Ozias IV Fortune Challenge Launched October 5, 2009, at levi.com/goforth, this interactive challenge invites participants to solve mysteries as they unfold, keep up with other players or go for the gold themselves with the final cipher. It is a mystery, wrapped in a puzzle and an adventure across our country. The narrative behind the challenge follows Grayson Ozias IV, a fictional character based on the Levi's® brand's pioneering and innovative spirit, on his adventures across America until his 1896 disappearance into the wilderness, after hiding his considerable fortune. The game's scavenger hunt lead to many cities and towns across America, each a part of Grayson's journey and tasks players to step out from behind their computers and the hunt will lead some lucky player into the real world directly to the buried treasure. Each task at each city or town triggers the next clue in the challenge. The ongoing puzzle, an elaborate cryptogram, requires a combination of knowledge, skill and determination. The players will be receiving clues and pieces of the puzzle from launch to finish. The first player to crack the final puzzle and send it to the Levi's® game team will win Grayson Ozias's buried fortune. Players can also win other great prizes throughout the journey. The hidden fortune is the third expedition from Levi's® Go Forth campaign, first launched July 1, 2009. The campaign has been supported heavily in digital social media (Facebook, Twitter), online via rich media and offline (ESPN The Magazine). The first two expeditions-the New Declaration and the New Americans-were an homage to today's America. About the Levi's® Brand The Levi's® brand epitomizes classic American style and effortless cool. Since their invention by Levi Strauss in 1873, Levi's® jeans have become the most recognizable and imitated clothing in the world - capturing the imagination and loyalty of people for generations. Today, the Levi's® brand portfolio continues to evolve through a relentless pioneering and innovative spirit that is unparalleled in the apparel industry. Our range of leading jeanswear and accessories are available in more than 110 countries, allowing individuals around the world to express their personal style. For more information about the Levi's® brand, its products and stores, please visit http://levi.com.

UPS (NYSE:UPS) has earned the top score in the consumer shipping sector of the annual "Climate Counts" scorecard and also was rated No. 11 among all 143 ranked companies. UPS ranked No. 1 in the consumer shipping sector, leaping ahead of competitors Deutsche Post World Net/DHL, the U.S. Postal Service and FedEx. Climate Counts ranks the world's largest companies based on 22 criteria that focus on measuring and reducing climate impact, corporate support of public policy initiatives on climate change and openness and transparency in reporting. The Climate Counts ranking is just the latest in a long list of honors for environmental leadership received by UPS in recent months. Other recent honors include: Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index's "Top 50 Global Companies," the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) SmartWay Excellence Award, and Newsweek's Greenest Companies in America. "Increasingly consumers are choosing to spend their money with companies that are environmental leaders. The Climate Counts scorecard helps consumers find those leaders," said Bob Stoffel, UPS senior vice president of supply chain, strategy, engineering and sustainability. "UPS's top ranking highlights the major strides we've taken to credibly report and minimize our environmental impact. For example, in 2009 we introduced several new green packaging and shipping services including the UPS carbon neutral program, the first such option available to offset the climate impact of shipping within the United States." The Climate Counts scorecard can be found at www.climatecounts.org. More information about UPS's sustainability initiatives is available at www.responsibility.ups.com/sustainability.

Just nine months after launching an industry-leading ingredient communication website, SC Johnson today announced it has already completed the task of populating the U.S. site with more than 200 products and their ingredients. The site, www.WhatsInsideSCJohnson.com, now includes 129 SC Johnson air care products and 76 home cleaning products, as well as explanations of the 169 ingredients that comprise these products. The company also today announced a soon-to-launch Spanish-language version for the U.S. "Today's families want to know what's in the products they use in their homes," said Chairman and CEO Fisk Johnson. "For us, it's about living up to the trust our consumers put in us." What's Unique about WhatsInsideSCJohnson.com SC Johnson’s ingredient disclosure site includes the company's lineup of air care and home cleaning products, each with a consumer-friendly list of ingredients, a more technical list of ingredients using the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) and an explanation of each ingredient's purpose. Additionally, the site lists out each of the dyes used in the product, and by January 1, 2012 will also provide preservative and fragrance ingredients as well. This is a departure from an industry right-to-know initiative announced in late 2008, which does not require the listing of dyes, fragrances or preservatives. However, SC Johnson wanted to do more. "Transparency doesn't mean cherry-picking which things to share and which things to hide. It means opening the door and letting people see what you’re made of," noted Johnson. "We have already included in our ingredient communications the dyes we use in products, and we're committed to communicating the fragrance ingredients and preservatives as well." SC Johnson's ingredient disclosure plan also differs from the industry initiative in terms of how information is communicated. To comply with the industry effort, companies will need to provide ingredient information through at least one form of communication: online, on product labels, via toll-free number or using some other non-electronic means. SC Johnson is making its information accessible in not one but three ways: the dedicated Web site (www.WhatsInsideSCJohnson.com), the company’s toll-free number (1-800-558-5252), and on product labels that will be phased in for home cleaning and air care products by January 2012. Early in 2010, the company will launch a Spanish-language version of its WhatsInside site, to make its information more accessible for its Spanish-speaking consumers in the U.S. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2007, there were 35 million U.S. residents who speak Spanish at home.* SC Johnson: History of Doing What's Right SC Johnson's ingredient communication leadership extends the company's long history of doing what’s right for people and the planet. In this decade alone, the company developed its Greenlist$trade; process to classify raw materials according to their impact on the environment. Using our Greenlist™ process, over the last five years SC Johnson cut nearly 48 million pounds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from its products. SC Johnson also is known for slashing coal-fired energy dependence at its manufacturing facilities. Since 2003, the company has used cogeneration with methane from a local public landfill to produce green energy for its largest global manufacturing plant. Last spring, SC Johnson also struck a five-year deal to source nearly half of the power for its second-largest North American plant from wind power. In Medan, Indonesia, the company has cut its use of diesel fuel by 80 percent by burning waste palm shells as a fuel source. And at SC Johnson's largest European manufacturing facility, located in Mijdrecht, The Netherlands, the company built a wind turbine that is expected to eliminate about 3,900 tons of carbon dioxide annually and allows the facility to use 655,000 kilograms less coal. About SC Johnson SC Johnson is a family-owned and managed business dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, and insect control. It markets such well-known brands as GLADE®, OFF!®, PLEDGE®, RAID®, SCRUBBING BUBBLES®, SHOUT®, WINDEX® and ZIPLOC® in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN®, BAYGON®, BRISE®, ECHO®, KABIKILLER®, KLEAR®, and MR. MUSCLE®. The 123-year old company, with more than $8 billion in sales, employs approximately 12,000 people globally and sells products in more than 110 countries. For more information, please visit www.scjohnson.com