Greater Good

The New York Islanders wanted to take its relationship with the Guide Dog Foundation to a higher level, so the National Hockey League team created Puppies with a Purpose. The program, now in its third year, provides funding and training for puppies that are eventually partnered with people who are blind or visually impaired. Throughout the training process the pups get to mingle with fans at games and community-related events, which is crucial for the development of guide dogs.

An environmental activist, social entrepreneur, and artist, 22-year-old Maya Penn has already launched a sustainable fashion brand and a related nonprofit organization, among other noteworthy accomplishments. She shares her perspective on how brands can best weave purpose into their business and speak to the concerns of gen Z.

Easterseals’ Tyler Hall, recipient of the 2022 ANA Nonprofit Federation Rising Leader Award, is highly regarded for his good trouble, generosity, and grit, as well as for his data-driven fundraising practices. In this Q&A, Hall shares his professional journey and the lessons learned along the way.

Brands and organizations can appeal to much more diverse and wider audiences, thanks to a new online platform offered by Microsoft Advertising. The program consists of nearly 40 business attributes based on research showing what is most important to people in building trust with brands.

The venerable Toys for Tots program, run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve since 1947, launched an initiative with the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation to provide toys, books, and other gifts to Afghan children who have been granted asylum in the U.S. The aim is to offer some comfort and hope to these young refugees as they adjust to their new lives.

As head of global activism strategy, Christopher Miller advances numerous social causes to grow the Ben & Jerry's brand.

Led by Faye Nelson, the nonprofit Casting for Recovery provides women a therapeutic technique to aid their recovery from breast cancer.

Through activism, home-grown fair trade supply chains, and organic products, soapmaker Dr. Bronner’s stays true to its founder’s legacy.

Determined to put the company's unique hiring model on the map and increase job opportunities for people facing employment barriers, Greyston Bakery CEO Joseph Kenner is breaking down barriers and driving change.

Mindy Scheier initially met resistance from fashion brands when she tried to convince them about the benefits of developing adaptive clothing lines. However, in just a few years she’s turned the tide, working with a growing number of companies to design clothing lines catering to people with disabilities. According to the World Bank, one billion people throughout the world have some form of disability.

For more than a century, Bollé has built a reputation for developing high-end, quality helmets and sunglasses. Under Tove Fritzell, senior director of product and innovation, the brand will soon launch a new line of products to help minimize its environmental impact and protect the outdoors.

Land Rover’s Defender Above and Beyond Service Awards were created to honor the return of the Defender model to the U.S. market and its long history of service to help those in need. But the program also serves as a marketing hub to assist nonprofit organizations and help them show the positive impact they have at the local level.

To help improve the lives of those struggling with addiction and mental health disorders, the nonprofit Helio Health, in partnership with the agency Mower, created the “TransformNation” campaign. It aims to change people’s mindset from helplessness to one of hope, drive action, and promote the message of community and connection.

The mission of the outdoor company Cotopaxi is to combine eco-friendly products with fair labor practices and poverty alleviation. It’s infused throughout the operation, in everything from how the company sources material for its colorful fluorescent backpacks, sweaters, jackets, and other gear to its product-design process.

Organic Valley, the largest organic dairy cooperative in the U.S., is committed to saving organic family farms and caring for people, animals, and the planet.

In 2018, footwear specialist brand KEEN eliminated the use of harmful PFCs, or perfluorocarbons, in its product line. Under the leadership of Erik Burbank, KEEN hopes to help others in the industry understand the issues around PFCs and drive awareness.

Ear Community supports individuals born with Microtia (missing or underdeveloped ears) and Atresia (absent or underdeveloped ear canals resulting in hearing loss). Driven by a dynamic mother-and-daughter duo, the nonprofit is now on the cusp of achieving one of its main goals: mandating insurance coverage for people in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities.

After graduating from college, Paul Boudreau set his sights on changing the world. And he has — in a big way — by transforming the plastics industry through biodegradable and compostable bioplastic materials.

King Arthur Baking Company, the oldest flour company in the U.S., saw flour sales increase 80 percent in 2020 compared to the previous year. Here’s how the employee-run company made it happen amid a pandemic.

Girls4Tech, a program founded in 2014 by Mastercard’s Susan Warner to inspire young girls about careers in STEM, has already far surpassed its initial goal of reaching 200,000 girls by 2020. The future looks even brighter.