Archive for Social Responsibility
Post Fruity Pebbles Cereal and John Cena Partner to Combat Bullying and Promote CSR
Posted by: | CommentsBullying is a very real issue that is plaguing children today. There was a time when bullying was relegated to the schoolyard, but in the age of social media this torment is hard, if not impossible, to escape. There are various celebrities and corporations that are trying to bring awareness to the issue through corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives that help spread the anti-bullying message. Post’s Fruity Pebbles cereal has partnered WWE Superstar wrestler John Cena to join the fight against bullying.
Image Credit: wwe.com
The partnership between Post Fruity Pebbles and Cena is the result of a comment made by actor and former wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. At Wrestle Mania XXVIII The Rock said that Cena’s outfit resembled a bowl of the colorful cereal. The outcome of Cena embracing the nickname is a collectable cereal box featuring the wrestler. Each Cena cereal box contains an instant-win promotion. The grand prize is a VIP meet-and-greet session with the popular wrestler. The boxes will be available from January through March in the United States.
The campaign will hopefully bring awareness to two issues that are close to Cena, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and anti-bullying foundation be a STAR (watch the PSA below). The Make-A-Wish Foundation helps grant the wishes of children who are suffering from life-threatening illness. Cena has worked the Make-A-Wish Foundation for years as he has donated his time and helped make wishes come true for children in need.
The anti-bullying component of their CSR initiative is to help support the ‘be a STAR alliance’. “Be a STAR is an anti-bullying alliance co-founded by The Creative Coalition and WWE.” Organizations that have partnered with be a STAR include: GLAAD and Champions Against Bullying. Be A STAR asks children to take an online pledge to help prevent bullying, stop buying that is going on, and help support those who are bullied. By having children take the pledge they may be more committed to helping others and stopping this epidemic.
About the campaign Cena said, “I am proud that the partnership also spreads awareness about the life-changing wishes granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation and ‘be a STAR’s’ anti-bullying message of showing tolerance and respect.”
As mentioned above part of the grand prize of the instant-win contest is a meet-and-greet with Cena; however, there is more to the prize. The grand prize winner will also receive transportation to and from a WWE live event, and a “Rise Above Hate” T-shirt signed by Cena in support of the ‘be a STAR’ anti-bullying message. The first prizewinner will be given an autographed “be a STAR” t-shirt. The second prizewinner will be awarded one of the exclusive “be a STAR” t-shirts. “To enter, look inside the specially marked boxes featuring Cena for a special code to submit on PebblesPlay.com/Cena.”
This is an excellent CSR initiative for both Cena and Post Fruity Pebbles. Post Fruity Pebbles’ key demographic is parents, as the cereal appeals mainly to children. The prizes being offered and having Cena on the box will draw in both new and repeat customers. Parents will approve of the cereal because it supports an important cause. Consumers are becoming savvier and using the power of their pocket books to help support causes they believe in and to effect change in the world. As conscious consumerism grows in popularity, CSR initiatives like this one will become more important to help stand apart from the competition. In the end two worthy causes are getting the notoriety they deserve and Post Fruity Pebbles is able to draw in new consumers.
Watch the ‘Be a Star’ PSA:
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Social Responsibility from Charlie Sheen Donates to Alabama Tornado Victims
Posted by: | CommentsWith a new year people often try to turn over a new leaf, this is the case for actor Charlie Sheen who recently embraced social responsibility by helping Alabama tornado victims. Many remember that he started off 2011 with his Aristotelian fall from grace. It was his manic interviews; comments about winning, tiger blood and other antics that ultimately lead to being fired from the CBS hit comedy Two and a Half Men and replaced by Ashton Kutcher. The embattled star made headlines and was the punch line of many jokes last year.
Charlie Sheen poses with police officers and National Guard soldiers in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (May 2011 Photo/Alan Blinder)
Things seemed to have shifted for Sheen and he appears to be back on track. Not only has he managed to keep his name off the gossip blogs, but has begun this year a little differently by donating $25,000 to aid with tornado relief in Alabama.
Sheen had visited the area after the April 27 twisters, which took nearly 300 lives, and he promised to help. His grand fundraising suggestions included a relief show and arranging a celebrity baseball game, with the goal being to raise $25,000. Unfortunately, these plans never came to fruition, and many believed he had forgotten about his promise. This was just more fuel to the tabloid fodder that was Sheen’s life in 2011.
However, Sheen turned out to be a man of his word and made the donation as promised. He made this contribution to the Alabama tornado relief fund without fanfare through the aid website he set up. In the end he personally gave $15,000 and the other $10,000 came by way of donations to the site. “He said he wanted to raise $25,000, and he made good on that,” said Bob Maron, one of Sheen‘s managers.
This is a good example of social responsibility and how people can grow and change. Sheen has begun to calm down and act more like a responsible adult rather than the frenzied playboy persona he lived up to last year. One of the best parts about Sheen’s donation was the way that this brought media attention back to the tornado victims. This donation, though it was done discreetly, made headlines. Sheen’s contribution to the victims will hopefully spur other notable figures and everyday people to help. With disaster relief, aid comes directly after an event, but given the twenty-four hour news cycle, stories are often pushed to the backburner and forgotten about. So kudos to Sheen for not only making good on his promise, but for bringing the spotlight back to this needy cause.
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Planet Forward is an online retailer of ethically-made, earth-friendly products designed for everyday use with a distinctly urban feel. Products include reusable stainless steel bottles, stainless steel thermal travel mugs, waste-free lunch bags, reusable shopping bags, Make-it-Yourself toxin-free Green Cleaning kits, organic fashions and other accessories. SALE 50% OFF ALL PRODUCTS – SHOP NOW !
Meryl Streep Donates Iron Lady Paycheck to Women’s History Museum
Posted by: | CommentsWe’ve written about many corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives from various companies, but we feel it’s important to also recognize celebrities that lend their names or talents to charity projects. Meryl Streep is another terrific example of a celebrity using their notoriety and financial success to support an important project. The actress who is currently starring on the silver screen in the Margaret Thatcher bio-pic The Iron Lady, donated her entire salary to the National Women’s History Museum (NWHM). And just last night during the Golden Globe Awards, Streep was rewarded as best actress in a drama for her incredible performance in the film.
Photo: Annie Leibovitz vogue.com
The NWHM is a project that is currently trying to come to fruition in Washington D.C. The idea behind the NWHM is to represent a side of history that is often overlooked – the role that women have played in shaping America. The museum has been met with resistance from congress as funding is needed.
Streep’s involvement in the NWHM does not stop at her sizable monetary donation. When she was asked to appear on the cover of the January 2012 issue of Vogue, her stipulation was that a group of powerful Washington women be included. The members of this group are all involved in getting the NWHM built and operating. At 62, Streep is the oldest woman to ever grace the cover of the fashion magazine, a feat in of itself. The two-time Academy Award winner was joined by Joan Wages, the president and CEO of the NWHM, Senator Susan Collins, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and noted poet Maya Angelou for the spread. The photos taken by acclaimed photographer Annie Leibovitz, also included Sen. Barbara Mikulski, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, and former first-daughters Barbara Bush and Patricia Nixon Cox.
These notable women are fighting for this museum because up until the twentieth century primarily men wrote history books and women were often forgotten or their roles downplayed. In Washington there are many museums that celebrate different aspects and segments of American history, but not one that is dedicated to the impact that women have had on the country.
It’s a bold and impressive move for Meryl Streep to donate her salary to this cause and it makes perfect sense. She played Thatcher, the longest serving Prime Minister in British history, a woman with politics that may have been polarizing but did leave a lasting legacy on the world. It would seem that donating her salary from this role is as important as Streep’s participation in making the NWHM a reality. Her involvement in the project brings prestige, credibility and most of all, attention to the cause. Companies make donations all the time as part of their CSR initiatives, but when one of the most celebrated actresses in the history of cinema gets involved in something, people take notice. Hopefully the donation from The Iron Lady will allow the impact of other notable women to be celebrated.
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Planet Forward is an online retailer of ethically-made, earth-friendly products designed for everyday use with a distinctly urban feel. Products include reusable stainless steel bottles, stainless steel thermal travel mugs, waste-free lunch bags, reusable shopping bags, Make-it-Yourself toxin-free Green Cleaning kits, organic fashions and other accessories. SALE 50% OFF ALL PRODUCTS – SHOP NOW !
