AMBSE News
$4 million Grant to the Atlanta Humane Society
The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation announced a $4 million grant to Atlanta Humane Society to support the expansion of their new Westside campus. Our chairman and his family have always had a deep love for animals, and we’re proud to support the Atlanta Humane Society as they help thousands of animals find their forever home.
Atlanta Falcons News
2022 Regular Season Opponents Announced
The Falcons will host the Arizona Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, LA Chargers, and the Chicago Bears in Mercedes-Benz Stadium during the upcoming 2022 NFL season.
Kyle Pitts and Josh Harris Selected for Pro Bowl
Voted by a combination of fans, players and coaches, rookie TE Kyle Pitts and long snapper Josh Harris were selected to play in the 2022 Pro Bowl on February 6th at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Long snapper Josh Harris was named to his first Pro Bowl in his 10th professional season, all of them spent with the Falcons. The Auburn product has been steady as ever while playing a vital role in the special teams operation, delivering consistent snaps to a rotating group of holders and punters this season.
Tight end Kyle Pitts made the league's annual all-star game in his first NFL season, a deserved honor after a standout campaign where he had several huge games and made some highlight-reel catches while moving all over the formation. This year's No. 4 overall NFL draft pick is the first rookie tight end to be on the initial Pro Bowl roster since Jeremy Shockey in the 2002 season, per Elias Sports Bureau.
A.J Terrell and Josh Harris Named to All Pro Second Team
Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell and long snapper Josh Harris were named to the All-Pro second-team. This massive honor is NFL-wide, not a conference split like the Pro Bowl, voted upon by a panel of 50 national media members. In just his second year in the league, Terrell led the NFL in several statistical categories and was recognized as a shutdown cornerback during a breakout season.
Mike Davis Named Atlanta Falcon's 2021 Walter Payton Man of the Year
The Walter Payton Man of the Year Award is regarded throughout the NFL as the league's most prestigious honor. This award is given every year to 32 men across the league who go above and beyond to serve their hometowns and team's communities. Mike Davis has done incredible work with his foundation, The Mike Davis Foundation of Hope, like hosting free football camps over the summer for kids on the Westside of Atlanta and back-to-school shopping events for local youth in need of school supplies.
Atlanta Falcons Defeat the Carolina Panthers in Week 14
The Falcons beat division rival Carolina Panthers on the road 29-21 in Week 14. Mykal Walker had the highlight of the game after intercepting a Cam Newton throw and returning it 66-yards for a touchdown. Cordarrelle Patterson recorded his 5th rushing touchdown of the season becoming the first player in franchise history to have 5 rushing touchdowns and 5 receiving touchdowns in a single season.
The Falcons Defeat the Detroit Lions in Week 16
The Falcons beat the Detroit Lions 20-16 in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Matt Ryan hit Hayden Hurst for a 12-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to give the Falcons the lead. Foye Oluokun would then solidify the 7th win of the season with a last minute interception. With the touchdown pass, Matt Ryan tied Eli Manning for the 9th most touchdown passes in NFL history with 366.
Atlanta United News
Major League Soccer Announces 2022 Schedule
Major League Soccer announced the 2022 Regular Season schedule, highlighting Atlanta United’s 15 national TV matches across league-wide broadcast partners on the family of networks of ESPN, FOX and Univision. Three home matches are slated to use all three levels at Mercedes-Benz Stadium this season including the home opener on Feb. 27 vs. Sporting KC.
Atlanta United 2022 Home Opener Set for Sunday, Feb. 27 vs. Sporting Kansas City
Major League Soccer announced Atlanta United will open its 2022 MLS Regular Season schedule against Sporting Kansas City on Sunday, Feb. 27 at 3 p.m. (ET) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
The match will be broadcast nationally and will be the first time Atlanta and Sporting KC face each other in a season opener.
Miles Robinson Named to 2021 MLS Best XI
Major League Soccer announced that Miles Robinson was named to the 2021 Best XI. This is Robinson’s second Best XI selection after making his debut in 2019.
The MLS Best XI – recognizing the league’s top players at each position as determined by media, players, and club technical staffs – features players from eight countries and five clubs, all of which qualified for the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs.
George Bello and Brooks Lennon Called up to United States Men’s National Team for December Friendly
George Bello and Brooks Lennon have been called up to the United States Men’s National Team by manager Gregg Berhalter for a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Dec. 18 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
Bello, 19, has made five appearances for the USMNT, making his senior team debut against Trinidad and Tobago on Jan. 31, 2021. Bello started two matches during the USMNT’s run to the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup title, including the 1-0 victory against Mexico in the final. Most recently, Bello started two Concacaf qualification matches for the 2022 FIFA World Cup against Honduras on Sept. 9 and Panama on Oct. 11.
Lennon, 24, has yet to make his senior team debut but has been called into USMNT camp previously. He earned four caps and scored four goals with the U.S. U-23’s, 17 caps and seven goals with the U-20s and nine caps and one goal with the U-18’s.
Miles Robinson Named Finalist for MLS Defender of the Year
Major League Soccer announced finalists for the 2021 MLS Year-End Awards and Atlanta United defender Miles Robinson is one of three finalists for Defender of the Year.
Robinson has started 25 of his 26 MLS appearances in 2021 and was named to his first MLS All-Star team. The 24-year-old ranks second in MLS in duel success rate (min. 100 duels) at 66.83 %, trailing only teammate Ezequiel Barco.
Postseason Recovery Series Presented by Piedmont
Part 1: Strength Training
Atlanta United is partnering with Piedmont in an offseason series hosted by Ryan Alexander, the club’s Director of Sports Science. In each episode of the four-part series, Alexander walks through a different area of offseason recovery. The focus of episode one is gym and strength training.
During the first week of the offseason, Alexander communicates with players. Together, they review whatever travel plans and desired destinations the players have for their time away from the Training Ground. Alexander and his team use that information to modify the workout program. They consider what resources the player has available during the offseason, whether that’s free weights, an array of machines or simply a set of dumbbells.
Part 2: Conditioning
The goal for Alexander and his team when designing an offseason program for Atlanta United is to help each player keep fit no matter what his offseason environment looks like.
Some players enjoy their time away in colder climates where snow covers the local soccer fields and running outside may be more of a safety risk. Other players might vacation with their families and only have enough access to a hotel gym.
For players in colder climates, Alexander considers safety. Running on frozen surfaces or snow-covered fields may involve risk, so to alleviate any concern Alexander utilizes indoor bikes and treadmills in his program. These workouts usually start at lower intensities across longer working periods for 5-8 minutes.
Postseason Recovery Series Presented by Piedmont
Part 3: Recovery
The next phase of the process involves recovery, which allows Atlanta United players to get back to their best form after a long, grueling season ahead of the next preseason.
The first area of focus during the recovery period is range of motion. During the season, players spend months pushing their bodies to the limit. They stress and strain their muscles and participate in higher end workloads to compete at peak level. So for the offseason, Alexander prescribes lower levels of activity. This destresses the body and allows those main muscle groups to relax from all the tightening and stress of the season.
Another area of focus during the recovery phase is the continuation of recovery methods players used during the season. A lot of players form strict routines based around training and eat to compete at the highest level. While participating in the strength and conditioning portion of the offseason that Alexander and his team encourage players to maintain, players can also use the same recovery methods they used during the season. This might include ice baths, contrast baths, sauna or warm bath immersion methods.
Part 4: Healthy Habits
Then, the fourth part explained recovery methods. The final phase of the process involves healthy habits.
The main habit is nutrition, which Alexander puts a significant focus on during the offseason. He and his team work to guide players on the right path so players can enjoy time with family and friends, indulge in wonderful meals, and participate in habits they might restrict themselves from during the strict regimen of a competitive season.
Westside Falcons Flag Football League presented by Grady Health Systems
In its sixth year, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation funded the Westside Falcons Flag Football League. During both the spring and fall, youth from the Westside of Atlanta were able to play flag football at no cost.
Both seasons included associates from across the Blank Family of Businesses (BFOB) serving as volunteer coaches and ambassadors. Grady Health Systems was the patch sponsor for the league’s uniforms as well as hosted an end of the year celebration for the teams!
Georgia Girls Flag Football Semi-Finals fueled by Gatorade
The Atlanta Falcons hosted the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) Girls Flag Football Semi-Finals at The Home Depot Backyard. Twelve high school girls flag football teams across three divisions competed for a chance to continue to the state championship.
All participating teams were given swag provided by the Atlanta Falcons and Gatorade. Finalists were presented with medals signifying their accomplishment of making it to the state championship.
Atlanta Falcons Coach of the Week, presented by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As part of the Coach of the Week presented by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution program, the NFL and Atlanta Falcons recognized ten head high school varsity tackle and girls flag football coaches across the states of Georgia and Alabama for their hard work and dedication to making a difference in student-athletes lives on and off the field.
Each winning head coach received a $10,000 grant for their program, a commemorative Atlanta Falcons item and recognition from the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
On January 9th all ten winning coaches were hosted at Mercedes-Benz Stadium where they enjoyed the Falcons game from a private suite. The coaches were recognized and presented with their 2021 Coach of the Week award.
- Week 1: Coach Craig Coleman, Luella High School
- Week 2: Coach Rich Fendley, Bowdon High School
- Week 3: William Felton, Decatur High School
- Week 4: Wesley Tankersley, Stephens County
- Week 5: Marquis Westbrook, Warner Robins High School
- Week 6: Maurice Dixon, Creekside High School
- Week 7: Zach Corcoran, St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School
- Week 8: Leroy Hood, Pebblebrook High School
- Week 9: Rodney Hackney, Riverdale High School
- Week 10: Tim Barron, Villa Rica High School
Click here to learn more about our nominees and winners https://www.ajc.com/sports/coach-of-the-week/
Operation Butterball presented by Publix
For the second year in a row, we have successfully hosted Operation Butterball! In the spirit of our core value, “Give Back to Others,” and with the support of our great partner, Publix.
Operation Butterball is an initiative to provide meals to families who needed extra support over the holiday season. Operation Butterball is fully funded from donations from BFOB associates!
COVID-19 Testing Site to Open in the Home Depot Backyard
The Georgia Department of Public Health in partnership with Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Fulton County Government, the Fulton County Board of Health, the Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency-Management Agency and Viral Solutions will be opening of a new testing mega-site at The Home Depot Backyard. The drive-up testing site at the 11-acre park will also offer Covid-19 vaccinations and is set serve up to 2,000 residents daily.
Beginning January 14th, hours of operation for the site will be Wednesday – Monday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily (until further notice). The site will be closed on Tuesdays.
Jack Daniel's Whiskey Barrel Tree
Jack Daniel's and the Atlanta Falcons teamed up during the holidays to bring the Jack Daniel's barrel tree tradition to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, all the way from Tennessee. Standing 12ft high and 11ft wide, the 4 tier structure was carefully constructed out of 25 Jack Daniel's whiskey barrels and decorated in garland and giveaway prizes.
For the 11/18 and 12/05 Falcons games, fans gathered to take pictures in the photo booth and win prizes. Fans had the opportunity to walk away with one of the whiskey barrels by making a donation to Operation Ride Home, who provide financial assistance to active military to travel from their duty station, back home to spend time with their families.
Cricket Celebration Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
The 2021 Cricket Celebration Bowl was played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 18. The MEAC champion, South Carolina State Bulldogs defeated the SWAC champion Jackson State University Tigers. ESPN Events has reached a new six-year agreement for the Cricket Celebration Bowl to continue at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta until 2026.
The Cricket Celebration Bowl is a postseason college football game featuring the conference champions from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The event’s mission is to provide the schools, alumni, fans, and sponsors with a first-class bowl experience while continuing to celebrate the heritage, legacy, pageantry and tradition of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Partners Give Back
American Family Insurance
American Family Insurance Championship returns in 2021, raises $2.3 million for charity
After being cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19, the PGA TOUR Champions American Family Insurance Championship returned in 2021 and raised $2.3 million for charity, it was announced today.
Approximately half of the 2021 proceeds will be distributed to the American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin. In addition, 124 primarily local charities will share the remaining $1.15 million in varying amounts.
The support of fans, sponsors, the PGA TOUR Champions and others resulted in an impressive total this year, given the safety and health protocols implemented in response to ongoing concerns regarding COVID-19. Among these were the absence of the popular celebrity foursome, concert at Breese Stevens Field, 5K run/walk, hospitality design limitations, and per-day limits on number of fans.
Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch Delivering 100,000 Cans of Emergency Drinking Water to Support Tornado Relief Efforts in Kentucky
At the request of the American Red Cross, Anheuser-Busch is delivering two truckloads – more than 100,000 cans – of emergency drinking water to support local communities in western Kentucky impacted by the recent tornadoes.
The donations of emergency drinking water will be delivered to Anheuser-Busch wholesaler partner, Golden Eagle Distributing in Paducah, KY who will work alongside the American Red Cross to distribute the resources to those in need at their Calvert City, KY relief operations.
The clean, safe drinking water was produced at Anheuser-Busch’s Cartersville, GA brewery which periodically pauses beer production throughout the year to can emergency drinking water to help communities in times of disaster.
Anheuser-Busch has a longstanding tradition of providing support for disaster relief efforts in partnership with the American Red Cross, dating back to 1906. Since the inception of the emergency drinking water program in 1988, Anheuser-Busch and its wholesaler partners have provided more than 90 million cans of water to U.S. communities affected by natural disasters and other crises.
This year alone, Anheuser-Busch donated more than 4 million cans of emergency drinking water to communities and volunteer fire departments across 49 states in support of ongoing relief efforts – including 100,000 cans of water to support Kentucky communities impacted by severe flooding earlier this spring.
Novelis
Novelis Achieves ASI Certifications in Europe, Asia and South America; Progresses Toward Certifications in North America
Novelis Inc. announced it has reached a significant milestone on the way to achieving Aluminum Stewardship Initiative (ASI) certifications in every region where it operates. In recent months, Novelis has achieved ASI certifications in Europe, Asia and South America. The company is on target to complete ASI certifications for can manufacturing facilities in North America by mid-2022.
All 11 of Novelis' European manufacturing sites have achieved ASI's Performance Standard and Chain of Custody Standard Certifications. In Asia, the company's South Korea operations at Yeongju and Ulsan Aluminum, a joint venture between Novelis and Kobe Steel, have been awarded ASI's Performance Standard Certification. In Brazil, Novelis' plant in Pindamonhangaba earned ASI's Performance Standard Certification.
The Europe-wide dual certification makes Novelis the largest, fully certified, flat-rolled aluminum manufacturer in the continent and positions the company to meet the growing demand for sustainable aluminum from all parts of the world. These certifications also demonstrate Novelis' commitment to sustainability and underscore its ambition to be the world's leading provider of low-carbon, high-recycled-content aluminum.
"Achieving ASI certification is a key strategy for us to become the aluminum industry's most sustainable company and encourage others to follow our lead," said Steve Fisher, President and Chief Executive Officer of Novelis. "Through the unparalleled use of recycled content, Novelis is driving a more circular aluminum system. These certifications clearly establish Novelis as a supplier of choice and a partner that is improving sustainability throughout the value chain."
The ASI Performance Standard addresses environmental, social and governance principles for the production of aluminum, assuring that the ASI-certified organization's production practices are responsible. The ASI Chain of Custody Standard complements the Performance Standard by certifying not only the production of responsible aluminum but also its sourcing and processing along the value chain.
The Home Depot
The Home Depot Foundation, Home Builders Institute and Habitat for Humanity International came together on Thursday, Dec. 16, to spread some holiday cheer. Students from The Home Depot Foundation’s 10 Path to Pro military base programs gathered for an end-of-year celebration, with a surprise in store.
Each Path to Pro military base program was given a $10,000 grant to help the Foundation pull off an Operation Surprise campaign moment. From there, each of the 10 military bases surprised a local Habitat for Humanity veteran family with a $10,000 Home Depot gift card, just in time for the holidays.
The partnership between Path to Pro and Habitat for Humanity extends beyond this surprise event. Our HBI trades training programs works closely with their local Habitat for Humanity affiliate to learn by way of volunteer opportunities, like building ramps and home repairs. It allows students to attain skills while giving back in their community.
Bank of America
Bank of America Donates $1 Million to CHKD’s New Mental Health Hospital
Bank of America announced today the company is contributing $1 million to Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters’ (CHKD) new mental health hospital, matching its largest-ever donation to the Hampton Roads region.
This recent donation builds on the company’s decades-long relationship with CHKD and recognizes the transformative nature of CHKD’s mental health initiative. The cornerstone of this endeavor is a $224 million, 60-bed mental health facility scheduled to open next year, bringing the expertise of dozens of child and adolescent psychiatric professionals who will make CHKD their home for treating the children of the Hampton Roads region and beyond.
“The new facility at CHKD is going to be transformative for our region, and a big win in terms of access to quality mental health care for children,” said Frank Castellanos, Bank of America President of Hampton Roads. “We’ve supported the efforts of CHKD for four decades. The values they exhibit through the work they do are inspiring, and align with our commitment to the health and safety of vulnerable populations.”
Bank of America’s support will be recognized in the new building within a space devoted to General Academic Pediatrics, a CHKD primary care practice deeply committed to treating children and families with limited access to health care and other resources. CHKD’s new mental health hospital will feature services such as primary care for children so that coming to the new tower for mental health treatment will be as routine and accepted as accessing routine health care. It is part of CHKD’s goal in Lighting the Way for mental health for children and easing stigma.
Coca-Cola
The Coca-Cola Foundation And Coca-Cola System Step Up to Support Tornado Relief in Kentucky and Other Impacted States
The Coca-Cola Foundation today awarded a $400,000 grant to support American Red Cross relief efforts following the string of deadly tornadoes that ripped across six central U.S. states on Dec. 11.
The American Red Cross and its partners are working to help those in need and make sure everyone has a safe place to stay, food to eat, critical relief supplies, emotional support and comfort in the face of one of the most devastating tornado outbreaks in years. At least 24 tornadoes touched down in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee, killing nearly 100 people and damaging or destroying thousands of homes and buildings along their path.
The Coca-Cola Company’s North America Operating Unit (NAOU) also has contributed $100,000 to the American Red Cross and $50,000 to disaster relief agency, Good360, to support both immediate relief efforts and long-term recovery in hard-hit communities.
Coca-Cola bottling partners across the impacted region have donated thousands of cases of bottled water and other Coca-Cola products to victims and first responders as search and rescue operations and cleanup efforts continue.
Among the local bottlers offering support is Kentucky-based Clark Beverage Group, which was scheduled to host its employee holiday party on Dec. 12. With the event canceled, the team delivered all food they had ordered – enough to feed 300 people – to the Red Cross shelter at a local high school. Clark, which has been a fixture in the local community for more than a century, also has donated 3,500 cases of beverages and pitched in to help clean-up efforts in their community.
Delta Airlines
Delta, Trust for Public Land Partner to Transform Atlanta Schoolyard
Hundreds of team members gathered at the Delta TechOps’ annual holiday meal in Atlanta on Dec. 8 to celebrate Delta’s 17th year in partnership with Toys for Tots. As countless families are still struggling with challenges caused by the pandemic, Delta employees pitched in to make the holiday season one to celebrate for local Atlanta families.
Throughout the year, members of the TechOps family have raised more than $60,000 to purchase children’s bikes. Once received, more than 30 shops throughout TechOps spent countless hours building bikes for local Atlanta youth to brighten their holiday season.
Keeping with tradition, hundreds of pink and blue bikes lined the halls of TechOps leading up to the event. At the celebration, the bikes were assembled in the shape of a racecar as a tribute to Mike Moore, SVP – Maintenance Operations and MRO Services, military veteran and lead Toys for Tots sponsor who is retiring at the end of 2021.
“Marine Toys for Tots holds a very special place in my heart, and I can’t thank the TechOps family enough for their dedication to supporting our community," Mike said. "Coming together as a company to make the holiday season special for our children is truly the Delta Difference.”
Equifax
Equifax Accelerates Commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance Priorities
Equifax® is expanding its commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance issues and announced that the company will make new quantitative ESG disclosures available annually on Equifax.com. Equifax also announced a commitment to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, a market leading sustainability commitment enabled by the company's Equifax Cloud™ transformation.
Equifax recognizes that continued emission of greenhouse gasses can cause greater global warming that could lead to significant economic and social consequences. The company is announcing a commitment to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. To support this commitment, Equifax is disclosing its greenhouse gas emissions baseline data and a framework for a decarbonization strategy to address its global operational footprint, including the company's supplier value chain.
"We strive to empower economically healthy individuals and communities everywhere we do business and believe that a strong ESG strategy is imperative to creating a more inclusive global economy. Our ESG commitment is aligned with our purpose - to help people live their financial best," said Mark W. Begor, CEO of Equifax
Mercedes-Benz
The Mercedes-Benz SUSTAINEER: An Innovation Driver for Sustainable Urban Mobility
Mercedes-Benz unveiled the all-electric VISION EQXX in a digital world premiere on the Mercedes me media online platform. The software-defined research prototype is the most efficient vehicle the brand has ever built. It is a statement that underscores not only the innovative strength of Mercedes-Benz, but also its stated aim to “Lead in Electric” and “Lead in Car Software”.
Cross-functional development teams brought the VISION EQXX to fruition in record time. Board members Ola Källenius and Markus Schäfer, Chief Design Officer Gorden Wagener and experts from the development teams will describe the pioneering spirit and the exceptional teamwork that made this possible.
The VISION EQXX is part of a far-reaching Mercedes-Benz technology program aimed at breaking through technological barriers and lifting energy efficiency to new heights. It demonstrates the gains that are possible through rethinking the fundamentals from the ground up. This includes advances across all elements of its cutting-edge electric drivetrain as well as the use of lightweight engineering and sustainable materials.
Truist
Truist Expands Operation HOPE Financial Coaching to 600 Branches
Truist announced that HOPE Inside financial wellness coaches are now available for 600 Truist branches, a significant milestone in the company's partnership with Operation HOPE. In April 2021, Truist announced an investment in Operation HOPE of $20 million for financial education and support of significant initiatives, including the creation of 1 million Black-owned businesses (1MBB) by 2030.
The Operation HOPE Inside coaches offer financial expertise to help solve everyday financial challenges. Coaches offer one-on-one sessions and group workshops with clients on a variety of important topics, including access to mainstream credit, behaviors that accelerate savings, debt reduction, entrepreneurship, and homeownership.
"Truist is committed to supporting our clients' financial journeys, and Operation HOPE's mission aligns with our aim to help all who want to improve their financial health," said Chief Retail Community Banking Officer Brant Standridge. "This is another step to reaching more people with financial coaching that will help them build stronger financial futures and better lives, especially for those who have not always looked to banks for care and support."
As part of the HOPE Inside coaching model, clients can access and work with coaches in-person and virtually. Aligning coaches with clients virtually has enabled Truist and Operation HOPE to further expand and scale their impact across Truist markets, allowing additional access and flexibility for our clients and communities.