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DALLAS, May 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Builders FirstSource, Inc. (NYSE: BLDR) (the “Company”), the nation’s largest supplier of structural building products, value-added components and services to the professional market for new residential construction and repair and remodeling, today announced that it has published its inaugural Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) report. The report offers an overview of the comprehensive initiatives and programs the Company has implemented to improve transparency and sustainability throughout the organization for the betterment of its team members, shareholders and partners. The report can be viewed by clicking here.

Builders FirstSource is a company founded on the principles of adhering to the highest standards of safety, integrity and excellence, while prioritizing the needs of its people and customers. The report details the steps the Company has taken to improve corporate governance, financial strength, operational efficiency, environmental stewardship, community engagement and resource management.

“At Builders FirstSource, we pride ourselves on using our scale and resources to build a more sustainable future for all of our stakeholders,” said Dave Flitman, President and CEO of Builders FirstSource. “We are proud of our efforts on this front and are committed to doing even more going forward as part of our mission to be a responsible and trusted partner for our communities and planet. Our CSR report provides an overview of the actions we have taken to become a better corporate steward for all, and we are pleased to report on our progress in this regard for the first time. It’s an honor to lead this incredible organization, and I am energized by the opportunities that exist to further strengthen our social impact.”

Highlights from the Builders FirstSource inaugural CSR report include:

Team Members:

• Delivering an 18% reduction in recordable injuries across the Company in 2021
• Launching diversity, equity and inclusion trainings for all team members
• Monitoring the composition of the workforce across functions and increasing recruiting from more diverse sources
• Contributing over $2 million to various charitable initiatives

Environment:

• Sourcing over 90% of wood products from sustainable forestry certified vendors
• Tracking the benefits of material waste savings resulting from the use of our READY-FRAME® product and industry-leading off-site component manufacturing, saving over 3 million trees from 2019 through 2021
• Utilizing water-based paints to reduce hazardous waste risks to our team members and the environment
• Implementing a nationwide delivery routing system to maximize vehicle efficiency, save costs and minimize emissions
• Monitoring vehicle idle time and providing financial incentives to minimize idling and reduce emissions
• Introducing electric forklifts and clean-burning diesel delivery vehicles to reduce carbon emissions, and committing to integrating zero-emission vehicles into our fleets
• Upgrading lighting to LEDs to save energy, reduce carbon emissions and improve safety through better visibility
• Installing overhead fans to reduce air conditioning and related power usage

Integrity:

• Implementing measures to ensure appropriate and ethical business conduct and relations, such as robust accounting systems to monitor and detect potential financial irregularities, including regular reporting to the Board of Directors

Builders FirstSource intends to publish an updated CSR report on an annual basis.

About Builders FirstSource
Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Builders FirstSource is the largest U.S. supplier of building products, prefabricated components, and value-added services to the professional market segment for new residential construction and repair and remodeling. We provide customers an integrated homebuilding solution, offering manufacturing, supply, delivery and installation of a full range of structural and related building products. We operate in 42 states with approximately 565 locations and have a market presence in 47 of the top 50 and 85 of the top 100 MSA’s, providing geographic diversity and balanced end market exposure. We service customers from strategically located distribution and manufacturing facilities (certain of which are co-located) that produce value-added products such as roof and floor trusses, wall panels, stairs, vinyl windows, custom millwork and pre-hung doors. Builders FirstSource also distributes dimensional lumber and lumber sheet goods, millwork, windows, interior and exterior doors, and other building products.

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this news release and the schedules hereto that are not purely historical facts or that necessarily depend upon future events, including statements about expected market share gains, forecasted financial performance or other statements about anticipations, beliefs, expectations, hopes, synergies, intentions or strategies for the future, may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. In addition, oral statements made by our directors, officers and employees to the investor and analyst communities, media representatives and others, depending upon their nature, may also constitute forward-looking statements. As with the forward-looking statements included in this release, these forward-looking statements are by nature inherently uncertain, and actual results may differ materially as a result of many factors. All forward-looking statements are based upon information available to Builders FirstSource, Inc. on the date this release was submitted. Builders FirstSource, Inc. undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Any forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from the events or results described in the forward-looking statements, including risks or uncertainties related to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, the Company’s growth strategies, including gaining market share and its digital strategies, or the Company’s revenues and operating results being highly dependent on, among other things, the homebuilding industry, lumber prices and the economy, including labor and supply shortages. Builders FirstSource, Inc. may not succeed in addressing these and other risks. Further information regarding factors that could affect our financial and other results can be found in the risk factors section of Builders FirstSource, Inc.’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and in the other reports filed by the Company with the SEC. Consequently, all forward-looking statements in this release are qualified by the factors, risks and uncertainties contained therein.

Investor Contact
Michael Neese
SVP, Investor Relations
Builders FirstSource, Inc.
(214) 765-3804

Media Contact
ICR for Builders FirstSource, Inc.
bldr@icrinc.com

TORONTO, May 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Generation Mining Limited (“GenMining” or the “Company”) (TSX:GENM OTCQB:GENMF) is pleased to announce that the Public Hearings conducted by the Joint Review Panel (the “Panel”) on the Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”) of the Company’s Marathon Palladium-Copper Project (“Project”) have concluded today.

The Panel was established because the Project requires environmental assessment approvals from both federal and provincial governments. The Company filed its EIS with the Panel in early 2021 and subsequently responded to written information requests from the Panel.

The Panel hearings started on March 14, 2022. The hearing process required the Company to outline and explain the key elements of the Project as outlined in the EIS and answer questions from participants. The process allowed for participation by government agencies, non-government organizations, local and regional communities, and Indigenous groups. For example, the Biigtigong Nishnaabeg First Nation and the Town of Marathon, the two most proximal communities, extensively participated in the Panel hearing process.

Drew Anwyll, the Company’s Chief Operating Officer and witness panel Chair in the Panel hearings said, “the Joint Review Panel process is among the highest standard of environmental assessment review in Canada. The Project’s EIS and other evidence were subject to a rigorous review by the Panel and more than 50 participants. We welcomed this review and provided expert evidence that we believe demonstrates that the Project’s time has come. Our EIS concludes that the Project can be executed without significant adverse effects on the environment. The Project will also contribute to the prosperity of the local communities and region. Once in production, the Project will produce critical minerals from a sustainable and geopolitically stable jurisdiction for the benefit of local communities, Ontario and Canada.”

The Company would like to thank all individuals and groups who participated in the hearings and would specifically like to acknowledge the two communities closest to the Project: the Town of Marathon, who were strong supporters of the Project, and the Biigtigong Nishnaabeg First Nation community who consistently balanced the potential Project-related benefits for their community and the environmental protection of their asserted exclusive Aboriginal title lands.

Having completed the hearings, the Panel will complete and publicly release a recommendation report within 90 days. The report will document the Panel’s conclusion and recommendations on the Project’s EIS. This will form the recommendation to Canada's Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, and Ontario’s Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, on whether the project should proceed.   Once the report is published, the federal and provincial Ministers will make the final approval decision on the Project’s environmental assessment within 120 days, which is necessary for the Project to proceed.   If the Project receives approval, it is anticipated the key permits will be progressed to allow for the pre-construction to commence in the first quarter of 2023.

Drew Anwyll, Chief Operating Officer will give a brief presentation and be available to answer questions tomorrow Friday, May 20, 2022 at 9:30 AM Eastern Time (US & Canada). To register for the event, click here https://my.6ix.com/rCEm6Ct8.

About the Company
GenMining’s focus is the development of its 100%-owned Marathon Project, a large undeveloped palladium-copper deposit in Northwestern Ontario. The Company released the results of the Feasibility Study on March 3, 2021 and published the NI43-101 Technical Report dated March 25, 2021. The Marathon property covers a land package of approximately 22,000 hectares, or 220 square kilometres.

The Feasibility Study in respect of the Marathon Palladium Copper Project estimated that at US$1725/oz palladium, and US$3.20/lb copper, Marathon’s Net Present Value (at 6% discount rate) is approximately C$1.07 billion with a payback of 2.3 years and an Internal Rate of Return of 30%. Up front capital costs were estimated at C$665 million, net of equipment financing, and pre-completion operating costs and revenues. The mine would produce an estimated 245,000 palladium equivalent ounces per year over a 13-year mine life at an All-In Sustaining Cost of US$809 per palladium-equivalent ounce. For more information, please review the detailed Feasibility Study dated March 25, 2021, filed under the Company’s profile at www.sedar.com.

Qualified Person
The scientific and technical content of this news release was reviewed, verified, and approved by Drew Anwyll, P.Eng., M.Eng, Chief Operating Officer of the Company, and a Qualified Person as defined by Canadian Securities Administrators National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

For further information please contact:
Jamie Levy
President and Chief Executive Officer
(416) 640-2934 (O)
(416) 567-2440 (M)
jlevy@genmining.com

Ann Wilkinson
Vice President, Investor Relations
(416) 640-3954 (O)
(416) 357-5511 (M)
awilkinson@genmining.com

Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, as defined in applicable securities laws (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements reflect current expectations or beliefs regarding future events or the Company’s future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "continues", "forecasts", "Projects", "predicts", "intends", "anticipates", "targets" or "believes", or variations of, or the negatives of, such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, including statements relating to the timing of permits and approvals, the timing for commencing pre-construction activities, the amount of funding required to execute the Company’s exploration, development and business plans related to the Marathon Project; and the financial returns from the Marathon Project. All forward-looking statements, including those herein are qualified by this cautionary statement.

Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in such statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the statements. There are certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking information. These include commodity price volatility, continued availability of capital and financing, uncertainties involved in interpreting geological data, increases in costs, environmental compliance and changes in environmental legislation and regulation, the Company’s relationships with First Nations communities, exploration successes, and general economic, market or business conditions, as well as those risk factors set out in the Company’s annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2021, and in the continuous disclosure documents filed by the Company on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date or dates specified in such statements.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions which may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to, assumptions relating to: the availability of financing for the Company’s operations; operating and capital costs; results of operations; the mine development and production schedule and related costs; the supply and demand for, and the level and volatility of commodity prices; timing of the receipt of regulatory and governmental approvals for development Projects and other operations; the accuracy of Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource Estimates, production estimates and capital and operating cost estimates; and general business and economic conditions.

Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. For more information on the Company, investors are encouraged to review the Company’s public filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward- looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.

Resolution follows 2021 version which received support from more than 1/3 of shareholders. Oceana campaign, featuring ocean animals, asks AMZN investors, executives, and employees for “less plastic, please.”

WASHINGTON, May 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On May 25 at Amazon’s Annual Meeting, shareholders will vote on a resolution that, if passed, would require the e-commerce giant to issue a report describing how the company could reduce its plastic packaging use and contribution to plastic pollution. The report would also quantify the amount of plastic packaging used by the company. 35.5% of Amazon’s shareholders supported a similar resolution last year. Oceana, the world’s largest ocean advocacy organization, is calling on shareholders to vote “yes” on Item 8. The resolution was filed by the group As You Sow.

According to a 2021 Oceana report, Amazon – the largest retailer in the world outside of China – generated 599 million pounds of plastic packaging waste in 2020, a 29% increase over Oceana’s 2019 estimate, referenced in the shareholder proposal. Studies have estimated that for species, 55% percent of sea birds, 70% of marine mammals, and 100% of sea turtles have ingested or become entangled in plastic and have found that plastic film, the type of plastic used by Amazon, is one of the deadliest forms of plastic for marine life. Moreover, plastic film is extremely difficult to recycle and is not accepted at most curbside recycling programs in the U.S., the UK, and other large markets for the company.

Amazon, which is asking shareholders to vote against the proposal (and disputes Oceana’s estimates) does not currently report on its plastic footprint and has not responded to multiple requests by Oceana to share its data. Additionally, the company has not committed to specific reduction goals for its overall plastic packaging use. Without this information, investors cannot assess their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) risk exposure on the very significant global issue of plastic pollution. This resolution reflects growing concern about the company’s plastic footprint, increased regulatory and ESG pressure for plastic pollution, and the growing need to formally address the plastic pollution crisis.

Oceana’s Senior Vice President Matt Littlejohn says, “This is a prime opportunity for shareholders to have Amazon do right by its customers and the planet. Pressure is mounting as more investors learn about the company’s plastic problem and more customers call for plastic-free alternatives. Amazon’s plastic packaging generates a massive amount of waste and plastic pollution is devastating the world’s oceans. Voting in favor of this resolution is voting to help save the oceans and marine life.”

In advance of this year’s meeting, Oceana sent a letter to Amazon shareholders outlining the five reasons to support the resolution. Additionally, Oceana is campaigning on the ground at Amazon’s HQ 1 and HQ 2 in Seattle and Arlington, VA to win support for the resolution (from Amazon headquarters employees who are also shareholders). The campaign features photos of ocean animals eating or being covered by ocean plastic along with the headline “AMZN: Less plastic, please.” This effort includes canvassers, mobile billboards, 1,000-yard signs, and 500 posters (as well as a LinkedIn campaign). Oceana has created a dedicated website for the endeavor: www.amazoniansfortheoceans.com.

Oceana is also rallying support for the resolution from Signatories to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). Many of the institutional investors owning Amazon shares are members of the PRI and have pledged to seek disclosure on ESG issues by the companies they invest in. Oceana is calling on these investors to honor their commitment to the PRI and vote in favor of the resolution, which would seek such disclosure on plastic pollution – an immensely important ESG issue.

“Amazon is a data-driven company known for its innovation and should become a leader in reducing plastic packaging (and in helping to save the oceans). It’s time for the company to be transparent about its data and to commit to reducing the use of single-use plastic,” added Littlejohn.

Click here for images of Oceana’s “Amzn: Less plastic, please” campaign in support of the resolution

Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana is rebuilding abundant and biodiverse oceans by winning science-based policies in countries that control one-third of the world’s wild fish catch. With more than 225 victories that stop overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution, and the killing of threatened species like turtles and sharks, Oceana’s campaigns are delivering results. A restored ocean means that 1 billion people can enjoy a healthy seafood meal, every day, forever. Together, we can save the oceans and help feed the world. Visit www.oceana.orgto learn more.

Contact: Anna Baxter: abaxter@oceana.org

TORONTO, May 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Madre Tierra Mining Ltd. (“Madre Tierra” or the “Company”), a company that is taking an innovative approach to the traditional gold exploration model by combining the sustainability of a cash flow generating gold trading business with that of traditional exploration potential, is pleased to release to our stakeholders, a Transparent Trade policy (“Policy”), which is a critical pillar in the Company’s Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) framework.

The Company reiterates its commitment to a more sustainable supply chain through the Policy. Generally, the Policy ensures that the Company will pay approximately 50% more per ounce of gold than other mining operators to our local and licensed artisanal mining partners. The Policy also requires the Company to publish the weighted average purchase price for gold acquired from our local and licensed artisanal mining partners to ensure accountability and transparency.

Further, Madre Tierra avoids brokers and aggregators and purchases directly from our mining partners, increasing the margin received by the miners.

“We recognize that as a mining business operating in Colombia, we have a profound impact on the lives and livelihoods of our local partners,” commented Sasha Kaplun, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Madre Tierra.

Kaplun continued: “Through our Transparent Trade policy, we commit to purchasing gold from our mining partners at a significant premium relative to other gold purchasers in the region. As we strive to deliver strong risk-adjusted returns to our shareholders, we must remain cognizant that we play an essential role in supporting our local mining partners, families, and communities.”

“Based on our projected annual gold purchase quantities for our first year of wholesale operations, we anticipate injecting over a US$1 million into the local economies of the communities we operate in.” Kaplun finished.

For more information, please visit our website at https://www.madretierragold.com/ or https://invest.madretierragold.com/ or contact us at invest@madretierragold.com.

About Madre Tierra:

Madre Tierra is not your traditional gold company. We hedge high-risk exploration and development and focus on operating activities that generate revenue from day one through our unique gold-trading license in Colombia.

Madre Tierra aggregates gold from artisanal and small-scale operators in Colombia for sale into the international markets, allowing the Company to capture a spread on each transaction regardless of market fluctuations.

Madre Tierra is also focused on the exploration of its 90% owned El Carlinita gold project located in the municipalities of Montecristo and Santa Rosa del Sur, Bolivar, Colombia. With a diversified asset base, a cash flow generating gold trading business, and exposure to gold exploration upside, Madre Tierra offers shareholders a unique opportunity to benefit beyond the traditional gold trading business.

Adopts Majority Voting Standard for Uncontested Elections

Commits to Seeking Stockholder Approval to Remove Supermajority Requirements in Governing Documents

Highlights Focus on Corporate Governance Best Practices and Responsiveness to Stockholders

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TPI Composites, Inc. (Nasdaq: TPIC) (“TPI” or the “Company”) today announced that its Board of Directors (the “Board”) has approved certain additional changes to the Company’s corporate governance policies and practices.

The Board has approved an amendment to the Company’s bylaws to implement a majority voting standard for uncontested director elections, effective January 1, 2023. In addition, the Board has committed to putting to a stockholder vote at the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders a proposal to eliminate the supermajority vote requirement to adopt, amend or repeal certain provisions of the Company’s charter and bylaws. These newly announced changes are in addition to the Board already seeking stockholder approval to declassify the Board at the upcoming annual meeting.

“These governance changes – in addition to the proposal currently before stockholders to declassify our Board – clearly highlight our Board’s ongoing commitment to governance best practices,” said Steven C. Lockard, Chairman of the Board. “We have appreciated the opportunity to hear from our stockholders on these topics and are making these changes to improve accountability and transparency. Continuing to evolve towards a best-in-class governance profile goes hand-in-hand with our focus on creating long-term stockholder value, and we will continue to regularly assess our governance framework going forward to determine if additional changes are appropriate.”

The Company’s new majority voting standard will be effective January 1, 2023 and will apply to all future elections, but will not impact the results of the 2022 Annual Meeting, for which voting has already commenced. When effective, the new majority voting standard will require each director nominee to submit, in advance of such nomination, an irrevocable resignation, subject to acceptance by the Board, that would become effective if such nominee does not receive more votes properly cast in favor of his or her election or re-election than votes properly cast against such election or re-election. Previously, under a plurality voting standard, the candidates receiving the most affirmative votes were elected, regardless of whether those votes constituted a majority. Plurality voting will continue to apply in contested elections in which the number of director candidates exceeds the number of available positions.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

TPI has filed a definitive proxy statement and proxy card with the SEC in connection with its solicitation of proxies for its 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. TPI’s stockholders are encouraged to read the definitive proxy statement (and any amendments and supplements thereto), the accompanying proxy card and other documents filed with the SEC in their entirety because they contain important information. TPI’s stockholders may obtain a copy of the definitive proxy statement (and any amendments and supplements thereto), the accompanying proxy card and other relevant documents filed by TPI with the SEC without charge from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. TPI’s stockholders may also obtain a copy of these documents without charge by visiting the investor relations section of the TPI website at https://www.tpicomposites.com/. 

About TPI Composites, Inc.

TPI Composites, Inc. is the only independent manufacturer of composite wind blades for the wind energy market with a global manufacturing footprint. TPI delivers high-quality, cost-effective composite solutions through long-term relationships with leading OEMs in the wind and transportation markets. TPI is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona and operates factories in the U.S., China, Mexico, Turkey and India. TPI operates additional engineering development centers in Denmark and Germany and global service training centers in the U.S. and Spain.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include statements, among other things, concerning when the revised voting standards will become effective. These forward-looking statements are often characterized by the use of words such as “estimate,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “plan,” “intend,” “seek,” “believe,” “forecast,” “foresee,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” “goal,” “target,” “might,” “will,” “could,” “predict,” “continue” and the negative or plural of these words and other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and our projections about future events. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements for any reason. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the matters discussed in “Risk Factors,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports that we will file with the SEC.

Investor Relations
480-315-8742
Investors@TPIComposites.com

RALEIGH, N.C., May 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Highwoods Properties, Inc. (NYSE:HIW) has been selected as a 2022 Green Lease Leader today by The Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) and the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Better Building’s Alliance.

Launched in 2014, Green Lease Leaders set national standards for what constitutes a green lease, while recognizing landlords and customers who modernize their leases to spur collaborative action on energy efficiency, cost-savings, air quality and sustainability in buildings. The Company has achieved Silver Recognition for our efforts to actively create resilient portfolios that support customers and communities to prosper and achieve together what they cannot apart. To receive this recognition, Highwoods qualified for credits in energy efficiency and sustainability best practices such as utility data tracking and sharing, cost recovery for capital improvements and sustainability training.

Ted Klinck, President and CEO, stated, “We are pleased to announce our Green Lease Leader recognition. For us, ESG is not a separate initiative. It is part of our mission to build a resilient and enduring business that delivers long-term value for our shareholders and stakeholders. We believe doing our part in building resilient communities that strengthen the connection between people and the places we share is core to our work-placemaking business. We are proud of the progress we have made and look forward to building on our achievements in the years ahead.”

Highwoods previously published its 2021 Corporate Resiliency Report, which highlights the Company’s ESG initiatives. A copy of the report can be accessed on the Company’s website at www.highwoods.com or by clicking the link below.

HIW 2021 Corporate Resiliency Report

About Highwoods
Highwoods Properties, Inc., headquartered in Raleigh, is a publicly-traded (NYSE:HIW) real estate investment trust (“REIT”) and a member of the S&P MidCap 400 Index. The Company is a fully-integrated office REIT that owns, develops, acquires, leases and manages properties primarily in the best business districts (BBDs) of Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville, Orlando, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, Richmond and Tampa.  For more information about Highwoods, please visit our website at www.highwoods.com.

Contact:		Brendan Maiorana
		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
		brendan.maiorana@highwoods.com
		919-872-4924

        

OTTAWA, May 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Climate anxiety amongst youth is at an all-time high. A recent survey of 10,000 youth (aged 16-25) revealed that 75% think their future is frightening when asked about climate change. In response, Canada’s Forest Trust has doubled down on its engagement with youth across Canada with a $250,000 Scholarship Program and the launch of its School Smart Forest program.

Kickstarting the $250,000 Scholarship Program is a nationwide call-out to students to create a 30-second TikTok-inspired video answering the question: Why a Forest and Not a Tree?

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/10caf794-010c-461d-a577-23af2324d6c7

Applications open May 17 and end June 7, 2022. Students are invited to submit as individuals or groups and encouraged to involve their friends, teachers, family members and communities in an innovative, scroll-stopping video.

Chair of CFT’s Education Advisory Board and former Chair of The Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS), Tam Matthews, expressed, “These initiatives provide a meaningful way for youth across Canada to pursue an education and engage in activities that will help foster a generation of climate-active leaders and decision-makers.”

Dubbed “From Fructose to Forest,” CFT’s School Smart Forest program offers the opportunity to positively impact the climate and empower youth leadership, raise funds for school initiatives while building and protecting forests across Canada - at zero cost. Students' path to taking climate action in Canada is changing and CFT's programs are powering that change.

Canada's Forest Trust (CFT) is a leading ESG company that offers a nature-based solution to getting to net-zero by building Smart Forests™. With proprietary tools and in collaboration with Forest Stewards (businesses, schools, organizations, communities, and individuals), CFT is on a path to procure, prepare, plant, preserve and protect millions of acres of forests around the world. CFT will sequester tens of millions of tonnes of carbon. Our Forever Forest Guarantee ensures that every forest built by CFT undergoes expert management, reporting and monitoring, and silviculture maintenance. Smart Forests sequester CO2, rehabilitate ecosystems, learn from Indigenous land knowledge keepers, and boost the green economy. Smart Forests are smart investments.

Media inquiries: Taylor Piotrowski, Marketing & Communications Manager at taylor.piotrowski@canadasforesttrust.ca