Hershey’s Bliss Chocolates kicked off Breast Cancer Awareness Month as the presenting sponsor of the seventh annual YSC Tour de Pink—a four-day, 220-mile bike ride benefiting Young Survival Coalition (YSC). On October 1, more than 200 breast cancer survivors and supporters began pedaling from Hershey, Pennsylvania, to New York City, raising funds and awareness for YSC—the premier international organization dedicated to the critical issues unique to young women and breast cancer.

Starbucks announced the results of its Vote, Give, Grow in-store donation program. Hike for KaTREEna, a non-profit organization whose aim is to replant trees that were lost during the disaster, received the greatest number of votes, which entitles it to the top-valued $50,000 grant. Two other local organizations, Young Leadership Council, which engages young professionals in community projects, and KaBOOM!, whose mission is to create play spaces within walking distance of every child in America, will each receive $25,000 grants.

McDonald’s Corporation celebrates with Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) the opening of the world’s 300th Ronald McDonald House on September 29 in St. Louis, USA, on the campus of St. John’s Mercy Medical Center. Hundreds of families each year will now be able to refresh, relax and support each other at the House while their children are receiving life-saving treatment for conditions such as cancer, heart disease and birth defects.

Nike is going on promoting the urgent need for giving girls in developing countries more opportunities to get out of poverty. One of its initiatives, Girl Effect, is now being ‘refreshed’ with a new exciting video released. At this year’s Clinton Global Initiative conference (September 21-23), Nike, the recognized influencer in the area of social changes, unveiled its second inspirational spot for the program, encouraging more people to join in, donate and give girls in deprived communities a chance for improving their lives.

PepsiCo’s Quaker Chewy Granola Bars brand is teaming up with Jordin Sparks and the nonprofit organization, Afterschool Alliance, to raise awareness of the importance of afterschool programs. Sparks is lending her voice to the Quaker Chewy Afterschool Rocks campaign to help generate support for afterschool programs and fuel activities with snacks made with whole grain to give kids a great start to the new school year.

Dove is bringing together the nation’s most influential women and girls’ organizations to launch the Dove Movement for Self-Esteem across the USA to provide women everywhere with opportunities to mentor the next generation and celebrate real beauty. This initiative follows the Campaign for Real Beauty, started by Dove as a global conversation about the need for a wider definition of beauty.