Vanderbilt Financial Group CEO Announces Premiere of New Impact Investing Documentary
Produced in partnership with InvestmentNews, “Impact” showcases the power of aligning businesses and investments with the United Nations’ sustainable development goals
WOODBURY, N.Y. (Sept. 10, 2018) – Vanderbilt Financial Group CEO Steve Distante and InvestmentNews have collaborated on a new short form documentary that celebrates the creativity and innovation of entrepreneurs and investors who have aligned with one of the United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDGs) to create a meaningful impact on the world. The film, “Impact,” will debut Sept. 11 during the 2018 Sustainable Investing Conference at the United Nations.
“Impact” was created to elevate the role of entrepreneurism in achieving the SDGs, inspire more social impact entrepreneurs to focus their efforts through alignment with one of the SDGs and encourage more individuals to use the SDGs as an investment framework for impact investing – investments that generate a measurable positive impact alongside a traditional financial return.
“As an impact investing advocate, I thought that a documentary would be the ideal tool for attracting people interested in using their businesses and investments to make the world a better place,” said Distante, who also serves as U.N. ambassador for the SDGs on behalf of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization. “The storytelling format of a documentary is a powerful medium that can emotionally connect you to people and ideas in a way that no other format can.”
In bringing the story of the impact investing movement to life, “Impact” features perspectives from a variety of social impact experts, including:
- Peter Turkson, cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church
- Jon Hale, global head of sustainability research at Morningstar, Inc.
- Hazel Henderson, futurist, economist and author
- Judith Karl, executive secretary of the U.N. Capital Development Fund
- Jonas Kron, senior vice president and director of shareholder advocacy at Trillium Asset Management
- John Streur, president and CEO of Calvert Research and Management
The documentary also follows the entrepreneurial journeys of David Katz, founder and CEO of The Plastic Bank, and George Taylor, CEO of TRU Colors Brewing Company. The Plastic Bank is a startup that takes plastic debris bound to pollute the oceans and turns it into a form of currency for impoverished communities. TRU Colors is a craft brewery that purposefully employs active gang members and offers them a second chance in life. In addition to achieving substantial financial success, both entrepreneurs have dramatically improved the communities where their businesses operate.
“David and George both embody the artistry that takes place when entrepreneurism aligns with the SDGs,” said Distante. “By nature, entrepreneurs are immensely creative. The SDGs provide us with the palette of colors to express that creativity and innovation when we align our businesses and our investments with our passion and values.”
For more information about “Impact” and the impact investing movement, visit www.impactu.film
About Vanderbilt Financial Group
Headquartered in Woodbury, N.Y., Vanderbilt Financial Group is an independent broker-dealer and RIA committed to investing with purpose. Founded in 1965, Vanderbilt has maintained the highest levels of customer service to its advisors and their clients to enable success. Known as the sustainable broker-dealer, Vanderbilt maintains a focus on impact investing, and its organizational goals are aligned with the intention to bring about positive social, environmental or governmental change through its business and investments. For more information, visit www.joinvanderbilt.com.
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