Sula Costa Daily NYC

THE WHITE HOUSE

Celebrating 100 years of national parks: This month marks the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service -- and Americans are celebrating at parks around the country. Part of this celebration is thanking the men and women who conserve these natural and cultural places. Here at the White House, we're honoring a National Park Service that cares for a park a little closer to home -- the White House grounds. The National Park Service has been taking care of the White House grounds since the 1930s -- all 18 acres of it -- and many of these staff have served here for over 35 years. Watch the National Park Service talk about what it’s like to work at the White House, and read their stories of service: Don't forget -- national parks across America are free this weekend, so get outside and explore. Happy 100th Anniversary, National Park Service!

In June, the White House convened women from around the world for the United State of Women Summit -- an effort to celebrate all the progress women have made on gender equality issues so far, and to tackle the obstacles that still remain. As part of this effort, the White House launched the Equal Pay Pledge, encouraging companies from across the U.S. to take action to advance equal pay. As CEO of Visa, I did not hesitate. Today, I want to tell you why. At Visa, we have made it a priority to advance diversity and inclusion in our workplace. My leadership team and I believe that this value is not only non-negotiable, but is a strategic business imperative. It's good for our business because it harnesses the broad perspectives and diversity of thought needed to create and deliver better solutions for our clients. It's good for our organization because we need a talented workforce that reflects the communities in which we work and serve every day. Promoting an environment that values diversity and inclusion also means a commitment to paying all employees fairly and equitably. I am proud to sign this pledge, which affirms our commitment to pay equity for women at Visa. Other businesses interested in signing on are encouraged to take the pledge. I hope that many will join us in this effort -- I firmly believe it is the right thing to do. Charles W. Scharf CEO of Visa