Tag Archives: Fresno Business

Give A Hand Announces Relief Effort for Victims of 2024 Kenya Floods

300,000 Are Homeless, Hungry: The 'Right' Time to Help is Right Now

FRESNO, Calif., Oct. 8, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) –– In the wake of destructive flooding in Kenya and parts of Tanzania, East Africa this spring, nonprofit organization Give A Hand has issued a call for an intensive relief effort to aid impacted families. Give A Hand executives said that while a minimal amount of aid is trickling through, hundreds of thousands of flood victims remain in need.

Photo caption: Pictured: Florence Otieno Ogundo, Founder, Orongo Widows and Orphans Group working with Give A Hand to help victims of the Kenya floods.

“Raising awareness is our goal,” said Dr. Nelson Pichardo, Executive Director of Give A Hand. “The press isn’t really covering this. Nobody knows what’s going on and how many parents and their children are still homeless and starving in Kenya.”

The floods that rocked Kenya and toppled traditionally-built homes began in April and have resulted in nearly 315 deaths, at least 188 people injured, 38 still missing and nearly 300,000 homeless, according to United Nations OCHA.

“Many of these families are single-parent households: a mother and her children,” Pichardo pointed out. “They were already struggling before the flooding. These floods literally wiped houses out. Now these families have no place to go, and with a recent cholera outbreak, they need not just food and shelter but medical supplies. There’s a serious need.”

While the United Nations has allocated funds to aid the victims, “It’s not enough,” noted Pichardo. “These people have lost everything.”

MASSIVE RELIEF EFFORT IS UNDERWAY: “WE WANTED TO GIVE BACK”

Since its initial relief efforts through its portal giveahand.site, where donors are able to pledge aid, Give A Hand has raised approximately $24,000, executives noted.

“We have huge construction trucks going into the area because nothing else can get in,” Pichardo noted. The area remains impassable by other modes of transportation, he said, and families are stranded. “People don’t know where to go.”

Give A Hand, Inc. was born through generous seed money and support from World Workforce International, an international labor union, and Positiviti Lending, an international micro-lending platform that enables Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to thrive without outside assistance.

Give A Hand was created from our belief that individuals can work hard and pull themselves out of poverty. Our motto is: “We provide the opportunity; the individual creates the outcome.”

Pichardo noted, “We are creating long-term solutions to poverty through empowering, teaching skills, and lifting barriers to private entrepreneurship.”

But right now, “The people of Kenya are truly suffering,” Pichardo said. “So we organized this relief effort and are asking for help from people worldwide.”

HOW TO DONATE

With thousands of families still in need, Give A Hand is already busy delivering much-needed necessities whenever and wherever it can, company executives said.

Give A Hand currently has a goal of raising $2 million to give shelter, food and medicine to the flood victims.

“We hope to reach our final goal by Thanksgiving,” said Pichardo. “It would be a beautiful way to say ‘thank you’ to our generous donors. But we need to start right now.”

Individuals looking to help the relief effort can visit https://www.giveahand.site/landing/. Every dollar counts, and “every day that passes is critical,” according to Give A Hand executives.

GIVING THANKS: “GIVE A HAND (IS EASING) OUR BURDEN”

As a poignant testimonial to these efforts, affected families have already begun expressing their gratitude via emails to the organization.

“Managing a household of eight, the support from Give A Hand was truly a lifeline during the flood crisis,” said Jacob Omandi. The supplies provided not only sustained us, but also provided a sense of security amidst the challenges we faced.”

“With five children to look after, the flood disaster left us without basic necessities and in a state of uncertainty,” expressed Sharon Anyango. “(Give A Hand’s) generosity brought a sense of relief and gratitude to our hearts.”

And Austine Owino wrote, “Ensuring (my six children’s) wellbeing amidst the flood crisis was my top priority. The assistance from Give A Hand greatly eased our burden.”

While it’s a great start, “Every day, people are hungry and in need of medical care,” Pichardo pointed out. “The ‘right’ time to help is right now.”

ABOUT GIVE A HAND:

Based in Fresno, California, Give A Hand’s mission and vision is to ameliorate poverty by providing individuals with knowledge and access to financial services and literacy, and to overcome basic human needs that impede access to such knowledge.

Give A Hand achieves its goals by creating and delivering initiatives in different regions or countries in the world, Kenya is their first effort. These initiatives create access to microfinance services, financial literacy and the creation of micro-businesses. It also addresses basic needs such as food, water, and education because they present a barrier to successfully implement these microfinance and financial literacy interventions.

For more information or to donate visit https://www.giveahand.site/

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO (Vimeo) https://vimeo.com/1016193767

PHOTO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/24-1008-s2p-gah-ogundo-300dpi.jpg

Photo caption: Pictured: Florence Otieno Ogundo, Founder, Orongo Widows and Orphans Group working with Give A Hand to help victims of the Kenya floods.

NEWS SOURCE: Give A Hand

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Give A Hand), who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. Image, if any, was provided by the news source and not this website or the wire service. Information is believed accurate, as provided by the news source, but is not guaranteed.

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/give-a-hand-announces-relief-effort-for-victims-of-2024-kenya-floods/

Guarantee Real Estate Offers Home Sellers New Ways to Sell with QuickBuy, an Immediate Offer for Your Home

FRESNO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Guarantee Real Estate, the Central Valley's leading real estate brokerage, is proud to offer home sellers new ways to sell their properties with the opportunity to request an immediate cash offer before they list. By partnering with QuickBuy, sellers will enjoy the certainty and the conveniences of an immediate offer while benefiting from the expertise and guidance of Guarantee's expert agents.

"Guarantee Real Estate agents are excited to present QuickBuy to everyone who might benefit from an alternative home sale solution. Whether they need speed, safety, certainty, or convenience, we have an option for sellers," said Desrie van Putten, President of Guarantee Real Estate. "We have always focused on the needs of our clients, so adding an instant home sale option is another way to give our clients more choices and more control over their home sale."

Sellers utilizing QuickBuy can review an offer within 24-48 hours. They have the option to accept immediately, lock-in the offer for up to 150 days while continuing to market the home or forgo the offer and move forward with a traditional sale.

With real estate pricing algorithms, home value guesstimates and promises of cash offers crowding the internet, homeowners depend on Guarantee agents' guidance, advocacy, and superior market knowledge for their real estate transactions. By partnering with QuickBuy, which is a no-cost service, agents can properly determine a home's true market value - expertise homeowners can't get online.

"The QuickBuy process relies on in-depth market research to establish the most accurate home valuation, and as a result it both educates sellers and offers them more solutions to sell their home," continued Van Putten. "This relationship will permit Guarantee Real Estate the ability to stay at the forefront of the real estate industry by providing new and innovative services."

Sellers accepting immediate offers often want to make a cash offer on their next home, eliminate market uncertainty, bypass the need to prepare their home for market, or to better manage their closing timeline. By combining instant offers with Guarantee's vast market experience, the agency can now offer the best of everything in real estate today.

"Thousands of home sellers across the country have sold their homes though QuickBuy since it launched in 2012 and it remains the only instant-buy program serving all 50 states," said Daniel B. Amdur, President and CEO of Moving Station, the parent company for QuickBuy. "Our company is highly innovative and we focus on creating products that can elevate the agent-client relationship. We maintain excellent partnerships with thousands of brokers nationwide and could not ask for a better and more respected partner than Guarantee Real Estate to launch QuickBuy in their local marketplace."

To learn more about Guarantee Real Estate, go here: https://www.guarantee.com/

About Guarantee Real Estate:

A fixture in the Valley for more than 100 years, Guarantee Real Estate first began as a building and loan company in 1919 and has represented more homebuyers and sellers than any real estate firm in the greater Fresno area.

About Moving Station:

Moving Station, LLC has provided innovative real estate and relocation services nationwide since 1995. In 2012, Moving Station developed the first national iBuying solution, and today, QuickBuy remains the only instant-offer solution serving all 50 states. Learn more at https://quickbuy.com/.

Guarantee Real Estate, the Central Valley's leading real estate brokerage, is proud to offer home sellers new ways to sell their properties with the opportunity to request an immediate cash offer before they list. By partnering with QuickBuy, sellers will enjoy the certainty and the conveniences of an immediate offer while benefiting from the expertise and guidance of Guarantee's expert agents.

Related link: https://www.guarantee.com/

Event Factory Rentals is Here to Serve Fresno County Customers

FRESNO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Since first opening its doors in 2015, Event Factory Rentals in Fresno has quickly become a go-to company for those in need of restroom accommodations and temp fencing for outdoor events. Local homeowners and businesses alike have come to depend on them because they offer the best products and service at the best prices around.

Those traveling throughout the city and beyond will often spot Event Factory Rentals' toilets and fencing set up at a variety of locations. With an exceptional team of dedicated industry professionals and a sizable inventory of available rental units, the company is perfectly equipped to handle projects of any size and scope. This includes countryside weddings, residential celebrations, and all kinds of events that take place in the downtown area. Just recently, they supplied toilets and fencing for the wildly popular Clovis Brewfest. They also serviced The Big Bounce America as well as a car show in the city's Tower District.

Mike Rodrigue, Branch Manager, explained that, "At Event Factory Rentals, we know how important portable restrooms and fencing can be for outdoor events. So, whether your event is a formal backyard wedding, a pop-up beer garden, or a stop on a nationwide tour - you can be fully assured that our team of experts will take care of you at every step of the rental process."

Dependability and affordability are both central to Event Factory Rentals' operations. Despite being the newest of the company's three locations (the others being in Atascadero and Oxnard), the Fresno office provides the same premium rentals and top-tier experience that customers have come to expect from the Rentals division as a whole. The staff works tirelessly to earn their customers' business and trust. The fact that many customers return to the company time and again for their event toilet and fence rental needs is a testament to Event Factory Rentals' consistent reliability and unmatched overall value.

To best account for their customers' varying requirements, Event Factory Rentals offers a range of fencing, toilet, and restroom trailer options. Their freestanding and post driven chain-link, as well as their robust black iron fence panels, are often used to create effective perimeters around and within venue spaces. They also provide beautiful white vinyl picket fencing for more upscale events, steel barricades for crowd control purposes, and dark green mesh screen for enhanced privacy.

When it comes to portable restrooms, the company has not only standard models but deluxe, ultra deluxe, and ADA-compliant units as well. Their luxury restroom trailers, frequently used for weddings and other formal occasions, provide top-of-the-line comfort and amenities that guests are certain to appreciate. All of the toilets and trailers are thoroughly sanitized and carefully inspected to help ensure that they are in top condition when dispatched. All set up, servicing, and take down is handled with complete professionalism.

"It's been a true privilege to be able to partner with so many different people and organizations over the last several years, and we are very excited for an opportunity to show you what we are all about," commented Ryan Mead, Office Manager.

For those planning outdoor events in Fresno and surrounding areas, Event Factory Rentals would appreciate the opportunity to demonstrate why they are the best supplier to work with.

Event Factory Rentals - Fresno is located at 3694 South Bagley Avenue, and can be reached at (559) 314-2137.

For more information, please contact the business ( https://www.eventfactoryrentals.com/contact/ ) or visit https://www.eventfactoryrentals.com/.

Since first opening its doors in 2015, Event Factory Rentals in Fresno has quickly become a go-to company for those in need of restroom accommodations and temp fencing for outdoor events. Local homeowners and businesses alike have come to depend on them because they offer the best products and service at the best prices around.

Related link: https://www.eventfactoryrentals.com/

Avenu Insights & Analytics Adds Public Sector Talent in California

FRESNO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Avenu Insights & Analytics (Avenu) recently announced the addition of Rachelle Arizmendi as one of the company's Government Industry Advisors. Rachelle joins Avenu as a native Californian with a life-long career in serving the public sector and numerous leadership positions.

"Keeping pace with the rapid changes in technology, increased citizen expectations, and budget shortfalls are challenges that all state and local governments are facing," shared Avenu CEO, Paul Colangelo. "The addition of Rachelle Arizmendi helps bring direct industry experience to our client services team that strengthens how we deliver mission critical solutions to the governments we serve.

"Rachelle brings a wealth of public sector knowledge and success that will make a noticeable impact in how we solve challenges and offer creative solutions to our clients. Our key talent additions ensure that Avenu customers can continuously improve on, or in some cases completely reimagine their goals and capabilities in serving their communities."

Rachelle was first elected to California's Sierra Madre City Council in 2014 and re-elected in 2018. Her commitment and drive to improve the community led to being selected by her colleagues to serve as Mayor in 2017 and again in 2020. Currently, she is a California Governor appointee for the Department of Food & Agriculture Board and serves as the Board President of the Asian American Pacific Island Equity Alliance, Board Co-Chair of the National Coalition of Asian Pacific Association of Community Development, Board Secretary for Child360, and First Vice-President of the League of California's Cities Women's Caucus Board.

Additionally, Rachelle has dedicated herself to PACE (Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment) for the last 22 years, with the last six as Vice President and COO. PACE is a non-profit community development organization that serves over 40,000 people every year in areas of job training and employment, business development, environment & energy, affordable housing, and early childhood education.

When asked about her transition to Avenu, Rachelle responded, "Avenu is dedicated to helping state and local governments maximize revenue and optimize the way they operate. My life has been built around serving others and joining the team is truly an extension of that. I am fortunate to continue providing value to communities through our work here at Avenu."

About Avenu Insights & Analytics:

Over 3,000 state and local governments have partnered with Avenu to drive positive results for their communities through software administration and compliance auditing solutions. Avenu's comprehensive software solutions digitally transform government by modernizing processes, providing online access to records, and reducing costs. State and local governments also work closely with Avenu to increase revenue without raising taxes, streamline internal operations, and improve services by enhancing connectivity for constituents. Avenu is a portfolio company of Mill Point Capital.

To learn more, visit https://www.avenuinsights.com/

Avenu Insights & Analytics (Avenu) recently announced the addition of Rachelle Arizmendi as one of the company's Government Industry Advisors. Rachelle joins Avenu as a native Californian with a life-long career in serving the public sector and numerous leadership positions.

Related link: https://www.avenuinsights.com/

The Central Valley joins the technology revolution – 5G IS LIVE IN FRESNO

FRESNO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- The City of Fresno has been a leader in ushering wireless connectivity in the central valley and has opened its doors to the deployment of 5G. The City of Fresno, together with XG Communities created a transparent process in order to push forward the deployment of small cells for all carriers.

"5G is a huge step forward for the City of Fresno," Mayor Jerry Dyer said. "This next generation technology will improve online access for our residents and boost the City's economic development by creating opportunities for businesses currently here, looking to locate here, or even those exploring telecommuting options. As we move ahead with our partners XG Communities and Verizon, I see the continued 5G deployment as another part of my One Fresno vision that will help bring all of Fresno together."

The groundwork has been laid for efficient, city-wide scaled deployment, which utilizes assets in the right of way, fiber and conduit. "We are excited to turn up the new Verizon network and extend the benefits of speed, coverage and new applications to the citizens of Fresno, more than any other time history, connectivity is critical, we must provide access for our citizens," said Bryon Horn, CIO, City of Fresno.

XG Communities is executing the construction of the network to meet the goal of bringing small cells to this area. Monnie McGaffigan, President XG, said, "5G is considered one of the largest civil engineering projects in the world right now and the City of Fresno is capitalizing on the benefits the technology will bring."

The new 5G network is foundational for smart city initiatives, speed and enhanced connectivity. The network is now live in several areas of the community with over 100 small cell sites on air and more to come. The project will ultimately cover the entire City with multiple carriers. Verizon has been the first carrier to aggressively deploy in the City of Fresno.

About Fresno:

City of Fresno is in the Top 10 Largest Cities in California by population with around 522,000+ residents. The city has become an economic hub of the San Joaquin Valley and it is 24th for most livable city in the US for people 35 and under.

With a robust public infrastructure, Fresno = Quality Lifestyle, with a low cost of living and numerous National Parks.

About XG Communities

XG is a premier provider of small cell engineering services and comprehensive wireless strategies in the Right-of-Way. The hallmark of the company lies in providing A&E services and bringing construction projects to fruition. We utilize skilled in-house resources to execute a range of projects, while providing real-time updates. Our turnkey services ensure efficient and effective deployments tailored to meet local requirements, safety guidelines, and industry standards.

For more information, please visit https://www.xgcommunities.com/.

For media queries, contact:
XG Communities LLC
(949) 514-4617
info@xgcommunities.com

The City of Fresno has been a leader in ushering wireless connectivity in the central valley and has opened its doors to the deployment of 5G. The City of Fresno, together with XG Communities created a transparent process in order to push forward the deployment of small cells for all carriers.

Related link: http://xgcommunities.com/

New Fresno Pedestrian Injury Study Maps Most Fatal Roads

VISALIA, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- According to a 2018 police report, a staggering 64 percent of fatal crashes in Fresno involved a vehicle and a pedestrian. In an effort to raise awareness and reduce pedestrian fatalities, Maison Law of Visalia, California conducted a study of Fresno's most dangerous roads and intersections for pedestrians.

The study shows users, at-a-glance, which roads, intersections, and railway crossings are the deadliest for pedestrians and the number of fatalities that occurred at each.

The study reveals that the deadliest roads for pedestrians include:
* RT 99
* Blackstone Ave.
* Shaw Ave.
* Cedar Ave.
* Clinton Ave.
* Fresno Street
* Herndon Ave.
* N. Blackstone Ave.
* 1st Street
* Gettysburg Ave.

In addition to spotlighting this important problem, Maison Law also provides practical strategies for improving pedestrian safety in Fresno and around the U.S.

Maison Law worked with OptimizeMyFirm (https://www.optimizemyfirm.com/) to aggregate data on pedestrian fatalities and to produce several graphics including an interactive map to chart and study where each pedestrian-involved accident occurred from 2008-2018.

The complete study details and interactive map are available at: https://maisonlaw.com/2020/02/fresno-pedestrian-study.

For more information about the study or to obtain graphics, contact: Lindsey Busfield at: lindsey@optimizemyfirm.com.

About Maison Law

Maison Law provides personal injury legal services to injured victims and families throughout the Central and San Juaquin Valleys. The personal injury attorney at the firm offers free consultations and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help after an accident.

For more information about Maison Law: https://maisonlaw.com/.

According to a 2018 police report, a staggering 64 percent of fatal crashes in Fresno involved a vehicle and a pedestrian. In an effort to raise awareness and reduce pedestrian fatalities, Maison Law of Visalia, California conducted a study of Fresno's most dangerous roads and intersections for pedestrians.

Related link: https://maisonlaw.com/