Tag Archives: NonProfit and Charities

Seventeen Bay Area Women Win Financial Women of San Francisco Academic Scholarships for 2022

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Financial Women of San Francisco (FWSF), an organization dedicated to advancing the careers of women for over 60 years, names seventeen students from Bay Area colleges and universities as its 2022 scholarship recipients. FWSF has awarded over $3 million in scholarships over the past 35 years to more than 325 Bay Area women.

This is a corrected release to replace our previous release issued on May 19, 2022.

"We are proud to offer a record 17 women the scholarships they need to pursue their educational goals in finance and accounting," says Melissa Maquilan-Radic, FWSF's 2022 President. "And we are so grateful to our generous donors and supporters who have helped make this happen."

The FWSF scholarship grants - $10,000 for undergraduate and $15,000 for graduate students - support each recipient's educational goals. Beyond financial support, FWSF scholarship recipients also receive opportunities to be mentored by FWSF members and attend career development and networking events. This year, FWSF awarded scholarships to more students than ever before.

Each recipient is an academic and community leader whose goals align with FWSF's mission to empower and support women in finance. All have a passion for finance and many act as mentors to other women and those from low-income communities, sharing financial literacy to help end the cycle of poverty.

From venture investing in women and minorities; to co-founding a non-profit that reduces financial disparities for low-income, first generation, and minority students; to social entrepreneurship; to community building and mentoring and hiring women in their organizations, these scholarship winners demonstrate a commitment to making a positive impact in the world.

2022 GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS:

Riddhi Bahadkar - University of San Francisco School of Management

Makenna Caldwell - St. Mary's College

Cheryl Campos - Stanford University

Shelly Clermenco - Dominican University

Gabriela Forter - Stanford University

Lisa Gonzalez - Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

Katelyn Harris - Stanford University

Elizabeth Hernandez - Golden Gate University

Samina Hydery - Stanford University

Monique Malcolm-Hay - Stanford University

Hannah Schlacter - University of California at Berkeley, Haas School of Business

Tabitha Florence Shikuku - Holy Names University

Zia MacWilliams - University of California at Berkeley, Haas School of Business

2022 UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS:

Liya Gezae - California State University East Bay

Morgan Jacobsen - University of California at Berkeley

Amina Mamayeva - San Jose State University

Jia Yi Tan - University of San Francisco

For more information about FWSF or to become a member, click here: https://financialwomensf.org/membership/.

For more information please visit https://financialwomensf.org/.

Follow the Financial Women of San Francisco on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

About Financial Women of San Francisco:

For over 60 years, Financial Women of San Francisco have sought to advance the success of women in finance and financial services and to be a source of insight and inspiration to financial women executives and managers throughout the Bay Area.

The organization's membership includes women in positions of influence within the financial services sector and women who hold senior level positions within non-finance companies, government agencies and the non-profit sector. Members include CEOs, CFOs, corporate treasurers, CPAs, attorneys, commercial and private bankers, investment advisors, fund managers, securities analysts, administrators, financial planners, consultants, recruiters, and marketers.

Financial Women of San Francisco (FWSF), an organization dedicated to advancing the careers of women for over 60 years, names seventeen students from Bay Area colleges and universities as its 2022 scholarship recipients. FWSF has awarded over $3 million in scholarships over the past 35 years to more than 325 Bay Area women. This is a corrected release to replace our previous release issued on May 19, 2022.

Related link: https://financialwomensf.org/

Dispatch Media Group Names Westerwood a Winner of the Columbus Top Workplaces Award for the 7th Year in a Row

COLUMBUS, Ohio /ScoopCloud/ -- Westerwood has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2022 honor by Columbus C.E.O. Magazine. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage LLC. The anonymous survey uniquely measures 15 culture drivers that are critical to the success of any organization: including alignment, execution, and connection, just to name a few.

"We are honored and thrilled to be named a winner of the "Top Workplaces 2022" award by Columbus C.E.O. Magazine," said Lisa Burkhart, Executive Director. "This is the 7th year in a row Westerwood has received this recognition and it is so meaningful to us because the list is based solely on employee feedback."

"During this very challenging time, Top Workplaces has proven to be a beacon of light for organizations and a sign of resiliency and strong business performance," said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. "When you give your employees a voice, you come together to navigate challenges and shape your path forward. Top Workplaces draw on real-time insights into what works best for their organization to make informed decisions that have a positive impact on their people and their business."

About Westerwood:

Westerwood, formerly Friendship Village Columbus, is a 23-acre, scenic retirement community just off the beaten path and minutes from downtown Westerville and Otterbein University. The active resident community loves lifelong learning, artistic pursuits, exercising, giving back, and connecting with nature. Westerwood is the only true nonprofit Life Care community near Westerville and offers a top-rated, full continuum of care, including a Life Care Contract to provide predictable monthly living expenses regardless of care levels needed.

Rooted in the northeast side of Columbus since 1978, this wooded oasis offers restaurant-quality dining cooked from scratch, wellness classes with a personal trainer, an art studio, a woodshop, and gardens in a friendly atmosphere where ageless spirits can indulge their curiosity. Westerwood is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit community. It is ranked as a 2020 Choice community by the Holleran Group in recognition of an exemplary culture of resident engagement. Visit: https://www.liveatwesterwood.org/

About Energage:

Making the world a better place to work together.(tm)

Energage is a purpose-driven company that helps organizations turn employee feedback into useful business intelligence and credible employer recognition through Top Workplaces. Built on 14 years of culture research and the results from 23 million employees surveyed across more than 70,000 organizations, Energage delivers the most accurate competitive benchmark available. With access to a unique combination of patented analytic tools and expert guidance, Energage customers lead the competition with an engaged workforce and an opportunity to gain recognition for their people-first approach to culture. For more information or to nominate your organization, visit energage.com or topworkplaces.com.

Westerwood has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2022 honor by Columbus C.E.O. Magazine. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage LLC.

Related link: https://www.liveatwesterwood.org/

Star Vintners and Top Innovators in Food & Wine Take the Stage at 9th Annual WineaPAWlooza June 24 and 25, 2022

NAPA, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Jameson Humane (Jameson), a solutions-based nonprofit and animal sanctuary which educates to inspire change on behalf of companion and farmed animals, is holding its signature fundraising event, WineaPAWlooza 2022, live and in-person on Friday, June 24 and Saturday, June 25 at 5 p.m., PT. Combining two things that are universally loved (wine and animals), WineaPAWlooza has consistently earned its place as one of the top 10 wine events in the country, as cited by Wine Spectator magazine. The money raised from this spirited and highly anticipated event supplies the critical funds necessary for Jameson programs to improve the state of animal welfare and to save lives.

Innovators in Food & Wine Join This Year's Impact-Driven Fundraiser

This newest iteration of Jameson's annual fundraiser expands on Jameson's mission, which is to improve animal welfare through global collaboration and education for the benefit of all life. Bringing together leaders in the food and wine industry to discuss innovation, behavior, and action-oriented change to our food system, including wine-for the health of animals, humans, and the planet-takes place on Friday evening, on Pritchard Hill. Amanda McCrossin of SommVivant, and Brian Cooley of CNET, will be co-moderating a panel of prestigious vintners and food industry leaders on June 24 from 5-7:30 p.m. The cuisine will be curated by Little Saint, a Healdsburg plant-based restaurant overseen by Kyle Connaughton of three Michelin-star SingleThread.

PANELISTS:

Eric Schulze, UPSIDE Foods; Alison Kilmer, Miyoko's; Tamearra Dyson, Souley Vegan; Christopher Jackson, Jackson Family Wines, Rooted for Good; Carlo Mondavi, RAEN Winery, Monarch Tractor; Molly Sheppard, Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery

The Grand Tasting, Animal Parade, & Wine Auction with Celebrity Guest, Christie Brinkley Saturday June 25, 5-10 p.m.

Returning this year in-person to the famed Beckstoffer Farm Center, Saturday evening includes the Grand Tasting showcasing handcrafted wines and the vintners who make them from 50 of the "who's who" of Napa and Sonoma Valley's wine glitterati (click here to see Participating Vintners), plus special guest, Christie Brinkley, showcasing her vegan Bellissima Prosecco.

"When I heard about the work that Jameson Humane does for animals and the planet, I knew that I had to be a part of this year's WineaPAWlooza. Being a lifelong vegetarian and activist; sustainable and vegan or vegetarian-friendly causes are extremely important to me. What's even more unique about the work we do at Bellissima is that we go beyond the bottle - we are committed to giving back to the planet and supporting animals and communities in need," said Christie Brinkley.

The legendary Animal Parade will be led by celebrity wine auctioneer and personality, Fritz Hatton, followed by a delectable plant-based menu designed and executed by Goatlandia. The evening will culminate in the much-anticipated live auction of 20 spectacular lots, featuring cult wines, one-of-a-kind experiences, and trips to global wine destinations.

WineaPAWlooza will be hosted by world-renowned wine auctioneer Fritz Hatton, as well as Jameson Humane and former 750 Wines Founders Monica and David Stevens, and Vanessa Conlin, MW. Andy and Betty Beckstoffer will be presented with a Lifetime Philanthropic Achievement award.

"This year's WineaPAWlooza is bigger, better, and more important than ever. Not only do we have the best-of-the-best, most generous vintners and winemakers sharing their most sought-after wines, but we take our mission to the next level with true innovators and disruptors in the food and wine industry who join us to share their solutions for the future and to benefit all of us, the animals, and the planet. The time is now to innovate, learn, share, and enjoy all that our wine country and its community have to offer," said Jameson Humane Co-Founder and WineaPAWlooza Co-Chair, Monica Stevens.

"I'm thrilled that we are back in person for WineaPAWlooza 2022! Our Friday night format will showcase everything Jameson Humane does not just on behalf of animals but also for the people and the entire planet. Having Christie Brinkley at both nights, lending her star power to WineaPAWlooza, truly shows us how the great work that Jameson does is being noticed nationally. The funds we will raise on Saturday are more important now than ever and our amazing vintners and donors will make the future brighter through their generous contributions," said Vanessa Conlin MW, WineaPAWlooza Co-Chair.

Event Information, eLots and Proxy Bidding: http://www.wineapawlooza.com/

Maral Papakhian, Maral@jamesonhumane.org | 415-845-7205.

ABOUT JAMESON HUMANE:

Jameson Humane is an impact-driven nonprofit organization that collaborates and educates to inspire change in animal welfare, not only in local communities, but around the world. Monica and David Stevens founded Jameson Humane in 2014 as a 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit organization to improve animal welfare through global collaboration and education for the benefit of all life. The organization was named in memory of the Stevens' beloved dog Jameson, an adopted Great Pyrenees who lived to the age of 14 and inspired the spirit and mission. Learn more at: https://www.jamesonanimalrescueranch.org/.

ABOUT WINEAPAWLOOZA:

WineaPAWlooza is Jameson's annual fundraiser, an event that has earned its place as one of the top ten wine events in the country according to Wine Spectator magazine. The money raised from this sought-after event supply the critical funds necessary for Jameson's programs to improve the state of animal welfare and save animal lives. Because of WineaPAWlooza, Jameson has been able to help thousands of animals and their humans in our community, and beyond, through vital programs that work across the inextricable web between animal welfare, our community, and the environment. This year's event will help ensure these programs thrive as we continue to effect real change.

Event Schedule: https://www.jamesonanimalrescueranch.org/2022-wineapawlooza/schedule

RELATED LINKS:

https://www.jamesonanimalrescueranch.org/2022-wineapawlooza/vintners

https://www.jamesonanimalrescueranch.org/impact

MULTIMEDIA:

PHOTO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/22-0517-s2p-pet-parade-300dpi.jpg

Caption: Pet Parade. Photo credit is Emma K. Morris.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

For more information on Jameson Humane, please contact:

Maral Papakhian

Maral@jamesonhumane.org or 415.845.7205

For media queries, please contact:

Kimberly Noelle Charles

Charles Communications Associates at

kcharles@charlescomm.com or 415.730.0064

Jameson Humane (Jameson), a solutions-based nonprofit and animal sanctuary which educates to inspire change on behalf of companion and farmed animals, is holding its signature fundraising event, WineaPAWlooza 2022, live and in-person on June 24 and June 25 at 5 p.m., PT. Combining two things that are universally loved (wine and animals), WineaPAWlooza has consistently earned its place as one of the top 10 wine events in the country.

Related link: https://www.jamesonanimalrescueranch.org/

The Pap Corps Donates $3.5 Million to Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. /ScoopCloud/ -- You can't keep champions down! Rebounding from COVID-19, The Pap Corps Champions for Cancer Research (www.thepapcorps.org) came back full swing with their fundraising for the 2021/2022 fiscal year. At their May meeting, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit donated $3.5 million to Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Almost 300 Pap Corps members, along with leaders from Sylvester, enjoyed a beautiful breakfast at Boca West, where the check was presented to Jayne Sylvester Malfitano on behalf of the center.

"I am so proud of our amazing members," declared Sally Berenzweig, CEO of The Pap Corps. "Your dedication and passion, especially during these past few years, has been such an inspiration."

Jayne Sylvester Malfitano, whose parents endowed the center, spoke eloquently about the special partnership between The Pap Corps and Sylvester, and shared several of the numerous scientific advancements that have occurred thanks to research, including the rise of precision medicine, which is an approach to cancer treatment that is targeted at genetic markers in each person's unique cancer.

Sylvester is the only NCI-Designated Cancer Center in South Florida, and The Pap Corps has donated over $110 million during the past 70 years to support cancer research. To celebrate these seven decades of giving, Robert Weinroth, Mayor of Palm Beach County presented a proclamation honoring the nonprofit's service.

Other event highlights included recognizing top donors in multiple categories, honoring retiring chapter presidents and welcoming new chapter presidents.

"It is with such joy that we gather today to celebrate our members and honor the unique role our organization plays in advancing lifesaving cancer treatments," said Susan Dinter, Pap Corps Chair of the Board. "We look forward to creating a world without cancer, but until we achieve that goal, The Pap Corps will be here!"

About The Pap Corps:

Since its founding in 1952, The Pap Corps has donated more than $110 million to Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, including a historic $50 million pledge in 2016. The Pap Corps derives its name from Dr. George Papanicolaou, a pioneer in cytopathology and early cancer detection, who introduced the world to the revolutionary 'Pap' test. A small group of women began the organization to support his efforts, and over the decades it has grown into an organization of over 20,000 men and women, in over 50 chapters, who raise funds to support research for all types of cancers.

Learn more: https://www.thepapcorps.org/

You can't keep champions down! Rebounding from COVID-19, The Pap Corps Champions for Cancer Research came back full swing with their fundraising for the 2021/2022 fiscal year. At their May meeting, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit donated $3.5 million to Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Related link: https://www.thepapcorps.org/

ACLENet and Government of Uganda Sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to Further ‘Building Lightning Safe Communities’ Effort

CHICAGO, Ill. /ScoopCloud/ -- An important milestone for promoting lightning safety across Africa occurred with the February 2022 signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the US and Uganda-based African Centers for Lightning and Electromagnetics Network (ACLENet) and the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) of Uganda. This MoU was piloted and promoted by the Ministry of Relief, Disaster Preparedness, and Refugees (MoRDP'R) within the Prime Minister's Office.

"My Ministry is working with ACLENet on the scientific aspects of disaster preparedness," said Hilary Onek, the Hon Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees. "It is the hope of parties involved in this partnership to make this optimism a reality," Onek explained during a Public Service Announcement (PSA), an integral part of engagements leading to the signing of the MoU that was broadcast during the 2021 holiday season in both English and Luganda, the primary indigenous language in Uganda.

The MoU is an important milestone for ACLENet, as it is expected to provide instrumental framework for: 1) A national mandate to plan, promote, and advocate for lightning safety across Uganda; 2) Introduction of scientific principles of lightning safety for people, property, and places according to globally recognized lightning protection system (LPS) safety standard provisions of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

"This partnership is expected to further ACLENet's goals of saving lives and property across Africa," said Dr. Mary Ann Cooper, Managing Director of ACLENet.

Data sets and information packages are being prepared for the Hon. Minister for onward submission to appropriate units within the Government of Uganda and general public and include priorities outlined in The United Nation's Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 as well as a database on lightning injuries.

"Specifically, ACLENet plans to expand the work piloted with programs and interventions over the last seven years and in partnership with the National Emergency Coordination and Operations Centre (NECOC), a specialized department of MoRDP'R," explained Dr. Cooper. "Together, we aim to advance the 'building lightning safe communities' effort by reducing the number of deaths, injuries, and property damage from lightning."

Here in the U.S., the International Code Council (I.C.C.) is celebrating its 42nd annual Building Safety Month campaign with the theme "Safety for All: Building Codes in Action," to raise awareness about the importance of building codes in ensuring safety in spaces in which we live work and learn.

"Building Safety Month focuses on issues that impact our everyday lives: building safety, energy, water and disasters-factors of constant concern for homes, schools, businesses and communities," said Code Council Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, CBO.

Learn more: https://aclenet.org/how-to-help/overview.html

About ACLENet:

ACLENet, a nonprofit organization incorporated in both the US and Uganda, seeks funding and volunteers to help reduce injuries, save lives, and decrease crippling infrastructure damage from lightning in Africa. Visit https://aclenet.org/ to learn how you can support the effort.

ACLENet uses lightning protection, public, primary, and secondary education, and research to interface with African governments and protect communities from the lightning threat.

RELATED LINKS:

https://opm.go.ug/disaster-preparedness-and-management/

https://www.iec.ch/homepage

https://aclenet.org/news-publications/country-news/

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/aj4iifLdI7E

An important milestone for promoting lightning safety across Africa occurred with the February 2022 signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the US and Uganda-based African Centers for Lightning and Electromagnetics Network (ACLENet) and the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) of Uganda. This MoU was piloted and promoted by the Ministry of Relief, Disaster Preparedness, and Refugees (MoRDP'R) within the Prime Minister's Office.

Related link: https://aclenet.org/

Boise Spring Carnival Invites All Families

BOISE, Idaho /ScoopCloud/ -- MyPlaces Community Events, a community-based charity creating events accessible to people with disabilities, announced today that it is hosting its 4th Annual Spring Carnival, Saturday May 28 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.! These events have been a constant draw and boon for connecting special needs individuals with the larger community, in the universal language of HAVING FUN!

This year, with the help of many generous sponsors, we are opening our doors to the larger Treasure Valley Community. You can find the Carnival at the corner of Fairview and Milwaukee in Boise.

Bring your kids or just your inner child and be prepared to have a BLAST! Attractions include:
* A Live Reptile Petting Zoo
* A Large Variety of Traditional Carnival Games (All included with your ticket)
* Photo Ops with Your Favorite Super-Heroes
* Local Food Trucks
* The ICCU Cash Machine
* Bounces Houses
* Obstacle Courses
* And more!

So come out and enjoy the great weather, great entertainment, and the great feeling of supporting special needs activities all year long.

Our most heartfelt thanks go out to our generous community sponsors: 100 Women for Good, Hettich Group, MyDoDad Inc, Idaho Inflatables, Aardvark Entertainment, Idaho Central Credit Union, Sylvan Learning, & Signs by Tomorrow, Our Amazing Host - Watson's Mystery Café

The carnival is held at 8001 W Fairview Ave #1, Boise, ID 83704, Saturday May 28, 2022 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Tickets are $15 per person (on duty care-giving staff are free).

Visit https://myplacesce.org/springcarnival/ for more information or to preorder tickets as these events often sell out early.

Connect with us on social media at: https://www.facebook.com/MyPlacesCE.org/

All Proceeds go to MyPlaces Community Events.

MyPlaces Community Events is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit operating since 2015 to provide opportunities for the Special Needs Community to get out, have fun, and connect with other people.

Website: https://myplacesce.org/

MyPlaces Community Events, a community-based charity creating events accessible to people with disabilities, announced today that it is hosting its 4th Annual Spring Carnival, Saturday May 28 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.! These events have been a constant draw and boon for connecting special needs individuals with the larger community, in the universal language of HAVING FUN!

Related link: https://myplacesce.org/

FormFree opens registration to its third annual Heroes Golf Classic 2022 benefiting the American Red Cross of Northeast Georgia

ATHENS, Ga. /ScoopCloud/ -- FormFree® today announced it has opened registration to the organization's third annual Heroes Golf Classic, which will be held on September 9, 2022, at Lanier Islands Legacy Golf Course in Buford, Georgia. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the American Red Cross of Northeast Georgia, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides emergency assistance and preparedness education to communities affected by disaster.

FormFree invites companies and individuals to participate in the Luau on the Lake themed charity golf tournament by registering to play or sponsoring the event. Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum sponsorships are available in addition to two new interactive sponsorship opportunities. The Power Red premier hole sponsorship, named to honor the life-saving impact of blood donations, features a golf cannon that allows players to launch balls up to 300 yards on a Par 3 hole. The Pillowcase Hole premier sponsorship, named for the Red Cross Pillowcase Preparedness Program, is led by a golf professional who will make the first shot, setting golfers up to make a Par 5 hole in two shots.

"When natural disasters or other emergencies threaten the safety of our community, the Red Cross of Northeast Georgia is there to help," said FormFree Founder and CEO Brent Chandler. "The FormFree team and I are honored to dedicate our time, money and effort to help support this life-saving work."

Located less than an hour north of Atlanta and situated along the shores of Lake Lanier, the award-winning Lanier Islands Legacy Golf Course features 18 holes designed to delight golf enthusiasts. Charming, tranquil and rich with wildlife, the course is distinguished by its exceptional quality and commitment to service.

The 2021 Heroes Golf Classic brought together more than 100 golfers and volunteers at the Château Élan Winery and Resort in Braselton, Georgia. The event raised $57,030 to benefit Red Cross-sponsored disaster relief services, blood drives and educational programs. This year, FormFree has set a fundraising goal of $75,000.

"Since FormFree was founded in 2008, it has supported the American Red Cross by participating in blood drives, food drives and fundraisers," said Marlon Trone, executive director of the American Red Cross of Northeast Georgia. "Now over a decade later, FormFree is one of our most cherished supporters. We are grateful for their partnership and look forward to continuing our work together."

The American Red Cross of Northeast Georgia provides direct service to 23 Georgia counties by supporting the collection, testing and distribution of blood and blood components in the region, providing emergency resources for military families, facilitating lifesaving training and helping communities impacted by disasters. FormFree CEO Brent Chandler joined the organization's board of directors in 2017, and FormFree was named the Northeast Georgia chapter's 2021 Corporate Blood Sponsor of the Year.

To register for FormFree's third annual Heroes Golf Classic, visit https://HeroesClassic22.givesmart.com.

Those who are unable to attend the tournament can support the American Red Cross of Northeast Georgia's humanitarian work by making a donation at https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/.

About FormFree:

As the industry's go-to provider for direct-source VOA and VOI/E data, FormFree® helps lenders understand credit risk like never before. Our patented AccountChek® and Passport® products open doors to more inclusive credit decisioning by revealing each customer's true ability to pay (ATP®). We have completed over $3 trillion in loan verifications that help lenders lower operating costs while improving the borrower experience.

For more information, visit https://www.formfree.com/ or follow FormFree on LinkedIn.

FormFree today announced it has opened registration to the organization's third annual Heroes Golf Classic, which will be held on September 9, 2022, at Lanier Islands Legacy Golf Course in Buford, Georgia. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the American Red Cross of Northeast Georgia, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides emergency assistance and preparedness education to communities affected by disaster.

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

China Rescue Dogs Fights to Save 46 Golden Retrievers, 8 Puppies And 22 Corgis from Being Slaughtered in China

VASS, N.C. /ScoopCloud/ -- China Rescue Dogs, a leading International non-profit dog rescue based in the United States, is in the middle of an urgent dog rescue effort in China. Shanghai Animal Rescue reached out to China Rescue Dogs for help after they discovered a dog breed farm north of Harbin were selling all their dogs into the meat-trade. 46 adult Goldens, 8 puppies, and 22 Corgis were going to be trucked to Yulin to be slaughtered for the 2022 Yulin Dog Meat Festival.

"The living conditions at this dog breed farm are just awful," exclaimed Jill Stewart, President and Founder of China Rescue Dogs. "It is heartbreaking that this breeder was going to just discard their entire inventory of dogs to be slaughtered. We had to do something. Doing nothing was not an option."

Despite international pressure, dog slaughterhouses and eating dog meat are not outlawed in China. Even though the local government no longer sponsors the Yulin Dog Meat festival, it continues to take place every year in June. With no national animal rights laws in place in China, most dogs (and cats) have little chance at living a full life.

"Yulin happens every day in China," said Brandy Cherven, Vice President of Operations for China Rescue Dogs. "Dogs are still brutalized, tortured, and eaten due to outdated beliefs of gaining more wisdom, warding off evil spirits, or keeping cool in the summer months."

"The world needs to know about the continued brutality." said Jill Stewart, President, and Founder of China Rescue Dogs. "We just can't sit back and do nothing! Yes, there needs to be laws put in place to protect those animals from being uselessly slaughtered, but the urgency today is to save the dogs from the breed farm that are in imminent danger."

So far, China Rescue Dogs and its rescue partners in China have saved 29 adult Goldens, 8 puppies and 22 Corgis. They have seen the emergency veterinarian and are safe in a dog sanctuary. However, they are still trying to rescue the remaining Goldens from the breed farm. The rescue mission is not over yet.

The goal is to save all the dogs from the breed farm. Once rescued, China Rescue Dogs will find them loving forever homes in North America, where they can live out the rest of their lives with love and without fear.

The rescue effort is being played out in real-time on the China Rescue Dogs Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/chinarescuedogs.

"This is why the CDC Dog Ban needs to end now," said Stewart. "Even if we are able to save all of these dogs, we still cannot bring them into the United States to be adopted."

The suspension, which was announced by the CDC last year stated that effective July 14, 2021, all dogs imported from 113 countries (including China) may not enter the U.S. for a period of at least one year. Now, almost a year later, responsible international dog rescue organizations, like China Rescue Dogs, should be allowed to resume giving dogs a second chance at life here in the U.S.

To learn more about the organization, please visit: https://chinarescuedogs.org/.

About China Rescue Dogs:

China Rescue Dogs is a 501(c)(3) organization founded by Jill Stewart, an ardent advocate of animal rights worldwide, and especially in China. Their global mission is to rescue and rehabilitate dogs from China and provide them with loving forever homes in North America.

China Rescue Dogs, a leading International non-profit dog rescue based in the United States, is in the middle of an urgent dog rescue effort in China. Shanghai Animal Rescue reached out to China Rescue Dogs for help after they discovered a dog breed farm north of Harbin were selling all their dogs into the meat-trade.

Related link: https://chinarescuedogs.org/

Isn’t It Possible to Promote Literacy? Net Profits from 10th Anniversary Edition of ‘Little Green’ will go to Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Paraphrase, LLC, the publisher of "Little Green" (ISBN: 978-0981587943), is donating 500 copies of a special anniversary edition to Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California (RIFSoCal). For 10 years, "Little Green" has been asking, "Isn't it possible?" The frog still can't be a goose, horse, or koi, but it is possible to promote literacy and motivate children to read by providing new books to create home libraries for underserved children in Southern California.

That is, in fact, the mission of the 501(c)(3) organization Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California (www.rifsocal.org). The special edition, celebrating the 50th anniversary of RIFSoCal and the 10th anniversary of "Little Green," is also available on amazon.com through the end of 2022. Paraphrase has pledged all proceeds from the anniversary edition to RIFSoCal.

"Little Green" is a picture-book for 0-7 year olds, written by Arnold Rudnick, with illustrations by Marcelo Gorenman, featuring a little green frog on a quest to be special. He hops around from animal to animal asking "Isn't it possible?" he can be one of them and do the special things they do. While the reader learns animal groups, skills, traits and sounds, Little Green learns almost anything is possible, but he must start by being himself.

"I hope that someday 'Little Green' and 'Isn't it possible?' will be as familiar to children, and empowering, as 'I Think I Can!' from 'The Little Engine That Could,'" Rudnick says. "Reading makes ALMOST anything possible. I am really excited to partner with Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California on this mission of literacy."

"We are delighted to thank Arnold Rudnick for his most generous donation of 'Little Green,'" says Carol Henault, Executive Director of RIFSoCal. "I can't wait to share this inspirational story with the children in our Motivational Reading Program. Inspiring children's passion for reading is the greatest gift we can give them on their personal road to success. That, and frogs.

"We can always use more frog stories! As Los Angeles and Orange County's largest children's literacy organization, RIFSoCal works every day to share the magic of reading for fun and pleasure with our most vulnerable children. As of our 50th anniversary of celebrating literacy for all children, we will have served 1.7M children, and provided them with more than 5.3M books."

To learn more visit: https://www.rifsocal.org/.

About Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California:

Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California (RIFSoCal) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote literacy and motivate children to read by providing new books to create home libraries for underserved children in Southern California.

About Paraphrase, LLC:

Paraphrase, LLC, is a boutique publishing company promoting literacy with a mission to create thought-provoking media that educates, entertains, and inspires. Their motto is "Read a book, Read a mind."(tm) Learn more at: http://www.paraphrasellc.com/

Twitter @RIFSoCal @isntitpossible

Paraphrase, LLC, the publisher of "Little Green" (ISBN: 978-0981587943) by Arnold Rudnick, is donating 500 copies of a special anniversary edition to Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California (RIFSoCal). For 10 years, "Little Green" has been asking, "Isn't it possible?"

Related link: http://www.paraphrasellc.com/

Allied Van Lines and Move For Hunger Renew Partnership to Continue the Fight Against Hunger

RED BANK, N.J. /ScoopCloud/ -- Move For Hunger, a national hunger relief non-profit organization, and Allied Van Lines, Inc., one of the world's largest moving companies, have partnered together for the 9th year to fight food insecurity in the United States.

Allied Van Lines, and its parent company SIRVA Worldwide, Inc., joined Move For Hunger in 2013 and have been dedicated partners over the past nine years. To date, the Allied network of agencies has transported and provided over 5 million pounds of donations to food banks and pantries across the country; the equivalent of over 4 million meals to food insecure families, children, and individuals.

"Allied is fully committed to supporting our communities and those in need," said Ricardo Ramos Seyffert, Marketing Director. "Our partnership with Move For Hunger provides our customers a simple solution to dispose of unwanted pantry items while giving back to the communities we serve and strengthens our commitment to fight hunger."

Move For Hunger was founded in 2009 by Adam Lowy, the son of a third-generation mover, when he noticed that perfectly good food was being disposed of when people move. This sparked the idea for Move For Hunger, and, starting with his own family's moving company and building from there. Move For Hunger now has a network of over 1,100 moving companies, including many of the world's leading relocation management companies, and more than 2,500 multi-family apartment communities, all helping to fight to end hunger by collecting food items and delivering them to local food banks in the United States and Canada.

"Allied and SIRVA have been amazing partners in the fight against hunger," said Adam Lowy, Executive Director and Founder of Move For Hunger. "We're grateful for their continued support in helping us provide meals to those in need.

About Move For Hunger:

Move For Hunger is working to end hunger and food waste in America. 42 million Americans struggle with hunger while 35% of the food produced in this country goes to waste. By mobilizing moving companies, multifamily apartment communities, corporations, and volunteers, Move For Hunger has delivered more than 26 million pounds of food to food banks - providing 22 million meals for those in need.

Get your company involved by registering to hold a food drive, fundraiser, or team building opportunity. Visit Move For Hunger to learn more about their work at www.moveforhunger.org

About Allied Van Lines:

Allied Van Lines is an award-winning moving and specialized transportation services company. Established in 1928, Allied is one of the world's largest moving companies and a recognized global brand of SIRVA, Inc., a leader in providing worldwide moving and relocation services to corporations, consumers, and governments around the world. Allied has been recognized as "America's Most Recommended Moving Company" by the Women's Choice Award(r) and by Newsweek as delivering "America's Best Customer Service." Allied is the Official Partner of the Salvation Army, the Susan G Komen Foundation, and a top donor to Move for Hunger. Allied is a ProMover(r) member of the American Trucking Association. For more information, call 1-800-689-8684 or visit allied.com. USDOT 076235

Move For Hunger, a national hunger relief non-profit organization, and Allied Van Lines, Inc., one of the world's largest moving companies, have partnered together for the 9th year to fight food insecurity in the United States.

Related link: https://moveforhunger.org/

California Safe Schools Celebrates 2022 Earth Day Honorees and 24th Anniversary

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- California Safe Schools (CSS) celebrates 7 honorees for their extraordinary achievements empowering youth and protecting the Earth. "CSS wants to honor our phenomenal 2022 Earth Day Champions. We thank each of them for their enormous and selfless contributions. They all make our world a better place," Robina Suwol, California Safe Schools, executive director, said.

This Spring also marks the 24th anniversary of CSS's commitment to ensuring that all students, teachers, staff, and community members who live near school sites are in a safe, toxic-free environment. CSS continues to work closely with diverse communities and regulatory agencies on toxic issues that impact our life-giving air, water and soil.

CSS achieved national prominence by spearheading the Los Angeles Unified School District's Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Policy, the most stringent pesticide policy in the nation for K-12 public schools. This was the first school district to embrace the "Precautionary Principle" and "Right to Know" in a policy and led to the passage of California's Healthy Schools Act. Today, the LA Unified IPM policy serves as an international model for school districts and communities.

HONOREES:

Tam Doduc

As the appointed Civil Engineer Member on the State Water Resources Control Board, Tam participated in processes to allocate and ensure reasonable use of water rights, provide financial support for water infrastructures and groundwater cleanups, and assure communities have access to safe drinking water. Her 16 years on the board were preceded by her work as Deputy Secretary at the California Environmental Protection Agency where she led the environmental justice and scientific peer review efforts and provided oversight of children's environmental health and environmental education programs.

Deborah Bell-Holt

Deborah's "Love and Respect Youth Foundation" reached out to the needs of thousands of inner city youths in 1994. When she realized this was not enough to solve all the needs she saw before her, Deborah expanded her efforts in the world.

She empowers others to get involved and close-down or clean-up sites that are not favorable to a community. Her fight against drill sites has received worldwide recognition, notably in Paris, France and Switzerland.

Alanna Butterworth

Alanna taught elementary school for 30 years in the Sacramento City Unified School District. She was proactive in fully integrating a local community garden into the school curriculum by developing composting practices with cafeteria food, using the resulting nutrient-dense soil to grow vegetables, and harvesting them for classroom cooking projects. The care of the garden and abundance of fruits and vegetables brought deeply meaningful connections to students who experienced the gifts of nature and attained lifelong knowledge of healthy foods.

Marta and Bob Takano

Bob Takano is a highly respected weightlifting coach who was inducted into the USA Weightlifting Hall of Fame in 2007 for his contributions to coaching. He has been the coach of four national champions, two national record holders, and 27 top ten nationally ranked lifters. Bob has been on the coaching staffs of 17 U.S. National teams to international competitions, five of those being World Championships and the Summer Olympics. His lifters have competed in seven Olympic Trials with one, Albert Hood, the third American to snatch double bodyweight, earning a berth on the 1984 team. Bob continues to produce more record-breaking athletes as owner of his own gym, Takano Weightlifting.

While Bob is involved in his work, Marta is doing some heavy weightlifting of her own as a pet therapist and rescuing dogs. As a volunteer at Northridge Hospital and Kaiser Medical Center, Marta discovered how powerful pet therapy was in healing patients and helped train many other handlers. Her love for golden retrievers led her to be part of the Southern California Golden Retriever Rescue that has developed a special program to ensure these traumatized dogs are placed in stable, forever homes. Marta's breadth of experience and compassion are essential in the critical reception of rescue dogs arriving on flights from Korea and Mexico. Both Marta and Bob view this as an opportunity to provide immediate care and solace to an even greater number of dogs in need of rescue. Along with their bountiful garden, they have created a healing environment for the rescue dogs they personally foster until a loving home is found.

Devon Jasiukonis

As president of his middle school in Hollywood, Devon's first project was to initiate a Green Committee. He joins other concerned students and team leaders to facilitate weekly activities to create awareness such as making posters. Topics have included how to reduce, reuse and recycle, earthworm composting, planting milkweed for monarch butterflies, harvesting and storing seeds, and the benefits of farmer's markets for a healthier lifestyle support of local businesses. Devon's newest goal is to reduce single-use water bottles with the installation of filtered drinking water stations at school. This will encourage students and staff to change to reusable bottles that they'll be able to easily refill and it establishes healthy habits while eliminating the impact of plastic.

Martina Rangel-Ortega

Martina has been a force for positive change in her community on issues such as access to healthy food, clean air and water, transportation services and keeping warehouses from being built near residential homes and schools. Martina currently serves as the Secretary for Ontario-Montaclair School District Community Advisory Committee (CAC) whose purpose is to improve and promote communication between schools, parents and public agencies, increase community awareness, and facilitate parent education and support. Martina's passion has been helping special needs children. She has become a trusted advocate between the school district and parents and coordinates many unforgettable activities for families.

All the honorees received awards designed by masterful artist Michael Bruza and engraved by Anderson Trophy.

Learn more about California Safe Schools at: http://www.calisafe.org/

California Safe Schools (CSS) celebrates 7 honorees for their extraordinary achievements empowering youth and protecting the Earth. "CSS wants to honor our phenomenal 2022 Earth Day Champions. We thank each of them for their enormous and selfless contributions. They all make our world a better place," Robina Suwol, California Safe Schools, executive director, said.

Related link: http://www.calisafe.org/

California Safe Schools 2022 Champion for Clean Air

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- California Safe Schools (CSS) today celebrates the implementation of "No Idling" signs near 50 school "hotspot" sites to eliminate diesel exhaust that can have immediate health effects especially for sensitive receptors like school children. Diesel exhaust contains toxic substances such as arsenic, benzene, formaldehyde and nickel that can contribute to mutations in cells that have progressed to cancer.

In fact, the California Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), comprehensive assessment found that "long-term exposure to diesel exhaust particles poses the highest cancer risk of any toxic air contaminant evaluated by OEHHA."

CSS Founder and Executive Director, Robina Suwol, who has guided the project since 2018, recognized everyone's efforts on this critical clean air initiative. "We believe everyone is entitled to clean air and equal protection under the law so we prioritized schools and adjacent communities heavily overburdened by cumulative impacts from multiple environmental sources of pollution. We are grateful for the support from the California Air Resources Board (CARB), South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), students, teachers, parents, residents, community leaders and the Los Angeles Unified School District for their assistance in identifying the sites, and to the LA City Department of Transportation for installing 50 signs."

With asthma being the most common chronic condition among children affecting 6.6 million, recent studies have reinforced the importance of eliminating diesel pollution. An international team determined how ultrafine particles can get deep into lungs, stimulate the nerves and exacerbate respiratory conditions.

Jesse Marquez relates why he joined in the "No Idling" campaign. "As a lifelong resident of Wilmington and Executive Director of Coalition for a Safe Environment, we were pleased to have worked with California Safe Schools to identify streets adjacent to public schools, parks, and residential areas where "No Truck Idling" signs have been installed to reduce public exposure to freight truck exhaust air pollution and noise."

Chief of California Air Resources Board's Enforcement Division, Todd Sax said, "These No Idling signs, championed by groups including California Safe Schools, help reduce the impact of truck traffic in communities. Using a portion of the proceeds from enforcement actions, CARB is funding important, on-the-ground solutions like this one that help clean the air for schoolchildren and improve the quality of life for everyone in these hard-hit communities."

Cynthia Babich of the Del Amo Action Committee observed how the signs will help her community. "No Idling" signs mark the beginning of enforceable actions to improve decades of inappropriate land use planning that has allowed warehouses and trucking facilities onto residential streets in our environmental justice community."

The CSS "No Idling" project was funded through a Supplemental Environmental Project administered by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). This policy allows community-based projects to be funded from a portion of the penalties received during settlement of enforcement actions. SEPs can improve public health, reduce pollution, increase environmental compliance, and bring public awareness to neighborhoods most burdened by environmental harm. The current policy also includes a public process to solicit potential SEPs from disadvantaged communities.

About California Safe Schools:

California Safe Schools (CSS) is children's environmental health and environmental justice non-profit committed to ensuring that all students, teachers, staff, and community members who live near school sites are in a safe, toxic-free environment. CSS works closely with diverse communities and regulatory agencies on toxic issues (air, water, soil). CSS achieved national prominence by spearheading the Los Angeles Unified School District's Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Policy, the most stringent pesticide policy in the nation for K-12 public schools. This was the first school district to embrace the "Precautionary Principle" and "Right to Know" in a policy and led to the passage of California's Healthy Schools Act. Today, the LA Unified IPM policy serves as a national and international model for school districts and communities.

Learn more at: http://calisafe.org/

CITATIONS:

https://oehha.ca.gov/air/health-effects-diesel-exhaust

https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/asthma/learn-about-asthma/asthma-children-facts-sheet

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/05/170522080928.htm

California Safe Schools (CSS) today celebrates the implementation of "No Idling" signs near 50 school "hotspot" sites to eliminate diesel exhaust that can have immediate health effects especially for sensitive receptors like school children. Diesel exhaust contains toxic substances such as arsenic, benzene, formaldehyde and nickel that can contribute to mutations in cells that have progressed to cancer.

Related link: http://www.calisafe.org/

9th Annual USA Cursive is Cool® Contest is Still Accepting Entries

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- We are excited to announce that the USA Cursive is Cool® contest deadline has been extended until April 22, 2022. The contest is going on as usual this year after encouragement from teachers, parents, and students, announced the American Handwriting Analysis Foundation today, and the entries can now be submitted until April 22 to allow more students to participate.

Students still have time to enter! Prizes will be awarded for First, Second, and Third Place, and a prize for the most Creative content. The entries will be reviewed for legibility and neatness. One of each prize per grades 1 through 8 will be awarded.

"Every year our judges look forward to reading entries because kids' points of view are not only entertaining but also often enlightening," remarked Lauren Mooney Bear, Campaign for Cursive Chair.

The annual cursive contest has many supporters. For the USA contest, supporters continue to grow, with Amsterdam Printing, Cursive Logic, J6R6 and Mirthos papers being among the new sponsors. Fahrney's Pens, Itoya, Monkey Magnets, Caran D'ache, New American Cursive, PEN World, Sakura and Writing Academy. New this year are author Christy Zwenger and The City of Oroville, Washington Chamber of Commerce. People and businesses from the four corners, North, South, East and West of the US are enthusiastic about supporting the Cursive Is Cool contest.

According to Sheila Lowe, President of the American Handwriting Analysis Foundation, "The good news from an informal survey indicates that more than half the states require at least some cursive writing training in public schools. Legislation is pending in six more. Only ten states have zero requirement to teach their students to write."

USA contest deadline is extended until April 22, 2022.

For more information, contact Lauren Mooney Bear: CursiveIsCool@gmail.com.

Learn more: http://www.cursiveiscool.com/

"You don't have to be the best writer this year

To win a prize that will bring you cheer.

Entering is the main thing to do

To win a prize to be sent to you!"

About the American Handwriting Analysis Foundation:

The Foundation is a 501-(c)6 non-profit organization, chartered and incorporated in California, and are the sponsors of Campaign for Cursive®, and will graciously accept donations.

Visit http://www.ahafhandwriting.org/.

We are excited to announce that the USA Cursive is Cool® contest deadline has been extended until April 22, 2022. The contest is going on as usual this year after encouragement from teachers, parents, and students, announced the American Handwriting Analysis Foundation today, and the entries can now be submitted until April 22 to allow more students to participate.

Related link: https://www.ahafhandwriting.org/

Aviation and Aerospace Career Day on the USS Hornet Museum

ALAMEDA, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- USS Hornet Museum announces Aviation and Aerospace Career Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday May 7, 2022. Hear from leaders in these industries about the exciting career opportunities available! We will have booths where businesses will share information and answer any questions you have about careers with them. There will also be stage presentations and panels about careers in Aviation and Aerospace.

Students will be allowed on board for free (K-12 or College). We will have special tours all day and more. Please note that anyone under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

Participants include:

* Hodge Flight Services

* FedEx

* Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 20

* NASA

* ASTRA

* local flight schools, local colleges and more.

USS Hornet Museum website: https://uss-hornet.org/

ABOUT USS HORNET MUSEUM:

Aircraft Carrier Hornet Foundation preserves and honors the legacy of the USS Hornet and its role in naval aviation, the defense of our country, the Apollo Program and the exploration of space. The USS Hornet Museum connects the greatest generation of Americans with future generations, educating and inspiring them to meet their challenges. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the USS Hornet Museum relies on the generosity of individuals to fund our educational programs, restoration projects, create and enhance exhibits and much more. The Museum is not supported in any way by regular grants from city, county, state or federal sources.

Through field trips and live-aboard experiences, the USS Hornet offers educational programs focusing on naval history, science and space technology: https://uss-hornet.org/youth-education.

A registered state and national historic landmark, the ship is open to the public on weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is permanently berthed at 707 W. Hornet Ave., Pier 3 in Alameda, California. Ample free parking is available across from the pier. The USS Hornet is also a unique, unforgettable venue available for corporate events; trade shows and expos; private parties and big band dances; and TV and film productions.

For more information, ticket prices and event planning, visit:  https://www.uss-hornet.org/ or call (510) 599-4272.

USS Hornet Museum announces Aviation and Aerospace Career Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday May 7, 2022. Hear from leaders in these industries about the exciting career opportunities available! We will have booths where businesses will share information and answer any questions you have about careers with them. There will also be stage presentations and panels about careers in Aviation and Aerospace.

Related link: https://uss-hornet.org/

Country Music Artist Announces 2022 Concert Series to Benefit Veterans

WAYNESVILLE, Ohio /ScoopCloud/ -- International country chart-topper and member of the Ohio Country Music Hall of Fame, Richard Lynch has announced the 2022 lineup of "Keepin' It Country Farm" concerts to benefit the Love Tattoo Foundation for veterans. This year's lineup includes several #1 Billboard charting artists and a couple of stars from RFD TV.

Headliners include multi-#1 artist/writer, Paul Overstreet; Statler Brothers member, Jimmy Fortune; RFD TV's Penny Gilley, #1 Christian Country artist, Jeff Bates; and RFD performers, The Malpass Brothers.

Watch Richard's announcement at https://www.facebook.com/RichardLynchBand/videos/285021543664009

FULL LINEUP OF KEEPIN' IT COUNTRY FARM "LOVE TATTOO FOUNDATION BENEFIT CONCERTS"

Fri, June 3rd - Jeff Bates

Sat, July 16th - The Malpass Brothers

Sat, August 20th - Paul Overstreet

Sat, September 24th - Jimmy Fortune

Sat, October 8th - Penny Gilley w/Bonnie Riley

Sat, November 5th - Richard Lynch Band and Friends.

All shows start at 7 p.m., with the Richard Lynch Band hosting. Tickets, including a season pass to all shows, are available at https://lovetattoofoundation.org/.

ABOUT RICHARD LYNCH:

Over the past 3 decades, Richard Lynch has compiled a long list of country hits and chart-toppers on both domestic and international sales and radio airplay charts, including multiple #1 iTunes chart singles, several #1 New Music Weekly radio songs, #1 IndieWorld and Roots Music Report chart tracks and a Christian Music Weekly Top 20 single. Richard has been in Billboard Magazine, Taste Of Country, The Boot, CCM Magazine, Country Music People, and countless others. He has also appeared on WSM Radio Nashville, RFD TV, Fox TV and more.

He has recorded popular duets with legendary artists like Ronnie McDowell and Leona Williams, as well as Grammy Winner, Rhonda Vincent. Richard Lynch is a proud member of the Ohio Country Music Hall of Fame and the Independent Country Music Hall of Fame. Lynch is also the owner of Keepin' It Country Farm in Waynesville, OH and co-founder of Love Tattoo Foundation that assists veterans.

Website: https://www.richardlynchband.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RichardLynchBand/

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richardlynchbnd

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4Ft2PD3ZFfdWgcysP7RYnb?si=52IT3X3BS-y-gRShvEW-Pg&dl_branch=1

ABOUT LOVE TATTOO FOUNDATION:

The Love Tattoo Foundation is a non-profit organization that honors and assists the American Veterans who carry mental or physical scars, from serving their country. Its mission is to raise money and awareness to help give these Veterans the opportunities they sacrificed, so others could have theirs.

The Love Tattoo Foundation was born as the positive outcome from a truly devastating event. Law Enforcement Officer, Charles "Chuck" Brisbin, was moved by a story he had heard of a young man who left for Afghanistan as a soldier for his country and came back disfigured. Being involved closely with our country's military, Chuck was compelled to honor this man in any way he could, to show his humble gratitude. So he turned to poetry. Chuck wrote a beautiful poem titled Love Tattoo.

After he finished the poem, he wanted to take it a step further by finding a voice that would be the spirit of his message; not only for this man, but for every man and woman who've sacrificed everything for what others have. Without hesitation, he turned to country music artist, Richard Lynch. Richard has a passion and respect for our military that is not to be taken lightly. He was humbled and honored to be asked to turn this poem into a song. Since then, Richard's adaptation of the poem has literally brought veterans of all ages and walks of life to tears on the spot.

From this, a greater cause was revealed. There are folks ranging from 18 to 81 years old that will carry mental and physical scars with them for the rest of their lives, because they fought for our citizens' freedoms. The most shocking fact of this is that there is no organization designated specifically to these folks and their needs. It came to our attention that these men and women almost feel ostracized; they feel like damaged goods. With very little discussion, it was decided that The Love Tattoo Foundation would take a stand and help these amazing people. They should be lifted up and honored, not put away on a dusty shelf. Learn more at: https://lovetattoofoundation.org/

International country chart-topper and member of the Ohio Country Music Hall of Fame, Richard Lynch has announced the 2022 lineup of "Keepin' It Country Farm" concerts to benefit the Love Tattoo Foundation for veterans. This year's lineup includes several #1 Billboard charting artists and a couple of stars from RFD TV.

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

Thousands Brave the Frigid February Waters for A Record-Breaking 2022 Polar Plunge Benefiting Special Olympics Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore. /ScoopCloud/ -- Oregonians have a longstanding and beloved winter tradition of Plunging into the frigid waters each February to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics Oregon (SOOR) athletes. Last month, donning their wildest costumes and swimming attire, more than 2,400 brave (some might say crazy) supporters gathered to take the Polar Plunge.

The 2022 event took place in seven locations throughout the State (Portland, Salem, Corvallis, Eugene, Bend, Medford, and Warrenton) with the largest, Rose City Polar Plunge, taking place at Willamette Park in Portland on Saturday, February 26, 2022. After a year of virtual Plunging to support athletes, SOOR was more excited than ever to relaunch this signature fundraising event with the addition of two new cities and expanding the Polar 5K|10K fun run across the state.

With water temperatures registering in the low 40 degrees, this rambunctious annual event continued to make a splash as one of the most chilling and thrilling fundraisers in Oregon. This year's Polar Plunge was exceeding exciting, not only because it saw Plungers returning in-person, but also because it broke all previous fundraising records for Special Olympics Oregon. Plungers across the state raised more than $479,000 so far - with funds continuing to roll in throughout the month of March. The 2022 Rose City Polar Plunge, Polar 5K|10K, and Super Plunge in Portland raised a record-breaking $282,000.

The 2022 Rose City Polar Plunge was made possible by the generous support of statewide and local sponsors: Law Enforcement Torch Run of Oregon, Clackamas Federal Credit Union, Lithia & Driveway, Mattress World Northwest, Jiffy Lube, T-Mobile, Aerotek, Aston Carter, Actalent, Swire Coca-Cola, Hyatt, Southwest, Specialty Athletic Training, Starbucks, and Papa John's.

About Special Olympics Oregon:

Special Olympics Oregon serves more than 14,000 participants with intellectual disabilities year-round and statewide through the organization's life changing sports programs. Athletes gain self-confidence, social competency, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community. Learn more at https://soor.org/.

Oregonians have a longstanding and beloved winter tradition of Plunging into the frigid waters each February to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics Oregon (SOOR) athletes. Last month, donning their wildest costumes and swimming attire, more than 2,400 brave (some might say crazy) supporters gathered to take the Polar Plunge.

Related link: https://soor.org/

BioAustinCTX Announces Board of Director Leadership Changes

AUSTIN, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Life Science industry organization, BioAustinCTX, announced today changes to its Board of Directors with the departure of Elisa Maldonado-Holmertz and the appointment of Tami Annable. Over the past several years, Austin and the Central Texas region have developed into one of the fastest-growing life science hubs in the U.S.

With more than 240 companies and a variety of community ecosystem organizations involved in building the life science sector, Central Texas emerged as a life science innovation wellspring attracting investment for early-stage startups and relocations for established companies. BioAustinCTX serves as the premier membership organization facilitating the growth of the life science industry in Central Texas by fostering communication, collaboration and engagement across all key stakeholders.

Elisa Maldonado-Holmertz, served on the Board of Directors for BioAustinCTX since 2017. Elisa's leadership and countless hours of support helped to guide the strategic direction and tactical execution of the organization throughout her entire tenure. Elisa played a principal role in producing the monthly BioAustinCTX/TMDA newsletter and coordinating BioAustinCTX's BioBash, the most successful life science industry networking event in Central Texas for more than a decade.

Scott Collins, President of BioAustinCTX stated, "Elisa's dedication and contributions to the evolution of BioAustinCTX are greatly appreciated and we wish her great success on her future endeavors."

Tami Annable joins the BioAustinCTX Board of Directors effective 01 April 2022. Tami is a well-known member of the life science industry in Central Texas having previously served as the Executive Director of the Temple Health and Bioscience Economic Development District Incubator for the past six years. Tami brings a wealth of professional experience in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry as well as operational experience working with life science startup companies.

BioAustinCTX is undertaking an expanding range of initiatives and programs supporting continued growth of the life science industry with the goal of establishing the region as a global life sciences economic hub. This evolving strategy will encompass new programs to build collaboration, communication, and growth across companies, community partners, and academic institutions focused on the life science sector.

About BioAustinCTX:

BioAustinCTX is a nonprofit organization based in Austin, Texas focused on advancing the life science industry in the Central Texas Region. Visit BioAustinCTX for more information https://bioaustinctx.com, email: operations@bioaustinctx.com

Life Science industry organization, BioAustinCTX, announced today changes to its Board of Directors with the departure of Elisa Maldonado-Holmertz and the appointment of Tami Annable. Over the past several years, Austin and the Central Texas region have developed into one of the fastest-growing life science hubs in the U.S.

Related link: https://bioaustinctx.com/

Move For Hunger and Altair Global Renew Partnership to Reduce Food Waste and Fight Hunger Nationwide

RED BANK, N.J. /ScoopCloud/ -- Move For Hunger, a national hunger relief non-profit organization, and Altair Global, the first global mobility company focused solely on experience management, renew their partnership to continue their fight against hunger throughout America.

Altair Global has been actively participating with Move For Hunger since 2012 and officially joined Move For Hunger as a partner in 2016. Since joining the Move For Hunger network, together with their suppliers, they have collected and delivered nearly 4 million pounds of food across the U.S. and Canada. Altair Global is very active within the Move For Hunger network, hosting food drives and fundraisers year-round that make a large impact. With more than 42 million Americans and one in six children being food insecure in the United States, their efforts in the fight against hunger are greatly appreciated.

"Since partnering with Move For Hunger in 2016, Altair's commitment to sustainability across the world has grown and flourished," said Chad Sterling, CEO of Altair Global. "Now more than ever, we are committed to the goals and mission of the Move For Hunger organization. In 2021, Altair helped rescue one million pounds of food, and we look forward to another productive year of partnership!"

Founded in 2009 by Adam Lowy, Move For Hunger has provided more than 26 million pounds of food, equalling over 22 million meals, to food pantries and banks across the United States. Move For Hunger's network of more than 1,000 moving companies, over 2,500 multi-family apartment communities, and many of the world's leading relocation management companies, volunteers to collect unopened, non-perishable food and deliver it to local food banks.

"Every year we are blown away by the impact Altair is able to make on food insecure communities," said Adam Lowy, Executive Director and Founder of Move For Hunger. "We especially love their annual Grinch-themed Holiday Food Drive! We couldn't be more proud to have Altair as a partner."

About Move For Hunger:

Move For Hunger is working to end hunger and food waste in America. 42 million Americans struggle with hunger while 35% of the food produced in this country goes to waste. By mobilizing moving companies, multifamily apartment communities, corporations, and volunteers, Move For Hunger has delivered more than 26 million pounds of food to food banks - providing 22 million meals for those in need.

Get your company involved by registering to hold a food drive, fundraiser, or team building opportunity. Visit Move For Hunger to learn more about their work at https://www.moveforhunger.org/

About Altair Global:

Since 1989, Altair Global has been delivering exceptional mobility experiences to customers and clients worldwide. Supported by sophisticated, dynamic technology, our focus on experience management drives continuous improvement and innovation in our full-service global assignment and relocation services. Trust Altair to guide your mobility journey. Please visit https://www.altairglobal.com/.

Move For Hunger, a national hunger relief non-profit organization, and Altair Global, the first global mobility company focused solely on experience management, renew their partnership to continue their fight against hunger throughout America.

Related link: https://moveforhunger.org/

2022 Concordia Lexington Summit to hear from Governor Beshear, Mayor Gorton, Secretary Raimondo, Coach Mark Stoops, Governor Sununu and The Temptations

LEXINGTON, Ky. /ScoopCloud/ -- Concordia, a leading global convener that hosts the largest and most bi-partisan summit in New York during the United Nations General Assembly, is hosting its first-ever U.S.-focused summit on April 7-8 in Lexington, Kentucky, focusing on the future of technology, trade and environmental sustainability. Taking place in person and digitally, the Summit will hear from Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, New Hampshire Governor Christopher Sununu, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe, Head Football Coach of the University of Kentucky Mark Stoops, Eli Capioluto, President of the University of Kentucky and Rubicon Technologies Chairman & CEO Nate Morris, among others.

More speaker announcements to come shortly. Learn more: https://www.concordia.net/americas/2022-lexington-summit-speakers/.

The 2022 Lexington Summit will also feature an exclusive reception honoring the spirit of the heartland of America, with a special live performance by Detroit natives and Grammy-winning R&B legends, The Temptations, at the Lexington Opera House. During the Summit, Jonathan Martin, New York Times reporter, will be discussing his book This Will not Pass: Trump, Biden and the Battle for America's Future, an account of the 2020 election and the first year of the Biden presidency, co-written with his New York Times colleague Alexander Burns.

Additionally, Frank Luntz, CEO of FIL, Inc, will moderate a session with student leaders from the University of Kentucky to share perspectives on civic engagement, democracy, economic potential and their outlook on the future as the rising group of next generation leaders.

The 2022 Concordia Lexington Summit will convene a variety of voices across the political spectrum and across sectors to advance civil discourse and understanding between the different socioeconomic worlds present in the U.S. The Summit will take place in partnership with the following three academic units of the University of Kentucky: the J. David Rosenberg College of Law, the Gatton College of Business and Economics, and the College of Education. The full agenda can be viewed here: https://www.concordia.net/americas/2022-lexington-summit-agenda/.

"Rubicon is honored to be a part of the 2022 Lexington Summit in our hometown," said Nate Morris, Chairman and CEO of Rubicon, Principal Sponsor for the 2022 Lexington Summit and Chair of the event. "Kentucky offers tremendous benefits to entrepreneurs and business leaders looking to start or grow their companies, and we hope to showcase the Commonwealth to the world and demonstrate how the American heartland can become a leading technology and innovation hub."

Press can register here to attend in person or digitally: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2022-lexington-summit-tickets-242919758537

For in-person press passes, use code OA_Press. For digital passes, use code DA_Press. Press pass holders must show a valid press credential onsite. Concordia's in-person COVID-19 policy can be found here - https://www.concordia.net/americas/2022-lexington-summit-covid19-policy/.

You can take advantage of our Lexington Marriott City Center Hotel room block, which has a number of discounted rooms available from April 4 until April 8, 2022 (with limited availability the night of April 8). Rooms can be booked here. Additional rooms are also available from April 4 until April 9 at 21C Lexington, a boutique hotel located around the corner from the venue. Guests can book here to secure a discounted rate per night: https://book.passkey.com/event/50312140/owner/49548491/home

For any questions, please email rsvp@concordia.net.

For press inquiries, contact Rita Lockheart at rlockheart@concordia.net.

About Concordia:

Concordia is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that builds meaningful partnerships for positive social impact. As equal parts convener, campaigner, and idea incubator, Concordia is actively fostering cross-sector collaboration to create a more prosperous and sustainable future. Concordia was founded in 2011 by Matthew A. Swift and Nicholas M. Logothetis.

Concordia, a leading global convener that hosts the largest and most bi-partisan summit in New York during the United Nations General Assembly, is hosting its first-ever U.S.-focused summit on April 7-8 in Lexington, Kentucky, focusing on the future of technology, trade and environmental sustainability.

Related link: https://www.concordia.net/

Share International Announces Campaign to End All War

BERKELEY, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Share International USA, a non-profit educational organization, announced today the start of a daily prayer/meditation vigil designed to engage the power of the people to bring peace in the current Russia/Ukraine conflict as well as all others ongoing worldwide. Share International believes that the energetic power of thousands of people joining together consciously in an inner appeal for peace and the help of a higher power-whatever that might be for each individual-can begin to shift the balance between war and peace.

All people and organizations of goodwill are invited and encouraged to participate in this effort-many are already doing so independently-in order to create a unified voice and exponentially increase its effectiveness. To participate, individuals and members of religious, spiritual, or other humanitarian organizations everywhere are asked to spend at least 5 minutes at the same time each day-at whatever hour is convenient-to think, pray or meditate upon peace, justice, freedom, and sustenance for all beings, and to ask for Divine help. This non-religious campaign is meant for all people of goodwill, based on a communally-held belief that a realm higher than the human exists and is responsive to our needs.

Share International USA was formed in 1982 to present information about the imminent appearance in our everyday world of a group of perfected individuals known as the Masters of Wisdom, and their leader, Maitreya, the World Teacher for the Age just beginning. As the guides and keepers of the Earth's plan of evolution, they have long worked behind the scenes to inspire and stimulate cooperation, mutual respect, economic and social justice, and peaceful resolution of conflicts. Now, however, they are ready to come forward and work openly to better assist with the cascade of crises created by a still-learning humanity.

According to Share International, the Masters' appearance in the everyday world is dependent on many complex things, but humanity's readiness to end all warfare and relate to each other as members of one human family will allow them to help us openly without infringing our free will.

The End All War campaign is designed to signal that we are truly ready to accept their help and guidance, and the wider the participation in this or similar efforts, the sooner they can work among us. Belief in Share International's information is not required; a simple call to whatever higher power an individual recognizes will be heard. The campaign will continue for as long as it's needed.

More information about this campaign is here - https://www.shareinternational.info/EndAllWar/

Learn more about Share International here - https://www.share-international.us/learn/WorldTeacher/

Share International USA, a non-profit educational organization, announced today the start of a daily prayer/meditation vigil designed to engage the power of the people to bring peace in the current Russia/Ukraine conflict as well as all others ongoing worldwide.

Related link: https://www.share-international.us

Moffitt Services Matching Campaign for Texas EquuSearch

CYPRESS, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- To inspire others to support Texas EquuSearch, Moffitt Services has generously committed to match, dollar for dollar, contributions of up to $50,000 from March 21 - March 30, 2022. As a token of appreciation, every donation of $500 or more will receive a custom Moffitt Services and Texas EquuSearch RTIC Tumbler.

"We are proud to partner with Texas EquuSearch to help achieve its mission of ensuring that all who go missing are found," said CEO, Roy Moffitt. "For years, we have been helping Texas EquuSearch and we hope to incent others to do the same, through our offer to match up to $50,000 in total contributions."

Since 2014, Moffitt Services has been providing funding, fuel, and other resources to assist Texas EquuSearch in searches for missing persons in Texas.

"We are a nonprofit organization, funded solely by donations, and we believe that we can better ourselves by working together to help the community and people in need," said Tim Miller, founder, and CEO of Texas EquuSearch. "Moffitt Services shares our vision and our passion to help those in need," added Miller.

Texas EquuSearch has assisted law enforcement and families across the country in their searches for missing persons. Moffitt is raising support for this critical cause and helping bring these families the peace and closure they deserve.

Since its founding in August 2000, Texas EquuSearch Mounted Search and Recovery Team has been involved in over 2,000 searches in approximately 42 states, as well as Aruba, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Jamaica, The Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua.

For more information or to send a donation, visit: https://moffittservices.com/match/

Read more about Texas EquuSearch: https://texasequusearch.org/

Read more about Moffitt Services: https://moffittservices.com/our-company/

To inspire others to support Texas EquuSearch, Moffitt Services has generously committed to match, dollar for dollar, contributions of up to $50,000 from March 21 - March 30, 2022. As a token of appreciation, every donation of $500 or more will receive a custom Moffitt Services and Texas EquuSearch RTIC Tumbler.

Related link: https://moffittservices.com/

National Van Lines and Move For Hunger Announce 8th Partnership Renewal to Fight Hunger Across America

RED BANK, N.J. /ScoopCloud/ -- National Van Lines, an interstate van line specializing in full-service moving, packing, and storage services for residential and commercial long distance customers, and Move For Hunger, a national hunger relief non-profit organization, announce 8th year of partnership to reduce food waste and fight hunger nationwide.

National Van Lines joined the Move For Hunger network in 2014. Since joining, they have added 25 National Van Line agents from across the United States, who have since contributed more than 365,000 meals to food insecure communities nationwide. Their efforts in the fight against hunger are desperately needed since more than 42 million Americans face hunger every day.

"Partnering with Move For Hunger was an easy choice to make," said Tim Helenthal, Chairman & CEO of National Van Lines, Inc. "Move For Hunger serves a vital need in communities all over the country, and it's so easy for our agents to get involved with this amazing organization. We have a moral obligation to help those in need. For the wealthiest country in the world to have one in six children be food insecure is shameful. I believe we have an earthly mission to take care of each other; making sure everyone has enough to eat is the best place to start."

Move For Hunger was founded in 2009 by Adam Lowy, and over the course of 11 years has provided more than 26 million pounds of food, equalling over 22 million meals, to food pantries and banks across the United States. Move For Hunger's network of more than 1,000 moving companies volunteer to collect unopened, non-perishable food and deliver it to their local food banks.

"Partnering with National Van Lines is vital to the mission of Move For Hunger," said Adam Lowy, Executive Director and Founder of Move For Hunger. "Having partners who are passionate about our mission is something we'll never take for granted."

About Move For Hunger

Move For Hunger is working to end hunger and food waste in America. 42 million Americans struggle with hunger while 35% of the food produced in this country goes to waste. By mobilizing moving companies, multifamily apartment communities, corporations, and volunteers, Move For Hunger has delivered more than 26 million pounds of food to food banks - providing 22 million meals for those in need.

Get your company involved by registering to hold a food drive, fundraiser, or team building opportunity. Visit Move For Hunger to learn more about their work at https://www.moveforhunger.org/

About National Van Lines

Our national long-distance moving company understands the stresses and worries of moving. Whether you need to move across the country or the world, we are the partner you can count on. We provide full-service moving, packing, and storage services for all our residential or commercial long-distance moving clients. Our goal is to deliver 100% customer satisfaction in all we do. Contact us or locate an agent for a FREE moving quote on any of our moving services.

Established in 1929, National Van Lines is proud to have a history of service stretching back nearly 100 years. What started as a one-person operation has grown into a full-service moving company providing the best in residential moving, commercial moving, warehouse and storage, and more. Originating in Chicago, National Van Lines offers moving services across the country and the world. We're standing by to help make your next relocation experience the easiest ever.

National Van Lines, an interstate van line specializing in full-service moving, packing, and storage services for residential and commercial long distance customers, and Move For Hunger, a national hunger relief non-profit organization, announce 8th year of partnership to reduce food waste and fight hunger nationwide.

Related link: https://moveforhunger.org/

2022 Americas Summit will take place in Miami in July 2022 in partnership with the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (GS/OAS)

NEW YORK, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- Concordia has announced that it will hold its 2022 Americas Summit in Miami, Florida in July, 2022. The Concordia Americas Summit was originally scheduled to take place alongside the Ninth Summit of the Americas in June in Los Angeles, California.

Concordia, in close consultation with its partner, the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (GS/OAS), made this shift in timing to complement and support their critical agenda and resulting work of the Summit of the Americas. Concordia looks forward to hosting this important follow-on event, continuing to contribute to the conversation and creating impactful partnerships.

The Concordia Americas initiative began in 2016, with its inaugural Summit in Miami, Florida, and subsequent convenings in Bogotá, Colombia, gathering leaders from the public, nonprofit and private sectors. The region's critical position on the global stage, and the interconnected nature of its challenges with the success of the Western Hemisphere, aligns with Concordia's ethos to create an inclusive, collaborative global community.

"We are thrilled to continue strengthening our partnership between the General Secretariat of the OAS (GS/OAS) and Concordia. The 2022 Concordia Americas Summit represents a unique opportunity to connect key stakeholders and envision new public-private social impact initiatives to benefit the people of our Hemisphere. It is times like these that require that institutions work together to uphold principles of democracy, human rights, security and development," said Luis Almagro, Secretary General, OAS.

"Since 2016, the Americas have been a focal point for Concordia with the establishment of the Concordia Americas Initiative. The 2022 Americas Summit will gather a powerful roster of speakers, including world renowned political leaders, business innovators, global non-governmental representatives, and impressive young minds to tackle some of the toughest issues facing the Western Hemisphere. The GS/OAS has been a key ally for Concordia in the region and we're thrilled to support their agenda in the Summit of the Americas," said Matthew Swift, Co-founder & CEO, Concordia.

For press enquiries, contact Rita Lockheart at rlockheart@concordia.net.

About Concordia:

Concordia is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that builds meaningful partnerships for positive social impact. As an equal parts convener, campaigner, and idea incubator, Concordia is actively fostering cross-sector collaboration to create a more prosperous and sustainable future. Concordia was founded in 2011 by Matthew A. Swift and Nicholas M. Logothetis.

Learn more at: https://www.concordia.net/

About OAS:

The General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (GS/OAS) is the central and permanent organ of the Organization. The OAS is the world's oldest regional organization, dating back to the First International Conference of American States, held in Washington, D.C., from October 1889 to April 1890.

Concordia has announced that it will hold its 2022 Americas Summit in Miami, Florida in July, 2022. The Concordia Americas Summit was originally scheduled to take place alongside the Ninth Summit of the Americas in June in Los Angeles, California.

Related link: https://www.concordia.net/

PushSave and Babe Ruth League Announce a Three-Year Partnership

FARGO, N.D. /ScoopCloud/ -- ushSave and Babe Ruth League are proud to announce a partnership that will benefit the sports of youth baseball and softball across the United States and Canada. Over the next three years, PushSave will serve as Babe Ruth League's exclusive fundraising partner, providing a highly automated and fully managed fundraising service to all the leagues and divisions under Babe Ruth League.

As a best-in-class fundraising program currently serving thousands of sports teams and clubs nationwide, PushSave aims to improve communities by enhancing youth sports programs, offering financial perks to fundraiser supporters, and bringing additional business to local merchants through their customizable coupon books. PushSave simplifies the fundraising process for each participant by providing a dedicated campaign manager to set up and oversee each fundraising campaign.

The program can be done entirely from a cell phone, fast-tracking the process for both the campaign participants and their supporters. PushSave's all-in-one digital coupon book and donation platform eliminates the extra work typical with traditional fundraising.

"This partnership represents a mutual commitment to enhancing the sports of youth baseball and softball, and we're excited to offer the benefits to our members and volunteers," said Steven M. Tellefsen, President and CEO of Babe Ruth League. "When it comes to raising funds, we feel that PushSave is unmatched in terms of simplicity and effectiveness."

"We're honored to partner with Babe Ruth League and further our mission with them: to ensure every young person has the opportunity to experience sports without running into financial barriers," said Mark Teckenburg, Chief Executive Officer of PushSave. "We're confident that PushSave can serve to enrich the experience of everyone who participates in Babe Ruth League's baseball and softball programs."

Learn more: https://baberuthleague.pushsave.com/baberuth

About Babe Ruth League

Babe Ruth League, Inc. is an international non-profit educational organization providing baseball and softball programs for over one million players across 60,000+ teams, 11,000+ leagues and served by over 1.9 million volunteers. Its mission is to make better citizens through proper supervision of regulation competitive baseball and softball in addition to promoting mental and physical development. Learn more: https://www.baberuthleague.org.

About PushSave

PushSave® is a customizable mobile coupon book designed to support youth organizations and non-profits across the U.S. with our simple, easy-to-promote fundraiser. We're the most uniquely designed fundraising solution bringing significant value to consumers, organizations, and merchants. Our managed services program is second to none in the fundraising industry and is ideal for minimizing volunteerism and reducing additional work. PushSave is 100% contactless and community-driven. Learn more: https://www.PushSave.com/.

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/H7ud42yV9sY

PushSave and Babe Ruth League are proud to announce a partnership that will benefit the sports of youth baseball and softball across the United States and Canada. Over the next three years, PushSave will serve as Babe Ruth League's exclusive fundraising partner, providing a highly automated and fully managed fundraising service to all the leagues and divisions under Babe Ruth League.

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

California Ferret Owners Submit Ballot Initiative to Attorney General for Legal Opinion, But Attorney General Ignores Civil Code on Domestic Animals

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Non-profit Legalize Ferrets (legalizeferrets.org) announced today that we are disappointed that California Attorney General ignores Civil Code in Domestic Ferret Ballot Initiative.

LegalizeFerrets.org, a ferret legalization grassroots organization, has repeatedly asked the California Attorney General for a legal opinion.

Since the civil code says domestic animals are legal:

CIVIL CODE - CIV

DIVISION 2. PROPERTY [654 - 1422]

There may be ownership of all inanimate things which are capable of appropriation or of manual delivery; of all domestic animals; of all obligations; of such products of labor or skill as the composition of an author, the good will of a business, trade marks and signs, and of rights created or granted by statute.

Every credible source, and even the name states - domestic ferrets are domestic animals Therefore we wanted to know if the state of California officially recognized the domestic ferret as domestic would that mean they're legal? But we never received a reply from the AG.

According to the California Attorney General's website:

* As the chief law officer of the state, the California Attorney General provides legal opinions upon request to designated state and local public officials and government agencies on issues arising in the course of their duties. The formal legal opinions of the Attorney General have been accorded "great respect" and "great weight" by the courts.

Supporters of LegalizeFerrets.org have asked their representatives to make this request without success. So, we filed a ballot initiative in hopes that the title and summary would answer this question.

It was a treacherous journey. The AG's office ignored all our questions. We dealt with the Legislative Analyst's office and the Secretary of State's office - all successful; those people were friendly and helpful. But we could not get an answer on how to submit the ballot initiative from the AG until a Democratic Party activist with the state of Alaska gave us a contact phone number at the Secretary of State's office. Anabel Renteria finally emailed us with the suggestion:

You can submit your initiative anytime, in person, at the following address:

Department of Justice
1300 I St.
Sacramento, CA 95814

Five weeks later the title and summary were posted on their website:

California law identifies ferrets as wild animals that are restricted because "such animals are undesirable and a menace to native wildlife, the agricultural interests of the state, or to the public health or safety." Current law and regulations make it illegal to own ferrets as pets without a state permit.

No mention of the conflict between California's civil code which allows ownership of all domestic animals and other, namely Fish and Game Code which says:

* FISH AND GAME CODE 2116: Put ferrets in a group of wild animals. Says they are "not normally domesticated in this state as determined by the commission."

* FISH AND GAME CODE 2118: It is unlawful to import, transport, possess, or release alive into this state, except under a revocable, nontransferable permit as provided in this chapter and the regulations pertaining thereto, any wild animal of the following species: (ferrets are included in this list).

* (CCR), title 14, section 671: (a) It shall be unlawful to import, transport, or possess live animals restricted in subsection (c) below except under permit issued by the department. (You know ferrets are included in this list)

* (CCR), title 14, section 671: (b) The commission has determined the below listed animals are not normally domesticated in this state.

Why are these codes relevant but the civil code allowing ownership of all domestic animals isn't even mentioned?

Why won't the AG's office even communicate with us? We have a very valid and sincere question.

Facts are stubborn things. No one states that the domestic ferret is a wild animal. No one believes they are "wild," "undesirable," or a "menace." They are legal in 48 states without any negative consequences.

Learn more at: https://www.legalizeferrets.org/

Non-profit Legalize Ferrets (legalizeferrets.org) announced today that we are disappointed that California Attorney General ignores Civil Code in Domestic Ferret Ballot Initiative. The ferret legalization grassroots organization, has repeatedly asked the California Attorney General for a legal opinion.

Related link: https://www.legalizeferrets.org/

The American Gem Society Celebrates Women’s History Month Through Women Designers

LAS VEGAS, Nev. /ScoopCloud/ -- The American Gem Society (AGS), a nonprofit association dedicated to consumer protection, is proud to celebrate and recognize its women designers, as well as women leaders in the jewelry industry during Women's History Month.

Throughout the month of March, AGS will feature the beautiful jewelry created by women within the association's community of members. AGS is also featuring the jewelry of these women on their "Trending Now" web page.

"The American Gem Society is what it is today in large part because of the leadership and creativity of the women in management and in our community," said Katherine Bodoh, CEO of the American Gem Society and AGS Laboratories. "We value and are inspired by the guidance and vision of the women on our board and on our team, the retail store leaders who are the backbone of the American Gem Society, and the creative visionaries designing jewelry. We are excited to share these designs with our audience, and hope they feel as inspired as we do by the artistry and beauty of what these women have created."

"Seeing wonderful, strong, and talented women leading the AGS made an early impression on me as I grew and learned in this industry," said Lisa Bridge, President-Elect of the American Gem Society's International Board of Directors. "We are lucky at AGS to have a community that supports and champions one another to make us and the industry better. I am thankful for their example and the path they have created for all of us to thrive."

To see the jewelry from the American Gem Society's participating women designers, visit https://www.americangemsociety.org/trending-now or follow the American Gem Society on Instagram.

To find an American Gem Society jeweler in your area, visit https://www.americangemsociety.org/find-a-jeweler/jeweler/search/.

About American Gem Society

The American Gem Society, founded in 1934 by Robert M. Shipley, is a nonprofit trade association dedicated to ethics, knowledge, and consumer protection within the jewelry industry. The American Gem Society awards credentials for its members, who are held to the industry's highest standards and must pass annual recertification examinations to maintain their titles. Members of the AGS membership are passionate about jewelry and dedicated to creating a positive buying experience for their customers. To find an AGS jeweler near you, visit ags.org/findajeweler.

Website: https://www.americangemsociety.org/

Facebook: AmericanGemSociety1934

Instagram: @americangemsociety

Twitter: @AmerGemSociety

MULTIMEDIA:

PHOTO link for media: https://www.americangemsociety.org/trending-now/

The American Gem Society (AGS), a nonprofit association dedicated to consumer protection, is proud to celebrate and recognize its women designers, as well as women leaders in the jewelry industry during Women's History Month.

Related link: https://www.americangemsociety.org/

26 State Proclamations Kick Off Awareness Month for Unexplained Childhood Deaths

ROSELAND, N.J. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC) Foundation thanks Arkansas, Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin for making statewide proclamations declaring March 2022 SUDC Awareness Month.

These are the first U.S. states to join a nationwide effort led by the SUDC Foundation to raise awareness of one of the most under-recognized medical tragedies of our time, marking the beginning of a month-long worldwide campaign.

Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC) is a category of death in children over the age of 1 year which remains unexplained after a thorough investigation, including an autopsy. Most often, a seemingly healthy child goes to sleep and never wakes up.

"Even though SUDC affects approximately 400 children in the United States annually, many physicians and medical professionals are unaware of it," says Dr. Erin Bowen, Vice President of the SUDC Foundation and pediatrician, "Increased awareness can lead to further research initiatives to help uncover causes and risk factors for these deaths, with the ultimate goal of preventing them, leading to a future free of SUDC."

Recent research at NYU Langone health discovered the first genetic underpinnings of SUDC.

Awareness is key to identifying cases of SUDC for research. Recent research funded by the SUDC Foundation and published in the "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences" analyzed the DNA codes of 124 children who were lost to SUDC as well as their biological parents. The researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine found that nearly 9 percent-or 11 of the 124 children-had DNA code changes in genes that regulate calcium function and attributed these changes to contributing to their deaths. Additional research by the group, also funded by the SUDC Foundation, found disagreements in 40% of cause of death opinions among 100 cases sudden unexpected pediatric deaths reviewed suggesting the SUDC rate by the U.S. Centers for Death Control and Prevention (CDC) may be an underestimation.

"Each March, we try to make incredible strides to raise awareness throughout SUDC Awareness month," said Laura Gould, President and Co-founder of the SUDC Foundation. "We see every day how critical awareness is to identify families affected as well as advocating for crucial research."

The SUDC Foundation is advocating for SUDC Awareness Month proclamations in all 50 U.S. states this March. In 2021, 43 U.S. states participated. This nationwide effort began in 2016, inspired by Drew Joseph Boswell and the Boswell family. The Boswell family successfully advocated for the first statewide proclamation declaring March 2015 as SUDC Awareness Month in the State of Louisiana.

To see a full list of previous efforts as well as additional states who have joined, please visit: https://sudc.org/legislation-and-policy/sudc-awareness-proclamations/

The SUDC Foundation will once again mark SUDC Awareness Month by hosting weekly activities to raise awareness of SUDC and remember the children gone far too soon. To learn more, please visit: https://sudc.org/sudc-awareness-month/

RELATED LINKS
https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2115140118

The Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC) Foundation thanks Arkansas, Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin for making statewide proclamations declaring March 2022 SUDC Awareness Month.

Related link: https://sudc.org/

Move For Hunger and Today’s Local Media Renew Partnership in the Fight Against Hunger Nationwide

RED BANK, N.J. /ScoopCloud/ -- Today's Local Media, a full-service marketing agency serving moving companies nationwide, and Move For Hunger, a national hunger relief non-profit organization, announced that they have renewed a partnership that will reduce food waste and fight hunger nationwide.

Today's Local Media partnered with Move For Hunger in 2020 and has since contributed nearly 20,000 meals to food insecure communities nationwide. They have also been named a top 50 marketing agency in the United States every year since 2018, and have many clients that also contribute to the mission of Move For Hunger.

It was important for us to take a more active role in the fight against hunger," said Ben Wright, Founder, Today's Local Media. "Because we work directly with movers across the country, we have an even greater ability and responsibility to help. We are a family owned and operated organization. And there seems like no better organization to partner with than one that feeds families in need."

Founded in 2009 by Adam Lowy, Move For Hunger has provided more than 26 million pounds of food, equaling over 22 million meals, to food pantries and banks across the United States. Move For Hunger's network of more than 1,000 moving companies, more than 2,000 multi-family apartment communities, and many of the world's leading relocation management companies, volunteer to collect this unopened, non-perishable food and deliver it to their local food banks.

"With the support of partners like Today's Local Media, Move For Hunger is able to continue to make an impact throughout the United States and Canada at such a pivotal point in time," said Adam Lowy, Executive Director and Founder of Move For Hunger.

About Move For Hunger

Move For Hunger is working to end hunger and food waste in America. 42 million Americans struggle with hunger while 35% of the food produced in this country goes to waste. By mobilizing moving companies, multifamily apartment communities, corporations, and volunteers, Move For Hunger has delivered more than 26 million pounds of food to food banks - providing 22 million meals for those in need.

Move For Hunger is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Get your company involved by registering to hold a food drive, fundraiser, or team building opportunity. Visit Move For Hunger to learn more about their work at https://www.moveforhunger.org/.

About Today's Local Media

Today's Local Media is a full-service marketing agency serving moving companies nationwide. Our mission is to bring new leads to movers and accelerate their growth. We do this by SEO, mobile friendly websites, and leveraging online advertising. Our clients love us, and we have built a great reputation by taking a straightforward and honest approach to customer service. Visit Today's Local Media to learn more at https://www.todayslocalmedia.com/.

Today's Local Media, a full-service marketing agency serving moving companies nationwide, and Move For Hunger, a national hunger relief non-profit organization, announced that they have renewed a partnership that will reduce food waste and fight hunger nationwide.

Related link: https://moveforhunger.org/

Neotrope and Send2Press Renew Support of Hunger Relief Charity, Move For Hunger, for Second Decade

TEMECULA, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Send2Press®, a service of Neotrope®, announced today that it will be renewing its support in helping promote the efforts of Move For Hunger as part of its JL Simmons Nonprofit PR Grants program. With this program, Send2Press has helped disseminate MFH's news to media, social and syndication vis its newswire service for over 10 years.

Move For Hunger was founded in 2009 by Adam Lowy, and has provided more than 26 million pounds of food, equaling over 22 million meals, to food pantries and banks across the United States. Since the pandemic started, Move For Hunger has had to meet the growing need of food insecurity in the United States and Canada, where 42 million Americans and 1 in 8 Canadians struggle with hunger. Move For Hunger is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

"With the support of partners like Neotrope and Send2Press, Move For Hunger is able to continue to raise awareness and make an impact on food insecurity throughout the United States and Canada," said Adam Lowy, Executive Director and Founder of Move For Hunger.

"We have been honored to help support the good works of Adam and his team and partners in fighting hunger across North America the past decade," said Send2Press co-founder and Neotrope CEO, Christopher Simmons. "We look forward to helping support their promotion efforts for some time to come. We truly believe in what they do, and are donating our own time and abilities in support of their cause."

The JL Simmons Nonprofit PR Grants program was launched in 2000 to help promote worthy causes with a grant of in-kind donation of services. It was created by the late Dr. JL Simmons, PhD and Christopher Simmons.

About Move For Hunger:

Move For Hunger™ is working to end hunger and food waste in America. 42 million Americans struggle with hunger while 35% of the food produced in this country goes to waste. By mobilizing moving companies, multifamily apartment communities, corporations, and volunteers, Move For Hunger has delivered more than 26 million pounds of food to food banks - providing 22 million meals for those in need.

Get your company involved by registering to hold a food drive, fundraiser, or team building opportunity. You can also simply make a donation to help end hunger.

Visit Move For Hunger's website to learn more about their work at https://moveforhunger.org/.

About Send2Press:

Send2Press®, founded in 2000, offers affordable press release distribution, writing, and social media marketing. Send2Press was named "best overall" of the top six press release services in 2020 by Fit Small Business. Send2Press is a dba of Neotrope, founded in 1983 in California.

Send2Press has consistently been ranked one of the top newswire services overall based on honesty and credibility.

Neotrope has been an innovative content development, publishing, audio/video, public relations (PR) and marketing company since Jan. 1983. Neotrope was an INC. 5000 listed company in 2009.

The company was co-founded by author, artist, journalist, musician and marketing/PR expert, Christopher Laird Simmons, and the late Dr. JL Simmons, PhD, a best-selling author and respected university professor.

Learn more about Send2Press® at: https://www.Send2Press.com/

Send2Press Newswire offers:

* Professional press release writing with accredited staff

* Local, regional, or national targeted press release distribution to both U.S. daily media and trade periodicals

* Social media sharing with custom tags and over 275,000 monthly impressions for our social channels

* National syndication via the AP, including the AP website, AP newsrooms and online syndication to newspaper and broadcast sites

* Agency pricing for all™.

View current plans and pricing at: https://www.send2press.com/services/price-list.shtml

View current client projects at: https://www.send2press.com/wire/

LEGAL NOTE: Send2Press® and Neotrope® are U.S. registered trademarks and service marks. Neotrope is a registered trademark in Europe. Nonprofit PR Grants™ is a trademark of Neotrope.

Send2Press®, a service of Neotrope®, announced today that it will be renewing its support in helping promote the efforts of Move For Hunger as part of its JL Simmons Nonprofit PR Grants program. With this program, Send2Press has helped disseminate MFH's news to media, social and syndication vis its newswire service for over 10 years.

Related link: https://neotrope.com

Registration Now Open for NEA Dell National Entrepreneur Pitch Contest: Over $10,000 in Cash and Prizes

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. /ScoopCloud/ -- The National Entrepreneurs Association (NEA) will host a National Virtual Pitch Contest on Wednesday April 20, 2022 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Time on Zoom. Contestants will have an opportunity to win over $10,000 in cash and prizes. The event was created to give entrepreneurs and small business owners an opportunity to receive national exposure, professional coaching, funding and other resources that can be used immediately for growth and expansion. The event is sponsored by Dell Technologies and Comerica Bank.

This competition is for existing businesses. Start-ups and established business owners are invited to apply. 10 finalists will be chosen to pitch their business ideas to a national audience for three minutes. First, second and third place winners will be selected by a panel of judges.

The first place winner will receive a $3000 cash prize. The second place winner will receive a $1,000 cash prize. A third place winner will be selected by the audience and will receive a $500 cash prize. In addition, all three winners will receive a Dell laptop computer and a one-year membership to the National Entrepreneurs Association. The event is open to the public and entry is free. Application deadline is March 4, 2022.

"This will be our fourth pitch contest. We began offering these events twice a year to help entrepreneurs deal with the impact of the pandemic. It has become one of our most popular events. We give entrepreneurs the ongoing resources and support needed to be successful which includes exposure, professional coaching, networking opportunities, training, funding and the latest in technology," said National Entrepreneurs Association President, Dr. ZaLonya Allen.

NEA is a 501(c)(3) member-based non-profit corporation that was created to empower entrepreneurs to grow through quality networking events and educational programs. Annual training conferences are held twice a year. The Entrepreneur Bootcamp and Certification Training Program is offered twice a year and networking events are held monthly. For more information or an application visit https://www.nationalentrepreneurs.org/.

The National Entrepreneurs Association (NEA) will host a National Virtual Pitch Contest on Wednesday April 20, 2022 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Time on Zoom. Contestants will have an opportunity to win over $10,000 in cash and prizes. The event was created to give entrepreneurs and small business owners an opportunity to receive national exposure, professional coaching, funding and other resources.

Related link: https://www.nationalentrepreneurs.org/

Amanda Gorman Future Voices Poetry Prize Open for Applications

VENICE, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Beyond Baroque, one of the nation's leading literary arts centers, has announced that the Amanda Gorman Future Voices Poetry Prize is now actively accepting applications. The prize, created in honor of Beyond Baroque alumna and U.S. Presidential Inaugural Poet Amanda Gorman, will accept applications until May 1, 2022.

"We're very excited to start receiving submissions from young poets of color, and for the opportunity to foster their growth as artists," said the nonprofit's executive director, Quentin Ring.

"The Amanda Gorman Poetry Prize is an important opportunity for young poets of color to be recognized for their poetic talent," added Shonda Buchanan, President of Beyond Baroque's Board of Trustees. "We hope it will inspire them to follow Amanda's lead in creating a legacy in which poetry and social justice work combine to infuse America with a richer human agency."

The Amanda Gorman Future Voices Poetry Prize will award scholarships to college-bound student poets of color. As a special feature of the debut of the fund, there is a poetry contest for 9th, 10th and 11th graders, the same age at which Gorman began her development as a poet in the Beyond Baroque Student Poets' program. All told, $10,000 in scholarship and contest money will be awarded in 2022.

The prize continues Beyond Baroque's long history of nurturing some of Los Angeles' most prominent poets, including Wanda Coleman, Amy Gerstler, and Amanda Gorman herself. Gorman describes Beyond Baroque as the place "where a young poet found the love of her life" and shared more about her history with Beyond Baroque on the recent ABC 20/20 Special Amanda Gorman: Brave Enough with Robin Roberts.

The Future Voices Poetry Scholarship is open for all poets currently enrolled in grades 9-12 in California, and who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color. College-bound students in 12th grade can apply for a scholarship award, and 9th, 10th and 11th grade can submit to the poetry contest. Prize winners will be announced by July 1, 2022.

For more information and to apply, please visit https://www.beyondbaroque.org/.

ABOUT BEYOND BAROQUE

Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center is one of the nation's most successful and influential grassroots incubators of the literary arts. Founded in 1968, and housed in the original Venice City Hall building in Venice, California, it is a nonprofit public space dedicated to cultivating new writing and expanding the public's knowledge of poetry, literature, and art through cultural events and community interaction. The Center offers a diverse variety of literary and arts programming, including readings, workshops, art exhibits, and education. Across five decades, Beyond Baroque has provided crucial support to a series of seminal writers, artists, and musicians that include Wanda Coleman, Dennis Cooper, Amy Gerstler, Exene Cervenka, John Doe, Mike Kelley, Viggo Morternsen, Will Alexander, and Amanda Gorman. Today the Center continues to provide a vital cultural forum through its free workshops, reading series, and general programming.

ABOUT AMANDA GORMAN

Amanda Gorman is the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history, as well as an award-winning writer and cum laude graduate of Harvard University, where she studied sociology. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she is the author of the "The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country" (Viking Books for Young Readers, March 2021), the poetry collection "Call Us What We Carry" (Viking, December 2021) and "The One for Whom Food Is Not Enough" (Penmanship Books, 2015). In 2017, Gorman was named the first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate of the United States after previously serving as the first-ever youth poet laureate of Los Angeles. She is the founder and executive director of One Pen One Page, an organization providing free creative writing programs for underserved youth, and serves the Write Change program in her role as International Changemaker for Estee Lauder.

Beyond Baroque, one of the nation's leading literary arts centers, has announced that the Amanda Gorman Future Voices Poetry Prize is now actively accepting applications. The prize, created in honor of Beyond Baroque alumna and U.S. Presidential Inaugural Poet Amanda Gorman, will accept applications until May 1, 2022.

Related link: https://www.beyondbaroque.org/

Study Confirms Mentoring Makes a Significant Difference in Youth Overcoming Pandemic-related Challenges

AUSTIN, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Seedling Foundation, a nonprofit organization providing school-based mentoring for children impacted by parental incarceration, recently released its annual program evaluation showing that children who had access to a Seedling mentor had stronger social, emotional, and school-based outcomes than children who were without a mentor during the 2020-21 school year.

Seedling Foundation recently released its independent program evaluation conducted by Dr. Karen Looby, an Austin-based researcher and program evaluator with more than 30 years of experience in public education.

The 2020-21 program evaluation compared outcomes for children in several categories including personal development skills, persistence, school engagement, and attendance. The results of the survey show that students who met with a Seedling mentor had significantly higher positive outcomes than students who did not meet with their mentor in the areas of persistence (84.2% vs. 73,3%), student engagement (88% vs.67.3%), and positive attendance outcomes (65.6% vs. 42.1%). The report also states that overall, 87% of Seedling mentees who met with their mentors had three or more positive outcomes on the selected measures.

"We are very proud of our staff and mentors and grateful to the school districts for the hard work and persistence that went into finding effective ways for mentors to meet with mentees last year when mentors were not able to visit campuses. The results for our mentees are remarkable," said Dan Leal, Seedling Foundation Executive Director.

The program evaluation concludes that "in a year characterized by increased stressors of the pandemic in addition to adverse childhood experiences resulting from the trauma of having an incarcerated parent, mentoring becomes increasingly important in the mitigation of potentially negative impacts," (Looby, 2021).

About Seedling Foundation:

Since 2006, Seedling Foundation has provided school-based mentoring for children impacted by parental incarceration. During the 2020-21 school year, Seedling mentors provided mentoring for 361 children in more than 10 Central Texas school districts, including Austin ISD, Del Valle ISD, Pflugerville ISD, KIPP Public Schools, and Hays CISD with 518 of the children considered active in the program. Each year, Seedling Foundation also awards scholarships of up to $5,000 to 8th grade students to use toward their post-secondary education. Seedling is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Tax ID #74-2841791. Donations are tax deductible.

To learn more about Seedling or to become a mentor visit Seedling's website at https://seedlingmentors.org/ or call (512) 323-6371.

RELATED LINK:
https://seedlingmentors.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Seedling-Report_2020-2021_FINAL_11.29.21-RESIZED.pdf

Seedling Foundation, a nonprofit organization providing school-based mentoring for children impacted by parental incarceration, recently released its annual program evaluation showing that children who had access to a Seedling mentor had stronger social, emotional, and school-based outcomes than children who were without a mentor during the 2020-21 school year.

Related link: https://seedlingmentors.org/

The New York Milk Bank Announces Appointment of New Executive Director, Linda Harelick, MBA, DrPH

VALHALLA, N.Y. /ScoopCloud/ -- The New York Milk Bank (NYMB), founded six years ago, today announced the appointment of its new Executive Director, Linda Harelick, MBA, DrPH. Established in 2016, NYMB was founded by Julie Bouchet-Horwitz, NP and four other dedicated women with the purpose of providing life-saving donor human milk for premature and sick infants. Since its inception, through the generosity of milk donors, NYMB has dispensed nearly 1,000,000 ounces of pasteurized donor human milk to hospitals for infants throughout the tri-state area. In addition to hospitals, NYMB has also been able to provide for full-term healthy infants without access to their own mother's breast milk.

"Given our tremendous growth over the past five years and the increasing demand for donor human milk, we are ready to take the organization to the next level and pass the baton to Dr. Linda Harelick. She comes to us with a wealth of experience from both the private and non-profit sectors. Her passion, background, and knowledge will be a tremendous asset to NYMB," stated Bouchet-Horwitz.

Bouchet-Horwitz will remain the President of the NYMB Board of Directors as well as the Tissue Bank Director in order to continue the milk bank's vision and purpose, while returning to her private breastfeeding practice full time.

Harelick's interest in social impact stems from her early work as a registered dietitian seeing first-hand how environmental, cultural, and societal factors influenced one's health. With ambitions to transition to management, she received an MBA from Columbia Business School. This led to a career at Kraft Foods, overseeing strategic planning and marketing for Maxwell House Coffee and Post Cereal, culminating in leading Global Consumer Services. With a desire to return to the work of health promotion, she received a doctorate in public health from New York Medical College and became director of operations and communications at ChildObesity180 at Tufts University. Here she combined her management expertise with public health knowledge to accelerate the transformation of a start-up nonprofit to a leading organization in childhood obesity prevention. Continuing her focus on improving health outcomes of children and families, she moved to Harlem Children's Zone, where she was charged with replicating the successful Healthy Harlem program in multiple communities throughout the country.

"I am beyond excited and honored for the opportunity to lead such an important organization as The New York Milk Bank. My career spans several sectors and by blending my public health knowledge and my business expertise, the already impressive growth that the milk bank has achieved will be accelerated. I look forward to engaging with staff, donors, the board, and volunteers to ensure that infants in need receive safely pasteurized donor human milk and are able to reach their full potential," remarked Linda.

ABOUT THE NEW YORK MILK BANK

The New York Milk Bank (NYMB) is a non-profit organization that collects extra breast milk from healthy lactating women. The milk is then pasteurized and distributed to babies in need throughout the Tri-State area. Since opening in 2016, NYMB has screened over 4500 donors and distributed nearly 1,000,000 ounces of donor milk. NYMB is dedicated to improving the health and survival of infants in need by ensuring the quality and availability of pasteurized donor human milk if mother's own milk is unavailable or insufficient. We are committed to reducing health disparities by advocating for the use and reimbursement of donor milk.

While most mothers of newborns produce enough milk, mothers of premature and sick infants often have difficulty providing adequate amounts of milk. The use of pasteurized donor human milk from mothers who produce more than is needed for their own children is recommended by the World Health Organization, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Surgeon General, and the NYS Commissioner of Health.

Learn more at: https://www.nymilkbank.org/

The New York Milk Bank (NYMB), founded six years ago, today announced the appointment of its new Executive Director, Linda Harelick, MBA, DrPH. The New York Milk Bank (NYMB) is a non-profit organization that collects extra breast milk from healthy lactating women. The milk is then pasteurized and distributed to babies in need throughout the Tri-State area.

Related link: https://www.nymilkbank.org/

Move For Hunger and FINCOR Construction Renew Partnership to Fight Hunger

RED BANK, N.J. /ScoopCloud/ -- FINCOR Construction, an East coast-based multifamily renovation company, and Move For Hunger, a national hunger relief non-profit organization, announced that they have renewed their partnership to reduce food waste and fight hunger in the United States.

Move For Hunger was founded in 2009 by Adam Lowy, and has provided more than 26 million pounds of food, equaling over 22 million meals, to food pantries and banks across the United States. Since the pandemic started, Move For Hunger has had to meet the growing need of food insecurity in the United States and Canada, where 42 million Americans and 1 in 8 Canadians struggle with hunger.

This is their second year of partnership, and FINCOR has provided more than 50,000 meals to food insecure communities throughout the United States. They've also helped with transporting donations to food banks, transferring more than 1,900 pounds of food in 2021.

"We partnered with Move For Hunger because we pride ourselves in giving back to the community," said Michael Finn, President of Fincor Construction, Inc. "The morale of our nation has suffered and is suffering due to the global pandemic. Move For Hunger has allowed us to give back to the community to the people hit hardest. It was really a no-brainer to partner with Move For Hunger. Food waste is a travesty with so many people that go to bed hungry. Move For Hunger has made it easy to get perfectly good, non-perishable food into the hands of those who need it most."

Move For Hunger has more than 1,000 moving companies as part of their mover network, with more than 4 million pounds of food, equaling over 3.5 million meals, collected and delivered by the program in 2021.

"Our partnership with FINCOR has been proven to be very beneficial," said Adam Lowy, Executive Director and Founder of Move For Hunger. "They've demonstrated their dedication to the fight against hunger through their partnership, and we're looking forward to what 2022 has in store!"

Through the support of partners like FINCOR Construction, Move For Hunger can continue to make a difference throughout the United States and Canada at such a pivotal point in time.

About Move For Hunger

Move For Hunger is working to end hunger and food waste in America. 42 million Americans struggle with hunger while 35% of the food produced in this country goes to waste. By mobilizing moving companies, multifamily apartment communities, corporations, and volunteers, Move For Hunger has delivered more than 26 million pounds of food to food banks - providing 22 million meals for those in need.

Get your company involved by registering to hold a food drive, fundraiser, or team building opportunity. You can also simply make a donation to help end hunger. Visit Move For Hunger's website to learn more about their work at https://moveforhunger.org/.

About Fincor Construction, Inc

Since 2004, FINCOR has renovated, repaired, and repositioned thousands of properties in more than ten different states from the Southeast through the Mid Atlantic and into the Northeast and New England. Operating specifically in the multi-family sector, we specialize in upgrading every aspect of facilities from leasing offices, common areas and fitness centers, to dog parks, playgrounds and California kitchens. Along with the facilities themselves, we are experts in individual and multi-unit improvements including Occupied Interior Renovations that provides full-apartment renovation without interfering with current tenants or incurring rent-loss.

FINCOR Construction, an East coast-based multifamily renovation company, and Move For Hunger, a national hunger relief non-profit organization, announced that they have renewed their partnership to reduce food waste and fight hunger in the United States.

Related link: https://moveforhunger.org/

Super Bowl Commercial Highlights Lightning’s Danger and Lasting Impact on Survivors

CUMBERLAND, Maine /ScoopCloud/ -- A commercial expected to air during Sunday's Super Bowl has caught the attention of the National Lightning Safety Council (NLSC). The ad will feature a lightning strike survivor's apparent phobia of electricity which developed after being injured while riding a motorcycle. While the humorous commercial was created for other purposes, it also provides an opportunity for the NLSC to dispel a common lightning myth and to highlight the potential long-term health effects for lightning strike survivors.

According to news reports, Seth Thomas (the victim depicted in the Super Bowl ad) and his father were injured by lightning while on a motorcycle trip in 2012.

"Many people still believe the myth that rubber tires protect you from lightning, but they do not," said John Jensenius, a lightning safety specialist with the NLSC. "It's very dangerous to be riding a motorcycle or to be involved in any other outdoor activity during a thunderstorm."

Data collected by the NLSC, cites 12 people in the U.S. as being struck and killed by lightning while motorcycling from 2006 to 2021.

According to Mary Ann Cooper, MD, international lightning safety expert and medical specialist with the NLSC, long term health effects are common with lightning-strike survivors.

"Many survivors suffer brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, and chronic pain syndromes from the nerve injuries that lightning commonly causes," said Dr. Cooper. "The fear of electricity that this Super Bowl advertisement humorously portrays is not uncommon with lightning and electrical injury survivors," she explained.

The NLSC hopes the Super Bowl prime airing of the commercial will prompt conversations and spark awareness about the dangers of lightning to prevent more deaths and injuries.

"Not all lightning survivors will find this commercial funny, but sometimes humor gets the word out to certain audiences better than serious warnings," added Dr. Cooper.

The NLSC urges lightning strike survivors and families coping with the often misunderstood medical effects of these injuries to contact the Lightning Strike & Electric Shock Survivors International, a non-profit support group founded in 1989.

The National Lightning Safety Council invites educators, government officials and others to help build lightning safe communities by learning more about lightning safety, lightning protection and risk reduction.

Visit the http://www.lightningsafetycouncil.org/ for shareable information, resources and safety tips.

Inquiries about specific lightning concerns can also be addressed to Council members via contacts here: http://www.lightningsafetycouncil.com/LSC-About.html.

RELATED LINKS:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzcdP90akWM

http://lightningsafetycouncil.org/Activities/Motorcycles.pdf

https://www.lightning-strike.org/

A commercial expected to air during Sunday's Super Bowl has caught the attention of the National Lightning Safety Council (NLSC). The ad will feature a lightning strike survivor's apparent phobia of electricity which developed after being injured while riding a motorcycle.

Related link: http://lightningsafetycouncil.org/