Goya Gives Initial Donation of Three Tons of Food to Victims of the Volcano in Guatemala

June 11, 2018

JERSEY CITY, N.J., June 11, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Goya Foods, America’s largest Hispanic-owned food company, makes an initial donation of three tons of Goya products, including canned beans, meat, and vegetables to victims of the volcano in Guatemala.

“It has been a devastating time for the people of Guatemala and we are diligently working with officials and organizations to ensure that the people who need it the most will directly receive the food,” said Joe Perez, Senior Vice President of Goya Foods. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by the volcano and we thank everyone who is helping to make this donation possible.”

The donation is part of Goya Gives, a national initiative committed to promoting and supporting the overall well-being of communities through social responsibility, environmental initiatives and company values. Goya has always played an active role in providing food donations in times of crisis including the company’s most recent donation of food to victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, in addition to international donations in Mexico, Haiti, Chile, Peru and El Salvador among others.

About GOYA
Founded in 1936, Goya Foods, Inc. is America’s largest Hispanic-owned food company, and has established itself as the leader in Latin American food and condiments. Goya manufactures, packages, and distributes over 2,500 high-quality food products from Spain, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America. Goya products have their roots in the culinary traditions of Hispanic communities around the world. The combination of authentic ingredients, robust seasonings and convenient preparation makes Goya products ideal for every taste and every table. For more information on Goya Foods, please visit www.goya.com.

For more information & photos:
Natalie J. Maniscalco
845.659.6506 / natalie@retromedianyc.com

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/703985/GOYA_Guatemala_Donation.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/143145/goya_foods_logo.jpg

SOURCE Goya Foods

Sean “Diddy” Combs And The Makers Of CÎROC Ultra Premium Expand To A New Category With CÎROC VS Fine French Brandy

June 11, 2018

NEW YORK, June 11, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Today Sean “Diddy” Combs and the Makers of CÎROC Ultra Premium Vodka are proud to announce the official launch of CÎROC VS Fine French Brandy. CÎROC is a spirits brand defined by its commitment to excellence, innovation and celebration. True to form, CÎROC brings its defining values to brandy with CÎROC VS. The launch represents the brand’s expansion into a new category.

CÎROC VS is a sophisticated spirit crafted from fine French grapes for a modern expression of classic French Brandy. VS stands for “Very Special,” signifying the superior quality and craftsmanship of CÎROC VS.

CÎROC VS is produced in the South of France, under the direction of master distiller, Jean-Sébastien Robicquet. A selection of each harvest is distilled in traditional Alembic copper pot stills for unparalleled smoothness and matured in French oak barrels. CÎROC VS is then masterfully blended using exceptional aged brandies, resulting in a luxurious taste profile featuring rich notes of fresh fruit, vanilla and a hint of French oak. CÎROC VS can be enjoyed year round neat or on the rocks and in its signature cocktails, The Rising Sun and the CÎROC Sidecar.

The liquid comes in luxurious packaging inspired by the French heritage of CÎROC VS. The bottle features the brand’s iconic orb rendered in a wood grain effect, evoking the French Oak used to age the product. The bottle design represents the unique blend of tradition and innovation inherent to the liquid.

CÎROC VS Fine French Brandy echoes the iconic spirit brand’s history of innovation and the continued development of the CÎROC lifestyle. With the resurgence of brown spirits as the drink of choice amongst a larger consumer segment, CÎROC refused to settle for only a segment of the market, making way for the introduction of CÎROC VS.

“I thrive on opportunity. CÎROC consumers drink aged brown spirits alongside CÎROC Vodka, so it was obvious that it was time to take CÎROC further than it had ever gone. CÎROC VS is changing the game,” said Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs on the launch.

The roll-out of CÎROC VS will commence with an eight-city tour beginning on June 18^th in New York and continuing through summer called the VS Lounge. Bringing the CÎROC VS experience to key markets, CÎROC brand ambassadors and liquid experts will travel the country introducing consumers, retailers and top accounts to the quality of CÎROC VS. Educating the public on the superior drinking experience of CÎROC VS, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and CÎROC are committed to celebrating life responsibly.

Retailing for an average MSRP of $35.99, CÎROC VS Fine French Brandy is available at select retailers in New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Houston, Miami, Atlanta, Detroit and Las Vegas and on reservebar.com.

CÎROC VS Signature Cocktails

Rising Sun
2 oz CÎROC VS
.5 oz Orgeat
2 Dashes Angostura bitters
Garnish: Lemon Twist
Glassware: Coupe Glass

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass. Add ice and stir for 20 seconds. Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with a lemon twist.

CÎROC Sidecar
1.5 oz CÎROC VS
0.5 oz Lemon
1 oz Triple Sec
Garnish: Sugar Rim
Glassware: Coupe Glass

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously until all ingredients are chilled.
Double strain into a coupe glass rimmed with sugar.

Link to CÎROC VS Images: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/li600whrvjlf9ib/AAA5OcsI7JUnnp60fam9d2zYa?dl=0

www.cirocvs.com | www.Instagram.com/CIROCVS | www.Twitter.com/CIROCVS

ABOUT CÎROC ULTRA PREMIUM:

CÎROC Ultra-Premium is a spirits brand originally launched in January 2003 with its signature vodka made from fine French grapes, which are distilled five times, providing a crisp clean taste and citrus nose. In October 2007, Diageo – the world’s largest spirits and beer company – made history by entering into a strategic alliance with entertainment entrepreneur Sean “Diddy” Combs, in which Mr. Combs and Combs Enterprises assumed the lead on all brand management activities for CÎROC. The infused vodka flavors in the portfolio to-date include CÎROC RED BERRY, CÎROC COCONUT, CÎROC PEACH, CÎROC PINEAPPLE, CÎROC APPLE, CÎROC FRENCH VANILLA, CÎROC MANGO in addition to CÎROC TEN. In June 2018, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and Makers of CÎROC entered the brown spirits category with the introduction of CÎROC VS, Fine French Brandy.

Media Contact:
Alisa Jacobs
Diageo
646-223-2229
Alisa.Jacobs@diageo.com

Ryan Stender
Blue Flame Agency
917-449-2447
Rstender@blueflame.us.com

SOURCE CIROC Ultra Premium

Dixon, Honda Dominate in Texas

June 11, 2018

Scott Dixon dominated the second half of the Verizon IndyCar Series race Saturday night at Texas Motor Speedway for his second win of 2018 and Honda’s fifth victory of the season.

— Scott Dixon wins at Texas Motor Speedway for second victory in last two weeks

— Alexander Rossi runs third to continue championship challenge

— Honda drivers claim eight of top nine finishing positions

FORT WORTH, Texas, June 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — For the second time in two weeks, Scott Dixon dominated a Verizon IndyCar Series race, leading a race-high 119 laps to claim victory tonight in the DXC Technology 600 at Texas Motor Speedway. The victory at the demanding, high-speed Texas oval follows Dixon’s win last Saturday in the opening race of the doubleheader Detroit Grand Prix weekend, and vaults Dixon into the Drivers’ Championship points lead after nine of 17 races.

Starting seventh, Dixon took his Honda into the lead on Lap 130. He never relinquished his advantage which, at one time, grew to more than 12 seconds over his nearest pursuer. His second victory of 2018 is also the 43^rd Indy car triumph of his career, moving him into sole position of third place on the all-time victory list, behind only A.J. Foyt (67 wins) and Mario Andretti (52).

Honda drivers claimed five of Saturday’s top six finishing positions on the high banked, 1.5-mile oval, with Alexander Rossi finishing third after a thrilling late-race battle with runner-up Simon Pagenaud. Following a late-race restart on Lap 214, the pair battled throughout the final 30 laps, with James Hinchcliffe never far behind, in fourth.

Ryan Hunter-Reay followed up his win on Sunday in Detroit with a fifth-place result tonight; while Graham Rahal once again completed an impressive charge after starting deep in the field. Rahal gained a total of 14 positions throughout the 248-lap race to finish sixth. His Rahal Letterman Lanigan teammate, Takuma Sato, finished seventh, followed by Sebastien Bourdais in eighth. Dixon’s Chip Ganassi Racing teammate, Ed Jones, finished ninth as Honda drivers also claimed eight of the top nine finishing positions.

Video recaps from this weekend’s Honda IndyCar Series racing activities in Texas are available on the “Honda Racing/HPD” YouTube channel. Produced by the Carolinas Production Group, the video packages can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/HondaRacingHPDTV.

After a run of five consecutive May-June event weekends, the Verizon IndyCar Series now takes a week off, then resumes June 24 at the scenic Road America circuit in Wisconsin for the Kohler Grand Prix.

Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) Started seventh, finished first, second victory of 2018, 43^rd career Indy car win, now third on the all-time winners list behind Mario Andretti and A.J. Foyt:
“I think we kind of played it fairly cool to start with. The car felt really good out of the box. We actually ran on some pretty heavily scuffed tires. I think we had eight or 10 laps on our start just to make sure we weren’t going to have an issue. We went all the way to the [end of the] pit window, until we were out of fuel, which I didn’t think was going to be a possibility tonight. We didn’t really have any tire issues. I think Firestone did a very good job. [On moving into sole possession of third on the all-time Indy car winner’s list] “It’s really cool. Obviously, I have massive respect for a lot of these drivers. But when you look at those names, A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Michael Andretti, the Unsers, to me it still seems very strange that ‘Dixon’ is on that list, too. I feel very privileged and lucky to do what I get to do. I love racing. I love the Verizon IndyCar Series. I think it’s the best racing on the planet, one of the most difficult with all the disciplines. For me, man, I just hope it continues. I hope we can keep a winning style, pick up wins. It’s so difficult right now, [because] it’s so competitive.”

Alexander Rossi (Andretti Autosport Honda) Started eighth, finished third: “Simon [Pagenaud] did a good job defending. We tried to go up high [to pass], and I would have taken it if it was an easy one, but I couldn’t force the issue. We came home third. The NAPA car was awesome from the get-go. We were able to pass some cars and go long on fuel. The tire life was great, so all-in-all, a great effort from the [car number] 27 team.”

Marc Sours (Senior Manager and Chief Engineer, Honda Performance Development) on tonight’s race at Texas Motor Speedway: “The hard work that the group at HPD put in during the off-season has begun to pay dividends during the past couple of weeks. We are very, very pleased to be working with such high-quality teams and drivers, as is evidenced by the fact that each of our five teams was represented among the top eight finishers in Texas tonight. Congratulations, in particular to Scott Dixon, who moved into third on the all-time Indy car wins list with his victory tonight, and continues to secure his legacy as one of the all-time greats of our sport. This race marks the halfway point of the season, and there is a great deal of competitive racing ahead. We’ll be working hard to bring a strong close to the season.”

Verizon IndyCar Series DXC Technology 600
Circuit:	Texas Motor Speedway (1.5-mile oval) Fort Worth, Texas
2017 Winner:	Will Power (Team Penske) 140.491 mph average
Weather:	Mostly sunny, hot, 94 degrees F

Top-10 Race Results:

Fn.	St.	Driver	Team	Manufacturer	Laps	Notes
1.	7.	Scott Dixon	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda	248	177.250 mph average
2.	2.	Simon Pagenaud	Team Penske	Chevrolet	248	+ 4.294 seconds
3.	8.	Alexander Rossi	Andretti Autosport	Honda	248
4.	15.	James Hinchcliffe	Schmidt Peterson Mtspts	Honda	248
5.	10.	Ryan Hunter-Reay	Andretti Autosport	Honda	248
6.	20.	Graham Rahal	Rahal Letterman Lanigan	Honda	248
7.	9.	Takuma Sato	Rahal Letterman Lanigan	Honda	248
8.	5.	Sebastien Bourdais	DCR with Vasser-Sullivan	Honda	248
9.	13.	Ed Jones	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda	248
10.	12.	Charlie Kimball	Carlin Racing	Chevrolet	247	Running
Other Honda Results
14.	11.	Marco Andretti	Andretti Autosport	Honda	244	Running
16.	16.	Zach Veach-R	Andretti Autosport	Honda	238	Running
17.	21.	Zachary Claman De Melo-R	Dale Coyne Racing	Honda	205	Did not finish – crash
19.	4.	Robert Wickens-R	Schmidt Peterson Mtspts	Honda	171	Did not finish – crash

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/703664/Honda_Racing_Scott_Dixon_Texas_Motor_Speedway.jpg

SOURCE Honda Racing

Google.org announces $2M matching campaign for Puerto Rico

June 8, 2018

NEW YORK, June 8, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Today, Google.org launched a campaign focused on Puerto Rico’s economic recovery, committing to match up to $2 million in donations made June 8-20, 2018 at g.co/supportPR. Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda is the campaign spokesperson, with other celebrities joining to amplify the campaign via social media. Funds raised will target the most important sector in Puerto Rico’s economic recovery—small and medium businesses (SMBs)—with an emphasis on tourism, agriculture and fisheries.

“I am grateful to Google.org for their commitment to helping Puerto Rico in such an impactful way. Everyone on the island is working hard every day to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Maria. This new campaign comes at the perfect time to harness the robust energy and enthusiasm still felt by people all over the world. I’m happy to do whatever I can to help raise awareness,” said Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Two nonprofits, Hispanic Federation and Mercy Corps, will be the beneficiaries of the funds. Google.org will support this effort with an approach to philanthropy that is unique to Google — grants, tools and volunteers.

When Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017, the impact was catastrophic. By the time the winds died down and waters receded, there was an island-wide power outage, cherished natural reserves had been destroyed and Puerto Rico’s infrastructure was decimated.

Nearly nine months later hurricane season is once again upon us. The need for economic recovery is urgent. Twenty percent of SMBs haven’t reopened, tourism is at an all-time low and power is intermittent.

With so many needs, Google.org wanted to help connect Puerto Ricans with support to revitalize their businesses. Small and medium businesses are interconnected to many other industries and helping them will cause a positive ripple effect throughout the island.

“One out of three workers in Puerto Rico is employed by these businesses,” said Hector Mujica, Google.org’s Regional Manager for Latin America. “When we decided to return to Puerto Rico to offer support tailored to this stage of its recovery, we pursued an approach that looked not only at what funding could do for small businesses, but how our own in-house resources could amplify the impact.”

This effort began a few weeks ago when 35 of Google’s Latino employees, many with direct ties to Puerto Rico, traveled to the island to volunteer and offer guidance to business owners. They brought not only their expertise in various business fields, but also digital tools designed by Google to help businesses improve their economic outlook. Alfredo Garcia, a Development Manager, was one of them: “As a Puerto Rican Googler, I felt a strong sense of responsibility to help the island get back on its feet. As Google, we can provide business tools, resources and knowledge, in addition to funding that can help support the economy. I’m proud to be part of a group that is helping fellow US citizens recover and emerge even stronger.”

The next stage of support is the Google.org matching campaign, which will run June 8-20, 2018, through a dedicated landing page: g.co/supportPR. Google.org will support Mercy Corps and Hispanic Federation, which will approach economic revitalization with complementary efforts:

The Hispanic Federation will support SMBs, revitalize agricultural industries and help communities transition to sustainable (resilient) materials and structures.
Mercy Corps will support economic revitalization of tourism-oriented SMBs as well as supporting agricultural and fishery businesses.

Both organizations will provide cash grants, technical assistance and training to emerging or existing businesses.

In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Maria, Google.org and Googlers donated over $1.5M in disaster relief support to the regions impacted, and many employees volunteered not only their money but their time through various efforts. We aim to bring the attention back to a region still recovering from crisis with this campaign.

Please help spread the word. g.co/supportPR
Together, we can make a difference.

About Google.org

Google.org, Google’s philanthropy, supports nonprofits that address humanitarian issues worldwide and apply scalable, data-driven innovation to solving the world’s biggest challenges. We accelerate their progress by connecting them with a unique blend of support that includes funding, products, and technical expertise from Google volunteers. We engage with these believers-turned-doers who make a significant impact on the communities they represent, and whose work has the potential to produce meaningful change. We want a world that works for everyone—and we believe technology and innovation can move the needle in four key areas: education, economic opportunity, inclusion and crisis response.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/703067/Google_org_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Google.org

Labor Commissioner’s Office Cites Seven Bay Area Restaurants $10 Million for Wage Theft

June 7, 2018

SAN FRANCISCO, June 7, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Labor Commissioner’s Office has cited the following seven Bay Area restaurants more than $10 million for wage theft violations affecting 431 workers.

The restaurants inspected included Kome Japanese Seafood & Buffet in Daly City, Burma Ruby Burmese Cuisine in Palo Alto and Rangoon Ruby Burmese Cuisine located in Palo Alto, San Francisco, San Carlos, Burlingame and Belmont.

The citations issued to Kome total more than $5.16 million and involve 133 workers, and the Burmese restaurant chain was cited more than $4.96 million for its 298 underpaid workers. The wage theft violations and civil penalties cited include failure to pay minimum wage, overtime and split shift premiums.

“Taking tips from workers and paying workers by salary to deny them their hard-earned overtime pay is wage theft,” said Labor Commissioner Julie A. Su. “Our job is to protect working people’s right to a just day’s pay for a hard day’s work, and to stop employers who embrace wage theft as a business model.”

The Labor Commissioner’s investigation and payroll audit of Kome determined that 69 cooks, sushi chefs and dishwashers typically worked more than 55 hours per week but were paid a fixed salary that did not include overtime. As a result, these workers are owed nearly $3 million in unpaid wages and penalties. Other staff, including hosts, servers and bussers, are owed more than $1.4 million for overtime, split shift premiums, and unpaid minimum wage violations, including the illegal counting of tips received as part of the minimum hourly wage. Tips are the sole property of the worker and cannot be credited towards an employer’s obligation to pay minimum wage.

Investigators inspecting the Burmese restaurant chain also discovered the 87 cooks, paid a fixed salary at the six restaurants, typically logged more than 10 hours of unpaid overtime each week. They are owed $3.8 million for unpaid overtime wages, minimum wages, split shift, liquidated damages, waiting time penalties, and failure to provide accurate itemized wage statements. The remaining 211 servers, hosts, dishwashers and bussers at the Burmese chain were not paid the daily extra hour of minimum wage required when their employer scheduled them to work split shifts. Those workers are due $590,072 for split shifts and other wages and penalties owed.

Chinese Progressive Association and Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus, civil rights organizations located in San Francisco, represented many of the workers at Kome who cooperated in the investigation. The Labor Commissioner’s Office launched the investigation of the Burmese restaurant chain after receiving complaints from workers who reported wage theft to the Asian Law Caucus, which also represented many of the workers who cooperated in the investigation.

“Workers often do not know their rights and fear losing their jobs for complaining about wage theft,” added Labor Commissioner Su. “We work with community-based organizations that help workers report labor law violations.”

David Tai Leung, Wendy Lai Ip, Jun Zheng, Gang Zhou, Bai Dong Zhang and Tiffany Leung, owners of the corporations Kome Japanese Seafood Buffet, Inc. and Koshi Food Service, Inc., are ordered to pay the 133 workers at Kome Buffet $4,381,461 in unpaid wages, premiums and liquidated damages, as well as civil penalties of $780,400.

Max Lee and John Lee, owners of Rangoon Ruby Investment LLC and Burma Ruby Investment LLC, have been ordered to pay their 298 workers $4,394,118 for unpaid wages, premiums, liquidated damages and itemized wage statement violations, and civil penalties of $574,150.

Enforcement investigations typically include a payroll audit of the previous three years to determine minimum wage, overtime and other labor law violations, and calculate payments owed and penalties due.

When workers are paid less than minimum wage, they are entitled to liquidated damages that equal the amount of underpaid wages plus interest. Waiting time penalties are imposed when the employer intentionally fails to pay all wages due to the employee at the time of separation. This penalty is calculated by taking the employee’s daily rate of pay and multiplying it by the number of days the employee was not paid, up to a maximum of 30 days.

A salaried employee must be paid overtime unless they meet the test for exempt status as defined by federal and state laws, or unless they are specifically exempted from overtime by the provisions of one of the Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Orders regulating wages, hours and working conditions.

Split shift is a work schedule interrupted by non-paid and non-working time periods established by the employer and it is not a rest or a meal period. Minimum wage workers are entitled to one-hour of minimum wage as a premium for working a split shift.

The civil penalties collected will be transferred to the State’s General Fund as required by law.

The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, or the Labor Commissioner’s Office, is the division within the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) with wide-ranging enforcement responsibilities including adjudicating wage claims, inspecting workplaces for wage and hour violations, investigating retaliation complaints and educating the public on labor laws.

In 2014, Labor Commissioner Su launched the Wage Theft is a Crime multilingual public awareness campaign. The campaign defines wage theft and informs workers of their rights and the resources available to them to recover unpaid wages or report other labor law violations.

Employees with work-related questions or complaints may contact DIR’s Call Center in English or Spanish at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734).

Members of the press may contact Peter Melton or Paola Laverde at (510) 286-1161, and are encouraged to subscribe to get email alerts on DIR’s press releases or other departmental updates.

https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaDIR
https://twitter.com/CA_DIR
http://www.youtube.com/CaliforniaDIR
http://www.dir.ca.gov/email/listsub.asp?choice=1

The California Department of Industrial Relations, established in 1927, protects and improves the health, safety, and economic well-being of over 18 million wage earners, and helps their employers comply with state labor laws. DIR is housed within the Labor & Workforce Development Agency. For general inquiries, contact DIR’s Call Center at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734) for help in locating the appropriate division or program in our department.

SOURCE California Labor Commissioner’s Office

March of Dimes: Blood Test May Identify Pregnant Women At Risk Of Premature Birth

June 7, 2018

WHITE PLAINS, New York, June 7, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — New research funded by March of Dimes has found biomarkers in maternal blood that accurately identified pregnant women who would go on to deliver babies up to two months prematurely. The findings were published today in the journal Science.

This finding is important as doctors do not currently have ways to accurately assess which pregnancies will end with a premature birth, March of Dimes notes. Additionally, using those same blood samples, the team found biomarkers in maternal blood that could estimate gestational age or delivery date with comparable accuracy to ultrasound, but possibly at lower cost.

“This exciting cutting-edge research demonstrates why March of Dimes is investing in new ways to improve the health of moms and babies, especially to address the crisis of premature birth in this country and worldwide,” says Stacey D. Stewart, president of March of Dimes. “To date, no test on the market can reliably predict which pregnant moms will go on to preterm labor. March of Dimes is committed to finding new solutions and to giving all babies the best possible start in life.”

Premature birth affects 15 million babies each year worldwide and is on the rise in the United States. Recently released provisional data for 2017 from the National Center for Health Statistics show that the preterm birth rate in the U.S. has reached 9.93 percent, up from 9.86 in 2016, the third consecutive annual increase after steady declines over the previous seven years.

The studies were led by Stephen Quake, Ph.D., an investigator at the March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center at Stanford University. Partners included scientists in Denmark and Alabama as well as at the March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center at the University of Pennsylvania.

David K. Stevenson, M.D., the principal investigator of the March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center at Stanford University, described the noninvasive blood test approach as a way of “eavesdropping on a conversation” between the mother, the fetus and the placenta, without disturbing the pregnancy. He added that today’s findings affirm the existence of a “transcriptomic clock of pregnancy” that could serve as a new way to assess the gestational age of a fetus. “By measuring cell-free RNA in the circulation of the mother, we can observe changing patterns of gene activity that happen normally during pregnancy, and identify disruptions in the patterns that may signal to doctors that unhealthy circumstances like preterm labor and birth are likely to occur,” Dr. Stevenson said. “With further study, we might be able to identify specific genes and gene pathways that could reveal some of the underlying causes of preterm birth, and suggest potential targets for interventions to prevent it.”

In two separate cohorts of women, all at elevated risk of delivering preterm, the March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center team identified a set of cell-free RNA (cfRNA) transcripts that accurately classified women who delivered preterm up to two months in advance of labor. In another cohort of healthy pregnant women, the team found that measurement of nine cfRNA transcripts in maternal blood predicted gestational age with comparable accuracy to ultrasound.

The researchers noted that both tests will require validation in larger, blinded clinical trials.

“Noninvasive blood tests for fetal development predict gestational age and preterm delivery,” by Thuy T. M. Ngo et al., appears in the June 8 issue of Science.

March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies. We support research, lead programs and provide education and advocacy so that every family can have the best possible start. Building on a successful 80-year legacy of impact and innovation, we stand up for every mom and every baby. Visit marchofdimes.org or nacersano.org for more information. Visit shareyourstory.org for comfort and support. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/513643/March_of_Dimes_Foundation_Logo.jpg

SOURCE March of Dimes

10,000 Reasons to Leave Fireworks to the Professionals

June 7, 2018

AAO Logo (PRNewsFoto/American Academy of Ophthalmology)

SAN FRANCISCO, June 7, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Every year, about 10,000 people are rushed to the emergency department for fireworks injuries. Ophthalmologists – physicians who specialize in medical and surgical eye care – treat thousands of patients who suffer a range of fireworks-related injuries, from cuts and bruises to damaged corneas, retinas, and ruptured eyeballs. Many people believe that consumer fireworks are safe. But here’s the explosive truth: Most injuries are caused by legal fireworks parents buy for their children, such as sparklers, firecrackers, bottle rockets, and Roman candles. To help reduce the number of potentially blinding fireworks accidents this holiday, the American Academy of Ophthalmology is sharing these tips:

Wear protective eyewear when igniting fireworks: Ophthalmologists recommend that every household have at least one pair of ANSI-approved protective eyewear. Stop by any hardware store and pick up some safety glasses for the entire family.
Don’t pick up duds and misfires: When a lit firework didn’t explode, Javonte McNair, 14, walked over and picked it up. The “dud” exploded, severing his hand and blasting hot debris into his eye, causing severe damage to his cornea. Keep a hose and buckets of water on hand for duds and misfires. Soak the dud from a distance with a hose or a bucket of water. Pick it up with a shovel and fully submerge it in a bucket of water to ensure it’s safe for disposal.
Keep a safe distance: Bystanders are injured by fireworks as often as the operator. Stacy Young was 100 yards away when an illegal firework sent shrapnel into her skull. Ophthalmologists couldn’t save her eye. It had to be removed.
Supervise children closely: Sparklers seem like harmless fun for the kids, but they are responsible for about 1,400 eye injuries each year. Even those tiny poppers or snappers can pose dangers. A ricocheting popper burned parts of five-year-old Nolan Haney‘s eye and eyelid
Celebrate with the pros: The Fourth can be complete without using consumer fireworks. The Academy advises that the safest way to view fireworks is to watch a professional show.

“Consumer fireworks are a treasured part of Fourth of July celebrations, so it’s easy to forget the dangers they can pose, particularly to the eyes,” said Dianna L. Seldomridge, M.D., a clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. “Please, take our advice. We don’t want to see you in the ER this Fourth of July.”

If you experience a fireworks eye injury, ophthalmologists urge you to minimize the damage to the eye:

Seek medical attention immediately
Do not rub the eye. Rubbing may make the injury worse
Do not attempt to rinse the eye
Do not apply pressure to the eye
Do not remove objects from the eye
Do not apply ointments or take pain medications before seeking medical help

To help ensure people get the facts about fireworks, the Academy also created an animated public service announcement titled “Fireworks: The Blinding Truth.” It encourages the public and media to view and share the PSA. Visit the Academy’s EyeSmart^® website for more information about fireworks eye safety.

About the American Academy of Ophthalmology
The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the world’s largest association of eye physicians and surgeons. A global community of 32,000 medical doctors, we protect sight and empower lives by setting the standards for ophthalmic education and advocating for our patients and the public. We innovate to advance our profession and to ensure the delivery of the highest-quality eye care. Our EyeSmart^®program provides the public with the most trusted information about eye health. For more information, visit aao.org.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/287412/american_academy_of_ophthalmology_Logo.jpg

SOURCE American Academy of Ophthalmology

2019 Acura RDX Makes Racing Debut at Pikes Peak Hill Climb; Acura Returns With Four Competition Entries

June 7, 2018

TORRANCE, California, June 7, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Acura returns to the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 24 with four production-based race cars, including the all-new 2019 RDX making its world racing debut. Joining the new RDX, which went on sale nationally June 1, is last year’s Open Class-winning TLX GT, Exhibition Class-winning TLX A-Spec, and Time Attack 1 podium-placing NSX.

Acura marks its seventh consecutive year competing in the ‘Race to the Clouds’ in 2018. The brand is also returning for the fourth straight year as Official Pace Car and Support Vehicle of the event, with a 2019 RDX A-Spec and 2018 MDX, respectively.

The TLX GT, driven by Acura racing legend Peter Cunningham, will return in the Open Class to build on a commanding 2017 class win, while Acura R&D engineer James Robinson, coming off a Hybrid record-setting run in 2017, will return with a NSX in the Time Attack 1 Class. Acura R&D engineer and brother to James, Nick Robinson, will also return to Pikes Peak in the Exhibition Class-winning 2018 TLX A-Spec.

Pikes Peak rookie Jordan Guitar will make his hill-climb debut in the all-new 2019 Acura RDX, competing in the Exhibition Class. A veteran of rally racing events, Jordan is the 2016 B-Spec National Champion and has recently graduated to the Civic Sport Turbo Rally car for 2018.

Pikes Peak Premiere: 2019 RDX

Jordan Guitar of Acura R&D’s North American Chassis Development Group will make the racing debut of the 2019 RDX in this year’s Exhibition Class. The 2019 RDX set to make its racing debut in this year’s Exhibition Class features a production-derived 2.0L VTEC^® Turbo engine, along with a sport tuned 10-speed automatic transmission and the newest iteration of Acura Super Handling All‐Wheel Drive™ (SH‐AWD^®). In addition to the lightly modified production powertrain, the Pikes Peak RDX has been fitted with 48-volt micro hybrid technology, including an electric supercharger. The vehicle’s interior has been stripped to reduce weight and improve handling. The overall focus of the Pikes Peak RDX is to display the potential of this exciting new platform and highlight new technology that expands driving performance.

The Pikes Peak RDX’s VTEC Turbo engine has been dialed up to a peak output of 350 horsepower and 330 lb.-ft. of torque through the use of a larger turbocharger, bigger intercooler for maximum response and electric supercharger to help reduce turbo lag as elevation increases. The 2019 RDX debuts the most advanced mechanical iteration of Acura’s torque-vectoring Super Handling All‐Wheel Drive yet. The RDX race car will compete with production SH-AWD hardware, only receiving software changes to increase the rear torque bias. Additional handling enhancements included race-tuned suspension, custom 19-inch HRE forged race wheels and Pirelli racing tires. Braking performance has been upgraded with Brembo front brake calipers and racing pads.

2018 TLX A-Spec in Exhibition Class

Nick Robinson of Acura R&D’s North American Chassis Development Group will return to Pikes Peak in the 2017 Exhibition Class-winning TLX A-Spec. Following its successful debut in the Exhibition Class last June, the TLX A-Spec returns with a revised suspension, updated 500-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 turbo powerplant and a limited-slip differential. Optimized specifically for this hill-climb course, custom engine software and tuning was handled by an in-house team of the company’s North American R&D engineers. Changes from the TLX A-Spec’s debut in 2017 include a revised aerodynamic package and additional weight reduction. A five-time veteran of Pikes Peak, Nick Robinson had his first victory in 2014 in the motorcycle Pikes Peak 250 class. In addition, Nick piloted the NSX to victory in the Time Attack 2 Production Class, as well as the Exhibition Class win in 2017.

TLX GT Competes in Open Class

The all-wheel drive RealTime Racing (RTR) prepared TLX GT race car returns to Pikes Peak in 2018 following a 2017 Open Class Record and overall podium finish, featuring a power-enhanced J35 twin-turbo V6 motor setup used in past Pirelli World Challenge Series competitions, but tuned on multiple levels to accommodate the elevation changes of Pikes Peak. The software mapping developed by Honda Performance Development optimizes turbo operation and boost pressures for the decreasing levels of oxygen on the way to the 14,115-foot summit. RTR has built the TLX GT’s suspension specifically for this hill-climb environment, and the transmission’s gearing has been revised for faster acceleration coming out of the course’s many hairpin turns.

For 2018, the TLX GT features increased downforce with the addition of a larger front splitter and dive planes that will improve front downforce, allowing the team to dial in more rear wing downforce for balance. Also new this year, with the abolishment of Pikes Peak’s requirement for the Open Class to use D.O.T-approved tires, the TLX GT adds Pirelli racing slicks.

The TLX GT will again be piloted by Peter Cunningham of RealTime Racing, which has campaigned Acuras in the World Challenge since 1996 and seeks a consecutive Pikes Peak podium finish following his ‘Rookie of the Year’ debut in 2017. The versatile Cunningham has claimed 14 professional drivers’ championships in his storied career in everything from ice racing, performance rallying and road racing.

Production-Based NSX Set for Time Attack 1

James Robinson of Acura R&D’s North American powertrain development group (and younger brother of Nick Robinson) will return in the Record Setting Time Attack 1 Acura NSX. An 8-time veteran of Pikes Peak, James has had several podium finishes in the Exhibition Class, Open Class and, most recently, in 2017, the Time Attack 1 Class. In addition, James set the overall Hybrid Record with his ninth-place overall finish in 2017. Building on the successful modifications from last year’s run, the TA1 NSX has been further lightened and aerodynamic elements have been added, including a bigger wing and front splitter. In addition, the production turbochargers have been replaced with larger units to help recover horsepower losses at altitude. The TA1 NSX’s software has been tuned to optimize engine and the Sport Hybrid system performance for the hill climb. Finally, Pirelli R-compound tires will complement the production vehicle’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD^®).

Official 2018 Acura Pace Vehicles

As Official Pace Car sponsor, Acura will feature the just-launched 2019 RDX A-Spec, sporting the new Acura design direction. In addition, Acura will provide RDX and MDX track-support vehicles for coaches’ use leading up to the race.

For Pikes Peak race attendees, the RDX A-Spec, TLX GT, TLX A-Spec, TA1 NSX and pace cars will appear at a number of pre-race activities, including the popular Fan Fest in downtown Colorado Springs, 5 to 10 p.m. MDT Friday, June 22.

About Acura Motorsports

Over three decades, Acura has utilized racing as a means to test its mettle and prove out its performance capabilities, capturing numerous national endurance and sports car racing titles along the way. Today, Acura is racing the ARX-05 Daytona Prototype, campaigned by Team Penske, in American endurance sportscar racing competition, and the NSX GT3, partnered with Meyer Shank Racing, in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship series. Acura is also celebrating its seventh year of racing at the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and serves as Official Pace Vehicle of the annual ‘Race to the Clouds’.

About Acura

Acura is a leading automotive luxury nameplate that delivers Precision Crafted Performance, representing the original values of the Acura brand – a commitment to evocative styling, high performance and innovative engineering, all built on a foundation of quality and reliability.

The Acura lineup features six distinctive models – the RLX premium, luxury sedan, the TLX performance luxury sedan, the ILX sport sedan, the 5-passenger RDX luxury crossover SUV, the seven-passenger Acura MDX, America’s all-time best-selling three-row luxury SUV and the next-generation, electrified NSX supercar as a new and pinnacle expression of Acura Precision Crafted Performance.

Five of the six models in the Acura lineup are made exclusively in central Ohio using domestic and globally sourced parts, including the ILX and TLX luxury sports sedans (Marysville Auto Plant), the RDX and MDX luxury SUVs (East Liberty Auto Plant) and the Acura NSX supercar, which is built to order at the Performance Manufacturing Center in Marysville, Ohio.

For More Information

Additional media information including pricing, features and high-resolution photography is available at AcuraNews.com. Consumer information is available at Acura.com. Follow Acura on social media at Acura.us/SocialChannels.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/702523/2019_Acura_RDX.jpg
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/702524/Racing_Debut_at_Pikes_Peak_Hill_Climb.jpg
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/702525/Acura_RDX.jpg
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/702526/Acura_Returns.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/592658/Acura_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Acura

Alexa PenaVega Announces Top Mom-Approved Places to Fish and Boat in Each State

June 7, 2018

RBFF is launching a nationwide vote for the Top 10 Mom-Approved Places to Fish and Boat in the country.

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, June 7, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Celebrity mom Alexa PenaVega has made a name for herself on the screen, but these days she’s making a name for herself on the water—as a fisherwoman. Together with her husband Carlos and the couple’s 18-month-old son Ocean, and just in time for National Fishing and Boating Week, PenaVega is helping fellow moms across the country plan their own outdoor family adventures with the Top Mom-Approved Places to Fish and Boat. Created by the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) and its Take Me Fishing™ brand, the list features family-favorite fishing holes in all 50 states, as selected through a nationwide vote by thousands of moms.

“Fishing and boating have been important parts of my life since childhood,” said PenaVega. “Now that I’m a mom, I’m proud to help elevate the voices of other moms across the nation to announce this fantastic resource. We love taking our son fishing to relax and reconnect as a family.” PenaVega rose to stardom in 2001 with her role as Carmen Cortez in “Spy Kids,” later starring on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” alongside her husband.

An active millennial parent, PenaVega knows firsthand how important it is for families of all kinds to have opportunities for safe, fun outdoor recreation. A Mom-Approved Place to Fish and Boat is driving-distance from urban areas and has ample family-friendly amenities such as play areas, easy parking and picnic facilities, as well as safe water and boat access. And of course, Mom-Approved Places are packed with plenty of fish to catch.

In addition to announcing the Top Mom-Approved Places to Fish and Boat in each state, RBFF is launching a nationwide vote for the Top 10 Mom-Approved Places to Fish and Boat in the country. Everyone is invited to cast their vote at TakeMeFishing.org now through Friday, June 29. Each vote is an entry to win a family fishing and boating trip to sunny Fort Myers, Fla. The Top 10, to be announced in July, will reign supreme on the national stage.

“It’s not just dads taking the kids out fishing anymore,” said Stephanie Vatalaro, Vice President of Communications at RBFF. “A recent Aquatic Resources Education Association and RBFF Report shows that kids today are more likely to go fishing with their moms. Alexa PenaVega is a prime example that now more than ever, women are shattering the ‘bass’ ceiling.”

Families are invited to try out Mom-Approved Places to Fish and Boat near them June 2–10 during National Fishing and Boating Week, an event highlighting the important role recreational fishing and boating play in sustaining our country’s natural resources. As part of National Fishing and Boating Week, states around the country will offer Free Fishing Days when anglers are allowed to fish on public bodies of water without needing to purchase a fishing license. For a calendar of Free Fishing Days, visit TakeMeFishing.org.

About the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF)
RBFF is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase participation in recreational angling and boating, thereby protecting and restoring the nation’s aquatic natural resources. RBFF’s recently announced 60 in 60 effort strives to attract 60 million anglers to the sport by the end of 2021. To help recruit, retain and reactivate participants, RBFF developed the award-winning Take Me Fishing™ and Vamos A Pescar™ campaigns creating awareness about boating, fishing and conservation, and educating people about the benefits of participation. These campaigns help boaters and anglers of all ages and experience levels learn, plan and equip for a day on the water. The campaign websites, TakeMeFishing.org and TakeMeFishing.org/es, feature how-to videos, information on how to get a fishing license and boat registration, and an interactive state-by-state map that allows visitors to find local boating and fishing spots.

Celebrity mom Alexa PenaVega is helping fellow moms across the country plan their own outdoor family adventures with the Top Mom-Approved Places to Fish and Boat.

Photo –https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/702821/RBFF_Top_10_Mom_Approved_Places_to_Fish.jpg
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/702823/RBFFAlexa_PenaVega_Fishing.jpg

SOURCE Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation

Brand Marketing Leaders Explore Innovation and Passion Point Marketing at Portada’s Council System

June 7, 2018

NEW YORK, June 7, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Portada, www.portada-online.com; the leading networking solutions platform for dynamic tech, marketing and media companies targeting consumers through cultural insights and passion points, launched its exclusive Council System earlier this year.

More than 70 brand marketing executives are members of the Council System. Marketing trail blazers from L’Oréal, Latam Airlines, Allstate, Coty, Intuit, JC Penney and MasterCard share their experience in the below testimonials.

“I think that Portada has been doing a great job, I’m really excited about all the things we’ve been working on during these meetings and understanding, not only inspiring but really taking action, so for me it’s very interesting,” says Perla Patricia Aragón, Digital Marketing Director MX, L’Oréal (Portada Council of the Americas Member).

“I’m in the Travel Marketing Board, a very good opportunity to share different visions among different industries, we are airlines, car rentals, hotels… and it’s amazing how, even though it’s the same industry, it’s different pillars, and it’s amazing how we all share the same challenges and it’s interesting to see how everything is related.”
Pablo Chiozza, Senior VP US, Canada, Asia & Caribbean, Latam Airlines Group
(Travel Marketing Board Member).

“I think it’s a great thing that Portada has put together, it’s given me a chance to really interact with some folks that I’ve known in the industry but maybe we hadn’t gotten together around the specific unique targeted approach like multicultural Hispanic marketing through the lens of sports and sports marketing, so it’s been very engaging for me.”
Dan Keats, Director Consumer Marketing-Sponsorships, Allstate Insurance
(Sports Marketing Board Member).

“Even though I get invited to this kind of things all the time, the executives we had at the table, this time it was top-notch, great quality people that could really get to a deeper level of discussion than I’ve had at other places.”
Rafael Lopez-de-Azua, Head of Media and Digital, Latam, Coty
(Brand Star Committee Member)

“I think it’s a great idea, I really liked that we were able to get together in a group yesterday and just talk peer-to-peer about the things we’re struggling with, or things we’re finding challenging, and see what other people have learned from their experiences.”
John Sandoval, Senior Brand and Latino Marketing Manager, Intuit
(Brand Star Committee Member)

“It has been a great experience so far, we’ve met twice and it’s great to have the access to all these people in the marketing world that have the same type of issues that we do and discuss these matters, try to find solutions and interact that way, so it’s great networking with your peers. It’s a great opportunity to get access to different technologies, different ideas, and in a great setting.”
Ana Lucía Soto, National Media Manager, JCPenney (Brand Star Committee Member)

“The Council System is very unique for us at Mastercard. It allows us to better understand what the Hispanic market is doing and we can leverage that with a lot of our properties. That’s the biggest feature and the benefit. And bringing our knowledge as it relates to Mastercard to this business and the Hispanic community is very important to us.”
Mike Tasevski, VP, North America Sponsorships, MasterCard
(Sports Marketing Board Member)

How the Council System Works

Members of the five different units of the Portada Council System are connected throughout the year by attending two virtual and two in-person meetings during Portada events. The next in-person meeting will be taking place during Portada New York on Sept. 24 and 25, 2018 www.portada-online.com/portadanewyork.

Latin American members of the brand and agency star committees will meet at Portada Mexico on October 30, 2018.
https://www.portada-online.com/events/portadamexico/

Opportunities for Vendors of Marketing Services

In addition to the more than 70 brand marketing executives who integrate Portada’s expanding Council System, Council System integrations are available to an elite group of marketing services vendors. To discuss opportunities please reach out to Sales Manager Isabel Ojeda at isabel@portada-online.com.

For more information about the 5 different units of the Portada Council System and the list of its members, please go to the url below
https://www.portada-online.com/councilsystem/

FAQ about the Council System:
https://www.portada-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/FAQ_Portada_Council-System_web.pdf

About Portada
Portada is a leading networking solutions platform for dynamic tech, marketing and media companies targeting consumers through cultural insights and passion points in the Americas. Portada members receive top business leads through a guaranteed amount of annual meetings with brand marketing executives. In addition, members obtain best-in-class advertising and PR services through Portada media (events, digital-social and print magazine) with an audited reach of more than 120,000 marketing, tech and media executives. (www.portada-online.com).

Media Contact: Marcos Baer, marcos@portada-online.com, + 52 1 5564162299

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/701563/Portada_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Portada

‘Everything We Ever Imagined and Then Some’: 2019 Acura RDX Marketing Campaign Harkens to Brand’s Precision Crafted Performance Roots

June 6, 2018

TORRANCE, California, June 6, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — A new integrated marketing campaign from Acura, “Everything We Ever Imagined and Then Some,” heralds the arrival of the first in a new generation of Acura products – the all-new 2019 Acura RDX – now on sale at dealerships across the U.S. The 2019 RDX is a modern take on the brand’s original mantra: Precision Crafted Performance. The campaign makes its television premiere in “Launch,” which airs during Game 3 of the NBA Finals on ABC: https://acura.us/2JdSBs9

“We wanted to launch the all-new RDX with a campaign that, like the RDX itself, connects to Acura’s heart and soul – Precision Crafted Performance, while at the same time expressing the excitement that all of us at Acura share surrounding this vehicle arriving in market,” said Jon Ikeda, vice president & general manager of Acura.

‘Everything We Have Imagined and Then Some’ Campaign

Led by Acura’s AOR MullenLowe, the new RDX marketing campaign traces the authentic roots of Precision Crafted Performance. From the first generation NSX and Acura’s storied motorsports history, all have helped establish the sportier design direction reflected in today’s RDX.

Staying true to the brand’s recent use of high-energy soundtracks, the 2019 RDX campaign features a bold musical score from The Rolling Stones and Motörhead, set to modern visuals and emotional storytelling that reflects the “30 years young” mindset of Acura.

The campaign elements highlight the RDX’s refined style, higher performance, powerful new VTEC^® Turbo engine and all-new ultra-wide panoramic moonroof, as well as the Acura ELS Studio 3D™ premium audio system developed for Acura by Panasonic, together with Grammy-winning music producer Elliot Scheiner. Also featured in the campaign is the 2019 RDX’s premium and tech-savvy cabin experience with the first application of the Acura True Touchpad Interface™, Acura’s groundbreaking new user interface featuring the first use of absolute positioning technology in the automotive space.

“Launch” (https://acura.us/2JdSBs9): Featuring cameo appearances by the first-generation Acura NSX and legendary Integra Type R, the 60-second debut spot highlights the brand’s performance roots, showcasing Acura’s commitment to Precision Crafted Performance through the vehicles that helped paved the way, leading to the all-new 2019 RDX. The spot also highlights additional Acura products that speak to the brand’s performance core, including: the Acura Precision Concept, second-generation NSX and Acura ARX-05 Daytona Prototype international race car. The ad is supported by Motörhead’s rendition of the Rolling Stone’s classic “Sympathy for the Devil.”

“Rainbow” (https://acura.us/2JoXZwd): The :30 spot “Rainbow” spot showcases what Acura engineers imagined in bringing the Acura ELS Studio 3D™ premium audio system to life – a 16-channel, 710-watt audio system featuring four ultra-slim Highline™ ceiling-mounted speakers creating a rich and immersive audio experience. RDX’s luxuriously appointed cabin and True Touchpad Interface™ is highlighted as natural language voice commands set the spot to the Rolling Stones classic “She’s a Rainbow.”

Reflective of Acura’s audience based strategy, the RDX launch will capture consumers across platforms leveraging data driven targeting capabilities, including linear video, mobile, social and print. The campaign will be announced through high impact as well as behaviorally targeted placements, including experiential extensions, throughout 2018.

For More Information
Additional media information including pricing, features and high-resolution photography is available at acuranews.com/channels/acura-automobiles. Consumer information is available at http://www.acura.com. Follow Acura on social media at https://acura.us/SocialChannels.

About Acura
Acura is a leading automotive luxury nameplate that delivers Precision Crafted Performance, representing the original values of the Acura brand – a commitment to evocative styling, high performance and innovative engineering, all built on a foundation of quality and reliability.

Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awwCEHcssGo

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/701912/2019_Acura_RDX_Marketing.jpg

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/592658/Acura_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Acura

Texas small land sales volume increases, sales volume tops $1 billion

June 6, 2018

AUSTIN, Texas, June 6, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Texas small land sales volume continued to spur strong demand in 2017, while sales volume topped $1 billion, according to the Texas Small Land Sales Report released today by the Texas Association of Realtors.

“In recent years, small land sales have been a strong indicator of a healthy overall real estate market,” said Kaki Lybbert, chairman of the Texas Association of Realtors. “With land sales increasing and price-per-acre declining slightly, we’re seeing a solid market for small land purchases for a wide range of uses, including recreation, residential, investment, commercial development and farm land.”

Texas small land sales volume grew 8.5 percent annually to 7,588 small land tracts sold in 2017. This is the fifth straight year Texas saw small land sales volume increase. During the same time frame, the average price per acre declined 2.2 percent year-over-year to $5,521 an acre. This is the first time total dollar volume topped $1 billion. The definition of a “small” land sale varies from region to region but generally is considered to be a land sale of 200 acres or less. The exception is Far West Texas, where 500 to 8,000 acres qualifies as a small land sale.

Strong small land sales growth was evident across all regions of the state, with small land purchases in Far West Texas and West Texas experiencing annual gains more than 50 percent. Small land sales in the Austin-Waco-Hill Country area experienced the smallest gains at 0.12 percent.

As demand for small land tracts continued to increase, the average tract size for small land sales in Texas for 2017 remained unchanged from 2016 at 36 acres. Northeast Texas and the Gulf Coast-Brazos Bottom areas were the only regions that experienced increases in average price per acre, increasing 5 percent and 3.4 percent, respectively.

Charles Gilliland, economist with the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, commented: “Statewide, the price per acre for small land sales decreased slightly from 2016 to 2017. This could be an indication that buyers are seeking out bargains in lower priced locations in popular regions. For example, the Hill Country saw less land sale activity in Travis County compared to Comanche County, where price per acre between the two differ.”

Lybbert concluded, “Land is a hot commodity in Texas, and we continue to see the market for acreage almost as competitive as the residential housing market. As population growth continues, we expect to see the demand for rural land continue to increase.”

About the Texas Small Land Sales Report
The Texas Small Land Sales Report analyzes small land sales data and trends across seven regions of Texas utilizing survey data aggregated by the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University. The Texas Association of REALTORS® distributes insights about the Texas housing market each month, including quarterly market statistics, trends among homebuyers and sellers, luxury home sales, international trends, and more. To view the Texas Small Land Sales Report in its entirety, visit texasrealestate.com.

About the Texas Association of REALTORS®
With more than 114,000 members, the Texas Association of REALTORS® is a professional membership organization that represents all aspects of real estate in Texas. We are the advocate for REALTORS® and private property rights in Texas. Visit texasrealestate.com to learn more.

CONTACT: Morgan Moritz, mmoritz@piercom.com, 512-448-4950

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/175272/texas_association_of_realtors_logo.jpg

SOURCE Texas Association of Realtors

Let’s Celebrate ¡Vive Tu Vida! Get Up! Get Moving!® in Chicago with Free Services and Day of Family Fun

June 6, 2018

CHICAGO, June 6, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — On Saturday, June 9, 2018, the National Alliance for Hispanic Health and the Chicago Hispanic Health Coalition presents the 12th Annual ¡Vive tu vida! Get Up! Get Moving!^® event at McKinley Park in Chicago. The event promotes Hispanic family physical activity and good nutrition for better health and wellness for all. This FREE, open to the public event is made possible by an extraordinary group of partners and volunteers.

“For twelve years ¡Vive tu vida! Get Up! Get Moving!, has provided nutrition education, free health screenings, and wellness activities to communities across the nation,” said Dr. Jane L. Delgado, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, the nation’s leading Hispanic health advocacy group. “To continue our work to increase the inclusion of Hispanics in clinical and biomedical research, we are bringing the All of Us Research Program to our communities. The participation of diverse communities in All of Us will help build the foundation for a new era of health care where medicine is tailored to each person.”

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) All of Us Research Program is an ambitious effort to advance individualized prevention, treatment and care for people of all backgrounds. People ages 18 and older, regardless of health status, will be able to enroll. By partnering with 1 million diverse people who share information about themselves over many years, the All of Us Research Program will enable research to more precisely prevent and treat a variety of health conditions.

“These are times filled with stress for many and staying healthy is important – your body is your most important resource” said Esther Sciammarella, Executive Director of the Chicago Hispanic Health Coalition. “This year, participants have an opportunity to increase medical knowledge by participating in All of Us. We hope people take advantage of this since it can lead to better medicines for them and their families.”

What: ¡Vive tu vida! Get Up! Get Moving!^® event featuring —

Health Screenings and Information: including blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, vision; prostate; and dental exams, as well as Medicare and Medicaid enrollment information
Fitness & Family fun: Exercise demonstrations, family fitness walk, and youth soccer tournament
Nutrition: Fresh fruits and healthy snacks, along with educational resources
Science: Featuring the All of Us Research Program

Where: McKinley Park Field House – 2210 West Pershing Road – Chicago, IL 60609
When: Saturday, June 9, 2018 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Cost: FREE!

“We are glad to provide ongoing support for ¡Vive tu vida! Get Up! Get Moving!® events across the country,” said Robert Forrester, President and CEO of Newman’s Own Foundation. “These programs bring communities together, empower individuals to improve their health, and address a broad range of needs at the local level.”

¡Vive tu vida! Get Up! Get Moving!^® is sponsored nationally by the Healthy Americas Foundation, National Alliance for Hispanic Health, and Newman’s Own Foundation. The entire event series city listing is available at www.getupgetmoving.org.

SOURCE National Alliance for Hispanic Health

“Covered” PSA Urges Parents and Caretakers of Uninsured Children to Get Medicaid and CHIP so Kids are Ready for Summer Activities

June 6, 2018

BALTIMORE, June 6, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Summer is almost here and families are evaluating activities such as sleepaway and day camps, sports teams and family vacations. Many are also examining which medications are needed to prepare for allergy and asthma season. With Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), parents can breathe a little easier knowing their kids can get the coverage they need to tackle seasonal allergies, and be prepared to participate in warm weather activities.

Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8102651-hhs-connecting-kids-to-coverage-psa-insurekidsnow/

For uninsured kids in families with limited incomes, Medicaid and CHIP offer eligible children and teens up to age 19 access to immunizations, regular check-ups, eye exams, dental visits, mental health services, prescriptions, and other care that helps keep children healthy and safe during the summer. Kids not only get comprehensive preventive care, but also are covered for accidents, so a broken arm won’t break the bank.

The Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign, an initiative of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is increasing awareness about Medicaid and CHIP and how eligible children and their parents can enroll. Millions of uninsured children may be eligible for coverage, but their parents don’t know it. In most states, children may be eligible for either Medicaid or CHIP if their family income is up to $50,000 (for a family of four in 2018).

In many states, families can be eligible with higher incomes and parents may qualify for Medicaid. Families can apply for Medicaid and CHIP coverage any time of the year, but now is the perfect time to enroll so kids can make the most of their summer break!

The 60-second radio and 30-second TV PSAs are available in English and Spanish. The PSAs feature “kids being kids” and lets their parents know that Medicaid and CHIP health coverage will help keep their children healthy and safe this summer break and throughout the school year.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Hard copy requests, downloadable MPEG4 and MP3, contact information and more available at www.psaroom.com/connectingkidstocoverage

VIDEO AND AUDIO PROVIDED BY: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION OR HARD COPY, PLEASE EMAIL: PSAS@MULTIVU.COM

This information is being sent to you by:
MultiVu, a Cision company, 350 Hudson Street, Suite 300, New York, NY 10014-4504 www.multivu.com

SOURCE U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Estrella Jalisco Invites North American Soccer Fans to Support the Mexican National Team During the 2018 FIFA World Cup™

June 6, 2018

NEW YORK, June 6, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Estrella Jalisco, the Official Beer of the Mexican National Team (MNT), announced today a unifying campaign to bring together all soccer fans on the continent. The campaign, centered around the North American Adopted Football Team Agreement, encourages soccer fans in North America to unite and root for the only North American team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ – the MNT.

To mark the official launch, Estrella Jalisco has enlisted the support of legends – U.S.’ Alexi Lalas, Luis Hernandez of Mexico and Canada’s Dwayne de Rosario — who are rallying their compatriots to pledge support to the MNT. Together they will sign the North American Adopted Football Team Agreement, which celebrates what unites the continent and pledges soccer loyalty to Mexico for the 30 days of the FIFA World Cup™ tournament, beginning June 14.

One Continent behind One Team
With the United States and Canada not competing at the 2018 FIFA World Cup™, Estrella Jalisco sees an opportunity for neighbors to unite. Fans who root for the MNT by using the hashtag #VamosPorLaEstrella will be entered for the chance to win various prizes including one grand prize of becoming an official Estrella Jalisco ambassador for the next four years with access to unlimited Estrella Jalisco and access to the MNT Tour games in the United States.

Estrella Jalisco launched a campaign earlier this year rooted in pride for the Mexican National Team called “Vamos Por La Estrella,” meaning ‘let’s go for the star.’ The brand has been supporting the MNT as they play to become the champion of the FIFA World Cup™ and look to earn the star on their jersey by winning the tournament. The inspiration for the campaign is not just to support the team, but also to unite all soccer fans in their passion.

“There’s a reason why ‘Mi Casa es su Casa’ is a well-known phrase. Mexicans are known for their warmth and hospitality and Estrella Jalisco wants to extend an invitation to non-Mexican team fans on our continent and join in on the 2018 FIFA World Cup™ fun even if their team isn’t playing,” said Lara Krug, Vice-President of Estrella Jalisco and Regional Brands for Anheuser-Busch. “It’s not easy to support a team that you don’t normally root for but we think when it comes to bringing people together, beer can do the impossible.”

Beer Brings Fans Together
Representatives at the signing ceremony in Los Angeles are hoping that Estrella Jalisco’s ask, along with Mexico’s proximity and status as a neighbor will give U.S. and Canada fans the push they need to stand together with Mexican fans, famous for their pride and zeal.

“For those of us who love and support Team USA or Canada, this is a tough summer. But we still have love and support to give and so I’m excited to help Estrella Jalisco welcome new, if temporary, fans to Team Mexico,” said former U.S. soccer star, Alexi Lalas. “I’m proud to give my love and support to Team Mexico, and embrace this team as my own…but just for the summer. De nada.”

Estrella Jalisco is the Official Beer Sponsor of the Mexican National Team (MNT) in the U.S. The 2018 FIFA World Cup™ will take place this summer from June 14 to July 15 across 12 venues in 11 cities across Russia. Among the thirty-two qualifying teams are Mexico, Argentina, Spain, Brazil and Germany, the latter of which the MNT will face in the Group Stage.

About Estrella Jalisco
Estrella Jalisco is a smooth, refreshing, light beer from Mexico with more than 100 years of brewing tradition. Brewed in Jalisco, Mexico the birthplace of tequila, Estrella Jalisco contains 4.5 percent alcohol by volume (ABV). The brand launched in the U.S. in 2016 and is quickly becoming a favorite among cerveza aficionados.

For more information, contact:
Miles Ritenour, Estrella Jalisco
media@anheuser-busch.com

Sadie Ellison, 3PM
sellison@3PMagency.com

Related Links
http://www.EstrellaJalisco.com

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/701915/Estrella_Jalisco_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Estrella Jalisco

Baja 500 Victory Caps Near-Perfect Weekend for Honda Racing And Acura Motorsports Programs

June 6, 2018

Team Honda Racing Ridgeline’s class victory in this weekend’s 50th annual Baja 500 capped a near-perfect weekend of racing for both the Honda and Acura brands, scoring four of a possible five wins, and 10 of 11 possible podium results.

TORRANCE, California, June 5, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Team Honda Racing Ridgeline’s class victory in this weekend’s 50^th annual Baja 500 capped a near-perfect weekend of racing for both the Honda and Acura brands, scoring four of a possible five wins, and 10 of 11 possible podium results.

The string of trophy results included a Honda sweep of both races making up the Detroit IndyCar Series doubleheader weekend; a 1-2 finish for the Acura NSX GT3 in the companion IMSA sports car race in Detroit, second and third-place Prototype finishes for the Acura ARX-05s in the same event, and a Class 7 triumph for the Ridgeline Baja Race Truck in Mexico.

“What an incredible weekend,” said Art St. Cyr, President of Honda Performance Development, American Honda’s performance division responsible for both Honda Racing and Acura Motorsports programs. “To come away with two Indy car victories, and taking five of the six podium positions, speaks to the strengths of our Indy car program. In addition, we’re celebrating a thrilling 1-2 victory for our Acura NSX GT3, a double-podium finish for our Acura ARX-05 prototype, and another win for Honda at the Baja 500. Results like this are a testament to the dedication and never-ceasing efforts of everyone at HPD and our partner teams.”

The first weekend of June got underway with a 1-2 finish for the pair of Meyer Shank Racing Acura NSX GT3s on the Belle Isle temporary circuit in Detroit. Katherine Legge and Mario Farnbacher took their Acura to victory in the GTD category; with teammates Lawson Aschenbach and Justin Marks following them home in second.

In the same race, Acura Team Penske challenged for the overall and Prototype win in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race, with the pairing of Ricky Taylor and Helio Castroneves finishing second in their ARX-05; while teammates Dane Cameron and Juan Pablo Montoya ran third in their Acura prototype.

Later that afternoon, Scott Dixon led a first-through-sixth Honda routing of the competition in the opening round of the Verizon IndyCar Series “Dual in Detroit.” Fellow Honda drivers Ryan Hunter-Reay, in second, and Alexander Rossi, third, completed the podium for Honda. Marco Andretti, Takuma Sato and Ed Jones finished fourth, fifth and sixth to complete the manufacturer’s domination of the Race 1 results.

Also on Saturday, the Team Honda Racing Ridgeline won the Baja 500 for the second time in the last three years. Running in Class 7 for unlimited, six-cylinder trucks and SUVs, team owner/driver Jeff Proctor and navigator Evan Weller moved from fourth to first during the opening half of the grueling desert off-road classic.

Second driver Patrick Daily and new navigator Bill Barooky took over in the cockpit of the Ridgeline at the team’s scheduled pit stop, just past the mid-point in the 540-mile race, and continued to build their advantage into the evening. At the finish, the Ridgeline Baja truck won Class 7 by the impressive margin of more than two hours, adding a third trophy to the team’s class win in 2016 and third-place finish in last year’s “500”.

Honda continued its winning ways on Sunday, as Hunter-Reay used the speed enabled by a three pit-stop strategy to come from behind and win the second Indy car “Dual in Detroit“, besting teammate Rossi in the closing laps of the race. Jones then equaled his best result of 2018 to finish third, with Saturday’s winner Dixon in fourth. Fifth-finisher Graham Rahal, and Robert Wickens in sixth gave Honda five of the top six finishing positions in the weekend closer.

Hunter-Reay’s victory gave Honda a 103-point lead over Chevrolet (667-564) in the 2018 IndyCar Manufacturers’ Championship heading into the ninth of 17 rounds this Saturday night at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

About Honda Performance Development
HPD was founded in 1993 to spearhead American Honda’s entry into Indy car racing. No other manufacturer has matched the company’s success in Indy cars, which includes 229 race victories, 15 drivers’ championships, six competitive manufacturers’ championships and 12 Indianapolis 500 victories since 2004.

HPD, Acura and Honda have a history of success in endurance sports car racing, with more than 100 prototype victories, including either class or overall wins at the Rolex 24, 12 Hours of Sebring, 24 Hours of Le Mans and Petit Le Mans. Acura and HPD swept all prototype championships in the 2009 American Le Mans Series; and won the North American Endurance Championship manufacturers’ title in 2016.

HPD’s Acura and Honda engines have recorded 79 race wins at endurance sports car races around the world, with 71 of those victories coming in the HPD-developed “ARX” line of sports prototype cars. For more information about HPD and the company’s racing product lines, please visit http://hpd.honda.com.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/701726/20160602_BAJA_1113_ct.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/83597/honda_performance_development__inc__honda_racing_logo.jpg

SOURCE Honda Performance Development

Investing in ourselves, mindfulness and the VUCA world, among the themes for June at dMENTE Positivo, Ismael Cala’s successful podcast

June 6, 2018

MIAMI, June 6, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Ismael Cala, life and business strategist, lecturer and author of eight bestsellers on themes of leadership and emotional intelligence, is presenting four new programs in June on his podcast dMENTE Positivo (‘dPositive MIND’), a space devoted to awakening consciousness and personal growth.

The June programs will feature the following guests and themes:

Tuesday, June 5: Erika Ruiz, first Hispanic woman certified as a professional laugh therapist– “The VUCA world, threat or challenge?”
Tuesday, June 12: Irma Martínez, one of the most renowned fashion designers in the U.S. – “Mindfulness on the path to peace”
Tuesday, June 19: Estrella Flores-Carretero – author, doctor of Psychology and successful businesswoman – “The importance of investing in yourself ”
Tuesday, June 26: Samar Yorde, a well-known and influential figure on matters of health and nutrition – “Non-violent communication, speaking and listening from the heart”

Through their interactions with Ismael, the guests share their opinions on each subject with a fresh vision attuned to their areas of specialization. The result is a program brimming with information and recommendations, perfectly suited to the audience.

The podcast is distributed by the platform reVolver: http://www.revolverpodcasts.com/shows/dmente-positivo-con-ismael-cala/

It is simultaneously available for download on Apple, Podcast, Google Play, Spotify. The media and the general public can access these programs for free.

ABOUT ISMAEL CALA

A life and business strategist, for five and a half years Ismael Cala was the host of CALA during prime time on CNN en Español. Businessman, social entrepreneur and journalist. Author of eight bestsellers on themes of leadership, entrepreneurship and personal development, including El poder de escuchar (‘The power of listening’), and Despierta con Cala (‘Wake up with Cala’); ambassador for the concept of Corporate Happiness in Latin America. Cala was born in Santiago de Cuba in 1969, and holds a degree in Art History from Oriente University. He is the co-author of the book “Beat the Curve,” with Brian Tracy. He graduated from the School of Communication at York University in Toronto, and has a diploma from Seneca College in Television Production. He is President and founder of the Cala Enterprises Corporation and the Ismael Cala Foundation.

SOURCE Cala Enterprises

The Latin American audience chose ¡HOLA! TV to watch the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

June 5, 2018

HOLA TV - LOGO (PRNewsfoto/Atresmedia Internacional)

MIAMI, June 5, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — This past May 19, ¡HOLA! TV won over and convinced the Latin American audience with special programming devoted to the wedding of the year, throughout the whole month of May. In addition, the transmission was accompanied by a 360º promotional campaign on all of the channel’s digital platforms, along with a variety of actions in alliance with the leading pay TV operators.

In particular, the four uninterrupted hours of live broadcast of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle along with the 90-minute original production, ESPECIAL BODA EN LA HORA ¡HOLA! (LA HORA HOLA Wedding special ), have consolidated ¡HOLA! TV‘s standing as the leading channel for information on royalty and life style, almost five years since its startup.

According to BB-Business Bureau data, ¡HOLA! TV has risen to first place in the general ranking of the DIRECTV platform in Latin America –made up of more than 200 channels—while earning triple the audience ratings of its biggest competitor. This lead over the competition has been replicated in all the countries where DIRECTV, the main Pay TV operator in the Latin American market, has presence.

“Once again, the audience demonstrates that we are the most reliable source when it comes to royalty events , and though they had a variety of options for watching the wedding, they chose ¡HOLA! TV. It fills us with pride to know that all the efforts and strategy that went into this event have been worth it and viewers prefer to watch this content on our network,” noted Marcos Pérez, CEO and General Manager of ¡HOLA! TV.

The channel’s performance in Mexico has had particular importance. As shown in Ibope Media data, ¡HOLA! TV has raised its numbers for people tuning in by 80% with respect to the previous month, and by more than 100% with respect to May 2017. Once again, in comparison with its biggest competitor , which operates with double the distribution in this market, ¡HOLA! TV achieved higher ratings specially during prime time where the network also had programmed its original production ESPECIAL BODA EN LA HORA ¡HOLA!

As a result of this great performance , in May the channel managed to triple the number of single users and visits to its website (hola.tv), while increasing the followers who connected and interactedthrough #bodarealenholatv (‘royal wedding on hola tv’) and #viendolabodaenholatv (‘watching the wedding on hola tv’) on its social network profiles by 35%

DOWNLOAD VIDEO HERE

DOWNLOAD IMAGES HERE

FOLLOW ¡HOLA! TV ON: Web / Twitter / Facebook / YouTube / Instagram

Media Contacts:
¡HOLA! TV	ATRESMEDIA INTERNACIONAL
Idemaris Díaz	Blanca Aguirre
idiaz@hola.tv	blanca.aguirre@atresmedia.com
Office: +1 (305) 777-1900 Ext. 9503	Office: +34 619 860 074

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/645443/HOLA_TV_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Atresmedia Internacional

Ecuador’s Minister of Foreign Affairs to become President of the United Nations General Assembly

June 5, 2018

NEW YORK, June 5, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Ecuador’s minister of Foreign Affairs, was elected president of the 73^rd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Three months after announcing her candidacy, the experienced diplomat received 128 votes, a majority of votes from the 193 states comprising the United Nations.

The election was historic, as it marked the first time two Latin American women were candidates for one of the highest-ranking positions in the United Nations. The role of UNGA president is filled through an open election in which all Member States vote, while the Secretary General is appointed by the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council.

Upon election, the president-elect will form her cabinet, organized following the Assembly’s functions and powers, subsidiary organs and the ongoing intergovernmental negotiation process. This cabinet is made up of foreign service professionals from diverse nations (generally with geographic representation criteria), as well as staff from the United Nations, its Secretariat and System agencies.

Additionally, the president-elect must appoint the Permanent Representatives who will preside over key ongoing international negotiation processes, such as those related to Security Council reforms, Assembly revitalization, follow-up on the Sustainable Development Goals and the International Committee on the South-South Cooperation, among other processes under her responsibility.

The president-elect named a citizen of the Republic of Ghana, a former diplomat and senior official in the United Nations, as her Chief of Staff, recognizing the African continent’s full support for her candidacy. In coming days, she will designate a transition team, which will begin their functions immediately in accordance with U.N. regulations establishing a three-month transition period.

In the speech following her election, the president-elect said the vote strengthened multilateralism. “For this reason, every state wins, because by strengthening the United Nations, we are advancing the construction of its pillars of peace and security, development and human rights, benefitting of our people and our common home, planet Earth,” Espinosa said.

She was thankful for the vote of confidence in Ecuador and “the most generous expressions of support and confidence from the countries in my beloved region of Latin America and the Caribbean, and from all regions of the world.”

The president-elect dedicated her election to women, as she became the fourth woman to hold this position in the United Nations’ 73 years of history, and the first woman from the Latin American and Caribbean region.

“I want to dedicate this election to all the women in the world who participate in politics today, who face political and media attacks marked by chauvinism and discrimination. I would like to pay a special tribute to women who fight daily for jobs with equal conditions; to women and girls who are the victims of violence; to girls and adolescents who demand access to quality information and education. My commitment will be to them,” said the Ecuadorian minister.

The president-elect will face important challenges that will require her leadership in the General Assembly agenda during this period, such as the implementation of reforms to the United Nations System in its areas of peace and security, development and operations; management of the crises and international conflicts in Syria, Africa, the Middle East and Palestine; the adoption and implementation of the Global Compact for Migration, which will be the first human rights instrument addressing refugees and migrants, as well as various international conferences and high-level events on topics such as the situations of countries exporting raw materials, South-South Cooperation, global health and climate change, among others.

Espinosa, who is 53 years old, has vast experience in international affairs, including in topics such as integration, security and defense, human rights, climate change and indigenous peoples.

During her time as Ecuador’s minister of Foreign Affairs in 2007 and 2017-2018, Espinosa included topics such as defense of human rights and the environment, international cooperation and the diversification of international relations in her foreign policy agenda.

Media Contact:
Yndira Marin | ymarin@llorenteycuenca.com | 1-646-386-6523

Carmen San Segundo | csansegundo@llorenteycuenca.com | 1-202-446-6363

SOURCE Ecuador’s Minister of Foreign Affairs

2018 Honda Accord and Odyssey Named ’10 Best Family Cars 2018′ by Parents Magazine and Edmunds.com

June 5, 2018

TORRANCE, California, June 5, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The all-new 2018 Honda Accord and Odyssey have been recognized on the list of “10 Best Family Cars 2018” from Parents magazine and Edmunds.com. The winners will appear in the July issue of Parents magazine.

To determine winners of its Best Family Cars awards, Parents magazine and Edmunds chose the winners from among 300 vehicles by considering safety ratings, car seat installation and other family-friendly features, as well as overall vehicle attributes such as driving dynamics, comfort, price and fuel efficiency. More information about the “10 Best Family Car” awards can be found at Parents.com/BestCars.

The 5^th-generation Odyssey was completely redesigned for the 2018 model year raising the bar for performance, cabin quietness, family-friendly interior space, comfort and connectivity to even better meet the needs of changing American families, such as CabinWatch™, the industry’s first in-vehicle rear-seat camera, and the available Honda Sensing® suite of active safety and driver assist systems. The reimagined 2018 Accord is the 10^th-generation of Honda’s iconic midsized sedan, boasting premium styling focusing on an aggressive stance and proportion, a spacious interior, torque-laden turbo engines in both 1.5- and 2.0-liter capacities, agile driving dynamics and rich feature content that includes standard Honda Sensing on all models.

For More Information
Consumer information is available at automobiles.honda.com. To join the Honda community on Facebook, visit facebook.com/honda. Additional media information including detailed pricing features and high-resolution photography of all 2018 Honda models is available at hondanews.com.

About Honda
Honda offers a full line of reliable, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive vehicles with advanced safety technologies sold through over 1,000 independent U.S. Honda dealers. The Honda lineup includes the Fit, Civic, Accord and Clarity series passenger cars, along with the HR-V, CR-V and Pilot sport utility vehicles, the Ridgeline pickup and the Odyssey minivan.

Honda has been producing automobiles in America for more than 35 years and currently operates 19 major manufacturing facilities in North America. In 2017, more than 90 percent of all Honda and Acura vehicles sold in the U.S. were made in North America, using domestic and globally sourced parts.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/700912/Honda_Accord_Family_Car.jpg

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/460855/american_honda_motor_co_inc_logo.jpg

SOURCE American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

DishLATINO and Eugenio Derbez Combine Technology and Entertainment to Give Fans a Front Row Seat for “Fútbol Como Debe Ser” (Soccer as it Should Be), Direct from Russia

June 5, 2018

Eugenio Derbez will bring the Russia experience to fans in a series of comedic digital videos with DishLATINO

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., June 5, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — As the world looks toward Russia, fans who want to experience “fútbol como debe ser” (soccer as it should be) will be tuning in to DishLATINO. The top pay-TV provider of content in Spanish and English is combining industry-leading technology with exclusive on-the-ground coverage by its popular spokesman Eugenio Derbez, giving fans an unparalleled tournament experience.

“As our new TV campaign vividly portrays, our goal is to deliver ‘fútbol como debe ser,’ both through the technology we offer and the entertainment we provide, including an exclusive view of the scene in Russia through the eyes of Eugenio Derbez,” said Alfredo Rodriguez, Vice President of DishLATINO.

Following are key ways DishLATINO is connecting viewers to the tournament.

Eugenio Derbez reprises his signature sports coverage in new digital videos
Not every fan can make it to Russia for the tournament, so actor, director and producer Eugenio Derbez will bring the Russia experience to them in a series of comedic digital videos with DishLATINO. For the last 20 years, Derbez has been known in his home country of Mexico for his colorful coverage of major sporting events, and this is the first time since 2012 that he will reprise his role, this time bringing his sketches to viewers in the United States.

While the content of the videos is under wraps, viewers can expect to see Derbez as a “correspondent” from Russia, while also providing a glimpse into how he and his fellow fútbol fans are celebrating the tournament. Starting June 15, viewers can follow along on his Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages, as well as the DishLATINO Facebook page.

To kick things off, Derbez made a video of his preparations to take on Russia, available here.

Exclusive “Zona Fútbol” app makes following the action easier than ever
Keeping track of all 64 matches can be overwhelming, but with Zona Fútbol, DishLATINO’s exclusive app available on the Hopper, Joey and Wally receivers, fans can find, watch and record games more easily than ever.

For example, fans can record all games in the tournament with a single click or select and record only those games played by their favorite teams, an especially useful feature for U.S. viewers given the time difference in Russia. Fans can also view team scores and stats and keep track of the schedule through a bracket that is updated in real time. To ensure fans won’t miss a minute of the action, DishLATINO also delivers a split screen view of two games at once.

With Zona Fútbol, fans can find, watch and record games more easily than ever

Zona Fútbol delivers a split screen view of two games at once

Additionally, with the DISH Anywhere app and DISH’s state-of-the-art Hopper connected to the Internet, fans can take their TV with them on the go, streaming all their live and recorded games to a phone, tablet or computer.

“For the next month, our customers will be planning their calendars around one thing: the tournament schedule,” said Rodriguez. “To ensure they don’t miss a second of the action, we developed Zona Fútbol, and together with DISH Anywhere, these apps make DishLATINO the provider of choice for fans who want to maximize their tournament viewing experience.”

More information about Zona Fútbol, DISH Anywhere, and the additional features DishLATINO offers can be found here.

DishLATINO showcases “fútbol como debe ser” (soccer as it should be) in new high-energy campaign
In advance of the tournament, DishLATINO is energizing fans with a new TV campaign capturing the rich culture surrounding fútbol. The spot kicks off with a single drumbeat, and viewers are immediately taken on a fast-paced ride into the passionate world of the sport, capturing the sights, sounds, traditions and superstitions that make fútbol more than just a game.

Each frame illustrates the excitement that will soon captivate Russia and the world, depicting how “after four years of anticipation, this is how it should be lived.” Set to the beat of popular song “Matador,” the spot can be found here (and here with English subtitles).

For more information on how DishLATINO is carrying and celebrating the tournament, visit https://www.dishlatino.com.

About DishLATINO
DishLATINO is the market-leading suite of English and Spanish language programming packages in the United States. It offers its customers more than 40 Spanish-language news, entertainment, and sports channels in combination with DISH’s broad English-language programming lineup of more than 200 channels. DishLATINO customers can receive the Hopper, the industry’s most awarded DVR, and take advantage of in-language customer service as well as payment solutions including a no-term contract, prepaid pay-TV option.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/701100/Eugenio_Derbez.jpg
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/701101/Dish_Latino_Screen_Cap.jpg
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/701102/Dish_Latino_Split_Screen.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/699277/DishLATINO_Logo.jpg

SOURCE DISH Network Corporation

After 15 Years Of Gains, For The First Time No State Is Below 71 Percent, A Sign Of Progress Toward Raising The National High School Graduation Rate

June 5, 2018

The GradNation campaign, led by America's Promise Alliance, Civic Enterprises, Everyone Graduates Center and the Alliance for Excellent Education, focuses on raising the on-time high school graduation rate to 90 percent by the Class of 2020 and increasing postsecondary enrollment and completion.

WASHINGTON, June 5, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — In 2001, the national high school graduation rate stood at 71 percent. Fifteen years later – and for the first time ever, no state in the nation has a high school graduation rate below 71 percent and there are now 39 states above 80 percent, a major milestone toward reaching the country’s goal of a 90 percent graduation rate, according to the latest Building a Grad Nation report.

However, even with clear progress – and an additional three million students graduating rather than dropping out over that same time period – the country has more work to do to finish the job to reach its goal.

The 2018 Building a Grad Nation report is authored by Civic Enterprises and the Everyone Graduates Center at the Johns Hopkins University School of Education, and released today in partnership with America’s Promise Alliance and the Alliance for Excellent Education. Together, the four organizations lead the GradNation campaign, a nationwide effort to boost the on-time high school graduation rate to 90 percent and prepare young people for postsecondary enrollment and the workforce. This year’s report, presented by lead sponsor AT&T and supporting sponsor Lumina Foundation, is the ninth annual update on the progress and challenges in raising high school graduation rates.

“Thanks to the hard work taking place inside classrooms, living rooms, and boardrooms across the country, the nation continues to see steady growth of high school graduation rates on the state level, with most of those increases being driven by the increasing education attainment of Black and Hispanic students,” said John Bridgeland, president & CEO, Civic Enterprises. “But this year’s report comes at a turning point for the nation as the Every Student Succeeds Act becomes a reality and the power of accountability shifts from the federal government into the hands of states. We have work to do to ensure every student receives a quality education that prepares them for college, work, and civic engagement.”

“The high school graduation rate is still the best on-track indicator for young adults and remains a major milestone on an education continuum that starts at birth and lasts a lifetime,” said Jennifer DePaoli, senior researcher and policy advisor at Civic Enterprises and lead author of the report. “We’ve seen clear growth, but in this new age of ESSA, if we ever want to reach a more equitable path for all, we must make sure states continue to do the more challenging work of raising graduation rates for key groups of students that are still behind the national average.”

The report examines three key areas: high school data trends across the country, the state of high school graduation rates for the largest historically underserved student subgroups and the lowest performing high schools, and recognizing that high school graduation is a milestone rather than the final destination, the connection between high school and postsecondary pathways.

High School Graduation Trends Across the Nation. Since the change to the Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate in 2011, the country has seen continuous growth over the past five years, nearly cutting in half the number of states below the 80 percent mark. State-level progress over that time period is demonstrated in the following comparisons:

In 2011, five states reported graduation rates below 70 percent. In 2016, no state had a graduation rate below 71 percent.
In 2011, no state had achieved a 90 percent graduation rate, and only nine had a graduation rate above 85 percent. In 2016, two states reached the 90 percent goal (Iowa and New Jersey), and 25 other states reported a graduation rate above 85 percent.
The states with the lowest graduation rates in 2011 (62-73 percent) all experienced growth greater than the national average (5.1 percentage points), and the gap between the states with the highest graduation rate and the lowest has been reduced by six percentage points.
Overall, 18 states – many with large populations of Black, Hispanic, and low-income students – have largely driven progress nationally since 2011 and helped narrow national racial and income graduation rate gaps.

Reaching a 90 Percent Graduation Rate for Key Subgroups. While there has been steady growth across the board, each of the five key student subgroups – Black and Hispanic students, low-income students, students with disabilities, English learners, and students who attend low-performing high schools – are still significantly lagging behind the rest of the nation. States and districts have the power to address the needs of each subgroup and provide a fair, comprehensive and equitable education.

Black and Hispanic Students. Black and Hispanic students continue to make graduation rate gains greater than the national average, but their overall graduation rate (76.4 and 79.3 respectively) is still below 80 percent. More states are increasing graduation rates for these students than ever before, but the gaps between them and White students remain significant (11.9 percentage points between Black and White students and 9 percentage points between Hispanic and White students).
Low-Income Students. While gaps between low-income and non-low-income students have decreased in the majority of states over the past six years, 16 states have actually seen the graduation rate gap between low-income students and their more affluent peers increase.
Furthermore, under ESSA, all states are now required to report disaggregated graduation rates for homeless students, a growing population. Reported rates for homeless students are among the lowest in the nation. Currently, eight states have publicly released those numbers, with the rest expected to follow in the next year.
Students with Disabilities. In 2016, just 65.5 percent of students with disabilities graduated in four years—making it the largest student subgroup with the least amount of growth since 2011 and the subgroup with the lowest graduation rate. Students with disabilities comprise significant proportions of the students not graduating on time in nearly every state and 26 states have graduation gaps between students with disabilities and general population students greater than the national average.
English Learners. English learners make up a small but fast-growing group of students, and their graduation rate (66.9 percent) continues to languish near the bottom of all student subgroups. A handful of states – New Mexico, California, Colorado, and Hawaii – had significant concentrations of English learners among their four-year non-graduates.
Low-Performing Schools. The number of low-graduation-rate high schools, schools with a graduation rate of 67 percent or below with at least 100 students enrolled, now stands at 2,425 in 2016. These schools represent 13 percent of all high schools and enroll approximately 7 percent of high school students. Low-graduation-rate high schools can primarily be found in urban and suburban areas, and within their student populations, Black, Hispanic, and low-income students are largely overrepresented. Interestingly, the report looks at types of schools producing the greatest numbers of four-year non-graduates in each state to provide a road map for states on where the majority of their non-graduates can be found – and, in some cases, where high graduation rates may be hiding them. ESSA requires states to identify low graduation rate high schools and districts must have plans to reform these schools.

“As states begin to act on their ESSA plans, they must be aware that in a growing number of cases, many of their non-graduates are not coming from low-grad-rate high schools, but from some of their better performing schools. This new data brings to light for state and district leaders a greater need to watch where their non-graduates are coming from and focus on enforcing accountability measures that support those schools,” said Bob Balfanz, director, Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University School of Education. “It also reinforces the point that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to graduating more students on time, and that even the highest performing schools may be contributing to lower graduation rates.”

Examining the Connection between High School and Postsecondary. As states work to ensure more equitable outcomes for students that increase graduation rates, data affirms that a quality, postsecondary credential is increasingly essential on the path to adulthood. Since 2008, the share of Americans ages 25 to 64 that hold a credential beyond high school has increased 9 percentage points to a record high of 46.9 percent. However, the nation remains off-pace to reaching a 60 percent postsecondary goal by 2025. Young people’s experience during the high school years – through rigorous coursework and exposure to postsecondary options – is instrumental for them to access and succeed after high school.

Policy and Practice Recommendations. To help improve graduation rates, the authors recommend that policymakers and practitioners: 1) Continue to improve graduation rate data reporting and collection; 2) Promote policies and practices that reduce harmful disparities; 3) Align diplomas with college and career ready standards; 4) Support schools and districts with comprehensive support and improvement plans; 5) Avoid and eliminate practices that reduce expectations for students; 6) Create state-specific high school graduation plans; and 7) Strengthen the transition from high school to postsecondary and careers. The report also indicates the need for a deeper understanding of the use of credit recovery programs and alternative schools.

“A high school diploma is essential for young people to stay on track to successful life outcomes. The progress we’ve seen on graduation rates is heartening. More and more young people are attaining this necessary credential. But the job isn’t done yet,” said John Gomperts, president & CEO of America’s Promise Alliance. “To accelerate progress and help more young people reach their full potential, states, districts and communities must make high school graduation part of a clear pathway to success in school, work and life. Furthermore, accountability must be taken seriously so that inequities along that path do not persist unchecked.”

The Road to 90 and Beyond. The 2015-16 national high school graduation rate now stands at 84.1 percent – an all-time high. But this year marks the third consecutive year the country has not been on track to reach its 90 percent goal – a goal that would require graduating about 219,000 more young people on time than in 2016 and nearly doubling the annual rate of gain in recent years through 2020. To get on track, the national graduation rate must increase by 1.4 percentage points annually. In 2016, the rate went up just 0.9 percent.

“Reaching our goal is in the best interest of everyone. High school graduates are less likely to be unemployed, less likely to fall into the criminal justice system, and more likely to have positive life outcomes, including better health and a longer life span,” said Bob Wise, president of the Alliance for Excellent Education, which just released new data on the economic benefits of graduating. “A high school diploma is not an end point, but a jumping off point to greater things—college, a career, or additional training—that benefit the individual, community, and the greater economy.”

Authors and sponsors. The 2018 Building a Grad Nation report is co-authored by Jennifer DePaoli, John Bridgeland, and Matthew Atwell of Civic Enterprises and Robert Balfanz at the Everyone Graduates Center at the Johns Hopkins University School of Education. AT&T, lead sponsor, has supported the Building a Grad Nation report series since its inception through AT&T Aspire, the company’s $400 million commitment since 2008 to graduate more students from high school ready for college and career. Lumina Foundation, which has been a leader in the field on postsecondary education, is a supporting sponsor.

Full report. To read the full report, access state and district data and other resources, visit: http://gradnation.americaspromise.org/2018-building-a-grad-nation-report.

Join the Livestream. Tune into Facebook Live on June 5 from 10-11:30 AM ET to watch leaders of the campaign and experts in the field discuss the report findings and latest developments. Join the conversation here.

Civic Enterprises is a public policy and strategy firm that helps corporations, nonprofits, foundations, universities, and governments develop and spearhead innovative public policies to strengthen our communities and country. Created to enlist the private, public and nonprofit sectors to help address our nation’s toughest problems, Civic Enterprises fashions new initiatives and strategies that achieve measurable results in the fields of education, civic engagement, economic mobility, and many other domestic policy issues. www.civicenterprises.net

The Everyone Graduates Center at the Center for Social Organization of Schools at the Johns Hopkins University School of Education seeks to identify the barriers to high school graduation, develop strategic solutions to overcoming these barriers and build local capacity to implement and sustain the solutions so that all students graduate prepared for adult success. www.every1graduates.org

America’s Promise Alliance leads the nation’s largest network dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth. As its signature effort, the GradNation campaign mobilizes Americans to increase the on-time high school graduation rate to 90 percent and prepare young people for postsecondary enrollment and the 21st century workforce. www.AmericasPromise.org

The Alliance for Excellent Education is a Washington, DC-based national policy and advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring that all students, particularly those who are traditionally underserved, graduate from high school ready for success in college, work, and citizenship. www.all4ed.org

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Tonya Williams, tonyaw@americaspromise.org, 202-657-0644
Daria Hall, dariah@americaspromise.org, 202-657-0621

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SOURCE GradNation Campaign

Survey Reveals U.S. Hispanic Millennial Caregivers Want Better Sources Of Information On Heart Healthy Diets For Their Aging Loved Ones

June 5, 2018

Fresh Avocados Offer Solutions for Hispanic Millennial Caregivers. Photo courtesy of Aguacates Frescos - Saborea Uno Hoy

MISSION VIEJO, California, June 5, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — With the majority of U.S. Hispanic Millennials (73%) serving as caregivers to their aging parents, grandparents and other family members in some capacity, Aguacates Frescos – Saborea Uno Hoy took a pulse check on their knowledge about heart health nutrition. Hispanics continue to face higher risks for heart disease than non-Hispanics because of high rates of high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes.ⁱ As caregivers are typically responsible for grocery shopping and the preparation of meals, they have an important opportunity to help reduce risk factors facing their loved ones through education and lifestyle changes, including having on hand more heart healthy foods like fresh avocados.

While it is a source of great cultural pride within the Hispanic community to provide assistance for the older generations, nearly half (44%) of caregivers polled admitted feeling stressed and even at times overwhelmed by the responsibility. The survey of Hispanic adults revealed the majority are worried about the heart health of their aging loved ones and want more information to help them incorporate more heart-healthy foods into meal plans. Education that fresh avocados can help reduce the risk of heart disease because they are good sources of fiber, have naturally good fats and have no cholesterol nor sodium, was well received with more than 90% expressing peace of mind and over 90% intending to research more recipes and meal options including avocados.

“It’s a beautiful tradition within the Hispanic community to become a caregiver to our parents and abuelitos as they get older,” said Sylvia Melendez-Klinger, registered dietitian and Saborea Uno Hoy^® spokesperson. “The duty is a great source of happiness but can also be challenging if we don’t have the right resources, including insights on which foods are good for the heart. Resources like SaboreaUnoHoy.com offer support in both English and Spanish including nutrition tips and delicious recipes certified by the American Heart Association as heart healthy.”

The survey further revealed a prevailing misperception among Hispanics about dietary fat. Over 75% of Hispanic Millennial Caregivers incorrectly agreed that it is best to avoid all fats in foods as much as possible. For all ages, fat is a major source of energy that helps the body absorb nutrients from foods. Saturated fats (and trans fats) are often labeled “bad fats” because they tend to raise “bad” (LDL) cholesterol levels in the blood and increase the risk for heart disease. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate program advises cutting back on foods containing saturated fats and trans-fats to lower the risk of heart diseaseⁱⁱ. “Good” (unsaturated) fats, like those naturally found in fresh avocados, however, are beneficial, a great substitute for foods high in bad fats and do not raise cholesterol levels.

Healthy eating is relevant at all ages. Saborea Uno Hoy^® is a science-based food and wellness education program developed to encourage Americans to include fresh avocados in everyday healthy eating plan. Find easy-to-prepare recipes featuring healthy avocados such as the new Quinoa Chicken Avocado Soup at SaboreaUnoHoy.com.

Survey Methodology

This report represents the findings of an online survey conducted among a representative sample of 752 Hispanic adults in the U.S. ages 18 years of age or older. The study was fielded using ORC International’s twice-monthly Hispanic CARAVAN^® Omnibus survey and was ‘live’ during the period February 23-March 3, 2018.

About the Hass Avocado Board

The Hass Avocado Board (HAB) is an agriculture promotion group established in 2002 to promote the consumption of Hass Avocados in the United States. A 12-member board representing domestic producers and importers of Hass Avocados directs HAB’s promotion, research and information programs under supervision of the United States Department of Agriculture. Funding for HAB comes from Hass avocado producers and importers in the United States. In 2010, HAB established a nutrition research program to increase awareness and improve understanding of the unique benefits of avocados to human health. Visit SaboreaUnoHoy.com for bilingual recipes and articles on or related to fresh avocados, their nutrients and eating patterns that include them. Follow HAB on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube.

ⁱNational Heart Lung and Blood Institute, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
ⁱⁱChoose MyPlate, September 2015

CONTACT: Vickie Fite, 3106130937

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SOURCE Hass Avocado Board

Istituto Marangoni Miami Names Inaugural Academic Excellence Scholarship Winner

June 5, 2018

Massimo Casagrande, Destiny Charls, Pablo Arbelaez

MIAMI, June 5, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Istituto Marangoni Miami, considered one of the world’s top ten fashion colleges, has named Destiny Charles, a senior at DASH, the inaugural winner of the prestigious university’s new Academic Excellence Scholarship. Launched this year, the aim of the scholarship is to promote and support excellence in education and design by financially supporting a student’s tuition at the Miami campus. The scholarship recognizes a student who demonstrates the ability and potential to make an exceptional contribution to the fashion industry and community around them.

“We are proud of Destiny for winning the prestigious Istituto Marangoni Scholarship,” said DASH Fashion Design Program Head Giovanna Sorondo. Excelling in art, design and academics, her positive attitude, coupled with a sense of purpose, will make her a very successful college student.

Destiny grew up in with a family working in the fashion business, encouraging her emerging talent for design. Her designs take inspiration from social issues and things she wants to call attention to, exploring the contents of her heart and her Caribbean heritage.

There were six finalists who were evaluated on academic performance, fashion portfolio and community service by the teaching staff of the Design and Architecture Senior High School and Massimo Casagrande, Director of Education, Istituto Marangoni.

“We are thrilled to be the new talent incubator by supporting and further developing young artists and make this dynamic city the new fashion hub for the Americas,” said Marangoni’s campus president Hakan Baykam.

The two schools not only share an endless passion for art and design, they also both share a connection with world-renowned designer Esteban Cortázar, who graduated from DASH and now servers on the advisory board at Istituto Marangoni in Miami.

About Istituto Marangoni:
Istituto Marangoni was founded in Italy in 1935. Today, the school comprises nine international campuses and is one of the largest fashion education institutions, with a student body in excess of 4000 students. Famous alumni include Domenico Dolce and Franco Moschino. Through its Interschool Project, students can move between campuses while completing special assignments in Paris, London, Milan, Florence, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Mumbai and Miami.

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SOURCE Istituto Marangoni Miami

Stand Up To Cancer to Return on Friday, September 7 for Sixth Star-Studded Roadblock Telecast

June 5, 2018

LOS ANGELES, June 5, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The entertainment community is coming together for Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) and its sixth biennial roadblock televised fundraising special, supporting urgently needed research and new treatments for cancer.

With a dazzling array of top talent, the show will air Friday, September 7 (8:00 – 9:00 PM ET/PT / 7:00 PM CT), marking 10 years since the first telecast and 10 years of lifesaving research achievements by SU2C.

Bradley Cooper, Academy Award^®-nominated actor, will return as co-executive producer along with the renowned live-event producing team Done + Dusted, working again with the Stand Up To Cancer production team, after a successful partnership for the 2016 telecast.

The live telecast will broadcast from Los Angeles. As in years past, ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, along with AT&T AUDIENCE Network, Bloomberg TV, Bravo, Discovery Life, E! Entertainment, EPIX, Escape, ESPNEWS, FM, Freeform, FS2, FXM, FYI, HBO, HBO Latino, ION Television, Laff, Logo, MLB Network, MTV2, Nat Geo WILD, SHOWTIME, Smithsonian Channel, STARZ, STARZ ENCORE, STARZ ENCORE ESPAÑOL, TNT, and WGN America, are donating one hour of simultaneous commercial-free primetime for the telecast, with additional networks to be announced. The entire telecast will also be available to stream live and on-demand on Hulu.

For the third time, Stand Up To Cancer Canada will simultaneously broadcast a Canada-inclusive telecast across four major English-language Canadian broadcasters: CBC, City, CTV, and Global, as well as Canadian services AMI, A.Side, BBC Earth, CHCH, CHEK, Cottage Life, Fight Network, Game TV, HIFI, Hollywood Suite, Love Nature, Makeful, NTV, OUTtv, Smithsonian Channel Canada, T+E, and YES TV, in addition to streaming live on the CBC TV App, cbc.ca/watch and CBS All Access, and available on-demand on TELUS Optik TV in Canada.

“It was truly inspiring to be part of the 2016 Stand Up To Cancer telecast and to stand beside Mitch Carbon, whose life was saved by participating in a clinical trial,” said SU2C Co-Executive Producer Bradley Cooper. “I am proud to return as co-executive producer to highlight the ten years of impact Stand Up To Cancer has made in cancer research.” Carbon, a pediatric cancer survivor, benefited from treatment he received in an SU2C-St. Baldrick’s Foundation Pediatric Cancer Dream Team clinical trial.

Hundreds of celebrities have supported the SU2C biennial telecasts over the past ten years, and names of participants as well as musical performers for the 2018 telecast will be announced in the weeks leading up to the telecast. Stars who have taken part in the previous five SU2C telecasts include Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia Roberts, Seth Rogen, Denzel Washington, Emma Stone, Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Hanks, Ken Jeong, Michael Douglas, Matt Damon, Halle Berry, Justin Timberlake, Jessica Alba, Robert Downey, Jr., Jon Hamm, America Ferrera, Taylor Swift, Anna Kendrick, Ben Stiller, Kerry Washington, Viola Davis, Kristen Wiig, Ed Helms, Sofia Vergara, Dave Franco, Matt Bomer, and Sonequa Martin-Green. The 2016 telecast featured musical performances from Celine Dion, Charlie Puth, Alessia Cara and Gallant, as well as Dierks Bentley, who was joined by Keith Urban and Little Big Town.

Following five historic fundraising telecasts, the 2018 telecast is especially significant for SU2C, as it will commemorate ten years of raising awareness and funds for groundbreaking cancer research that is helping to save lives now.

More than $480 million has been pledged over the past ten years in support of SU2C’s innovative cancer research. Work by SU2C researchers has contributed to FDA approval of five new cancer treatments.

The organization has brought together more than 1,500 of the best scientists from over 180 leading institutions to work together on 24 of Stand Up To Cancer’s signature “Dream Teams,” among a total of 79 team science grants and awards, whose research is aimed at ending cancer’s reign as a leading cause of death worldwide. SU2C-funded researchers have planned, launched or completed more than 180 clinical trials involving over 12,000 patients.

SU2C’s vast scientific program is overseen by a blue-ribbon Scientific Advisory Committee of top researchers, and most grants are administered by SU2C’s Scientific Partner, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), the world’s first and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research.

“Ten years ago, a group of women who were honestly hell-bent on making a difference in the fight against cancer came together,” said Katie Couric. “I never imagined we’d be able to look back at the past decade and see the concept of scientists working together in new ways take off as it has. We are closer than we’ve ever been to realizing a world where everyone diagnosed with cancer can be a long-term survivor. I am excited about how much more we will be able to do for patients over the next 10 years.”

“We are so grateful to the scores of broadcast and cable networks that continue to stand with us,” said Sherry Lansing, the former chair and current member of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) board and a co-founder of Stand Up To Cancer. “Their support is a springboard that helps SU2C engage major donors as well as countless individuals who give what they can to help stop cancer in its tracks.”

In addition to Couric and Lansing, current members of the SU2C Council of Founders and Advisors (CFA) include Lisa Paulsen, Rusty Robertson, Sue Schwartz, Pamela Oas Williams, Ellen Ziffren, and Kathleen Lobb. The late Noreen Fraser and the late Laura Ziskin, who executive-produced both the 2008 and 2010 telecasts, were also SU2C co-founders. SU2C was formally launched on May 27, 2008. Sung Poblete, Ph.D., R.N., has served as SU2C’s president since 2011.

“The Done + Dusted family is super thrilled to partner once again with our friends at Stand Up To Cancer and our amazing co-executive producer, Bradley Cooper. The SU2C roadblock is the biggest of its kind and is a remarkable platform for bringing together the worlds of science and entertainment in a harmonious collaboration to spread the message and raise funds for groundbreaking cancer research. I was truly humbled by my involvement two years ago. Watch the show and get engaged,” said Hamish Hamilton, director and executive producer at Done + Dusted. Hamilton directed the Super Bowl 50 Halftime Show starring Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga and many others, and has received two BAFTA Awards, a Peabody Award, and both Grammy and Emmy Award nominations.

In the U.S., one in two men and one in three women are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. More than 1,700,000 people will be diagnosed with cancer and over 600,000 people will die from cancer in 2018.

“Stand Up To Cancer continues to represent the best dollar spent on cancer research in this country,” said Phillip A. Sharp, Ph.D., the MIT molecular biologist who is chairman of the SU2C Scientific Advisory Committee. “The teamwork and collaboration that characterizes SU2C research is critical to our efforts to change cancer as we know it.” Sharp received the Nobel Prize for medicine or physiology in 1993 for his discoveries about RNA.

“We’re incredibly fortunate to be able to harness the resources of the whole entertainment community to generate support for our scientists’ innovative research, in order to get new treatments to the patients who so desperately need them,” said SU2C President and CEO Sung Poblete, Ph.D., R.N.

The previous five SU2C telecasts took place on Sept. 5, 2008, Sept. 10, 2010, Sept. 7, 2012, Sept. 5, 2014 and Sept. 9, 2016 and were made available to more than 190 countries. The Canada-inclusive SU2C telecasts aired in 2014 and 2016.

In the United States, AACR is responsible for administering the grants and providing scientific oversight in conjunction with the SU2C Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC). In addition to Dr. Sharp, as chair, the SAC is led by Vice Chairs Raymond N. DuBois, M.D., Ph.D., dean, College of Medicine, and professor, Departments of Biochemistry and Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston; Lee J. Helman, M.D., professor, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, and director, Cancer Research Program, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles; Arnold J. Levine, Ph.D., professor emeritus of systems biology at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey; and William G. Nelson, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center in Baltimore. In Canada, the AACR International-Canada serves as the official Scientific Partner of Stand Up To Cancer Canada, which launched in 2014. The SU2C Canada Scientific Advisory Committee is co-chaired by Alan Bernstein O.C., O.Ont., Ph.D., FRSC president and chief executive officer of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) and Dr. Sharp.

As SU2C’s founding donor, Major League Baseball has continued to annually provide both financial support and countless opportunities to build the Stand Up To Cancer movement by encouraging fans worldwide to get involved, most notably through its two largest global events – the MLB All-Star Game and the World Series. In addition to MLB, SU2C’s “Luminary” donors include Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, and Mastercard. “Visionary” donors include CVS Health, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, and the Sidney Kimmel Foundation. Additional major donors and collaborators include American Airlines, American Cancer Society, Merck, Rally Health, Inc., St. Baldrick’s Foundation, and Van Andel Research Institute. Other key supporters and collaborators include American Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Farrah Fawcett Foundation, Laura Ziskin Family Trust, LUNGevity Foundation, National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance, Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, and international collaborator Cancer Research UK.

The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) are actively collaborating with SU2C Canada. CCS is also a collaborator in the inaugural Stand Up To Cancer Canada – Canadian Cancer Society Breast Cancer Dream Team, along with the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR). Collaborators in the inaugural Stand Up To Cancer Canada Cancer Stem Cell Dream Team include CIHR; Cancer Stem Cell Consortium; Genome Canada, and OICR. AstraZeneca Canada and MasterCard are the first corporate supporters of SU2C Canada.

About Stand Up To Cancer

Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) raises funds to accelerate the pace of research to get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives now. SU2C, a division of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, was established in 2008 by film and media leaders who utilize the industry’s resources to engage the public in supporting a new, collaborative model of cancer research, and to increase awareness about cancer prevention as well as progress being made in the fight against the disease. As SU2C’s scientific partner, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and a Scientific Advisory Committee led by Nobel Laureate Phillip A. Sharp, Ph.D., conduct rigorous, competitive review processes to identify the best research proposals to recommend for funding, oversee grants administration, and provide expert review of research progress.

Current members of the SU2C Council of Founders and Advisors (CFA) include Katie Couric, Sherry Lansing, Lisa Paulsen, Rusty Robertson, Sue Schwartz, Pamela Oas Williams, Ellen Ziffren, and Kathleen Lobb. The late Laura Ziskin and the late Noreen Fraser are also co-founders. Sung Poblete, Ph.D., R.N., has served as SU2C’s president and CEO since 2011.

For more information on Stand Up To Cancer, visit www.StandUpToCancer.org.

About the Entertainment Industry Foundation

Founded in 1942, the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) is a multifaceted organization that occupies a unique place in the world of philanthropy. By mobilizing and leveraging the powerful voice and creative talents of the entertainment industry, as well as cultivating the support of organizations (public and private) and philanthropists committed to social responsibility, EIF builds awareness and raises funds, developing and enhancing programs on the local, national and global level that facilitate positive social change. For more information, visit www.eifoundation.org.

About the American Association for Cancer Research

Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is the world’s first and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research and its mission to prevent and cure cancer. AACR membership includes more than 40,000 laboratory, translational, and clinical researchers; population scientists; other health care professionals; and patient advocates residing in 120 countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise of the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, biology, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer by annually convening more than 30 conferences and educational workshops, the largest of which is the AACR Annual Meeting with more than 22,600 attendees. In addition, the AACR publishes eight prestigious, peer-reviewed scientific journals and a magazine for cancer survivors, patients, and their caregivers. The AACR funds meritorious research directly as well as in cooperation with numerous cancer organizations. As the Scientific Partner of Stand Up To Cancer, the AACR provides expert peer review, grants administration, and scientific oversight of team science and individual investigator grants in cancer research that have the potential for near-term patient benefit. The AACR actively communicates with legislators and other policymakers about the value of cancer research and related biomedical science in saving lives from cancer. For more information about the AACR, visit www.AACR.org.

http://www.StandUpToCancer.org | facebook.com/SU2C | Instagram: @SU2C | Twitter: @SU2C

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