Labor Commissioner’s Office Cites Cheesecake Factory, Janitorial Contractors More Than $4.5 Million for Wage Theft Violations

June 12, 2018

SAN DIEGO, June 11, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Labor Commissioner’s Office has found Cheesecake Factory Restaurants, Inc. liable in a $4.57 million wage theft case that underpaid 559 janitorial workers managed by Magic Touch Commercial Cleaning. Americlean Janitorial Services Corp., the Cheesecake Factory’s janitorial contractor that subcontracted the work to Magic Touch Commercial Cleaning, is also liable for the wage theft, which occurred at eight locations in Orange and San Diego counties.

The affected workers are due $3.94 million in minimum wages, overtime, liquidated damages, waiting time penalties and meal and rest period premiums.

“This case illustrates common wage theft practices in the janitorial industry, where businesses have contracted and subcontracted to avoid responsibility for ensuring workers are paid what they are owed,” said Labor Commissioner Julie A. Su. “Client businesses can no longer shield themselves from liability for wage theft through multiple layers of contracts. Our enforcement benefits not only the workers who deserve to be paid, but also legitimate janitorial businesses that are underbid by wage thieves.”

Investigators found that the janitorial workers began their shifts around midnight and worked until morning without proper meal or rest break periods. After working for eight hours, the Magic Touch workers were not released until Cheesecake Factory kitchen managers conducted walkthroughs to review their work. These walkthroughs would frequently lead to additional tasks that the janitorial workers had to complete before they were released for the day. This resulted in each worker logging up to 10 hours of unpaid overtime each week.

The Cheesecake Factory locations investigated include:

Brea Mall Way, Brea
Spectrum Center Drive, Irvine
Edinger Avenue, Huntington Beach
Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach
The Shops at Mission Viejo, Mission Viejo
Via Rancho Parkway, Escondido
Friars Road, San Diego
Harbor Drive, San Diego

Magic Touch Commercial Cleaning owner Zulma Villegas must pay $3,936,359 to the workers for unpaid minimum wages and overtime, liquidated damages, waiting time penalties and meal and rest period violations. The citations also include $632,750 for failure to provide properly itemized pay stubs and other civil penalties. During the Labor Commissioner’s investigation which began in December 2016, Villegas changed her business name and began operating as Z’s Commercial Quality Cleaning. Both businesses are subject to the citations.

Citations against the Cheesecake Factory Restaurants, Inc. and Americlean Janitorial Services Corp. DBA Allied National Services for $4,206,351 were issued under Assembly Bill 1897 (California Labor Code Section 2810.3), a law signed by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. in 2014, which took effect on January 1, 2015.

The law holds client employers that obtain labor from a subcontractor responsible for their workplace violations. A client employer may be liable for the subcontractor’s owed wages, damages and penalties, as well as workers’ compensation violations.

Janitorial service companies operating in California are also required to register with the Labor Commissioner’s Office by July 1 under the Property Services Workers Protection Act, a new law that aims to protect workers in the janitorial industry.

Workers who cooperated in the investigation were represented by the Maintenance Cooperation Trust Fund, a janitorial industry watchdog organization based in Los Angeles. The investigation was initiated after the Labor Commissioner’s Office received a report of wage theft from the Employee Rights Center in San Diego, a non-profit group that assists low-wage workers without union representation.

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.

Civil penalties collected are 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 Erika Monterroza or Luke Brown 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 Department of Industrial Relations, California Labor Commissioner’s Office

H&M Donates $200,000 To San Jorge Children’s Foundation

June 12, 2018

NEW YORK, June 12, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — In honor of the reopening of its location at The Mall of San Juan, H&M is proud to make a $200,000 donation to San Jorge Children’s Foundation.

In anticipation of the June 7th reopening of its location at The Mall of San Juan, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, H&M supported the local community through San Jorge Children’s Foundation. H&M first partnered with nonprofit GLAM4GOOD and donated over 2,000 articles of clothing for a free pop up shop held at San Jorge Children’s Hospital on May 23rd for patients and their families, as well as doctors and nurses of the hospital. Building upon this initial outreach, sale proceeds from both Puerto Rican H&M locations during June 7th -10th were donated to San Jorge Children’s Foundation, amounting to a donation of $200,000.

“We are so thrilled to help the local community in Puerto Rico with this donation to San Jorge Children’s Foundation,” said Daniel Kulle, North American President of H&M. “We are also happy to be reopening our first location on the island for our customers and employees.”

H&M opened its first location in Puerto Rico at The Mall of San Juan on June 9th, 2016 and its second location at Plaza del Sol in Bayamón on September 1st of the same year. The company currently employs approximately 50 people on the island of Puerto Rico and is proud to support the local community.

The GLAM4GOOD Foundation is a non-profit organization that creates and celebrates social impact and empowerment through beauty and style. The foundation partners with non-profits, media outlets and fashion and beauty brands to provide life-changing makeovers, clothing giveaways and confidence-bolstering fashion and beauty initiatives for everyday heroes and people in need.

San Jorge Children’s Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of children in Puerto Rico with the aim to help improve patient’s quality of life. The foundation is committed to providing services for families in need and has a network of more than 1500 active patients.

For more information on GLAM4GOOD:
https://glam4good.com/
@glam4good

For more information on San Jorge Children’s Foundation:
http://www.fundacionsanjorge.org/

For more images of the opening:
http://assignments.gettyimages.com/mm/nicePath/gyipa_public?nav=pr586972265

About The Mall of San Juan location:
H&M, Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) at The Mall of San Juan is located at 1000 The Mall of San Juan Blvd, San Juan, PR 00924. The store can be reached by phone at (855) 466-7467. Store hours will be Monday through Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. and Sunday 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

For more information please contact:
Patrick Shaner
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 646.336. 3200
H&M, 110 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10011

*We hope you enjoyed reading about the latest H&M news, but if not please just send an email to [email protected] and request to be removed from our media list.

H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB (publ) was founded in Sweden in 1947 and is quoted on Nasdaq Stockholm. H&M’s business idea is to offer fashion and quality at the best price in a sustainable way. In addition to H&M, the group includes the brands COS, Monki, Weekday, Cheap Monday, & Other Stories and H&M Home as well as ARKET. The H&M group has 47 online markets and more than 4,700 stores in 69 markets including franchise markets. In 2017, sales including VAT were SEK 232 billion. The number of employees amounts to more than 171,000. For further information, visit about.hm.com.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/704693/HM_San_Jorge_Childrens_Hospital.jpg

SOURCE H&M

Martín Espada Awarded 2018 Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize

June 12, 2018

CHICAGO, June 12, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Last night, the Poetry Foundation presented Martín Espada with the 2018 Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize, which honors a living US poet for outstanding lifetime achievement. Martín Espada was awarded the prize in recognition of his contribution to poetry. He is the first Latinx poet to win this award since its inception in 1986.

The Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize is presented annually to a living US poet whose lifetime accomplishments warrant singular recognition. It is one of the most prestigious awards given to American poets and, with a prize of $100,000, one of the nation’s largest literary prizes. The award is sponsored and administered by the Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine.

“Martín Espada’s work and life tell the real and lived story of America, in which the importance of poems and legal rights go hand in hand,” said Don Share, editor of Poetry magazine. “A tenants’ rights attorney before he became a celebrated and cherished poet, Espada’s passions are as compelling and apt as his precisions—both now more timely than ever.”

Espada was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1957. He earned a BA in history at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a JD from Northeastern University. As an attorney, he served as supervisor of Su Clínica Legal, a legal services program for low-income, Spanish-speaking tenants in Chelsea, Massachusetts, outside Boston. As a poet, an essayist, an editor, and a translator, he has dedicated himself to the pursuit of social justice, fighting for the rights of Latinx communities and reclaiming the historical record from oblivion. His greatest influence is his father, Frank Espada, a community organizer, civil rights activist, and documentary photographer who created the Puerto Rican Diaspora Documentary Project.

“To receive a lifetime achievement award in the form of the Ruth Lilly Prize is a great honor that causes me to reflect: on my father, as artist and activist, who died four years ago; on Jack Agüeros, the first poet I ever met; on the days I sat outside the courtroom, scribbling poems on legal pads; on the people in the poems I write, Whitman’s ‘numberless unknown heroes equal to the greatest heroes known.'”

Espada’s latest collection of poems from Norton is Vivas to Those Who Have Failed (2016). Other books of poems include The Trouble Ball (2011), The Republic of Poetry (2006), Alabanza (2003), A Mayan Astronomer in Hell’s Kitchen (2000), Imagine the Angels of Bread (1996), and Rebellion is the Circle of a Lover’s Hands (1990). He has received a Shelley Memorial Award, a Robert Creeley Award, a National Hispanic Cultural Center Literary Award, a PEN/Revson Fellowship, and a Guggenheim Fellowship. The Republic of Poetry was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. The title poem of his collection Alabanza, about 9/11, has been widely anthologized and performed. Collections of Espada’s poems have been published in Puerto Rico, Spain, Chile, France, Germany, England, and Turkey. His book of essays, Zapata’s Disciple (1998), was banned in Tucson as part of a Mexican American studies program outlawed by the state of Arizona and has been issued in a new edition by Northwestern University Press. Espada is a professor of English at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Examples of Espada’s poetry are available on the Poetry Foundation’s website.

Also honored at the event was acclaimed author Liesl Olson who was named the 2018 Criticism Award winner for her most recent book, Chicago Renaissance: Literature and Art in the Midwest Metropolis (Yale, 2017).

Olson is director of Chicago Studies at the Newberry Library and author of Modernism and the Ordinary (Oxford University Press, 2009). She has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities and from the Newberry Library, where she also directed the Scholl Center for American History and Culture. She is currently on a fellowship from the American Council of Learned Societies and is a scholar-in-residence at the Newberry Library. From 2004–2009, she taught at the University of Chicago as a Harper-Schmidt Fellow in the Humanities Division. She earned a BA from Stanford University and a PhD from Columbia University.

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About the Poetry Foundation
The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine, is an independent literary organization committed to a vigorous presence for poetry in American culture. It exists to discover and celebrate the best poetry and to place it before the largest possible audience. The Poetry Foundation seeks to be a leader in shaping a receptive climate for poetry by developing new audiences, creating new avenues for delivery, and encouraging new kinds of poetry through innovative literary prizes and programs. For more information, please visit poetryfoundation.org.

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SOURCE Poetry Foundation

(Español) Alerta para evitar entrada de plagas invasoras desde Puerto Rico

June 12, 2018

Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.

City Of Long Beach, CA To Provide $16.6 Million Refund To Telephone Taxpayers

June 12, 2018

SEATTLE, June 12, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — JND Class Action Administration

A Los Angeles court has preliminarily approved a $16.6 million class action settlement for refunds of telephone taxes collected by the City of Long Beach, California from August 11, 2005 through December 19, 2008.

All individuals and businesses that paid for landline telephone service with a service address in the City of Long Beach, or mobile service where the billing address was in the City of Long Beach, and who paid telephone tax on services utilized between August 11, 2005 through December 19, 2008 are eligible to claim a refund. THE DEADLINE TO FILE A REFUND CLAIM IS SEPTEMBER 15, 2018. Claims for telephone tax refunds can be submitted online, at www.LBTaxRefund.com, or through the mail. A notice and claim form will also be mailed to current addresses in the City of Long Beach.

Eligible class members have several options to file a claim, which include: (1) claim standard amounts of $27.50 for residential landline telephone service, $46.00 for business landline service, and/or $46.00 for mobile telephone service, with no documentary evidence required; (2) submit samples of bills reflecting the telephone utility users’ taxes (“UUT”) paid during the class period to receive a refund of the actual UUT paid; or (3) if bills from the class period are not available, submit a sample of recent phone bills reflecting the UUT paid to the City to receive a refund based on recent UUT amounts. In addition, class members who were customers of Verizon, Sprint, or T-Mobile during the August 11, 2005 to December 19, 2008 time period can provide consent for those carriers to search for UUT payment records. Class members may claim refunds for both landline and mobile telephone taxes.

The City of Long Beach has agreed to pay up to a maximum of $16.6 million. Undistributed funds, after attorneys’ fees and costs, plaintiff’s incentive award, and notice and administration expenses are paid, will revert back to the City of Long Beach. For additional information, claim forms and detailed instructions on how to make a claim, go to www.LBTaxRefund.com or call (833) 380-5573.

The lawsuit, McWilliams v. City of Long Beach, was brought on behalf of Long Beach, CA taxpayers by the law offices of Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP, Chimicles & Tikellis LLP, Cuneo Gilbert & Laduca, LLP, and Tostrud Law Group, PC. The City of Long Beach disputes the claims made in the lawsuit, but believes it is in the best interest of its residents to settle the matter rather than incur further litigation expenses.

SOURCE JND Class Action Administration

Spanish Broadcasting System, Head Of Content Development, Bianca Alarcon Honored At The 116th Street Festival In New York By The Puerto Rican Community

June 12, 2018

Famoso Festival de la Calle 116th en Nueva York destaca liderazgo de Bianca Alarcón tras el paso del Huracán María por Puerto Rico

MIAMI, June 12, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. (the “Company” or “SBS”) (OTCQB: SBSAA) is pleased to announce our Head of Content Development, Bianca Alarcon was honored for her continuous support to the Puerto Rican community. Ms. Alarcon was presented with “2018 Communication and Philanthropy Award” at the 116^thStreet Festival in New York on Saturday, June 9^th. Ms. Alarcon joined efforts with SBS’s management group, who sponsored an airlift and cruise shipment with over 100,000 pounds of food and supplies raised by the company’s South Florida and New York Radio and TV stations.

Ms. Alarcon joined Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. (SBS) as an Art Director, and has been the Head of Content Development since 2017. Bianca is responsible for the long-range strategic planning and operational matters of LaMusica App and is instrumental in the creation of Digital content for each of our stations.

“From New York to Puerto Rico. This award does not belong to me. It belongs to the 4,654 + who lost their lives, to those who still do not have light nor water, and those who lost their homes. This is for all the people of Puerto Rico. I love you very much and I’ll see you soon. #PuertoRicoSeLevanta,” stated Bianca Alarcon on her Instagram account (@queenb_dasme) following the event.

Albert Rodriguez, SBS’s COO commented, “Bianca was instrumental in the Company’s effort to rally our communities to provide much needed resources to the victims of Hurricane Maria. We congratulate Ms. Alarcon for her relentless support of the Puerto Rican community both directly after the hurricane to this current day.”

The globally recognized 116th Street Festival celebrated its 33rd year in New York City. 200,000 attendees from around the country gathered with mixed emotions at this year’s festival, for its first event since Hurricane Maria devastated the island.

The 116th Street Festival started in 1985 as ‘Abrazo Fraternal’, and has grown to encompass 20 blocks. The annual event began as a lead-in to the Puerto Rican Day Parade, and has grown to become part of the annual tradition synonymous with the celebration of the Puerto Rican spirit and pride. The famous festival continues to bring an economic advantage to the neighborhood, as well as offer a communal atmosphere for Hispanics.

It is with great pride, SBS congratulates our Head of Content Development, and honors her achievements in the Hispanic community.

About Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc.

Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. owns and operates 17 radio stations located in the top U.S. Hispanic markets of New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco and Puerto Rico, airing the Spanish Tropical, Regional Mexican, Spanish Adult Contemporary, Top 40 and Latin Rhythmic format genres. SBS also operates AIRE Radio Networks, a national radio platform which creates, distributes and markets leading Spanish-language radio programming to over 250 affiliated stations reaching 94% of the U.S. Hispanic audience. SBS also owns MegaTV, a television operation with over-the-air, cable and satellite distribution and affiliates throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico. SBS also produces live concerts and events and owns multiple bilingual websites, including LaMusica, a mobile app providing content related to Latin music, entertainment, news and culture. For more information, visit us online at www.spanishbroadcasting.com.

MEDIA CONTACT FOR SBS:

Vladimir Gomez
[email protected]
(786) 470-1644

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/704414/Spanish_Broadcasting_System_Ms_Alarcon_with_Award.jpg

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/704415/Spanish_Broadcasting_System_Alarcon_in_Puerto_Rico.jpg

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/704416/Spanish_Broadcasting_System_Alarcon_at_award_ceremony.jpg

SOURCE Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc.

Canada’s Ultimate Latin-Themed Dance Party Brings the Heat to Toronto Streets this July!

June 11, 2018

Award-winning TD Salsa in Toronto Festival announces its July 2018 month-long lineup featuring the FREE TD Salsa on St. Clair – Sat. July 7^th & Sun. July 8^th

TORONTO, June 11, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Canadian Salsa Festivals Project announces the ¡Caliente! 2018 lineup for Canada’s largest celebration of Latin culture, the award-winning TD Salsa in Toronto Festival. The main event during the month-long calendar of city-wide festivities throughout July is the 14^thannual TD Salsa on St. Clair Street Festival on Sat. July 7^th & Sun. July 8^th.

The largest fiesta north of the border, TD Salsa In Toronto’s sizzling event lineup features an acclaimed art exhibit by Colombian artist Mao Correa, a series of salsa parties and more free dance classes than ever before across the GTA, all in preparation for the FREE TD Salsa on St. Clair Street Festival Weekend.

Canada’s favourite Latin street party is back for a 14^th straight year to heat up the summer, transforming mid-town Toronto into a nonstop dancing frenzy during the annual TD Salsa on St. Clair Street Festival. From the beginners and non-dancers who come for lessons on the street, to semi-pro Salsa dancers who amaze the crowds, the family fiesta attracts Salsa enthusiasts from near and far. It is one of Toronto’s only events where attendees not only take in the entertainment, but are also part of the entertainment! Enjoy all the tastes, sights and sounds that the festival has to offer with free on-site dance lessons, live music, colourful folklore presentations, authentic Latin American cuisine, and kid’s entertainment.

“Through The Ready Commitment, TD is proud to sponsor Salsa in Toronto to celebrate Canada’s largest Latin festival. Having supported this event since 2014, we recognize that cultural festivals have the power to unite us and teach us about one another. Salsa in Toronto offers shared experiences of music and dance that open doors to a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow by connecting diverse communities and ensuring that everyone feels like they belong.” Andrea Barrack, Vice President, Global Corporate Citizenship, TD Bank Group.

“As Canada’s renowned ambassador of Latino lifestyle, music, dance, arts, and cuisine, the mission of the Canadian Salsa Festivals Project (CSFP), a not-for-profit organization, is to showcase Canada’s rich diversity and the contributions of various multicultural groups and communities to Canadian society,” said CSFP Executive Director, Marana Bayon-on. “Our focus is on celebrating the best of the Latino culture in Canada enjoyed by the country’s 1.8 million Spanish speakers and all Canadians with an appetite and passion for the Latino lifestyle.”

“As Canada’s most influential multicultural media company, TLN Media Group is proud to have been the official festival media sponsor every year since the festival’s inception in 2005,” said TLN Media Group President, Aldo Di Felice. “TD Salsa in Toronto and TD Salsa on St. Clair are excellent examples of how the TLN Media Group has been connecting cultures on television and in communities through storytelling and shared experiences for 35 years. What started as a local two-day event initiated by TLN in collaboration with the Hillcrest Village BIA, is now a nationally recognized celebration. Each year, the events attract hundreds of thousands of lovers of salsa and Latino culture from across the region and beyond and we couldn’t be happier to be part of its growing success.”

Mark your calendar and get your dancing shoes out…It’s going to be ¡Caliente!

Go to SalsaInToronto.com for the complete festival lineup.

Click Here For Media Accreditation Click Here For High Resolution Images

For more information contact:
Bruna Aloe | Senior Director of Communications & Marketing
416.744.5745 | [email protected]

About TD Salsa In Toronto Festival www.SalsaInToronto.com
Canada’s #1 Latino-themed celebration features the TD Salsa on St. Clair Street Festival in addition to a series of city wide events that celebrate the Latino culture through music, dance, art and cuisine. The annual FREE TD Salsa on St. Clair Festival transforms midtown Toronto into Canada’s biggest salsa party featuring international performers, non-stop dancing, Latin foods and family fun. TD Salsa in Toronto and TD Salsa on St. Clair are produced by the Canadian Salsa Festivals Project, a federally incorporated Not-for-Profit organization.

SOURCE Canadian Salsa Festivals Project

CMN Sports, Relevent Announce International Friendly Featuring Argentina vs. Guatemala Sept. 7 at The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

June 11, 2018

MIAMI, June 11, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — CMN Sports and Relevent have partnered to present a blockbuster soccer match featuring 2018 World Cup contender Argentina vs. Guatemala on Friday, Sept. 7 at The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (8:00 p.m.).

Tickets for the match will go on sale on Monday, June 18 at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. A pre-sale will start on Friday, June 15 at 10 a.m.

A portion of ticket sales will be donated to relief efforts in Guatemala following the eruption of the Volcano of Fire on June 3 which has left the nation devastated.

“We’re delighted to partner with Relevent and look forward to hosting this match featuring two very distinct but exciting teams,” said Henry Cárdenas, President of CMN Sports. “Argentina is a powerhouse and a favorite to win it all in Russia, while Guatemala’s young players are eager to compete again at the international level. It also gives us great joy to donate part of the proceeds from the game to relief efforts in Guatemala.”

Led by FC Barcelona star and five-time FIFA Player of the Year Lionel Messi, Argentina is set to open group play in Russia against debutant Iceland—a team they have never faced before—on June 16, followed by matches against Croatia (June 21) and Nigeria (June 26). La Albiceleste, which has qualified for the World Cup 17 times, secured its berth to Russia/2018 on Oct.10, 2017 off a Messi hat-trick in a 3-1 win over Ecuador.

The CONMEBOL giant, with Jorge Sampaoli at the helm, holds the 8th spot in the FIFA World Rankings and hopes to lift soccer’s most prestigious showpiece this summer having already captured the title in 1978 (Argentina) and 1986 (Mexico). The team were runners up in 1930, 1990, and 2014. In Copa América action, Argentina has won the championship 14 times. Its world-class roster also boasts defender Marcos Rojo (Manchester United), midfielders Javier Mascherano (Hebei Fortune) and Angel Di María (PSG), and forwards Sergio Agüero (Manchester City), Gonzalo Higuaín (Juventus) and Paulo Dybala (Juventus).

“Relevent is committed to bringing the incredible culture and enthusiasm of international soccer to the U.S. and this match is sure to deliver that excitement to new and established fans alike,” said Charlie Stillitano, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Relevent. “We look forward to celebrating both of these national teams and their fans, while honoring all of those affected by the natural disaster in Guatemala.”

Guatemala have yet to appear in a FIFA World Cup. Los Chapines captured the CONCACAF (Gold Cup) Championship in 1967 and the Copa Centroamericana, contested by the national teams that are part of the Union Centroamericana de Fútbol (UNCAF), in 2001. They have made three appearances at the Olympic games (1968, 1976, and 1988) and 17 appearances at the Gold Cup, reaching the semifinals in 1996 and the quarterfinals in 2007 and 2011.

FIFA recently lifted a two-year ban of the Guatemalan Soccer Federation (FEDEFUT) following a corruption scandal in 2016, clearing the way for the Central Americans to resume international competition. Guatemala’s all-time leading scorer, Carlos Ruiz, retired in April 2017 after an illustrious career with both club and country, but rising stars such as Carlos Mejía (Comunicaciones) and Jefrey Payeras (L.A. Galaxy), as well as veteran playmaker Marco Pappa (Municipal), provide a solid foundation in the team’s quest to reach Qatar/2022.

SOURCE CMN Sports

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 / [email protected]

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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
[email protected]

Ryan Stender
Blue Flame Agency
917-449-2447
[email protected]

SOURCE CIROC Ultra Premium

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