Federal Judge Certifies Class, Orders Trump Administration to Stop Denying Pandemic Relief Funds to Incarcerated Persons

September 29, 2020

OAKLAND, California, Sept. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — On September 24, 2020, Judge Phyllis J. Hamilton of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued an Order certifying a nationwide class of people incarcerated in state and federal prisons, and granting the plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary injunction requiring the U.S. Department of Treasury, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, and the United States of America (“Defendants”) to stop withholding CARES Act stimulus funds from plaintiffs or any class member on the sole basis of their incarcerated status.

A Treasury Department Inspector General report confirms that, as of early May 2020, the IRS had determined that at least 80,000 incarcerated people were eligible for payments of over $100 million. The Judge’s order will thus result in desperately needed economic assistance of over $100 million to be delivered to members of the Class.

Congress passed the CARES Act to provide sorely needed economic assistance during the economic crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Incarcerated persons, and their families on the outside, are among the most economically disadvantaged people in the country. Indeed, according to one study, people who are incarcerated had a median income of only $19,185 before their incarceration, compared to $41,250 for non-incarcerated people. Low-income families are disproportionately more likely to have a relative behind bars. The same is true for Black, Latino and Native families.

The Treasury, however, has refused to issue stimulus payments authorized by Congress to eligible incarcerated persons, thereby further exacerbating the economic disadvantages they and their families suffer.

The lawsuit alleges that over 1.4 million incarcerated people have been affected by Defendants’ actions. Many rely on financial assistance from their friends or families on the outside, people who are already suffering in the current economic crisis.

The plaintiffs are Colin Scholl and Lisa Strawn. The Lieff Cabraser legal team representing them and the proposed class are Kelly M. Dermody, Yaman Salahi, and Jalle H. Dafa, joined by Eva Jefferson Paterson, Mona Tawatao, Lisa Holder, and Christina Alvernaz of the Equal Justice Society. Kelly Dermody and Eva Paterson have been appointed Co-Lead Class Counsel.

The defendants are the Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, the United States Commissioner of Internal Revenue Charles Rettig, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, and the United States of America.

For more information, visit lieffcabraser.com/cares-act-relief.

The case is Colin Scholl, et al., v. Steven Mnuchin, et al. The case number is 20-cv-05309-PJH.

SOURCE Equal Justice Society

Meijer Announces First-Ever Supplier Diversity Summit Aimed at Ensuring Inclusivity on Its Shelves

September 29, 2020

Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates 241 supercenters throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin. A privately-owned and family-operated company since 1934, Meijer pioneered the “one-stop shopping” concept and has evolved through the years to include expanded fresh produce and meat departments, as well as pharmacies, comprehensive apparel departments, pet departments, garden centers, toys and electronics.

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan, Sept. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Meijer announced today that it will host its first virtual Supplier Diversity Summit, giving diverse-owned businesses nationwide the opportunity to showcase their offerings for Meijer merchants looking to bring the next great item onto their shelves.

“Focusing on supplier diversity is an important part of our diversity, equity and inclusion journey,” Meijer President & CEO Rick Keyes said. “While we have always valued diverse partnerships, this event exemplifies our commitment to building a more inclusive vendor community which will better serve our customers.”

The Nov. 12 virtual event will focus on the following categories:

Beauty and personal care
Over-the-counter and wellness
General merchandise
Grocery

Certified minority-, LGBTQ-, woman-, veteran- and disability-owned businesses with retail-ready products in those categories can apply by Friday, Oct. 9 for consideration here.

“At Meijer, we believe our partners should reflect the communities we serve,” said Jamie Akemann, Group Vice President of Indirect Procurement and Supplier Diversity. “This event gives us the opportunity to partner with diverse suppliers to empower them and provide economic support that will be felt throughout our communities, allowing us to better embody our mission of enriching lives in the communities we serve.”

Meijer is partnering with Efficient Collaborative Retail Marketing (ECRM) and its subsidiary product discovery tool, RangeMe, to host this event through the company’s ECRM Connect virtual platform.

Once applications for the event are submitted, Meijer teams will review and select the vendors they would like to meet at the virtual summit. Suppliers not chosen for the summit, will still be accessible through the Range Me registration tool and may be reviewed by Meijer merchants again in the future as business needs change.

While they may not qualify for November’s event, diverse vendors carrying services or products outside of the categories mentioned above are encouraged to submit their information for consideration through the retailer’s prospective vendor page.

About Meijer: Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates 253 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin. A privately-owned and family-operated company since 1934, Meijer pioneered the “one-stop shopping” concept and has evolved through the years to include expanded fresh produce and meat departments, as well as pharmacies, comprehensive apparel departments, pet departments, garden centers, toys and electronics. For additional information on Meijer, please visit www.meijer.com. Follow Meijer on Twitter @twitter.com/Meijer and @twitter.com/MeijerPR or become a fan at www.facebook.com/meijer.

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SOURCE Meijer – a Midwestern Retailer

Curative Researchers Initiate Research Study to Test Efficacy of Self-Collected COVID-19 Tests

September 29, 2020

SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — COVID-19 testing startup Curative, Inc. today announced the launch of a new COVID-19 study in the City of San Antonio. The research aims to better understand how video-assisted and observed self-collected oral swab samples and nasal swab samples compare to provider-collected nasal swab samples for the detection of COVID-19. Self-collected samples reduce reliance on the supply of personal protective equipment (masks, gloves and lab coats) and prevent potential exposure of our doctors or nurses to novel Coronavirus.

“As the pandemic continues, it’s imperative that we find and promote scalable, reliable, and convenient testing methods,” said Fred Turner, CEO of Curative. “Asymptomatic people living in the San Antonio area have an opportunity to make a real difference in the future of COVID-19 testing by participating in this study. The more we can use self-collected tests, we minimize resources required, expand testing capabilities, and ultimately track and treat as needed.”

Curative is seeking participants for this study. To qualify for the study, participants must have no COVID-related symptoms that meet the CDC guidelines as evaluated by a healthcare practitioner.

Symptoms include shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or cough. Those that take part in the research may have to do a self-collected oral and nasal swab, blood sample, clinician collected nasal and nasopharyngeal (NP) swab.

San Antonio Assistant City Manager Dr. Colleen Bridger stated, “The City of San Antonio is dedicated to ensuring the health of our residents, and this study of potential asymptomatic cases is key to furthering the fight against this pandemic. We would like to thank our strategic partner Curative for taking the lead on this initiative.”

The study will be conducted at the Freeman Coliseum (3201 E. Houston St. San Antonio, TX 78219) from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday and Saturday Sept. 25 and.26, and Oct. 2 and 3. COVID-19 tests outside of the survey are also available throughout the San Antonio area.

To register for the COVID-19 study or to test for COVID-19 at Freeman Coliseum, go to sanantonio.curativeinc.com.

Curative expands access to testing through next generation testing with mobile vans and kiosks across Texas, including remote areas. It also recently opened a new CLIA-certified laboratory facility based in Pflugerville, Texas to increase both availability and processing capacity for the state by 10,000 tests per day, using the company’s FDA authorized oral fluid COVID-19 test. The test is painless and simple to use with turnaround times within 48 hours.

Since its founding in January, Curative has become one of the leading COVID-19 testing providers. The company has tested over 4 million samples across the U.S. and tests approximately 70,000 samples per day. Curative also operates the country’s largest COVID-19 testing site at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles.

About Curative
Curative Inc. was founded to develop tests for sepsis in January 2020 and pivoted to COVID-19 in early March 2020 upon realizing the urgent need for test development and production in the United States. Curative is currently operational within a CLIA-certified lab in Los Angeles, CA and Washington, D.C. Founded by Fred Turner and comprised of a team of doctors, scientists, engineers, and health industry experts, Curative is rapidly scaling its simple-to-use oral fluid COVID-19 tests to reach the groups most in need of testing. For more details on Curative, please visit www.curativeinc.com.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1281793/Curative_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Curative, Inc.

Bingo in Watsonville – Aquamaids Bingo is Back at a New Location in Wattsonville, CA, Starting on September 30, 2020

September 29, 2020

WATTSONVILLE, California, Sept. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Aquamaids Bingo is pleased to announce the return of fun and exciting bingo games—with a safe and contactless twist.

Starting Wednesday, September 30, bingo fans can gather at the Santa Cruz Fairgrounds at 2601 East Lake Avenue in Watsonville, California for Hot Rod Bingo. The parking lot will open at 5 p.m., and people can play their favorite fun and exciting bingo games all from the safety of their vehicle.

To learn more about Aquamaids Bingo new location and to download the app please visit https://aquamaidsbingo.org/sessions/bingo-santa-cruz-fair-grounds-in-watsonville

As a spokesperson noted, like many other local businesses, Aquamaids Bingo had to shut down due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. While bingo fans have been patient and understanding about the situation, the founders of Aquamaids Bingo were also determined to bring back bingo as soon as they possibly could.

Now, thanks to the upcoming launch of Hot Rod Bingo, bingo fans can once again gather together and enjoy an evening of bingo. Hot Rod Bingo will offer the following games: 10 strips paying $750 each, two Double Action games paying $500 each, a Wonder Woman Strip that pays $2,000 on Pink and a $1,000 Consolation and $2,389 and $1,199 Strip flash.

Purchases may be made online via the Aquamaids Bingo App; the app will be available at the App Store or on Google Play prior to Hot Rod Bingo. People may also access the link at the main Aquamaids Bingo website or on their Facebook page.

People who are looking up Aquamaids Bingo new location online will find them by searching:

Watsonville bingo

Santa Cruz bingo

Monterey bingo

Salinas bingo

Gilroy bingo

About Aquamaids Bingo:

For those who crave the excitement, fun and social interaction of live-action bingo, Aquamaids Bingo is the destination people are looking for. They offer traditional classic bingo games as well as many of the hottest and latest strip bingo sessions and biggest daily payouts in the Bay Area. For more information, please visit https://aquamaidsbingo.org/

Aquamaids Bingo

Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville
Watsonville, Ca. 95076
(408) 988-9936

SOURCE Aquamaids Bingo

(Español) El Hospital de Niños de Filadelfia se une a 38 sistemas de salud de los Estados Unidos y declara: “Es innegable que el racismo es una crisis de salud pública”

September 29, 2020

Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.

Users Demand Alternatives to Gas and Makita Delivers with World’s Largest Professional Cordless Outdoor Power Equipment System

September 29, 2020

LA MIRADA, California, Sept. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Makita U.S.A., Inc., the innovation leader in cordless technology, has the world’s largest professional cordless outdoor power equipment system. The expanding range of Makita cordless lawn mowers, trimmers, blowers, and chain saws is meeting growing demand as users seek alternatives to traditional gas-powered equipment. Makita is positioned to meet the demand for cordless outdoor power equipment this fall with the “Rule the Outdoors” digital campaign to direct awareness to its wide offering of equipment.

“We are seeing more and more demand for cordless outdoor power equipment from all users, from pro landscapers to homeowners,” said Romique Talton, senior product manager, Makita U.S.A. “The Makita LXT System delivers maximum performance with battery-powered lawn mowers, trimmers, blowers and chain saws, so users get all they need for efficient landscaping and clean-ups.”

The World’s Largest Professional Cordless OPE System

Over the past year, Makita has expanded its cordless outdoor power equipment offering. Makita^® LXT^® Cordless Outdoor Power Equipment is the world’s largest professional cordless outdoor power equipment system, offering more solutions in more categories. Makita’s LXT Outdoor Power Equipment is part of the world’s largest cordless system of over 275 products (in 2021). All these products use the same LXT battery.

Benefits of Cordless Outdoor Power Equipment

Makita’s cordless outdoor power equipment is engineered for maximum performance, without the hassles of gas. The “Rule the Outdoors” campaign promotes Makita LXT Cordless Outdoor Power Equipment, which is powered by Makita purpose-built motors and a fast-charging LXT lithium-ion battery. Benefits of cordless outdoor power equipment include instant starts, lower noise, reduced maintenance, and zero emissions.

“No one knows cordless like us,” asserts Talton. “We have over 90 years of chain saw and gas expertise and over 40 years of cordless expertise. This knowledge and experience have been invested into product development and has resulted in the largest offering of cordless outdoor power equipment on the market.”

For more information, visit www.makitatools.com/RTO

Digital Campaign

“The digital portion of the campaign has exceeded everyone’s expectations so far,” states Brent Withey, vice president of brand marketing, Makita U.S.A., Inc. “With the overall success of the “Rule the Outdoors” campaign, Makita is investing in digital and social media advertising for the remainder of 2020. By focusing on digital marketing this Fall, we will continue to drive demand by reaching new audiences.”

Videos can be found at www.youtube.com/user/MakitaPowerTools/

About Makita

Makita is a worldwide manufacturer of industrial power tools, pneumatics and power equipment, and offers a wide range of industrial accessories. Makita U.S.A., Inc. is located in La Mirada, California, and operates an extensive distribution network throughout the U.S.A. With 50 years in the United States and over 100 years worldwide, Makita utilizes experience and expertise to manufacture best-in-class solutions. For more information call Makita U.S.A. at (800)4-MAKITA or visit makitatools.com. Find Makita on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter @makitatools

MEDIA CONTACTS
Wayne Hart
(714) 522-8088 x4410
[email protected]

Jennifer Morse
(714) 522-8088 x 4401
[email protected]

Consumer Inquiries:
(800) 4-MAKITA
makitatools.com
@makitatools

SOURCE Makita U.S.A., Inc.

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Joins 38 U.S. Health Systems to Declare: It is Undeniable, Racism is a Public Health Crisis

September 28, 2020

CHOP and 38 other health systems in 45 states and Washington, DC have committed to addressing racism and the public health disparities caused by racism

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is a member of the Healthcare Anchor Network, a national collaboration of leading healthcare systems, which published the “Racism is a Public Health Crisis” statement. Our health institutions employ over half-million employees across 45 states and Washington, DC and are committed to taking concrete action to address the impact of structural racism in our communities.

Moved by the unconscionable, unjust deaths of George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and too many others, our health systems stand together with all those who have lifted their voices with a call to action.

“We, along with these prestigious hospitals, are committed to combating racism, inequality and discrimination,” said Gilbert Davis, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “No one individual or institution can do this alone, and we are committed to listening to our neighbors of color and implementing initiatives that will help to eradicate all forms of discrimination. CHOP is committed to being intentional and we will partner with others in the community to address the social injustice and systemic racism that contribute to disparity of care across our region.”

“Racism is a public health crisis. In Black and Indigenous communities and communities of color, we see higher rates of illness and death as a result of systemic racism. We need to harness our collective strength to invest in our communities and to more intentionally hire and buy from local BIPOC communities so that all people can be healthy and thrive,” said Healthcare Anchor Network Director David Zuckerman. “We all must better understand and act to change the impacts of systemic racism on social and economic conditions and health outcomes,” added Zuckerman.

Investment in Black and Indigenous communities and communities of color is critical to overcoming health disparities. At CHOP, we are committed to implementing policy changes that promote equity and opportunity; improving primary and specialty care; helping our communities overcome chronic diseases; advocating for investments in improvements to health access, quality, and outcomes; promoting and retaining leaders of color; providing anti-racism and implicit bias training for all staff and administrators; and advocating for funding for programming for social needs, social services, and social justice.

From the statement: “Our society only truly thrives when everyone has an opportunity to succeed and live a healthy life. We are committed to moving forward together. By harnessing the collective strengths of our organizations, we will help serve our communities as agents of change.”

About CHOP
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation’s first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals and pioneering major research initiatives, Children’s Hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought the 564-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit http://www.chop.edu

Contact: Joey McCool Ryan
(267) 426-6070
[email protected]

SOURCE Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Blue Shield of California Elects Kristina Leslie As First Woman to Chair Its Board of Directors

September 28, 2020

Diversity and inclusion at Blue Shield of California

OAKLAND, California, Sept. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Blue Shield of California, a leader in diversity and gender equity, today announced Kristina (Kris) Leslie has been elected to be chair of the nonprofit health plan’s board of directors, effective Oct. 1, 2020. Leslie is the first woman to lead the board in the company’s 81-year history.

The company also announced today two new appointments to the board of directors to fill pending vacancies on Oct. 1 that will result in the 12-person board achieving gender balance. Additionally, women will now lead four of the board’s five standing committees. The tax-paying nonprofit, which has nearly 7,000 employees and $22 billion in annual revenues, is one of the largest companies in California to achieve gender balance on its board.

Blue Shield achieved pay equity for its employees across gender and ethnicity in 2018. It has a balanced representation of women and men in leadership roles (Director and above), and it was recently selected as one of America’s Best Companies for Women to Advance by Parity.org.

“We are committed to making Blue Shield a place where people of all genders, races, and backgrounds feel comfortable making it their professional home,” said Paul Markovich, president and CEO, Blue Shield of California. “I look forward to working with Kris in her new role as we strive to create a health care system worthy of our family and friends, and sustainably affordable. I want to thank Doug Busch, our outgoing chair, for his incredible support for more than a decade.”

Leslie has served on Blue Shield’s board since 2013. She has a distinguished professional career, including serving as chief financial officer of DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc., which has produced some of America’s best known computer-generated, animated feature films. Leslie also serves on the board of directors for CVB Financial Corp. and Justworks, Inc., and she has served on the boards of several other public and private companies including Glassdoor Inc., Orbitz Worldwide, Inc., Pico Holdings Inc., Obagi Medical Products, and Methodist Hospital of Southern California.

She succeeds Busch, a Sacramento-based business executive who has served four, three-year terms on the board, the maximum allowed under company bylaws.

“We deeply appreciate Doug’s service to Blue Shield’s 4.4 million members, to his fellow board members and to Blue Shield’s senior team. We will continue to build on his contributions and push for affordable, high quality and accessible health care for all residents of California,” Leslie said. “I am inspired to serve as chair of the board of a company so committed to lead change, champion diversity, equity and inclusion and stand for what’s right.”

Two New Board Members

Busch and fellow board member Mohammad Qayoumi, Ph.D., a chief adviser to the President of Afghanistan and President Emeritus from San Jose State University, will complete their service on the board of directors on Sept. 30.

Colleen Johnston and Guillermo Diaz, Jr. will join the board of directors on Oct. 1.

Johnston is a retired senior executive from TD Bank Group, where she served for 10 years as chief financial officer. Diaz has served as chief information officer at Cisco and is now the CEO of Kloudspot, Inc., an artificial intelligence supported analytics platform provider.

Blue Shield has received several important, recent recognitions for its diversity and inclusion efforts that include:

Ranked #1 on the 2020 Diversity Inc. Top Regional Companies List for Diversity, with more than 40% of the employee base participating in employee resource groups
Scored 100 out of 100 on the 2020 Disability Equality Index

Blue Shield was also recognized this month as a certified Great Place to Work, with 92% of employees rating the company a great place to work overall – a nearly 10% increase from last year.

About Blue Shield of California
Blue Shield of California strives to create a healthcare system worthy of its family and friends that is sustainably affordable. Blue Shield of California is a tax paying, nonprofit, independent member of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association with over 4 million members, 6,800 employees and more than $20 billion in annual revenues. Founded in 1939 in San Francisco and now headquartered in Oakland, Blue Shield of California and its affiliates provide health, dental, vision, Medicaid and Medicare healthcare service plans in California. The company has contributed more than $500 million to the Blue Shield of California Foundation since 2002 to have an impact on California communities.

For more news about Blue Shield of California, please visit news.blueshieldca.com.

Or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.

CONTACT:	Matthew Yi
	Blue Shield of California
	510-607-2359
	[email protected]

Kristina Leslie, Blue Shield of California Board Chair

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SOURCE Blue Shield of California

New Report Shows Largest National Reduction in Beverage Calorie Consumption Since Launch of Landmark Beverage Agreement

September 28, 2020

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Independent evaluator Keybridge LLC released its annual report today on progress toward a nationwide goal, set by the beverage industry and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, to reduce the calories and sugar Americans get from beverages. The report noted that 2019 saw the largest single-year reduction in calorie consumption and the third consecutive year of declines since the launch of the initiative.

In 2014, the American Beverage Association (ABA), The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, Keurig Dr Pepper (formerly Dr Pepper Snapple Group) and Healthier Generation announced the Beverage Calories Initiative (BCI), a commitment to reduce per-capita consumption of beverage calories by 20% nationally by 2025.

According to the report, consumption of calories and sugar from beverages fell by 2.4% in 2019, even as sales volumes grew. Most of the progress toward the calorie goal came from reduced consumption of full-calorie sodas. Calories from juices and sports drinks also declined in 2019. Per person volumes of of no- and low-calorie sodas held steady, representing a change from previous years when declining volumes of no- and low-calorie soft drinks had been a headwind to calorie reduction progress. Meanwhile, sales of waters grew in 2019.

Since the start of BCI, beverage calories per person have decreased 5.6% from 203.0 calories per person per day in 2014 to 191.8 in 2019. Annual reductions have accelerated over each of the last three years.

“We are pleased to see continued progress toward the 2025 beverage calorie reduction target,” said Kathy Higgins, chief executive officer at Healthier Generation. “Though we have much to learn in the coming year about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on beverage consumption patterns, Healthier Generation remains committed to its long-term work of ensuring that families across the nation have more access to beverages with little or no sugar.”

This progress, which predates the COVID epidemic, comes as the beverage industry has been driving product innovations and marketing toward lower-calorie options. In 2018, more than two-thirds of all new beverage brands introduced were either no-, low- or mid-calorie options. In 2019, more than 55% of beverages purchased were zero-calorie.

“America’s beverage companies are introducing more choices with less sugar and smaller portion sizes than ever before – you can see these changes in the beverage aisle and it’s encouraging consumers to reduce sugar in their diets,” said Katherine Lugar, president and CEO of the American Beverage Association. “These results show the power of public-private partnerships working together to help support family efforts to balance their lives.”

For 15 years, Healthier Generation has convened and facilitated industry-wide and community-based solutions in support of whole child health. In 2006, Healthier Generation, ABA, and America’s leading beverage companies entered into an agreement that reduced beverage calories shipped to the nation’s K-12 schools by more than 90%. The Beverage Calories Initiative builds upon this effort to decrease consumption of calories from beverages at both a national and local level.

Later this year, Healthier Generation and ABA will release a complementary report on the BCI Communities Initiative, which evaluates progress toward the 20% beverage calorie reduction goal in five select communities across the country.

The 2019 national report is available on the Healthier Generation website at www.healthiergeneration.org/bci and the American Beverage Association website at www.ameribev.org.

About the Alliance for a Healthier Generation
The Alliance for a Healthier Generation believes every child deserves a healthy future. For 15 years, Healthier Generation has empowered kids to develop lifelong healthy habits by ensuring the environments that surround them support their physical, social and emotional health. Driven by our passion that all young people will live healthier lives, our work has reached more than 29 million kids across the country. To learn more and help make a difference, visit HealthierGeneration.org and join us on Facebook and Twitter.

About American Beverage Association
The American Beverage Association is the national trade organization representing the broad spectrum of companies that manufacture and distribute non-alcoholic beverages in the United States. For more information, please visit www.balanceus.org and www.ameribev.org.

SOURCE Alliance for a Healthier Generation and American Beverage Association

First Alert and Actor Taylor Kinney Encourage Preparedness this Fire Prevention Month

September 28, 2020

AURORA, Illinois, Sept. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — With Americans spending more time at home than ever before, it’s even more important to help ensure you are prepared in the event of a home fire. For Fire Prevention Month this October, First Alert, the most trusted brand in fire safety*, and actor Taylor Kinney share important safety reminders to help ensure your family and home are protected from the threats of smoke and fire. Together, First Alert and Kinney continue efforts to educate Americans with a series of PSAs to remind viewers to talk to their families about fire safety and take key steps to help protect what matters most.

Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here:

“I’m excited to continue partnering with First Alert in our efforts to increase fire safety awareness,” said Kinney. “With everyone spending more time at home, it’s important to make sure everyone is prepared – and there’s no better time than Fire Prevention Month.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), three out of five fire deaths occur in homes without working smoke alarms. Even if you have smoke alarms in your home, you and your family may not be sufficiently protected.

“Now is the perfect time to enhance your home’s safety by having working smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms on every level and in every bedroom, and to take additional safety measures to help ensure you are prepared,” said Tarsila Wey, director of marketing for First Alert.

First Alert and Kinney encourage you to be ready for the unexpected this Fire Prevention Month and protect your home with the following safety reminders:

Every level, every bedroom: For protection and peace of mind, install smoke alarms on each level of the home, including the basement, and in every bedroom, and install CO alarms on every level and near all sleeping areas.
Test and maintain: Once alarms are installed, it is important to maintain your alarms by testing them regularly. Even though testing alarms is as simple as pressing a button and waiting for the beep, a consumer survey showed that more than 60% of consumers do not test their smoke alarms monthly**. Test alarms regularly and change the batteries every six months if you have battery-powered alarms. For convenient protection and to eliminate battery replacements and late-night battery chirps for a decade, upgrade to First Alert 10-Year Sealed Battery Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms.
Alarms don’t last forever: Replace outdated units. If you cannot remember the last time you installed an alarm, chances are, it’s time to replace it. Alarms are on duty 24/7 and need to be replaced at least every 10 years.
Don’t forget about CO: In the fall and into the colder months of the year, the risk of CO poisoning increases dramatically. CO is an invisible, odorless gas produced by fuel-burning devices such as stoves, generators and fireplaces, and can only be detected with a CO alarm. Make sure to install CO alarms in your home.
P.A.S.S. the fire extinguishers: Beyond alarms, having fire extinguishers – and knowing how to use them – is an important part of maintaining a safe home for you and your family. According to the NFPA, the number one cause of home fires in the U.S. is unattended cooking. Place fire extinguishers in convenient locations such as the kitchen and garage, and on every level of the home. Adults in the household should learn how to properly operate a fire extinguisher using the acronym P.A.S.S. Simply pull the pin, aim the nozzle at the base of the fire, squeeze the trigger and sweep from side to side.

“With more people cooking, it’s even more important to include fire extinguishers as part of a home safety plan. They should be within reach of the kitchen area,” said Wey.

Once alarms and fire extinguishers are properly installed in your home, don’t forget about your escape plan. “Alarms provide early warning in case of emergency, but it is equally important to have an escape plan in place and know what to do if an alarm sounds,” added Wey.

According to the NFPA, only 32% of American households actually developed and practiced an emergency escape plan. Involve everyone in your household when developing an emergency escape plan. Identify two exits out of each room, including windows and doors, and set a dedicated meeting spot outside. Once outside, stay outside and call 911. Be sure to practice your escape plan with the entire family at least twice a year.

Opportunity to Learn by Doing

To kick-off Fire Prevention Month, First Alert and Lowe’s stores nationwide are joining forces to educate the public about how to protect their families and homes from the threats of fire and CO. As part of Lowe’s DIY kids’ workshops, families can pick up a free, take home activity to learn about fire safety and build a wooden fire truck kit on Saturday, Oct. 10 while supplies last.

To learn more about how to be prepared to keep your family and home safe from smoke and fire, visit FirstAlert.com/firepreventionmonth. For more information on Lowe’s DIY fire truck kits, visit www.lowesdiy.com.

*First Alert Brand Trust Survey, February 2020 – Results are based on the responses of 1,000 adults, ages 25 and older, living in the United States who completed an online survey. Results are statistically significant at a 95 percent confidence level and can be generalized to the entire adult population in the United States within those statistical parameters. For more information or a copy of the complete survey results, contact Tim Young at LCWA: 312/565-4628 or [email protected].

**First Alert Fire Prevention Research Report, May 2019 – Results are based on the responses of 1,000 adult homeowners, ages 18 and older, living in the United States who completed an online survey, May 13-16, 2019.

About BRK Brands, Inc.
BRK Brands, Inc. (Aurora, IL), is a fully owned subsidiary of Newell Brands. For more than 60 years, BRK Brands, Inc. has been the manufacturer of First Alert^®-branded home-safety products, the most trusted and recognized safety brand in America. BRK^® Brands designs and develops innovative safety solutions including a comprehensive line of smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers and escape ladders to protect what matters most. Such products are also marketed under the BRK Electronics^®brand, The Professional Standard for the builder and contractor audiences. BRK Brands, Inc. products are found in more than 30 countries worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.firstalert.com, http://www.brkelectronics.com or http://www.newellbrands.com.

About Newell Brands

Newell Brands (NASDAQ: NWL) is a leading global consumer goods company with a strong portfolio of well-known brands, including Paper Mate®, Sharpie®, Dymo®, EXPO®, Parker®, Elmer’s®, Coleman®, Marmot®, Oster®, Sunbeam®, FoodSaver®, Mr. Coffee®, Rubbermaid Commercial Products®, Graco®, Baby Jogger®, NUK®, Calphalon®, Rubbermaid®, Contigo®, First Alert®, Mapa®, Spontex® and Yankee Candle®. For hundreds of millions of consumers, Newell Brands makes life better every day, where they live, learn, work and play.

Additional information about Newell Brands is available on the company’s website, www.newellbrands.com.

©2020 BRK Brands, Inc., Aurora, IL 60504. All rights reserved.
BRK Electronics^® is a registered trademark of BRK Brands, Inc., Aurora, IL 60504.
Nasdaq^® is a registered trademark of The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.

Contacts: Abigail Cox or Sara Tatay
L.C. Williams & Associates
P: 312-565-3900 or 800-837-7123
[email protected] or [email protected]

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SOURCE First Alert

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