Choose Chicago Announces Tourism & Hospitality Forward To Responsibly Welcome Visitors Back To Chicago

May 21, 2020

CHICAGO, May 21, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — At the Choose Chicago Annual Meeting today, the organization announced Tourism & Hospitality Forward, a new initiative to accelerate and spur Chicago’s tourism industry post-coronavirus and help expedite the City’s economic recovery. To date, a coalition of more than 250 local tourism, hospitality, meeting and event-related organizations and businesses have signed on to the pledge promising alignment, collaboration and socially responsible tourism and hospitality that will instill confidence in residents and visitors as they return to Chicago.

“This current crisis has been simply devastating to so many, including the tourism and hospitality industry, and we recognize that these unprecedented challenges require unprecedented and swift actions in order to restore this economic driver for the City,” said Glenn Eden, Chair of the Choose Chicago Board of Directors. “Our first priority is to promote socially responsible tourism. We will demonstrate to our guests that through the operational changes and precautions taken, it is safe to enjoy Chicago again.”

Chicago’s tourism, hospitality, meetings, and events industries were amongst the hardest hit by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. As the City transitions through a phased reopening, this alliance of industry partners will work together to establish best practices and safety measures for the health and safety of residents and visitors alike when cultural institutions, hotels, attractions and restaurants return to regular business and welcome guests.

“I applaud Choose Chicago’s commitment to developing safe, collaborative solutions to the profound impact COVID-19 has had on our city’s vital tourism and hospitality industry,” said Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot. “Despite the challenges we face, the strength of our recovery is being built on forward-looking partnerships like these which are mutually supportive and rooted in the data of this disease, allowing us to build and grow more resilient, inclusive, and powerful than we’ve ever been.”

There are four components to the pledge:

SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE PLANNING: We will put the safety of our patrons and employees first by adhering to public health guidance and direction and become leaders in socially responsible tourism and hospitality.
DEDICATED AND STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT: We will recognize the importance of taking a strategic and collaborative approach by dedicating the time to align across sectors and develop the phased plans we need to thrive in this challenging environment.
AUTHENTIC AND INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE: We will work together to spur the traffic of Chicago visitors and guests by enhancing our efforts to create unique ways to leverage all of the city’s dynamic neighborhoods and authentic assets.
UNPARALLELED CHICAGO ADVOCACY: We advocate for all that Chicago has to offer by cross-promoting offerings and collaborating on shared offers to create a mutually beneficial environment for the industry and ultimately a stronger economy for the city.

Additionally, Tourism & Hospitality Forward announced an outreach and engagement framework that participants can leverage to bring visitors back to Chicago when the time is right. The framework includes:

Promoting Chicago’s reopening in a calibrated manner with programs and promotions, such as staycations, designed to engage local audiences.
Launching seasonal initiatives to bring leisure travelers to Chicago with an emphasis on neighboring states.
Reinforcing that Chicago will continue to be the best place to do business as the City competes for meetings and events.
Maximizing all Chicago has to offer through a unifying marketing campaign.

Planning has been underway with several working groups aligned by sector, including accommodations, museums and attractions, arts & culture, festivals, and special events including sports and a dedicated focus on unique and diverse neighborhoods.

“These groups initially began meeting to focus on initial and almost immediate reopening strategies,” said Eden. “They have now evolved and have been rolled up to collaborate with and support Mayor Lightfoot’s longer-term Reopening and Recovery Task Force, including marketing and economic development for the City as a whole.”

“The traditional visitor and convention delegate will remain our ultimate goal in the recovery process,” said David Whitaker, President & CEO of Choose Chicago. “In the early phases of reopening we are going to have to focus and rely on our local residents, nearby suburban and regional visitors and the drive market as a whole. While they will be the first to easily return to their favorite spots and activities, they can also be ambassadors as we welcome guests and visitors back to Chicago.”

For more information about Tourism & Hospitality Forward or to sign up, visit here.

What Others Are Saying About Tourism & Hospitality Forward

“We understand that re-opening businesses is not a one-size-fits-all approach. We will have to be strategic with gradually opening and monitoring cases at the same time, ensuring businesses adhere to all safety precautions according to City and State standards,” said Blanca Soto, Executive Director of Little Village Chamber of Commerce. “We and our members plan to partner with Tourism & Hospitality Forward, the City and the State to keep businesses constantly informed on the safest and most viable approaches to keep their workforce and our customers confident and safe.”

“The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association has worked with our member companies in recent weeks to ensure that our team members and guests not only feel safe when they return to our hotels but are safe,” said Michael Jacobson, President and CEO of the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association. “We have released specific guidance to hotels related to increased cleanliness and safety standards and continue to work with the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois to define what reopening our tourism economy will look like to help revitalize Chicago’s economy. For our members, the day cannot come soon enough to rehire their employees and welcome visitors into our hotels once again, but we must ensure that it is done in a safe way. We are taking the steps to ensure that we do just that.”

“I’m honored to have been appointed to Choose Chicago’s Board of Directors and to continue to partner with Mayor Lightfoot on broadening the impact and reach of Chicago’s cultural institutions. We look forward to reopening the Art Institute— and the City of Chicago— in a way that feels comfortable and safe for our staff and visitors from our community and around the world,” said James Rondeau, President, Art Institute of Chicago.

“I’m honored to have been appointed to Choose Chicago’s Board of Directors,” said Ayesha Jaco, Executive Director of West Side United. “Now more than ever our entire community needs to collaborate on, not only a safe and responsible way to reopen our businesses, but an inclusive way as all of Chicago faces this moment together.”

“The cornerstone of Chicago’s 77 communities, restaurants have been devastated by the COVID-19 crisis,” said Sam Toia, President and CEO, Illinois Restaurant Association. “By mid-April, 321,000 of the state’s 594,900 industry employees had been laid off or furloughed; fifty five percent of operators had temporarily closed their businesses; and sales were down 80 percent. But when we talk about reopening responsibly, restaurants have a distinct advantage. Our teams are already accustomed to operating at the highest of standards when it comes to sanitation. Managers, chefs, servers, and bartenders complete mandatory certification courses equipping them with knowledge and best practices designed to protect the well-being of their employees and guests on a daily basis. As we set our sights on reopening, our already health-focused industry has a strong foundation for implementing clear guidelines that will allow their businesses to safely resume dining room service while prioritizing public health.”

About Choose Chicago

Choose Chicago is the official sales and marketing organization responsible for promoting Chicago as a global visitor destination leveraging the city’s unmatched assets to ensure the economic vitality of the city and its member business community. For more information, visit choosechicago.com. Follow @ChooseChicago on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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SOURCE Choose Chicago

2021 HITEC 100 – Now Accepting Nominations

May 21, 2020

CHICAGO, May 21, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — HITEC, the premier global executive leadership organization of senior-level business and technology executives, is accepting nominations for its prestigious HITEC 100 Awards until July 19, 2020.

Nominate today! Click here to view the HITEC 100 nomination criteria and nomination form.

Since 2008, HITEC has compiled an annual list recognizing the contributions and accomplishments of the 100 most influential and notable Hispanic executives and entrepreneurs in the technology industry. The mission of the HITEC 100 is to recognize outstanding executives who excel in the business of technology, inspire young people to pursue careers in technology and motivate professionals to continue to excel and connect with Hispanic communities across the globe.

View Past HITEC 100 Award Winners: Class of 2020 HITEC 100 Award Winners

About HITEC:
Founded to increase Hispanic representation in the diversity-challenged technology industry, HITEC is a premier global executive leadership organization of senior business and technology executives who have built outstanding careers in technology. HITEC’s premiere network spans the Americas and is focused on building stronger technology and executive leaders, leadership teams, corporations, and role models in a rapidly changing, flatter, and technology centric world. These global leaders include executives leading Global 1000 corporations while others lead some of the largest Hispanic-owned technology firms across the Americas. HITEC enables business and professional growth for its members and fills the executive pipeline with the next generation of Hispanic technology leaders.

SOURCE Hispanic Information Technology Executive Council

A Promising Drug for the Treatment of Severe Lung Inflammation in COVID-19 Patients: Montefiore-Einstein Scientists Lead Two Trials of Leronlimab

May 21, 2020

BRONX, N.Y., May 21, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Montefiore Health System and Albert Einstein College of Medicine are the first sites in the nation to begin evaluating an investigational drug in two separate, FDA-approved trials: one to treat mild-to-moderate cases of COVID-19, and the other to treat severely ill COVID-19 patients. They are hopeful that the drug, leronlimab may prevent the “cytokine storm” that inflames and fatally damages the lungs and other organs of many COVID-19 patients.

Harish Seethamraju, M.D., an organ transplant specialist and a member of the department of medicine at Montefiore and Einstein, researched leronlimab early in the pandemic, and realized its potential for treating his transplant patients who had COVID-19. He then obtained “compassionate use” permission from the Food and Drug Administration so that he and his colleagues could use leronlimab on 10 severely ill COVID-19 patients, six of them transplant patients from various organ transplant programs.

“By calming the overactive immune systems of these patients, leronlimab halted the inflammation and blood clotting that are so damaging to the lungs, liver and kidneys of severely ill COVID-19 patients,” said Dr. Seethamraju. All 10 patients had extremely high blood levels of CCL5, which are inflammatory molecules known as cytokines. This is why the extreme inflammatory response is known as the “cytokine storm.” Leronlimab interfered with those CCL5 molecules, preventing them from directing immune cells to swarm into and inflame the lungs and other organs.

On May 5^th, a study describing promising results for those 10 severely ill patients was made public on the website, MedRxiv, a resource especially useful during the COVID-19 pandemic to make research quickly available to the scientific community. Co-authored by Dr. Seethamraju, the study reported that five of the 10 patients treated with leronlimab survived; the study also described the drug as “a novel approach” to resolving unchecked inflammation.

Based on the positive results with those patients, the FDA approved Dr. Seethamraju’s application for a phase 2 trial of leronlimab. That trial began enrolling both inpatients and outpatients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 on April 2. A total of 75 will participate.

“Such patients all too often seem to be recovering, but then crash and burn when their lungs are overwhelmed by an inflammatory reaction that makes breathing impossible, “says Dr. Seethamraju. “The FDA is concerned that there is no treatment for those people.”

Patients in the multicenter trial receive two injections, one week apart, of either leronlimab or a placebo and are assessed periodically over six weeks for fever, muscle pain, difficulty breathing and cough. Dr. Seethamraju is a co-principal investigator of the Montefiore trial site, along with Scott A. Scheinin, M.D., surgical director of advanced pulmonary failure and lung transplantation, division chief of thoracic surgery and surgical oncology, and director of the Bloodless Heart Surgical Program at Montefiore.

On April 16th, Montefiore enrolled the first patient in a second FDA-approved leronlimab clinical trial: a randomized, double blind trial to assess the optimal dose, safety and effectiveness of leronlimab in treating severely ill COVID-19 patients. The 390 patients taking part in this multicenter trial will receive two weekly doses of either leronlimab or a placebo; there will be twice as many patients receiving leronlimab as those receiving the placebo. The trial will evaluate the patients’ survival at 14- and 28-days following treatment.

The two leronlimab clinical trials are being conducted under the direction of the departments of cardiothoracic surgery and medicine at Montefiore and Einstein. Leronlimab is a monoclonal antibody drug developed by CytoDyn Inc., a biotechnology company based in Vancouver, WA.

About Montefiore Health System Montefiore Health System is one of New York’s premier academic health systems and is a recognized leader in providing exceptional quality and personalized, accountable care to approximately three million people in communities across the Bronx, Westchester and the Hudson Valley. It is comprised of 11 hospitals, including the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital and more than 200 outpatient ambulatory care sites. The advanced clinical and translational research at its medical school, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, directly informs patient care and improves outcomes. From the Montefiore-Einstein Centers of Excellence in cancer, cardiology and vascular care, pediatrics, and transplantation, to its preeminent school-based health program, Montefiore is a fully integrated healthcare delivery system providing coordinated, comprehensive care to patients and their families. For more information please visit www.montefiore.org. Follow us on Twitter and view us on Facebook and YouTube.

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SOURCE Montefiore Health System; Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Mazda Debuts Virtual Race Car, RX-Vision GT3 Concept, For Online Gameplay

May 21, 2020

HIROSHIMA, Japan, May 21, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Mazda Motor Corporation has announced the release of its virtual race car, “Mazda RX-Vision GT3 Concept.” Jointly developed with Polyphony Digital Inc., the vehicle will be available for download in Gran Turismo Sport on May 22, 2020¹. The RX-Vision GT3 Concept is our newest virtual race car in Sony Interactive Entertainment’s PlayStation® 4 driving simulation title, Gran Turismo Sport, and we hope that all players will enjoy taking it for a spin.

Mazda is aiming to gain more Mazda fans by conveying the joy of driving a car to the wide range of people who love Digital Motorsport,²which has been gaining popularity in recent years. Moreover, due to current coronavirus circumstances, car enthusiasts all over the world can connect online and enjoy the same virtual experience regardless of country, region, language or generation. Through our support of Digital Motorsports, we hope to contribute to the expansion of car culture and complement new lifestyles.

Players who use Mazda vehicles, such as RX-Vision GT3 Concept, in Gran Turismo Sport will automatically be granted seed rights to participate in the FIA certified Gran Turismo Championship (world tours) to be held in various locations around the world in the 2020 season.

In the United States, the Ricmotech iRacing Global Mazda MX-5 Cup began on May 5 with race staged each Tuesday evening through June 2. The virtual races includes MX-5 Cup drivers from recent seasons as well guest drivers from Mazda’s IMSA WeatherTech DPi program. More about this online series can be found at http://www.mx-5cup.com.

More information about Mazda’s Digital Motorsports can be found at: https://www.mazda.com/ja/innovation/digital-motor-sport.

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through approximately 620 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at InsideMazda.MazdaUSA.com/Newsroom.

Follow MNAO’s social media channels through Twitter and Instagram at @MazdaUSA and Facebook at Facebook.com/MazdaUSA.

¹This is a guideline only; download will be possible once all necessary preparations have been made in Gran Turismo Sport.
²Mazda adopts the name “Digital Motorsports” advocated by FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) and Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.

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SOURCE Mazda North American Operations

Kia Motors’ “Telluriders” Continue Delivering Face Shields To Hospitals And Medical Facilities Nationwide

May 20, 2020

IRVINE, California, May 20, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Kia Motors continues to “Accelerate the Good” through the donation of personal protective equipment (PPE) to hospitals and medical facilities nationwide. This week, the Kia “Telluriders” shipped or delivered face shields to Mercy Hospital & Medical Center and Loyola Medicine – Loyola University Medical in Chicago; and St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor Hospital and St. Mary Mercy Livonia Hospital in Detroit. The deliveries are part of Kia’s Accelerate The Good initiatives, which includes ongoing face shield donations to medical facilities not only in the metro Chicago and Detroit areas, but also to facilities in Georgia, New Jersey, New York and Southern California. The face shields are assembled at Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia in West Point and the brand plans on donating more than 300,000 face shields nationwide to help in the fight against COVID-19. In addition, Kia donated $1 million to non-profit partners that assist America’s homeless youth population.

About Kia Motors America

Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia Motors America has been the highest ranked mass market brand in initial quality for five consecutive years according to J.D. Power¹, and is recognized as one of the 100 Best Global Brands by Interbrand. Kia serves as the “Official Automotive Partner” of the NBA and offers a complete range of vehicles sold through a network of nearly 800 dealers in the U.S., including cars and SUVs proudly assembled in West Point, Georgia.*

For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com. To receive custom email notifications for press releases the moment they are published, subscribe at www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert.

*The Telluride, Sorento and Optima (excluding Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid) are assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts.



¹	Kia received the lowest rate of reported problems among mass market brands in the J.D. Power 2015-19 U.S. Initial Quality Studies of new vehicle owners’ experiences with their own vehicle after 90 days of ownership. Visit jdpower.com/awards for more details.

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SOURCE Kia Motors America

(Español) Promueve campaña uso de chalecos salvavidas entre familias hispanas

May 20, 2020

Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.

Baptist Health Unveils New Safety Measures as Elective Surgeries and Procedures Resume

May 20, 2020

Baptist_Health_Because_We_Care_Safety_First_INFOGRAPHIC

New Steps Geared Towards Protecting Patients and Employees

MIAMI, May 20, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Baptist Health South Florida has announced new comprehensive safety guidelines as it welcomes back more patients and ramps up operations to fully restore in-person health services system wide. As Baptist Health resumes elective surgeries and procedures, enhanced safety precautions have been introduced to prevent the spread of infection and to ensure every facility including emergency rooms, urgent care centers and physician offices can safely care for patients who need healthcare.

In an effort to promote safety, cleanliness and social distancing, here are some of the changes patients, employees and visitors can now expect at Baptist Health facilities:

Enhanced Cleaning of High-touch Areas
Universal Mask Use
Contactless Registration
Point-Of-Entry Screening
Wait Where You Feel Comfortable, including in some cases, in your car
Hand-sanitizing Stations
Touch-free sliding doors
COVID-19 Patients Treated in Separate Area
Front Desk Plexiglass partitions
Social Distance Floor Markings
Chairs Spaced Out
Magazines Removed from Tables
Coffee and Snack Service Suspended

“As one of the leading healthcare providers in the region, our patients and employees have come to expect the highest standards in health and safety from us,” said Bo Boulenger, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Baptist Health South Florida. “Now more than ever, our patients rely on our care and we are ready to care for them, especially those who may have delayed treatment during the pandemic. Through these steps, we are confident we can protect our patients and employees as we safely care for our community.”

These safety measures are based on information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, the American Hospital Association, the Florida Governor’s Office and the White House’s Opening Up America Again guidelines.

For more information on Baptist Health’s safety plan, visit our Patient and Visitor Safety page at https://baptisthealth-coronavirus.com/patients-and-visitors.

About Baptist Health South Florida

Baptist Health South Florida is the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 11 hospitals, more than 23,000 employees, 4,000 physicians and 100 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and Baptist Health Care On Demand, a virtual health platform. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to its faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

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SOURCE Baptist Health South Florida

Jaime Camil Joins Cancer Survivors In New PSA For Stand Up To Cancer® To Encourage Hispanic Participation In Cancer Clinical Trials

May 20, 2020

Unidos_Contra_El_Cancer_Clinical_Trials_Spanish_Ad

LOS ANGELES, May 20, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Actor and Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) Ambassador Jaime Camil has joined forces with cancer survivors in a new public service announcement (PSA) campaign to raise awareness with the Hispanic community about cancer clinical trials. The print and radio PSAs will enter the market beginning May 20 on International Clinical Trials Day.

The new PSA campaign comes on the heels of SU2C’s announcement earlier this year about its new Health Equity Initiative, which aims to accelerate and increase diversity in cancer clinical trials to ensure patients of all racial and ethnic backgrounds benefit equally from the potential of cancer treatments.

“Cancer affects everyone, yet only 4% of clinical trial participants are Hispanic,” says Camil. “I’m joining Stand Up To Cancer in honor of my uncle Raúl, who I lost to pancreatic cancer. This campaign gives me hope for everyone contending with this terrible disease, especially the Hispanic community, and I feel honored to stand alongside five cancer survivors who are here today because of the advances made through clinical trials.”

Clinical trials are critically important to developing better therapies for cancer patients and advancing cancer care. While clinical trials allow researchers to study innovative and potentially life-saving new treatments, they often have low participation by racial and ethnic minorities. This effort to grow participation aims to foster increased understanding of the biology of cancer, cancer genetics and advancements in technology, in order to attain comparable outcomes for all racial and ethnic populations.

“Jaime Camil is an inspiring voice to encourage clinical trial participation in honor of his uncle and with his wider Hispanic community in mind,” said Stand Up To Cancer CEO Sung Poblete, PhD, RN. “Increased participation of Hispanic and Latino patients in cancer clinical trials is critical to Stand Up To Cancer’s mission to get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives now. We are so thankful to Jaime for joining us and standing up alongside survivors to advance cancer care for all.”

The PSA encourages patients and their loved ones to visit StandUpToCancer.org/ClinicalTrials or UnidosContraElCancer.org/EnsayosClinicos to learn more about clinical trials and begin the conversation with their doctor to find out which clinical trial(s) may be right for them.

Visitors to StandUpToCancer.org/ClinicalTrials will find easy-to-understand content (in English and Spanish) explaining what clinical trials are, the benefits of participating, and what to expect if you or a loved one participates in a clinical trial. The website also provides a list of questions that can be printed for reference during discussions with a healthcare provider. Additionally, the site provides a free and confidential Clinical Trial Finder, allowing patients or their caregivers interested in finding an appropriate clinical trial to submit an online form, or call a toll-free number, to begin the process.

Camil played Rogelio de la Vega on the hit series Jane the Virgin, which garnered him two Critics Choice Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. His other acting credits include Las Pildoras De Mi Novio (My Boyfriend’s Meds), Coco and CBS’ comedy series Broke.

Cancer survivors who star in the PSA alongside Camil include Christian, 22 (leukemia); Ghecemy, 39 (breast and thyroid cancer); Jason, 34 (stomach cancer); Joe, 51 (colorectal cancer); and Jeanie, 78 (breast cancer).

Data has shown that Hispanic communities are disproportionally affected not only by cancer, but also by the COVID-19 pandemic. Stand Up To Cancer remains committed to serving the entire cancer community, and has developed resources to assist cancer patients and caregivers during this difficult time. To access these resources, visit StandUpToCancer.org/COVID19 or UnidosContraElCancer.org/COVID19.

To learn more, visit StandUpToCancer.org/ClinicalTrials and UnidosContraElCancer.org/EnsayosClinicos, and follow Stand Up To Cancer on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @SU2C.

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, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, was established in 2008 by media and entertainment leaders who utilize these communities’ resources to engage the public in supporting a new, collaborative model of cancer research, to increase awareness about cancer prevention, and to highlight progress being made in the fight against the disease. As of January 2020, more than 1,600 scientists representing more than 180 institutions are involved in SU2C-funded research projects.

Under the direction of our Scientific Advisory Committee, led by Nobel laureate Phillip A. Sharp, Ph.D., SU2C operates rigorous competitive review processes to identify the best research proposals to recommend for funding, oversee grants administration, and ensure collaboration across research programs.

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

For more information, visit StandUpToCancer.org.

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SOURCE Unidos Contra El Cáncer

CIT Provides $37.3 Million Investment for Jordan Downs Apartment Project

May 20, 2020

PASADENA, California, May 20, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — CIT and its Pasadena-based banking subsidiary CIT Bank, N.A. today announced a $37.3 million investment in the Jordan Downs Apartments Project, a 92-unit multifamily apartment complex to support low-to-moderate income families in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles.

“During these challenging times, our communities need affordable housing more than ever,” said Steve Solk, president of Consumer Banking. “Our financial commitment to the Jordan Downs Apartment Project will help break down barriers and spark transformative change across the Watts neighborhood.”

Jordan Downs is the third phase of a larger redevelopment project taking place to improve the area. Of the 92 units, the complex will include 23 one‐bedroom units, 41 two‐bedroom units, 24 three‐bedroom units and 4 four‐bedroom units. Seventeen apartments will be designated for residents with physical disabilities and hearing or visual impairments.

“Providing essential housing that is inclusive and suits diverse needs enables local residents from all backgrounds to improve their quality of life,” continued Solk. “CIT is proud to play a key role in supporting the development of this project and the overall wellbeing of local residents.”

The project is currently slated for completion in early 2022 and units will be available to households earning between 30% and 80% of the area’s median income. CIT anticipates making further investments in the Watts community later this year, including the possibility of opening a new branch in the area.

As part of the ongoing commitment to building stronger, more vibrant communities, CIT actively supports and invests in affordable housing, economic development, neighborhood stabilization and core community services across our footprint.

About CIT
CIT is a leading national bank focused on empowering businesses and personal savers with the financial agility to navigate their goals. CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT) is a financial holding company with over a century of experience and operates a principal bank subsidiary, CIT Bank, N.A. (Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender). The company’s commercial banking segment includes commercial financing, community association banking, middle market banking, equipment and vendor financing, factoring, railcar financing, treasury and payments services, and capital markets and asset management. CIT’s consumer banking segment includes a national direct bank and regional branch network. Discover more at cit.com/about.

MEDIA RELATIONS:
Olivia Weiss
212-771-9657
[email protected]

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SOURCE CIT Group Inc.

Canada Life Reinsurance enters into major longevity risk reinsurance agreement with NN Life

May 20, 2020

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, May 20, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Canada Life Reinsurance is pleased to announce that it has entered into a long-term longevity reinsurance agreement with NN Life covering €5.3 billion of in-force liabilities. Close to 82,000 of in-payment defined benefit pensioners will be reinsured by Canada Life Reinsurance under this agreement.

Jeff Poulin, Global Head of Canada Life Reinsurance said this agreement is another example of Canada Life Reinsurance’s strength as a partner for reinsurance longevity transactions globally.

“I’m pleased that despite a significantly altered work environment due to Covid-19, Canada Life Reinsurance and NN Life’s teams worked together to complete this major transaction,” said Poulin. “It will allow us to further expand and diversify our global longevity business in 2020 and beyond.”

Derek Popkes, Chief Operating Officer at Canada Life Reinsurance, agreed, adding, “Canada Life Reinsurance remains focused on delivering for our clients in these challenging times. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with NN Life. Our commitment to the Dutch market and our strong financials make us a good partner in the Netherlands.”

Canada Life Reinsurance offers a range of innovative risk and capital management solutions for life, health and non-life risk to insurers, reinsurers and pension funds globally.

About NN Life
NN Life is a subsidiary of NN Group. NN Group is an international financial services company, active in 18 countries, with a strong presence in a number of European countries and Japan. With all its employees, the Group provides retirement services, pensions, insurance, investments and banking to approximately 18 million customers. NN Group includes Nationale-Nederlanden, NN, NN Investment Partners, ABN AMRO Insurance, Movir, AZL, BeFrank and OHRA. NN Group is listed on Euronext Amsterdam (NN).

About Canada Life Reinsurance
Canada Life Reinsurance is a division of The Canada Life Assurance Company and includes certain of its subsidiaries and affiliates. The Canada Life Assurance Company is a subsidiary of Great-West Lifeco Inc.

About Great-West Lifeco Inc.
Great-West Lifeco is an international financial services holding company with interests in life insurance, health insurance, retirement and investment services, asset management and reinsurance businesses. We operate in Canada, the United States and Europe under the brands Canada Life, Empower Retirement, Putnam Investments and Irish Life. At the end of 2019, our companies had approximately 24,000 employees, 197,000 advisor relationships, and thousands of distribution partners – all serving our more than 31 million customer relationships across these regions. Lifeco and its companies have over Can$1.5 trillion in consolidated assets under administration as of March 31, 2020 and are members of the Power Corporation group of companies. Lifeco trades on the Toronto (TSX) Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GWO. To learn more, visit greatwestlifeco.com.

CONTACT: Jeff Poulin, F.S.A., F.C.I.A., Global Head, Canada Life Reinsurance, T: +1 215 542 4322, [email protected]

SOURCE Canada Life Reinsurance

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