South American Soccer Titans Argentina And Chile To Face Off In First International Match Held At The Renovated Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

June 25, 2019

LOS ANGELES, June 25, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will play host to another historic event when South American soccer rivals Argentina and Chile clash on Thursday, September 5^th at 7 p.m. in a friendly international match. This will be the first international soccer game played at the renovated stadium, which underwent a multi-million-dollar makeover. The two countries feature some of the best and most recognizable players in the world and will face each other for the first time in the United States since the 2016 Copa America Centenario when Chile defeated the Argentine squad 4-2 on penalty kicks.

Hit Song® Productions, a U.S.-based subsidiary of Champagne Productions Corporation (Canada), is proudly presenting this powerhouse game that will include a half-time show featuring the debut of HSP’s first worldwide music single release.

Rodger Champagne, owner and CEO had this to say about the event: “We couldn’t be more excited about this incredible soccer match between two soccer giants, Argentina and Chile, along with our very first pop single release! We’re proud to launch the full U.S. operations of Hit Song® Productions at this inaugural mega sporting and entertainment event and establish ourselves as a world-class brand.”

In addition, HSP is leaving a positive social impact and has partnered with several charities who will be direct beneficiaries of fund-raising efforts during the event. These include Homeboy Industries, Operation Smile and local soccer clubs in the Los Angeles area. Plus, one lucky local club will get the opportunity to escort some of the players onto the field for the pre-game ceremony through the Soccer Club Ticket Challenge.

Family-friendly priced tickets for this historic international match start at $25 and are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com. For updates and further information visit HitSongProductions.com, and be part of the action following @hitsongpro across Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

SOURCE Hit Song Productions

15th Annual Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report® Ranks U.S. Cities with the Safest Drivers

June 25, 2019

NORTHBROOK, Illinois, June 25, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Brownsville, Texas, has the safest drivers in America for the second year in a row, according to the 2019 Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report^®.ⁱ Released in advance of July Fourth, the deadliest day on U.S. roadsⁱⁱaccording to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the 15th annual report aims to start a national dialogue around the critical issue of roadway safety, celebrating the top-ranked cities’ drivers as an example for other communities.

Top 10 safest driving cities on the 2019 Allstate America's Best Drivers Report.

The America’s Best Drivers Report ranks the 200 largest U.S. cities by collision frequency based on Allstate claims data to determine which have the safest drivers. For the first time, Allstate also tapped into its claims data to uncover the “Risky Roads” with the most collisions in the bottom 15 cities to help those drivers be extra vigilant, while also advocating for infrastructure improvements.

“The goal of the America’s Best Drivers Report is to make our roads safer and ultimately save lives,” said Ken Rosen, Allstate’s Chief Claims Officer. “Each of us needs to ask how we can do our part in our day-to-day lives and for our communities. And beyond that, this country needs to come together to address pressing safety issues, such as rebuilding our roadway infrastructure to reduce risky conditions on America’s roads.”

These are the 15 safest driving cities in America:

2019 Top 15 U.S. Cities	Avg. Years Between Collisions (National avg.: 10.57)	2018 Rank
1. Brownsville, Texas	14.95	1
2. Boise, Idaho	13.65	3
3. Huntsville, Alabama	13.39	4
4. Kansas City, Kansas	13.21	2
5. Laredo, Texas	13.02	6
6. Olathe, Kansas	12.66	11
7. Fort Collins, Colorado	12.60	9
8. Overland Park, Kansas	12.44	13
9. McAllen, Texas	12.42	10
10. Cape Coral, Florida	12.24	8
11. Madison, Wisconsin	12.18	5
12. Cary, North Carolina	12.02	14
13. Colorado Springs, Colorado	12.01	20
14. Port St. Lucie, Florida	11.84	12
15. Scottsdale, Arizona	11.63	16

To mark the report’s 15th anniversary, Allstate for the first time studied its collision claim counts for streets in the 15 bottom-ranked cities to determine which roads Allstate data reveals to have more crashes. Encouraging drivers to take extra caution traversing these “Risky Roads,” the addition also urges Americans to advocate for roadway safety issues having to do with infrastructure, distractions and traffic flow.ⁱⁱⁱ

Bottom 15 U.S. Cities	“Risky Roads”
200. Baltimore, Maryland	Highway 695
199. Washington, D.C.	Highway 295
198. Boston, Massachusetts	Route 93
197. Worcester, Massachusetts	Main Street
196. Glendale, California	134 Freeway
195. Los Angeles, California	405 Freeway
194. Springfield, Massachusetts	Interstate 91
193. Providence, Rhode Island	Route 95
192. Alexandria, Virginia	Richmond Highway
191. Oakland, California	Highway 880
190. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Roosevelt Boulevard
189. San Francisco, California	Highway 101
188. Baton Rouge, Louisiana	Interstate 10
187. Pasadena, California	210 Freeway
186. Hayward, California	Highway 880

Each year, Allstate and industry resource IIHS partner to urge all drivers to be especially safe leading up to July Fourth.

“Whether it’s a holiday trip or a routine drive to work, safety should always be along for the ride,” said IIHS president Dr. David Harkey. “The best drivers buckle up on every trip, obey the speed limit and never drive while impaired or distracted. If everyone followed these rules, we would have fewer crashes, injuries and deaths every day of the year.”

From taking a stand on mandatory seat belts in the 1960s to advocating for air bags to be standard in all vehicles in the 1970s, Allstate has a history of leading the charge to make the country’s roads safer. Since the first America’s Best Drivers Report in 2005, Allstate has continued to tackle this vital community issue:

X the TXT^® (2009): A national Allstate movement to raise awareness of the dangers of texting while driving. In its 10th year, the program has resulted in millions of families and individuals pledging to put their phones down while behind the wheel.
Graduated Driver Licensing Law (GDL) (2009) & Save 11^® (2010): Allstate led the push for national GDL legislation to save an average of 11 teen lives per day from car crashes. The goal of reducing teen crashes was achieved by 2012, and work continues on state-level GDL advocacy.
Drivewise^® (2010): Allstate launched its innovative telematics program to provide real-time driving feedback and reward safe driving, and the company was the first to offer telematics on a mobile platform when the Drivewise app was introduced in 2014. Drivewise rewards are based on proven indicators of safe driving, including braking, speed, time of day and, in some states, mileage – the safer you drive, the more you can earn.

The America’s Best Drivers Report has evolved over the past 15 years, including standardizing cities’ rankings when accounting for population density and average annual precipitation, and using Drivewise telematics data to analyze the correlation between hard braking and collisions. During that time, there have been many notable developments nationally and locally:

Safer roads: U.S. car collisions have decreased overall despite increases in 2015 and 2016.^iv
Holding steady: The average driver in top-ranked cities still gets in a collision about once every 15 years.
Winners circle: Only five cities have earned the No. 1 spot, and all are west of the Mississippi River: Cedar Rapids, Iowa (2005), Sioux Falls, South Dakota (2006-09, 2012), Fort Collins, Colorado (2010-11, 2013-14), Brownsville, Texas (2016, 2018-19), and Kansas City, Kansas (2015, 2017).
Coast-to-coast: Generally, top-ranked cities are less densely populated and in the Western U.S., while many bottom-ranked ones were established earlier in U.S. history, which often means they have older infrastructure.
Trending: With the highest city population, New York is on an upward trend, from 173rd in 2005 to 111th this year, and the 2019 No. 1 safest driving city, Brownsville, Texas, also achieved major improvements after ranking 49th in 2005.

Understanding the risks that can cause crashes and impact city drivers’ safety is critical. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, preventable human factors, like drunk, distracted and drowsy driving, speeding and failure to use safety features, contribute to 94% of crashes.^vThe Allstate Blog has tips to help keep drivers and their communities safe:

Always keep your eyes on the road, stay vigilant and minimize distractions like cellphones.
Obey the speed limit and give yourself enough time to safely get where you’re going.
Ensure everyone in the vehicle is buckled up on every trip.
Never drive while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
Leave plenty of distance between you and other vehicles, including changing lanes when vehicles are stopped on the side of the road. The faster you’re going, the more room you need to stop safely.
Be sure to have an emergency roadside safety kit with caution signs and flares, and have a roadside service lined up for when you need a tow. Allstate Roadside Assistance provides options for coverage whether you’re in need now, want to add it to your auto policy or you’re interested in roadside membership.

Check out the newly redesigned Allstate.com/BestDriversReport for an interactive map and full results for this year, as well as historical data. To join the community safe-driving conversation, like and follow the Good Driving Starts Young Facebook page.

ⁱThe Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report^® is the result of an in-depth examination of company auto claims data to determine the likelihood that drivers in America’s 200 most populous cities will experience a vehicle collision compared to the national average. According to Allstate claims data, the average driver in the U.S. will experience a collision once every 10.57 years. This year, Allstate researchers analyzed property damage claims reported during the two-year period of January 2016 to December 2017. The report defines a collision as any auto crash resulting in a property damage claim and uses U.S. Census Bureau data to determine America’s 200 largest cities. Hard-braking data is based on customers voluntarily enrolled in Allstate’s Drivewise^® telematics program in 2016-2017. Some cities and their surrounding suburbs in the full 200 Best Drivers rankings are excluded from hard-braking analysis due to limited measurable Drivewise data or because Drivewise was not available (California, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas). Allstate’s auto policies represent approximately 10% of all U.S. auto policies, making this report a realistic snapshot of what’s happening on America’s roadways. The Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report is produced solely to boost the country’s discussion about safe driving and to increase awareness of the importance of being safe and attentive behind the wheel. The report is not used to determine auto insurance rates.

Allstate found a correlation between hard braking and collision frequency. Drivers in cities with fewer hard-braking events per 1,000 miles tend to have fewer property damage claims. Nationally, the average American driver will experience approximately 19 hard-braking events for every 1,000 miles driven.

ⁱⁱInsurance Institute for Highway Safety, Fatality Facts 2017, https://www.iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/yearly-snapshot

ⁱⁱⁱ“Risky Roads” were determined by analyzing Allstate auto collision claim data related to driving in traffic with other motorists on roads within city limits during the two-year period of January 2016 to December 2017. Roads outside of the bottom 15 ranked cities in the 2019 Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report were not analyzed.

^ivNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities in 2018

^vNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. DOT Announces Steep Increase in Roadway Deaths Based on 2015 Early Estimates and Convenes First Regional Summit to Drive Traffic Safety Behavior Changes

"Risky Roads" - Highway 695, Baltimore, MD

"Risky Roads" - Highway 295, Washington, D.C.

"Risky Roads" - Route 93, Boston, MA

"Risky Roads" - Main Street, Worcester, MA

"Risky Roads" - 134 Freeway, Glendale, CA

"Risky Roads" - 405 Freeway, Los Angeles, CA

"Risky Roads" - Interstate 91, Springfield, MA

"Risky Roads" - Route 95, Providence, RI

"Risky Roads" - Richmond Highway, Alexandria, VA

"Risky Roads" - Highway 880, Oakland, CA

"Risky Roads" - Roosevelt Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA

"Risky Roads" - Highway 101, San Francisco, CA

"Risky Roads" - Interstate 10, Baton Rouge, LA

"Risky Roads" - 210 Freeway, Pasadena, CA

"Risky Roads" - Highway 880, Hayward, CA

Allstate logo. (PRNewsFoto/Allstate Insurance Company) (PRNewsFoto/)

SOURCE Allstate

Toyota Announces North American Executive Leadership Changes

June 24, 2019

Cooper Ericksen named group vice president, product planning and strategy at Toyota Motor North America, effective August 5, 2019

PLANO, Texas, June 24, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) today announced that Cooper Ericksen will be promoted to group vice president, product planning and strategy, effective Aug. 5. He will be responsible for product planning, pricing, cross carline technology and advanced product strategy.

Ericksen has been with Toyota since 1991, serving most recently as vice president, TMNA cross carline, alt fuels and Lexus product planning. His previous roles have included vice president of marketing for the Lexus Division, and vice president and corporate manager of vehicle marketing and communications at TMNA. Ericksen also has experience working in several of Toyota’s regional offices, including Central Atlantic, San Francisco, Portland and Boston.

He will report to Bob Carter, executive vice president, sales.

Ericksen will replace Andrew Coetzee, who plans to retire on Aug. 2 after 31 years of service to Toyota. Coetzee’s vast contributions to Toyota include helping to form, and being the first leader of, the Product Planning group, which strengthened the collaboration between the longer-range focus of Advanced Product Strategy and Vehicle Planning.

The following manufacturing changes will take effect on July 1, 2019:

Mike Bafan will take on a new assignment as chairman of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Baja California (TMMBC) and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Guanajuato (TMMGT) in addition to his responsibility as president, Toyota de Mexico. He currently serves as president of TMMBC and TMMGT.

Oscar Quijada will be promoted to president, TMMBC, from his current position of vice president, manufacturing.

Francisco Garcia will be promoted to president, TMMGT, from his current position of vice president, manufacturing.

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. and North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands. During that time, Toyota has created a tremendous value chain as our teams have contributed to world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 38 million cars and trucks in North America, where we have 14 manufacturing plants, 15 including our joint venture in Alabama (10 in the U.S.), and directly employ more than 47,000 people (over 36,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold 2.8 million cars and trucks (2.4 million in the U.S.) in 2018.

Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.

Media Contact:

Karen Nielsen
469-292-2659
[email protected]

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/927739/2019_Cooper_Ericksen_01.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/439685/Toyota_Corp_Red_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Toyota Motor North America

Uptake Announces Award Offering Free Fleet Management Solution for Five Public Sector, Nonprofit or Social Impact Organizations

June 24, 2019

CHICAGO, June 24, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Uptake, leader in industrial artificial intelligence (AI), has launched the ECO FUTURE AWARD to offer fleet management software free to five public sector, nonprofit or social impact organizations that aim to reduce their environmental impact. The winning organizations will receive Uptake’s fleet management optimization solution for eighteen months, as well as mentorship from Uptake.org, the philanthropic and civic innovation arm of Uptake, which is using data science and machine learning to address the world’s most pressing problems

“One of the initiatives of Uptake.org is to address the reality that often the organizations that can benefit most from predictive insight are those with limited technology resources,” said Brad Keywell, Uptake’s CEO. “Uptake’s fleet optimization products ensure that critical vehicles — ambulances, for example, as well as vehicles of organizations like the American Red Cross — are reliable and not subject to unexpected failure. With Uptake.org, the Uptake team shares our solutions for societal good, and this offer of our Asset IO software is another step on our journey of impact.”

By deploying Asset IO for Good, organizations can lower operational costs through advance insight of vehicle component failure as well as optimized fuel management. With the additional benefit of reducing carbon emissions. Uptake.org is delivering the value of predictive analytics to the social sector. Applications will be accepted until September 6 at https://www.uptake.org/award.

“We have partnered with Uptake to put telematics devices on many of our fleet vehicles. This allows us to see where our vehicles are, where they’ve been, and when they’ll need maintenance, so we can respond even quicker,” said Jim McGowan, Director of Information Management & Situational Awareness at the American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois.

Uptake’s Asset IO software uses artificial intelligence (AI) to create business value from operational data. Traditional asset management only covers routine maintenance tasks. Today’s asset-intensive environments require a new approach with industrial data science generating OEM-agnostic insights, predictions and recommendations for any asset. The result is higher uptime of critical equipment, lowered operations cost and improved productivity.

Who Can Apply?
Any organization or person that is managing the vehicular fleet for public sector, nonprofit or social-impact organization and wants to track, analyze and reduce fleet emissions is encouraged to apply.

How to Apply
Apply online at https://www.uptake.org/award by September 6.

ABOUT UPTAKE.ORG
Uptake.org believes in a world where organizations of all types and sizes are equipped to leverage the power of data to make an impact. We develop data-driven technology solutions designed to drive change. We create applications that nonprofits, social enterprises, government agencies, and foundations can use to take action to increase fleet operations productivity, reliability, efficiency and safety. Learn more at https://www.uptake.org

ABOUT UPTAKE
Uptake is a leading provider of artificial intelligence and IoT software for industrial companies. We combine data analytics and machine learning with deep industry knowledge to create valuable productivity, reliability, efficiency and safety outcomes. A CNBC Disruptor 50 company, Uptake has headquarters in Chicago with presence in Silicon Valley, Washington D.C., Toronto, Melbourne and Dubai. Uptake is used by global industrial customers of all sizes to leverage data, creating newfound efficiencies and competitive advantages. Visit us at www.uptake.com

Contacts:
Leah Siskind, Director Uptake.org
[email protected]

John Gallagher, Chief Communications Officer
[email protected]

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/677190/Uptake_R_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Uptake

Rossi, Honda Reign at Road America

June 24, 2019

Driving the #27 Andretti Autosport Honda (right), Alexander Rossi sweeps across the front of pole qualifier and fellow Honda driver Colton Herta to take the lead in today’s REV Group Grand Prix at Road America. Rossi went on to dominate today’s NTT IndyCar Series race for his second win of the season, and the fifth for a Honda driver.

ELKHART LAKE, Wisconsin, June 23, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Alexander Rossi dominated today’s REV Group Grand Prix at Road America, leading every lap but one to crush the 23-car NTT IndyCar Series field for his second win of 2019, bringing him within seven points of the drivers’ championship lead. Honda increased its lead in the Manufacturers’ Championship contest while scoring its fifth win of the season.

Starting second, Rossi swept across the nose of Honda-powered pole qualifier Colton Herta to complete an outside pass as the pair entered the tight right-hand Turn 3 on the opening lap, and never looked back after taking the lead. Once in front, Rossi continued to build his advantage throughout the 55-lap event, heading the field by eight seconds just prior to the first round of pit stops; building that margin to 16 seconds by the second round, and eventually romping to a winning margin of more than 28 seconds in the caution-free event.

Rossi surrendered the lead only once, during the final round to pit stops on Lap 40, to fellow Honda driver Graham Rahal, who elected to run one additional lap prior to making his final stop.

For his part, Rahal spent the second half of the race in a multi-car fight over the third place. While Will Power ran a relatively uncontested second for the final 20 laps, Rahal battled championship leader Josef Newgarden and fellow Honda drivers Herta, James Hinchcliffe, Scott Dixon and Felix Rosenqvist for the final podium spot. With Herta on a different tire strategy throughout the race, the order shuffled several times in the closing laps before Newgarden held on to third by 1.5 seconds over Rahal.

Recovering from opening lap contact and a spin that dropped him to the rear of the field, defending series champion Dixon fought his way back to a fifth-place finish, followed by his Chip Ganassi Racing teammate, Rosenqvist. A slide in Turn 5 from Herta on Lap 53 cost both the rookie and Hinchcliffe, as Hinchcliffe finished finished seventh and Herta eighth.

Social media content and video links from this weekend’s Honda IndyCar Series action from Road America are available on the HPD Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/HondaRacingHPD) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/HondaRacing_HPD) channels. Produced by the Carolinas Production Group, YouTube video packages can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/HondaRacingHPDTV.

Next
After a run of six races in the last seven weeks, the NTT IndyCar Series now takes its first extended break of the season, with two weekends off before resuming July 14 with the Honda Indy Toronto, held on the Exhibition Place street circuit in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Quotes
Alexander Rossi (Andretti Autosport Honda) Started second, finished first; second IndyCar win of 2019; remains second in the drivers’ championship standings, closing to within seven points of the lead: “These guys [on his team], what they did overnight after seeing what we were missing yesterday in qualifying, was phenomenal. To turn things around today was sensational. Huge thanks to the NAPA Andretti Honda team. Man, I mean, after thinking about it a bit, I think that was the best race car today I’ve ever driven. It was a win we needed. We’ve been there or thereabouts [with a string of podium results], but the other guys were getting the upper hand on us. To be able to go out and win a race the way we did [today] stated our intentions [to fight for the championship].”

Graham Rahal (Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda) Started fifth, finished fourth: “It’s just super competitive right now. Josef [Newgarden] and I, I think we both pushed as hard as we could the whole time [fighting for third place]. I don’t think I’ve driven 55 harder laps around this place before. But in this series, it’s just that way. You’ve got to push all the time. I’ve very pleased for the Gehl team to come out of here with fourth. I thought we might be able to come out of here with a podium; I think we were a little bit quicker than Josef, but just getting the [pass] done was a little hard. Pleased with where we finished, but still have a little more work to do. Onward we go to Toronto.”

Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) Started 12^th, fell to last after opening lap contact and spin; finished fifth: “I think had we not had that issue at the start, getting turned around [following contact at Turn 5] and losing 10 or so seconds, we may have been fighting for the podium today with the PNC Bank car. We had to kind of work our way back to the front all day. It is what it is, though. It happened and all you can do is put your head down and start to gain back that time. It’s just been one of those years to this point. You just have to keep your head down and keep working hard. Congrats to [Alexander] Rossi and good job by Honda.”

Ted Klaus (president, Honda Performance Development) on today’s victory for Honda and Alexander Rossi at Road America: “It was an amazing result for the Powered by Honda teams. The power of Honda was clearly evident in a dominant performance by Andretti Autosport and Alexander, who earned the victory today, which he has deserved for a while now. I also want to commend gritty performances by both Scott [Dixon] and Colton [Herta] under adverse circumstances, and we don’t want to lose sight of an inspiring drive by Graham [Rahal] during Rahal Letterman Lanigan’s weekend of celebration marking the 25th anniversary of Honda in IndyCar competition. Next up is the Honda Indy Toronto, and we’ll be looking to duplicate today’s results there.”

NTT IndyCar Series REV Group Grand Prix
Circuit:	Road America (4.0-mile road course) Elkhart Lake, Wis
2018 Winner:	Josef Newgarden (Team Penske) 132.101 mph average
Weather:	Partly sunny, mild, 69 degrees F

Top-10 Race Results:
Fn.	St.	Driver	Team	Manufacturer	Laps	Notes
1.	2.	Alexander Rossi	Andretti Autosport	Honda	55	132.894 mph average
2.	3.	Will Power	Team Penske	Chevrolet	55	+28.4391 seconds
3.	4.	Josef Newgarden	Team Penske	Chevrolet	55	186.084 mph average
4.	5.	Graham Rahal	Rahal Letterman Lanigan	Honda	55
5.	12.	Scott Dixon	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda	55
6.	18.	Felix Rosenqvist-R	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda	55
7.	9.	James Hinchcliffe	Arrow Schmidt Peterson	Honda	55
8.	1.	Colton Herta-R	Harding Steinbrenner Rcg	Honda	55
9.	5.	Simon Pagenaud	Team Penske	Chevrolet	55
10.	6.	Takuma Sato	Rahal Letterman Lanigan	Honda	55
Other Honda Results
11.	15.	Ryan Hunter-Reay	Andretti Autosport	Honda	55
12.	7.	Sebastien Bourdais	DCR with Vasser-Sullivan	Honda	55
13.	17.	Marcus Ericsson-R	Arrow Schmidt Peterson	Honda	55
15.	19.	Jack Harvey	Meyer Shank Racing	Honda	55
18.	14.	Zach Veach	Andretti Autosport	Honda	54	Running
19.	21.	Santino Ferrucci-R	Dale Coyne Racing	Honda	54	Running
23.	10.	Marco Andretti	Andretti Autosport	Honda	18	Did not finish – mechanical

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/927252/abbott_RoadAm_0619_8455.jpg

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/83597/honda_performance_development__inc__honda_racing_logo.jpg

SOURCE Honda Racing/HPD

Hispanic Public Relations Association Announces Call-For-Entries For The 2019 HPRA National BRAVO! Awards

June 24, 2019

NEW YORK, June 24, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Hispanic Public Relations Association (HPRA) today announced the call-for-entries for the highest accolade in Hispanic communications – the HPRA National BRAVO! Awards. Hosted in New York City for the fifth consecutive year, the 2019 National BRAVO! Awards celebrate the best corporate, agency, and non-profit PR and marketing teams, and the breakthrough work they produced. NEW this year is the addition of two categories recognizing work executed in Latin America and B2B communications. The event is made possible in part by the generous contribution of Moet Hennessy USA, Univision, Havas FORMULATIN, Cision and HispanicAd.com, who are returning sponsors of the awards.

“Recognizing the work being done within our industry is instrumental in showcasing the impact public relations has in engaging the nearly 60 million Hispanics who live in the US and account for a sizable business opportunity for any organization,” said Andy Checo, president of the HPRA National Board. “We look forward to the review process of work submitted by agencies and internal communications teams and hosting the industries’ top stakeholders during our annual celebration this coming fall.”

There are 18 categories available to enter for the HPRA National BRAVO! Awards including:

Technology
Healthcare/Nutrition
Fashion & Beauty
Food & Beverage
Public Education
Sports
New Product/Service Launch
Media Event
Integrated Marketing Communications
Non-Profit
Digital PR Program (Social Media Campaign)
Internal Communications
CSR Communications
Public Affairs
Latin America
B2B
Multicultural PR Program
Agency of the Year

How to Enter
All materials are required to be submitted digitally at https://hpra-usa.org/pages/entry-preparation/. Awards categories are open to all public relations, advertising, and marketing agencies, corporations, non-profit organizations and/or practitioners who practice in the United States, including Puerto Rico, as well as Latin America. Work must have been implemented between June 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019. All entries must be received by 5:00 p.m. PST on Wednesday, July 31, 2019 PST.

Entry fees and deadlines are as follows:
Early Bird Deadline – Ends July 12, 2019: HPRA Member $100, Non-members $175
Final Deadline – July 31, 2019: HPRA Members $150, Non-members $225

Entries will be judged by an unaffiliated panel of senior public relations professionals representing industry national organizations and trade publications. Entrants will be notified of results by September 13. Awards winners will be recognized at HPRA National BRAVO! Awards dinner at The Lotte New York Palace Hotel in NYC on Tuesday, October 15, 2019.

For more information about the awards program and to enter a submission, visit: https://hpra-usa.org/pages/bravo-awards/

For information about HPRA National BRAVO! Awards sponsorship opportunities, please contact the HPRA National Office at [email protected].

About the Hispanic Public Relations Association (HPRA)
Founded in 1984, the Hispanic Public Relations Association (HPRA) is the foremost organization of Hispanic public relations practitioners in the U.S. HPRA is a resource for communications professionals and for individuals seeking Hispanic market expertise. It is dedicated to the recognition and advancement of Hispanics in public relations through year-round programs, professional development seminars and networking. HPRA hosts one of the most anticipated annual events and industry awards: the HPRA Bravo Awards, recognizing the most outstanding campaigns in the marketplace. The national organization aims to meet the professional needs of the growing number of Hispanic PR practitioners, independents and agencies throughout the U.S. HPRA National, its Chapters and those Chapters in formation are paving the way for the next phase of growth and evolution in the PR industry, especially in the Hispanic market space. For more information please visit www.hpra-usa.org.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/379227/HPRA_BRAVO_Awards_logo.jpg

SOURCE Hispanic Public Relations Association (HPRA)

Pollo Campero Named “Emerging Partner of the Year” by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

June 24, 2019

DALLAS, June 24, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Pollo Campero, the Guatemalan restaurant chain known for its Flavorful Chicken Meals, was named “Emerging Partner of the Year” by ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, as the brand joined in the hospital’s efforts to understand, treat and defeat childhood cancer.

At an award ceremony held at the St. Jude campus on June 12, 2019, the organization recognized Pollo Campero for its support and corporate partnership. St. Jude also commended Pollo Campero’s commitment and efforts to further the hospital’s mission.

“Families come to St. Jude because they know we’ll do everything possible to save their child. Pollo Campero’s generosity has impacted those families directly – and we are so honored to recognize the hard work done by their leadership and employees,” said Evelyn Homs, Senior Vice President of Multicultural Marketing & Business Development at ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “As a beloved partner, they are more than just award-winning supporters — they are cherished members of our St. Jude family.”

Pollo Campero has a long history of supporting the fight against childhood cancer. For more than 20 years in Central America, the brand has worked with Ayuvi, one of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s Latin American partners, where it has raised more than $28 million to date. Since Pollo Campero’s arrival in the United States, it has shown its commitment to the people and communities it serves by supporting different initiatives at the local market level. Pollo Campero’s new partnership with St. Jude Children’s Hospital not only marks its first nationwide corporate social responsibility partnership, it aligns the brand’s efforts at a global level.

In all, since the launch of its campaign in the United States, Pollo Campero – its team members, franchisees and guests – have raised more than $95,000. “We are extremely proud to receive this important recognition from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,” said Luis Javier Rodas, Managing Director/COO of Campero USA Corp. “Our initial results were thanks to the hard work, dedication and commitment of the entire Pollo Campero team. We look forward to continuing our partnership and doing more to support the fight against childhood cancer, an effort that is near and dear to our hearts.”

About Pollo Campero
Pollo Campero is a fast-casual chicken restaurant brand specialized in flavorful chicken and a wholesome menu offering both individual and family meals. Our menu was developed using a combination of familiar and unique flavors in Pollo Campero’s hand-breaded, tender, juicy and crunchy traditional fried chicken, citrus flavor-infused grilled chicken and extra crunchy chicken that is always fresh and never frozen. Pollo Campero first opened its doors as a tiny, family-owned restaurant in Guatemala in 1971 with the goal of treating family and friends to its prized chicken recipe passed down from generation to generation. Today, there are more than 350 restaurants around the world and Campero is accelerating growth. To learn more about Pollo Campero visit us.campero.com. Follow the flavor on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/927255/Pollo_Campero_St_Jude.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/927254/Pollo_Campero_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Pollo Campero

Holistica, a new joint venture, innovates destination development for evolving world

June 24, 2019

Holistica_logo

MIAMI, June 24, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Two respected leaders in the travel and tourism industry, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: RCL) and privately-held ITM Group, are teaming to form a new destination company, to be called Holistica.

Holistica will create an inclusive model for destination development that works holistically – thus the name – to meet the needs of coastal communities, local governments, and land, sea, and air travelers.

“The continuing growth and rising popularity of cruise vacations make it clear that the sustainable development of coastal destinations, including the thoughtful evolution of existing ones, is in the travel industry’s best interest,” said Michael Bayley of RCL. “We have spent five decades learning what works and what doesn’t, and we know the potential of strategic development to deliver extraordinary guest experiences and meet the needs of local communities.”

Mauricio Hamui of ITM Group said: “A well-designed destination brings economic benefits to communities and cultural enrichment to travelers, while creating the least possible disruption to the human and natural environment. There is a way to do these projects inclusively, collaboratively, and sustainably – and those are the characteristics this new partnership is meant to embody.”

Holistica Destinations, Ltd. will be a 50-50 partnership between RCL and ITM Group. The partners have commenced a search for a CEO for the new company, which will be headquartered in Miami.

Holistica’s first project: a $275 million development in Freeport, The Bahamas, was originated by RCL and ITM and is currently under review by the Bahamian government. Centered on the regeneration of the Grand Lucayan resort, the project includes ambitious plans for local ownership, employment, job training, community investment and sustainable construction practices.

In addition to the Freeport project, the companies said the new venture will own and operate destinations in Costa Maya, Mexico; Roatan, Honduras; and Kumamoto, Japan. These projects, among others, will serve 8 million visitors annually, and be accessible to all travelers, including land and air vacationers and guests of multiple cruise lines. Holistica is also engaged in discussions regarding multiple existing and proposed destinations around the world.

“The timing is right for a venture of this type,” said Hamui. “A collaborative development approach, paired with meaningful private financial resources, gives local destinations the opportunity to grow the right way.”

Added Bayley: “Having more destinations, and developing them in a responsible manner, gives travelers greater vacation quality, and expands the landscape of available travel options as the tourism industry grows.”

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: RCL) is a global cruise vacation company that controls and operates four global brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara Club Cruises and Silversea Cruises. We are also a 50 percent joint venture owner of the German brand TUI Cruises and a 49 percent shareholder in the Spanish brand Pullmantur Cruceros. Together, these brands operate a combined total of 61 ships with an additional 15 on order as of March 31, 2019. They operate diverse itineraries around the world that call on all seven continents. Additional information can be found on www.rclcorporate.com.

Based in Cancun, ITM GROUP is a private Mexican company with more than 30 years experience developing high quality tourism and entertainment infrastructure, as well as real estate. It has built and operated more than six cruise ports in Mexico and the Caribbean, using the tailor-made sustainable technology needed to create, develop and consolidate integrated tourism destinations.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/927191/Holistica_logo.jpg

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/927192/Logo_ITM_Group.jpg

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/677715/RCL_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

Applications Open for Colgate-Palmolive’s Annual Haz la U™ Educational Grant Program

June 24, 2019

NEW YORK, June 24, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Colgate-Palmolive is now accepting applications for its annual Haz la U™ (“Make the U”) educational grant program, which will provide $100,000 to Hispanic high school students in partnership with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF). A total of 31 grants, ranging from $2,000 to $15,000, will be awarded to community-minded students across the U.S. who have demonstrated excellence in academics, volunteerism and leadership. Applications will be accepted through October 15, 2019.

For the last 10 years, the Haz la U™ program has supported the pursuit of higher education among the Latinx community through this grant program. “Colgate strongly believes that everyone deserves a future they can smile about, and we applaud the young leaders who celebrate their heritage and also give back to their communities,” said Greg Ross, General Manager of North America Oral Care at Colgate-Palmolive. “We’re honored to continue the Haz la U™ program with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and support its mission to empower Latinx communities and create leaders in the classroom and beyond.”

Released in tandem with the open-application period, Colgate shared an English– and Spanish-language documentary short of former Haz la U™ winner and recent college graduate Emanuel Cruz, highlighting his journey to educational success.

“We’re incredibly proud to continue our partnership with Colgate for the Haz la U™ program, which will provide educational assistance and encouragement to young Latinx students in America,” said Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO, Hispanic Heritage Foundation. “This program, and the Youth Awards as a whole, underline the importance of educational advancement within the Latinx culture and allow for young students to explore previously unavailable opportunities.”

For more information about Haz la U™ and application guidelines, visit Colgate.com/HazLaU or HHFYouthAwards.com

About Colgate-Palmolive
Colgate-Palmolive is a leading global consumer products company, tightly focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition. Colgate sells its products in over 200 countries and territories around the world under such internationally recognized brand names as Colgate, Palmolive, elmex, Tom’s of Maine, Sorriso, Speed Stick, Lady Speed Stick, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sanex, Elta MD, PCA Skin, Ajax, Axion, Fabuloso, Soupline and Suavitel, as well as Hill’s Science Diet and Hill’s Prescription Diet. For more information about Colgate’s global business, visit the Company’s web site at http://www.colgatepalmolive.com. To learn more about Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures® oral health education program, please visit http://www.colgatebsbf.com. CL-C

About HHF and LOFT
The Hispanic Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit originally established by the White House in 1988, inspires, prepares, positions and connects minority leaders in the classroom, community and workforce to meet America’s priorities. HHF also promotes cultural pride, accomplishment, and the great promise of the community through public awareness campaigns seen by millions. HHF is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has offices in Los Angeles, New York and the LOFT Institute is housed at Michigan State University. Follow Hispanic Heritage Foundation on Facebook and @HHFoundation on Twitter.

HHF’s award-winning LOFT leadership and workforce development program is divided into 10 “Tracks,” or industries including: Technology, Science, Healthcare, Engineering, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Education, Public Service, Media & Entertainment, and Latinas. Tens of thousands of students and young professionals are tracked and connected to each other as well as to mentors and resources; attend over 50 trainings, workshops, and Charlas hosted across the country; participate in creative initiatives; and placed into internships, mentorships, fellowships and full-time positions with Fortune 500 companies and government agencies. Visit www.loftinnovation.org or follow @LOFTinstitute on Twitter.

Video – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/926916/Colgate_HazLaU.mp4

SOURCE Colgate-Palmolive

Herta, Rossi Sweep Front Row for Honda in Road America Qualifying

June 24, 2019

Nineteen-year-old Colton Herta became the youngest IndyCar Series pole qualifier in the history of the sport on Saturday, and will lead the field to the green tomorrow in his Harding Steinbrenner Racing Honda for the REV Group Grand Prix at Road America in Wisconsin.

ELKHART LAKE, Wisconsin, June 23, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Nineteen-year-old Colton Herta became the youngest pole qualifier in IndyCar Series history today at Road America, and will lead the field to the green flag in Sunday’s REV Group Grand Prix in his Harding Steinbrenner Racing Honda.

Already Indy car’s youngest race winner – a mark he set in March at the Circuit of the Americas – Herta edged fellow Honda driver Alexander Rossi by just 0.1773 seconds around the four-mile Road America circuit in Saturday’s Firestone “Fast Six” final round of NTT IndyCar Series “knockout” qualifying to secure his historic pole.

Graham Rahal, the former holder of both youngest race and pole winner records prior to Herta, will start his Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda from fifth, with teammate Takuma Sato alongside in sixth as Honda driver’s claimed four of the top-six qualifying positions.

Although failing to advance to Fast Six final qualifying, Sebastien Bourdais will start his Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan Honda from seventh. James Hinchcliffe and Marco Andretti also advanced to the second qualifying round, and will start ninth and tenth, respectively. Although he advanced out of first-round qualifying, mechanical issues prevented defending series champion Scott Dixon from running in the second round, and he will start his Chip Ganassi Racing Honda from 12^th.

Live network television coverage of Sunday’s 55-lap REV Group Grand Prix, the 10^th round of the 2019 NTT IndyCar Series season, begins at 12 p.m. EDT Sunday on NBC.

Colton Herta (Harding Steinbrenner Racing Honda) Pole qualifier, first career IndyCar Series pole, youngest pole qualifier in Indy car history: “I’m so happy with how the day went. The #88 GESS Capstone Honda guys are all working so hard and so well together. The car was fast. This is the first time that we’ve had that edge in qualifying to go for pole, and I loved it. We really took advantage of it and got the best starting position for tomorrow. Now we’ll keep checking the weather [the possibility of rain is in the local forecast] and make changes accordingly so we can have a great race!”

Alexander Rossi (Andretti Autosport Honda) Qualified second: “It came down to the [final lap], but that’s the NTT IndyCar Series. It’s what we have week in and week out, and requires perfection from both the team and the driver. It was a good day, I think in general for the #27 NAPA Andretti boys – and congratulations to [pole qualifier] Colton [Herta], he did a good job. It’s unfortunate to miss out on the [championship] point [awarded to the pole winner] that we need. But that’s the way it is. We’re ahead of [main championship rival] Josef [Newgarden, on the starting grid] and we’ll try to keep it that way.”

NTT IndyCar Series REV Group Grand Prix

Circuit:	Road America (4.0-mile road course) Elkhart Lake, Wis.
2018 Winner:	Josef Newgarden (Team Penske) 132.101 mph average
Weather:	Sunny, mild, breezy, 73 degrees F

Top-12 Qualifying Results:

Ps.	Driver	Team	Manufacturer	Best Time	Notes
1.	Colton Herta-R	Harding Steinbrenner Racing	Honda	1:42.9920	140.306 mph average
2.	Alexander Rossi	Andretti Autosport	Honda	1:43.1693	+ 0.773 seconds
3.	Will Power	Team Penske	Chevrolet	1:43.3749	Fast Six final qualifier
4.	Josef Newgarden	Team Penske	Chevrolet	1:43.6036	Fast Six final qualifier
5.	Graham Rahal	Rahal Letterma n Lanigan	Honda	1:43.8077	Fast Six final qualifier
6.	Takuma Sato	Rahal Letterman Lanigan	Honda	1:43.8790	Fast Six final qualifier
7.	Sebastien Bourdais	DCR with Vasser-Sullivan	Honda	1:43.2989	2^nd round qualifying
8.	Spencer Pigot	Ed Carpenter Racing	Chevrolet	1:43.3083	2^nd round qualifying
9.	James Hinchcliffe	Arrow Schmidt Peterson	Honda	1:43.3814	2^nd round qualifying
10.	Marco Andretti	Andretti Autosport	Honda	1:43.3945	2^nd round qualifying
11.	Ed Jones	Ed Carpenter Racing	Chevrolet	1:43.5162	2^nd round qualifying
12.	Scott Dixon	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda	No time	Mechanical issue Q2
Other Honda Results
14.	Zach Veach	Andretti Autosport	Honda	1:43.4488	1^st round, Group 2
15.	Ryan Hunter-Reay	Andretti Autosport	Honda	1:43.6980	1^st round, Group 1
17.	Marcus Ericsson-R	Arrow Schmidt Peterson	Honda	1:43.8913	1^st round, Group 1
18.	Felix Rosenqvist-R	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda	1:43.5038	1^st round, Group 2
19.	Jack Harvey	Meyer Shank Racing	Honda	1:44.6179	1^st round, Group 1
21.	Santino Ferrucci-R	Dale Coyne Racing	Honda	1:49.3060	1^st round, Group 1

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/927204/Honda_Racing_HPD_Colton_Herta.jpg

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/83597/honda_performance_development__inc__honda_racing_logo.jpg

SOURCE Honda Racing/HPD

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