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Acura Returns for Another Year of Celebrating Music and Arts at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

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Acura Returns for Another Year of Celebrating Music and Arts at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

TORRANCE, California, April 17, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Acura marks its 19th year as a sponsor of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, continuing the brand’s passionate support of the musical heritage of New Orleans. Acura also is the presenting sponsor and official automotive partner of Shorty Fest, the major fundraiser for the Trombone Shorty Foundation, on Thursday, May 3.

Acura Returns for Another Year of Celebrating Music and Arts at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

Acura will continue the tradition of hosting legendary musicians on The Acura Main Stage, or “Acura Stage,” at this year’s Jazz Fest, including Sting, Jimmy Buffet, Lionel Richie, Aerosmith, and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue. Festival attendees also will have the opportunity to visit the Acura Product Experience tent, where the brand’s full model lineup will be on display, as well as have the chance to win access to the exclusive Acura VIP Lounge and Acura Side Stage Passes. The exclusive Acura VIP Lounge is open both weekends – April 28-29th and May 5-6th.

“Music has always been an important component of the Acura brand and we are excited to return to New Orleans to support the incredible musicians and unique musical culture of this city,” said Jon Ikeda, vice president & general manager of Acura. “We are honored to continue our work with Troy ‘Trombone Shorty’ Andrews and his foundation to perpetuate New Orleans’ musical heritage through education, performance and mentorships.”         

Acura continues to work and collaborate with Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, an iconic singer, songwriter, bandleader, and founder of the Trombone Shorty Foundation (www.tromboneshortyfoundation.org). Through the foundation’s largest fundraiser of the year, Shorty Fest, Acura supports Trombone Shorty and his passion to empower New Orleans youth to succeed as professional musicians, and contribute to the perpetuation of the legendary sounds of the city. This year’s Shorty Fest will take place May 3 at the House of Blues New Orleans.          

Acura and Music
Music is important to the Acura brand, not only through its sponsorship of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, but in the in-product experience it provides to Acura drivers. The latest example is the 2019 Acura RDX, which made its world debut at the 2018 New York International Auto Show. The 2019 Acura RDX features the award-winning Panasonic ELS Studio 3D™ premium audio, delivering incredible range and a whole new listening experience with four roof-mounted speakers. The ELS Studio 3D™ audio was developed by Acura and Panasonic and tuned by Grammy-winning music producer, Elliot Scheiner.

Acura also incorporates music to enhance the energy and emotion in the brand’s marketing campaigns. Most recently, the 2018 Acura RLX featured the iconic American musician, James Brown and his song “Super Bad” served as the soundtrack to the campaign.

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival begins Friday, April 27 and runs through Sunday, May 6. For the full lineup of artists and more information on the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, visit www.nojazzfest.com.  

For More Information
Consumer information is available at http://www.acura.com. To join the Acura community on Facebook, visit http://www.facebook.com/acura. Additional media information including high-resolution photography is available at acuranews.com/channels/acura-automobiles.

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

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

About the Trombone Shorty Foundation:
The Trombone Shorty Foundation, founded by musician Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews in 2013, preserves and perpetuates the distinct musical heritage of New Orleans through music instruction, performance, business education, mentorship, and real-life experience – as part of a time-honored tradition to cultivate a vibrant community through music and tradition. Since launching, the foundation has grown from serving 15 students to 70 per year, preparing aspiring musicians from underserved New Orleans communities for success in music and life, moving the city’s culture forward and teaching real-world skills for success in the music industry. Shorty Fest, the foundation’s largest annual fundraiser, is a major draw during Jazz Fest week, and is known for featuring up and coming bands and showcasing the talents of the Academy students. Learn more at tromboneshortyfoundation.org.

Acura Returns for Another Year of Celebrating Music and Arts at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

   

Acura Logo.

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Millennials and the Tough Road Ahead

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PRINCETON, N.J., April 17, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Tens of millions of America’s nearly 80 million millennials, the diverse generation of Americans between roughly 16 and 34, are not positioned to thrive in today’s world in terms of their level of human capital. This is not an attack on millennials; we are failing many in this generation. As a result, there are significant economic and social consequences for those on the margins—and for all of us, according to the latest research from ETS.

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Based on analysis of data from the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), the authors of “Too Big to Fail: Millennials on the Margins” show that nearly half of America’s millennials—around 36 million—are attempting the transition to adult roles with low literacy skills, and more than half—about 46 million—are doing so with low numeracy skills.

In addition, according to the report authors, ETS researchers Anita Sands and Madeline Goodman, millennials with low skills are more likely to be unemployed, out of the labor force, working in low-skill occupations and earning low incomes, and are less likely to have health-care coverage than those with higher skills. Moreover, they are less likely than their higher-skilled peers to have trust in others, be civically engaged, and feel as though they can influence government.

The America millennials inherited was one undergoing a seismic shift. During the 1980s the United States was moving away from being a manufacturing economy with a fairly successful record of supporting a broad middle-class toward one increasingly reliant on a global supply chain. This shift impacted many facets of American life, not least of which is the nature of work and the need for higher level literacy and numeracy skills.

There are fewer sustainable economic opportunities available to those lacking higher-level skills. Work that is available to those with lower skills often carries risks: Many hourly jobs in the burgeoning services sector—where so many with low skills find employment—do not provide health insurance, retirement benefits, sustainable wages, or even reliable hours.

Making matters worse, while educational attainment rates—for both high school and many forms of postsecondary education—have increased, many young adults who have either obtained or are pursuing degrees still lack the necessary skills to advance economically. Furthermore, many students pursuing additional education are burdened by mounting debt for the post-secondary education they have received.

“These findings should shake us to our foundation,” said Sands. Goodman agreed saying, “They speak to our past in that they are in large part rooted in inequitable opportunities to acquire and develop human and, increasingly, social capital. And these findings speak to our future if we do not change course. Given what is known about how advantages and disadvantages compound over generations, the fate of so many millennials jeopardizes not only this critical cohort, but future generations.”

To download or read the complete report please visit: https://www.ets.org/research/report/opportunity-too-big-to-fail/preface.

About ETS
At ETS, we advance quality and equity in education for people worldwide by creating assessments based on rigorous research. ETS serves individuals, educational institutions and government agencies by providing customized solutions for teacher certification, English language learning, and elementary, secondary and postsecondary education, and by conducting education research, analysis and policy studies. Founded as a nonprofit in 1947, ETS develops, administers and scores more than 50 million tests annually — including the TOEFL® and TOEIC ® tests, the GRE ® tests and The Praxis Series® assessments — in more than 180 countries, at over 10,000 locations worldwide. www.ets.org

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SOURCE Educational Testing Service

sonnen Microgrid Brings Power, Shelter and Relief to a Farming Community in Puerto Rico

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LOS ANGELES and SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, April 17, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — sonnen, the global market leader in intelligent residential energy storage, today announced the commissioning of a solar + smart energy storage microgrid that brings energy security and sustainability to a community of rural farmers in Bartolo, a mountainous barrio in the Lares region of Puerto Rico. This microgrid, established by repurposing an abandoned school, provides housing for 14 families who lost their homes to Hurricane Maria six months ago.

The community of approximately 7,000 residents is located in the mountainous barrio of Bartolo, mostly populated by coffee farmers who migrated to the region in the 18th century.  With most land ownership being passed down through generations via handshake agreements and no legal paper trail, many area residents do not qualify for FEMA grant money. In the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria, Centros de Apoyo Mutuo has been rebuilding Puerto Rican communities across the island. By partnering with sonnen and Pura Energia to sustainably power a community hub for Lares, they are providing immediate and long-term relief for local residents and revitalizing the community.

The site is located at a school that has been shuttered since 2014, one almost all area residents had attended since its opening in the 1920s.  With assistance from Centros de Apoyo Mutuo, the community was able to convert classrooms into apartments to house 14 local families, which are powered by the sonnen microgrid. Remaining areas of the former school have been redesigned as a disaster relief and recovery center with the kitchen being used as a community food distribution center and the administrative offices being used as an art classroom. The grounds have been converted to a community garden that not only assists in feeding the community but also enables the creation of a trade school to teach sustainable farming practices. In addition, there are plans to open Puerto’s Rico’s first solar-powered café and theater on the site, which will be run by the local youth center. 

“The residents of Puerto Rico, despite insurmountable challenges, have shown great strength and resolve in the face of adversity. Lares is an incredible example of harnessing available resources to establish sustainable practices that will serve the community for years to come,” said Adam Gentner, sonnen’s Director of Business Development, Latin American Expansion. “The adoption of solar + storage to aid in Puerto Rico’s disaster relief and recovery is another example of implementing energy independent solutions that will aid the island and its communities regardless of what energy challenges they face in the future.”

The microgrid, installed in collaboration with sonnen’s local energy partner, Pura Energía, serves as a model for the resiliency created by solar + storage technologies, as it represents a fully off-grid site deep in a remote area of Puerto Rico.  In establishing the microgrid, sonnen donated a smart energy storage system, consisting of a sonnenBatterie eco 8 (4kw / 8kWh) and eco 16 (8kW / 16kWh), which was paired with a 9kW rooftop solar system provided by Pura Energía.  In developing the Lares project, sonnen was able to repurpose two sonnenBatterie units that had been providing short-term relief at previous microgrid sites.

“The recovery needs throughout Puerto Rico are constantly changing and by repurposing the sonnenBatterie units from the prior La Perla and Loiza sites, we are able to adapt to the long-term needs of the island and its residents,” said Gentner.

“This solar project is going to energize more than just the farmers and their families.  Our facilities will make jobs available for the area’s youth and will allow us to offer art therapy to help residents cope with the aftermath of the hurricane,” said Elisa Sanchez, site manager for the Lares community.  “Thanks to the incredible support of partners like sonnen, we are able to go beyond our primary goal of housing area families, but also restore a sense of community and culture.”

The community is the site of the eleventh microgrid system that sonnen and Pura Energía have installed on the island since Hurricane Maria struck in September 2017. Other microgrids have included community and relief centers, washing machines and laundromat centers, food distribution centers, two schools, and a primary healthcare clinic. All efforts and technology were donated by sonnen and Pura Energía via the del Sol Foundation for Energy Security, exceeding $350,000.

About sonnen
At sonnen, we believe clean, affordable, and reliable energy for all is one of the greatest challenges of our time. sonnen is a proven global leader in intelligent energy management solutions that provide greater energy control for residential customers through increased solar self-consumption, reduced peak energy usage and reliable backup power during outages – contributing to a cleaner and more reliable energy future. sonnen has won several awards for its energy innovations, including the 2018 Fast Company Most Innovative Companies in Energy, 2017 Zayed Future Energy Prize, MIT’s Technology Review’s 50 Smartest Companies in 2016, Global Cleantech 100 for 2015-2017, Greentech Media’s 2016 Grid Edge Award for innovation, and Cleantech’s 2015 Company of the Year Award in both Israel and Europe.

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SOURCE sonnen

Discovery en Español’s Original Game Show “DEBATE GOLEADOR” Puts Soccer Gurus To The Test

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DISCOVERY EN ESPAÑOL’S ORIGINAL GAME SHOW “DEBATE GOLEADOR” PUTS SOCCER GURUS TO THE TEST (PRNewsFoto/Discovery en Español)

MIAMI, April 17, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Less than two months away from one of the world’s most anticipated sport events, Discovery en Español presents DEBATE GOLEADOR, an original series where soccer knowledge takes center stage. The new production will premiere Monday, April 23 at 11pm ET/9pm PT.

DISCOVERY EN ESPAÑOL’S ORIGINAL GAME SHOW “DEBATE GOLEADOR” PUTS SOCCER GURUS TO THE TEST (PRNewsFoto/Discovery en Español)

DEBATE GOLEADOR is a 14 episode “game show” where five contestants are asked a variety of soccer related questions that will determine if they are eliminated or if they make it to the next round. A new player will join in every episode and the final five will compete to win a trip to the soccer world championship in Russia.

DEBATE GOLEADOR will feature special guests including Kikin Fonseca, Miguel “El Piojo” Herrera, Oswaldo Sánchez, and Luis “El Matador” Hernández. Latino participants from all over the country must answer a variety of questions ranging from specific soccer data such as historical dates, iconic players, or unique plays, to details on the most famous soccer stars of all time. Their soccer knowledge is put to the test in each question with only one goal in mind: make it to the final and win the all-paid expense trip to Russia. (Watch promo here).

DEBATE GOLEADOR is a Discovery en Español production headed by Michela Giorelli, Rafael Rodríguez, and Jimmy Herrera. It was produced by Nippur Media under the executive production of Gerardo Brandy and Martín Solmesky. For more information, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/discoveryenespanol, Twitter @DiscoveryenESP, and Instagram @discoveryenespanol.

About Discovery en Español

Discovery en Español connects Spanish-speaking viewers in the U.S. to the world and all its wonder and possibilities. It provides quality programming focusing on bold storytelling across core genres including adventure, ingenuity, natural history, investigation and current affairs. Created by Discovery Communications, Discovery en Español is widely distributed on Hispanic tier packages throughout the country. It also reaches audiences across screens on the ”Discovery en Español GO”TV Everywhere app. For more information, please follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/discoveryenespanol, Twitter @DiscoveryenESP and Instagram @discoveryenespanol.

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SOURCE Discovery en Español

Atrescine arrives in Panamá in April on Cable Onda

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LOGO - ATRESCINE

MADRID, April 17, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Atrescine, the new HD channel dedicated to Spanish cinema and addressed to the Hispanic market, is arriving in the Panamanian market in April, after signing its first distribution agreement with Cable Onda.

LOGO - ATRESCINE

With this new arrangement, the Panamanian provider will be the first to offer the entire portfolio of Atresmedia Internacional channels, along with Atrescine-, Antena 3 Internacional, Atreseries and ¡HOLA! TV.

“This agreement confirms the warm welcome we got from many operators when we announced the launching of this new signal, and it’s a source of particular satisfaction to us that Cable Onda is the first to carry us,” says Mar Martínez-Raposo, Director of Atresmedia Internacional.

The new signal is available to Cable Onda subscribers as of now on Plan PLay HD , HFC and at 244 on the dial. “At Cable Onda we make a point of offering our clients the best content, products and solutions, helping to improve their quality of life. Through Atrescine, we’re providing our subscribers with more than 7,000 titles of the best Spanish films. With this alliance, we’re reiterating our commitment to our subscribers, to offer them the most innovative experience available when it comes to entertainment,” said María del Carmen Arias, Assistant Director of Television at Cable Onda.

Atrescine is introducing itself this April to the Panamanian viewing public with some of the best-known titles in Spanish cinema, such as La Carta Esférica (‘The Spherical Map’), an adventure story in the authentic style of the great literary classics, directed by Imanol Uribe, based on the novel by Arturo Pérez-Reverte; La Buena Estrella (‘The Good Star’), starring Antonio Resines, Maribel Verdú and Jordi Mollà, is a romantic drama that won five Goya Awards; La Conjura de El Escorial (The El Escorial Conspiracy’), a historical drama that depicts the treachery of the King’s secretary, Antonio Pérez and the Princess of Éboli, set against the backdrop of the court of Philip II; and La Pasión Turca (‘Turkish Passion’), adapted and directed by Vicente Aranda, starring Ana Belén and based on the novel of the same name by Antonio Gala, tells the story of a young, unhappily married woman who, while traveling as a tourist in Turkey, abruptly succumbs to an overwhelming passion.

More than 7,000 titles of the best Spanish films

Atrescine was introduced at the last edition of NATPE in Miami, with the best catalogue of Spanish films of all time and all genres –more than 7,000 titles— as a result of its alliance with Video Mercury Films, the world’s largest distributor of Spanish films, and owner of more than 70% of all the movies produced in Spain. In addition, the new channel will also have the titles of Atresmedia Cine, a leading film producer, having taken in more than 30 million euros with nine feature films, and 31.8% of the box-office revenue from the Spanish film industry.

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SOURCE Atresmedia

Winning Students Earn Green for Being Green in Lexus Eco Challenge

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Winning Students Earn Green for Being Green in Lexus Eco Challenge

PLANO, Texas, April 17, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — It’s fashionable to be green, according to the Grand Prize winners of the 11th annual Lexus Eco Challenge competition. By creating jewelry and homemade candles from reusable materials, these students found creative ways to take their passion in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to a whole new level. 

Winning Students Earn Green for Being Green in Lexus Eco Challenge

More than 2,300 students in grades 6–12 participated in the Lexus Eco Challenge, an educational contest that empowers students to learn about the environment and take action to improve it. A total of $500,000 in scholarships and grants is awarded to the winning student teams, their teachers and schools. To learn more about the program and winners visit: www.scholastic.com/lexus.

Through the first two phases of the Lexus Eco Challenge, 32 middle and high school teams were selected as finalists. Each finalist earned a $10,000 prize to be shared among the team, teacher and school, and was invited to embark on the final challenge to reach beyond their local community to inspire environmental action. The teams communicated their innovative ideas to a wide audience in the last round, broadening the reach of their work to people outside of their communities.

Lexus and Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, reviewed the finalists’ innovative submissions and selected one middle and high school team as the 2017-2018 Lexus Eco Challenge Grand Prize winners. The Grand Prize-winning teams each receive an additional $30,000, divided into a $7,000 grant for the school, a $3,000 grant for the team’s teacher advisor, and $20,000 in scholarships for the students to share. Eight First Place-winning teams are awarded an additional $15,000 each.

This year’s high school Grand Prize-winning team is the “Enerjagers” from Saint Joseph Academy in Cleveland, Ohio. Enerjagers and teacher advisor Kristen Schuler focused on reusing materials and trash, which would otherwise find its way into a landfill. The students also produced 600 candles from old glassware, crayons and beeswax and distributed them to local residents. Team members of Enerjagers said they learned a lot about the environment while working on their project.

“Throughout the challenge, I learned that my daily choices make an environmental impact now and for future generations,” said Joslyn Muniz, 18, Enerjager team member. “My friends and family joined with me in making better choices in our daily lives to be more environmentally friendly.”  

Tatyjana Henry, 18, agreed with her classmate Joslyn that the Lexus Eco Challenge competition was a positive experience.

“I am so thankful for the opportunity to do something to improve the environment and raise awareness in our community,” she said.

The Grand Prize-winning middle school team was “Plastic Elastic 3.0” from Christa McAuliffe School (P.S. 28) in Jersey City, NJ, guided by teacher advisors Malissa Yabut and Robert O’Donnell. They explored and confronted the dangers of how microfibers work their way into our water supply and eventually into our food. They also created jewelry from recycled plastic bags and gave them as gifts to young students and local seniors.

“As an inner city Title I district, our students have access to an incredible educational support system that enables them to feel empowered with their own ideas and have the guidance they need to pursue their goals,” said Malissa Yabut, one of the group’s advisors. “On behalf of the students and school community of P.S.#28 in Jersey City, NJ, we extend our sincere gratitude and appreciation for all parties involved with the Lexus Eco Challenge.”

“It is the organization’s acknowledgement and support of our students’ work in environmental science that drives us all to do more to ensure the preservation and conservation of our local and global environment,” she added.

The Grand Prize- and First Place-winning teams that best addressed environmental challenges are listed below.

Final Challenge

State, City

School Name

Team Name

Project Summary

High School Grand Prize Winner

OH – Cleveland

Saint Joseph Academy

Enerjagers

Focused on reusing materials instead of utilizing the energy that goes toward recycling or tossing them into the trash. The students produced candles from old glassware, crayons, beeswax, and more, and got the word out about their actions.

High School First Prize Winners

NY – Jericho

Jericho High School

Powerfuels

The students forged partnerships with international organizations, collected trash in their community and shipped it to a facility to convert it into fuel (they aim to do this for the school district), produced a short film, hosted an event in New York City about their cause, and more.

TX – Dallas

School of Science and Engineering

3D Pneumatic
Aerator Creators

The team is working with civil engineers to finalize its own filtration systems and partnered with the former ambassador to Nepal and others to get mini-filter systems and educational materials to the region for safe drinking water practices.

NM – Farmington

Navajo Preparatory School

 Navajo Prep Flying Eagles

The Navajo Prep Flying Eagles focused on the needs of local communities that are dealing with high poverty. The students designed and built a prototype for a solar- and thermal-powered heating and cooling system that could be used in homes in an off-the-grid rural area (for which they foresee a global application).

WA – Redmond

Tesla STEM High School

Operation Sustain

Operation Sustain focused on climate education. The students partnered with a local university for help with improving the climate computer game they designed, and produced and implemented a new academic standards-based environmental science curriculum for elementary classrooms and more.

Middle School Grand Prize Winner

NJ – Jersey City

Christa McAuliffe School (P.S. 28)

Plastic Elastic
3.0

Students created a prototype filter to keep microfibers from traveling into bodies of water and conducted repeated tests on their filter in the hope of getting it installed at local laundromats. Additionally, the students made and distributed jewelry from upcycled plastic bags.

Middle School First Prize Winners

NY – Locust Valley

Locust Valley Middle School

Bottle Buddies

The students contacted local legislators about imposing a plastic bag usage fee, gave presentations, created a hip-hop song and video to get the word out, raised money for Puerto Rico’s hurricane relief, and more.

NJ – Jersey City

Christa McAuliffe School (P.S. 28)

Styro-Terminators

Students led a community “trash walk” to emphasize Styrofoam’s eco-dangers; created a Styro-digester, which uses beetle larvae to recycle Styrofoam and secured bins for their school to collect Styrofoam for upcycling or feeding to their beetle larvae. They also presented to the Board of Education about eliminating Styrofoam trays from their lunchroom.

CA – La Habra

Washington Middle School

WMS Tree Titans

Students planted trees in their community that were destroyed due to drought, invasive species, and other issues. The students estimate that their efforts will yield the planting of 160 trees this year at schools, parks and their local amphitheater. The team is sharing their ideas with contacts in Australia and Finland.

Middle School First Prize Winners

KY – Lexington

SCAPA at Bluegrass

The Hydro Heroes

The team organized a cleanup at a nearby creek that yielded nine bags of non-recyclable trash and nearly 23 pounds of recyclable cans and bottles from the water source. They partnered with several big corporations and spoke to legislators at their state capitol building about putting a statewide bottle-deposit system in place.

Over the past eleven years, the Lexus Eco Challenge has awarded more than $5 million in scholarships that has helped more than 33,000 middle and high school students have an impact on their communities, learn about the environment and improve their teamwork skills. 

The Lexus Eco Challenge also provides supplemental educational materials, created and distributed by Scholastic, to encourage teachers to integrate creative environmental lesson plans into their classrooms. For each year’s challenge, the website has lesson plans and teacher instructions, including questions to help guide a discussion about the current challenge topic, facts about the topic, and guidelines for a specific classroom project. 

The Lexus Eco Challenge is part of The Lexus Pursuit of Potential, a philanthropic initiative that generates up to $3 million in donations each year for organizations that help build, shape and improve children’s lives. 

Lexus will open the 12th annual 2018-2019 Lexus Eco Challenge this fall with $500,000 in prize money for eligible students, teachers and schools. Information on how students and teachers can participate in the “Land and Water” and/or “Air and Climate” challenges will be available this summer at www.scholastic.com/lexus.

Lexus’ passion for brave design, imaginative technology, and exhilarating performance enables the luxury lifestyle brand to create amazing experiences for its customers. Lexus began its journey in 1989 with two luxury sedans and a commitment to pursue perfection. Since then, Lexus has developed its lineup to meet the needs of global luxury customers in more than 90 countries. In the United States, Lexus vehicles are sold through 240 dealers offering a full lineup of luxury vehicles. With six models incorporating Lexus Hybrid Drive, Lexus is the luxury hybrid leader. Lexus also offers six F SPORT models and two F performance models. Lexus is committed to being a visionary brand that anticipates the future for luxury customers.

www.facebook.com/lexus 
www.twitter.com/lexus 
www.youtube.com/LexusVehicles 
https://plus.google.com/+Lexus/posts 
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Note to Editors: Lexus product information and images are available online via our news media web site http://LexusNewsroom.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Nancy Hubbell

Audrey Lundy       

469.292.4954

469.292.5103

[email protected] 

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Winning Students Earn Green for Being Green in Lexus Eco Challenge

 

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SOURCE Lexus

The District Of Columbia Launches The “Pledge To Be PrEPared” Campaign To Promote PrEP

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Una gran opción para nosotras La mejor opción para mí | A great option for us The best option for me

WASHINGTON, April 17, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — According to a 2017 report by the DC Department of Health (DOH) HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD and TB Administration (HAHSTA), 12,964 people residing in Washington D.C. live with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

For that reason, HAHSTA is launching the “Pledge to be PrEPared” campaign this month to educate the transgender community living in Washington D.C. about the importance of taking Preexposure Prophylaxis or PrEP.

PrEP is a pill taken once a day, and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that can prevent the HIV infection. Taken daily, PrEP is safe and over 90% effective at preventing HIV.

This unique campaign was created with the close participation of the Latin transgender community in Washington D.C. and Alexa Rodriguez, the Director of Trans-Latin@ DMV. It was developed based on HAHSTA’s ability to recognize the way the transgender community has been perceived in the past. The transgender representation is important to allow this community to communicate their values, their role in society, as well as their needs.

The transgender community participation in the campaign took place from the strategic planning and focus groups to the inclusion of real transgender Latina women in the promotional materials. This resulted in trusted messages in hopes of building trust among this community when deciding to take PrEP, as well as understanding its benefits.

“It’s important to educate the transgender community, as well as to break barriers and taboos about taking PrEP, and understand the real benefits of taking it, especially to prevent HIV,” Alexa said. She added that “the DC Department of Health’s efforts to benefit the transgender community are a big step, but there is still a lot to be done.

Michael Kharfen, HAHSTA’s Senior Deputy Director, agreed with Alexa’s statement, adding: “At DOH we are pleased to introduce this campaign created in collaboration with the transgender community, but we understand these are just the first steps, and that there is more to do in order to fulfill our commitment and dedication to supporting this significant community residing in Washington D.C.

To participate in this important campaign and get more information, visit #PrEPpledge, PrEPpledge.com or cdc.gov/hiv/risk/prep/index.html.

Contact: DC Department of Health
Name: Tom Lalley
Phone: 202-724-7481
Email: [email protected] 

Una gran opción para nosotras  La mejor opción para mí | A great option for us  The best option for me

Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecQsoh1r7TI 
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/677530/DC_Department_of_Health_Pledge_to_be_PrEPared.jpg

 

SOURCE DC Department of Health

Evergreen Organix of Las Vegas is Expanding Sales Out of State

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Nevada-based Evergreen Organix expands sales to California, Colorado, Arizona with award-winning chocolate bars, baked goods and topical products.

LAS VEGAS, April 16, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — As more states join those that have legalized cannabis for medicinal and recreational purposes, more businesses get the opportunity to expand. Evergreen Organix, a company based out of Las Vegas, Nevada, has entered a multi-state licensing agreement to manufacture and distribute their own signature line of edibles and topicals. Products will soon be on dispensary shelves in California and Colorado, available to both recreational and medicinal consumers, and in Arizona for medical marijuana patients.

Nevada-based Evergreen Organix expands sales to California, Colorado, Arizona with award-winning chocolate bars, baked goods and topical products.

Learn more about Evergreen Organix here: https://www.evergreenorganix.com/aboutus/ 

Evergreen Organix line of cannabis products always uses premium cannabis and the finest ingredients to create a wonderful experience no matter what you choose. Edibles like Double Chocolate Chunk Brownie Bites, Rice Crispy Treats, Homemade Cannabutter, and new Fruit Chews, are made by a team of talented bakers and chocolatiers. Cannabis Lip Balm, Menstrual Relief Oil, Intimacy Oil, and even Cannabis Sun Screen are among topical products created by their expert team of scientists, all made using top-of-the-line equipment in their state-of-the-art facility.

“We are both honored and excited to soon be expanding the Evergreen Organix brand to Arizona, California, and Colorado.  While we are proudly rooted in Nevada and have learned so much from this revolutionary market, this expansion milestone speaks volumes of our team’s efforts and dedication our brand’s success.  We look forward to the opportunity to serve both medical and recreational markets with our famed quality and passion for cannabis,” Jillian Nelson, Operations Manager.

Ensuring a “premium cannabis experience” with every edible, topical or vaping product, Evergreen Organix uses a combination of small batches, and proactively taking measures to ensure each product is as potent and safe as expected, including testing each product. A brand that offers CBD products, vegan friendly edible options, sugar free options, plenty of sweet options from chocolate loves to fruit chews, skin and personal care and pain relief products, Evergreen Organix has something for everyone from medical marijuana patients to adult use consumers.

Evergreen Organix is a Las Vegas based producer of cannabis edibles, topical and vape products that uses only the finest ingredients and premium cannabis. Their signature line of products is soon to be available in Nevada, California, Colorado, and Arizona to both medicinal and adult recreational consumers.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/677624/Evergreen_Organix_chocolate_bars.jpg

SOURCE Evergreen Organix

Rossi, Honda Dominate on Streets of Long Beach

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Alexander Rossi scored a dominant IndyCar victory for Honda and Andretti Autosport team Sunday at the Grand Prix of Long Beach.

LONG BEACH, California, April 15, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Alexander Rossi scored a dominant victory Sunday for Honda at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, leading 71 of 85 laps and successfully fending off former series champion Will Power after a late-race caution bunched the field. 

Alexander Rossi scored a dominant IndyCar victory for Honda and Andretti Autosport team Sunday at the Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Starting from the pole, Rossi took his Andretti Autosport Honda into the lead at the green flag and remained in command throughout the 85-lap event, surrendering the lead only as the field cycled through various pit stop strategies.  Although a late yellow flag bunched the field and eliminated his seven-second advantage, Rossi held off second-running Will Power over the final 10 laps, and built a 1.24-second lead at the checkers. 

The victory, Rossi’s first of 2018 and third career Indy car triumph, moves him into the championship lead, with 126 points to 104 points for Josef Newgarden.  Honda also increases the company’s lead in the IndyCar Manufacturers’ Championship, with an unofficial total of 263 points to 193 for rival Chevrolet.

Verizon IndyCar Series sophomore Ed Jones had his best race since joining the Chip Ganassi Racing organization for the 2018 season.  Jones used a three-stop pit strategy to his best advantage, gaining track position and pulling away from the two-stopping Zach Veach to finish third.  The result matched his career best to-date:  a third place run as a rookie at last year’s Indianapolis 500.

In just his third race as an Indy car rookie, Veach had his best result to date – an impressive run that saw him hold off veteran Graham Rahal in the closing laps to finish fourth.

Rahal was another driver to make a three-stop strategy pay off, as he recovered from an early race penalty – for avoidable contact on the opening lap with Simon Pagenaud, to finish fifth.  Marco Andretti made it five Honda drivers in the top six at the finish and had his best run in the still-young season.

Video recaps from this weekend’s Honda IndyCar Series action in Long Beach, as well as Acura Motorsports activity in yesterday’s IMSA sports car race, are available on the “Honda Racing/HPD” YouTube channel. Produced by the Carolinas Production Group, the video packages can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/HondaRacingHPDTV

Today’s Grand Prix of Long Beach was the second of three consecutive Verizon IndyCar Series races in April.  The string of back-to-back events concludes next week with the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park on April 22.

Alexander Rossi (Andretti Autosport Honda) started 1st, finished 1st, first IndyCar Series victory of 2018, third career win: “Even though it’s not my true home race [Rossi hails from northern California], it really feels like one:  the crowds here and just the whole atmosphere is so welcoming and inviting that it’s no surprise that this race has been on the calendar for so long. It’s a pleasure to be able to come here and race, first of all, and to be able to win here is pretty special. This one I’ll definitely remember for a very long time for a lot of different reasons, and I’m very glad that there were so many people here that were able to witness it.”

Ed Jones (Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) started 13th, finished 3rdLong Beach has been a great track for me in the past [winning in Indy Lights in 2016, finishing sixth as an Indy car rookie in 2017]. Great fans, great atmosphere.  It is second to only the Indy 500 in my opinion. It was tough out there today. We had been struggling with the NTT DATA car on cold tires. Once we got heat in the tires the car was much better. I’m really pleased with the result, though. It’s just my third race with the [Ganassi] team and I was able to equal my best result in the Verizon IndyCar Series. I think this gives me and the team a lot of confidence heading into Barber next week and I can’t wait to see what the weekend holds.”

Art St. Cyr (President, Honda Performance Development) on today’s win, Honda’s 13thLong Beach victory in 19 events: “It’s days like this that we really appreciate the strength of our lineup from top to bottom.  Even though several legitimate contenders were eliminated for various reasons, we still claimed five of the top six finishing positions.  Congratulations to Alexander [Rossi] on an awesome performance today, and to Ed Jones for his best finish since last year’s Indianapolis 500.  Zach Veach was another bright light for Honda, with a fourth-place finish in just his third race.  Graham [Rahal] again showed his skill and tenacity once again to recover from his early penalty and finish fifth.  We were thrilled to present Mr. [Takahiro] Hachigo with a victory in his first visit to Long Beach as global president of the Honda Motor Company.”

Verizon IndyCar Series Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach

Circuit:

Long Beach Convention Center (1.968-mile temporary street circuit) Long Beach, Calif.

2017 Winner:

James Hinchcliffe (Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda) 90.845 mph average

Weather:

Partly sunny, mild, 67 degrees F

 

Top-10 Race Results:

Fn.

St.

Driver    

Team

Manufacturer

Laps

Notes

1.

1.

Alexander Rossi

Andretti Autosport

Honda  

85

Led 71 of 85 laps

2.

2.

Will Power

Team Penske

Chevrolet

85

+1.2413 seconds

3.

13.

Ed Jones

Chip Ganassi Racing

Honda

85

4.

16.

Zach Veach-R

Andretti Autosport

Honda  

85

5.

5.

Graham Rahal

Rahal Letterman Lanigan

Honda

85

6.

20.

Marco Andretti

Andretti Autosport

Honda  

85

7.

6.

Josef Newgarden

Team Penske

Chevrolet

85

8.

14.

Tony Kanaan

A.J. Foyt Racing

Chevrolet

85

9.

8.

James Hinchcliffe

Schmidt Peterson Mtspts

Honda

85

10.

24.

Charlie Kimball

Carlin Racing

Chevrolet

85

Other Honda Results

11.

4.

Scott Dixon

Chip Ganassi Racing

Honda

85

Running

12.

17.

Jack Harvey-R

Schmidt Peterson Mtspts

Honda

85

Running

14.

9.

Sebastien Bourdais

Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan

Honda

85

Running

20.

7.

Ryan Hunter-Reay

Andretti Autosport

Honda  

81

Did not finish – contact 

21.

22.

Takuma Sato

Rahal Letterman Lanigan

Honda

74

Did not finish – contact

22.

10.

Robert Wickens-R

Schmidt Peterson Mtspts

Honda

73

Running [delayed]

23.

21.

Zachary Claman De Melo-R

Dale Coyne Racing

Honda

58

Did not finish – crash

 

Honda Racing HPD Logo. (PRNewsFoto/Honda Performance Development, Inc.) (PRNewsFoto/HONDA PERFORMANCE DEVELOP...)

 

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/677204/Alexander_Rossi.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/83597/honda_performance_development__inc__honda_racing_logo.jpg

SOURCE Honda Racing/HPD

Colgate and Michael Phelps Continue to Spread the Save Water Message This Earth Day

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Together They Remind Americans to Turn off the Faucet While Brushing

NEW YORK, April 16, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — For the second consecutive year, Colgate is continuing its partnership with one of the greatest swimmers of all time, Michael Phelps, as the global ambassador for the brand’s water conservation campaign. Today, 130 million Americans live with severe water scarcity1 for at least one month every year, yet 42 percent of Americans report leaving the faucet running while brushing their teeth2. Phelps and Colgate are encouraging people to help save the planet this Earth Day by simply turning off the faucet.

Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8303051-colgate-michael-phelps-save-water-earth-day-2018/

Colgate’s goal is to bring attention to water scarcity and help save water through initiatives that include the following:

  • “Save Water” with the Google Assistant: Colgate developed an Action for the Google Assistant called “Save Water by Colgate.” Users with a Google Home, or compatible smart speaker, can learn water facts, conservation tips or even ask to hear the sound of running water to “replace” the sound while brushing with the faucet off. The Action is now available to anyone with a Google Home device by saying, “Hey Google, talk to Save Water by Colgate.” This feature is also available to Amazon Alexa users when users say “Alexa, enable Save Water.”
  • “Turn Off the Faucet” Sink Sticker: Colgate created a water-activated drain sticker that reveals the reminder “Turn off the Faucet” when it comes in contact with water. Now available exclusively at Walmart, the Save Water sticker is included when purchasing a Colgate Total Toothpaste special pack.
  • Phelps and Family Social Media Reminders: The Phelps family will continue to encourage their social media followers to turn off the faucet while brushing to save up to eight gallons of water a day3.

“While I retired from swimming two years ago, water is still very much a big part of my life and is a big part of all our lives,” Phelps said. “This Earth Day, I want to encourage all of us to help do our part in preserving water because every drop does count. Join us by simply turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth. It’s a small step that we can all do together to make a huge difference and a big impact on the world..”

Additional information on the Colgate Save Water campaign is available at EveryDropCounts.Colgate.com or by searching for #EveryDropCounts on social media platforms.

About Colgate®
Colgate 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, Speed Stick, Lady Speed Stick, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sorriso, Kolynos, elmex, Tom’s of Maine, Sanex, Ajax, Axion, Fabuloso, Soupline, and Suavitel, as well as Hill’s Science Diet, Hill’s Prescription Diet and Hill’s Ideal Balance. 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 Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympian in history, capturing a total of 28 medals including a record-setting 23 gold medals, over the course of five Olympic Games. Phelps utilized his performance bonus for winning eight gold medals at 2008 Beijing Games to establish the Michael Phelps Foundation. Committed to growing the sport of swimming, the Foundation addresses the need for water-safety through its signature program – im – available through the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Special Olympics International. The most decorated swimmer in World Championships history, Phelps launched his own competitive swimwear brand – MP – in partnership with Aqua Sphere in 2014. He has published two autobiographies – No Limits: The Will to Success and Beneath the Surface – that were New York Times and USA Today best sellers, as well as published one children’s book – How to Train with a T-Rex and Win Eight Gold Medals. He is a highly regarded mental health advocate and inspirational speaker, sharing his message of “Dream, Plan, Reach” with audiences ranging from children to business executives.

1http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/2/2/e1500323.full
2
Google Survey conducted by Red Fuse Communications, Oct. 2017
3https://www.epa.gov/watersense/bathroom-faucets

SOURCE Colgate-Palmolive