The New Westfield Century City To Be Revealed With Grand Opening On October 3rd

September 27, 2017

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 27, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Grand Opening of Westfield Century City, a celebration of the highly anticipated completion of the destination’s $1 billion redevelopment, will take place on Tuesday, October 3^rd, 2017. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Westfield’s co-CEOs, Peter and Steven Lowy, will be in attendance for the occasion alongside community leaders, VIPs, local neighborhood residents, customers – as well as representatives of Westfield’s charity partner for the event, Infinite Hero Foundation.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/563265/Westfield_Century_City.jpg

Highlighting the day’s events will be the official opening of Century City’s new three-level Nordstrom and the full unveiling of the property’s outdoor plazas, landscaped terraces and events and entertainment space – designed by Westfield’s in-house studio in collaboration with L.A.-based designer Kelly Wearstler. The October 3^rd milestone is also significant in that a majority of the destination’s 200+ shops and restaurants will be open for business, with additional retail and restaurant arrivals to continue thereafter, including Eataly, which will open later in October.

Century City reflects the changing nature of Westfield’s global flagship portfolio as the company continues to create cutting-edge retail and leisure destinations defined by a careful curation of offerings. Century City’s unique mix of fashion retail, food, health, wellness and fitness is designed to fulfill evolving consumer needs – everything from a daily trip to the gym or grocery store, to an afternoon shopping and relaxing with friends or a special dinner out.

With consumers’ desires for memorable experiences playing a larger role in their discretionary spending, the center includes a new 18,000 square foot state-of-the-art entertainment and events venue called the Atrium – as well as smaller, private event and reception spaces – able to accommodate everything from large-scale ticketed events to intimate receptions and black-tie affairs.

“With our Grand Opening celebration, Westfield’s vision for Century City, and our portfolio more broadly, continues to be revealed,” said William Hecht, Westfield’s chief operating officer in the United States. “With a curation of the very best in fashion, chef-led restaurants and fresh food, health and wellness amenities, art, music, and entertainment all coming together in a setting that celebrates the best of the Southern California lifestyle, Westfield Century City will be like no other place in Los Angeles.”

Visitors to Century City will enjoy Westfield’s guest services and hospitality program, which includes a professionally trained concierge staff offering a wide variety of personal services informed by those available at the world’s finest hotels and luxury resorts. The company has also introduced a collection of Studio Services, connecting retailers with stylists and costume designers across the entertainment and music industries – and provides an additional suite of celebrity and VIP services.

Westfield continues to introduce many new conveniences that make getting to the center easier. Parking capacity at Century City has more than doubled and entry points have been increased to simplify access from every direction. In addition to extensive valet services, the center’s new Smart Parking and Reserved Parking services allow visitors to reserve their own private space in advance, and quickly get in and out of the property without ever having to take a ticket or wait in a line to pay.

Westfield Century City will also include the debut of the world’s first-ever permanent Uber Lounge and multiple new Uber stations – all designed to facilitate ridesharing to and from the property.

From a cultural perspective, Westfield Century City features partnerships with a broad range of institutions including the Annenberg Center for Photography and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), which is lending art pieces to the shopping center for long-term public display. The destination also integrates permanent work within its design, including “California DNA” by renowned ceramics sculptor Stan Bitters and large-scale, monumental dango (Japanese for “rounded form”) sculptures created by innovative Japanese-American artist Jun Kaneko.

The center’s October 3^rd Grand Opening will incorporate a “California Soul” theme, with an evening invitation-only event featuring performances from some of LA’s hottest musical acts. The occasion will take place in partnership with the Infinite Hero Foundation, which helps combat the most difficult frontline issues, both mental and physical, that face returning military heroes and their families – while also funding programs that drive innovation and the accessibility of effective treatments dealing with service-related injuries. The partnership with Infinite Hero fits more broadly within the Westfield Veterans Initiative, which was launched in 2015.

ABOUT WESTFIELD CENTURY CITY

The $1 billion modernization and beautification of Westfield Century City will create an open-air Southern California escape like no other. This will be a more than 1.3 million sf destination encompassing over 200 shops and restaurants, including a new three-level Nordstrom featuring its latest design concepts, completely remodeled three-level Bloomingdale’s, modern new two-level Macy’s, luxurious Equinox fitness club and spa, as well as the West Coast’s first Eataly.

SOURCE Westfield Century City

Carmelo Anthony, Javier “Chicharito” Hernández and Miguel Layún Start YouCaring Fundraisers for Hurricane Relief in Puerto Rico and Earthquake Support in Mexico

September 27, 2017

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SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 27, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — YouCaring, the world’s trusted leader in free crowdfunding for personal, medical, and charitable causes, today announced that $2,000,000 in disaster relief funds were raised for victims of the earthquake in Mexico and of hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.

Oklahoma City Thunder’s Carmelo Anthony kicked off a fundraiser on YouCaring on Friday, September 22, raising over $240,000 to date. He was joined by international pop star Ricky Martin, tennis player and Olympic gold medalist Monica Puig, Dallas Mavericks’ José Juan Barea, as well as Laura and Jorge Posada, the retired Yankees player from Puerto Rico and his wife, each of whom started fundraisers on YouCaring and raised close to $800,000 collectively.

Donate to Carmelo Anthony’s fundraiser and other fundraisers for victims of hurricane Maria by visiting YouCaring’s Puerto Rico Relief Center.

For victims of the devastating earthquake in Mexico, soccer stars Javier “Chicharito” Hernández and Miguel Layún have raised close to $280,000 on YouCaring and were joined by Spanish-language television network Estrella TV, which has raised over $120,000 to date.

Donate to these fundraisers by visiting YouCaring’s Mexico Relief Center.

As a certified B-Corporation with a focus on helping people faced with hardship, YouCaring does not take a cut of each donation, but instead relies on voluntary donor tips to fund operations. To date, YouCaring has raised over $48,000,000 in hurricane relief funds, making it the home to the largest crowdfunding campaigns for disaster relief.

About YouCaring

YouCaring, the platform that hosted the largest crowdfunding campaign in history, JJ Watt’s Houston Relief Fund, has been the trusted leader in free online crowdfunding since 2011. With a focus on Compassionate Crowdfunding™, YouCaring believes no one should have to face hardship alone. Our users have raised over $800 million in support of personal, medical, and charitable causes. Unlike other crowdfunding sites, YouCaring does not charge fundraisers a fee and relies on voluntary contributions from donors to fund operations. As a Certified B Corporation®, YouCaring is committed to consumer advocacy and advancing social good.

Press Contact:
Camelia Gendreau
[email protected]
415 686 2120

SOURCE YouCaring

HITN Broadens Its Mission To Benefit The Hispanic Community With A New Interactive Website

September 27, 2017

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HITN Inks a Deal for Lifestyle Content (PRNewsFoto/HITN)

BROOKLYN, New York, Sept. 27, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — HITN, the leading Spanish-language network that offers educational and entertainment content to more than 44 million households across the United States, announced the launch of its new interactive website, www.HITN.tv. The Spanish-language site offers Hispanic audiences access to a wide variety of practical information along with entertainment content oriented toward improving their quality of life in the United States.

“US Hispanics’ consumption of information and entertainment content has migrated toward digital platforms. To serve this community efficiently, we need to complement our linear television services with an aggressive multi-screen offering,” explained Maximiliano Vaccaro, HITN’s Director of Digital Services.

The new HITN TV website reflects the latest trends in digital communications and provides a better user experience and graphic interface. The modern design is easy to access and navigate, with images and video taking precedence over text boxes.

“The new website is dynamic, functional and highly intuitive, and we have no doubt that it will find wide acceptance among US Hispanic audiences,” commented Maximiliano Vaccaro, HITN’s Director of Digital Services. “The site was designed by leading international experts in the field who have worked for major US and Latin American networks. Some of its biggest advances include its response speed and ability to adapt to mobile devices, which is important given audience studies showing that Hispanics prefer to access their favorite content this way.”

Among other improvements, the new HITN website provides direct access to the network’s social media pages, a search feature by operator and market, an interactive programming guide, photo galleries for each show and, above all, a wide variety of videos that load quickly and easily.

Users will also find it easy to navigate among the company’s different divisions, including HITN.org and HITNLearning.com. According to Vaccaro, “this new functionality allows us to present all of the different areas of our organization under a single brand image.”

For more information about HITN TV’s new interactive website, please visit: www.hitn.tv.

ABOUT HITN

HITN-TV is a leading Spanish-language media company that offers educational and cultural programming for the whole family. It reaches more than 44 million viewers in the US and Puerto Rico via DIRECTV, DISH Network, AT&T U-verse TV, Verizon FiOS TV, Comcast, Charter Spectrum, Frontier Mediacom, CenturyLink Prism and Cablevision. For more information, please visit www.hitn.org.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/563332/HITN_Logo.jpg

SOURCE HITN

Researchers at NanoGraphene, Inc have created super-strong cement for rebuilding homes after hurricanes.

September 27, 2017

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MIAMI, Sept. 27, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Although graphene’s unsurpassed strength as a material was made clear back in the 20th century, the construction industry still relies on traditional techniques and products for the most part. Factories stand ready to launch wholesale production of graphene concrete and other building materials, but the market remains largely uninformed of their potential. If demand has yet to take off, perhaps it is because graphene still poses as many questions as answers. Researchers at NanoGraphene, Inc. finding themselves in the eye of Hurricane Irma, considered the question of how such enormous destruction could have been avoided.

Graphene’s ability to enhance and bestow new properties on various materials was something that has attracted scientists’ attention well before the arrival of the ‘Storm of the Century.’ Its applications include anti-corrosion or electroconductive coatings, lubricants, motor oils that greatly increase efficiency and service life of components, and many more. However, graphene’s effect on the strength and durability characteristics of materials has not received sufficient study. NanoGraphene researchers are now busy with the task of identifying the optimal composition of graphene concrete, a substance capable of withstanding hurricanes and other natural disasters. The results of their work are already in the testing stages and undergoing independent trials at a research institute.

Initial testing has established that the inclusion of graphene oxide significantly increases both tensile and compressive strength in concrete composites. This is due in large part to the graphene additive creating favorable conditions for the formation of cement microstructures. These results indicate good prospects for large-scale adoption of graphene as a new component in cement-matrix composites. Manufacturers may soon be able to patent their own recipes for composite materials, such as graphene reinforced concrete. As designers and engineers are quite aware, adding a hundredth of a percentage point of graphene to the composition of cement has almost no effect on production cost, and requires no complex new machinery or training for employees.

As reported by the media, the combined toll taken by hurricanes Harvey and Irma is approaching $290 billion, or 1.5% of U.S. GPD. Eye-catching figures, but as research into the properties of graphene gathers steam, the potential benefits of this wonder-material promise to be no less impressive. As the rebuilding in Florida gets underway, perhaps policymakers and developers will turn to graphene construction materials to ensure that the next storm will not find residents so vulnerable.

In any case, the explosive growth of investment in nanotechnology is ample evidence that many industries will changed drastically in the coming decade. There is no guarantee that current market leaders in construction will stay on top. Along with nanotechnology comes the old rule: the early bird gets the worm.

Learn more about research into graphene cement and concrete here: https://nanographene.net/graphene-based-cementconcrete-admixture-for-ultra-strong-high-strength-and-sustainable-housinginfrastructure/

CONTACT: Peter Nesveda, Vice President International Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations, NanoGraphene Inc., Melbourne, Australia: +61 412 357 375; Nano Graphene Inc., 67 35th Street C250, Brooklyn, NY 11232, USA, Phone: +1-929-293-8880, [email protected]

Photo – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/562893/NanoGraphene_Cement.jpg

SOURCE NanoGraphene Inc.

150 Shelters Nationwide Receive Vital Funding In Advance Of Domestic Violence Awareness Month

September 27, 2017

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DALLAS, Sept. 27, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — In advance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, The Mary Kay Foundation℠ is awarding $3 million in critical, unrestricted grants to 150 domestic violence shelters across the United States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. This year’s highly sought-after grant slate brings the total investment in The Foundation’s annual shelter grant program to nearly $42 million.

Logo – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/563110/The_Mary_Kay_Foundation_Logo.jpg

According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence, lack of resources at domestic violence shelters across the country is often the reason survivors don’t get the help they so desperately need. To narrow the gap between funding and the demand for services, The Mary Kay Foundation℠ is awarding $20,000 in unrestricted grants to help combat domestic violence, educate local communities and provide rehabilitation services. The Foundation’s grant cycle also includes relief funds for several shelters impacted by Hurricane Harvey.

“More than 700 domestic violence shelters nationwide applied for The Mary Kay Foundation℠ shelter grants this year, which demonstrates the overwhelming need to maintain critical services and provide a safe haven for the survivors of an epidemic that impacts one in every four women,” said Anne Crews, board member of The Mary Kay Foundation℠ and Vice President of Public Affairs for Mary Kay Inc. “Working to prevent and end domestic violence is a cornerstone of The Foundation, Mary Kay Inc. and for countless members of our independent sales force. Since 2000, The Foundation has invested tens of millions of dollars in our shelter grant program and without a doubt, we know these funds continue to make a difference in homes and communities across the country.”

While more than half of the grant recipients use the unrestricted funds for basic operating expenses, others hire much needed personnel, complete repairs and facility renovations or add programs and resources based on the unique needs of their shelter and the clients they serve. The Haven House in McDonough, Georgia plans to use the funds to purchase six new sets of washers and dryers for its laundry facility. In Marion, Ohio at the Turning Point shelter, funds will go towards building a new playground for children staying at the shelter, giving them a safe place to play. At the Merryman House Domestic Crisis Center in Paducah, Kentucky, the grant will be used to purchase and install an advanced security system to ensure safety at a new 26-acre campus.

“While offering emergency housing for the vulnerable clients we serve, that also means providing meals, laundry facilities, counseling, childcare and an untold number of other resources to help survivors get back on their feet after experiencing unspeakable abuse,” said Tosha Connors, Executive Director at My Sister’s House, Inc. “Every dollar counts and a grant from The Mary Kay Foundation℠ is often the lifeline we need to keep the doors open and continue to provide life-saving support services.”

Mary Kay Inc.’s global cause-related program, Beauty that Counts®, helps support The Foundation’s annual shelter grant program. Applications for the 2018 shelter grant program will be available January 15 through April 30. Please visit marykayfoundation.org for additional information and for the full list of 2017 shelter grant recipients, click here.

About The Mary Kay Foundation℠

The Mary Kay Foundation℠ was created in 1996, and its mission is two-fold: to fund research of cancers affecting women and to help prevent domestic violence while raising awareness of the issue. The Mary Kay Foundation℠ has awarded $70.7 million to shelters and programs addressing domestic violence prevention and cancer researchers and related causes throughout the United States. To learn more about The Mary Kay Foundation℠, please visit www.marykayfoundation.org or call 1-877-MKCARES (652-2737).

Mary Kay Inc. Corporate Communications
marykay.com/newsroom
972.687.5332 or [email protected]

SOURCE The Mary Kay Foundation

Richards/Lerma Wins Independent Agency of the Year at FIAP

September 27, 2017

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DALLAS, Sept. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Richards/Lerma was named Independent Agency of the Year at the 2017 FIAP Awards. FIAP, an international festival held since 1969, was hosted in Buenos Aires, Argentina, this year and summons the most prestigious and competitive advertising agencies of Latin America, the U.S., and Europe. Agencies submit their best work for several categories covering TV, print, radio, digital, audiovisual production/techniques, media innovation and so forth, in hopes of achieving recognition. The event is considered one of the two most important festivals in the advertising industry.

Richards/Lerma advanced in several categories, which contributed to their cumulative takeover and title of Independent Agency of the Year. The most notable contribution came from their 2017 campaign for football’s biggest game, titled #AvoSecrets, for Avocados From Mexico. The campaign won Gold in the Real Time Content category and is a testament to the agency’s digital and social prowess, which can be effective with mass audiences in highly competitive attention spaces such as the Super Bowl.

As the digital agency of record for Avocados From Mexico, the team set out to push the envelope with #AvoSecrets, creating an engaging narrative that commenced several weeks before the Super Bowl. The story began with the brand announcing they had found a smartphone full of hidden secrets with no known owner. People on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter were encouraged to help unlock functions of the phone and find hidden secrets for a chance to win prizes.

Next came arguably the most innovative aspect of the concept: When people visited the site, the majority of which happened naturally on mobile, the site design simulated having someone else’s phone in hand with a notifications page and seventeen fully functional apps (Instagram, Spotify, photos, voicemails, calls, etc.). Visitors did not yet know that the phone they had been exploring and sharing content from to win prizes, would end up being the same phone of a main character in the Super Bowl commercial. The agency had successfully blurred the line between fiction and nonfiction, between digital and broadcast, between the virtual and the tangible.

Pete Lerma, Founder of Richards/Lerma commented, “We see ourselves as a next generation agency, and innovation is in our DNA. It’s incredibly important to us that we can live up to that year after year. I couldn’t be more proud of the team, or more grateful to our clients.”

In response to the award, Alvaro Luque, President of Avocados From Mexico, stated, “We’re proud of the forward-thinking work done with our agency partners, and winning gold for #AvoSecrets is a tremendous accomplishment well deserved by the team.”

About Richards/Lerma

Richards/Lerma is a full-service branding and creative agency dedicated to crafting insightful and relevant communications for the multicultural market. Based in Dallas, Richards/Lerma was founded by Pete Lerma and Stan Richards, Creative Director of the nation’s largest independent branding agency, The Richards Group. Current clients include Avocados From Mexico, Bud Light, Budweiser Chelada, Chrysler, Clamato, Dr Pepper, LALA, MetroPCS, The Home Depot and several others. Richards/Lerma can be found online at richardslerma.com, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as @richardslerma.

About Avocados From Mexico

AvocadosFromMexico.com

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/560904/RichardsLerma_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Richards/Lerma

Legendary Mexican Actress/Singer Angélica María And Daughter, Actress/Comedian Angélica Vale, Join Juanita’s Foods And The Art Institutes In Campaign That Highlights Mexican Culinary Traditions

September 27, 2017

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Beloved Mexican Stars Angélica María and Angélica Vale Launched Today Vive la Tradición Campaign to Honor the Mexican Tradition of Menudo and Announced the Search for the King or Queen of Homemade Menudo

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 27, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Mexico’s beloved celebrity mother-daughter duo, legendary star Angélica María and actress and comedian Angélica Vale, have teamed up with Juanita’s Foods and The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes to launch Vive la Tradición – a new campaign that highlights the importance of preserving Mexican culinary traditions from generation to generation and draws attention to delicious menudo, the traditional soup made with beef tripe and hominy popular at Mexican family gatherings. During a celebratory event held today at The Art Institute of California – Hollywood, a campus of Argosy University, stars and guests enjoyed tastings of Juanita’s menudo and pozole, a Mexican-themed breakfast buffet prepared by students of The Art Institute, and a friendly conversation with both Angelicas about the role of food as part of Mexican identity.

“The beauty of culinary traditions is that food has a quality to transport you back to your childhood, to the things you enjoyed as a kid,” said Angélica María. “As Latinos, food has a very special place in our lives and in our family reunions. And being always busy with work and travel like we do, we love products like Juanita’s ready-to-eat menudo and others, which make it easy to enjoy our favorite food without spending a lot of time in the kitchen!” added actress and mother of two, Angélica Vale.

“Carrying on traditions is deeply embedded in the history of our company and our family,” said Aaron De La Torre, CEO of Juanita’s, maker of the #1 selling menudo in the U.S. “We decided to launch the campaign Vive la Tradición as a way to honor the Mexican tradition of authentic homemade menudo and because we believe that working with the next wave of culinary masters is important to ensure Mexican traditions continue to be passed on to future generations.”

Vive la Tradición Homemade Menudo Contest
A fun element of the new campaign is the Vive la Tradición Homemade Menudo Contest, which runs from September 25 through midnight November 5, 2017 and seeks to crown the king or queen of homemade menudo in California and Texas. For a chance to compete in one of six regional menudo cook-offs in California (Fresno, Los Angeles and San Bernardino) and Texas (Houston, McAllen and San Antonio), contestants must register online at www.vivelatradicion.com and submit a video that describes why their homemade menudo is the best. Finalists from the regional events will move on to the Grand Finale in January 2018. More details are available at www.vivelatradicion.com.

Scholarships for Culinary Arts Students
Another element of the campaign is a partnership with The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes, North America’s largest system of culinary programs. The new initiative will encourage students’ passion for Mexican cuisine and give them a chance to earn scholarships by creating their very own menudo recipe to showcase their skills. Recipes will be reviewed and judged by a panel of experts, and winners will be announced in January 2018.

“At a time when culinary tastes are evolving and cultural barriers are disappearing, the industry needs culinarians who do the same,” said Chef David Hendricksen, CCE, CCC, National Culinary Director, The Art Institutes. “Our culinary arts students are immersed in both traditional and emerging flavors from every corner of the world. They cover a range of cuisines from Middle Eastern to Latin American and study course topics like Classical Techniques, Nutrition, and World Cuisine.”

Additional campaign information including a series of social media videos featuring Angélica María and Angélica Vale and the Declaration of January as National Menudo Month will be shared on Juanita’s website and social channels. Please follow Juanita’s on Facebook and YouTube to stay tuned on news regarding regional events and the Vive la Tradición Homemade Menudo Contest Grand Finale activities.

About Juanita’s
Juanita’s is a third generation family-owned and operated business based in Wilmington, California. Founded in 1946 by George de la Torre Sr. and his nephew, the company carries on a strong family tradition and business legacy by producing authentic homestyle Mexican foods. Juanita’s products include flavorful soups, sauces and stews made with the best quality ingredients and delivered ready to eat so families can spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying their favorite foods with their loved ones. For more information, visit www.juanitas.com.

About The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes
The Art Institutes is a system of schools throughout the United States. Programs, credential levels, technology, and scheduling options vary by school and are subject to change. Not all online programs are available to residents of all U.S. states. Several institutions included in The Art Institutes system are campuses of Argosy University. Administrative office: The Art Institutes, 1500 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15222 © 2017 The Art Institutes. All rights reserved. Our email address is [email protected]. See aiprograms.info for program duration, tuition, fees and other costs, median debt, salary data, alumni success, and other important info.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/562917/Juanitas_Mexican_Stars.jpg

SOURCE Juanita’s

NYC Emergency Management Encourages Preparedness Every Month

September 27, 2017

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NEW YORK, Sept. 27, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Four in ten New Yorkers report feeling unprepared for an emergency event such as a natural disaster, fire, power outage or act of terrorism. To raise awareness of preparedness tactics and encourage New Yorkers to plan ahead for disasters, the New York City Emergency Management Department, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Ad Council are releasing new public service announcements (PSAs) as part of the Ready New York campaign to conclude National Preparedness Month this September. The creative encourages families to take time to talk about making emergency plans, including what to do, where to go, and how to stay in touch during an emergency.

Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8170351-ad-council-nyc-emergency-management-plan/

“We want all New Yorkers to know what to do to be prepared before a disaster strikes. We can help protect our families by thinking through the steps to take before, during and after an emergency. The new ads show how easy it is to make a plan, empowering New Yorkers to have a much-needed discussion about family preparedness,” shares Joseph J. Esposito, Commissioner of NYC Emergency Management.

Building on the success of the “Don’t Wait. Communicate.” PSA campaign launched in 2015, this new iteration, “Disasters Don’t Plan Ahead. You Can.” encourages families to develop an emergency plan before disasters such as flooding, power outages and hurricanes strike. Created pro bono by advertising agency Schafer Condon Carter (SCC), the creative demonstrates that disasters aren’t courteous enough to plan ahead to accommodate our busy schedules, but there is something we can do about it. It encourages viewers to plan ahead and talk to their loved ones today about getting prepared.

“The goal of this campaign is to provoke Americans into action by capturing a simple truth – that disasters don’t tell you when and where they are coming – and placing it into the context of their busy lives,” said David Selby, President and Managing Partner of SCC. “The truth is we plan for almost everything in our lives, but we don’t plan ahead for what could be the most impactful, and potentially devastating, events. This advertising aims to encourage preparedness by showing just how easy it is to plan ahead and seamlessly build it into your everyday life.”

Managed and sponsored by the Ready campaign, National Preparedness Month is designed to encourage Americans to take steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, schools, workplaces, organizations, businesses and places of worship. National Preparedness Month is an opportunity to share emergency preparedness information and help Americans understand what it truly means to be ready.

“The Ready Campaign has made extraordinary strides in educating and empowering Americans to take steps to prepare themselves, their families and their communities for a disaster but there are still many people across the country who aren’t planning ahead for emergencies,” said Lisa Sherman, President and CEO of the Ad Council. “This creative exemplifies how planning for an emergency is as doable as anything else we plan for in our lives.”

The new creative will have English and Spanish TV spots, radio, outdoor and digital banners.

For more information, visit NYC.gov/readyny, download the Ready NYC app, and follow the New York City Emergency Management on social media.

New York City Emergency Management

The New York City Emergency Management Department plans and prepares for emergencies, educates the public about preparedness, coordinates emergency response and recovery, and collects and disseminates emergency information. Residents can stay in touch with NYC Emergency Management via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and the agency’s website, NYC.gov/emergencymanagement. New Yorkers can also sign up for Notify NYC, New York City’s official source for information about emergency events and important City services, by downloading the Notify NYC app, visiting NYC.gov/notifynyc, calling 311 (212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service, or TTY: 212-504-4115) or by following @NotifyNYC on Twitter.

The Ad Council

The Ad Council is a private, non-profit organization with a rich history of marshalling volunteer talent from the advertising and media industries to deliver critical messages to the American public. Having produced literally thousands of PSA campaigns addressing the most pressing social issues of the day, the Ad Council has affected, and continues to affect, tremendous positive change by raising awareness, inspiring action and saving lives. To learn more about the Ad Council and its campaigns, visit www.adcouncil.org, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram or view our PSAs on YouTube.

SCC

Schafer Condon Carter (SCC) is an independent creative and technology agency that delivers transformative brand and business ideas to drive results for its clients. AOR clients include Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, National Pork Board, Pepsico, Chicago Cubs, IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC., Friendly’s Restaurants and Solo Cup Company among others. A simple mission drives SCC’s entrepreneurial, results-driven culture: “Think Again.” SCC’s integrated assets include SCC|Digital, SCC|PRISM, MAKE247 Content Studio and SCC|Design Services. The company also operates a private equity portfolio, SCC|Ventures, which has holdings in the food and tech sectors. Headquartered in a landmark building in Chicago’s historic West Loop district, SCC has a full-time staff of over 120. To learn more about SCC, visit: http://www.SCCThinkAgain.com/

SOURCE Ad Council; New York City Emergency Management

FEMA Encourages Preparedness Every Month

September 27, 2017

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 27, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — All natural disasters, including the recent hurricanes, are a reminder how swiftly emergencies and disasters can happen. To address the fact that less than 50 percent of households have developed an emergency plan and discussed it with their families, FEMA and the Ad Council are working to inform and encourage all Americans to plan ahead for disasters. FEMA and the Ad Council are announcing the release of new public service announcements (PSAs) as part of the Ready Campaign to conclude National Preparedness Month. The PSAs, “Disasters Don’t Plan Ahead. You Can,” encourage families to take time to talk about their emergency plans – what to do, where to go for an evacuation or shelter-in-place, and how to get in contact in the event that you are separated in a disaster or emergency.

Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8170051-ad-council-fema-ready-gov-national-preparedness-month-disaster-plan/

“Preparedness is a shared responsibility. It’s important to be aware of your local hazards,” said FEMA Acting Deputy Administrator for Protection and National Preparedness Katie Fox. “The first step to preparing for a disaster doesn’t cost anything – talk to your family and make a plan for evacuation, shelter and communication. Discuss what you will need. You can also take training or a CPR course to help yourself and others.”

The new PSAs build on the success of last year’s theme, “Don’t Wait. Communicate. Make Your Emergency Plan Today.” The PSAs encourage families to have a conversation and develop an emergency communication plan, a no-cost preparedness action, before disasters such as tornadoes, flooding, earthquakes, power outages and hurricanes strike.

Created pro bono by Chicago-based advertising agency Schafer Condon Carter (SCC), the creative illustrates that disasters do not plan ahead or accommodate our busy schedules, but there is something we can do by preparing in advance for the types of disasters that can happen where we live, work and travel.

“The goal of this campaign is to help compel Americans into action by capturing a simple truth – that disasters don’t tell you when and where they are coming – and placing it into the context of their busy lives,” said David Selby, President and Managing Partner of SCC. “We plan for almost everything in our lives, but we don’t plan ahead for what could be the most impactful, and potentially devastating, events. This messaging aims to encourage preparedness by showing just how necessary it is to plan ahead and to build it into your everyday life.”

“The recent hurricanes are a reminder that we can never be too prepared in the event of an emergency. The Ready Campaign and FEMA continue to make strides in educating and empowering Americans to take steps to prepare themselves, their families and their communities for a disaster but there are still many people across the country who aren’t planning ahead,” said Lisa Sherman, President and CEO of the Ad Council. “This creative exemplifies how easy it is to take the first step toward being prepared.”

As part of an ongoing collaboration with state, local, tribal and territorial emergency management partners, PSA localizations were coordinated with more than 42 states, cities and territories. The PSAs drive audiences to their local emergency management or agency’s website for resources and information regarding risks pertinent to their area.

Since its launch in 2003, the Ready Campaign has received more than $1.2 billion in donated media. The campaign helped generate nearly 100 million unique visitors to Ready.gov, who are looking to learn how to be better prepared. The new creative will have English and Spanish TV spots, radio, outdoor and digital banners.

For more information visit Ready.gov/communicate, download the FEMA App here, and follow the campaign on Facebook and Twitter.

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

The Ad Council

The Ad Council is a private, non-profit organization with a rich history of marshalling volunteer talent from the advertising and media industries to deliver critical messages to the American public. Having produced literally thousands of PSA campaigns addressing the most pressing social issues of the day, the Ad Council has affected, and continues to affect, tremendous positive change by raising awareness, inspiring action and saving lives. To learn more about the Ad Council and its campaigns, visit www.adcouncil.org, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram or view our PSAs on YouTube.

SCC

Schafer Condon Carter (SCC) is an independent creative and technology agency that delivers transformative brand and business ideas to drive results for its clients. AOR clients include Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, National Pork Board, Pepsico, Chicago Cubs, IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC., Friendly’s Restaurants and Solo Cup Company among others. A simple mission drives SCC’s entrepreneurial, results-driven culture: “Think Again.” SCC’s integrated assets include SCC|Digital, SCC|PRISM, MAKE247 Content Studio and SCC|Design Services. The company also operates a private equity portfolio, SCC|Ventures, which has holdings in the food and tech sectors. Headquartered in a landmark building in Chicago’s historic West Loop district, SCC has a full-time staff of over 120. To learn more about SCC, visit: http://www.SCCThinkAgain.com/

SOURCE Ad Council; FEMA

Two More Medals for the Trophy Case: Yolo Rum Takes Home Silver and Bronze Medals at 2017 Global Spirit Awards

September 27, 2017

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Yolo Rum - You Only Live Once... Be extraordinary, drink extraordinary rum!

DENVER and LAS VEGAS, Sept. 22, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The winning of medals at prestigious spirits competitions is becoming a habit for Yolo Rum. Last month, the company’s premier blend, Yolo Rum Gold, won a silver medal and premium mixer blend Yolo Rum silver won a bronze medal at the inaugural Global Spirit Awards. This marks the fourth industry competition this year in which Yolo Rum has won medals.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/559697/Yolo_Rum_Silver_and_Bronze_at_Global_Spirit_Awards.jpg

“I continue to be very gratified,” said Yolo Rum founder Philip Guerin. “The old saying says that hard work pays off—in my experience, that’s 100% true. Can’t rest on our laurels, though—tomorrow it’s back to the grindstone.”

Held August 16–18 at the Tropicana Hotel, the 2017 Global Spirit Awards attracted nearly 300 entries from 5 continents and 25 of the United States. An elite panel of nine judges with 150 years combined experience in spirits presided over the competition, awarding honors in a variety of categories. While perhaps hard to believe, the Global Spirit Awards is the first-ever spirits competition held in Las Vegas.

With wins at the Global Spirit Awards, San Diego International Spirits Festival, New York World Wine and Spirits Competition, and the WSWA Spirits Tasting Competition, Yolo Rum continues an impressive, award-winning run at industry expositions and competitions. Yolo Rum has received multiple Best-of-Class wins from Spirits of the Americas, won multiple gold medals at the Denver International Spirits Competition and taken home more gold medals at the Miami Rum Renaissance Festival. With these two latest medals, it may be time to invest in an additional trophy case.

At the heart of the Yolo Rum operation is master distiller Francisco “Don Pancho” Fernandez. Born in Cuba and operating out of the Republic of Panama, Don Pancho is the world’s most-respected and honored ronero (that’s “rum blender,” for the layman). The recipient of hundreds of awards, Francisco “Don Pancho” Fernandez is acclaimed worldwide as the ultimate practitioner of his craft and recognized as a man who elevates the trade of rum making to high art. Yolo Rums are gluten free, with no added sugar or molasses and no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, and the company produces its products using revolutionary environmentally sustainable processes. Offering boutique quality at exceptional value, Yolo Rum is the ideal synthesis of ancient crafts and modern tastes.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/488493/Yolo_Rum_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Yolo Rum