NEW YORK, Sept. 27, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The COFINA Seniors Coalition (the “Coalition” or “we“), which collectively represents the largest holder of senior bonds issued by the Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corporation (“COFINA”), released the following statement today regarding the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria:

“Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to the more than 3 million U.S. citizens living in Puerto Rico as they navigate the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Although it will take time to determine the full extent of the damage throughout the Caribbean, it is clear that these recent natural disasters have hit Puerto Rico extremely hard and impacted countless businesses, homes and families. We hope that our fellow Americans living in Puerto Rico receive the necessary humanitarian and governmental assistance required to spur a speedy recovery and ultimately strengthen the island’s infrastructure for the long-term.

“To help play a small role in the larger disaster response efforts and recovery to come, members of the Coalition will be contributing to the Puerto Rico Chapter of the American Red Cross. Individuals and organizations seeking to learn more about how they can provide support should visit www.redcross.org/local/puerto-rico.” 

About the COFINA Seniors Coalition

The COFINA Seniors Coalition is a group of creditors based in Puerto Rico and throughout the United States. It is led by GoldenTree Asset Management LP, Tilden Park Capital Management LP, Whitebox Advisors LLC, as well as other institutional and retail investors. COFINA was the original “rescue bond” established in 2006 following the passage of bi-partisan legislation by the Puerto Rico Legislative Assembly. The COFINA structure offered Puerto Rico access to affordable capital and liquidity that enabled the island to avert its last financial crisis. Today, COFINA bonds are the most widely held bond amongst on-island individuals and retirees.

Media Contacts 

Greg Marose
[email protected]
212-446-1874 / 201-936-4126

Mike Geller
[email protected] 
212-729-2163 / 646-567-3596

SOURCE COFINA Seniors Coalition

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

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

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