CLIFTON PARK, N.Y., Sept. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Genius Plaza, a leading digital educational company providing didactic learning resources for grades Pre-K to 12, today unveiled educational resources in English and Spanish for Hispanic Heritage Month, including animations, games, eBooks, vocabulary sets, comprehension exercises, and non-fictional sets for Latinos in STEAM careers.
“We are committed to ensuring that more than 95% of our content reflects diversity,” said Michelle Emirzian, Chief Academic Officer at Genius Plaza. “We want to be sure our students celebrate all cultures, and also see themselves in the content we provide, including the profiles of professionals in STEAM careers.”
Genius Plaza provides supplemental resources to help inspire students. Available resources not only include content featuring Latino professionals in STEAM careers in English and Spanish, but also learning resources about the seven countries celebrating their independence during Hispanic Heritage Month: Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua.
There are 58.6 million Hispanics in the United States, according to Pew Research Center. Hispanic Heritage Month has been celebrated from September 15th to October 15th since President Ronald Reagan expanded the celebration from one week in 1988. According to the Hispanic Heritage Month website created by the Library of Congress, in 1968, President Lyndon Johnson began the celebration as Hispanic Heritage Week.
About Genius Plaza Genius Plaza is the first multicultural education company that provides culturally relevant math, language arts, and science resources combined with a research-based didactic approach and state-of-the-art parent engagement tools in eight languages. Genius Plaza brands include Plaza Bilingüe and Genius Explorer.
Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at www.mazdausamedia.com.
IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — In the wake of the continued impact of Hurricane Harvey on the greater Houston area, and the recent destruction caused by Hurricane Irma across Florida, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) and the Mazda Foundation (USA), Inc., today announced an additional immediate $100,000 donation to the American Red Cross. This donation comes after an announcement last week whereby Mazda donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.
The Mazda Foundation and MNAO have been long-standing partners with the American Red Cross. Through the partnership, MNAO is a $1-million member of the Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP). As an ADGP member, Mazda’s donation helps ensure that the Red Cross has the necessary resources to respond to disasters large and small, helping people whenever and wherever it is needed.
Personal contributions to the American Red Cross Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma Disaster Relief Fund can be made through this link.
Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 600 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at InsideMazda.MazdaUSA.com/Newsroom.
About the Mazda Foundation Through the Mazda Foundation, Mazda and its employees are working together to proactively help our neighbors – and the communities where we live and work – to build a better, brighter future. With contributions exceeding $12 million since its founding in 1992, the Mazda Foundation is playing a meaningful role in helping thousands of Americans realize their aspirations and dreams. The Mazda Foundation supports programs ranging from children’s organizations and educational scholarships to food banks, environmental programs and crucial disaster relief efforts. To learn more, visit Mazdafoundation.org.
El empresario Miguel Digenaro junto a Guadalupe Sola, Directora de Infraestructura e Inversión de la Ciudad, el Director Provincial de Zonas Francas, Juan Carlos Chalde y Marcelo Leite, Presidente de Empresa Concesionario Zona Franca. Foto: Julio Sanders
MALVERN, Pennsylvania, Sept. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — As part of its strategic plan and ongoing evolution, DentalEZ® Integrated Solutions today announced changes that will continue the transformation of the company. Effective January 1, 2018, DentalEZ is partnering with PSA, Professional Sales Associates, Inc., on sales of its StarDental®, RAMVAC® and DentalEZ Equipment brands to dental distributors in the US, Puerto Rico and Canada.
Heather Trombley, President and COO of DentalEZ said, “We are changing the status quo. We have a real opportunity to fulfill the company’s vision – becoming a vibrant, integral and trusted partner in oral and overall health – and we could not have asked for a better partner than PSA.” Trombley continued, “We believe that in partnership with PSA, our company will be better positioned to provide real solutions to the everyday challenges in the delivery of oral healthcare by uniquely combining product innovation focused on simplification, efficiency, and value coupled with outstanding customer service and support.”
Ric Vordermark, Sr. Director of Sales commented “We believe PSA is uniquely qualified, based on their deep relationships and long standing ties to the dental market, to ensure that our dealer partners and customers are educated on and understand all of our products and services,” Vordermark said. “Their experience and relationships, coupled with our focus on meeting market needs will provide us with an opportunity to successfully launch more new products into the market. Together we will exceed market expectations.”
Ms. Trombley added, “The evolution of DentalEZ continues. Like any good company, we evaluate our business and market opportunities with an eye on growth. We are committed to our customers and work hard every day to create a more customer focused company, a company that customers seek out and trust. We are focused on our vision and this announcement brings us another step closer to realizing it.”
About DentalEZ® DentalEZ Integrated Solutions is committed to providing real solutions to everyday challenges in oral healthcare by uniquely combining innovation focused on simplification and efficiency in value based products and outstanding customer service and support. DentalEZ manufactures a full line of products and well-known brands including StarDental® Instruments, DentalEZ® Equipment, RAMVAC® Utility, NevinLabs™ Workstations and Columbia Dentoform® Teaching Solutions. For more information, please visit www.dentalez.com.
MEXICO CITY, Sept. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — As the massive damage, tragic loss of life, and extensive injuries from last week’s magnitude 8.1 earthquake in Mexico come into focus, Direct Relief has made an initial cash commitment of $100,000 for the immediate deployment of emergency medical response personnel and essential medical supplies.
The Mexican states of Oaxaca and Chiapas, which were close to the epicenter, recorded fatalities and massive infrastructure damage. The death toll is likely to climb as response continues.
Direct Relief staff in Mexico made an initial delivery of requested medications and supplies in Oaxaca, Mexico, on Sunday and are coordinating activities with the Comité Operacional de Emergencia, as well as the State Ministry of Health, COFEPRIS, local health jurisdictions, and the Federal Ministry of Health.
Direct Relief’s initial commitment of $100,000 is from its general funds, and not dependent on whether the organization receives contributions designated for this particular event. Moreover, consistent with the obligation to honor donor intent, 100% of any and all donations designated for Mexico by donors will be used exclusively for this purpose, not for the organization’s general operations or other program activities outside of Mexico.
Direct Relief Mexico is a registered Asociación Civil in Mexico and was granted tax-deductible status (Donataria Autorizada) from the Mexican government in 2014. This status allows companies and individuals in Mexico to receive tax benefits for donations to Direct Relief Mexico.
Earlier this year, Direct Relief established a conduit for pharmaceutical businesses in Mexico to donate medicine within the country. In the first major distribution through the pipeline, Direct Relief received 26.5 metric tons of medicine donated by Bayer de México S.A. de C.V. and distributed it onward to a network of local healthcare providers.
While Direct Relief has provided more than USD 35 million in donated medicine in Mexico since 2014, it previously was able to distribute only pharmaceuticals manufactured in the United States and delivered them through costly international direct shipments. Medicines are manufactured in Mexico both by local and global pharma companies, but no mechanism existed until this year to enable large-scale ongoing donations within the country.
About Direct Relief
Established in 1948 with a mission to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies, Direct Relief delivers life-saving medical resources throughout the world – without regard to politics, religion, ethnic identities, or ability to pay. With operations in Mexico and as well as more than 80 countries and all 50 states in the U.S., Direct Relief is the only charitable nonprofit to obtain Verified Accredited Wholesale Distributor (VAWD) accreditation by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. Among other distinctions, Direct Relief earns a perfect score of 100 from independent evaluator Charity Navigator, was listed among the world’s most innovative nonprofits by Fast Company, and has received the CECP Directors’ Award, the Drucker Prize for Nonprofit Innovation, and the President’s Award from Esri for excellence in GIS mapping. For more information, please visit https://www.DirectRelief.org.
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Latin Hollywood Films in association with JEAR Entertainment is set to make history and launch America’s first mobile talk show “Kiki Mobile” on Sunday, Sept. 17 on FYI. Award-winning comedian, Kiki Melendez (creator of Showtime’s “Hot Tamales Live”) traveled to various locations filming unique, one-of-a-kind segments in a custom-designed RV. The segments were filmed in Venice Beach, Hollywood, and New York City, and also feature exclusive set visits and red carpet events, making “Kiki Mobile” the new source for entertainment and celebrity interviews.
Along with host Melendez, “Kiki Mobile” includes her “co-hottie” Lamar Babi, RV driver and actor Sal Velez, Jr., and house band Angelo Pagan’s Da Streetband. The premiere episode features one-on-one interviews with legendary actor Ed Asner, Joe Manganiello, Kim Director (HBO’s “The Deuce,”) Yancey Arias, plus NFL legends Michael Irvin, Marshall Faulk and newly inducted Hall of Famers, Kurt Warner and Terrell Davis.
In addition, “Kiki Mobile” has unique sketches, or “Kiki Quickies” highlighting Kiki’s comedic talent, “Kiki’s Comedy Corner” which features leading comics, “Kiki’s Proud Moms” with Ada Luz Pla Williams, and “Buzzchat” with Juhahn Jones, which spotlights the hottest viral videos and social media influencers.
“Kiki Mobile” will premiere Sunday, Sept. 17 at 12PM ET nationwide on FYI and will air weekly for thirteen weeks. For local listings visit www.fyi.tv/channelfinder
For more information, please visit www.kikimobile.com and follow the show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook via @kikimobileofficial
Melendez is an actress, writer, comedian and executive producer and CEO of Latin Hollywood Films.
She has become one of America’s top female performers, creating many opportunities for herself and other minorities with her shows “Kiki Desde Hollywood” on Galavision, Showtime Networks “Hot Tamales Live!” a comedy show that has toured the nation, “Locos Y Contentos” on Estrella TV, and the documentary-comedy, “Journey of a Female Comic,” which was Oscar qualified in 2015.
Most recently, Melendez produced the groundbreaking “Latin Hollywood Films Upfronts” and presented a slate of multicultural programming for network executives in New York and LA.
Press contact: LHF PR Angel Gonzalez (310) 903-1714. Generated by Elif Cercel at [email protected].
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 12, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — StarKist Co. today announced that it will enter into a consent decree with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for alleged violations related to wastewater treatment and related compliance matters at the company’s plant in American Samoa.
It was identified that certain systems did not meet today’s environmental compliance regulations and StarKist worked collaboratively with the EPA to make changes to the facility and its compliance measures. In accordance with the consent decree, StarKist has agreed, among other things, to install interim measures equipment, and intends to pay $6.3 million in penalties for alleged waste disposal violations at StarKist Samoa, in addition to investing significant capital in funding to address plant and monitoring upgrades.
“StarKist is committed to American Samoa and its people by being a socially responsible company and doing the right thing,” said Andrew Choe, President & CEO, StarKist Co. “Our company is committed to investing in the technology and equipment needed to address compliance issues at the StarKist Samoa plant. While this process is long-term in nature, we will continue to work closely with the EPA as we focus on these improvements until we meet and exceed compliance and environmental performance laws and standards.”
In addition to facility improvements, StarKist offered a training session in American Samoa with the National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center (NERRTC) in July, and has met with the American Samoa Department of Homeland Security (AS DHS), the Territorial Emergency Management Coordinating Office (TMCO), Local Fire Department Hazardous Materials Team, and other first responders. These forums have allowed StarKist to identify emergency response equipment needs within the territory. As a result, StarKist will purchase 12 protective suits and 12 self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) units to support American Samoa’s emergency response efforts.
This project was undertaken in connection with the settlement of an enforcement action. United States v. StarKist Co. and StarKist Samoa Co. taken on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act.
About StarKist Co. StarKist Co. is a food company that provides trusted, healthy, and shelf-stable seafood products in the United States. An industry innovator, StarKist was the first brand to introduce StarKist single-serve pouch products, which include Tuna Creations® and Salmon Creations®. As America’s favorite tuna, StarKist represents a tradition of quality, consumer trust and a commitment to sustainability. StarKist’s charismatic brand icon, Charlie® the Tuna, swam into the hearts of tuna fans in 1961 and is still a fan favorite today. StarKist Co. is a subsidiary of the Dongwon Group.
The Mass Freedom project aims to end the criminalization of communities of color and advance a multiracial democracy
NEW YORK, Sept. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — As mass criminalization continues to target and harm communities of color, Race Forward: The Center for Racial Justice Innovation today announced the launch of the Mass Freedom project. Mass Freedom aims to bridge the movements fighting to end mass incarceration and mass deportation under a shared vision for a multiracial democracy.
“Mass criminalization is an assault on the humanity, safety, and fundamental rights of people of color,” said Glenn Harris, President of Race Forward. “Our nation is facing an existential crisis as mass deportation and incarceration continue to ravage communities of color. Mass Freedom is our effort to come together, take action, and unite amidst a political landscape that grows more threatening with each day.”
Building upon the decades of work and visionary thinking by activists who have been leading the fight for racial justice, Mass Freedom will focus on elevating the voices of those who have been most impacted by mass criminalization while sharing visions, solutions, and strategies for a better future.
MassFreedom.org, which will serve as a platform for activists engaging on mass criminalization to share stories, solutions, and resources.
Colorlines.com reporting on mass incarceration and mass deportation, and contributions by immigrants, formerly incarcerated people, and others directly affected by the criminalization of people of color.
FRED Talks (Facing Race, Elevating Democracy) – online videos produced at local events where activists and leaders share their stories and effective strategies for change.
Resources including videos, articles, tools, and more on the issues of mass incarceration and deportation that are being used every day by organizers and change makers.
Actions highlighted on the site and driven on social media channels by movement-oriented influencers, to amplify diverse stories, views, and regular opportunities to take action now.
“Our criminal justice and immigration enforcement systems are both rooted in a long history of systemic racism, slavery, and the genocide of indigenous people,” said Rosana Cruz, Race Forward’s Vice President of Movement and Capacity Building. “The destructive presence of systemic racism in all of our lives links communities that don’t always see how their futures are intertwined. With Mass Freedom we are hoping to further those futures towards a collective liberation.”
Mass Freedom was inspired by conversations with Michelle Alexander, award-winning author of the critically acclaimed book The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, in effort to develop a multi-pronged anti-criminalization project that will serve as a platform for multiracial systemic solutions.
“Inspired by courageous struggles for human rights and justice around the world and the sacrifices of those who have gone before us, Mass Freedom aims to help us rise to the challenges we face,” said Alexander. “By learning from our history and facing our future with open hearts, open minds, determination and courage, we can make America what it must become.”
Founded in 1981, Race Forward brings systemic analysis and an innovative approach to complex race issues to help people take effective action toward racial equity. Founded in 2002, CSI catalyzes community, government, and other institutions to dismantle structural racial inequity and create equitable outcomes for all.
The new Race Forward is home to the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE), a national network of government working to achieve racial equity and advance opportunities for all. Race Forward publishes the daily news site Colorlines and presents Facing Race, the country’s largest multiracial conference on racial justice.
SEATTLE, Sept. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ —The largest one-day volunteer event in Washington State, United Way’s Day of Caring, gets even bigger and better, incorporating a volunteer fundraising component and Night Out for Caring, a unique celebration held at Safeco Field on September 15th, 2017.
More than 13,000 people come together and volunteer at 250 area nonprofits, providing thousands of hours of invaluable labor. The volunteer projects are as diverse as the companies whose employees are giving their time to make a difference. Microsoft and Amazon employees are volunteering at a local shelter to support families experiencing homelessness. United Way co-chairs Angela and Ethan Stowell of Ethan Stowell Restaurants join their employees in weeding and planting crops in a community garden. Other projects include improving forest habitat in city parks and green spaces, refurbishing shoes for people who need footwear, and preparing meals for food-insecure communities.
On the evening of September 15th, United Way celebrates volunteerism and fundraising with a distinct party at Safeco Field. Guests who have volunteered, raised money, or made donations to Day and Night of Caring are treated to delicious food and beverage tastings, Boeing speed pitch and other fun activities involving local celebrities plus great prizes.
United Way thanks Microsoft, Boeing, Nordstrom, Seattle Mariners, Brettler Family Foundation and the Raikes Foundation for their generous support of Day and Night Out for Caring.
For more information on donating to United Way of King County to make sure people have homes, students graduate and families are financially stable, click here or visit United Way of King County’s website at https://www.uwkc.org/donate.
2018 Honda Odyssey Recognized with “Wards 10 Best UX” User Experience Award
TORRANCE, California, Sept. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — With praise for the usability of its many unique family-friendly features, the 2018 Honda Odyssey received a 2017 Wards 10 Best UX Award from the experts at WardsAuto. Tom Murphy, Senior Editor at WardsAuto, highlighted such features as the multi-configurable Magic Slide 2nd-Row Seats™, HondaVAC®, CabinTalk™ and CabinWatch™, saying the Odyssey has “enough family-friendly features to lure away shoppers who were considering a utility vehicle instead.” Started in 2016, the Wards 10 Best UX awards recognize vehicles that enhance users’ lifestyles and make technology easy to utilize. Odyssey has been the best-selling minivan in America for the past seven years and is leading again in 20171. The all-new 2018 Honda Odyssey, designed to keep everyone in the family happy, went on sale on May 24, 2017.
1Based on Urban Science retail sales data in the minivan segment for 2010-2017CYTD March.
