Holocaust Survivor Eva Kor Presents the Power of Forgiveness at the Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart Tonight

April 5, 2017

Mike and Constance Fernandez with Eva Kor

MIAMI, April 4, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Recipient of the 2017 Sachem award, the highest honor in the state of Indiana, Eva Mozes Kor is a survivor of the Holocaust, a forgiveness advocate, and a highly revered public speaker. With the driving message of “never give up” in her mind, Eva has emerged through a life filled with trauma as a brilliant example of the power of the human spirit to overcome. Eva is one of the few surviving twins still sharing her personal account of the medical experiments supervised by Nazi doctor Josef Mengele at Auschwitz.

In addition to the importance of her account of the Holocaust from a historical perspective, Eva’s life lessons and her message of survival and forgiveness touch the lives of thousands of people. In 1995, Eva chose to forgive the Nazis in her name only. She decided that they would no longer have power over her life. She describes forgiving the Nazis as an act of self-healing, self-liberation, and self-empowerment; to Eva, forgiveness is not about the perpetrator, not about forgetting. It is one step toward repairing the world by helping victims free themselves from perpetrators and remove anger and hatred.

“I am forever grateful to Shimon Peres for introducing me to Eva Kor, as she exemplifies the healing power of forgiveness,” states Mike Fernandez, who came to America as a teenager after his family was forced out of Cuba. “As one of two million Cuban exiles, I have been able to learn, move forward, and free my mind from the pain of the past through forgiveness.”

Eva’s account of her survival of the Holocaust offers many relevant lessons on the dangers of hate speech and prejudice, and the importance of being an informed citizen. Eva’s message of healing reaches around the globe and across social, economic, and cultural boundaries.

In 1995, Eva opened CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Terre Haute, IN, with a mission to illuminate the world with hope, healing, respect, and responsibility through education about the Holocaust. The only Holocaust museum in Indiana, CANDLES is also the only organization in the world dedicated to the memory of the twin victims and survivors of medical experimentation at Auschwitz.

Tonight Eva is speaking to an audience of over 800 people in the Fernandez and Argiz Families Wellness Center at the Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart in Miami, FL. As the only all-girls school grades preK-12 in the State of Florida, Carrollton serves as the leading advocate for girls’ education, believing that single gender schools provide the most powerful, transformative learning environments for students. Carrollton’s tradition of excellence in all-girls’ education dates back to 1801 and the founding of the first Sacred Heart School in Amiens, France. For more than 200 years Sacred Heart students have been held to the highest expectations and have been encouraged to become confident learners, critical thinkers, and self-starters. Carrollton’s all-girls’ environment yields rewards that last a lifetime.

The event tonight is made possible by the collaboration of Head Master Olen Kalkus, Mike Fernandez, and the great team of administrators and parents at Carrollton. Head Master Kalkus wanted to bring Eva to the school in order to share her message of survival, hope, healing, and forgiveness with the students and the community: “During these times when anger, incivility, and even violence based on retribution and retaliation seem to be on the rise and turning into the norm of political discourse in our country and the world, it is especially important to hear the message that Eva Kor shares.”

For more information about Eva Kor or the CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center, please contact Dorothy Chambers at 812-234-7881 or [email protected]. For more information about Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart, please contact 305-446-5673.

Media Contact:
Smilka Melgoza
305-662-2669
[email protected]

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Billion Dollar Roundtable Recognizes CVS Health for Reaching $1 Billion in Diverse Supplier Spending

April 5, 2017

WOONSOCKET, R.I., April 5, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — CVS Health (NYSE: CVS), the nation’s largest pharmacy innovation company, today was recognized by Billion Dollar Roundtable, a top-level corporate advocacy organization that promotes supply-chain diversity excellence, for reaching its goal of spending over $1 billion with diverse suppliers.

“We are incredibly proud to be recognized by Billion Dollar Roundtable for our commitment to using diverse suppliers throughout our business,” said Eva Boratto, Executive Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer for CVS Health. “By tapping into this expanding supplier pool, we are able to build supply chain excellence, add distinctive goods and services to our business offerings and enhance our brand among customers.”

CVS Health joins the ranks as one of 26 major U.S.-based corporations that provide thought leadership and solutions-driven exploration of key issues in supplier diversity. Billion Dollar Roundtable member companies each spend $1 billion or more annually for a broad range of goods and services with certified diverse companies whose majority owners primarily are minorities and women.

This recognition is the latest in a series of third-party acknowledgments, including CVS Health being ranked #45 on Fortune’s Most Admired Companies in 2017, #3 on Fast Company’s® 50 Most Innovative Companies in 2016 and among the World’s Most Valuable Brands by Forbes®. The company also received awards recognizing its innovation, leadership, and workplace practices by CIO (100 Best Companies for IT Innovation), Corporate Responsibility Magazine® (100 Best Corporate Citizens), Human Rights Campaign® (Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality) and Disability Equality Index (Best Places to Work).

About CVS Health
CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its more than 9,700 retail locations, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with nearly 90 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, expanding specialty pharmacy services, and a leading stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, the company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.

Media Contact
Joe Goode, 401-770-9820
[email protected]

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Zika Virus Reported in Pregnant Women in 44 States

April 4, 2017

March of Dimes urges: Take steps to prevent infection

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., April 4, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — A new government report shows that nearly 1,300 pregnancies from 44 states with possible recent Zika virus infection were reported to the U.S. Zika Pregnancy Registry in 2016. Most of the women acquired the virus during travel to Zika-affected areas, the report says.

Among the pregnant women with confirmed Zika infection, 1 in 10 had a fetus or baby with birth defects. The highest risk was from confirmed infection in the first trimester — birth defects were reported in 15 percent of these fetuses or infants.

The report, published today in the journal Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), includes data on completed pregnancies in the 50 states and the District of Columbia with laboratory evidence of possible recent Zika virus infection reported to the U.S. Zika Pregnancy Registry from January 15 to December 27, 2016.

“Zika virus is causing a lot of anxiety among my patients and their partners, who are accustomed to traveling for work or to visit family,” says Siobhan Dolan, MD, MPH, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx and medical advisor to the March of Dimes. “I advise them that preventing infection is the most important thing for themselves and their babies. Protect yourself from Zika before and during pregnancy, and that includes avoiding travel to affected areas. But remember — it’s not forever. Yes, you may miss a family event now, while you’re pregnant. But after the baby is born, in a few months, you’ll be able to travel safely and with peace of mind.”

The March of Dimes coordinates with the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention to provide up-to-the-minute information in English and Spanish for women, men, and families at ZAPzika.org and nacersano.org/zika. The March of Dimes also answers questions about Zika virus in social media and via email in both English and Spanish. Send email to [email protected] or [email protected].

“We don’t yet know the full range of disabilities in babies infected with Zika virus,” says Dr. Dolan. “Even babies who don’t have obvious signs of birth defects still may be affected. Babies born to women who have evidence of Zika virus during pregnancy need brain imaging and other testing after birth to make a correct diagnosis, and to help us understand how these babies grow and develop.”

She noted that the March of Dimes is hosting and promoting “Zika Care Connect,” a new website that will launch this month to assist Zika-affected families in finding healthcare professionals around the country who can provide specialized care.

Other March of Dimes activities to protect babies from Zika virus include:

Funding research into a “weak spot” in the structure of a Zika virus protein that may lead to development of the first drug treatment for Zika infection;
Providing continuing education for nurses on “What Every Nurse Should Know” about Zika in both English and Spanish;
Preparing Zika Prevention Kits for newborns in Puerto Rico (including mosquito netting, onesies and prevention tips).

Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause damage to the brain, microcephaly (smaller than expected head) and congenital Zika syndrome, a pattern of conditions in the baby that includes brain abnormalities, eye defects, hearing loss, and limb defects. Zika infection during pregnancy also has been linked to miscarriage and stillbirth.

“Vital Signs: Update on Zika Virus-Associated Birth Defects and Evaluation of All U.S. Infants with Congenital Zika Virus Exposure — U.S. Zika Pregnancy Registry, 2016″ was an early release in MMWR, Vol. 66, April 4, 2017.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. For more than 75 years, moms and babies have benefited from March of Dimes research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs. For the latest resources and health information, visit our websites marchofdimes.org and nacersano.org. For detailed national, state and local perinatal statistics, visit peristats.org. You can also find us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

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Battle For Whiteclay Decision Day For Deadly Alcohol Sales

April 4, 2017

LINCOLN, Neb., April 4, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Alcohol industry watchdog Alcohol Justice has organized Media Availability for witnesses addressing the alcohol related public health and safety disaster in Whiteclay.

WHAT: Nebraska Liquor Control Commission Hearing on four Whiteclay beer store licenses.

WHERE: Nebraska State Capitol, Room #1525

WHEN: April 6, 2017, 9 a.m.

WHO:

Olowan Sarah Thunder Hawk Martinez, Pine Ridge Oglala Lakota Activist
Sonny Skyhawk, Founder and CEO, American Indians in Film and Television, Alcohol Justice Board Member
Bryan Brewer, former Oglala Sioux Tribal President
Jorge Castillo, Advocacy Director, Alcohol Justice

WHY: Four liquor stores in the town of Whiteclay Nebraska (population 12), are selling and bootlegging 3.5 million cans of beer a year into the Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota, where it is illegal to possess or consume alcohol and multi-generations have suffered alcoholism and devastating alcohol-related problems. All types of criminal activities take place at the stores yet local law enforcement is inadequate and up to now, the Nebraska state government has failed to act. Finally, the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission will decide whether the liquor licenses for the exploitative liquor stores will be renewed.

To schedule interviews: Call Jorge Castillo: 213 840-3336 – anytime.

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About 1 in 10 U.S. pregnant women with confirmed Zika infection had a fetus or baby with birth defects in 2016

April 4, 2017

Continued focus on Zika prevention needed

ATLANTA, April 4, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Of the 250 pregnant women who had confirmed Zika infection in 2016, 24 – or about 1 in 10 of them – had a fetus or baby with Zika-related birth defects, according to a new Vital Signs report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This report is the first to provide the analysis of a subgroup of pregnant women in the U.S. with clear, confirmed test results of Zika virus infection.

Testing for Zika remains complex because there is a narrow timeframe for obtaining a positive laboratory result, and many infected people do not have symptoms that might motivate testing. For this reason, CDC is monitoring all pregnant women with any evidence of recent Zika infection. In 2016, nearly 1,000 pregnant women from 44 states who completed their pregnancies had some evidence of a recent Zika infection and were at risk of having a fetus or baby with Zika-related birth defects. Most of these women acquired Zika infection during travel to an area where Zika was known to be present.

Zika infection during pregnancy can cause serious damage to the brain and microcephaly in developing fetuses. It also can lead to congenital Zika syndrome in babies, a pattern of birth defects that includes brain abnormalities, vision problems, hearing loss, and problems moving limbs. Babies may also appear healthy at birth but have underlying brain defects or other Zika-related health problems.

“Zika virus can be scary and potentially devastating to families. Zika continues to be a threat to pregnant women across the U.S.,” said CDC Acting Director Anne Schuchat, M.D. “With warm weather and a new mosquito season approaching, prevention is crucial to protect the health of mothers and babies. Healthcare providers can play a key role in prevention efforts.”

The findings from this report confirm the serious threat posed by Zika virus infection during pregnancy and the critical need for pregnant women to continue taking steps to prevent Zika virus exposure through mosquito bites and sexual transmission. The report also emphasizes the importance of healthcare providers screening all pregnant women for possible Zika virus exposure and testing and evaluating all infants born to women with evidence of Zika infection.

Identifying scope of Zika cases in U.S. and gaps in evaluation and care management

This report updates previously published estimates of the proportion of fetuses or babies with birth defects among pregnant women with possible Zika infection reported to the U.S. Zika Pregnancy Registry from January 15 to December 27, 2016 in the 50 U.S. states and Washington D.C. The Registry includes data from all U.S. states, DC, and all U.S. territories except Puerto Rico; pregnancies in Puerto Rico are monitored separately by the Zika Active Pregnancy Surveillance System. This report also highlights possible gaps in clinical evaluation and management of infants with possible congenital Zika virus infection.

Key findings in the Vital Signs report include:

Forty-four states reported pregnant women with evidence of Zika in 2016.
- Most of these women acquired Zika virus infection during travel to an area with Zika.
Nearly 1,300 pregnant women with evidence of possible Zika infection were reported to the U.S. Zika Pregnancy Registry.
- Of the 1,000 pregnancies that were completed by the end of the year, more than 50 had Zika-related birth defects.
Among pregnant women with confirmed Zika infection, about 1 in 10 had a fetus or baby with birth defects.
- Confirmed infections in the first trimester posed the highest risk – with about 15% having Zika-related birth defects.
About 1 in 3 babies with possible congenital Zika infection had no report of Zika testing at birth.
Only 1 in 4 babies with possible congenital Zika infection were reported to have received brain imaging after birth.

“Based on reports to the Registry, many babies born to mothers with possible Zika infection are not receiving brain imaging after birth to help diagnose serious brain defects,” said Peggy Honein, Ph.D., co-lead, Pregnancy and Birth Defects Task Force, CDC Zika Response. “Healthcare providers have an important role, and we encourage them to ask about possible Zika exposure when caring for both pregnant women and their babies and to follow CDC guidance for evaluation and care of infants with possible Zika infection.”

CDC encourages healthcare providers to:

Educate families on Zika prevention.
Provide all needed tests and follow-up care.
Support babies and families.

CDC is continuously updating guidance for healthcare providers on testing and clinical care for pregnant women and babies affected by Zika. It is also monitoring new infections and working to identify the long-term outcomes of congenital Zika infection.

To learn more about Zika virus, visit https://www.cdc.gov/zika/. Healthcare providers can visit https://www.cdc.gov/zika/hc-providers/index.html for CDC’s latest clinical guidance, testing, and training information for Zika.

About Vital Signs

Vital Signs is a report that appears as part of the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Vital Signs provides the latest data and information on key health indicators: cancer prevention, obesity, tobacco use, motor vehicle passenger safety, prescription drug overdose, HIV/AIDS, alcohol use, health care-associated infections, cardiovascular health, teen pregnancy, food safety, and viral hepatitis.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

CDC works 24/7 saving lives and protecting people from health threats to have a more secure nation. Whether these threats are chronic or acute, manmade or natural, human error or deliberate attack, global or domestic, CDC is the U.S. health protection agency.

Contact: CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

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The Mexican Stock Exchange Deploys Market Data Access in Equinix New York Data Center

April 4, 2017

REDWOOD CITY, California and MEXICO CITY, April 4, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Equinix, Inc. (Nasdaq: EQIX), the global interconnection and data center company, today announced that the Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV Group) is the first Latin American exchange to deploy a Point-of-Presence (POP) in the Equinix NY5 International Business Exchange™ (IBX®) data center, located in Secaucus, NJ.

The Mexican Stock Exchange’s new Point-of-Presence supports the company’s regional strategic position to further expand its global presence, and it encompasses a new channel to interconnect with the existing ecosystem of financial market participants operating within Equinix’s NY5 hub. The initial offering will provide clients with access to market data on a new multicast data feed, and it will enable lower latency for electronic equities and derivatives market providers. Over time, the Mexican Stock Exchange plans to enhance their existing capabilities by adding additional services to their offering.

Highlights / Key Facts

Strategically located in Equinix’s Secaucus data center campus, the Mexican Stock Exchange can take advantage of close proximity to major liquidity providers and institutional investors that are increasingly adopting cross-asset trading execution strategies through interconnection. Close proximity to financial firms, combined with access to the broadest choice of networks and the ability for customers to directly connect, will enable the Mexican Stock Exchange to deliver consistent low latency market data to its customers in the U.S.
The Mexican Stock Exchange, a public company since 2008 with more than 120 years of experience, is the second largest exchange in Latin America with daily trading volumes averaging more than $780 million USD and 300 million shares.
The Mexican Stock Exchange’s customers can take advantage of the new Point-of-Presence in NY5 to access the latest multicast protocol market data feed, enabling greater efficiency and decreasing the latency in the delivery of the data by 75 percent. Additionally, the new market data feed features Top of Book and 20 levels depth information for the equities market, and 10 levels depth for the derivatives market using low latency channels.
Equinix provides a neutral meeting place for the world’s leading financial market participants, including trading venues, buy- and sell-side firms, market data providers, technology providers and financial networks. Equinix data centers provide colocation and interconnection services for over a 1,000 financial services customers that include over 175 exchange and trading venue deployments around the globe. The expansion by the Mexican Stock Exchange further enhances Equinix’s global electronic trading ecosystem, providing the interconnection options that companies need to meet business demands.
Equinix’s campus in Secaucus, NJ serves financial, network and cloud companies. Furthermore, the facility offers premium colocation services and is designed to meet the financial market’s need for data-intensive applications deployed closer to the edge.

Quotes

José- Oriol Bosch, CEO, The Mexican Stock Exchange:
“For the Mexican Stock Exchange, the deployment of a Point-of-Presence in New York, was a key element of the commercial strategy to increase our capacity to distribute Market Data internationally, using low-latency channels to connect directly to existing and potential customers. The Equinix Secaucus campus was a strategic choice for us as it is home to a broad ecosystem of financial services firms. By offering our Market Data services there, we can easily interconnect with these firms in a fast and reliable way.”
John Knuff, Vice President, Financial Services at Equinix:
“We are proud to host the first Latin American exchange in Secaucus and continue to see strong momentum with the global exchanges market, as these businesses are realizing how a global data center platform can accelerate their business performance. The Mexican Stock Exchange is a locally recognized brand and adds to the strength of our financial services offering.”

About Equinix
Equinix, Inc. (Nasdaq: EQIX) connects the world’s leading businesses to their customers, employees and partners inside the most interconnected data centers. In 41 markets across five continents, Equinix is where companies come together to realize new opportunities and accelerate their business, IT and cloud strategies. equinix.com.

About BMV Group
BMV Group (BMV: BOLSAA) is a fully integrated Exchange Group that trades cash, listed derivatives and OTC markets for multiple asset classes, including equities, fixed income and exchange traded funds, as well as custody, clearing and settlement facilities and data products for the local and international financial community. bmv.com.mx

Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from expectations discussed in such forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, the challenges of acquiring, operating and constructing IBX centers and developing, deploying and delivering Equinix services; unanticipated costs or difficulties relating to the integration of companies we have acquired or will acquire into Equinix; a failure to receive significant revenue from customers in recently built out or acquired data centers; failure to complete any financing arrangements contemplated from time to time; competition from existing and new competitors; the ability to generate sufficient cash flow or otherwise obtain funds to repay new or outstanding indebtedness; the loss or decline in business from our key customers; and other risks described from time to time in Equinix’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In particular, see Equinix’s recent quarterly and annual reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of which are available upon request from Equinix. Equinix does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.

Equinix and IBX are registered trademarks of Equinix, Inc.
International Business Exchange is a trademark of Equinix, Inc.

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NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises Launches Autism Platform Under The El Poder En Ti ‘Tu Salud’ Initiative

April 4, 2017

NBCUniversal_Telemundo_Enterprises_Sofia_Lachapelle_World_Autism_Awareness_Day

MIAMI, April 3, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — In celebration of Autism Awareness Month, NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises today launched an Autism pillar under the El Poder En Ti ‘Tu Salud’ initiative, its year-round health platform geared towards informing, educating and empowering U.S. Hispanics about how to prevent common health issues. The initiative will promote autism awareness by featuring PSAs, autism related health segments on Telemundo news programs, collaborate with national organizations like Autism Speaks and Best Buddies International, and host a dedicated digital destination at www.elpoderenti.com/autismo.

Together with key partners Autism Speaks and Best Buddies International, this new initiative focuses on the de-stigmatization of autism and providing additional support to Latino parents of at-risk children in an effort to increase awareness and decrease delays in diagnosis, shedding light on life-changing and important resources to help Latino families.

“Autism affects 1 in 68 U.S. children over the age of three, yet of those affected, Latino children are less likely to get the proper diagnosis,” said Rocky Egusquiza, Vice President, Community Affairs, NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises. “El Poder En Ti is pleased to partner with these expert organizations to ensure our community has the best resources to break down diagnosis barriers for Latino families.”

Sofia Lachapelle, reporter for Telemundo’s “Al Rojo Vivo” and El Poder En Ti autism champion, kicked off the launch by speaking at the United Nations Headquarters’ World Autism Awareness Day in New York on March 31, and will also serve as a personal advocate on the cause. She spoke at the 2017 Autism Speaks Miami Walk on April 2 at the Doral Grand Central Park. In addition, she will be joining Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez at the Main Library to kick off Autism Awareness Month on April 5 and will donate 100 of her children’s book, “Un Superhéroe Especial” (“A Special Superhero”), to the library at the event.

“As a mother of two children with autism, I’m proud NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises is committed to bringing awareness on such a critical cause,” said Lachapelle. “Through this new pillar under ‘Tu Salud,’ we hope to inspire parents and families to believe in a better future for their loved ones and access important information on autism.”

Throughout the month of April, “El Poder En Ti” will take part in autism focused events across the country, including New York and Los Angeles. For more details, key resources and informational videos, visit www.ElPoderEnTi.com/autismo. Users will also be able to download a bilingual copy of Sofia’s book for free.

Follow the conversation: #ElPoderEnTi; Facebook.com/ElPoderEnTi; Instagram: @ElPoderEnTiTLMD

About NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises:
NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises encompasses Telemundo, a Spanish-language television network reaching 94% of Hispanic TV households and featuring original scripted and non-scripted productions, theatrical motion pictures, specials, news and first-class sports events; Telemundo Studios, the leading producer of original Spanish-language primetime content in the U.S.; the Telemundo Station Group, reaching U.S. Hispanic viewers in 210 markets, through its 17 owned stations and 54 broadcast affiliates in the US and Puerto Rico; NBC Universo, a modern general entertainment cable channel for Latinos, offering a thrilling mix of exclusive premium sports, signature series, blockbuster movies, music, must-see live events and strategic acquisitions, on TV, online and mobile devices; Telemundo International, the second largest distributor of Spanish-language content in the world, reaching more than 120 countries in over 40 languages; and its Digital Media unit, which creates and distributes original content across digital and emerging platforms including mobile devices, apps, www.telemundo.com and www.nbcuniverso.com, and operates Fluency Productions, the company’s multi-format, multi-platform production studio. NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises is a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

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Allstate Launches Fifth Annual Reality Rides® Tour to Help Put the Brakes on Distracted Driving

April 4, 2017

NORTHBROOK, Ill., April 4, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Just in time for April’s National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, Allstate is calling on drivers to avoid distractions behind the wheel, especially with safety experts finding distracted driving killed almost 3,500 people and injured nearly 400,000 in the U.S. in 2015.ⁱ To drive home its message, Allstate is launching its fifth annual Reality Rides^® tour, featuring a simulator that provides a safe environment to learn about the often devastating, but preventable, impact of distracted driving. This year’s tour will stop in 50 cities throughout the U.S. and Canada, more than double last year’s events.

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The Berry family of Texas knows the impact of distracted driving first hand. As Josh and Robin Berry and their three young children headed home from vacation in 2011, a distracted driver hit their minivan head-on. The crash killed Josh and Robin and paralyzed their two sons. The children, Peter, Aaron and Willa Berry, have since been in the care of their aunt and uncle, and they along with their cousins, Noah and Misha, have started the organization One Life is Enough (OLIE), to help fight distracted driving. The family will join Allstate for its Reality Rides event today in Austin, Texas, where state lawmakers are considering Senate Bill 31, which proposes banning texting while driving for all drivers.

“No one should have to face the preventable, yet life-threatening consequences of a distracted driving collision,” said Matt Berry, the children’s uncle and guardian. “OLIE is touched by Allstate’s contributions to end distracted driving. We hope stronger laws in Texas and nationwide will help move this important issue into action.”

“Allstate has a history of leadership when it comes to helping drivers protect themselves and their loved ones, from driver education to advocating for auto passenger safety tools and promoting teen safe driving,” said Julie Parsons, Allstate’s senior vice president of vehicle product management. “Driving while distracted is reaching epidemic proportions, so we are expanding our educational tour and urging more people to get involved. We want everyone to think twice about texting, eating or engaging in other distractions any time they get behind the wheel.”

The Reality Rides simulator is a stationary vehicle with virtual reality LED screens across the windshield, displaying animated scenarios drivers often encounter. Using the steering wheel, gas and brake pedals, operators try to navigate those situations while also attempting to text message, answer phone calls or use in-car technology like GPS, all activities that frequently distract drivers in real life. Afterward, participants receive “traffic citations” that highlight real infractions they’ve committed during their simulations.

This year, Reality Rides also offers new features and enhanced technology, including touch-screen monitors that display distracted-driving facts and allow participants to take selfies to share on social media as GIFs. Also for the first time, Reality Rides will feature a virtual pledge wall displaying participants’ photos, as a demonstration of their support for Allstate’s X the TXT movement in which drivers pledge to not text behind the wheel.

Distracted Drivers, Deadly Consequences
Taking steps to prevent distracted driving is increasingly important, as motorists continue to log more miles, often with deadly consequences:

The National Safety Council estimates more than 40,000 people died in car crashes in the U.S. in 2016, making it potentially the deadliest year on America’s roads since 2007.ⁱⁱ
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found Americans drove about 70 billion more miles during the first nine months of 2016, compared to the same period in 2015.ⁱⁱⁱ
During a typical daylight moment in the U.S. in 2015, an estimated 542,000 drivers were using hand-held cell phones while behind the wheel.^iv
NHTSA says distracted driving crashes killed nearly 3,500 people in 2015, an almost 9 percent jump from the previous year.^v

Reality Rides Impact
Surveys of over 7,600 Reality Rides participants at more than 110 past events^vifound the simulator has an impact that may change behavior:

Before trying it, almost half of participants surveyed said they text while driving and about two-thirds said they talk on the phone while driving.
After experiencing the simulator, nearly 60 percent of participants surveyed say they’ll never text while driving.
More than half of Reality Rides participants surveyed say, after trying the simulator, they won’t let others drive distracted.

Safety Tips
Allstate offers the following tips to help prevent distracted driving:

Put cell phones and other mobile devices out of reach prior to departing, to eliminate the desire to check them while driving.
Input navigation directions and send messages before getting on the road.
Use caution when choosing to listen to loud music or engage with passengers.
Keep both hands on the steering wheel and don’t try to multi-task with other common distractions, like eating or applying makeup.

Visit Reality Rides on Facebook for more information about tour stops, distracted driving resources and to engage in the conversation and invite friends and family to participate in prevention efforts.

Other tour stops planned for this year include: Albany, New York; Allentown, Pennsylvania; Birmingham, Alabama; Boise, Idaho; Camden County and Monmouth County, New Jersey; Charleston, South Carolina; Chicago; Cincinnati; Cleveland; Columbia, Missouri; Columbia, South Carolina; Dallas-Fort Worth; Denver; Hartford, Connecticut; Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, Indiana; Knoxville, Tennessee; Las Vegas; Memphis, Tennessee; Milwaukee; Minneapolis-St. Paul; Oklahoma City; Orlando and Tampa, Florida; Pittsburgh; Providence, Rhode Island; Raleigh, North Carolina; Richmond and Roanoke, Virginia; Salisbury, Maryland; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Toronto, Canada.

Survey Methodology
The onsite, multiple-choice Allstate Reality Rides 2013-2016 survey of more than 7,600 Americans age 15 and older was conducted from April 2013 through October 2016 via more than 110 Reality Rides events. Participants were surveyed before and after experiencing the distracted driving simulator. Gathered respondent data was normalized to ensure consistency between the pre- and post-simulation experience.

About Allstate
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer, protecting approximately 16 million households from life’s uncertainties through auto, home, life and other insurance offered through its Allstate, Esurance, Encompass and Answer Financial brand names. Other growth platforms include predictive analytics company Arity and consumer-product protection plan company SquareTrade. Allstate is widely known through the slogan “You’re In Good Hands With Allstate^®.” Allstate agencies are in virtually every local community in America. In 2016, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate, its employees and agency owners gave $42 million to support local communities.

ⁱAdvocates For Highway & Auto Safety, “2017 Roadmap of State Highway Safety Laws”
ⁱⁱNational Safety Council, Motor Vehicle Deaths in 2016 Estimated to be Highest in Nine Years
ⁱⁱⁱNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities For the First 9 Months of 2016^ivNHTSA, Driver Electronic Device Use in 2015
^vNHTSA, 2015 Motor Vehicle Crashes: Overview^vi2013-2016 Allstate Reality Rides^® Survey

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The NCAA® Men’s Final Four® Returns to San Antonio in 2018!

April 4, 2017

SAN ANTONIO, April 3, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The NCAA Men’s Final Four is heading to San Antonio in 2018, just in time to join the city’s 300^th anniversary celebration and for one lucky fan to become the Ultimate Final Four VIP. Starting today, hoops fans can enter for a chance to win a dream-come-true package. The lucky winner and all fans will be able to enjoy games and events in historic downtown within walking distance of the River Walk, Alamo, restaurants and thousands of hotel rooms.

Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/485932/Tim_Thompson___SACVB.jpg

Named an official event of the city’s Tricentennial Celebration, the 2018 NCAA Men’s Final Four will be held March 30 through April 2. While the national semifinal and championship games are the main draw of the weekend, the city will play host to a number of Final Four and Tricentennial events, many of which will be free to the public. One of the most highly anticipated is the three-day NCAA March Madness Music Festival that will be held in San Antonio’s Hemisfair Park beneath the Tower of the Americas. Past performers of the Music Festival include Aerosmith, Maroon 5, Pitbull, Bruce Springsteen, The Zac Brown Band, Kenny Chesney, Fergie, and Rihanna.

Much has changed in the Alamo City since hosting its last Final Four 10 years ago, including venue enhancements to the Alamodome, neighboring Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center and Hemisfair Park where the heart of Final Four activities will take place. Downriver, the city’s Spanish colonial missions have been named a World Heritage Site; while upriver, fans can explore culture-filled neighborhoods, museums and Pearl, which has grown into a culinary hotspot for chef-driven restaurants. All this and more has contributed to San Antonio being noted as one of the world’s top travel destinations.

Fans are invited to score the Ultimate Final Four VIP experience by entering at NCAA.com/FinalFour for a chance to win:

Two tickets to the 2018 NCAA Final Four
A trip for two including airfare
Hotel stay for six days and five nights
Passes to the PrimeSport VIP Experience
VIP passes to March Madness Music Festival
Tickets to the NCAA Salute Presentation
Behind-the-scenes Alamodome tour
Admission to the Fan Fest, spending money and more.

General public ticket applications are now being accepted through May 31, 2017. The online application can be found at NCAA.com/FinalFour. Interested fans can apply for up to four tickets through the application process and will be notified in the fall if they are selected. Getaway packages, discounts and more destination information can be found at visitsanantonio.com. While in town, travelers can stop by the San Antonio Visitor Information Center across from The Alamo to grab a map, get more ideas on what to explore and have their San Antonio questions answered.

Media information, photos and video: media.visitsanantonio.com

Media Contacts:
Leslie Komet Ausburn
Visit San Antonio
210.326.8992
[email protected]

David Gonzalez
Visit San Antonio
[email protected]

Elena Wells
San Antonio Local Organizing Committee:
[email protected]

Mary Ullmann Japhet
San Antonio Sports
[email protected]

About Visit San Antonio:
Visit San Antonio is a 501(c)6, and serves as the sales and marketing arm of San Antonio as a leading leisure and meetings destination. San Antonio welcomes 20.9 million overnight leisure visitors annually. Hospitality is one of the top five industries in the city, contributing $13.6 billion into the local economy and employing more than 130,000. More information about Visit San Antonio can be found at VisitSanAntonio.com.

About 2018 San Antonio Local Organizing Committee:
The San Antonio Local Organizing Committee (SALOC), which is a partnership between the City of San Antonio, San Antonio Sports, and UTSA, has a strong history of hosting successful NCAA Championships that have generated hundreds of millions of dollars for the San Antonio economy, including three previous Men’s Final Fours (1998, 2004, 2008), two Women’s Final Fours (2002, 2010), two Women’s Division I Volleyball Championships (2005, 2011) and several regional basketball tournaments.

Clearpoint Receives $350,000 Grant from the SunTrust Foundation to fund Hispanic Center for Financial Excellence (HCFE) in Miami

April 4, 2017

MIAMI, April 4, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Today, the SunTrust Foundation announced a grant of $350,000 to Clearpoint’s Hispanic Center for Financial Excellence (HCFE) program in Miami, which helps low- to moderate-income families achieve financial stability through free financial education, advice, and tools.

“On behalf of the SunTrust Foundation, we’re proud to partner with the HCFE to help more people get access to the resources they need to build their financial confidence,” said Manny Perdomo, president and CEO of SunTrust Bank’s South Florida division and Clearpoint board member. “Our goal is to eliminate the financial stress that people feel and help them take steps in the right direction.”

At the HCFE, advisors meet with clients one-on-one to discuss their needs, gain a clear understanding of their current financial situation, identify goals, and establish personalized action plans. Advisors also conduct group classes on topics tailored to meet the needs of the Hispanic community at different life stages and in a culturally welcoming environment.

“The guidance that we’ve received from the HCFE has helped open doors for us,” said Blanca Andrade, a client of the HCFE. “By taking the recommended actions, we have started to reach our financial goals.”

Two-thirds of HCFE clients begin regularly contributing to an emergency savings goal. HCFE clients also report an increased understanding of the financial system through the guidance they receive.

“The HCFE is a valuable program that directly aligns with SunTrust Bank’s purpose of Lighting the Way to Financial Well-Being,” said David Fuller, president of the SunTrust Foundation. “This grant was strategically allocated to help all individuals achieve the feeling of confidence that comes when one is financially capable.”

The HCFE was established in Atlanta in 2012 by Clearpoint Credit Counseling Solutions, a division of Money Management International (MMI), and expanded to Miami in 2014. The generous support provided by the SunTrust Foundation is expected to allow the HCFE to reach 3,000 clients.

CONTACT:
Thomas Nitzsche
Media Relations, Clearpoint
404.490.2227
[email protected]

About Clearpoint Credit Counseling Solutions (Clearpoint)
Clearpoint, a division of Money Management International (MMI) is a nonprofit organization that helps consumers build long-term economic security by providing a full range of solutions-focused financial education, counseling, coaching, and advisory services for low- to moderate-income individuals and families. Clearpoint is a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), a system-wide accredited business with the Council on Better Business Bureaus, and a Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-approved housing counseling agency. Free appointments for counseling may be scheduled by calling 800.750.2227 (se habla español). For more about Clearpoint, visit clearpoint.org.

About SunTrust Foundation
The SunTrust Foundation is committed to SunTrust Bank’s purpose of Lighting the Way to Financial Well-Being by engaging organizations to advance financial confidence. Grants and activities focus primarily on financial empowerment, but also include education, health and human services, civic improvement and cultural growth. The SunTrust Foundation supports American Red Cross disaster relief efforts and contributes as a United Way Global Corporate Leader. Established in 2008 by a contribution from SunTrust Bank, the SunTrust Foundation has proudly provided grants totaling more than $112 million throughout the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

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