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.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/147418/alcohol_justice_logo.jpg

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

0

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

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/287595/cdc__logo.jpg

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

April 4, 2017

0

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.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1386/EQUINIX_LOGO.jpg

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

April 4, 2017

0

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.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/485701/NBCUniversal_Telemundo_Enterprises_Sofia_Lachapelle_World_Autism_Awareness_Day.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/456061/NBCUniversal_Telemundo_Logo.jpg

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

April 4, 2017

0

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.

Photo – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/486352/Allstate_Reality_Rides_2017_Infographic.jpg

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

Photo – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/486350/Allstate_Berry_Family.jpg
Photo – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/486278/Allstate_Reality_Rides_1.jpg
Photo – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/486279/Allstate_Reality_Rides_2.jpg

Logo – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/378670/allstate_insurance_company_logo.jpg

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

April 4, 2017

0

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

0

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.

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

April 4, 2017

0

ATLANTA, 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 Atlanta, 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 Jenna Kelly, president and CEO of SunTrust Bank’s Atlanta division. “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 2012 in Atlanta 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.

HBO Latino® To Premiere “The Juanes Effect: De Canciones Y Transformaciones,” An Intimate Special Starring Twenty-Three Time GRAMMY®/Latin GRAMMY® Award-Winner Juanes On May 19

April 4, 2017

0

NEW YORK, April 4, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — HBO Latino® will bring audiences an intimate 30-minute special on Colombian superstar Juanes, which tells his story through the eyes of the people he’s touched with his voice, music, and love. The Juanes Effect: De Canciones Y Transformaciones premieres on Friday, May 19^th at 7:30 PM ET, followed by an in-studio concert of the new album Mis Planes Son Amarte at 8:00 PM ET. The special and concert will air across all of the channel’s platforms including HBO NOW^®, HBO GO^®, HBO On Demand^® and affiliate portals.

Experience the interactive Multimedia News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8038451-hbo-latino-the-juanes-effect/

For the first time, Juanes opens the doors to his home, giving HBO Latino an exclusive look into his life. The Juanes Effect: De Canciones Y Transformaciones takes you on a journey from his home in Miami to his homeland Medellín, Colombia as he prepares for the upcoming release of Mis Planes Son Amarte – Latin music’s first major visual album. Through a series of interviews, artists, producers, friends, and family, explore the meaning of “the Juanes effect” and how his passion for music touches everyone around him. “We are delighted and immensely proud to have Juanes as part of a growing list of top artists featured in our latest HBO Latino Concert event. This special will truly resonate with Juanes’ extensive fan base, as it sheds an intimate light on his musical journey,” said Lucinda Martinez, Senior Vice President of Multicultural and International Marketing at HBO.

After the special, Juanes will continue to delight fans with a concert showcasing an hour of hits and songs from his new album, Mis Planes Son Amarte. Anticipation for the new album, which shares the story of an astronaut’s search for true love across time and space, is already high following the global success of its first single “Fuego” – which reached #1 in 17 countries, including the United States. The album’s second single “Hermosa Ingrata” was a day of release critic’s pick in The New York Times, which declared, “the Colombian cumbia beat, with a touch of rock and a hint of a reggae bass line [is] lean and catchy…[and] the video clip, hints that the visual album offers a bigger story than the song alone.”

With seven previous solo albums to his credit and multi-platinum sales of over 17 million copies, Juanes is the world’s leading all-Spanish language rock artist. Juanes is frequently recognized as one of the Spanish-speaking world’s leading social media voices with an online following of 22 million fans. His dedication as a global activist extends beyond his passionate lyrics and is seen in his wide ranging charitable work.

ABOUT HBO LATINO
HBO Latino is a dedicated Spanish-language premium channel that delivers compelling and relevant programming to the U.S. Latino market. Exclusive to the channel are the regular U.S. premieres of Spanish-language series, films and documentaries acquired from North America, Latin America, Spain and Caribbean, as well as original short-form programming. Additionally, HBO Latino offers the best Hollywood movies and HBO original programming from the network’s main channel in Spanish. HBO Latino is included free with an HBO subscription. HBO Latino content can also be accessed on HBO On Demand®, HBO GO® and HBO NOW®.

Stay updated with HBO Latino’s latest news, view compelling video content and get sneak peeks with behind-the-scenes footage on:

Facebook: HBO Latino

YouTube: HBO Latino

Twitter: @HBOLatino

Instagram: @HBOLatino

PNC Foundation, DonorsChoose.org Team Up To Fund Hundreds Of Pre-K Requests For Resources, Experiences

April 4, 2017

0

PITTSBURGH and NEW YORK, April 4, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The PNC Foundation today funded hundreds of pre-K classroom requests as part of a new $5 million grant to DonorsChoose.org to provide teachers with enhanced classroom resources and experiences to inspire their students’ love of learning.

Video – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/485208/PNC_Great_Day_DonorsChoose_Teacher.mp4

Video – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/485211/PNC_Grow_Up_Great_VOLUNTEER.mp4

PDF – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/485908/Facts_PNC_Donors_Choose_Project_2017.pdf

Today’s donation of $504,000 flash funded 849 projects in public and charter pre-K classrooms in 22 states and Washington, D.C. where The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (“PNC”) conducts business. The PNC Foundation entered the grant-funded alliance to further the mission of PNC Grow Up Great^®, a $350 million, multi-year bilingual initiative in early childhood education.

The PNC Foundation’s gift to support pre-K classrooms also enables DonorsChoose.org to expand its education funding platform to include project requests from Head Start teachers for the first time. DonorsChoose.org is an online charity that connects individual donors with classrooms in need, and this is the first expansion to reach a new audience of teachers in DonorsChoose.org’s 17-year history.

“We’re thrilled to be a part of PNC’s longstanding commitment to early childhood learning,” said Charles Best, DonorsChoose.org founder. “Their generosity will help us expand the DonorsChoose.org platform to serve Head Start classrooms nationwide, ensuring that many more pre-K teachers have resources they need to give their students a solid educational foundation.”

Teacher requests for educational resources range from books to art supplies, science equipment, field trips and more, according to DonorsChoose.org. Frequent requests include technology and visits from specialized educators.

A recent study conducted by the National Head Start Association showed that 94 percent of teachers say they need more resources to enrich the classroom, but 84 percent say they are unable to fund experiences they want to provide.

The study also noted that 93 percent of those queried either considered buying or bought classroom supplies out of their own pockets; 88 percent reported spending up to $500.

“Head Start supports our nation’s most vulnerable children by offering a comprehensive, high quality early-learning experience that prepares them for kindergarten and strengthens family participation in their children’s learning,” said Yasmina S. Vinci, executive director, National Head Start Association. “Our research shows almost all Head Start teachers are spending their own dollars on basic resources for students. This is a great opportunity to empower Head Start teachers to secure the resources needed to maximize the Head Start advantage.”

The PNC Foundation Will Match Donations to Pre-K Requests

Following the flash funding today, the PNC Foundation grant will also be used to match, dollar-for-dollar, donations that support pre-K and Head Start projects listed on DonorsChoose.org in the PNC footprint, subject to restrictions and a maximum dollar amount. The match is designed to encourage others to help support preschool programs in public or charter schools and Head Start classrooms. The duration of the match campaign depends on the number of project requests and donations. For specific guidelines on the match offer, visit donorschoose.org.

“PNC’s work with DonorsChoose.org reflects our commitment to helping children get a strong start in life,” said PNC Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer William S. Demchak. “This program will directly improve pre-K teachers’ ability to help more students reach their full potential and, through their successes, will strengthen the communities we serve.”

Also, the PNC Foundation will provide 14,500 PNC employees who volunteered with Grow Up Great in 2016 a $50 DonorsChoose.org electronic gift card that will enable the employee to select a classroom project for those funds. Since Grow Up Great’s founding, PNC employees have logged more than 652,000 hours for the initiative through a progressive policy that allows 40 hours of paid time off each year to volunteer. Volunteers have collected more than 930,000 books, art supplies, hats, mittens and other items that have been donated for use in classrooms or for the personal well-being of preschool students.

“Our employees are a driving force behind Grow Up Great’s success and impact,” said Sally McCrady, president and chair of the PNC Foundation. “With this grant, we provide our employee volunteers another avenue to demonstrate PNC’s continuing support of early childhood learning as a way to help children and families thrive.”

Teachers and donors should visit www.DonorsChoose.org for more information.

About the Organizations
DonorsChoose.org
Founded in 2000 by a Bronx history teacher, DonorsChoose.org has raised more than $525 million for America’s classrooms. Teachers come to DonorsChoose.org to request the materials and experiences they need most for their classrooms, and donors give to the projects that inspire them. More than 2.5 million people and partners have funded nearly 900,000 projects on the site, reaching 22 million students and making DonorsChoose.org the leading platform for supporting U.S. public schools. DonorsChoose.org is the only crowd funding platform that vets each request, delivers materials directly to schools, and captures the impact of every funded project with photos, thank yous, and a cost report showing how each dollar was spent. In 2014, DonorsChoose.org made the top 10 of Fast Company’s list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies, the first time a charity has received such recognition.

National Head Start Association
The National Head Start Association is a not-for-profit organization committed to the belief that every child, regardless of circumstances at birth, has the ability to succeed in school and in life. The opportunities offered by Head Start lead to healthier, empowered children and families, and stronger, more vibrant communities. NHSA is the voice for more than 1 million children, 200,000 staff and 1,600 Head Start grantees in the United States. Visit www.nhsa.org and follow @NatlHeadStart for more information.

PNC Foundation
The PNC Foundation, which receives its principal funding from The PNC Financial Services Group (www.pnc.com), is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that actively supports organizations that provide services for the benefit of communities in which it has a significant presence. The PNC Foundation focuses its philanthropic mission on early childhood education and community and economic development, which includes the arts and culture. Through Grow Up Great, its signature cause that began in 2004, PNC has created a bilingual $350 million, multi-year initiative to help prepare children from birth to age 5 for success in school and life.

CONTACT:
Cynthia Montgomery
(704) 968-4716
[email protected]
@cindym_pnc