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Western Dental Names John C. Duncan Senior Vice President of Government Relations

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Western Dental (PRNewsFoto/Western Dental)

ORANGE, California, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Western Dental, one of the nation’s leaders in accessible, affordable oral healthcare, today announced the appointment of John C. Duncan as Senior Vice President of Government Relations.

Duncan, who will join Western Dental May 16, has had a distinguished 30-year career in government service at the state and federal level, as well as in the private sector. He has served three California governors.

Duncan joins Western Dental after serving as Vice President of Government Affairs at U.S. HealthWorks, one of the largest operators of occupational healthcare and urgent care medical centers in the nation.

Western Dental is the leading provider of services to the Denti-Cal program, part of the Medi-Cal public insurance program that provides health care benefits for more than 13 million low-income individuals and families in California. Western Dental dentists provided care to over half a million Denti-Cal beneficiaries in 2015.  Western Dental is   committed to continuing to partner with the State to help improve the program. 

“As Western Dental continues to grow, it is critical that we foster strong partnerships with policymakers and agency leaders in areas that we are passionate about, like providing services to Denti-Cal patients,” said Daniel D. Crowley, Chairman of Western Dental and its affiliate, Brident Dental & Orthodontics. “John has tremendous depth of experience in government and health-related issues and will be a great asset to our organization.” 

Duncan will work with Jeffrey Miller, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, in expanding Western Dental’s engagement with California administration, policymakers and key stakeholders to find solutions to challenges across the oral healthcare spectrum.

Before his work at U.S. HealthWorks, Duncan twice held the position of Director of the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), the state’s labor agency, where he oversaw 16 divisions, boards, and commissions, including the Labor Commissioner’s Office, Cal/OSHA and the Division of Worker’s Compensation. He also served as a Board Member to the California State Insurance Fund and California Self Insurers Security Fund. Duncan also was appointed as Chairman of the California Public Employment Relations Board and Chairman of the California Employment Training panel.

Duncan earned a Master’s of Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and a Bachelor’s degree in history from the University of California, Berkeley.

To learn more about Western Dental, visit www.westerndental.com or call 888-844-4478.

ABOUT WESTERN DENTAL
Western Dental (with its affiliate, Brident Dental & Orthodontics) is one of the nation’s largest dental providers and is the leader in accessible, affordable oral health care, serving over two million patients visits annually in more than 200 affiliated clinics throughout California, Arizona, Nevada, and Texas. Western Dental is a nationwide leader in orthodontic services and last year expanded its network of orthodontists, oral surgeons, pedodontists, periodontists and endodontists, to better service patient needs all within the office. All of Western Dental’s services are backed by a unique quality assurance system that electronically monitors all patient visits, treatments, dental staff and clinical performance to enable high-quality care. For more information please visit www.westerndental.com.

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151202/292693LOGO

Domestic Violence Survivors Receive A Day Of Beauty And Transformation In A United Effort Worldwide

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With a goal of 1 million "Makeovers for Good" around the world, Mary Kay is providing pampering sessions for women through Mary Kay's Global Day of Beauty. Deserving women worldwide including teachers, nurses, military veterans, cancer survivors, caregivers and survivors of domestic abuse will receive the gift of beauty in a united effort by Mary Kay and its independent sales force spanning the globe.

DALLAS, May 13, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — With a goal of 1 million “Makeovers for Good” around the world, cosmetics giant Mary Kay joins its independent sales force in providing pampering sessions for women in need through Mary Kay’s Global Day of Beauty. From the U.S. to Kazakhstan to Brazil and China, Mary Kay markets worldwide will participate as the iconic beauty company kicks off the initiative in New York.    

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160513/367362

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160513/367361

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160513/367360

At the U.S. event, survivors from New York City’s Safe Horizon, which provides services to more than 250,000 women, children and families affected by abuse each year, will be treated to a day of pampering and beauty in New York led by Mary Kay Makeup Artist Virginia Linzee. The reigning Academy of Country Music® (ACM) New Female Vocalist of the Year Kelsea Ballerini, who launched to stardom with two consecutive GOLD-certified, #1 smashes – “Love Me Like You Mean It” and follow-up “Dibs” – from her critically acclaimed debut album THE FIRST TIME (Black River Entertainment), will lend her voice to the event to create awareness of domestic violence and dating abuse. Globally recognized fashion designer, Tracy Reese, will also be in attendance to help celebrate the inner and outer beauty of local domestic violence survivors. 

“The fact that one in three young people today are impacted by dating violence is a scary statistic. It’s deeply meaningful to join forces with Mary Kay for this event and help draw awareness to this issue,” said Ballerini. “By partnering with Mary Kay, I truly hope to empower women and remind them of their beauty and self-worth through this special event.” 

The Mary Kay Global Day of Beauty is a component of the company’s Don’t Look Away campaign which works to educate the public on recognizing the signs of an abusive relationship, how to take action and to raise awareness of support services. Deserving women worldwide including teachers, nurses, military veterans, cancer survivors, caregivers and survivors of domestic abuse will receive the gift of beauty in a united effort by Mary Kay and its independent sales force spanning the globe. 

“As a corporate leader in helping to prevent and end violence against women, Mary Kay hopes our Global Day of Beauty will not only pamper women in need around the world but also raise awareness of an epidemic that impacts families in every country and culture,” said Crayton Webb, Vice President of Corporate Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility for Mary Kay Inc. “By joining forces with Kelsea at our U.S. event, our collective dating violence prevention efforts will touch thousands of teens and young adults. Alongside Kelsea and our independent sales force worldwide, we are honored to kick off this global initiative in honor of women around the world who have overcome unspeakable abuse.”

Over the past 15 years, Mary Kay Inc. and The Mary Kay Foundation ℠ have given more than $50 million to domestic violence prevention and awareness programs to women’s shelters across the United States in an effort to end the cycle of abuse. For more information about Mary Kay’s long-standing commitment to prevent and end domestic violence, click here.

About Mary Kay

Irresistible products. Positive community impact. Rewarding opportunity. For more than 50 years, Mary Kay has offered it all. With 3.5 million Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants and $4 billion in global annual sales, Mary Kay is a top beauty brand and direct seller in more than 35 markets around the world. Discover what there is to love about Mary Kay by connecting with a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant at marykay.com.

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

 

City of San Antonio Effectively Ends Veteran Homelessness

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Diverse, internationally connected and globally competitive, San Antonio has a vibrant culture and economy and is consistently ranked among the fastest-growing cities in the United States. America's seventh-largest city offers opportunities in industries ranging from bioscience, financial services, aerospace, cybersecurity, energy and transportation manufacturing to healthcare. We are "Military City USA," home to crucial military commands supported by a patriotic citizenry. We welcome 31 million visitors annually who inject $13.4 billion annually into our economy, and UNESCO recently designated the city's Spanish colonial missions as a World Heritage Site.

SAN ANTONIO, May 13, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Today, San Antonio Mayor Ivy R. Taylor announced that the City of San Antonio has met the objectives of the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary JuliánCastro, City Manager Sheryl Sculley, major initiative stakeholders including USAA and multiple non-profit collaborative partners joined Mayor Taylor to make the announcement and celebrate this historic milestone.

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/367218LOGO

“In January 2015, I pledged my commitment to the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness,” Mayor Taylor stated. “Together, the City of San Antonio, our business sector led by USAA, and our non-profit partners have achieved the goal of effectively ending veteran homelessness in our community.”

The Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness is part of a larger White House Joining Forces Initiative supported by HUD, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness and the National League of Cities. The call-to-action was announced by First Lady Michelle Obama in June 2014 and answered by more than 850 cities and communities across the United States.

San Antonio is a city with a strong military history that knows how to care for our veterans and their families,” Secretary Castro said. “That’s why we have an even greater responsibility to ensure that once they’ve served their nation, they have a safe, stable place to call home. I’m so proud to congratulate the city and its partners on working tirelessly to give our veterans a dignified home, setting an example for communities across the nation.”

The initiative, supported by local, state and federal resources, was enhanced through a $2.1 million contribution from USAA in January 2016. USAA’s financial support was earmarked to help close the funding gap for the highest barrier to veterans for housing. Due to community-wide commitment, more than 1,335 homeless veterans have been placed or are in the process of being placed into permanent housing.

“Effectively ending veteran homelessness is a great example of what can be achieved when communities identify a problem and work collaboratively to fix it,” said Shon Manasco, executive vice president and chief administrative officer of USAA. “We are grateful to play a small part in helping ensure homeless veterans have access to permanent and supportive housing.”

San Antonio has identified every homeless veteran by name and has a support system in place to ensure no veterans are sleeping on the streets, every veteran has access to permanent housing and the community has the capacity to ensure veteran homelessness, when it occurs, is rare, brief and non-recurring. The effectiveness of this system is based on implemented prevention strategies and rapid identification, outreach, engagement, housing placement and supportive services offered to veterans who may become homeless.

U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald added, “The progress achieved in San Antonio and across the nation to end homelessness among veterans reflects the power of partnerships in solving complex national problems. The men and women who have fought for this nation should not have to fight to keep a roof over their head, which is why VA is serving more veterans than ever before with healthcare, education, job training and wraparound supportive services. There has been tremendous effort across the country to end homelessness among veterans and that work must continue. San Antonio serves as an example of what can be done when the community comes together to care for those who have served our nation and I congratulate them.”

San Antonio is yet another example of the right leaders coming together around the right strategies to end homelessness in this country,” said Matthew Doherty, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. “We applaud Mayor Taylor and the partners in San Antonio who have joined 23 communities and two states in proving that homelessness is solvable, not just for Veterans, but for everyone.”

City Manager Sculley applauded staff and initiative partners. “The leadership of the City of San Antonio’s Department of Human Services in establishing program systems and the front line efforts of our community partners were instrumental to success of the challenge,” she said.

The Homeless Veteran Community Collaborative includes: South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless (SARAH), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – South Texas Veterans Healthcare System, American GI Forum National Veterans Outreach Program, Family Endeavors, San Antonio Housing Authority, Housing Authority of Bexar County, SAMMinistries and Haven for Hope.

Goal achievement does not mean local veterans will never face homelessness in the future. Rather, when these crises occur, veterans will have access to needed support services to quickly stabilize housing. The City of San Antonio encourages veterans and their families who may be struggling with homelessness to contact SARAH at 210-220-2382 or via email at [email protected].

The announcement was streamed live via Periscope on twitter.com/cosagov and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/usaa. The official hashtag for the event is #EndVetHomelessnessSA and additional information is available through this link: Mayors Challenge Veteran Profile Storybook.

Video of a formerly homeless San Antonio veteran talking about the housing and move-in assistance he received through the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness Initiative is available for download here.

One San Antonio
Diverse, internationally connected and globally competitive, San Antonio has a vibrant culture and economy and is consistently ranked among the fastest-growing cities in the United States. America’s seventh-largest city offers opportunities in industries ranging from bioscience, financial services, aerospace, cybersecurity, energy and transportation manufacturing to healthcare. We are “Military City USA,” home to crucial military commands supported by a patriotic citizenry. We welcome 31 million visitors annually who inject $13.4 billion annually into our economy, and UNESCO recently designated the city’s Spanish colonial missions as a World Heritage Site. Celebrating its 300th anniversary in 2018, San Antonio is a city with a storied past and an even brighter future. For more information, visit www.sanantonio.gov.

Statement of National Alliance for Hispanic Health on Judge Collyer’s ruling in House v. Burwell

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WASHINGTON, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — “Today’s ruling by US District Court Judge Rosemary Collyer means that millions have their coverage put at risk,” said Dr. Jane L. Delgado, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (the Alliance), the nation’s leading Hispanic health advocacy group.

“With some plans already considering pulling out of the ACA marketplace and others planning rate hikes for 2017, today’s ruling adds to the great uncertainty of millions of Americans.”

“The ruling striking down sections of the Affordable Care Act endangers the health plans of almost 7 million Americans whose insurers receive subsidies to reduce cost sharing for their enrollees.  Coupled with the 4 million persons who cannot afford plans because their state did not expand Medicaid, the ruling (if upheld) will significantly limit access to health insurance.”

“It is important, however, for those with coverage to know that their current plans are in place because Judge Collyer stayed her decision until an appeal could be heard. If you need support during this confusing time, call our toll-free and bilingual Su Familia Helpline at 1-866-783-2645.  We are here to help you understand your options for your and your family’s health and well-being,” concluded Dr. Delgado.

About the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (The Alliance) — The Alliance is the nation’s foremost science-based source of information and trusted advocate for the health of Hispanics in the United States with a mission to achieve the best health outcomes for all. For more information visit us www.hispanichealth.org.

 

Pitbull Announces THE BAD MAN TOUR With Prince Royce And Special Guest Farruko

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PITBULL ANNOUNCES THE BAD MAN TOUR WITH PRINCE ROYCE AND SPECIAL GUEST FARRUKO

LOS ANGELES, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Global superstar and GRAMMY Award®-winning artist, Pitbull, will launch a massive North American tour this summer with Latin megastar, singer-songwriter, Prince Royce. THE BAD MAN TOUR, promoted by Live Nation, will kick off on Wednesday, July 6 in Fresno, Cali. and visit cities throughout the U.S. and Canada including Los Angeles, Toronto, Chicago, San Diego, Houston, Washington DC and more.  Special guest, Farruko, will also join the tour. For all the latest news and updates on the tour, visit www.thebadmantour.com.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160511/366408

American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets in select markets before the general public beginning today, Tuesday, May 10 at 10:00 a.m. local time through Friday, May 13 at 10:00 p.m. local time. Tickets for the general public go on sale Saturday, May 14 at www.livenation.com.

Armando Christian Perez – globally known as Pitbull – is everywhere. From landing # 1 hits in over 15 countries, 8 billion YouTube/VEVO views, 70 million single sales, and 6 million album sales, Pitbull does not stop. His relentless work ethic transformed him into a Grammy-winning international superstar, visionary entrepreneur, fashion maven, and successful actor. His social media presence speaks to nearly 90 million people daily, matching some television networks. Also known as “Mr. 305” and “Mr. Worldwide,” he is as ubiquitous as Google or Microsoft, while preparing to release his tenth full-length album, 2016’s Climate Change. Outside of entertainment, Pitbull is making history in the business world. Whether it’s his Voli Vodka, fragrance line “Pitbull,” strategic alliance with Playboy Enterprises, or the partnerships with brands from Bud Light, Kodak, and Dr. Pepper to Dodge and Norwegian Cruise Lines, his influence has catapulted. He has his own Sirius XM Radio station, Pitbull’s Globalization and his production company, “Honey, I’m Home.” Pitbull also a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a wax figure in Madame Tussauds in Orlando, serves as an ambassador for “Visit Florida” and received a key to the city of Miami.

In the past 5 years, multi-platinum award-winning Latin superstar Prince Royce has scored 12 number one Latin hits, 20 Latin Billboard Awards, 18 Premio Lo Nuestro Awards, 19 Premios Juventud (Youth Choice) Awards, and earned 8 Latin Grammy nominations. Royce has a massive fan base with over 1 billion streams online, 33.5 million followers on Facebook, 5.2 million on Twitter and 4.8 million on Instagram. He has sold out the most prestigious venues in Latin America, as well as concerts throughout the US including Radio City Music Hall, The Nokia Theater and the Theater at Madison Square Garden. At the age of 22 he was honored with a Latin Billboard Award for Composer of the Year, becoming the youngest artist to garner the award. In November 2014, he released the electro-pop/R&B banger “Stuck on a Feeling,” featuring Snoop Dogg, followed by the May 2015 release of the dancehall-flavored “Back It Up” (featuring Pitbull and Jennifer Lopez) – two tracks from his first English-language album, “Double Vision”. This year, he releases his highly anticipated fourth Spanish-language album which promises to be a huge success. The first single off the upcoming album “Culpa Al Corazón” reached #1 on Billboard’s Latin Songs (across all Latin genres), Latin Pop and Tropical Charts. Recently, Royce co-starred as Peter in the Fox live musical broadcast of “The Passion” and is part of the cast of the next season of Hulu’s “East Los High” due out July 2016.

Infusing romantic lyrical content into Latin urban music, FARRUKO’s highly popular and unique sound has made him a leader in the Reggaeton movement. Recognized by Billboard as one of Reggaeton’s “rising stars, reinforcing the genre’s strength and giving us plenty of party music,” the 24-year-old artist is far from a rookie. He has collaborated with other Latin music superstars, including Daddy Yankee, Don Omar, J Balvin, Nicky Jam, and Yandel, among others. Demonstrating his versatility, his hits include songs that seamlessly crossover into pop, bachata, mambo, vallenato and R&B, creating an impressive musical repertoire full of remarkable fusions that highlight his deep musical knowledge and diverse sounds. FARRUKO finished 2015 as his most successful year yet, taking home two awards at Premios Lo Nuestro for Urban Song of the Year and Urban Collaboration of the Year and a Billboard Latin Music Award for Latin Rhythm Song of the Year. Then, in October, Farruko delights the masses with yet another new album, “Visionary,” which was released in pre-sale and in just hours reached the #1 in iTunes’ “Top Latin Albums” list, position in which it stayed until three weeks after its official launch. Now at the pinnacle of his career, FARRUKO will not let anything stop him from dominating the industry in 2016.  

PITBULL’S THE BAD MAN TOUR WITH PRINCE ROYCE AND SPECIAL GUESTS

*All dates, cities and venues below subject to change.

Thursday, June 30, 2016

Milwaukee, WI

Summerfest @ Marcus Amphitheater ^

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Fresno, CA

Save Mart Center

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Los Angeles, CA

The Forum

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Mountain View, CA

Shoreline Amphitheatre

Sunday, July 10, 2016

Sacramento, CA

Sleep Train Arena

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Salt Lake City, UT

USANA Amphitheatre

Friday, July 15, 2016

Anaheim, CA

Honda Center

Saturday, July 16, 2016

San Diego, CA

Sleep Train Amphitheatre

Sunday, July 17, 2016

Phoenix, AZ

Talking Stick Resort Arena

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Albuquerque, NM

Isleta Amphitheater

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

El Paso, TX

UTEP Don Haskins Center (on-sale May 21)

Friday, July 22, 2016

Dallas, TX

American Airlines Center (on-sale May 21)

Saturday, July 23, 2016

Houston, TX

Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion (on-sale May 21)

Sunday, July 24, 2016

Laredo, TX

Laredo Energy Arena

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

San Antonio, TX

AT&T Center (on-sale May 21)

Thursday, July 28, 2016

Atlanta, GA

Philips Arena

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Tampa, FL

Amalie Arena

Sunday, July 31, 2016

Fort Lauderdale, FL

BB&T Center

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Washington, DC

Verizon Center

Friday, August 5, 2016

Allentown, PA

PPL Center

Saturday, August 6, 2016

Hartford, CT

Xfinity Theatre

Sunday, August 7, 2016

Bethel, NY

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Detroit, MI

DTE Energy Music Theatre

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Toronto, ON

Molson Canadian Amphitheatre

Friday, August 12, 2016

Boston, MA

TD Garden

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Chicago, IL

United Center

Thursday, August 18, 2016

Denver, CO

Pepsi Center

^ – Farruko not on this date

About Live Nation Entertainment
Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, Live Nation Media & Sponsorship and Artist Nation Management. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com.

Informed Puerto Rico Travelers Take Recommended Zika Precautions And Enjoy Worry-Free Experience

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More than 60 Groups and Conventions visited Puerto Rico in March and April (Photo Credit: Meet Puerto Rico)

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — With more than 60 groups and conventions visiting Puerto Rico during the months of March and April, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC) remains confident that with a robust information and education campaign about Zika, tourism, Puerto Rico’s economic engine, will be resilient. Although there have been some future group cancellations over the next two years the PRTC is anticipating that the tide will be stemmed, banking on educated consumers.

Video – http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/PRNA/ENR/PUERTO-RICO-TOURISM-Zika-Testimonial-Dr-Larry-W-Anderson.mp4

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160512/366968

“Accurate information about Zika is the key to making educated decisions about visiting Puerto Rico,” said Ingrid I. Rivera Rocafort, Executive Director, PRTC. “We have an obligation to provide the real facts about the virus and trust that travelers will not let perceptions drive travel decisions.  Once they put it into perspective, we feel certain that Puerto Rico will continue to attract visitors from around the world who will enjoy a worry-free experience”.  

Thousands of doctors, hundreds of marketers, dozens of CEOs, and other groups including nurses, meteorologists and sports enthusiasts hit the island for both business and leisure over the last eight weeks.

“[W]e found the precautions were no different than what we would do anywhere else under normal circumstances,” said Dr. Larry W. Anderson, DO, FACOFP dist, who recently attended the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians Spring Convention in San Juan. “[T]he city of San Juan and the hotels and the restaurants have been very intentional of making sure that there is no place for mosquitos to hatch, to lay eggs, or to breed. And we’ve found it very pleasant.”

Don Welsh, President and CEO, Destination Marketing Association International  commented, “On behalf of our industry association,  I would say that we were extremely pleased with the experience here in San Juan…and we look forward to coming back, if not with this meeting with another meeting, and we’ll come back also as tourists.”

The PRTC has launched an educational website PuertoRicoNow.SeePuertoRico.com to arm travelers with the most current information about Zika and Puerto Rico, so they are better able to decipher reality from perception, make fact-based travel plans and choose Puerto Rico as their go-to destination.

Letter Carriers’ 24th Annual Food Drive set for Saturday, May 14 throughout nation

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National Association of Letter Carriers.

WASHINGTON, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) will conduct its 24th annual food drive this Saturday, May 14. The Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive provides residents with an easy way to donate food to those in need in the community.

National Association of Letter Carriers.

Customers simply leave their donation of non-perishable goods next to their mailbox before the delivery of the mail on May 14. Letter carriers will collect non-perishable food donations on that day as they deliver mail along their postal routes, and distribute them to local food agencies. Visit www.nalc.org/food to learn more.

It’s the nation’s largest single-day food drive and is held annually on the second Saturday in May in 10,000 cities and towns in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam.

With the economic struggles many Americans face, the Letter Carriers’ Food Drive is as critical as ever. Hunger affects about 50 million people around the country, including millions of children, senior citizens and veterans.

“As letter carriers, we are honored to be able to help people in need,” NALC President Fredric Rolando said. “On a daily basis we see the struggles in the communities we serve, and we believe it’s important to do all we can to help.”

People are encouraged to leave a sturdy bag containing non-perishable foods, such as canned soup, canned vegetables, canned meats and fish, pasta, peanut butter, rice or cereal, next to their mailbox before the regular mail delivery on Saturday. The nation’s 175,000 letter carriers will collect the donations and bring them to local food banks, pantries or shelters. National partners assisting the NALC in the food drive are: U.S. Postal Service, National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association, United Way Worldwide, United Food & Commercial Workers International Union, AFL-CIO, Valpak and Valassis.

This year’s effort includes a public service announcement with award-winning actor and director Edward James Olmos. Television networks and stations can use this link to find and download high-quality 30- and 60-second versions of the PSA, in English and Spanish.

In its 23 years, the Letter Carrier food drive has collected more than 1.4 billion pounds of food, and in each of the last 12 years it has collected more than 70 million pounds. The goal this year is to build on that success, given the continuing problem of hunger in the United States.

People who have questions about the drive in their area should ask their letter carrier, contact their local post office, or go to nalc.org/food, facebook.com/StampOutHunger or twitter.com/StampOutHunger.

The 280,000-member National Association of Letter Carriers represents letter carriers across the country employed by the U.S. Postal Service, along with retired letter carriers. Founded by Civil War veterans in 1889, the NALC is among the country’s oldest labor unions.

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110406/DC78673LOGO

PhRMA Member Companies Invested $58.8 Billion in R&D in 2015

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Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America

WASHINGTON, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America’s (PhRMA) member companies invested an estimated $58.8 billion in research and development (R&D) in 2015, up 10.3 percent from 2014. New R&D data based on findings from the 2016 PhRMA annual member survey released today in the 2016 Biopharmaceutical Research Industry Profile and corresponding industry chart pack, Biopharmaceuticals In Perspective, highlight the wide-reaching impact of PhRMA member companies on the economy and biopharmaceutical innovation.

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20091027/PHRMALOGO

In the United States, the biopharmaceutical industry is a driver of economic growth and global competitiveness, and it is the most research-intensive sector of the U.S. economy, investing on average six times more in R&D as a percentage of sales than all other manufacturing industries. The sector also accounted for an estimated 17 percent of all U.S. business R&D spending, the largest share of R&D spending by U.S. businesses. Overall, PhRMA member companies alone represented the majority of all biopharmaceutical R&D spending in the United States.

“Investing more than half a trillion dollars in R&D since 2000, our member companies remain tireless in their commitment to driving innovation and delivering greater value than ever before,” said Stephen J. Ubl, president and chief executive officer of PhRMA. “It is through this increased R&D that the U.S. biopharmaceutical industry continues to lead the world in the development of new medicines to address unmet medical needs of patients.”

Long-term R&D investments made by the biopharmaceutical industry have led to more medicines in clinical development than ever before, more than 7,000 medicines globally. From 2000 to 2015, more than 550 new medicines were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration – including a record 56 new medicines in 2015. Given just 12 percent of medicines in clinical trials ever make it to patients, it is critical we have pragmatic, pro-innovation policies to sustain the long-term investments needed to develop tomorrow’s cures.  

Each day, PhRMA member companies learn more about different types of diseases and harness scientific advances to discover new treatments and cures for patients. As highlighted in the recently released “Medicines in Development for Rare Diseases,” the biopharmaceutical industry is currently developing more than 560 medicines for patients with rare diseases. The industry is also making strides in the development of treatments for Alzheimer’s, cancer and heart disease, among other devastating conditions. This progress underscores the need for public policies that maintain a health care system that recognizes the value of medicines and incentivizes researchers to continue to develop new treatments and cures for patients.

The 2015 R&D numbers reflect investment made by PhRMA’s 31 member companies.

About PhRMA
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country’s leading innovative biopharmaceutical research companies, which are devoted to discovering and developing medicines that enable patients to live longer, healthier and more productive lives. Since 2000, PhRMA member companies have invested more than half a trillion dollars in the search for new treatments and cures, including an estimated $58.8 billion in 2015 alone.

Connect with PhRMA
For information on how innovative medicines save lives, please visit:
www.PhRMA.org
www.FromHopetoCures.org
www.Facebook.com/PhRMA
www.Twitter.com/PhRMA

CONTACT: Holly Campbell
202-835-3460

‘ACES’ Program Puts LA Youth from Disadvantaged Communities on Path to College, Careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math

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Los Angeles high school students enrolled in the Architecture, Construction and Engineering Students (ACES) Pathway Program get a head start on college and careers.

LOS ANGELES, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Emerald Cities Collaborative’s (ECC) commitment to building a sustainable and just economy for the next generation of young people from disadvantaged communities has taken unique form in the Architecture, Construction and Engineering Students (ACES) Pathway Program in Los Angeles, where the Washington, D.C-based nonprofit has a local office.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160510/366063

The ACES Pathway Program is giving more than 170 LA-area high schoolers from diverse backgrounds the chance to explore “STEAM” (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) careers by earning community college credit for related courses and gaining hands-on work experience alongside industry professionals during paid summer internships. The college credits are transferrable to campuses within the California State University and University of California systems, giving the students a head start towards a degree. To learn more about ECC’s work to expand economic opportunities for residents of disadvantaged communities in and around LA, please visit http://emeraldcities.org/cities/losangeles.

Win-win-win!
For all those reasons, “ACES is a win-win-win” for young people who might not otherwise find fulfilling, family-supporting careers in the STEAM disciplines – or even attend college at all – says Emerald Cities Los Angeles Program Director Veronica Soto, who oversees ECC’s involvement in the program.

ACES partners with local schools, including Alhambra High School, Legacy STEAM High School, Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools, San Gabrielino High School, Mark Keppel High School, SIATech Charter, YouthBuild-Boyle Heights and 5 Keys Charter.

Participating campuses within the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) – where ACES students take courses in engineering, surveying, building information modeling (BIM), robotics, geographical information system (GIS) mapping and design by computer – include East Los Angeles College, Los Angeles City College and Los Angeles Trade Technical College.

In addition to financial and staff support from Emerald Cities Los Angeles, ACES receives staff support from the LACCD’s $6.2 billion Build Program – a community economic development program emphasizing local business and local hire participation – and in-kind support in the form of classroom space at the Boyle Heights Technology YouthSource Center, part of a citywide program offering job skills training, tutoring, college preparation and other services.

No Barriers
ACES creates academic pathways regardless of participants’ GPAs and socio-economic challenges by employing a collaborative, proactive case management approach that engages high school principals and teachers, community college faculty and administrators, charter school executive directors and counselors at Boyle Heights Youth Technology Center.

Besides the introductory STEAM-related college courses, field trips to construction sites and universities and work-related seminars prepare ACES students for summer internships with industry partners.

To ensure a pathway to union apprenticeship upon high school graduation, students also are enrolled in apprenticeship preparation training conducted by YouthBuild-Boyle Heights, which uses the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3) created by the National Building and Construction Trades Council.

Diversity, Mentoring, Doing it All
“The ACES Program aims to increase the diversity of students pursuing academic pathways in the design and construction disciplines and to develop mentoring between industry professionals and students,” Soto observes. “Seminars focusing on topics such as work-readiness and financial literacy gear up ACES students for their summer internship experiences,” she added. 

ACES participants such as STEAM Legacy High School senior and scholar-athlete Ricardo Marquina do it all, juggling a full high school class schedule plus at least one college course, as well as extracurricular activities. Active in football, volleyball and the yearbook staff, Marquina is also a member of the National Honor Society with plans to major in engineering.

During his paid internship last summer at the LACCD Build Program, Marquina worked on BIM files alongside an office architect, among other tasks. “Through ACES, I learned to use auto-cad, sketch-up and other software,” he said. “The college classes benefited me because engineers are using these software programs.”

He added, “Also, I’ve got some experience working in a project office that will help me in the future. The challenging part for me was working in the office, because I wasn’t used to working in an environment where everyone is quiet doing their work.”

A Transformative Program
STEAM Legacy High School Principal Carla Barrera-Ortiz said ACES “has transformed our school’s culture and academic program by giving our students direct access to college-level coursework, workforce development and hands-on training through paid internship opportunities.

“Because of the ACES program,” she continued, “student enrollment at Legacy STEAM H.S. has increased by over 45 percent since we opened in 2012. ACES has helped our school create a direct pipeline into the architecture, construction and engineering career pathways within a community that has historically been under-represented in the STEM fields.”

Delivering on the Promise
Following its recent accreditation review, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges “recognized and celebrated ACES as a dynamic program that delivers its promise to increase college and career readiness for our STEAM students,” Barrera-Ortiz added. “This partnership is helping STEAM High School realize its vision and mission, as promised to our students and their families.”

Soto said that upon securing the necessary funding, ACES will be expanded to other Los Angeles regions, specifically South Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley.

Emerald Cities Collaborative (www.emeraldcities.org) is a national nonprofit network of organizations working together to advance a sustainable environment while creating economic opportunities for all. ECC is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and works in a number of “Emerald Cities” nationwide with local and national partners that bring resources and expertise from the community, labor, business and government sectors. 

CONTACT: Ronnie Kweller, [email protected], 202-688-0880, 202-276-9327