President Obama to Address CHCI’s 38th Annual Awards Gala

September 22, 2015

WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) announced today that President Barack Obama will address the largest Latino gala in the country at CHCI’s 38th Annual Awards Gala on Thursday, October 8, 2015 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.This marks six of the past eight years President Obama has addressed the CHCI Gala, going back to when he was a presidential candidate in 2008.

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“CHCI is honored to welcome President Obama to address our 38th Annual Awards Gala in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month on October 8,” said Rep. Linda T. Sánchez. “His attendance reflects his ongoing commitment to the Latino community and to the future Latino and Latina leaders that CHCI works so hard to develop each year.”

CHCI’s 38th Annual Awards Gala, themed “Powering Growth and Influence” will convene the nation’s largest and most prestigious gathering of Hispanic nonpartisan, public, and private sector leaders. The evening’s festivities will include the presentation of the CHCI Medallion of Excellence awards to NFL hall of famer Anthony Muñoz and education advocate Sonia Gutierrez.

Actor Roselyn Sanchez will serve as celebrity host for the gala ceremony and the event will also feature a performance from Grammy Award–winning band La Santa Cecilia at the gala entertainment finale.

Each year, the CHCI Annual Awards Gala is the hallmark event during Hispanic Heritage Month in Washington, D.C., and serves as the unifying event for the Hispanic-American community. Proceeds from the Gala benefit CHCI’s award-winning leadership development programs.

CHCI’s 2015 CHCI Annual Public Policy Conference will be held October 6-7 in Washington, D.C. The full agenda is available online at http://hhm.chci.org/2015-agenda/. CHCI’s HHM events will be available to view online at hhm.chci.org/livestream.

About CHCI
CHCI is the premier Hispanic nonprofit and nonpartisan 501(c)(3) leadership development organization in the country that educates, empowers, and connects Latino youth by providing leadership development programs and educational services. CHCI directly impacts the lives of more than 1,700 students and young professionals each year through its fellowships, congressional internships, scholarships, Ready to Lead (R2L®) college readiness program, and R2L NextGen program. CHCI NextOpp is its latest resource allowing young Latinos to save, search and share life-changing opportunities for Latinos across the United States.

The CHCI Board of Directors is comprised of Hispanic members of Congress, nonprofit, union and corporate leaders. Visit www.chci.org, or join us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.

Discovery En Espanol Premieres The Original Production ‘Porfirio Diaz, 100 Anos Sin Patria’

September 22, 2015

Leading Mexican actor Hector Bonilla as Porfirio Diaz. The original production 'Porfirio Diaz, 100 Anos sin Patria' will premiere on October 4 at 10PM E/P on Discovery en Espanol.

MIAMI, Sept. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — A century after the death of General Porfirio Diaz, and 105 years after he went into exile from his homeland, Discovery en Espanol tells the true story of one of the most controversial figures in Mexican history, considered a tyrant by many and a national hero by others. PORFIRIO DIAZ, 100 ANOS SIN PATRIA premieres Sunday, October 4 at 10PM E/P during the Discovery a Fondo block, as part of the network’s Hispanic Heritage Month special programming.

Combining historically accurate reenactments and the testimony of renowned researchers and historians, the docudrama recounts the life and deeds of General Jose de la Cruz Porfirio Diaz Mori, raising such thought-provoking questions as: Why isn’t Porfirio Diaz buried in Mexico? How can we reconcile his role as a precursor of modernization in Mexico with an official history that condemns him? Was Diaz a hero who deserves to have his remains repatriated and honored by his home country, or was he a traitor who has no place on Mexican soil?

“Discovery en Espanol has a reputation for presenting new and different angles on a specific issue and encouraging viewers to draw their own conclusions, guided by serious research and professional analysis,” remarked Allan Navarrete, the network’s Executive Vice President and General Manager for Mexico, Central America, the Andean Region and U.S. Hispanic. “We are proud to present this revisionist take on Porfirio Diaz’s role in Mexican history, which will serve as a valuable resource for new generations.”

PORFIRIO DIAZ, 100 ANOS SIN PATRIA stars Hector Bonilla as Porfirio Diaz and Patricia Reyes Spindola as his wife, Carmen Romero Rubio. Sergio Bonilla plays Diaz as a young man. The production was filmed at such sites as Museo Casa Carranza, Panteon Frances cemetery, Casa Berlin and Mexico City’s Geology Museum.

PORFIRIO DIAZ, 100 ANOS SIN PATRIA is an original Discovery en Espanol production made by Bravo Films, with Michela Giorelli, Rafael Rodriguez and Irune Ariztoy supervising. It was directed by Emilio Maille (El asesinato de Villa: la conspiracion; Miradas multiples) and produced by Patricia Arriaga (Bacalar, XY.)

For more information about the network’s programming, please visit discoveryenespanol.com and follow us on facebook.com/discoveryenespanol, Twitter @DiscoveryenESP and Instagram @discoveryenespanol.

About Discovery a Fondo:
Discovery en Espanol takes an objective and impartial look at current topics in the investigative documentary series Discovery a Fondo (#afondo). With Discovery’s exclusive access and indelible stamp of quality, this segment goes beyond the headlines to expose all of the angles of real issues of interest to Hispanic audiences.

About Discovery en Espanol
Discovery en Espanol connects Spanish-speaking viewers in the U.S. to the world and all its wonder and possibilities. It provides quality programming focusing on bold storytelling across core genres including adventure, ingenuity, natural history, investigation and current affairs. Created by Discovery Communications, Discovery en Espanol is widely distributed on Hispanic tier packages throughout the country. For more information, please follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/discoveryenespanol, Twitter @DiscoveryenESP and Instagram @discoveryenespanol.

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FDA Encourages Juice Safety This Fall

September 22, 2015

SILVER SPRING, Maryland, Sept. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — As fall arrives, so do drives in the country and drinking fresh-squeezed juices and cider. Unfortunately, serious outbreaks of foodborne illness, often called “food poisoning,” have been traced to drinking fruit and vegetable juice and cider that have not been pasteurized or otherwise treated to kill harmful bacteria. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reminds consumers to read the label carefully on juice and cider products.

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Learn more at:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/BuyStoreServeSafeFood/ucm210573.htm

Juices provide many important nutrients, but consuming untreated juices can pose health risks to your family. When fruits and vegetables are fresh-squeezed or used raw, bacteria from the produce can end up in your juice or cider. Unless the produce or the juice has been treated to destroy any harmful bacteria, the juice could be contaminated. While most people’s immune systems can usually fight off the effects of foodborne illness, children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems (such as transplant patients and individuals with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and diabetes) risk serious illnesses or even death from drinking untreated juices.

Most of the juice sold in the United States is pasteurized (heat-treated) to kill harmful bacteria. Juice products may also be treated by non-heat processes for the same purpose. However, some grocery stores, health food stores, cider mills, farmers’ markets, and juice bars sell packaged juice that was made on site that has not been pasteurized or otherwise processed to ensure its safety. These untreated products should be kept under refrigeration and are required to carry the following warning on the label:

WARNING: This product has not been pasteurized and therefore may contain harmful bacteria that can cause serious illness in children, the elderly, and persons with weakened immune systems.

However, FDA does not require warning labels on juice or cider that is fresh-squeezed and sold by the glass, such as at apple orchards, farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and juice bars.

Follow these simple steps to prevent illness when purchasing juice:

Look for the warning label to avoid the purchase of untreated juices. You can find pasteurized or otherwise treated products in your grocers’ refrigerated sections, frozen food cases, or in non-refrigerated containers, such as juice boxes, bottles, or cans. Untreated juice is most likely to be sold in the refrigerated section of a grocery store.
Don’t hesitate to ask if you are unsure if a juice product is treated, if the labeling is unclear, or if the juice or cider is sold by the glass.

Foodborne Illness: Know the Symptoms

Consuming dangerous foodborne bacteria will usually cause illness within 1 to 3 days of eating the contaminated food. However, sickness can also occur within 20 minutes or up to 6 weeks later. Symptoms of foodborne illness include: vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and flu-like symptoms (such as fever, headache, and body ache). If you think that you or a family member has a foodborne illness, contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Contact: Media: 1-301-796-4540 Consumers: 1-888-SAFEFOOD (toll free)

Goya Foods Donates 150,000 Pounds Of Food In Honor Of His Holiness Pope Francis’ Visit To The United States

September 22, 2015

JERSEY CITY, New Jersey, Sept. 21, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Goya Foods, the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States, welcomes His Holiness Pope Francis to the United States and donates 150,000 pounds of food in honor of the Pope’s visit.

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“We are all so blessed to have His Holiness Pope Francis visit the United States and for the opportunity to donate food in his name to each of the cities that he will visit during his stay,” says Bob Unanue, President of Goya Foods. “We are grateful for our partnership with Catholic Charities and will continue to support their efforts in helping those in need.”

The food donation will support a vast network of food pantries and emergency food programs through the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese in New York, Washington D.C. and Philadelphia. “Pope Francis’ visit calls all of us to help those less fortunate,” says Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, Executive Director, Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of New York. “Catholic Charities is deeply grateful that Goya has taken that message to heart. Goya’s generous food donation will enable thousands of hungry individuals and families to receive nutritious meals. We hope their generosity inspires others to also reach out to their neighbors in need.”

The donation is part of the Goya Gives campaign, a series of annual donations initiated in 2011 in celebration of Goya’s 75^th anniversary that serves to encourage others to participate in the message of helping those in need. The public can also share the #GoyaGives message with friends and family through Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For more information about Goya Foods, please visit www.goya.com. For more information about Catholic Charities, please visit www.catholiccharitiesny.org.

About GOYA: Founded in 1936, Goya Foods, Inc. is America’s largest Hispanic-owned food company, and has established itself as the leader in Latin American food and condiments. Goya manufactures, packages, and distributes over 2,200 high-quality food products from the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America. Goya products have their roots in the culinary traditions of Hispanic communities around the world; their combination of authentic ingredients, robust seasonings and convenient preparation make them ideal for every taste and every table. For more information on Goya Foods, please visit www.goya.com

About Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York: Catholic Charities, a federation of approximately 90 agencies and programs located throughout the 10 counties of the Archdiocese of New York, helps solve the problems of New Yorkers in need – non-Catholics and Catholics alike– with services that protect and nurture children, resolve family crises, assist the hungry and homeless, support the physically and emotionally challenged, and integrate immigrants and refugees. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. For more information on how to donate or volunteer, please visit our website at catholiccharitiesny.org.

Press Contact:
Natalie Maniscalco	Paul Costiglio
[email protected]	[email protected]
845.659.6506	646.823.1175

The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), Johnson Controls, and ProcessMAP Attract Safety Executives from Over 24 Companies to Monterrey, Mexico

September 22, 2015

Customers and industry leaders from Monterrey gathered to share industry trends, best practices, and strategic insights on August 26th

SUNRISE, Florida, Sept. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — ProcessMAP Corporation, a leading provider of cloud-based Health & Safety and Environment (HSE) software solutions, held its first thought leadership executive forum in partnership with the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), the world’s oldest and largest professional safety organization and Johnson Controls, a global diversified technology and industrial leader, on August 26, 2015.

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The by-invitation forum was held at the Johnson Controls International plant at Agua Fria Industrial Park in Monterrey. An impressive line-up of speakers from some of today’s most prominent global brands, including Johnson Controls, Heineken, USG, ASSE and ProcessMAP provided insights on critical health and safety issues facing companies in Mexico.

“The ASSE-JCI-ProcessMAP event played an important role in best practice sharing, networking among professionals, and learning,” said Carlos Mendoza, Director of Human Resources at Villacero. We should consider planning other events like this in the future.”

The content-rich program included topics, such as:

From Reactive to Predictive: The Future Direction of Health and Safety
The Importance of Leadership in EHS Strategy & Execution at Johnson Controls
Advancing Professional Growth through the ASSE
Leveraging Mobile Audits to Drive Productivity, Efficiency, and Compliance
The State of Health and Safety in Latin America
USG Case Study: Connecting the Dots – Information Management in Health and Safety

“As companies realize the detrimental effects of unsafe worker conditions on productivity and profitability, health and safety is becoming an increasingly critical function within companies,” said Alex Lima, executive vice president of Latin America at ProcessMAP. “The overwhelmingly positive response to this event underscores the need for best-in-class technology solutions among EHS leaders in Latin America. We were honored to collaborate with ASSE and Johnson Controls to meet this growing need in the region.”

“The event provided Monterrey’s business leaders with insight into the future of the industry and the role that health and safety will play in a company’s success,” said Elizabeth Castellanos, president of ASSE’s Member Section in Mexico and manager of Safety, Health, and Environment at Heineken. “By expanding ASSE’s presence in Mexico through this forum and future networking events, health and safety leaders will have access to the professional development resources they need to succeed.”

Building off the momentum of this event, ProcessMAP, ASSE and local companies in the region are planning a series of events, the first of which is slated for mid-November in Monterrey, Mexico. For information on upcoming forums in Mexico, please send inquiries to [email protected].

“As a former president of ASSE, I am extremely passionate about equipping safety leaders to thrive in this ever-changing industry,” said Darryl Hill, vice president of Global Health & Safety at Johnson Controls. “Johnson Controls is proud to have hosted this event, which provided local safety leaders with practical examples and proven solutions of how global companies are efficiently and effectively managing health and safety while mitigating regulatory and corporate risk.”

About ProcessMAP Corporation

Founded in 2000, ProcessMAP Corporation is the leading provider of cloud-based enterprise software solutions that empowers organizations to manage risk in three key areas: Employee Health & Safety; Environment & Sustainability; and Enterprise Compliance. The company is headquartered in Sunrise, Florida, with locations across the globe, serving customers in over 95 countries. For more information, visit ProcessMAP.com.

About ASSE

Founded in 1911, the Park Ridge, Illinois-based ASSE has more than 37,000 occupational safety, health and environmental professional members from around the globe who lead, manage, supervise, research and consult on safety, health, transportation and environmental issues in all industries, government, labor, health care and education. For more information please go to www.asse.org.

About Johnson Controls Inc.

Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in more than 150 countries. The company’s 170,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and seating components and systems for automobiles. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com.

CONTACT: Maria Colespring, 1-954-634-4469

Chicago Chamber Choir’s 20th Anniversary Season Explores Chicago’s Rich Cultural Heritage

September 22, 2015

Choir welcomes new Artistic Director, Doreen Rao

CHICAGO, Sept. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Chicago Chamber Choir’s 2015-16 season, Around the World in the “Most American City,” launches a multi-year exploration of Chicago’s rich cultural diversity as represented in the city’s 77 neighborhoods. From choral music inspired by the natural world and indigenous cultures to new and familiar music by Canadian, Latin American, and Irish composers, The Chicago Chamber Choir’s 20th Anniversary Season celebrates the power of choral music as an expression of Chicago’s strong communal identity.

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The season begins with From Canada to Chicago (October 24-25), featuring contemporary choral music of North America as inspired by the natural world and indigenous cultures. Works by R. Murray Schafer, Stephen Hatfield, Imant Raminsh and Srul Irving Glick combine with new works by Chicago composers.

Fiesta de las Americas (December 19-20) marks The Chicago Chamber Choir’s debut in the Pilsen community with a spirited selection of traditional songs, holiday carols, and contemporary music by Chavez, Villa-Lobos, and Astor Piazzolla, celebrating Latino culture in Chicago with Mexico and Central America’s folk and traditional music.

The Chicago Chamber Choir’s season closes with Be Thou My Vision: All Things Irish (April 16-17, 2016), celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising, one of the defining moments in Ireland’s struggle for independence with a Celtic mosaic of traditional, popular, and contemporary music of Irish and American composers.

This season marks the official debut of The Chicago Chamber Choir’s new Artistic Director, internationally-renowned choral conductor Doreen Rao. Praised for her “significant and lasting contribution to the cause of American music” and “commitment to choral excellence,” Rao’s ambitious plans for the choir include an increased focus on the music of Chicago composers and collaborative performances with the area’s many youth music ensembles.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

From Canada to Chicago
Saturday, October 24, 7:30pm
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
1509 Ridge Ave., Evanston

Sunday, October 25, 3:00pm
Chicago Sinai Congregation
15 W. Delaware Pl., Chicago (Gold Coast)

Fiesta de las Americas
Saturday, December 19, 7:30pm
St. Procopius Church
1641 S. Allport, Chicago (Pilsen)

Sunday, December 20, 3:00pm
St. Paul United Church of Christ
2335 N. Orchard, Chicago (Old Town)

Be Thou My Vision: All Things Irish
Saturday, April 16, 2016, 7;30pm
Old St. Patrick’s
700 W. Adams, Chicago (Loop)

St. James Cathedral
Sunday, April 17, 2016, 3:00pm
65 E. Huron St., Chicago (Gold Coast)

ABOUT THE CHICAGO CHAMBER CHOIR
The Chicago Chamber Choir is passionately committed to creating a moving experience for our audience by performing exceptional choral music that celebrates the unlimited potential of the human voice. We are an ensemble of highly accomplished singers dedicated to the choral art, who desire to be part of a vibrant musical community.

7-Eleven and PayNearMe Introduce the First Mobile Bill Payment Center for Cash Users

September 22, 2015

SUNNYVALE, Calif. and DALLAS, Sept. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — PayNearMe, a financial services technology company, has partnered with 7-Eleven, Inc. to introduce the PayNearMe Bill Pay app, enabling U.S. consumers to pay over 17,000 national and local billers with cash using a convenient barcode scan at participating 7-Eleven stores. The domestic bill payment service is the first in a line of affordable financial services that the company plans to offer cash-preferring U.S. consumers and extends the reach of PayNearMe’s existing cash merchant processing offering for businesses.

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The PayNearMe Bill Pay app serves as a full-service bill payment center, allowing cash users to keep track of payment history, set reminders, and securely pay their bills in under 60 seconds with one trip to their local 7-Eleven store. Most of 7-Eleven’s nearly 8,000 U.S. stores are open 24/7, allowing users with even the tightest schedules to easily and conveniently stay on top of their bills.

The wide range of billers that are payable include cable companies, utilities providers and insurance companies, as well as PayNearMe’s existing merchants such as Greyhound bus, and Indego, the city of Philadelphia’s bike share program.

According to the FDIC, 28 percent of U.S. households have limited or no access to bank accounts. The financially underserved and others who simply prefer to use cash can use this app to pay for bills and services without missing work for trips to a payment office, standing in long lines, and/or filling out complicated forms for money orders.

“This PayNearMe Bill Pay app is just the beginning,” said Danny Shader, PayNearMe’s founder and CEO. “Cash users are largely neglected in today’s bank-based digital economy. By building a suite of easy-to-use financial services that are also easy for retailers to provide to their customers, we will make it possible for everyone to benefit from the convenience of digital transactions.”

With money transmitter licenses already secured in all 48 states where they are required, PayNearMe expects to add national and regional retailers to its payment location network in the coming months. Other financial services are expected to follow.

PayNearMe Bill Pay for Retailers
For retailers, the PayNearMe Bill Pay app offers a new way to provide additional value to customers, increase in-store traffic and attract new customers. The app’s cloud-based technology gives retailers the ability to implement PayNearMe with minimal change to their existing systems.

7-Eleven is the first retailer to capitalize on PayNearMe’s technology by partnering with PayNearMe to offer a co-branded app. Called 7-Eleven Bill Pay Operated by PayNearMe, the app features the same 17,000 national and regional billers as PayNearMe Bill Pay, but is marketed exclusively by 7-Eleven to its customers.

“7-Eleven Bill Pay app builds on 7-Eleven’s portfolio of products and services that are affordable and convenient for financially underserved customers.” said Raja Doddala, 7-Eleven’s vice president of innovation and omnichannel strategy. “This app is one in a series of innovations that will take 7-Eleven stores from being convenience stores to ‘convenient’ stores.”

Download the Apps
Both the PayNearMe Bill Pay and 7-Eleven Bill Pay Operated by PayNearMe apps are available to download for free in the Google Play store or iTunes App Store. Consumers can begin paying bills in three easy steps:

Create an account and add a bill. A barcode will be generated on the smartphone for each biller.
At the store, show the barcode to the 7-Eleven cashier and tell them the amount you wish to pay.
Provide the cash for your payment and get a receipt as proof of payment.

A convenience fee applies, depending upon the biller and the size of the payment, but most of the time, it is approximately $1.99 per payment.

Most payments are posted to the account within 4 business days, though many billers post payments the next business day.

“There is a lot of buzz around the potential of digital payments, but you can’t push cash into a smartphone or a computer,” said Shader. “We are digitizing cash transactions to make it easier for consumers to pay, for billers to accept and for retail partners like 7-Eleven to process.”

For more information about PayNearMe, visit: www.paynearme.com.

Additional Resources
To access PayNearMe videos and images, visit: www.paynearme.com/news.

About PayNearMe
PayNearMe is the first technology company to offer consumers an electronic way to pay with cash using their mobile device. The PayNearMe Bill Pay app, available in the Google Play store and iTunes App Store, enables consumers to pay for cable and phone bills, insurance, utilities, rent, loans, and much more with cash. PayNearMe has been helping government agencies and businesses accept cash payments remotely since 2009. The company’s merchants now include Greyhound bus, California Department of Child Support Services and the city of Philadelphia’s bike share program Indego, among others. Consumers can pay bills on their own schedule, in their own neighborhood, in less than one minute at nearly 17,000 retail locations in PayNearMe’s nationwide network, which includes 7-Eleven and Family Dollar stores. For more information, visit www.PayNearMe.com.

About 7-Eleven, Inc.
7‑Eleven, Inc. is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience retailing industry. Based in Dallas, Texas, 7‑Eleven operates, franchises or licenses some 10,500 7‑Eleven® stores in North America. Globally, there are more than 56,600 7‑Eleven stores in 16 countries. 7‑Eleven has been honored by a number of companies and organizations recently. Accolades include: #1 on Entrepreneur magazine’s 2014 Top Global Franchise list; #2 on Franchise Times Top 200 Franchise Companies for 2013; #10 spot on Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500 list for 2015, and #3 in Forbes magazine’s Top 20 Franchises to Start. 7‑Eleven is No. 3 on Fast Company magazine’s 2013 list of the “World’s Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Retail.” 7‑Eleven places among Top Veteran-Friendly Companies for 2014 by U.S. Veterans Magazine and is among GI Jobs magazine’s Top 100 Military Friendly Employers for 2014. Hispanic Magazine named 7‑Eleven among its Hispanic Corporate Top 100 Companies that provide the most opportunities to Hispanics. 7‑Eleven is franchising its stores in the U.S. and expanding through organic growth, acquisitions and its Business Conversion Program. Find out more online at www.7-Eleven.com.

Live Nation And New South Wales Health Renew Partnership

September 21, 2015

MELBOURNE, Australia, Sept. 21, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Live Nation Australia, a Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: LYV) company, announces the renewal of its partnership with New South Wales Health (NSW Health).

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The initial one-year partnership has provided NSW Health with an opportunity to engage and educate young people about sexual health, whilst attending Live Nation events. The NSW Health campaign, ‘Play Safe’, targets young people aged 15 – 29 years to encourage responsible sexual behaviour and regular testing for Sexually Transmissible Infections (STIs).

In addition to the NSW Health activations at live events, education and awareness has been created through online platforms and ticketing promotions to create relevant engagement with NSW-based audiences.

Based on the success of the first year, both parties have commenced a new partnership with similar benefits to continue the health promotion activities.

Dr. Chris Bourne, head of the NSW Sexually Transmissible Infections Programs Unit, said: “The Live Nation partnership is a fantastic opportunity which enables us to reach young people across NSW to increase the awareness of sexual health and STIs.

“Young people aged 15-29 years have the highest rates of STIs in NSW with more than 16,500 Chlamydia notifications in the last year.

“The partnership has given us a presence at live music concerts to reach audiences with the ‘Play Safe’ messages and run social media competitions to increase awareness and normalise sexual health,” Dr. Bourne said.

Michael Coppel, president and CEO of Live Nation Australia and New Zealand, said: “We are very pleased to be extending our partnership with NSW Health and providing our audiences with the opportunity to better understand this issue affecting our communities. We look forward to further evolving our partnership to provide NSW Health with more targeted opportunities.”

Live Nation’s partnership with NSW Health maintains its status as one of a limited number of exclusive brand partnerships Live Nation Australia has entered into.

The partnership was brokered by Sydney-based entertainment partnerships agency, mixitup Australia, a Live Nation Australia and New Zealand joint-venture company.

Greg Segal, managing director of mixitup, said: “Providing NSW Health with a live environment to interact with their target audience has provided more cut through than traditional media. Music continues to be the best medium that resonates with millennials.”

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.

About mixitup:

mixitup is Australia’s leading brand entertainment agency, working across Australia, New Zealand and Asia. Established in 2006, mixitup creates and exclusively represents cultural assets, connecting customer centric brands to game changing content and experiences. For additional information, visit www.mixitup.com.au.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

September 21, 2015

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Sept. 21, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — This year, parents of nearly 16,000 children in the U.S. will hear the words: “Your child has cancer.” One in five of those children won’t survive. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and as a leader in the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital^® will focus on raising awareness and funds for this very important issue.

Despite significant progress made by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which has helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rates from 20 to more than 80 percent since the hospital opened in 1962, cancer remains the leading cause of death by disease for children over the age of 1. Each year about 175,000 children are diagnosed with cancer worldwide, and 60 percent of these kids don’t have access to modern treatment. For those who win their battles against childhood cancer, victory often comes at a cost as survivors face a much higher risk of experiencing unique long-term health effects later in life.

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month provides St. Jude an opportunity to educate communities and supporters about what they can do to help these kids fighting for their lives. Throughout the month of September supporters can join our movement and help support the little warriors at St. Jude in their big fight against childhood cancer. Ways to participate include:

Rally friends, family and community members and register for St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer on Sept. 19 or 26. Visit stjude.org/walkrun to find an event near you;
Donate or learn more about the little warriors at St. Jude and their big fight against childhood cancer at stjude.org/September; and
Join us on social media @StJude and use the Hashtag #ShowYourGold to show your support.

The generosity of individual contributors allows St. Jude doctors and scientists to embark upon ambitious, industry-leading efforts like the Pediatric Cancer Genome Project, the St. Jude Red Frog Events Proton Therapy Center, which is the first proton therapy center in the world dedicated solely to children, and the St. Jude LIFE & After Completion of Therapy Clinic Presented by Kmart, whose mission is to help patients stay healthy as they continue their journeys as survivors after active treatment ends.

Contributions help St. Jude patients like 17-year old Adam.

Adam was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in July 2014 and is on a two-and-a-half year chemotherapy plan that will cost an estimated $2 million for his medicine alone. Because no family receives a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, Adam decided to give back to the place he says is saving his life. Adam has rallied an army of friends and family members around the country to raise $100,000 this year for St. Jude. Even though he is currently undergoing weekly chemotherapy treatments, Adam plans to participate in the inaugural St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer and is training to run the half marathon during St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend in December.

“Adam is an inspiring young man, not only to other patients, but to everyone working to ensure St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital continues its lifesaving work to find cures,” said Richard Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “Throughout Childhood Cancer Awareness Month we will boost our efforts to raise funds and awareness to help St. Jude defeat this awful disease affecting so many of our children. We won’t stop until no child dies from cancer.”

Join the fight and help give kids battling cancer a fighting chance. Visit Stjude.org/September.

About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital^®St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. St. Jude has the world’s best survival rates for some of the most aggressive childhood cancers, and treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since we opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent in the next decade. St. Jude freely shares the breakthroughs we make, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org or following St. Jude on facebook.com/stjude and twitter.com/stjude.

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Survey reveals how American Catholics will communicate about Pope Francis’ visit to the United States

September 21, 2015

NEW YORK, Sept. 21, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Pope Francis will be visiting an American population that is communicating via their personal devices and taking part in national conversations on various digital platforms more than ever before. A new survey of American Catholics ahead of Pope Francis’ visit to the United States shows that this will be a historically unprecedented communications moment.

Verizon, which invested more than $1.6 billion in its networks since 2014 to help boost capacity in the regions where the Pope will visit and made specific local investments in both its wireless and wireline networks to prepare for the papal visit, sponsored the survey by KRC Research to learn what American Catholics are saying about Pope Francis, his visit, and how they plan to communicate and share about it.

The survey asked questions about how American Catholics see the relationship between Pope Francis and communications technology, view the upcoming papal visit, plan on communicating about the visit, looking at the views of millennials, age 18-34, and Spanish-speaking Catholics in particular.

Among the findings from the survey, key takeaways include:

American Catholics say Pope Francis has better connected the Catholic Church with technology, including social media: 89% of Catholics surveyed say Pope Francis has made the Catholic Church more in touch with the tools of modern communication, like social media.
Nearly half of American Catholics use social media to keep connected with the Pope or Catholic Church: 48% of Catholics surveyed say they keep in touch with the Pope or Catholic Church on social media.
American Catholics plan on actively following coverage of the Pope’s visit to the U.S.: Even if they can’t attend any of the Pope’s public appearances in the U.S. in person, 83% of Catholics surveyed plan on following coverage of the Pope’s visit.
Spanish-speaking American Catholics are particularly plugged-in: 97% of Spanish-speaking Catholics surveyed say they use a smartphone or tablet, compared to 83% of Catholics surveyed.
American Catholics will overwhelmingly be using technology to share the experience of Pope Francis’ visit: If given a chance to attend a public appearance by the Pope, 79% of Catholics surveyed would use technology to share the experience, compared with 89% of Spanish-speaking Catholics surveyed and 89% of millennial Catholics surveyed.

If given a chance to attend a public appearance by the Pope, would you:	Catholics	Spanish- speaking Catholics	Millennial Catholics
Do any of the following:	79%	89%	89%
Share a picture or video	68%	81%	72%
Post a status, location or tweet	46%	66%	60%

Many American Catholics surveyed use technology as part of their faith and 78% say it would be hard to give up mobile technology: Half (51%) of Catholics say they’ve done one or more of the following:
- Shared religious views on social media (34%)
- Used a faith-related mobile app (24%)
- Used a mobile phone to coordinate plans around a religious event (18%)

American Catholics (78%) say it would be harder to give up their phones, tablets or the services we rely on them for (internet access, social media or streaming music) than:

TV (53%)
Coffee (37%)
Junk food (31%)
Their annual vacation (28%)
Swearing (15%)

Millennial Catholics are particularly likely to have used their mobile devices for a faith-related reason: More than two thirds (68%) of millennials surveyed have used their mobile devices for religious activities:
- Shared religious views on social media (43%)
- Used a faith-related mobile app (40%)
- Used a mobile phone to coordinate plans around a religious event (27%)

Have you ever done any of the following:	Catholics	Spanish- speaking Catholics	Millennial Catholics
Any of these:	51%	70%	68%
Share religious views on social media	34%	48%	43%
Use a faith-based mobile app	24%	36%	40%
Use mobile phone to coordinate plans around a religious event	18%	27%	27%

Millennial Catholics surveyed are more likely than Catholic non-millennials to say they plan to attend the visit in-person and use technology to stay connected with the Pope: Millennial Catholic Americans are twice as likely to say they plan to attend the Pope’s visit in-person (23%) compared to Catholics overall (9%). Even if they can’t attend in-person, Millennial American Catholics are the most likely to keep in touch with the Pope or Catholic Church on social media (60%).

A Better Network to Help Customers Communicate

In preparation for this historic event, Verizon has spent the last year and a half enhancing its network to help customers in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and New York communicate. It invested $1.6 billion since 2014 in the regions where Pope Francis will visit, building new cell sites, boosting capacity on existing sites and activating small cells in the areas where events will take place. It will also deploy mobile cell sites, including Cell on Light Trucks (COLTs) and Cell on Wheels (COWs), in those cities this week.

In Philadelphia, where the Papal Mass is expected to attract between 1.5-2 million people, Verizon invested $24 million in readying the network, effectively quadrupling capacity in the downtown area. A distributed antenna system (DAS) was also recently installed near the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and Verizon is leasing space on this system, which also helps boost capacity.

In Washington, D.C., and in New York, Verizon network teams have been working alongside officials in developing plans to support the papal visit. These ongoing meetings provided information vital to Verizon’s plans to finalize network enhancements needed for the increased demand for wireless service during the many events next week.

With the exception of the mobile cell sites, all of these enhancements are permanent infrastructure that will remain in place after the papal visit. The enhancements were already on the company’s build schedule over the next couple of years; Pope Francis’ visit gave Verizon the opportunity to accelerate the timelines to help customers stay connected during the events.

Watch Pope Francis’ visit on FiOS

FiOS customers can view the live broadcast of all of the Pope’s public appearances on the dedicated papal visit channel, FiOS channel 601 (HD) and 61 (SD). Customers in New York City, Long Island and Westchester County, New York, can also watch reporting, coverage and analysis on FiOS1.

Survey Methodology

Verizon engaged KRC Research to conduct this online survey among 604 Catholic American adults between August 27 and September 10, 2015. Participants had the option of taking the survey in either English or Spanish. Data was weighted by gender, age, region, education and household income to mirror the distribution of U.S. adults who are Catholic.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, employs a diverse workforce of 178,500 and generated more than $127 billion in 2014 revenues. Verizon Wireless operates America’s most reliable wireless network, with 109.5 million retail connections nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America’s most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers worldwide. For more information, visit www.verizon.com/news/.

VERIZON’S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts and other information are available at Verizon’s online News Center at www.verizon.com/news/. The news releases are available through an RSS feed. To subscribe, visit www.verizon.com/about/rss-feeds/.

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