The Latino Coalition Congratulates Geisha J. Williams on Promotion to President of Electric Operations for PG&E

July 21, 2015

The Latino Coalition Congratulates Geisha J. Williams on Promotion to President of Electric Operations for PG&E

WASHINGTON, July 21, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Latino Coalition (TLC), one of the largest membership and advocacy organizations for Latino-owned small businesses, issued the following statement today regarding Geisha J. Williams’ promotion to President of Electric Operations for PG&E:

“The Latino Coalition congratulates Geisha J. Williams on her well-deserved promotion to President of Electric Operations for PG&E,” said Hector Barreto, TLC Chairman and Former Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. “Latina women continue rising to the occasion in the labor force and PG&E’s promotion of Williams is a historic one making her the first-ever Latina appointed to the position of President of a regulated utility in the country. We commend Williams for her leadership, business shrewdness and dedication overseeing end-to-end delivery of electric service to 16 million people in northern and central California. And we wish her much success in her new role.”

“Geisha J. Williams has a strong and successful track record with PG&E since 2007,” says Allen Gutierrez, The Latino Coalition’s National Executive Director. “She has exemplified knowledge, commitment and exceptional leadership in her current role and brings a wealth of experience to her new position.”

ABOUT THE LATINO COALITION- The Latino Coalition (TLC) was founded in 1995 by a group of Hispanic business owners from across the country to research and develop policies solutions relevant to Latinos. TLC is a non-profit nationwide organization with offices in California, Washington, DC and Guadalajara, Mexico. Established to address and engage on key issues that that directly affect the well-being of Hispanics in the United States, TLC‘s agenda is to create and promote initiatives and partnerships that will foster economic equivalency and enhance and empower overall business, economic and social development for Latinos. Visit www.thelatinocoalition.com.

“Black Henna” Tattoos May Put You at Risk

July 21, 2015

Learn about the dangers of temporary tattoos from the FDA. — Los tatuajes de "henna negra" pueden ponerlo en peligro

“Black Henna” Tattoos May Put You at Risk

SILVER SPRING, Md., July 21, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The summer vacation season is here… time to pack your swim suit, hit the beach, and perhaps indulge in a little harmless fun. What about getting a temporary tattoo to mark the occasion? Who could it hurt? It could hurt you.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150721/238755-INFO
Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090824/FDALOGO

Learn more at:
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm343932.htm
http://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/productsingredients/products/ucm108569.htm

Unlike permanent tattoos which are injected into the skin, temporary tattoos marketed as “henna” are applied to the skin’s surface and usually last two to four weeks. Henna is a reddish-brown coloring made from a flowering plant that grows in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia. For centuries, people have used dried henna, ground into a paste, to dye skin, hair, and fingernails. Henna body art – sometimes also known as mehndi – is still used today around the world to decorate the skin in cultural festivals and celebrations.

However, just because a henna tattoo is temporary that doesn’t mean it is risk free. Today, so-called “black henna” is often used in place of traditional henna and is potentially harmful. “Henna” may contain other ingredients to make the stain darker or longer lasting. Inks marketed as “black henna” may actually be hair dye or a mix of henna with other ingredients. The extra ingredient used to darken henna is often a coal-tar hair dye containing p-phenylenediamine (PPD), an ingredient that can cause dangerous reactions in some people. By law, PPD is not permitted in cosmetics intended for staining the skin. The only permitted use for PPD is in hair dyes, and even then the label must have a cautionary statement.

You may see “black henna” used in places such as temporary tattoo kiosks at beaches, boardwalks, and other holiday destinations, as well as in some ethnic or specialty shops. While states have jurisdiction over professional practices such as tattooing and cosmetology, that oversight differs from state to state. Some states have laws and regulations for temporary tattooing, while others don’t. So, depending on where you are, it’s possible no one is checking to make sure that the artist is following safe practices or even knows what may be harmful to consumers. You may want to check with the local jurisdiction to find out how or if these practices are regulated.

A number of consumers have learned the risks the hard way. Reactions may occur immediately after the application of “black henna” temporary tattoos or even up to two or three weeks later. Reported problems include redness, blisters, raised red weeping lesions, loss of pigmentation, increased sensitivity to sunlight, and even permanent scarring. Some reactions have led to medical treatment, including emergency room visits and ongoing skin sensitivity that can affect day to day activities.

Some people may experience cross-sensitization, meaning that because of a previous exposure and a bad reaction to that chemical, they become sensitized (allergic) to related compounds. These may include:

rubber and other latex products
certain textile dyes
some color additives used in foods and drugs
some hair dye ingredients
certain medications, such the local anesthetics benzocaine and procaine, sulfonamides, sulfones, sulfa drugs, para-aminosalicylic acid (used to treat tuberculosis)
para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) used in some sunscreens and in a number of cosmetics

Different people may experience cross sensitization to other compounds. If you have a reaction to or concern about a temporary tattoo or any other cosmetic, contact your health care professional. In addition, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asks you to contact FDA’s Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/default.htm. You can also call 1-800-FDA-1088 to report by telephone, or contact an FDA consumer complaint coordinator in your area. A list of coordinators can be found at: http://www.fda.gov/safety/reportaproblem/consumercomplaintcoordinators

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

Hispanic Scholarship Fund Celebrates Its 2015 Class Of Scholars With The Help Of Wells Fargo

July 21, 2015

Hispanic Scholarship Fund Celebrates Its 2015 Class Of Scholars With The Help Of Wells Fargo

LOS ANGELES, July 21, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF), the nation’s largest not-for-profit organization supporting Hispanic American higher education, is planning to honor its 2015 Class of scholarship recipients, with the help of Wells Fargo, at Scholar Celebrations, nationwide.

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140430/82709

Scholar Celebrations are intimate receptions held in major cities throughout the U.S., where HSF acknowledges and congratulates our newest Scholars and their parents and welcome them into the HSF Family. The gatherings also provide new Scholars an opportunity to interact with HSF Alumni, fellow HSF Scholars, staff, and supporters, and to form networks, through these contacts, that HSF hopes will last a lifetime. The events also feature keynote speakers and give Scholars the opportunity to share what their scholarships mean to them.

“These Scholar Celebrations are amazing gatherings that give us an opportunity to celebrate our incoming class of scholars, to honor their families, and to provide the students with an opportunity to experience what it means to be a member of HSF’s family and our extensive academic and professional network,” said Fidel A. Vargas, President & CEO, Hispanic Scholarship Fund. “We are proud to welcome these extraordinary students into our midst and have an opportunity to wish them well prior to the fall term.”

With the help of sponsor Wells Fargo, these intimate celebrations will be hosted in Dallas, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles/Long Beach, Miami, and New York.

“Wells Fargo’s partnership with HSF allows us the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of so many young people and to continue to advance the importance of seeking higher education,” said Georgette “Gigi” Dixon, Director of Strategic Partnerships. “We are proud to help celebrate the new scholars and the hard work they have put into their studies.”

Below please find the complete schedule:

July 21, 2015 — Dallas, TX

July 23, 2015 — San Francisco, CA

July 28, 2015 — Chicago, IL

July 29, 2015 — Los Angeles/Long Beach, CA

August 4, 2015 — Miami, FL

August 6, 2015 — New York, NY

For more information on these events or about HSF please visit HSF.net.

About the Hispanic Scholarship Fund

Founded in 1975, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund empowers Latino families with the knowledge and resources to successfully complete a higher education, while providing scholarships and support services to as many exceptional Hispanic American students as possible. HSF strives to make college education a top priority for every Latino family across the nation, mobilizing our community to proactively advance that goal – each individual, over a lifetime, in every way he/she can. HSF seeks to give its Scholars all the tools they need to do well in their course work, graduate, enter a profession, excel, help lead our nation going forward, and mentor the generations to come. As the nation’s largest not-for-profit organization supporting Hispanic American higher education, the Fund has awarded over $470 million in scholarships and provides a range of ancillary programs for students, HSF Scholars, Alumni, and parents. For more information about the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, please visit: HSF.net.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.7 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through 8,700 locations, 12,800 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 36 countries to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 266,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 30 on Fortune’s 2015 rankings of America’s largest corporations. In 2014, Wells Fargo donated $281.2 million in grants to 17,100 nonprofits, and team members volunteered 1.74 million hours around the country. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Wells Fargo perspectives are also available at Wells Fargo Blogs and Wells Fargo Stories.

Kmart Is March of Dimes #1 Fund Raiser

July 20, 2015

Kmart Is March of Dimes #1 Fund Raiser

— Celebrity Fitness Icon Jillian Michaels Helped Raise Awareness for the Fight Against Premature Birth

WHITE PLAINS, New York, July 20, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Kmart’s Shop Your Way® members, customers and associates — with the help of celebrity fitness icon and Kmart ambassador Jillian Michaels – continued its status as the #1 corporate contributor to the March of Dimes by raising more than $9 million in 2015. The money supports research and community programs to help prevent premature birth – the number one killer of babies.

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150409/197662LOGO

Jillian Michaels, whose activewear line IMPACT is sold at Kmart stores, led 20,000 walkers in the Los Angeles March for Babies event at Exposition Park on April 26. Hundreds of Kmart associates participated in March for Babies events coast-to-cost, including Alasdair James, President & Chief Member Officer at Kmart, who walked with 12-year-old Elijah Jackson, the 2015 National Ambassador for the March of Dimes at Grant Park in Chicago.

“Those of us within the Kmart family have great admiration for Elijah and all families coping with the early birth of their child,” said Alasdair. “Helping babies and families like the Jackson’s clearly resonates with our members and associates, and personally, I’m touched to be part of the March for Babies fundraiser. For more than 32 years, Kmart has proudly supported the March of Dimes ongoing efforts to fund education programs and research initiatives that can help more babies receive the healthy start in life they deserve.”

Elijah and his parents, Elise and Todd Jackson, are traveling the country this year telling their story to raise awareness of the problem of premature birth. Elijah shared this inspiring video message with Team Kmart after visiting with President Obama earlier this year.

Kmart’s annual fundraising campaigns have raised more than $134 million in support of the March of Dimes work over the past three decades – more than any other corporation. Kmart raised funds at checkout at every Kmart location, online via a link at www.kmart.com/marchofdimes, and through the sales of an exclusive collectible puppy figurine, which contributed $1 to the March of Dimes with every purchase through June 20.

“Kmart continues to be the standard of success for philanthropy,” said Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes. “With Kmart’s support, premature birth has been decreasing for seven consecutive years and we have helped give more than 231,000 babies a healthy, full-term start in life. Kmart’s partnership supports the March of Dimes nationwide network of five Prematurity Research Centers where hundreds of scientists who now are working together to discover the unknown causes of premature birth. We are truly grateful to everyone at Kmart for their remarkable contributions to this effort.”

About Kmart
Kmart, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD), is a mass merchandising company and part of Shop Your Way, a social shopping experience where members have the ability to earn points and receive benefits across a wide variety of physical and digital formats through ShopYourWay.com. Kmart offers customers quality products through a portfolio of exclusive brands that include Jaclyn Smith, Joe Boxer, Route 66 and Smart Sense. For more information visit the company’s website at www.kmart.com | Sears Holdings Corporation website at www.searsholdings.com | Facebook: www.facebook.com/kmart.

About the March of Dimes
The March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. For more than 75 years, moms and babies have benefited from March of Dimes research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.org or nacersano.org. Find us on Facebook and Twitter.

National Hiring Event Offering Nearly 1,000 Opportunities to Live the “Merry Maids Life”

July 20, 2015

National Hiring Event Offering Nearly 1,000 Opportunities to Live the “Merry Maids Life”

Positions available across the country as company
expands to meet demand for home cleaning services

MEMPHIS, Tenn., July 20, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Picture going to work every day to a job where you’re part of a great team, your clients are excited to see you and you know that you are helping others. That’s the “Merry Maids Life,” and Merry Maids is offering nearly 1,000 people the opportunity to join the largest professional home cleaning company in the world, during its Merry Maids National Hiring Event, July 20 through August 1. Merry Maids is encouraging interested applicants to search for job openings across the country by geographic location and apply online at www.MerryMaidsHiring.com.

Experience the interactive Multimedia News Release here: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7573451-merry-maids-national-hiring-event/

“We’re always looking for great talent, but with this event, we’re expanding our team in a really big way – and that’s exciting,” said Debra Johnson, national training manager for Merry Maids. “Our employees are cleaning experts who take a lot of pride in their work, and this expansion will give us the flexibility to serve even more clients.”

For those looking for even more opportunities, Christina Bowman said Merry Maids has been the perfect place for her and others to take their career to the next level. In fact, when she joined Merry Maids nearly 15 years ago as a team member cleaning homes, she never dreamed she would one day become a franchise owner, but that’s just what happened.

“I know first-hand that Merry Maids is a place where a person who wants more can do more. The company is committed to hiring, developing and retaining employees who want to go the extra mile to serve customers. We have several franchisees who started out as team members, learned the ropes and decided they wanted to own their own business. It’s really up to you how far you want to go.”

With over 35 years of experience in residential cleaning, and as a business unit of ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:SERV), Merry Maids offers a variety of growth and development opportunities, a positive work environment, and a competitive compensation package. Other benefits include:

Paid training
Weekly pay
Day work only (no nights, weekends or holidays)
Paid mileage
Employee discount offers
Full-time and part-time positions available (varies by location)
Medical and retirement plans (varies by location)

“I like knowing that I help people enjoy life, and that I’m making a difference in their lives,” said Bowman. “Seeing the results of your hard work in the form of a clean home is really rewarding. If you want a job where you don’t work nights or holidays, enjoy being active, have co-workers who are like family, and do work you can be proud of, this is the job for you.”

Job opportunities vary by location. To find out more about living the “Merry Maids Life,” apply online at www.MerryMaidsHiring.com or visit Facebook.com/merrymaids.

About Merry Maids
Merry Maids is the largest home cleaning franchise network in the United States. Merry Maids provides services in 48 states and the District of Columbia through approximately 370 company-owned locations and franchised outlets. The company also provides home cleaning services in Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom and has licensing arrangements whereby licensees provide these services in Hong Kong, Japan, South America, South Korea, Southeast Asia and Australia. Through its company-owned and franchise locations, Merry Maids employs more than 8,000 home cleaning professionals that service homes on four continents, including more than 200,000 homes in North America every month. Merry Maids is a business unit of ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SERV), a leading provider of essential residential and commercial services. Go to www.merrymaids.com for more information about Merry Maids or follow us at twitter.com/MerryMaids and facebook.com/MerryMaids.

About ServiceMaster

ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SERV) is a leading provider of essential residential and commercial services, operating through an extensive service network of more than 8,000 company-owned, franchised and licensed locations. The company’s portfolio of well-recognized brands includes American Home Shield (home warranties), AmeriSpec (home inspections), Furniture Medic (furniture repair), Merry Maids (residential cleaning), ServiceMaster Clean (janitorial), ServiceMaster Restore (disaster restoration) and Terminix (termite and pest control). We serve residential and commercial customers through an employee base of approximately 13,000 company associates and a franchise network that independently employs an estimated 33,000 additional people. The company is headquartered in Memphis, Tenn. Go to www.servicemaster.com for more information about ServiceMaster or follow the company at twitter.com/ServiceMaster or facebook.com/TheServiceMasterCo.

TEXAS TROCAS Is Back With Incredible New Stories And Even More Extreme Transformations

July 20, 2015

TEXAS TROCAS Is Back With Incredible New Stories And Even More Extreme Transformations

In the second season of Discovery en Espanol’s hit series, the Mendezes test the limits of their ingenuity and take their business to the next level

MIAMI, July 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — TEXAS TROCAS, Discovery en Espanol’s most watched original series in 2014, returns to the network on Monday, August 3 with more of the amazing stories and vehicle transformations that fascinated viewers in its first season. Featuring the Mendezes, a Mexican-American family from South Texas, the show will air Mondays at 10PM E/ 7PM P as part of Discovery en Espanol’s Lunes de Motores programming block.

Experience the interactive Multimedia News Release here: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7575051-discovery-en-espanol-texas-trocas/

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130221/MM64644LOGO
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150717/238054

Never content to rest on their laurels, the Mendez brothers are always ready to take on new challenges. In Season Two of TEXAS TROCAS (#TexasTrocas), we see them expanding their South Texas shop and testing the limits of their ingenuity and creativity with even more extreme big rig makeovers.

“Everything viewers see on Texas Trocas is one hundred percent real, from the new extreme truck and vehicle renovations to dealing with stressed out clients to, of course, the drama that is part of any family business. But what counts in the end is that we all love each other; we all want to keep growing the business and we work together to get ahead,” commented Rolando Mendez, the primary creative force of the family who spearheads most customizations.

For the Mendez family, the possibilities around the world of trucks are truly limitless. This new season brings new and bigger challenges ranging from refurbishing the exclusive vehicle belonging to Ricky Munoz, lead singer of the popular Tejano music group Intocable, to the first-ever competition between Raul and Rolando to see who can create the most stunning truck design – all while they expand their family business by building out Texas Chrome, their truck service and chrome accessory shop.

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

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.

Llega la segunda temporada de Texas Trocas a Discovery en Espanol.

The Mendez family, protagonists of Discovery en Espanol's original series Texas Trocas.

CBR & NAHN Partner To Heighten Awareness Of The Importance Of Preserving Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells

July 20, 2015

CBR & NAHN Partner To Heighten Awareness Of The Importance Of Preserving Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells

SAN BRUNO, California and WASHINGTON, July 20, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Cord Blood Registry® (CBR®) and the National Association of Hispanic Nurses® (NAHN®) announced today that they have entered into a collaboration focused on educating health care providers and the public about the importance of preserving umbilical cord blood stem cells. Through active counseling to promote informed decision making by Latina expectant mothers, CBR and NAHN will strive to reach an increasing number of Hispanic families that may benefit from the storage or donation of cord blood stem cells.

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120216/AQ54476LOGO

Umbilical cord blood is a plentiful source of powerful stem cells that can be collected from the cord and placenta shortly after birth. The use of umbilical cord blood as a source of hematopoietic stem cells for allogeneic and autologous transplantation has increased markedly over the last 30 years. Cord blood stem cells have been used in the treatment of more than 80 diseases. Cord blood stem cell therapy is being investigated in patients for regenerative medicine applications in FDA-regulated clinical studies. However, more than 90% of cord blood is presently discarded, limiting the potential for therapeutic use and additional research.

Many expectant parents have the option of preserving their newborn’s umbilical cord blood in either public or private banks. These parents often look to their healthcare providers for accurate, comprehensive information and their decisions may be influenced by culture and language. To help Hispanic families make an informed decision, it is critical that healthcare providers be able to counsel and offer bilingual educational materials about both banking options. Early education is very important because expectant parents need sufficient time to consider this personal decision, particularly when it comes to donating to a public bank, if that is an available option.

“Given the growing demand for information and services related to cord blood storage and donation, it is imperative that NAHN members keep abreast of the scientific and clinical implications of this plentiful stem cell source. NAHN recognizes the importance of providing expectant parents with comprehensive information and educational materials regarding cord blood options,” stated Daniel M. Suarez, MA, RN, President of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses. “As part of their ongoing commitment to advancing medicine and women’s health, nurses and other healthcare providers serving bilingual populations can make a valuable contribution with their advocacy and leadership,” added Mr. Suarez.

“CBR’s collaboration with NAHN is an innovative approach to broadening outreach to patients and providers,” emphasized Geoffrey Crouse, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cord Blood Registry. “As the use of cord blood continues to expand in medical therapeutics and research uncovers more potential applications for stem cells, provider and patient education about cord blood options in Spanish is critical to advancing awareness and expediting life-saving research. The goal is to have more families nationwide donating and storing cord blood stem cells, not discarding them,” noted Mr. Crouse.

The partnership will offer cord blood stem cell education and outreach to Hispanic nurses in the form of continuing medical education, materials support and online resources for those healthcare professionals working with Latino expectant parents. Providing information and resources from both public and family cord blood banking organizations can help patients make the decision that’s best for them.

About National Association of Hispanic Nurses
The National Association of Hispanic Nurses® (NAHN®) is a 501(c)(3), non-profit professional association committed to the promotion of the professionalism and dedication of Hispanic nurses by providing equal access to educational, professional, and economic opportunities for Hispanic nurses. NAHN is also dedicated to the improvement of the quality of health and nursing care of Hispanic consumers. For more information, visit nahnnet.org

About Cord Blood Registry
Cord Blood Registry® (CBR®) is the world’s largest newborn stem cell company. Founded in 1992, CBR is entrusted by parents with storing more than 600,000 cord blood and cord tissue units. CBR is dedicated to advancing the clinical application of newborn stem cells by partnering with leading research institutions to design and conduct FDA-regulated clinical trials for conditions that have no cure today. For more information, visit cordblood.com.

ISTMO COMPANIA DE REASEGUROS, INC., Expands its Operations

July 20, 2015

ISTMO COMPANIA DE REASEGUROS, INC., Expands its Operations

PANAMA CITY, July 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ – As part of its Latin American development strategy, ISTMO COMPANIA DE REASEGUROS, INC., is expanding its operations into our country.

Logo – http://www2.prnewswire.com.br/imgs/pub/2015-07-17/original/2538.jpg

We are pleased to announce that ASEGURADORA DEL ISTMO S.A. will enter the Peruvian market in order to bring its more than three decades of sector experience recognizing Peru as one of the most important countries of the region with its solid economy and steady development.

The Authorization for Organization was officiated by Resolution of the Superintendent of Banking, Insurance and AFP N° 3692-2015 and released June 26, 2015.

Hunter-Reay, Honda Reign Supreme On Iowa Oval

July 20, 2015

1370652 Photo — Ryan Hunter-Reay drove his Andretti Autosport Honda IndyCar to victory Saturday night at Iowa Speedway (PRNewsFoto/Honda Racing)

Hunter-Reay, Honda Reign Supreme On Iowa Oval

– Hunter-Reay scores third Iowa victory, sixth consecutive Iowa win for Andretti Autosport

– Rahal prevails over gearbox issues, moves to second in drivers’ championship

– Honda drivers claim three of the top five finishing positions

NEWTON, Iowa, July 20, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — In another thrilling Iowa Corn 300, Ryan Hunter-Reay successfully defended his 2014 victory, holding off Josef Newgarden Saturday night at Iowa Speedway for his first – and Honda’s fourth – Verizon IndyCar Series win of 2015.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150719/238110
Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140312/LA82397LOGO-a

In 2014, Hunter-Reay’s Andretti Autosport team gambled on making a pit stop for fresh tires during a late-race caution, and he charged through the field for victory. But in tonight’s 300-lap run, Hunter-Reay was in contention throughout the race, and successfully battled Newgarden though the final 24 laps as the pair repeated its 1-2 finish from last year.

Hunter-Reay also emerged victorious at Iowa Speedway in 2012, and his Andretti Autosport team has now won six consecutive Indy car races at the short, but very fast, Iowa oval.

Graham Rahal battled through mechanical issues – including a deflating tire leading to an unscheduled pit stop on Lap 55. Falling two laps off the lead pace, Rahal also fought recurring gearbox issues, which necessitated lengthy stays in the pits and finished fourth, just 4.6 seconds behind Hunter-Reay. The effort moved Rahal to second in the drivers’ championship, 42 points behind series leader Juan Pablo Montoya.

Carlos Munoz finished fifth, his best result since winning at Detroit in May, to give the Andretti team two drivers in the top five. Teammate Marco Andretti continued his run of top-10 finishes, taking the checkers in seventh. He remains the only driver in the series to complete every race lap this season. Continuing his substitute role in place of the injured James Hinchcliffe, veteran Ryan Briscoe finished eighth, equaling his previous best result of the season at Texas Motor Speedway.

Video recaps from this weekend’s Honda activities in Iowa are being posted on the “Honda Racing/HPD” YouTube channel. Produced by the Carolinas Production Group, the video packages can be found in the 2015 HPD Trackside Video Playlist at: https://www.youtube.com/HondaRacingHPDTV.

After back-to-back short oval races, the Verizon IndyCar Series now takes a week off before heading to Honda’s “home” road-course circuit, the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, for the Honda Indy 200 on Sunday, August 2.

Verizon IndyCar Series Drivers’ Championship (after 13 of 16 rounds):
1. Juan Pablo Montoya	445 points (2 wins)	6. Sebastien Bourdais	366 (2 wins)
2. Graham Rahal	403 (1 win)	7. Marco Andretti	358
3. Scott Dixon	397 (2 wins)	8. Josef Newgarden	352 (2 wins)
4. Helio Castroneves	391	9. Tony Kanaan	324
5. Will Power	390 (1 win)	10. Simon Pagenaud	294

Ryan Hunter-Reay (#28 Andretti Autosport Honda) started 9^th, finished 1^st, first victory of 2015, third Iowa win in last four years: “I love Iowa Speedway, and certainly this team does. We had to work for it. It was a lot of hard work out there tonight. But we felt we had something for them. We went out and earned it. We were a little loose at the start of the race, but I knew we had a strong car. Once the sun went down, the car just came to life. At the end, when it was just me and Josef [Newgarden], I knew we had a shot at it. The car was on rails out there. We’re having a tough year, but tonight was a different deal. This is a huge win for us. It’s great to be back in Victory Lane.”

Graham Rahal (#15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda) started 17^th, finished 4^th: “That was my hardest race ever. First we had the right rear [tire] go down and then the car just wouldn’t shift. You don’t know how tough that is around here when you’re in traffic and you need to go down to fifth, fourth gear at times and I couldn’t do anything. It was a killer for me. We were quicker than [winner] Hunter-Reay, which is frustrating. When the car was working right, we passed all those guys, but now I’m spent. The car was good, very competitive over the long run and that’s what helped me. Nights like tonight are what build character, and what builds champions. It speaks volumes for this team that we are second in the points. We can win Honda a championship. We’ve got three more races to go and we’re just going to keep our heads down and go forward.”

Allen Miller (Race Team Leader, Honda Performance Development) on tonight’s race: “Congratulations to Ryan Hunter-Reay on defending his Iowa Corn 300 win from last year, and to Andretti Autosport for winning its sixth race in a row here at Iowa. Congratulations and ‘Thank You’ to all our HPD associates. All the hard work that everyone has been putting in really paid off tonight. Congratulations as well to Graham Rahal, who struggled with some shifter issues throughout the race which ended up putting him two laps down, but he battled through them for a solid finish and now stands second in the drivers’ championship. Now, it’s on to Mid-Ohio, where we will fight for another victory in front of a large group of Honda associates and fans.”

NHCLC Calls for Complete Defunding of Planned Parenthood & Federal Government Investigation

July 19, 2015

NHCLC Calls for Complete Defunding of Planned Parenthood & Federal Government Investigation

Condemns Actions of National Organization and Advocates for Life

SACRAMENTO, California, July 19, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — In response to the video of a Planned Parenthood doctor discussing the sale of human parts of unborn children, Rev. Samuel Rodriguez and the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC) are calling upon the federal government to completely defund Planned Parenthood, launch a federal investigation of the organization’s operations, and consider additional legislation to protect human life.

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“The idea of selling the parts of unborn babies is reprehensible and barbaric,” said NHCLC President Rev. Samuel Rodriguez. “We are calling on our elected officials on both sides of the isle to condemn these actions of Planned Parenthood. Not one tax payer’s dollar should ever be allocated towards Planned Parenthood, ever and without exception.”

For over 15 years, the NHCLC has worked to lower the number of abortions in the Hispanic American community. One of its goals is to raise awareness of the intentionality of organizations such as Planned Parenthood specifically targeting Latino and African American communities.

“This ultimately comes down to the fight for respect of life—in every individual born and unborn. We believe that every single person was created in the image of God,” said Rodriquez. “We call all Hispanic evangelicals to rise up and stand for the sanctity of life from the womb to the tomb.”

NHCLC partners with Focus on the Family, works with pregnancy crisis centers across the United States, and runs a restorative outreach program for women who have had abortions in order to educate and minister to its community. As a result of its advocacy for human life, NHCLC also runs an adoption initiative as an alternative to abortions.

NHCLC’s condemnation of Planned Parenthood’s actions stems from its Imago Dei campaign, which upholds that the image of God exists in all human beings, even the unborn.

The foundation of Imago Dei is the statement: “I recognize that every human being, in and out of the womb, carries the image of God – without exception. Therefore, I will treat everyone with love and respect.”

NHCLC/CONEL is the world’s largest Hispanic Christian organization. It serves as a representative voice for the more than 100 million Hispanic Evangelicals assembled in over 40,000 U.S. churches and another 500,000 congregations spread throughout the Spanish-speaking diaspora. The organization seeks to reconcile Evangelist Billy Graham’s message of salvation through Christ with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s march of prophetic activism. For additional information, visit http://www.nhclc.org. NHCLC/CONEL emphasizes “7 Directives” of Life, Family, Compassionate Evangelism, Stewardship, Justice, Education and Youth.

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