Aeromexico Starts Operating its New Flight New York – Monterrey

December 8, 2014

Aeromexico Starts Operating its New Flight New York – Monterrey

NEW YORK, Dec. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Aeromexico, Mexico’s global airline, reiterates its goal to increase connectivity in New York by starting its new daily and non-stop service to Monterrey, Mexico one of the carrier’s largest airport hubs.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130315/MX77534LOGO

From now on, the airline’s passengers can enjoy daily service between the Big Apple and Monterrey on Embraer 190 jet airliners with 99 passenger seats, 11 of which are in Clase Premier, Aeromexico’s business class cabin.

The schedules for this route are as follows:

New York – Monterrey*				Monterrey – New York*
AM415	3:00 p.m.	7:17 p.m.	Daily	AM414	8:50 a.m.	1:51 p.m.	Daily

*The schedules are provided in local time and are subject to changes without notice.

Anko van der Werff, Aeromexico EVP of Revenue Management said: “We are very proud to start operating this new flight between New York and Monterrey. This service extends our network connectivity to cities in Mexico like Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Bajio-Leon, Queretaro, and Aguascalientes. At the same time, U.S. passengers can now connect from more destinations like Boston, Buffalo, Cleveland and Cincinnati, thanks to the Delta Air Lines codeshare flights, and to cities in Europe like Rome and Barcelona.”

Monterrey enjoys a privileged geographic location, in the north of Mexico and very close to the border with Texas. The city has earned renown worldwide for a variety of reasons, principally for its business climate with some of the leading corporates in Mexico, strong entrepreneurial culture, prestigious institutions of higher education and a world-class health sector with leading medical centers. The city has much to offer in terms of tourism – listed as one of the top three sites worldwide to practice canyoneering, and a lot of alternatives among canyons, mountains, ziplines, bungee and ponytail -, entertainment and culture, as well as extensive infrastructure for holding congresses and conventions.

“This new route creates more connectivity options between the northeastern US and the North of Mexico, to take advantage of the road infrastructure and the different domestic flights which Monterrey already has. This flight will facilitate trade opportunities between these two cities with large financial and business concentration. Monterrey has a booming industry, mainly manufacturing, food and petrochemical”, said Ambassador Sandra Fuentes-Berain, Consul General of Mexico in New York.

At the same time, Aeromexico, NYC & Company and MTB are working together to promote New York and Monterrey, in important places of both cities since late November.

“Aeromexico’s new service now provides enhanced access for more northern Mexican travelers to come to New York City’s five boroughs for business and leisure purposes,” said Makiko Matsuda Healy, Senior Vice President, Global Tourism Development for NYC & Company. “New York City is the number one U.S. destination for air travel from Mexico with 394,000 visitors anticipated this year.”

This new route is in addition of Aeromexico’s actual five daily flights from New York to Mexico City – one in codeshare with Delta Air Lines – and to its daily non-stop service to Cancun.

Terminal B at the Monterrey International Airport is one of the carrier’s main airport hubs from where Aeromexico offers direct and nonstop flights to 24 destinations. Six of these routes are in the United States, including Houston, New York, San Antonio, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Detroit, the last three operated by SkyTeam airline alliance partner, Delta Air Lines.

About Grupo Aeromexico

Grupo Aeromexico, S.A.B. de C.V. is a holding company whose subsidiaries are engaged in providing commercial aviation services in Mexico and the promotion of passenger loyalty programs. Aeromexico, Mexico’s global airline, operates more than 600 daily flights from its main hub in Terminal 2 at the Mexico City International Airport. Its route network spans more than 80 cities on three continents, including 45 destinations in Mexico, 15 in the United States, 15 in Latin America, three in Europe, two in Asia and one in Canada.

The Group’s fleet of more than 115 aircraft is comprised of Boeing 787, 777, 767 and 737 jet airliners and next generation Embraer 145, 170, 175 and 190 models. In 2012, the airline announced the most significant investment strategy in aviation history in Mexico, to purchase 100 Boeing aircraft including 90 MAX 737 jet airliners and ten 787-9 Dreamliners.

As a founding member of the SkyTeam airline alliance, Aeromexico offers customers more than 1,000 destinations in 178 countries served by the 20 SkyTeam airline partners rewarding passengers with benefits including access to 564 premium airport lounges around the world. Aeromexico also offers travel options through its code share partners Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, Avianca, LAN, TACA and TAM with extensive connectivity in countries like the United States, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia and Peru. www.aeromexico.com, www.skyteam.com and http://disfrutaam.tumblr.com

Brady Campaign Targets Phoenix ‘Bad Apple’ Gun Dealer as Part of National Campaign

December 8, 2014

Brady Campaign Targets Phoenix ‘Bad Apple’ Gun Dealer as Part of National Campaign

Phoenix community rallies against Windy City Pawn Brokers for selling guns to straw purchasers

who flood our nation’s streets with guns used in
crimes

PHOENIX, Dec. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Local Phoenix community leaders and activists joined the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence to protest Windy City Pawn Brokers, which sells guns to straw purchasers. Their irresponsible business practices give criminals easy access to guns that often end up being used in crimes committed in Phoenix and elsewhere. Ninety percent of the nation’s guns used in crimes come from just five percent of “bad apple” gun dealers, such as Windy City Pawn Brokers in Phoenix.

“‘Bad Apple’ gun dealers such as Windy City have chosen profits over people’s safety and are therefore largely responsible for America’s gun violence,” said Dan Gross, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. “We are working with our partners in Phoenix and across the nation who are directly impacted by gun violence to demand these ‘bad apples’ change their business practices and sell guns responsibly. We are fed up with the violence in our communities. This is something we can do to make a real difference – to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and to keep our communities and our children safe.”

Joining the Brady Campaign outside Windy City Pawn Brokers were Daniel Ortega, Phoenix attorney and former Chair of the Board of Directors of National Council of La Raza; Rev. Jose Olagues, the former Associate Executive of the Presbytery of Grand Canyon; Chris Kitaeff, a federal firearms licensee, avid outdoorsman, and a board member of Arizonans for Gun Safety; and Jose Guzman and Lupe Sanchez, whose 17-year-old son was working at Subway when he was shot and killed during a robbery attempt.

“Turning a blind eye to straw purchasers, gun traffickers and criminals only contributes to the ongoing and unnecessary violence we see every day in our streets,” said Jose Guzman. “As the father of a gun violence victim, I know firsthand how important it is that we do everything we can to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people.”

This fall, in Chicago, the Brady Campaign launched a campaign, “Stop Bad Apple Gun Dealers” which leverages lawsuits to demand change in the gun industry. The initiative mobilizes communities to apply local pressure directly to “bad apple” gun dealers to demand change in their business practices, which would keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people. The campaign calls for dealers to videotape all gun sales, perform criminal background checks on all employees as part of a “Code of Conduct” that defines policies and practices gun dealers should adopt to prevent the diversion of guns into the illegal market. Each element of the proposed Code has either been suggested by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), imposed as a legal requirement in certain states, accepted by dealers as part of litigation settlements, or urged as a standard by major gun industry trade associations.

Implementing the Code, in addition to following all applicable federal, state and local laws regarding gun sales, will dramatically decrease the probability that a dealer will be a source of guns for criminals and other prohibited or dangerous people.

“Most gun dealers are responsible business people, but the ‘bad apple’ gun dealers who choose to profit off the criminal market need to be held accountable for the gun violence they contribute to in our communities,” said Jonathan Lowy, director of the Brady’s Legal Action Project. “We are going to force ‘bad apples’ out of business, and send a resounding message to the gun industry that it must clean up its act.”

“This is about protecting our community,” said Daniel Ortega. “For the Latino community – my community – this is a serious concern for us. These ‘bad apple’ dealers do not care where these guns end up. I am here to take a stand and make it clear that I do not want these guns on our streets.”

To learn more about the “Stop Bad Apple Gun Dealers” initiative, a list of pending lawsuits against gun dealers, and the Code of Conduct for responsible gun sales, visit: BradyCampaign.org/StopBadApples

The mission of the Brady organization is to create a safer America for all of us that will lead to a dramatic reduction in gun deaths and injuries. For more insight on gun violence prevention, follow us on Facebook and Twitter @BradyBuzz.

2014 has been a good year for El Latino Semanal from a number of perspectives.

December 8, 2014

1212337 Latino_Print_Cover — The fusion of digital and print to effectively reach Hispanics.

2014 has been a good year for El Latino Semanal from a number of perspectives.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Dec. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — El Latino Digital www.ellatinodigital.com, the news and distribution site for El Latino Semanal, surpassed 4 million hits in the first year of operation. This unprecedented level of acceptance indicates that a large percentage of Hispanics now consume news and information by computers, tablets or smartphones.

Publisher Miguel Lavin said today that the fourth quarter is expected to be the company’s best to date. He added, “This year has been a good year for El Latino Semanal from a number of perspectives. We have been able to expand our customer base substantially by initiating digital distribution of our print edition and entered into an strategic alliance with Hispanic Media Works to develop and maintain our distribution website www.ellatinodigital.com to ensure that our present expansion in distribution and readership continues.” Additionally, Lavin commented, “We have laid the ground work to expand the distribution inserts digitally. We are now capable to distribute El Latino Semanal electronically to the over 190,000 Hispanic emails in our market area.”

Publisher Lavin concluded, “We will continue to develop new markets, new distribution modes and generate accurate data that will give our advertisers the best ROI measurement possible.”

The Latino Semanal iconic format reflects the present market realities for print media and strikes a balance between informing the readers, giving our advertisers maximum exposure and controlling operating costs.

About El Latino Semanl Inc: El Latino Semanal is the largest and oldest Spanish weekly in DMA 38/H28. It is the only Hispanic broadsheet publication with measured distribution and readership. It started in1976 serving 30K Hispanics. Today El Latino Semanal serves a Hispanic population approaching 500,000, as per the last census adjustment. The Latino Semanal markets to the English reluctant, the non-Hispanic whites who want to reach the Hispanics and its core community from Boca Raton to Ft Pierce. El Lattino Semanal is the minority newspaper of record. It publishes all the legal ads for the State, County and Municipalities.

Contact:
Jose R. Uzal, National Sales Manager
561-310-5333
E-mail: [email protected]

NOTE TO EDITORS: A high-resolution image is available at:http://hispanicprwire.com/en/multimedia/

Safety Council Urges Families to Use Child-Safe Decorating Tips for the Holidays

December 8, 2014

Safety Council Urges Families to Use Child-Safe Decorating Tips for the Holidays

Deck the halls safely to prevent hidden dangers

NEW YORK, Dec. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Decorating your home for the holidays can be one of the most enjoyable family traditions. It is a great way to brighten up the home with a festive feel and create lasting family memories for children. During the excitement and bustle of the holidays, it’s important to be mindful of potential safety hazards that can often be overlooked.

As families decorate their homes this season, The Window Covering Safety Council urges parents and caregivers to keep child safety in mind. Use these child-safe decorating tips to ensure that your home is both beautiful and safe for children this season.

Use only cordless window products in homes with young children. Replace older window coverings with today’s safer, cordless products.
Keep all window pull cords and inner lift cords out of the reach of children. Make sure that tasseled pull cords are short and continuous-loop cords are permanently anchored to the floor or wall. Make sure cord stops are properly installed and adjusted to limit movement of inner lift cords.
Place your menorah or tree away from fireplaces, radiators, and portable heaters.
Inspect both new and old lights for broken sockets or frayed wires, and discard any damaged sets.
Switch off all holiday lights when your family goes to sleep or leaves the home.
Avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable, or that have small parts a child could choke on.
Always keep burning candles within sight and extinguish them before going to bed or leaving the house.
Do not use decorations that resemble candy or something a child would attempt to eat.
Keep hot food and liquids out of the reach of children.

For additional safety and holiday style tips visit the window covering safety council website at www.windowcoverings.org. Families can also visit WCSC on Facebook and Twitter to learn other valuable safety tips.

Window Covering Safety Council: The (WCSC) is a coalition of major U.S. manufacturers, importers and retailers of window coverings. The Council assists and supports its members in the industry’s ongoing efforts to encourage the use of cordless products in homes with young children, its redesign of corded products, and to support the national ANSI/WCMA standard for the safety of corded window coverings. WCSC’s activities in no way constitute an assumption of any legal duty owed by its members or any other entity. Consumers seeking more information can visit WCSC’s website at www.windowcoverings.org.

Media Contact: Alexandra Carmichael, 212-297-2120, [email protected]

March of Dimes 2014 Celebration of Babies® Luncheon Raises a Record $1.1 Million for Healthier Moms & Babies

December 8, 2014

March of Dimes 2014 Celebration of Babies® Luncheon Raises a Record $1.1 Million for Healthier Moms & Babies

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — March of Dimes, the leading non-profit organization for pregnancy and baby health, raised a record $1.1 million at their 9^th annual March of Dimes Celebration of Babies: A Hollywood Luncheon ® event today at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles. The 2014 honorees were actor/filmmaker Elizabeth Banks, who was presented with the March of Dimes Grace Kelly Award and Elizabeth Gabler, President, Fox 2000 who was named the March of Dimes Inspiring Woman of the Year. Additionally, Dr. James Byrne and Herman L. Hedriana M.D. were honored for their medical contributions to the cause. Celebration of Babies is chaired by Jimmy Horowitz, President of Universal Pictures, and his wife Joi Horowitz, as well as producer Wyck Godfrey and his wife Mary Kerr.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141206/162751

The March of Dimes Celebration of Babies event brings together and recognizes celebrities and prominent individuals in the entertainment community who are celebrating the recent birth of a child and are role models for the March of Dimes mission to improve the health of babies by helping moms have full-term pregnancies, with the goal that one day all babies will be born healthy.

Actor and filmmaker Elizabeth Banks received the 2014 March of Dimes Grace Kelly Award, which recognizes role-model celebrity parents who share the organization’s commitment to healthy pregnancies and families. The award was presented by actor Steve Carell.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by the March of Dimes with the Grace Kelly Award,” said Banks. “As a mother, you realize very early on when you’re holding your baby that your greatest wish for them is that they are happy and healthy. For more than 75 years, March of Dimes has been helping moms take charge of their health and helping families in the face of premature birth and birth defects. I’m proud to support March of Dimes in their ongoing commitment to healthy pregnancies and families.”

Elizabeth Gabler, President of Fox 2000, was honored as the March of Dimes 2014 Inspiring Woman of the Year for her accomplishments as a leader in the entertainment industry and as a dedicated mother.

“March of Dimes research, education, and advocacy is critical aspect of building a world of healthier mothers and babies,” said Gabler. “Each year in the United States, four million babies are born and the March of Dimes mission work has touched every single one of them. I’m thrilled to be honored as their Inspiring Woman of the Year and to represent working moms everywhere.”

Actor and March of Dimes Mission Dad Chris Pratt shared his story of prematurity with the assembled crowd and debuted a new March of Dimes informational video for which he provided the voice-over.

Jason Bateman served as master of ceremonies for the exclusive luncheon at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Other celebrities in attendance were: Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Avengers); Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything); Emily Blunt (Into the Woods); John Krasinski (The Hollars); actor/director Ron Howard; actress/singer Selena Gomez; Alyssa Milano; Phoebe Tonkin; and, Shanola Hampton (Shameless); among many others.

President of Universal Pictures Jimmy Horowitz and producer Wyck Godfrey served as Celebration of Babies event chairs, alongside their wives, Joi Horowitz and Mary Kerr.

“Honoring Elizabeth Banks and Elizabeth Gabler was a dream come true for everyone involved with Celebration of Babies and I’m thrilled March of Dimes was able to count on another year of generosity from Hollywood at this year’s luncheon,” said Horowitz. “As the parents of a premature baby, Joi and I know how vital the work of March of Dimes is and Celebration of Babies provides critical resources to continue their work on behalf of families and babies around the country.”

Godfrey added, “This year’s honorees have long-been recognized for their talent and leadership in the entertainment business, but at this March of Dimes Celebration of Babies® fundraiser we honor them for their dedication to family and community. I’m proud that our industry has been so quick to get involved in this important cause and I want to thank this year’s honorees and March of Dimes for their tireless efforts that make this special event possible.”

Event co-chairs include: Gail Berman-Masters, Megan & Peter Chernin, Jordan & John Davis, Lee Gabler, Ann & Jim Gianopulos, Max Handelman, Nina Jacobson, Billy Lazarus & Brian Bumbery, Bryan Lourd, Kelly & Ron Meyer, Amanda & Arnon Milchan, Rebecca & Hutch Parker, Karen Rosenfelt & Ken Blancato, Alissa Vradenburg & Michael Sheresky and Reese Witherspoon & Jim Toth.

Host committee members include: Amanda Anka & Jason Bateman, Lauren & Jason Blum, Catherine & Marty Bowen, Kate & Paul Brooks, Christy Callahan & Jonathan Glickman, Liza Chasin & Matthew Velkes, Laura Dern, Risa & Cyril Drabinsky, Susanna Felleman & Erik Feig, Alex & Brad Fuller, Ashley & David Kramer, Donna Langley & Ramin Shamshiri, Francis Lawrence, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Julie & Marc Platt, Lisa & PJ Shapiro, Laura & Jeff Shell, Molly Sims & Scott Stuber, Nancy Utley, Dana Walden, Shailene Woodley, Jessica Kolstad and Carrie & Bill Zotti.

March of Dimes has long-standing ties to the Hollywood community. Since its founding in 1938, supporters over the years have included Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Eddie Cantor, Grace Kelly, Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz, Johnny Carson, Sammy Davis Jr. and Louis Armstrong, to name a few.

The 9^th Annual Celebration of Babies is presented by Digital Domain and Deluxe Entertainment Services Group.

About March of Dimes

Each year nearly 4,000,000 babies are born in the United States and March of Dimes touches each one of them through research, education, support, and advocacy. March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.org or nacersano.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. March of Dimes was founded in 1938 by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to combat polio and resulted in the development of the polio vaccine in 1954. March of Dimes is one of a select few non-profit organizations to find a solution for its original mission.

Accessibility of English-language Proficiency Tests for English Learners and English Learners with Disabilities

December 4, 2014

Accessibility of English-language Proficiency Tests for English Learners and English Learners with Disabilities

PRINCETON, New Jersey, Dec. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — As the English-learner population continues to increase in number and diversity in the U.S., the challenge and importance of assessing all students, including students with disabilities, increases as well. A new white paper from Educational Testing Service (ETS) explores issues of accessibility for English learners with disabilities, including test design, delivery, uses in high-stakes accountability and the need for additional research.

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120110/DC33419LOGO

Conceptualizing Accessibility for English Language Proficiency Assessments was written by Danielle Guzman-Orth and Cara Laitusis of ETS, in collaboration with Martha Thurlow and Laurene Christensen of the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) at the University of Minnesota.

“Assessing English-language proficiency (ELP) is a complicated task given the heterogeneity of that population,” says Stephen Lazer, Vice President of Student and Teacher Assessments at ETS. “This white paper discusses these issues and research considerations to improve the ELP testing experience for all users.”

Nearly every state in the United States has felt the impact of the increasing numbers of English learners (ELs). In 2010, nearly 10 percent of students attending elementary and secondary schools in the U.S. were ELs. In that same year, the number of ELs with disabilities served through an individualized education program ranged from 0 percent in some states up to 31 percent.

The paper is particularly timely given the current mandates from the U.S. Department of Education that explicitly require that ELs with disabilities be included in the general or alternate ELP assessments without exception.

The authors note that attention to accessibility at the early stages of test development and throughout that process can help minimize the effects of construct-irrelevant variance. In their review of current test accessibility and accommodations practice, they identify challenges common to both computer- and paper-based testing; assessing first-time and young test takers; and assessing English learners with disabilities. Specifically, they reference disabilities such as visual and hearing impairments; speech/language impairment; learning disability; autism spectrum disorder; and intellectual disability.

Under the broad category of technology innovations and accessibility, the authors reference the challenges of young test takers and technology novices; handwriting versus keyboarding skills; and computer access and familiarity. They also discuss how administering assessments by computer can provide opportunities for a more standardized approach to delivering student accommodations.

“Accessibility is for all test takers,” says Guzman-Orth, Associate Research Scientist at ETS. “Many of the challenges discussed in this paper apply to ELs with disabilities, as well as the entire range of the K–12 EL population. Students taking ELP assessments can be young kindergarteners or late-arrivals with limited formal educational experiences, so there is a need to broaden the definition of accessibility to include young and first-time test takers including technology novices. And, because of the heterogeneity of this EL population, including ELs with disabilities, it is very important to pay thoughtful attention to defining the construct the assessment is intended to measure and the purposes that the scores are to be used for.”

“We’re seeing the diverse population of English learners increasingly includes those who have disabilities,” adds Thurlow, NCEO Director. “Ensuring appropriate access and accommodations for these students is critical to obtaining valid assessment results.” Christensen, Research Associate at NCEO, says “our paper endorses taking an individualized approach to addressing the diverse needs of students taking an ELP assessment.”

“In our paper, we also raise the need to reconcile the tension between assessment innovations to better measure ELP and the need to be accessible for a wide range of test takers, as required for federal accountability purposes,” explains Laitusis, a Research Director at ETS. “These innovations must include accessibility and accommodations experts from the beginning to identify the challenges and paths to resolution to ensure the assessment innovation can be accessible to all students.”

About ETS
At ETS, we advance quality and equity in education for people worldwide by creating assessments based on rigorous research. ETS serves individuals, educational institutions and government agencies by providing customized solutions for teacher certification, English language learning, and elementary, secondary and postsecondary education, and by conducting education research, analysis and policy studies. Founded as a nonprofit in 1947, ETS develops, administers and scores more than 50 million tests annually — including the TOEFL® and TOEIC® tests, the GRE® tests and The Praxis Series® assessments — in more than 180 countries, at over 9,000 locations worldwide. www.ets.org

About NCEO
The National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) was established in 1990 to provide national leadership in designing and building educational assessments and accountability systems that appropriately monitor educational results for all students, including students with disabilities and English learners. Since its establishment, NCEO has been working with states and federal agencies to identify important outcomes of education for students with disabilities; examining the participation of students in national and state assessments, including the use of accommodations and alternate assessments; evaluating national and state practices in reporting assessment information on students with disabilities; bridging general education, special education, and other systems as they work to increase accountability for results of education for all students; and conducting directed research in the area of assessment and accountability.

The Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR) Releases Findings of its 2014 HACR Corporate Inclusion Index

December 4, 2014

The Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR) Releases Findings of its 2014 HACR Corporate Inclusion Index

Findings indicate a commitment to diversity, although Hispanic representation in the upper levels of Corporate America is still lagging

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR), one of the nation’s leading Hispanic advocacy organizations, released today the results of its 2014 HACR Corporate Inclusion Index (HACR CII). The HACR CII is a component of HACR’s Corporate Accountability Strategy and measures Hispanic inclusion at Fortune 100 companies and HACR Corporate Member companies. The results of the 2014 HACR CII indicate more than 25 percent of this year’s returning participants have improved their rating from 2013, which reflects a commitment to diversity and Hispanic inclusion.

Since 2009, the HACR CII has tracked trends in Corporate America in four areas: Employment, Procurement, Philanthropy and Governance. HACR focuses on these four areas of corporate social responsibility and market reciprocity to measure the inclusion of Hispanics in Corporate America. HACR’s mission is to advance inclusion to a level commensurate with the economic contributions of Hispanics in the United States, currently the nation’s fastest growing consumer segment.

Key highlights from this survey include:

Hispanics comprise an average of nearly 14% of the total reported employee base in Corporate America.
Hispanics are still more likely to be found in non-exempt positions within Corporate America.
On average, participants reported directing slightly more than 1% of total procurement spend to Hispanic-owned businesses.
Average total charitable contributions made by participants in 2014 equaled $81,634,125 while average total contributions to Hispanic-led and community organizations amounted to only $5,195,119.
Hispanics held just over 6% of board seats amongst the participating companies, which is higher than the average within the Fortune 500, but is still considered low.

The HACR CII is conducted annually by the HACR Research Institute, led by Dr. Lisette Garcia. The Institute is devoted to objective research, analysis and publication of Hispanic-related issues in Corporate America. “On behalf of HACR’s Board of Directors, we congratulate all of this year’s HACR CII participants for their commitment to Hispanic inclusion,” said Dr. Lisette M. Garcia, director of the HACR Research Institute. “Forward thinking companies such as these recognize the importance of using data and analytics to identify gaps which can be used to help frame strategic plans to impact change and keep up with the demands of the ever changing diverse marketplace.”

The complete 2014 HACR Corporate Inclusion Index can be found on HACR’s website, www.hacr.org.

About the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility
Founded in 1986, the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR) is one of the most influential advocacy organizations in the nation representing 16 national Hispanic organizations in the United States and Puerto Rico. Our mission is to advance the inclusion of Hispanics in Corporate America at a level commensurate with our economic contributions. To that end, HACR focuses on four areas of corporate social responsibility and market reciprocity: Employment, Procurement, Philanthropy, and Governance.

Media Contact:
Karina Gutierrez
[email protected]
786-347-4743

HACR Contact:
Dr. Lisette M. Garcia
[email protected]
202-682-4012

(Español) La embajadora Estadounidense en Uruguay se Unirá al Grupo de Arbitraje Internacional y de la Práctica Latinoamericana de Chadbourne

December 4, 2014

Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.

Agencies Unite to Increase Economic Opportunities for Minority-Owned Businesses

December 4, 2014

Agencies Unite to Increase Economic Opportunities for Minority-Owned Businesses

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at increasing referrals between the two entities and ultimately increasing economic opportunities for minority-owned businesses.

“This partnership provides a great opportunity to help more of our nation’s minority business enterprises advance through increased access to capital,” said MBDA National Director Alejandra Y. Castillo. “It is significant to join with an organization that believes in the power and importance of helping small and minority businesses navigate through capital hurdles so that they can equally compete and have chances at long-term success. It also supports our continued effort in helping to grow, transform and diversify our minority business community.”

MBDA maintains a national network of 44 Business Centers equipped with specialists that help the nation’s minority-owned firms grow through access to capital, contracts, and new markets. ICIC is a nonprofit research and strategy organization that aims to strengthen inner city economies by providing businesses, governments and investors with comprehensive and actionable information in the field about urban market opportunities. Through their Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) program, they help small businesses in economically distressed areas access capital, achieve sustainable growth, and provide a forum to connect directly with debt and equity providers.

“We are excited to execute the MOU and continue our work together to help minority-owned businesses reach their full potential,” said Hyacinth Vassell, Director, Inner City Capital Connection (ICCC) of ICIC. “The ICCC program is well positioned to help minority-owned businesses build capacity and access the capital needed to grow and create jobs in America’s inner cities.

A major provision of the MOU includes establishing a referral system whereby ICIC will refer minority-owned businesses to the MBDA Business Center network for business development assistance and technical support. Likewise, the MBDA Business Centers will nominate and refer clients to ICCC for training, education, on the opportunities and program they offer.

About the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)
MBDA, www.mbda.gov, is the only Federal agency dedicated to the growth and global competitiveness of U.S. minority-owned businesses. Our programs and services better equip minority-owned firms to create jobs, build scale and capacity, increase revenues and expand regionally, nationally and internationally. Services are provided through a network of MBDA Business Centers. After 45 years of service, MBDA continues to be a dedicated strategic partner to all U.S. minority-owned businesses, committed to providing programs and services that build size, scale and capacity through access to capital, contracts and markets. Follow us on Twitter @usmbda.

The Initiative for a Competitive Inner City
The Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) is a national not-for-profit organization founded in 1994 by Harvard Business School professor Michael E. Porter. ICIC’s mission is to promote economic prosperity in America’s inner cities through private sector engagement that leads to jobs, income and wealth creation for local residents. ICIC brings together business and civic leaders to drive innovation and action, transform thinking and accelerate inner city business growth and investment. www.icic.org

Inner City Capital Connections
Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) is a national program that helps small businesses in economically distressed areas access capital, achieve sustainable growth, and connect with debt and equity providers. Executive education seminars, provided by top-tier professors from leading entrepreneurship institutions, offer participants an immersion experience in practical skills ranging from talent management and entrepreneurial finance to marketing and investor pitch presentations. Participant executives are also matched for intensive coaching sessions with high-profile capital investors, provided through an exclusive portfolio with our partners.

Contact: MBDA Public Affairs
Phone: (202) 482-1375
Fax: (202) 482-5117
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.mbda.gov

L’Oreal Paris’ Ninth Annual Women of Worth Celebration Recognizes 10 Exceptional Women; Phyllis Sudman Named 2014 National Honoree

December 4, 2014

L’Oreal Paris’ Ninth Annual Women of Worth Celebration Recognizes 10 Exceptional Women; Phyllis Sudman Named 2014 National Honoree

L’Oreal Paris Leading Ladies Blake Lively, Julianne Moore, Diane Keaton, Eva Longoria,
Andie MacDowell and Aimee Mullins Joined Special Guests Hoda Kotb, Mika Brzezinski
and Mary Alice Stephenson to Honor 2014 Women of Worth

NEW YORK, Dec. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — L’Oreal Paris honored 10 women for their extraordinary contributions to their communities at the ninth annual Women of Worth celebration Tuesday night and recognized Phyllis Sudman, co-founder of Simon’s Fund, as the 2014 Women of Worth National Honoree. Inspired by L’Oreal Paris’ iconic brand philosophy, “Because You’re Worth It,” the Women of Worth program shines a spotlight on women making a beautiful difference in the world through volunteerism.

(L-R) 2014 L'Oreal Paris Women of Worth Honorees Jenny Williamson, Rachel R. Jackson-Bramwell, Stephanie Decker, Shaaron Funderburk, Corinne Cannon, Phyllis Sudman, Brittany Wenger, Audra Dipadova Wilford, Deborah Snyder (Front) Mary K. Hoodhood at Women of Worth celebration at The Pierre on December 2, 2014 in New York City.

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Thought leaders, celebrities and leading female executives from a variety of industries convened at The Pierre in New York City to hear and share the incredible stories of these inspiring women. This year’s star-studded celebration featured special presentations from L’Oreal Paris ambassadors Blake Lively, Julianne Moore, Diane Keaton, Eva Longoria, Andie MacDowell and Aimee Mullins. Hoda Kotb, Mika Brzezinski, Mary Alice Stephenson and 2013 Women of Worth Lauren Book and Kaitlin Roig-DeBellis were also in attendance to pay tribute to the 2014 Women of Worth honorees.

United in their relentless approach to tackling some of society’s most pressing issues, the 10 newest Women of Worth are pushing boundaries by pursuing their passions to accomplish extraordinary feats and bring about important change. From providing diapers to low-income families, to housing young girls rescued from human trafficking, the 2014 honorees were welcomed into an esteemed community of 80 Women of Worth alumnae from the past nine years.

Each Women of Worth honoree received $10,000 and was chosen following a rigorous nomination process led by L’Oreal Paris and the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service, Points of Light. The 2014 Women of Worth National Honoree, Simon’s Fund co-founder Phyllis Sudman, was awarded an additional $25,000 after receiving thousands of public votes via L’Oreal Paris’ social channels and website in support of her efforts to educate people about the conditions that lead to sudden cardiac arrest and death in young children and athletes. Sudman created the organization after she tragically lost her three-month-old son, Simon, and she has been on a mission ever since to check hearts and save lives.

“Every year at this event I am humbled by the unwavering determination, commitment and strength of our Women of Worth honorees. These women are making a difference and are incredible role models for us all,” said L’Oreal Paris President, Karen T. Fondu. “We are committed to bringing the stories of all of our Women of Worth – past and present – to new audiences with the vision of inspiring even more women to follow their passion and make an impact.”

“I am truly grateful to be chosen as one of this year’s Women of Worth and to be voted the National Honoree,” said Phyllis Sudman, co-founder of Simon’s Fund and Pennsylvania resident. “This recognition is important on many levels; it validates Simon’s Fund and our work as we educate even more people to help save lives, and it demonstrates that when we focus on helping others, we can make a difference in the world.”

2014 WOMEN OF WORTH HONOREES
This year’s honorees support a wide range of important causes and projects, created through adversity and meaningful life experiences.

Corinne Cannon – Washington, D.C.; Founder and Executive Director, DC Diaper Bank, a nonprofit organization which has distributed over 1 million diapers to mothers in poverty to help reduce maternal stress, founded after Cannon’s own experience as a new mother showed her that even with a strong network of support, stress can affect parents in many ways.
Stephanie Decker – Sellersburg, Ind.; Founder, The Stephanie Decker Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps children with prosthetics engage in sports and provides access to leading-edge prosthetics to those who need them, created after Decker lost both of her legs protecting her young children from the destructive forces of a tornado.
Shaaron Funderburk – Gastonia, N.C.; Founder, Off the Streets Program (OTSP) and OTSP Transitional House, a nonprofit organization providing a home and support for women recovering from drug addiction and homelessness, created following Funderburk’s own recovery.
Mary K. Hoodhood – Grand Rapids, Mich.; Founder, Director, Kids’ Food Basket, the largest childhood anti-hunger organization in Michigan which helps underserved children. Despite being quadriplegic, Hoodhood was determined not to let her disability hold her back from helping others and has thus dedicated her time to giving back.
Rachel R. Jackson-Bramwell – St. Clair County, Ill.; Founder and Executive Director, Project Compassion and Compassionate Resources Center, a nonprofit that provides support for the St. Clair County and Greater St. Louis-areas homeless and low-income women and children, often overlooked by government services.
Deborah Snyder – Alexandria, Va.; President and CEO, Operation Renewed Hope Foundation, a nonprofit that helps to eliminate homelessness among veterans, created after Snyder’s retirement from the U.S. Army as a Lt. Colonel and helicopter pilot.
Phyllis Sudman (2014 National Honoree) – Plymouth Meeting, Pa.; Co-founder, Simon’s Fund, which raises awareness of the warning signs and conditions that lead to sudden cardiac arrest and death in children.
Brittany Wenger – Bradenton, Fla.; Duke University student and aspiring pediatric oncologist who invented Cloud4Cancer, a computer program that uses artificial intelligence and test results to diagnose breast cancer with 99 percent accuracy, driven by a young family member’s battle with the disease.
Audra DiPadova Wilford – Santa Ana, Calif.; Founder, MaxLove Project, a nonprofit organization that empowers families fighting childhood cancers and life-threatening conditions with whole-body wellness resources, education and research, founded after Wilford’s son Max was diagnosed with brain cancer at age four.
Jenny Williamson – Granite Bay, Calif.; Founder and CEO, Courage Worldwide, an international nonprofit volunteer organization building homes for children rescued out of sex trafficking.

WOMEN OF WORTH PROGRAM
Now in its ninth year, the program has recognized 90 incredible women for embodying the spirit of the L’Oreal Paris brand, through commitment to their communities, selflessness and drive to make a difference in the world.

To learn more about the program and this year’s Women of Worth visit WomenofWorth.com, and L’Oreal Paris on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lorealparis) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lorealparisusa). Follow the conversation using the hashtag #WomenofWorth.

ABOUT L’OREAL PARIS
The L’Oreal Paris division of L’Oreal USA, Inc. is a total beauty care company that combines the latest technology with the highest in quality for the ultimate in luxury beauty at mass. The L’Oreal Paris brand encompasses the four major beauty categories – hair color, haircare, skincare and cosmetics – and includes such well-known brands as Preference, Excellence, Feria and Healthy Look hair color; Advanced Haircare, Advanced Hairstyle, Elnett Satin Hairspray, EverPure, EverStrong, EverSleek, EverCreme, EverStyle, EverCurl and L’Oreal Paris Kids hair care; Advanced Suncare, Youth Code, Revitalift, Age Perfect, Ideal Clean, Ideal Moisture, Sublime Bronze and Men’s Expert skincare; and the Colour Riche, True Match, Infallible, Visible Lift and MAGIC cosmetics collections, along with a portfolio of mascara including Voluminous, Double Extend and Telescopic among many others. For more information on L’Oreal Paris and its brands, and to receive personalized beauty advice, expert tips and exclusive beauty content 24-7 (wherever you may be), check out www.lorealparisusa.com.

L'Oreal Paris ambassadors, Eva Longoria, Julianne Moore, Andie MacDowell, Aimee Mullins and Diane Keaton, attend the ninth annual L'Oreal Paris Women of Worth celebration at The Pierre on December 2, 2014 in New York City.

Phyllis Sudman, L'Oreal Paris Women of Worth National Honoree, co-founder of Simon's Fund, raising awareness for sudden childhood cardiac arrest

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