St. Maarten Invests in Destination’s Economy by Hosting FCCA Conference & Trade Show

September 22, 2014

St. Maarten Invests in Destination’s Economy by Hosting FCCA Conference & Trade Show

PEMBROKE PINES, Florida, Sept. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association’s (FCCA) annual keynote event, the Conference & Trade Show, has a 20-year history of increasing cruise tourism’s impact for its host destinations by spotlighting their products, experiences and infrastructure to the industry’s most influential decision makers—over 100 executives, presidents and CEOs from FCCA’s 15 Member Lines, which operate over 100 ships in Caribbean and Latin American waters.

St. Maarten is looking to build onto their past growth by hosting their second FCCA Conference & Trade Show from October 6 – 10. The destination knows the significance of hosting this event because of their progress after their first Conference in 2003. In 2001, St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies reported 875,540 passenger arrivals. This number rose 70 percent to 1,490,386 in 2005, just two years after hosting the Conference.

As the destination knows, these numbers extend far beyond the cruise pier; they impact the entire economy. According to the Business Research & Economic Advisors (BREA) 2012 study, Economic Contribution of Cruise Tourism to the Destination Economies, the average expenditure per passenger in St. Maarten was $185.40, which benefitted numerous industries through purchases of goods that included food and beverage at restaurants and bars, clothing, shore excursions, ground transportation, local crafts and souvenirs, watches and jewelry, perfumes and cosmetics, electronics, entertainment/night clubs/casinos, retail purchases of liquor, and telephone and internet.

However, this is hardly the only economic contribution provided by cruise tourism. The same study showed that the average expenditure per crew in St. Maarten was $135.50 for similar products and services. Plus it revealed the direct and indirect employment generated by the cruise industry, totaling 8,123 jobs and $159.8 million in employee wages.

By these numbers, St. Maarten’s 70 percent increase after hosting their first Conference would represent an increase of $114 million in passenger spending alone, along with the coinciding growth of crew spending, cruise line spending, and employment.

Projecting this same growth after this year’s Conference would be aggressive, considering that in 2014 St. Maarten expects 1.67 million passenger arrivals onboard 523 vessels from FCCA Member Lines alone. But a single cruise ship has a large economic wake. BREA’s figures show that just one average cruise vessel—130,000 GRT, 1,040 feet long, carrying 3,000 passengers and 500 crewmembers—would generate $556,200 in passenger spending and $67,750 in crew spending, along with roughly $15,000 in port fees, totaling $638,950 in direct economic contribution, not including employment and other indirect contributions.

Projecting a more conservative growth rate of 20 percent, or 105 additional cruise ship calls, would mean an extra $67 million per year directly contributed to St. Maarten’s economy. Plus a 20 percent increase in cruise tourism-impacted employment would represent 1,625 more jobs with $32 million in wages.

Considering this potential economic impact, it becomes easy to understand why St. Maarten again decided to invest in its entire destination’s economy by hosting the FCCA Conference & Trade Show.

About the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association

Created in 1972, the FCCA is a not-for-profit trade organization that provides a forum for discussion on tourism development, ports, safety, security, and other cruise industry issue and builds bilateral relationships with destinations’ private and public sectors. By fostering an understanding of the cruise industry and its operating practices, the FCCA works with governments, ports and private sector representatives to maximize cruise passenger, crew and cruise line spending, as well as enhance the destination experience and increase the amount of cruise passengers returning as stay-over visitors. For more information, visit F-CCA.com, the FCCA on Facebook, and @FCCAupdates on Twitter.

CONTACT: Omari Breakenridge 954 441 8881 [email protected]

Alcohol Justice Says Roger Goodell and Anheuser-Busch InBev Blame Personal Conduct, Ignore Alcohol Policies and Sponsorship

September 22, 2014

Alcohol Justice Says Roger Goodell and Anheuser-Busch InBev Blame Personal Conduct, Ignore Alcohol Policies and Sponsorship

Watchdog demands end to alcohol industry’s toxic relationship with NFL, teams and big game advertising

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The NFL’s Roger Goodell has yet to show any understanding that alcohol use by players is a major cause of domestic violence, child abuse, arrests and even suicide and homicide. Though he has shown progress in recognizing that domestic violence is a serious problem, he and the sport’s biggest sponsor – Anheuser-Busch InBev – continue to blame individual behavior as the cause. What they continue to ignore is the influence of the complete saturation of the NFL with alcohol sponsorships of teams, stadium advertising, tailgating, beverage sales and TV broadcast of games, especially the big one in February.

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140920/147418

Anheuser-Busch InBev distanced itself from Rodger Goodell and the NFL on Tuesday, September 16, 2014 with a hypocritical statement of concern over “…the league’s handling of behaviors that so clearly go against our own culture and moral code.”

“Anheuser-Busch InBev, with it’s half-a-billion a year budget for alcohol ads, team branding, and sports association sponsorships, heavily contributes to a culture of excessive consumption among players, fans and viewers at home,” stated Michael Scippa, Director of Public Affairs for Alcohol Justice. “To deny any responsibility in the wake of the NFL’s problems, or the massive alcohol-related harms their products cause to the public, is just ludicrous.”

Even the Daily Show, disturbingly infused with alcohol advertising of its own, which many youth watch, exposed the irony of AB InBev’s statement. Isn’t AB InBev’s chief “culture and moral code” to sell more beer for fans to consume at stadiums, tailgating parties, sports bars and at their homes? And then they solely place blame on players if they are abusive and destructive while under the influence?

Sometimes tragic accounts in the press covering player behavior in the last few years have too often cited excessive alcohol consumption as a cause of DUIs and auto accidents, a girlfriend homicide followed by suicide after a night of drinking, and incidents of domestic abuse and youth endangerment. This is not surprising, as the Centers for Disease control and prevention list alcohol as a major contributor to motor vehicle death and harm, suicides and homicides, and a contributor to child endangerment.

Throughout the year, sports-related alcohol over-consumption leads directly to tens of thousands of incidents of alcohol-related violence and harm. In the stands, in the tailgating parking lots, in bars and restaurants, in people’s homes and on the roads connecting all, the tragedy of alcohol misuse grows, like a metastasizing cancer.

“Alcohol in big sports is big business and very harmful to society, its youth, public health and safety,” stated Alcohol Justice’s Executive Director/CEO Bruce Lee Livingston. “AB InBev CEO Carlos Brito can declare all day long that the problem is the NFL’s, but both the NFL and the beer barons need to back away from advertising and team sponsorships. They need to help players recover from the seductive and lucrative culture of drinking that surrounds and infuses the NFL. Goodell needs to institute alcohol policies on advertising, beverage sales, tailgating, and player consumption. Most importantly Goodell needs to acknowledge that prevention of domestic abuse and player violence off the field has to begin with the end of the NFL’s promotion of alcohol.”

Research has shown that the more alcohol ads seen, the more likely people are to drink, drink to excess, and drink more often. This is especially true for children. In 2009, the Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking reported that 5,000 people under age 21 die annually from alcohol-related injuries. Hundreds of thousands more suffer alcohol-fueled sexual assaults, serious injuries, diseases, and academic failure. How many of these incidents of harm have been influenced by aggressive and excessive alcohol advertising during sporting events?

Here are some tragic recent examples of alcohol-fueled incidents of harm involving NFL players:

Paul Oliver (29 year old former San Diego Charger) committed suicide in front of his family after drinking September 24, 2013.
Jovan Belcher (Kansas City Chiefs) killed his baby’s mother and then himself at the stadium practice after drinking December 1, 2012. Five police didn’t test him for alcohol at 3:05 am and fail to haul him in just hours before the murder. (Video at http://huff.to/1wRIBLN)
Said TMZ Sports, “Ray Rice says hard liquor was the fuel that triggered his elevator rage and he hasn’t touched the stuff in months…Rice told the Baltimore Ravens he and Janay Palmer had been drinking HEAVILY before the altercation. Rice is telling friends he becomes a different person when he boozes it up … so he’s changed his life. But he hasn’t changed that much, because we’re told he still drinks wine … just not hard liquor. (Read more: http://bit.ly/Z1UAZt)
Aldon Smith, San Francisco 49ers linebacker, received 12 days jail time for DUI and was allegedly drunk when shooting off guns at his own house party that led to felony charges.
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings Running Back, was arrested Sept. 7, 2012 for resisting arrest while heavily intoxicated. (We have no report of alcohol before his incidences of child abuse.)
Greg Hardy, Carolina Panthers pass rusher, admitted to drinking champagne before a domestic violence incident and was ordered to attend alcoholics meetings.

These are unfortunately just a few of the alcohol-related incidents involving sports personalities in the last few years. Professor Harry Edwards, a sports sociologist and consultant to the NFL, was quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle September 13, 2014, saying, “The No. 1 factor in domestic violence is not the sport, it’s not steroids, it’s not amphetamines – it’s alcohol. That’s been my experience.”

“In the NFL culture of game aggression and beer marketing, the players alone can’t be blamed for alcohol abuse, binge drinking and addiction that leads to domestic violence, homicide, suicides and traffic collisions,” added Livingston. “We demand the NFL and sports’ biggest beer sponsors Budweiser and Coors educate on the harms and dangers of alcohol, get advertising and overconsumption out of the game, and recognize moderation and (horror of horrors) abstinence as legitimate choices for players and fans.”

Read more about the toxic social norm of mixing Big Alcohol and Big Sports Stadiums here: http://bit.ly/hK6Dg3

Learn more about the work of Alcohol Justice here: http://bit.ly/1uN5GNn

Contact: Michael Scippa: 415 548-0492
Jorge Castillo: 213 840-3336

TD Bank Champions the Environment with Commitment to Urban Forestry and Community Responsibility

September 22, 2014

TD Bank Champions the Environment with Commitment to Urban Forestry and Community Responsibility

TD employees root for the environment by planting more than 1,000 trees in 21 cities from Maine to Florida

CHERRY HILL, N.J., Sept. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank^® today announced its fourth annual TD Tree Days tree planting events. More than 1,000 volunteers will plant nearly 1,100 trees in 21 locations from Maine to Florida. The plantings, which are supported by Alliance for Community Trees (ACTrees) and New York Restoration Project (NYRP), will take place throughout October.

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As TD Economics points out in a recent report on the value of trees, urban forests play a much greater role than just beautifying the scenery. They also contribute health, environmental and recreational benefits, like improving air quality, mitigating the effects of climate change, and providing summer cooling for buildings as well as people. And, if looking at trees through the lens of an economist, they also contribute economic value to cities and homes.

“At TD Bank, we are committed to the environment and are passionate about expanding urban forests. Through TD Tree Days, we are able to provide the intrinsic benefits of trees to communities across the footprint. We are proud to work with ACTrees and NYRP to help make the communities where we live and work more environmentally friendly,” said Karen Clarke-Whistler, Chief Environment Officer, TD Bank Group.

As a component of TD Forests, TD Tree Days is aimed at expanding urban forests in local communities where TD Bank Group operates, including the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

“ACTrees and our membership are proud to support TD Tree Days across the United States,” said Carrie Gallagher, Executive Director, Alliance for Community Trees. “These tree-planting events are a great way for volunteers to give back to their communities and make a direct impact on the livability of their neighborhood streets and parks.”

To date, thousands of volunteers have planted more than 135,000 trees through TD Tree Days.

“TD Bank’s commitment to planting trees, particularly in New York City, is a testament to the Bank’s profound understanding of the intimate connection between the urban forest and quality of life,” said Deborah Marton, NYRP Executive Director. “Our lives are inherently better—we breathe better, we feel better, we’re better citizens, we even earn more, when there are more trees around us. NYRP is proud to partner with TD Bank.”

For a list of TD Tree locations, please visit www.tdtreedays.com. To learn more about TD Bank’s commitment to the environment, go to mediaroom.tdbank.com.

About TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®
TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is one of the 10 largest banks in the U.S., providing more than 8 million customers with a full range of retail, small business and commercial banking products and services at approximately 1,300 convenient locations throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Metro D.C., the Carolinas and Florida. In addition, TD Bank and its subsidiaries offer customized private banking and wealth management services through TD Wealth®, and vehicle financing and dealer commercial services through TD Auto Finance. TD Bank is headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J. To learn more, visit www.tdbank.com. Find TD Bank on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TDBank and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TDBank_US #TDTreeDays.

TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is a member of TD Bank Group and a subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank of Toronto, Canada, a top 10 financial services company in North America. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges under the ticker symbol “TD”. To learn more, visit www.td.com.

About New York Restoration Project
Founded by Bette Midler in 1995, New York Restoration Project (NYRP) is a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming open space in underserved communities to create a greener, more sustainable New York City. Unlike traditional conservancies that care for a specific place, NYRP is the only New York City conservancy that works citywide, bringing private resources to spaces that lack adequate municipal support. NYRP is also the leading private partner to the City of New York in MillionTreesNYC – an initiative to plant and care for one million new trees throughout New York City’s five boroughs by 2015. To learn more, please visit www.nyrp.org.

About Alliance for Community Trees
Alliance for Community Trees (ACTrees) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health and livability of cities by planting and caring for trees. Together, ACTrees membership have planted and cared for more than over 15 million trees with help from over 5 million volunteers. ACTrees also leads National NeighborWoods® Month – an annual campaign to plant and care for trees during the month of October. Learn more about ACTrees, its membership, and programs at www.ACTrees.org and follow us on Facebook and Twitter @alliance4trees.

Media Contact:
Daniel Olson
Office: 201-574-4807
[email protected]

Domestic Violence Shelters Across The Country Receive $3 Million In Grants From The Mary Kay Foundation(SM)

September 22, 2014

Domestic Violence Shelters Across The Country Receive $3 Million In Grants From The Mary Kay Foundation(SM)

Funding Provides Critical Services and Resources for Nearly 400,000 Women and Children
Seeking Safety from Abuse

DALLAS, Sept. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — While domestic violence has experienced a recent boost in awareness, shelters around the country are struggling to overcome funding gaps which directly affect their ability to provide resources for women and children fleeing abuse.

In advance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, The Mary Kay Foundation^SM is awarding $3 million in grants to 150 domestic violence shelters in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. Each shelter will receive a $20,000 grant to maintain critical services and programs.

“It’s been a bigger challenge than ever for shelters to keep their doors open and grants from The Mary Kay Foundation^SM are a vital part in helping shelters move forward in their missions,” said Anne Crews, board member for The Mary Kay Foundation^SM and Vice President of Public Affairs for Mary Kay Inc. “We have witnessed significant progress in raising awareness that domestic violence is an unacceptable crime but there is much more work to be done. These grants are a signature program for us and we know the nearly 400,000 women and children served by the 150 shelters receiving our funding will have their lives changed for the better and join The Mary Kay Foundation in changing the dialogue surrounding abuse for generations to come.”

While more than half of the grant recipients use the unrestricted funds for basic operating expenses including utilities and meal preparation, others hire much needed personnel, complete repairs and facility renovations or add additional programs and resources based on the unique needs of their shelter and the clients they serve.

The Domestic Violence Project in Ann Arbor, Mich. is using their grant from The Mary Kay Foundation^SM to increase language services provided by their helpline. In New York, the Urban Resource Institute will be able to offer computer training as part of their expanded working internship program. Clients of the Marie Detty Youth and Family Services Center will now have a storefront to shop for free clothing to replace items they left behind when leaving their abusers. Iva’s Place in Lenoir City, Tenn., just 30 miles southwest of Knoxville, is using their funding to conduct healthy relationship workshops for high school students in hopes of ending the cycle of abuse before it starts. In St. Louis, an overnight advocate will be hired at St. Martha’s Hall to assist with the intake and care of clients. More prevention efforts are underway in Northern California at the Westside Domestic Violence Shelter in Orland where a self-defense class will be taught.

“There is never going to be enough money to address the full needs of shelters and their programs,” said Crews who, as a long-time advocate against abuse, is the Mary Kay liaison to the American Bar Association’s Commission on Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence and serves as president of the board of directors for the Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence. “It’s up to all of us to volunteer or get involved with nonprofits focused on the issue.”

For years The Mary Kay Foundation^SM has supported the prevention and elimination of domestic violence, an epidemic that touches one in every four women in her lifetime. Through the Foundation’s annual shelter grant program, $37 million has been granted to domestic violence organizations since 2000. Each year, grants are awarded to at least one domestic violence shelter in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam with remaining grants distributed based on state population. Nearly 700 shelters applied for funding this year.

Click here for a full list of 2014 grant recipients or visit marykayfoundation.org for additional information.

About The Mary Kay Foundation^SM
The Mary Kay Foundation^SM was created in 1996, and its mission is two-fold: to fund research of cancers affecting women and to help prevent domestic violence while raising awareness of the issue. Since the Foundation’s inception, it has awarded more than $37 million to shelters and programs addressing domestic violence prevention and nearly $22 million to cancer researchers and related causes throughout the United States. More than 97% of each donated dollar goes to the missions. To learn more, visit marykayfoundation.org or call 1-877-MKCARES (652-2737).

For More Information:
Rebecca Gibson
972-687-5420 or [email protected]

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140921/147444

Doral Financial Corporation: Two Days of Trial and Hacienda Has Put Forth No Evidence

September 21, 2014

Doral Financial Corporation: Two Days of Trial and Hacienda Has Put Forth No Evidence

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Sept. 21, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Following today’s trial in the Doral Financial Corporation v. Hacienda court case, Doral Legal Counsel Matthew D. McGill issued the following statement:

“For four months, Doral has been waiting for Hacienda to explain its attempt to nullify its $230 million debt to Doral. Hacienda claimed that Doral obtained its 2012 tax agreement through a fraud, but after two days of trial, including testimony from Secretary Melba Acosta Febo herself, Hacienda has come forward with no evidence supporting that outrageous accusation. When this case is over, the people of Puerto Rico will have to ask whether they were well served by their government’s unfounded attack on one of Puerto Rico’s few remaining banks.”

“Por los pasados cuatro meses, Doral ha estado en espera que Hacienda provea una explicacion acerca de su intento de anular su deuda de $230 millones con Doral. Hacienda alego que Doral obtuvo su acuerdo del 2012 mediante fraude, pero luego de dos dias de juicio, incluyendo testimonio de la propia secretaria de Hacienda, Melba Acosta Febo, Hacienda no ha podido presentar evidencia que apoye esta acusacion atroz. Cuando este caso llegue a su fin, el pueblo de Puerto Rico tendra la oportunidad de evaluar si fueron bien servidos por este gobierno ante su ataque infundado en contra de uno de los pocos bancos restantes de Puerto Rico.”

For more information on case of Doral vs. the Hacienda and events leading up to the trial, visit www.DoralPuertoRicoFacts.com.

Doral Financial Corporation is a bank holding company engaged in banking, mortgage banking and insurance agency activities through its wholly-owned subsidiaries Doral Bank, with operations on the mainland U.S. (New York metropolitan area and northwest region of Florida) and Puerto Rico. Doral Financial Corporation’s common shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DRL.

Latin American Peace Educator and Activist Will Be Awarded The 2014 El-Hibri Peace Education Prize

September 19, 2014

Latin American Peace Educator and Activist Will Be Awarded The 2014 El-Hibri Peace Education Prize

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Fuad El-Hibri, Chair of the El-Hibri Foundation’s Board of Trustees, announced the selection of Pietro Ameglio as the 2014 El-Hibri Peace Education Prize Laureate. On October 15, Ameglio will receive the award and the $20,000 cash prize in Washington, DC, and three graduate students will also receive $5,000 scholarships to further their peace education studies. Ameglio will join a distinguished cohort of El-Hibri Foundation Peace Education Prize Laureates, whose accomplishments are described here:

http://www.elhibrifoundation.org/peace_education/prize

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Born in Uruguay but educated in Mexico, Ameglio is an activist and peace educator who is one of the most important teachers and practitioners of active nonviolence in Latin America. He has co-founded many vehicles promoting peace in Mexico, including the Mexican Peace and Justice Service (SERPAJ, 1987), a chapter of the SERPAJ nonviolence network spanning Latin America; Thinking Out Loud (Pensar en Voz Alta, 1995), a Gandhian-inspired nonviolent action collective to analyze and publicize statistical information on the nature of social conflict in Mexico and promote nonviolent direct actions; and the Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity (MPJD, 2011), along with poet Javier Sicilia and the families of dead and missing persons. He has authored the book, Gandhi and Civil Disobedience: Mexico Today (2002).

Ameglio has decades of experience exploring the power of nonviolence to promote justice and peace. He strategized with the MPJD to organize numerous mass actions against violent conflict in Mexico, including the “Silent Walk,” a march from Cuernavaca to Mexico City that concluded with more than 200,000 people hearing the testimony of survivors and victims whose suffering has largely been ignored. Ameglio also worked with others from the MPJD to create the “Caravan of Consolation” and the “Caravan to the South.” All of these activities have tapped into what Ameglio refers to as “the moral reserve” of the Mexican people, the positive values and moral sensibilities that characterize Mexican culture.

About the El-Hibri Foundation

Founded in 2001, the El-Hibri Foundation is an American 501(c)(3) charitable foundation based in Washington, D.C. It seeks to build a better world by embracing two universally shared values of Islam—peace and respect for diversity—and it fulfills its mission through grants, programs and other activities.

Contact: Rev. Bud Heckman, +1-202-387-9500
Director of Outreach, El-Hibri Foundation
[email protected]

(Español) James Goldston, el presidente de ABC News y Isaac Lee, el CEO de Fusion y el presidente de Noticias Univision, discutirán el impacto de la generación hispana del milenio con la moderadora Alicia Menéndez en el Hispanic Television Summit

September 19, 2014

Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.

Doral Legal Counsel Provides Comment on Trial Developments in the Case of Doral v. Hacienda

September 19, 2014

Doral Legal Counsel Provides Comment on Trial Developments in the Case of Doral v. Hacienda

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Sept. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire- HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Matthew D. McGill, chief legal counsel in the Doral Financial Corporation v. Hacienda court case, provides an update from today’s hearing:

“The government’s witnesses continue to prove Doral’s case. Former Secretary of Treasury Xenia Velez, who negotiated the 2012 tax agreement for Hacienda, has testified that the agreement was the result of a lengthy and transparent negotiation between Hacienda and Doral in which all of Doral’s calculations were tested for reasonableness. And the court moreover already has determined that Ms. Velez herself drafted the provision of the agreement Hacienda now claims is a fraud. By the end, Hacienda’s lawyer could only attack his own witness.”

For more information on case of Doral vs. the Hacienda and events leading up to the trial, visit www.DoralPuertoRicoFacts.com.

CONTACT: Miriam Warren 202-722-2186

NHCLC/Conela Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

September 19, 2014

NHCLC/Conela Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

Organization Rallies Support on Education, Provides Scholarships, and Addresses Plight of Persecuted Christians

SACRAMENTO, California, Sept. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — To mark Hispanic Heritage Month, The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference/Conela (NHCLC/Conela), which serves 40,118 churches in the U.S. and more than 500,000 churches worldwide, will focus on the issues that matter most: advancing justice, life and evangelism in communities across the world.

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“As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage month, faith, education and religious liberty continue to occupy significant space in our daily operations. I am persuaded that as a movement, NHCLC/Conela can shine the light of Christ in a world darkened by relativism, violence and intolerance. There is no such thing as comfortable Christianity,” said Dr. Samuel Rodriguez, president of NHCLC/Conela. “Accordingly, we are passionate about advancing an agenda of truth, grace and love. I want America to remember we are His-panic; His (God’s)-Panic. We are here to bring panic to the kingdom of darkness in the name of Jesus.”

The NHCLC/Conela continues to filter their agenda, purpose and work through the idea of Imago Dei. The Imago Dei campaign is built on one of the foundational truths of the Bible — that the image of God exists in all human beings: black and white; rich and poor; straight and gay; conservative and liberal; victim and perpetrator; citizen and undocumented; believer and unbeliever.

“During Hispanic Heritage Month we acknowledge the value and worth of every person and every culture, recognizing the image of God in every member of the human family. We celebrate the distinctiveness of Hispanic culture among many cultural backgrounds and recognize God’s redemptive work among us in history,” said Dr. Albert L. Reyes, President and CEO of Buckner International and NCHCL/Conela board member.

In order to practice the principles of Imago Dei, the NHCLC/Conela is working to bring about a moral and comprehensive immigration plan, and to decrease the number of children at the border to zero through education in Mexico and aid in the U.S. They are also working on other issues of justice like sexual trafficking and other violations of rights and religious freedoms.

“This month we remember the sacrifices of great American leaders, such as Cesar Chavez, who have fought for equality and freedom for the Hispanic community, and we should make a commitment to support the struggle of our brothers and sisters, in Christ, who are systematically persecuted in countries around the world,” said Dr. Yuri Mantilla, Chairman of the National Latino Evangelical Justice Coalition and NHCLC/Conela board member. “This is especially important, as we witness the brutality of the actions of terrorist organizations, such as ISIS, against innocent human beings. As Hispanic Americans, we must use our freedom to express solidarity to those whose natural rights to life, freedom of expression, and freedom of religion are constantly violated.”

Another important part in the fight for justice and equality is on the education front.

On September 7th, the NHCLC/Conela had unprecedented participation in their National Hispanic Education Sunday. Over 4,000 member churches participated in the event, with pastors urging parents and students to “‘Raise the Standards’ for education in their homes, schools, and communities,” said Carlos Campo, Chair of the Alliance for Hispanic Education and leader of NHCLC/Conela’s education initiatives. “This Education Sunday event highlighted our commitment to the most critical justice issue of our day: that every one of God’s children receives equal educational opportunities.”

NHCLC/Conela is the largest Hispanic Christian organization serving millions of Evangelicals, 40,118 U.S. churches and more than 500,000 churches across the globe. For additional information, visit http://www.nhclc.org.

Celebrity Chef Leticia Moreinos Schwartz Partners with Merck on Desafiando La Diabetes: Logra Tus Metas to Urge Hispanics With Type 2 Diabetes to Get to Their A1C Goal

September 19, 2014

Celebrity Chef Leticia Moreinos Schwartz Partners with Merck on Desafiando La Diabetes: Logra Tus Metas to Urge Hispanics With Type 2 Diabetes to Get to Their A1C Goal

Culinary Expert Visits San Diego County on September 20 to Help Educate At-Risk Population About Ingredients for Successful Blood Sugar Management

WHITEHOUSE STATION, New Jersey, Sept. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, is teaming with celebrity chef and cookbook author Leticia Moreinos Schwartz on Desafiando La Diabetes: Logra Tus Metas, an educational program encouraging Hispanics with type 2 diabetes to achieve better control of their blood sugar — a key treatment goal to help reduce the risk of serious health problems. Hispanics in the United States are at a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes than non-Hispanic white adults, and it is the fifth leading cause of death within the Hispanic community. Chef Leticia, who has a family history of type 2 diabetes, will visit select cities to cook up some of her favorite diabetes-friendly Latin recipes, urge Hispanics to know their A1C (average blood sugar level over the past two to three months), and work with their doctors to set and attain their own A1C goal.

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140912/145810
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For many people with diabetes, it is recommended by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) that they have an A1C of less than 7 percent to help reduce the risk of complications. For certain individuals, a higher or lower A1C goal may be more appropriate, which is why it is important for people with diabetes to speak with their health care providers to discuss the A1C goal that is right for them. Nearly half of people with diabetes have an A1C greater than 7 percent.

“After living with type 2 diabetes for many years, my grandfather passed away from a stroke, one of the serious complications of diabetes, so I know how important it is for people with diabetes to know their A1C and make a commitment to get to their A1C goal,” said Chef Leticia. “I’m proud to work with Merck on Desafiando La Diabetes to help urge Hispanics to learn about how to control blood sugar and inspire them to eat healthier as part of an overall plan to reach their goals.”

Lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise, as well as medications (if prescribed by your doctor), are all important to help you get to your A1C goal. Because diabetes is progressive, sometimes adjustments to your treatment plan are necessary, including changes to medications, diet, and activity level. As part of the program, Chef Leticia is sharing some of her favorite diabetes-friendly Hispanic dishes through cooking demonstrations at the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) Feria de Salud event in Vista, California, at Northgate Market on September 20. Attendees will also have the opportunity to sample one of these dishes.

“We are excited to feature Merck’s Desafiando La Diabetes as part of this year’s Feria de Salud,” said Larissa Roman, Executive Director of the Greater San Diego Area, American Diabetes Association. “The American Diabetes Association is committed to raising awareness of diabetes and providing relevant resources for people with diabetes to help them get to their treatment goals. This program is providing important information for Hispanics living with type 2 diabetes, as well as their friends and family.”

Diabetes disproportionately affects the Hispanic community in the United States. Hispanic adults are nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with diabetes as non-Hispanic white adults. In fact, almost 12% of U.S. Hispanic adults are already diagnosed, which is one of the highest prevalence rates among ethnic groups in the country. Hispanics comprise 32.9 percent of the population in San Diego County, which has an overall diabetes prevalence of 7.6 percent.

“Many people with type 2 diabetes may not realize that high blood sugar levels over time can lead to serious long-term health problems, so it’s important that Hispanics and others living with diabetes learn how to better manage their disease,” said Robert Espinoza, MD, Family Medicine, Santa Ana California. “Desafiando La Diabetes will help educate Hispanics in San Diego County about the importance of working with their doctors to come up with an individualized treatment plan to help them get to their A1C goal, track their progress and adjust the plan if needed, since diabetes is a progressive disease.”

Most people with diabetes are aware of the importance of controlling high blood sugar, but it’s also important for them to understand why blood sugar can sometimes go too low. For people on certain diabetes medications, low blood sugar can be caused by skipping meals or excessive exercise and can make you feel shaky, dizzy, sweaty, hungry, and sometimes, faint. Make sure your doctor explains the signs and symptoms of high and low blood sugar to you and let him or her know if you are experiencing any of those symptoms.

At the Feria de Salud event, Chef Leticia and Dr. Espinoza will encourage people with type 2 diabetes to pledge to know their A1C and to talk to their doctor about setting and attaining their own blood sugar goals. Friends and family can also pledge to challenge their loved ones to get to their goals. People with type 2 diabetes who take the challenge can stay motivated by completing missions and accessing important resources available on DesafiandoLaDiabetes.com that will help them work with their doctor to come up with an individualized treatment plan that is right for them.

For more information about Leticia’s story, the Desafiando La Diabetes program, bilingual resources, and diabetes-friendly recipes, visit DesafiandoLaDiabetes.com

About Chef Leticia Moreinos Schwartz

Chef Leticia Moreinos Schwartz is a chef, cookbook author, teacher, and food stylist with expertise in Hispanic and Latino cuisine. Diabetes is a topic that is very close to her heart, and Chef Leticia is now partnering with Merck on Desafiando La Diabetes: Logra Tus Metas to challenge Hispanics with type 2 diabetes to know their A1C and to work with their doctor to set and attain blood sugar goals.

About Desafiando La Diabetes: Logra Tus Metas

Desafiando La Diabetes: Logra Tus Metas is an educational program from Merck urging Hispanics with type 2 diabetes to know their A1C and to talk to their doctor about setting and attaining their own blood sugar goals. For more information on Desafiando La Diabetes: Logra Tus Metas, and to pledge to work with your doctor to reach your blood sugar goals, visit DesafiandoLaDiabetes.com.

About Type 2 Diabetes

Approximately 29.1 million people in the United States have diabetes, and 90% to 95% of these people have type 2 diabetes. One of three American men and nearly 2 of 5 American women born in 2000 will develop diabetes sometime during their lifetime.

When someone has type 2 diabetes, the body does not make enough insulin, and/or the insulin that the body makes does not work properly. This causes blood sugar levels to become too high, and the body may also keep making sugar even though it does not need it. Once a person has type 2 diabetes, it does not go away, and having diabetes can lead to serious health problems, such as heart disease and stroke.

People with type 2 diabetes can reduce their risk of serious complications by setting individual goals to manage the ABCs of diabetes – A for A1C, also known as blood sugar, B for blood pressure and C for cholesterol.

About Merck

Today’s Merck is a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well. Merck is known as MSD outside the United States and Canada. Through our prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and consumer care and animal health products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to healthcare through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Media Contact:	Michael Close
	(310) 617-1067

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