News Hub | News Direct

Akshaya Patra USA Raises Over $1 Million at Virtual Event for Children of India and for COVID-19 Food Relief

The Akshaya Patra Foundation USA

The Akshaya Patra Foundation USA held its first virtual gala of 2021, Partnerships for Happiness, featuring Dr. Deepak Chopra, Sonu Sood, and Milind Pant. The online gala was highly successful, with over 750 families in attendance and over $1 million in donations collected. With COVID-19 cases on the rise in India, all funds raised will provide food relief to migrant workers, including cooked meals, ration boxes for families, and Happiness Kits containing 20 days worth of food, hygiene products, and educational supplies to Akshaya Patra’s mid-day meal beneficiaries. “We are very gratified to see the grassroots support for the mission of Akshaya Patra. With the developing COVID crisis in India and the ongoing need to support the meals for education program for the children of India, the broad participation of our donors and their commitment to this cause allows us to address these issues directly,” said Siva Sivaram, Board Chairman of Akshaya Patra USA. The event kicked off with a presentation from Dr. Deepak Chopra speaking on the ‘Nature of Reality - Metahuman.’ Later in the program, astute business leader Milind Pant held a fireside chat with talented actor and humanitarian Sonu Sood. Sonu shared his life story and most recent humanitarian efforts to support those in India impacted by the pandemic. Throughout the event, attendees enjoyed terrific performances by singer and producer Abby V and the beautiful dancer Vinaini Jayasinghe. Overall, the evening was full of remarkable conversations, lively entertainment, and inspirational moments celebrating Akshaya Patra’s beneficiaries, youth ambassadors, volunteers, and chapter teams. The Partnerships for Happiness virtual gala was hosted by the Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Grand Rapids, Maryland, Washington D.C., and Virginia chapters. Established in 2000, Akshaya Patra is the world’s largest NGO school meal program providing hot, nutritious lunches to over 1.8 million children throughout India. It costs just $20 to feed a child for an entire school year. Since the COVID-19 lockdown began on March 24th, 2020, Akshaya Patra has served more than 122 million meals to migrant workers, its beneficiaries and their families. Contact Details Akshaya Patra Foundation USA Akshaya Patra Foundation USA +1 781-438-3090 contact@apusa.org Company Website https://wwww.foodforeducation.org

April 30, 2021 10:30 AM Pacific Daylight Time

Youth Opportunity Foundation Receives DOJ Second Chance Grant to Address Traumatic Brain Injury

Youth Opportunity Foundation

Indianapolis-based Youth Opportunity Foundation (YOF) announced today that in partnership with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (FDJJ) it has been awarded a three year, $1.5M, Second Chance Act grant from the Department of Justice to reduce recidivism for justice-involved youth impacted by traumatic brain injury (TBI). “The prevalence of traumatic brain injury among justice-involved youth is misunderstood, undiagnosed, and thus untreated”, said Denny Armington, YOF President. “We are hopeful that this study will confirm the suspected significant prevalence of TBI among these youth, demonstrate the results of proper brain injury-specific treatment, and provide positive, long term outcomes for the children and the communities in which they live”. Under the supervision of FDJJ, and in concert with the University of South Florida and the Florida Department of Education’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (FLVR), YOF will subcontract with Youth Opportunity Investments (YOI), and prominent neuropsychology and neurorehabilitation experts to create a full range of services committed to youth with TBI. Managed by the YOF Advisory Council, the grant will enable the utilization of evidence-based TBI assessment and treatment modalities for youth during their stay in a residential treatment program, and for up to two years after transition to their communities. “Recidivism is a major issue for all juvenile justice programs”, noted Michael Baglivio a criminologist and YOF Advisory Council member. “Without targeted treatment, practitioners run the risk of wasting dollars, negatively impacting public safety, and, most importantly, limiting a youth’s future potential”. In order to accomplish the goals suggested by FDJJ to “reduce recidivism” and “create a full range of services focused on youth with traumatic brain injury”, YOF grant staff will coordinate with four YOI managed Florida facilities in Brooksville, Broward, Kissimmee, and Ocala, statewide brain injury advocacy and support programs, and vocational counselors from FLVR. The post-discharge, community re-entry program will continue to provide supported resource facilitation techniques while focusing on post-secondary education and training, job acquisition and career development. “We are particularly excited” commented Allison Flanagan, Director of FLVR, “about how this project could contribute to successful competitive work outcomes for youth with brain injury.” About Youth Opportunity Foundation (YOF) Youth Opportunity Foundation is focused on expanding this work with at-risk and traumatized young people impacted by the “silent epidemic” of traumatic brain injury (CDC). YOF is a 501c3 nonprofit committed to attacking the issues confronting vulnerable kids through improved clinical treatment and strategies, access to post-secondary education, jobs, and mentored relationships. We focus on those in need of a second chance. Contact Details Youth Opportunity Foundation Denny Armington +1 317-281-0424 denny.armington@yofoundation.org Company Website https://yofoundation.org

April 30, 2021 11:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Gojek Pledges to Achieve Zero Emissions, Zero Waste & Zero Barriers by 2030 in First Annual Sustainability Report

Gojek

JAKARTA, INDONESIA - Media OutReach - 30 April 2021 - As part of its sustainability mission to create positive impact and long-term value for people and the planet, Gojek, Southeast Asia's leading mobile on demand services and payments platform, today announced commitments to Three Zeros: Zero Emissions, Zero Waste and Zero Barriers, to be achieved by 2030. Gojek unveiled these pledges in its first annual Sustainability Report, which detailed its progress to date and way forward in implementing thorough environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices. Focusing on where the company can make the biggest impact for all of its stakeholders in line with pressing environmental and social issues, Gojek's approach will be structured around three specific areas: environmental sustainability (GoGreener) to achieve Zero Emissions and Zero Waste, as well as socio-economic progress (GoForward) and equality and inclusion (GoTogether) to achieve Zero Barriers. Gojek's ESG report is the first to be compiled by a Southeast Asian Internet company in alignment with international standards. [1] Select disclosures relating to the relevant material issues have been assured by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Indonesia [2]. Gojek is leading the region's tech industry in integrating ESG best practices across its business and voluntarily disclosing its performance on material ESG issues. Kevin Aluwi, Co-CEO, Gojek, said, "We have always been a company that is focused on finding the intersection of what is good for society and company growth. It is part of our DNA and the reason people come to work at Gojek. As we've grown, it has become more important to develop a way to make sure we hold ourselves to account and are constantly pushing forward and leading the industry on issues that are so important to us and society as a whole. That's why we are scaling our efforts to embed environmental and social considerations into the very heart of our organization. In doing so, we hope to create lasting, impactful change for our communities, partners and the world we live in, ensuring we can live up to our mission for the long term." Andre Soelistyo, Co-CEO, Gojek, added, "There is a pressing need for the private sector to take action and help address the most critical environmental and social issues that plague our planet and communities today. As Gojek continues to grow in size and strength, with millions relying on our platform daily, we have a responsibility to do so sustainably. Through the integration of industry-leading ESG practices, we are ensuring we do business better across our entire ecosystem, while paving the way for other companies in the region to do the same. These are issues that are of increasing importance to stakeholders everywhere and we are determined to exceed their expectations for the good of Indonesia, Southeast Asia and the rest of the world." Gojek is already making significant strides towards its targets, which will be reviewed and disclosed annually: The report embodies Gojek's commitment to supporting the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To ensure greater accountability, the company is also forming a Sustainability Advisory Council, comprising impartial external experts from various organizations including UN Women, ASEAN Centre of Energy, University of Indonesia and more. "With less than 10 years to achieve the SDGs, we have to act now. By using the best available science, aligning with global standards and accreditations and applying a data-driven approach to our methodology, we are ensuring our strategy is as robust, relevant and impactful as possible. We also know we cannot achieve this alone and will leverage our network of like-minded partners to accelerate our progress through innovative and transformative expertise and capabilities," said Tanah Sullivan, Group Head of Sustainability, Gojek. Dr. Allinnettes Adigue, Head of the ASEAN Regional Hub of GRI, said: "Corporate sustainability is good for the people, planet and long-term profitability of a company because in the end, no one can do business in a dead planet. It is no longer a question of whether companies should report on their sustainability impact. Sustainability reporting is here to stay. It is now a question of whether what companies report are accurate and relevant, and clearly communicates their impact on the economy, environment and society. These issues matter to a wide range of stakeholders, not just the narrow interests of a few. "GRI Standards, as the most widely used reporting standards in the world, is not just a reporting blueprint but more importantly, it provides organisations a global common language to set their sustainability goals and regularly measure, analyse and report on their progress. In turn, this allows them to continuously improve their sustainability performance. The GRI Standards encourages companies to focus on material topics that reflect their most significant sustainability impact through the use of quantitative data, narrative assessments and indicator-based systems." Protecting livelihoods and sustaining the community amid COVID-19 Gojek also helped to minimise the impact of COVID-19 across its ecosystem, ensuring the health and safety of stakeholders, developing new products and services to meet changing needs and creating alternative income opportunities for merchants and driver partners. In 2020, Gojek founded the Anak Bangsa Bisa Foundation (YABB) to support its partners and the wider community affected by the pandemic, raising IDR 100 billion from senior leadership and GoTroops and IDR 20 billion from corporate donations and other donation programs [6]. Gojek also protected consumers and the wider community, leveraging the scale of its network to keep consumers up to date on health and safety guidelines as well as launching several app features and initiatives to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and support frontline workers. The full Sustainability Report can be found here. [1] Gojek's first Sustainability Report is aligned with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB). [2] KAP Tanudiredja, Wibisana, Rintis & Rekan, the Indonesian member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers' global network, has undertaken a limited assurance engagement on the selected disclosure according to the relevant GRI standards in response to Gojek's material ESG issues. [3] The Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol defines Scope 1 emissions as all direct GHG emissions, Scope 2 emissions as indirect GHG emissions from the consumption of purchased electricity, heat or steam and Scope 3 emissions as all other indirect emissions that are not covered in Scope 2. [4] The collaboration with PromoGo enables two-wheel driver partners to earn additional income by carrying advertisements on their vehicles while GoCek is an in-app feature that enables Gojek driver partners to work on additional tasks (such as validating the onboarding of new GoFood merchants) in their spare time to earn more income. [5] Employee Resource Groups are voluntary, employee-led groups that provide a safe, supportive space for individuals with shared experiences. [6] Equivalent to approximately US$6.9 million from senior leadership and GoTroops and US$1.4 million from corporate donations and other donation programs, at time of reporting. About Gojek’s Sustainability Report This is Gojek's first annual Sustainability Report, to disclose its performance on material ESG topics to all stakeholders. Following this year, the report will be published on an annual basis as part of the company's ongoing voluntary disclosure of ESG performance and related metrics.This report has been externally assured by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and prepared in accordance with the GRI Standards as it represents the global best practice for sustainability reporting. Gojek has also applied two sector-specific reporting standards by SASB, 1. Internet Media and Services and 2. Road Transportation, to guide its disclosures on the financial materiality of sector-specific ESG issues.More information about the different disclosures presented in the report and how they align to GRI and SASB standards can be found in pages 42 and 46 of the Sustainability Report. About Gojek Gojek is Southeast Asia's leading on-demand platform and a pioneer of the multi-service ecosystem model, providing access to a wide range of services including transportation, food delivery, logistics and more. Gojek is founded on the principle of leveraging technology to remove life's daily frictions by connecting consumers to the best providers of goods and services in the market.The company was established in 2010 focusing on courier and motorcycle ride-hailing services, before launching the app in January 2015 in Indonesia. Since then, Gojek has grown to become the leading on-demand platform in Southeast Asia, providing access to a wide range of services from transportation, to food delivery, logistics and many others.Gojek now operates across main cities in four Southeast Asian countries. As of March 2021, Gojek's application and its ecosystem have been downloaded more than 190 million times by users across Southeast Asia.Gojek is dedicated to solving the daily challenges faced by consumers, while improving the quality of life for millions of people across Southeast Asia, especially those in the informal sector and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).The Gojek application is available for download via iOS and Android.#Gojek Contact Details Reisha Nagrani Gojek reisha.nagrani@gojek.com

April 30, 2021 05:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Image

Comcast Launches Additional 44 WiFi-Connected “Lift Zones” in Twin Cities

Comcast Twin Cities

As part of its ongoing commitment to help connect low-income families to the Internet so they can fully participate in educational opportunities and the digital economy, Comcast today announced it has equipped 44 additional locations in the Twin Cities with WiFi-connected “Lift Zones” bringing the total to 74. Working with its network of nonprofit partners, Comcast is providing robust WiFi hotspots in safe spaces designed to help students get online, participate in distance learning and do their homework. This initiative provides free connectivity inside partner community centers for the next three years. “We are so pleased to be the recipients of Comcast’s Lift Zone Wi-Fi connectivity in our recreation centers and other park facilities,” said Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Superintendent Al Bangoura. “As we move toward re-opening more recreation centers for safe in-person programming, we are looking forward to providing programs that support youth in doing their schoolwork, facilitate work readiness training, and invite families in to access virtual activities and information.” “We are proud to partner with community organizations across the Twin Cities and equip them with free internet service that will provide kids with safe, fast and reliable connectivity to keep up with school and prepare for a brighter future,” said J.D. Keller, regional senior vice president, Comcast Twin Cities. “The COVID-19 crisis continues to put many low-income students at risk of being left behind, accelerating the need for comprehensive digital equity and internet adoption programs to support them. We hope these Lift Zones will help those students who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to connect to effective distance learning at home.” Some of the new Twin Cities community organizations that have established Lift Zones in their respective facilities include 40 Minneapolis Parks & Rec locations and Face to Face in St. Paul. A full list of new Comcast Lift Zones can be found here. In March, Comcast announced a $1 billion commitment over ten years in continued support of digital equity, including its Lift Zones initiative, which aims to establish WiFi-connected safe spaces in 1,000+ community centers nationwide for students and adults by the end of 2021. Lift Zones complement Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, which has helped connect a cumulative total of 10 million low-income people to the Internet at home since 2011, including more than 272,000 Minnesotans. About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on broadband, aggregation, and streaming with over 56 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Comcast Jill Hornbacher +1 651-425-1695 Jill_Hornbacher@comcast.com Comcast Dave Nyberg +16513416401 Dave_Nyberg@comcast.com Company Website https://twincities.comcast.com/

April 29, 2021 10:00 AM Central Daylight Time

iTradeNetwork Adds Sales Leaders To Executive and Operations Staff

iTradeNetwork

iTradeNetwork, the global provider of supply chain management solutions for the food and beverage industry, announced two new key additions to its team today. Theresa Trees was named Executive Vice President of Commercial Sales and Amy Mi was appointed Vice President of Sales Operations. “Theresa and Amy bring us a deep understanding of sales in the supply chain and technology industries. iTradeNetwork is experiencing tremendous growth, and welcoming these two strong sales leaders will help us reach ambitious goals,” said Rhonda Bassett-Spiers, CEO of iTradeNetwork. Theresa brings more than 17 years of experience in sales and 11 years in supply chain solutions to iTradeNetwork. As EVP Commercial Sales, she is building a strong team to help drive iTradeNetwork’s growth. Before iTradeNetwork, Theresa worked in sales at SPS Commerce, Salesforce and Wells Fargo. Amy has more than 25 years of experience in sales operations and strategies, sales and marketing finance, commercial finance, corporate FP&A and business consulting. She has spent most of her career in the high-tech industry. As VP of Sales Operations, she is enhancing her team’s capabilities to help the front-line sales team optimize their efforts and maximize results. Prior to iTradeNetwork, she worked at Anaplan, Netgear, Polycom and Nvidia. ABOUT ITRADENETWORK iTradeNetwork, Inc. is the leading global provider of supply chain management solutions for the food and beverage industry, with more than 8,000 active customers. Suppliers and resellers connect on iTradeNetwork’s technology platform to create active partnerships and easily transact. The platform also provides one-stop-shopping for freight, food traceability, fresh inspection and supply chain compliance, which creates efficiencies for buyers and sellers alike. For more information, visit: www.itradenetwork.com. Media please note: Visual assets, photos and interviews are available by contacting Robin Carr at (415) 971-3991or itn@landispr.com. Contact Details Landis Communications Inc. Robin Carr +1 415-971-3991 itn@landispr.com Company Website https://www.itradenetwork.com/

April 28, 2021 02:02 PM Pacific Daylight Time

Image

WEED AND WHISKEY NEWS SIGNS ON AS PARTNER FOR WILLIE NELSON'S LUCK SUMMIT.

W And W Digital, LLC

Executive Producer Jerry Joyner at W And W Digital, LLC, discussed the announcement during a live broadcast from Dallas, Texas on Tuesday, April 27th, 4:20 pm 2021 from their headquarters in Deep Ellum. “The Luck Summit is just what the doctor ordered in many ways, exclaimed Joyner. I think most Texans believe that our lone star state will be the last to pass the legalization for the use of recreational cannabis, but with efforts like Willie Nelson and his team at the Luck Summit, paired with the High Holidays, I believe Texans will get the cannabis relief they need sooner than later. For me, I partake when I can, but there are hundreds of thousands of people that could be managing pain and health issues with cannabis on a daily basis if legalization legislation can be passed down in Austin. It’s a hell of a lot better than opioids.”, added Joyner. The multi-day virtual summit, seeks to destigmatize, educate, and promote cannabis culture in an informative and entertaining way. During the summit, Luck Presents and cannabis advocates will discuss the plant from a political, ethics, economic, wellness, community, industry and science point of view. Planting the Seed is the marque event of Luck’s “High Holidays”, a 9 day celebration of the cannabis plant and it’s many benefits which began on 4/20 and ends on Willie’s birthday, 4/29. Additionally, Luck Presents is petitioning the Biden Administration and Congress to make 4/20 to 4/29 the “High Holidays” in honor of the cannabis industry and to celebrate Willie’s birthday. “If you haven’t seen Willie Nelson’s letter to President Joe Biden petitioning for the High Holidays, you should and here it is”, added Joyner. The on-line petition can be found here. Weed And Whiskey News is a content distribution studio focusing on Cannabis, Whiskey, Music and the culture within. Their website, live streaming portal and social channels have developed series content including: Infused Kitchen, Miracles of Marijuana, Sips and Quips and The Green Room with Jimmy Vivino. The Green Room with Jimmy Vivino is a weekly Zoom-Cast talk show featuring host and guitar legend Jimmy Vivino and weekly special guests including celebrities, musicians, power house producers, iconic promoters, prolific writers and legendary comedians. Weed And Whiskey TV is an On-Demand TV Network, featuring original, highly-entertaining cannabis and spirit friendly programming. The vast majority of their original programming is only four minutes and 20 seconds in length and can be viewed on virtually any mobile device. Weed and Whiskey TV also streams curated music concerts, feature films, shows and Holiday specials. Twist one up, pour a whiskey...sit back, relax and enjoy Weed And Whiskey TV. It's TV with a Twist! W And W Digital, LLC is an entertainment and media holding concern headquartered in Dallas, Texas. W And W Digital owns and operates the streaming TV Network, Weed And Whiskey TV. In addition to licensed feature films and episodic series, W And W Digital created and produces the following episodic series. “DI High”, “Higher Than Space”, “History Written in Stoned,” “In Luck” (filmed at Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion that coincides with SXSW), “Paper Bartender”, “Trailer Talks”, “Tequila Shots” and recently launched Weed And Whiskey News.com. Contact Details Weed And Whiskey News Jerry Joyner +1 214-762-7101 info@weedandwhiskeynews.com Company Website https://www.weedandwhiskeynews.com

April 28, 2021 08:45 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Image

Silicon Valley SaaS Luminaries Open Seed Round for Enterprise AI Startup CIPIO

CIPIO.ai

CIPIO, a B2C Subscription Customer Success company, today announced that Tony Alika Owens and Marge Breya have joined its board of directors and started its seed round. Owens, who previously served as President of Sales Force and Group Vice President of Oracle will be the resident SaaS Growth expert at CIPIO. Having led the launches of multiple Salesforce Portfolio Products, including Einstein, Owens has gathered priceless knowledge on how to roll out and rapidly scale AI-powered SaaS products – a skill that will prove indispensable to CIPIO as it accelerates innovation and growth in the coming months. Breya currently serves as a strategic advisor for 8X8, a leading VoIP solution provider and her leadership in B2B Marketing and Customer Success Strategies for multiple high-growth startups and enterprises will be indispensable in CIPIO’s product roadmap and market expansion. She has extensive B2B GTM and Customer Success expertise spanning over 25 years as a General Manager, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Marketing Officer – as well as a board veteran – at some of the world’s leading software companies, including SAP, MicroStrategy, Ionic Security, Informatica Corporation, and HP. Breya has also held public company board positions at Jive Software, LSC Communications, and Document Sciences Corporation. “There is no better way for a startup like CIPIO to come out of stealth mode and launch than with a vote of confidence from Tony and Marge,” said Sundeep Sanghavi, Co-Founder and Chairman of CIPIO. “These two powerhouses are proven experts at building, leading, and scaling SaaS companies fast. Their joint decision to invest in CIPIO and kick off our seed round is a strong validation of our team, unique IP, and massive opportunity in one of the fastest growing economies of B2C Subscription.” B2C Subscription Economy is predicted to be @ $478B by 2025 at 68% CAGR, yet its churn rate is double its counterparts in B2B SaaS Economy. CIPIO is uber obsessed with driving growth for B2C Subscription companies through its Domain Infused Data Apps Platform™. “We no longer live in a world where customer lifecycles are linear,” said Owens. “With massive shifts in consumer behavior, B2C Subscription companies need better solutions to minimize churn and boost upsell opportunities. CIPIO’s domain infused Data Apps enables B2C Subscription companies to analyze customer triggers faster, proactively address engagement blindspots and maximize customer impact for repeatable growth and lifetime value.” “CIPIO is determined to bring the power of customer acquisition and retention machine learning to high-churn consumer subscription markets,” said Breya. “Two out of three B2C Subscription companies lack a robust strategy to prevent customer churn. CIPIO’s unique algorithms predict and recommend who, when, what, why, where, and how across mediums and channels enabling B2C Subscription companies to retain customers and drive continuous growth, regardless of transient market dynamics.” About CIPIO: CIPIO is pioneering the Industry's first domain-infused Data Apps Platform™ that humanizes and automates predictions and recommendations to increase Subscriber engagement, retention, and growth for B2C Businesses. CIPIO's early adopters include Crunch Fitness, Industry's Gym, Xponential Fitness, Motor City Church, Pure Barre, Club Pilates, AKT, YogaSix, NCFit, Cyclebar, RowHouse, Stretch Lab, and Stride who have witnessed a significant return on investment in a short time. Contact Details CIPIO Chris Foudy +1 831-238-1905 chris@cipio.ai Company Website https://cipio.ai/

April 27, 2021 01:18 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Sixty-Nine BIPOC-Owned Small Businesses In Washington To Receive Free Computer Equipment and Internet Services or Advertising from Comcast RISE

Comcast Washington

Comcast today announced it will award technology, and, or marketing resources to 69 Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)-owned small businesses statewide as a part of the company’s latest round of grants from its Comcast RISE program. These recipients are part of roughly 2,500 entrepreneurs nationwide who have been selected as awardees since the program’s inception in November, including approximately 100 in Washington state. According to a National Bureau of Economic Research study, the number of Black business owners plummeted last year from 1.1 million to 640,000 in four months — a 41% loss. Other communities of color also experienced deep losses, including immigrant (a 36 percent drop), Latinx (32 percent), and Asian (26 percent) business owners. Comcast RISE was formed in 2020 to give BIPOC-owned small businesses the tools needed to not just survive, but thrive. The program provides grants to Black and BIPOC-owned small businesses nationwide, which includes Hispanic and Asian American-owned businesses, among others. Comcast also announced a goal to support 13,000 small businesses by 2022 through the program with a TV campaign, production of a TV commercial or consulting services from Effectv; or computer equipment, internet, voice or cybersecurity from Comcast Business; or a monetary grant. “Our small businesses are incredibly resilient, and have adapted to constant change over the past year. Seattle is a technology hub, however, we quickly realized that some small businesses—many of which are owned by Black, Indigenous and other people of color—did not have the same level of technological infrastructure that other businesses had when it was time to quickly pivot to an online based business model” said Pamela Banks, Interim Director of the Seattle Office of Economic Development, and Director of Recovery and Equitable Investments. “Comcast has been a critical partner for OED, as we have worked together to respond to the digital divide that is impacting our small businesses owned by people of color, immigrants, and refugees. These grants will be a game changer, as we move forward in a world so heavily reliant on technology and marketing capabilities.” Through Comcast RISE, the company creates sustainable impact and meaningful support for communities that have been hit hardest by the global pandemic and the BIPOC-owned small businesses that shape them. More BIPOC-owned small businesses throughout Washington are encourage d to apply now and take advantage of this opportunity Eligible businesses can apply directly online at www.comcastrise.com/apply/. Eligible businesses can apply for the following: Marketing Services: The following services from Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, and its creative agency, Mnemonic, are designed to help recipients with their marketing and media campaigns, including: Media: A linear TV media campaign to run over a 90-day period. Creative Production: Turnkey 30-second TV commercial production, plus a media strategy consultation and a 90-day linear TV media campaign. Consulting: Advertising and marketing consultations with local Effectv marketing, research and creative teams to gain insights on how to drive business. Technology Makeovers: The state-of-the-art equipment and technology upgrade from Comcast Business includes computer equipment as well as internet, voice and cybersecurity services for up to a 12-month period. (Taxes and other fees may still apply for tech makeover services.) Monetary Grants: The Comcast RISE Investment Fund will provide $5 million in grants to 500 BIPOC-owned small businesses in five cities: Philadelphia/Chester, Houston, Atlanta, Chicago and Detroit. Comcast plans to expand that monetary support to other cities across the country over the next year. “Congratulations to all of the grant recipients across our state today. Comcast Business is dedicated to lifting up businesses and providing a human touch that offers them the support they need, and we are truly proud to be able to support these owners through Comcast RISE,” said Robert Brenner, VP of Comcast Business in Washington. “We have now been able to offer 100 grants to businesses across our state since we launched this program in November, and we’ve seen firsthand how marketing and technology resources can have a true impact on owners and help them bounce forward into 2021.” Quotes from Comcast RISE Winners Across the Puget Sound Region “It was a pleasant surprise to be chosen as one of the first Comcast RISE winners in Washington! Comcast gave Your Money Matters Mentoring technology and equipment that will be a tremendous help for our organization. Being a nonprofit mentorship program for youth this support helped us tremendously as we have had to go digital to continue to provide our financial training programs. The work we do in the community is about empowering youth, particularly young people from communities of color, by helping them understand how to set themselves up for a better financial future. Change can’t come for our underserved youth and for minority-owned businesses without people and organizations in our community coming together to support one another. It is great to see a big public company like Comcast helping in this effort, and we are grateful for their support.” – Clinton Taylor, Founder and Executive Director of Your Money Matter Mentoring in Auburn “When COVID-19 hit, I found myself starting over. I made the tough decision to close a consulting business I had led for 20 years. But challenges like this bring new beginnings, and I set out to create a new business over the last year that combines my Latinx roots and my passion for creating something that our community loves. I'm honored to share Komadre Kombucha with friends and neighbors in Tacoma. It has been a fantastic journey, and community partnerships and support from organizations like Comcast have helped turn this dream into a reality. We are excited to open our doors this year, and I know that the technology resources from Comcast will help us serve the community con sabor (with flavor).” – Julie Davidson, Owner-Operator of Komadre Kombucha in Tacoma “As a Black-owned business, we are honored to be selected by Comcast to receive this award. We plan to use this award to continue providing world-class service at our client-focused firm.” –KD Hall, the CEO and Principal Consultant at KD Hall Communications in Federal Way. “COVID continues to make it difficult for our staff to meet with each other and clients in-person, so technology is essential to help us get work our done and keep everyone collaborating from afar. “We greatly value our clients and the technology makeover from the Comcast Rise program will help us be able to communicate with them and each other better than ever. And that’s good for business.” – Janelle Bailey, owner of Washington Injury Law in Seattle. "Blessings is so grateful to be a recipient of the Comcast Business Grant! This grant provided exactly what Blessings needed and just in the nick of time!" – Delphia Brewton, Blessings From My Heart to your Table in Tukwila Comcast RISE also invests in ongoing mentorship and resources to help businesses succeed over the long-term. The program has partnered with Ureeka, an online platform for entrepreneurs, to provide grant recipients with business coaching to help build skills in company foundation, growing customers and financial stability. All Comcast RISE recipients will also have a specialized online networking community within Ureeka with access to educational resources, sources of capital, and vetted experts such as U.S. Black Chambers, National Asian Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Association for Enterprise Opportunity, Walker’s Legacy and Operation Hope. A key part of Comcast RISE is ensuring business sustainability. As such, Comcast has already invested more than $2 million in more than 20 community-based organizations and diverse chambers of commerce to provide additional support to BIPOC-owned small businesses. About Comcast Business About Comcast Business Comcast Business offers Ethernet, Internet, Wi-Fi, Voice, TV and Managed Enterprise Solutions to help organizations of all sizes transform their business. Powered by an advanced network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is one of the largest contributors to the growth of Comcast Cable. Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and has emerged as a force in the Enterprise market; recognized over the last two years by leading industry associations as one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services. For more information, call 866- 429-3085. Follow on Twitter @ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social. About Effectv Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, helps local, regional and national advertisers use the best of digital with the power of TV to grow their business. It provides multi-screen marketing solutions to make advertising campaigns more effective and easier to execute. Headquartered in New York with offices throughout the country, Effectv has a presence in 66 markets with nearly 30 million households with video service. For more information, visit www.effectv.com. About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on broadband, aggregation, and streaming with over 56 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Comcast Nick McDonald +1 425-977-5565 Nick_McDonald@Comcast.com Comcast Andy Colley +14252485438 Andy_Colley@Comcast.com

April 27, 2021 06:03 AM Pacific Daylight Time

YoReSpot - A NEW Social Media Platform Available for both Apple and Android Smart Phones

YoReSpot

The world of social media has opened up yet again with another app and website. YoReSpot is a new app designed around two concepts – unity and community. Unlike many social media services, YoReSpot is against censorship, negativity, and a closed mind. Even those with conflicting views have the opportunity to come, have a voice, and use it without fear of repercussion. Founder Brandon Irlbeck grew weary of watching opposing views to social media moguls and giants censored. Irlbeck’s background in computer science, a drive to be better than the others, a strong sense of family, and 100 percent unbiased towards anyone’s views, personal identifications, religion, or much anything else. The only things absolutely censored are anything inappropriate for children. Irlbeck is a father of four, one of whom is non-verbal autistic. YoReSpot is 100 percent independent and is hosted on a secure and private server. This means there is no 3rd party interference with the app, website, or users. The system also allows for video calling, live streaming, blogs, groups, pages, a marketplace, and videos. There is no charge to sign up, and doing so only takes a few seconds. Irlbeck summed it up best, “giving back to our members is something that YoReSpot is proud of. We want to make sure that our members know we are all about how we can help each other as a community.” Many would see this as empty words from a new social media platform trying to gain traction against established giants. Irlbeck has so far proven to many this is not the case and will continue to do so as YoReSpot continues to grow and thrive. Recently, as part of the app’s official launch, Irlbeck held a raffle for his family car. The proceeds went to help the Bayard Public Library in Irlbeck’s hometown. Colton Truitt of Ankeny, Iowa, was the winner of the 2006 Chevy Uplander. Amanda Cole of Carroll, Iowa, won the $1,000.00 prize. Irlbeck and his family are soon to set out in their RV. They are planning to travel and assist users of YoReSpot in any way they can. Their goal is to share the platform with as many people as possible and help as many as possible along the way. Their first stop is Marion, Iowa, home of Adrian Hicks. The Irlbeck’s plan on helping Hicks with roofing his home before moving onto the next person and YoReSpotter in need. YoReSpot is available on Android and iOS. Download, or visit https://yorespot.com for details. Contact Details YoReSpot Kelly Bennett +1 949-463-6383 kelly@bennettunlimitedpr.com Company Website https://yorespot.com/

April 27, 2021 05:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Video

Lifestyle

Akshaya Patra USA Raises Over $1 Million at Virtual Event for Children of India and for COVID-19 Food Relief

Youth Opportunity Foundation Receives DOJ Second Chance Grant to Address Traumatic Brain Injury

Gojek Pledges to Achieve Zero Emissions, Zero Waste & Zero Barriers by 2030 in First Annual Sustainability Report

Comcast Launches Additional 44 WiFi-Connected “Lift Zones” in Twin Cities

iTradeNetwork Adds Sales Leaders To Executive and Operations Staff

WEED AND WHISKEY NEWS SIGNS ON AS PARTNER FOR WILLIE NELSON'S LUCK SUMMIT.

Silicon Valley SaaS Luminaries Open Seed Round for Enterprise AI Startup CIPIO

Sixty-Nine BIPOC-Owned Small Businesses In Washington To Receive Free Computer Equipment and Internet Services or Advertising from Comcast RISE

YoReSpot - A NEW Social Media Platform Available for both Apple and Android Smart Phones