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Introducing Airbnb.org: A New Nonprofit To Connect People With Places To Stay In Times Of Crisis

YourUpdateTV

As communities around the world grapple with the devastating impacts of natural disasters and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Airbnb.org, an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has dedicated itself to facilitating temporary stays for people in times of crisis. Recently, Kristen Berlacher, the Head of Airbnb.org Programs, teamed with YourUpdateTV on a satellite media tour to discuss the important initiative. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/yg0u4NmpGDg The inspiration for Airbnb.org began in 2012 with a single host named Shell who opened up her home to people impacted by Hurricane Sandy. This sparked a movement and marked the beginning of a program that allows hosts on Airbnb to provide stays for people in times of need. Since then, the program has evolved to focus on emergency response and to help provide stays to evacuees, relief workers, refugees and asylum seekers, and most recently, frontline workers fighting the spread of COVID-19. From Australia to France, more than 100,000 hosts have offered to open up their homes and helped provide accommodations to 75,000 people in times of need. Going forward, Airbnb’s Open Homes and Frontline Stays programs will now be called Airbnb.org. Airbnb.org’s initial commitments include $2 million to support expanded partnerships with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE). Over the next two years, Airbnb.org will commit $1 million to cover stays for IFRC staff and volunteers supporting communities worldwide hit by COVID-19 and other humanitarian disasters. CORE will utilize Airbnb.org’s $1 million contribution to fund stays for frontline workers administering free COVID-19 tests, conducting contact tracing, providing flu shots and coordinating quarantine support resources in ten cities across the U.S. with the opportunity to launch in new cities as hotspots arise. When a vaccine becomes available, CORE will also use Airbnb.org funding to house relief workers traveling to vaccine distribution centers. How it works Airbnb.org will allow hosts on Airbnb to provide free and discounted stays to people impacted by emergencies, including natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic. These stays, which provide alternative accommodation and shelter options, are especially helpful to government and nonprofit partners in a year where the COVID-19 pandemic has made housing vulnerable people in traditional congregate shelters extremely challenging. Hosts who support Airbnb.org by offering free stays or making recurring donations will receive a special badge on their profile to recognize their generosity and commitment to communities in need. To ensure community donations go further towards helping house people in times of crisis, Airbnb has pledged 400,000 shares of Airbnb stock to support the organization’s emergency response, natural disaster response and refugee programs. Airbnb co-founders Brian Chesky, Joe Gebbia and Nate Blecharczyk are committing $6 million to support partners and impacted communities. In addition, Airbnb will continue to provide ongoing operational support for Airbnb.org. Anyone who finds joy in helping others, who believes in kindness and is interested in helping by opening their homes or donating to this cause, can learn more at airbnb.org. About Kristen Berlacher: As Head of Airbnb.org Programs, Kristen leads a global team that supports the organization’s efforts to help people impacted by natural disasters, refugees and frontline responders fighting the spread of COVID-19. With a background in both corporate philanthropy and nonprofit management, Kristen oversees strategic partnerships, program operations and product integration with the goal of leveraging Airbnb’s unique assets to provide innovative housing solutions and livelihoods opportunities for vulnerable populations around the globe. Prior to Airbnb, Kristen led Hyatt Hotel Corporation’s global philanthropy programs focused on economic empowerment, disaster response and employee volunteerism. Before Hyatt, Kristen served as interim Executive Director for Working in the Schools, a nonprofit focused on literacy programming for vulnerable youth. Kristen holds a BA in Leadership Studies from the University of Richmond, VA. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

January 05, 2021 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Jennifer Lang Financial Services To Help The Hardest-Hit Small Businesses Apply To Receive PPP Aid.

Jennifer Lang Financial Services, LLC

In a recent poll by the Coleman Report, 4 out of 5 SBA lenders polled say that over 75% of their borrowers have exhausted their PPP loans and 15% of lenders do not plan to participate in a 2nd draw program. For the next round of PPP, many small businesses will be seeking a lender for their first PPP loan or a new lender for their 2nd PPP loan. According to Jennifer Lang Financial Services, the new Bipartisan Emergency COVID Relief Act of 2020 will allow the hardest-hit small businesses to receive a second forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan and other businesses to receive a first one. To prepare for the next stimulus package, business owners should consider gathering the requested documents, appropriately plan out their use of funds and submit swiftly. PPP funds are not endless and are expected to run out rapidly. Although the next round PPP application is not available yet, business owners can sign up now to apply, so that they are first in line for underwriting. Jennifer Financial Services has successfully helped guide business owners through the first round of the PPP program and is in an excellent position to help with this next round. They offer a streamlined application that will help small business owners calculate the allowable loan amount based on their payroll. They also have seasoned professionals on hand to help guide applicants through the PPP loan application process with participating banks and hedge fund partners. Small business owners seeking help applying for PPP loans can contact: https://www.jenniferlangfinancialservices.com/business-loans Jennifer Lang Financial Services, LLC. advises families and small business owners on their life insurance and safe retirement planning needs. They specialize in No-Market Risk Retirement Planning Strategies which include Annuities, IRA Conversions, 401K Rollovers, Indexed Universal Life Insurance (IUL), and Business Loans. Contact Details Jennifer Lang +1 877-487-8926 mail@jenniferlangfinancialservices.com Company Website https://www.jenniferlangfinancialservices.com

January 05, 2021 11:53 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Taiwan’s Academia Sinica, A Vibrant Hub with Over 100 Fully Funded Ph.D. Scholarships

Media Outreach

TAIPEI, TAIWAN - Media OutReach - 28 December 2020 - Academia Sinica, the preeminent research institution in Taiwan, announces the application for 2021 fall semester of its Taiwan International Graduate Program ( TIGP@AS ). The application is open until February 1st, 2021. TIGP@AS provides 12 interdisciplinary and funded programs ranging from physical sciences, life sciences to social sciences and the humanities. The all-English Ph.D. Program cooperates closely with Taiwan’s leading universities and provides superior scientific training courses. It is aimed to attract the top talents from around the world with ambition to grow personally and professionally. TIGP@AS offers competitive financial support for its students. All admitted students enjoy a monthly stipend of NTD 34,000 (about USD 1,100) for the first year. For those who perform well, this stipend will be extended to the 2nd and the 3rd year. In subsequent years, financial support will come from the thesis advisor. Besides, full-time TIGP Ph.D. candidates or students who have passed their qualifying exams with distinction are eligible to apply for the TIGP@AS Research Performance Fellowship. Awardees can receive an additional NTD 6,000 per month for one year. Through Academia Sinica’s substantial connections with first-rate institutions worldwide, TIGP@AS can make arrangements for students to visit and conduct research in renowned laboratories around the globe. The yearly Travel Grant Award of TIGP@AS encourages students to join important global symposiums. Other international exposure opportunities include attending seminars abroad, doing short-term research projects abroad, and participating in international meetings such as Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting. Academia Sinica also invites distinguished scholars, entrepreneurial masters, and Nobel Laureates to visit the campus and share their unique stories on achieving success in their respective fields. To facilitate first-year students’ quicker adaptation to the local environments, TIGP@AS provides free-of-charge Mandarin language courses at the entry-level and a convenient and affordable fully-furnished dormitory. All the students of TIGP@AS will find their experiences at Academia Sinica and in Taiwan not only personally rewarding but also culturally enriching. Application is free of charge through TIGP@AS online system. For any questions, please visit the TIGP@AS official website or contact Ms. Huan-Yi Shen with the TIGP@AS Admission Office at tigp@gate.sinica.edu.tw. About TIGP@AS Started in 2002, TIGP@AS is a joint-effort between Academia Sinica and top research-leading universities in Taiwan. It integrates first-class facilities with outstanding faculty to offer interdisciplinary Ph.D. programs across a wide range of disciplines. All courses are conducted in English. After completing the graduation requirements, students receive certificates from Academia Sinica and degrees from the partner universities. TIGP@AS also periodically accepts applications to funded International Internship Program, which provides an opportunity for young talents to experience Academia Sinica's research environment. The 12 interdisciplinary programs within TIGP@AS are in cooperation with 11 top domestic universities as follows. You can click on the links to find out more details. 1. Chemical Biology and Molecular Biophysics 2. Molecular Science and Technology 3. Molecular and Biological Agricultural Sciences 4. Bioinformatics 5. Molecular and Cell Biology 6. Nano Science and Technology 7. Molecular Medicine 8. Earth System Science 9. Biodiversity 10. Interdisciplinary Neuroscience 11. Sustainable Chemical Science and Technology 12. Social Networks and Human-Centered Computing TIGP@AS is a genuinely international community with over 577 students from 44 countries. To date, more than 518 students have completed TIGP@AS's rigorous requirements and obtained Ph.D. degrees. In the past years, TIGP@AS students have published more than 1,717 research papers in top scholarly journals; many alumni have taken up teaching or research positions in world-renowned universities and academic institutions. TIGP@AS graduates also proved themselves qualified to contribute their expertise to the industry. Many of them are now working in internationally well-known companies such as Samsung and TSMC. Academia Sinica has recently launched its National Biotechnology Research Park as a biotech industry corridor linking Taiwan to the global market. Right next to the campus of TIGP@AS, the Park should shortly become a bridging platform of multidisciplinary research collaboration and occupational opportunities for the students. About Academia Sinica Founded in 1928 and funded by the Taiwan government, Academia Sinica has been a historically global leading research institution. It is Taiwan's national academy of sciences and serves as policy think-tank. Currently, Academia Sinica has more than 1,000 research fellows and specialists working in 32 research institutes on the campus. To expand its research link to top institutes globally, Academia Sinica has also established over 50 overseas and domestic research sites. Several recent research highlights include cellular and molecular imaging, novel mass spectrometry technologies, cancer vaccines and new drugs, structural biology, chemical dynamics, Alzheimer's disease research, ALMA-Taiwan Project, and Taiwan earthquakes research. Contact Details Huan-Yi Shen +852 3996 9731 tigp@gate.sinica.edu.tw Company Website https://www.sinica.edu.tw/en

December 28, 2020 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

Velocity Global appoints ADP veteran Jim Birch to modernize International PEO payroll

Velocity Global

Velocity Global, the leading provider of global expansion solutions, today announced global payroll veteran, Jim Birch, as vice president of Global Payroll and Product Strategy. Birch joins Velocity Global to lead cutting-edge strategies to streamline Employer of Record payroll execution for midmarket and enterprise clients. Birch joins Velocity Global from ADP, a leader in global payroll solutions, where he led product management and the user experience for automated payroll processes across ADP’s Streamline-Celergo multicountry payroll services. For a decade prior, Birch grew operations at Celergo before ADP acquired it in 2018. “Jim applies his world class know-how to scale global payroll operations for our clients,” said José Montero, Velocity Global chief operating officer. “For an Employer of Record, global payroll requires intricate coordination with clients and their HR platforms. As remote teams drive the largest workforce shift in recent memory, Jim will connect our payroll operations with backend name-brand payroll platforms for our clients, and make our solutions more accessible to enterprises.” Clients rely on Velocity Global’s expertise and global infrastructure to hire internationally without the cost or complexity of setting up their own foreign legal entities. As a strategic partner offering International Professional Employer Organization (PEO) services, Velocity Global serves as an employer of record to manage in-country compliance, payroll, and benefits for its clients’ supported employees. “Payroll is equivalent to the last-mile delivery of a paycheck -- it must be frictionless for the employer and the supported employee,” said Birch. “Today, the International PEO model mainly serves growth companies as they expand globally with speed and limited investment. I am energized to scale our global payroll operations to connect with enterprise platforms as corporations seek that same flexibility.” For 15 years, Birch led and integrated global payroll processes; led IT network, software development, and product management; and managed client services and a global network of payroll providers. He held international assignments serving as managing director of Celergo’s London, Singapore & Hungary regional offices. Jim will report to Velocity Global’s Chief Operating Officer, José Montero. View a biography for Jim Birch and other leaders at Velocity Global. ABOUT VELOCITY GLOBAL Velocity Global helps companies grow globally. Founded in 2014, Velocity Global’s clients rely on its expertise and global infrastructure in 185 countries to hire compliantly around the world, increase revenue, scale efficiently, and access global talent. Named a “Leader” in Global Employer of Record services by prominent analyst firm NelsonHall, Velocity Global is a strategic partner to its clients with comprehensive services led by its core offering of International PEO as well as Immigration, Entity Setup and Support, Global Talent Acquisition, and Consulting. Velocity Global is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with regional headquarters in Amsterdam and Singapore, and local employees in 14 countries. Contact Details John Hall +1 720-650-4348 johnhall@velocityglobal.com Company Website https://velocityglobal.com/

December 14, 2020 07:02 AM Mountain Standard Time

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Author Ken Kladouris Grants Wish During 2020 Make-A-Wish Virtual Hope Gala

Ken Kladouris

True giving knows no season, however, the holidays are annually a time filled with charitable fundraisers near and far. These events are vital to the health and survival of non-profits who are looking to close out the year financially sound, in order to support those they are dedicated to serving. While the pandemic of 2020 severely impacted the traditional way in which fundraising events were hosted, grit and determination proved to transform the experiences into virtual wonders. On November 14th, 2020 Make-A-Wish Orange County hosted their first ever virtual gala, raising $325,000 to fund approximately 40 wishes for critically-ill children, creating memories that will last a lifetime. Ken Kladouris, Partner and President of Platinum Wealth Group and author of “Get There” attended the virtual gala, continuing his annual tradition of granting a wish. The complete virtual gala can be viewed HERE. “The gift of a wish is that it transforms both the giver and the recipient. My heart is full knowing that a child will be able to experience the magic of a wish granted – which will elevate their hope for the future.” - Ken Kladouris About Ken Kladouris, CDFA: Ken Kladouris is an esteemed wealth advisor and published author who believes you should be living your life, by design. He is an active Partner and current President at Platinum Wealth Group and holds Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Series 3, 7, 24, 31 and 66 Registrations. Additionally, he holds a California Life and Health Insurance License. His first book, “Get There!” was developed as a tool that helps individuals discover the clarity they need to design their financial future. This resource was compiled following Kladouris’ own awakening. Becoming aligned with his “why”, he recognized his true purpose was to assist men and women across the globe in their pursuit of achieving enhanced joy, freedom and fulfillment. Learn More: KenKladouris.com | LinkedIn ### Contact Details Sterling Public Relations, Paula Steurer +1 949-200-6566 paula@sterlingpublicrelationsoc.com

December 10, 2020 03:55 PM Pacific Standard Time

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