Washington, D.C. — A new national study released today by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC) shows that millions of Americans make volunteering a priority in their lives. The annual Volunteering and Civic Life in America research shows that volunteering in the U.S. remains stable and strong across generations.
“Volunteering is a core American value. Americans who volunteer enrich our communities and keep our nation strong,” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of CNCS. “As citizens, there are so many ways we can make a difference for those who are in need, during this holiday season and throughout the entire year.”
This year’s report found that one in four adults (26.5 percent) volunteered through an organization in 2012, demonstrating that volunteering remains an important activity for millions of Americans. Altogether, 64.5 million Americans volunteered nearly 7.9 billion hours last year. The estimated value of this volunteer service is nearly $175 billion, based on the Independent Sector’s estimate of the average value of a volunteer hour.
The research shows that Americans’ commitment to volunteering spans generations. Key highlights of the report include:
•The volunteer rate of Generation Xers has trended upward over the past 11 years, increasing nearly 5.5 percentage points, and Generation X has the highest volunteer rate of any age group.
•Volunteers age 65 and over spent a median of 90 hours on volunteer activities in 2012, the highest amoung any age group, and nearly twice the 50 median annual hours served by the general volunteer population.
•Volunteering has trended upward among teenagers (ages 16-19) over the past six years, up nearly 3 percentage points since 2007.
•Working mothers continue to volunteer at a significantly higher rate than the population as a whole and people who do not live with children under 18 (38.5 percent compared to 26.5 percent and 23.8 percent, respectively).
•The volunteer rate of parents with children under age 18 (33.5 percent) remained higher than the population as a whole (26.5 percent) and for persons who do not live with under 18 (23.8 percent).
•Volunteers are almost twice as likely to donate to charity as non-volunteers. Eight in ten (79.2 percent) volunteers donated to charity, compared to four in ten (40.4 percent) non-volunteers. Overall, half of all citizens (50.7 percent) donated at least $25 to charity in 2012.
“Volunteering is a critical component of civic life,” said Ilir Zherka, Executive Director of NCoC. “When people are involved in their communities through service, giving, political involvement, and other civic actions, our country is stronger and more prosperous.”
“Helping others who are in need and working together to strengthen our communities is an important American tradition that helps make our nation so resilient,” said Spencer. “But volunteering goes beyond helping other people; studies have shown that the volunteers themselves benefit, whether through increased job prospects, better health, or even better overall well-being.”
The research comes on the heels of the “Volunteering as a Pathway to Employment” study released by CNCS over the summer, which found that unemployed individuals who volunteer over the next year have 27 percent higher odds of being employed at the end of the year than non-volunteers. Among rural volunteers and volunteers without a high school diploma, the likelihood increases to 55 and 51 percent, respectively.
As volunteering remains strong in America, momentum continues to build around national service and its important role in addressing critical local issues. This year marks the 20th anniversary of AmeriCorps, celebrating more than 800,000 members who have served our country since the program’s inception. In 2012, AmeriCorps members recruited and managed more than four million volunteers.
CNCS’ more than 360,000 Senior Corps volunteers are also helping millions of Americans find economic empowerment by mentoring and tutoring youth, helping veterans transition into civilian life, and conducting job training to unemployed individuals.
This Press Release is courtesy Corporation for National And community Service www.nationalservice.gov
NEW YORK- BET Networks, a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), today revealed Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross as hosts for this year’s “BET Awards” 2015 airing live on Sunday, June 28 at 8pm/ET on BET from the Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles, CA.
“I look forward to the BET Awards every year! Tracee and I are going to have so much fun this year celebrating 15 years in black entertainment television,” said Anthony Anderson. “I can’t wait to see all of my peers and the amazing performances that evening. We may even have a few surprises up our sleeves!”
“I’m thrilled to be hosting the 15th annual BET Awards alongside my on-screen husband Anthony, and am so honored to also be a nominee! The BET Awards always deliver an epic evening with the best of the best across movies, sports, TV and music,” said Tracee Ellis Ross.
“We can’t think of a better way to ring in 15 years of BET Awards than with the talented on-screen duo of Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross as our hosts,” said Stephen Hill, BET’s President of Programming. “They are both comedic geniuses and we are ready for them to unleash the laughter and good times on June 28. It will be a night to remember!”
Actor, writer and Los Angeles native, Anthony Anderson is currently starring and Executive Producer of ABC’s new comedy Black-ish alongside actress Tracee Ellis Ross and host on Food Network’s Eating America. He is known for leading roles on NBC’s Emmy Award-winning drama Law & Order where he played Detective Kevin Bernard opposite Jeremy Sisto as Detective Cyrus Lupo, as well as the shows K-Ville and The Shield. Anderson also brought his talent and humor to the small screen in his own WB sitcom All About the Andersons, which was loosely based on his life. Anderson has appeared in over 20 films, and his performance on Law & Order earned him his second consecutive NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for the 2008 season. He also displayed his bountiful talent in the DreamWorks’ blockbuster Transformers directed by Michael Bay; as well as in Martin Scorsese’s Oscar winning feature, The Departed, alongside a stellar cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson. Anderson first gained attention as one of Jim Carrey’s sons in Me, Myself, and Irene, and has subsequently appeared in such films as Scary Movie 3, Barbershop, Kangaroo Jack, Exit Wounds, Cradle 2 the Grave, Two Can Play That Game, and Malibu’s Most Wanted.
Actress, model, comedian, producer and television host, Tracee Ellis Ross began her career acting in independent films, variety series and hosted the pop-culture magazine The Dish on Lifetime. She is best known for her lead role as Joan Clayton on the UPN/CW comedy series, Girlfriends. She starred in the show from 2000 to 2008. In 2007, Ross also starred with her brother Evan Ross and Queen Latifah in the HBO film Life Support. That same year, she appeared in the Tyler Perry theatrical movie,Daddy’s Little Girls and in 2011 had a leading role as Dr. Carla Reed on the BET sitcom Reed Between the Lines. She won a third NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series in 2012 for her performance in the series. In 2012, the fashion influencer expanded her vast digital influence by launching her official website Traceeellisross.com. The lifestyle site utilizes Ross’ unique cross-cultural and joyful point of view to inspire the soul, body and mind of her followers. In 2014, Ross began starring as Dr. Rainbow Johnson in the hit ABC comedy series, Black-ish, which will return in September 2015. For her role, Ross won the 2015 NAACP Image Award for “Best Actress in a Comedy Series”. This past April, Ross returned to the BET Network to co-host the popular award show, “Black Girls Rock,” with Regina King for the fourth televised installment. In May, Ross was awarded an honorary doctorate of fine art (honoris causa) by Brown University. She is nominated in the Best Actress category for the “BET Awards” 2015.
BET Networks recognizes artists, entertainers, and athletes across 20 categories with the “BET Awards” 2015 nominations. The nominations are selected by BET’s Voting Academy, which is comprised of fans and an esteemed group of entertainment professionals in the fields of television, film, music, social media, digital marketing, sports journalism, public relations, and the creative arts.
BET Experience VIP Package offers the only way to purchase a “BET Awards: ticket, great seats to 3 nights of concerts at the Staples Center, and exclusive access to events at the free Fan Fest. For more information, including exclusive hotel rates, and to purchase tickets, go to BET.com/BETX.
A full list of the BET Award 2015 nominations is now available at http://www.bet.com/BETAwards
The “BET Awards” 2015 will premiere around the world on BET’s international network on Tuesday, June 30 at 9:00pm BST / 10:00pm CAT and will air live on MTV Australia for the very first time (check local listings).
Stephen G. Hill, BET’s President of Programming, Connie Orlando, BET’s Senior Vice President of Music and Specials, Lynne Harris Taylor, BET’s Vice President of Specials, will serve as Executive Producers for the “BET Awards” along with Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment.
The “BET Awards” will take place along with the BET Experience at L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles from June 25-28, 2015. BET.com/Awards is the official site for the “BET Awards” and will have all the latest news and updates about this year’s show. All information about the BET Experience at L.A. LIVE presented by Coca-Cola® can be found at BETExperience.com. The BET Experience VIP Package offers the only way to purchase a “BET Awards” ticket, great seats to 3-nights of concerts at the Staples Center, and exclusive access to events at the free Fan Fest. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to BET.com/BETX.Follow the Experience on Twitter @betexperience, #BETX. @BETAwards #BETAwards
To apply for media credentials for the “BET Awards” 2015 please visit: https://betawards2015.iworldreg.com/public/apply/media
ABOUT BET NETWORKS
BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the 25- to 54-year-old African-American audience; BET Digital Networks – BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.
ABOUT “BET AWARDS”
The “BET Awards” is one of the most watched award shows on cable television according to the Nielsen Company. The “BET Awards” franchise remains as the #1 program in cable TV history among African-Americans, and it is BET’s #1 telecast every year. It recognizes the triumphs and successes of artists, entertainers, and athletes in a variety of categories.
ABOUT JESSE COLLINS ENTERTAINMENT
Jesse Collins Entertainment is a full service television and film production company founded by entertainment industry veteran Jesse Collins. For more than a decade, Collins, the company’s CEO, has played an integral role in producing some of television’s most memorable moments in music entertainment. Formerly Executive Producer/EVP of Cossette Productions, Collins has produced ground-breaking and award winning television programming including the BET Awards, the GRAMMY Awards, BET Honors, UNCF An Evening of Stars and the BET Hip Hop Awards. Collins is an executive producer of Real Husbands of Hollywood, (now going into its 4th hit season) alongside industry icons Stan Lathan and Ralph Farquhar; and has worked with superstar talent such as Will Smith, Chris Rock, Jay-Z, Rihanna, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Prince, Mariah Carey and many more.
BET EXPERIENCE AT L.A. LIVE PRESENTED BY COCA-COLA®
BET Networks, an entertainment powerhouse, and AEG, one of the leading entertainment companies in the world and developer/ operator of L.A. LIVE, have teamed up once again to create the BET EXPERIENCE AT L.A. LIVE (BETX), June 25 – 28, 2015 presented by Coca-Cola®. This three-day festival will be filled with music and comedy concerts taking place at Club Nokia and STAPLES Center; “106 & PARK”; FREE BET Fan Fest at the Los Angeles Convention Center including seminars, celebrity basketball games, celebrity meet & greets; and other special appearances. The weekend will be capped off with the “BET Awards” on Sunday, June 28, 2015 at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE.
When we build roads, bridges, ports, communications networks, municipal water systems, and other infrastructure, we are not just putting construction workers and engineers to work — we are also revitalizing communities, protecting public health and safety, connecting people to jobs, empowering entrepreneurs, and making it easier for American businesses to export goods around the world. There is certainly enough work to do, with $2 trillion in deferred maintenance on the Nation’s infrastructure. Built by far-sighted investment over generations, America’s world-class infrastructure is falling behind the rest of the world. As other nations have sought to compete economically by improving infrastructure, U.S. investment lags behind many of its overseas competitors. In the most recent World Economic Forum rankings, the United States had, in less than a decade, fallen from 7th to 18th overall in the quality of its roads. Building a durable and reliable 21st Century infrastructure creates good jobs that cannot be outsourced and will provide American workers and businesses with the transportation and communication networks they need to help grow the economy. The Budget includes significant investments to repair the existing infrastructure and build the infrastructure of tomorrow in smart, efficient, and cost-effective ways.
2.2.1
Long-Term Investments in Upgrading America’s Transportation Infrastructure
To spur economic growth and allow States and localities to initiate sound multi-year investments, the Budget includes a six-year, $478 billion surface transportation reauthorization proposal.
By reinvesting the transition revenue from pro-growth business tax reform, the President’s plan will ensure the health of the Highway Trust Fund for another six years — two years beyond the 2015 Budget GROW AMERICA proposal — and invest in a range of activities to spur and sustain long-term growth. The President’s plan to rebuild America will increase spending to repair and modernize the Nation’s highways and bridges, as well as injecting much needed investment into the existing transit and intercity passenger rail systems. The President’s plan also increases investments to expand new transit projects, link regional economies by funding the development of high-performance rail, and support American exports by improving goods movement within the Nation’s freight rail networks. Small businesses particularly depend on the quality of transportation networks to get goods to market competitively, allowing them to win customers, expand operations, and hire new employees. To help spur innovation and economic mobility, the reauthorization proposal would permanently authorize the competitive TIGER grant program to support projects that bring job opportunities to communities across the United States. The proposal would also advance the President’s Climate Action Plan by building more resilient infrastructure and reducing transportation emissions by responding to the greater demand and travel growth in public transit. Also, to make sure that Americans are driving vehicles that are safe to operate, the reauthorization proposal includes additional resources for investigating automobile defects, improving data collection to better support Government oversight of auto manufacturers, and making changes to hold auto manufacturers more accountable for reporting and responding to vehicle defects.
The Case for Investing in Infrastructure in Today’s Economy
The Budget proposes to invest in infrastructure through a comprehensive six-year surface transportation reauthorization proposal, as well as tax incentives for State and local infrastructure investment, a new Infrastructure Bank, and other initiatives. The Federal Government plays a vital role in infrastructure investment, and the Nation’s roads, bridges, and other surface transportation infrastructure systems are badly in need of upgrades and repairs. For example, 65 percent of America’s major roads are rated in less than good condition and one quarter of U.S. bridges need rehabilitation, replacement, or significant maintenance and repair to remain in service or do not meet current design standards and traffic needs. Although the economic recovery has begun to accelerate, the economy is still operating below capacity, and interest rates remain at very low levels. While infrastructure investment will continue to be needed even after the economy reaches full employment, time is running out to make these needed investments under ideal economic conditions.
A recent study published by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) [1] makes a convincing case that “the time is right for a strong infrastructure push” in advanced economies such as the United States. While infrastructure is critical for economic efficiency and growth, the private sector often fails to make sufficient investment in infrastructure for several reasons, such as positive externalities, large start-up costs, and economies of scale. Thus, in many cases, the public sector can provide infrastructure more efficiently.
Public infrastructure investment promotes economic growth by boosting aggregate demand in the short run and improving economic efficiency in the long run. While infrastructure needs to be financed, the IMF study presents statistical evidence that — under the right conditions — the combination of short- and long-term economic gains from infrastructure investment can offset much of its cost. When many workers are unemployed, infrastructure investment increases total employment, as opposed to bidding workers away from other sectors, thus increasing aggregate demand.
The U.S. economy still has unused capacity. While the unemployment rate has declined significantly and more workers are holding full-time jobs, nearly four percent of the workforce is still working part time for the lack of full-time work, and unemployment rates in the construction sector remain higher than in the economy as a whole. Moreover, the Federal Government remains able to borrow at very low interest rates, with the 10-year Treasury rate ending 2014 below two and a half percent. While the Budget proposes to offset the cost of its new infrastructure investments, it would front-load the investments and pay for them over the 10-year budget window. This pro-growth approach has the potential to realize both the short- and long-term gains from investing in infrastructure, with no risk of higher long-run debt.
The IMF study also highlights the importance of choosing high-efficiency infrastructure projects based on rigorous benefit-cost analysis. The United States has a pent up supply of badly needed infrastructure projects that meet these tests, and the President’s surface transportation plan would result in larger share of funds being allocated through competitive processes.
[1] International Monetary Fund, 2014, “Is It Time for an Infrastructure Push? The Macroeconomic Effects of Public Investment,” in World Economic Outlook: Legacies, Clouds, Uncertainties.
2.2.2
Infrastructure Permitting
To further accelerate economic growth and improve the competitiveness of the American economy, the Administration is taking action to modernize and improve the efficiency of the Federal permitting process for major infrastructure projects. In May 2014, the President announced a comprehensive interagency plan with 15 reforms to turn best practices into common practice. To implement this plan, the 2015 Budget proposed a new Interagency Infrastructure Permitting Improvement Center housed at the Department of Transportation to lead the Administration’s reform efforts across nearly 20 Federal agencies and bureaus. While waiting for the Congress to act, the Administration set-up an interim interagency team to support reforms, such as moving from separate, consecutive reviews to synchronized, simultaneous reviews. For example, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Corps of Engineers, and the Department of Transportation have launched a new partnership to synchronize their reviews for transportation and other infrastructure projects, such as bridges that cross navigation channels. By developing one environmental analysis that satisfies all three agencies, project timelines can be significantly reduced. Building on these efforts, the Budget supports an expanded, publicly available Permitting Dashboard that tracks project schedules and metrics for major infrastructure projects, further improving the transparency and accountability of the permitting process. To accomplish these goals, the Budget proposes $4 million for the Department of Transportation to expand the Federal Infrastructure Permitting Dashboard and fund staff to lead interagency reforms that accelerate progress and improve outcomes. In addition, the Budget includes $4 million for permitting reforms through a proposal to expand interagency transfer authorities, which would institutionalize capacity to address cross-agency management improvements. The Budget also includes additional funding to expedite the consultations required pursuant to the Endangered Species Act, which also will help accelerate permit review timeframes.
2.2.3 — Build America Investment Initiative
The Budget includes support for the Build America Investment Initiative (BAII), a Government-wide, interagency initiative to increase infrastructure investment and promote economic growth by supporting public-private collaboration in major infrastructure sectors such as transportation, water, and telecommunications. As part of the BAII, the Administration has launched investment centers to provide States and municipalities with assistance on securing investment in transportation, water systems, and rural infrastructure. Together, these centers will facilitate direct private investment in U.S. infrastructure and encourage greater public-private collaboration. For example, as part of the BAII, the Department of Transportation established the Build America Transportation Investment Center to serve as a one-stop-shop for cities and States seeking to use innovative financing and partnerships with the private sector to support transportation infrastructure. An Interagency Infrastructure Finance Working Group, co-chaired by the Secretaries of the Treasury and Transportation, delivered recommendations to the President on how to promote awareness and understanding of innovative financing and increase effective public-private collaboration. Building on those recommendations, the Administration has worked with the private sector to launch two additional investment initiatives that will help leverage existing investments in drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and other infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, local and regional food systems, and broadband expansion throughout rural America. Other Federal agencies are also focusing on using existing authorities to increase the private sector’s participation in the financing of public infrastructure. In addition, the Budget proposes to create a new America Fast Forward Bond program that, like its Build America Bond precursor, will provide State and local governments with an optional taxable bond alternative to traditional tax-exempt bonds. The Federal Government will share in the cost of these bonds so they are as affordable to issuers as tax-exempt bonds, proceeds of which can be used to further finance governmental capital projects.
2.2.4 — Launching the National Parks Centennial Initiative
For 100 years, National Park Service (NPS) parks and historic sites have preserved and shared America’s cultural and historical identity. These places present America’s unique history and draw tourists from across the United States and around the world. There is an opportunity to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the Nation’s great parks by providing enhanced park services for visitors, and through targeted investments to improve NPS facilities. This opportunity is an historic effort to upgrade and restore national parks, while putting tens of thousands of Americans to work and engaging and inspiring younger generations to carry the Nation’s parks into the future.
The Budget proposes $860 million in mandatory and discretionary funding to allow NPS, over 10 years, to make targeted, measurable, and quantifiable upgrades to all of its highest priority non-transportation assets and restore and maintain them to good condition. Addressing the critical needs of these assets avoids deterioration and costs for future generations. The Budget also proposes matching funds to leverage private donations for signature projects and programs at national parks. This significant effort ensures America’s national treasures will be preserved over the next hundred years for future generations.
The 1916 Act that created NPS called for parks to be left “unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.” The Parks Centennial seeks to live up to this call by providing more opportunities for children to interact with natural areas. This targeted effort involves transporting over a million urban youth a year to national and public lands with dedicated youth coordinators to welcome them and their families. Today’s investment in the next generation of visitors will help build the stewards of America’s national treasures in the future.
This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, which the Budget commemorates by proposing $50 million to restore and highlight key sites across the United States that contributed to the struggle for civil rights. This includes investments in specific NPS sites associated with the 1950s and 1960s civil rights movement, such as the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site. State, local, and tribal governments can also apply for historic preservation funds to help them document and preserve stories and sites associated with the struggle.
2.2.5— Smart Investments in Federal Facilities
Investing in the Nation’s federally-owned facilities ensures that mission execution is optimized at the lowest possible cost. Funding reductions in recent years have led to facility deterioration, as well as missed opportunities to consolidate and reduce operating costs. The General Services Administration (GSA) is leading the Federal effort to both invest in Federal facilities and consolidate space to reduce costs and optimize efficiency, saving tens of millions in annual lease costs. The Budget will invest more than $2.5 billion in GSA’s Federal facilities portfolio, an increase of more than $1.1 billion over the enacted level. GSA will invest $1.25 billion in construction and acquisition priorities, including the next phase of the consolidated Department of Homeland Security Headquarters and the first phase of a Civilian Cyber Campus. GSA will also invest more than $900 million in critical repairs and alterations and consolidation activities. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the USDA Forest Service will eliminate operating costs by demolishing unneeded facilities. The Smithsonian Institution and DOI will make necessary investments to improve the condition of facilities and reduce operational costs. The Budget invests $60 million to continue renovations of USDA headquarters, and $206 million for the Agricultural Research Service to renovate and construct its facilities. The Budget also invests $1.5 billion for construction projects at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), an increase of nearly $500 million over the 2015 enacted level. These investments will enhance the Department’s mission while providing opportunities for long-term savings, as building upgrades and renovations result in a reduced footprint. Government-wide, agencies will continue their efforts to reduce their space in accordance with the Administration’s goal to reduce the Federal footprint. In total, the Budget provides an additional $2.4 billion in capital investment funding over the 2015 enacted level.
The sluggish global economy is having a negative impact on how much people give to support charitable deeds in society. According to major charities across the US, the base is reducing as well as the level of donations.
PLANO, Texas, – Attention party people, Super Bowl XLIX is around the corner and it’s time to make your mark. Tostitos, the brand known for bringing the party, is headed to Arizona to celebrate its role as the official chip and dip sponsor of the NFL in a way only the Tostitos brand can – with the most unexpected, over-the-top Super Bowl party experience fans have ever seen. From Wednesday, Jan. 28 through Sunday, Feb. 1, party meets sport as the Tostitos brand challenges fans to complete a series of larger-than-life party games and other tailgating experiences for top party honors. So put your game face on, get your smack talk primed and be ready to dial up the good times – this isn’t your average tailgate.
“Tostitos Party Blvd.” will span two city blocks, establishing itself as one of the ultimate party destinations in downtown Phoenix, complete with Tostitos chips and dips for party-goers to enjoy. Fans also can test their speed, agility and humility as they tackle a variety of backyard party games, including:
Slingshot Blitz: A party game favorite reimagined as an arcade-style experience complete with surprising special effects.
Double Dipper Dunk: A twist on the classic dunk tank, this game invites participants to hit a target opposite them with a football, which results in being “dunked” into a massive bowl of Tostitos dip. Can you say, “yum?”
Mega-Mecha Cornhole: The biggest and baddest game of beanbag toss anyone could ever imagine – a true test of man vs. machine.
“All season long, we’ve challenged Tostitos fans to show us their party awesomeness – from the videos they’ve posted online, to our in-stadium tailgates throughout the season. Our fans proved time and again, they have what it takes to party like pros,” said Jeff Klein, vice president of marketing, Frito-Lay, North America. “With Tostitos Party Blvd. we’re wrapping up this NFL season with one final party for the ages – complete with awesome fans, over-the-top games, delicious snacks and two NFL greats to kick off the festivities. We can’t wait to see what our fans bring to Phoenix this week – game on.”
NFL GREATS JOIN THE PARTY
Joining the Tostitos brand for this one-of-a-kind experience will be Philadelphia Eagles Head Coach Chip Kelly who earlier this year relinquished his unofficial title as the “Official Chip of the NFL” to Tostitos, the official “Official Chip and Dip Sponsor of the NFL” through a series of humorous digital shorts available online since early January.
Also joining for the fun will be NFL legend LaDainian Tomlinson, arguably one of the greatest players of the game and a guy who knows a thing or two about an awesome tailgate party. Tomlinson, who spent 11 successful seasons as an NFL running back playing for the San Diego Chargers and New York Jets, became the NFL MVP in 2006, was selected to five Pro Bowls, named an All-Pro three times, and won two rushing titles (2006 and 2007). Kelly and Tomlinson will be on hand, offering tips and coaching fans as they take turns testing their own skills on each party challenge.
DIALING UP HOMEGATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY
Fans who can’t make it to Arizona can still get in on the Tostitos Party Blvd. action. Follow @Tostitos to see the latest highlights.
And the party doesn’t stop there. Whether fans are throwing a tailgate of their own, or just hosting some friends to watch the game, the Tostitos brand has party-goers covered with a variety of chips and dips that will turn any gathering into a full-on celebration. This includes two new additions to the Tostitos portfolio: Tostitos Rolls! tortilla chips and Tostitos Dip-etizers dips.
NEW Tostitos Rolls! tortilla chips are made for dipping and dunking with a unique, tube-like shape and hearty crunch, sure to dial-up the fun factor of any gathering.
NEW Tostitos Dip-etizers dips come in two delicious flavors, Cheesy Spinach and Artichoke and Mexican Style Four Cheese Queso. Packaged in re-heatable, re-sealable bowls, they can go from pantry, to microwave, to party spread in minutes.
For more details on Tostitos Party Blvd., including information on how to participate, please visit www.Tostitos.com, follow @Tostitos and check us out at Facebook.com/Tostitos.
To check out the Tostitos brand ousting Chip Kelly as the “Official Chip of the NFL,” visit www.youtube.com/user/tostitos.
About Tostitos
The Tostitos brand is one of the many brands that make up Frito-Lay North America, the $13 billion convenient foods business unit of PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP), which is headquartered in Purchase, NY. In addition to Frito-Lay, PepsiCo business units include Pepsi-Cola, Quaker Foods, Gatorade and Tropicana. Learn more about Frito-Lay at the corporate Web site, http://www.fritolay.com/, the Snack Chat blog, http://www.snacks.com/ and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/fritolay.
About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $66 billion in net revenue in 2013, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.
At the heart of PepsiCo is Performance with Purpose – our goal to deliver top-tier financial performance while creating sustainable growth in shareholder value. In practice, Performance with Purpose means providing a wide range of foods and beverages from treats to healthy eats; finding innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment and reduce our operating costs; providing a safe and inclusive workplace for our employees globally; and respecting, supporting and investing in the local communities where we operate. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.
Government must be able to keep pace with the innovation and user experiences that the American people and businesses expect. Throughout 2014, the Administration piloted new and innovative approaches to increase the Government’s ability to drive impact for Americans on national priorities, including initiatives that help veterans find employment and help workers invest in safe and affordable retirement accounts. The Budget invests in scaling those pilot programs and processes that have proven successful. Ultimately, a more effective Government will more efficiently use taxpayer dollars to better deliver for citizens.
3.1.1
Ramping Up Smarter Information Technology Delivery
The Administration has embarked on a comprehensive approach to fundamentally improve the way that the Government delivers technology services to the public. Top technologists and entrepreneurs are being recruited to work within agencies on the highest priority projects. The best processes are being leveraged to increase oversight and accountability for IT spending. In addition, several efforts are being piloted to improve IT procurement and ramp up Government contracting with innovative companies.
People. Getting the best talent working inside of Government is a key component of the Administration’s Smarter IT Delivery strategy. In 2014, the Administration piloted the USDS by recruiting a select group of private sector innovators, entrepreneurs, and engineers to Government service. Since standing up, this team of America’s best digital experts has worked in collaboration with Federal agencies to implement cutting-edge digital and technology practices on the Nation’s highest impact programs, including the successful re-launch of HealthCare.gov in its second year, the Veterans Benefits Management System, and an improved process for online visa applications, among others. In addition to their work on these high priority projects, this small team of technical experts has worked to establish best practices and recruit still more highly-skilled digital service experts and engineers into Government.
Every agency in Government has citizen-facing digital projects that are critical to its mission. Too often, these services have been delivered over budget, behind schedule, and in ways that do not meet citizen needs. Unsurprisingly, since the launch of USDS in 2014, there has been significant demand for its expertise, from project design and development to recruiting technical experts. To address this problem, the Budget scales and institutionalizes this new approach to technology by providing funding to 25 agencies for the development of their own agency digital services teams. These small, high-impact teams will drive the quality and effectiveness of the agencies’ most important digital services. USDS will work closely with agencies to stand up these teams by providing support for hiring, training, and procurement.
Process. The Administration has made significant progress encouraging data-driven processes to provide effective oversight of Government IT. By establishing mechanisms such as PortfolioStat, a data-based review of agency IT portfolios, we have not only strengthened Federal IT, but made it significantly more cost effective. PortfolioStat has helped the Government achieve more than $2.2 billion in savings over the past three years while ensuring agencies are efficiently using taxpayer dollars to deliver effective and innovative solutions to the public. PortfolioStat promotes the adoption of new technologies, such as cloud computing and agile development practices. For example, as a result of these continuing efforts, the Federal Government now spends approximately 8.5 percent of its budget on provisioned services such as cloud computing, on par with leading private sector companies.
In addition, agencies involved in PortfolioStat are becoming more effective in rapidly delivering value in IT. For example, agencies have increased their use of agile development practices and are delivering IT capabilities 21 days (11 percent) faster than they were in May 2013. Agile development is an incremental, fast-paced style of software development that better meets evolving user needs. Using agile development ultimately increases the ability to deliver a better product, faster.
In 2016, the Administration will continue to use PortfolioStat to drive efficiencies in these programs, and also will continue to revise and encourage adoption of the TechFAR and Digital Services Playbook, which were released to the public in the fall of 2014. These tools provide clear guidance to agencies on using agile development and innovative contracting practices to deliver IT services that work for 21st Century consumers. Throughout 2016, the Administration will continue to scale up best practices by institutionalizing them within the agency digital service teams.
Companies. The Government must work with private sector innovators to ensure the best use of cutting-edge technologies and practices. Yet, too often, there are barriers to entry that prevent agencies from contracting with these firms. Over the past year, initial steps have been taken to address this challenge. For example, the Administration has piloted FBOpen, a tool that helps small and innovative companies search for opportunities to work with Government, and launched an online national dialogue on procurement reform to solicit ideas for reducing barriers to access. As part of the broader strategy to transform the Federal marketplace, the Administration is piloting new initiatives in IT acquisition. In 2016, these early pilots will be expanded to increase digital acquisition capability within agencies, train agency personnel in digital IT acquisitions, and test innovative contracting models.
3.1.1
Delivering World-Class Customer Service
The Administration is continuing its efforts to improve the quality, timeliness, and effectiveness of Federal services. A customer service Community of Practice has been established to develop standards, practices, and tools for agencies to improve their customer service. The Federal Customer Service Awards program has also been established to recognize individuals and teams who provide outstanding customer service directly to the American people. The awards will begin in the fall of 2015, and will support innovative practices and provide performance incentives to frontline employees.
Agencies are also increasing their focus on improving the most frequently used Government services, and the Budget supports the introduction and scale-up of these programs. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has launched IRS Direct Pay, which provides taxpayers a no-fee electronic payment option and allows them to establish installment agreements; built an e-Authentication tool that provides taxpayers a user-friendly, low-cost way to securely access IRS online tools and applications; and launched IRS2Go, a downloadable app that allows taxpayer self-service access to IRS information and services on any device. Since its release, it has been downloaded more than 5.4 million times. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is continuing to improve passenger experience at airports, including continuing to expand and improve TSA Pre-Check, an expedited passenger screening program. TSA is exploring new and innovative ways of collecting and responding to customer feedback to provide the best possible service while keeping U.S. airports safe. Going forward, the Administration will build and expand on this progress by improving the collection and use of customer feedback data across Government to make tangible improvements in customer interactions.
MILWAUKEE, — ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN) has been recognized as one of the Disability Equality Index® (DEI) Best Places to Work, receiving the perfect score for its commitment to inclusion in the workplace. The DEI is a joint initiative of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and the U.S. Business Leadership Network® (USBLN) that measures key performance indicators across organizational culture, leadership, accessibility, employment, community engagement, support services and supplier diversity.
ManpowerGroup is the only company in the industry to score 100% based on points awarded in four major categories: Culture & Leadership, Enterprise-Wide Access, Employment Practices and Community Engagement & Support Services.
“We believe all people deserve to feel valued and supported when they come to work, no matter their gender, ethnicity, culture or background,” said Becky Frankiewicz, President of ManpowerGroup’s North American business. “We set ourselves ambitious targets for conscious inclusion where everyone is invited in and can achieve their potential. We’re proud to champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace and honored to be recognized with this award as a leading employer for our disability inclusion policies and people practices. Diversity of people brings diversity of thought, leading to better decision making and business performance.”
For more information on how ManpowerGroup is doing well by doing good and building integrated and inclusive workplaces visit: https://doingwellbydoinggood.manpowergroup.com/
ABOUT MANPOWERGROUP
ManpowerGroup® (NYSE: MAN), the leading global workforce solutions company, helps organizations transform in a fast-changing world of work by sourcing, assessing, developing and managing the talent that enables them to win. We develop innovative solutions for hundreds of thousands of organizations every year, providing them with skilled talent while finding meaningful, sustainable employment for millions of people across a wide range of industries and skills. Our expert family of brands – Manpower®, Experis®, Right Management® and ManpowerGroup® Solutions – creates substantially more value for candidates and clients across 80 countries and territories and has done so for 70 years. In 2018, ManpowerGroup was named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the ninth year and one of Fortune’s Most Admired Companies for the sixteenth year, confirming our position as the most trusted and admired brand in the industry. See how ManpowerGroup is powering the future of work: www.manpowergroup.com
About the Disability Equality Index (DEI)
The Disability Equality Index (DEI) serves as the nation’s most trusted annual benchmarking tool allowing America’s leading corporations to self-report their disability policies and practices. This evolving tool scores each corporation on a scale from 0 to 100, with top scorers (80 and above) recognized as “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion”. The DEI is a joint initiative between the US Business Leadership Network (USBLN) and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). The benchmark was developed by the two national leaders in consultation with the appointed DEI Advisory Committee, a diverse and voluntary group of experts in business, policy, and disability advocacy.
On Monday, the United States Senate voted for cloture on the motion to proceed to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) by a vote of 61 – 39. This bill would prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Originally introduced in 1994, ENDA last received a vote in 2007 when it passed a Democratic-controlled House and then stalled in the Senate. Since that time, the term “gender identity” has been included in the final text to cover transgender individuals. Seven Republicans joined all fifty-three Democrats and two Independents to bring the measure to the floor for debate. Senators Kelly Ayotte (NH), Rob Portman (OH), and Patrick Toomey (PA) offered amendments that purportedly strengthen the Title VII religious exemption in the bill. We have maintained that a narrow exemption for one segment of the religious community does not lessen the bill’s assault on the deeply held religious beliefs of employers and employees. Furthermore, the bill does not shield religious institutions from punitive measures by federal or state agencies (i.e. those issuing licenses, permits, or tax-exempt status). In light of recent actions by the Internal Revenue Service and several state legislatures, ENDA’s arbitrary and capricious provisions expose employers to a potential onslaught of litigation and would severely curtail speech and religious freedom. Speaker of the House John Boehner has stated that the bill is not a legislative priority and encourages frivolous lawsuits. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has indicated to Politico that she may file a discharge petition (which must be signed by 218 voting Members) and force a vote in the House. The measure passed the Senate on Thursday.
Courtesy of American Association of Christian Schools
The Eurogroup welcomes that a full staff-level agreement has been reached between Greece and the institutions. Also, the Eurogroup notes with satisfaction that the Greek authorities and the European institutions have reached an agreement on the contingency fiscal mechanism, which is in line with the Eurogroup statement adopted on 9 May in particular as regard the possible adoption of permanent structural measures, including revenue measures, to be agreed with the institutions. It therefore provides further reassurances that Greece will meet the primary surplus targets of the ESM programme (3.5% of GDP in the medium-term), without prejudice to the obligations of Greece under the SGP and the Fiscal Compact.
The Eurogroup also welcomes the adoption by the Greek parliament of most of the agreed prior actions for the first review, notably the adoption of legislation to deliver fiscal parametric measures amounting to 3% of GDP that should allow to meet the fiscal targets in 2018, to open up the market for the sale of loans and to establish the agreed Greek Privatisation and Investment Fund that should operate in full independence. The Eurogroup mandates the EWG to verify in the next few days the full implementation of the outstanding prior actions on the basis of an assessment by the institutions, in particular the corrections to the legislation on the opening up of the market for the sale of loans, and on the pension reform, as well as the completion of all prior actions related to the government pending actions in the field of privatization.
Following the full implementation of all prior actions and subject to the completion of national procedures, the ESM governing bodies are expected to endorse the supplemental MoU and approve the disbursement of the second tranche of the ESM programme. The second tranche under the ESM programme amounting to EUR 10.3 bn will be disbursed to Greece in several disbursements, starting with a first disbursement in June (EUR 7.5 bn) to cover debt servicing needs and to allow a clearance of an initial part of arrears as a means to support the real economy. The subsequent disbursements to be used for arrears clearance and further debt servicing needs will be made after the summer. The disbursements for arrears clearance will be subject to a positive reporting by the European Institutions on the clearance of net arrears. The additional disbursement for debt servicing needs will be subject to milestones related to privatization, including the new Privatization and Investment Fund, bank governance, revenue agency and energy sector to be assessed by the European institutions and verified by the EWG and the ESM Board of Directors.
In line with the 9 May Eurogroup statement, and in view of the forthcoming full implementation of all the prior actions by Greece and completion of the first review, the Eurogroup considered today the sustainability of Greek public debt.
The Eurogroup agrees to assess debt sustainability with reference to the following benchmark for gross financing needs (GFN): under the baseline scenario, GFN should remain below 15% of GDP during the post programme period for the medium term, and below 20% of GDP thereafter.
The Eurogroup recalls the medium-term primary surplus target of 3.5% of GDP as of 2018 and underlines the importance of a fiscal trajectory consistent with the fiscal commitments under the EU framework.
The Eurogroup recalls the following general guiding principles agreed on 9 May for possible additional debt measures: (i) facilitating market access in order to replace over time public financed debt with privately financed debt; (ii) smoothening the repayment profile; (iii) incentivising the country’s adjustment process even after the programme ends; and (iv) flexibility to accommodate uncertain GDP growth and interest rate developments in the future. On 9 May the Eurogroup also reconfirmed that nominal haircuts are excluded, and that all measures taken will be in line with existing EU law and the ESM and EFSF legal frameworks.
Guided by these principles and on the basis of technical work carried out by the EWG, the Eurogroup agreed today on a package of debt measures which will be phased in progressively, as necessary to meet the agreed benchmark on gross financing needs and will be subject to the pre-defined conditionality of the ESM programme.
For the short-term, the Eurogroup agrees on a first set of measures which will be implemented after the closure of the first review up to the end of the programme and which includes:
Smoothening the EFSF repayment profile under the current weighted average maturity
Use EFSF/ESM diversified funding strategy to reduce interest rate risk without incurring any additional costs for former programme countries
Waiver of the step-up interest rate margin related to the debt buy-back tranche of the 2nd Greek programme for the year 2017
The Eurogroup asks the EFSF and ESM management to take these measures forward within their mandate, on the basis of preparatory work by the EWG, and where needed to prepare formal decision making by the relevant EFSF and ESM decision-making bodies. The decision on the smoothening of the EFSF repayment profile and the reduction of interest rate risks should be taken as a matter of priority.
For the medium term, the Eurogroup expects to implement a possible second set of measures following the successful implementation of the ESM programme. These measures will be implemented if an update of the debt sustainability analysis produced by the institutions at the end of the programme shows they are needed to meet the agreed GFN benchmark, subject to a positive assessment from the institutions and the Eurogroup on programme implementation.
Abolish the step-up interest rate margin related to the debt buy-back tranche of the 2nd Greek programme as of 2018
Use of 2014 SMP profits from the ESM segregated account and the restoration of the transfer of ANFA and SMP profits to Greece (as of budget year 2017) to the ESM segregated account as an ESM internal buffer to reduce future gross financing needs.
Liability management – early partial repayment of existing official loans to Greece by utilizing unused resources within the ESM programme to reduce interest rate costs and to extend maturities. Due account will be taken of exceptionally high burden of some Member States.
If necessary, some targeted EFSF re-profiling (e.g. extension of the weighted average maturities, re-profiling of the EFSF amortization as well as capping and deferral of interest payments) to the extent needed to keep GFN under the agreed benchmark in order to give comfort to the IMF and without incurring any additional costs for former programme countries or to the EFSF.
For the long-term, the Eurogroup is confident that the implementation of this agreement on the main features for debt measures, together with a successful implementation of the Greek ESM programme and the fulfilment of the primary surplus targets as mentioned above, will bring Greece’s public debt back on a sustainable path over the medium to long run and will facilitate a gradual return to market financing. At the same time, the Eurogroup agrees on a contingency mechanism on debt which would be activated after the ESM programme to ensure debt sustainability in the long run in case a more adverse scenario were to materialize. The Eurogroup would consider the activation of the mechanism provided additional debt measures are needed to meet the GFN benchmark defined above and would be subject to a decision by the Eurogroup confirming that Greece complies with the requirements under the SGP. Such mechanism could entail measures such as a further EFSF re-profiling and capping and deferral of interest payments. Also, the Eurogroup commits to long-term technical assistance to boost Greek growth.
The Eurogroup recognises that over the exceptionally long time horizon of assessing debt sustainability there can be no forecasts, only assumptions, given the sizable degree of uncertainty over macroeconomic developments.
Against the background of the forthcoming successful completion of the first review and the agreement on debt relief, the Eurogroup welcomes the intention of the IMF management to recommend to the Fund’s Executive Board to approve a financial arrangement before the end of 2016 that will support the implementation of the agreed fiscal and structural reforms. It is recognised that, consistent with IMF policies, approval of this arrangement will also be based on a new DSA and the assessment of possible debt relief measures mentioned above. The possible debt relief will be delivered at the end of the programme in mid-2018 and the scope will be determined by the Eurogroup on the basis of a revised DSA in cooperation with the European Institutions for purposes of taking into account the European policy framework, subject to full implementation of the programme.
The Eurogroup stands ready, in line with usual practice, to support the completion of future reviews provided that the policy package considered today, including the contingency mechanism, is implemented as planned. The Eurogroup confirms that programme implementation, as well as policy conditionality and targets, will be reviewed regularly based on input from the institutions.
FIFA, WHO, and the European Commission have joined forces, to launch the #SafeHome campaign to support women and children at risk of domestic violence. The campaign is a joint response from the three institutions to the recent spikes in reports of domestic violence as stay-at-home measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have put women and children experiencing abuse at greater risk.
Almost one in three women worldwide experience physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner or sexual violence by someone else in their lifetime. In a majority of cases, that violence is committed by a partner in their home – indeed, up to 38% of all murders of women are committed by an intimate partner. It is also estimated that one billion children aged between two and seventeen years (or half the world’s children) have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional violence or neglect in the past year.
There are many reasons why people perpetrate domestic violence, including gender inequality and social norms that condone violence, childhood experiences of abuse or exposure to violence and coercive control growing up. Harmful use of alcohol can also trigger violence. Stressful situations, such as those being experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic and economic instability, exacerbate the risk. Moreover, the current distancing measures in place in many countries make it harder for women and children to reach out to family, friends and health workers who could otherwise provide support and protection.
“Just as physical, sexual or psychological violence has no place in football, it has no place in the home.” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization. “We are so pleased that our partners today are joining us to draw attention to this critical issue. As people are isolated at home because of COVID-19, the risks of domestic violence have tragically been exacerbated.”.
“Together with the World Health Organization and the European Commission, we are asking the football community to raise awareness to this intolerable situation that threatens particularly women and children in their own home, a place where they should feel happy, safe and secure,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “We cannot stay silent on this issue that negatively affects so many people. Violence has no place in homes, just as it has no place in sports. Football has the power to relay important social messages, and through the #SafeHome campaign, we want to ensure that those people experiencing violence have access to the necessary support services they need.”
“Violence has no place in our societies,” said Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth. “Women’s rights are human rights and should be protected. Often abused women and children are afraid to talk because of fear or shame. This ‘window’ to speak-up and seek help is, during confinement, even more restricted. As a matter of fact , in some countries, we have seen an increase in reports of domestic violence since the outbreak of COVID-19. It is our responsibility as a society, as institutions to speak up for these women. To give them trust and support them. This is the purpose of this joint campaign which I am honoured to be part of.”
“We call upon our member associations to actively publish details of national or local helplines and support services that can help victims and anyone feeling threatened by violence in their locality,” added the FIFA President. “We also call upon our members to review their own safeguarding measures using the FIFA Guardians toolkit to ensure that football is fun and safe for everyone in our game, especially the youngest members of the football family.”
The five-part video awareness campaign features 15 past and present footballers – Álvaro Arbeloa, Rosana Augusto, Vítor Baía, Khalilou Fadiga, Matthias Ginter, David James, Annike Krahn, Marco Materazzi, Milagros Menéndez, Noemi Pascotto, Graham Potter, Mikaël Silvestre, Kelly Smith, Óliver Torres and Clementine Touré – who have stressed their support to addressing this critical issue. The campaign is being published on various FIFA digital channels, with #SafeHome also being supported with multimedia toolkits for the 211 FIFA member associations and for various media agencies to help facilitate additional localisation and to further amplify the message worldwide.
WHO, the United Nations’ specialised health agency, and FIFA, football’s world governing body, collaborate closely to promote healthy lifestyles, which includes being free of violence, through football globally. The two organisations jointly launched the “Pass the message to kick out coronavirus” campaign in March 2020 to share advice on effective measures to protect people from COVID-19. This was followed by the #BeActive campaign in April 2020 to encourage people to stay healthy at home during the pandemic.
Factsheet
According to WHO, violence is a pervasive public health and human rights problem around the world. It affects women, men, boys and girls in all countries and cuts across boundaries of age, race, religion, ethnicity, disability, culture and wealth. Statistically, women and children (both boys and girls) are most affected by violence in the home and it is often perpetrated by men they know and trust.
Data (Source: WHO and others)
Almost one in three women worldwide have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner or sexual violence, not including sexual harassment, by any perpetrator
Globally, 30% of women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime
Globally up to 38% of murders of women are committed by intimate partners
Adolescent girls, young women, women belonging to ethnic and other minorities, transwomen, and women with disabilities face a higher risk of different forms of violence
The majority (55% to 95%) of women survivors of intimate partner violence or sexual violence do not disclose or seek any type of help or services
Being abused as a child or exposed to violence in the family when growing up, attitudes accepting of violence and gender inequality including gender norms increase the risk of perpetrating violence against a partner; in some settings violence is associated with excessive use of alcohol
Globally, over one billion children – over half of all boys and girls aged 2–17 years – experience some form of emotional, physical or sexual violence every year
The lifetime prevalence of childhood sexual abuse is 18% for girls and 8% for boys
Homicide is among the top five causes of death in adolescents, with boys comprising over 80% of victims and perpetrators
Regional statistics also exist. For example in Europe, it is estimated that one in five (20%) children have experienced sexual abuse, and in the WHO European region, a quarter of women (15-49 years) have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime. In Latin America and the Caribbean, it is estimated that 58% of children experience sexual, physical or emotional violence each year, and 30% of women have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime.
STAMFORD, Conn.– Accelerating growth in dynamic markets across the globe, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced the opening of the second Four Points by Sheraton hotel in greater Nashville, Tennessee. Four Points by Sheraton Nashville-Airport offers a convenient location near the airport and bustling heart of downtown. Owned by Shree Hospitality, the former Wyndham hotel completed a $3 million renovation to all guest rooms and public areas prior to re-opening as a Four Points.
“Four Points by Sheraton Nashville-Airport is a terrific addition to our growing portfolio in the ‘Music City,’ offering convenient access to Nashville’s best live music and sporting venues,” said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President of Specialty Select Brands for Starwood. “At Four Points, we provide guests with an honest value, genuine service, and all the amenities they need to stay productive on the road.”
Named one of the best places to go in 2013 by Condé Nast’s Daily Traveler, Nashville is celebrated for its leading-edge live music scene and “haute southern” cuisine. Four Points by Sheraton Nashville-Airport is located at 800 Royal Parkway, just three minutes from Nashville International Airport (BNA) and ten minutes from downtown. The hotel is convenient to leading attractions including the Grand Ole Opry, Ryman Auditorium, Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville Zoo, and LP Field – home of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans.
“We expect that this freshly renovated Four Points hotel will emerge as a leading choice among visitors to Nashville, where they can enjoy an inviting atmosphere enhanced by the brand’s timeless style, genuine service and great extras,” said Nick Patel, President, Shree Hospitality. “By joining Four Points, we can also offer travelers all the benefits of the award-winning Starwood Preferred Guest program.”
Four Points by Sheraton Nashville-Airport features 101 comfortable and stylish guest rooms, 980 square feet of meeting space, full-service dining, an outdoor pool, fitness center, and all the other amenities that have made Four Points a favorite with travelers worldwide. Guests will also enjoy the brand’s popular amenities including fast and free WiFi, complimentary bottled water, and a wide selection of craft and imported beer as part of the signature Best Brews program. Four Points by Sheraton Nashville-Airport will join Four Points by Sheraton Nashville-Brentwood as the brand’s second hotel in the Nashville metro area.
About Shree Hospitality
Shree Hospitality, a privately owned company based in Nashville, is dedicated to providing hotel guests with “Their Best Hotel Experience Ever” – every visit, every day. The company is committed to making every day an unforgettable experience for both the hotel guest and the hotel associate. It is Shree Hospitality’s belief that guest satisfaction and associate satisfaction go hand in hand. These principles are the foundation for every action and decision the company makes.
About Four Points by Sheraton
Experience smart travel. With nearly 200 Four Points hotels in more than 30 countries, travelers can find the timeless style and comfort they’re looking for with genuine service and everything that matters most, all around the world. From Santiago to Shanghai and Milan to Milwaukee, Four Points hotels can be found in big urban centers, by the airport, near the beach, and in the suburbs. A recent $1 billion invested in renovations, conversions, and new-build hotels has made the brand stronger than ever. Four Points by Sheraton, like all brands within Starwood’s portfolio, is proud to offer the Starwood Preferred Guest® program, the industry’s richest loyalty program. To learn more, visit www.spg.com. Stay connected to Four Points on facebook.com/fourpoints.
About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with nearly 1,200 properties in 100 countries, and 181,400 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft®, and Element®. The Company boasts one of the industry’s leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., a premier provider of world-class vacation experiences through villa-style resorts and privileged access to Starwood brands. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.
NISKAYUNA, NY – With digging abilities that might make a groundhog jealous, a multidisciplinary team at GE Research, the central technology development arm of the General Electric Company (GE), has been awarded a 15- month, $2.5 million project through the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Underminer program, to demonstrate the feasibility of a robot that can rapidly and efficiently bore tactical tunnels in support of critical military operations. Click here to see a video demonstration.
The principal objective of DARPA Underminer program is to enable the rapid construction of underground tunnels in support of various military battlefield operations. These operations could include supporting rescue missions or rapidly resupplying critical munitions to the front lines. GE’s project is one of three new projects the program is funding to demonstrate the feasibility of new capabilities with robotics, sensing and other component technologies that exceed current commercial drilling capabilities.
The inspiration for GE’s approach actually has its roots in the graduate and doctoral research of project leader Deepak Trivedi in the mechanical engineering program at Penn State University. Trivedi’s doctoral work, one of the earliest in soft robotics, was to create and demonstrate a robot inspired by biological examples of soft structures such as octopus arms and elephant trunks. The idea was creating a robot that had the dexterity to make sharp turns, squeeze through confined or small spaces and adaptability to pick up and move objects of vastly different sizes and shapes. Trivedi, a mechanical engineer, says the earthworm-like design integrates some of these characteristics with a great ability to dig and move quickly underground.
“It turns out earthworms are probably the most prolific tunnel makers on the planet,” Trivedi said. Tree roots can penetrate through highly compacted soils and soft rock by generating high pressures through tissue growth. “We have designed a prototype that is several feet long, with hydraulic artificial muscles that mimics the agility of earthworms moving through soil and with the force of tree roots penetrating through soft rock.”
Trivedi explains that earthworms rely on muscular structure filled with fluid, called the “hydrostatic skeleton.” When they move, some sections of their structure radially expand to enlarge the tunnel while anchoring the worm, while others become longer to create movement and penetrate further into the soil.
What Trivedi and the GE Robotics Team have designed is a robot using powerful artificial muscles that moves in the same fashion. The robot is capable of adaptively changing its gait depending on soil conditions, making it versatile. Another advantage of this approach is that the robot can create tunnels without the need for bringing any material to the surface, giving it advantages of efficiency and stealth. But Trivedi says that designing a powerful robot that moves with force is only one part of the challenge. The other is enabling it to autonomously and knowingly navigate its way around obstacles to reach the desired target location without the benefit of GPS.
Trivedi said, “Because these tunneling systems are underground, we need to be able to build in autonomous and sensing capabilities that enable our robot to move and tunnel in the right places. Fortunately, we’re able to pull in controls, AI and sensing experts from across the Lab to help us integrate these new capabilities.”
The GE Research team already has designed a prototype and performed some initial lab scale demonstrations of the robot tunneling through dirt. The goal of the project is to demonstrate a robot that can move at a speed of 10 cm/sec and dig a tunnel that is 500 meters in length and at least 10 cm in diameter.
Trivedi says the technologies being developed on this project will not only help advance tunneling technologies, but also advanced inspection and repair capabilities using robots.
“The soft robot design we’re creating will have many more degrees of freedom in movement than conventional robots with joints, Trivedi says. “One of the reasons, octopuses, for example, can squeeze through such small spaces is that they have no bones. The same thing applies for soft robots, which can be very advantageous when you want to reach small places like the inside of a jet engine or power turbine to inspect and make intricate repairs.”
GE has developed and field-tested new snake-like robots for jet engine inspection and repair. These highly flexible robots allow access to confined and cluttered environments at different length scales – from millimeters up to several meters, thereby enabling many maintenance operations to be performed in-situ, without requiring expensive teardown and reassembly of industrial assets.
About GE Research
GE Research is GE’s innovation powerhouse where research meets reality. We are a world-class team of scientific, engineering and marketing minds working at the intersection of physics and markets, physical and digital technologies, and across a broad set of industries to deliver world-changing innovations and capabilities for our customers. To learn more, visit our website at https://www.ge.com/research/.
DETROIT – As a result of Mary Barra’s request for a comprehensive internal safety review following the ignition switch recall, General Motors today announced three separate recalls involving U.S. production and sales of approximately:
303,000 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana from the 2009-2014 model years with gross vehicle weight under 10,000 pounds
63,900 Cadillac XTS full-size sedan from the 2013 and 2014 model years
1.18 million Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia models from the 2008-2013 model years, Chevrolet Traverse from the 2009-2013 model years, and Saturn Outlook from the 2008-2010 model years
“I asked our team to redouble our efforts on our pending product reviews, bring them forward and resolve them quickly,” said Mary Barra, GM CEO. “That is what today’s GM is all about.”
The full-size vans with gross vehicle weights of 10,000 pounds or less do not comply with a head impact requirement for unrestrained occupants, requiring a rework of the passenger instrument panel material.
Unsold vehicles have been placed on a stop delivery until development of the solution has been completed and parts are available. Customers will be notified at that time. Repairs will be made at no charge to customers.
In the XTS, a brake booster pump can create positive pressure within the wiring harness attached to the pump relay. This pressure can lead to the dislodging of a plug in the brake booster pump relay, allowing corrosive elements to enter the connector and form a low-resistance short that could lead to overheating, melting of plastic components and a possible engine compartment fire.
GM is aware of two engine compartment fires in unsold vehicles at dealerships and two cases of melted components.
With respect to the Enclave, Traverse, Acadia and Outlook, the vehicles are equipped with a Service Air Bag warning light in the driver information center. Ignoring the Service Air Bag warning light will eventually result in the non-deployment of the side impact restraints, which include driver and passenger seat-mounted side air bags, front center air bag (if equipped), and the seat belt pretensioners.
To repair the condition, dealers will remove the driver and passenger side air bag wiring harness connectors and splice and solder the wires together.
“Today’s announcement underscores the focus we’re putting on the safety and peace of mind of our customers. We are conducting an intense review of our internal processes and will have more developments to announce as we move forward,” Barra said.
GM expects to take a charge of approximately $300 million in the first quarter primarily for the cost of the repairs for the three safety actions and the previously announced ignition switch recall.
About General Motors Co.
General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world’s largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM, its subsidiaries and joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling brands.
This news is courtesy of www.gm.com
Rockford, IL. Greenlee is proud to announce joining Electro Federation-Canada (EFC), a national, non-profit industry association with three councils representing 300 companies that manufacture, distribute and service electrical, electronics, and telecommunications products. Together, EFC members contribute over $50 billion to Canada’s economy and employ more than 130,000 in over 1,400 facilities throughout the country.
As part of its membership, Greenlee is sponsoring the EFC Scholarship Program. The program offers students a number of diverse opportunities to explore career options in the electrical industry in engineering, sales, marketing, finance, management, operations, information technology, and human resources. This year, EFC members are providing $113,000 across 56 scholarships for Canadian university and college students.
“The Electro Federation Scholarships have been awarded to students across Canada for over 19 years,” said Neil Burns, Grenlee’s Canadian National Sales Manager. “With Greenlee and Textron’s focus on hiring emerging talent, this is a great opportunity to support our Canadian Electrical Industry and students looking to build careers in the electrical industry.”
Applications are now being accepted until May 31, 2014. Students can apply at efcscholarship.fluidreview.com or visit www.electrofed.com/scholarship-program for more information.
Greenlee
Greenlee is known as a global leader in the professional tool category. The Rockford, Illinois-based company develops high quality innovative products distinguished by customer-driven design and differentiated by supply chain excellence. Greenlee also leverages its powerful brands such as Greenlee Communications, Greenlee Utility, Sherman + Reilly, HD Electric and Klauke in the electrical, construction and maintenance markets worldwide. More information is available at www.greenlee.com.
Textron
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems.
This Press Release is courtesy of www.textron.com
GSK [LSE/NYSE: GSK] today, with LiveWell Colorado and seven other organizations, held a community conversation to introduce neighbors to a dynamic new partnership that is engaging youth as change agents for a healthier community in three Denver neighborhoods: Globeville, Elyria-Swansea and Northeast Denver. A new $500,000 charitable grant from global healthcare company GSK is building upon the great work already underway in Colorado to promote healthy eating and active living.
The partnership, “The Youth Driven Healthy Recreation Center Collective,” is collaborating on dual programming that will improve the health of local youth by:
Increasing physical activity and healthy eating of youth participating in the healthy eating, active living programs offered at local recreation centers by 10 percent by September 2015
Empowering 50 youth (12-18) to research and present solutions that will improve the local recreation centers so that more of their peers will access local recreation centers and enter the on-ramp for healthier lives
Throughout it all, local business leaders will mentor the young people. The most compelling youth-led solutions will be funded and implemented – leaving sensible, sustainable solutions for a healthier community.
To hear perspectives by the organizations and children involved in this program, please click here.
“What better way to building a healthier community? I cannot think of a more worthwhile effort than giving our children the keys to learning, staying active and improving their own communities,” said Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock. “Now that’s the way to have a lasting impact for Denver.”
The collective includes the following organizations:
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver
Earth Force
Globeville Elyria-Swansea LiveWell
GSK
LiveWell Colorado
LiveWell Northeast Denver
Share Our Strength Cooking Matters Colorado
Spark Policy Institute
The Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation
These organizations have a common agenda for this 18-month partnership, their activities are mutually reinforcing, and they have shared metrics and a commitment to continuous communication throughout the process to ensure greater collective impact.
Throughout the partnership, LiveWell Colorado is the Backbone Organization, serving as the fiscal agent and facilitating the collaboration. Spark Policy Institute is the Evaluation Partner, ensuring ongoing learning and course corrections throughout the partnership, and developing the comprehensive final evaluation which will measure the partnerships’ performance against the eight objectives.
The collective anticipates that this work will be successful in contributing fostering a healthier community, and can be replicated in other communities throughout Colorado and across the country.
“So much of our health is influenced by factors outside of the doctor’s office – in our communities. The more we understand this connection between our health and our community, the more we can improve it,” said Deirdre Connelly, President, North America Pharmaceuticals, GSK. “Through the GSK IMPACT Grant, we are funding a very thoughtful collective that can show the nation what it takes to build a healthier community.”
More than 100 local leaders and neighborhood residents participated in the discussion today at the Swansea Recreation Center. LiveWell Colorado Interim CEO Gabriel Guillaume described the collective and its objectives, the collective impact model to approach this work, and how the benefits of this partnership will go beyond the 18-month grant duration.
“We are very excited to be the recipients of the GSK IMPACT Grant for Metro Denver, which will enable us to coordinate our youth health and wellness programs into one stronger whole,” said Gabriel Guillaume, Interim CEO and Vice President of Community Investments, LiveWell Colorado. “The GSK IMPACT Grant will help us build the capacity of our organizations, work together for greater collective impact, allow our young people to be agents for change, and create long-lasting community-wide improvements.”
John W. Hickenlooper, Governor of the State of Colorado, reaffirmed Colorado’s commitment to becoming the healthiest state, and proclaimed March 13, 2014 as National Healthy Communities Day.
Healthy Communities – As part of GSK’s longstanding commitment to building healthy communities, in 2013 the company launched a national initiative designed to better understand the barriers and identify opportunities for building healthier communities in the United States. This initiative included a series of events, “Conversations on Community Health,” held in three cities: Philadelphia (September 2012), St. Louis (December 2012), and Denver (February 2013); a National Advisory Council convening in New York City (February 2013), and the release of a national survey (March 2013). Phase one uncovered new insights about what it means, and what it takes to build a healthy community. Phase two, which includes the GSK IMPACT Grants, leverages that knowledge and demonstrates innovative ways local organizations and businesses can work together to make a meaningful difference in communities.
GSK – one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies – is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.
This news is courtesy of www.gsk.com
ATLANTA – Lowe’s is teaming up with Habitat for Humanity International to launch “Hammers for Habitat,” a nationwide volunteer drive to mobilize 100,000 new volunteers to raise a hammer for Habitat this year. In celebration of their renewed partnership through 2018, Lowe’s and Habitat are asking men and women across America to give one day to help make the dream of homeownership a reality for a family in their community. Individuals interested in volunteering can find more information at Habitat.org/Lowes.
While Habitat for Humanity works year-round, the pace of activity across the United States picks up in spring – and so does the need for volunteers.
“Volunteers are the lifeblood of Habitat for Humanity’s efforts around the world, and their participation is critical to our goal of serving 1 million people annually by 2018,” said Mark Andrews, vice president of volunteer and institutional engagement for Habitat for Humanity International. “With the support of Lowe’s and dedicated Lowe’s Heroes employee volunteers, Hammers for Habitat will help us reach more families and more communities than ever.”
Lowe’s renewed its partnership last month with a five-year commitment that will bring its total contributions to more than $63 million since 2003. Lowe’s also pledged the continued support of Lowe’s Heroes to help Habitat scale up the number of people it serves each year. But both organizations recognize the critical need to get more hands on hammers. In the United States, more than 48 million people are living in poverty.
“At Lowe’s, we know that improving communities is not a do-it-yourself project,” said Joan Higginbotham, Lowe’s director of community relations. “The work is too big for any one organization, any one partner. We thank all those who’ve supported Habitat in the past and encourage anyone who hasn’t to join us. You can make a tremendous difference.”
Habitat for Humanity and Lowe’s will offer on-site volunteer registration at events throughout the year. Along with opportunities to volunteer locally, Habitat for Humanity has programs to get youth, women, college students and military veterans involved. Habitat also has short-term volunteer trips to help build affordable housing in the United States and abroad. Previous construction experience is not necessary to volunteer.
Key 2014 event dates
May 5-11: National Women Build Week. This annual event challenges women across the United States to support Habitat during the week of Mother’s Day.
Sept. 15 – Oct. 15: National Hispanic Heritage Month. This local event brings together Lowe’s Heroes and community volunteers to celebrate Hispanic heritage while building and repairing homes in partnership with low-income families.
Oct. 5-11: Habitat for Humanity’s Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, give a week of their time to help Habitat for Humanity improve and build homes in the U.S. and in countries around the world. In 2014, the Carters will focus their efforts on Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, as Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity and Trinity Habitat for Humanity co-host Habitat’s 31st annual Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project.
Year-round: Community impact grants. Lowe’s Heroes join Habitat affiliates across the country to partner with local residents, housing leaders, community groups and businesses to transform entire neighborhoods.
About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Anchored by the conviction that housing provides a critical foundation for breaking the cycle of poverty, Habitat has helped more than 4 million people construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes since 1976. Habitat also advocates to improve access to decent and affordable shelter and supports a variety of funding models that enable families with limited resources to make needed improvements on their homes as their time and resources allow. As a nonprofit Christian housing organization, Habitat works in more than 70 countries and welcomes people of all races, religions and nationalities to partner in its mission. To learn more, donate or volunteer visit habitat.org.
About Lowe’s:
Lowe’s supports the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects. The company’s signature education grant program, Lowe’s Toolbox for Education®, has donated more than $38 million to 8,000 K-12 public schools, benefiting more than 5 million schoolchildren. Lowe’s Heroesemployee volunteers support local community projects and our national nonprofit partners such as Habitat for Humanity,Rebuilding Together and the American Red Cross. Since 2007, Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation together have contributed nearly $200 million to improve communities in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
This news is courtesy of www.lowes.com
WASHINGTON – In an effort to help low-income residents become self-sufficient, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded $34.9 million to public housing authorities, public housing resident associations, Native American tribes, and non-profit organizations across the nation to hire or retain service coordinators to help them find jobs, educational opportunities, and achieve economic and housing independence (see list below).
The funding, provided through HUD’s Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency – Service Coordinators Program (ROSS-SC) helps grantees hire or retain “service coordinators” who work directly with residents to assess their needs and connect them with education, job training and placement programs, and/or computer and financial literacy services available in their community to promote self-sufficiency.
“It’s part of our mission to help connect public housing residents to better, higher paying jobs and critical services as a means of helping them move beyond public assistance and toward self-sufficiency,” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson. “This funding gives our local partners resources they can use to help residents become economically independent and achieve the dreams they have for themselves and their children.”
The purpose of HUD’s ROSS-SC program is to encourage innovative and locally driven strategies that link public housing assistance with public and private resources to enable HUD-assisted families to increase earned income; reduce or eliminate their need for welfare assistance; and promote economic independence and housing self-sufficiency. These grants provide funding to hire and retain Service Coordinators who will assess the needs of residents of conventional Public Housing or Indian housing and coordinate available resources in the community to meet those needs. In addition, ROSS-SC grants help improve living conditions for seniors, enabling them to age-in-place.
HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.
More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet
at www.hud.gov and https://espanol.hud.gov.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo.- Liberty Interactive Corporation (NASDAQ: QVCA, QVCB, LNVTA, LVNTB) (“Liberty Interactive”) today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Liberty Broadband Corporation (NASDAQ: LBRDA, LBRDK) (“Liberty Broadband”) whereby Liberty Interactive will invest $2.4 billion in Liberty Broadband in connection with (and contingent upon) the closing of today’s announced proposed merger of Charter Communications, Inc. (“Charter”) and Time Warner Cable Inc. (“TWC”). The proceeds of this investment will be used by Liberty Broadband to fund, in part, its agreement to acquire $4.3 billion of Charter stock. Liberty Broadband’s acquisition will be made in support of (and contingent upon) the closing of the Charter-TWC merger. In connection with these transactions, it is expected that Charter will undergo a corporate reorganization, resulting in a current subsidiary of Charter becoming the publicly traded parent company (“New Charter”). Liberty Interactive’s investment in Liberty Broadband will be funded using cash on hand and will be attributed to the Liberty Ventures Group.
“We are excited for Liberty Interactive to make this attractive investment in Liberty Broadband, providing our shareholders with the unique opportunity to realize value from the proposed consolidation in the cable industry announced today by Charter,” said Greg Maffei, President and CEO of Liberty Interactive. “Through this transaction, Liberty Interactive has the ability to deploy a significant amount of capital and become a meaningful shareholder of Liberty Broadband.”
Liberty Interactive (along with third party investors, all of whom will invest on the same terms as Liberty Interactive) will purchase newly issued shares of Liberty Broadband Series C common stock (the “Series C Shares”) at a per share price of $56.23 (equal to Liberty Broadband’s net asset value on a sum-of-the parts basis). In the aggregate, Liberty Broadband has entered into subscription agreements with respect to $4.4 billion of its Series C Shares. Liberty Interactive’s investment in Liberty Broadband is subject to customary closing conditions and funding will only occur upon the completion of the Charter-TWC merger. Liberty Broadband intends to seek stockholder approval for the issuance of the Series C Shares in accordance with the rules and requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market. If, for any reason, Liberty Broadband does not receive the requisite stockholder approval for the issuance of the Series C Shares, the purchasers will instead acquire a limited number of Series C Shares, together with shares of a newly issued series of non-convertible preferred stock of Liberty Broadband.
Liberty Broadband and Liberty Interactive have also entered into an agreement with Charter which provides that Liberty Broadband and Liberty Interactive will exchange, in a tax-free transaction, the shares of TWC common stock held by each company for shares of New Charter Class A common stock (subject to certain limitations). In addition, Liberty Interactive has also agreed to grant Liberty Broadband a proxy over the shares of New Charter stock it receives in the exchange, along with a right of first refusal with respect to the underlying New Charter stock.
About Liberty Interactive Corporation
Liberty Interactive Corporation operates and owns interests in a broad range of digital commerce businesses. Those businesses are currently attributed to two tracking stock groups: the QVC Group and the Liberty Ventures Group. The businesses and assets attributed to the QVC Group (Nasdaq: QVCA, QVCB) consist of Liberty Interactive’s subsidiary, QVC, Inc., and its interest in HSN, Inc., and the businesses and assets attributed to the Liberty Ventures Group (Nasdaq: LVNTA, LVNTB) consist of all of Liberty Interactive Corporation’s businesses and assets other than those attributed to the QVC Group, including its interest in Expedia, Interval Leisure Group, Lending Tree and FTD, its subsidiaries Backcountry.com, Bodybuilding.com, CommerceHub, LMC Right Start and Evite, and minority interests in Time Warner and Time Warner Cable.
Britain’s growing army of hot food lovers are in for a treat next week when the UK’s fiercest ever commercially grown chilli pepper is unleashed at Tesco.
The chilli in question is the legendary Trinidad Scorpion – which until recently was considered the hottest chilli pepper in the world.
The heat of a chilli pepper is measured in Scoville Units and the Trinidad Scorpion has an average reading of 1.2 million Scovilles although individual fruit have been measured at 2 million Scovilles. The average Jalapeno pepper comes in at 3,500 Scovilles.
Tesco chilli pepper buyer Shannon Berry said: “The Trinidad Scorpion is unbelievably spicy and should be approached with extreme caution even by so called chilli heads.
“You can sense the strength just by smelling the chilli and the first bite leaves you under no illusion at all that you are about to undergo an intense culinary experience.
“But besides the scorching heat the Trinidad Scorpion also has a wonderful fruitiness that if tempered in a chutney or salsa with mango or banana it will create quite a wonderful relish.
“Be warned, it is so strong you need only the tiniest smidgeon in order to add some excitement to your food.”
The Trinidad Scorpion has been grown by the UK’s foremost hot chilli pepper farmer, Salvatore Genovese who produces one million chillies a week on his farm near Sandy in Bedfordshire – purely for the British market.
Salv, as he is known in the business, has become so renowned within the UK’s chilli head community that he has attracted a loyal fan base with followers eagerly anticipating the arrival of his latest variety.
Two years ago Salv launched the notorious Bedfordshire Super Naga in the UK and demand was so high that initial supplies ran out within a few months. This time he has planted enough to at least last through most of the summer.
Salv said: “It could be that the Trinidad Scorpion is way too hot for the UK market so I’m eager to get feedback before deciding on whether to grow more or not.
“For the Bedfordshire Burner I was getting calls from chilli heads all over the world and it went down a storm which is why I decided to grow an even hotter variety.
Tesco, which has the widest range of chilli peppers sold in British supermarkets, has varieties for beginners such as red, green, serenade and fresno; those for seasoned users such as finger, bird eye and of course those for hardcore fans such as Scotch Bonnet.
The Trinidad Scorpion will go on sale exclusively in 235 Tesco stores across the UK and will cost £1 for a packet of between two to three chilli peppers, depending on the size.
www.tescoplc.com
NEW YORK–rnCBS Television Studios and the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) have reached an agreement on a multi-year partnership to develop and produce scripted, unscripted and documentary content for linear television networks and streaming platforms. The announcement was made today by George Cheeks, President and CEO of the CBS Entertainment Group, and Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP.rnrnThis press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200715005528/en/rnrnAs part of the agreement, CBS Television Studios’ creative leaders will work with the civil rights organization to establish a dedicated team of executives and infrastructure to acquire, develop and produce programming. The partnership will focus on producing premium content that expands the number of diverse voices contributing to an ever-evolving society, and by telling inclusive stories that increase the visibility and impact of Black artists in a growing media landscape.rnrnThe CBS/NAACP partnership includes a commitment to develop content for the CBS Television Network as well as the ability to sell programming to third-party platforms across the media landscape.rnrn“An important way to diversify and grow our storytelling is to expand our horizons beyond the traditional studio-producer system,” said Cheeks. “There is no better partner than the NAACP – the preeminent civil rights organization in our country – to help us find, develop and tell these inclusive stories. “At the same time, this is a strategic opportunity for CBS to build upon as well as re-imagine our pipeline for existing and emerging creative talent.”rnrn“In this moment of national awakening, the time has never been better to further tell stories of the African American experience,” said Johnson. “Programming and content have the power to shape perspectives and drive conversations around critical issues. This partnership with CBS allows us to bring compelling and important content to a broad audience.”rnrnAbout CBS Television Studios:rnCBS Television Studios is one of the industry’s leading suppliers of programming with more than 70 series currently in production across broadcast and cable networks, streaming services and other emerging platforms. The Studio’s expansive portfolio spans a diverse slate of commercially successful and critically acclaimed scripted programming, genre-defining franchises including the ever-growing “Star Trek” universe, award-winning late night and daytime talk shows, and an extensive library of iconic intellectual property.rnrnAbout the NAACP:rnFounded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) is the largest and most preeminent civil rights organization in the nation. We have over 2,200 units and branches across the nation, along with well over 2M activists. Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.rnrnNOTE: The Legal Defense Fund – also referred to as the NAACP-LDF was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but separated in 1957 to become a completely separate entity. It is recognized as the nation’s first civil and human rights law organization, and shares our commitment to equal rights.
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Today, the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) released a new research report that found, in a single 24-hour period, more than 66,000 victims of domestic violence received help and support from service organizations in the United States, yet nearly 10,000 more who needed assistance could not be helped due to a lack of adequate resources. The Avon Foundation for Women provided funding for the Census report, which was released at a Congressional briefing.
The report, “Domestic Violence Counts 2013: A 24-hour Census of Domestic Violence Shelters and Services,” examined a random day, September 17, 2013, and collected information from 1,649 domestic violence programs throughout the United States from midnight to midnight on that day. It identifies needs that were met and unmet on that day and provides a snapshot of how budget cuts are affecting the staffing and resources of these organizations.
Key findings include this data from September 17, 2013:
66,581 domestic violence victims and their children received services.
More than 20,000 calls to domestic violence hotlines were answered, an average of more than 14 calls every minute.
More than 23,000 individuals were educated on domestic violence during trainings conducted by local programs.
Nearly 10,000 requests from domestic violence victims (9,641) were turned down because programs did not have the resources to provide them, including requests for emergency shelter, housing, transportation, childcare and legal representation.
The majority of unmet requests (60%) were from victims who had chosen to flee their abusers, and were seeking safe emergency or transitional housing.
“Every day in this country, victims of domestic violence are bravely reaching out for help, and it’s essential that they have somewhere safe to go,” said Kim Gandy, President and CEO of the NNEDV. “We have made so much progress toward ending violence and giving survivors avenues for safety. But continued program cuts jeopardize that progress and jeopardize the lives of victims.”
When program providers were asked what most likely happens when services are not available, 60% said the most likely outcome was that victims returned to their abusers, 27% said the victims become homeless, and 11% said that victims end up living in their cars.
The research also shows initial impacts of the new guidelines in the Affordable Care Act, which require healthcare providers to screen patients for domestic violence and refer victims to services. Data collected for this study shows that since these guidelines have been in effect, there has been an 18.5% increase in referrals received by domestic violence programs; a number that experts predict will only increase as the ACA takes full effect.
The number of unmet needs is related to the financial resources of these programs. In 2013, 1,696 staff positions were cut due to funding reductions, an average of 1.2 staff per program. Of the staff that were cut in 2013, 70 percent were direct service positions, such as case managers, advocates, shelter staff, and child advocates.
This is the eighth consecutive year that NNEDV has conducted its Domestic Violence Counts census, funded in part by the Avon Foundation for Women since 2011.
“The Census demonstrates that the demand for services has remained discouragingly and consistently strong. But unfortunately, programs that address the needs are experiencing cuts. 27% of the reporting organizations experienced cuts in government funding, 12% had cuts in private funding, and 10% reported reduced individual donations. These critical programs must be resourced adequately if we are to save lives and reduce partner violence,” said Carol Kurzig, President of the Avon Foundation for Women.
At the briefing, speakers included: Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT); DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Executive Director Karma Cottman; a survivor of domestic violence, Melissa Skelton; NNEDV President and CEO, Kim Gandy; and Avon Foundation for Women President Carol Kurzig. Speakers urged attending Members of Congress and their staffs to provide an additional $40 million in funding to support domestic violence programs through the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act and $147M for the comprehensive criminal justice response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking through the Violence Against Women Act.
About NNEDV
The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV), a 501(c)(3) social change organization, is dedicated to creating a social, political and economic environment in which domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking no longer exist. As the leading voice for domestic violence victims and their allies, NNEDV members include all 56 of the state and territorial coalitions against domestic violence, including over 2,000 local programs. NNEDV has been a premiere national organization advancing the movement against domestic violence for almost 25 years, having led efforts among domestic violence advocates and survivors in urging Congress to pass the landmark Violence Against Women Act of 1994. To learn more about NNEDV, please visit www.nnedv.org.
About the Avon Foundation for Women
The Avon Foundation for Women, the world’s largest corporate-affiliated philanthropy focused on issues that matter most to women, was founded in 1955 to improve the lives of women. Through 2013, Avon global philanthropy, led by the Avon Foundation, has donated more than $957 million in more than 50 countries for causes most important to women. Today, Avon philanthropy focuses on funding breast cancer research and access to care through the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, and efforts to reduce domestic and gender violence through its Speak Out Against Domestic Violence program.
This Press Release is courtesy of www.avoncompany.com
EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio – On San Francisco’s northern waterfront lies the world-renowned historic fishing district, Fisherman’s Wharf. Home to an abundance of restaurants, hotels and attractions, the city’s most popular tourist destination attracts more than 10 million visitors a year who at the gateway can glimpse a nearly 16-foot iconic symbol of the area’s rich history and vibrant culture—the “crab wheel.”
With the help of Arrow Sign Company and LED sign lighting systems donated from GE, the Fisherman’s Wharf Community Benefit District (CBD) recently restored this cherished landmark while saving an estimated 80 percent in lighting energy usage.
Fishing for Answers
First erected in 1968, the original crab wheel sign was constructed with plywood and sheet metal that became weathered due to saltwater and rust damage. Seeking to extend the life of one of the city’s most photographed landmarks, the Fisherman’s Wharf CBD—in collaboration with the Port of San Francisco and the Fisherman’s Wharf Merchants Association—contracted GE Lighting and Oakland, Calif.-based Arrow Sign Company to redesign the wheel with durability and efficiency in mind.
“The crab wheel is an icon that is recognized by people around the world, so preserving its original appearance was very important to us,” said Troy Campbell, executive director of Fisherman’s Wharf CBD. “GE and Arrow Sign Company helped us modernize the structure without losing a prominent symbol of San Francisco.”
The crab wheel was rebuilt using aluminum, polycarbonate and high-density foam materials, while the original wood handles lining its perimeter were kept intact. GE donated its Tetra® PowerStrip LED sign lighting to replace the traditional T12 fluorescent tube lighting previously used in the sign. The new sign will consume 80 percent less energy for Fisherman’s Wharf, with the LED lighting system using 676 total watts versus the 4,000 total watts used with the previous fluorescent lamp layout. Additionally, the switch to LED lighting means greater longevity for the sign’s lighting system due to a rated fixture lifetime of 50,000 hours.
“We reviewed several contractor bids and one of the main factors to choose Arrow Sign Company was its use of GE products,” Campbell said. “We knew LED technology had the right long-lasting, energy-saving benefits for us, and we felt confident in the GE brand.”
After two months of project planning and construction, the new crab wheel was completed on July 3, 2013. Installation took place over three nights, where the sign was replaced one side at a time so that there was no downtime or missed photo opportunities for tourists.
When illuminated, Campbell said the sign now has a “bright, even glow” and a “uniform, one-color appearance,” which he noted has already received positive tourist feedback.
The move to GE’s LED sign lighting will also mean reduced maintenance time and costs compared to previous upkeep needs.
“With its location in the heart of a large tourist area, service calls and permits to the crab wheel are difficult, expensive and inconvenient for visitors,” Campbell noted. “We expect the sign’s new LED lighting to significantly reduce our annual maintenance spend.”
Visit www.gelighting.com to learn more about LED and other efficient lighting technologies from GE. To learn more about GE’s commitment to innovative solutions to today’s environmental challenges while driving economic growth, visit www.ecomagination.com.
About The Fisherman’s Wharf Community Benefit District
The Fisherman’s Wharf Community Benefit District was founded in November 2005 by the business and property owners of the San Francisco neighborhood. The district is funded through an annual assessment for 15 years from the property owners.
The purpose of the Fisherman’s Wharf Community Benefit District is to preserve and enhance its vast San Francisco waterfront landscape and multi-cultural heritage, while integrating modern efficiencies to enrich the experience of visitors from both near and far through: Market Research; Brand and Destination Marketing; Sidewalk Operations, Beautification and Order; Traffic and Urban Planning; and Emergency Preparedness.
For more information, visit www.visitfishermanswharf.com.
About Arrow Sign Company
For more than 60 years, Arrow Sign Company has manufactured quality electric and architectural signs to help major corporations, retail merchants and local communities achieve and exceed their goals of visibility and image. From initial design concepts to detailed plans, fabrication, installation and maintenance, the full-service sign company has created some of the nation’s most exciting displays, including: the W Hotel in Hollywood, Calif., San Francisco Metreon, Union Bank rebranding, Ask.com headquarters and more.
For more information, visit www.arrowsigncompany.com.
About GE Lighting
GE Lighting invents with the vigor of its founder Thomas Edison to develop energy-efficient solutions that change the way people light their world in commercial, industrial, municipal and residential settings. The business employs about 13,000 people in more than 100 countries, and sells products under the reveal® and Energy Smart® consumer brands, and Evolve™, GTx™, Immersion™, Infusion™, Lumination™, Albeo™, and Tetra® commercial brands, all trademarks of GE. General Electric (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter to build a world that works better.
For more information, visit www.gelighting.com.
London/Rotterdam – Unilever today announced a new supplier policy as part of the action to halt deforestation. As a result, more of Unilever packaging – including wooden ice cream sticks – will be sourced sustainably by the end of the year.
Sustainable from labels to lolly sticks
Unilever’s target is to ensure that all materials used that contain fibre obtained from wood are traceable from certified and known sources by 2020. In 2014, the volume of sustainably sourced paper and board used increased to 87%, up significantly from 62% the previous year. Unilever is therefore now bringing forward its commitment to source all paper and board packaging sustainably by the end of 2015.
The new Wood Fibre Sourcing Policy will contribute to Unilever’s work to eliminate deforestation from supply chains. It will also help to embed the Unilever Responsible Sourcing Policy, which supports Unilever’s commitment to increase its positive social impact throughout the entire supply chain by improving the lives of workers and their communities.
The move is expected to resonate with consumers. Unilever research across 11 countries has found that three quarters of consumers would be more likely to purchase a product if they knew it was made from sustainably sourced ingredients, and according to Nielsen, millennials are four times as responsive to sustainability credentials as the over 50s. Globally, consumer spending on responsible consumption products is $400bn.
Pier Luigi Sigismondi, Chief Supply Chain Officer said:
“To meet our ambitious zero deforestation policies and support the move to prosperous and sustainable land use in developing countries, we need to work with all organisations in the value chain, such as our suppliers, NGO’s, and governments.
“The business case for doing this is clear. It helps us secure a sustainable supply of commodities into the future, and it is good news for forests and the people that live and depend on them. Action on forests can tackle emissions – at least 4.5 billion tonnes of CO2 a year – while at the same time increasing food production sustainably and improving livelihoods.”
CINCINNATI–For nearly a century, Pepto-Bismol has stood for relief of stomach troubles. To celebrate its 99th anniversary, the iconic brand is excited to introduce a new formula that features Ultra Coat technology. The new formula is still the go-to relief medicine by calming and soothing your stomach.
The new Ultra Coat technology relieves an upset stomach by providing a protective coating on the stomach lining that soothes irritation and provides fast relief from upset stomach and indigestion. The go-to “pink stuff” can be taken for diarrhea, travelers’ diarrhea or an upset stomach due to overindulgence in food and drink, including: Nausea, Heartburn, Indigestion, Upset Stomach, Diarrhea. Do those five symptoms sound familiar and perhaps strike a nostalgic chord? To accompany the new formula, Pepto-Bismol is also rolling out a hot new version of its iconic 5-symptom jingle.
Pepto-Bismol was first introduced in 1919 to treat a variety of stomach symptoms and has continued to provide reliable relief for generations since then. The new formula and improved coating retains all of the efficacy of the previous formulas which has made Pepto-Bismol a go-to reliever for stomach troubles for so many decades.
“For a brand to make it to 99 years is a milestone worth celebrating, and in true Pepto fashion, we didn’t want to wait until 100 to have all the fun!” said Dave Tomasi, Brand Franchise Director, North America Digestive Wellness. “We continue to look for innovative ways to help relieve upset stomachs and this new formula is proof of that commitment.”
Don’t get caught unprepared with any of the five symptoms and make sure you’ve always got Pepto-Bismol in your medicine cabinet or in your bag for easy access to Ultra Coating relief. Take Pepto-Bismol as soon as you start to experience symptoms of overindulgence including nausea, heartburn, indigestion, and upset stomach or diarrhea. The #1 Pharmacist Recommended Brand for stomach upset has you covered for #PinkRelief.
About Pepto-Bismol
Pepto-Bismol is the only leading brand that can provide soothing relief for five different stomach symptoms: nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach and diarrhea. Manufactured by Procter & Gamble for adults and children 12 years of age and older, Pepto-Bismol is available in multiple forms (regular strength liquid, ultra strength liquid, chewables, and caplets) and flavors (Cherry and Original). The brand also offers Pepto Kids Antacid for children 2 years of age and older. For additional information, please visit www.pepto-bismol.com .
About Procter & Gamble
P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, SK-II®, Tide®, Vicks®, and Whisper®. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and information about P&G and its brands.
There are major reductions in the rice production across the nation
PURCHASE, N.Y., – Yesterday, over 7,500 football fans in Rochester, N.Y. experienced the magic of a Pepsi Super Bowl halftime show after recently being crowned the most hyped hometown in America. As a reward for showcasing their hype, Rochesterians received the ultimate Super Bowl halftime experience with an exclusive concert headlined by popular singing/songwriting duo Nico & Vinz on Sunday. Pepsi continued to deliver the hype in unexpected ways by surprising the town with special guest appearances from Buffalo Bills new head coach, Rex Ryan, and star wide-receiver Sammy Watkins. The town takeover also included mobile Hype Squads and vending machines offering fans a chance to win VIP passes or meet and greets.
In addition to scoring a once-in-a-lifetime Pepsi halftime extravaganza, nearly 40 Katy Perry fans from Rochester were the lucky winners of tickets to the Pepsi Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show in Arizona featuring global superstar Katy Perry on February 1.
“We can certainly see how Rochester, NY won Pepsi’s ‘Hype Your Hometown’ contest – their energy was electrifying last night,” said Nico & Vinz. The Norwegian duo’s 2014 debut album Black Star Elephant was led by last year’s multi-platinum song of the summer “Am I Wrong,” which was No. 1 in 50 countries and streamed over 200 million times alone on Spotify.
Pepsi first launched the rally cry in search of the most Hyped Hometown in America on Thanksgiving with a TV spot featuring country music superstar Blake Shelton, inviting fans across America to visit www.pepsi.com/halftime, register by specific location and share how they and their friends get hyped for a chance to win the ultimate halftime experience. The contest is just one of the many ways the brand is inviting fans to get “Hyped for Halftime,” as part of Pepsi’s mission to deliver the spirit of halftime in unexpected ways all season long.
For more information on Pepsi’s “Hype Your Hometown” contest visit Pepsi.com.
About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $66 billion in net revenue in 2013, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.
At the heart of PepsiCo is Performance with Purpose – our goal to deliver top-tier financial performance while creating sustainable growth in shareholder value. In practice, Performance with Purpose means providing a wide range of foods and beverages from treats to healthy eats; finding innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment and reduce our operating costs; providing a safe and inclusive workplace for our employees globally; and respecting, supporting and investing in the local communities where we operate. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.
MCLEAN, Va., The USO of Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore (USO-Metro) named Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: SAIC) the first Center Operations Sponsor of the USO Warrior and Family Center at Bethesda. As a sponsor, SAIC will donate $150,000, over the next three years, to assist with the center’s daily operations and programs to benefit wounded warriors, troops, and military families.
SAIC’s Doug Wagoner, Jennifer Smith, Joe Johnson, and Robyn Harvey present USO-Metro President/CEO Elaine Rogers and USO-Metro staff members Annabella Riccio and Pamela Horton with a $150,000 donation in support of the Warrior and Family Center at Bethesda.
On April 1, USO-Metro opened a new 16,000 square foot Warrior and Family Center on the campus of Naval Support Activity Bethesda, home of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The center’s proximity to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center will provide a “home away from home” for those who are treated at the medical center during the recovery process allowing wounded, ill and injured service members to heal and still be close to caregivers. Additionally, the center will provide services to active duty troops and military families to nurture physical health and recreation, family strengthening, positive behavioral health, education, employment, and community reintegration.
“Our centers are funded solely by donations received from local corporate partners, foundations and the public at large. We are deeply grateful for SAIC’s contribution for this effort, and for the many generous contributions over the years,” said USO-Metro President and CEO Elaine Rogers. “SAIC has been and continues to be a valued partner of the USO and has fueled our success in many ways and its commitment to supporting our troops and their families is unparalleled.”
Throughout the year, as part of its donation, SAIC will support activities at and in support of the center. SAIC will also facilitate employee-driven collections to assist USO-Metro with replenishment of its amenities, snack bars, and food pantries in USO centers across the region, including airport lounges and both Warrior and Family Centers at Bethesda and Ft. Belvoir.
“SAIC’s support as a Center Operations Sponsor directly impacts USO’s ability to meet the needs of the region’s large military population,” said SAIC Sector President Doug Wagoner at the center’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. “This sponsorship ensures that the centers at Bethesda and Ft. Belvoir remain strong and productive to support wounded, ill, and injured troops, as well as their families and caregivers.”
About SAIC
SAIC is a leading technology integrator providing full life-cycle services and solutions in the technical, engineering, and enterprise information technology markets. SAIC’s deep domain knowledge and customer relationships enable the delivery of systems engineering and integration offerings for large, complex government and commercial projects. SAIC’s approximately 14,000 employees serve customers in the U.S. federal government, state/local, and global commercial markets, specializing in providing a broad range of higher-end, differentiated technical capabilities. Headquartered in McLean, Va., SAIC has annual revenues of about $4 billion.
This news is courtesy of http://www.saic.com/.
HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., In 2014, Sears Home Services will set out to restore homes and buildings in the communities in which their nearly 8,000 technicians, project consultants and contractors live and serve. Sears Home Services has teamed up with nonprofit Rebuilding Together to help identify homes and community projects in need of assistance.
The program kicks off today with DIY expert and TV personality Ty Pennington and nearly 80 volunteers from Sears Home Services donating their time to participate in the renovation of three local homes and an old church that is being converted into the new Tampa Heights Community Center. Upon completion, the community center will serve approximately 200 children by teaching computer skills, encouraging healthy eating habits, providing other learning opportunities and more. Rebuilding Together focuses on providing critical repairs, accessibility modifications and energy efficient upgrades to low-income homes at no cost to service recipients.
“What I think is amazing about the ‘Building Community Together’ initiative is that you have local people helping to improve the lives of their neighbors,” said Pennington. “I am so excited to be part of this effort and help kick things off. Hopefully, this will inspire people around the country to volunteer in their communities and support what Sears Home Services is doing.”
After Tampa, the initiative will continue in other communities around the country including the Sacramento, Chicago and Philadelphia areas.
This Press Release is courtesy of www.sears.com
On July 1, President Obama announced that the United States had agreed to formally re-establish diplomatic relations with the Republic of Cuba and re-open embassies in our respective countries.
The last time we had an embassy in Cuba was in January of 1961, when we severed diplomatic relations at the height of the Cold War.
Today, more than 54 years later, Secretary of State John Kerry is traveling to Havana to re-open our embassy and take a historic step forward in our efforts to normalize relations with the Cuban government and people.
My visit to Havana, the first by a U.S. Secretary of State in 70 years, comes nine months after President Obama announced a new approach to relations with Cuba. It is an approach based on the ties that bind our people, the interests shared by our governments, and the mutual respect that should characterize relations between two proud nationsóeven when our policies collide.
Humanitarian Jean-Marie Minani reunites displaced families in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), helping them call loved ones for the first time.Nirere lives at the Mugunga refugee camp near Goma, DRC, and has been separated from her mother for 15 months. Thanks to humanitarian calling worker Jean-Marie Minani, the nine-year-old has been able to speak to her mother for the first time since they were separated.
This emotional moment is captured in a film released today as part of Vodafone Firsts, a global programme telling stories about people doing inspirational and life-changing things for the first time with the help of mobile technology.
Minani, who manages four free humanitarian calling booths at the Mugunga Camp as part of the Instant Network programme run by the Vodafone Foundation, Vodafone’s philanthropic arm, has provided around 17,000 displaced people in the camp with access to free mobile calls. This has enabled them to reconnect with their loved ones often or, as in the case of Nirere, for the first time in more than a year.
Another woman who was able to speak to her family for the first time since arriving in the Mugunga camp in 2012, thanks to Minani, is Mama Furaha. Both of her parents were killed during the war and she was displaced from her siblings. She was able to call her brothers for the first time in two years. The moments showing Nirere and Mama Furaha reunited with their relatives are part of the film launched today on Firsts.com.
The diverse Firsts programme has also seen mobile technology used to help British surfer Tom Lowe fulfil his dream of riding the mighty Todos Santos wave in Mexico and Olympic boxer Mary Kom set out to help women in India learn to defend themselves with the creation of India’s first female fight club.
People living at the Mugunga camp are able to make five minutes of free calls a week and, since the project started in the camp in October 2013, 2,000 calls a week have been made. The Vodafone Foundation initiative is conducted in partnership with Vodacom, the pan-African telecoms company majority owned by Vodafone.
Jean-Marie Minani, Vodafone Foundation Instant Network Camp Operations Manager, Goma, said: “Many of the families in the camp have been unable to contact family members left behind in their home villages. It is amazing to be able to put a smile on the faces of some of these people and provide them with an emotional lifeline. For me, this is not just a job, it is a vocation.”
Oisin Walton, Instant Network Programme Manager at the Vodafone Foundation, said: “Jean-Marie is passionate about connecting families who have been displaced as a result of the conflict in the Congo. For the first time, the refugees in the camp have access to free calls to reconnect and stay in touch with their relatives. This is one example of how a simple mobile phone call has the power to reunite families and transform people’s lives.”
About Vodafone Firsts
Vodafone Firsts is Vodafone’s global brand programme, activated across the world from 2014. A social media-led programme, Vodafone Firsts is about inspiring people to do something remarkable for the first time using mobile technology. Vodafone began by recruiting a series of inspirational people to help them achieve their Firsts. In 2014, Vodafone will also ask consumers what they would like to do for the first time, helping to make their ambitions a reality.
About the Vodafone Foundation and the Instant Network programme
The Vodafone Foundation’s Mobile for Good programme combines Vodafone’s charitable giving and technology to make a difference in the world. Globally, the Vodafone Foundation supports projects that are focused on delivering public benefit through the use of mobile technology across the areas of health, education and disaster relief. The Vodafone Foundation invests in the communities in which Vodafone operates and is at the centre of a network of global and local social investment programmes.
The Vodafone Foundation provides assistance in the area of disaster relief through the Instant Network programme. The Vodafone Foundation deploys Vodafone volunteers and technology in emergencies to provide free communications and technical support to aid agencies, enabling them to carry out life-saving work, and to individuals, allowing them to contacts their friends and relatives.
About Vodafone
Vodafone is one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies with approximately 411 million customers in its controlled and jointly controlled markets as of 30 September 2013. Vodafone has equity interests in telecommunications operations in nearly 30 countries and around 50 partner networks worldwide.
This news is courtesy of www.vodafone.com
BELLEVUE, Wash. & OVERLAND PARK, Kan.- T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) and Sprint Corporation (NYSE: S) today announced that they have entered into an amendment to their definitive Business Combination Agreement to create the New T-Mobile. The Boards of Directors of T-Mobile and Sprint have unanimously approved the amendment. The amendment has no impact on T-Mobile’s previously stated outlook on the New T-Mobile’s synergies, long-term profitability and cash generation.
A separate arrangement entered into by SoftBank Group Corp. in connection with the amendment will result in an effective exchange ratio of approximately 11.00 Sprint shares for each T-Mobile share immediately following the closing of the merger, an increase from the originally agreed 9.75 shares. This is a result of SoftBank agreeing to surrender approximately 48.8 million T-Mobile shares acquired in the merger to New T-Mobile immediately following the closing of the transaction, making SoftBank’s effective ratio 11.31 Sprint shares per T-Mobile share. Sprint shareholders other than SoftBank will continue to receive the original fixed exchange ratio of 0.10256 T-Mobile shares for each Sprint share, or the equivalent of approximately 9.75 Sprint shares for each T-Mobile share.
Immediately following the closing, and after the surrender of shares by SoftBank, Deutsche Telekom and SoftBank are expected to hold approximately 43% and 24%, respectively, of the fully diluted New T-Mobile shares, with the remaining approximately 33% held by public shareholders.
T-Mobile has agreed to re-issue to SoftBank the previously surrendered shares upon the achievement of certain stock price milestones by New T-Mobile during a specified measurement period, and subject to certain additional terms, as outlined in the letter agreement that will be filed by each of T-Mobile and Sprint with the SEC.
In addition, the amendment extends the “outside date” under the Business Combination Agreement to July 1, 2020, and modifies certain other provisions of the Business Combination Agreement as described in the companies’ SEC filings.
“Today’s announcement is another significant step forward toward finally closing this transaction! Throughout this journey, T-Mobile and Sprint have been singularly focused on one thing: building a supercharged Un-carrier that will offer U.S. consumers a broad and deep nationwide 5G network, more choice and greater competition. We are now on the threshold of achieving our goal. And did I mention how fun it’s going to be sticking it to Dumb, Dumber and Big Cable along the way? This is going to be epic!” said John Legere, CEO of T-Mobile.
“With today’s agreement in place, we are now turning our attention toward our goal of closing this transaction and creating the New T-Mobile as early as April 1, 2020,” said Mike Sievert, COO and President of T-Mobile, and appointed CEO of the company starting on May 1, 2020. “We are on the verge of being able to do what we’ve set out to do from day one — reshape a broken wireless industry and create the new standard for consumers when it comes to value, speed, quality and service. The New T-Mobile is literally going to change wireless for good and now we’re almost ready to get to the fun part: bringing our teams together, building this supercharged Un-carrier and becoming the envy of the wireless industry and beyond!”
“Completing this step is yet another critical milestone in securing Sprint’s future, and it brings us one step closer to closing this historic transaction that has been years in the making,” said Marcelo Claure, Sprint Executive Chairman. “I’m incredibly thankful for the perseverance and resilience of everyone that has gotten us to this point.”
The T-Mobile and Sprint combination remains subject to certain closing conditions. Additional information can be found at www.NewTMobile.com.
PJT Partners and Goldman Sachs are acting as financial advisors to T-Mobile. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is providing legal counsel to T-Mobile and Deutsche Telekom. Evercore is acting as financial advisor to the committee of independent directors of T-Mobile and Latham & Watkins is providing legal counsel to the committee of independent directors. Morgan Stanley is serving as a financial advisor to Deutsche Telekom.
The Raine Group LLC is acting as lead financial advisor to Sprint. J.P. Morgan is also acting as a financial advisor to Sprint. Morrison & Foerster LLP is providing legal counsel to Sprint and SoftBank.
About T-Mobile
As America’s Un-carrier, T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) is redefining the way consumers and businesses buy wireless services through leading product and service innovation. Our advanced nationwide 4G LTE network delivers outstanding wireless experiences to 86.0 million customers who are unwilling to compromise on quality and value. Based in Bellevue, Washington, T-Mobile US provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile. For more information, please visit http://www.t-mobile.com.
About Sprint:
Sprint (NYSE: S) is a communications services company that creates more and better ways to connect its customers to the things they care about most. Sprint served 54.2 million connections as of December 31, 2019 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; leading no-contract brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Today, Sprint’s legacy of innovation and service continues with an increased investment to dramatically improve coverage, reliability, and speed across its nationwide network and commitment to launching a 5G mobile network in the U.S. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.
MINNEAPOLIS – Habitat for Humanity International announced today that Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will commit $12 million in 2014 to Habitat through the Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity partnership. The funding will be utilized by three programs within the Thrivent Builds partnership: Thrivent Builds Homes, Thrivent Builds Worldwide and Thrivent Builds Repairs. From the partnership’s inception in 2005, Thrivent Financial and its members have now committed more than $200 million and more than 4 million volunteer hours.
Three programs help make a difference
Thrivent Builds Homes, the largest of the three programs, will benefit from $7.8 million in 2014 to help build 126 Habitat for Humanity houses. The program focuses on improving communities by helping Habitat build homes in partnership with low-income families all across the U.S. By the end of 2014, the partnership will have built more than 2,000 Thrivent Builds Homes across the country.
Thrivent Builds Worldwide allows Thrivent members and others to give financially and volunteer their time as they travel to international or domestic locations for a week or more at a time to build Habitat homes and experience other cultures. In 2014, the Thrivent Builds Worldwide program will send up to 115 teams funded by $1.4 million. Including trips planned for 2014, nearly 1,500 homes will have been built in 33 countries through this program.
Thrivent Builds Repairs is the newest of the Thrivent Builds programs. Through this program, Thrivent members and others demonstrate generosity as they help repair existing homes in partnership with families who don’t have the resources or ability to make the repairs themselves. Partner families may include senior citizens, veterans, single mothers or others needing assistance. The Thrivent Builds Repairs program will complete up to 500 repairs with funding of up to $1.25 million in 2014. Since its launch in 2012 through the end of 2014, up to 800 homes will have been repaired through this program.
“Our partnership with Habitat for Humanity is a great way for our members to express their generosity,” said Brad Hewitt, president and CEO of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. “It’s one more reflection of our commitment to strengthening communities here at home and around the world.”
“We are so grateful for Thrivent Financial’s long-term and generous support,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “The Thrivent Builds partnership continues to make a difference in the lives of thousands of families around the world who now have hope for a brighter future.”
Thrivent Financial remains the largest non-governmental supporter of Habitat for Humanity International.
Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity is a multi-year, multi-million dollar partnership between Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Habitat for Humanity International. Thrivent Builds is designed to involve Thrivent members and Lutherans in helping provide a “hand up” to people in need of affordable housing, offering them a path to greater economic independence. Excluding government funding, Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity is Habitat’s largest single source of funding, constructing and repairing more than 3,500 homes in the U.S. and around the world since 2005. For more information, visit ThriventBuilds.com.
About Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is a faith-based, Fortune 500 financial services membership organization helping its nearly 2.5 million members to be wise with money and to live generous lives. Thrivent Financial and its affiliates offer a broad range of financial products and services. As a not-for-profit organization, Thrivent Financial joins with its members to create and support national outreach programs and activities that help congregations, schools, charitable organizations and individuals in need.
This news is courtesy of www.thrivent.com
SPRINGDALE, Ark. —Tyson Foods, Inc. is partnering with Team Rubicon, a military veterans’ group, to enhance disaster relief efforts in the United States. The collaboration will combine Team Rubicon’s knowledge of logistics planning in the field with Tyson Foods’ experience in providing food to victims and volunteers.
As part of the partnership, Tyson Foods will donate a 53 foot semi-trailer that will serve as Team Rubicon’s command center during relief efforts. The truck will include sleeping quarters and office and storage space for Team Rubicon’s staff and volunteers. Tyson Foods will mobilize the unit alongside the company’s Meals that MatterTM mobile feeding unit, when appropriate, and will work collaboratively onsite to bring assistance to disaster victims and aid workers.
“We’re in a lot of communities where we’re responsible for making a difference, said Tyson Foods Chairman John Tyson. “And then you look at these individuals who want to volunteer their time, they volunteered it in the military to protect us, and now they want to volunteer their time to help when there’s a different type of disaster going on. It was simply a natural fit that came together.”
“Command and control must be established quickly during disasters to ensure that the most pressing needs are met, and this trailer will be a valuable resource,” said Jake Wood, cofounder and CEO of Team Rubicon. “We are extremely grateful for Tyson Foods’ support of not only our mission, but the continued example they set by providing warm meals to communities in need.”
Team Rubicon was established by Wood, and fellow former Marine William McNulty, following the Haiti Earthquake in 2010. What sets the non-profit organization apart from other relief organizations is that it combines the skills and experiences of veterans with those of first responders. Beyond helping disaster survivors, their work helps veterans reintegrate through continued service.
Four years after the quake, Team Rubicon has grown from eight to 14,000 members—most of whom are military veterans. Team Rubicon has 51 missions under its belt now, including Superstorm Sandy, Oklahoma Tornadoes, Colorado Floods, and Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. Team Rubicon was recognized at the Clinton Global Initiative for their accomplishments during Hurricane Sandy.
Tyson Foods first launched its Meals that MatterTM unit during Hurricane Sandy. Last year it was deployed to Moore, Oklahoma for three weeks and served more than 80,000 meals in the aftermath of the devastating tornado.
This Press Release is courtesy of www.tysonfoods.com
HARTFORD, Conn. UnitedHealthcare has provided a $1 million grant for the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center’s Office for Community Child Health (OCCH) to help enhance care delivery and address critical public health issues for children. These issues include child development, wellness, and chronic conditions such as asthma and obesity.
Connecticut Children’s OCCH is a first-of-its-kind model for providing community-based, coordinated care for children with an emphasis on healthy child development, wellness, and disease and injury prevention. OCCH is developing and testing health service delivery models that address community, state and health system needs. Many new programs will be piloted in Hartford with the goal of seeing them replicated on state and national levels.
The UnitedHealthcare grant will help create a Maintenance of Certification program to train primary care pediatricians in managing diseases such as asthma and obesity. The UnitedHealthcare Innovation Fund will also be established to help OCCH quickly bring new programs from design to implementation, and ultimately, to evaluation and replication.
In addition, OCCH will provide 600 primary care doctors at more than 170 practices in Connecticut with training to enhance children’s health care quality.
“We are proud to partner with UnitedHealthcare to support pediatricians’ lifelong learning and professional development,” said Paul Dworkin, M.D., director of OCCH. “Together, we will enhance the quality and capacity of pediatric care to address an array of critical health issues, and help promote the healthy development of children in Connecticut and nationwide.”
“We look forward to working with Connecticut Children’s Office for Community Child Health and pediatricians throughout Connecticut to enhance the coordination, delivery and quality of children’s health care,” said Stephen J. Farrell, CEO, UnitedHealthcare of New England.
To date, OCCH has partnered with 10 local, state and regional programs to help community and primary care providers coordinate quality, cost-effective care for children under one roof. The programs include Easy Breathing, Educating Practices in their Communities (EPIC), the Hartford Childhood Wellness Alliance, Help Me Grow, Injury Prevention Center, Lead Action for Medicaid Primary Prevention (LAMPP), Resident Education in Advocacy and Community Health (REACH), and the Special Kids Support Center (SKSC).
“Our office is a better place for primary care because of the OCCH and its programs. Looking ahead, there is an opportunity for OCCH to have a dramatic impact on Connecticut’s childhood obesity epidemic by helping identify key indicators and community resources for patients and families dealing with the disease,” said Barbara Ziogas, M.D., a primary care physician at Farmington Pediatrics. “Obesity is a significant health issue in our country, and the OCCH provides us with the resources to access community care and intervene now.”
About Connecticut Children’s Medical Center
Connecticut Children’s Medical Center is a nationally recognized, 187-bed not-for-profit children’s hospital serving as the primary teaching hospital for the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. Named among the best in the nation for several of its pediatric specialties in the annual U.S. News & World Report “Best Children’s Hospitals” rankings, Connecticut Children’s is the only free-standing children’s hospital in Connecticut that offers comprehensive, world-class health care to children. Our pediatric services are available at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford and at Saint Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury, with neonatal intensive care units at Hartford Hospital and the University of Connecticut Health Center, along with five specialty care centers and 10 other locations across the state. Connecticut Children’s has a medical staff of nearly 1,100 practicing in more than 30 specialties.
About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 800,000 physicians and care professionals, and 6,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. Globally, UnitedHealthcare serves more than 45 million people in health benefits and is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company.
This news is courtesy of www.unitedhealthgroup.com
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.4 percent in May on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index was unchanged before seasonal adjustment.
The gasoline index increased sharply in May, rising 10.4 percent and accounting for most of the seasonally adjusted all items increase. Other energy indexes
were mixed, with the fuel oil index rising but the electricity index declining and the index for natural gas unchanged. The food index was unchanged for the
second month in a row, as a decline in the food at home index offset an increase in the index for food away from home.
The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.1 percent in May, its smallest increase since December. The indexes for shelter, airline fares, and medical care all increased, as did the indexes for personal care, recreation, new vehicles, alcoholic beverages, and tobacco. In contrast, the indexes for apparel, for household furnishings and operations, and for used cars and trucks all declined in May.
The all items index was unchanged for the 12 months ending May after showing a 0.2-percent decline for the 12 months ending April. The energy index fell 16.3 percent over the last 12 months, with the gasoline index down 25.0 percent despite rising in May. The food index increased 1.6 percent over the last year, and the index for all items less food and energy rose 1.7 percent.
Consumer Price Index Data for May 2015
Food
The food index was unchanged in May. As was the case in April, the index for food away from home rose but the food at home index declined. Four of the six major grocery store food group indexes declined in May, led by the dairy and related products index, which fell 0.7 percent. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs declined 0.5 percent, with the index for beef and veal falling 0.1 percent, its first decline since January 2014. The index for nonalcoholic beverages fell 0.2 percent as the coffee index declined, and the index for cereals and bakery products fell 0.1 percent. In contrast to these declines, the index for fruits and vegetables increased 0.3 percent as the fresh vegetables index rose 1.2 percent, more than offsetting a decline in the fresh fruits index. The index for other food at home also rose in May, increasing 0.1 percent. The food at home index rose 0.6 percent for the 12 months ending May. Four of the six major grocery store food groups increased over this span, led by meats, poultry, fish, and eggs, which increased 2.1 percent. The indexes for dairy and related products and for fruits and vegetables declined over the last year. The index for food away from home rose 0.2 percent in May and has risen 3.0 percent over the past 12 months.
Energy
The energy index rose 4.3 percent in May after declining in April. The gasoline index, which fell in April, rose 10.4 percent in May. (Before seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices rose 10.5 percent in May.) The index for fuel oil also increased in May, though the increase was only 0.7 percent. The index for natural gas, which had declined 4 months in a row, was unchanged in May. The electricity index declined in May, falling 1.2 percent after being unchanged in April. The electricity index has increased 0.5 percent over the last 12 months, its smallest 12-month increase since January 2013. The other energy components have sharply declined over the last 12 months: fuel oil has fallen 27.6 percent, gasoline has declined 25.0 percent, and natural gas has decreased 15.4 percent.
All items less food and energy
The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.1 percent in May following a 0.3 percent increase in April. The shelter index, which rose 0.3 percent in April, increased 0.2 percent in May. The indexes for rent and owners’ equivalent rent both rose 0.3 percent, but the index for lodging away from home turned down in May, falling 2.0 percent. The index for airline fares, which had declined 5 of the last 6 months, rose sharply in May, increasing 5.7 percent. The medical care index rose 0.2 percent in May after increasing 0.7 percent in April. The hospital services index rose 0.5 percent and the index for prescription drugs advanced 0.4 percent. The personal care index rose 0.3 percent in May, while the recreation index increased 0.1 percent. Also increasing in May were the indexes for new vehicles (0.2 percent), tobacco (0.4 percent), and alcoholic beverages (0.2 percent). In contrast to these increases, the apparel index declined 0.5 percent in May. The index for household furnishings and operations fell 0.3 percent, and the index for used cars and trucks decreased 0.4 percent.
The index for all items less food and energy has risen 1.7 percent over the past 12 months, a slight decline from the 1.8-percent increase for the 12 months ending April. The shelter index has risen 2.9 percent over the last year, the medical care index has increased 2.8 percent, and the new vehicles index has advanced 0.8 percent. The indexes for airline fares, apparel, and used cars and trucks have all declined over the past 12 months.
Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) was virtually unchanged over the last 12 months, with a May 2015 index level of 237.805 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index rose 0.5 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.
The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) decreased 0.6 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 232.908 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index rose 0.6 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.
The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) declined 0.3 percent over the last 12 months. For the month, the index rose 0.6 percent on a not seasonally adjusted basis. Please note that the indexes for the past 10 to 12 months are subject to revision.
Washington, D.C. – The Global Partnership to End Violence Against Women, a collaboration of Vital Voices Global Partnership, the Avon Foundation for Women and the U.S. Department of State, today presented a new initiative to address gender-based violence: the Gender-Based Violence Emergency Response and Protection Initiative.
In making the announcement, Vital Voices CEO Alyse Nelson said, “we are delighted to be part of this new initiative that leverages the knowledge and expertise of our global women leaders to rapidly and effectively identify and respond to the immediate needs of victims. From providing legal services to women who have suffered domestic violence, to creating viable employment opportunities for survivors of human trafficking these leaders know their communities and they have designed solutions that restore freedom and dignity. They are bringing us closer to a world free of violence.”
The Gender-Based Violence Emergency Response and Protection Initiative is a first-of-its-kind global program dedicated to assisting victims of extreme forms of gender-based violence and harmful traditional practices around the world. The Initiative takes comprehensive steps to eradicate domestic violence, sexual assault, honor crimes and other forms of gender based violence by providing critical support to survivors. By providing short-term emergency grants to cover medical care, emergency shelter, legal assistance, and other related costs, the program allows victims in urgent situations to access life-saving services.
“Gender-based violence is a global epidemic and an affront to humanity,” said Uzra Zeya, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. It is our privilege to join in launching the GBV Initiative, a unique partnership which aims to uphold the dignity and advance the human rights of women and girls around the world.”
The Initiative takes a holistic approach to addressing these crimes by creating a global gender-based violence training program for law enforcement, judges, prosecutors, government officials, and NGO advocates – The Justice Institute on Gender-Based Violence. Over the next two years, the program will work with criminal justice professionals and service providers in India, Mexico, Nepal, South Africa and other countries to develop and provide training that promotes a victim-centered approach to holding offenders accountable for their crimes.
Avon Foundation Global Ambassador Fergie said, “The new Justice Institute on Gender-Based Violence is designed to ensure that laws achieve their promise. It will go even further to protect women who are victims of violence and secure justice for them. I am so proud to announce this pioneering new partnership of the Avon Foundation for Women, Vital Voices and the State Department.”
Cindy Dyer, Vice President for Human Rights at Vital Voices Global Partnership and a former specialized domestic and sexual violence prosecutor, states “we are honored to be part of these groundbreaking, comprehensive initiatives that will provide victims of gender-based violence not only with the critical services they need, but also with the justice they deserve.”
Vital Voices
Vital Voices Global Partnership is a leading non-governmental organization that identifies, invests in and brings visibility to extraordinary women around the world by unleashing their leadership potential to transform lives and accelerate peace and prosperity in their communities. Founded by former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 1997, the organization trains and mentors women leaders as agents of transformative change in economic development, human rights and political participation. The Vital Voices Global Leadership Network includes more than 14,000 leaders representing 144 countries who have trained and mentored 500,000 additional women and girls in their communities. Visit www.vitalvoices.org to learn more.
Avon Global Philanthropy
Avon is a global corporate leader in philanthropy focused on causes that matter most to women. Through 2013, Avon global philanthropy, led by the U.S.-based Avon Foundation for Women, has donated more than $957 million in more than 50 countries. Avon’s funding is focused on breast cancer research and access to care through the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, and efforts to reduce domestic and gender violence through its Speak Out Against Domestic Violence program. The company’s global markets sell special products to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer and domestic violence, conduct hundreds of events for these causes, and educate women around the world through its global army of more than 6 million Avon Representatives.
This news is courtesy of www.avon.com
Mississauga, Ontario,– Walmart Canada announced today that it plans to complete 35 supercentre projects in the company’s fiscal year which runs from February 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015. The company also announced it will expand its distribution network to support its growth and will continue to expand its e-commerce operation, walmart.ca.
The projects will represent a combined investment of close to $500 million in the Canadian economy over the next year and will include the construction of new stores as well as the expansion, remodeling and relocation of existing stores. The investments will include more than $376 million for store projects, $91 million for distribution network projects to grow Walmart Canada’s fresh food capability, and $31 million for e-commerce projects. The combined expansion is expected to generate more than 7,500 jobs over the next year, including construction jobs.
“Customers in every region of Canada are looking to save money on their entire list of shopping needs,” said Shelley Broader, Walmart Canada’s president and CEO. “Delivering on our commitment to help lower the cost of living is our top priority, and our growing network of supercentres and our expanding walmart.ca offering enable us to do just that.”
Walmart Canada’s supercentres provide an unparalleled one-stop shopping experience. Each store carries more than 100,000 products ranging from groceries to apparel, home decor and electronics as well as specialty services such as pharmacies, garden centres and vision centres.
Walmart Canada’s online store — walmart.ca — is growing rapidly and offers more than 150,000 products including everyday needs such as toothpaste, shampoo, dry grocery items including gluten-free products, electronics, furniture, fitness equipment, barbecues, patio sets, and toys for children of all ages. The site offers a growing range of services including free shipping throughout most of Canada and easy Canada Post pick up.
The locations for specific store and distribution centre projects will be announced as specific projects become finalized. Today’s announcement will bring Walmart Canada’s store count to 395 by the end of January, 2015, including 282 supercentres and 113 discount stores.
This Press Release is courtesy of www.walmart.com
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Walmart Foundation’s Oregon State Giving Program recently awarded $446,250 to eight Oregon nonprofits including Willamette Farm and Food, Food for Lane County, Portland Adventist Community Services, Boys and Girls Club of Albany, Portland State University Foundation, Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital, Grow Portland and ACCESS.
Twice a year, The Walmart Foundation’s Oregon State Giving Program awards grants to local organizations that address the needs of the communities they serve and make a significant social impact. Combined with $208,000 given to organizations earlier in 2013, Walmart provided a total of $654,250 to Oregon-based groups for the year.
“We are proud to support the efforts of these eight organizations to achieve our shared goal of helping communities throughout Oregon live better,” said Madeleine Havener, vice president for Walmart. “Walmart strongly believes in giving back locally, and we look forward to watching these great organizations continue their work and find new ways to positively impact lives.”
Willamette Farm and Food received $26,000 to help support Oregon Farm to School Education, Family Outreach, and School Garden Programs.
“This grant will allow us to continue to offer our Farm to School Program education program for children and families and to continue to serve as a resource to farm to school programs throughout Oregon. By educating students about where their food comes from and connecting their families with resources to access healthy, locally grown food, we are giving them the opportunity to connect with their local food system, creating healthier children and a stronger community,” said Megan Kemple, Farm to School Program Director, Willamette Farm and Food Coalition
Food for Lane County received $50,000 to help support food distribution throughout Lane County.
“Childhood hunger is a very serious problem in Lane County. Too many children arrive at school unprepared to learn or focus due to empty stomachs. And during summer months, many families are unable to provide the lunches normally available during the school year. Walmart’s $50,000 donation will enable us to increase the amount of healthy nutritious food we provide to kids during and after the school year through our Cereal for Youth and Summer Food programs. Children need good nutrition to create a solid foundation that has implications for a child’s future physical and mental health, academic achievement, and economic productivity,” said Beverlee Hughes, Executive Director, Food for Lane County
Portland Adventist Community Services received $62,738 that will be used to purchase a new van for meal delivery and food distribution.
“The new truck will allow PACS to pick up perishable food from a number of local stores and the Oregon Food Bank. The food will then be distributed at the PACS Food Pantry and its Mobile Food Pantry to low-income families. In addition, it will enhance PACS’s ability to accept fresh and non-perishable food since this vehicle will keep these items refrigerated during transport to the pantry”. Paul Cole, Executive Director, PACS
Boys and Girls Club of Albany received $50,738 that helps to support and further the “Training Teens for Tomorrow Workforce Development Project”.
“To be ready for entry- level work and then move to the next level, young people must exhibit basic work and interpersonal skills, professionalism and develop transferable work skills that prepare them for careers in their chosen field while conveying the necessity of staying in school and attaining graduation. Thanks to the generous support from the Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program, the Club’s T3 program will be able to provide more than 100 teens with the chance to gain job training and paid work experience, volunteer and community service experience, socialization with peers, academic success coaching, preparation for the future and on-going relationship-building with caring adult role models. We are thrilled to be able to leverage this grant award from the Walmart Foundation and to offer even more vulnerable youth the opportunity to create pathways out of poverty,” said Michelle Davis, Chief Professional Officer, Boys and Girls Club of Albany
Portland State University Foundation received $98,608 which will help to build the “Expanding Harvest for Healthy Kids Program”, a nutrition program for low-income children in Multnomah County.
“This additional funding from the Walmart Foundation will allow us to scale up our outreach to more children and their families,” said Betty Izumi, an assistant professor in PSU’s School of Community Health and co-director of Harvest for Healthy Kids. “We’ve been working in Head Start classrooms since 2010 and we’ve seen that this approach can make a difference,” said Betty Izumi, Assistant Professor, Harvest for Healthy Kids
Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital received $63,904 for the “Health Professional Preparation Program”.
“This grant will enable Oregon Pacific Area Health Education Center, as the educational outreach department of Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital, to expand our Healthcare Professional Preparation Program to fourteen high schools and more than 300 students in our nine county region. Due to the generosity and vision of the Walmart Foundation, these students, who come from underserved and rural areas, will be better equipped academically and intellectually to graduate and move into professional healthcare training and educational tracks,” said Donald Skinner, Executive Director, Oregon Pacific Area Health Education Center
Grow Portland was awarded $45,000 to help promote and expand the “Urban Agriculture 2020 Initiative”.
“Grow Portland is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the expansion of urban gardening and urban agriculture in the Portland Metropolitan Area. Founded in 2010, the organization is focused on creating thriving gardens on previously underutilized urban land. In three years, the organization built three community gardens providing 200 garden plots to around 600 participants. This year, thanks to help from Walmart, Grow Portland is launching it’s Urban Agriculture 2020 initiative that aims to add half a million square feet of urban food production by the year 2020. The goal of this initiative is to build urban agricultural spaces that offer varied ways for the residents around these gardens to be involved in growing healthy food for their family and community,” said David Beller, Director Grow Portland
ACCESS received $50,000 to help develop their nutrition programs, including the “Store Food Recovery Program.”
“Thanks to the generous grant from the Walmart Foundation we have been able to expand our Food Recovery program and the amount of food distributed from an average of 56,000 pounds monthly to over 80,000 pounds. This will increase our capacity and ability to ensure that thousands of hungry families in Jackson County will have more fresh meat, dairy and produce on their tables this winter and beyond,” said Philip Yates, Nutrition Director, ACCESS
Earlier this year, Walmart’s Oregon State Giving Program granted $208,000 to five nonprofits from Portland, Salem, and Corvallis including:
$35,000, Community Outreach (Corvallis) for the creation of a new transitional shelter for women and children.
$30,000, Salem-Keizer Education Foundation (Salem) to assist with expansion of Learning Gardens program to four additional Salem-Keizer Schools.
$30,000, Human Solutions (Portland) to provides Healthy Food choices to low-income working families living in Human Solutions housing.
$35,000, Our House of Portland (Portland) to provide additional access to healthy food and nutrition education for HIV/AIDS individuals in the Portland area.
$50,000, Portland Rescue Mission (Portland) to aid with expansion of services for homeless women and children.
To be considered for support, perspective grantee organizations must submit applications through the Walmart Foundation State Giving Program’s online grant application. Applicants must have a current 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in order to meet the program’s minimum eligibility criteria. Additional information about the program’s funding guidelines and application process are available online at www.walmartfoundation.org/stategiving. The current application cycle opened on January 19, 2014.
This Press Release is courtesy www.walmart.com
WASHINGTON, D.C., – Today, at the National Opportunity Summit in Washington, D.C., Walmart and the Walmart Foundation will announce an initial investment of $16 million to seven national nonprofit organizations, as part of a new Opportunity initiative, a $100 million commitment to help increase the economic mobility of entry level workers in retail and adjacent sectors. This significant investment aims to address some fundamental challenges to advancement, including the skills gap among U.S. workers. The $100 million commitment was first announced last week by Walmart President and CEO Doug McMillon, in conjunction with the roll out of new opportunities and enhanced benefits for Walmart associates.
“We are delighted that Walmart is among the growing group of employers investing in education and employment opportunities for workers across the country,” said Russell Krumnow, managing director of Opportunity Nation. “The National Opportunity Summit is an event where leaders from all sectors can come together around shared ideas to restore opportunity in America, and commit to action that will transform our businesses, communities and our country.”
The skills gap among workers is a pressing issue facing the United States today. According to the Bridge the Gap report published by Harvard Business School, 51 percent of retailers find it difficult to fill middle- skills roles.
“We have been working in the dark for too long as we try to address the skills gap among U.S. workers. Now is the time for corporations, educators, and policymakers to come together to identify critical middle-skills jobs, and pinpoint the specific qualifications needed to keep America competitive,” said Matthew Sigelman, CEO of Burning Glass Technologies. “Through its commitment, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are already leading the way and working with strategic partners to further develop skills training and job placement programs, and create clear career pathways to help workers find a lifetime of success.”
With an initial investment of $16 million in grants, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation will help more than 12,000 retail and related sector workers gain the knowledge and training they need to advance in their careers through programs offered by the following nonprofit organizations: Achieving the Dream, The ACT Foundation, Dress for Success, Goodwill Industries, Jobs for the Future, McKinsey Social Initiative and the National Able Network. The programs will provide skills training, job placement support and develop interactive maps to showcase career paths within retail and adjacent sectors.
“We are excited to partner with other foundations, employers, training providers, government bodies and nonprofit organizations to improve career pathways for people in retail and adjacent sectors,” said Kathleen McLaughlin, president of the Walmart Foundation, senior vice president of Corporate Affairs. “We believe progress requires collective action in the industry to align on the skills required for advancement and to develop more innovative, effective, and universally-used training and assessments that recognize on-the-job learning. Ultimately, we aim to increase economic mobility of the U.S. retail workforce as a whole.”
The grants from Walmart and the Walmart Foundation will support the following programs:
Partner
Grant Amount
Program
Achieving the Dream
$1 million
Build the capacity of four community colleges to place students in training and secure middle-skills jobs in the retail sector, creating a framework that can be replicated at other colleges (914 students served by the grant)
The ACT Foundation
$2.265 million
Develop a retail sector-wide competency model and interactive career maps to showcase the career paths of existing jobs in retail, logistics and customer service
Dress for Success
$2.58 million
Provide 5,400 disadvantaged women from more than 30 states with pre-employment training that will help them obtain jobs and advance in their careers
Goodwill Industries
$3 million
Build the capacity of eight Goodwill affiliates to provide training and career pathways to advance people from entry level to middle-skills jobs in retail, logistics and customer service (1,500 individuals served by grant)
Jobs for the Future
$3 million
Grow the capacity of 10 organizations to provide training needed for entry level workers to access jobs in the transportation, distribution and logistics sectors (3,000 individuals served by grant)
McKinsey Social Initiative
$3.2 million
Develop an innovative retail training and job placement model, and pilot with 650 low-income youths
National Able Network
$1 million
Build the capacity of 18 centers to train and provide job placement assistance for 1,000 individuals working in retail, logistics and manufacturing
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation’s $100 million commitment over five years will create the career maps, training approaches and alignment among employers and training providers that will help many of the 15 million people working in retail today, including seven million women. In developing these tools and practices, the Walmart Foundation will support programs that directly help 50,000 people, including 30,000 workers move from entry level to middle-skills jobs. The commitment is part of the Walmart Foundation’s focus on creating economic opportunities for individuals globally. The Foundation is also committed to helping people live better through philanthropic efforts in the areas of sustainability and community.
About Philanthropy at Walmart
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are committed to helping people live better through philanthropic efforts that draw on the strengths of Walmart in the arenas of sustainability, economic opportunity, and community. As part of our commitment to creating a more sustainable food system worldwide, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are leading the fight against hunger in the United States. They recently exceeded a $2 billion goal to fight hunger one year ahead of schedule and have donated more than 1.5 billion pounds of food to those in need across the country. To learn more about Walmart’s giving, visit www.foundation.walmart.com.
BENTONVILLE, Ark.,– Today, Walmart furthers its commitment to provide greater access to opportunities across 20 U.S. communities with the announcement of $1.75 million in grants from the Walmart Foundation to three of the nation’s leading nonprofit organizations: National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), National Urban League (NUL) and United Negro College Fund (UNCF). The grant to UNCF will fund a program to help assure historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) continue as a source of quality degrees for African American students. In addition, the grants to NUL and NAACP will fund programs to help individuals receive the support they need to secure and build meaningful careers through training and placement assistance, and help businesses create more job opportunities.
There is an increase in demand today for diverse talent in the workforce, according to the inaugural Diversity Jobs Index and Report from the Professional Diversity Network, Inc. To meet this demand, Walmart continues to help African Americans access career opportunities through work with strategic partners and by fostering diversity and inclusion among its associates and suppliers.
“With today’s economic climate there is a growing need to empower individuals in communities nationwide with access to opportunities that will help them live better. Part of this work will come from helping businesses understand and unlock the powerful results that a more diverse workforce has to offer,” said Tony Waller, senior director, corporate affairs, Walmart. “By helping one individual at a time build a successful career, we are growing a more competitive work environment. A competitive environment ignites innovation, which helps build stronger communities and, ultimately, a stronger America.”
“Since 2006, we have been able to increasingly grow our workforce training program through ongoing support from the Walmart Foundation and subsequently have exceeded expectations of the number of individuals we’ve been able to serve,” said Marc H. Morial, president and chief executive officer of the National Urban League. “This new grant will help us further strengthen our workforce development programs, and continue helping African Americans and other communities of color across the United States secure economic independence and empowerment.”
The Walmart Foundation grant of $500,000 to UNCF will help16 historically black colleges and universities achieve long-term financial stability so they can continue providing African American students with access to higher education. In addition, a $1 million grant to NUL and a $250,000 grant to NAACP will fund programs to provide career counseling and job placement support, and help businesses evaluate current hiring policies.
Learn more about the Walmart commitment to career opportunities. For more information about the Walmart Foundation visit foundation.walmart.com.
About Philanthropy at Walmart
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are committed to helping people live better through philanthropic efforts. By operating globally and giving back locally, Walmart is uniquely positioned to address the needs of the communities it serves and make a significant social impact within its core areas of giving: Hunger Relief & Healthy Eating, Sustainability, Career Opportunity and Women’s Economic Empowerment. Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are leading the fight against hunger in the United States with a $2 billion commitment through 2015. Together, they have donated more than 1 billion meals to those in need across the country.
This Press Release is courtesy of www.walmart.com
BENTON HARBOR, Mich., — Following the recent introduction of the first ever ENERGY STAR® certified electric dryer1, Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is proud to announce the next step in its commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency with its newest innovation in dryer technology. The new Whirlpool® HybridCare™ clothes dryer WED99HED with Hybrid Heat Pump technology is designed to regenerate energy during the drying cycle to reduce energy consumption while providing dryer speed and performance flexibility.
The new Whirlpool(R) HybridCare(TM) clothes dryer with Hybrid Heat Pump technology.
Compared to typical dryers that use large amounts of energy in the form of venting hot, moist air, the Whirlpool brand HybridCare™ dryer is a ventless heat pump dryer that uses a refrigeration system to dry and recycle the same air.
HybridCare™ technology uses advanced sensors tuned to manage energy consumption and temperature to deliver drying performance and energy savings. The three available modes allow flexibility while providing great drying results:
Speed mode – used when consumer focus is on managing time
Eco mode – used when optimizing energy is the priority
Balanced mode – blends the performance of Speed and Eco
“Whirlpool Corporation is at the forefront of residential energy efficiency gains in clothes dryers,” said Chris Ball, General Manager of the Laundry category for Whirlpool North America. “Our progress in developing new technologies that combine to create highly energy-efficient drying cycles, while offering better fabric care, demonstrates our commitment to offering consumers the most innovative and effective products for their home.”
Whirlpool Corporation is collaborating with organizations including the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA), an alliance of more than 140 Northwest utilities and energy efficiency organizations, in support of its efforts to mobilize the market toward energy efficiency. Through this relationship, Whirlpool and NEEA work to make the greatest long-term impact on the marketplace through the adoption of energy-efficient products, like the HybridCare™ dryer.
HybridCare™ technology has the capability to use less heat than vented dryers. The ventless dryer technology will allow consumers in North America to reduce their carbon footprint and the estimated $4B in wasted energy attributed to dryers 2.
As a ventless technology, HybridCare™ does not require an outside vent, allowing the consumer to install it in more locations throughout the home. The HybridCare™ technology dryer will also match select front load washers of the currently available Duet series, making it a logical choice for consumers desiring greater levels of energy savings.
Whirlpool will begin shipping units to select U.S. markets in Q4 2014. It will expand to other U.S. markets and Canada in early 2015, generating excitement among some major utilities. “Whirlpool Corporation has been a great partner with us as we work together to advance dryer energy efficiency. Dryers are the next frontier for significant energy savings in the home, and innovations like the heat pump dryer are a key technology to unlocking these savings,” said Jeff Harris, Director, Technology and Market Strategy, NEEA.
Whirlpool Corporation’s full sustainability strategy engages nearly every aspect of its business, from materials and processes, to product technologies and end-of-life recycling, all aimed at a more sustainable future. Whirlpool Corporation believes in improving lives, one home, one family at a time through innovative, world-class products and services. When it comes to sustainability, Whirlpool works to satisfy its consumers, protect the environment, nurture its communities and embed sustainability into its products and processes while driving extraordinary value and enhancing reputation.
About Whirlpool Corporation
Whirlpool Corporation is the world’s leading global manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of approximately $19 billion in 2013, 69,000 employees, and 59 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world. The company markets Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, Bauknecht and other major brand names. We earn the trust of consumers in nearly every country by focusing on what matters most. Additional information about the company can be found at http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com.
Buenos Aires, Argentina, 11 December 2017 – A new initiative designed to drive public-private dialogue on e-commerce was launched today (11 December) by the World Trade Organization, the World Economic Forum and the Electronic World Trade Platform (eWTP). The initiative, entitled ‘Enabling E-commerce’, aims to bring together leading voices from governments, businesses and other stakeholders to begin a high-level conversation on e-commerce policies and practices that can benefit small businesses.
The launch event took place in Buenos Aires, on the margins of the WTO’s 11th Ministerial Conference. Director-General Roberto Azevêdo was joined by Jack Ma, Executive Chairman of Alibaba Group, representing the Electronic World Trade Platform (eWTP), and Rick Samans, Head of Global Agenda, Member of the Managing Board, World Economic Forum.
E-commerce is a growing force in global trade and has the potential to make the world economy more inclusive by creating opportunities for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and expanding choice for consumers. However, for MSME engagement in e-commerce to grow rapidly worldwide, reforms to industry practices and government policies are needed.
The Enabling E-commerce initiative will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to develop a clearer understanding of how to enable MSME e-commerce around the globe. It will also encourage research and knowledge sharing on the practical challenges faced by MSMEs and serve as a bridge between global e-commerce practice and policy.
DG Azevêdo said: “There has been a groundswell of interest in e-commerce at the WTO – and in its potential to lift up small businesses around the world. The vibrant debate on these issues has shown the desire of many WTO members to bridge the digital divide, and to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities of e-commerce. The Enabling E-commerce initiative will therefore provide a valuable resource – bringing a range of stakeholders together to further explore these issues. I want to thank the World Economic Forum and eWTP for this initiative.”
Jack Ma said: “The Enabling E-commerce Initiative envisions a world where small businesses, young people and developing countries can succeed in the global marketplace. The problem with globalization is that its benefits have not been made available to all. We cannot stop globalization, we must improve it. If business and government work together, we can create a more inclusive trade model to expand the benefits of globalization to those who have been left behind.”
Richard Samans said: “We have an opportunity to harness innovation to create a more inclusive global economy. As the international organization for public-private cooperation, the World Economic Forum will work with WTO and eWTP to bring all interested stakeholders together to deepen understanding of how to facilitate cross-border ecommerce for small business.”
The initiative will start its work early in 2018, with a high-level meeting at Davos in January. This will be followed up by other conversations, including a major event in Geneva later in the year.
For more information, please contact: World Trade Organization: Ankai Xu ankai.xu@wto.org , Dana Bajjali dana.bajjali@wto.org ; World Economic Forum: Dai Di, di.dai@weforum.org