The last year saw many achievements for Chengdu’s meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) industry. According to data from the Chengdu Municipal Statistics Bureau, Chengdu hosted 530 major exhibitions, conferences and forums in 2014, of which 214 were exhibitions, 45 more than a year earlier or a year-over-year (YOY) growth rate of 26.6 percent, and 113 were international conferences and forums, 8 more than a year earlier, or a YOY growth rate of 7.6 percent. The events took up 3.25 million square meters of space in the aggregate, a YOY growth rate of 8.0 percent, of which 49 were international in nature, occupying 1.74 million square meters, a YOY growth rate of 16.0 percent. Direct revenue derived from the industry for 2014 totaled 6.95 billion yuan, up 14.9 percent year-on-year while overall revenue (direct plus indirect) revenue reached 58.4 billion yuan, up 14.5 percent year-on-year.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7511651-chengdu-china-mice-industry/
Using an entrepreneurial distribution model, the Natural Light project will now donate a second instalment of 20,000 solar lamps. These will be sold by new sales agents in off-grid communities in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone and, for the first time, in Malawi.
The aim of this project, besides bringing a sustainable light source to off-grid communities, was to create a business model for local sales agents to make a living. This has been a great success. Today more than 50 sales agents in three African nations – Zimbabwe, Zambia and Sierra Leone – have their own businesses selling Natural Light solar lamps.
The Natural Light project, in collaboration with social business Little Sun, and NGO Plan International, was created to celebrate the VELUX Group’s 75th anniversary. Following an international design competition last year, which received 172 submissions from all over the world, the winning design was chosen and 14,500 units of the solar lamp were distributed in Africa – one for each employee of the VELUX Group and its sister companies.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8006751-velux-more-natural-light-shine-in-africa/
In honor of National Volunteer Month, Chuck E. Cheese’s, the preferred destination for Big Brothers Big Sisters, is raising awareness of the more than 30,000 unmatched Littles in need of a Big. Chuck E. himself is kicking off a nationwide honorary Big program by becoming a Big for a day to a Little in Dallas. Throughout the month, all Chuck E. Cheese’s locations will also offer guests opportunities to support Big Brothers Big Sisters by donating at the register or participating in a National Night Out event on April 14.
Starting in Dallas, Big Brothers Big Sisters will match Chuck E. with a deserving Little for a surprise visit to his or her school, followed by an after school play date during Chuck E. Cheese’s National Night Out event on April 14 from 5 p.m.–9 p.m. National Night Out is a nationwide event in which a portion of the proceeds from all who attend will be donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7491951-chuck-e-cheese-big-brothers-big-sisters/
Whirlpool Corporation is celebrating the conclusion of its first-ever Global Habitat Build Project -- a project which engaged more than 200 Whirlpool Corporation employee volunteers in 14 Habitat for Humanity home build projects in eight countries. The project was coordinated to recognize the many contributions of the company’s former CEO, Jeff Fettig, who stepped down as CEO on October 31 of this year, and to celebrate the 17-year partnership between Habitat for Humanity International and Whirlpool Corporation.
“What better way to recognize the standard of giving back set by our Chairman and former CEO, Jeff Fettig, than to collectively build homes around the world in his honor,” said Jeff Noel, the corporate vice president of communications & public affairs for Whirlpool Corporation. “At the same time, we’re celebrating our long-standing relationship with Habitat for Humanity. Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International, gave his time to hammer nails alongside our employees, honoring our collaborative work building homes and positively impacting society for nearly two decades.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8219351-whirlpool-celebrates-global-habitat-build-project/
BLACK+DECKER™ announces new powered kitchen and bathroom scrubbers for cleaning without all the work. The GrimeBuster™, GrimeBuster™ Pro, and ScumBuster® Pro motorize scrubbing in order to agitate surface materials, eliminating the typical “elbow grease” that manual cleaning requires.
The GrimeBuster™ ($14.99 MSRP) and GrimeBuster™ Pro ($29.99 MSRP) quickly clean kitchen surfaces, dirty pots and pans, sinks, microwaves, and more. They are lightweight and each feature an ergonomic design. With a slip-resistant grip, they are also submersible in water. Each scrubber comes with two dishwasher-safe scrubbing attachments – one with a non-scratch sponge and one with nylon bristles. Heavy-duty sponge and bristle brush attachments will be sold separately. The GrimeBuster™ is powered by four included alkaline batteries. The GrimeBuster™ Pro has added features, including a longer handle and a charging dock that powers its long-lasting Lithium-Ion battery. The attractively designed GrimeBuster™ Pro can be left on the counter on its charging base until it’s time to clean again.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8005955-black-decker-powered-scrubbers/
Neighbors across the country will soon have an exciting opportunity to help change their communities for the better through State Farm Neighborhood Assist®. This philanthropic program awards 40 causes a $25,000 grant. Anyone in the United States can submit a cause beginning March 9 through March 30. Ultimately, voters will decide which community improvement projects win big.
Returning for its fourth year, State Farm Neighborhood Assist asks individuals to identify causes that would help make their communities safer, stronger and better-educated. Up to 4,000 causes will be accepted. The State Farm Youth Advisory Board (YAB) will then narrow down the field, using a scoring rubric to identify the top 200 submissions. The public will have a chance to vote 10 times a day from May 14 through June 3 for their favorite causes from the list of finalists. The 40 causes that receive the most votes will win a $25,000 grant. The nominations and votes will be accepted exclusively through a free Facebook app.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7417331-state-farm-neighborhood-assist/
In recognition of their extraordinary accomplishments in furthering NASA’s mission of exploration and discovery, veteran astronauts Brian Duffy and Scott Parazynski have been selected for induction into the elite United States Astronaut Hall of Fame®. The announcement was made today at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex by Dan Brandenstein, Hall of Fame astronaut and board chairman of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, which oversees the induction selection process.
Duffy and Parazynski will be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex beginning with the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation Gala on the evening of May 13 and culminating with a public ceremony on May 14 at 2 p.m. that will be attended by a roster of astronaut legends.
Both Duffy and Parazynski make up the 15th group of space shuttle astronauts to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and both flew aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis, which is now located at the visitor complex and will be the site of the induction ceremony in May. Adding the two veteran astronauts to the Hall of Fame will bring the total number of astronauts inducted to 93.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7748851-kennedy-space-center-astronaut-hall-of-fame/
Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children from ages 1 to 19 in the U.S. Yet, childhood cancer research and services are vastly and consistently underfunded. This weekend, Northwestern Mutual financial professionals and employees will support the fight against childhood cancer through its nonprofit partner, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), by holding nearly 200 lemonade stands as part of the Foundation’s national fundraising initiative, Alex’s Lemonade Days (June 12-14).
Founded by Alex Scott (1996-2004) in 2004, Alex’s Lemonade Days is a three-day national event that grew out of Alex’s front yard lemonade stand. During Alex’s Lemonade Days, dedicated volunteers host thousands of Alex’s Lemonade Stands across the country, raising more than $1 million for childhood cancer research. June 2015 will mark the 12th Annual Lemonade Days, and will continue Alex’s mission to raise money one cup of lemonade at a time, renewing her idea that any contributor, at any age, can make a difference.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7422153-northwestern-mutual-lemonade-days/
MINI TAKES THE STATES 2016 (MTTS), the eagerly anticipated two-week cross-country rally for MINI owners and enthusiasts, kicked off this weekend in Atlanta, GA. The bi-annual trek will travel track-to-track through America's open roads, stopping in 14 cities over 15 days with thousands of MINIs. Along the way, the group will rally to #DefyHunger with charity partner Feeding America.
“Big things happen when the MINI community comes together, and this year is no different,” said Tom Noble, Department Head, MINI Brand Communications. “MINI TAKES THE STATES is the ultimate road trip and we're as excited for the adventure as we are for our cause. The fight against hunger has many faces, it's not always a lack of food but rather a lack of the right resources to avoid waste, maximize efficiencies and get the food where it's needed most. Through our Feeding America partnership, we hope to raise money and awareness as we motor with purpose across America.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7861251-mini-takes-the-states/
The Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. Ralph camera aboard the New Horizons mission will provide the closest images we have ever seen of Pluto when the spacecraft arrives at the dwarf planet on July 14.
Ralph, the main “eyes” of New Horizon is designed to help scientists map the surface geology of Pluto and its moons, and investigate Kuiper Belt objects. The small but powerful Ralph weighs only 23 pounds and operates on approximately seven watts, the power of a standard night light. The entire telescope operates around 220 K (-60°F) in the cold darkness of the outer solar system. After a journey of more than nine years, Ralph will capture the first ever close-up snapshots of Pluto when New Horizons passes within 7,000 miles of the tiny, icy dwarf planet.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7530151-ball-aerospace-new-horizons-mission-pluto/
Der nahezu 14 Millionen Mal produzierte Polo von Volkswagen ist weltweit ein automobiler Favorit vieler Autofahrer/innen. Heute folgte mit der Weltpremiere des in weiten Bereichen weiterentwickelten Polo in Wolfsburg die neueste Generation des erfolgreichen Kompakten. Kennzeichen: neue Motoren, neue Technik und neue Optik. Ähnlich wie beim Debüt des up! und Beetle, bringt Volkswagen zur Markteinführung in Europa zudem ein exclusiv ausgestattetes Launchmodell auf den Markt: den Polo „Fresh\
Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group and Shanghai Diamond Exchange (SDE) continue as proud Headline Partners of the prestigious JNA Awards 2018. While the KGK Group, Guangdong Gems & Jade Exchange and Guangdong Land Holdings Limited (GDLAND) are returning as Honoured Partners for 2018.
The JNA Awards is recognised as one of the jewellery industry's most respected awards programmes. The partnership renewal signing ceremony took place during the Awards gala dinner in Hong Kong on 14 September, which was attended by more than 500 of the industry's most influential and established players.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8202351-jna-awards-2018/
