Allstate Foundation Purple Purse® ambassador Kerry Washington unveiled her latest purse design to bring attention to domestic violence and financial abuse before an audience of community leaders, survivors and VIPs on Sept. 24 in New York City. In so doing, she also kicked off a month-long effort to raise funds for domestic violence programs nationwide.
Golden Globe and Emmy nominated Washington partnered with handbag designer, Dee Ocleppo, to create the 2015 Purple Purse. The limited-edition, on-trend clutch was created to encourage the public to talk about domestic violence and financial abuse. This year, the purple purse, retailing at $350, is available for purchase beginning Sept. 25 at select Saks Fifth Avenue locations and on Saks.com with 25 percent of proceeds supporting abuse programs.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7616851-allstate-foundation-purple-purse/
QROPS - Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes were introduced in 2006 as part of a major overhaul of Britain\'s pension framework, aimed at simplifying pension transfers to another country. New legislation was passed by the UK tax authority, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), in order to comply with an EU directive that pensions be free to move across Europe\'s borders. This ruling means that individuals, wishing to retire to countries such as France, Spain and Portugal can effectively take their UK pension funds with them: http://www.axis-finance.com/what-are-qrops.php
Who can apply for a QROPS?
A QROPS is specifically designed to allow anyone, not intending to retire in the UK, to transfer existing and frozen UK pension plans into a more appropriate retirement vehicle.
Individuals who are, or have been members of a UK registered pension fund and are currently living outside of the UK, or intending to leave the UK on a permanent basis, can consider transferring their retirement fund into a QROPS: http://www.axis-finance.com/qrops-living-in-France
Transfers to QROPS
The UK Government allows transfers to QROPS to be made free of UK tax. Their aim is to simplify the affairs of individuals leaving the UK on a permanent basis and to encourage them to continue saving in order to provide an income when they retire. There is no official limit to the amount of funds that may be transferred to a QROPS: http://www.axis-finance.com/qrops-France-pension-transfers
QROPS - HMRC Rules
What makes a scheme a QROPS?
In order to transfer your UK pension into a QROPS, it is necessary for the overseas pension scheme to be accepted by HMRC. The criteria outlined by HMRC for an overseas scheme to qualify as a QROPS include:
- The pension scheme must be established outside of the UK
- It must be recognised for tax purposes in the country where it is located
- It must be regulated in the country in which it is established
Age that benefits can be taken from a QROPS
The QROPS regime mirrors that of a regulated pension scheme in the UK. Benefits, including lump sum payments, from the transferred funds may not be distributed earlier than the normal retirement age of 55, if an individual has been a non-UK resident for less than five complete tax years: http://www.axis-finance.com/qrops-living-in-France-HMRC-Rules
QROPS Reporting requirements
HMRC should be notified if a payment is made within the first five tax years of a member becoming non-UK tax resident. Any benefits paid before five complete tax years of non-UK residency and not in accordance with UK Pension rules will be deemed an unauthorised payment.
The scheme manager does not have to notify HMRC if the payment is made 10 or more years after the day of the transfer that created the QROPS fund for the \'relevant member\', provided that the person is non UK resident for the duration of this period. This 10 year \'bracket\' for reporting payments took effect as of 6 April 2012.
QROPS List
When transferring your UK pension to a scheme overseas, it is important to check that the scheme meets the conditions to be a qualifying recognised overseas pension scheme (QROPS). Not all transfers to overseas or offshore schemes are QROPS transfers; it is therefore essential to verify that the scheme receiving your UK benefits is on the QROPS list published by HMRC, otherwise a transfer will be treated as a transfer to a non-qualifying overseas scheme and substantial penalties may be applied by HMRC at the time of transfer: http://www.axis-finance.com/qrops-list-living-in-France
How do I know if it is a legitimate QROPS scheme?
QROPS approved plans that agree to have their details published are listed on the HMRC website. A UK Pension administrator will confirm a QROPS listing before agreeing to a transfer. If not listed, the administrator will contact HMRC
Jewelry Television® will support the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women® this month to help fight heart disease. The shopping network will roll out ‘Love Your Heart,’ a comprehensive, multimedia campaign created to raise awareness and educate viewers about the risks of heart disease, and raise funds to support the Go Red for Women® movement.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/65489-jewelry-television-supports-american-heart-association-go-red-for-women
In 2011, PetSafe® brand launched its nationwide Bark for Your Park program to help communities build their own off-leash dog parks. In order to help even more communities this year, PetSafe brand is restructuring the contest into a grant-giving program and increasing the number of awards from five to 25.
“In the past five years, we’ve given away over $850,000 to communities to build dog parks of their own, but now we want to help communities during every stage of development,” said Tracy Mulder, marketing manager, PetSafe brand. “Our new Bark for Your Park program is expanding to not only help break ground on new parks, but also help fund maintenance and improvements for existing parks.”
Communities can submit a grant application now through June 30, 2016 on www.petsafe.net/barkforyourpark. The applications will be reviewed by an internal committee and PetSafe brand will award five new park grants valuing $25,000 each, 10 park makeover grants valuing $10,000 each, and 10 park maintenance grants valuing $5,000 each. This year’s award recipients will receive a combination of funds and commercial-grade dog park equipment from UltraSite, a PlayCore Company. The winning communities will be announced over a 5-week period during August through September.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7827752-petsafe-dogs-bark-for-your-park/
Vestergaard, a global company dedicated to improving the health of disadvantaged people, launched its LifeStraw® Follow the Liters program in Kenya this month. As part of this program, high-volume LifeStraw® Community water purifiers have been distributed to provide more than 23 million liters of safe water a year to over 125,000 school children throughout Kenya’s western province.
The distribution is made possible through the LifeStraw® Follow the Liters program which harnesses the collective power of individuals to help solve one of the world’s most pressing issues – lack of access to safe drinking water for people in developing countries. When a consumer purchases any LifeStraw® product, a portion of the funds are used to provide one school child in a developing country with safe drinking water for an entire school year.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7351651-vestergaard-lifestraw-follow-the-liters-program-kenya-safe-water/
As asset growth in traditional hedge funds from institutional investors continues to slow, hedge fund managers are pinning their hopes on the power of new products to attract investor assets and drive growth. However, many are underestimating the costs involved and the effect on margins, according to EY’s 2014 global hedge fund and investor survey: Shifting strategies: winning investor assets in a competitive landscape.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7365751-ey-survey-institutional-investors-shifting-allocation-strategies-driving-hedge-funds-towards-new-products/
In celebration of the second annual “Beverly Hills Dog Show Presented by Purina,” a show that will combine the stars of Hollywood with the stars of the dog world, Purina invites pet lovers across the globe to share the positive impact dogs make in our lives through its “Every Dog is a Star” program.
Dog owners are encouraged to log onto Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to post photos or videos showing how their dog is the true star of the family. For every original post submitted between March 26-April 8, using the hashtag #BHDogShow and tagging @Purina, Purina will donate five dollars (up to $25,000) to Mutt-i-grees, a program run by North Shore Animal League America. Mutt-i-grees helps show children the positive impact pets can have on their lives by teaching them important life skills such as empathy, friendship and kindness through interaction with shelter dogs. Purina and the Mutt-i-grees program share the belief that pets and people are better together and are committed to providing opportunities where these relationships can grow. The funds will be used to help expand the program to additional schools around the country.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8258851-purina-beverly-hills-second-annual-dog-show-2018/
Zelda was found filthy, hungry and matted. Barely recognizable as a dog, her rescuers cleaned her up to reveal a tiny Shih Tzu. Unfortunately, Zelda’s story is similar to the nearly 8 million other animals entering shelters each year. That’s why Wahl has teamed up with GreaterGood.org to donate funds and grooming supplies to shelters nationwide. The goal: Transform more than 20,000 dogs this year and get them ready for adoption.
“Due to lack of resources, less than half of dogs entering shelters are getting the grooming they desperately need,” says Shay Moeller, pet product manager for Wahl. “First impressions are crucial, and without proper grooming, many of these dogs are perceived to be ‘damaged goods.’ By providing shelters with much-needed grooming supplies, we can transform these dogs into the healthy, fun loving pets they really are.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7828751-wahl-dirty-dogs-contest/
Dozens of actors, musicians, sports personalities and other distinguished guests donated their time on September 11th to honor the memories of those who lost their lives on 9/11 by raising more than $12 million for charities around the world. This special event, called Charity Day, is hosted each year by BGC Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ: BGCP) (“BGC Partners” or “BGC”), a leading global brokerage company servicing the financial and real estate markets, and its affiliates Cantor Fitzgerald and GFI Group. Celebrities who attended the event included Matthew McConaughey, Common, and Liev Schreiber in New York, and Nicole Scherzinger, Tom Hardy and Jimmy Carr in London.
In addition to the millions of dollars raised for many worthy causes, BGC Partners, Cantor Fitzgerald and GFI Group announced they are raising $5 million for the families severely impacted by Hurricanes Maria and Jose in Puerto Rico. These funds will be raised over the next several months and prepaid $1000 American Express® cash cards will be distributed to 5,000 families in January 2019.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8320352-bgc-partners-2018-charity-day/
Today, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) unveiled its newest fundraising and endurance initiative, spin4 crohn’s & colitis cures, an indoor cycling event that will raise funds for research, awareness, and patient services. The inaugural event will take place on December 5th at local studios and fitness centers in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago as part of Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week.
“We’re eager to create a movement by launching spin4 crohn’s & colitis curesacross the country on December 5,” said Craig Comins, vice president of CCFA’s Team Challenge program. “It’s about motivating advocates to contribute to the IBD community and take research to the next level. We welcome all ages and athletic abilities to join us with one united voice to spin4 cures.”
Individuals form teams of up to four people per bike and participate in a two-hour indoor cycling relay. Alternatively, solo riders can take on the entire two-hours themselves. No matter the size of the team, each bike has a $1,000 fundraising commitment for CCFA. Professional instructors will lead teams to high-energy music offering a lively workout experience. The event is capped off with a cocktail hour to reward participants for their efforts in the stationary bike relay and fundraising success.
To view the multimedia news release visit
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7512651-ccfa-spin4-crohns-colitis-cures/
As the official Champagne sponsor for The Screen Actors Guild Awards since 2001, Champagne Taittinger, continued its long-time partnership on Sunday, January 27th, 2019. Global Ambassador and Artistic Director Vitalie Taittinger officiated the opening of the star-studded show, which celebrated a milestone 25th anniversary this year with a silver carpet in lieu of the traditional red. Taittinger was joined by actor Jon Huertas, known for his role on ABC’s award-winning show This is Us at the top of the carpet for a toast of Champagne Taittinger’s acclaimed Brut La Française NV to kick off the show at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
Prior to the show, Vitalie Taittinger commented: “We are extremely honored to be a long-standing partner of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation and all of the good work that they do. This year, our family was excited to present two 15-liter bottles (also known as a Nebuchadnezzar) to be auctioned by SAG-AFTRA to raise additional funds for their work. Our entire team signed one of the bottles and they were all very happy to participate! The other will be offered for each of the actors attending the show to sign.” She continued, “We hope this special touch will help raise more funds than ever for this year!”
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8477951-kobrand-taittinger-champagne-screen-actors-guild-awards/
In celebration of World Water Day (March 22), eight Cirque du Soleil Las Vegas resident productions became ONE for the second annual One Night for ONE DROP Friday, March 21, at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. The one-night-only philanthropic event benefiting ONE DROP – the non-profit organization established by Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté – raised awareness and funds for water-related issues around the world.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/7130251-cirque-du-soleil-one-night-for-one-drop