The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and the March of Dimes Foundation announce the launch of a new $10 million Prematurity Research Center here.
The March of Dimes will invest $10 million during the next five years to create a transdisciplinary center conducting team-based research, led by physicians and researchers at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, to discover the unknown causes of preterm birth and develop new strategies to prevent it. This March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center at the University of Pennsylvania is part of a “medical Manhattan Project” of five such centers in the United States created by the foundation since 2011.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/65164-march-of-dimes-march-for-babies-2014/
In December 2012, we posted an OnSafety blog, warning of furniture, television and appliance-related tip-over incidents. At that time, CPSC reported nearly 350 deaths, most involving young children. Since then, more than 80 people have died when a dresser, TV, bookcase, table, appliance or other large item tipped over and fell on them. A new report from our staff indicates that 430 tragic deaths occurred between 2000 and 2013, and an estimated 38,000 annual injuries, many of which were serious, from 2011 through 2013.
In most of the incidents, a child was crushed by the product or struck on the head by the product. What is remarkable is the number of families who have turned tragedy into advocacy. Jackie Collas, a Philadelphia-area resident, is using social media to honor her son, Curren, and encourage parents to anchor their furniture. Lisa Seifert of Chicago created Shane’s Foundation to honor her precious son and to increase awareness, education and safety.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7085251-cpsc-reports-430-tip-over-deaths-anchor-it-and-protect-a-child/
The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) and Major League Baseball (MLB) are once again teaming up to hit home runs for prostate cancer research and encourage fans to “Keep Dad in the Game” as part of the yearly celebration of Father’s Day and annual Home Run Challenge.
This year Joe Torre, MLB’s Chief Baseball Officer, Hall of Famer and prostate cancer survivor, encourages baseball fans everywhere to support PCF’s efforts to end prostate cancer by delivering an important public service announcement, “to step up to the plate, help save lives and get one step closer to finding a cure.”
“Joe has been a great partner in our progress toward improved treatment outcomes and an eventual cure,” said PCF Founder and Chairman Mike Milken. “His work as well as those by MLB and all 30 Clubs has helped us raise more than $45 million for research programs that are saving thousands of lives.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7729251-pcf-and-mlb-prostate-home-run-challenge/
Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated actress and advocate Kerry Washington has joined with The Allstate Foundation to raise awareness about domestic violence and the critical role that financial abuse plays in domestic violence situations. Washington is serving as the national ambassador for Allstate Foundation Purple Purse, the signature initiative that gets Americans motivated to combat domestic violence.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7253951-allstate-foundation-purple-purse-domestic-violence-awareness/
Today, GENYOUth announced the launch of Fuel Up to Play 60 en español, an evolution of its national flagship program. The program encourages Spanish-speaking communities nationwide to live healthier lifestyles through good nutrition and physical activity. Fuel Up to Play 60 launched a redesigned website (FuelUpToPlay60.com) that provides Spanish-language content and materials, extending the reach and access of the program to students, teachers and families across the country. Several organizations have supported the effort, including the PepsiCo Foundation, which has provided a previously announced grant of $550,000 to develop Spanish-language materials and resources. In addition the PepsiCo Foundation will provide another $100,000 for mini-grants for health and wellness activities and programming within Los Angeles Unified School District and Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
Fuel Up to Play 60, a program founded by the National Football League (NFL) and National Dairy Council (NDC), is designed to engage and empower youth to take action for their own health by implementing long-term, positive nutrition and physical activity changes for themselves, their schools and their communities. Studies show that physical fitness may benefit brain health and academic performance, suggesting active kids may do better. However, only 1 in 3 kids are active every day, potentially leaving many at a disadvantage inside and outside of the classroom.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7646551-fuel-up-to-play-60/
The Verizon Innovative App Challenge - the no-coding-skills-needed contest that gives middle and high school students a chance to bring their problem-solving app ideas to life - is back! In its fourth year, the App Challenge calls students to gather teams, dream up ideas, and create concepts for mobile apps that could solve problems in their schools and communities.
For the first time, the App Challenge will be open to teams representing non-profit organizations in addition to schools, and even more students will earn free tablets and cash awards for the groups they represent. The deadline for submission is Nov. 24, and the winners will be named in January 2016.
Bill Nye, the Science Guy, is helping Verizon to encourage students nationwide to submit their ideas and to organize their teams now.
Created by the Verizon Foundation in partnership with the Technology Student Association, the App Challenge offers hands-on, experiential learning to ultimately help students envision brighter futures for themselves that they may never have imagined, as business owners, app inventors and professional coders.
To view the multimedia release visit:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7593951-verizon-innovative-app-challenge/
As the country celebrates the 45th anniversary of Earth Day, Dallas-based nonprofit Earth Day Texas gears up for its fifth annual event. Founded in 2011, the organization expects more than 75,000 attendees during the three-day event.
Earth Day Texas takes place April 24, 25 and 26 at historic Fair Park in Dallas.
Confirmed speakers include Karenna Gore, author and daughter of Al Gore; Bill White, former mayor of Houston; David Yarnold, president of the Audubon Society; Dan Patrick, Lt. Governor of Texas; B.A. Norrgard, Tiny House advocate; Laura Turner Seydel, chairperson of the Captain Planet Foundation; and Louie Psihoyos, Oscar®-winning director of The Cove.
Seven-time Grammy Award winner Paul Winter will perform on Saturday, April 25, at 4:30 p.m. Grammy nominated artist Michael Martin Murphey will perform on Sunday, April 26, at 4:45 p.m.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7500951-earth-day-texas/
LIFEWTR, the premium water brand that believes art is as essential to life as water, is committing to advancing arts education in schools nationwide as the foundation of where creativity begins. New research shows we are heading toward a creativity crisis in schools – 91% of American parents agree that arts education is important to teach children to think outside the box, yet 4 in 5 people say that arts education is not being offered as much as it once wasi. This week, in partnership with Americans for the Arts during its National Arts Action Summit, LIFEWTR announced its commitment to making every day vibrant by infusing creativity into schools across the U.S., reaching 10 million students through school and community beautification projects and arts education programming as part of its continued collaboration with Scholastic.
“At LIFEWTR we believe that arts education plays an invaluable role in helping students achieve success and reach their full potential in school and beyond,” said Alexis Porter, Senior Director, LIFEWTR Marketing. “Students involved in the arts are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievementii, which is why it’s more important than ever to #BringArtBackToSchools. Through our collaboration with Scholastic and Americans for the Arts, we are making a concerted effort to impact 10 million students nationwide through arts education programming and to preserve the critical source of where creativity begins, in our schools.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8503551-pepsico-lifewtr-scholastic-macklemore-school-art-beautification-project/
Kumon, the world’s largest after-school math and reading program, is unlocking the potential of children across North America by helping to build a strong foundation in math and reading. The Kumon program aims to guide children to a point where they not only reach their grade level, but surpass it. In fact, many Kumon students study material one to three years above their grade level in math and reading.
“Kumon’s individualized approach is not only popular, but very successful,” said Dominique Ciccarelli, Ed. M., education spokesperson for Kumon North America. “Kumon strives to cultivate confident and independent students who become life-long learners both in and out of the classroom. The success of the program is evident in the accomplishments of thousands of students across the country.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7720252-kumon-self-learning-approach/
Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISLE) today announced the winners of its second charitable social media contest awarding a share of $50,000 to five local nonprofit organizations.
Southern Heritage Air Foundation - $25,000 – Tallulah, Louisiana
Family and Youth Opportunities Division - $15,000 – Clarksdale, Mississippi
Fayette Community Service Organization - $5,000 – Fayette, Mississippi
Guttenberg Gallery & Creativity Center - $2,500 – Guttenberg, Iowa
Walking In The Sun Rescue - $2,500 – Collinston, Louisiana
“With over 69,000 votes cast in Community Aces Challenge and over 200 applications to participate, our second charitable social media contest has proven to be a wonderful way to give back to the communities where we operate,” said Virginia McDowell, Isle’s president and chief executive officer.
“The 123 participating nonprofit organizations registered in January and coordinated their own individual voting campaigns which ended on April 1,” said McDowell. “This year the winners offered a wide variety of missions – from getting fit in rural Mississippi to enhancing creativity of young people in Iowa. Our first place winner is dedicated to educating people about the history and impact of aviation and our second place winner is refurbishing an old school to become a community center.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7805451-isle-of-capri-casinos-community-aces-challenge/
Having lost his mother to the disease, singer, songwriter Gavin DeGraw knows firsthand how devastating pancreatic cancer is for patients and their families. Gavin is turning his grief into action by helping the Lustgarten Foundation raise awareness by encouraging people to get involved with the Foundation.
“My mother didn’t make it and unfortunately right now that’s a common story. But it doesn’t have to be the story permanently,” DeGraw said. “By funding research, the Lustgarten Foundation is going to change the course of this disease. I encourage everyone to get involved in some way – join a walk or make a donation.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8213753-lustgarten-foundation-pancreatic-cancer-awareness/
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today launched a global thought leadership platform to help frame and stimulate regional and global debate on vital development issues shaping the Middle East.
The “Middle East Exchange” will commission original articles from international experts including Nobel laureates, heads of state, academics and intellectuals. New articles will be published weekly in newspapers globally on a wide range of topics relevant to the region, from health and education to development and innovation.
UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs His Excellency Mohammed Al Gergawi discussed the project at a meeting with Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in Abu Dhabi on December 6. Speaking after the meeting, H.E. Al Gergawi said:
“The Middle East has spent too long in the global spotlight as a source of conflict and trouble. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid’s vision is for innovative and tangible solutions that benefit people’s lives on the ground. There is a huge appetite for practical ideas. The Middle East Exchange will be the number one global platform for positive voices and ideas for the Middle East.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7719851-mohammed-al-maktoum-global-initiatives/
