More than eight in ten (86 percent) fathers today are spending more time with their kids than their own fathers did in the previous generation, according to a new national survey conducted by the Ad Council. In advance of Father’s Day, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC), Fathers Incorporated, and the Ad Council are reaching out to all fathers across the country to inspire a new commitment to responsible fatherhood.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/56331-ad-council-hhs-nrfc-inspire-nationwide-commitment-responsible-fatherhood
ChildObesity180 today announced the two National school program winners of its nationwide innovation contest. The competition was designed to identify and reward the most creative, impactful, and scalable school-based programs and technologies to promote children’s physical activity.
Among the many schools nationwide employing running and walking programs, the 100 Mile Club in Corona-Norco, CA is a true pioneer. Inspired by the 1992 Summer Olympics, special education teacher Kara Lubin had a dream that kids would be motivated to stay fit by the simple goal of “winning the gold medal.” These medals, based on dedication and effort, not speed and fitness, could reward students of all abilities, including Lubin’s special education students. Lubin took action and founded the 100 Mile Club in 1993. Elementary school students are presented with a straightforward challenge, run 100 miles over the course of the school year. Students log miles before school, after school, during recess, and at sanctioned community events. Milestones are rewarded with simple tokens – wristbands, pencils, and medals. A year-end assembly celebrates and recognizes students who have achieved 100 miles, and those still with miles to go. Nearly 20 years later, the 100 Mile Club has stood the test of time, and been adopted by schools in California and across the nation. The program is highly scalable and with Lubin’s help, is now in place in more than 115 schools across eight U.S. states, reaching more than 30,000 students.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/56327-childobesity180-physical-activity-contest-100-mile-club-red-hawk-movement
Bank of the West has seen a rise in mortgage loan applications since April as homeowners seek to take advantage of low interest rates under the government’s Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) 2.0.
For consumers wanting to learn more about HARP, Bank of the West has published Eight Essential Harp Tips and introduced an educational video series on HARP loans that can be viewed on YouTube at YouTube.com/Bankofthewest.
“We are anticipating that one out of every five new borrowers will be a homeowner seeking a HARP 2.0 refinance loan this year,” said Karen Mayfield, Bank of the West’s National Sales Manager for the Mortgage Banking Division. “This program is providing real relief for homeowners who are current on their mortgage but have been unable to refinance due to a decline in the value of their home.”
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/54577-bank-of-the-west-mortgage-loan-applications-refinance-harp-2-0
Haiti’s Francis mango is back for a short six to eight weeks at Whole Foods Market. Starting now and for a limited time, shoppers will find this exclusive Fair Trade™ Certified fruit under the grocer’s Whole Trade program, which drives meaningful dollars into the struggling Haitian economy. Whole Foods Market is the sole buyer of Fair Trade Certified mangos and purchases the fruit from small Haitian growers, sometimes buying from a family with just one tree. The Whole Trade Guarantee ensures growers receive equitable pay – a key point since this mango crop is often the only source of cash income for many of these farmers. Additionally, many stores will offer organic Haitian mangos. This is the third year the company has brought Whole Trade Haitian mangos to stores, and Whole Foods Market is working to expand the number of growers it works with, providing more mangos to shoppers and more money in Haitian grower’s pockets.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/49714-whole-foods-market-haitian-mangos-fair-trade-certified-fruit
Duda Farm Fresh Foods announces that it has donated eight salad bars to the Seminole County Public School District as part of the United Fresh Produce Association Foundation and first lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools” initiative. The salad bars will be available to more than 16,000 school children and will offer a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits as part of their school lunch program. Duda is also leading an effort to encourage others to contribute to this important initiative with the goal of placing salad bars in every school in the Seminole County Public School District.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/55208-duda-farm-fresh-foods-donates-salad-bars-seminole-county-public-schools
Food Network’s long-running hit primetime series Food Network Star returns to New York City this May with fifteen talented hopefuls and completely new twists for season eight – this year, returning stars Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis move from behind the judge’s table to square off with culinary favorite Alton Brown for a three-way team competition to find the next Food Network Star, beginning with a special two-hour premiere episode on Sunday, May 13th at 9pm ET/PT. Bobby, Giada and Alton, all television producers in addition to being culinary superstars, lead the charge to find and develop the new talent by each hand-selecting a team of five finalists, who they will produce and mentor through the ‘Star’ experience to find one winner who possesses personality and kitchen chops. Viewers can also glance into the ‘Star’ finalist selection process, with a casting special airing on May 12th and in another turn to the series plot, viewers will vote online before the July 22nd finale to determine who will receive the ultimate prize: their own Food Network show, to be produced by their ‘Star’ team leader.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/51725-food-network-star-season-eight-2012/
Cities all over Europe will be invited to embrace electric driving and encourage their communities to support Nissan’s campaign – ‘The Big Turn On’ – in a bid to win 30 quick chargers from Nissan.
The quick chargers are part of a wider initiative from Nissan to get one million consumers switched onto electric driving, in just 100 days. The basis of ‘The Big Turn On’ campaign is to engage the public and support their cities’ bid to win a new electric driving infrastructure from Nissan.
These chargers improve the speed of charging electric cars and help improve the infrastructure for a new zero-emissions future. A quick charger, which complies with the international CHAdeMO standard, can recharge an empty battery to 80 per cent capacity in just 30 minutes, as opposed to the standard charger type, which takes approximately eight hours.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/nissan/53798/
Newly formed entertainment company The Mogue Collective announces the launch of Dance2LAX: a non-competitive dance workshop featuring eight classes by world famous choreographers Brian Friedman (X-Factor; Britney Spears), Laurie Ann Gibson (Lady Gaga), Gil Duldulao (Janet Jackson) and UK based Sisco Gomez (So You Think You Can Dance), also boasting celebrity host Carmit Bachar from the original Pussycat Dolls. The two-day intensive event will be held for the first time in London at the Hilton Metropole Hotel, Monarch Ballroom, April 7th and 8th 2012. A live showcase performed in a pop concert atmosphere and an exclusive VIP party at Minako at the Met will round out the weekend.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/53793-dance2lax
The photographic series “Forgotten” by celebrated photographer Donald Leon Farrow is presented in eight installments. These works capture a solitude in situations involving structures and nature that generally go unnoticed or unremembered. An unshared story lies behind the situation of each image. Some perspectives almost appear abstract, whereas others suggest a history. Many are unsettling.
Sydney Festival opened its 2012 program with Australia’s largest free outdoor cultural event, Festival First Night, attracting hundreds of thousands of people into the city centre for eight hours of music, theatre, dance and visual arts. Headlining the event was internationally-acclaimed music superstar Manu Chao, who had 60,000 people dancing to his unique blend of Latin reggae. Audiences thrilled to a mix of Australian and international entertainment including a 1950s swing dance, painted caravans, Australian singer-songwriter Meagan Washington, Indigenous singer Gurrumul and dapper Jamaican gents, The Jolly Boys. Keeping things at a lively pace were street performances by Tuba Skinny, Lewis Floyd Henry and Norman J and his Good Times Bus. Casper Babypants, Holly Throsby and Erth’s mythical puppet creatures kept the kids laughing and dancing throughout the afternoon.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/53512-sydney-festival-2012/
Worst Cooks in America, the hit primetime competition series that turns hopeless cooks into confident kitchen mavens, returns for a third season with two-time undefeated series champion Anne Burrell challenged by superstar chef Bobby Flay on Sunday, February 12th at 9pm ET/PT. The show pits Anne against Bobby, each leading a team of eight “recruits” in a grueling eight-week boot camp designed to transform these culinary disaster-makers into competent cooks. A $25,000 grand prize will be awarded to the winning contestant who achieves the most progress and best performance, in addition to bragging rights and victory for their culinary mentor.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/51722-food-network-worst-cooks-in-america/
The air freight industry is benefiting from a breakthrough new online and real-time rate management and distribution product, following the successful launch of OAG Cargo’s enhanced and upgraded AFRA Air Freight Rates application.
The optimized AFRA product is expected to become the standard for air freight rate management by airlines and their customers, and is the culmination of a three-year development project with significant investment by OAG Cargo, embracing the company’s eight years of acquired knowledge in air freight rate management, pre-transport decision-making and analysis.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/53582-oag-cargo-afra-air-freight-rates