Toys“R”Us® today announced the launch of its annual nationwide fundraising campaign to benefit the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. Now through Sunday, December 6, customers can spread holiday joy to some of the 15.5 million U.S. children living in poverty by donating new, unwrapped toys at any Toys“R”Us or Babies“R”Us® store across the country and online at http://www.Toysrus.com/ToysforTots. The company will also collect monetary donations in-store and online through Christmas Eve.
NBA Legend, philanthropist and entrepreneur, Shaquille O’Neal once again joins the company’s campaign as his alter ego Shaq-A-Claus, to encourage shoppers to donate to Toys for Tots. Throughout the campaign, Shaquille will also invite social media users to #PlayItForward, an initiative designed to further spread awareness of the millions of children living in poverty and to inspire families to donate to the cause.
“Making wishes come true around the holidays is especially important to me, as I know how much one toy and one act of kindness can matter. When I was a kid, I was given my very own Dr. J autographed basketball, inspiring me to believe I could grow up to be a basketball star,” said Shaquille O’Neal. “For years, I would shop for presents at Toys“R”Us and distribute them to underprivileged children on Christmas morning. Now, in partnership with Toys“R”Us and the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, I’m making it my mission as Shaq-A-Claus to give back and spread holiday cheer to the millions of needy kids in the U.S. I encourage everyone to join me this year and remember – every toy counts!”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7476351-toys-r-us-toys-for-tots-playitforward/
According to the 2016 Franchise Business Economic Outlook report, employment growth in the franchise sector will continue to outpace the growth of employment in all businesses economy-wide, as it has in each of the last six years. The franchise industry is set to grow by 1.7 percent in 2016 which added over 13,000 new franchise businesses, generating over $900 billion in economic output and 278,000 new jobs in 2015.
Kumon, the world’s largest education franchise, continues to flourish as it surpassed company milestones in 2015 with nearly 300,000 students enrolled in its math and reading programs nationwide.
“Many of our 1,500 franchise owners opened Kumon centers after experiencing first-hand how Kumon gave their own children an academic advantage that put them ahead of their peers,” says Larry Lambert, vice president of franchise recruitment at Kumon North America. “Kumon is helping thousands of aspiring small business owners transform their lives with a career that rewards them and changes the lives of youth every day.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7720256-kumon-franchise/
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/
Cats, start your engines. Kitties can now enjoy their favorite gravy year-round with Friskies’ new line of gravy products available at Kroger stores nationwide.
To launch Friskies® Gravy Swirlers™, Friskies® Extra Gravy Chunky and Friskies® Party Mix™ Gravy-licious treats, Friskies teamed up with Kroger to debut its “Lap It Up” digital video starring the famous frowning Grumpy Cat and Kroger stock car driver A.J. Allmendinger’s furry friend, Mr. Tickles.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8146151-friskies-kroger-grumpy-cat-mr-tickles-racing/
Old Orchard Brands, a leading fruit juice and beverage company, issues a nationwide challenge today to identify the most ingenious method for staying cool during the hot summer months ahead. The #StayCool Summer contest seeks user-submitted videos that capture the essence of staying “cool” in exchange for prizes that range from free Old Orchard Brands fruit juice to a chance at winning one of two summer getaway vacation packages valued at $2,500.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7236051-old-orchard-naturally-sweetened-lemonades-stay-cool-summer-video-contest/
Hospital-acquired infections can be deadly – and many times preventable. Nearly every major public health organization agrees that ineffective “hand-hygiene” (hand washing or using disinfecting sprays, wipes or gels) is one of the most significant contributors to the problem. Further compounding the problem is the fact that compliance rates among caregivers are difficult to track and often found to be low.
Hill-Rom has developed a new system to help hospitals monitor hand-hygiene rates: the Hill-Rom® Hand Hygiene Compliance Solution. The new offering, which is now available to hospitals nationwide, provides real-time monitoring and staff reminders, simplifies reporting, and can use the same hardware and devices as other Hill-Rom real-time locating solutions.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/61990-hill-rom-launches-new-hospital-hand-hygiene-monitoring-solution
Significant advances toward cures for blood cancer patients, many of which were funded by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) over the past 65 years, are among the dramatic highlights featured in Ken Burns presents CANCER: THE EMPEROR OF ALL MALADIES, a film by Barak Goodman, to air on PBS stations nationwide from March 30-April 1. The documentary series is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Siddhartha Mukherjee, MD, The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer.
LLS has been a driving force behind treatment breakthroughs for patients with blood cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. As the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to finding cures for blood cancer patients, LLS has invested more than $1billion in research to advance lifesaving treatments and cures.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7409151-lls-cancer-research-pbs-series/
Portland, Oregon has the best preterm birth rate of the top 100 cities with the most births nationwide, while Shreveport, Louisiana has the worst, according to the 2015 March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card, which for the first time graded cities and counties around the nation and revealed persistent racial, ethnic and geographic disparities within states.
The U.S. preterm birth rate ranks among the worst of high-resource countries, the March of Dimes says. Worldwide, 15 million babies are born preterm, and nearly one million die due to early birth or its complications. Babies who survive an early birth often face serious and lifelong health problems, including breathing problems, jaundice, vision loss, cerebral palsy and intellectual delays.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7653351-march-of-dimes-premature-birth-report/
In an effort to support the health and wellness of its guests nationwide, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit has announced that all meats sold in every location will contain “No B.S.” (Bad Stuff) by sourcing only responsibly raised, quality meats. Starting August 15, all chicken sold will now be raised without antibiotics. This breakthrough in sustainability not only comprises the brand’s traditional slow smoked chicken breast, but also will include whole smoked chickens and chicken nuggets served in kids’ meals at select stores. To learn more, click here.
The chicken is 100% vegetarian fed and humanely raised. It is also completely hormone-free and cage-free, ensuring that Dickey’s guests are served only the highest quality poultry with no additives. This announcement accompanies other advances in sustainability by the barbecue brand including humanely handled and sustainably raised brisket as well as locally-made sausage with no nitrates, nitrites* or artificial coloring or flavors. Additionally, all of Dickey’s pork products are free from added hormones**, nitrates, nitrites* and artificial coloring and flavors.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7717951-dickeys-barbecue-pit-no-bad-stuff-initiative/
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/
Ringing out, as it has for centuries, the mission bell beckons across the hillsides calling out to the devoted. Here, where lush hillsides meet the Pacific Ocean, we pursue a singular canon—to make great wine. Canon 13 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Santa Lucia Highlands, our answer to the mission bell, launch nationwide in July to on-premise retailers.
“The Santa Lucia Highlands are as unique as the people who settled them,” says Canon 13 winemaker Tom Klassen. “Sitting high on a bench overlooking a fertile valley, the vines grow deep in the alluvial soils that cling to the hillsides. Our fruit is protected by the maritime breezes that bring with them a gentle fog, ensuring the grapes ripen evenly and provide our wines with supple texture and fragrant aromatics found nowhere else.”
Canon 13 is inspired by our geographic birthplace at the Soledad Mission, the 13th mission located along the El Camino Real, the historic 600-mile stretch of road connecting dozens of missions and pueblos beginning in the late 1700s. The steep Santa Lucia Highlands are located along California’s central coast, near the cool waters of Monterey Bay on the flanks of the Santa Lucia Range. The region is graced by warm days, cool nights, rich soil and an evening fog that nurtures the delicate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7409459-canon-13-wines-launch/
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/
