Tag: COVID

Airpura Donates HEPA Air Purifiers to Schools Across North America to Help Fight the Spread of COVID-19 Transmissions

The world has been devastated by the pandemic, but children are among the groups that have fared the worst. School closures have had a detrimental effect on children’s mental health. Children have also been the last group to be approved for vaccinations, making their infection rates comparable to infection rates seen in adults aged 18-49.*
Airpura, an air purifier manufacturer, wanted to help in the fight and launched a Back-to-School contest asking the public to nominate a school they felt deserved to win air purifiers for the entire school.

Press Release
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Nov 11, 2021

LAVAL, Quebec, November 11, 2021 (Newswire.com)
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Research has shown that COVID-19 is primarily spread through airborne transmission. To stem the spread of the disease, the CDC has recommended the use of portable HEPA air purifiers, particularly in schools.

Airpura, an air purifier manufacturer, wanted to help in the fight and launched a back-to-school contest asking the public to nominate a school they felt deserved to win air purifiers for all of the school’s classrooms. www.airpura.com

More than 1,725 nominations were received from across Canada and the United States.

Cloverdale Traditional School of Surrey, British Columbia was named the winner of the contest and won 20 HEPA air purifiers for their school. They received the greatest number of votes from the community to help them win. The contest ended on Sept. 27, 2021, and the winners were announced on Sept. 30, 2021.

Ten runners-up also received one air purifier from Airpura. The following are the schools which were part of the Top 10 that were selected on the basis of the number of votes received: Millwood Elementary School (Nova Scotia), Wilbur E. Lucas Elementary (Texas), Indian Lake High School (Ohio), Kennedy Elementary (Texas), Southwest Adventist Junior Academy (Texas), Du Pont Middle School (West Virginia), George Greenaway Elementary School (British Columbia), Legacy Middle School (Florida), William J. Clinton Elementary (Texas), Pleasant Valley Elementary School (Pennsylvania).

See the Airpura back-to-school contest in full at: https://www.airpura.com/pages/contest

“Our students, parents, and teachers are so thankful for the air purifiers. Especially during these tough times when health precautions are at a premium, our students and their parents are so happy that we can provide them cleaner air to breathe.” – Isaias Vidal, Principal of Wilbur E. Lucas Elementary School, winner of the second prize

Airpura has been a leader in pathogen control over the past two decades. SARS-CoV-2 is the fifth pathogen that Airpura has addressed with their air filtration systems. Throughout the pandemic, Airpura air purifiers have been deployed in the fight against COVID-19 in hospitals, schools, dental clinics and workplaces across the world. Find out how Airpura has been employing groundbreaking research and technology in their air filtration products to combat the growing challenges posed by climate change on the planet’s air quality. These challenges include combatting the toxins from wildfires, excess particulate matter from vehicle emissions, mold from flooding and an increasingly harsh allergy season. https://www.airpura.com

*CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science-briefs/transmission_k_12_schools.html

Press contact:
Stacy Singh, Communications and Media Relations
stacy@airpura.com
1-866-505-7872 ext. 208

For more information: Contact 1-866-505-7872 ext 1 or info@airpura.com

Helder Pedro, President of Airpura
helder@airpura.com
1-866-505-7872 ext. 202

Source: Airpura

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November 11, 2021
The Rapid Response Unit, RED DOT, Is Made Up of Temporary Nursing Staff That Respond to Incidents Due to Natural Disasters, FEMA Preparations, and Other Emergencies

RED DOT nursing teams arrive within a rapid response time to augment a facility’s existing healthcare staff and assist in caring for patients until the emergency is clear and the crisis is over.

Press Release
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updated: Aug 18, 2021

LAS VEGAS, August 18, 2021 (Newswire.com)
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SpectrumACS, the company specializing in medical services for correctional facilities and state and county institutions, provides healthcare solutions in the form of temporary nursing staff, specialty physicians, digital radiology, and their unique rapid response unit. RED DOT, the emergency response team named from an incident where designated medical staff were identified by a red dot on their ID badge and locked down until the emergency cleared, is made up of Temporary Nurses that respond to incidents due to natural disasters, FEMA preparations, and other emergencies.

Today viruses and civil unrest are posing a unique threat to correctional and secured facilities, forcing lock-downs for the safety of staff and inmates. But something that can never be compromised no matter the emergency is an institution’s ongoing medical care. Barry Goldstein, President of SpectrumACS notes, “Our staff are truly on the front lines in every state and facility we serve. The pandemic and civil unrest has changed and increased demand in a number of ways which has given us the opportunity to dispatch teams like RED DOT to respond to any emergency.”

Led by SpectrumACS, a healthcare organization with more than 30 years of experience in this space, the highly specialized RED DOT team provides temporary relief nurses to psychiatric hospitals, correctional institutions, and Public Health Facilities. A RED DOT team arrives within a rapid response time and augments the facility’s existing healthcare staff to assist in caring for patients. SpectrumACS’s experienced Nurses stay inside the institution until the emergency is clear and the crisis is over.

By providing response teams nationwide, including travel nurses to vaccination clinics, SpectrumACS has been managing provider pools of more than 100 nurses in Colorado alone. Willette Stringer, Staffing Manager for SpectrumACS, says she’s grateful for the work that their nurses have been doing to assist Colorado with the vaccine administration. “They all take pride in the fact that they are making a difference in the fight against COVID-19 and other variants by helping to put an end to the pandemic,” Stringer says.

About Spectrum ACS

Under American Correctional Solutions, Inc, SpectrumACS was launched in 2013 with a singular focus on nurse staffing and registry services. Led by a team with decades of experience in healthcare staffing and recruiting, SpectrumACS provides nursing services to vaccination clinics, mental health hospitals, correctional facilities, medical centers, and Public Health Departments across the country, with operations overseen by their corporate headquarters in Las Vegas, Nevada. American Correctional Solutions, Inc. has supplied specialty medical services and staffing to county jails, and state and federal prisons for more than three decades.

Source: SpectrumACS

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August 18, 2021
Stars Align to Honor Frontline Health Workers and First Responders Who Died of Covid

Charity Pros for Heroes Virtual Fundraiser to Support the Children of Fallen Heroes

Press Release
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updated: Mar 31, 2021

FORT MYERS, Fla., March 31, 2021 (Newswire.com)
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Rosanne Cash, Lance Bass, Ziggy Marley and John Fogerty are just a few of the stars coming together to honor the front-line healthcare workers and first responders that died of Covid-19. The “Charity Pros for Heroes” live virtual event will salute the Heroes of the pandemic and raise funds to help provide educational scholarships and grant the children of the fallen heroes a special “Megan’s Wish”.

“Every day, we learn of incredible stories of these children nationwide who are dealing with the effects of losing their parent,” explains Megan Maloney, founder of The Charity Pros. “These Heroes went to work every day during our darkest times of the pandemic and gave their lives while protecting us from the very fate they suffered, Covid-19.”

Megan, a budding young philanthropist by day and food server by night, founded the Ft Myers non-profit just prior to the pandemic to advocate for children’s social causes and help provide kids opportunities for a better life. However, once the pandemic hit, Megan changed up the programming after the death toll started to rise. “My dad lost two friends in the first few months of the pandemic from Covid, including childhood friend, Naples firefighter Tony Christensen. “Tony’s funeral really hit my dad, I think it made it real for a lot of people, we knew then that we wanted to help make a difference.”

Charity Pros for Heroes will honor those like Bryant, a firefighter from Converse, TX, that leaves behind his two small children and Tawauna, a nurse from Kettering, Ohio, that leaves behind six children and her newborn that she never got to hold. “It’s heartbreaking that many of these kids never got to say goodbye to their mother or father, their Hero,” continues Megan, “sadly despite all the fundraising, these kids have been forgotten, we need to help.”

In a time when celebrities are being inundated with requests, the Charity Pros have been able to gather support of many artists. “We started emailing artist management and immediately had support, It’s just been a blessing how some managers have really embraced the cause,” adds Megan, “they share it with the artist and if there is passion, they support it, there is no better feeling, we are so grateful.”

Sponsors of all levels can still get involved in the live virtual broadcast. A sponsor can co-host a segment, announce the next artist, or go live to present a check, contact megan@thecharitypros.org today.

Charity Pros for Heroes will be broadcast live on YouTube and Facebook, April 6, 2021 at 8:30 EST, featuring special appearances from Rosanne Cash, Ziggy Marley, John Fogerty, Lance Bass, Kevin Cronin (REO), Kelly Hansen (Foreigner), Don Felder, Andy Grammer, Andrea Barber, Michael Franti, Tiera, Jawan M. Jackson, Danny Arroyo, Drew Baldridge, Ben Allen and more added daily.

Source: The Charity Pros

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March 31, 2021
Matthew Keezer Recommends Seychelles as a Great Destination Option During COVID-19

Press Release
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updated: Mar 1, 2021

MONTREAL, March 1, 2021 (Newswire.com)
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Seychelles is one of the most popular travel destinations, thanks to its stunning beaches, breathtaking wildlife, world-class diving experiences, and tasty Creole cuisine. The great news is that Seychelles is open to visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic and remains one of the relatively safe destinations to visit. Matthew Keezer, the former CEO of Momentum Travel and now a travel consultant, provided the following information about safe caribbean travel.

Throughout 2020, Seychelles reported low COVID-19 infection rates and typically registered zero cases most days last year. However, after Christmas 2020, Seychelles started recording an increase in daily infections. Since December, the beautiful island country has recorded 1,033 COVID-19 cases and three deaths.

Even though Seychelles has recorded a spike in COVID-19 cases, Matthew Keezer would still recommend this destination. As he points out, these numbers are not alarming. “Seychelles has recorded about a thousand cases for 100,000 people. In comparison, the U.S. had reported nearly 7,500 cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents as of Jan. 24,” Matthew Keezer explains.

Matthew Keezer also adds that the Seychelles government is taking the spike in cases very seriously and has taken action immediately. To prevent COVID-19 from spreading, Seychelles enforced measures such as closures and travel limitations. The island country is planning to start welcoming visitors as of mid-March.

The decision to start welcoming international travelers is based on the belief that Seychelles will have vaccinated almost 75% of its adult population by that time, making the country a relatively safe destination for visitors. According to a press release issued by the country’s Department of Tourism, Seychelles wants to be the first country in the world to use vaccinations “to achieve herd immunity.”

As Matthew Keezer points out, COVID-19 will linger for a bit longer. However, there is no reason to avoid traveling for another year, especially to destinations that are doing everything in their power to eradicate the virus.

Even though Seychelles will start welcoming travelers soon, there will be some limitations. The destination will welcome all vaccinated travelers who can prove that they’ve taken a “complete dose” of a vaccine — meaning two doses — at least two weeks before arriving. Also, even vaccinated travelers will have to provide a negative result from an RT-PCR COVID-19 test taken less than 72 hours prior to traveling. All vaccinated travelers will be required to stay in hotels or guesthouses that have been certified for so-called “Category 1” travelers.

Seychelles will also allow unvaccinated travelers to enter if they arrive via private jet or come from a list of 48 permitted countries. These travelers will also have to provide a negative PCR test upon their arrival. They will also be required to stay in certified accommodations. However, these travelers will have to quarantine for 10 days.

For all those eligible to travel to Seychelles, Matthew Keezer recommends regularly checking government announcements to stay up to date with the latest rules and regulations.

Source: Matthew Keezer

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March 1, 2021
S’moresUp Launches New “Parenting Reports” Feature to Create Bird’s Eye View of Kids’ Development

Press Release
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updated: Jan 15, 2021

LOS ALTOS, Calif., January 15, 2021 (Newswire.com)
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S’moresUp (smoresUp.com), a Smart Family Management platform that teaches kids critical life skills through chores and rewards, has launched a new feature that gives parents insights into how their family is functioning and allows parents to graph kids’ chore and time management skills and development.

Through this new feature, the app now gives parents monthly/weekly analytics reports that tell them how many household tasks kids have completed and how many they missed, the time it takes them, and how many chores are done by each member of the family, how kids are spending their chore rewards, their kids time management, and more. Parents can graph out long term behavioral trends to know how well their kids are learning and growing and where there is room for improvement.

“The global pandemic has turbocharged parents adoption of new technologies,” said Priya Rajendran, CEO and co-founder of S’moresUp. “This gives parents the option of plugging in data points and creating charts to track their kids’ behavior and growth and using data to optimize parenting.”

Parents can configure tasks for kids once, and a recommendation engine uses predictive analysis to recommend personalized tasks related to their goals, such as being healthy (wearing sunscreen, getting enough sleep, eating veggies, going outdoors), digital life (being disciplined about screen limits), social life (being kind to others, showing courage, dining with family), finances (learning how to save and spend), and more. Parents can also create new life skills for their kids.

Now boasting a 4.5-star rating on both Android and iOS and growing to 310,000 family members, the family app helps kids learn critical life skills through assigned tasks and chores, does behavior analysis to provide parents with insights around their kid’s learning, integrates with the family calendar, creates goal setting through rewards, helps kids form long term habits through advanced data analytics and allows the family to interact with each other from within a safe “walled off” family network.

About S’moresUp

S’moresUp is a family organizer that creates data-driven parents. It gives parents tools to help their kids learn critical life skills and healthy habits while managing chores, allowances, and schedules through a secured private family network, where a family’s data is safe. The app, which helps raise independent, responsible, and financially savvy kids, was founded by technology veterans Priya Rajendran, a software engineer and busy mom who led the PayPal Wallet team, and Reeves Xavier, former tech lead at Paypal and Intuit. To find out more, please visit www.smoresup.com.

Source: S’moresUp

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January 15, 2021
Top 10 “What’s Up, Y’all?” Videos of 2020

2020 has been a difficult, heartbreaking, and tumultuous year in so many ways. The toll COVID is taking on our communities, especially the most disenfranchised among us (disproportionately poor and working-class people of color), remains heartbreakingly gut-wrenching. Governments across the globe have violated the rights of their people repeatedly, from the ongoing police murders of Black and brown people in the US to the rise of authoritarianism in Hungary, rising state-sponsored anti-Muslim violence in India, increasing evidence of oppression against Uighur Muslims rounded up and sent to forced labor camps in China, and police brutality and murder of youth protesters in Nigeria.

At the same time, 2020 has been a year of great (un)learning, resistance, and revolution. Just as we have seen the lethal forces of hate, apathy, lies, and violence used against the most marginalized among us, we have also seen Black, brown, undocumented, disabled, queer, trans, poor, working-class, and many other folks rise up and fight back to advocate for our lives and futures. This year has challenged us in so many ways, and yet, through showing us the cracks and failures of capitalism, white supremacy, a for-profit US health care system, criminal “justice”, and other cruel and outdated systems, 2020 has also shown us the power of the collective and the necessity of our dreams and activism.

More Radical Reads: 6 Ways White Folks Can Support Black Lives Matter, Even If You Can’t Leave Your House

As our founder Sonya Renee Taylor teaches us, it’s a powerful practice to live in the both/and — to embrace the at times uncomfortable and even painful liminal spaces we find ourselves in as we rupture old patterns, selves, and lives to co-create our future. Sonya shared back at the beginning of the COVID crisis:

“We will not go back to normal. Normal never was. Our pre-corona existence was not normal other than we normalized greed, inequity, exhaustion, depletion, extraction, disconnection, confusion, rage, hoarding, hate, and lack. We should not long to return, my friends. We are being given the opportunity to stitch a new garment. One that fits all of humanity and nature.”

Throughout 2020, Sonya has been reaching out with lessons of radical self-love, not only through her written work and appearances via dozens of podcasts, round tables, panels, keynote speeches, and news programs, but also through her “What’s Up, Y’all?” videos posted to her Instagram and YouTube channels. She has provided us with wisdom for all seasons of this year. In November, as those of us in the US (and many of us around the world) were waiting with baited breath for the outcome of the presidential election, Sonya reminded us:

“Liberation is not a thing we will be delivered unto. It will be the act of daily creation — and it will be the act of daily creation in the midst of great chaos. Because it has always been the act of creation in the midst of great chaos.”

More Radical Reads: Try A Little Tenderness: 3 Ways Being Tender Is A Political Act

As we look back on 2020, gather the wisdom we’ve gained from it, and prepare to meet 2021, here is a countdown of Sonya’s top ten most popular “What’s Up, Y’all?” videos from the year. We share them here as an invitation for continued learning, reflection, inner inventory-taking, and outward action-taking as we dream a liberatory 2021 into existence.

10. “The Willful Confusion of Whiteness”

9. “Whiteness Is A Death Cult White Folks NEED To Get Out Of”

8. “What’s the Conversation for Non-Black POC and Mixed-Race Folks?”

7. “If Black Trans Lives Don’t Matter Then No One’s Will”

6. “Get Your Damn Toddler and Other Anti-Racist Work”

5. “When Capital Is More Valuable Than Black Bodies, Capital Must Be Disrupted”

4. “Labeling the Pickle Jar: Are You Ready To Be Rid of Whiteness?”

3. “Don’t Ask What You CAN Do To Help Unless You’re Down To Do This!!!”

2. “While You Were Sleeping… And Now That You’re Awake”

1. “Why Talking To Your White Family About Black People Is the Wrong Approach”

May the lessons contained in each of these videos spark further discussion and carry us into the new year as brain, heart, and soul fuel and inspiration. There is no going back, but tomorrow can be better when we work together to create it.

[feature image: photo of Sonya Renee Taylor against a white background. She is visible from the torso up and is wearing a vibrant red, blue, and leopard print chiffon dress that flows like the dreamy gown of a goddess. She is wearing a gold statement necklace and earrings. Her eyes are closed in bliss as she smiles. She appears to be in mid-twirl.]

TBINAA is an independent, queer, Black woman run digital media and education organization promoting radical self love as the foundation for a more just, equitable and compassionate world. If you believe in our mission, please contribute to this necessary work at PRESSPATRON.com/TBINAA

We can’t do this work without you!

As a thank you gift, supporters who contribute $10+ (monthly) will receive a copy of our ebook, Shed Every Lie: Black and Brown Femmes on Healing As Liberation. Supporters contributing $20+ (monthly) will receive a copy of founder Sonya Renee Taylor’s book, The Body is Not An Apology: The Power of Radical Self Love delivered to your home.

Need some help growing into your own self love? Sign up for our 10 Tools for Radical Self Love Intensive!

Shannon Weber

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December 27, 2020
Find the Best Remote Team for Your Parenting
Press Release
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updated: Dec 15, 2020
LOS ANGELES, December 15, 2020 (Newswire.com)
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Viv-ing, Co, a company that specializes in research concerning early detection of infants’ abilities using artificial intelligence, will be releasing a multi-lingual parenting support service that allows customers to find the best providers for remote pregnancy and childcare support. This service is called BabyLook-Remo and will release this December.

What is BabyLook Remo?

BabyLook-Remo is a multilingual parenting support service that allows users to search for the best remote childcare providers, pregnancy, and birthing caregivers. The service will be available beginning Dec. 12 and will feature a variety of prenatal and neonatal professionals such as doulas, therapists, midwives, nurses, and pediatricians to assist parents throughout pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and early parenting.

Users can begin their search on the BabyLook website which features HIPPA compliant technologies and web-services. BabyLook-Remo is aimed at parents ranging from pregnant to parents of 4-5-year-old infants. The initial release will be targeted to Los Angeles County and English, Spanish, and Chinese speaking users. However, the platform is looking to quickly expand its provider-patient network and language accessibility to meet the needs of parents everywhere.

BabyLook providers offer services ranging from mental care before and after birth, preparation for birth, practical advisory after birth, and helping when an emergency arises with a customer’s baby.

Features

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020, the public has been advised to stay home whenever possible. The safety protocols advised are especially important for immunocompromised groups such as pregnant women and infants. BabyLook-Remo seeks to connect parents with providers who can meet with them remotely or in the comfort of their own homes to keep them as safe as possible.

BabyLook-Remo’s service consists of the following:
1. Finding providers and making the best team for each parent
2. Booking support
3. Communication support
4. Payment support
5. Treatment support
The BabyLook team will be enhancing and expanding these services on an on-going basis after release. The current version has prioritized quality providers that can adapt to each parent’s needs.

Parents can select their provider from many search variables like area, experience, education and licenses to find a professional that matches their preferences. Parents are able to maintain easy and accessible contact with their provider via BabyLook throughout the entirety of their service.

Company Information

Viv-ing, Co is a company that plans, develops, and manages projects to “visualize babies’ minds” using artificial intelligence technology. Since 2013, Viv-ing, Co has studied how facial expressions can be used as indicators of human behavior, with a recent emphasis on realizing effective communication in the context of child-rearing using “facial expression,” “biological information,” and “environmental cues”. They have successfully collected infant related big data from over 500 collaborating nurseries and kindergartens.

The company is headed by Kyo Ueda who has spearheaded BabyLook’s recent developments.

Viv-ing, Co receives support from the Japanese Education Support Foundation, as well as technical collaboration with various institutes including UCLA and Technology and Kobe University.

Source: Viv-ing, Co
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December 15, 2020
Rick Sharp Alzheimer’s Foundation Announces 3rd Annual ‘Alzheimer’s Day 2020’

This year’s event will feature renowned scientists and an opening meditation with special guest Deepak Chopra, M.D.

Press Release
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updated: Nov 11, 2020

RICHMOND, Va., November 11, 2020 (Newswire.com)
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The Rick Sharp Alzheimer’s Foundation, named in memory of the late CEO of Circuit City and founder of CarMax, has announced its 3^rd annual “Alzheimer’s Day 2020.” While previous events have been held at the University of Richmond and the Science Museum of Virginia, this year’s event will be held virtually. Complimentary registration in advance is required – www.ricksharpalz.org. Previous speakers have included famed researcher Dr. Rudy Tanzi and New York Times best-selling author of “Still Alice” Lisa Genova.

Panelists will include Dr. John Lazo of the University of Virginia, Dr. Constantine Lykestsos of Johns Hopkins, and Dr. Robert Innis from the National Institute of Mental Health. The evening will include special guest Deepak Chopra. The panel will be moderated by Dr. Catherine Franssen. The panel discussion will include the status of current research, the impact of COVID-19, and brain health.

Sherry Sharp, founder of the Rick Sharp Alzheimer’s Foundation, said, “Since our inaugural event, we’ve met thousands of people and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to achieve our goal of curing Alzheimer’s Disease. Together, with your support, we have donated over $2 million and every penny raised goes directly to research.”

Sherry also serves on the Board of Directors of Cure Alzheimer’s Fund (www.curealz.org).

For more information about the event and sponsorship opportunities, contact Director of Donor Engagement Carli Nelson at 833.CURE ALZ, Option 1, and/or visit www.ricksharpalz.org.

About Dr. John Lazo: Dr. Lazo is a professor of Pharmacology and Chemistry at the University of Virginia School of Medicine.

About Dr. Constantine Lyketsos: Dr. Lyketsos is the Chair of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.

About Dr. Robert Innis: Dr. Innis is Chief of the Molecular Imaging Brand at the National Institute of Mental Health.

About Deepak Chopra, M.D.: Chopra is an expert in the field of mind-body healing and a world-renowned speaker and author on the subject of alternative medicine.

About Dr. Catherine L. Franssen: Dr. Franssen is currently the Scientist in Residence at the Science Museum of Virginia. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Longwood University.

About the Rick Sharp Alzheimer’s Foundation: Rick Sharp was a business leader, husband, father, and friend to many. For over a decade, he served as the CEO of electronics retailer Circuit City. He went on to found car superstore CarMax, was a founding investor and Chairman of the Board of footwear brand Crocs, and electronics company Flextronics. Shortly after his death at age 67 from Alzheimer’s in 2014, Sherry founded the Rick Sharp Alzheimer’s Foundation. The non-profit focuses on supporting world-class research and increasing ALZ awareness. 100% of all money raised goes to finding a cure.

Media Inquiries
Cara Dickens
Rocket Pop Media
cara@rocketpopmedia.com

Event Inquiries
Carli Nelson
Rick Sharp Alzheimer’s Foundation
carli@ricksharpalz.org

Source: Rick Sharp Alzheimer’s Foundation

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November 11, 2020
George Foreman’s Brother Aims to Knock Out COVID-19 With Charity Shirt

Press Release
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updated: Aug 26, 2020

NEW YORK, August 26, 2020 (Newswire.com)
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Roy Foreman, famed boxing manager of legendary great, George Foreman, is fighting COVID-19 with a punch of his own. This time he aims to knock out the disease with a powerful uppercut by designing a KO COVID t-shirt in collaboration with Skrapper Brands and donating 20% of sales to First Responders Children’s Foundation.

Foreman and famed artist William Quigley, Founder of Skrapper, have teamed up to design this limited edition KO COVID t-shirt, with the first 100 orders signed via livestream by Mr. Quigley.

“COVID-19 has devastated friends of mine throughout the country. I have lost members of my community to the coronavirus,” says Roy Foreman. “This limited edition KO COVID t-shirt was designed to unite and raise money for our first responder heroes.”

Roy Foreman, a leading voice in the boxing world, managed his brother George Foreman through his championship years, served on the U.S. Olympic boxing committee and was a ringside announcer for HBO Sports.

“First Responders Children’s Foundation would like to thank Roy Foreman, William Quigley and Skrapper Brands for their efforts to help knock out COVID-19,” said Jillian Crane, President of First Responders Children’s Foundation. “There’s no doubt that first responders on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic are sacrificing so much to protect our families, and it’s our responsibility as a nation to help them through this crisis by providing financial hardship grants, PPE, scholarships and partnerships.”

Since March of this year, First Responders Children’s Foundation has given financial hardship grants to 9,000 first responders, supplied over 650,000 face masks, and paid for 13,000 hotel rooms with meal stipends to keep first responders and their families safe.

The limited edition shirts can be purchased at skrapper.co

About First Responders Children’s Foundation

For almost 20 years, First Responders Children’s Foundation has been providing college scholarships to the children of first responder parents who have been injured or lost in the line of duty. The Foundation also awards grants to families enduring significant financial hardship and supports, promotes, and facilitates educational activities and programs created and operated by first responder organizations to benefit children or the communities in which they live. The First Responders Children’s Foundation COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund was established in March 2020 to provide financial hardship grants, PPE, and hotel accommodations to first responders on the front lines of the pandemic. The Foundation was a charity partner of the “Fox Presents The iHeart Living Room Concert For America” and the “One World: Together at Home” concerts paying tribute to front line heroes.

About Skrapper Brands

Skrapper collaborates with forward-thinking brands, artists, designers, charitable organizations and foundations. Their mission is to produce limited edition, creative clothing and products. Since 2000, Skrapper Brands has sold more than 100,000 apparel pieces.

Source: Skrapper

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August 26, 2020
Looking to Fold: Popular Origami Studio in New York Adopts a New Way Forward
Taro’s Origami Studio Crowdfunding Campaign Started on Aug. 1

Press Release
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updated: Aug 6, 2020
PARK SLOPE, N.Y., August 6, 2020 (Newswire.com)
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Taro’s Origami Studio, based in Park Slope, Brooklyn, was founded 10 years ago as a hub for expanding origami to the world and is the only origami studio in the U.S. It has been teaching folders of all ages, as well as serving the needs of businesses across the country and beyond.

But, during this pandemic, as everyone has struggled to find ways to connect, entertain, and grow, the origami studio has been closed to help keep its community safe. In the face of a pandemic, teaching groups of people origami indoors is simply not an option.

So with that in mind, this one-of-a-kind company has decided to take the difficult step of closing down its studio at the end of August, but this isn’t the story of another small business falling to the pandemic. During the last few months, origami has actually become quite popular. In fact, even though the physical studio has been closed, lessons for online classes and paper sales have increased by about five times compared to last year.

Now, after months of planning, Taro’s Origami Studio is now ready to announce its vision forward: the creation of a brand-new Mobile Origami Studio.

Now, instead of visiting retail locations in person, the studio can go to people and offer lessons, events, classes, and sales in safe environments throughout New York City and beyond to fulfill the larger demand for paper-folding.

It is an exciting chance to expand and help not just Park Slope, but also the under-served areas of NYC.

Inside the Mobile Studio, there will be:
- A world-class origami library to help teach models
- State-of-the-art origami learning tablets
- A museum-quality selection of amazing origami models
- Senior staff to continue teaching guests
- A one-of-a-kind origami store
In order to promote this project, Taro’s Studio started a crowdfunding campaign at Indigogo on Aug. 1. The campaign will help this unique studio survive and expand its love of origami across the country.

Contact: Ben Friesen / Ben@tarosorigami.com / 574.238.4375

Source: Taro’s Origami Studio
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August 6, 2020
MicroElectronicDesign Launches tinyLiDAR SafeDistance as ‘Masks Alone Cannot Stop the Pandemic’ (Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General)*

tinyLiDAR SafeDistance is a New High-Tech Personal Tool that uses LiDAR to Maintain Proper Physical Distancing and Help Stop the Spread of COVID-19

Press Release
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updated: Jul 28, 2020

TORONTO, July 28, 2020 (Newswire.com)
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MicroElectronicDesign has created a new social distancing device called SafeDistance. This key fob size device quickly provides visual indication of the measured distance by the color of its LED. Like a traffic light, the device shows Green for 2m (6.6feet) or greater, Red for under 1m (3.3feet), and Yellow in between. Based on micropower Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology, it’s more accurate and lower cost than radio-based solutions such as Bluetooth and Ultra-Wide Band (UWB). The device is currently in the fundraising stage at Indiegogo with a short, fixed funding campaign. Visit https://igg.me/at/safedistance or www.safedist.me for more information.

“It was heartbreaking to see families who were left devastated by the COVID-19 virus,” explains Dinesh Bhatia, Principal Design Engineer at MicroElectronicDesign. “With cases surging around the world we were obsessed and determined to create a personal device that would be affordable, easy to use and effective at improving physical distancing. The result is tinyLiDAR SafeDistance.”

As Dr Tedros said: “Masks alone cannot stop the pandemic. Countries must continue to find, test, isolate and treat every case and trace every contact. Mask or no mask, there are proven things all of us can do to protect ourselves and others – keep your distance …”*

“It’s just common sense,” continues Dinesh. “Staying more than 2m or 6.5feet away will dramatically reduce your chances of getting COVID. You can see this in the recent experimental results from Dr Davis.”

Dr Richard Davis, who is the clinical microbiology lab director at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Washington, tweeted a series of photos that showcased two demonstrations aimed at understanding how effective face masks are at blocking respiratory droplets from an individual’s mouth, while also illustrating the importance of social distancing.

“I set open bacteria culture plates 2, 4 and 6 feet away and coughed (hard) for ~15s. I repeated this without a mask,” Davis wrote.

The pictures showed that standing two feet apart with no mask practically covered the Petri dish with bacteria. Davis’ respiratory droplets also managed to land on the dish at four feet away but were reduced to scarce amounts at six feet.

“Having proof like this makes you wonder why people don’t take physical distancing seriously,” adds Dinesh. “Even if the correct markers are not in place, tinyLiDAR SafeDistance will enable you to maintain the proper safe physical distance by the mere press of a button. Our goal is to make this generally available as a standard tool to help stop the spread of COVID-19. We’re ready for production now and are looking for backers to join us in improving the state of physical distancing around the world.”

Reference:
*https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19—6-april-2020

Media Contact:
Sabeena Taharally
Phone: 408-598-1657
Email: info@microelectronicdesign.com
https://www.safedist.me

Source: MicroElectronicDesign, Inc.

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July 28, 2020
Boston Breakthrough Academy’s Third Graduating Class Raising Nearly $90,000 in Donations for Lovin’ Spoonfuls Triggering Matching Gifts From Two Anonymous Foundations for a Combined Commitment of $180,000 in the Midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Press Release
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updated: Jun 9, 2020
BOSTON, June 4, 2020 (Newswire.com)
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Boston Breakthrough Academy, a leadership development program offering emotional intelligence training to adults in the Boston area, announced today that its third graduating class, “B3”, has interrupted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by raising nearly $90,000 for Lovin’ Spoonfuls, a food rescue and hunger relief organization based in Boston. These funds then triggered matching gifts from two anonymous foundations for a combined commitment of $180,000.
- Serve more than 265,500 meals to those with food insecurities;
- Rescue over 265 tons of food that would have otherwise been thrown away;
- Reopen the possibility to complete the purchase of 2 extra trucks, which would have otherwise been delayed
“We are extremely grateful to Boston Breakthrough Academy and their B3 class for their incredible generosity through their giving efforts to Lovin’ Spoonfuls. While the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the fundraising and events landscape, our corporate donors challenged us to find individuals throughout our community to support our mission. The students of BBA’s B3 class made this challenge possible for us, bringing more than 1,485 individual donors into relationship with our mission,” said Ashley Stanley, CEO of Lovin’ Spoonfuls.

B3 is comprised of 30 students, men and women from Boston and throughout the U.S. who had one common vision in mind, to create a world of love, connection, courage, acceptance, and integrity.

“We declared that we would support the most vulnerable, at-risk and underserved members of our community during COVID-19,” said Brian Walshe, Fundraising Leader for Boston Breakthrough Academy’s B3. “We did that, and people are fed today because of our efforts!”

AJ Leto, Lead Coach and Enrollment Director at the Boston Breakthrough Academy, was blown away by this team’s effectiveness in raising funds during the current pandemic. “In our programs, we emphasize the value of contribution and teach tools of possibility, vision and leadership. Amidst their own struggles, the students of B3 took a powerful stand for our community. Our 30 students and my coaching team acknowledged that support was our contribution, despite our own struggles in this unprecedented time. In the face of one of the biggest challenges in our lives, we chose to elevate others to the same health & safety we enjoy. I am beyond proud of our relationship with Lovin’ Spoonfuls and the efforts of BBA’s B3 Team.”

B3 is hosting a graduation on June 20, 2020 at 6:00 pm, and the general public is invited to attend. Boston Breakthrough Academy is also currently enrolling for a class that begins July 31. Learn more at www.bostonbreakthroughacademy.com.

Source: Boston Breakthrough Academy
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June 4, 2020
‘Quarantine Academy’ Connects People & Ideas in a Pandemic Era

Online learning series demonstrates how a volunteer network of friends can leverage technology to create human connection and compelling content during the pandemic lockdown

Press Release
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updated: Apr 30, 2020

ARLINGTON, Va., April 30, 2020 (Newswire.com)
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Conceived over a few days in mid-March as the scope of the COVID-19 situation grew increasingly clear, a volunteer community service project – Quarantine Academy – was quickly developed among a group of friends to provide free learning opportunities for adults and children. Launched before schools and many businesses had fully developed a structure around online learning and work, it quickly became an international success.

Over the last six weeks, Quarantine Academy offered 75 online sessions with 58 different presenters. Topics included how to raise urban chickens, the secrets of South Asian percussion, a TikTok tutorial for adults, a deep dive into the U.S. court system, and much more. “Student Superintendents,” who ranged from 14 to 17, took the lead for both Quarantine Academy and Quarantine Academy Kids by coordinating with presenters and mediating the sessions. The 25-minute sessions averaged almost 400 participants a week from across the United States and around the world.

“One of the best things about Quarantine Academy,” said 17-year old Student Superintendent Katie Stansel, “was creating a platform to connect so many different talents and interesting people. It was also a great way to stay productive before school schedules implemented their routines.”

“We had people both teaching and learning from all over the world – from Italy, California, New York, and everywhere in between,” said Adam Sherinian, another volunteer Student Superintendent. He added, “What connects us in a crisis is the need to be with other people. When it can’t be in your living room, you just have to do it on Zoom.”

Quarantine Academy concludes this Friday, May 1, with some discussion about possibly continuing special sessions this summer. In addition to providing unique and accessible learning opportunities early in the pandemic, this endeavor is an example of how a casual network of friends and colleagues can quickly respond to a community need using technology and sharing expertise.

What: Closing sessions of Quarantine Academy
Where: Log-in info available at quarantineacademy.com/about-quarantine-academy/
12 p.m. EDT (Quarantine Academy Kids); 1 p.m. EDT (Quarantine Academy)

For More Information, Contact:
David Billotti
646-732-2733
dbillotti@gmail.com

Source: Quarantine Academy

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April 30, 2020