Category: Art & Life

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Art & Life Business

Top restaurants put a spin on diner fare at the Amex® Gold Card Pop-Up Diner powered by Resy, on tour four weekends this fall

Dine-In Reservations Are Exclusively Available to American Express Gold Card Members; General Public Can Purchase Menu Items from The Counter

 

NEW YORK — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Order up! This fall diner fare will get an upgrade at the Amex® Gold Card Pop-Up Diner, a traveling outdoor restaurant making weekend-long stops in four cities (a nod to the American Express® Gold Card’s market-leading 4x points at restaurants) between September 10 and October 3. When the Pop-Up Diner pulls into town, the chefs behind top Resy restaurants will get behind the griddle and put their twist on iconic diner dishes.


Chicago’s most-requested Resy restaurant Andros Taverna will kick off the tour with a Greek diner menu (September 10-12); critically acclaimed Italian restaurant Osteria will represent Philly (September 17-19); DC’s Korean gastropub Anju will cook for the Capitol city (September 24-26); and Michelin-starred Rezdôra, will head to Brooklyn for the Diner’s last call (October 1-3). Beverages will be provided by Other Half Brewing Company, HOXIE Spritzer and BRANDS WITHIN REACH (BWR) with Volvic Water.

 

The American Express® Gold Card Pop-Up Diner is the latest in a series of restaurant-focused events from the American Express® Gold Card, curated and produced by Resy: Amex® Gold Card Picnic in the Park (June 2021, 4 cities) and American Express® Gold Card Presents The Resy Drive-Thru (October 2021, LA; March 2021, Miami). As the ultimate Credit Card for food lovers, Gold Card Members can earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at restaurants including takeout and delivery and get access to unique dining experiences.

 

Amex Gold Card Pop-Up Diner Experience: Diner favorites, reimagined by Resy restaurants.

The Amex Gold Card Pop-Up Diner will offer two experiences: Dine-In, exclusively for American Express Gold Card Members, and The Counter, open to the general public.

 

The Dine-In experience will include a four-course prix fixe menu and outdoor seating within the pop-up. Additionally, American Express Gold Card Members – diner guests or passersby can play The Goldball Machine*, a 6 foot 5 inch tall gumball machine filled with gold balls instead of gumballs. Inside each ball will be a ticket denoting a prize, ranging from diner merchandise to the grand prize available in each city, a $1,000 Delta1 Gift Card; additional prizes in each city include a $800 Hilton Hotel gift card, $500 Emily & Ashley Jewelry gift card, $300 American Express gift card. Exclusively in NYC, two tickets to Hamilton will be available to win. Playing The Goldball Machine is complimentary, while prizes last. *Official Rules and terms apply, see Resy.com/diner for complete details.

 

The Counter – open to the public – will offer featured menu items for take-away, including a custom soft serve flavor in each city. Resy users will be able to pre-reserve a takeout package in the Resy app; walk-ups are also welcome.

 

The Amex Gold Card Pop-Up Diner operates Fridays from 6-11pm, Saturdays from 6-11pm and Sundays from 11am-4pm for brunch (local time in each city).

 

The Restaurant Lineup

CHICAGO: ANDROS TAVERNA

Friday, September 10, Saturday, September 11 and Sunday, September 12

  • Menu Highlights: Lamb Gyro with Lemon Greek Yogurt in a Wood Fired Pita, Fluffy Spanakopita Omelette, Baklava Pancake
  • Soft Serve: Froyo with Cyprus Sea Salt, ILIADA Chocolate Olive Oil

PHILADELPHIA: OSTERIA

Friday, September 17, Saturday, September 18 and Sunday, September 19

  • Menu Highlights: Chicken Parmigiana (mozzarella, tomato sauce, rigatoni), Mama Pina’s Meatballs (tomato sauce, Parmigiano, chili), Italian Bread Basket (mozzarella stick, garlic semolina, pepperoni Stromboli, tomato pie)
  • Soft Serve: Salted Butter Caramel

WASHINGTON, D.C.: ANJU

Friday, September 24, Saturday, September 25 and Sunday, September 26

  • Menu Highlights: “Dduk Sticks” (panko breaded and fried rice cakes, kimchi marinara), Galbi Burger with ssamjang aioli and furikake tots, Steak & Eggs (Sliced Galbi, Furikake Butter Rice, Fried Egg) Chocolate Chip Walnut Red Bean Cookie with milk
  • Soft Serve: Bingsu – Vanilla Soft Serve, Melon Ice, Mochi, Condensed Milk Syrup

BROOKLYN: REZDÔRA

Friday, October 1, Saturday, October 2 and Sunday, October 3

  • Menu Highlights: Doppio Stuffed Tortelli in style of “Pastrami on Rye” (mortadella filling, rye bread “breadcrumbs,” pastrami spice butter), Burger in Emilia-Romagna (cotechino sausage, salsa verde, tomato and Parmigiano crisp)
  • Soft Serve: Dominique’s New Jersey Boardwalk Soft Serve

 

To Purchase Tickets

Dine-In tickets for the Amex® Gold Card Pop-Up Diner go on sale August 10 at 10am ET exclusively for American Express® Gold Members. American Express Gold Card Members who have linked their eligible Cards to their Resy profiles will have access to bookings for the specified sales window. Dine-in tickets are $75 per person for a four-course menu including beer and wine2 and gratuity (taxes are not included in ticket price). Takeout packages go on sale August 12 at 10am ET to the general public. Takeout tickets are $28 per person and include choice of (1) main dish, soft serve and gratuity (taxes are not included in ticket price). All tickets are first come, first served. Tickets are delivered electronically to the Card Holder’s Resy app reservation tab. Walk-up guests are welcome and will be able to purchase items a la carte from the pop-up’s Counter. The event is subject to the terms & conditions set by Resy.

1 Delta is not a sponsor of the promotion and not affiliated with American Express.

2 Must be 21 years of age or older to consume alcoholic beverages. Please drink responsibly.

Location: U.S.

Contacts

Media:

Vanessa Leitman

Vanessa.Leitman@resy.com

Margit Malacrida

Margit@parallel-pr.com

Categories
Art & Life Sports & Gaming

Jamaica’s fast Olympic sprinters ran to sweep the women’s 100 meters

TOKYO — Elaine Thompson-Herah won the women’s 100-meter gold medal for the second consecutive Olympics, edging out her Jamaican teammate Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. Shericka Jackson won the bronze, completing a Jamaican sweep of medals — the country’s first three medals of the Games.

 

Thompson-Herah, 29, set an Olympic record with her time of 10.61 seconds and was 12-hundredths of a second off the world record set by Florence Griffith-Joyner in 1988. Fraser-Pryce, who led midway through the race, was overtaken by Thompson-Herah at about the 60-meter mark.
After two days of heats, the athletes have been calling the Olympic Stadium track fast — “superfast,” as Fraser-Pryce put it. And the women’s 100 final was just that, with Thompson-Herah’s Olympic record and Jackson’s personal best time of 10.76.

Fraser-Pryce relies heavily on her start and needed to build an early lead over Thompson-Herah of at least a couple of meters if she was to win. But Thompson-Herah had one of the best starts of her career and stayed close to Fraser-Pryce during the acceleration phase of the race — up to 30 meters or so.

Thompson-Herah and Fraser-Pryce begin to separate themselves from the pack. But Fraser-Pryce had to know she was in trouble with Thompson-Herah already by her side. The early gap Fraser-Pryce needed simply didn’t exist.

Fraser-Pryce and Thompson-Herah appeared to be moving in sync for much of the middle portion of the race, but eventually the taller Thompson-Herah would use her longer strides to create a higher top-end speed, and maintain it longer. At about 60 meters into the race, Thompson-Herah began to overtake Fraser-Pryce.

Thompson-Herah maintained more speed in the latter part of the race and extended her lead during the final 20 meters. Jackson, the bronze medalist, closed well, almost passing Fraser-Pryce. It was an impressive sprint and finish for Jackson, a 400-meter specialist who doesn’t possess the same top-end speed as the other two medalists. Thompson-Herah remained tall and loose in the final meters, and showed why she is considered a fast closer — her long legs carried her well over two meters per stride; longer, and faster, than Fraser-Pryce’s.

Four in a row for Jamaica

Thompson-Herah’s win extends Jamaica’s Olympic reign in the women’s 100-meter dash to four straight golds, starting with Fraser-Pryce’s victory at the 2008 Games in Beijing.

 

— The New York Times

Categories
Art & Life Technology

OHUB hosts 2nd annual Juneteenth 4.0 Celebration in New Orleans, announces OHUB x NOLA Innovation & Equity District with 1532 Tulane Partners, Equity District podcast and new investment syndicate & certificate for new black wealth creation

NEW ORLEANS — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #bootcamps–Today, on the heels of President Joe Biden signing the bill that designates Juneteenth a federal holiday, OHUB, First Boulevard Bank and 1532 Tulane Partners are joining forces in New Orleans, LA to convene the 2nd annual Juneteenth 4.0 Celebration, 1P – 6P CDT. Produced live from the future home of OHUB’s Equity District, the hybrid online and in-person experience includes an all-star lineup of nationally recognized expert leaders and a virtual casting call with ABC’s Shark Tank. The event will conclude with a ribbon cutting ceremony and private reception for OHUB x NOLA Innovation & Equity District. The experience is a salute to Black America’s triumph over chattel slavery, deconstruction and legalized segregation; and a critical call to action for our nation to get serious about advancing scable racial equity in the fourth industrial revolution and beyond.

Featured speakers include Congresswoman Barbara Lee [California’s 13th Congressional District], Congressman Ro Khanna [California’s 17th Congressional District], Congressman Troy Carter [Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional District], Donald Hawkins [Cofounder & CEO, First Boulevard], Dr. Debra B. Morton [Senior Pastor, Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church], Sevetri Wilson [Cofounder, Resilia; Author, Resilient], Brandon Andrews [Minority Casting Director, ABC’s Shark Tank; Cofounder, Gauge App], Natalie Madeira Cofield [Assistant Administrator, Small Business Administration], Sherry Gamble Smith [CEO, Black Wall Street Chamber of Commerce] Akeem Shannon [Founder & CEO, FlipStik]; Brad Feld [Co-founder, Foundry Group; Cofounder; Techstars], Seth Levine [Cofounder, Foundry Group; Author, The New Builders], Elizabeth MacBridge [Founder, Times of Entrepreneurship; Author, The New Builders] Davyeon Ross [CEO, ShotTracker; Co-creator, Coalition Venture Studio]; Dane Simmons [CEO, Simmons Surgical; General Partner, 100 Black Angels & Allies Fund]; Bridget Chisholm [Cofounder, BWC Capital & Economic Development Co-Chair, The Links]; Marcia Bowden [Physician; Economic Development Co-Chair, The Links] Vickie Gibbs [Director, UNC Chapel Hill Entrepreneurship Center]; John McElligott [Founder, York Exponential; Vice Chairman, OHUB Futures], David Weild IV [Former Vice Chairman of NASDAQ & Godfather of The JOBS Act], Sherrell Dorsey [Founder, ThePlug], Kieran Blanks [Chief Growth & Development Officer, OHUB Futures] Joseph Stebbins [Cofounder, 1532 Tulane Partners], Joe St. Martin [Project Manager, 1532 Tulane Partners] & Rodney Sampson [Executive Chairman & CEO, OHUB; General Partner, 100 Black Angels & Allies Fund].

During the public live event, OHUB will announce a series of key initiatives across its early exposure, education and skills development, talent placement, innovation, entrepreneurship, market and capital formation framework as codified in Building Inclusive Entrepreneurship Ecosystems In Communities of Color with The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.

Key initiatives and announcements include:

  • Opportunity Hub and 1532 Tulane Partners, the redevelopers of the former Charity Hospital are joining forces to create the OHUB x NOLA Innovation and Equity District. The boundaries of the new innovation and equity district are Esplanade Avenue to the North; Pontchartrain Expressway to the South; North Broad Avenue to the West; and the Mississippi River to the East. Phase 1 includes the redevelopment of the Historic Butterworth and Hutchinson buildings immediately across from the hospital. The initial 55,000 sf is envisioned to have a private rooftop club, member lounge, startup co-working, innovation labs, curated event, and space dedicated to OHUB Futures & Fortress Academy’s software sales, software engineering, cybersecurity specialist and robotic technician bootcamps. The district will contain a mixed-use of commercial, residential and retail communities designed specifically to create, build and position all the citizens of the New Orleans region for equitable inclusion in the global technology, startup & venture ecosystem as a path to shared prosperity, meaningful reciprocity and multi-generational wealth creation in the future of work, fourth industrial revolution and beyond. Anchored by a membership model, the OHUB x NOLA Innovation & Equity District will bring together like minded people, startups, small businesses, investors, corporations, philanthropists, college students, youth, the overlooked, under-estimated and more for fourth industrial revolution exposure, rapid up-skilling, new career pathways, high growth company building, capital access, investment opportunities and more inside of a state of the art campus constructed at the intersection of culture, code and conscience. Founding advisory board members include Sevetri Wilson [Founder & CEO, Resilia], Aaron Walker [Founder, Camelback Ventures, Attorney James Carter [Managing Partner, The Cochran Firm], Dr. Debra B. Morton [Senior Pastor, Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church], Bambi Hall [Founder & CEO, Overflow Media], Wayne Encalarde [Principal, Encalarde Consulting], Arrid Hansell [Founder, Bio Mechanics]; Leroy Brown, and Alexa Authorlee [Founding President, Alliance of Black Solutions, Tulane University]. Prospective founding members can request information here.

“The Phase 1 launch will support the vision of creating an inclusive and equitable innovation hub in New Orleans that only adds to the energies supporting the hundreds of millions of dollars being invested within the immediate 10 block radius”, says Joseph St. Martin, Partner, 1532 Tulane Partners.

  • OHUB Futures, the learning company of Opportunity Hub, is partnering with Victory Lap to launch a technical software sales bootcamp to re-skill and up-skill New Orleans residents that may be unemployed or underemployed due to the pandemic. The first cohort will start as early as the fall with tuition financing options powered by Leif and Grit, a future crowdfunding platform for rapid re-skillers and founders. Interested learners can apply here.
  • Leif, the nation’s leading funder of income sharing agreements is partnering with OHUB and Grit, to launch a racial equity pledge for the bootcamp industry designed to increase operationalize diversity, equity & inclusion solutions at the more than 500 bootcamps and growing in the county.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with OHUB Futures to provide a career pathway for New Orleans residents into software sales leading to new opportunities and economic mobility that very few jobs can match. Our bootcamp has helped over 1,000 individuals realize their potential by providing training, career coaching, and job placement in over 300 companies. Our formula works and we’re all in on ensuring it leads to racial equity within the tech ecosystem in New Orleans and beyond,” says Brian Bar, Founder & CEO, Victory Lap.

  • Equity District, the new straightforward, non-performative podcast for the startup ecosystem with Rodney Sampson & Brad Feld launches on Apple and Spotify today. The podcast is produced by New Jersey based ABF Creative founded by Anthony Frazier; and hosted on the Sounder platform.
  • Brad Feld, Seth Levine, Sevetri Wilson and Minda Harts are also investing in 100 Black Angels and Allies Fund, joining Arlan Hamilton, Keisha Knight Pulliam, Dr. Keith Hodge and others as Limited Partners.

“Seth & I are excited to invest in 100 Black Angels & Allies Fund; and encourage other serious co-conspirators in this work to create a more equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem to do the same. Rodney’s investment thesis for diversity, equity, and inclusion solutions based ecosystem infrastructure development will be key to normalizing Black fund managers, founders, accelerators and innovation districts. We’re all in”, says Foundry Group & Techstars co-founder, Brad Feld.

  • The Links, Incorporated will follow on their initial investment in 100 Black Angels & Allies Fund with the creation of an investment syndicate designed to open up the investment opportunity to their accredited members throughout America. Additionally, every chapter of The Links will be encouraged to sponsor two members to complete the Black Technology Ecosystem Investment Certificate offered in collaboration with UNC Chapel Hill Kenan Flagler, Duke University and Stanford Technology Ventures Program. The goal is to create a new emerging class of Black investors to ensure that Black owned innovation & equity districts, venture funds & founders have the capital they require to launch, grow & scale.
  • The Links will also work with OHUB to create technology, startup and venture campus chapters and ecosystems by and for Black college students and alum from Historical Black colleges and universities, minority serving institutions, community colleges and predominantly white institutions committed to racial equity.
  • First Boulevard Bank, co-founded by Donald Hawkins and Asya Bradley, is rolling out the beta launch of its mobile banking app, which includes financial education modules, spending recommendations and real-time insights based on a user’s purchases, and the ability to passively save for personal goals. First Boulevard also has a “Cash Back for Buying Black” program and will be the first to pilot Visa’s new suite of crypto APIs, which allows customers to buy and trade digital assets, such as cryptocurrency, to build wealth. First Boulevard members also can earn points for making positive financial decisions and redeem them for things such as cash back, covering transactions, or in the near future, for acquiring fractional investments or cryptocurrency. First Boulevard, which built its app in less than a year, originally planned to launch the app in the third or fourth quarter but worked to move up the deadline to Juneteenth, an annual holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S. The neobanks CEO, Donald will join OHUB for an in-person panel in New Orleans to officially announce the launch.

Immediately following the summit, OHUB and 1532 Tulane Partners will host a small gathering of New Orleans’ movers and shakers for a ribbon cutting ceremony and celebration.

“In 1991, I traveled to New Orleans to attend Tulane University. 30 years later, I am returning to the Big Easy with my entire family, fraternity brothers, respected experts and key members of our team to launch the OHUB x NOLA Innovation and Equity District in a joint venture with 1532 Tulane Partners. Together, we will celebrate the new federal holiday – Juneteenth – while reflecting, ideating and working on what is required to ensure that every American, especially Black, Latinx and Indigenous Americans are equitably included in the fourth industrial revolution and beyond. The difficult we do immediately. The impossible takes yet a second later”, says Rodney Sampson, Executive Chairman, CEO, OHUB; General Partner, 100 Black Angels & Allies Fund.

Take action

  • Register for Juneteenth 4.0 Celebration
  • Request OHUB x NOLA Innovation & Equity District membership
  • Donate to OHUB Foundation
  • Register for Black Technology Investment Certificate
  • Sign up for First Boulevard Bank

Contacts

Lyndon Breckenridge

lyndon@ohub.at
404-664-9091

Categories
Art & Life Healthcare

Merck expands Safer Childbirth Cities initiative to 20th community-led project advancing Maternal Health Equity during Black Maternal Health Week

KENILWORTH, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, announced today the funding support of its 20th community-based project in the Safer Childbirth Cities initiative aimed at fostering solutions that will help U.S. cities become safer, more equitable places to give birth. The expansion of the program, launched by Merck for Mothers, Merck’s global initiative to help create a world where no woman has to die giving life, comes at an important moment during Black Maternal Health Week occurring April 11 – 17, 2021. The annual week, founded and led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, is centered on deepening the conversation and community-led solutions to improve Black maternal health outcomes in the U.S.

The newest Safer Childbirth Cities grant to the Austin Community Foundation as fiscal sponsor for the Black Mamas Community Collective, supports a project to directly tackle racial inequities in maternal health outcomes and increase access to quality care for Black mothers and their families in Austin, TX. The project will be implemented by the Maternal Health Equity Collaborative (MHEC), which centers Black Women and Women of Color — both in leading the collaborative and in the work they do in and with the community. The MHEC is made up of four doula organizations, Black Mamas ATX, Giving Austin Labor Support, Healing Hands Community Doula Project and Mama Sana Vibrant Woman and two parental support organizations, Hand to Hold and Partners in Parenting.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Black, American Indian and Alaska Native women are two to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women. Data from a 2020 study by the Texas Department of State Health Services shows a similar trend in Texas where Black women are disproportionately impacted by maternal mortality and 89% of all pregnancy-related deaths in the state could have been prevented. Merck for Mothers is committed to programs like Safer Childbirth Cities that bring local resources to communities such as Austin, TX in order to address the root causes of this disparity, including community factors and the social determinants of health that contribute to poor maternal health outcomes.

“Elevating Black and other historically marginalized voices, community leadership and local health solutions is a fundamental part of helping to reverse the health inequity that has persisted across the U.S. and globally,” said Kenneth C. Frazier, chairman and chief executive officer, Merck. “We are proud to add a 20th community-led project through the Safer Childbirth Cities initiative as part our company’s ongoing work to catalyze a future where health care is available to all.”

The Safer Childbirth Cities initiative announced a second cohort of grantees in January 2021, expanding the impact of the program to organizations located in U.S. cities with a high burden of maternal mortality and morbidity. With the newest grant, the MHEC will add culturally-sensitive and comprehensive perinatal childcare services to compliment the wraparound community doula support of the collaborative and ensure that Black mothers and their families are able to access the holistic, whole-person care needed to alleviate maternal health complications and reduce inequities.

“Black Maternal Health Week is an important reminder that to address the alarming reality of the U.S being the only developed nation with maternal mortality rates on the rise, we need to directly tackle racial disparities in all of our solutions,” said Dr. Mary-Ann Etiebet, lead and executive director, Merck for Mothers. “Through Safer Childbirth Cities and the work of the Maternal Health Equity Collaborative, we can begin to address the systemic racism that has left Black women underserved in our current health system.”

“Systemic racism forms the basis upon which current inequities in the perinatal and postpartum health care system are built. This has created various gaps in care that directly impact the health and mortality of the BIPOC community,” said Kelenne Blake-Fallon, the Communications Director for the MHEC. “We have big goals for how we can further align our organizations to eliminate maternal mortality and morbidity in Central Texas. Working with the strengths of the collaborative and the broader social services ecosystem, this funding through Safer Childbirth Cities will empower us to help address inequities in maternal health through childcare for Black birthing people in Central Texas, which will have a ripple effect on the community as a whole.”

The Pritzker Children’s Initiative is a co-funder of the Austin project. They are part of a larger collective of co-funders of Safer Childbirth Cities including: The Burke Foundation, The Community Health Acceleration Partnership, Fondation CHANEL, George Kaiser Family Foundation, The Nicholson Foundation, Rhia Ventures, The W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Yellow Chair Foundation. To learn more about the initiative, selected organizations, collaborators and co-funders, please visit SaferChildbirthCities.com.

About Merck

For 130 years, Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases in pursuit of our mission to save and improve lives. We demonstrate our commitment to patients and population health by increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. Today, Merck continues to be at the forefront of research to prevent and treat diseases that threaten people and animals – including cancer, infectious diseases such as HIV and Ebola, and emerging animal diseases – as we aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

About Merck for Mothers

Merck for Mothers is our company’s $500 million initiative to help create a world where no woman has to die giving life. Applying Merck’s business and scientific resources for nearly a decade, we collaborate with others to improve the health and well-being of women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period in support of the Sustainable Development Goals. For more information, visit www.merckformothers.com.

Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA

This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA (the “company”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of the global outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19); the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company’s 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).

Contacts

Media Contacts:

Patrick Ryan

(973) 275-7075

Carol Richardson

(908) 740-1526

Investor Contacts:

Peter Dannenbaum

(908) 740-1037

Courtney Ronaldo

(908) 740-6132

Categories
Art & Life

Magic on 34th street: The world-famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® kicks off the holiday season for millions of television viewers watching safely at home

Reinvented to safely keep spectators in New York City at home and families nationwide glued to their televisions, the 94th edition of the iconic event ushers in the holiday season with a televised celebration featuring giant character balloons, animated floats, incredible street performances, musical acts, and the one-and-only Santa Claus

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade airs nationwide on NBC and Telemundo on Thursday, November 26, 2020 from 9 a.m. – Noon, in all time zones

NEW YORK — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #macysparade–The tradition continues, as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®, the nation’s grandest holiday spectacle returns to kick-off the holiday season from 34th Street! On Thursday, November 26, the time-honored phrase Let’s Have a Parade™ will cue the start of a reimagined celebration that will safely bring the magic of this cherished holiday tradition to television audiences nationwide. The 94th edition of Macy’s Parade will feature a mix of the event’s traditional giant character balloons, animated floats, exciting street performances and marching ensembles, musical acts, whimsical clowns and the arrival of the one-and-only Santa Claus. Reinvented to safely keep spectators in New York City at home and families nationwide glued to their televisions, America’s premiere Thanksgiving holiday celebration will air on NBC and Telemundo from 9 a.m. – Noon, in all time zones.

“For nearly 100 years the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has served as a milestone celebration that brings joy to millions of families nationwide and kicks off the holidays with unparalleled spectacle,” said Susan Tercero, executive producer of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. “Our safely reimagined broadcast will continue that cherished tradition, as viewers nationwide celebrate together bringing a much-needed sense of normalcy to our lives.” She added, “Thanks to incredible partnerships with the city and state of New York, as well as a host of agency partners and a resilient team, together we will keep America entertained safely from the comforts of home this year. While it will may look different in execution, we invite everyone to tune in and experience our incredible celebration on television featuring our signature character balloons, dazzling animated floats, whimsical clowns, world-class performances, and of course the arrival of Santa Claus, who will once again herald the start of the holiday season.”

A REIMAGINED NATIONAL SPECTACLE

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is annually the nation’s most anticipated holiday celebration. To safely bring the spectacle to millions of viewers nationwide during this unprecedented time, the annual production will forgo marching down the traditional 2.5-mile route in Manhattan in order to avoid gathering large crowds. Instead it will be reimagined over the course of several days as a television-only event leading up to the live Thanksgiving Day broadcast that will feature the breadth of its signature elements. Broadcast nationally on NBC and Telemundo on Thursday, November 26, the TODAY Show’s Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker will host the live three-hour telecast for NBC, with the Spanish language simulcast on Telemundo hosted by Adamari López, Jessica Carrillo, Rodner Figueroa and Nastassja Bolivar.

CELEBRATE AND GIVE BACK

Since its inception, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has served as a reflection of the finest of American popular culture. From the best of music to the brightest lights on Broadway and everything in between. The impact of this year’s pandemic related cancellations on some of New York City’s most beloved arts, entertainment and cultural events was a huge loss felt by both New Yorkers and visitors alike who enjoy them annually as part of New York City’s thriving and vibrant communities. To give the nation a dose of the lost magic of some of these beloved events, this year’s Macy’s Parade will feature a selection of performances representing a sampling of the annual traditions that had to scale back, cancel or indefinitely postpone their events or performances.

The best of Broadway will once again be featured in the Macy’s Parade with performances from the casts of Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations, Hamilton, Jagged Little Pill, and Mean Girls. In addition, the show-stopping Radio City Rockettes® will bring their signature magic to Herald Square.

Entertaining viewers nationwide with their signature flair will be a special performance from the all-female samba drumline Fogo Azul NYC along with Pulitzer Prize winning playwright and Mermaid Queen Lynn Nottage and Dick Zigun representing the Coney Island USA Mermaid Parade; Danza Fiesta representing the National Puerto Rican Day Parade; The Lesbian & Gay Big Apple Corps Band representing the NYC Pride March; the Sugarplum Fairy from George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® representing the New York City Ballet; the FDNY Emerald Society Pipes and Drums representing the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade™; and a special performance entitled CaribeFuturism featuring a collective of acts including partners Pan in Motion, Batingua Arts, Sesame Flyers, and Kaisokah Moko Jumbies with Carnival Queen Kay Mason representing the West Indian American Day Carnival Association.

The fun doesn’t stop there with additional performances from The Big Apple Circus, The NYPD Police Band, The West Point Marching Band and the step skills of Zeta Phi Beta.

STARS ON PARADE

Setting the stage for entertainment on Thanksgiving Day will be stars for everyone in the family to enjoy. Featuring a mix of musical genres from Pop and R & B to Country and Latin music, the Parade will be the ultimate television party destination this November. Joining the festivities will be Lauren Alaina, Ally Brooke, Sofia Carson, CNCO, Jimmy Fallon and The Roots (opening the show), Karol G, Tori Kelly, Patti LaBelle, Miss America 2020 Camille Schrier, Matthew Morrison, the cast and Muppets of Sesame Street®, Leslie Odom Jr., Keke Palmer, Dolly Parton (on behalf of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store®), Pentatonix, Bebe Rexha, Jordin Sparks, Sebastián Yatra, and Brett Young; with an extra special appearance by the one-and-only Santa Claus.

Returning for a fourth year by popular demand, a special presentation of the Macy’s Singing Christmas Tree will feature the harmonious voices of 60 Macy’s colleagues who will join us from their homes across the country coming together in a golden-voiced chorus filled with the spirit of the holiday season.

INFLATABLE ICONS

Since 1927, when the Parade’s character balloons first joined the revelry, the inflatables have become a signature element featuring some of the world’s most beloved characters. Over time, the inflatables have morphed from air-filled characters carried on sticks to high-flying giants, balloonheads, hybrid inflatables with vehicles inside (balloonicles) or tandem tricycles (trycaloons).

New giants joining the line-up this year include The Boss Baby by DreamWorks Animation’s “The Boss Baby: Family Business” and Red Titan from “Ryan’s World” by Sunlight Entertainment and pocket.watch. The newest balloon stars will take flight without the traditional 80-100 handlers, instead employing an innovative, specially rigged anchor tether framework of five specialty vehicles field tested and approved by the relevant agencies in the City of New York. Their Thanksgiving Day flights will be manned by a smaller vehicle team helping to safely reduce the overall number of people needed underneath each balloon.

Also making appearances on the national broadcast are giant balloon favorites including Astronaut Snoopy by Peanuts Worldwide; Diary of A Wimpy Kid® by Abrams Children’s Books; Sinclair Oil’s DINO®; The Elf on the Shelf®; Chase from PAW Patrol® by Spin Master® and Nickelodeon; Pikachu™ by the Pokémon Company International; Pillsbury Doughboy™; Ronald McDonald®; SpongeBob SquarePants & Gary by Nickelodeon; and DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls.

The televised inflatable lineup also includes Sinclair Oil’s Baby DINOs and the Go Bowling balloonicles, as well as Hugg, Bjorn, Jojo and Fleck from Netflix’s “The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two,” Love Flies Up to the Sky by Yayoi Kusama©, Universal Orlando Resort’s The Nutcracker and Smokey Bear by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service.

ANIMATED WONDERS

The Parade’s floating stages have morphed from simple creations initially focused on nursery rhyme stories pulled by horses in the first processions to highly animated wonders that take spectators to new worlds. Conceived and crafted by the incredible artisans of Macy’s Parade Studio – a design and production facility that includes carpenters, engineers, electricians, painters, animators, balloon technicians, sculptors, metal fabricators, scenic and costume designers – this year’s line-up of floats sets an unparalleled stage for entertainment. The Parade’s signature floats are marvels of creative design, engineering, and skillful construction. While they may seem to float as three stories tall and several lanes of traffic wide stages, the magic is truly in the design as these floats are built to collapse to no more than 12 ½-feet tall and 8-feet wide in order to travel safely from the New Jersey home of the Parade Studio to the Manhattan starting line via the Lincoln Tunnel for the annual celebration.

This year four new floats will debut including Big Turkey Spectacular by Jennie-O (Bebe Rexha), Christmas in Town Square by Lifetime® (Tori Kelly), Her Future Is STEM-Sational by Olay (Karol G), and Tom & Jerry’s Tourist Trap by Warner Bros. Pictures.

The returning float roster and its scheduled performers include Blue’s Clues & You! by Nickelodeon (Ally Brooke); The Brick-changer by The LEGO Group (Sebastián Yatra); Central Park by Delta Air Lines (New York City Ballet Principal Dancer Ashley Bouder); Elf Pets® by the Lumistella Company; Everyone’s Favorite Bake Shop by Entenmann’s® (Sofia Carson); Harvest in the Valley by Green Giant® (Brett Young); Heartwarming Holiday Countdown by Hallmark Channel (Pentatonix); Mount Rushmore’s American Pride by South Dakota Department of Tourism (Lauren Alaina); Rexy in the City by COACH® (Keke Palmer); Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by Nickelodeon (CNCO); Santa’s Sleigh (Santa Claus); Splashing Safari Adventure by Kalahari Resorts and Conventions (Jordin Sparks); Tom Turkey; and Toy House of Marvelous Milestones by New York Life (Leslie Odom Jr.).

A SAFE PROCESSION

Health and safety continue to be Macy’s number one priority. In partnership with local and state government, the Parade was modified to avoid gathering crowds. In addition, Macy’s put in place robust health measures across all areas of the production. In constant communication with government agency partners, several contingency plans were developed. This allows the production to adjust plans based on the evolving environment and any subsequent restrictions, helping to ensure the health and safety of all involved.

As part of Macy’s comprehensive health and wellness plan, below is a sampling of the current safety procedures and enhancements being implemented. They include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • The traditional 2.5-mile Parade route will not be utilized this year, the only way to view the celebration is on television
  • All participants, staff and performers will be tested for COVID-19 and undergo wellness checks prior to their Parade participation
  • All participants will be appropriately socially distanced during staging and performances, and required to wear face coverings; additional personal protective protocols will be implemented based on the participant’s role
  • The overall number of participants have now been reduced by approximately 88%, and split over three days
  • No participant in the Parade is under 18 years of age
  • The majority of Parade participants hail from the New York tri-state area
  • Previously selected regional High School and College Marching Band performances were deferred to the 2021 Macy’s Parade, with locally based cultural and professional marching and musical ensembles taking over performance duties in the lineup
  • A minute selection of elements will be showcased on television from previous Parade appearances
  • A selection of Macy’s signature giant character balloons will be flown without the traditional 80-100 handlers and instead employ an innovative, specially rigged anchor vehicle framework of five specialty vehicles tested and approved by the NYC Department of Transportation and the NYPD
  • Macy’s traditional Giant Balloon Inflation public event in New York City, the evening before Thanksgiving, will not take place

EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC

For the fifth consecutive year, NBCUniversal and Verizon, are partnering on Verizon Live: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade which will be streamed beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET on YouTube.com/Verizon, Twitter @Verizon and select Verizon Media properties, including Yahoo.

The award-winning, Emmy-nominated production, hosted by Mario Lopez, will also bring audiences across the country together through innovative and immersive experiences. For the first time ever, a Parade Portal powered by Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband will be accessible to viewers at home. Watching the livestream from both their 4G or 5G enabled mobile devices, viewers will be transported into the center of the activity in Herald Square with 360-degree views. A QR code will be available within the livestream across all platforms, where viewers can easily scan the code for a second-screen experience.

For the first time in Macy’s Parade broadcast history, in an effort to create a more inclusive experience for blind and visually impaired viewers, NBCUniversal is proud to present the full NBC broadcast with live audio description on the Secondary Audio Program channel (SAP), provided by Descriptive Video Works. This year’s broadcast will be available with additional audio narration, describing the rich visuals of the Parade including the magnificent balloons, floats and performances, to complement the storytelling and celebration that make the Parade an annual Thanksgiving Day tradition for millions of Americans.

For an insider’s look at the holiday procession, fans nationwide should visit macys.com/parade for regular updates including behind-the-scenes previews, special tours, interactive historical information, educational activities, and more. Fans can also follow @macys on various social media networks and join the conversation using #MacysParade.

This Thanksgiving, Macy’s (NYSE: M) will safely bring millions of spectators nationwide a dazzling celebration like no other. Get ready to start the countdown in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 … Let’s Have a Parade!

Delta Air Lines is the official airline of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Hanes is the official “smile” and face mask provider of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Hilton is the official hotel of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Ram is the official truck of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Remo is the official drumhead provider of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Under Armour is the official outerwear provider of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

PLEASE NOTE: All talent, performers, elements and information included are subject to change.

Additional Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade media materials including images, video and archival content are available at macysparadepress.com.

Contacts

Orlando Veras / Christine Olver Nealon / Bridget Betances

Eventmedia@macys.com

Categories
Art & Life

JetBlue announces additional Thanksgiving flying to support holiday demand

JetBlue Adds 25 Additional Flights from the New York Area to Florida, California, and Top VFR Markets in the Caribbean Over Peak Thanksgiving Travel Dates

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–JetBlue (NASDAQ: JBLU) today announced it is expanding service from New York City over the peak Thanksgiving weekend, with additional nonstop flights from New York, Newark and Westchester County airports. Additions include Florida destinations like Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando and Tampa, and more frequency in popular VFR markets like Port-au-Prince, San Juan, Santiago and Santo Domingo. Plus high-demand transcontinental routes to Los Angeles and San Francisco.

These additional 25 flights will operate between November 20th and November 30th, as part of JetBlue’s strategy to add capacity in routes with strong potential for leisure and VFR demand.

Thanksgiving holiday demand routes include:

  • New York City (JFK) – Los Angeles
  • New York City (JFK) – Port-au-Prince
  • New York City (JFK) – Santo Domingo
  • New York City (JFK) – San Francisco
  • New York City (JFK) – San Juan
  • New York City (JFK) – Santiago
  • Newark -– Fort Lauderdale
  • Newark – Orlando
  • Newark – Fort Myers
  • Newark – Tampa
  • Westchester County – Fort Lauderdale
  • Westchester County – Orlando

“As we head toward the holidays, we’re seeing signs of strong demand in certain markets. To help get more customers to their destinations and capture more revenue during this important time of year, we are adding additional flights over Thanksgiving weekend,” said Scott Laurence, head of revenue and planning, JetBlue.

The announcement for additional New York area flying comes after the airline revealed a lineup of over 60 new routes this year, including new nonstop destinations and expanded Mint service in Newark and Los Angeles. Each route plays to JetBlue’s strengths in the airline’s focus cities, in Florida, Latin America and the Caribbean or on cross-country – or transcontinental – flying. Every market has been identified as one in which JetBlue anticipates increasing demand for leisure travel.

About JetBlue Airways

JetBlue is New York’s Hometown Airline®, and a leading carrier in Boston, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Los Angeles, Orlando, and San Juan. JetBlue carries customers across the U.S., Caribbean, and Latin America. For more information, visit jetblue.com.

Contacts

JetBlue Corporate Comm.

(718) 709-3089

corpcomm@jetblue.com

Categories
Art & Life

PPG appoints Marvin Mendoza as global head of diversity, equity and inclusion

PITTSBURGH–(BUSINESS WIRE)–PPG (NYSE: PPG) today announced the appointment of Marvin Mendoza as global head of diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I), effective Nov. 9, 2020. In this newly-developed role, Mendoza will be responsible for designing, leading and executing PPG’s global DE&I vision and strategy, and leveraging data-driven insights to accelerate the company’s DE&I agenda. Mendoza will report to Kevin Walling, PPG chief human resources officer.


“We have a responsibility as individuals and as an organization to ensure our workforce is inclusive of all backgrounds and reflects the communities in which we live and work,” said Walling. “At PPG, we know that a diverse workforce, representing wide-ranging nationalities, cultures, languages, religions, ethnicities, and professional and educational experiences, allows us to meet challenges quickly, creatively and effectively.”

Most recently, Mendoza served as diversity & inclusion (D&I) chief operating officer for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where he drove the development and execution of a firm-wide D&I vision, strategy and roadmap. In this role, Mendoza collaborated with the firm’s executive team to integrate D&I into business practices and processes. He also partnered with the human capital team to embed D&I across the talent lifecycle, enhancing the culture of belonging for all employees. Mendoza coached executives, employees, and clients on D&I, led the evolution of the firm’s D&I data and analytics approaches, and was at the helm of evolving the firm’s D&I strategy in response to the impacts of COVID-19 and racial injustice.

Prior to this position, Mendoza served in a variety of leadership roles that operated at the intersection of the workforce, business, and society. He served as the chief of staff for PwC’s “Workforce of the Future” practice, leading the launch and scaling of a $300 million business focused on helping clients address demographic and technological shifts disrupting workforces. While in this role, Marvin led PwC’s D&I consulting practice, helping clients across all industries and sectors reimagine and execute their D&I strategies. He has also served as the lead for PwC’s Purpose Activation consulting practice, as a program leader during large-scale global transformations, and as an international human resource policy and process consultant.

Mendoza holds a bachelor’s degree in International Business Administration from The College of New Jersey, Ewing, New Jersey.

To learn more about PPG’s commitment to DE&I, click here.

PPG: WE PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD™

At PPG (NYSE:PPG), we work every day to develop and deliver the paints, coatings and materials that our customers have trusted for more than 135 years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve our customers’ biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find the right path forward. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, we operate and innovate in more than 70 countries and reported net sales of $15.1 billion in 2019. We serve customers in construction, consumer products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets. To learn more, visit www.ppg.com.

We protect and beautify the world is a trademark and the PPG Logo is a registered trademark of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.

CATEGORY Corporate

Contacts

PPG Media:

Mark Silvey

Corporate Communications

+ 1 412-434-3046

silvey@ppg.com
www.ppg.com

PPG Investors:
John Bruno

Investor Relations

+1-412-434-3466

jbruno@ppg.com
investor.ppg.com

Categories
Art & Life

Black Voices for Black Justice Fund launches to support activists working to create an anti-racist America

  • A group of Black leaders today announced the launch of a new $10 million fund to build an anti-racist America with 31 Black leaders across 15 states and Washington, D.C. receiving funding for their work on voting rights, COVID recovery, criminal justice reform, creating economic opportunity, environmental justice and education
  • Black Voices for Black Justice Fund (BVBJ) is unique in its approach – letting awardees use funding dollars in whatever way they believe will make the greatest impact toward racial justice

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–As the U.S. continues an unprecedented racial reckoning following the deaths and continued pursuit of justice for countless Black Americans including Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, an innovative new fund is supporting Black leaders on the frontlines of shaping the urgent movement to build a fair, equitable, and anti-racist America. The Black Voices for Black Justice Fund launched today with an initial $2 million investment – with the goal of raising over $10 million – to support Black leaders as they seize this unparalleled opportunity to advance racial justice.


In announcing the fund, co-chair Kerry Washington, actress and activist, said, “The Black Voices for Black Justice Fund recognizes incredible leaders who have been on the frontlines working to dismantle the deep-rooted, racist systems that have plagued our country for centuries. Amplifying their voices and providing resources to these inspiring advocates is critical as we strive towards equity and racial justice in this country.”

Thirty-one awardees – encompassing Black leaders across U.S. cities including Minneapolis, MN; Tulsa, OK; Washington, D.C.; Brooklyn, NY and Portland, OR – have been selected for the fund’s first set of investments, encompassing a range of Black community leaders and organizers across the country who are working to address systems of oppression, violence and inequality:

  • Awardee Ryan Haygood, a civil rights lawyer who defended a core provision of the Voting Rights Act before the US Supreme Court in Shelby County Alabama versus Holder, led a successful legal challenge to voter suppression in Texas, and is President and CEO of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, said, “This is means a great deal to me, particularly because I know that there are so many people doing amazing work.”
  • Awardee Dr. Tiffany Crutcher, Founder and Executive Director of the Terrence Crutcher Foundation in Tulsa, OK, said: “Coming off the four-year anniversary of my brother’s murder – as I continue to try to turn my pain into purpose – I am humbled to receive this award. The message from the fund is clear, unusual and very welcome: You trust us as Black leaders to know how to make a difference! Almost a century after the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, our work is more urgent than ever and this infusion of support means more than I can say to me and to my entire community.”
  • Awardee Nicole Lynn Lewis, who founded and runs Generation Hope, a nonprofit that helps teen parents forge a path to economic opportunity, said: “Receiving this award is a recognition of my voice and vision but, more importantly, it is a validation of young parents, single mothers and fathers, and parenting college students everywhere. Their stories – our stories – are intricately intertwined with the roots of racial oppression in this country, and this support will allow us to amplify their experiences and work alongside others to dismantle systemic barriers to their economic mobility.”
  • Awardee Michael “Zaki” Smith of Next100 and the Fair Chance Project in Brooklyn, NY, said: “This recognition shows that there is a rising awareness of the perpetual punishment faced by the formerly incarcerated. It shows that more people are believing in me and believing in the work. Too often, policy debates happen in the hallways of Washington or Albany, with little input or understanding from impacted individuals. These resources will allow me to continue to reach, work with, and educate more people directly and indirectly impacted by perpetual punishment, and the criminal justice system as a whole. It will allow me to work hand in hand with communities, and help empower them to drive change.”
  • Awardee Pastor Howard-John Wesley, pastor of Alexandria, VA’s historic Alfred Street Baptist Church, said, “It is humbling and gratifying to be acknowledged for the work we do in trying to promote justice which to me is synonymous with the call to righteousness and this great vision to support Black Voices for Black Justice.”

“The Black Voices for Black Justice Fund recognizes and supports the incredible work that’s being done by everyday heroes at the grassroots level,” said Wes Moore, bestselling author, social entrepreneur and CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation and a co-chair of the fund. “In order for our communities to exceed the level of greatness we all aspire to, these voices must be elevated, supported and heard.”

In addition to Ms. Washington and Mr. Moore, BVBJ is led by the following national Black leaders:

  • Tenicka Boyd, National Organizing Director and Deputy Political Director of the ACLU
  • Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
  • Jean Desravines, CEO of New Leaders, a national nonprofit that works to ensure high academic achievement for children in poverty and students of color
  • Shavar D. Jeffries, president of Education Reform Now
  • John B. King, Jr., former Secretary of Education and president and CEO of The Education Trust

Initial funding was pooled by seven foundations: The Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation (which supports the fund’s special area focus in Brooklyn); The Moriah Fund; Galaxy Gives; Chan Zuckerberg Initiative; and CityBridge Foundation, Greater Washington Community Foundation and Bridge Alliance Education Fund (which collectively support the fund’s special area focus in Washington, D.C.)

For more information about the Black Voices for Black Justice Fund, and to see the full list of awardees, visit www.blackvoices.org.

About Black Voices for Black Justice Fund

The Black Voices for Black Justice Fund is a new racial justice fund that is supporting Black leaders and Black-led organizations on the front lines in shaping the urgent movement to build a fair, equitable, and anti-racist America. It will amplify and elevate ongoing efforts to address our national crisis surrounding racism, white supremacy, police brutality, and racial inequality. By linking emerging community and local leaders with a cohort of established national leaders, the Fund will also seek to help develop the next generation of Black leaders.

Contacts

FLIGHT PR

Alysha Light

alysha@flightpr.com

Categories
Art & Life

Local owner partners with Life Hospitality to transform the BeachWalk at Sea Bright into a locally-rooted boutique hotel

The BeachWalk at Sea Bright – nestled between the Navesink River and the Atlantic Ocean in Sea Bright, NJ – will be rebranded to a one-of-a-kind independent hotel in partnership with Life Hospitality, marking the tech-enabled operator’s entrance to the New Jersey hotel market.

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#hotelindustry—Life Hospitality, the tech-enabled hotel brand and management arm of Life House focused exclusively on independent hotels, announces the addition of 76-key BeachWalk Hotel to its growing portfolio. The property, owned by Sunil Nayak of Innzen Hospitality, is nearing completion of a comprehensive renovation to reposition the asset into a locally-rooted boutique hotel – the first of its kind in the beachside town of Sea Bright, NJ.

Located less than an hour away from Manhattan and tucked between the Atlantic Ocean and the Navesink River, the BeachWalk at Sea Bright is located in the heart of the picturesque three-mile coastal town in Monmouth County, NJ. Innzen Hospitality is nearing completion of an expansion of the existing 37-key property into a boutique hotel that will feature a grand total of 76-keys under a to-be-announced brand upon completion this fall. The new guest rooms will feature panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean along with access to the property’s private beach, swimming pool, and the hotel’s popular waterfront Tiki Bar, in addition to the property’s 40 dock slips and 80 parking spots.

“After studying the landscape for management of independent hotels in seasonal resort environments, I was impressed by Life Hospitality and their impressive case studies in markets that feature similar seasonal demand patterns as Sea Bright,” said Sunil Nayak. “We look forward to starting a fruitful partnership with Life Hospitality, which we hope to expand to new properties in New Jersey as opportunities arise to acquire similar independent hotels throughout the region”.

Life House was founded by luxury boutique hotel veterans in 2017 and is backed by leading travel and technology investors, such as Thayer Ventures, Tiger Global, JLL Spark, and Ashton Kutcher & Guy Oseary’s Sound Ventures, among others. Life House has rebuilt the complex hotel technology stack from the ground up to create a completely new operational model that allows for a robust, lean operation to hotel owners and a great hospitality service to travelers. Life Hospitality, launched in response to the need for tech-enabled management services from the independent hotel ownership community, leverages a proprietary technology stack that enables its teams to efficiently drive incremental revenue and risk-free cost savings to the bottom line, supporting owners in a tepid demand environment post Covid-19.

“We are excited to support Sunil and the partners with positioning this asset to optimize revenues and achieve outsized bottom line performance as a result of our lean & technology-enabled management platform,” said John Basting, VP Acquisitions at Life House. “Considering the market’s proximity to Manhattan and the greater New York City Metropolitan population, we feel strongly that long-term supply/demand dynamics in the region are favorable and are actively seeking additional projects to collaborate on together across the Jersey Shore”.

About Life Hospitality

Life Hospitality is a New York-based, venture-backed & vertically-integrated hotel management company. The company has built a proprietary technology stack to power a platform that makes hotels more seamless and more profitable for hotel owners and travel more meaningful and more accessible for travelers. In 2018, the company launched its first brand, Life House, which features contextual hotels with narrative, substance, and locally-rooted restaurants and bars.

About Innzen Hospitality

Innzen Hospitality, LLC, headquartered in Monmouth Junction, NJ, has been active in hotel acquisitions and development of franchised and boutique hotels for over 25 years.

Contacts

Bryan Dunn

Head of Growth

Bryan@lifehousehotels.com

Categories
Art & Life

Haymarket Media taps HR, diversity expert for its board

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#haymarketmedia–Melissa Boone, JD, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, an innovative leader in human resources and an effective agent of change across multiple industries, is joining the Haymarket Media Inc. Board of Directors, effective August 1.


“Melissa will bring a strong voice and a dynamic presence to the Board in helping us drive the company’s strategic direction, ensure operational excellence, and strengthen our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion,” said CEO Lee Maniscalco. “Throughout her career she has demonstrated a passion for improving individual opportunity and ensuring equity in the workplace.”

Ms. Boone will serve the Haymarket Board in a nonexecutive, advisory capacity. In addition to taking part in regular deliberations of the US Board, she will meet monthly with Haymarket Human Resources directors in the US as well as the United Kingdom to advise them on the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion agenda.

Ms. Boone, who served as Vice President of Human Resources at Haymarket from 2014 to 2018, is currently Vice President of Talent for DLH Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: DLHC) a global public health and medical logistics organization. In 2019 she was honored by RecognizeDC as one of the Top Human Resources and Talent professionals in the Washington, DC, area.

The Haymarket Board oversees a specialist content and information company with 24 market-leading brands in health care and business media. Headquartered in New York City with additional offices in New Jersey, Illinois, and Florida, the Haymarket US operations are part of the global Haymarket Media Group, based in the United Kingdom and founded in 1957.

The leadership experience that Ms. Boone brings to the Haymarket Board spans a broad range of public and private entities, from start-up service operations to complex multinational corporations. She has developed and implemented strategic Human Resources initiatives to improve productivity and efficiency across a diverse portfolio of industries, including Public Health, Media, Biotechnology, Professional Services, Information Technology, and Telecommunications and Engineering. Her expertise encompasses the key elements of business operations, human capital management, and employment law.

“Haymarket is a leader in its chosen markets and is committed to ensuring a dynamic and diverse workforce,” said Ms. Boone. “I am grateful for the opportunity and look forward to engaging with Leadership to ensure they remain at the forefront of the discussion.”

Ms. Boone earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology before obtaining a Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland School of Law. She is admitted to the Maryland Bar and has also earned two professional certifications–Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and the Society of Human Resource Management-Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP).

“Melissa’s guidance and advice will be invaluable as we continue to develop and grow as a US employer of choice,” said Maniscalco. “Not only does she bring a wealth of subject matter expertise, she also knows our business and our people, and that is hugely advantageous. Her leadership skills and innovative spirit will help us build upon a culture that draws on each individual’s unique strengths and abilities to achieve success for the entire organization.”

“Melissa’s appointment further underlines our commitment to DE&I,” said Kevin Costello, CEO of Haymarket Media Group. “As a global company, we are inherently multicultural, and that creates inspiring and engaging content, experiences, events, and products that are as diverse as the audiences and communities we serve. We are equally as committed to ensuring our workforce reflects those audiences. I am thrilled Melissa is rejoining HMinc in a nonexecutive director capacity; her understanding of us together with her rich experience brings a wealth of knowledge and challenge to our US business that I am really looking forward to.”

About Haymarket

Haymarket Media, Inc. is an award-winning specialist content and information company. With 24 market-leading media brands, Haymarket offers unmatched expertise and insight through balanced, relevant, original content across a spectrum of media channels. Haymarket is home to highly regarded health care professional brands such as The Clinical Advisor, Dermatology Advisor, and MPR (Monthly Prescribing Reference) among a portfolio of HCP-focused, specialty-specific websites, as well as the esteemed business media titles PRWeek and MM&M (Medical Marketing & Media).

Contacts

Kelley Slavik, Communications Manager

Kelley.slavik@haymarketmedia.com