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Over 50,000 Meals Distributed to Homeless after Sir Paul McCartney Licenses Song to Homeless Charity, with support from Iconic Songwriter Mike Stoller

The Man/Kind Initiative Inc.

On any given night, over half a million homeless people in the United States go to bed hungry. Because of major support from Mike Stoller and wife Corky Hale, and the gift of music from Sir Paul McCartney, TheMan/Kind Initiative announced that they had distributed 50,000 meals to the homeless and needy in the Los Angeles area. When iconic songwriter Mike Stoller (Leiber and Stoller) along with his wife, activist and musician Corky Hale decided to support The Man/Kind Initiative’s #CovidKindness outreach to the homeless, they never expected that Sir Paul McCartney would be joining them in this mission. “ We reached out to Sir Paul’s office to ask permission to use his song ‘Junk’ from his first solo album”, explained Man/Kind Initiative’s founder and CEO Richard Stellar. “The song reminded me of a homeless guy who lived out of his car at the end of the street where I grew up, and it always played in my head when we were feeding the homeless. So, I wrote to Paul in care of his company, and he responded that he was ‘happy to give us the song’. I’m pretty sure that having Mike and Corky on board didn’t hurt.” Mike Stoller commented: “Richard Stellar of the Man/Kind Initiative is the kind of activist who collects and personally hands food to the homeless where they are—in the streets and under overpasses. Corky and I are in awe of his energy and his compassion, and we’re thrilled that Paul lent his support to the fantastic work of the organization Richard leads.” The video made from Sir Paul’s song and voiced by actor and activist Anne-Marie Johnson got this small non-profit on the radar of FoodCycle, LA. From this, The Man/Kind Initiative was able to affiliate with distribution partners like Bristol Farms, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s. To learn more about The Man/Kind initiative and to support their work with the homeless, please visit mankindhomeless.com. See Paul McCartney / Man/Kind Initiative video at mankindhomeless.com Or on YouTube here. The Man/Kind Initiative is a California non-profit corporation whose mission is to provide food directly to the homeless where they live, in the streets. They also distribute EDAR (Everyone Deserves A Roof) mobile shelters. To learn more about The Man/Kind Initiative and to support their work with the homeless, please visit mankindhomeless.com About the principals (available for on air or phone-in/Zoom interviews - contact Richard Stellar - richard@mankindinitiative.org or 213-369-1097 to schedule) Richard Stellar, founder of The Man/Kind Initiative is known for his ‘vituperative blogs’ - Vanity Fair on social issues impacting the motion picture and television industry. Richard has won several first place Los Angeles Press Club National Journalism and Entertainment Journalism awards. He was instrumental in the successful fight for motion picture industry elderly and won Los Angeles Press Club’s Best Facebook Group for his online group AGE: Activists for Geriatric Equality. Richard has worked on campaigns that fight anti-Semitism, systemic racism and is the producer of TEARS: The Event Against Racism and Stereotyping. Anne-Marie Johnson, past Vice President of the Screen Actors Guild is a well-known actor and activist. Anne-Marie represented the Screen Actors Guild as a national board member and 4 term First Vice President from 1997 - 2013. She was the first African American to be elected to that position in the union’s history. Anne-Marie was honored to be presented the 2016 Screen Actors Guild Ralph Morgan Award, the highest honor an actor can receive for service to their union and the first African American to receive the honor. Contact Details The Man/Kind Initiative Richard Stellar +1 213-369-1097 richard@mankindinitiative.org Company Website https://mankindhomeless.com/

May 17, 2022 08:45 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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BBQ Lovers, Start Your Appetites! Everett and Jones Opening at Graton Resort & Casino

Graton Resort & Casino

Sonoma County’s Graton Resort & Casino announced today that it will open an Everett and Jones Barbeque restaurant in the summer of 2022. It will be the newest addition to the Everett and Jones Barbeque family of restaurants. “Everett and Jones will be a great addition to our diverse family of restaurants,” said Mario Maesano, vice president of marketing of Graton Resort & Casino, the 200-room, 65-acre resort with a full-service gaming experience. “Everett and Jones has long been recognized as one of the top barbecue restaurants in the Bay Area. We are thrilled to welcome them to Graton Resort and Casino.” Renowned for its signature homemade beef links and pork ribs, Everett and Jones started in Oakland with their first location opening at 92nd Avenue. In 1974, Everett and Jones opened a second restaurant on the corner of University and San Pablo Avenues in Berkeley, and a third opened in 1975. Popular dishes include chicken, pork ribs, beef links, beef brisket with side dishes, mac & cheese, BBQ beans, potato salad and green beans. Founder’s story Dorothy Everett started Everett and Jones in Oakland in 1973 with her eight daughters, son and son-in-law, Jones. Dorothy realized if she wanted to get authentic barbeque sauce in the Bay Area, she would need to make it herself. Dorothy and her husband, Cleveland, moved from Alabama to California in 1952 looking for a better life. When Cleveland and Dorothy separated eight years later, Dorothy took care of the children and worked part-time tending a smoke pit at Jenkin’s Bar-B-Que on the famous 7 th Street in West Oakland. She later left Jenkins and became the manager for Flint’s Barbeque. Dorothy borrowed money from her best friend Cora and Harry Mock, of Fair Deal Market to start her own barbecue restaurant, and the first location of Everett and Jones opened. Dorothy named the restaurant after the maiden names of her children. Guide to the Good Life named Everett and Jones one of the top five of the 2022 Best Barbecue Restaurants in San Francisco/Bay Area. Everett and Jones’ “Super Q Barbeque Sauce” is a staple at all three restaurants and available wherever barbecue sauces are sold. About Graton Resort & Casino Located in Sonoma County, Graton Resort & Casino has a commanding presence among the rolling hills of Northern California's wine country. Owned and operated by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, Graton Resort & Casino features table games, the latest slot machines, upscale and casual dining, plus entertainment options for visitors and locals alike. For more information, please visit www.gratonresortcasino.com. ### Contact Details Landis Communications Inc. Brianne Miller +1 650-575-7727 graton@landispr.com Company Website https://www.gratonresortcasino.com/

May 17, 2022 08:30 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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Telos Offers Fast-Tracked Grants To Support Terra Developers

Telos Foundation

The Telos community offers its sympathy and full support to Terra developers for the hardships endured during this tumultuous period. In light of this, Telos welcomes all Terra dApps to join the 12 million TLOS Ignite grant and ventures program. The team will fast-track applications from Terra dApps seeking refuge with investments, marketing support, and technical assistance. Terra developers are encouraged to communicate with Telos' team via Discord, Telegram, or apply for a grant directly through the following link: https://ignite.telos.net “We feel for the talented teams and projects that have fallen victim to the collapse of Terra. We know many of you are long-term builders of the Web 3 future, and for those that are looking for a blockchain that shares your long-term vision, you will find an amazing home at Telos.” AJ Dinger, Telos Head of Business Development If the abundance of congested, pausing, and, more recently, failing blockchain networks has taught us anything, it's that dApp developers must choose wisely when finding a home to deploy their dApps. The Telos Mainnet has been live with zero downtime since 2018, can finalize a billion transactions per day with zero carbon footprint, and is home to the world's most robust EVM. We look forward to working with LUNA developers to help foster uncharted growth with the support of our team and a purely grassroots community. About Telos Live since 2018, Telos Blockchain (ticker: TLOS) is a third-generation smart contract platform that offers compatibility with Solidity, Vyper, and Native C++ smart contracts. Telos provides full EVM/Solidity support with fixed low-cost gas fees and no front running and, more uniquely, offers a path to fee-less transactions via its robust native C++ smart contract support. Even while operating as a Net Zero Blockchain, Telos still sustainably supports hundreds of millions of transactions per day, produces blocks in 0.5 second intervals (on a first-in-first-out basis, eliminating front running on the network), and securely validates transactions via a credibly neutral and globally decentralized block producer network. As a result, the Telos blockchain has the throughput needed to facilitate and scale the thriving Metaverse / Web 3.0 landscape better than any other blockchain in existence. Its performance is unrivaled in the industry and was purpose-built to offer speed, scalability, cost-effectiveness, credible decentralization, and end-user fairness. Telos harnesses its power by utilizing tight C++ on the frontend and a custom WASM runtime environment on the backend. About The Foundation The Telos Foundation is a Decentralized Autonomous Organization established as a promotional and funding body to advance the Telos Blockchain Network and provide support to network applications. Contact Details The Team hello@telosfoundation.io Company Website https://www.telos.net/

May 17, 2022 10:06 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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viBe Theater Experience Names New Co-Executive Directors Beryl Briane Ford and Michelan Le’Monier

viBe Theater Experience

viBe Theater Experience’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Beryl Briane Ford and Michelan Le’Monier as the organization’s new Executive Co-Directors. The organization has been under their interim leadership in this capacity since November 2021, and viBe’s Board unanimously approved their permanent appointments in March 2022. Ford and Le’Monier are well suited to lead viBe in its next chapter, having lived, institutional experience and demonstrated success in growing the organization’s operations, budget and programming. They are poised to shape, manage and inspire viBe's advancement as collaborators and in partnership with its talented staff and deeply committed Board of Directors and Junior Board. “I’m very ecstatic to be co-leading this organization with Beryl Briane! Ever since my participation in the viBeApprentices program in 2017, I knew that I wanted to contribute something to this community of artists and being in this position really brings my experiences as a participant and as a staff member full circle. As Co-Executive Director, my vision is for abundance to be a lifestyle, not a privilege for Black girls, young women, and femmes through art and wellness. viBe has grown immensely over the past few years and it’s my goal to continue to guide that growth with the support of our Board and Staff."- Michelan Le’Monier “I firmly believe that investing in the leadership of Black girls, young women, and gender expansive youth is one of many critical pathways to liberation. I am eager to build and sustain these pathways in my new role as Co-Executive Director. I came to viBe in October 2020 from The Museum of Modern Art with a desire to support viBe’s larger mission of creating safer spaces for youth to make art that’s deeply rooted in their lived experiences. It’s an honor to be amplifying their work alongside Michelan, viBe’s Staff & Board. I am thrilled to be co-leading an organization that’s responsible for nurturing the artistic & professional praxis of emerging artists, administrators, and educators. I look forward to continuing this legacy.”- Beryl Briane This shared leadership model is a living manifestation of viBe’s ethos of investing in and activating leadership opportunities for young people. So much of viBe’s work uniquely positions the organization in the larger nonprofit sector, cultivating pathways for program participants to become arts practitioners in the field, and leaders in their own right. In fact, the co-executive leadership model is not new to viBe – the organization was co-founded and led by Dana Edell and Chandra Thomas when they were both under the age of 25. Ford and Le’Monier look forward to continuing the organization’s nearly 20 year commitment to centering the voices of young Black women. Both Ford and LeMonier have tenured histories as leaders within viBe Theater Experience, having been trained and mentored by former Executive Director, Toya Lillard, as Development Associate and Operations Director respectively. “As Board Chair, I couldn’t be more proud of viBe’s growth and impact — and our new co-leaders are proof positive that our way WORKS! Inclusive and dynamic programming, an unwavering purpose, implicit trust in Black women, centering lived experiences and cultivating leaders from within is what we practice and preach.” Cheryl Overton Ford and LeMonier are committed to continuing viBe’s impact within the theater community both locally in NYC and nationally, bringing greater visibility and supporting more young people who seek to share their artistic genius with the world around them. They’re committed to deepening the organization’s advocacy work in its core areas of focus: racial equity, gender & healing justice, youth and women’s empowerment, and financial equity. Together, they will strive to ensure that viBe’s at the forefront of these issues through key partnerships with individuals, community and impact-oriented organizations, and mission-aligned corporations. With a clear vision for the present and a larger vision for viBe’s future, their appointment will preserve viBe’s historical impact while also leading the organization into a new era of growth. Their appointment demonstrates a deep commitment to centering Black women’s leadership in the arts. As an organization, viBe is dedicated to building pathways for the professional and artistic advancement of Black women. This appointment not only exemplifies this investment, it‘s also a clarion call to the larger community to consider and build up the systems and structures that will ensure the success and advancement of Black women in the arts. viBe Theater Experience produces original theater, music and media written and performed by NYC teens, young women and nonbinary youth of color about their lived experiences. For more information, visit www.vibetheater.org For downloadable high-resolution images, visit vibetheater.org/press-room Contact Details viBe Theater Experience Cheryl Overton, Board Chair +1 917-373-3514 cheryl@cheryloverton.com viBe Theater Experience viBe Marketing & Communications Team us@vibetheater.org Company Website https://www.vibetheater.org

May 17, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Introducing Biebs Brew! The much-anticipated next collab between Justin Bieber and Tim Hortons is a co-created French Vanilla-flavored Cold Brew coffee

Tim Hortons

The wait is almost over – starting June 6, Tim Hortons guests across Canada and the United States can try Justin Bieber’s next Tims-inspired creation! The first part of the Tims x Justin Bieber collab was focused on Justin putting his own spin on his favorite treats at Tim Hortons: bite-sized Timbits donuts. This time, Justin and Tims developed a new twist on what the iconic brand is best known for: brewing the perfect cup of coffee. In product brainstorms with the Tims team for the second collab, Justin shared that he prefers his coffee on ice, which led to working on a new flavor of Tim Hortons Cold Brew, which is made with 100 percent premium Arabica beans and is steeped for 16 hours to enhance the bold and smooth flavor. Also inspired by a slight sweet tooth and his love for hints of delicious vanilla flavoring in his coffee, Justin and our beverage innovation team developed a creamy French Vanilla flavor to go with our Cold Brew. Biebs Brew is the perfect blend of those two beloved Tims flavors. "We couldn't stop at Timbiebs, we needed a Biebs Brew too. And we are bringing both to Tims next month,” said Justin. "Doing a Tim Hortons collab had always been a dream of mine. I grew up on Tim Hortons and it's always been something close to my heart." All three Timbiebs flavors – Chocolate White Fudge, Sour Cream Chocolate Chip, and Birthday Cake Waffle flavors – will return to Tims restaurants in Canada and the United States along with Biebs Brew on June 6. Guests in the US can get a $5 Biebs Bundle*: a large Biebs Brew and a 10-pack of Timbiebs for $5 when ordered through the Tims app. In the US, Tims restaurants will also be bringing back limited quantities of Timbiebs merchandise for guests, including the beanie, fanny pack, and tote bag that were developed in collaboration with Justin. When guests buy any Tims x Justin Bieber merch they get 50% off a second item**. “Timbiebs was a huge success – truly beyond all of our expectations – and what made it so great was the authenticity of the partnership,” said Hope Bagozzi, Chief Marketing Officer for Tim Hortons. “Even before the Timbiebs collaboration, Justin had often shared with fans how he’d grown up with Tim Hortons and was obsessed with the brand. His commitment to working with us to develop a natural and authentic twist on the Tims experience is what made Timbiebs a hit and we know guests are going to love Biebs Brew and his take on Tims Cold Brew.” * No substitutions. Valid on bundle only, if items are added à la carte, promotional price will not apply. Ends 7/5/22. Add'l terms apply: timhortons.com/offer-terms. ** Buy 1 item at reg. price, get 1 for 50% off, while supplies last. No substitutions. Tax extra. Cannot be combined w/ any other offer, including food & beverage offers. Not valid on digital orders. “Justin Bieber” and “Biebs” are trademarks of Bieber Time Holdings, LLC. TM & © Tim Hortons, 2022. About Tim Hortons Tim Hortons® is one of North America's largest restaurant chains operating in the quick service segment. Founded as a single location in Canada in 1964, Tim Hortons appeals to a broad range of guest tastes, with a menu that includes premium coffee, hot and cold specialty drinks (including lattes, cappuccinos, espresso, teas and our famous Iced Capp® beverages), fresh baked goods, hot breakfast sandwiches, breakfast snacking items, and other food products. Tim Hortons has more than 4,800 system wide restaurants located in Canada, the United States and around the world. More information about the company is available at www.timhortons.com. Contact Details Alison Brod Marketing & Communications Adrianna Lauricella tims@abmc-us.com Company Website https://www.timhortons.com/

May 17, 2022 04:02 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Cookie Co. Announces Opening of New Location in Riverside, California

Cookie Co.

Celebrated as a pandemic success story, Cookie Co. has opened its second location in California, located at 195 E. Alessandro Blvd Suite 8C Riverside, CA, 92508. The brand is committed to bringing their gourmet cookies made locally to raving fans across the USA, and is carefully vetting corporate locations and franchise partners. Cookie Co. is rapidly expanding under strict guidelines to maintain the integrity of their beloved cookies with both new corporate and franchise locations. With franchise requests coming in from across the USA, Cookie Co. is working closely with qualified, interested parties to determine the right partnerships during the company’s current growth phase. Riverside, California was a smart next location for the state, as there is a built up demand from patrons in the city, which is neighboring to the original location in Redlands. “We’re excited to see this location in our home state open! There has been significant demand in the area, and now Riverside locals will have our cookies at an even closer proximity to their homes, making a quick stop easy and accessible any day of the week so they can grab their favorites. ” -Elise Thomas, Co-Founder, Cookie Co. About Cookie Co: Gourmet cookies, made locally. Founded in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, Cookie Co. began as a labor of love, offering the simplest of comfort foods – fresh baked cookies. Baked right at home with curbside pick-up in their driveway, Founders Elise and Matt Thomas discovered peace in providing an experience that reminded them of hopeful childhood memories. Opening the first location in August 2020 in Redlands, California, Cookie Co. is known for its signature cookies which are proprietary to the company. Cookie Co. has thrived thanks to raving fans across the community and is now available as a franchise. Interested franchise partners can learn more here. Contact Details Sterling Public Relations Paula Steurer +1 949-200-6566 concierge@sterlingpublicrelationsoc.com Company Website https://www.cookieco.com

May 12, 2022 04:15 PM Pacific Daylight Time

Headline: Uno Pizzeria and Grill introduces new Virtual Brand, Detroit Pizza Works

UNO Pizzeria & Grill

Uno Pizzeria and Grill, the inventor of deep dish pizza in Chicago in 1943, has introduced a Virtual Brand called Detroit Pizza Works which features Detroit-style pizza. Detroit-style pizza has grown in popularity over the last few years and has expanded outside of the Detroit area across the U.S. There are distinct characteristics of Detroit-style pizza that make it unique – rectangular in shape, a thick but light and airy dough, a cheese-baked edge, and tomato sauce that is spread like a racing stripe across the top of the pizza. Uno Pizzeria and Grill has developed a recipe that stays true to all of the hallmark details that make Detroit-style pizza unique. Detroit Pizza Works was launched in November of last year on major Delivery apps – Door Dash, Uber Eats and Grubhub. Uno Pizzeria and Grill CEO Erik Frederick enthusiastically stated “The feedback we’ve received from our guests is that we’ve absolutely ‘nailed it.” Frederick continued, “Even though UNO’s is the birthplace of, and is known for deep dish pizza, we also make a spectacular Chicago-style thin crust pizza. Our customers have grown to trust us to provide quality pizza varieties. And if a new great style comes along we will always explore the possibilities to expand our product offerings. With Detroit Pizza Works, we wanted to stay true to the classic Detroit-style pizza and think we have a top-of-the-line pizza to offer. The Virtual Kitchen marketplace gives us the opportunity to open up to entirely new guests and markets.” Based on the overwhelming success of the Detroit Pizza Works virtual brand, UNO is now offering Detroit-style pizza in select restaurants as an LTO for takeout and delivery only. It will be offered for dine in at many UNO restaurants in June. “Everyone loves pizza and we want to give our guests a variety of options to appeal to their individual tastes and occasions. As long as it is awesome pizza, we will always look to expand our horizons.” Frederick concluded. About UNO Pizzeria & Grill Based in Boston, Massachusetts, Uno Restaurant Holdings Corporation includes approximately 80 company-owned and franchised UNO Pizzeria & Grill restaurants located in 18 states, and the District of Columbia, India, and Saudi Arabia. UNO is all about connecting people over pizza – from its famous Chicago Deep Dish, which UNO invented in 1943, to its Chicago Thin Crust, to its gluten-free and vegan pizzas. The Company also operates Uno Foods, a consumer packaged-foods business which supplies supermarkets, airlines, movie theaters, hotels, airports, travel plazas, and schools, with both frozen and refrigerated private-label foods and UNO branded products. For more information, visit www.unos.com. Contact Details Chris Dellamarggio +1 339-613-7641 cdellamarggio@unos.com Company Website https://www.detroitpizzaworks.com

May 12, 2022 02:43 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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City Produce Joins FreshEdge

FreshEdge

INDIANAPOLIS – FreshEdge, a family of produce and specialty food companies backed by Rotunda Capital Partners, acquired City Produce, a fresh food distributor headquartered in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. For many years, City Produce has been serving North Central Florida, the Florida Panhandle, and central to southern Alabama distributing fresh fruits and vegetables, including an array of fresh-cut offerings, dairy, meats, seafoods, specialty foods, and more. City Produce operates out of two facilities, one in Fort Walton Beach, and a second in Foley, Alabama. The addition expands FreshEdge’s footprint into the southern United States and provides space and logistical support to better serve its customer base as it spreads farther south. City Produce joins Piazza Produce & Specialty Foods, Indianapolis Fruit, Get Fresh Produce, McCartney Produce, Monteverde’s, Valley Produce, Vine Line, Garden Cut, CIBUS Fresh and Papania’s. FreshEdge now operates with more than 2,000 employees, approximately 808,500 square feet of warehouse space, and a fleet of more than 720 trucks. “We welcome Tommy Sundy and his amazing team to the FreshEdge family of companies,” said Steve Grinstead, CEO of FreshEdge. “We are excited for this great company to join FreshEdge as we expand farther into the Southeast.” Terms of the deal, which closed on May 10, 2022, were not disclosed. The transaction strengthens the combined business’s presence in Florida and southern Alabama. “City Produce will be a great addition to our expanding group of ‘best in class’ fresh food distribution companies,” said Greg Corsaro, president and COO of FreshEdge. “We look forward to Tommy’s continued leadership at City Produce.” “Our City Produce team is excited to join the FreshEdge family - knowing we’ll be ‘better together’,” said Tommy Sundy, president. “This is the next step in increasing our footprint, serving customers with expanded offerings and growing for our future.” FreshEdge is backed by Rotunda Capital Partners, a lower middle market private equity firm focused on investments in founder and family held companies. Rotunda seeks to provide opportunities for management teams to reach strategic, financial, and operational objectives. Rotunda entered the food business in 2017 with the acquisition of Indianapolis Fruit and Piazza Produce. FreshEdge was created in 2019 when Get Fresh Produce joined the platform. City Produce represents FreshEdge’s seventh acquisition since Rotunda’s initial investment. Together, Rotunda and FreshEdge intend to continue expanding FreshEdge by welcoming more companies into the group—all focused on high quality produce and specialty food products, along with exceptional service—to create a unique group of complementary entities. About FreshEdge FreshEdge was formed in 2019 through the combination of Get Fresh Produce (founded 1982) and the IF&P Foods family of companies, primarily composed of Indianapolis Fruit (founded 1947) and Piazza Produce (founded 1970). McCartney Produce (Paris, TN) joined the FreshEdge family in November 2020 followed by Valley Produce (Knoxville, TN) in June 2021, Vine Line (Grand Rapids, MI) in October 2021, and Monteverde's (Pittsburgh, PA) in November 2021. Collectively, these leading fresh food distribution companies have nearly 500 years of combined experience serving the grocery and food service industries. FreshEdge includes two Garden Cut branded fresh-cut processing facilities, a tomato re-packer, a USDA fresh kitchen (CIBUS Fresh), and two transportation companies. FreshEdge's fleet resource includes more than 720 trucks servicing the Midwest and beyond from 12 facilities totaling approximately 808,500 square feet of warehouse space. Today, FreshEdge is one of the largest independent fresh food distributors in the United States and a category leader in providing both the foodservice and retail industries with fruit, vegetables, proteins, fresh grab-n-go offerings, dairy, floral, and specialty products. For more information, visit www.freshedgefoods.com. About Rotunda Capital Partners Rotunda Capital Partners is an operationally oriented private equity firm focused on transforming family-founder owned companies into dynamic, data-driven platforms able to achieve and manage significant growth. Since its founding in 2009, Rotunda has partnered with management teams to build great businesses within three primary sectors: value-added distribution, asset-light logistics and industrial & business services. Rotunda strives to achieve replicable results by implementing its Rotunda Performance System to create strategic alignment, develop lean processes and create robust, data-driven infrastructures. For more information, visit www.rotundacapital.com. Contact Details FreshEdge Greg Corsaro +1 317-981-3440 gcorsaro@freshedgefoods.com Rotunda Capital Partners Jill Lafferty +1 847-280-1295 jill@rotundacapital.com Company Website https://www.freshedgefoods.com/

May 11, 2022 07:43 AM Eastern Daylight Time

VFS Partners with Blackbird Interactive, East Side Games, and Timbre Games for $200,000 Indigenous Scholarship in Video Games Fund

Vancouver Film School

Announcement Highlights: The fund features three full-tuition scholarships for VFS’s Game Design program and one full-tuition scholarship for VFS’s 3D Animation & Visual Effects program. The total fund is valued at over US$200,000. Scholarship winners will be selected by Blackbird Interactive, East Side Games, and Timbre Games. Winners will also receive monthly mentorship from VFS instructors and design professionals from either Blackbird Interactive, East Side Games, or Timbre Games, as well as a four to six-month paid design contract at their respective game studio upon graduation. Submission process is currently open and closes on June 8, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. PDT. (Vancouver, BC) May 9, 2022 - Vancouver Film School (VFS), in partnership with Blackbird Interactive, East Side Games, and Timbre Games Studio is pleased to present the 2022 Indigenous Scholarship in Video Games, including mentorship and a paid internship. The scholarship fund, valued at over US$200,000, is open to applicants 18 years of age and older who identify as First Nations (status or non-status), Inuit, or Métis, and who are looking to enter the game industry as developers. The deadline to apply is June 8, and winners will be announced on National Indigenous Peoples Day, June 21. The Indigenous Scholarship in Video Games is a collaborative initiative between VFS and Vancouver-based game studios Blackbird Interactive ( Homeworld 3, Hardspace: Shipbreaker ), East Side Games ( The Office: Somehow We Manage, RuPaul’s Drag Race Superstar, Trailer Park Boys: Greasy Money ), and Timbre Games Studio (part of The Sumo Group). Three full-tuition scholarships for VFS’s Game Design program and one full-tuition scholarship for the 3D Animation & Visual Effects program will be awarded and may be applied to either the October 24, 2022, or January 3, 2023 intakes. Winners will be selected directly by top-tier AAA studios Blackbird Interactive, East Side Games, and Timbre Games, the latter of which will also select the winner who will enrol in the 3D Animation & Visual Effects program. Additionally, all winners will receive private mentorship by design professionals from Blackbird Interactive, East Side Games or Timbre Games, as well as by their instructors at VFS. Upon graduation, these winners will also receive a paid four to six-month work contract at their respective studio. Finally, each of the winners will be provided with a laptop for use during the program and to keep. The winner chosen by Blackbird Interactive will also receive a $5,000 housing stipend while studying at VFS. "Blackbird Interactive (BBI) is honoured to be collaborating with local gaming studios and VFS on the Indigenous Scholarship in Video Games. We are working to create impactful opportunities that First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students can explore, fulfilling their creative technology aspirations in meaningful ways. An education from VFS helps open the door to careers in film, games, 3D animation, and VR/AR design, among other fields. We believe that actions speak louder than words and that young people are the future. There is a lot more that needs to be done, but this is a small and important step for just one of our many local industries.” -Rob Cunningham – CEO & Co-Founder, Blackbird Interactive "Communities thrive on diversity. Whether we’re talking about games, entertainment, or film, we need to ensure we’re including voices and perspectives representative of the community around us. The Indigenous Scholarship in Video Games through Vancouver Film School can do just that. As a member of the Métis community, it is an honour to be able to support a program taking a step in the right direction towards a more inclusive creative landscape. While there's much work to be done, this is a good start." -Josh Nilson – Co-Founder, Studio Head and General Manager, East Side Games “At Timbre Games, our mission is driven by the idea that ‘culture drives creative’. The opportunity to support and collaborate with VFS, Blackbird Interactive and East Side Games on the Indigenous Scholarship in Video Games is a small first step to removing systemic barriers in entering the game industry for the Métis, Inuit, and First Nations people. All of us at Timbre are thrilled to be a small part of creating space in the games industry for these communities. I believe these students will play a significant role in the world of interactive entertainment in the years to come and we are grateful to have the opportunity to support their careers along the way. There is more hard work to be done in this space and Timbre is committed to listening and learning as we embark on our own journey.” -Joe Nickolls – President and Co-Founder, Timbre Games “It is a pleasure for VFS to be joining forces with three outstanding Vancouver studios to offer the 2022 Indigenous Scholarship in Video Games. This scholarship aims to foster more diversity and more inclusion in the game industry with the aim to have more Indigenous developers actively designing the next generation of games. At VFS, we are proud of the many Indigenous graduates from our programs who now have successful careers both in Vancouver and globally, and this scholarship is Vancouver Film School’s privilege and opportunity to play a role in emerging Indigenous developers building their creative careers.” -Christopher Mitchell – Head of Game Design and Programming for Games, Web & Mobile, VFS Vancouver Film School is committed to fostering and growing Indigenous representation in the video game industry. Indigenous artists, performers, and storytellers are a foundational thread in the fabric of the Canadian narrative, continuing to grow stronger as key voices within our country’s multidimensional creative landscape. For more information about the 2022 Indigenous Scholarship in Video Games, or to apply, visit https://vfs.edu/scholarships/indigenous-scholarship-2022. About Vancouver Film School In 1987, Vancouver Film School introduced the world’s first true immersion film program. Today, VFS is Canada’s premier post-secondary entertainment arts institution, offering an immersive curriculum in film, animation, design, and beyond. VFS is known for providing high-quality education in accelerated time frames and offers 15 industry-integrated programs in which students graduate in 12 months as an in-demand, industry-ready creative professional. VFS alumni are consistently credited on the highest grossing films, television shows, and games worldwide, in a global industry set to generate US$2.1 trillion in revenue in 2022. VFS Media Contact: Evan Biswanger Creative Director & Head of Marketing Vancouver Film School Follow VFS on Social Media: www.VFS.edu YouTube: www.youtube.com/VancouverFilmSchool Facebook: www.facebook.com/vancouverfilmschool Twitter: www.twitter.com/VFS Instagram: www.instagram.com/vancouverfilmschool Contact Details ebiswanger@vfs.com ebiswanger@vfs.com Company Website https://vfs.edu/

May 10, 2022 03:31 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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