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News Release Digital Asset Direct

Fintern launches consumer lending driven by AI and Open Banking

Stockwood Strategy

The UK consumer lending market is worth £160bn, yet over 15 million people in the UK are denied access to affordable loans. These people are resorting to unsustainable means including high-cost lenders and buy-now-pay-later schemes to manage their lives. Today, digital consumer lender Fintern has launched to radically transform the financial well-being of people with an innovative and sustainable lending approach that goes beyond traditional credit scoring and puts affordability first. Fintern’s next generation credit technology bypasses credit scores in making lending decisions, focusing instead on affordability. Fintern builds relationships with customers helping them to understand how much they really need, how much they can afford to take on, and how they will repay. Fintern integrates its AI platform with Open Banking* to smartly connect the dots in consumers’ banking data enabling Fintern to obtain the most accurate view of borrowers’ affordability and spending behaviour using real time transaction information. Gerald Chappell, CEO and co-founder of Fintern commented: “Fintern will help people to really understand what is affordable for them, rather than offering yet another faceless transactional process. Currently, lenders either lend money or don’t, and then don’t engage with the borrower again until the loan terms ends or payments are missed. “Our success as a lender lies in the ability of our customers to repay their loans. Our AI-powered technology helps us and all our customers to understand their finances in a deeper, more hands-on way than ever before. This approach allows us to increase approval rates, lower APRs and empower our customers to make the best and most responsible borrowing decisions for them.” The approach of banks to personal lending inappropriately results in “computer says no” answers for millions every year. While traditional behavioural credit scoring (the industry’s approach for credit decisioning) works well to separate the highest quality customers from the lowest, it performs poorly in differentiating risk among the majority of people. Often the consumers hardest hit are those who have had historical blips in their credit records or, for example, those people who are new to credit or have moved countries. Dr. Michelle He, COO and co-founder of Fintern added: “We will be closer to our customers than incumbent lenders can ever be, and this will differentiate us in the marketplace. Intelligently integrating AI and Open Banking data disrupts credit decisioning for the better of all customers. Doing it well requires the right experience. Data and technology are Fintern’s bread and butter. We have an amazing team with extensive experience in digital lending and credit analytics. They are customer obsessed and have made the Fintern App a unique experience.” Looking ahead, Gerald Chappell added: “As we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, Fintern is needed now more than ever. While many existing lenders are reducing credit supply given the shock to their existing portfolios, Fintern uses high frequency transaction data to understand consumers’ real time financial circumstances and lend responsibly. Over the next 4-5 years, we intend to rapidly grow in the UK building a £1bn loan book alongside broadening our product range and considering expansion to other geographies.” Fintern received its FCA authorisation as a regulated consumer credit lender in February 2021. The co-founders have built an exceptional team that includes credit experts with over 100 years’ experience in finance and technology. Ends * Open Banking regulation requires UK banks to open up customer transaction data in a secure and standardised form, which means the third party providers have access to consumer data from banks via APIs. While the UK is leading globally on Open Banking, adoption is under way in 35 economies. About Fintern Fintern is a digital consumer lender on a mission to expand access to low cost personal finance and transform financial well-being. Fintern’s next generation credit technology bypasses credit scores in making lending decisions, focusing instead on affordability. Fintern builds relationships with customers helping them to understand their repayment capacity and credit appetite. Fintern integrates its AI platform with Open Banking to smartly connect the dots in consumers’ banking data enabling Fintern to obtain the most accurate view of borrowers’ affordability and spending behaviour using up to the minute transaction information. Fintern was founded in 2020 with a team from McKinsey, EY, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, HSBC and XiaoMi. Fintern is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, firm reference number 929244, a member of Cifas (the UK's leading anti-fraud association) and registered with the UK Information Commissioner's Office in compliance with the Data Protection Regulations 2018. Contact Details Fintern Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 press@fintern.ai Company Website https://fintern.ai/

March 08, 2021 06:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Introducing: Generation Collection

Generation Collection

Generation Collection is proud to announce their official brand launch, and introduce their premier collection of investment grade, sustainable jewelry. Generation Collection is investment grade, 24 karat gold jewelry, made in the US from recycled metals that cut 99% of the environmental pollution. Created out of a desire to do good for people and the planet, Generation is the first sustainable investment jewelry in the US, intentionally built on a circular economy premise. Generation jewelry is a 0 carbon investment. The company is focused on driving change by: Turning waste into Gold. Reducing pollution through circular gold. Goal: Impact for Generations. Making jewelry an appreciating asset. Offering women an opportunity to invest in an appreciating asset. Goal: Wealth for Generations. CHALLENGING THE STATUS QUO The fashion industry is the 2nd largest global polluter, only after petroleum, and responsible for 10% of emissions. Every day, the world purchases ~1Billion worth of jewelry. Using recycled gold that cuts 99% of the pollution of mined gold, we could decarbonize nearly 2% the entire fashion industry. Every year the world spends $300B on jewelry. $100B of that is spent in Asia on high-carat jewelry. By contrast, most US jewelry is crafted from 14K (58% gold), 18K (75% gold) or, at best, 22K (92%) gold and loses most of its value the moment it's purchased. US jewelry today is a depreciating asset. Boryana Straubel would like to see that changed. “2020 was eye-opening. I asked myself what the products of the future look like? The Covid-19 crisis halted most sustainability investments while the price of gold skyrocketed. People still think that sustainability and financial returns are at odds. The products of the future need to be both sustainable and financially beneficial for people. Recycled 24k gold is just that.” – Boryana Straubel, Founder WHY 24 KARAT? 74% of women still don’t invest. Worrying about women’s financial health is important to Boryana Straubel, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Generation. Born in a small Bulgarian town and raised by a single mother, from a very young age, the value of hard work was instilled in Boryana. When she graduated high school as class valedictorian in 2000, her mother gave her the gift of a lifetime: a 30-gram, 24-karat gold necklace. This gift, which required years of saving and sacrifice to buy, became Boryana’s most prized possession. Gifting gold to a child in Bulgaria is the equivalent of providing them with an investment account; it is a functional gift, a beacon of hope and a promise of a brighter future. The price of gold that summer was $280/troy ounce (31 grams). 20 years later, that same necklace is now worth $1,900 – an appreciation of 580%. The S&P 500 appreciated 160% over that time. Not only was this necklace a symbol of accomplishment and a mother’s love, it also delivered an important life lesson to Boryana: the value of appreciating assets. Thus, the intention for Generation Collection was born. With the launch of Generation investment-grade jewelry, Boryana aspires to help more families accrue wealth, while celebrating life's most meaningful accomplishments. She married this mission with her belief in driving positive environmental change. This directly ties back to her work at The Straubel Foundation, where she focuses on impact investing in innovative early-stage ventures that help accelerate the transition to a more environmentally sustainable future. Generation’s collection of investment rings, pendants, earrings, necklaces and bracelets are crafted using only investment grade, recycled 24 karat gold, platinum and silver. The jewelry is priced dynamically, based on the metal commodity market price and provides sustainability statistics for each piece. Unlike gold bars and coins, Generation’s investment jewelry is a functional investment: it can be worn while it appreciates in value. Generation Collection uses upcycled e-waste and scrap gold – turning waste into value. This sourcing method significantly reduces energy, water and carbon dioxide. Mining gold from electronic waste has 50x more yield than from natural ores. One single gram of recycled gold saves 680 liters of water. One gram of mined gold causes 36,451 grams of CO2 emissions, compared to 3.62 grams of recycled gold. The energy savings from one gram of recycled gold are equivalent to 5,860 cell phone charges. That's almost 16 years of charging. A small 8 gram recycled gold ring offsets 128 years of phone charging. Generation’s recycled metals are also completely circular which means they can feed their own (and other companies) metal supply chains for unlimited cycles. Prioritizing sustainability, Generation aims to not only be a carbon neutral business but provide customers with the opportunity to help sequester carbon for centuries by offering the option to plant trees with every purchase. Generation pieces are available for purchase on Generation-Collection.com. Prices range from $450 to $7,000 USD. For more information on Generation Collection, please visit www.Generation-Collection.com. Contact Details OGAKI Amber Cardullo +1 646-475-7056 acardullo@ogakidigital.com Company Website https://generation-collection.com

March 04, 2021 10:03 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Cityneon to Tour Egyptian National Treasures Globally - Ramses The Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs

Media Outreach

Titled " Ramses The Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs", this spectacular exhibition will feature 183 rare Egyptian artefacts; the largest collection of artefacts on Ramses II to ever leave Egypt The exhibition was approved by the Egyptian Cabinet and the decree was signed by Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly in December 2020 Supported by Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the world-class Houston Museum of Natural Science will launch the exhibition with the support of World Heritage Exhibitions this November in Houston, followed by 4 other major cities Strong historical track record with the previous Ramses II exhibition held in 1986 that sold a record of about 5 million tickets This exhibition follows the recent announcement of Cityneon's latest addition to its experiences -- " Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru" Positions the Group as one of the world's largest experience entertainment companies that continues to grow despite Covid-19; setting sights on meeting the global demands for experiences post Covid-19 SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 3 March 2021 - Cityneon Holdings ("Cityneon", the "Company"/collectively with its subsidiaries, the "Group") today announced another major historical artefacts exhibition, just weeks after revealing its foray into the artefacts space with Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru. Come November this year, Houston Museum of Natural Science and Cityneon will debut an exhibition of 183 pieces of rare artefacts from ancient Egypt that focuses on the almighty pharaoh, Ramses The Great. Watch a Video about Ramses The Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs here In December 2020, the exhibition was approved by the Egyptian Cabinet and the decree was signed by Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. The news had been widely received by the Egyptian public, with Egyptian media proclaiming that the exhibition will showcase "the most prominent and unique historical Pharaonic holdings". These 183 pieces of rare artefacts will be featured in the inaugural exhibition titled Ramses The Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs and the exhibition will open in Texas, United States at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Ramses II, also known as Ramses The Great, ruled for 66 years, which was the second longest reign in ancient Egyptian history. Because of his long rule, Ramses II is thought to have amassed one of the largest and richest burial chambers and is regarded as the most powerful pharaoh of the New Kingdom, the most celebrated period of ancient Egypt. The exhibition is expected to attract large crowds as evidenced by previous showcases of Egyptian treasures worldwide. In 1986, a touring exhibition on Ramses II sold a record of about 5 million tickets. As recent as in 2019, when Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh was exhibited in Paris, it broke the French visitor record with about 1.5 million visitors. Egyptian expert Gamal El-Din Mokhtar once said that the Ramses II exhibition had exceeded the experience from the Tutankhamun exhibition by being "more exemplary archeologically, historically and culturally than the treasures of Tutankhamun". Fast forward to 2021, Ramses The Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs would be even more exciting than the past showcases. The exhibition boasts the FIRST virtual walkthrough of Ramses II's famous temples and will include a FIRST full-length documentary ever produced on Ramses II's tomb for this tour. Details of the documentary will be released in due course. Mr. Ron Tan, Executive Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer of Cityneon, said: " The priceless artefacts in our care, as well as being given exclusive access to Ramses' tomb allow Cityneon to stage an authentic and exhilarating recount of his life. This is the first time after 32 long years that people all over the world will have a chance to get up close to the life of the greatest pharaoh of all times. From the record-breaking sales of about 5 million tickets from the Ramses II exhibition in 1986 to the recently achieved visitorship for the King Tutankhamun exhibition in Paris in 2019, we are confident that Ramses The Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs will be another record-breaking feat." "Cityneon is thankful to work with partners as established as the Houston Museum of Natural Science and the World Heritage Exhibitions, and we are also honoured to have the support of the Egyptian government. I am very excited for the Cityneon team to showcase these remarkable pieces of artefacts to the world," Mr Tan continued. Mr. Joel A. Bartsch, President and Chief Executive Officer at Houston Museum of Natural Science, said they were honoured to be launching the exhibition with Cityneon and World Heritage Exhibitions and they believe the Groups' extensive experience in exhibitions would lead to an engaging showcase. "All three teams have great track records and we are confident that the 183 pieces of Egyptian artefacts will captivate visitors from around the world. We look forward to hosting visitors from Houston, the nation and beyond at this historical, educational and immersive exhibition," said Bartsch. Mr. Anthony Tann, President of World Heritage Exhibitions, said: "We are extremely honoured to partner Cityneon for yet another artefacts exhibition. I am confident Cityneon will bring their incomparable expertise to the table and bring alive the treasures of Ramses II to cities across the world, welcoming the many millions of visitors globally." Cityneon has assembled an experienced team who would be able to handle these precious historical treasures and launch the exhibition across the globe. The Group is also riding on its expertise in the curation of intellectual property experiences to build up their capabilities in the artefact exhibitions arena. Cityneon now has two global and major artefact-related intellectual property and has plans to acquire more historical artefacts IPs, with one from Asia expected in 2021. Cityneon Holdings With its global reach and international partnerships, Cityneon has the capability to serve its clients anywhere in the world. Cityneon was listed on the Mainboard of the Singapore Stock Exchange since 2005, and was privatized on February 2019 by West Knighton Limited, a company wholly owned by Cityneon's Executive Chairman and Group CEO, Ron Tan, together with Hong Kong veteran entrepreneur and investor, Johnson Ko Chun Shun. Johnson is a capital markets veteran and has held controlling interests and directorships in many listed companies. In May 2019, Cityneon welcomed CITIC Capital as a new shareholder, who holds approximately 10% shares in Cityneon. CITIC Capital is part of CITIC Group, one of China's largest conglomerates, and has over US$29b of assets under its management across 100 funds and investment products globally. Other institutional shareholders of the Group include EDBI - a Singapore government-linked global investor, and Pavilion Capital - a Singapore-based investment institution which focuses on private equity investments, that made strategic investments in August and October 2019 respectively, to support the Group's further expansion globally. For more information, please visit www.cityneongroup.com. World Heritage Exhibitions Founded in 2020, the World Heritage Exhibitions team has a combined 50 years of experience producing, promoting, and designing the biggest blockbuster exhibitions in the world. Our mission is to be the world leader in cultural experiences, producing the finest quality experiences that captivate, educate, and inspire people throughout the world. Houston Museum of Natural Science The Houston Museum of Natural Science - one of the nation's most heavily attended museums - is a centerpiece of the Houston Museum District. With four floors of permanent exhibit halls, and the Wortham Giant Screen Theatre, Cockrell Butterfly Center, Burke Baker Planetarium and George Observatory and as host to world-class and ever-changing touring exhibitions, the Museum has something to delight every age group. With such diverse and extraordinary offerings, a trip to the Houston Museum of Natural Science, located at 5555 Hermann Park Drive in the heart of the Museum District, is always an adventure. Contact Details Cityneon Holdings Wong Yi Lin - Head, Corporate Relations +65 6571 6338 ir@cityneongroup.com

March 03, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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How Genetic Testing Can Impact Health and Wellness

YourUpdateTV

In recent years, direct-to-consumer genetic testing has been used to facilitate the detection of certain health risks, allowing for proactive lifestyle modifications. In some cases, genetic testing can be lifesaving for patients, helping empower them to make informed life choices, with the help of healthcare providers, to improve their health and well-being. Recently, Genetic Trends Expert at 23andMe, Jhulianna Cintron and customer Marc Lovicott, participated in a nationwide satellite media tour to discuss the benefits of genetic testing on health and wellness. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/Nz1ZCfva2aw Marc Lovicott, the Director of Communications and Public Information Officer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Police Department, is one such example. Last year, Marc began suffering from debilitating headaches and gastrointestinal distress, but a variety of tests offered no answers. In tandem, Marc decided to purchase a Health + Ancestry kit from 23andMe to learn more about his ancestry and his health. Marc was surprised when he opted into his Genetic Health Risk reports and saw he had one of the variants common in people with celiac disease.* He took the information to his doctor who did follow-up testing to reveal that Marc does in fact have celiac disease. Since the diagnosis, Marc has been able to make positive changes to help him manage living with the disease. Using insights backed by the latest science, 23andMe helps users determine how their DNA can affect their chances of developing certain health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, celiac disease, high blood pressure, kidney stones and more.* For more information, visit 23andMe.com About 23andMe: 23andMe, Inc. is the leading consumer genetics and research company. Founded in 2006, the mission of the company is to help people access, understand, and benefit from the human genome. 23andMe is the first direct-to-consumer company to receive FDA authorization for genetic health reports, and has millions of customers worldwide, with more than 80 percent of customers consented to participate in research. 23andMe, Inc. is located in Sunnyvale, CA. More information is available at www.23andMe.com. About Marc Lovicott: Marc is the Director of Communications & Public Information Officer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Police Department. He purchased a 23andMe kit out of interest for his ancestry, but decided to splurge on the Health + Ancestry kit to learn more about his health. Earlier that year, Marc began suffering from debilitating headaches and gastrointestinal distress. After a battery of tests that offered no answers, Marc looked at his 23andMe results and saw he had one of the variants common in people with celiac disease. He took the information to his doctor, who through a blood test and endoscopy confirmed that Marc does in fact have celiac disease. Since learning his diagnosis, Marc has adopted a gluten free diet, and not only feels higher energy, but his headaches and gastrointestinal issues are gone too. In Marc’s words, “I'm still amazed that I was able to get some answers from the 23andMe kit! About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. *23andMe health predisposition reports include both reports that meet FDA requirements for genetic health risks and reports which are based on 23andMe research and have not been reviewed by the FDA. The test uses qualitative genotyping to detect select clinically relevant variants in the genomic DNA of adults from saliva for the purpose of reporting and interpreting genetic health risks. It is not intended to diagnose any disease. Your ethnicity may affect the relevance of each report and how your genetic health risk results are interpreted. Each genetic health risk report describes if a person has variants associated with a higher risk of developing a disease,but does not describe a person’s overall risk of developing the disease. The test is not intended to tell you anything about your current state of health, or to be used to make medical decisions, including whether or not you should take a medication, how much of a medication you should take, or determine any treatment. For important information and limitations regarding each genetic health risk report, visit 23andme.com/test-info. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

March 02, 2021 04:20 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Women Retirees Underestimate the Coming Long-Term Care Tsunami by Jennifer Lang Financial Services

Jennifer Lang Financial Services, LLC

Contact Details Jennifer Lang Financial Services, LLC. Jennifer Lang +1 877-487-8926 mail@jenniferlangfinancialservices.com Company Website https://www.jenniferlangfinancialservices.com

March 02, 2021 10:05 AM Eastern Standard Time

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How New Airbnb Hosts Have Earned $1 Billion During the Pandemic

YourUpdateTV

The COVID-19 pandemic has sent travelers looking for safe, comfortable settings in which to connect with family and friends, creating economic opportunity for others to earn needed extra income by listing their homes on Airbnb. New hosts with only one listing who have welcomed their first guests since the start of the pandemic have already earned more than $1 billion. Recently, Christopher Nulty, Head of Global Public Affairs at Airbnb, discussed this trend and what it means for the future of travel. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/kjxmBO8MLKc Families and workers around the world have struggled financially because of the economic hardship caused by the pandemic, and in the US, one in four adults have had a hard time paying bills and one third have tapped their savings or retirement funds. For many, sharing their homes on Airbnb has provided a critical and urgent COVID social safety net to help stay economically afloat in these unprecedented times. In the US, the typical new Airbnb host with only one listing earned $3,900 since March 2020. This is income being used to pay important bills with half of all hosts worldwide using their Airbnb earnings to stay in their homes. During the pandemic, three in 10 US hosts (29 percent) have used their hosting income to pay their rent or mortgage—including half (49 percent) of hosts aged 25-34. One quarter of hosts (26 percent) have used the income to pay down debts, and 10 percent have used it to pay for healthcare. For more information, visit Airbnb.com About Christopher Nulty: Christopher Nulty is Airbnb's Head of Global Public Affairs. Prior to joining Airbnb in 2015, Christopher led public relations for Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer. Christopher started his career in Washington, D.C., where he worked on Immigration and Healthcare Policy at the 2.2 million member Service Employees International Union (SEIU). A proud native of upstate New York, Christopher is a graduate of Colgate University where he currently serves as a director on the Alumni Council Board of Directors. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

March 01, 2021 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Infographic: Permanent Changes in Behavior and Expectations Beyond COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout

Metova Inc.

Contact Details Metova Anders Steele +1 323-909-2341 anders.steele@metova.com Company Website https://metova.com/infographic-expectations-beyond-covid-19/

February 26, 2021 09:19 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Keeping Your Heart Healthy with Kori Krill Oil: American Heart Month

YourUpdateTV

Heart disease is the leading health-related cause of death in the United States, taking the lives of 2,200 people each day. Nearly half of American adults have at least one of the top three risk factors for heart disease: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking. February is American Heart Month, a time to learn about simple steps you can take now to help your heart. For many years, experts have recommended that people eat fatty fish rich in essential Omega-3 nutrients at least twice a week. But did you that most Americans—up to 70%— are deficient in Omega-3s because they do not eat enough fish? That’s a concern because scientific studies have shown that Omega-3s can support our heart and overall health. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/j-djtjZjb9M So, if you want to get on track to a maintaining a healthy heart but don’t know where to start, what to eat or what supplements to use, what should you do? Kori Krill Oil partnered with Dr. Taz Bhatia, D S Simon Media, and YourUpdate TV on a nationwide media tour to discuss the steps you can take to help your heart, including the heart-healthy benefits of Omega-3s. Where you get your Omega-3s from matters. Research has found that there are two critical types of Omega-3s for our health, called EPA and DHA. These are what you find in real fish and in ocean-sourced supplements like Kori Pure Antarctic Krill Oil. According to the FDA, supportive but not conclusive research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. One serving of Kori Krill Oil provides 250 grams of EPA and DHA Omega-3 fatty acids. [See nutrition information for total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol content.] In addition, Omega-3s support normal triglycerides, may increase good cholesterol (HDL), and support normal circulation and heart rhythm. The important thing to realize about Omega-3 fatty acids is that our bodies can’t make them on their own. We have to consume them. Krill oil has been clinically proven to raise Omega-3 levels and is a doctor recommended Omega-3 source. Kori Krill Oil has superior Omega-3 absorption vs fish oil because it delivers Omega-3s in their most natural form, just as you would find in real fish. Plus, it has no fishy aftertaste. In addition to Omega-3s, Kori Krill Oil is also naturally a good source of choline, another essential nutrient that supports brain and nervous system health, and has an antioxidant. You won’t find either of these in fish oil. It even comes in small and mini sizes for people who have trouble swallowing large pills. Kori Krill Oil has a commitment to purity and quality. It’s certified sustainably sourced from pristine Antarctic waters and does not add artificial ingredients. For more information about supporting your heart health visit korikrilloil.com You can get Kori Krill Oil at Walmart, CVS and other retailers. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

February 24, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Minuteman Press Franchise Owner Manny Castro Fulfills Lifelong Dream of US Citizenship

Minuteman Press International Inc

After being a permanent resident for over 35 years, Manny Castro has fulfilled his lifelong dream of achieving his US citizenship. As Minuteman Press franchise owner in Downey, CA for 14 years, Manny credits the support of his family and the team at Minuteman Press International with helping him achieve his dream. “I officially became a US Citizen on November 20, 2020, and it feels just great! This is my home; I have been living in the States most of my life and now I can vote. I am really proud of being a Citizen of the greatest country in the world, a land of opportunities for all!” From El Salvador to Entrepreneurship Originally from El Salvador, Manny is proud to be a shining example of achieving the American Dream both in his life and in his career. He says, “To get my US Citizenship after all this time is just an incredible accomplishment. I came to this beautiful country 38 years ago without a dollar in my pocket, no skills, no academic degrees, no English, not even a high school diploma. Just a young teenager at that time, running away from a very conflicted civil war in El Salvador, looking for a better life.” Reflecting back on those painful struggles and thinking about where he is today, Manny exclaims, “All I can say now is God is great, and may God continue to bless this great country that offers people from all walks of life, hope, endless opportunities, and a second chance in life.” Manny has owned his Minuteman Press franchise in Downey, CA since May 2007. During that time, he has successfully built his business while receiving crucial training and support from his franchisor. “My Regional Vice President Dan Byers and Steve Szymanski have always had my back since day one. They both wrote a beautiful letter of recommendation for me, to support my application for my citizenship. It meant so much to me and my family. Dan and Steve were delighted to help when I asked; everything I obtained when applying contributed to me being granted my citizenship. My kids were born here, and my entire family have already become citizens. It was time for me now to take that next step as well and join the millions of proud Americans. I love this country so much, and I’ve met great people along the way. God has opened up so many doors for me here. It is a land of opportunity for all. If you work hard, the sky is the limit.” Journey to Minuteman Press Dan Byers has known Manny Castro for 15 years. He says, “I first met Manny at a Franchise Expo in Pasadena in February 2006 and he was determined to own a business. At the time, he was working at a company that was downsizing and he saw business ownership as a means to financial independence, the opportunity to step up to a new challenge, and a way to regain control of his time.” Manny explains, “I was a distribution zone manager for a weekly publication company. I had researched many other companies and different industries for a while, but none of them gave me the level of confidence that I needed to motivate me and move forward that Minuteman Press did. Once my decision was made and we moved forward with training and opening up my center, they gave me a real solid foundation, and second-to-none ongoing support to this day.” Dan continues, “In an effort to be close to home, Manny converted an independent printing company in Downey to a Minuteman Press franchise in 2007. Time and time again, Manny has been able to successfully manage his business by working hard and treating people – customers, vendors, and employees – fairly and with the utmost respect. Whether it was the Great Recession of 2008 or the COVID-19 pandemic today, Manny has managed to stay positive and remain focused on growing his business by following the Minuteman Press franchise system.” Managing the Business Through the COVID-19 Pandemic Because Minuteman Press Downey is an essential business, Manny and his team have continued to remain open through the pandemic. He says, “We are an essential printing business and able to assist local businesses in any industry – medical, financial, retail, restaurants – and all businesses that continue to operate.” Manny adds, “For our clients, A-Frame signage, banners, floor decals, brochures, and direct mail have all been crucial in keeping their businesses operating safely while communicating with their customers. 99% of our customer base are other local businesses, and I see people are hungry to get back to work, to open up their doors safely, and we are helping them reach out and reopen safely. I’m very optimistic that things are turning back into full force. We have positioned ourselves to be there for our business community and meet their needs.” During the pandemic, Minuteman Press International has once again proven to be there for Manny to support him. He says, “Minuteman Press ongoing support during these unprecedented times has been tremendous. They’ve been there for us since COVID-19 started and provided us with extensive communications, guidance, marketing strategies, and additional resources. For example, when two of my employees needed to be home, Minuteman Press immediately provided me with additional field support to help me out with everything I needed. They are always there and quick to act whenever I need a helping hand or advice.” “We are an essential printing business and able to assist local businesses in any industry – medical, financial, retail, restaurants – and all businesses that continue to operate.” -Manny Castro, Minuteman Press franchise owner, Downey, CA Rewards of Business Ownership + Advice for Others When asked about the rewards of owning his business, Manny answers, “The most rewarding thing is having full control of your life and your financials. It’s very fulfilling to have your own business. I know that if I work hard, I reap the benefits.” His advice for others is this: “I will say Minuteman Press is a great company to partner up with. They are a leader in the printing industry and with over 45 years of experience. For someone like me who did not know about paper sizes and stocks 14 years ago, this meant the world to me. People can review the Minuteman Press franchise and see there are no hidden agendas. There was no pressure to buy the franchise, and they’ve supported me from day one and continue to work with me in achieving my company goals with ongoing coaching and marketing strategies to get there. Our success is their success as well. Minuteman Press has helped me do everything from getting started and achieving my dream of owning a business to helping my essential business during the pandemic.” Manny reflects once more on his incredible journey to US Citizenship, saying, “And now, Minuteman Press has helped me fulfill my other lifelong dream of becoming a US Citizen. For someone from El Salvador to be able to accomplish all of this, I needed to have help along the way. I couldn’t ask for a better franchise to be a part of or better people who are working on behalf of Minuteman Press International to support me with everything I do. Minuteman Press simply has my back, and I couldn’t ask for anything more than that in my business and in my life.” For more information on Minuteman Press in Downey, CA, visit https://www.downey.minutemanpress.com. Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and read Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

February 22, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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