News Hub | News Direct

Kona Gold Beverage, Inc Announces its Ooh La Lemin Lemonades to be sold in Town Pump Convenience Stores in Montana

KONA GOLD BEVERAGE INC.

McapMediaWire -- Kona Gold Beverage, Inc. (OTC: KGKG ), a holding company focused on product development and distribution in the better-for-you and functional beverage sector is pleased to announce its popular Ooh La Lemin Lemonades will be available for sale in Town Pump convenience stores in Montana. Of the Company's 10 SKU's of Ooh La Lemin, 3-7 SKU's will be sold in approximately 60 Town Pump convenience stores, with the number of SKU's depending on the size of the stores. Kona Gold's distribution partner, Hayden Beverage, will be distributing Ooh La Lemin to Town Pump Convenience Stores. In 1953, Tom and Mary Kenneally started Town Pump as a small full-service gas station in Butte, Montana. Today, Town Pump owns and operates over 200 gas station/convenience store, casino, hotel and car wash properties throughout Montana and Idaho. They proudly maintain lines of business in retail convenience stores featuring a wide variety of consumer goods working with vendors and suppliers to bring their customers variety and innovation along with high quality gasoline. "I am pleased to announce to our stockholders and customers, Ooh La Lemin Lemonades are coming to the popular Town Pump locations throughout Montana," stated Robert Clark, CEO of Kona Gold Beverage, Inc. "Our distribution partner, Hayden Beverage, will deliver our Ooh La Lemin Lemonades to approximately 60 Town Pump convenience stores across Montana. Hayden Beverage is quickly becoming one of Ooh La Lemin's leading distributors with their vast reach and experienced sales staff." Kona Gold's Ooh La Lemin Lemonades continue to out perform expectation in new and existing markets. The Company's sales team has launched Ooh La Lemin in several new states this year and has additional distribution partnerships coming on board in the very near future. Kona Gold Beverage recently announced its popular Ooh La Lemin Lemonades will be available for sale in Hot Spot convenience stores in North and South Carolina. Of the Company's 10 SKU's of Ooh La Lemin, 6 will be sold in all 40 Hot Spot convenience stores locations, 3 Sparkling Ooh La Lemin and 3 non-sparkling Ooh La Lemin Lemonades. Ooh La Lemin will be distributed by MR Williams, Kona Gold Beverage's new distribution partner in North and South Carolina, whose primary focus is Food Service and Convenience Stores. For more information regarding Town Pump please visit: https://www.townpump.com/ For more information regarding Kona Gold Beverage, please visit: https://konagoldbeverage.com/ About Kona Gold Beverage, Inc. Kona Gold Beverage, Inc., a Delaware corporation, has created wholly-owned subsidiaries, Kona Gold LLC, HighDrate, LLC, and Gold Leaf Distribution, LLC. Kona Gold, LLC has developed a premium Hemp-Infused Energy Drink line; please visit its website at www.konagoldhemp.com. HighDrate, LLC has developed the beverage industry's first CBD-Infused Energy Water, available in 6 delicious flavors; please visit its website at www.highdrateme.com. Gold Leaf Distribution, LLC was created to fill the Company's distribution needs in markets that it wants to enter quickly; please visit its website at www.goldleafdist.com. Kona Gold Beverage, Inc. recently rebranded its Lemin Lemonade to Ooh La Lemin Lemonade; please visit its website at www.oohlalemin.com. Kona Gold and its family of companies are located on the east coast of Florida in Melbourne and in Greer and Conway South Carolina. Safe Harbor Statement: The information posted in this release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements by use of the words "may," "will," "should," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "continue," "estimate," "project," "intend," and similar expressions. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in press releases and other written materials, and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. The Company cautions that these forward-looking statements are further qualified by other factors including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic and business conditions, effects of continued geopolitical unrest and regional conflicts, competition, changes in technology and methods of marketing, delays in completing various engineering and manufacturing programs, changes in customer order patterns, changes in product mix, continued success in technological advances and delivering technological innovations, shortages in components, production delays due to performance quality issues with outsourced components, and various other factors beyond the Company's control. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any statements in this release, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Investor Relations Contact: Robert Clark 844-714-2224 investorrelations@konagoldbeverage.com Contact Details Robert Clark +1 844-714-2224 investorrelations@konagoldbeverage.com

March 13, 2023 09:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

News Release

INKW, Newcomer to Beverages Market, Sees Itself as A ‘Legacy’ Stock

RazorPitch/INKW

INKW’s ‘Key Gem’ Asset Is Its Location Over Seven Spring and Artesian Wells Greene sees entrepreneurial Company INKW as a long-term hold for patient investors. “This is a legacy stock,” Greene says. “Our asset is our unique tasting artesian water, sourced from seven wells in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina for an unlimited supply of fresh natural artesian water.” Greene oversees production at a 60,000 sq. ft. bottling plant in Marion, N.C. The real asset is it sits on 155 acres over a self-refreshing, series of seven spring and artesian wells. Locals call its production ‘sweet water,’ Greene says. "Most major brands of water are sourced from filtered metropolitan tap water that you wash your dishes with. As those supplies are under pressure especially on the west coast, in terms of limited supplies, our water will be seen as plentiful, healthier, naturally hydrating, and sweeter tasting.” Greene calls the location the 'key gem’ of INKW. It is virtually a sub-tropical rain forest in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, he says. 'Location, location, location’ is a real estate term, but in this instance INKW says it is in a rare position geographically to grow share in the bottled water industry. Bottled Water Market: $500.7 billion by 2030 Growing At 9.7% CAGR Greene Concepts seems to be in the right market at the right time as immense growth has occurred and is expected to continue in the bottled water industry. According to Statistics, 88% of Americans drink bottled water every day. Average consumption is 47 gallons per capita. Worldwide it is estimated at $510 billion, but on a large base growing at a 6.8% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), according to GlobeNewswire. Worldwide, Precedence Research estimates the bottled water market at $500.7 billion by 2030. It finds it is growing globally at a 9.7% CAGR. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region, due to lack of drinkable water, while North America is today’s leading region. This is a $22.175 billion market in the US growing at an 8.42% CAGR. Greene Concepts seems to be capturing increased market share on a daily basis as it expands its product reach both locally and nationally. INKW Be Water Marketing Only One Year After COVID Lockdown INKW’s Be Water brand competes in an extremely large market estimated at $505.19 billion globally by 2028 by Grand View Research as a relative newcomer. It launched its water line just as the COVID-19 lockdowns began, Greene recalls, meaning that retailers were reluctant to see vendors in person or add new lines to their shelves. "As a result, we are only about one year into marketing the Be Water line,” and we are in over 800 stores nationally, Greene says. “If investors are patient, this could be a multi-generational hold with a big payoff.” Startup Snapple Grew Exponentially After It Was Acquired Take Snapple, for example. Now it is marketed within the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group by parent Cadbury Schweppes. The brand began as a startup in 1972 on Long Island, NY in the natural foods industry. What started as a real brewed tea, is now an established multi-drink brand owned by a major bottler. It was first sold to Quaker Oats and later to Cadbury Schweppes. Now it is a member of the multi-billion dollar, multi-brand Dr. Pepper Snapple Group headquartered in Plano, TX. Brian Adkins, named National Sales Director of Greene Concepts, was actually an employee at Snapple — and recalls the exploding sales history for Dr. Pepper’s Snapple. He is hoping it will happen again. Be Water is his first artesian well-sourced water brand, he says. He has a background in selling both Snapple and Sunkist beverages. Greene Concepts Initiates Additional Resource Procurement for Growth Greene Concepts is working to initiate additional bottling plant infrastructure and company growth. This includes new aspects for engineering and prototyping, marketing, production, increasing working capital reserves, and satisfying other corporate expenses. This strategy follows a pattern of Greene upgrading the bottling plant facility and planning to expand the facility by 20,000 sq. ft. as it grows capacity and increases bottling configurations to reach a total of 80,000 sq. ft. To become more cost-efficient as it expands its production configurations, INKW is also seeking to produce its own bottles rather than purchase them from an outsource manufacturer. INKW created multiple SKUs for its Be Water to accommodate sales to and appeal to an increased amount of local, regional, and national retailers. These SKUs include 6-packs, 12-packs, 24-packs, and gallon sizes. Additional growth capacity equates to increased white-labeling for other companies where INKW bottles water for other companies for a fee which further increases INKW revenues. Greene says a possible payoff to investors may come when and if an exit strategy is executed in the far future—a possible sale of its unique Be Water brand to a larger beverage player. That may or may not happen. ‘Happy Mellow’ Is Greene’s New Brand for CBD Infused Beverages INKW is not only upgrading its bottling plant, it also recently debuted its new 'Happy Mellow’ CBD Infused Beverage brand. It is a three-flavor brand sold online in Lemon Lime, Plum Punch and Blood Orange Acai flavors that delivers all-natural nutrients quickly throughout the body. Currently, Happy Mellow can be sold in 35 states, but conventional retailers are reluctant to place it on their shelves because of CBD regulations. As a result, today it is sold online, with the store rollout just beginning—and with a bright future ahead of it, Greene says. The company sees incredible opportunity in the CBD industry with its Happy Mellow brand. The CBD-infused water industry is far smaller than the general bottled water business. It is estimated to reach, by comparison, only $14.6 billion by 2026. However, it is faster growing on a smaller base. Facts and Factors has its CAGR at 27.5% between 2021-2026. It remains a wide-open, quick-growing industry still in its infancy. Vantage Market Research pegs it at a 21.35% CAGR 2022-2028, when it is forecasted to reach $47.22 billion by the end of the research period. Greene Concepts plans to use this growth to quickly expand its brand to the new and informed consumer. This hemp-based CBD beverage sells online but is also popular at individual cannabis retailers, Greene says. Camping World, Amazon Are Customers of Be Water Brand The Be Water brand is already being sold by prominent retailer Camping World, which had 185 stores in 2022. Be Water is also in 55 Amazon fulfillment centers (up from the previously reported 27 fulfillment centers). “We are listed on Amazon Prime and have been selling on Amazon for two years. In terms of advertising exposure nationally, it is a very important component for our future growth. It's like free advertising,” Greene says. CONCLUSION The bottled water market is here to stay. This multi-billion dollar sector is dominated by major players such as PepsiCo., Coca-Cola and Nestle. They have a history of buying start-up beverage brands with traction and growing them exponentially. Look at what happened to tiny Snapple when it was acquired initially by Quaker Oats and eventually by Cadbury Schweppes. INKW is an emerging growth market start-up in the massive bottled water sector — a perfect candidate for a future acquisition by a larger player. Investors should do more than just place Greene Concepts on their Watch Lists. Instead, as management recommends, they should become involved, show patience, and consider this a long-term hold ‘legacy' investment. This is also a feisty OTC stock Company, entering the CBD infused beverage market at a time when this industry is still in its infancy. CBD infused beverages are, as a sector, smaller than the conventional bottled water sector, but growing at a quicker CAGR, researchers predict. Investors would be well advised that history often repeats itself. When thinking of INKW, think of Snapple’s success when it was acquired as a start-up.Find additional information about Greene Concepts (INKW) at: https://greeneconcepts.com/ Razorpitch Inc. is a marketing communications and investor relations firm serving private, pre-IPO, and public companies. RazorPitch specializes in corporate, investor, and stakeholder communications. Our goal is to raise visibility, expand awareness, and increase value. To learn more, visit RazorPitch.com. Disclaimers: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides investors a safe harbor in regard to forward-looking statements. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, assumptions, objectives, goals, assumptions of future events or performance are not statements of historical fact may be forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are based on expectations, estimates, and projections at the time the statements are made that involve a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those presently anticipated. Forward looking statements in this action may be identified through use of words such as projects, foresee, expects, will, anticipates, estimates, believes, understands, or that by statements, indicating certain actions & quotes; may, could or might occur. Understand there is no guarantee past performance is indicative of future results. Investing in micro-cap or growth securities is highly speculative and carries an extremely high degrees of risk. It is possible that an investors investment may be lost or due to the speculative nature of of the companies profiled. RazorPitch Inc responsible for the production and distributions of this content. RazorPitch is not operated by a licensed broker, a dealer, or a registered investment advisor. It should be expressly understood that under no circumstances does any information published herein represent a recommendation to buy or sell a security. Contact Details Mark McKelvie +1 585-301-7700 markrmckelvie@gmail.com Company Website http://razorpitch.com

March 13, 2023 05:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Governor Newsom Signs Tribal-State Gaming Compact with Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria

Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria

Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria and the State of California have entered into a Tribal-State gaming compact as announced by Governor Newsom’s office on March 9, 2023. This will replace the agreement signed in 2012. The new compact increases the number of authorized slot machines at Graton Resort & Casino from 3000 to 6000 (one of the highest amounts in the state). It also provides additional support for limited and non-gaming tribes through the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund (RSTF), beyond the $1.1 million per year cap that each limited and non-gaming tribe has previously been restricted to. The compact is available on the State of California website here. “We’re happy to improve our compact with the State of California and continue to provide needed community funds for the City of Rohnert Park, Sonoma County and our state,” said Greg Sarris, Tribal Chairman, Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. “This compact allows the tribe to grow as a self-sustaining sovereign nation and continue to support our mission of social justice and environmental stewardship.” About the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria Graton Rancheria is a federally recognized Indian tribe comprising Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo Indians. Legislation restoring federal recognition to the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria was signed into law in December 2000. Tribal lands are located in Rohnert Park, Sonoma County, Calif. For more information, visit www.gratonrancheria.com. 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. MEDIA, PLEASE NOTE: For more information, please contact Brianne Miller at graton@landispr.com or by phone at (650) 575-7727. # # # Contact Details Landis Communications Inc. Brianne Miller +1 650-575-7727 graton@landispr.com Company Website https://gratonrancheria.com/

March 10, 2023 10:21 AM Pacific Standard Time

Tia Lee Yu Fen, global C-pop star and fashion icon, razzle-dazzles at Moncler Genius’ London Fashion Week showcase

Redhill Asia

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 10 March 2023 - Tia Lee Yu Fen (李毓芬), the global C-pop star and fashion icon, made waves for all the right reasons as she stole the limelight with her bold and daring outfit for the Moncler Genius’ showcase at London Fashion Week. Donning a shimmering white coat and a pair of suave yet elegant sunglasses, Tia’s impeccable taste was on show for everyone to see. Tia Lee at Moncler Genius FW23 show She also made appearances at Julien Macdonald, David Koma and Richard Quinn’s shows, each time wearing clothing picked from the designer’s collection. Throughout London Fashion week, Tia was spotted with a who’s who of the celebrity world as some of the other notable attendees included Leonardo DiCaprio, Sara Sampaio, Naomi Campbell, Alicia Keys, Justin Bieber, Ronan Keating, Pharrell Williams, Hailey Bieber and Serena Williams. Tia Lee’s trendsetting adventures at London Fashion Week came after a meteoric comeback with her new hit single “ Goodbye Princess ”. The song was preceded by a six-episode animation series that provided an inspiring window into the tough transformation Tia underwent, to bid farewell to her old self and become a new superstar. Having launched the #EmpowerHer campaign, she hopes to encourage other women to change themselves. One of the highlights of her initiative has been the #EmpowerHerDance challenge, which saw 16 KOLs across 15 countries spearhead the dance challenge and capture the attention of their combined 158 million followers! Tia was also inspired to support four charities - Beats By Girlz and Women in Music in the United States, Daughters Of Tomorrow in Singapore and Teen’s Key in Hong Kong. They will all benefit from the #EmpowerHer campaign, which will support them in their unwavering commitment to empowering women all over the world. Official press materials: Tia Lee Official Channels: Instagram @leeyufen: https://www.instagram.com/leeyufen/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tialeeofficial/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leeyufentialee/ Weibo: https://weibo.com/u/1396928042/ Contact Details Media Contact global@redhill.asia

March 10, 2023 09:40 AM Eastern Standard Time

Image

Get your weekly groceries without having to pause your busy lifestyle

YourUpdateTV

Recently, Multimedia Reporter and Trend Expert, Milly Almodovar conducted a satellite media tour to share tips on how to get your weekly groceries without having to pause your busy lifestyle and sacrifice any of your time. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/zoJgne9Nq-U More and more consumers want faster, easier and affordable ways to get their essential items the same day without sacrificing time or quality. DoorDash launched on-demand grocery delivery in 2020, and over the last few years, it has accelerated its growth beyond restaurants, introducing on-demand grocery, convenience store delivery,, and more on the DoorDash app with partners including Albertsons-Safeway, Aldi, Dollar General, Hy-Vee, Meijer, Sprouts, Walgreens, and Wawa®. Today, there are tens of thousands of non-restaurant retail stores on the DoorDash platform across North America. DoorDash grocery delivery can help you save on time and money. “With DoorDash, you can eliminate all the fuss of waiting in long lines and looking for parking” says Almodovar. It’s convenient, easy, and more affordable than you may realize. You can save with DoorDash thanks to frequent deals, discounts, and more. The delivery app has been trusted to deliver meals from your favorite restaurants, and now, they can deliver your groceries too to make your favorite meals at home. Right now the best deal you can get is 30% off your first grocery order of $30 or more with the code: WEGETGROCERIES. So not only is DoorDash saving you money, but they’re saving you time and you know that’s priceless.” Its mission is to bring the best of every local neighborhood to consumers on-demand, from the weekly stock up to the last-minute ingredients needed for dinner tonight. The DoorDash app is available in the app store for iPhone and Google play store for Android. For more information, visit doordash.com/grocery-delivery. BIO: About Milly Almodovar Milly Almodovar is the former Senior Beauty Editor of Cosmopolitan for Latinas, now multimedia reporter, hispanic trends expert and TV Lifestyle and Beauty expert. You can find her on shows like Good Morning America, The Today Show, Rachael Ray, Dr Phil, etc. When Milly isn't working, she enjoys watching true crime shows and taking salsa lessons. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

March 09, 2023 12:32 PM Eastern Standard Time

Video

BRTX’s ThermoStem®: A New Weapon In The Fight Against Metabolic Syndrome

BioRestorative Therapies, Inc.

By Julian Richard, Benzinga Metabolism is the chemical process whereby the body produces energy from food. By breaking down carbohydrates and fats into sugars, the cells access fuel that can be used or stored via the liver or body fat. A metabolic disorder can occur when the body's chemical reactions become abnormal. This results in metabolic syndrome, where there is an excess or scarcity of health-preserving essential substances. Metabolic syndrome includes diseases such as obesity (increased fat deposits in the body) and increased glucose in the blood. These conditions increase the risk of comorbidities, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Obesity has become a global epidemic. For example, up to 40% of adults in the USA are obese, and the rates continue to climb across multiple populations. By 2030, over one billion individuals worldwide are predicted to be obese, with 1 in 7 men and 1 in 5 women living with the condition. Obesity is associated with an increased incidence of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, sleep apnea, and some cancers. Obesity is estimated to increase U.S. healthcare spending by $170 billion annually, so it is no surprise that companies like Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO), Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) and Teva (NYSE: TEVA) are working on the epidemic as well. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that in 2022 over 37 million Americans had diabetes, with up to 95% having type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes has been considered a disease in adults. However, it is becoming more common in children, adolescents and younger adults. Stem Cells - Harnessing The Most Potent Cell In The Body BioRestorative Therapies Inc (NASDAQ: BRTX) focuses on innovative “home-grown” solutions to treat metabolic syndrome. It was founded by medical doctors, scientists, and world-renowned stem-cell researchers committed to developing stem-cell therapies to address unmet needs in patients with common yet serious diseases. Pioneering research led by Biorestorative Therapies on newly identified human adult brown fat stem cells has led to the development of ThermoStem®, a possibly revolutionary “off the shelf” allogeneic cell-based therapeutic. Stem cells are a unique kind of therapeutic cell. They are some of the most potent cells in the body, which can develop into many other more specialized and organ or tissue-specific cells. Brown fat stem cells are taken from a healthy donor and grown in the laboratory before being transplanted into the patient's body to generate new brown fat tissue or initiate metabolic homeostasis. Brown fat regulates body temperature by breaking down body fat and glucose in the blood. Brown fat produces energy and in so doing burns calories. Individuals with detectable brown fat are at a reduced risk of being diagnosed with cardiovascular and metabolic issues, such as type 2 diabetes, congestive heart failure, and high blood pressure. The ThermoStem® program harnesses the body’s ability to create new brown fat tissue from human brown adipose-derived stem cells. The novelty of the technology was acknowledged by the European Patent Office’s Notice of Allowance issued on the 6th of February, 2023. A bright future could await BioRestorative Therapies and the metabolic syndrome market in general. This is due to the heightened demand for personalized once-off treatments for the increasing number of individuals with lifestyle diseases and metabolic syndrome. There is also some intense clinical interest in this space. In 2017, the global metabolic disorder therapeutics market was valued at $49.65 billion and was projected to experience an impressive CAGR of 7.56% from 2019 to 2025. North America is the leading region driving this growth. The increasing prevalence of obesity and diabetes, high healthcare spending, and rising awareness about metabolic disorders continue to propel regional market growth even further. The Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to experience the most rapid CAGR of 8.27% due to its fast-paced economic growth. The APAC market is driven by shifting lifestyles and greater disposable income levels, leading to increased obesity and diabetes. Visit https://www.biorestorative.com for more information on the company and its product candidates. This article was originally published on Benzinga here. BioRestorative Therapies was founded by scientists and researchers committed to developing stem cell therapies to address unmet needs in patients with highly prevalent conditions.Our advances in stem cell biology and delivery protocols harbor great promise in conditioning our bodies’ own regenerative potential to treat major diseases more effectively than current interventions.Today, BioRestorative is actively developing programs that aim to dramatically increase quality of care for both (i) chronic back pain caused by disc degeneration, as well as (ii) metabolic disorders including obesity and diabetes. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Investor Relations ir@biorestorative.com Company Website https://www.biorestorative.com/

March 09, 2023 06:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

MinZheng Wahlers and Jadyn Diaz Named Winners of Jersey Mike’s Naismith High School Basketball Courage Award

Atlanta Tipoff Club

MinZheng “MZ” Wahlers of Golden View Classical Academy in Golden, Colo., and Jadyn Diaz of Ukiah High School in Ukiah, Calif., have been named the winners of the fourth annual Jersey Mike’s Naismith High School Basketball Courage Award. The Atlanta Tipoff Club, which administers the Naismith Awards, determined Wahlers and Diaz stood out above the rest after evaluating hundreds of nominations nationwide. The Naismith Awards are the most prestigious national honors in high school and college basketball. To watch a video of each winner, go to https://youtu.be/c4-Mkp0US1o (Jadyn Diaz) and https://youtu.be/ZpoP-n7qoTk (MZ Wahlers). Diaz has dealt with a rare bone disease throughout her life that causes her bones to grow unintendedly, resulting in multiple surgeries. The operations cut back bones that grow larger than her body can handle. Her most recent surgery included the removal of two inches of a rib that punctured her lung. She recovered quicker than expected and rejoined the girls’ basketball team in a limited capacity. To add to her misfortune, she lost her mom to cancer a couple of years ago. Wahlers has also faced continuous adversity in his life. Born with a Cleft lip and palate in China, he was immediately abandoned at a police station, where doctors conducted emergency surgery to close his upper palate. After the operation, he was without a home. He was eventually fostered by a local family and began to focus on basketball. “Beyond the basketball court, MZ and Jadyn have demonstrated incredible courage throughout their lives and have become tremendous role models in their communities,” said Eric Oberman, executive director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. “This award evaluates an individual as a well-rounded person, not just for their on-court talent, and both MZ and Jadyn exemplify what it means to win the Jersey Mike’s Naismith Courage Award.” The Jersey Mike’s Naismith High School Basketball Courage Award recognizes a high school basketball player who has consistently gone above and beyond throughout the basketball season and has demonstrated courage in their approach to their team, school, and community. Jersey Mike’s will make a $2,000 donation to each player’s high school basketball program in their honor and reward each winner with an additional $2,000 per student. Winners will be recognized at their school and through a video tribute shared across the Naismith Trophy and Jersey Mike’s websites and social media accounts. “We’ve been thrilled to help tell the stories of so many amazing and courageous student-athletes across the country,” said Rich Hope, Chief Marketing Officer of Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems, Inc. “We want to congratulate Jadyn and MZ for winning the 2023 Jersey Mike’s Naismith High School Basketball Courage Awards. Their stories inspire all of us.” For more information about the winners, visit www.astudentabove.com. ABOUT THE ATLANTA TIPOFF CLUB Founded during the 1956-57 season, the Atlanta Tipoff Club is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club administers the Naismith Awards, the most prestigious national honors in all of college and high school basketball. Named in honor of Dr. James Naismith, inventor of the game of basketball, the family of Naismith Awards annually recognizes the most outstanding men’s and women’s college and high school basketball players and coaches. Other Naismith Awards are presented to the men’s and women’s college basketball defensive players of the year, as well as lifetime achievement awards to basketball officials and outstanding contributors to the game. UCLA’s Lew Alcindor received the first Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy in 1969, while the late Anne Donovan (Old Dominion) was the inaugural women’s recipient in 1983. Corporate partners of the Naismith Awards include Jersey Mike’s and Werner Ladder. ABOUT JERSEY MIKE’S SUBS Jersey Mike’s Subs, with nearly 2,500 locations nationwide, serves authentic fresh sliced/fresh grilled subs on in-store freshly baked bread — the same recipe it started with in 1956. Passion for giving in Jersey Mike’s local communities is reflected in its mission statement “Giving…making a difference in someone’s life.” For more information, please visit jerseymikes.com or follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/jerseymikes), Instagram (instagram.com/jerseymikes), and Twitter (twitter.com/jerseymikes.com). Contact Details Eric Nemeth +1 602-502-2793 nemeth@ericpr.com Company Website https://www.astudentabove.com/

March 08, 2023 12:39 PM Eastern Standard Time

NO DOGS LEFT BEHIND OPENS FIRST USA SANCTUARY IN CANTON, NEW YORK

No Dogs Left Behind

No Dogs Left Behind (NDLB), the international non-profit rescue, today opened its first sanctuary in the United States in Canton, New York. Until now, the leader in global emergency response fighting for global animal welfare laws has been headquartered at the NDLB Canada Safehouse in Toronto, Ontario. To accommodate its expanding needs, the foundation has taken over a sprawling 16-acre property that will now be home-base for the charity. The sanctuary features a training and boarding facility for the NDLB rescues, and in the coming months, will be building an in-house grooming center and a state-of-the-art veterinary clinic. “Opening a USA sanctuary has always been a part of our growth plan,” states NDLB founder and president Jeffrey Beri. “With recent changes to the CDC dog import rules allowing dogs from 113 countries to fly into the USA, and the CFIA closure to dog imports into Canada last September, we realized the time to establish roots in the United States is now.” Dogs from the USA, as well as survivors from around the globe, will find a place to rehabilitate at the NDLB Sanctuary. “This location will give us the space needed to transport so many more survivors from East Asia on a more consistent basis which will, in turn, open up space at our East Asia sanctuaries to save more lives,” shares Beri. “We will save, vaccinate and titer test the dogs to ensure they are free of rabies before transport to the USA,” explains Beri. As per the CDC rules, all dogs will travel into the designated United States airports for clearance and vetting, then to the Canton facility where they will receive additional medical treatment and rehabilitation. The new NDLB sanctuary will allow the foundation to be turnkey from the start, having the space needed to bring dogs from Canada to Canton. Immediate funding is still needed to prepare the property with proper enclosures, updates and fencing. NDLB has differentiated itself as leaders in emergency response, rescue, and evacuation, making a global impact in the lives of dogs around the world. “We go where no one is willing nor able to go, the most dangerous places in the world, areas hard-hit by natural disasters and war-infested combat zones,” explains Beri. The non-profit’s mission remains the same, to fight for an end to the dog meat trade, bring about global animal welfare laws and to save lives in East Asia as well as beyond borders including but not limited to the endangered Galgos in Spain, the dogs of war in Ukraine and earthquake survivors from Turkey. NDLB is also working to add team members in the areas of adoption, foster, kennel attendants, cleaning crew, and accounting. “It takes a village to save lives and we are pleased to be back in the USA to help save lives here and beyond borders,” adds Beri. Volunteers are needed too! NDLB welcomes all to apply to volunteer by submitting an application at https://nodogsleftbehind.com/volunteer/. To make a donation today, please visit: https://bit.ly/NDLBCantonNY For further information, please visit www.nodogsleftbehind.com. To set up an interview with Jeffrey Beri, receive photos and/or visit the new No Dogs Left Behind sanctuary please contact Sydney Masters at 212-987-6804 / sydney@rcourihaycpr.com. About No Dogs Left Behind: No Dogs Left Behind (NDLB) operates sanctuaries in East Asia, fighting on the frontlines to rescue dogs from the illegal dogmeat trade. No Dogs Left Behind works hands-on with local activists through emergency response, pulling dogs directly from slaughterhouses, dogmeat trucks, wet markets and traffickers. The foundation’s mission extends beyond borders, advocating for the creation and enforcement of animal welfare laws, and raising awareness for a cruelty-free, sustainable world in which no animal is violated, exploited, tortured or slaughtered for commercial goods or profit. With nearly 500 survivors in its care, No Dogs Left Behind operates sanctuaries in Dayi and Gongyi in East Asia and now, in Canton, NY USA. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and TikTok. Contact Details No Dogs Left Behind Sherry Sung +1 855-665-0888 sherry@nodogsleftbehind.com Company Website http://www.nodogsleftbehind.com

March 08, 2023 12:15 PM Eastern Standard Time

Image

Flawless by Gabrielle Union Announces Grant Initiative For Black, Female-Owned Businesses

Flawless by Gabrielle Union

Flawless by Gabrielle Union, a haircare brand intentionally crafted to celebrate versatile hair types, textures, and styles, today announces its inaugural grant initiative for Black, female-owned businesses. Historically, there has been a significant gap in access to capital, expertise, and opportunities among Black, female entrepreneurs. This International Women’s Day, Flawless by Gabrielle Union is helping bridge this gap by awarding three Black, female entrepreneurs $25,000 each in financial support to help elevate their businesses. “We are so grateful to have a platform to support other Black female entrepreneurs,” said Gabrielle Union, co-founder of Flawless by Gabrielle Union. “For these founders, the barrier to entry is often unreachable, and we are proud to be a supporting anchor in their climb to success.” “We want to give these individuals the necessary tools to succeed in a saturated space,” said Larry Sims, co-founder of Flawless by Gabrielle Union. “Financial support, along with one on one mentorship sessions with some of our incredible partners, aims to give recipients the opportunity to feel seen, supported, and uplifted.” To be considered, founders must submit a one-minute video and a brand deck to an expert panel of judges, who will then review each submission. The judges are as follows: P. Bagels-Minor, Founder of DVRGNT Ventures * Antoine Gregory, Founder of Black Fashion Fair Third judge to be announced *will offer mentorship sessions to winners The application period begins on March 8th and ends on April 19th. Six finalists will be chosen to participate in a virtual pitch event taking place on May 10th and winners will be announced on May 17th. In order to participate, founders must meet the following criteria: Must be 18+ Company must be based and operated in the United States (open to U.S. residents and U.S.-based brands only) Company must be in one of the following categories: fashion, skincare, and hair accessories Must have an existing company website and social media presence Products are not in distribution at a major retailer Business must be past the ideation phase with a fully developed product or service, with customers or ready for customers To learn more about Flawless by Gabrielle Union, please visit flawlesscurls.com. About Flawless by Gabrielle Union: Co-founded by Gabrielle Union and celebrity hairstylist Larry Sims, Flawless by Gabrielle Union aims to provide product knowledge and style education to everyone with its versatile collection of oils, cleansers, and conditioners for every hair type. Flawless by Gabrielle Union’s texture-specific products are infused with exotic, hydrating ingredients such as Brazilian Bacuri Butter, Rice Oil Complex, and Lilac Leaf Extract, leaving out harmful additives such as sulfates, silicones, and parabens. The Flawless by Gabrielle Union collection aims to help individuals find their custom routine to hydrate, define, repair, and protect. Contact Details Six One Agency Camryn Carlson +1 818-748-7444 camryn@six-one.com Chloe Sonne +1 425-315-3353 chloe@six-one.com Company Website https://flawlesscurls.com/

March 08, 2023 08:03 AM Eastern Standard Time