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Revenue, security and cost reduction outweigh sustainability as priorities for CIOs in the US financial services industry

BT Group

Sustainability lags behind other priorities when it comes to defining digital transformation in the financial services industry today, but organizational urgencies are beginning to change, according to recent research from BT. Of the 750 US financial service provider CIOs surveyed, only two per cent identified sustainability as a top priority for their digital transformation. Instead, security (nine per cent), cost reduction (seven per cent) and revenue growth (six per cent) are taking precedence during most CIOs’ digital efforts. Sustainability is growing in significance, though. While just 17 per cent of respondents said they currently have sustainability on their personal performance scorecards, more than half (53 per cent) estimate that sustainability will be included on their personal scorecards within the next year. This number increases to 87 per cent within the next two years. “As investors and customers demand more environmentally positive action from the organizations with which they engage, sustainability efforts and the need to prove results will become more important,” said Sarwar Khan, digital sustainability lead for BT’s Global unit. Not only did the survey demonstrate a clear opportunity for improvement on sustainability in the financial sector, its findings come at a time of regulation change within the US financial market. If adopted, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s proposed rule changes on enhanced and standardized climate-related disclosures is sure to have an impact on the industry at large. “The impending SEC rule changes on sustainability reporting should act like the starter’s gun, triggering a race to make significant and lasting changes in the US financial services industry,” said Khan. “In fact, our research suggests they’re already having an effect. With changes to CIOs’ scorecards imminent, there will be a reshuffling of priorities bringing sustainability to the top. This will be a game changer in how the industry views its environmental impact and holds itself accountable.” Additional key findings from the research, which was conducted on behalf of BT by Censuswide, include: Company size impacts sustainability prioritization. For companies with over 500 employees, 34 per cent of CIOs listed sustainability as a top priority and 30 per cent already have sustainability metrics included on their personal scorecards. Sustainability trends differ within different financial services industry sectors. For example, mortgage and brokerage firms ranked much higher than average when it comes to sustainability with over 40 per cent of those surveyed listing it as a top priority. This suggests that providers directly serving consumers are more focused on sustainability, which is increasingly seen as market differentiator. 77 per cent of the CIOs surveyed are confident they know the current carbon footprint of their technology infrastructure. This is an important insight as measurement and monitoring will be critical in the pursuit of lowering the financial sector’s environmental impact. “Sustainability will continue to play a prominent role in future IT infrastructure considerations, and it is not a challenge that can be addressed in isolation,” said Khan. “The right partners, technology and processes will be essential in addressing such a significant task. The time is now to make urgent and lasting changes to meet the needs of investors and clients and to avoid the most critical impacts of climate change.” ENDS Contact Details CCgroup Kim Kennedy kim.kennedy@ccgrouppr.com Company Website https://www.globalservices.bt.com/en

September 20, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

News Release

Invest or Divest in Oil, Gas & Coal Companies? - State & City Pension Plans Are the Battleground

Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc.

Consider the influence of the public sector employee retirement systems in the capital markets: the almost 6,000 pension plans (of states, cities, municipalities, etc.) cover about 15 million workers and families and manage about $4.5 trillion in assets of various classes. In recent years, some plan managers have trimmed portfolio holdings of fossil fuel companies (oil, gas, coal) and even divested holdings partially or in the entirety. These actions have set up a showdown in some states between the retirement plan managers, or the asset management firms they use to help manage portfolios, and state controllers, treasurers, and lawmakers. State treasurers and controllers and even governors are targeting asset management firms that have policies that limit or prohibit the ownership of investments in fossil fuel companies and are slamming pro-ESG investment policies as a threat to their constituents. Bloomberg Green/ESG summed up the showdown (investors vs. states) with this Top Story below: “GOP Fury Over ESG Triggers Backlash with US Pensions at Risk.” Bloomberg’s Frances Schwartzkopff explains, “Investment professionals are warning that a Republican campaign seeking to wipe ESG off the financial map puts at risk the savings of ordinary Americans caught in the political crossfire.” A prime example: The state of Texas, home to major oil and natural gas producers, has warned major Wall Street asset management firms that those who discriminate against oil and gas companies will not be selected to help manage state finances (such as issuance of bond funds). Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar is “investigating” investment companies to see if there is a “boycott” of the oil and gas companies and will soon publish “a list” of offenders. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, thought to be a presidential candidate come 2024, banned his state’s pension funds from screening for ESG risks. This will “protect the state’s voters from ESG, which he called a “perversion of investing.” Perhaps in a contrary move, the governor called for more than $1 billion to be invested in protecting the state from coastal flooding (the state borders include miles of Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico waters). A Blue state elected comptroller – Brad Lander of New York City who helps manage five city pension funds with $240 billion in AUM -- struck back at red state interests, saying “Republican-led states (like West Virginia and Texas) moves “are just a cover to defend the interests of oil companies.” The top New York City financial officer said that Republican treasurers and lawmakers are putting their states at risk with extra costs to constituents and longer-term harm to retirement plan portfolios and the planet. Who is keeping a scorecard of the actions of the states? The law firm of Ropes & Gray is surveying the action. “The growing divide in the ESG regulatory landscape in different states became clear with the passage of contradictory legislation in Maine and Texas in 2021. This growing divide deepened in 2022 as more than a dozen states introduced new initiatives to divest state pension funds from gun and ammunition companies or oil and gas companies and coal companies – or conversely, to require pension fund divestment from companies that boycott fossil fuel companies." In our Top Stories, we have provided the Ropes & Gray commentary with a link to their “Full Alert.” These stories explain the latest “great divide “in American politics between fossil fuel interests and ESG, and the debate over future investment or divestment of oil, gas, and coal companies at the center of the battle. The G&A team looks forward to keeping you updated on this critically important issue that will impact all companies committed to ESG and sustainability. This is just the introduction of G&A's Sustainability Highlights newsletter this week. Click here to view the full issue. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc. on 3blmedia.com

September 12, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Best Provably Fair Casinos 2022 Betbeard

BetBeard

The concept of provably fair casinos was first introduced in 2012. The idea is that a game can be designed in such a way that its outcomes can be verified as fair. This means that players can be sure that they are not being cheated by the casino. This article analyzes the best provably fair casino Betbeard, and will go over its slot games, bonuses, free spins, and prizes. The Best Provably Fair Casino Betbeard is the best provably fair casino, offering a generous welcome bonus package, including four consecutive deposit bonuses. It offers free spins with no wagering requirements on every deposit you make. Their verification tools are great so you can start playing immediately. Betbeard Free Spins Betbeard offers free spins with no wagering requirements on every deposit you make. They also have a VIP program that gives you access to exclusive benefits, such as monthly cashback, and personalized customer support. Provably fair casinos like Betbeard are trustworthy sites because the outcome of their slots is verifiable. Every month there is a different promotion on a popular theme. For example, in May they offered a "May the 4th be with you" promotion, where players could win free spins on the Star Wars-themed slots. Betbeard Cashback Get a weekly casino cashback promotion where you get 7% of your losses during the past week The cashback has a wagering requirement of 1 time and you can play slots, bet on sports with it or initiate a casino withdrawal after you've met the wagering That is a very simple promotion, you just get refunded for your casino losses You can play the cashback on any provably fair game Betbeard Welcome Bonus The Betbeard Welcome Bonus is one of the most generous in the industry. You can receive up to 1200 EUR in bonuses across four consecutive deposits, which is more than enough to get started playing your favorite games. 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The player can verify that the numbers generated are truly random and that the casino has not tampered with them. Provably fair is a new approach to gaming using blockchain technology that has been developed. An algorithm based on technologies that allow online randomization to step up and reach a new level of fairness and openness is called provably fair. In a nutshell, the algorithm takes advantage of the benefits of the blockchain for actions such as shuffling a deck of playing cards or flipping a coin to be as random as possible. What's the difference between provably fair and traditional black box algorithms? All participants in a game may verify the process of randomization. Benefits of Provably Fair Gaming Provably fair gaming provides players with a sense of security that they are not being cheated by the casino. It also allows them to verify the fairness of the game, which is an important factor in choosing an online casino. 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Thanks to the blockchain, a game of any sort, such as a slot, is allowing players to personally verify the results of their hands. In other words, it allows you to check if the game you've played has been fair to you. Most gamers usually ask themselves if they've been cheated or not after every session. If the casino's results were truly random or not, luckily that is not an issue in provably fair casinos as the outcome of their games can be easily proved. Online casinos have made all of the behind-the-scenes elements of gaming completely private, so players simply have to trust them while they play. Everything, from software to RNG details, is kept secret, hidden even from payers' curious eyes. Under typical circumstances, you can't verify the results of a slot. Being able to personally validate if a slot has been played randomly and fairly makes provably fair slots distinct. What are the Best Provably Fair Games There are several different provably fair games that you can play. These include casino classics such as blackjack, roulette, and poker. There are also many provably fair online slots that you can enjoy. Aloha Cluster Pays by Netent The Cluster Pays™ mechanism, Sticky Win Re-Spins, Substitution symbols, and Free Spins with a Symbol Drop feature are all incorporated in this 6-reel and 5-row slot. The cluster size grows as more matching symbols appear. Tiki may call Hawaii home, but our fantastic video slots include a variety of characters from all across the world. Make sure you swing by and take a look around! The Cluster Pays feature in this 6-reel and 5-row slot enables you to create clusters of the same symbol on the reels, which means you'll need a minimum of 9 symbols to win. Netent included a few extra features to give your wins more flavor: Sticky Win Re-Spins will randomly trigger after a victory, potentially resulting in big and provably fair rewards! To start, you'll have to land three Free Spins symbols during Free Spins. 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Guns N' Roses by Netent The Guns N' Roses online slot is a 5x3 grid with 20 pay lines. The minimum bet is £0.20 and the maximum bet is £200 per spin. The game has a maximum jackpot of 250,000 coins. Guns N' Roses is available on both Android and iOS devices and like Gonzo's Quest uses a provably fair algorithm. The first thing you'll notice about the Guns N' Roses online slot is the soundtrack. It's impossible to overstate how good it is. The game features all of the band's greatest hits, including "Welcome to the Jungle," "Sweet Child of Mine," "Paradise City," and "November Rain." The graphics are just as impressive, with a detailed concert stage in the background and symbols that include GN'R logos, guitars, roses, and, of course, the band members themselves. BGaming Provably Fair Online Casino Games The first major iGaming provider to provide "provable fairness" is BGC. The term "provably fair" in online gambling can be interpreted as an algorithm that checks and verifies fairness. BGaming's method is based on a cryptographic technique that assures the round's result is unaffected by the player's wager, and that the outcome of the round cannot be predicted ahead of time. Before each game, BGaming calculates the outcome and calls its Result. To make things fair, they generate a random string called Secret for each round to use in addition to Results. This is so that users cannot simply see the results beforehand. Afterward, BGaming hashes the data using the SHA-256 algorithm which then produces Hash (Result + Secret). Finally, the player passes this Hash onto the bet. The client seed may be input manually before the actual wager is placed. Players have two alternatives: randomly selecting a number by the system or picking their own. A player receives the Result + Secret and Final Result after the round is concluded. Provably fair casinos are thus more secure, transparent, and attractive for players. Provably Fair Games According to Softgamings An algorithm that may be used to prove the fairness of games is known as a provably fair mechanism. Someone might also refer to games as provably fair if they utilize such algorithms to confirm their fairness. After each round, a player can check the game's hashes to ensure everything that happened during the game. Provably fair games are popular among cryptocurrency gamblers and may be found in online casinos. The most significant advantage of provably fair games is that they don't need a third party to verify the fairness of games. This means they can be quickly integrated into online casinos since they do not have to go through numerous procedures to confirm their fairness. Blockchain Technology in Traditional Online Casinos A smart contract is a collection of rules that are stored on the blockchain and enforced through consensus. Its execution, as well as codified outcomes like the transfer of value between parties, are strictly controlled and can not be tampered with after a transaction using specific contract details is recorded to a blockchain or public ledger. Provably fair casino games can be played on traditional online gambling sites that accept bitcoin. They have jackpot games, and live casino games, and offer low house edge. The gambling world is full of blockchain casino sites offering welcome bonuses, many games, and even free money. A growing number of gamblers double-check the house edge before placing bets, the provably fair technology is helping them ensure that random number generation is indeed how traditional casino games operate. The gambling world is a much safer place after the introduction of crypto casinos and provably fair games In simple terms, provably fair casinos allow you to verify that each outcome of a game is completely random and that the casino has no control over Is Betbeard Provably Fair Betbeard uses blockchain technology and smart contracts to provide a provably fair gaming experience. This means that every game on the site is audited and verified to be fair. All cryptocurrency betting is based on a provably fair algorithm. Sports betting is also based on a provably fair system, that way the bookie can offer the best odds all the time. Deposit to a Provably Fair Casino To deposit in a provably fair casino, you will need to create a bitcoin wallet and link it to your bank account. Then you can click on the deposit page of the gambling site and load your account using the QR code provided. You can purchase crypto from any exchange, and then can play any casino games from major providers at a low-house edge. Withdrawal from a Provably Fair Casino Withdrawals are just as simple as deposits, once you end your gaming session just click the withdraw button and add your bitcoin wallet, select the amount you want to withdraw, and request it. Bitcoin casinos require no verification so your request will be processed immediately. How to Find a Good Provably Fair Casino There are a few things to look for when finding a provably fair casino. The first is whether or not the site is licensed by a reputable gambling authority. The second is to check if the site uses SSL encryption to protect player information. Finally, you'll want to make sure that the casino has a good selection of provably fair games. A licensed casino is a good sign that the site is legitimate and that you'll be able to cash out your winnings. SSL encryption is important for protecting your personal and financial information. And a good selection of provably fair games shows that the casino is committed to offering a fair gaming experience. When it comes to provably fair gambling, Betbeard is a great option. The site is licensed by the Curacao Gambling Authority and uses SSL encryption to protect player information. And it offers a wide selection of provably fair games, including slots, blackjack, roulette, and baccarat. If you're looking for a provably fair casino that offers a wide selection of games and features, Betbeard is a great option. Betbeard is a great bitcoin casino, striving to satisfy its players by offering thousands of slot games, and massive bonuses. Contact Details Betbeard Michael +44 7828 710102 affiliate@betbeard.com Company Website https://betbeard.com/en/sport

September 06, 2022 09:17 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Creating Connections

DICK'S Sporting Goods

For Joe Carreno, graphic design is about making connections. He’s skilled at weaving the layers of ideas, actions and feelings into a canvas that can educate and inspire. So, when the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council at DICK'S Sporting Goods put out a call for a graphic design that would best represent the group, Joe took on the challenge. Joe's connection to and passion for DE&I work fueled the creative process as he contemplated how to bridge many of the gaps that exist in society and connect our joy, humanity and even the vulnerabilities and challenges many of us share. The symbol to bridge that gap was the ampersand, and it has become synonymous with our company's work to level the playing the field and clear hurdles. It symbolizes connection in so many ways, such as: Love & Compassion Cancer & Survivor Gay & Veteran You & I And, of course, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. “Joe is a champion of our DE&I mission and a supremely talented artist, both of which really shine through in his work,” said Paloma DeNardis, senior director of DE&I at DICK’S Sporting Goods. “His graphic designs deliver a clear message to our teammates and athletes that we support them and are here for them as they are.” The ampersand symbol not only serves as a common thread between our key DE&I initiatives and moments, but also as a constant reminder to teammates that, no matter their story, they are not alone. They see it in their inboxes, attached to their bulletin boards and on the pins that decorate their lanyards. “This messaging opens the door for people,” said Joe. “We can all connect in different ways. Being a part of this and having the conversations really inspired me." Joe is a first generation American and the only member of his immediate family who was not born in Argentina. He is fluent in both Spanish, which was spoken inside the home, and English, which was spoken outside of it. The family lived in Bridgeport, Connecticut. While the tight-knit group showed love and respect for one another, not everyone in the hardscrabble neighborhood was as fortunate. As he grew up, Joe lost friends to gun violence or incarceration. It was during this time that Joe and his two older brothers developed a love and appreciation for graffiti and typography. The natural progression for Joe was to follow his passion to pursue his interest at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. Just like that, Joe was in a new world of experiences that continued shaping the evolution of his worldview. He befriended and lived with people from all backgrounds, an experience he is thankful for and credits for helping him grow and understand the cultures of other groups, such as the LGBTQ+ community. "You get exposed to new things as you grow and I've grown exponentially," said Joe, who has settled in New Hampshire. As his journey continued, Joe's love of art continued to evolve. He was a tireless worker, insisting upon perfecting his work, no matter what it took. “I’ve always had this super high expectation of myself,” said Joe. “In college, I’d be up until 5 in the morning perfecting things and getting them right and going the extra mile.” He did and still does describe his work as a reflection of himself and constantly strives to create art with a "wow" factor. As he began his career, his love of street art and popular culture helped drive his vision and add a unique flair that propelled him to new heights. His DE&I work really took flight when he was honored with an American Advertising Federation Diversity Achievement Mosaic Award in 2010. He credited his work at a multi-cultural ad agency for being able to make general market ideas resonate within diverse cultural communities. Since then, Joe has continued to champion inclusivity and infuses it into our company culture at DICK'S. As an artist and ally, he has made a huge difference and inspired us through his work across campaigns that include Pride, Hispanic Heritage Month, International Women’s Day, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Mental Health Awareness Month and more important moments. “You really need to be concise and hit as hard as possible in that space with great imagery,” Joe said of his recipe for a powerful graphic. “Find that one that connects with the idea you want to get across and the overall campaign.” The work Joe does is profound. It makes us feel, care about, and respect one another. It gives people hope and courage. It exposes our humanity and helps us better appreciate one another. Quite simply, Joe's work does what he set out to do: It connects us. “I’m trying to lead with love, not being harsh or too strong, but educating and moving the needle forward to have people engage a little more,” he said. “I want to move the conversation forward and help people grow. I know I’ve grown so much from doing this work.” To learn more about our company’s commitments and efforts, see our newly launched DE&I website. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from DICK'S Sporting Goods on 3blmedia.com

July 15, 2022 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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‘Ready for Ron’ Releases Research Illustrating Growing Positive Sentiment for DeSantis

Ready for Ron

Today, Ready for Ron, a draft committee encouraging Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to run for President, released research it commissioned from Impact Social showing growing support for Governor DeSantis. The report shows positive sentiment for Governor Ron DeSantis grew 8 points from an earlier analysis released last week. Impact Social researchers analyzed the publicly available social media discussion in relation to Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump among swing voters from June 15 to June 29, 2022. Additional reports are expected every two weeks. Previous reports can be found here. “We carried out detailed language analysis of US social media discussions back to May 2016 to capture social media users into a database of 40,000 swing voters,” explained Phil Snape, Director at Impact Social. “With 40,000 participants, we are operating what is likely the world’s largest focus group – as big as a Football stadium.” The summary of Impact Social’s second report states: The last fortnight has been a productive period for Ron DeSantis which has seen his net sentiment jump 8 pts (-14 to -6) among floating voters. Within the positive conversation (+2pts 19 to 21), those hoping to persuade DeSantis to run for president will be delighted to see the leading topic within this discussion is how they prefer DeSantis to Trump (33%). It is worth emphasizing these opinions are posted without coercion or provocation. These floating voters are merely stating online how they favor the younger man as their next president. A small percentage (4%) are even outing themselves as Democrats before volunteering their support should DeSantis stand. Intriguingly, there is a feeling among his supporters that a sense of momentum is developing around his potential presidential candidacy. They speak excitedly about a poll in NH, an ‘endorsement’ by Elon Musk or simply muse that DeSantis’ ‘is where the smart money is’, that ‘Dems want Trump because they can’t beat DeSantis’ or that Fox will happily anoint him as leader of the GOP when the time arises. A downward trend in the number of negative posts against DeSantis (-5pts 33 to 27) will be welcomed by his camp. Yet their boss continues to take hits from across the political spectrum as some GOP voters see him as too right wing and pine for a leader dedicated to smaller government. That said, the majority of criticism stems from the left who see DeSantis as an overbearing authoritarian. They use DeSantis’ recent decision not to order Covid -19 vaccination for FL kids as a prime example of what he is capable of. This, together with perceived attacks on LGBT rights and support for gun laws increases anxiety among the left many of whom see him as a danger to America. All of which, given the ideological standpoint of the authors, might be music to DeSantis’ ears. “We are excited to see our efforts are paying off. Support for Ron DeSantis continues to grow. While we expect the attacks to increase, we are delighted his support base is increasing too,” explained Ready for Ron legal counsel and spokeswoman Lilian Rodríguez-Baz. “We are hoping to build one of the biggest grassroots movements ever, and with support growing like this, it will happen even more quickly than we anticipated.” Ready for Ron continues its TV and online advertising efforts to engage Americans to sign the petition at ReadyForRon.com to Draft Ron DeSantis to run in 2024. While ‘Ready for Ron’ is completely unaffiliated with the DeSantis campaign per federal regulations, it has taken the novel step of submitting a formal Advisory Opinion Request to the FEC seeking to share its growing supporter list with Governor DeSantis if the Draft succeeds and he announces his candidacy. Impact Social is a specialist social media, online monitoring, and analysis company. It uses big data software to track over 60 million online sites including Twitter, Facebook, all blogs, forums, and news websites. Whatever is said publicly, in the media or online it can follow live, 24/7 in 44 different languages. This is where reliance on algorithms ends. Once the data has been received its in-house experts read and analyze the content - often amounting to 1,000’s of individual posts. Impact Social’s unique methodology ensures unrivalled accuracy to show what has been said and its impact. Impact Social is the only company in the world providing this level of analysis. ### For more information or to schedule an interview with ‘Ready for Ron’ legal counsel, Lilian Rodríguez-Baz, or an Impact Social spokesperson, please contact Dan Rene at 202-329-8357 or dan@readyforron.com Contact Details Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 dan@readyforron.com Company Website https://www.readyforron.com/

July 11, 2022 10:17 AM Eastern Daylight Time

‘Ready for Ron’ Releases Research Showing DeSantis Favorability Growing

Ready for Ron

Today, Ready for Ron, a draft committee encouraging Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to run for President, released research it commissioned from Impact Social showing growing support for Governor DeSantis. Impact Social analyzed the online and social media discussion in relation to Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump among swing voters from June 1 to June 14, 2022. It will repeat this analysis for the next several weeks to determine trends of candidate support. The summary of findings states in part: “…Ron DeSantis is not short of love and support among floating voters. Many are attracted by his straight talking and political clarity which appeals to rightish voters living in more left leaning states. They see a leader who gets things done. People inside and outside FL applaud how he has led the state through Covid 19 and support his policy positions on issues like guns, abortion and CRT… The news is positive amongst liberal detractors as well: “…Despite this love fest there are many fence sitters who loathe DeSantis, though it must be stressed that this mainly stems from the left. They see the governor as Trump in disguise. They feel strongly that FL is no longer a free state and has instead turned into DeSantis’ Land, an authoritarian country which is free only in the eyes of its leader. In evidence they speak of the Disney related ‘don’t say gay’ law, the withdrawal of funding to the Tampa Bay Rays - allegedly due to their views on gun control - and the supposed bullying of the Special Olympics to lift its vaccine mandate. All of which leads those who oppose DeSantis to mark him as ‘dangerous’, a threat to democracy and freedom of speech…” “This initial research supports what we are already seeing regarding growing support for Ron DeSantis. “While misguided and false attacks from the radical left increase, his support does too,” explained Ready for Ron legal counsel and spokeswoman Lilian Rodríguez-Baz. “The radical left is risking our future, and DeSantis has the courage to fight back, which is why they fear him so much.” “Our country must change course immediately,” Rodríguez-Baz continued. With the economy, inflation, crime, and erosion of the American way of life, we need confident, dependable, and proven leadership like only Ron DeSantis can deliver.” The online and social media analysis Impact Social shows more conversations taking place about DeSantis and the focus and content are trending positive. “Under President Donald Trump’s leadership, the United States enjoyed record unemployment, economic stability, safety, and global respect. Many are yearning for a return to these policies and the prosperity good leadership can bring,” Rodríguez-Baz said. “The era of President Trump was wonderful, but now, since he isn’t currently running, we must get ready for a new leader, we must be Ready for Ron.” The Committee continues its TV and online advertising to engage Americans to sign the petition at ReadyForRon.com to Draft Ron DeSantis to run in 2024. Impact Social is a specialist social media, online monitoring, and analysis company. Using big data software Impact Social tracks over 60 million online sites including Twitter, Facebook, all blogs, forums, and news websites. While ‘Ready for Ron’ is completely unaffiliated with the DeSantis campaign per federal regulations, it has taken the novel step of submitting a formal Advisory Opinion Request to the FEC seeking to share its growing supporter list with Governor DeSantis if the Draft succeeds and he announces his candidacy. ### Contact Details Ready for Ron Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 dan@readyforron.com Company Website https://www.readyforron.com/

June 27, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Shareholder Confronts Salesforce CEO’s, Directors’ Hypocrisy

National Legal & Policy Center

Today, Paul Chesser, Director of the National Legal and Policy Center’s (NLPC) Corporate Integrity Project, presented remarks at Salesforce Inc.’s annual meeting to support a shareholder resolution the ethics group filed with the company. The proposal would have required the board to implement a policy to require the chair of the board of directors to be an independent member. Currently Marc Benioff holds the roles of both Chairman and co-CEO. The full text of Chesser’s remarks are below: I’m Paul Chesser, director of the Corporate Integrity Project for National Legal and Policy Center. Salesforce’s Chairman and CEO roles should be separated for good governance practice, but also in order to rein in the unaccountable Marc Benioff, who uses the company as his own personal political advocacy tool, and has for many years. There is ZERO evidence that anyone tries to rein him in. All indicators are that this board of directors is a facade – all for show, with no meaningful accountability for Mr. Benioff. There is seemingly no progressive cause that he isn’t willing to throw his considerable corporate weight behind, without consequence to him. I’m sure if he had to answer to a board that cared at all about the company’s reputation, instead of rubber-stamping Mr. Benioff’s political views, he wouldn’t be so bold. He has famously meddled in religious conscious and personal liberty issues in states like Indiana, North Carolina, and Georgia. He issues economic threats when he does so. He has vocally opposed pro-life laws in Georgia and Texas. He is strident and arrogant with his advocacy. He has zero respect for religious liberty or the U.S. constitution – showing utter disdain for the First, Second and Tenth Amendments, among other American governing principles. Then there’s his personal integrity, or lack thereof. Of course, Mr. Benioff’s signature issue is climate change. Yet he perpetuates the fraud that Salesforce, whose big service is cloud computing on massive, power-eating server farms, is at “100-percent renewable energy” in its operations. If that was true, instead of the accounting and carbon indulgence shell game that it actually is, then Salesforce would be bankrupt. Then there’s Mr. Benioff’s hypocrisy. He thinks planting thousands of trees in China helps offset Salesforce’s greenhouse gas sins, but says nothing about that communist government’s ongoing build-out of coal-fired power plants. And of course, like every other cowardly Big-Tech CEO, he says nothing about China’s genocide and human rights abuses. Back home in the U.S., while he advocates for the little people to curtail their fossil fuel use as they pay $6 dollars a gallon for gasoline, he travels in his own personal jet, for which Salesforce reimbursed him $834,000 dollars during the past year for alleged “business use.” Did that include the Davos trip, Mr. Benioff? The company also covered for the cost of his personal security to the tune of more than $1.4 million dollars this past year. Certainly this amount of security includes arming your protection with semiautomatic weapons. Yet Mr. Benioff banned companies that sell such guns from using Salesforce products. He also wants a ban on the popular defense weapon, the AR-15, which is among the country’s best-sellers for law-abiding citizens who look to protect themselves and their families. Again, Salesforce takes care of the hypocrite Benioff, while the little people must fend for themselves. END REMARKS “While he has serious competition, there is perhaps no one who uses his Big Tech company more to advance his personal progressive political agenda than Marc Benioff,” Chesser explains. “Unfortunately he has gotten away with it for years, due to cowardly responses from state politicians who feared big businesses’ threats to ‘boycott’ or leave their states. However, that trend is changing, as Gov. DeSantis has shown in Florida in response to Disney’s political activism.” NLPC has filed more than two dozen shareholder resolutions this proxy season, and appeared at the annual meetings of Berkshire Hathaway, Disney, Coca-Cola, Amazon, Twitter, Meta, and many others. ### Please visit http://www.nlpc.org. Founded in 1991, NLPC promotes ethics in public life and government accountability through research, investigation, education, and legal action. Contact Details National Legal and Policy Center Paul Chesser +1 703-237-1970 pchesser@nlpc.org Company Website http://www.nlpc.org

June 09, 2022 12:35 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Gala’s Web3 Game GRIT Now Easily Accessible to Epic Games Store’s 194M+ Players

Gala Games

Gala Games, a pioneer in web3 entertainment, announced today that it is continuing to lead the way for blockchain games by publishing its titles on the Epic Games Store. With Epic Games Store’s more than 194 million users, Gala will bring web3 games to the masses, exposing millions of gamers to this new genre of entertainment and solidifying Gala’s place as the leader in the burgeoning Web3 games industry. This announcement follows on the heels of a number of firsts and notable announcements for the Web3 company. Gala recently announced the first web3 first-person-shooter (FPS) by a AAA studio, launched the Gala Music platform, and announced the company’s upcoming launch of Spider Tanks, the world's first NFT Esport. “Epic is a pioneer and visionary in the video game industry. Gala Games’ titles being available on the Epic Game Store brings legitimacy to this new genre of gaming,” said John Osvald, President of Games at Gala Games. “Easy access to Web3 games is a turning point for those players who have not yet seen how digital ownership can enrich the gaming experience.” Gala’s GRIT, a ride-or-die battle royale set in the Wild West, will be the inaugural blockchain game to be available on the Epic Games Store. GRIT is a core battle royale game built on the Unreal Engine with realistic physics and unique twists. Players need to saddle up, ride and fight through town, building the best poker hand from found weapons to make a killing. Every game of GRIT is different, from Train Chase mode to Golden Horse, and will test players' skills and strategy against other players in epic showdowns and shootouts. Players face off against a gang of gunslingers with more than 400 old-school gun variations. Play modes include solo, duo, and squad. Showdowns take place on horseback to steam engine train tops, so players need to make sure their arsenal is ready for the deadly Calamity. Fans can wishlist the free game, launching later in 2022. To celebrate Galaverse (June 6-9, 2022) starting today in Malta, Gala Games will be offering a special sale of “The Gunslinger Box”, which will unlock one of 10,000 GRIT avatars. Each character has its own specific perks and attributes that the owner can play as in-game. Attributes are generative and will provide a unique look to each character. Owners will be able to take with them in-game their preferred loadout of specific weapons’ skins, providing them an advantage over their counterparts. The sale starts today for Galaverse attendees and opens up gradually across the week: Node Owners get access on June 7th and Gala Gold on June 8th. The public will have “The Gunslinger Box” sale access on June 9th. Each group will have access to the sale for a duration of 12 hours. “Here at Team GRIT we are invested in this new ecosystem and see all the value that Web3 can bring to the gameplay experience,” said Jon Mavor, Chief Technical Officer at Team GRIT. “We are excited to be working with Gala Games and by our presence on the Epic Games Store. Web3 will make players’ experiences in the Wild West even better.” More details about GRIT will be revealed over the course of Galaverse, June 6 - 8 in Malta. About Gala Games Gala Games is a Web3 games company that uses decentralization, player ownership, and reward economies to create a revolutionary new way of gaming. With dozens of games on the horizon and several already in various stages of presale or beta play, Gala is quickly becoming the world's leader in own-your-experience gaming. Learn more at Gala.Games. About Team Grit Team GRIT is a new game development and publishing company established by veteran industry insiders Bob Berry and Jon Mavor, creators of Planetary Annihilation and Monday Night Combat. Based out of Seattle, the development team is committed to making fun and engaging titles that bring players together. Their first game, GRIT, is an Old West battle royale. For more information visit Game information - http://grit.game/ Company information - https://app.gala.games/ Join the conversation on Discord @GalaGames.Chat @GoGalaGames Contact Details Gala Games Lizzie Oldfield eoldfield@gala.games

June 07, 2022 09:33 AM Eastern Daylight Time

BET, 125th Street Business Improvement District and the Apollo Theater Announce Recipients of Third Annual Harlem Entrepreneurial Microgrant Initiative

Paramount

NEW YORK, May 31, 2022 /3BL Media/ - BET, a subsidiary of Paramount Global, in partnership by 125th Street BID and the Apollo, recently announced the 10 recipients of the third annual Harlem Entrepreneurial Microgrant Initiative. First founded in 2020, the expansive program aims to respond to the incommensurable impact COVID-19 has had on Black communities across the nation. The 2022 iteration proudly continues to provide support and financial aid to small, independently owned and operated Harlem businesses and non-profits. Within the first week of the initiative’s release, over 1,000 businesses and organizations expressed interest. “This year, the Harlem Entrepreneurial Microgrant Initiative saw nearly 100 local Harlem businesses apply to receive one of 10 available $10,000 grants,” said Jeanine Liburd, BET’s Chief Social Impact and Communications Officer. “BET’s ongoing social impact partnerships, with those organizations such as the Apollo Theater and the 125th Street Business Improvement District, enables us to continue to grant resources and opportunities to uplift the Black communities in which we serve.” Now in its third year, the expanded microgrant initiative provided $100,000 in aid to local merchants and organizations who have been affected by the lasting impact of pandemic. BET was pleased to present each of the 10 recipients with a $10,000 grant to support their continued COVID-19 recovery, honor the entrepreneurial spirit of Soul Train’s path-breaking innovator and pioneer, Don Cornelius, and recognize Black excellence from those who have done tremendous work to be changemakers, advocates, and role models within the local Harlem community. A complete list of 2022 recipients is below. 2022 Harlem Entrepreneurial Microgrant Recipients: The Dominici Collective – (Cultural arts organization) The New Amsterdam Musical Association, Inc. – (Cultural music organization) Butter by Keba – (Aromatherapy and wellness) Revolution Books – (Educational organization) Harlem Jazz Boxx – (Cultural organization) Harlem Doggie Day Spa – (Animal care organization) Super Nice Coffee and Bakery – (Community food and employment) The Children’s Art Carnival – (Visual Arts educational organization) 9Tails Coffee Shop – (Community space) MODArts Dance Collective – (Cultural arts organization) “The Apollo is thrilled to support our fellow Harlem businesses and nonprofit organizations in partnership with BET and the Harlem BID,” said Jonelle Procope, Apollo Theater’s President, and CEO. “The third round of microgrant recipients not only strengthen the community with their entrepreneurial spirit but they also cultivate safe spaces for conversation, reflection, and action. I am incredibly inspired by this cohort of innovative thinkers and look forward for what’s to come.” “We recognize the many operational and business disruption challenges that our small business owners and our cultural institutions in Harlem are forced to navigate on a daily basis during this recovery phase of COVID 19,” said Barbara Askins, President and CEO of the 125th Street Business Improvement District. “The 125th Street BID embraces the partnership with the Apollo Theater and BET to invest in our community and offer the third microgrant program to bring some financial relief, boost confidence and to show we believe in you.” To-date, the Harlem Entrepreneurial Microgrant Initiative has supported over 50 small businesses and organizations as they continue to navigate the road to recovery from the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 on their business. For more information, please visit BETPressRoom.com and apollotheater.org/event/harlem-entrepreneurial-micro-grant-initiative-2022. ABOUT BET BET, a subsidiary of Paramount Global, is the nation's leading provider of quality content from Black creators and the champion of Black content and culture. BET linear is in 125 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, Brazil, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, sub-Saharan Africa and France. After a record-breaking 40 years as the leading cable network among Black Americans, BET transformed into the multi-platform media powerhouse that it is today, with business extensions including BET Studios, an unprecedented studio venture that offers equity ownership for Black content creators; BET+, the preeminent streaming service for the Black audience; BET Digital, including BET’s wide reaching social platforms and BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET HER, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks - BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET’s events and experience business; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe. ABOUT BID The 125th Street Business Improvement District (BID) was signed into law in 1993 by Mayor David N. Dinkins. It is a non-profit organization that strives to enhance the Harlem area through marketing local businesses, directing area improvement projects, and promoting a clean and safe environment. Harlem is one of the liveliest neighborhoods in New York City and its 125th Street economic hub is a unique place to live, work, visit and invest. Located in the heart of Historic Harlem, 125th Street is a multi-dimensional destination with a range of uses including commercial, social, residential, educational, civic, and religious, with a strong emphasis on arts, culture, and entertainment and culture-related commerce. Our work is dedicated to expanding sustainable economic activity, maximizing the ability of local residents, businesses and institution to benefit from any and all opportunities created by commercial revitalization efforts and to improving the quality of life in the community. ABOUT THE APOLLO The non-profit Apollo is a performing arts presenter, commissioner, and collaborator that also produces festivals and large-scale dance and musical works organized around a set of core initiatives that celebrate and extend the Apollo’s legacy through a contemporary lens, including the world premiere of the theatrical adaptation of Ta-Nehisi Coates’s Between the World and Me and the New York premiere of the opera We Shall Not Be Moved; special programs such as the blockbuster concert Bruno Mars Live at the Apollo; 100: The Apollo Celebrates Ella; the annual Africa Now! Festival; bi-annual Women of the World (WOW) Festival; as well as other multidisciplinary collaborations with partner organizations. Since introducing the first Amateur Night contests in 1934, the Apollo has served as a testing ground for new artists working across a variety of art forms and has ushered in the emergence of many new musical genres—including jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel, blues, soul, and hip-hop. Among the countless legendary performers who launched their careers at the Apollo are Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Luther Vandross, H.E.R., D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, Machine Gun Kelly, and Miri Ben Ari; and the Apollo’s forward-looking artistic vision continues to build on this legacy. For more information about the Apollo, visit www.ApolloTheater.org. Contact: BET Mia Scott-Aime mia.scott@bet.net 5WPR Ashley Barton abarton@5wpr.com View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Paramount on 3blmedia.com

May 31, 2022 11:16 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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BET, 125th Street Business Improvement District and the Apollo Theater Announce Recipients of Third Annual Harlem Entrepreneurial Microgrant Initiative