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Immuneel Therapeutics (Immuneel), India’s leading clinical stage cell and gene therapy start-up, today announced early results for Varnimcabtagene autoleucel (IMN-003A) from the IMAGINE study—India’s first phase 2 and industry-sponsored trial for a novel autologous CD19 directed CAR-T cell therapy in patients with relapsed/refractory B cell malignancies.

The early results reported findings from the first 10 patients of the planned 24 patients to be enrolled. Both adult and children with acute leukemia, as well as lymphoma patients post median 2 lines of treatment including in post-transplant setting, were enrolled. 80% of patients experienced complete clinical response at day 28. At day 90, the results from IMAGINE showed an overall response rate of 77%, with six out of nine evaluable patients demonstrating complete responses.

Day 28 and day 90 read-outs in the B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia patients indicate 100% and ~83% MRD-negative complete remissions respectively, indicating rapid, deep and sustained responses. The median time to manufacture and release Varnimcabtagene was 12 days, with 100% manufacturing success. The peak expansion of Varnimcabtagene was 10 days, and the CAR-T cells persisted beyond 28 days in this early data read-out.

The data set for safety in IMAGINE was favourable, without severe neurotoxicity, and comparable to the cumulative safety data-set for Varnimcabtagene that now includes 125 patients in Spain and India. Only one subject developed ≥ grade 3 cytokine release syndrome. There were no unexpected serious adverse events.

With this early clinical data, IMAGINE has demonstrated excellent early outcome for treatment with Varnimcabtagene autoleucel. The responses were fast, deep and sustained, with a favourable safety profile. Varnimcabtagene autoleucel offers a significant benefit over standard treatment options for patients in India for relapsed/refractory B cell malignancies.

The trial is active and recruiting at multiple centers in India. These early results were presented on December 11-12, 2022 at the 64th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition (ASH) held in New Orleans. The presented abstracts are available on the ASH website.

"At Immuneel, we believe that India could bring incredibly valuable clinical knowledge to advancing therapeutics," said Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, Co-founder and Director of Immuneel Therapeutics. "We are pleased to have presented the abstracts at this year’s ASH Annual Meeting 2022, which showcases data from India for Varnimcabtagene autoleucel indicating the therapy effectiveness. We look forward to sharing the full data at subsequent scientific conferences."

"IMAGINE is an exciting trial for us in India, and that builds onto the excellent global data-set for Varnimcabtagene autoleucel, especially including data both in first relapse and post-transplant setting," added Dr. Arun Anand, Director and Chief Operating Officer of Immuneel Therapeutics. "We are thrilled with the early data, and 70% Complete Response seen in this data-set, is on par with global benchmarks and transformative for Indian patients."

"Varnimcabtagene remains the only global CAR-T cell therapy undergoing advanced Phase-2 study in India in both adult and pediatric setting," said Dr. Sharat Damodar and Dr. Sunil Bhat, Co-Principal Investigators and Senior Hemato-Oncologists of Narayana Health. “With relapse rates of 30 to 40% in adult NHL and 40 to 50% in adult lymphatic leukemia with currently available treatment options in India, the availability of this therapy is transformative for patients in this country, with results which are very comparable to western data".

"Varnimcabtagene autoleucel (IMN-003A) has demonstrated early, deep and durable remission in children and adults with relapsed/refractory B cell malignancies," explained Dr. Anil Kamat, Head, Clinical Development, Immuneel Therapeutics. "IMAGINE is the first multi-center Phase 2 study in cell therapy space in India, and we continue to enroll patients on this trial. This therapy may become the new standard of care for cancer treatment."

About Immuneel Therapeutics

Immuneel is a pioneering clinical stage start-up company leading the change in cell and gene therapies and personalized immunotherapy for patients in India. Headquartered in Bengaluru, India, Immuneel is a research-led, fully integrated cell and gene therapies company committed to bringing affordable breakthrough cancer treatments to India and building a portfolio of next generation cell therapies. Additional information about Immuneel is available at www.immuneel.com.

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Vantera Coffee Bean Company, (VCBC or Vantera), a majority Black American and African-owned producer of high-quality Ethiopian coffees, today announced that it has become the first company selected to be supported by the National Policy Alliance under its Medgar Evers Fairness & Equity Project (MEF&EP). Through influential established relationships with corporate America, the MEF&EP seeks to ensure that the dollars spent by Black and African American consumers are reinvested into their communities through substantive and sustainable business opportunities and management jobs.

The National Policy Alliance’s (NPA) mission is to advocate for public policy that will positively impact the African American Community. Its focus is specifically geared toward changing the narrative and redefining the future of Black America through policy, education, advocacy, community engagement, and economic development in the United States and abroad.

NPA is comprised of the chairpersons of several significant organizations representing Black public policymakers at the local, state, national, and international levels, which include the Congressional Black Caucus, National Black Council of State Legislators, World Conference of Mayors, National Black Local Elected Officials, the Judicial Council of the National Bar Association, Blacks in Government, the National Congress of Black Women, and Historic Towns & Settlements.

VCBC is managed by a group of highly skilled and experienced women and men.   After the majority of VCBC was recently acquired by Vantera Holding Corp, Don Polk, who was vice chairman of VCBC, became the executive chairman of Vantera.  Vantera is also owned by a leading Ethiopian coffee producer, as well as a leading Ethiopian logistics company that operates under Vantera (Ethiopia), which reports to Vantera USA.

Vantera delivers a combined 50 years of coffee industry experience and is uniquely the only end-to-end Black American and African majority-owned vertical green bean and roasted trading company of its kind in the world.

"Our genuine commitment is to deal with high-quality arabica green coffee beans, and as such, we have a vested interest in the wellbeing of the farmers, said Gaim Hagos, chief operating officer of Vantera Coffee Bean Company. "We also have a social, ethical, moral, paternal, maternal, and ancestral obligation to support our farms and workers. We have a special affinity with the women who work for and with us, and we have developed a program that will enrich, grow and protect the life, future, education, health, and net worth of women and their children. This initiative launched in Ethiopia in early February 2022."

Vantera Coffee Bean Company (VCBC or Vantera), a single source provider, has the access, expertise, and wherewithal to provide world-class coffee products and services to your business. Vantera can meet all green and roasted client needs.  VCBC has full chain control including ownership of five state-of-the-art coffee processing plants (or washing stations), with access or control in an additional 35 washing stations, and its own Trading House in Addis Ababa—augmenting all activities under strict compliance, with highly competent legal team oversight. It also has a complete supply chain ownership with 120 vehicles used to transport shipping containers from the origin to the Port of Djibouti. VCBC can scale to accommodate approved contract/s or order/s for up to one billion U.S. dollars over two years.

Vantera operates a 100% responsible, ethical, and sustainable business model. The company helps growers use sustainable farming methods at origin through its direct and long-term relationships, investments on the ground, and expertise. Vantera’s Ethiopian coffee proudly has CERES GmbH certification, a Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality Program Award, and is Rainforest Alliance certified and USDA Organic certified.''

In addition to high-quality Ethiopian coffee, which is Vantera’s primary focus, VCBC has, or is developing, qualified sources of other high-quality coffees through strong “established relationships”, in Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Indonesia.

VCBC can now offer its customers comprehensive equipment solutions, including a variety of coffee brewers, liquid coffee and cappuccino machines, espresso machines, iced tea brewers, and specialty equipment.

For more information, email media@vanteracoffeebeancompany.com, call (866) 922-2209, or visit https://vanteracoffeebeancompany.com.

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Cable and Company, an entertainment news site, today announced a crowdfunding campaign for a short film it is producing, The Gospel According to Ruth. The film is directed by Chris Armienti and written by Lydia Lane Nix, while Cable and Company founder Ben Cable is the executive producer, editor, and co-star. The filmmakers plan to release The Gospel According to Ruth in 2023.

"The Gospel According to Ruth is an American-Latino comedy-drama film about ageism, prejudice, stereotypes, and homophobia," said Cable. "I am proud of my co-actors and Camille Harmon, who plays Ruth, was a great actress to work with."

"We need help from the community and supporters," Cable added. "Help us raise $1,000 so we can finish this project. Your donation will go toward funding the costs of making the film, including equipment rentals and distribution expenses. Our GoFundMe Page is https://gofund.me/40d80a7a.

For more information, visit https://cableandcompany.net.

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The Laundry Basket, an on-demand laundry subscription service serving the DMV area of Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, today announced that it has been accepted into the Comcast RISE program.

Comcast RISE, which stands for "Representation, Investment, Strength, and Empowerment," was created in 2020 to help small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is one of several projects overseen by Project UP, Comcast's initiative "to advance digital equity and help build a future of unlimited possibilities."

Over the course of the past two years, Comcast RISE has provided more than $110 million in grants to 13,000 entrepreneurs, specifically those who are women and people of color, from 1,321 cities and 38 U.S. states. On November 22nd, over 2,800 more small businesses were selected for the final round of grants, including The Laundry Basket.

In addition to monetary grants, each of the small businesses accepted into the Comcast RISE program will receive either consulting, media, or creative production services from Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, or a "tech makeover" from Comcast Business.

The Laundry Basket offers laundry services for hospitality, medical and dental offices, beauty and hair salons, gyms, restaurants, bars, and janitorial businesses. The Laundry Basket is a Black, women, and veteran-owned business filling a market need for responsive and on-demand laundry service.

"I'm honored and grateful to have been accepted into the Comcast RISE program," said The Laundry Basket founder Hyacinth Tucker. "With the exposure and support Comcast is generously providing, I look forward to taking The Laundry Basket to the next level."

For more information, visit https://www.laundrybasketdelivery.com.

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Florida Blue provides an additional $1 million to communities hardest hit by Hurricane Ian.

‍During a luncheon to thank local nonprofits for their dedication to hurricane recovery efforts, Florida Blue President and CEO Pat Geraghty announced the state's Blue Cross Blue Shield plan will donate an additional $1 million to support 22 local and regional organizations continuing to provide community-based hurricane relief efforts.

Florida Blue previously announced an initial $1 million dollar donation to the state's relief efforts immediately following the storm. This latest funding brings the total investment in hurricane relief efforts to $2 million.

"We are so grateful to the community leaders who have been working tirelessly to provide emergency items, food, housing and even health and mental health services to those severely impacted by Hurricane Ian," said Geraghty. "There is a long road ahead to recovery from the devastation of this storm. Our mission of helping people and communities achieve better health requires us to continue to support our fellow Floridians and provide these communities with the relief needed to help them rebuild their lives."

Geraghty was joined by leaders from Lee Health, which received the largest gift of $100,000 that will support a mobile health care clinic in the Dunbar community near Fort Myers. The underserved community lost its only health care clinic during Hurricane Ian, and the mobile clinic is serving as the area's only in-person source for health care while more permanent facilities can be obtained.

"The losses that Floridians are still coping with are unimaginable," said Susan Towler, Florida Blue executive director, Corporate Social Responsibility. "As part of our efforts to create strong, resilient communities, we remain committed to being there for the people in our state and making sure they have the essential supplies and support to meet their most immediate needs, including support for their physical health and mental well-being."

Other community nonprofits receiving additional hurricane relief funding include –
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• All Faiths Food Bank, Sarasota
• American Red Cross in South Florida, Space Coast and St. John's and Putnam counties
• Association of Haitians Living Abroad for Development, Inc. (AHVED), Fort Myers
• Catholic Charities of Venice
• Child's Path, Naples
• Community Cooperative, Fort Myers
• Feeding Tampa Bay
• Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), Fort Myers
• Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida, Inc.
• Heights Center, Inc., Fort Myers
• Midwest Food Bank NFP Inc., Fort Myers
• Interfaith Charities of South Lee, Fort Myers
• United Way chapters for Charlotte County; Heart of Florida; Collier and the Keys; Lee, Hendry & Glades Counties; Palm Beach County; St. John's County; and Suncoast
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In addition to the $2 million dollar donation in relief efforts, after the storm Florida Blue Center teams deployed mobile units to hard-hit communities to assist members who lost medical devices and needed other support, distributed hurricane relief packets, and provided no-cost vaccinations.

The Florida Blue Center Community Specialists continue to offer assistance to anyone in the community – even if they are not a member – by connecting them with community and social services like food programs, transportation, financial and housing assistance programs, community support resources, and many other types of relief programs.

Florida Blue is also working directly with its most vulnerable members to support them in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. The insurer's teams of nurses are working closely with members with special needs, chronic conditions requiring constant management and with those who need assistance accessing medical supplies, medications, and other essential items.

‍About Florida Blue

‍Florida Blue, Florida's Blue Cross and Blue Shield company, has been providing health insurance to residents of Florida for more than 75 years. Driven by its mission of helping people and communities achieve better health, the company serves more than 6 million members across the state. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., it is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

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G FUEL "Rage Drive" is Available for Pre-Order as a Collector's Box and Tub at GFUEL.com

‍G FUEL, in partnership with Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc., today announced its new "Rage Drive" flavor inspired by the TEKKEN series is now available for pre-order as a Collector's Box and Tub at GFUEL.com while supplies last!

We all know the best fights are personal. So, you don't have a moment to stop training as you fight your way to the top! As the battle rages on, you only have one shot to use your explosive new move. Replenish your energy and focus to master your combos with the brand-new G FUEL "Rage Drive"—inspired by the epic, 3D fighting game series TEKKEN!

This windowless Collector's Box features a Bout Poster for Heihachi vs Kazuya and comes with an exclusive Shaker Cup that you will want to FIGHT to get your fists on! This sweet and juicy cantaloupe flavor will give your getup kick the boost you need to combo start your day!

G FUEL "Rage Drive" is the fourth flavor that G FUEL and Bandai Namco have launched. G FUEL Energy Formula is sugar-free and loaded with antioxidants from 18 different fruit extracts. Each serving has only 15 calories and contains 140 mg of caffeine.

"TEKKEN has always had a huge spot in the heart of the fighting game community," said G FUEL Founder and CEO Cliff Morgan. "I'm excited to bring TEKKEN into the G FUEL Arena with a great new flavor!"

Raise your fists and grab the new G FUEL "Rage Drive"—inspired by the TEKKEN series—now at GFUEL.com!

‍About G FUEL

‍G FUEL provides a zero-sugar, performance-driven alternative to standard energy drink products. With an ever-expanding, product lineup that includes a powdered Energy Formula, ready-to-drink cans, powdered Hydration Formula and Sparkling Hydration bottles, G FUEL has firmly established itself as the market leader in the energy drink industry.

With over 300,000 5-star Shopper Approved Ratings, a shipping network that spans over 125 countries, a nationwide retail campaign, and a global social media footprint of over 1 billion followers, G FUEL maintains the industry's largest and most passionate community of fans, customers, content creators, and partners. Content creators and partners include the likes of Ninja, MoistCr1TiKaL, SSSniperWolf, Sentinels Esports, Logic, NoisyButters, Luminosity Gaming, PewDiePie, Mikal Bridges, Michael Dickson, Summit1G, xQc, Activision, SEGA of America, Capcom®, Bethesda Game Studios, Warner Bros., VIZ Media, Crunchyroll, Rare Ltd., Disney, Lucasfilm, Sony Pictures, The Tetris Company and Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.

Join the movement today at GFUEL.com and follow us on social media @GFuelEnergy.
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Press Contact: media@gfuel.com

‍Distribution and Wholesale Contact: dluks@gfuel.com

‍‍About Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

‍Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc., part of the Bandai Namco Group, is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive entertainment for major video game consoles, PC, online, and mobile platforms. The company is known for creating many of the industry's beloved classic franchises such as PAC-MAN®, GALAGA®, TEKKEN®, SOULCALIBUR®, and ACE COMBAT®, and publishing the critically acclaimed DARK SOULS™ series and the blockbuster title ELDEN RING™. Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. is also the premier publisher in the Western hemisphere for anime-based video games including GUNDAM™, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, DRAGON BALL™, and ONE PIECE®. Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. is headquartered in Irvine, California. More information about the company and its products can be found at http://www.bandainamcoent.com.

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Books and Artwork, the home of award-winning artist John DeGaetano's artistic creations, today announced the relaunch of DeGaetano's book 10 Ridiculously Simple Audition for the Stage Tips.

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"The stage audition tips e-book helps you get better at auditioning," said DeGaetano. "Hate to audition, don't you? Especially when there is a part that you really, really want and there are a million other people angling for the same role? Well, there is a chance you can get better at it, or at least get the information you need to get better at auditioning."

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The e-book, available on Amazon, downloads in minutes and gives readers 10 of the most important tips when determining exactly what to plan for. The topics include picking a monologue or song, cold reading, and preparation, along with what to expect from the audition process.

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The book can be purchased from Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007R9F2QE. For more information visit https://booksandartwork.com.

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Uneekor, makers of the world’s most obsessively and meticulously engineered golf simulator technologies, will return to exhibit at the 2023 PGA show January 24–27, 2023 in Orlando, for the fourth consecutive year.

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Uneekor’s centrally located booth at the PGA show will feature Uneekor’s two industry-leading, reliable, tried-and-true launch monitors, EYE XO and QED. Additionally, it will introduce its newest innovation, the Balance Optix, Uneekor’s first biomechanical system that focuses on the lower body movement of the golf swing.

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Announced last year, Uneekor’s groundbreaking virtual reality golf course simulator will also be featured at the show. Uneekor is demoing a fully immersive experience and hyper-realistic rendering of eight top South Korean Courses including the ClubD collection of courses, Castlex Seoul, Fortune Hills, Belle Selva in Japan, and two US courses, Rich Harvest Farms, and Twin Oaks. Golf course ownership and management groups interested in playing the virtual reality simulator for themselves are invited to Uneekor’s PGA Show booth to discuss the potential of adding their own licensed courses to the software.  

The PGA Show offers an exclusive sneak peek at these products, the ability to try and test them, and the opportunity to learn about the new innovation coming from Uneekor this year.

"My Uneekor simulator provides me with another trusted tool for putting my work in at home," said Three-Time PGA Tour Champion and member of Team Uneekor Cameron Champ. “The technology is exceptional and I trust the data I’m generating to reliably measure consistency and progress in all aspects of my game. It’s also a lot of fun in there!”

The PGA Show, organized by the PGA of America and PGA Golf Exhibitions, will reunite the golf industry for the 70th edition of golf’s longest running and largest global business gathering. Thousands of attending PGA Professionals, golf leaders, industry executives, and retailers from around the world will source new products from some 800 golf and lifestyle brands while attending high-level industry presentations, participating in education and career workshops, and connecting in person with peers and golf leaders to drive continued growth of the sport and the business of golf.

About Uneekor

Uneekor, founded by a South Korean Technology company with more than 200 employees globally, has over 14 years of experience in engineering and developing leading golf simulation equipment and world-class technologies specialized in performance analysis and enhancement. We are recognized for revolutionizing the industry by bringing together the sharpest team of passionate engineers, strongly committed to constant innovation and quality assurance. Our products include launch monitors, simulators, performance software, and accessories to create the world’s greatest practice experience, empowering golfers to elevate their game. We know what golfers want, but truly understand what they need. We are unrivaled, we are unmatched. We are Uneekor. Master Your Passion.

About PGA Golf Exhibitions

The PGA Show, PGA Buying & Education Summit and PGA Show Connects are organized by PGA Golf Exhibitions (part of RX) and the PGA of America. Since its inception in 1954, the PGA Show has grown into the largest annual business event for the global golf industry. Regional PGA Show Buying & Education Summits and the PGA Show Connects digital platform connect the industry year-round, and drive business leading up to the annual PGA Show. Learn more at PGAShow.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

About the PGA of America

The PGA of America is one of the world’s largest sports organizations, composed of nearly 28,000 PGA Professionals who work daily to grow interest and inclusion in the game of golf. For more information about the PGA of America, visit PGA.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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ENSL TV, an independent streaming service, today announced its new series, Hungry Happy Vegan, which is set to premiere on December 8th. The show follows host Rylee Josipovich as she travels to different locations to find the best vegan food.

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In this debut season, Rylee explores the popular beach city of Puerto Vallarta. This Mexican city is known for its beautiful beaches and LGBTQ-friendly nightlife. What many don’t realize is that it is also home to many vegan restaurants. These restaurants are growing in popularity, and the city is seeing more and more of these restaurants pop up. Rylee finds other great vegan restaurants that have been open for years, as well as new vegan restaurants that have just started to make their mark in the city.

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Showrunner Mel Andre and Host Rylee Josipovich take viewers around the city, exploring many delicious restaurants that cater to vegans, whether they are expats, tourists, or locals. She also sits down with chefs and restaurant owners to hear their stories.

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"Traveling while vegan used to be difficult," said Andre. "There weren’t many restaurants that served vegan food, but Rylee is showing the world that things have changed, and you can travel and eat good vegan food."

For more information, please visit https://www.ensltv.com.

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The first annual Songs of Deep Emotion and Bright Light concert to benefit the Nic Pagano LGBTQIA+ Scholarship Fund for Recovery has been confirmed for January 26th at City Winery in New York City. Tickets are on sale now: https://citywinery.com/newyork/Online/Article/NYC-Songs-of-Deep-Emotion-1-26-23-8pm.

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The Nic Pagano LGBTQIA+ Scholarship Fund was created to enable ongoing assistance for families and individuals in the LGBTQIA+ community in need of financial help after agreeing to treatment for a substance use disorder.

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The concert will feature a diverse array of acclaimed musicians, including Rosanne Cash, Marshall Crenshaw, Bettye LaVette, Amy Helm, Willie Nile, Kate Pierson, Rachael Yamagata, and music director Rich Pagano. Steve Earle and Martha Redbone were just added to the lineup as well.

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Additional national and local music acts will be confirmed in the coming weeks. Each artist will perform a short set that illustrates an emotional and compromising element, and a level of promise and faith. The flow will range from "melancholy blue" to "electric heat."

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In addition to raising proceeds from ticket sales, the event will feature an auction segment of coveted music-related photographs, including donations by Mark Seliger, William Coupon, Bob Gruen, The Gordon Parks Foundation, and more. The auction will take place thanks to the outreach of Karen Marks, director of Howard Greenberg Gallery, one of the premiere photographic galleries in the world. Phillips Auction House has generously offered to facilitate.

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One month before his accidental death due to fentanyl poisoning on July 2nd 2021, Nic and his parents, Karen Marks and Rich Pagano, were eating lunch near the sober house that he was residing in at the time when the conversation turned to the plight of the LGBTQIA+ community, its fear of ostracization, and the assumption of lack of communal inclusion within the treatment world. Nic, leaning to an eventual career in social work, singled out the transgender community in particular for its marginalization. Unfortunately, last month's hateful incident in Colorado is a clear indication that the stigma, fear and threats against the gay community need to be confronted, disarmed, and dispelled.

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The Release Recovery Foundation and Caron Treatment Centers have partnered in the creation of the Nic Pagano Scholarship Fund, which is based at Caron Treatment Center in Pennsylvania. This scholarship aims to improve access to care for the LGBTQIA+ community.

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Since its inception in the fall of 2021, the Nic Pagano LGBTQIA Scholarship Fund has awarded six financial scholarships to clients in need of substance use treatment. Services also address stigma, heterosexism, internalized homophobia, discrimination, and addiction.

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"We started The Release Recovery Foundation to help individuals who just didn’t have the same access to treatment that I had growing up," said Zac Clark, a Caron Board Member who co-founded the foundation. "We identified the LGBTQIA community as one where we could make a difference."

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For more information, visit https://www.caron.org/donate/nic-pagano and https://www.releaserecoveryfoundation.org/lgbtqia.

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Maergo (previously known as X Delivery), the trusted national carrier serving retailers and DTC brands with faster, greener shipping, today announced it has closed a $20M seed round. Lead investors included Deep Lake Capital, funds managed by investor and entrepreneur Neel Shah, and ACR Strategic Credit, with participation from RyderVentures, the venture capital arm of Ryder System, Inc. With this closing, the company also completed its rebrand to Maergo.

Maergo's fundraise follows a year of product development, team growth, and sales progress with the addition of customers including Saks Fifth Avenue, Allbirds, Chubbies, and Buck Mason. These retailers join a growing list of clients focused on improving the delivery experience for their customers. Technology updates include improvements to their predictive, real-time decision and routing platform that continuously optimizes first, middle, and last mile operations.

"Since I joined the firm, we've focused on solving one of the biggest challenges facing brands today—getting orders to customers faster at a lower price and in an eco-friendly way," said Mark Lavelle, CEO of Maergo. "We're excited about empowering our clients to meet these objectives while helping them maintain control over customer data and the post-purchase experience."

Maergo has delivered more than 8 million shipments. Prior to Maergo, Lavelle was CEO of Magento, which he led to a $1.7B sale to Adobe in 2018, and was cofounder of Bill Me Later, the first BNPL company acquired by PayPal.

"The investment we've made in Maergo through RyderVentures is consistent with our strategy to bring to market new technology-driven solutions that tackle disruptions in the supply chain. The high-growth ecommerce business is a major focus area for us," says Karen Jones, CMO and head of new product development at Ryder. "With the growth of ecommerce and resulting capacity constraints, shippers are looking for more flexible parcel solutions. Through Maergo's tech-first approach to parcel delivery, they're leveraging existing capacity to offer an end-to-end solution. That's both compelling and exciting for us and our customer base of high-growth brands."

About Maergo

‍Maergo is a first-of-its-kind parcel delivery platform, purpose-built for branded direct-to-consumer delivery using modern technology and advanced data capabilities. The result is a national service disrupting incumbent carriers and empowering the largest and fastest growing brands to increase sales and customer satisfaction. Learn more at www.maergo.com.

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North Carolina Central University (NCCU) Becomes First HBCU to Launch an MBA Program with a Real Estate Concentration‍
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F&M Bank is proud to announce NCCU’s Unity Scholarship, which will encourage a student’s dreams of entering the field of real estate. F&M Bank, along with Andre Johnson and James “Monte” Montague, collaborated to offer a $7,500 scholarship (per year for two years) to an NCCU student enrolled in the MBA Real Estate Concentration.
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Additionally, the three partners have contributed $7,500 (per year for two years) to a Gap Scholarship. This will be awarded to several MBA Real Estate Concentration students over the two years who need financial help to fill in the tuition gap that would have otherwise prevented them from completing their education.

This NCCU program is the first of its kind being offered as an MBA at a historically black university or college. The university states that the specialization program builds on the MBA core curriculum with a focus on real estate fundamentals, providing future leaders career growth opportunities and a platform for innovation and discovery.

“Through the offering of a relevant and challenging real estate curriculum within our MBA program at NCCU, we are able to not only provide education to support the needs of the real estate industry, but we are able to fill a much-needed diversity gap within the field itself,” said Anthony Nelson, Ph.D., Dean, NCCU School of Business.

F&M Bank Chairman and CEO Steve Fisher is proud to help fill this diversity gap, saying, “Our Unity scholarships crack open a door into the business world that minority students have historically thought was closed. Thanks to our trusted partnerships in the minority business community, we are holding the door open from both sides and welcoming students to enter.”

Montague, a key donor contributing to the scholarship, agrees, “On a personal level, many of the students that will be able to attend this prestigious University [NCCU] come from a similar background as I do and because of the NCCU Unity And Gap Scholarships will be able to continue their education and change the world. Being in a position to partner with these great organizations (F&M Bank and Andre Johnson Architects) to support the future leaders of NCCU is truly an honor for us at F7 International Development."

"The opportunity to give back and to help others is an important part of my firm's philosophy and my personal beliefs,” said Johnson, a third key donor contributing to the scholarship. “I am humbled to be able to assist the next generation of business leaders through this partnership with NCCU."

“Partnerships like the Unity scholarships are a model for how we change the face of business in the years to come and expand opportunity to all,” said Fisher. “F&M Bank is so proud to be a part of this team approach to improving the communities we serve.”

“On behalf of the North Carolina Central University School of Business, thanks sincerely for your visionary and tangible support to expand the reach and impact of the School of Business and our students in various North Carolina communities,” said Nelson. “The funds donated will open new opportunities for NCCU students who may not otherwise undertake a career such as real estate without the financial assistance provided through a Unity ‘Gap’ Funding Scholarship. We are extremely excited to market and administer this program with available financial incentives for our students.”

The university will award the Unity Scholarship to a student who plans to reside and practice in the state of North Carolina, ultimately strengthening the communities we serve. F&M Bank would like to thank the students of NCCU for sharing their visions for the future with us and for allowing us to help them reach their dreams.

About F&M Bank

F&M Bank is a community bank established in 1909 and headquartered in Salisbury, NC. Operating throughout the Piedmont and Research Triangle areas, the bank has grown to over $900 million in assets with 11 offices in Rowan, Cabarrus, and Wake counties. Focused on providing personal attention and convenience for every client, the Bank offers a complete range of financial services for individuals and businesses. F&M Bank has been voted the Best Bank in Rowan and Cabarrus counties for over a decade. F&M Bank is a Member FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender. For more information, visit us online at fmbnc.com.

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WellNOW Connect, a community directory for "all things wellness," today announced its launch as a service responding to the growing needs for life coaches and therapists to help individuals manage their mental wellbeing at home and in the workplace.

WellNOW Connect aims to create a single location to find any wellness-related information, including hypnotherapy, wellness retainers, HR consulting, and corporate wellness services.

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"After spending too much money on another site that catered more to plumbers and the building industry than on my niche, wellness, I realized I needed to leave that site and start my own," said WellNOW Connect founder Annetta Hunter. "My site will stay affordable for members with new businesses to grow. Plus, it is a wonderful platform for established service providers to flourish."

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For more information, visit https://www.wellnowconnect.com.

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Fantastic Shade and Clips, a Fort Lauderdale-based company with a stated goal of "revolutionizing ceiling fans," today announced its patented shade clip set. These shade clips provide a handy way for people to install unique lampshades in their homes.

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"Lamp shades are no longer just for lamps," said founder Maura Rossi. "Now you can cover that ugly light fixture on your ceiling fan with this new product."

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"This new product will ultimately have an impact on our use of energy consumption," Rossi continued. "More fans will be used because now they will be beautiful! Fan blades never change so you can keep your old fans and completely change their look with a fan shade. Shades can be metal, paper, fabric, beaded, glass, you name it. A shade 13 inches or wider can become a fan shade over an ugly white globe fixture. A shade 15 inches or wider can cover the ugly 3 or 4-can light fixture or an ugly bottom bowl fixture. If you find a lampshade you love you can pretty up your fan. Cut the spider and use your own shade with our Fan-tastic Shade Clips."

For more information, visit https://www.fantasticshadeclips.com.

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Gwell Wellness, Inc., a plant-based wellness brand that incorporates functional foods into everyday snacks for people with special dietary needs and food sensitivities, today announced that it is launching Wellworthy, a service aimed at sharing newsworthy stories to increase exposure and knowledge of food, health, and wellness topics within underserved communities, along with resources to learn more.

A Black woman-owned company, Gwell (which is Welsh for "better") was founded by CEO Fawziyya Sugai, who was recently accepted into Target's accelerator program Takeoff.

Wellworthy is available now at eatgwell.com, and includes free weekly summaries of newsworthy articles in food, health, and wellness, as well as exclusive Gwell promotions to subscribers.

"We've been dreaming this up for a while," said Sugai. "Too often we hear people say, 'why haven't I heard about that?' or 'why wasn't that in the news?' Sadly, many of the things that impact our well-being aren't always deemed newsworthy. We're here to change that."

Gwell's products include only natural and organic ingredients (no dairy, no soy, no gluten, no artificial colors, artificial flavors, preservatives, or fillers ever).

"Gwell started with my own challenges related to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, and fibroids," Sugai added. "Many in our community also struggle with chronic illnesses. This first issue is centered around environmental factors that can improve or exacerbate chronic illnesses and wellness."

For more information, visit https://eatgwell.com.

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Chamberlain Coffee, the leading coffee lifestyle brand and brainchild of Emma Chamberlain, announced today the launch of their first-ever Coffee Pods. The launch marks a new wave of convenience for the brand and showcases their continued commitment to innovation and ability to meet customer needs. Differentiating themselves from others on the market, the brand's Coffee Pods' casing is commercially compostable.

Made from Chamberlain Coffee's Original Family Blend, the Coffee Pods will feature their best-selling medium roast coffee—allowing the brand to bring its premium and great tasting product to consumers in an even more convenient format. Each Coffee Pod is created out of patented plant-based materials and is compatible with all Keurig style brewers. Over 15 billion plastic pods are produced each year, with 90 percent of those single-serve pods ending up in landfills or burned, meaning Chamberlain Coffee's Coffee Pod production is supporting a cleaner, more sustainable system.

"We are so excited to continue to bring customer-driven products to life while championing a good cause at the same time," said Chamberlain Coffee CEO Christopher Gallant. "Customers have been requesting Coffee Pods for a while now, but we wanted to find a sustainable solution before launching. We are confident that our fans are going to love this new product that we've been perfecting for months."

Since the brand's launch in 2020, Chamberlain Coffee has become a force within the coffee industry. Following a $7M fundraise in August, the brand has been able to develop new products, reach new audiences and see some of their greatest sales yet.

Chamberlain Coffee has also proven to fans that their success can go well beyond coffee products. From their wildly successful flavored matcha launch earlier this year, to their most recent tea launch, Chai, which quickly became their second-best performing product to date. The brand also offers a variety of lifestyle products (from branded merchandise to custom coffee accessories) to help tap new audiences and appeal to the masses.

Consumers can find Chamberlain Coffee's Coffee Pods sold in packs of 10 at ChamberlainCoffee.com for $16. For more information on Chamberlain Coffee, and to stay up to date on the latest product launches, follow on Instagram at @chamberlaincoffee.
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About Chamberlain Coffee‍
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Founded by YouTube phenomenon Emma Chamberlain, Chamberlain Coffee is high-quality, sustainably sourced organic coffee roasted in California, so you can feel good about the coffee you're sipping on. No pesticides, no BS. Available in single-serve bags, instant sticks, ground and whole bean options, Chamberlain Coffee is symbolized by different characters to encapsulate the different coffee drinker in all of us. The brand also has various other delicious offerings, including their 5x sold-out Matcha, Cocoa Grizzly Hot Chocolate, and Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans. Supporting coffee-farming communities in Latin America, Chamberlain Coffee works with Food4Farmers to ensure long-term food security for coffee-farming families.

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Angel City and Klarna Commit 10% of Sponsorship to Powering Sustainable Shopping Initiative with Downtown Women's Center Boutique‍

Angel City Football Club (ACFC) and Klarna today announced that the Downtown Women's Center's (DWC) social enterprise, MADE by DWC, will be the beneficiary of grant money allocated through the Angel City Sponsorship Model where 10 percent of each sponsorship is reallocated back into the community.

In October 2021, Klarna, the leading global bank, payments, and shopping service, announced it had joined ACFC as a Founding Partner, bringing the all-in-one shopping platform to new audiences, offering fans an innovative way to shop and pay. As part of the partnership, the organizations are supporting the MADE by DWC program at the Resale Boutique, focusing on promoting a circular economy of sustainable fashion while empowering women in Los Angeles to break the cycle of homelessness through employment.

"Through our partnership with Klarna, Angel City FC is excited to focus our impact on such a meaningful organization like the Downtown Women's Center," said Angel City FC President and Co-Founder, Julie Uhrman. "We know firsthand the benefits of empowering women in the workforce and we are excited to support the development of DWC members through their MADE by DWC program."

In collaboration with Klarna, Angel City FC will call its network into action to donate clothing to the Downtown Women's Center MADE by DWC Resale Boutique. The Klarna donation bin will be available at the Downtown Women's Center through the end of December. This collaboration will allow both organizations to highlight key elements of the Boutique. First, the significance of donated items and the impact recycling clothing has on the environment. Second, the significance of the Boutique within the community, which continues to provide on-the-job training for women. 60% percent of the current MADE by DWC staff have graduated from this job-training program.

"The Downtown Women's Center (DWC) is honored to be supported by ACFC and Klarna. What a perfect community building partnership. MADE by DWC is a social enterprise that is focused on ending homelessness for women through employment. This year alone, 56 women will be enrolled into our job-training program. Previous graduates of the program have been hired at MADE by DWC, and hired into roles in the community that include health and advocacy, retail, food service, administrative roles, and entrepreneurship. We are excited to continue expanding our support for women experiencing homelessness through this collaboration." —Joe Altepeter, DWC, Chief Social Enterprise Officer.

"Through our partnership with Angel City, Klarna is committed to making a positive impact on planet health and the larger Los Angeles community, and we are excited to support the DWC's mission through the launch of this grant and clothing donation initiative. Klarna's  aim is to provide consumers with reuse options, to resell, donate, or recycle pre-loved items and empower them to minimize waste and extend the life of products through circular services.," said Megan Gokey, Head of B2C Marketing, North America, Klarna. "This grant money will go towards empowering the community to live a sustainable lifestyle while creating additional opportunities to assist more women in gaining valuable experience they can bring with them into their next chapter."

ACFC and Klarna launched the program in collaboration with DWC on October 9th at the DWC Gala to introduce the partnership, along with the attendance of ACFC players Cari Roccaro, Simone Charley, and Paige Nielsen. On Sunday, December 11th from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM, Angel City FC and Klarna will host an in-person clothing donation event at the Angel City Brewery (216 S Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012), where fans can drop off new and gently used clothing for the DWC before enjoying fun activities and games hosted by ACFC. Clothing donations can also be made at the Downtown Women's Center by scheduling a drop-off on their website throughout the week.‍
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About Angel City Football Club‍

Angel City Football Club (ACFC), a member of the National Women's Soccer League, recently completed its inaugural season at Banc of California Stadium in downtown Los Angeles. The team is founded by Academy Award-winning actress and activist Natalie Portman, technology venture capitalist Kara Nortman, media and gaming entrepreneur Julie Uhrman, and venture capitalist, 776 founder and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. Freya Coombe leads the team as head coach and US Women's National Team star Christen Press was the team's first playing signing.

Learn more about ACFC at www.angelcity.com and follow the team on social media @weareangelcity. Season tickets for the 2023 season are on sale now with limited quantities. Fans are encouraged to purchase soon at https://angelcity.com/tickets.

For more information, contact: press@klarna.com

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Kellogg Company announced today that it has donated 30 million servings of food to Feeding America food banks across the U.S.

The donation includes cereal, snacks such as bars and crackers, and Eggo products.

Often, people facing hunger are forced to make tough choices between buying food, paying medical bills or rent, or buying holiday gifts for their children.

"While the holidays can be a joyful time for many, it can be especially difficult for people who struggle with food insecurity," said Steve Cahillane, Kellogg Company Chairman and CEO. "This donation is part of our Better Days Promise to advance sustainable and equitable access to food. We are committed to feeding 375 million people facing food insecurity and crisis by the end of 2030."

The company is also encouraging people to donate to Feeding America at feedingamerica.org. Just $1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local member food banks.

About Kellogg Company

At Kellogg Company (NYSE: K), our vision is a good and just world where people are not just fed but fulfilled. We are creating better days and a place at the table for everyone through our trusted food brands. Our beloved brands include Pringles®, Cheez-It®, Special K®, Kellogg's Frosted Flakes®, Pop-Tarts®, Kellogg's Corn Flakes®, Rice Krispies®, Eggo®, Mini-Wheats®, Kashi®, RXBAR®, MorningStar Farms® and more. Net sales in 2021 were nearly $14.2 billion, comprised principally of snacks as well as convenience foods like cereal, frozen foods, and noodles. As part of our Kellogg's® Better Days ESG strategy, we're addressing the interconnected issues of wellbeing, climate and food security, creating Better Days for 3 billion people by the end of 2030. Visit www.KelloggCompany.com.

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The Laundry Basket, an on-demand laundry subscription service serving the DMV area of Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, today announced its launch. Starting on December 6th, the business will be open seven days a week to busy households that need to access reliable laundry services. The Laundry Basket is a Black, women, and veteran-owned business filling a market need for responsive and on-demand laundry service.

“I am excited about how receptive our customers have been to our new service," said founder Hyacinth Tucker. "We started The Laundry Basket because we felt too many people in our community struggled with maintaining their laundry. We are excited to launch the business to residential and commercial customers in the DMV area."

"We're passionate about Mother Nature, and our customers too!" continued Tucker. "We recycle hangers and also allow customers to donate their clothes to charitable organizations. We will pick up one bag of donations when we pick up your laundry."

The Laundry Basket also offers gift cards, as well as laundry services for hospitality, medical and dental offices, beauty and hair salons, gyms, restaurants, bars, and janitorial businesses.

For more information, visit https://www.laundrybasketdelivery.com.

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Gangster Fashion, a new urban wear brand, is bringing its quality fashion apparel to the masses. The brand offers winter and summer clothing, including pullovers, hoodies, and t-shirts with different city and state themes.

“We are thrilled to introduce our new designer fashion apparel, and to bring the best fabric and accessories to our clients around the globe,” said founder Oren Barforough.

Gangster Fashion offers its signature Gangster G on many items, such as the organic cotton black hoodie with gold foil print. Gangster also has a slate of designs to help you rep your city, including New Orleans, Las Vegas, Brooklyn, and Detroit, among many more.

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For more information, visit gangsterfashion.com.

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