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Ripken Baseball Signs Stewbowie Sports & Entertainment as Exclusive Sponsorship Sales Agency

Stewbowie Sports & Entertainment

Ripken Baseball announced today it signed Stewbowie Sports & Entertainment to exclusively represent their premier youth sports brand across all sponsorship sales. Stewbowie will provide strategic partnerships and advertising sales across all Ripken Baseball-owned properties and assets. Ripken Baseball offers the most memorable experiences in youth sports, combining facilities and world-class event management to make every ballplayer feel like a Big Leaguer. Ripken Baseball operates sports complexes in Aberdeen, MD, Myrtle Beach, SC, and Pigeon Forge, TN, as well as nationwide programming through their Ripken Select Tournaments. Over 120,000 youth baseball athletes and more than 400,000 guests visit annually traveling from 50 states and 12 countries. “We’ve experienced incredible growth in the last few years and are looking for partners who want to build with us,” said Mike Kenney, Executive Vice President at Ripken Baseball. “Stewbowie’s approach to revenue generation and proven track record of winning deals will help us take our business to another level and find new ways to generate revenue through naming rights, sponsorships, and B2B partnerships. We look forward to collaborating with brands that align with the values of The Ripken Way and our goals to help grow the game of baseball.” “We are honored to have the opportunity to represent such an iconic name as Ripken Baseball. The Ripken name is synonymous with excellence, and we are thrilled to be working with them to create successful sponsorship programs to accomplish our partners’ goals at scale,” said Karl Mawhinney, Stewbowie, LLC Founder & CEO. For Ripken Baseball sponsorship inquiries, please contact karl@stewbowie.com. Ripken Baseball Ripken Baseball brings teammates, coaches, and families together through its Big-League Experiences, while teaching the values of the game, and how to play it the right way – the Ripken Way. Ripken Baseball continues to innovate the game through on-site tournaments, camps, and spring training hosted at their state-of-the-art baseball and softball facilities – The Ripken Experience™ Aberdeen (Maryland), The Ripken Experience™ Myrtle Beach (South Carolina), and The Ripken Experience™ Pigeon Forge (Tennessee). About Stewbowie LLC Stewbowie, LLC is a Brooklyn NY-based, sponsorships sales representation firm working with best-in-class sports and entertainment properties to accelerate revenue growth through naming rights, sponsorships, and integrated marketing programs. Stewbowie Sports & Entertainment is the property representation division of Stewbowie, LLC. Stewbowie’s current property clients span across multiple industries including sports, music, fashion, and immersive digital technology with the core commonality of desiring smarter brand sponsorship. Stewbowie believes every brand’s perfect partnership exists. Contact Details Eric PR & Marketing, LLC Eric Nemeth nemeth@ericpr.com Company Website https://stewbowie.com/

December 07, 2021 07:59 AM Eastern Standard Time

Chaparrals Defeat Nassau Community College 34-29 For NJCAA Division III Football Title

College of DuPage

A championship game figured to have a championship moment. And this one belonged to the College of DuPage Chaparrals, who are the inaugural National Junior College Athletic Association Division III football champions. Freshman wide receiver Matthew Brown broke free from his wide-out position with 21 seconds left in the game, and quarterback Brooks Blount connected on a 33-yard touchdown pass for a come-from-behind 34-29 title victory over Nassau (N.Y.) Community College before a crowd of 2,500 on a brisk December afternoon at COD’s Bjarne Ullsvik Stadium. “I guess it is the biggest play of my life,’’ said Brown, an Aurora native who earned the game’s most valuable player honors for his only catch of the day. “There was no way I wasn’t going to score. I even extended my hands to break the plane so it would count.’’ The Chaps survived against the visiting Lions, who overcame a 21-point deficit with 22 unanswered points in the second half, eventually grabbing the lead with 40 seconds left on Joshua Arevalo’s 28-yard field goal for a 29-28 lead. Chaps head coach and national coach of the year Matthew Rahn said that with 40 seconds left and one time out remaining, the game may have seemed dire, but his team was prepared for one last successful final drive. “In all probability, we’re looking to get in range for a field goal attempt,’’ he said. “We had the time and a time out to make something happen.’’ After Nassau’s successful field goal, the Chaps’ Jessi Plunkett took the ensuing kickoff and returned it 18 yards to the COD 44. On first down, Blount scrambled and went up the middle for an eight-yard gain. A personal foul was called on a late hit, and that moved the Chaps 15 yards closer to the Nassau 33. After an incomplete pass, the game-winning play called for a mesh pattern, where Brown lined up on the right side with teammate Chase Mendoza to his immediate left. “I thought Chase set a great pick, and I was able to run and get open on a seam route to the inside,’’ Brown said. “Matthew was the primary receiver on the play,’’ Blount said. “I saw that he had maybe a step-and-a-half on the d-back and that was enough to get the pass to him.’’ And just like that, the Chaps drove three plays in just 13 seconds and held on to secure the first national championship for the sport in school history. The Chaps (9-2 overall) were in command throughout the first half, leading 14-0 thanks to a one-yard touchdown from Tom Trieb in the opening quarter, and a 76-yard scamper from Darrell Smith with 48 seconds before halftime. The Chaps padded the lead to 21-0 on a Blount five-yard pass to tight end Jack Dorsey early in the third quarter. And after Nassau scored its first touchdown of the game, a 16-yard pass from Michael Batton to John Beaubrun, the Chaps regained momentum when sophomore Lazerick Eatman returned the ensuing kickoff 94 yards and COD led 28-7 with 9:43 left in the third quarter. It seemed as if Green and Silver were in complete control. The Lions, however, scored three straight touchdowns — two from the arm and one on the ground from quarterback Michael Batton — to pull within two points at 28-26 when Ka’Shaun Parrish caught a 35-yard touchdown with 6:21 left in the game. Smith led the Chaps in rushing with 170 yards on 21 carries. Blount was 17-of-27 for 130 yards, two touchdowns and was sacked four times. Mendoza led in receiving with four receptions for 53 yards. Defensively, Chase Graham and Danarius Shaw led with eight tackles. Nicholas Wade had the Chaps’ only interception, a grab to conclude the final play of the game. That this championship marks COD’s first in the sport wasn’t lost on Rahn, who is an alum. “I talk with alumni who were here in the 90s, and those who played afterward,’’ he said. “And it really is a program built on giving kids a platform to perform, improve their skills and have success. “This is a title that can be shared with and for so many.’’ Nassau finished the season 6-4. Batton was 13 of 24 for 205 yards passing with three touchdowns, and rushed for 72 yards on 12 carries. The Chaps closed the season on a six-game winning streak, all coming after losing at Nassau 17-15 on Oct. 16. Chaps and Nassau This was the second time the two teams met in the postseason. Nassau defeated the Chaps 19-0 in the 1992 Midwest Bowl played in Naperville. COD National Championships The championship is COD’s 35 th in school history. The others are: men — basketball (2002), soccer (1993), golf (1996, 1997, 1998), hockey (1980, 1988, 1990), tennis (1997, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2005) and Track & Field (2002, 2003, 2006, 2010, 2021). Women’s title-winning teams are: basketball (2000, 2002), softball (1998, 2000, 2001, 2004), tennis (2007, 2008, 2010), track & field (2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2021) and volleyball (1998, 1999). Contact Details College of DuPage Mark Reinhiller +1 630-942-3761 reinhillerm@cod.edu

December 06, 2021 06:38 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Family Gift Guide for the 2021 Holiday Season

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/HDSa4Jb_slc A new survey finds holiday shoppers are planning to spend upwards to $250 per family member this season. Lifestyle Expert, Bethany Braun-Silva has compiled a few family-focused gift ideas sure to satisfy those loved ones who’ve been on the good list this past year. GO BACK TO THE MOVIES: Reports indicate retailers are facing empty shelves this holiday season. Braun-Silva says there are ways around this problem for the average consumer, adding, “There is good news and the outlook for the holiday season is bright. First, families are looking to reunite and connect for the holidays. Second, they’re looking for fun things to do — together.” The lifestyle expert points to giving the gift of experiences as her first tip. “Who hasn’t missed going to the movies,” she asks while reflecting on the immersive, cinematic experience theatres provide with their big screens, booming surround sound and warm, irresistible movie theatre popcorn. “I recommend giving the gift of Cinemark Movie Club, a monthly in-theatre membership program that gets you free tickets, exclusive discounts, and more at all Cinemark theatres across the U.S.,” says Braun-Silva. She adds that holiday shoppers can easily buy a stress-free 12-month gift membership for $99 which comes with 12 movie tickets, 20% off concessions, waived online fees, and additional discounts! The average Movie Club member saves over $100 per year with a Movie Club membership. Braun-Silva says it’s the perfect gift for families because the whole family can benefit from the membership. As monthly ticket credits roll over to the next month if unused, members can save them up to take the whole family, waive the online ticketing fee when booking their tickets in advance and save 20% on everyone’s concessions. Moviegoers can experience all the fun with great family films coming to theatres, including Encanto, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Sing 2 and others. For more, go to cinemark.com/movieclubgift. Social media handles: @Cinemark FUN IN THE SUN: Braun-Silva says don’t be afraid to gift big, saying, “Just imagine the faces of your loved ones when they find out you’ve gifted them a trip to Florida.” VISIT FLORIDA is inviting travelers to gift a heartwarming trip to the Sunshine State — from relaxing beach getaways, family fun at iconic theme parks, to outdoor adventure and unique wildlife encounters. Giving a Florida vacation experience removes the stress of holiday shopping, and to make this even easier, Braun-Silver says VISIT FLORIDA has partnered with Expedia to offer up to 20% off overnight bookings at select hotels throughout the state. This includes the Melia Orlando Celebration - 30% off Family Suite, The Southernmost Beach Resort in Key West - 20% off all rooms, Legacy Hotel at IMG Academy in Bradenton, where the Golf Club features an 18-hole championship golf course, and many others. To give the ultimate Florida vacation experience this holiday season, head to Expedia.com/GiveFlorida. https://www.Expedia.com/GiveFlorida Social media handles: @VISITFLORIDA HOP ON THE WAGON: Families are planning to get out and about this holiday season and into the New Year. As a mom of two boys, Braun-Silva admits that she knows the ins and outs of traveling with children. Enjoying the journey as a family starts with the right transportation. The lifestyle expert recommends the Wonderfold W4 Elite, adding, “It’s the perfect carrier for kids. Babies and toddlers love strolling around in the WONDERFOLD Multi-Function Wagon. They’re secured in a 5-point harness and covered by a UV protected canopy. With high face to face seats with footrests, this stroller wagon makes it easy to take the entire family to the park, beach, campsite, and more!” The wagon’s user-friendly design is easily foldable with minimal assembly required. The one-step folding design allows you to fold and store it in seconds. Its adjustable push handle can be customized to accommodate different heights and needs. Another aspect that Braun-Silva loves is that it’s multifunctional, pointing out that after the kids have outgrown the stroller, the seats can be removed to transform it into a utility wagon — perfect for sports equipment, camping gear, luggage, and so much more! This brand is available on Wonderfoldwagon.com, Amazon, and other retailers. https://www.wonderfoldwagon.com/ Facebook: @ wonderfoldfam Instagram: @ wonderfoldwagon TikTok: @ wonderfoldwagon About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

December 03, 2021 03:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

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ARMY dances along on Twitter with 68M Tweets as BTS returns to the live stage in LA

Twitter, Inc.

LOS ANGELES, US - Media OutReach - 3 December 2021 - 21st century pop icons BTS' 'BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE - LA' tour was celebrated by fans all over the world with a whopping 68M Tweets globally throughout the tour from November 27th to December 2nd. Whether they were at the concert or not, fans came to Twitter and enjoyed the act’s first face-to-face concert since 2019, using hashtags like #PTD_ON_STAGE_LA, #Stage_For_ARMY, #BTS, #방탄소년단, #BTSARMY. On the 27th and 28th November, and 1st and 2nd December, tens of thousands of lucky fans got to see BTS perform live at the 'BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE - LA' tour at LA’s SoFi Stadium while plenty more from all over the world tuned in to the moment on Twitter. A truly unforgettable concert, many fans gathered on Twitter to rejoice and celebrate their favourite moments both in the lead-up to the performance, and after the event. For example, we saw conversation volume peaks when Jimin Tweeted just before the first concert, when Jin and RM Tweeted after the first concert, and when BTS Tweeted their photo with Halsey who attended the third concert. Be it to complement virtual or in-person activities, fans everywhere come to Twitter to join in the fun and have conversations about them. So, even though things appear to be slowly returning to normal again and K-pop stars reunite with their fans, Twitter will continue to play an important role to drive conversations and connections within the K-pop community. For instance, to celebrate ARMY meeting BTS in real-life this time, Twitter launched various activations for fans, including special emojis and a Live Event Page dedicated to curating all the latest action in one place. This ensured that fans were always kept updated on all the happenings and content related to the concert - never missing an important moment. YeonJeong Kim, Head of Global K-pop Partnerships at Twitter, said, “During the difficult times when face-to-face events such as concerts were cancelled, Twitter is where fans go to talk about what’s happening, as well as stay connected with their artists. While it has been more than two years since their last real-life concert, BTS and ARMY have stayed close on Twitter and their relationship is stronger than ever, such as during the band’s single ‘Butter’ earlier this year where we saw over 300 million related Tweets in just one month. On the first day of the tour, more than 15 million Tweets were generated, far exceeding the average 10 million Tweets per day at the time of the release of Butter in May. As live concerts begin again, Tweets from fans are expected to continue to increase.” About Twitter, Inc. Twitter is what’s happening and what people are talking about right now. To learn more, visit about.twitter.com and follow @Twitter and @TwitterKorea. Let’s talk. Contact Details Communications, Twitter Korea Hyeji Park (@HyejiPark5) hyejip@twitter.com The Hoffman Agency Kimberlee Lim (@_Kimberxz) twitterSG@hoffman.com

December 03, 2021 02:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Millions Celebrate The Annual Christmas Lottery In Spain With The Game "Hidden Image"

Party Casino

The Extraordinary Christmas Draw in Spain has the largest jackpot in the world Last year's total jackpot amounted to almost € 2.5 billion Players are invited to find the El Gordo ticket in the lottery ticket image PartyCasino has launched a new game where players have to locate the Spanish Christmas lottery ticket - also known as El Gordo - among a sea of other lottery tickets from around the world. Generally regarded as the largest lottery game in the world, the Spanish Christmas Draw is held annually on December 22, and involves millions of Spaniards, often purchasing multiple tickets for friends and family as a Christmas gift. Tickets have been on sale since July. Last year the total prize pool was € 2.4 billion, with a top prize of € 4 million, but since the raffle rules are so complex and people can buy multiple tickets with the same numbers, it is almost impossible to calculate how many players have won a share of the total pot. To see the correct location of the hidden El Gordo tenth in the image, visit the PartyCasino site at https://www.partycasino.es/es/blog/lograste-dedcubrir-el-boleto-escondido/ To download the image in high resolution, click here. Contact Details Intelligiants Ltd J Cain media@intelligiants.com Company Website https://www.partycasino.es/es

December 03, 2021 01:05 PM Eastern Standard Time

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DOGTV Launches First Original Program for Pet Owners, “Paws for Love”

DOGTV

DOGTV is premiering its first programming geared toward pet owners with a new docuseries that begins December 9. “Paws for Love” is a show that follows Nashville couple Sean and Christina Conlon — and their golden retriever therapy dog Nash — who sold 90 percent of their possessions to begin a quest to travel around America helping others through therapy dogs. In the Fall of 2019, they went through training and certifying Nash as a therapy dog. Immediately, they started serving around the Nashville area in schools, fire stations, and police stations. They saw people light up around Nash in a genuine and unique way, and knew therapy work was exactly what they were meant to be doing as a family. But once COVID hit, everything came to a screeching halt. Sean and Christina couldn’t serve with Nash any longer, but they knew they had to do something. So they launched Nashies, a single ingredient dog treat company that financially supports therapy dog organizations across the United States. However, they realized it wasn’t just a financial problem these organizations were facing in the pandemic, it was an awareness problem. And in a time where the world needed therapy dogs more than ever, they felt called to do something bigger and more hands-on. In late 2020, they sold 90 percent of their stuff, got an RV, and started traveling the U.S. on the @PawsForLove Tour, volunteering with Nash and creating positive, encouraging content to share on their social media that brings a smile to people’s faces. “We heard very clearly that we needed to shine a bright spotlight on the incredible work that these therapy dog organizations do day in and day out for our communities,” said Sean Conlon. “The reality is that every single one of us needs more love and compassion than we ever have before, and there’s a lot we can learn a lot from our canine companions. And we reacted by doing the only thing we could think to do because of how strongly we felt about this calling. “We sold 90 percent of our worldly possessions because we knew it would take money to accomplish this mission, and we knew it couldn’t wait, so we just started selling our stuff. What we began to realize is the stuff in our life was simply a weight that was holding us back, and was just sitting there idle. But we knew if we could turn that stuff into something that could impact others, we would happily part with it,” he said. The couple embarked on a 15-city tour starting in January 2021. “Paws for Love” tracks their journey through 10 weekly 30-minute shows starting on December 9, with new episodes every Thursday. Beke Lubeach, General Manager and Chief Marketing Officer of DOGTV, said the show is an ideal and entertaining foray into new territory for the network. “This is an incredible series that tells a wonderful story about the dedication of Christina and Sean to improving people’s lives,” she said. “We thought this was the perfect opportunity to expand the impact of DOGTV by telling their story as the first programming we have provided for pet owners. We look forward to sharing ‘Paws for Love’ with the DOGTV family over the coming months.” DOGTV will donate $1 per view of Episode 1 of “Paws For Love” up to $5,000 to the Alliance of Therapy Dogs Junior Handler Program. The program is aimed at educating the younger generations on the benefits of volunteering with their dogs so that they can learn early and have a life of service. Alliance of Therapy Dogs provides testing, certification, registration, support, and insurance for members who volunteer with dogs to visit hospitals, special needs centers, schools, nursing homes, and other facilities and events in their communities. Alliance of Therapy Dogs is a network of caring volunteers who are willing to share our special canines to bring smiles and joy to people, young and old alike across the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada. DOGTV is planning on rolling out new series for pet parents to watch on a quarterly basis over the next year — marking the first time the channel has aired television format shows for people. DOGTV is now available in the US, Mexico, Brazil, Portugal and S. Korea via cable and satellite providers and Direct To Consumer through their app available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, iOS and Android devices everywhere. The channel also has a robust online and social media presence as well. DOGTV’s approach toward pet enrichment is based on more than 60 scientific studies. The channel’s content is focused on behavior and how visual stimuli can impact it, ways to help dogs counter anxiety and stimulation and enrichment through music and sound. About DOGTV DOGTV is a 24/7 channel with programs scientifically developed to provide the right company for dogs when left alone. Through years of research by some of the world’s top pet experts, special content was created to meet specific attributes of a dog’s sense of vision and hearing and supports their natural behavior patterns. The result: a confident, happy dog, who’s less likely to develop stress, separation anxiety or other related problems. To learn more about DOGTV or follow us on social media, please visit: Website: www.dogtv.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dogtv Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogtv/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DOGTVWORLD NOTE: Interviews available with the Conlons — please contact Tom Evans to schedule Contact Details Tom Evans +1 602-448-5483 tevans@onadvertising.com

December 03, 2021 11:46 AM Eastern Standard Time

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True Colors Film Festival: A Feast of Firsts & Award-Winning Short Films & Dialogues All Free to Stream Globally

True Colors Film Festival

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 3 December 2021 - True Colors Film Festival (TCFF) returns from today offering audiences around the world free streaming of 20 short films and 4 Dialogues. Presented by The Nippon Foundation, the films present new and sometimes radical human perspectives about life and the pursuit of happiness. Highlights include: The world’s first Oscar-nominated film featuring a DeafBlind Actor, 2021 Oscar-nominated FEELING THROUGH and its ‘making of’ documentary, CONNECTING THE DOTS; Oscar-winning short films THE SILENT CHILD (2017) and HELIUM (2013); Official Selection of the Fashion Film Festival Milano from 13-18 January 2022, THE FUTURE IS NOW!, a True Colors Festival documentary. ON BEAUTY, inspired by the work of photographer and founder of Positive Exposure, Rick Guidotti, who challenges the ‘universal’ beauty standard espoused by the fashion industry. Dialogues: Hear first-hand from US director Doug Roland (FEELING THROUGH) and his cast Robert Tarango and Steven Prescod; Tunku Mona Riza (REDHA) from Malaysia who chats with Singaporean actor and educator, Aidli Mosbit; US director Amanda Lukoff (THE R-WORD), with sibling and self-advocates, Singaporeans Tasneem Majeed and Allan Cai; and US photographer Rick Guidotti with Tokyo-based photographer and multimedia artist, Lily Shu, and Singaporean actor and host Oon Shu An. “There’s no shortage of options for streaming movies on demand, but here you’ll discover a selection not found anywhere else; a one-stop shop of award-winning films and dialogues about Perspectives that will entertain, challenge and inspire,” says Audrey Perera, Executive Producer of True Colors Film Festival 2021. Shorts and Dialogues can be viewed around the world via Vimeo, Features can be watched on The Projector Plus by viewers across Asia, and the bonus program can be viewed on Filmbankmedia only in Japan and Singapore. For more information, visit the TCFF 2021 website. For updates, sign-up for the TCFF 2021 mailer. True Colors Film Festival 2021 is a free online event that launches on December 3, coinciding with International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). Now in its second edition, the first True Colors Film Festival, held in 2020, drew an audience of almost 8,000 from 39 countries. Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp7ZhaKBBbc Contact Details Hana Kim +65 9272 6747 hana@lightyears-comm.com Michelle Theseira +65 9099 6840 michelle@lightyears-comm.com

December 03, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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COMCAST'S INTERNET ESSENTIALS PROGRAM AND SERJOBS ANNOUNCE TECHNICAL SKILLS TRAINING PARTNERSHIP AND $30,000 DONATION

Comcast Houston

Comcast's Internet Essentials program today announced the award of a $30,000 financial grant and donated 1,000 laptops to SERJobs, whose mission is to help individuals from low-income communities transform their lives through education training, employment, and financial empowerment services. The grant and donation are part of a new partnership to fund technical skills training and readiness certifications for clients of SERJobs. This program will offer digital skills training opportunities, including Microsoft Office, PowerPoint, Excel and professional development. “SERJobs is excited to celebrate 10 years of Comcast's Internet Essentials program,” said Sheroo Mukhtiar, CEO, SERJobs. “The Workforce Development Rally highlights the importance of digital literacy in our increasingly virtual world—especially as technology and the needs of our economy evolve. We are grateful to Comcast for their ongoing partnership and support of SERJobs’ and our members.” The announcement is part of Project UP, Comcast’s comprehensive initiative to advance digital equity and help build a future of unlimited possibilities; and coincides with the 10th anniversary of its Internet Essentials program, which has connected a cumulative total of more than 10 million people to the Internet at home – most for the very first time. Comcast’s expanded eligibility for Internet Essentials, now including all Federal Pell Grant recipients within its service area, will enable even more students to stay connected as they continue to pursue degrees at colleges, universities, and technical schools. “Ten years is a remarkable milestone, signifying an extraordinary amount of work and collaboration with our incredible community partners across Houston,” said Toni Beck, Vice President of External Affairs, Comcast Houston. “Together, we have connected hundreds of thousands of people to the power of the Internet at home, and to the endless opportunity, education, growth, and discovery it provides. Our work is not done, and we are excited to partner with SERJobs to ensure the next generation of leaders in Houston are equipped with the technical training they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world.” Comcast’s top priorities are connecting people to the Internet at home, equipping safe spaces with free WiFi and working with a robust network of nonprofit community organizations, city leaders, and business partners to create opportunities for low-income Americans. As the nation’s largest internet provider, Comcast supports cooperation between communities, businesses and non-profit organizations to enhance digital equity. Comcast’s $1 billion commitment will include investments in several critical areas, including: additional support for the Lift Zone initiative, which establishes free WiFi access in 50 community centers in Houston, and 1,000+ community centers nationwide, for students and adults by the end of 2021; new laptop and computer donations; over $100,000 in digital equity grants for local Houston nonprofit community organizations to create opportunities for low-income Houstonians – particularly in media, technology, and entrepreneurship; and continued investment in the company’s landmark Internet Essentials program. Project UP & Comcast’s $1 Billion Commitment to Advancing Digital Equity: For over a decade, connecting more people to the Internet and the technology they need to participate and excel in an increasingly digital world has been a core focus for the company. Looking toward the next ten years, Comcast is building on that foundation and expanding its impact through Project UP, a comprehensive initiative to advance digital equity and help build a future of unlimited possibilities. Backed by a $1 billion commitment to reach 50 million people, Project UP encompasses the programs and community partnerships across Comcast, NBCUniversal, and Sky that connect people to the Internet, advance economic mobility and open doors for the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, storytellers, and creators. For more information on Project UP and the latest news on efforts to address digital inequities visit https://corporate.comcast.com/impact/project-up. About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on broadband, aggregation, and streaming with over 57 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, Peacock, NBC News, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. About SERJobs: SERJobs Houston, a regional affiliate of SER Jobs for Progress National, Inc., is a nonprofit organization empowering individuals to transform their lives through education, training, employment, and financial empowerment services. Founded in 1965 as a volunteer job bank for Hispanic veterans, SERJobs has evolved, and now operates offices in Houston, Galveston and Fort Bend. SERJobs serves individuals in 13 Texas counties and assists more than 4,000 members access better opportunities every year. For more information, visit serjobs.org Contact Details Comcast Foti Kallergis +1 832-986-0196 Foti_Kallergis@comcast.com SERJobs Christi Vasquez +1 832-890-3606 Company Website https://houston.comcast.com/

December 02, 2021 09:01 AM Central Standard Time

How One Artist Merged Man and Machine

The Kirby Foundation

Nestled in Loveland, Colorado, is artist Paul Kirby’s studio. Inside that studio stands a 10-foot by 10-foot AI-powered robot named Dulcinea, capable of producing masterful paintings with exquisite brushwork in the manner of the Renaissance virtuosos. Kirby created Dulcinea, named after a character in Don Quixote, as his partner, muse and medium — a delicate dance between man and machine. Unlike other efforts to recreate art with artificial intelligence, Kirby didn’t design Dulcinea to think like a human being. He designed her to paint like a human being, relying on both his artistic skills and his coding prowess in a process he calls “ fusioneering, ” the pursuit of a single vision while combining multiple passions or interests. “My mission was to combine my expertise and passion for technology, science and invention, with my love of art and aesthetics,” said Kirby. Now Dulcinea has a different mission. In hopes to inspire others, Kirby produced a film documenting Dulcinea’s creation and his 40-year journey to embody fusioneering. Entitled “ Brushstroke,” the short documentary film chronicles the pain and passion that fueled him, his work, and Dulcinea’s creation. In his story, we realize that art and science can become one, that our disparate strengths can all work together and that a steadfast commitment to our dreams will make them a reality —no matter how unconventional. "While I remain passionate about creating in collaboration with Dulcinea," he says, "my focus for the work has changed. She stands as a role model now, the manifestation that anyone can carve out a unique path for themselves by cultivating and combining their strengths and passions.” The film has been included in both the Vail Film Festival and the Portland Film Festival, with more appearances scheduled for early 2022. Viewers can also watch “Brushstroke” by visiting Kirby’s website: www.thefusioneer.com. The Kirby Foundation Guided by the belief that all of us can fuse our interests, skills and passions into a unique vision of innovation and purpose, The Kirby Foundation inspires others through the example of its founder Paul Kirby. He was the first "fusioneer," combining his interest in science, technology, and art to create Dulcinea, a 10-foot by 10-foot, AI-powered, painting robot. Unlike efforts to recreate art with artificial intelligence, Dulcinea — using paints, brushes and canvas — creates singular masterpieces based on Kirby’s vision, artistry and coding skills. Today the foundation’s vision is to encourage and empower all to become "fusioneers" and pursue their dreams. Learn more about Kirby's vision and the work of the foundation at www.thefusioneer.com. Contact Details Center Reach Communications Tracy Henderson +1 720-989-3530 tracy@centerreachcommunication.com Company Website https://thefusioneer.com/

December 02, 2021 09:13 AM Eastern Standard Time

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