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Align Surgical Associates Welcomes Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon to Burgeoning Gender-Affirming Healthcare Practice

Align Surgical Associates

The California-based gender-affirming healthcare provider Align Surgical Associates Inc. (Align Surgical) announced today that Breanna Y. Jedrzejewski, M.D., M.P.H., has joined its practice. Align Surgical is one of the few interdisciplinary surgical practices in the United States that exclusively provides comprehensive gender-affirming care. “Breanna is a tremendous addition to Align Surgical’s roster of gender-affirming surgeons,” said Align Surgical founder Dr. Thomas Satterwhite. “She brings a breadth of experience, intelligence and compassion to her work and enables us to offer our patients a wider range of practitioners to choose from.” Breanna Y. Jedrzejewski, M.D., M.P.H, is a reconstructive plastic surgeon, specializing in gender-affirming surgical procedures for the face, body, chest or “top” and genital or “bottom” areas. Dr. Jedrzejewski received her M.D. from Brown University and holds a Master of Public Health in Global Health from Yale University. She completed her residency in integrated plastic surgery at Oregon Health and Science University, where her training included a high volume and full breadth of gender-affirming surgeries. Dr. Jedrzejewski is based at Align Surgical’s San Francisco office, serving patients from California and across the United States. Recently, Dr. Jedrzejewski was lead author on “Regret After Gender-Affirming Surgery: A Multidisciplinary Approach to a Multifaceted Patient Experience,” published in the July 2023 issue of Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. In the study’s cohort of 1,989 patients, only 0.3% requested reversal surgery or transitioned back to their sex assigned at birth. This finding of an extremely low rate of regret is below the 1.0% rate found in a 2021 review of 27 studies that examined rates of regret following gender-affirming surgeries. It is also significantly lower than rates of regret reported for other common surgeries, such as total knee replacement ( 10%), hip replacement (3%) and numerous cosmetic procedures such as rhinoplasty (9%), breast augmentation (3%) and liposuction (13%), as reported by Statista. Dr. Jedrzejewski’s research also identified that providing a care environment that “welcomes and normalizes authentic expression of gender identity, affirms surgical goals without judgment, and destigmatizes the role of mental health in the surgical process [is] foundational to mitigating the occurrence of any form of regret.” “I am thrilled to have found a practice that is as committed to providing a respectful and safe environment for patients as it is to advancing the field of gender-affirming healthcare through ongoing research,” said Dr. Jedrzejewski. “From the beginning, it was clear to me that Align Surgical shares my approach to the practice of medicine, which is to engage with each patient as a whole and unique person.” Align Surgical’s Commitment to Research and Surgical Innovations Align Surgical is distinguished among private surgical practices in having a foundational commitment to research and training, which typically only occur at large teaching hospitals. Its surgeons actively initiate and participate in ongoing research with academic and peer organizations, such as Stanford University Medical Center and World Professional Association for Transgender Health ( WPATH ), to improve outcomes and advance the field of gender-affirming healthcare. Align Surgical is an official rotation site for Stanford’s plastic surgery residents as they receive training in gender-affirming care. Align Surgical is also one of the only private interdisciplinary surgical practices in the United States that is 100% focused on gender-affirming surgery. While the majority of its patients reside in California, nearly 30% of Align Surgical’s patient base comes to the practice from 48 other states and outside the U.S. Initial consultations are tailored to every individual, whether they are transgender, nonbinary or gender-diverse. Align Surgical’s roster of plastic surgeons and reconstructive urologists offer the full array of gender-affirming procedures, including facial feminization and masculinization; chest or “top” surgeries such as mastectomy or breast augmentation; body contouring; and many forms of genital or “bottom” surgery, such as phalloplasty, metoidioplasty, vaginoplasty and more. Since founding the practice, the surgeons at Align Surgical have been at the forefront of developments in surgical technique and practices to improve patient outcomes. Whether it is addressing patient-focused needs such as finding a better solution for post-vaginoplasty dilation; questioning existing and pervasive practices such as withholding hormone therapy prior to surgery; or examining access to care by studying what operations surgeons in the U.S. are willing to perform for patients, the surgeons at Align Surgical are always seeking to contribute to the body of scientific knowledge. Their priority is always to improve patient outcomes and deliver the best care possible. “The field of gender-affirming healthcare – and surgery specifically – is one of the great new frontiers of medicine,” added Dr. Satterwhite. “As societal acceptance of transgender identities grows, our ability to expand access and improve outcomes for patients grows along with it. This is why I went into medicine: to deliver life-saving and life-affirming care to those who need it most.” * * * About Align Surgical Associates Align Surgical Associates was founded in 2018 with the mission of providing gender-affirming surgery to the transgender, non-binary and gender-diverse community with excellence, compassion and the belief that all people deserve to experience the freedom of living as their true selves. Align Surgical’s surgeons in San Francisco and Los Angeles provide the full range of facial, body contouring, top and bottom surgeries and share a commitment to advancing innovation and research in their specialty fields. More information at alignsurgical.com. Media, please note: Visual assets, including photos and video, are available. To request an interview with experts from Align Surgical Associates, please contact Andie Davis at 415.766.8355 or Align@landispr.com. ### Contact Details Landis Communications Inc. Andie Davis +1 415-766-8355 Align@landispr.com Company Website https://www.alignsurgical.com/

September 14, 2023 08:31 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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Ready Together: Nextdoor Helps to Build Local Readiness for National Preparedness Month

YourUpdateTV

A video to accompany this release can be found here: https://youtu.be/PTGKeHmGvQQ Imagine turning to the person next door in a crisis and knowing they're ready to lend a hand. When disaster strikes, proximity matters, and your neighbors are a vital resource. From high intensity hurricanes like 2022’s Hurricane Ian, to the extreme heat hitting much of the country this summer, to most recently, the heartbreaking wildfires ravaging Maui, the frequency, severity and number of counties affected by extreme weather events has been on the rise. In fact, between January 2013 and January 2023, 88.5% of all U.S. counties declared a natural disaster, including 95% of the 200 most populated counties. Research shows that well-connected neighbors are more resilient in disaster situations. This September, National Preparedness Month is the time to connect with neighbors and prepare for emergencies that may hit your community. As you prepare your home and family for weather events, build a plan with your community to pool resources, evaluate needs and ensure every neighbor is prepared and connected. Neighborhood network app Nextdoor connects people to the neighborhoods that matter to them so that they can thrive. It's where neighbors turn to give or get trusted advice, recommendations and help; during a crisis, this purpose takes a crucial role. Caty Kobe, Nextdoor's Head of Community, conducted a nationwide media tour providing information about neighborhood resilience, the power of community in crisis moments, and important tips and tools for building a Neighborhood Preparedness plan. Topics that were discussed included: • The latest Nextdoor features and tools that help neighbors stay connected during a weather event • How neighbors on Nextdoor are leveraging the platform to encourage community preparedness and resilience • The long-term benefits of fostering a prepared and connected neighborhood, beyond just the month of awareness. • Anecdotes and examples of neighbors helping neighbors in your region during a natural disaster. • How individuals and communities can actively participate in National Preparedness Month through Nextdoor FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: NEXTDOOR.COM/CRISIS To connect with your neighbors on Nextdoor.com, download the app on Google Play or the Apple App Store, or visit nextdoor.com About Nextdoor Nextdoor (NYSE: KIND) is where you connect to the neighborhoods that matter to you so you can belong. Kindness is core to our purpose: to cultivate a kinder world where everyone has a neighborhood they can rely on. Neighbors around the world turn to Nextdoor daily to receive trusted information, give and get help, get things done, and build real-world connections with those nearby — neighbors, businesses, and public services. Today, neighbors rely on Nextdoor in more than 305,000 neighborhoods across 11 countries. In the U.S., 1 in 3 households uses the network. Nextdoor is based in San Francisco. For additional information and images: nextdoor.com/newsroom. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

September 13, 2023 01:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Snapchat Keeping the Focus on User Safety

YourUpdateTV

In an era where digital interactions are an integral part of daily life, ensuring a safe online environment is paramount – especially for kids. Recently, Nona Yadegar, the Director of Design at Snapchat, participated in a nationwide satellite media tour to discuss Snapchat’s new safety features and the importance of creating safe, online spaces for kids to interact. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/_chmGR1TC_8 For more information, visit Snapchat, the popular platform built to foster expressive communication with your closest friends, is taking additional measures to ensure a safe and engaging online experience for children aged 13-17. New measures include: • Further restricting unwanted contact from strangers/suspicious accounts and making your Search experience safer. • A more age-appropriate content experience on public content platforms (such as removing suggestive content by default). • New efforts to find and crack down on accounts that may be trying to promote age-inappropriate content/commercial services. • And more focus on helping educate teens about common online risks, like catfishing and sexual exploitation. These protections will limit unwanted interactions on Snapchat for younger users, ensure content is age-appropriate, and improve education about common online risks, including steps teens and their parents can take to prevent them. In addition, Snapchat have heard from parents about the need for more tools and resources to help them better understand how to use the app, how to use the parent tools, and to better understand the threats teens face online. To better empower parents, Snapchat created a parents’ guide at parents.snapchat.com as well as a new YouTube explainer series. To learn more, check out this Snapchat blog post detailing the app’s most recent announcement. About Nona Yadegar Nona Yadegar is a Director on Snap’s design team. In this role, she acts as a cross-functional leader, aligning and prioritizing product and feature development. Nona draws upon her policy, safety and legal experience, having previously served as the Director of Platform Policy & Social Impact for Snap. Nona graduated with a BA in Political Science from Duke University, and with a JD from Columbia Law School, where she was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. She is based in Los Angeles where she lives with her husband David and her children Elio, Yael, and Farah Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

September 13, 2023 12:57 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Bespoke Education Announces B Corp™ Certification for Commitment to Education

Bespoke Education

Bespoke Education Inc., which for more than 20 years has provided the highest quality tutoring, test preparation, and academic support to students from elementary through graduate school in both New York and France, today announced that it has become a Certified B Corporation™ ("B Corp"), recognizing and deepening its commitment to social and environmental responsibility. Bespoke Education chose the B Lab Impact Assessment for quantifying their environmental and social performance. Through B Lab, Bespoke underwent a rigorous and comprehensive review of its social practices and was assessed across five key components: governance, workers, community, environment, and customers. Upon completion of the Impact Assessment, Bespoke achieved an overall score of 89.9, placing the company above the average score of 51 set by “ordinary” (non-certified) businesses. Bespoke Education's 2023 full certification report can be found HERE. “Our certification reflects the transformational change Bespoke has undergone in recent years. In 2022, 70% of the students Bespoke tutored in the U.S. were from underserved communities,” said Tim Levin, founder and CEO of Bespoke Education. “B Corp certification is both a significant milestone and an important step in our continuing journey to help students reach their full potential by learning better with confidence and conviction.” About Bespoke Education With offices in New York and Paris, France, Bespoke Education’s mission is to provide exceptional educational support for students throughout their schooling. For over two decades, Bespoke’s team of tutors, proctors, and full-time staff have offered the highest quality tutoring, test preparation, and academic support to students from elementary through graduate school. Bespoke has worked with more than 35,000 students in the Tri-State area and around the world. Knowing the schools, administrators, and curricula in the areas where it serves, Bespoke builds long-term relationships with students, families, counselors, and administrators to provide the most comprehensive services. Bespoke believes the mentor-student relationship is fundamental to guiding students in acquiring new habits and skills. Once this trusting relationship is established and students meet with newfound success, they become increasingly confident and motivated to take on new challenges. About B Lab B Lab is transforming the global economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet. A leader in economic systems change, our global network creates standards, policies, tools, and programs for business, and we certify companies - known as B Corps - who are leading the way. To date, our community includes 380,000 workers in over 5,000 B Corps across 79 countries and 153 industries, and more than 150,000 companies manage their impact with the B Impact Assessment and the SDG Action Manager. To learn more and join the movement, click HERE.Certified B Corporations, or B Corps™, are companies verified by B Lab to meet the high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. Contact Details Razor Sharp PR Ray Young +1 512-694-6097 ray@razorsharppr.com Company Website https://www.bespokeeducation.com/

September 13, 2023 08:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

How Clean Energy Jobs are Driving the Economy

YourUpdateTV

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is the largest investment in climate and clean energy in U.S. history, and within the last year, companies have created more than 170,600 new clean energy jobs nationwide. Recently, Lori Lodes, the Executive Director of Climate Power, and Gina McCarthy, Former White House Climate Advisor, participated in a nationwide satellite media tour to discuss how families are benefitting from the law and how clean energy jobs are reshaping the economy. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/rrfT-Kddz7I?si=1S6U7FzbYqvQhh-a Clean energy projects created 170,606 new jobs in 44 states between August 16, 2022 and July 20, 2023. There are 272 new clean energy projects in small towns and big cities nationwide, totaling $278 billion in new investments. Plans include 91 new battery manufacturing sites in places like Tucson, Arizona; Rochester, New York; and Florence County, South Carolina. So far, companies have announced plans for 65 new or expanded electric vehicle manufacturing facilities in Savannah, Georgia; Montgomery, Alabama; Auburn Hills, Michigan — and more. A further 84 plans were announced to develop wind and solar manufacturing in cities including Cochranton, Pennsylvania; Pensacola, Florida; and Georgetown, Texas. The majority of projects are in five states — Michigan, Georgia, South Carolina, California, and Texas. The jobs being created across the country are good-paying opportunities for electricians, mechanics, construction workers, technicians, support staff, and thousands of others. Many of these clean energy jobs come with higher wages and good benefits without requiring a four-year degree — meaning they’re accessible to most Americans. For more information, visit climatepower.us About Lori Lodes Lori Lodes is the executive director of Climate Power, a strategic communications operation focused on building political will and public support for bold climate action. It was founded going into the 2020 US presidential election and played a key role in establishing climate as a core message for the Biden campaign and Build Back Better agenda. Before stewarding Climate Power, Lori spent a handful of years in corporate communications at Apple. She was deputy director of communications for Hillary Clinton's campaign in 2016, and she spent many years working on communication initiatives for the Affordable Care Act and healthcare.gov. About Gina McCarthy The first White House National Climate Advisor and former U.S. EPA Administrator, Gina McCarthy, is one of the nation’s most respected voices on climate change, the environment, and public health. As head of the Climate Policy Office, McCarthy’s leadership led to the most aggressive action on climate in U.S. history, creating new jobs and unprecedented clean energy innovation and investments across the country. Her commitment to bold action, supported by the climate and clean energy provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, restored U.S. climate leadership on a global stage and put a new U.S. national target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50-52 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 within reach. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

September 12, 2023 01:16 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Unleashing Pet Industry Trends to Keep Your Furry Friend Healthy, Happy & Pampered

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/Z2YHiW3ehKw Pets are undeniably cherished members of our families and ensuring their happiness, health and comfort is a top priority. In today's world, our furry, feathered, and scaly companions live the good life alongside us, and we strive to provide them with the very best—from their favorite treats to specialized diets, stylish collars, interactive toys and even high-tech gadgets. But what's the next big thing for your beloved pet? That's where SUPERZOO comes in, the pet industry's premier retail event that sets the stage for the latest trends and groundbreaking new products ready to elevate your pet's lifestyle to new heights! With pet spending on the rise, the range of trending products is ever-expanding—from pet health solutions and grooming tools to groundbreaking advancements featuring automation and artificial intelligence, the possibilities to enhance your pet's life are endless. A nationwide media tour was conducted to discuss these topics and more live from the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, where SUPERZOO took center stage. Organized by the World Pet Association, SUPERZOO is the pet industry’s largest and most comprehensive pet retail event in North America. Topics that were discussed during the media tour included: The latest pet product news and industry insights live from SUPERZOO Pet products that will be hitting retail shelves later this year How technology is taking pet care to the next level What’s next in pet health and wellness trends, including unique foods and diets, specialized supplements, creative habitats and more For more information, visit www.SUPERZOO.org Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

September 11, 2023 02:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Minuteman Press Franchise Owner Mark Barnes Shares Keys to Tripling Sales & Growing Into Million-Dollar Business in Bakersfield, CA

Minuteman Press International Inc.

In the three and a half years since Mark Barnes purchased the Minuteman Press franchise in Bakersfield, CA located at 4500 Easton Drive, he has more than tripled his sales. Mark shares, “Before the acquisition in December of 2019, the prior year’s sales totaled just under $500,000. Our current 12-month sales (as of August of 2023) is just over $1.75 million.” In 2023, Mark became one of the newest members of the Minuteman Press International President’s Club for top performers (based on 2022 yearly sales). Mark shares his keys to growing the business as well as his journey to Minuteman Press in Bakersfield. He also gives his thoughts on the printing industry today, what it’s like owning a business in Bakersfield, the ongoing franchise support he’s received from Minuteman Press, and more. What does it mean to you to be a member of the Minuteman Press President’s Club? Mark Barnes: “Making the President’s Club has always been a goal from the very beginning! We knew it wouldn’t be easy and it would take a lot of hard work and a little time, but we knew with the right team, and the right approach, it was only a matter of time before we got it. 3 years in, and we made it!” What are the 3 biggest keys to your sales growth and success? Mark Barnes: “Our sales growth success has been through a variety of factors. I feel like we have taken an ‘all of the above’ approach. We incrementally increased our ad spend, and tested and adjusted as necessary We took a focused approach on our networking opportunities We added product lines and revenue streams to our offering mix, and we have looked for strategic partnerships that made sense We were already doing wholesale print for what you might consider our competitors, but we are equipped and positioned to do more, better, with our facility and equipment mix, so when we realized there was some untapped potential to expand on that, we actively pursued those opportunities as well. If we don’t get the account directly, due to, perhaps, a relationship, we will look to get them indirectly through wholesaling to our competition that can’t offer what we can.” What are your high-demand products and key growth areas? Mark Barnes: “We have many high-demand products and services. Our high growth areas have been direct mail marketing and compliance mailings, programs for events, signs, branded apparel, and “operational” things like blueprints. Promotional items have also played a large role.” Why do you think printing remains so vital to businesses today? Mark Barnes: “Print remains vital because it drives behavior. Think about your daily life, do you stand in the wine aisle and judge a wine by its label when looking for a decent wine? Imagine if all of those labels were blank and you just had rows of bottles, how would you ‘know’ what to choose? You wouldn’t. If this is you, you are relying on print to drive your behavior. Maybe you casually look at a speed limit sign to adjust your driving speed, those are printed folks, and you have just relied on print to change your behavior in that moment. Print is ubiquitous and has been around all of us our entire lives; for that reason, print has an inherent trust built in because we rely on it day in and day out, and we don’t even realize it. I have had people ask me if print was dying and I asked, ‘Why because the credit card companies want you to go ‘green’ by paying your bills online?’ They certainly do this, but they turn around and send you all of these offers for new credit cards via direct mail, because they know direct mail works to drive revenues and new acquisitions. Need more proof that print is here to stay? Just ask the savvy marketers that rely on us for their campaigns, and even their clients’ campaigns. Spend a day in our office and you will see how high emotions can run when a marketer has waited until the last minute for something, or when blueprints are needed to submit plans by a deadline, and then ask yourself why these people bring us food and snacks as a way of saying thank you. How many businesses have their clients bringing them food? Print is vital – and everyone from marketers to admins that need to make sure they have the things they need for their team – understands this.” How would you best describe your business community in Bakersfield? Mark Barnes: “I would put our business community up against any in the nation. We have a robust and growing business community in both our local Bakersfield area and our county as a whole. In fact, this entire region is that way. The San Joaquin Valley where we are located feeds the world when it comes to many fruits and vegetables and nuts. The scale of the reach of businesses here blows my mind. Maybe more importantly, our business community is active and involved, supports one another, and I am honored to have developed personal relationships with so many of the business owners and leaders here. Many have become friends, and even mentors (whether they realize it or not).” What was your previous background and why did you choose Minuteman Press? Mark Barnes: “I was in the corporate world in the oil and gas industry for nearly 15 years. Prior to acquiring Minuteman Press, I was the Regional Manager for an oil and gas manufacturer and supplier of key products for the industry. I was tasked with leading a turnaround effort in that role where the company was looking to regain market share. I earned the trust of the tenured staff, got some wins early, and then we added a completely new product line that I had background with from a previous career. After getting market share with that product line, we then identified other locations to expand. We opened a new location a few hours away, secured the business we were going after there, and began due diligence on the next location. I was traveling back and forth to our manufacturing facility in Texas and learned a ton about manufacturing processes in general, being lean, and I felt like there was a lot of overlap with Minuteman Press. Minuteman Press is a manufacturer and I felt like there were a lot of similarities – the processes, the tenured staff in place, the reputation and book of business in place, and I felt like Minuteman Press was simply producing ‘a different widget’ and that the transition would be relatively smooth as a result. Of course, we didn’t account for a global pandemic three months after taking over, supply chain issues, employee shortages, and those things. With that said, because of my corporate experience and with the support of Minuteman Press, we were well-equipped to manage through these challenges when they did come up. As you can see, we managed through them relatively successfully. We continue to learn and improve as we go. That’s what it’s all about, continuous improvement.” What has the franchise support from Minuteman Press been like for you? Mark Barnes: “The support from Minuteman Press has been great. Obviously, something like the pandemic presented many challenges for all businesses, but being new in business for myself, the support we received was critical. They rolled out new programs; they provided marketing support and operational support when we needed it; and my favorite part has been the best practice training we continue to get regionally. Every 3-6 months, we have the 54 owners in my region get together and exchange best practices on just about everything from marketing, operations, product/service mix, staffing, accounting, etc. This has been vital as the different owners have their own experiences and insights that we get to learn from. They are also at different locations in the region so we get to see how they have their operation set up and it just goes a long way with exposure to new ideas or confirming what we are already doing. The President’s Club meeting was also important because those owners were top performers and the advice and conversations there, along with the new relationships established, have elevated us even further.” What are the biggest personal and professional rewards of owning your business? Mark Barnes: “The biggest personal reward of owning my own business is simply fulfilling the long-standing desire to own my own business. I’ve always been entrepreneurial and I feel so good every single day that I am in control of my own destiny. I love that I’m able to help provide for staff that can then provide for their families, and that we are able to help our business partners provide for their families (because at the end of the day we are helping businesses grow or become more efficient, and that improves their own lives by extension). Even when things are hard or stressful, that feeling overrides all of that for me, and I feel lucky. Professionally, I’m just proud to have developed great new friendships and mentorships in the business community here. I’ve been able to give back in various ways; I’m on the board of a non-profit, I’m on the board of the Bakersfield Rotary, and these have led to wonderful opportunities to give back but also to learn from such strong and high level leaders; I’m just very fortunate.” What are 1 or 2 key pieces of advice would you give to other owners? Mark Barnes: “My biggest piece of advice for other Minuteman Press owners is to think big. We look at ourselves as commercial printers, marketers and designers. We are not a quick copy model; we are a commercial level organization helping other organizations achieve their business goals by being a trusted and valued partner of theirs. We look to align ourselves with organizations as partners – the Robin to their Batman – supporting them from recruiting employees and marketing their value propositions in the marketplace to supporting their operations internally with critical items used in the day-to-day operation of the enterprise. We don’t need the limelight; we just aim to add value to the full life cycle of a given day in their operation. As our clients succeed, we will succeed… so we have a vested interest in their success and making sure we are acting as a good partner in every way we can.” Minuteman Press in Bakersfield is located at 4500 Easton Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93309. For more information, visit their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/ca/bakersfield/ Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and read Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

September 08, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Baseball Hall of Famer John Smoltz Leads Latest List of Retired MLB Stars to Sign with PBX Pickleball

PBX Pickleball

PBX Pickleball, the organization that unites retired professional athletes with the pickleball community, has signed Baseball Hall of Famer John Smoltz, fellow Cy Young Award Winner and 3x All-Star Eric Gangé, World Series Champ and All-Star Game MVP J.D. Drew, 4x All-Star Russell Martin, 3x All-Star Jason Kendall, 2x All-Star Brian Roberts, 2x All-Star and World Series Champ Derrek Lee, 2x All-Star Jeff Cirillo, 4x Gold Glover and veteran MLB manager Mike Matheny, All-Star Russ Ortiz, and former MLB Manager of the Year Clint Hurdle as the latest PBX Pros. Smoltz, Gagné, Drew, Martin, Kendall, Roberts, Lee, Cirillo, Matheny, Ortiz, and Hurdle join a list of accomplished retired professional athletes who will participate in the PBX Tour, PBX Pro-Ams, PBX Dream Weekends, and PBX Corporate Experiences starting later this year. In the PBX Tour, the PBX Pros will represent their respective sports in tournaments for live audiences across the country. In the PBX Pro-Ams, Dream Weekends, and Corporate Experiences, amateur pickleball players will have the opportunity to take the pickleball court with the retired stars from baseball, hockey, football, basketball, and other sports. Advisors for PBX Pickleball include 3x MLB All-Star Kevin Youkilis, 4x World Series Champ Tino Martinez, 2x MLB All-Star Brad Penny, 18-year MLB veteran Kent Mercker, NHL Player, Coach, GM and Team President Paul Holmgren, 4x Stanley Cup Champ Kris Draper, and NFL Pro Bowler and Super Bowl Champ Golden Tate. The PBX advisors will also take to the pickleball courts as PBX Pros. PBX Pickleball also signed 7x All-Star and World Series Champion Matt Holliday, 4x All-Star and 2x World Series Champion Mike Lowell, 3x All-Star, 2x World Series Champion, and World Series MVP Josh Beckett, 2x All-Star and 2x World Series Champion Jeff Conine, pitcher Josh Roenicke, and catcher Toby Hall. Martinez, Drew, Roberts, Conine, Penny, Mercker, Roenicke, and Hall were all part of the PBX Training Camp that took place at The Pickleball Club in Sarasota, FL, in August. It also included retired players from the NFL, NHL, and Olympians. As part of its outreach to athletes across major American sports, PBX Pickleball partnered with the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA) and the NHL Alumni Association. About PBX Pickleball PBX Pickleball creates memorable experiences by uniting well-known retired professional athletes with amateur pickleball players and fans. Established in 2023, PBX Pickleball consists of four experiences: the PBX Tour, PBX Pro-Ams, PBX Dream Weekends, and PBX Corporate Experiences. The company is part of The Sports Facilities Companies (SFC), the nation’s leading resource for the management and development of sports, recreation, wellness, and events facilities. To learn more about PBX Pickleball, go to https://pbxpickleball.com or follow @pbxpickleball on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. About The Sports Facilities Companies The Sports Facilities Companies (SFC) are the nation’s leading resources for the management and development of sports, recreation, wellness, and events facilities. As a turn-key solution for community leaders and developers alike, SFC services span the gamut of sports and recreation needs from sports tourism & recreation master planning, program planning, and feasibility through professional facility management services. Our 45+ managed venues and 2000+ team members, represented by the SF Network, welcome more than 25 million guest visits and produce over $300 million in economic impact each year. To learn more, please visit SportsFacilities.com and theSFnetwork.com. Contact Details Eric Nemeth nemeth@ericpr.com Company Website https://www.pbxpickleball.com/

September 08, 2023 07:45 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Uno Pizzeria and Grill Initiates Fundraiser for Maui Relief Effort

UNO Pizzeria & Grill

Restaurant chain Uno Pizzeria and Grill, known as the birthplace of Deep Dish pizza, has launched a fundraiser that will benefit the Maui Strong fund. The pizza pioneer has collaborated with Anheuser Busch brand Kona Brewing to make a donation to the cause with a purchase of Kona Big Wave Golden Ale from Sept. 11th through 17th. An in-restaurant purchase of a Kona Big Wave during that period will trigger a 20% donation of the total guest check going to this fundraiser. The program will be run through most of the company’s 70 locations, which are a combination of franchise and company-owned restaurants. The Support for Maui fundraiser, known at Unos as a ‘DoughRaiser’, is an effort that is near and dear to Uno’s CEO Erik Frederick. Frederick was stationed on Pearl Harbor during his time serving in the United States Navy. “The Aloha Spirit becomes part of anyone who lives in Hawaii and leaves an indelible mark on their life and soul. I even met my wife in Hawaii, so it has always been a meaningful part of my life”. Frederick continued “Upon hearing of the tragic wildfires in Maui, I felt very strongly that we as a brand could contribute to the fundraising efforts as the recovery process will last for many years. We found a real partner in Anheuser Busch and their brand Kona Brewing whose roots are in Hawaii. It was just a natural partnership and quite frankly the right thing to do.” “This DoughRaiser allows guests of Uno Pizzeria and Grill to contribute in their own small way” stated Uno’s Director of Marketing, Chris Dellamarggio. “People always want to support when there are worthy causes, but may not know how get involved. Allowing them to contribute as part of their everyday activities gives them an easy way to give to the cause. When those contributions are pooled together across a brand like Uno’s, they can add up to a large donation.” The Maui Strong Fund is a new fund that has been set up by the well-regarded Hawai’i Community Foundation that works to get funds directly to organizations that need funding no matter their size as part of their regular every day mission. The Maui Strong Fund has been set up get immediate relief to multiple organizations that need the funds to take action now. Information about the foundation and the Maui Strong Fund can be found at hawaiicommunityfoundation.org. About UNO Pizzeria & Grill Based in Boston, Massachusetts, Uno Restaurant Holdings Corporation includes approximately 80 company-owned and franchised UNO Pizzeria & Grill restaurants located in 18 states, and the District of Columbia, India, and Saudi Arabia. UNO is all about connecting people over pizza – from its famous Chicago Deep Dish, which UNO invented in 1943, to its Chicago Thin Crust, to its gluten-free and vegan pizzas. The Company also operates Uno Foods, a consumer packaged-foods business which supplies supermarkets, airlines, movie theaters, hotels, airports, travel plazas, and schools, with both frozen and refrigerated UNO branded products. For more information, visit www.unos.com. Contact Details Chris Dellamarggio +1 339-613-7641 cdellamarggio@unos.com Company Website https://www.unos.com/

September 06, 2023 03:31 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Uno Pizzeria and Grill Initiates Fundraiser for Maui Relief Effort