Tag Archives: Day

Café Coffee Day holds special contest for its Silent Brew Masters

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To commemorate the occasion of World Disability Day, Café Coffee Day, India’s premier and largest chain of coffee cafés today hosted a special in-house coffee making competition called “Coffee Alchemist” for its Silent Brew Masters in the city today. The objective of the competition is to let give these ‘differently enabled’ Silent Brew Masters a unique platform to stretch their creativity and showcase their talent by placing them in a friendly competitive environment.

The “Coffee Alchemist” saw 7 Silent Brew Masters from Hyderabad show their skills in making various coffee beverages and present them as they would to café customers. Prizes were given for various criteria, and to further motivate and cheer them, Café Coffee Day also invited the parents of the Brew Masters to witness the event.

A total of seven deaf and dumb ‘Silent Brew Masters’ from Hyderabad participated in the contest. A two-member Judges panel comprising of Mr. Chandra Shekhar, F&B Manager – Cafe Coffee Day and Mr. Suraj Nair, Area Manager (Operations) – Cafe Coffee Day judged the winners. The participants showcased their skills in making coffee beverages and also their creativity by creating their own beverage concoctions. Ms. Kola Manjula was adjudged the winner; she created ‘Banana & Caramel on the rocks’ beverage. The second prize was won by Mr. Chandraiah, who made ‘Spicy Choco’ and Mr. Mahesh stood third with ‘Atoqauto,’ a coffee and ice-cream drink. The winners were presented with Prizes and certificates.

Café Coffee Day employs about 75 Silent Brew Masters in cities like Bangalore , Chennai, Hyderabad , Kolkata, Pune, Mumbai, Delhi . Like all other Café Coffee Day Brew Masters, they go through a thorough induction program on how to make classic Café Coffee Day Coffees, beverages and food. The programs are designed to help them use their strong sense of smell , vision and taste very effectively.

Says Shyamala Deshpande, President, HR & Training, “What truly sets the Silent Brew Masters apart is that they value the position that they have been given and do not take things for granted. These employees are seen specializing is this field because they have shown aptitude for ‘brewing’ and not because they can’t work in the direct servicing section. They have a heightened sense of smell , taste and vision and hence deliver the most visually appealing presentation of our coffees. They are excellent quality controllers who can ensure that coffees served are excellent in every way.”

Adds Alok Gupta, Director, Café Coffee Day, “The Silent Brew Master is an integral part of the café environment and we value their talent immensely. We treat them like all other staff members and want to give them several opportunities to hone their skills which is why we have instituted a contest like the Coffee Alchemist. Silent Brew Masters are also very good team players and they quickly adapt and communicate with the staff through sign language. We are happy to see the enthusiasm with which they contribute to bring satisfaction to our customers with their coffee making skills.”

Anvil Knitwear Named Official T-Shirt And Knitwear Partner of Earth Day Network

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Earth Day Network was founded by the organizers of the first Earth Day in 1970 to promote environmental citizenship. Earth Day Network now encompasses more than 17,000 partners and organizations in 174 countries, and more than 1 billion people participate in Earth Day activities.

Providing eco-friendly apparel is essential for our organization and for people who believe in Earth Day and the issues we stand for, said Kathleen Rogers, President of the Earth Day Network. Anvils commitment to eco-friendly products and business practices that are both environmentally and socially responsible speaks directly to our mission and to our supporters.

As Earth Day Networks t-shirt and knitwear partner, Anvil, a leader in eco-friendly apparel and the worlds sixth largest purchaser of organic cotton, will design and develop knitwear made from organic, recycled, transitional and RPET fibers for the organizations apparel line. The line will be sold online and through retailers as early as the 2009 holiday season. The line will also be made available directly to consumers at all of Earth Day Networks events, including Earth Day on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the global Earth Day 40th anniversary in April 2010, and celebrations in 40 cities around the world to commemorate Earth Day Networks 40th year milestone.

Anvil is also working with Earth Day Network to develop an exclusive new product line for The Green Generation TM campaign, which mobilizes people worldwide to find solutions to urgent national and international issues, such as climate change and the global water crisis. The Green Generation TM line will feature AnvilSustainable™, AnvilOrganic° and AnvilRecycled° apparel, which will be available online as well as at 2010 Earth Day Network events at the beginning of 2010.

Anvil shares Earth Day Networks mission to create a more sustainable future for our planet, said Anthony Corsano, Chief Executive Officer of Anvil Knitwear. The Green Generation™ is a movement that we believe spans all generations, all countries and all people. The Green Generation™ apparel line will feature eco issues, solutions and events.

About Anvil Knitwear

Anvil Knitwear, Inc., a socially and environmentally responsible manufacturer of sportswear and accessories, is a leader in the sustainable apparel industry with its AnvilOrganic°, AnvilRecycled™ and AnvilSustainable™ brands. Anvil was recently ranked the worlds sixth-largest organic program and the largest domestic purchaser of U.S.-grown certified organic cotton. Anvil offers 16 affordable eco styles made from a variety of fibers such as certified organic cotton, transitional cotton, recycled cotton, and recycled PET bottles and blends, as well as more than 90 traditional styles. Anvil recently launched TrackMyT.com, an interactive Web site that chronicles and brings to life the complete journey and environmental impact of a t-shirt, from cotton-seed to consumer.

For more information, please visit www.anvilknitwear.com and www.anvilcsr.com.

About Earth Day Network

Earth Day Network was founded on the premise that all people, regardless of race, gender, income, or geography, have a moral right to a healthy, sustainable environment. Earth Day Networks mission is to broaden and diversify the environmental movement worldwide, and to mobilize it as the most effective vehicle for promoting a healthy, sustainable environment. They pursue this mission through a combination of education, public policy, and consumer activism campaigns. Earth Day Networks campaign and programs are predicated on the belief that an educated, energized population will take action to secure a healthy future for itself and its children. Earth Day Network grew out of the original Earth Day in 1970 to promote environmental citizenship. Earth Day Network now encompasses more than 17,000 partners and organizations in 180 countries, and more than 1 billion people participate in Earth Day activities globally making it the largest secular civic event in the world.

For more information, please visit http://www.earthday.net/.

Allstate to Once Again Encourage Volunteerism on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

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Allstate honoring four ’Heroes’ who best represent the ideals of Dr. King through giving back in their communities.
Allstate Insurance Company today announced it is once again encouraging volunteerism on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, to be observed in cities across the country on January 18, 2010. As part of the company’s recognition of Dr. King’s vision and its own commitment to volunteerism, Allstate is also honoring four African-American volunteers who generously serve their communities through extensive volunteer efforts and continuously make a positive impact in their neighborhoods.
Lucy Hall-Gainer from Atlanta, Xavier Jefferies from Charlotte, N.C., Marquis Smith from Washington, D.C., and Deanna Woods from Chicago have been designated as the inaugural Allstate Give Back Day Heroes. Each has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to making positive contributions in their communities through volunteering their time and effort to important causes.
Allstate Give Back Day reinforces the importance of giving back to your community and this year we’re excited to recognize four special individuals who demonstrate a commitment to volunteerism and giving back just as Martin Luther King, Jr. did said Anise Wiley-Little, assistant vice president and chief diversity officer for Allstate. We hope their stories inspire people to put their ’good hands’ to good work in their own neighborhoods, not just on Give Back Day but throughout the year
As part of their recognition, each Hero will attend the King Center’s Salute to Greatness Awards Banquet in Atlanta on January 16, 2010 alongside Allstate chairman, president and chief executive officer, Tom Wilson. Allstate will be presented with the Salute to Greatness Award on behalf of the company’s ongoing dedication to the principles and philosophy of Dr. King during the reception. Each Hero will participate in an Allstate volunteer event in their hometown alongside Allstate employees and local citizens on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
Allstate is encouraging citizens interested in participating in Give Back Day on January 18, 2010 to visit BeyondFebruary.com to find volunteer opportunities in their communities. This interactive Web site links to VolunteerMatch, an online search engine that promotes volunteerism and civic engagement by matching volunteers with charitable organizations and non-profits. VolunteerMatch contains thousands of volunteer opportunities in communities all across the country. Additionally, visitors to the Web site can view profiles of the four Give Back Day Heroes and learn about their community involvement through a series of video interviews and blog posts.
Allstate is continuing to collaborate with the King Center in Atlanta to celebrate its second annual Allstate Give Back Day initiative by hosting a volunteer rally after the annual commemorative service honoring Dr. King at Ebenezer Baptist Church on the morning of January 18, 2010. To reinforce the company’s commitment to giving back, Allstate also is mobilizing Give Back Day events in markets across the country, to reinforce the dedication that Dr. King had to giving back to the community with a wide range of projects.
Allstate has truly stepped up by creating Give Back Day, an outstanding volunteer initiative that embodies the spirit of my father and everything he fought for said Bernice King, Dr. King’s youngest daughter. But an even greater tribute to my father’s legacy is evidenced by the people, like the Give Back Day Heroes, who demonstrate the commitment to serve their communities throughout the year, not just on MLK Day
More about the 2010 Allstate Give Back Day Heroes:
Lucy Hall-Gainer – Atlanta, Ga.
For more than a decade, Lucy Hall-Gainer has assisted troubled women in Atlanta by providing them with a safe haven – the Mary Hall Freedom House (MHFH), named in memory of Hall- Gainer’s mother. As the organization’s CEO, she has helped more than 2,500 women beat addiction and become self-sufficient individuals. Hall-Gainer established MHFH with just $5,000, two apartments and two employees in 1996. Today, MHFH has over 50 apartments and 70 employees to accommodate distressed women and their children. At age six, Hall- Gainer watched her mother die of alcoholism, inspiring her life-long commitment to helping others. An addict herself for 10 years, Hall-Gainer sought help and guidance to eventually end her reliance on drugs and alcohol. With several years of experience working with nonprofits, Hall-Gainer is now living her dream of empowering women and their children to break the cycle of addiction, poverty and homelessness, offering that same helping hand with MHFH.
Xavier Jefferies – Charlotte, N.C.
At only 17 years of age, high school student Xavier Jefferies has done more for his community than most people do in a lifetime. Jefferies’ extensive volunteer efforts include donating his time to the local YMCA’s after-school daycare, where he tutors children in an effort to help them advance in both academics and athletics. He is the founder and president of the Kick Back Crew, a philanthropic youth group dedicated to beautifying Rockwell Park through a variety of community service initiatives. Jefferies spends his summers at the YMCA Blue Ridge Leaders’ School training teens to become leaders in physical education and annually attends the Young Black Men’s conference with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life in his community. Recognized in 2009 by The Charlotte Observer for his outstanding commitment to his Rockwell Park neighborhood, Jefferies was also honored with the 2009 Charlotte Neighborhood Youth Award. It was the second consecutive year he received the award.
Marquis Smith – Washington, D.C.
All his life, Marquis Smith has embraced the need for people to give back to their communities, and he took his mission of service one step further when he joined the Army. Upon his return from a three-year tour of duty, Smith compiled more than 600 hours of volunteerism as an AmeriCorps Jumpstart corps member. Today, he continues his community outreach as a student at Howard University. An education major, Smith is involved with Library Makeover an organization that helps renovate and build libraries in deprived neighborhoods. Smith also interns at the Heart of America Foundation promoting literacy and volunteerism. In his free time, Smith lends a hand to Washington, D.C.’s Sunday Suppers program where he helps prepare and serve more than 200 meals for the homeless on a bi-weekly basis. In 2006, shortly after Hurricane Katrina, Smith organized a clothing drive for the homeless in his former hometown of Baton Rouge, La., and collected over 3,500 items in just one month. Smith later organized a toy drive for low-income families in the city, donating more than 1,300 new toys to Toys 4 Tots, local churches and families.
Deanna Woods – Chicago, Ill.
In March 2006, Deanna Woods’ niece, Seritha White, 10, was killed by a stray bullet in her West Englewood, Ill., home as her family was celebrating a birthday party. It was this horrific tragedy that launched Woods into a life of giving back to her community. The incident inspired Woods to create the 68th and Marshfield Block Club and become an ambassador for Teamwork Englewood, an organization founded to promote community development. Along with more than 50 other members living near the same city block in Englewood, Woods, who serves as club president, challenges community issues such as drug dealing and gun violence. Woods is part of community policing with a mission to negotiate with gang members that they stay out of certain areas. Known in her neighborhood as the aunt of Englewood angel Seritha White, she has become a surrogate mother to the children of West Englewood who are looking for a trusted friend. With a focus on children’s safety and growth, Woods’ community work has been recognized by Local Initiatives Support Corporation /Chicago when it named her one of 25 community heroes in 2006.

Source: WEBWIRE

Amdocs Employees Volunteer to Support Children around the World

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Amdocs marks United Nations’ Universal Children’s Day with activities to support more than 3,500 children across four continents; company launches global donation drive for UNICEF

November 26, 2009 /India PRwire/ — Amdocs, the leading provider of customer experience systems, continues to support the Universal Children’s Day celebrated on November 20. Amdocs has launched several volunteering activities globally to support more than 3,500 children in the communities where Amdocs’ employees live and work. In addition, Amdocs has launched a global employee donation drive for UNICEF, the world’s leading agency for children’s rights, survival, development and protection.

Activities organized by Amdocs’ employees to mark the Universal Children’s Day include:

  • In Pune, India, Amdocs organized a full day event, including games, a magic show and a painting competition for both employees’ children and 125 children from local institutions;
  • Amdocs’ Cyprus branch hosted 86 elementary school children to communicate the significance and the impact of Universal Children’s Day, as well as to enjoy a show performed by Amdocs employees;
  • In the U.S, Amdocs employees will prepare and celebrate a Thanksgiving meal with children at a shelter in Denver, Colorado. Amdocs will also host a movie day at a children’s home in Sacramento, California;
  • In Israel, employees will accompany more than 550 children from local boarding schools on an ecological day trip to a unique national park, which brings ancient landscapes to life.

This is the second year that Amdocs is conducting a donation drive for UNICEF in conjunction with the Universal Children’s Day. Last year, Amdocs’ donation helped UNICEF improve the lives of children in Southern Sudan, including the demobilization of more than 80 child soldiers, and the provision of psycho-social support, lifeskills and healthcare education to more than 4,000 children.

These initiatives are part of Amdocs’ ongoing global community relations program which focuses on children at risk, supporting their well-being and providing them with educational opportunities. Hundreds of Amdocs employees invest their time by volunteering at local community partners, comprised mainly of institutions for children at risk. Amdocs also donates funds to these organizations.

Source: Press release distribution via India PRwire

Notes to Editor

About Universal Children’s Day

Universal Children’s Day was established by the United Nations in 1954 and is observed as a day of worldwide activity devoted to promoting the ideals and objectives of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the welfare of the children of the world.

About UNICEF

UNICEF has been the world’s leading agency for protecting children since 1946, working in over 150 countries to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for poor countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

About Amdocs

Amdocs is the market leader in customer experience systems innovation, enabling world-leading service providers to deliver an integrated, innovative and intentional customer experienceTM at every point of service. Amdocs provides solutions that deliver customer experience excellence, combining the software, services and expertise to help its customers execute their strategies and achieve service, operational and financial excellence. A global company with revenue of $2.86 billion in fiscal 2009, Amdocs has approximately 17,000 employees and serves customers in more than 60 countries around the world. For more information, visit Amdocs at www.amdocs.com.

Amdocs Forward-Looking Statement

This press release includes information that constitutes forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements about Amdocs’ growth and business results in future quarters. Although we believe the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be obtained or that any deviations will not be material. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ from those anticipated. These risks include, but are not limited to, the effects of general economic conditions, Amdocs’ ability to grow in the business segments it serves, adverse effects of market competition, rapid technological shifts that may render the Company’s products and services obsolete, potential loss of a major customer, our ability to develop long-term relationships with our customers, and risks associated with operating businesses in the international market. Amdocs may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, however the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These and other risks are discussed at greater length in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008, filed on December 8, 2008, and in our quarterly 6-K furnished on February 9, May 12, and August 10, 2009.

For more information, please contact:
Manjula Verma (Marketing & Internal Communications) (L) +91.20. 40154677, (M) +91.9552543872, (F) +91.20.26824929

Hong Kong: SFST meets President of European Central Bank in Frankfurt (with photos)

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On the second day of his visit to Germany, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Professor K C Chan, today (Frankfurt time, November 16) attended a welcoming lunch in Frankfurt hosted by the President of European Central Bank, Mr Jean-Claude Trichet, where they exchanged views on recent financial market reforms.

During the day, Professor Chan also had a range of meetings with key finance executives and leaders of a chamber of commerce. Professor Chan started the day by calling on the Managing Director of the German Securities Institute, Professor Rudiger von Rosen.

In the afternoon, he called on the Chief Executive Officer of Deutsche Bank, Dr Josef Ackermann. Professor Chan then had meetings with the Board of Directors of the Association of German Banks and the Chamber of Commerce Frankfurt. At the meetings, Professor Chan briefed guests on how Hong Kong steered through the financial crisis and highlighted to them the business opportunities in Hong Kong.

Tomorrow (Tuesday), Professor Chan will address the Euro Finance Week Lead Conference on Restructuring the Global Financial Architecture – The Road Ahead.

Flowers to Tribute Fallen Soldiers at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery

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This Veterans Day, November 11th, a collaboration of local organizations will unite to honor roughly 20,000 veterans and their families at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery (ALNC). With volunteers estimated in the hundreds, every grave-site will be decorated with a bouquet of flowers in admiration of the sacrifices made by the members of our Armed Forces.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery and the 200th birthday of America’s 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. In honor of this, Flowers for Heroes has teamed up other organizations including the Illinois Motorcycle Freedom Run to make this Veterans Day something to remember.
A special Gold Star Family hour will take place at 8:00am where the families of those buried at ALNC will be presented special bouquets they can place on the resting place of their loved ones. Following the placing of the bouquets, there will be a special Veterans Day Ceremony featuring an aircraft fly-over and special guests including IL Gov. Pat Quinn.
The success of this event rests in the hands of the people and businesses in our community. Supporters can go to www.flowersforheroes.org and sponsor a patriotic bouquet in the name someone who is currently serving or has previously served in our nation’s Armed Forces. For $4, a bouquet of flowers will be placed on the resting place of another great American Hero at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery.
“This is a very special day for every American as we honor our most patriotic citizens,” said Jerry Cizek, the Director of Operations at Flowers for Heroes. “We are thrilled to be able to bring together numerous military and veteran organizations at this special celebration for our Veterans.”
Flowers for Heroes is a nonprofit organization that has been working on these types of events all across the nation. At the group’s most recent event this past Independence Day, over 5,000 bouquets were placed at Gettysburg National Cemetery.
For additional information about the Flowers for Heroes organization, upcoming events, or ways to become involved, contact Jerry Cizek at (877) 923-2769 or visit www.flowersforheroes.org.
About Flowers for Heroes
Flowers for Heroes is a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring our fallen soldiers and providing assistance to the families left behind. Through various fund-raising events, donations, and sponsors; Flowers for Heroes will be able to place bouquets of flowers on every grave of every soldier at various military cemeteries around the world.
Proceeds will support our nation’s GOLD STAR FAMILIES. These families have given the ultimate sacrifice: a husband, a wife, a father, a mother, a son, a daughter, a grandfather, a grandmother. These are the families that have received the GOLD STAR.

Source: WEBWIRE

Ranbir Kapoor, Bipasha Basu, Priyanka Chopra, Shahid Kapoor, Ajay Devgn, Fardeen Khan, Mugdha Godse Chat live on mid-day.com

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MiD DAY Website focuses on High Engagement Quotient for the Young Urban Mobile Professionals across India

November 9, 2009 /India PRwire/ — India’s leading Afternooner, MiD DAY has clearly decided to focus on digital in a big way. A mega 360 degree campaign (Print, Radio, Digital, Outdoor & OOH) was launched in Oct 09, to add to the visibility of the site.

The company has also adopted a unique property to gain popularity and numbers for its website – “Live Chats with Celebs on mid-day.com”. So far, the website has already conducted Live Chats with bollywood celebrities like Ranbir Kapoor, Bipasha Basu, Priyanka Chopra, Shahid Kapoor, Ajay Devgn, Fardeen Khan & Mugda Godse. With many more celebrity chats on the anvil, it truly demonstrates the strong bond that the bollywood fraternity & MiD DAY share.

This high-engagement activity not only helps mid-day.com to connect more strongly with its users but also establishes its positioning of, “Make Work Fun. Take an Entertaining Newsbreak” amongst the minds of its users. This activity has also become a regular revenue generating model for mid-day.com.

In the recent past mid-day.com has also organised Live Chats with Experts such as the one with Dr Jalil Parker of Lilavati Hospital. This chat was primarily organised to break and clear all myths about Swine Flu. This initiative on part of mid-day.com helped clear many doubts and was very well received amongst its audience. Live Chats with Experts will become an on-going property as expert chats with Doctors, Lawyers, Fashion Designers, Stylists & Others are being scheduled

The famous relationship expert and agony aunt of India “Dear Diana” too chats live on mid-day.com every Monday to Friday at 4 pm.

Live Chat with Celebs on mid-day.com, is only a lead strategy to get people to log-onto the website. Once there, MiD DAY Quick Fun Section promises to keep the webbers entertained and hooked-on. This section includes Fun Online Games, Radio One’s Ghanta Singh pranks, Horoscopes, MiD DAY Mates, Crosswords and much more.

Bollywood and Hollywood News & Gossip will continue to entertain and engage these young working professionals as usual.

Says Manajit Ghoshal, MD & CEO MiD DAY Infomedia Limited “MiD DAY’s brand promise is to inform and entertain young professionals through the day. The internet platform today is the preferred medium of choice of these ‘Pro’s on the Go’. The idea behind such an engagement activity is to introduce these professionals to the ‘thrilling’ world of mid-day.com.”

He adds “All of us want to have a personal interaction with Stars. With meets & greets organised by various brands, there is very little or no interaction possible. Live Chat with Celebs bridges the gap for MiD DAY’s readers and webbers to connect and chat with their favourite stars”

Says Nirvan Biswas, Digital Business Head, MiD DAY Infomedia Limited “MiD DAY as a brand is very well known to deliver entertaining and fun news breaks throughout the day. Bollywood fraternity & MiD DAY have a strong partnership going and this is evident by joint efforts on some key path breaking innovations & on-ground solutions in the recent past. As it is logical for any company to play on its strength, we are no different!”

In keeping with its high spice quotient, mid-day.com promises to launch many more exciting and sizzling properties in the near future.

Source: Press release distribution via India PRwire

Notes to Editor

About MiD DAY:

MiD DAY is the flagship brand of MiD DAY Multimedia Ltd., a company listed on the stock exchange. India’s No.1 afternooner and the only one of its kind, MiD DAY has been the quintessential mid-work break the YUMPI* takes in the middle of the day.

The company has an established presence in the multimedia space, with its web version, www.mid-day.com with presently over 10 million page views per month as well as MiD DAY news feeds on cell phones which have over 2 lakh subscribers across the country. These initiatives ensure that the YUMPI has access to the MiD DAY experience at anytime during the day and at anyplace as well.

Over the last couple of years, the newspaper has been on a mission to up its engagement quotient with the YUMPI. Whether it is local news, career guidance, dream homes, a look at what’s on in the city or tips on style at work, MiD DAY‘s sections have it all, alongside staple news and amusers like comics and crosswords, all presented in a YUMPI friendly way to include a colour coded navigation system, lots of visuals, and an entertaining tone in reporting.

To add to the dynamic product delivery through content, MiD DAY has also been creating a unique experience for its readers and clients through globally awarded marketing initiatives. The Impact Covers and promotional activities like the MiD DAY Bollywood Lunch Contest, MiD DAY Happy Hours @ Work, MiD DAY Media Nights and the MiD DAY Corporate Cricket League have won top honours across International Award functions such as INMA, IFRA Cross Media Awards & Asia Multimedia Publishing Awards.

MiD DAY is available in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Pune

*YUMPI – Young Urban Mobile Professionals across India

For more information, please contact:

  • Mohit Sainani
  • Sr. manager Marketing

‘I Am An American: The Making of An Anthem’ DVD/CD to Be Released in Honor of Veterans Day by Legendary ‘Philadelphia Sound’ Pioneer Kenny Gamble and Philadelphia International Records

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In honor and loving support of our nation’s veterans, legendary music
pioneer and co-creator of ‘The Philadelphia Sound’ KENNY GAMBLE
is releasing a new DVD/CD commemorative package of his acclaimed new
symphonic ode to patriotism, ‘I Am An American,’ on Nov.
10, 2009 surrounding Veterans Day to help raise funds and awareness
for battling homelessness among veterans.
I Am An American: The Making of An
Anthem, a documentary revealing the Rock and Roll Hall of
Famer’s decades-long mission and behind-the-scenes work to ultimately
bring modern relevance to this traditional song through his lifelong
friend Patti LaBelle and the Temple University Symphony & Choir,
includes a CD featuring new edits of the extraordinary recording project
that has been a deeply personal labor of love and relentless commitment
from Mr. Gamble. His brother, Carl also served the country as a Vietnam
War veteran.
A portion of proceeds from sales of I
Am An American: The Making of An Anthem are being donated
to the Veterans Administration, to help raise money for homeless
veterans and awareness for this vital issue.
“In this time of many changes in the world,I decidedtonot only honor
my brother, a veteran himself, butto do something for all veterans as
well as America as a whole that would be extraordinary…make a
substantial difference and have a lasting impact,” says Gamble, the
multi-Grammy-winning producer-songwriter whose ‘message’
songs comprised most of his hundreds of classic hits with partner Leon
Huff such as ‘Love Train,’ ‘For the Love of Money’ and ‘Me
and Mrs. Jones.’ “For me, music is that catalyst.“
From Air America to Access Hollywood, ‘I Am An American’
has been hailed by media nationwide since its 2008 release. The
45-minute documentary follows Mr. Gamble through the recording process
at the Kimmel Center with the Temple University orchestra and choirs,
and goes behind the scenes into the legendary Philadelphia International
Records studio with the iconic Ms. LaBelle. A powerful segment of the
history of Father Divine and the Peace Mission Movement comes to life
with vintage footage from the 1960s. The film is interspersed with
interviews that speak to the meaning and inspiration behind this
project, and the tremendous honor that resulted from this unique
collaboration.
Gamble is indefinitely committed to addressing homeless veterans and
interacting to help impact and positively change the lives of these men
and women and their families who have served honorably in America’s
armed forces and are now down on their luck and desperately in need of
help. His goal is to bring a renewed sense of patriotism to this country
through ‘I Am An American’ and restore the public’s spirit during
these difficult times. Full of huge orchestral crescendos and Ms.
LaBelles powerful and soulful voice, ‘I Am An American’ has been
the soundtrack the past two years to the Independence Day Welcome
America! celebration on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in
Philadelphia, and at this year’s July 4th Americafest at the Rose
Bowl in Pasadena, CA, as well as inspiring its very own exhibit in
Atlanta’s National Museum of Patriotism in April.The film captures Mr.
Gamble and Ms. LaBelle being honored with The Patriotism Award for their
song — the highest honor bestowed by the museum – during the exhibit’s
unveiling in the spring.
Gamble envisions patriotic fireworks displays around the country to
follow suit, and marching bands nationwide to utilize the new
arrangement he is currently developing to adapt ‘I Am An American’
for live audiences everywhere. Next
week, ‘I Am An American’ will have an expanded presence in
Veterans Day parades around the country, including New York, Detroit and
San Diego. In New York, ‘I Am An American’ will be featured on a
Veterans Day Parade float, as well as the ‘Thank You for Serving’
Concert that day at the Fighting 69th
Armory, where the video will be shown to 3,000 returning troops from
Iraq and Afghanistan.
‘I Am An American’ may become one of our country’s great anthems
– musically waving our flag for all to hear. Gamble is encouraging
everyone to show their patriotism by logging onto the new website, www.iamanamerican.us,
which launches on Veterans Day.
I Am An American: The Making of An
Anthem, will be available on www.iamanamerican.us
and can be purchased now at www.gamble-huffmusic.com
and the National Patriotism Museum in Atlanta and in Philadelphia’s
primary souvenir stores – including National Constitution Center,
Independence Visitors Center and The Sound of Philadelphia Souvenir Shop.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT:
www.gamble-huffmusic.com

Source: Business Wire

New Law Allows No-Excuse Absentee Voting; Now It’s Even Easier to Vote in Illinois

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State lawmakers approved several election bills this spring to make it even easier to register and vote.

Building on the record turnout of people voting in person at Early Voting Centers without having to give a reason to vote early, lawmakers expanded the no-excuse principle to absentee voting by mail.

Beginning with the Feb. 2, 2010 statewide primary election, Illinois voters will be able to request and vote a mail-in absentee ballot without specifying a reason for the absence from the polling place on Election Day.

The new law, Public Act, 96-0553, allows eligible voters to apply for an absentee ballot in late December.

Grace Period Registration also has been extended an additional week. Under the terms of Public Act 96-0441, the grace period for registration extends until the seventh day before the election.

Thus, for the primary, eligible voters can register, or people already registered can change their address, at the office of the election authority until Tuesday, Jan. 26.

However, the law requires that people who register during the grace period and desire to vote in the primary – must vote at the same office or by mail at the discretion of the election authority. Those people are not allowed to vote at an Early Voting Center or at a polling place on Election Day.

The traditional deadline for registering for the primary is Jan. 5.

Public Act 96-0317 also adds identification that is acceptable for voter registration. A lease or contract for a residence is now an acceptable form of proof of a voters residence.

Also, a photo identification card issued by a university or college and mail addressed to the voter at the address of residence is acceptable proof.

Another new law, Public Act 96-0637, requires that permanent Early Voting Centers designated in certain municipalities and counties must remain open additional hours on holidays during the Early Voting period and on the final weekend of the Early Voting period.

When registering to vote in person, two forms of identification are required one must show the current address of the applicant.

The requirements to register to vote are: be a citizen of the United States; be at least 18 years old by Election Day; have been a resident of the precinct at least 30 days prior to Election Day.

Illinois residents now may check their registration online by going to elections.il.gov and clicking Voting and Elections and then clicking Am I Registered at the top of the page.

The Early Voting period for the primary runs from Monday Jan. 11 through Thursday Jan. 28. The specific hours of operation for the Early Voting Centers will be announced by the election authorities.

The State Board of Elections is an independent state agency charged with the responsibility of having general supervision over the administration of election laws of the State.

Elections are administered locally by the States 110 election authorities.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Daniel W. White, 312-814-6440&/

Source: Chicago Press Release

BankFive Celebrates the 10th Anniversary of Their Dartmouth, MA Location

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Dartmouth, MA – November, 2009 – BankFive, headquartered in Fall River, MA on Main Street, celebrated the 10-year anniversary of their Dartmouth, MA location on Faunce Corner Road on August 21st and 22nd of 2009.
Ten years ago, BankFive became part of the Dartmouth community by opening the doors to its branch at 136 Faunce Corner Road. To celebrate the anniversary, BankFive opened their doors wide once again and welcomed its neighbors to two Customer Loyalty Day Celebrations featuring refreshments, fun activities, and prize giveaways. Both events were open to the public.
The first Customer Loyalty Day Celebration featured a cake-cutting ceremony with Thomas F. Lyons, President and CEO of BankFive, and local dignitaries. Over 200 door prizes were awarded to customers during the day as well.
The second celebration was a Back-to-School theme where children and their parents enjoyed popcorn, played games, got temporary tattoos and face paintings, won back-to-school items, and entered to win a raffle. Nickels, the bank’s mascot, was also on hand to greet the children.
ABOUT BANKFIVE
Since 1855, BankFive has been serving the communities of the SouthCoast with a steadfast commitment to provide local individuals, families and businesses with outstanding products and services designed to meet their financial needs. BankFive has thirteen offices conveniently located throughout the SouthCoast, and can found online at www.bankfive.com
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Source: WEBWIRE

International Diabetes Federation Drives Global Action Ahead of World Diabetes Day-November 14

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November sees global celebrations to mark Diabetes Awareness Month

November 3, 2009 /India PRwire/ — In many countries, November is diabetes awareness month, with November 14 – World Diabetes Day – the most significant date on the diabetes calendar.

The need to increase diabetes awareness grows ever year with the increasing impact of the disease worldwide. The latest data published by IDF in the 4th Edition of the Diabetes Atlas, show that 285 million people worldwide now live with diabetes. IDF predicts that, the total number will exceed 435 million in 2030(i) if the current rate of growth continues unchecked.

Ahead of World Diabetes Day, IDF President Professor Jean Claude Mbanya called for increased health promotion and political action in the face of the epidemic.”Diabetes is claiming four million lives each year,” he said. “It is ravaging communities and threatening economies. We must improve care and stop the many millions at risk from developing the disease. With a growing cost of over 376 billion dollars a year, either we make healthy life choices available and affordable now, or pay billions more tomorrow.”

World Diabetes Day around the globe

Celebrated every year, World Diabetes Day is a campaign led by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and its more than 200 member associations in over 160 countries and territories. Created by IDF and the World Health Organization in 1991, World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations Day in 2007 thanks to a UN resolution that calls on all member states to organize events to mark the day.

This year sees the first of a five-year campaign that addresses the growing need for diabetes education and prevention programmes to tackle diabetes and its life-threatening complications. The World Diabetes Day campaign aims to establish access to diabetes education as a right for all people with diabetes, to promote greater awareness of the risk factors and warning signs of diabetes, and encourage best-practice sharing in diabetes prevention.

The International Diabetes Federation is calling on all countries to mark World Diabetes Day and increase diabetes awareness by lighting monuments around the world in blue – the colour of the blue circle, the global symbol for diabetes. More than 400 monuments and iconic buildings have already confirmed participation on November 14. They include: Table Mountain in South Africa, the London Eye in the United Kingdom, the Burj al Arab in the United Arab Emirates, Christ the Redeemer in Brazil, the Hofburg in Austria, the Alamo in the USA and Tokyo Tower in Japan. Across Japan close to 60 monuments will light in blue; 82 will light in Argentina, 34 in Kazakhstan and 21 in the USA.

In addition to the lightings, hundreds of events will take place worldwide to mark the day from individual acts of celebration and community-based activities, all the way up to regional events such as the Pan-African meeting in Mauritius that will see the launch of an African Declaration on diabetes.

The World Diabetes Day campaign can be followed online at www.worlddiabetesday.org; www.twitter.com/wdd; Facebook-http://tinyurl.com/o7o6kf and www.youtube.com/worlddiabetesday.

Source: Press release distribution via India PRwire

Notes to Editor

About IDF

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is an umbrella organization of 212 member associations in than 163 countries and territories, representing over 285 million people with diabetes, their families, and their healthcare providers. The mission of IDF is to promote diabetes care, prevention and a cure worldwide. Its main activities include education for people with diabetes and healthcare professionals, public awareness campaigns and the promotion and exchange of information. IDF is a non-governmental organization in official relations with WHO and associated to the United Nations’ Department of Public Information. For more information, please visit www.idf.org and follow us at twitter.com/IntDiabetesFed

About World Diabetes Day

World Diabetes Day is celebrated on 14 November, a date chosen to mark the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, one of the pioneers in diabetes research. An official United Nation’s Day, World Diabetes Day is represented by the blue circle logo that is the global symbol of diabetes. The World Diabetes Day campaign is supported by 14 official partners: Abbott Diabetes Care, AstraZeneca, Boston Scientific, Bristol-Myers Squibb, LifeScan, Eli Lilly, Medtronic, Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD), Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi Aventis and Takeda.

(i)IDF Diabetes Atlas 4th Edition, International Diabetes Federation, 2009. www.diabetesatlas.org

For more information, please contact:

  • Kerrita McClaughlyn
  • Media Relations Manager
  • (L) +1 514-789-3407, +1 514-789-3409, (M) +32 487-530-625