Movement restrictions and closed borders have created challenges in sending and receiving aid. However, Episcopal Relief & Development’s support has enabled the hospital to find local resources, increase their number of beds and maintain 24-hour staffing to continue critical operations. Al Ahli Hospital has been able to meet the needs of hundreds of wounded adults and children who have migrated to the hospital after their homes and refugee camps were destroyed.
“Hospital staff are risking their lives to save the lives of others. Many have been injured while working, some staff have been displaced from their homes and have lost family members,” said Nagulan Nesiah, Senior Program Officer, Episcopal Relief & Development. “The team at Al Ahli continues to be an inspiring and dedicated presence in Gaza.”
Please join Episcopal Relief & Development in mourning all those lost to violence. Please continue to pray for peace in the Holy Land and for Episcopal Relief & Development partners who are working to serve all people who come to them seeking treatment and safety.
ABOUT EPISCOPAL RELIEF & DEVELOPMENT For over 80 years, Episcopal Relief & Development has worked with an extensive network of faith and community partners to advance lasting change in communities affected by injustice, poverty, disaster and climate change. Inspired by our faith, we reach over three million people each year by focusing on four interconnected priorities: nurturing the potential of caregivers and young children, reducing violence against women and girls, strengthening communities’ resilience to climate change and facilitating humanitarian response to disasters. Together with our partners, we leverage what’s working well to drive impact, learning and sustainability. Together, we create lasting change. Join us: http://www.episcopalrelief.org
End Distracted Driving Urges Drivers to Turn On Life-saving Smartphone App
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 19, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — End Distracted Driving (EndDD) and the National Distracted Driving Coalition (NDDC) are urging drivers to “set it and forget it” for the second annual National Do Not Disturb While Driving Day on Thursday, October 19.
“Turn this setting on and leave it on,” said Joel Feldman, founder of the Casey Feldman Foundation and EndDD.org. “It took my daughter being killed by a distracted driver for me to commit to being more focused behind the wheel. It shouldn’t take a tragedy for each of us to make that decision. Enabling this setting is a quick and easy step that we can all take right now.”
Feldman points out that the Do Not Disturb function can be set to turn on automatically on both iPhone and android devices while the user is driving. The feature will silence incoming calls and texts and notify the sender that the driver will respond once they have arrived at their destination.
Distracted driving remains a major problem on U.S. roads. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that distracted driving was involved in 29-percent of all crashes in 2019, resulting in more than 10-thousand deaths – cell phones are a major culprit. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, crash risk is 2-6 times higher when drivers are using a cell phone compared to when they aren’t distracted. feature.
Said Matt Fiorentino, VP of Marketing for Cambridge Mobile Telematics, “Do Not Disturb While Driving works – 74% of people who use it say it’s made them a safer driver. The problem is that only 1 of 5 drivers use it. This is a huge missed opportunity to make roads safer and save lives. Making Do Not Disturb While Driving an opt-out feature would be one of the fastest ways we could reduce distracted driving across the country.”
On Do Not Disturb While Driving Day, EndDD and NDDC hope to raise awareness about the easy to use feature. Says Feldman, “Distracted driving has gotten worse since my daughter was killed in 2009. Our phones are so addictive – if we hear them we will use them. Using the DNDWD settings on our phones is so simple and effective and the right thing to do. We can all do our part to make our roads safer if we just “set it and forget it.”
ABOUT END DISTRACTED DRIVING:
End Distracted Driving (EndDD), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was founded after a distracted driver killed Casey Anderson Feldman in 2009. EndDD’s mission is to save lives from distracted driving through advocacy, education, and action. Using science-based distracted driving presentations, a network of 125 speakers has spoken to more than 500,000 students across the nation at no cost to their schools. Other educational materials, presentations, and lesson plans help passengers of all ages effectively speak up against distracted driving. For more information, please visit EndDD.org. Follow EndDD on Facebook at @EndDistractedDriving.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL DISTRACTED DRIVING COALITION:
The National Distracted Driving Coalition was formed in March 2021 to address distracted driving which is a contributing factor to road deaths and injuries. This road safety issue is a priority concern shared by many organizations across many sectors. A diverse cross-section of entities, representing academia, non-profits, government, advocacy, and industry, including insurance, transportation, automotive and technology, have come together to create a National Action Plan to tackle this important issue. For more information visit https://usnddc.org/
Jonathan Lubecky said, “Joining VETS in its mission to bridge the gap in veterans’ access to life-saving mental health care is an honor. Bringing my years of experience in psychedelic research advocacy and my experience as a psychedelic clinical trial participant to the VETS community, we will make real strides in raising awareness about psychedelic-assisted therapy, research, and policy. This marks another step closer to our country providing safe, effective, and affordable access to these treatments.”
Jonathan and VETS recently worked alongside Congressional allies to support two critical amendments to the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): Amendment 48 by Reps. Crenshaw and Luttrell, which authorizes $15 million for the Department of Defense to conduct clinical trials of PAT; and Amendment 137 by Rep. Crenshaw, ensuring active-duty military personnel have access to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ clinical trials of PAT. Jonathan also recently appeared on the Veterans Affairs Podcast, “New Horizons in Health,” alongside Dr. Shereef Elnaha, MD, US Undersecretary for Health at the Department of Veterans Affairs, to discuss the groundbreaking potential of PAT.
VETS supported the crafting of a comprehensive fact sheet to advance advocacy efforts, build congressional support for the amendments, and counter lobbying and misinformation campaigns orchestrated by opponents.
“VETS remains at the forefront of driving impactful policy reforms aimed at bolstering support for veteran mental health, and we welcome Jonathan Lubecky to lead our advocacy endeavors as we continue to grow our legislative team,” said Amber Capone, co-founder and CEO of VETS. “Amidst an escalating crisis of veteran suicides, it is our moral duty to utilize every resource within our reach to safeguard the lives of those who have served our nation. Our unyielding advocacy efforts and relentless pursuit of policy advancements are instrumental in reshaping the political and medical treatment landscape to enable access, research, and education for veterans to receive psychedelic-assisted therapies.”
To raise funds for its advocacy efforts, VETS’ third annual gala, the Torchbearer Ball, will be held on Veterans Day, November 11, 2023, at Hotel del Coronado in Coronado, California. The Torchbearer Ball aims to raise funds to support VETS’ mission of providing Foundational Healing Grants to Special Operators, their spouses, and Gold Star Spouses.
The event will feature award recipients including Dr. Andrew Huberman (Associate Professor of Neurobiology at Stanford University and host of the Huberman Lab Podcast), Dr. Nolan Williams(Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University), and U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw(R-TX), with comedian Brent Pellaserving as MC. Musical artist Humble G will provide entertainment. Notable guests will include Survivor winner Mike Gabler, former TexasGovernor Rick Perry, and others.
Founded in 2019, Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working to end the veteran suicide epidemic by providing resources, research, and advocacy for U.S. military veterans seeking psychedelic-assisted therapies for traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addiction, and other health conditions. VETS envisions a world where our veterans have access to the most advanced healthcare options to heal from the mental and physical wounds of war.
Servants’ Day was first instituted in order to address the needs in the local community and match tasks with volunteers who are willing to tackle them. The service projects were largely organized by the FHU staff, in conjunction with various academic groups and social clubs, to provide students with the chance to spiritually enrich the lives of others.
Instead of attending their regular classes, each student signed up for a service project commissioned by the local community or the university itself. Between playing games with Southern Oaks residents, painting a mural at The Wall, cleaning campus facilities and helping organize a Chester County school storage facility, the students certainly had plenty of opportunities to choose from this year.
One group of students worked with Chester County Elementary fine arts teacher, Becky Hartle, by cleaning and organizing a theater storage facility as well as by moving heavy piles of wood and trash to the Chester County recycling center. “The students were great. They had positive and willing attitudes,” Hartle said. “I am very thankful in many ways. They agreed to help me for Servants’ Day at the last minute, and the students were all encouraging throughout the day.”
FHU senior Nate Cass joined a group of around 50 other students to package meal bags for the Jacks Creek Church of Christ outreach efforts. Each bag made by the students would feed six people. “It was work, but everyone was happy to be helping and enjoying the fellowship with each other,” Cass said.
University Servants’ Day is just one of many ways that FHU shows dedication to promoting Christ, not only through education, but also through Godly service, in keeping with the scriptures: “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” (Hebrews 13:16)
The mission of Freed-Hardeman University is to help students develop their God-given talents for His glory by empowering them with an education that integrates Christian faith, scholarship and service. With locations in Henderson and Memphis, FHU offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist and doctoral degrees. More information is available at fhu.edu.
Media Contact
Dawn Bramblett, Freed-Hardeman University, 731-608-7650, [email protected], fhu.edu
Shaylon Scott, Executive Director of Founders First CDC, has gained invaluable insights into the challenges faced by diverse-led businesses throughout her years of dedicated observation. She said “Through our grant programs, we are not just providing financial support; we are nurturing the dreams and aspirations of small business owners, and fueling their potential to create lasting change. These grants serve as a beacon of hope and a pathway to success, demonstrating our unwavering dedication to building a more inclusive economy.
This grant program, totaling $100,000, not only offers financial aid but also includes a scholarship to one of Founders First’s prestigious business growth accelerator programs. Its primary focus is on empowering businesses owned by diverse founders, with annual revenues ranging from $100,000 to $5 million, employing 2-20 individuals, and has the ability to add 1-2+ net new premium wage jobs in the next 12 months.
“We’re proud to support Founders First CDC in their commitment to providing expertise and grant funds to Southern California small business owners. Small businesses are the backbone of San Diego’s economy, making up 98 percent of firms and 61 percent of all jobs. It’s programs like these that ensure small and diverse firms can grow quality jobs and remain resilient in an unpredictable economy,” Eduardo Velasquez, Sr. Director of Research and Economic Development at San Diego Regional EDC.
Applications for the Southern California Job Creators Quest grant are open from October 17, 2023, to November 13, 2023.
Founders First CDC is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 that was founded in 2015 and has received significant support from regional community reinvestment banks to empower diverse founder-led, revenue-generating small businesses through three primary programs: (1) Founders Challenge; (2) Founders Bootcamp; and (3) Founders FastPath. By building recurring revenues, tech-enablement, and essential solution focus, Founders First serves as a catalyst for positive change to entrepreneurs of color and female founders to become leading employers in their communities.www.foundersfirstcdc.org
Award recipients range from two sitting U.S. senators and national car rental giant Hertz to individuals tirelessly working out of the spotlight. A committee of Plug In America’s experienced board members selected the honorees from a pool of nominations submitted by the public earlier this year.
The 2023 Drive Electric Award honorees are:
Linda Nicholes Lifetime Achievement Award – U.S. Senator Tom Carper of Delaware, Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and Will Beckett, co-founder and board member of the Electric Vehicle Association Central Coast Chapter in California
Advocate Award – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York
EV City Award – Phoenix, Arizona
Organization Award – The Hertz Corporation, headquartered in Florida, and Francis Energy, headquartered in Oklahoma
EV Awareness Award – Joyce Breiner, co-founder and executive director of Poolesville Green in Maryland, and Rap Hankins, president of Drive Electric Dayton in Ohio
Individual Award – Mayor Ray LeSn of Huron, California; Philip Jones, executive director of the Alliance for Transportation Electrification in Washington; Minh Le, general manager of energy and environmental services for Los Angeles County in California; and Carleen Cullen, founder and executive director of Cool the Earth in California
City Captain Award – Kate Kruk, director of community engagement for Livingston Energy Group in New York, and Barry Rands, volunteer with San Luis Obispo Climate Coalition and Citizens’ Climate Lobby in California
Student Award – Anthony Asuncion, who is attending Rutgers University-New Brunswick in New Jersey
Plug In America is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the use of plug-in electric vehicles in the United States. Formed in 2008, Plug In America provides practical, objective information to consumers and dealerships about EVs through various programs, including National Drive Electric Week, Drive Electric Earth Day, PlugStar.com, and other public outreach events. With Plug In America’s coalition of plug-in vehicle drivers, policy experts and technical advisors, their expertise represents the world’s deepest pool of experience in driving and living with plug-in vehicles. The organization’s motto is: “We drive electric. You can too.” Learn more at PlugInAmerica.org.
The Chopin Law Firm outlines the car accident injury claim process, guiding potential clients through key stages for a clearer legal understanding.
NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 16, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — In an effort to guide and educate potential clients, Chopin Law Firm LLC, a reputable name in personal injury law, is shedding light on the intricate stages of a car accident injury claim process through their latest informational piece.
Car accidents can be disorienting and overwhelming, leaving individuals unsure of how to navigate the legal landscape that follows. Understanding the car accident injury claim process is crucial for those seeking compensation for their injuries and damages.
Exploring the Car Accident Injury Claim Process
The following outlines the key stages involved in a typical car accident injury claim:
Initial Consultation: Prospective clients meet with experienced attorneys from Chopin Law Firm to discuss the details of the accident, injuries sustained, and gather essential information.
Investigation and Evidence Gathering: Attorneys conduct a thorough investigation, gathering evidence related to the accident, including medical records, accident reports, witness statements, and other relevant documentation.
Negotiations with Insurance Companies: The legal team at Chopin Law Firm engages in negotiations with the insurance companies involved to secure fair compensation for their clients’ injuries and damages.
Filing a Lawsuit (if necessary): If a fair settlement cannot be reached through negotiations, the firm initiates the process of filing a lawsuit on behalf of their clients.
Discovery and Legal Proceedings: Legal proceedings commence, including the discovery phase where both parties exchange relevant information and documentation.
Mediation and Settlement Negotiations: Attorneys work to achieve an amicable settlement through mediation, striving to secure the best possible outcome for their clients without a trial.
In cases where a settlement is not attainable, the case proceeds to trial where Chopin Law Firm advocates zealously for their clients in court.
The Chopin Law Firm LLC invites victims of car accidents to schedule a free case evaluation to discuss their situation and explore their legal options. Their team of dedicated attorneys can provide personalized guidance throughout the claims process.
About The Chopin Law Firm LLC:
The Chopin Law Firm is a well-respected personal injury firm in New Orleans, Louisiana, with over 100 years of collective experience. The firm handles a variety of cases beyond personal injury, including property damage and insurance claims, workers’ compensation, business and commercial litigation, and business disruption claims.
To learn more about how The Chopin Law Firm can assist with car accident claims, please visit the firm’s website at http://www.chopinlawfirm.com.
“Glioblastoma remains one of those cancers that’s extremely difficult to treat, and treatments have improved only modestly in the last few decades,” says Robert Fenstermaker, MD, Chair of Neurosurgery at Roswell Park, co-creator of SurVaxM and national Principal Investigator on the SURVIVE trial. “There’s a real need for better treatments for patients with this disease, and thanks to the support of our colleagues and community we are grateful to see our work with SurVaxM advance to this exciting stage.”
Work to develop the vaccine was enabled by donations from numerous individuals and corporations to the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, including support for events like the Ride for Roswell.
SurVaxM is currently available to patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma brain cancer through the randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled phase 2b SURVIVE clinical trial (NCT05163080). Approximately 60% of an anticipated 270 patients have been enrolled on the study, which is currently recruiting new patients at 11 cancer centers nationwide: Roswell Park, where SurVaxM originated, as well as Miami Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Overlook Medical Center, Norton Cancer Institute, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Texas Oncology, New York University, Northwell Health and University of California–San Francisco.
“Fast Track Designation is a key component in our journey to help patients with glioblastoma to live longer,” says Michael Ciesielski, PhD, co-creator of SurVaxM, Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at Roswell Park and CEO of MimiVax.
Positive final data from the previous phase 2a study of SurVaxM in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma (nGBM), published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, reported that 51% of patients receiving SurVaxM survived at least 2 years, and 41% survived at least 3 years. The median overall survival of 25.9 months with nGBM in the study were considerably higher than would be expected with standard therapy alone.
Fast Track is a process designated to facilitate the development and expedite the review of drugs to treat serious medical conditions and fulfill unmet medical need. Significant benefits of FTD include:
Enhanced access to the FDA including opportunities for more frequent meetings and direct consultation throughout the remaining development of SurVaxM.
Drugs with FTD are eligible to apply for Accelerated Approval and Priority Review at the time of a New Drug Application (NDA) submission, which may result in faster product approval.
FTD also allows for a “rolling review” in which MimiVax may submit completed sections of the SurVaxM NDA as they become available, rather than at the end development.
MimiVax was formed more than a decade ago as a spinoff from Roswell Park to develop and commercialize SurVaxM. For more information on MimiVax, visit http://www.mimivax.com. SurVaxM is also being evaluated in early-phase studies of adult patients with some neuroendocrine tumors and in pediatric patients with some types of brain tumors, and is also being assessed in adults with multiple myeloma.
For more information about the phase 2b SURVIVE study or other clinical trials available at Roswell Park, call 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355) or send an e-mail to [email protected]. See more information and resources related to SurVaxM at roswellpark.org/survaxm.
From the world’s first chemotherapy research to the PSA prostate cancer biomarker, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center generates innovations that shape how cancer is detected, treated and prevented worldwide. Driven to eliminate cancer’s grip on humanity, the Roswell Park team of 4,000 makes compassionate, patient-centered cancer care and services accessible across New York State and beyond. Founded in 1898, Roswell Park was among the first three cancer centers nationwide to become a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and is the only one to hold this designation in Upstate New York. To learn more about Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Roswell Park Care Network, visit http://www.roswellpark.org, call 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355) or email [email protected].
Media Contact
Ann Deck-Miller, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, 716-845-8593, [email protected], roswellpark.org
The Community Kindness events in 2023 included a Habitat for Humanity build where volunteers worked on the frames of two homes, shred events that collected 5,810 pounds of paper to shred and 1188 pounds of electronic devices to recycle, food drives collected more than 575 non-perishable food items and necessities to support local food pantries, volunteers made 160 brown bag lunches for shelters, donation drives collected bed sheets, gift cards, craft supplies and more for the Finley Forever Foundation that supports kids, their parents and staff of the oncology department at Lurie Children’s Hospital, packed 12,165 pounds of food equaling 10,228 meals at the Northern Illinois Food Bank, created 50 “Glam Boxes” to pamper cancer patients through Simply From the Heart, packed 258 boxes that held 45,728 meals that will feed 152 kids for a year at Feed My Starving Children, re-packed 2,520 bags of salad dressing for a total of 4,100 meals at the Greater Chicago Food Depository, baked 10 dozen cookies through Cookies from the Heart at Ronald McDonald House Near Lurie Children’s Hospital, collected 180 donated items for WINGS, and collected more than 200 items for Cradles to Crayons during a shoe and school supply drive.
The Kindness Foundation is Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago’s philanthropic arm. A 501(c)(3) charitable organization, their mission is to support meaningful local initiatives that improve the communities the company serves and enhance the quality of life for fellow citizens.
ABOUT BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESERVICES CHICAGO
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago is a full-service real estate firm with more than 1,300 real estate professionals and staff in 22 offices serving customers throughout the Chicago metropolitan area, the North Shore, West Suburban communities, Southern Wisconsin, Northwest Indiana and Harbor Country, Michigan. Recognized as a Top Workplace in Chicago, their local roots are complemented by the extensive global reach of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, one of the nation’s leading real estate brands. Clients can experience all-inclusive homeownership services from their affiliated companies: Prosperity Home Mortgage, Fort Dearborn Title, and HomeServices Insurance. Visit BHHSChicago.com.
The results of our Community Kindness initiative are proof positive that a committed and focused group of people can accomplish great things. What started out as a week-long event has transformed into so much more. Our organization truly lives kindness throughout the year.
Home sponsored by Bass Pro Shops and Lennar TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Helping a Hero, a non-profit providing support for military personnel severely injured in the war on terror, Bass Pro Shops and Lennar, one of the nation’s leading homebuilders, today broke ground on a…
