Category Archives: Society: Social Services

The Latest news about what is available to our Society in North America, These PR articles, bring the newest technologies, initiatives and helpful tools to those who need them through social services.

Society: Social Services

Kind Traveler Supercharges Responsible Tourism with Launch of Every Stay Gives Back Program

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After a remarkable six-month pilot where $73,000 was mobilized for local charities with just 15 boutique hotels, Kind Traveler takes its mission a step further with the launch of Every Stay Gives Back.

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Kind Traveler, an internationally awarded responsible travel platform empowering travelers to positively impact local communities through a collection of 350+ hotel, charity, and destination partners, supercharges the travel industry with the launch of its highly anticipated Every Stay Gives Back (ESGB) community impact program. Launching today following a successful six-month global pilot, where $73,000 in donations for seven local charities were mobilized by just 15 boutique hotels, ESGB marks a significant leap forward in responsible tourism.

Since the pilot program, the ESGB collection has doubled to represent 32 hotels and 17 charities in 19 global destinations. The program empowers travel dollars to fund local charities critical to the communities travelers visit with every guest stay — whether the booking occurs directly with the hotel or on a third-party platform with participating hotel and destination partners. In advancing responsible tourism principles, 100 percent of the proceeds raised are donated directly to the participating local charities advancing the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development. “Coming out of a summer travel season marked by devastating wildfires, record-breaking heat across large parts of the globe, and ongoing social justice movements, travelers are more aware than ever of the need for travel that goes beyond doing no harm and gives back to support local communities and the environment,” said Jessica Blotter, CEO and Co-Founder of Kind Traveler, who also serves as Board Member for the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST). “Through the launch of Every Stay Gives Back, Kind Traveler has created a powerful program that makes it easy for every guest stay with participating hotel and destination partners to plant native trees in Hawaii, support wildlife rehabilitation efforts on Catalina Island, fund local schools in Belize, Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica, and much more.”
Every Stay Gives Back Program: Celebrating Positive Impact Metrics

According to  Kind Traveler’s 2022 Impact Tourism Report , 97 percent of travelers want their travel dollars to positively impact the communities they visit and 75 percent agree traveling sustainably enhances their vacation experience. Despite this, half of travelers say they don’t know how to start.

As a pioneer in responsible tourism since 2016, Kind Traveler has empowered travelers to positively impact the communities they visit when they book through its Give + Get platform. Now, with the launch of Every Stay Gives Back, Kind Traveler takes its commitment to responsible travel one step further by mobilizing charitable funding and easy-to-share positive impact metrics with every guest stay. Hotels, tourism boards, and travelers can easily communicate and celebrate positive impact metrics through a live community impact report that displays as a digital dashboard displaying the funds raised and the details of the positive impact created.

For example, in the Hawaiian Islands, 1,400 carbon-sequestering breadfruit trees were planted with Hawaii Farm Trails; 7,000+ servings of Sonoma County-grown fruits and vegetables were provided to families facing food injustice while solving food waste with Farm to Pantry in Sonoma County, California; 6,200 meals were provided to individuals facing food insecurity with The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert in Greater Palm Springs; 775 hours of enrichment programs were provided to students in an after-school program with Dylan Jude Harrell Community Center in Coastal Oregon & Washington; 5,500+ square feet of wetlands were created by Blue River Watershed Group providing habitats for wildlife and wildfire protection in Silverthorne, Colorado; 153 families received food for three days with Their Future Today working in Sri Lanka; and 250 students received school supplies for an after-school program with Abriendo Mentes in Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica.

Participating Destinations and Lodging Partners: Transformative Travel Awaits
The Every Stay Gives Back program boasts a collection of exceptional destinations, boutique gems, glamping experiences, and luxury resorts from around the world for travelers to choose from, all committed to promoting responsible tourism principles through the ESGB program. In California, lodging and destination partners are encouraged with special incentives to participate through the Visit California x Kind Traveler Kind Destination program launched earlier this year. Current participating partners include:
*denotes the hotel/charity was a member of the pilot program

VISIT CALIFORNIA | Catalina Island Tourism Authority: The Avalon Hotel, Zane Grey Pueblo Hotel, Catalina Island Conservancy, Marine Mammal Care Center | Encinitas: Twelve Senses Retreat, The Changing Tides Foundation | Santa Barbara County: Cuyama Buckhorn Sonoma County Tourism: Art House Hotel, Dawn Ranch, Hotel E, Mine + Farm, The Gables Wine Country Inn*, The Stavrand Russian River Valley*, Wildhaven Sonoma*, Charlie’s Acres Farm Sanctuary, Farm to Pantry*, Pepperwood | Visit Greater Palm Springs: The Good House*, The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert* | Visit Oceanside: Stay Coastal Vacations | Visit San Luis Obispo: Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo

COLORADO | Telluride: Lumiere with Inspirato*, The Telluride Foundation* | Silverthorne: The Pad Silverthorne*, Blue River Watershed Group*
HAWAII | The Equus*, Hawaii Farm Trails*
OREGON | North Shore: Ashore Hotel*, Bowline Hotel*, Dylan Jude Harrell Community Center* | Oregon Coast Visitors Association
WASHINGTON | Adrift Hotel + Spa*, Inn at Discovery Coast*, Boardwalk Cottages*, Shelburne Hotel*, Dylan Jude Harrell Community Center*
INTERNATIONAL | Belize: GaEa Riverlodge, Matachica Resort & Spa, Sunbreeze Suites, Cornerstone Foundation, Holy Cross Educational Foundation | Costa Rica: Casa Chameleon at Las Catalinas*, Abriendo Mentes* | Dominican Republic: Sublime Samana, Dominican Joe Foundation | Tulum: Zamas Hotel, Na’atik Language and Cultural Institute | Italy: Castello di Vicarello | South Africa: Farmhouse58 | Sri Lanka: Kalukanda House*, Their Future Today*

Empowering The Industry: Building Positive Impact Metrics Just Became Easier
For destinations and hotels, ESGB represents a formalized, third-party validated giving program where a portion of every guest stay is donated to a local charity the hotel designates, regardless if the booking is directly with the hotel or originates on a third-party booking platform. What sets Every Stay Gives Back apart is its dedication to transparency and accountability. As third-party validation, Kind Traveler verifies and tracks monthly donations to local charities, where a digital ESGB dashboard makes it easy for lodging and destination partners to communicate their initiatives to guests and stakeholders effectively. Wood plaques representing the ESGB membership seal and QR codes are provided to lodging partners to easily communicate the positive impact metrics garnered and ways to get involved with every guest stay. A ‘How to Travel Kindly’ section shares additional opportunities for travelers to get involved with volunteering and stewardship activities with charity beneficiaries.

“The travel industry has a unique opportunity to mobilize travel dollars in a way that fights the climate crisis, reduces economic inequality, strengthens community leadership, conserves the environment, and preserves the heritage of destinations. Kind Traveler’s new Every Stay Gives Back community impact program provides a valuable pathway for destinations and lodging partners to fund local charities, measure and report positive impact metrics, and promote the adoption of more responsible travel practices.” – Wesley Espinosa, Interim Executive Director of Center for Responsible Travel (CREST).

With the launch of Every Stay Gives Back, Kind Traveler reinforces its position as a trailblazer in responsible tourism. By seamlessly integrating giving into the travel experience, Kind Traveler empowers travelers and hospitality partners to leave a legacy of positive change in the places they visit.

To learn more about Kind Traveler’s new Every Stay Gives Back community impact program and explore the positive impact you can make on your next vacation, visit: kindtraveler.com/content/every-stay-gives-back-directory

ABOUT KIND TRAVELER
Kind Traveler is an internationally awarded, responsible travel platform empowering travelers to positively impact local communities with a portfolio of 350+ hotel, destination and charity partners in 25 countries to advance the U.N. Global Goals. As a women-and-veteran-owned pioneer in sustainable & regenerative tourism since 2016, Kind Traveler was the first to empower travelers to positively impact the communities they visit by giving back to local charities through its signature Give + Get hotel booking platform. With the 2023 launch of its Every Stay Gives Back community impact program, Kind Traveler takes its mission further by ensuring every guest stay funds local charities with participating hotel and destination partners – regardless of where the booking originates. 100% of the funds raised are donated to participating charities. As a Blue Startups portfolio company, Kind Traveler has been recognized with global awards from Fast Company (World Changing Ideas Award), Travel + Leisure (Global Vision Award), Newsweek (Future of Travel Award), Lufthansa Innovation Hub and UNWTO. Explore the positive impact you can make on your next vacation on  KindTraveler.com and join our community on  Instagram,  Facebook, and  LinkedIn.

For downloadable images, please see our media gallery here, or reach out to Andy@The KeownCo.com for additional images.

Media Contact

Jessica Blotter, Kind Traveler, 1 6195192437, [email protected], https://www.kindtraveler.com/

Andy Keown, The Keown Co., [email protected]

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SOURCE Kind Traveler



Society: Social Services

transcosmos makes Declaration of DECO Movement, a new National Movement for New and Prosperous Lifestyles toward Decarbonization

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Staying true to our fundamental management philosophy that client satisfaction is the true value of our company, we, transcosmos, will co-create a well-being society with all. In addressing climate change, transcosmos will continue to disclose climate-related financial information aligned with the recommendations of the TCFD, while driving forward initiatives that help solve climate-related challenges through our business. Together with all, transcosmos will drive progress on the SDGs/ESG.

  • Visit here for more information on the DECO Movement, a National Movement for New and Prosperous Lifestyles toward Decarbonization: https://ondankataisaku.env.go.jp/cn_lifestyle/en/
  • DECO Movement is a newly coined word, combining Decarbonization, which means to reduce CO2 emissions, and Eco, being eco-friendly.
  • Declaration of DECO Movement is a statement to carry out one of the 1) and 2) above or both actions.

transcosmos Sustainability Initiatives
In 2021, transcosmos established the transcosmos SDGs Committee chaired by the Representative Director & Chairman, and put in place a framework specifically designed to execute its initiatives towards meeting social challenges and expectations with a focus on ESG criteria. In addition, with the purpose of creating a sustainable society and boosting the well-being of society as a whole, transcosmos has set out its fundamental sustainability policy.
Under the fundamental sustainability policy, transcosmos is driving its SDGs initiatives in line with its roadmap. To date, transcosmos has declared its support for the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and its recommendations to address climate change, and has disclosed climate-related financial information aligned with the recommendations of the TCFD. To become a Sustainable Transformation (SX) Partner for all, transcosmos is taking actions to address a range of social challenges related to human rights, corruption, and local communities while enhancing its own corporate governance.
For example, some transcosmos centers are equipped with WOSH, a water reuse hand wash stand that does not need a water supply, and recycling 98% of used water. In addition, to reduce the environmental impact, the company is promoting the use of reusable drink bottles, reusable chopsticks, and reusable shopping bags.

transcosmos will continue to drive initiatives to address social challenges through its superior business activities while maximizing the well-being of society to create a sustainable society.

  • transcosmos is a trademark or registered trademark of transcosmos inc. in Japan and other countries.
  • Other company names and product or service names used here are trademarks or registered trademarks of respective companies.

About transcosmos inc.
transcosmos launched its operations in 1966. Since then, we have combined superior “people” with up-to-date “technology” to enhance the competitive strength of our clients by providing them with superior and valuable services. transcosmos currently offers services that support clients’ business processes focusing on both sales expansion and cost optimization through our 172 bases across 28 countries/regions with a focus on Asia, while continuously pursuing Operational Excellence. Furthermore, following the expansion of e-commerce market on the global scale, transcosmos provides a comprehensive One-Stop Global E-Commerce Services to deliver our clients’ excellent products and services to consumers in 46 countries/regions around the globe. transcosmos aims to be the “Global Digital Transformation Partner” of our clients, supporting the clients’ transformation by leveraging digital technology, responding to the ever-changing business environment. Visit us here https://www.trans-cosmos.co.jp/english/

Media Contact

transcosmos inc., transcosmos inc., +81-3-6709-2251, [email protected], https://www.trans-cosmos.co.jp/english/

SOURCE transcosmos inc.

Society: Social Services

Taiwan Launches National Lung Cancer Early Detection Program Detects 85 Percent of Lung Cancer Cases at Early Phase

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Timely detection is crucial to improving lung cancer outcomes, and LDCT lung cancer screening has been proven effective in reducing mortality rates, particularly among heavy smokers. However, the existing screening criteria in the United States and South Korea limit eligibility to heavy smokers only, leaving a substantial portion of the population at risk.

The Taiwan Lung Cancer Screening for Never-Smoker Trial (TALENT) provided critical insights that family history of lung cancer is a significant risk factor for developing lung cancer in Taiwan. Building on this knowledge, Taiwan launched its national lung cancer screening program in July 2022, targeting two specific eligible populations:

  1. Individuals with a family history of lung cancer: Specifically, men aged between 50 and 74 years and women aged between 45 and 74 years, whose parents, children, or siblings have been diagnosed with lung cancer.
  2. Individuals with a history of heavy smoking: Specifically, individuals aged between 50 and 74 years with a smoking history of 30 or more pack-years, who are willing to quit smoking or have quit within the past 15 years.

The program utilizes a modified Lung-RADS guideline of the American College of Radiology (ACR) as the nodule management guideline and established a case management system to ensure appropriate follow-up for positive screening results. The collected data includes risk factors, image interpretation results, and evaluation outcomes, which are used to facilitate timely diagnosis and treatment.

Preliminary results from July 2022 to June 2023, have been promising according to Director General, Chao-Chun Wu, from the Health Promotion Administration of Taiwan. A total of 49,508 individuals were screened, with 28,617 (58%) having a family history of lung cancer and 18,970 (38%) being heavy smokers. Of those screened, 4,406 individuals received a positive screening result, and 531 individuals were ultimately diagnosed with lung cancer. The positive rate was 9.2%, and the lung cancer detection rate was 1.1%, with an impressive 85% of lung cancer cases diagnosed at an early stage (stage zero and one).

The Taiwan National Lung Cancer Early Detection Program is a significant step forward in the fight against lung cancer, offering hope for saving lives through early detection and improved treatment outcomes,” Dr. Yang said.

About the IASLC:
The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) is the only global organization dedicated solely to the study of lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies. Founded in 1974, the association’s membership includes more than 8,000 lung cancer specialists across all disciplines in over 100 countries, forming a global network working together to conquer lung and thoracic cancers worldwide. The association also publishes the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, the primary educational and informational publication for topics relevant to the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of all thoracic malignancies. Visit http://www.iaslc.org for more information.

About the WCLC:
The WCLC is the world’s largest meeting dedicated to lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies, attracting more than 7,000 researchers, physicians, and specialists from more than 100 countries. The goal is to increase awareness, collaboration, and understanding of lung cancer, and to help participants implement the latest developments across the globe. The conference will cover a wide range of disciplines and unveil several research studies and clinical trial results. For more information, visit https://wclc2023.iaslc.org.

Media Contact

Chris Martin, IASLC, 6306702745, [email protected], https://wclc2023.iaslc.org.

SOURCE IASLC

Society: Social Services

All Charges Dismissed Against Andrew Barroway, Arizona Coyotes Minority Owner

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“The past several months have been extremely difficult for my loved ones and for me personally. As you can imagine, seeing a private personal matter wrongly depicted in the media was hurtful and frustrating. So, too, was being unable to set the record straight because of the ongoing legal investigation.

“Now that this matter has concluded, I can directly say that the allegations against me were false.

“Like most people, my family and my integrity represent the two most important things in my life. Now that my name has been cleared of wrongdoing, I look forward to continuing to move on with my life, fully focused on being a husband and a father.”

Media Contact
David Leibowitz, Leibowitz Solo, 1 6023171414, [email protected], www.leibowitzsolo.com

SOURCE Andy Barroway

Society: Social Services

Document Solutions Business Life Simplified Upgrades Camden City School District With Touchless Water Coolers & Reverse Osmosis Systems for Their Kitchen & Cafeterias

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“We are thrilled to be able to work with Document Solutions Business Life Simplified to provide these cafeteria filtration and bottle filling stations that will enable the district to promote the increased use of water for hydration among students, as well as reduce the amount of money they are spending on bottled water,” said Mark McDonough, President, New Jersey American Water and Board Member, American Water Charitable Foundation. “No student, teacher, or faculty member should drink bottled water when the tap water being provided meets all quality standards and is readily available in a hygienic, touchless device for increased safety in a public setting.”

Our touchless water coolers offer a safer and more hygienic solution to traditional water dispensers. With the current global health crisis, it’s more important than ever to reduce the spread of germs. Our touchless technology ensures that users can access water without touching the dispenser, minimizing the risk of spreading bacteria and viruses.

The anti-microbial surface on our water coolers helps to reduce the growth of bacteria, making our systems a more hygienic option. This feature also ensures that users can drink clean and safe water every time.

Our reverse osmosis systems offer clean and pure water that’s free from contaminants. This process uses a semi-permeable membrane to remove impurities, resulting in clean and safe drinking water.

Our activated oxygen self-cleaning system ensures that our water coolers are always clean and fresh. This feature uses activated oxygen to sanitize the dispenser, eliminating any bacteria or viruses that may be present.

Our eco-friendly systems help to reduce your carbon footprint. With our systems, there’s no need for plastic bottles, which helps to reduce waste and pollution. By eliminating plastic bottles, we’re doing our part to protect the environment and promote sustainability.

We are thrilled to have been able to provide the Camden City School District with our cutting-edge water cooler and reverse osmosis systems. Our goal is to provide safe, clean, and eco-friendly drinking water solutions to schools and other organizations in the tri-state area.

Media Contact

DS Water Team, Document Solutions Business Life Simplified, 1-908-653-0600, [email protected], www.dsbls.com/water-for-schools/

SOURCE Document Solutions Business Life Simplified

Society: Social Services

A Deep Dive into 2024 Predictions

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Miami Real Estately unveils its in-depth analysis of the Miami housing market, leveraging insights from the U.S. News Housing Market Index. The report highlights a 57% year-over-year decline in construction permits for single-family homes in December 2022 and a 44% decrease for multifamily units. Despite these declines, the median home price in Miami saw a 4.6% increase, reaching $455,000 in December. The rental market also experienced a surge, with a 32% year-over-year increase in median rent. While construction costs and mortgage interest rates are on the rise, Miami’s low unemployment rate of 2.1% suggests a strong local economy. The forecast anticipates a downward trend in new construction approvals for early 2023 but expects the housing market to continue appreciating at a conservative pace.

MIAMI, Sept. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Miami Real Estately, a leading real estate website in South Florida, is proud to present an in-depth analysis of the Miami housing market, drawing insights from the U.S. News Housing Market Index. As the gateway to Latin America and a hub for international business, Miami’s real estate landscape is ever-evolving. Here’s what you need to know about the Miami housing market as we look ahead into mid-2023.

Key Highlights from 2022:

Society: Social Services

American University Student Receives SBB Research Group Foundation STEM Scholarship

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The SBB Research Group Foundation has named Collin Coil a STEM Scholarship recipient

CHICAGO, Sept. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — The SBB Research Group Foundation named Collin Coil a recipient of its STEM scholarship. The $2,500 award empowers students to create value for society by pursuing higher learning through interdisciplinary combinations of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

Collin Coil, a junior, studies pure mathematics and data science at American University (AU). He contributed to international finance research cited by the Federal Reserve, which played a part in the greater understanding, better regulation, and increased stability in the world’s system of sovereign debt financing. Additionally, Congress cited his work tracking and modeling diverse representation in Congressional Witness panels as a primary motivator to change their rules for the 117th Congress. He recently interned with Noblis and worked in their experimental technology division to develop efficient DNA digital data storage. Currently, Coil works in the AU Center for Data Science with a research focus on artificial intelligence and computational methods.

“Collin is an incredibly impressive student, and we’re proud to support someone so dedicated to using his education to improve our world,” said Matt Aven, co-founder and board member of the SBB Research Group Foundation.

For eligibility criteria and more information on the Foundation’s STEM scholarship, please visit http://www.sbbscholarship.org.

About the SBB Research Group Foundation
The SBB Research Group Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that furthers the philanthropic mission of SBB Research Group LLC (SBBRG), a Chicago-based investment management firm led by Sam Barnett, Ph.D., and Matt Aven. The Foundation sponsors the SBB Research Group Foundation STEM Scholarship, supporting students pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) degrees. In addition to its scholarship program, the Foundation provides grants to support ambitious organizations solving unmet needs with thoughtful, long-term strategies.

Media Contact

Erin Noonan, SBB Research Group Foundation, 1-847-656-1111, [email protected], https://www.sbbscholarship.com/

SOURCE SBB Research Group Foundation