ItaliaRail, the experts on train travel to, from and around Italy, is launching its first scholarship program to give more students the opportunity to study abroad in Italy. With a mission to help students who may not be financially able to realize their dream of studying in Italy, the company has established monetary awards for two eligible students per semester.

“As a company that specializes in train travel in Italy, we are the perfect conduit to offer more students the chance to study and live in this modern yet venerable country. Whether you are studying the Italian language, art, history or business, studying abroad in Italy enhances the overall educational experience, and ItaliaRail is proud to support students in this endeavour,” said Michael Fuller, President and CEO of ItaliaRail.

The Boston-area based company is awarding two scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each to university/college undergraduate students who intend to study abroad in Italy. The scholarships will be for the Winter/Spring 2013/2014 semester and the 2014 Fall semester. Applications for Winter/Spring semester must be submitted between November 13, 2013 and January 5, 2014. Interested students can go to http://www.italiarail.com/scholarship to apply and find out more information.

The awardees for the Winter/Spring semester will be announced in early January. Application submission dates for the Fall semester will also be announced at this time.

About ItaliaRail: ItaliaRail are the experts on Italy train tickets and passes. In cooperation with Trenitalia, Italy’s only national railway, ItaliaRail provides a direct connection to Trenitalia’s reservation system allowing rail travelers access to the most routes at the best prices. Travelers are able to book in multiple currencies and knowledgeable customer service agents are available to answer questions and give advice on train travel throughout Italy. ItaliaRail was launched in 2005 and is a division of International Rail, LLC.

Media Contact
Mary Ekelund
mary@interrail.com
(617) 519-5660

Avon’s Digital-First Imprint Encourages Graduate and Undergraduate Writing Students to Submit Romance Manuscripts for Chance to Win One-on-One Editorial Consultation.
All Submissions will be Considered for Publication by Avon Impulse!

NEW YORK, NY, November 21, 2013 –September marks the end of summer and a return to academia—and for many university students, it’s also a return the equally grueling and rewarding routine of creative writing classes. Avon Books and Avon Impulse, imprints of HarperCollins Publishers, recognizes the raw talent and passion for the craft that many students bring to their work, and it is for this reason that they have chosen to work with HarperCollins’ Academic Marketing division to launch an initiative seeking emerging young stars of Romance.

Graduate and undergraduate students are invited to submit up to three chapters (or 50 pages), a detailed synopsis (no more than five pages) of the romance novel. Entrants should also include a brief paragraph on what their follow-up book would be to the Avon Impulse Editors. For more information and contest guidelines, http://collegewriters.avonromance.com.

What are Avon’s editors looking for? Amanda Bergeron, the lead editor for the Avon Impulse digital-first publishing imprint, says, “First and foremost, we always want a fresh voice and an ability to create real-to-life characters. Beyond that, we are looking for writers who have an understanding of what’s working in the current market. And if you can make us laugh, cry, or go absolutely weak-kneed, that certainly doesn’t hurt. Know your strengths when you write – and trust in a great editor to make your manuscript even stronger!”

Avon is actively acquiring the following types of novels:
• New Adult romance
• Romantic suspense
• Super sexy contemporaries
• Trilogies — and beyond.
• Serialized erotic romance

What types of submissions will get students noticed? Bergeron notes, “Fabulously sexy heroes who let nothing get in the way of getting what they want – the heroine of course – and giving her everything she needs,” are top-of-bell curve for Avon editorial. Emphasis is also on heroines who are unafraid to take chances in life… and in love. “World-building” is key – writers are asked to choose the setting, just make sure it’s utterly romantic! Readers should be able to immerse themselves in the wonderful world that an author creates. “Series Wanted!” Bergeron asserts that readers always cry out for more when authors give them characters to believe in … so, in outlines, aspiring authors are asked to give Avon’s editors an idea of more stories to come in the same vein. And finally – for anyone who has discovered the super-dramatic, addictive joy of New Adult, editors are looking for dark spectacles that e xplore the many twists and turns of true love.

Contest guidelines can be found at http://collegewriters.avonromance.com. But, sky’s the limit, since there are no specific call outs for this opportunity; as long as it’s romance, it qualifies! This call for submissions is aimed directly at students.

Deadlines:
All submissions should be digitally sent by 5 pm on April 1, 2014, via email to avonromancecollege@gmail.com. All submissions must be submitted from a college email address. All submissions will be reviewed and considered for publication through Avon Impulse, the publisher’s digital-first arm—winners will be announced on May 15, 2014.

ABOUT HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS
HarperCollins Publishers, one of the largest English-language publishers in the world, is a subsidiary of NewsCorp (NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NNC, NNCLV). Headquartered in New York, HarperCollins has publishing groups around the world in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and India. HarperCollins is a broad-based publisher with strengths in literary and commercial fiction, business books, children’s books, cookbooks, narrative nonfiction, mystery, romance, reference, pop culture, design, health, wellness, and religious and spiritual books. With nearly 200 years of history, HarperCollins has published some of the world’s foremost authors, including winners of the Nobel Prize, the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the Newbery Medal, and the Caldecott Medal. HarperCollins is consistently at the forefront of innovation, using digital technology to create unique reading experiences and expand the reach of its authors. You can visit HarperCollins Publishers online at: http://www.harpercollins.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS
Pamela Jaffee, Avon Publicity: Pam.Jaffee@harpercollins.com / 212.207.7495
Jessie Edwards, Avon Publicity: Jessie.Edwards@harpercollins.com / 212.207.7188
Caroline Perny, Avon Publicity: Caroline.Perny@harpercollins.com / 212.207.7531

# # #

Today, NARAL Pro-Choice America announced the winners of the “Choice Out Loud” short story contest. The contest asked young people between the ages of 18 and 30 to write a story that reflected the complexity of unplanned pregnancies in America today. Approximately 300 stories were submitted from across the country.

“I would like to thank all of the contest participants who took the time to write thoughtful and creative stories about choice,” said Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. “We were overwhelmed by the power and the depth of these stories submitted by young people from across the country. The number of stories submitted for our first national essay contest exceed our expectations. This has been a wonderful opportunity to provide a new platform to talk about the complex situations of individuals facing an unintended pregnancy. We look forward to replicating its success in the future. ”

The winners of the contest were:

-Grand Prize awarded to Morgan M., whose story walks through a woman’s internal thought process as she decides to have an abortion.
-First Place Prize awarded to Madeline G., whose story revisits a candid discussion about abortion between mother and daughter.
-People’s Choice Prize awarded to Kai N., whose story features a transgender man’s experience with an unplanned pregnancy.

All three of the winning stories can be read on the Choice Out Loud website: http://www.choiceoutloud.org/writing-contest/.

The stories were evaluated by a panel of judges selected for their insights into the unique perspective of young Americans. The judges reviewed the stories on relevance to the contest prompt, creativity and overall quality.

About the judges:

Laci Green runs Sex+ , a sex-positive education project consisting of a biweekly video series, a weekly live show, daily blogging, university lectures, and a peer education network. Learn more at http://www.youtube.com/lacigreen.

Maureen Johnson is a New York Times bestselling author whose novels  include The Name of the Star, Suite Scarlett, Scarlett Fever, Girl At Sea, The Key To The Golden Firebird, and 13 Little Blue Envelopes. Learn more at http://www.maureenjohnsonbooks.com.

Rinku Sen is the president and executive director of Race Forward: The Center for Racial Justice Innovation and the publisher of Colorlines.com. Learn more at http://colorlines.com.

To speak with a NARAL Pro-Choice America spokesperson, please contact Sarah La Due at 415-890-1020 or SLaDue@ProChoiceAmerica.org.

Media Contact
Sarah La Due
SLaDue@ProChoiceAmerica.org
415-890-1020

November 19, 2013 – SetMeUp, a social discovery app, announces that in its initial release it achieved over 3 million searchable profiles. Unlike hook-up apps like Tinder where you’re connecting to complete strangers, with SetMeUp you find dates through friend introductions. The app utilizes friend-of-friend connections to help individuals meet new singles and enrich their first date experiences.

SetMeUp creates an ecosystem where people can meet as they normally would offline, through their mutual friends. By leveraging Facebook, which people already trust and feel comfortable using, SetMeUp enables people to find and easily connect with their friends of friends. Users are able to connect to people who they are more likely to trust because everyone falls within the same social circles.

This is particularly appealing to the college market since they can avoid the stigma of telling their friends they met someone online. The application is designed so no one knows who is using the app other than those people successfully connecting with each other, maintaining full privacy for the user. College students and post-college graduates simply install the app on Facebook, select friends, and then search through those friend’s friends sorted by compatibility.

“The goal is to get away from traditional online dating models and use social platforms that are integral to our everyday lives,” says SetMeUp co-founder and Harvard Business School grad, Abhishek Jain. In addition to launching the app, SetMeUp is also excited to announce the creation of an internship program for college students interested in entrepreneurship and marketing. “Launching any product, especially one as innovative as SetMeUp, is an amazing learning experience for everyone involved,” says Jain. Students interested in applying for this internship opportunity can e-mail their resume to apply@setmeupinc.com.

College students at the University of Georgia love the application. Morgan Leaf, an undergraduate student at UGA, is tired of using hook-up apps where guys are sleazy. “I like SetMeUp because guys realize they’re accountable to our mutual friends.” says Leaf. “I wouldn’t date any other way.” A senior at Boston University, Estela Del Mar, feels the same way, adding, “On other dating apps, you don’t get any quality connections. With SetMeUp, I get connected through my friends so I can trust the people I meet.”

About SetMeUp
SetMeUp is a social discovery application, available on web and mobile devices, that helps you meet a new romantic interest through mutual friends on Facebook. To get a better understanding of the product, you can access SetMeUp on your web browser at www.setmeupapp.com. Mobile is expected to be released within the month.

Media Contact
Ty Hill
678-316-4082
tyhill@setmeupinc.com

Phil Southerland, global diabetes advocate and founder of the world’s first all-diabetes professional cycling team, is launching the Team Type 1 Foundation today, on World Diabetes Day. Pursuing a mission of education, empowerment and global access to medicine for everyone affected by diabetes, the Foundation will address disparities in diabetes care around the world through collaborative strategies that engage governments, health organizations, healthcare providers, diabetes educators and people with diabetes.

The Foundation’s first U.S. initiative is a scholarship program for collegiate athletes with type 1 diabetes who compete in an NCAA sport. In 2014, the program will award up to seven scholarships of $5,000 each to help student athletes and their families offset the cost of diabetes care, which can average an additional $300-$500 per month. Scholarship recipients will also be integrated into the Foundation’s educational platform as future diabetes ambassadors.

“The Team Type 1 Foundation exists because everyone with diabetes deserves the right to lead a healthy and productive life,” said Southerland. “In developing countries, that means changing healthcare policy to ensure everyone has access to the medicine and tools they need to survive and thrive. In the U.S it means providing empowerment and inspiration to people with diabetes while also supporting student athletes who absorb the added financial burden of managing diabetes while going through college. Sport is an incredible platform for inspiration and we are very excited to help young athletes pursue their dreams.”

Southerland is the Foundation’s President and Founder, while Dr. Biljana Southerland will serve as Program Director of Medical and Governmental Affairs. Dr. Southerland is a former advisor to the Macedonian Ministry of Health and the architect of Macedonia’s National Diabetes Program, one of the most progressive diabetes care policies in the world.

“More than 371 million people worldwide have diabetes and many are needlessly suffering from preventable complications or even death, simply because they do not have access to the medication or tools necessary to manage their condition,” said Dr. Southerland. “The Team Type 1 Foundation is dedicated to changing these statistics.”

Based in part on the success of the Macedonian program — which fully covers the cost of insulin and glucose testing supplies for everyone in the country living with diabetes — the Team Type 1 Foundation will largely focus on helping developing countries around the world scale the Macedonian model to establish sustainable diabetes care policy.

Starting in Rwanda, a country where seven out of eight people with diabetes die before they are even diagnosed, the Foundation is working with government and healthcare officials to build a long-term solution. This year, the Foundation is donating 1 million test strips and 900 blood glucose monitors, effectively providing a one-year supply for the entire Rwandan population of individuals with type 1 diabetes.

For more information on the Team Type 1 Foundation scholarship guidelines and applications, go to www.teamtype1.org/scholarships

About Team Type 1 Foundation
The Team Type 1 Foundation is a nonprofit organization pursuing a mission of education, empowerment and equal access to medicine for everyone affected by diabetes. Collaborating with governments, healthcare professionals, diabetes experts and individuals living with diabetes around the world, the Team Type 1 Foundation is bridging the gap to access and education through sustainable and economically viable solutions. For more information, go to www.teamtype1.org.

# # #

Media Contact
Katrina Younce
PRO Sports Communications
310-995-3619 – m
katrina@sportspr.com

Campus Special joins in the fight against hunger by offering a “round-up to the nearest dollar” initiative on food delivery.

New Sports Entertainment Network Brings Exclusive NFL Team Video Content to Desktops, Tablets, Smart TVs and Game Consoles for Free

Los Angeles, CA – November 12, 2013 – DeskSite, a free-to-use digital video entertainment network, today announced the official launch of an innovative new app, which is revolutionizing the way college NFL fans can consume online video content.

Richer, faster, and more personalized than websites, these new Big Screen apps — called “DeskSites” — enable instantaneous video playback without any of the buffering, freezing, and frame-dropping associated with web-based video streaming. Essentially a free DVR for the Internet, NFL fans can instantly rewind, fast-forward, and play back video in slow-motion – even when they’re offline.

Instead of smartphones, these special apps have been specifically designed for desktops, laptops, tablets, game consoles, and smart TV’s, and are customized for individual NFL teams. Always free to the end-user, additional features range from audiovisual alerts to viewer content curation control.

Each participating NFL team provides between 25 to 40 hours per month of HD video, much of which is either chronologically or platform exclusive. Current content partners include the reigning Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, St. Louis Rams, and Washington Redskins and Chicago Bears, with more to follow as the season progresses.

“The Jets DeskSite offers fans an entertainment experience unrivaled in the digital space,” said Jeff Fernandez, VP Business Development & Ventures at the New York Jets.

Patriots Publisher and VP of Content, Fred Kirsch, commented, “There’s no question this new technology has earned its place at the digital table and is here to stay.”

“These new Big Screen apps represent a well-balanced combination of great new technology with Must See Video. If you’re an NFL fan, you’re going to want your team’s DeskSite,” said Richard Gillam, DeskSite CEO. Delighted to partner with so many NFL teams, he explains, “There is no entertainment content more monetizable than high-def video from America’s most valuable sports teams, and with our unique ability to target video ads by age & gender, we intend to push the envelope even further.”

To download a DeskSite from one of the aforementioned teams, simply visit their website and look under the “Media” section. For more information about the company, visit www.DeskSite.com

###

About DeskSite
DeskSite is a media company that delivers premium video content through its own proprietary, app-based network.

Press Contacts
Bob Finlayson
Miller PR
323.761.7220
Bob@miller-pr.com

Wendy Zaas
Rogers & Cowan
310-854-8148
Wzaas@rogersandcowan.com

DALLAS, TX – November 11, 2013- A former study abroad student says it’s important to choose the right study abroad program or it could cost you more in the long run.

“You have to think about your major and career needs and goals; not just the adventure,” says Andrea Bouchaud, author of Twenty in Paris: A Young American Perspective of Studying Abroad in Paris. “Studying abroad is more than an experience. It is another investment in your future.”

Bouchaud offers the following tips on what to avoid when choosing a study abroad program.

•Thinking only about the experience. According to a 2013 study from the British Council Education Intelligence, American students tend to choose study abroad programs/locations based on fun and cultural experience and not how the program’s courses and experience will impact their major and their future career goals. When looking at study abroad programs, be sure to think about how studying abroad will meet your major and career needs and goals, not the experience you’ll have abroad, to get the best return possible from this investment in your future.

•Choosing a program based only on your financial situation. Studying abroad can be expensive. However, there are ways to fund it and offset costs such as fundraising websites like kickstarter.com or gofundme.com, using student loans and possibly working abroad. Don’t choose a program that’s not right for your career goals and major needs because it costs less. If the cheaper program does not help your career/major, you will pay more in the long run by staying in school longer and not getting that good paying job.

•Selecting a country only because it speaks your language. Everyone is more comfortable speaking their native language. Not having to adjust to a foreign language while transitioning to life abroad can save a lot of headaches. However, don’t choose a program simply because it’s in a country that speaks your same language. If the program that will benefit you most is in a non-English speaking land, you can linguistically prepare by taking classes and you’ll impress future employers with being bilingual.

•Picking the right country and program. Some students have a preferred country that they want to study abroad in. Sometimes the best choice is not the preferred one. For example, China study abroad programs might be best for business but not fashion design. If your major is fashion design, you need to realize that having studied abroad in Hong Kong is not going to impress future employers in your industry. A program in Paris or Milan would be better as these are fashion capitols known for their fashion/art programs.

•Signing up for the same study abroad program as your friends. Transitioning to a new culture, language and college system can be tough so it’s natural to want to study abroad with friends. If your friends are not the same major and don’t have the same career goals, their program may not be best for you. You can overcome homesickness and loneliness by keeping in contact with friends via Skype, email, text and visits if they are studying abroad in a nearby country.

About Andrea Bouchaud
Twenty in Paris: A Young American Perspective of Studying Abroad in Paris gives students the tools and skills they need to make the most of their study abroad experience. This practical and easy to read guide doesn’t just show students how to prepare for studying abroad- it shows what it is like to be in another country with a new culture, a new language and a new collegiate system away from family and friends for the first time.  For more information, go to twentyinparis.net or http://amzn.to/GStCJM.

###

CONTACT: Andrea Bouchaud, 856-628-7488, twentyinparis@gmail.com

Today, NARAL Pro-Choice America announced a week of action, beginning on Monday, November 11, to raise awareness about misleading “crisis pregnancy centers” (CPCs) that target women in youth communities and communities of color. During this week of action, young pro-choice supporters on college campuses around the country have planned activities aimed at exposing the lies that CPCs spread to put women’s health at risk. Feminist Majority Foundation, campus groups, and NARAL Pro-Choice America’s state affiliates will all collaborate on this CPC information campaign.

Follow the CPC National Week of Action activity on Twitter #CallOutCPCs, Tumblr, and Website.

“Women who seek information about their health-care options deserve honest information – not lies and scare tactics,” said Ilyse Hogue, President of NARAL Pro-Choice America. “’Crisis pregnancy centers’ (CPCs) are fake clinics set up by anti-choice organizations with a mission to deceive and shame women to deter them considering abortion. Anti-choice groups like ‘Option Line’ target young women and women of color through deceptive advertising to lure them to local CPCs. NARAL Pro-Choice America and our allies will expose CPCs and powerful, national anti-choice organizations for lying to women.“

Featured activities during the CPC Week of Action include:

• Campus groups will organize petition gatherings, screenings of 12th and Delaware, and LTE and op-ed submissions on CPCs
• NARAL Pro-Choice America will start a photo blog with what young women have been told by crisis pregnancy center staff
• Supporters will target national groups, like Care Net and Heart Beat International that run Option Line, on social media for helping local CPCs deceive women.

“Fake clinics hurt women by giving them false information, such as abortion leading to breast cancer – which is simply not true,” explained Feminist Majority Foundation President Eleanor Smeal. “Our Feminist Campus program is determined to not only expose fake clinics across the nation, but to make sure women know the multitude of their deceptive practices.”

As of today, NARAL Pro-Choice America and its affiliates conducted undercover investigations in twelve states to raise serious issues with the misinformation espoused at these facilities. In an investigation conducted by the organization’s Virginia affiliate, they obtained audio of women being told everything from birth control causes cancer, condoms are naturally porous, and abortion causes America’s economic problems. Their also report uncovered a funding stream for CPCs to receive state dollars through the purchase of “Choose Life” license plates.