● Project Proposals Must be Received by March 15, 2021.
● The competition is open to graduate-level students who are enrolled full-time with a US-based university or college.
● Institution affiliated to the Winning Entry will Receive $10,000 to Further Advance their Efforts.

Jupiter, FL – January 26, 2021 –– VoLo Foundation, a non-profit organization with a mission to accelerate change and global impact by supporting science-based climate solutions, has opened the registration period for its VoLo VISTA Award competition. The VISTA Award is VoLo Foundation’s award recognition for graduate students who display exemplary leadership in parallel with the five VISTA principles for climate solutions within the state of Florida. The winning individual or team will receive a $10,000 award, made out to the university or college with whom they are affiliated to further develop the project. All project proposals must be received by March 15^th, 2021.  To access the VoLo VISTA Award application, please click HERE or visit www.volofoundation.org/climate-correction/.

The competition is open to graduate-level students who are enrolled full-time with a U.S.-based university or college. All projects must address a climate solution applicable to the state of Florida. Finalists will be invited to present their ideas at the Virtual Climate Correction^TM conference, which will take place April 23^rd, 2021, where VoLo Foundation’s Founders will determine the project that best drives positive change in Florida climate solutions.

“At VoLo Foundation, we are committed to keeping an open conversation about climate change on all fronts, including the new generations,” said Thais Lopez Vogel, co-founder and trustee of VoLo Foundation. “This award competition seeks to assist young leaders in sharing their voice and climate solutions throughout our community. We invite students who are determined to implement and achieve aggressive improvement in Florida’s climate goals to participate.”

Eligibility for 2021 VoLo VISTA Award

VoLo VISTA Award recognizes students determined to implement and achieve aggressive improvement in Florida’s climate goals. Our award seeks to assist young leaders in sharing their voice and climate solutions throughout the community. Applicants of the VoLo VISTA Award program must complete the application questions and meet the following requirements:

● Applicants must be a graduate student enrolled at a U.S.-based university or college. No student may apply for the award during their final year of study unless current team members will be able to continue the project’s work at the institution for the remainder of the 2021-2022 academic year.
● The project must address a climate solution applicable to the state of Florida. 
● The project must validate an achieved data result. I.e., X amount of GHG reduction is achieved with the implementation of this project at Y location for the period of Z years.
● All project proposals must be received by March 15^th, 2021. Finalists will be notified of their acceptance into Climate Correction. NOTE: In order to receive the VoLo VISTA award, finalists must be present during the Virtual Climate Correction Conference. 

The 2019 VoLo VISTA Award winners were Marbelys Garriga, from Florida International University, for her Hybridizing Florida’s Coastline with Mangrove Ecological Infrastructure, and Sarah Swiersz and Mohsina Mahmood, from University of Central Florida, for their project Food Waste Recovery System.

For more information, please follow @VoLoFoundation across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and join the conversation using #VoLoFoundation and #ClimateCorrection.

About Climate Correction^TM
VoLo Foundation’s Climate Correction is a conference and expo dedicated to sharing and collaborating on climate change solutions. Climate Correction’s mission is to educate the public with data about climate change and to empower individuals to make strides toward a renewable and more sustainable future. Climate Correction brings together leading industry experts, researchers, academic faculties, students and the general public in a common goal of sharing ideas, cutting-edge research and innovation, and solutions to accelerate positive global change. The free event will be held virtually on April 23^rd, 2021. For more information visit floridaclimateweek.org/climate-correction-conference

About VoLo Foundation
VoLo Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 2014 with a mission to accelerate change and global impact by supporting science-based climate solutions, enhancing education, and improving health. VoLo Foundation believes that developing and sharing knowledge through facts and data accelerates positive global change. Through original research and analysis, and in collaboration with philanthropic and academic partners, VoLo aims to enrich the lives of individuals, strengthen communities, and educate future generations. The organization tracks its progress using a variety of qualitative and quantitative approaches, and it supports programs that generate measurable, meaningful, and sustainable results.

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Media Contact:
Danixa Lopez
Santa Cruz Communications
305-467-5592
danixa@santacruzpr.com

ERIE, PA (January 25, 2021) – Thomas Sowell: Common Sense in a Senseless World explores the life and work of one of our era’s greatest authors on race, history and economics. The one-hour documentary, hosted by The Wall Street Journal’s Jason Riley, begins streaming on Amazon Prime, YouTube, and www.sowellfilm.com today. It will be airing on public television stations nationwide in February.

“You’re about to meet one of the greatest minds of the past half-century,” said Riley. “His story is both fascinating and illuminating.”

Sowell began his life’s journey in rural North Carolina. As a boy, his family migrated to Harlem, NY, where his intellectual hunger and lifelong love of learning was kick-started with an introduction to the Harlem Library and culminated at the esteemed Hoover Institution. Between Harlem and Hoover, Sowell’s intellectual honesty and quest for facts took him into the Marine’s Combat Camera Corps during the Korean War, then onto Harvard, Columbia University and the University of Chicago for his Ph.D. in economics. He has earned positions at top universities as a professor of economics, was a popular syndicated columnist for 30 years, and has written and published 37 books on a variety of subjects.

The program features insights from Sowell, interviews with colleagues, associates and with those he has inspired, revealing why the intensely private Thomas Sowell is considered by many to be “the smartest person in the room.”

Riley’s new biography on Sowell, Maverick: A Biography of Thomas Sowell, will be published May 25.

Thomas Sowell: Common Sense in a Senseless World is a production of Free To Choose® Media. Tom Jennings is the producer. Thomas Skinner and Rob Chatfield are executive producers. Major funding is provided by L.E. Phillips Family Foundation, Robert and Marion Oster, The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, Inc., DKT Liberty Project, The Charles and Ann Johnson Foundation, Chris and Melodie Rufer.

Visit www.sowellfilm.com to further explore Thomas Sowell and find television show times, photos, screening opportunities, downloadable discussion guide, posters, social media resources and more.

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Media Contact
Marjory Hawkins
(512) 940-2828
mhawkins@hawkinspr.com

Effie Collegiate (U.S.) has announced that Spring Call for Entry is now open for the 2020-21 Effie Collegiate Brand Challenge, presented by Bose. The entry deadline is April 1, 2021.

Modeled after the Effie Awards U.S. competition, the Effie Collegiate program engages tomorrow’s marketers by providing an opportunity to research, ideate, and execute comprehensive marketing plans that address professional-level challenges for established brands.

For the 2020-21 competition, Bose challenges students to develop an integrated holiday campaign to promote the brand’s headphone/earbud innovation, targeted at the Gen Z (18-24) audience.

The Challenge is open to students who are currently enrolled full/part-time at accredited educational institutions, including undergraduate/graduate students, and those enrolled in portfolio programs and online courses. Entries may be submitted by teams of two to four individuals. Fall 2020 entrants may participate in the Spring semester with new team members, though may not submit any previously entered work.

Entries will be reviewed by a jury of industry professionals with diverse experience across client, agency, and media companies, and entrants will receive written feedback from the jury on their work. Selected finalists will have the opportunity to present their work to senior members of the Bose brand team. Bose will award monetary prizes to the teams named First-Place ($3,000) and Runner-Up ($2,000).

Following registration for the competition, participating professors whose students will be entering the competition will receive complimentary access to a selection of Effie Award-winning case studies from the Effie Case database, and to the Effie Collegiate Curriculum, a supplementary resource that professors can utilize to guide students through applying Effie’s Framework for Marketing Effectiveness to their projects.

Visit the Effie Collegiate website for more information, including how to register for the competition and access entry materials.

Please note: We have made modifications to this year’s program to ensure the competition can be facilitated and completed virtually.

Media Contact:
Neha Patil
Effie Worldwide, Inc.
collegiate@effie.org

11 college students from around the country selected; scholarship set to provide opportunities to next generation of gaming leaders

Limited-edition shirt featuring art from Heron Preston to celebrate the recipients goes on sale today at 5PM PT, net proceeds to go into next year’s Foundation

LOS ANGELES (Dec. 17, 2020) – Global esports organization, Gen.G, today announced the first class of recipients for its Gen.G Foundation scholarship. 11 college students from around the country were chosen to receive the scholarship which focuses on supporting women, people of color, and low income students enrolled in a US university or college who are interested in gaming, esports, entrepreneurship, journalism or content creation. Each will receive $10,000 to subsidize their tuition for this academic year, and will be a part of Gen.G’s ongoing programming in 2021 for mentorship and career development.

The recipients (with hometowns) include:

● Tyler Blake (Salinas, Calif.) – Cal State University, Long Beach
● Jaya Deeliore (Saint Louis, Mo.) – Saint Mary’s College/Saint Louis University
● Madison Doss (McDonough, Ga.) – Spelman College
● Nathan Harris (Overland Park, Kans.) – Arizona State University
● Kristina Huang (Stockton, Calif.) – UCLA
● Jordan Mendoza (Glendora, Calif.) – Cal State University, Northridge
● Prem Patel (Russell Springs, Ky.) – University of Kentucky
● Joaquin Pizana (Adrian, Mich.) – Eastern Michigan University
● Madison Sellers (Salt Lake City, Ut.) – University of Utah
● Clayton Sinclair (Atlanta, Ga) – Univ. of California, Irvine
● Deanna Tran (Fort Smith, Ark.) – Univ. of Arkansas at Fayetteville
● A final spot is being held for an international student attending a US college; due to COVID, the student will be selected in early 2021.

“The first-ever Gen.G Foundation class is a very special group; they will be change agents in the gaming world in the years to come,” said Gina Chung Lee, VP of Brand at Gen.G. “The best part of this process was getting to know these students and hearing their stories. We will continue to prioritize building out a diverse and supportive network of people who are passionate about careers in gaming and digital media. More to come in 2021!”

Each of the winners will receive a limited-edition shirt featuring artwork designed by Heron Preston, who serves as Gen.G’s Executive Brand Advisor. Fans can pre-order the t-shirt for $65 today at geng.gg, with net proceeds going into the 2021 Gen.G Foundation Fund.

Earlier this year, Gen.G announced a $1 million commitment to developing the next generation of leaders in the gaming industry, pledging to commit $100,000 annually for 10 years through the establishment of the Gen.G Foundation alongside its partners – Silicon Valley Bank, University of Kentucky, Eastern Michigan University, and Bumble.

About Gen.G
Established in 2017, Gen.G is the only major organization that owns and operates top teams in China, South Korea and the United States. Ranked no. 6 in the inaugural Forbes list of the “World’s Most Valuable Esports Companies,” Gen.G’s core mission is to help fans and athletes use the power of gaming and esports to get ahead in and beyond the competition. The company has quickly become a commercial and thought leader, building a global, inclusive and cross-cultural future for sports entertainment.

United under #TigerNation, Gen.G boasts seven global championships to date among their competitive teams which includes the Seoul Dynasty franchise of the Overwatch League, the LCK world champion team in South Korea, the world’s top all-female Fortnite team, PUBG, CS:GO, Valorant and the NBA 2K League’s historic expansion franchise in Shanghai.  Its widely acclaimed initiatives include #TeamBumble, the leading team platform for the empowerment of women in gaming, and the Gen.G Global Academy, the world’s first fully-integrated academic esports program in Seoul. More information about Gen.G esports and its teams can be found at this link.

Media Contacts:
Gen.G:
GenG@DKCnews.com

Partners Include Adidas, Chanel, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, The Rockefeller Foundation, Tony’s Chocolonely and the Visa Foundation

Non-profit Initiative to Provide Bridge to Success for Black & Latinx Entrepreneurs through The Black Ambition HBCU Prize and The Black Ambition Prize

Los Angeles, CA (December 2, 2020) – Pharrell Williams today announced the launch of Black Ambition, a non-profit initiative that will provide a bridge to success for Black and Latinx entrepreneurs who are launching tech, design, healthcare, and consumer products/services start-ups. Black Ambition is committed to leveling the playing field and fostering the ingenuity, determination, and resilience of underrepresented entrepreneurs. As part of the launch, Williams announced two prize competitions – The Black Ambition HBCU Prize and The Black Ambition Prize – which culminate in one major national event.

“Recent events and tragedies have illustrated the always existent stark divisions in the American experience, and while entrepreneurship has long been a tenet of the American dream, marginalized people have faced long-standing barriers to success,” said Pharrell Williams. “With Black Ambition, the goal is to help strengthen the pipeline of talented entrepreneurs and close the opportunity and wealth gaps derived from limited access to capital and resources.”

In partnership with historically Black colleges and universities (“HBCUs”), The Black Ambition HBCU Prize will offer prizes and mentorship for current and former students at HBCUs as they develop seed or early-stage ideas and launch companies in tech, design, healthcare, and consumer products and services. The grand prize winner will receive up to a $250,000 prize and at least nine additional teams will receive smaller prizes. Teams must include at least one current HBCU undergraduate or graduate student (full-time or part-time), one recent alum within two years of graduation, or one former student within two years of attending the institution who is a member of the founding team. This HBCU-affiliated individual must identify as Black/African/African American and/or Hispanic/Latino/a/Latinx.

The Black Ambition Prize will find, support, and seed early-stage companies in tech, design, healthcare, and consumer products and services. Ventures must have at least one founder or co-founder that identifies as Black/African/African American and/or Hispanic/Latino/a/Latinx. The grand prize winner will receive up to a $1 million prize and at least nine additional teams will receive smaller prizes. For both prizes, a member of the founding team is defined as having a senior role, such as VP or C-level role. The prize will launch with a nationwide call for applications from eligible founder teams. Independent application reviewers will score eligible applications on the strength of their idea, with the strongest applications advancing to the major national event.

In July 2021, the two competitions will culminate in teams competing for these prizes by presenting to luminary judges and investors. In addition to financial awards, the entrepreneurs will receive mentorship and feedback as well as access to peer networks and expert connections. All screened applicants will receive access to online resources, information about business resources, and high-level feedback. Semifinalists will also receive cohort-based mentorship. Finalists will receive personal mentorship, opportunities for media exposure, and introductions to venture capitalists, angel investors, and accelerator partners.

Black Ambition’s long-term vision is for inclusive entrepreneurship to be the new normal. The start-up non-profit initiative will be led by an all-star advisory team that includes Grammy Award-winning recording artist, producer, songwriter, entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist Pharrell Williams, with support from The Bridgespan Group, a global nonprofit organization that advises mission-driven organizations, nonprofits, philanthropists and impact investors. Virgil Abloh, the artist, designer, and philanthropist, is actively involved with the initiative and contributed the Black Ambition logo and identity concept design. Black Ambition is supported by funding from Adidas, Chanel, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, The Rockefeller Foundation, Tony’s Chocolonely and the Visa Foundation. Individual donors include Ron Conway/SV Angel and Jonah Peretti. Mattel is releasing a product created in partnership with Black Ambition in the coming weeks, and Tony’s Chocolonely is making a special Black Ambition chocolate bar with a portion of proceeds from both products benefiting the non-profit initiative. For more information on Black Ambition, competition eligibility, and how to apply, please visit www.blackambitionprize.com  and follow us on Facebook (@blackambitionprize), Twitter (@blackambitionpz) and Instagram (@blackambitionprize). Black Ambition is a fiscal sponsorship project of PolicyLink.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Amanda.Silverman@ledecompany.com
Anna.Bailer@ledecompany.com

Dear College Students,

This year, college life is not at all what you expected it to be. Whether it is your first or last year, and whether you are living at home, in a residence hall, or off-campus, COVID-19 has made your life challenging and disappointing. You are undoubtedly Zoom-weary and tired of all the restrictions. You look forward to getting back to normal, or at least a healthier and safer “new normal.”

Throughout this Fall, many campuses and/or surrounding communities have had COVID-19 outbreaks. More often than not, people are quick to blame the students. Students, they said, have off campus parties, don’t physically distance, and don’t consistently wear masks. While sometimes that is true, I know it is disheartening for most of you, particularly since the vast majority of students follow the public health guidelines and genuinely care about the health and safety of themselves and others. As we enter the Thanksgiving and holiday season, you may wish there was something that you could do to reduce your personal risk, protect the health of your family and friends, and send a positive, health-affirming message to your campus community (and your country). Well, there is. The American College Health Association is asking for your help and leadership as we move through this pandemic:

● Take the time now to develop a health and safety plan to reduce your personal risk and protect the health of your family and friends. If you don’t know where to start, review ACHA’s brief “Considerations for Institutions of Higher Education as Students Return Home” at https://www.acha.org/documents/Resources/COVID_19/ACHA_Brief_Considerations_for_IHEs_as_Students_Return_Home_10.29.2020.pdf.

● Consider staying on campus and not traveling for Thanksgiving. If you have an option to remain on campus or in the surrounding college community, do so. It will reduce the risk of spreading the virus to both you and your family and friends at home. This is particularly important if you have loved ones who are elderly and/or have significant risk factors for COVID-19. You will have many future holiday seasons during better and safer times. Consider a “Friendsgiving” on campus instead.

● If you do plan to travel, reduce the number of people with whom you have close contact prior to the trip. Any interactions with persons outside of your campus household or “living cohort” will increase your risk of illness. The more you can stay away from others, the safer you are to travel and arrive at home.

● If you are sick or exposed, do not travel. This is simple and vitally important. Follow the guidance from your healthcare provider regarding recommended isolation and quarantine periods. Do not travel until it can be done safely.

● Get an influenza vaccination (flu shot) prior to travel. While the COVID-19 vaccine is not yet available, influenza is preventable. Please don’t say “Happy Thanksgiving, Mom” or “Season’s Greetings, Grandpa” with the “gift” of the flu. Like COVID-19, influenza presents a major risk to the elderly and persons with high-risk conditions.

● Get tested before you leave. While it is not foolproof and only represents a single moment in time, if surveillance testing is available to you (check with your college health service), getting tested before you leave makes sense.

● While traveling, follow CDC and public health guidelines to reduce your risk of infection. Reduce the number of stops on the trip. Take a direct flight if possible, and if driving, pack food/snacks for the trip. Wear a mask, frequently wash your hands, and carry and use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Sit as far apart from other travelers as possible. Carefully wipe down common surfaces with disinfecting wipes in the plane or vehicle in which you are traveling. Choose a window seat if possible and open the overhead air vents to increase circulation. If driving with others, wear a mask and, if weather permits, open the windows.

● After arrival home, consider a modified self-quarantine for 14 days. Yes, this is a tough one. But it is particularly important if there are elderly family members or persons at home with high-risk conditions, and/or if there is a high prevalence of COVID-19 on or around the campus prior to leaving for home. “Modified” self-quarantine means eating meals in a private space or outdoors, with family at least 6 feet apart; using separate utensils, glasses, and plates; if possible, using a separate bathroom from other family members; avoiding physical contact including hugging, kissing, and shaking hands; wearing a mask and maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet when in the presence of others; and restricting movement within and outside the home. These are short-term sacrifices that can have a significant impact on long-term health and safety.

● Maximize ventilation and reduce numbers at family events. If you must eat indoors, open windows (as much as weather allows) and get cross ventilation. If possible, bundle up and eat outside.

● Pay careful attention to the mental health of yourself and others. Reach out for help or guidance from your primary care provider, psychologist/mental health clinician, or your college health and counseling center if you, a friend or a family member are feeling depressed, anxious or hopeless over the holidays. COVID-19 has taken a tremendous toll on the physical and mental health of our entire nation, and indeed our planet. But help is available if you ask.

● Become a vaccine advocate. Learn as much as you can about the efficacy and safety of the vaccines for SARS CoV-2 (the virus that causes the disease COVID-19) and tell family and friends what you have learned. When your priority group is selected to receive the vaccine, get vaccinated.

The holidays are an important time to reconnect with those you love, but please do so safely. You have much to offer in the weeks and months ahead. Ask good questions, keep learning, and lead by example. You are the future of this nation and we are proud of you.

Yours in health,
Michael Huey, MD

Michael Huey, MD is the Interim CEO of the American College Health Association and a former Associate Professor of Family and Preventive Medicine at the Emory University School of Medicine.

The American College Health Association is a national nonprofit association serving as the nation’s principal leadership organization for advancing the health of college students and campus communities through advocacy, education, and research. For more information, visit www.acha.org.

Media Contact
Rachel Mack
rmack@acha.org
(443) 270-4560

MENLO PARK, CA. Oct. 28, 2020 — Quicken, maker of America’s best-selling personal finance software, is partnering with universities to offer Simplifi, its award-winning finance app, to alumni.

Named “best budgeting app” by The New York Times’ Wirecutter, Simplifi is the easy, modern way to stay on top of your money. Simplifi provides an elegantly simple interface to help people see all their finances in one place, better manage their spending, maximize savings, keep their bills and subscriptions in check, and get the insights needed to reach their financial goals with confidence. The app is flexible and customizable, offers positive reinforcement, and delivers an ad-free experience.

Leading-edge alumni associations who are proactively seeking to deliver tangible value to their alumni have become early adopters of the program. These forward-looking partners, which collectively claim nearly 2 million alumni across the country, include the alumni associations from the University of Texas at Austin, James Madison University, University of Michigan, University of Mississippi, University of Oregon and SUNY Buffalo State College.

“The earlier you start paying attention to your finances, the better off you’ll be in the long term,” said Quicken chief executive officer Eric Dunn. “Between the pandemic and the recession, this rising generation is facing significant challenges in establishing their financial lives with confidence. Our partnership with these leading alumni programs will give their graduates a head start on staying on top of their finances and reaching their financial goals.”

The UT Austin Texas Exes Alumni Program was the first to partner with Quicken on this program. “There are a lot of challenges that come with becoming financially independent — balancing your income and spending, paying down student debt, and figuring out how to achieve your financial and life goals,” said Chuck Harris, executive director for the Texas Exes. “Simplifi is perfect for managing your money, while being very simple and intuitive to use. We’re thrilled to be offering it to our alumni, particularly our recent grads who are looking for contemporary ways to manage their money.”

As a trusted market leader for over 30 years, Quicken has helped 17 million customers track their budgets and achieve their financial goals. Simplifi aggregates data from more than 14,000 financial institutions, so you have a snapshot of all your accounts, including banking, credit cards, bills, loans, investments and more. Simplifi lets you see what you have left to spend or save, after paying your bills, and offers you valuable insights to help you make better financial decisions.

Some of Simplifi’s key differentiators include:

● Watchlists – Keep an eye on what you care about by easily grouping spend into categories like kids, pets, household and transportation, to name a few.
● Projected Balances – Easily project balances and stay on top of recurring bills and expenses, so you can track against what is left to spend or save each month.
● Savings Goals – Maximize your savings by creating and tracking progress against an unlimited number of short- and long-term savings goals, such as a vacation, new home or vehicle, or that hot tub you’ve been eyeing.

Simplifi is available through the App Store, Google Play, and on the web. More information is available at www.simplifimoney.com.

Quicken invites other alumni associations to join the University Program. More information is available at: https://www.quicken.com/universities.

About Quicken:
Quicken is the #1 personal finance software in the US. For over 30 years, customers have relied on Quicken to manage all their finances, so they can lead healthy financial lives. In 2016, Quicken, formerly part of Intuit, became an independent company. Its desktop and cloud product suite includes a family of products that cater to different financial needs and device preferences — Quicken Starter Edition, Quicken Deluxe, Quicken Premier, and Quicken Home & Business, all of which can sync with Quicken’s website and mobile apps — as well as Simplifi for mobile and web. Simplifi, named the “best budgeting app” by The New York Times’ Wirecutter, is designed to help a new generation of mobile-first customers easily stay on top of their finances. Over 17 million people have used a Quicken product to manage their finances. Learn more at www.quicken.com.

Media Contact:
press@quicken.com

App connects physical fitness, mental health, sleep, nutrition and more in a fun and easy-to-use way

(Las Vegas, NV) – October 20, 2020 – Verv, a global holistic health and wellness app focused on the interconnections between physical activity, nutrition, sleep and mindfulness, today announced a free three-month subscription to its app available for all U.S. college students on the iOS platform. For other users, a 3-month Premium subscription costs $29.99. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 39%* of students in college experienced a significant mental health issue and experts predict this number will increase while Boston University reports** the depression rate has tripled among U.S. adults. As students return to campus with increased stress and anxiety, Verv understands the critical need to support this group.

New college users will get full access to a range of workouts, guided meditations, recipes including budget-friendly snack ideas, relaxing sounds for studying or sleeping, and more. The offer has no hidden fees or strings attached, and doesn’t require any billing information. To start the free 3-month subscription, students just need to submit their college email address at www.verv.com/students and they will get an email with activation instructions.

“It’s part of Verv’s brand values to give back to the community and we’re focused on helping people maintain a healthier lifestyle and combat stress and anxiety due to current events,” said CEO Luba Pashkovskaya. “Our hope is that hundreds of thousands of young adults take advantage of this free offer and join our community.”

Verv app highlights include:

● A wide variety of workouts including everything from yoga and running to interval workouts, resistance band fitness, dance fitness and more.
● 400 vegan, keto and other recipes and meal planning tips
● More than 40 meditations
● 1,000 workout music playlists
● 100 ASMR, sleep stories and sounds
● Available on App store and coming soon to Android

Verv is a top-rated app and all content is created by professionals with deep experience in fitness and technology. App downloads continue to increase at an unprecedented pace, emphasizing the want and need for quality health and wellness programming during this uncertain time.

“Now is the time to put your well-being first. Even just a few minutes a day can have a profound impact on your college experience and life,” said Verv’s Wellness Expert, Dr. Dominique Gummelt, who is also the Director of University Wellness at Andrews University.

Visit www.verv.com/students for more information or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

About Verv
Verv is a global holistic health and wellness app focused on the interconnections between physical activity, nutrition, sleep and mindfulness. While many other apps are focused on physical fitness only, Verv users get additional guidance related to other areas of their health and lifestyle. The Verv app customizes wellness programs via an onboarding quiz and continuous analysis of user behavior to create better and faster results. Whether you’re a fitness fanatic, nutrition novice or master meditator, Verv’s approach can help anyone achieve results in a healthy and holistic way. Monthly, 3-month or one-year subscriptions are available on Apple iOS. Visit www.Verv.com for more information or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Media Contact
Kim Mackenzie
Hollywood Agency for Verv
kim@hollywoodagency.com
(781) 749-0077 x24

*Source: Active Minds
**Source: Boston University

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Partners in Digital Health (PDH), publishers of Blockchain in Healthcare Today (BHTY) and Telehealth and Medicine Today (TMT) gold open access journals has launched its new University Council Initiative. The program is intended for university departments in engineering, computer science, health informatics, health policy, medicine, blockchain technology and telehealth.

Many university programs require students to publish papers in peer review journals. Academia is the ultimate incubator for innovation and pioneering discovery. PDH would like to assist stimulating and amplifying the academic experience through its journal portfolio. BHTY is the world’s first peer reviewed journal amplifying and disseminating distributed ledger technology research and innovations in the healthcare sector. TMT is a leading open access journal examining the value of telehealth and clinical automation from medical, technical, policy, economic and strategic perspectives. Both journals time stamp research articles on the blockchain and authors are given a custom dashboard to enhance research collaboration and citations.

The University Council Initiative includes university faculty participation creating a academic review board where manuscripts submitted by students are reviewed and if accepted, published in the journals – qualifying for the annual Editor’s Choice award, webinar, or published interview, press release, social media promotion and creation of a journal university chapter. The journals will provide a capped and significantly reduced APC for an unlimited number of accepted papers. Peer review will be rigorous. Journals must be included in the university e-Journal database (there is no subscription fee).

Additionally, the journals host the annual global ConVerge2Xcelerate (#ConV2X) 2020 conference. The theme this year is “US-World Health Transformation.” Teladoc Health and McKinsey & Company will be giving keynote addresses on Day 1, November 10, 2020. The event includes multinational executives, pioneers and leading academics transforming healthcare around the globe. The conference is free to registrants this year. Students are encouraged to participate. For agenda details and world renowned speakers, visit https://conv2x-2020.eventcreate.com/

Finally, BHTY will be publishing manuscripts accepted by the Technology Innovate challenge. This initiative promotes novel innovations in effort to accelerate change in the healthcare industry. The competition invites evidence based submissions of original research focused on distributed ledger technologies that transform and disrupt ecosystem inefficiency to tackle societal issues impacting health. Technology Innovate was created to nurture and groom innovators, researchers in the sector. Submissions can include new blockchain architectures and applications for a trusted and personalized approach to medicine in health systems around the globe. Six evaluators will review manuscripts to determine eligibility for publication in a Special Issue of Blockchain in Healthcare Today (BHTY). Competition evaluator Ingrid Vasiliu-Feltes, MD, MBA stated “telemedicine and blockchain are two key drivers of healthcare transformation in the digital era. Through knowledge sharing, education and promoting innovation we can all contribute to redesigning and reshaping the healthcare system of the future. It is my distinct honor to participate as a judge in this contest as I believe in supporting innovation and creativity that can optimize global health.”

For details including awards, visit Technology Innovate at
https://www.technologyinnovate.com/index or email info@technologyinnovate.com

About
Converge2Xcelerate (ConV2X) challenges audiences to demonstrate the viability and economic impact of blockchain technology, telehealth, and edge technologies in the healthcare sector. Top world authorities share business cases, pilots, and scaled use scenarios where outcomes and business models are assessed. Curated and produced by Partners in Digital Health (PDH), the portfolio also publishes the open access peer reviewed journals Blockchain in Healthcare Today and Telehealth and Medicine Today. The portfolio converges leading multidisciplinary stakeholders around the globe to accelerate healthcare transformation and better outcomes for health consumers worldwide, bringing trust, transparency, and truth to its audience.

Media Contact
Tory Cenaj
Partners in Digital Health
t.cenaj@partnersindigitalhealth.com
(203) 243-3063