Author Archives: uwirepr

Don’t Wait – Vaccinate

This week is National Influenza Vaccination Week and Friday, December 10 is Young Adult Vaccination Day. Young adults were hit particularly hard by the H1N1 flu virus that caused so much illness last flu season. This virus is expected to continue circulating during the 2010-2011 flu season, along with other influenza viruses.

Below is an article drafted by CDC that highlights the importance of vaccination for Young Adults. You are welcome to reprint the article in your publication.

Don’t Wait – Vaccinate

This year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending flu vaccination for everyone 6 months of age and older. Even healthy adults 19 through 24 years of age should get vaccinated.

Life can get pretty hectic sometimes. Whether it’s school, work, or your social life, you probably think you have other, more important things to do than get vaccinated against the flu. Last season, the flu attacked adults 19-24 years of age much more than usual, which resulted in missed classes, missed work, and far worse–trips to the ER, hospitalization, or even death.

Fortunately, there’s a quick and easy way for you to protect yourself, and to keep from spreading the flu to friends and family. Get a flu vaccine. One shot or nasal spray will help protect you against the three strains of virus predicted to cause illness this season—including the 2009 H1N1 strain, which is still circulating.

If you think you don’t have time to get vaccinated, think again! It’s easier than ever to get a flu vaccine. And if you ’re healthy, you can get the nasal spray if you’re afraid of needles! You usually don’t even need a doctor’s appointment. Most pharmacies, drugstores, and supermarkets offer walk-in clinics that are usually very quick and have convenient hours. In addition, most university clinics offer free or reduced-price flu vaccination for students. But the longer you wait, the longer the lines are likely to be. Flu vaccine is now available in various locations. So don’t wait–vaccinate.

The few minutes it will take you to get a flu vaccine is much shorter than the days you might have to take off from school, work, or both if you get sick with the flu. It takes about two weeks to build immunity against flu, so it’s important to act now in order to be fully protected by the time flu outbreaks begin. By immunizing yourself against flu you’ll help protect your family, friends, classmates, and co-workers, too.

EFFIE ANNOUNCES CALL FOR ENTRIES FOR 2ND ANNUAL COLLEGIATE COMPETITION

NEW YORK (Dec. 8, 2010) – Effie Worldwide, which recognizes, encourages and provides education on effectiveness among the marketing communications industry, today announced its call for entries for the second annual Collegiate Effie Competition.

Expanding on last year’s inaugural competition, undergraduate college students will have the opportunity to select from two challenges in 2011. Heineken USA, who jointly developed and launched the competition in 2010, will task students age 21 and older with developing a program that addresses the importance of responsible activities related to drinking in a public service announcement (PSA) campaign.

New this year will be a brand challenge in which students will have the opportunity to submit a launch campaign for MINI USA’s newest model, the MINI Countryman.

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Modeled after the Effie North America competition, the Collegiate Effie competition will give undergraduate students a chance to create marketing communication cases that address real world challenges for real world marketers,” said Mary Lee Keane, President of Effie Worldwide. “We are lucky to have such innovative partners in Heineken USA and MINI USA, as they are open to new perspectives and creative ideas for their respective brands.”

Reinforcing Personal Responsibility: Heineken USA Public Service Challenge

For the second consecutive year, the public service announcement challenge will feature responsibility initiatives led by Heineken USA. In the 2011 program, entrants will be challenged to create a campaign that will encourage adult consumers to learn, understand, download and use the Taxi Magic mobile application as an innovative option to secure a safe ride home after an evening out and avoid drinking and driving. In order to be eligible to participate in the PSA Challenge, students must be 21 or older by January 1, 2011 and currently enrolled full time in an undergraduate program.

“We were encouraged by the strong response to last year’s program and felt it was important to continue to play a part in the personal and social education of today’s college students,” said Dan Tearno, senior vice president and chief corporate relations officer, Heineken USA. “At the heart of our corporate values is a belief that we have an important role to play in promoting and ensuring responsible behavior related to alcohol consumption. This program allows us to tap into some of the brightest new minds in advertising to ensure that we continue to effectively spread awareness around this issue.”

Experiencing a Product Launch: MINI USA Brand Challenge

The inaugural Collegiate Effie Brand Challenge will focus on the January 2011 U.S. launch of the MINI Countryman, the first 4-door, available all-wheel drive vehicle to join the MINI family. Undergraduate students will be challenged to create an integrated, multi-channel marketing campaign that drives awareness and consideration of the Countryman among 20- to 30-year-olds.

“Our partnership with the Effie Collegiate Program helps identify future marketing leaders while offering fresh insight and ways to effectively reach and engage with the next generation of MINI enthusiasts,” said Trudy Hardy, Head of MINI Marketing, MINI USA. “Effies’ holistic and strategic marketing approach provides students the platform for developing solid ideas, and we anticipate bringing some of their ideas to life into the MINI Countryman marketing efforts.”

Qualifying campaigns will be reviewed and judged by industry professionals representing expertise in various disciplines, including creative, strategic planning, media strategy, branding, marketing and social media. Finalists in both competitions will have the opportunity to present their programs to senior members of the corporate sponsors’ marketing teams.

Entries for both competitions are due no later than March 3, 2011. Judging will occur in April and presentations will be in May.

To download the 2011 entry kits, visit www.effie.org/collegiate

About Effie Worldwide

Effie Worldwide stands for effectiveness in marketing communications, spotlighting marketing ideas that work and encouraging thoughtful dialogue about the ever-changing marketing industry. The Effie network works with some of the top research and media organizations worldwide to bring its audience relevant and first-class insights into effective marketing strategy. This has taken shape in webinars, white papers, global conferences, winner showcases and more.

The Effie Awards are known by advertisers and agencies globally as the pre-eminent award in the industry, and recognize any and all forms of marketing communication that contribute to a brand’s success. Since 1968, winning an Effie has become a global symbol of achievement. Today, Effie celebrates effectiveness worldwide with the Global Effie, the Euro Effie, the Middle East / North Africa Effie and more than 40 national Effie programs. For more details, visit www.effie.org. Follow @effieawards on Twitter for updates on Effie information, programs and news.

About Heineken USA

Heineken USA Inc., the nation’s premier beer importer, is a subsidiary of Heineken International BV, which is the world’s most international brewer. European brands imported into the U.S. include Heineken Lager, the world’s most international beer brand; Heineken Light; Amstel Light, a leading imported light beer brand; Newcastle Brown Ale, the leading imported ale in the United States; and Buckler non-alcoholic brew. Heineken USA is also the exclusive USA importer for the Tecate, Tecate Light, Dos Equis, Sol, Carta Blanca and Bohemia brands from Mexico. For a safe ride home, download the Heineken USA-sponsored Taxi Magic™ application from your smartphone at taximagic.heineken.com. Please visit www.EnjoyHeinekenResponsibly.com.

MINI in the US

MINI is an independent brand of the BMW Group. In the United States, MINI USA operates as a business unit of BMW of North America, LLC which has been present in the United States since 1975. Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, a strategic design consultancy in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group’s global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all X5 and X3 Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 Sports Activity Coupes. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car centers, 336 BMW Sports Activity Vehi cle centers, 143 BMW motorcycle retailers, 100 MINI passenger car dealers, and 31 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the Internet at: www.bmwgroupna.com

Apple’s Intolerant “Tolerance”

In Steve Jobs’ world, traditional marriage is “offensive to large groups of people.”

At least, that’s what his Apple PR department told half a million Christians – signers of the pro-life, pro-marriage, pro-religious freedom Manhattan Declaration, whose app the company pulled from its app store just last week.

The app, originally awarded a 4+ “no objectionable material” rating by Apple, was removed over the protests of some 7,000 petitioners on “anti-gay, anti-choice” charges (this despite 30,000+ concerned consumers who in fewer than 24 hours signed a counter-petition to reinstate the app to Apple’s online store).

This puts the Manhattan Declaration in the inestimable company of other Apple-banned apps such as the disturbingly violent Baby Shaker game, Wobble’s boob-jingling app, the anti-Muslim iSlam Mohammed (curiously, the anti-Christian BibleThumper app remains in the App Store), and numerous other applications depicting graphic sexual content.

Is it just me, or does something seem awfully inconsistent here?

What’s most puzzling about Apple’s reversal of company policy is that if you actually read the Manhattan Declaration, it’s hard to find anything in the statement of conscience that could even be construed as “hate speech.” Rather, the document explicitly affirms the “profound, inherent and equal dignity” of all human beings – gays and straights alike.

It’s saddening to know that a reputable company like Apple – one whose very innovations espouse the virtues of an open, networked society – would choose to stifle reasoned and civil discussion of faith-based, cultural beliefs. After all, disagreement over the definition of traditional marriage isn’t “hate” any more than the 2,000-year-old teachings of mainstream Christianity are “offensive.”

Surely, Apple has the right to decide what to and what not to offer on its store. But Apple’s selective, subjective censorship of apps like the Manhattan Declaration’s should give us pause.

In the end, the debate over Apple’s unfounded decision to remove the Manhattan Declaration app isn’t just about one app and the so-called controversy surrounding it. It’s not even about political correctness and Apple’s disproportionate response to this should-be non-issue. It’s about honoring the value of free speech and openness to ideas on which our culture and nation were founded.

Wouldn’t it be great if Apple practiced the same kind of free-market, democratic ideals that allowed them to rise to the pinnacle of the technology industry?

Too bad there’s not an app for that.

This opinion piece was written by Chandler Epp, a senior at Georgia Institute of Technology majoring in International Affairs and Spanish. You can reach him at chandler.epp@gatech.edu.

Fastweb survey finds that college tuition tops students’ holiday wish list; expired calendars and eggstractors round out the bottom

MAYNARD, Mass., December 6, 2010 – As the holidays approach, many Americans are flocking to malls and scouring online stores for gifts for teenagers, who are notorious for being difficult to shop for– or are they? Fastweb, owned by Monster Worldwide, Inc., parent company of Monster.com®, the leading job matching engine (NYSE: MWW), recently surveyed its members to ask, “What gift do you want most for the holidays?,” and found that more than half of the respondents wanted money for college.

“Every year more teenagers are worried about paying for college, and there are many ways their friends and relatives can help,” said Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of Fastweb and nationally recognized expert on student financial aid. “For the holidays, friends and family can contribute to the student’s 529 college savings plan and help them search for scholarships. Every dollar saved or won is a dollar less the student will need to borrow to pay for their education.”

Fastweb surveyed 527 high school and college students, and found that only 12% wanted the newest technology gadgets for the holidays and 6% were thinking big and wanted a new car. While 20% wanted gift certificates, more than twice as many respondents (54%) were hoping for money for college. As a top web site for scholarship and financial aid information, one in three college-bound seniors visit Fastweb looking for financial assistance for school.

Giving the gift of money for college also saves loved ones from the embarrassment of giving a disappointing gift. Fastweb asked its users, “What is the worst gift you’ve ever received?,” and got some entertaining responses. The Fastweb “Top Ten Worst Gifts” hall of fame, made up of actual survey responses, include:

  • A wooden stick doll without any eyes.
  • An Eggstractor.
  • A used led pencil.
  • Toilet paper.
  • A can of sardines.
  • Coal.
  • A calendar for 2009 that was given in December 2009.
  • Q-tips.
  • A box of gum.
  • A dead mouse.

Other statistics from the Fastweb poll revealed that besides wanting money for college, some of the “most wanted” gift trends this holiday season include tablets, laptops, popular cell phones, MP3 players, and gaming systems. Also, 51% of respondents planned on working this holiday season, either to save money for college or holiday shopping, compared to 36% who either did not have time to work or did not want to work.

Since its launch as the first free scholarship matching site in 1995, Fastweb has helped more than 50 million users looking for a way to pay for college*. Fastweb offers personalized scholarship matches, internship and entry-level job opportunities, and expert financial aid advice at one convenient, online location

About Monster Worldwide
Monster Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: MWW), parent company of Monster, the premier global online employment solution for more than a decade, strives to inspire people to improve their lives. With a local presence in key markets in North America, Europe, and Asia, Monster works for everyone by connecting employers with quality job seekers at all levels and by providing personalized career advice to consumers globally. Through online media sites and services, Monster delivers vast, highly targeted audiences to advertisers. Monster Worldwide is a member of the S&P 500 index. To learn more about Monster’s industry-leading products and services, visit www.monster.com. More information about Monster Worldwide is available at www.about-monster.com.

About Fastweb
Fastweb is the nation’s recognized leader in helping students pay for school, by providing scholarship and financial aid information, as well as information on jobs and internships. One out of three college-bound seniors use the site, and more than 50 million* members have benefited from Fastweb’s information and services. Fastweb lets students create a personalized profile that can be matched against its expansive databases of colleges and scholarships. As the oldest and most popular free online scholarship matching service, the database has more than 1.5 million scholarships totaling over $3.4 billion.
*9 million are active users of the site

Press Contact
Zora Falkowski
617-897-8247
Zora.Falkowski@porternovelli.com

ScholarGamers.com Expands Offering to College Students

HOLMDEL, N.J. (December 6, 2010) – Calling all co-eds. Recognizing the ongoing burden of college costs, ScholarGamers.com has expanded its audience and invited college students to participate in its scholarship competitions at the start of the new year. The innovative platform offers online game enthusiasts the chance to compete in various no fee online games to win educational scholarships.

Effective January 1, 2011, anyone enrolled or registered in a college, university, trade school or other institution of post secondary education at the start of the competition session can compete in the monthly ScholarGamers.com tournaments.

“The financial burden of college is long lasting. It begins well before the applications are filled out, continuing through the education process and long after a college degree is conferred,” said Angelo Tartaro, CEO and Founder, ScholarGamers.com.

“We are pleased to offer ScholarGamers.com as a supplement for matriculated students who are looking to finance their education.”

Launched in November, ScholarGamers.com offers a novel solution to escalating educational costs by giving students an opportunity to win scholarships via a free flash game competition.

ScholarGamers.com offers scholarships of up to $5,000, deposited into a 529 plan for each designated winner. While individuals of all ages can play games on the site, up until now only high school students ages 13-19 were eligible to compete for scholarship money. Competitors are only eligible to win once. ScholarGamers.com will award 144 scholarships in 2011.
About ScholarGamers.com

ScholarGamers.com is an innovative platform offering middle-, high-school and college students a chance to compete for educational scholarships through no-fee online game competitions. Simple in concept and elaborate in reward, ScholarGamers.com doesn’t limit scholarships to those with the usual special skills. Developed as a response to escalating educational costs, ScholarGamers.com’s secure environment fosters a sense of pride, accomplishment and fun. For more information, please visit www.scholargamers.com, www.facebook.com/scholargamers, www.twitter.com/scholargamers or www.youtube.com/scholargamers.

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Contact

Abby Berman

The Rosen Group

646.695.7043

VISINE® HELPS COLLEGE STUDENTS QUICKLY BANISH RED EYE

INTRODUCING VISINE® MAXIMUM REDNESS RELIEF FORMULA

MORRIS PLAINS, NJ (November 29, 2010) – For college students the end of the year brings more: more papers, more projects and certainly more parties. With the holidays (and finals!) approaching, it’s hard to find time to get enough rest. Now no matter why they were up all night, VISINE® Maximum Redness Relief Formula will make sure every college student’s red, irritated eyes don’t betray them in the morning – or distract them from the task at hand!

Red eyes impact not only how people feel about their own looks, but they also have been shown to impact how people view each other. In a national survey* of adults, 38% thought people with red eyes look hung over and 20% found them to be unattractive. Whether it’s from working, studying or finally taking time to let loose, the last thing anyone wants is to look like a mess on campus (and in front of their professors!).

New! VISINE® Maximum Redness Relief Formula features a fast acting redness reliever that GETS THE RED OUT™ in seconds, coupled with the exclusive HYDROBLEND® Formula to soothe irritation and provide up to ten hours of comfort. Now available in a range of VISINE® products, HYDROBLEND® Formula acts like natural tears to provide long-lasting moisturization and protect against further irritation.

VISINE® Maximum Redness Relief Formula ($5.99 for ½ FL OZ) is available nationwide now at food, drug and mass merchandisers.

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About VISINE®
VISINE® has an arsenal of eye care products that provide relief of redness as well as irritation due to dryness, fatigue, seasonal allergies & more. Whether you’re working hard or playing hard, trust VISINE® to help your eyes keep up with your life.

Contact:
INK & ROSES
Christi Maple
646-306-9311
christi@inkandroses.com

STUDY REVEALS TOP 10 MOST ROCKING U.S. CITIES

SAN FRANCISCO – November 18, 2010 – Austin, Texas, the self-proclaimed live-music capital of the world, topped a new list of top cities in the U.S. for seeing live rock music, according to a study conducted by Songkick (www.songkick.com). The top ranking is based on the number of live rock shows per capita.

Songkick is the live music and technology company that connects music fans with their favorite artists on tour, so fans never have to miss another show. The new study ranking Austin as a top rock city is based on Songkick’s analysis of artist, concert, festival and venue information from hundreds of sources.

Songkick data shows Austin has more rock concerts than any other city in the U.S. per capita, and the average cost per rock ticket there is $23.30. Madison is the second-ranked music city for rock, at an average rock ticket cost of $13.05. Both cities are college towns that support University of Texas at Austin and University of Wisconsin–Madison. Portland steals the show as the cheapest place to rock with an average ticket price of just $10.33. Glitzy Las Vegas ranks as the most expensive place to see a rock show with an average ticket price of $62.76.

The ten most rocking cities in the U.S. by number of live rock shows per capita include:

  • Austin, Texas – 100 Rock Score; average ticket price of $23.30
  • Madison, Wisconsin – 78 Rock Score; average ticket price of $13.05
  • New Orleans, Louisiana – 57 Rock Score; average ticket price of $16.89
  • Las Vegas, Nevada – 51 Rock Score; average ticket price of $62.76
  • Denver, Colorado – 44 Rock Score; average ticket price of $33.24
  • Milwaukee, Wisconsin – 38 Rock Score; average ticket price of $17.66
  • The Twin Cities (St. Paul and Minneapolis), Minnesota – 36 Rock Score; average ticket price of $11.36
  • Seattle, Washington – 35 Rock Score; average ticket price of $11.75
  • Portland, Oregon – 35 Rock Score; average ticket price of $10.33
  • Nashville, Tennessee – 34 Rock Score; average ticket price of $20.13

The full list and charts of Top 10 cities in the U.S. for rock music can be found here. (URL: www.songkick.com/blog/2010/11/18/top-10-cities-for-live-rock-music)

To compute the Rock Score, Songkick analyzed its database of more than 1.8 million concerts for rock artists’ 2010 tour dates, where rock includes alternative, indie, punk, classic rock, metal, emo, and rock. Songkick analyzed which cities have the most rock concerts per capita, giving the top city, Austin, a score of 100. All other cities are then ranked against this score—Madison has 78% as many rock concerts per capita as Austin, New Orleans 57%, and so on.

The study also analyzed concert data from 2007-2010 for major touring acts like Ben Harper, Pearl Jam, Iron Maiden and also for the long tail of smaller acts that make their living and build a following on the road. The analysis found that the long tail of artists has had the fastest increase in tour dates per year over the past four years, while the most popular acts have had a relatively constant number of tour dates per year. Top data showed:

  • In 2007 the top quartile (major touring acts) had an average of 30 gigs; in 2010 they had an average of 31 gigs
  • In 2007 the bottom quartile (long tail of smaller acts) had an average of 22 gigs; in 2010 they had an average of 38 gigs

Songkick divided artists into quartiles based on their popularity. Songkick used its internal popularity ranking, which is based on the number of users who are tracking the artist and want to see them live.

Songkick found that the band with the most total tour dates from 2007 to 2010: All Time Low, with 508 shows (more than one every three days).

“We believe Austin and Madison rank the highest because they have large collegiate populations with a huge appetite for live music. Austin and Madison both have hundreds of venues that can host many touring rock acts for lower prices,” said Ian Hogarth, Songkick CEO and co-founder. “We think the uptick of smaller, long-tail bands touring in more places than ever before, is a result of a growing awareness of these bands via the Internet.”

Fans can also use Songkick to share information, photos, setlists and reviews with friends across popular social networking sites.

“There’s a huge appetite for live music,” said Mike McGuire, vice president, Media Research of Gartner. “But consumers can’t satisfy that appetite if they don’t know about the shows, which is why connecting touring acts with paying fans is so important. Reliable online concert information is a must-have component for almost any music-related online service, from paid music subscription services to download stores, music news sites and social networks.”

About Songkick
Songkick, the home for live music on the web, is now the second largest live music destination after LiveNation. Recognized by Billboard Magazine as one of the Top 10 Digital Music Startups of 2010 and voted Best Innovation in BT’s 2010 Digital Music Awards, Songkick makes it easy for fans to track concerts for their favorite artists so they never miss them live. Songkick aggregates artist, concert, festival, venue, and ticket information from across 60 countries, so fans can receive personalized alerts for upcoming shows in their town and find the cheapest tickets. Fans can use Songkick to share concerts on other social networks, and add photos, setlists, and reviews after the show. Songkick’s live music information is distributed across a network of partners including YouTube, Vevo, and The Hype Machine through their API.

Songkick is backed by Index Ventures and Y Combinator, as well as angels from the technology and music industries. Please visit www.songkick.com for more info.

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Media Contact:

For Songkick
June Parina, 415-533-3565
June@sparkpr.com

Sodexo Campus Food Waste Tracking Shows Dramatic Reduction in Kitchen Waste Stop Wasting Food Campaign

Stop Wasting Food Campaign Pilot Study Boosts Environment by Chopping Food Waste by Nearly 30%

GAITHERSBURG, Md., November 17, 2010 — Sodexo employees at eight college campuses cut kitchen waste by about one third, simply by tracking and monitoring food waste, according to the preliminary findings from the first eight weeks of a pilot study that is part of the company’s commitment to stop wasting food to curb climate change and improve business practices.

Sodexo is partnering with LeanPath, a technology company providing food waste tracking systems, to conduct the review. The pilot study focuses on kitchen – or pre-consumer – waste, not what customers throw out. The pilot study system features a tracking station where Sodexo employees enter data about what they are throwing out and why. By tracking the reason for throwing away items, Sodexo is able to correct the problem to prevent future food waste. Sodexo employees at those eight sites have dramatically reduced overproduction, spoilage, expiration and trimmings by participating in the pilot study.

“Our people have been vigilant about preventing food waste at these sites demonstrating they are extremely good stewards of the environment,” said Tom Post, president of education – campus, at Sodexo. “The pilot results show it’s possible to send less waste to landfills and to reduce costs without compromising the quality or variety of the food we serve.”

LeanPath estimates that 4 to 10 percent of the food that is purchased ends up in kitchen waste. Each participating site in the Sodexo pilot also has a Stop Waste Action Team (SWAT) composed of employees. This group reviews the waste tracking data, sets specific goals for improvement, and tests waste prevention ideas. The most effective ideas become permanent.

In September Sodexo launched “Stop Wasting Food,” a campaign to engage its customers and employees in reducing food waste to curb climate change. To learn more, visit www.stopwastingfood.org.

Americans trash 25 percent of all the food they prepare each year, leading to 31 million tons of wasted food piling up in landfills annually. Food waste in landfills produces methane gas, which is at least 21 times more potent than carbon. Methane breaks down the ozone layer and leads to climate change.

Sodexo pilot study results come from a program initiated in early September at eight college campuses across the country to analyze and measure kitchen waste in an effort to better manage it. Colleges participating in the waste-reduction pilot program include Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, California State University of Monterey Bay in Seaside, Calif., Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa., Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore., Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Pomona College in Claremont, Calif., University of California at Davis, Calif.,  and University of Wisconsin in River Falls, Wis.
This campaign demonstrates Sodexo’s commitment to work together with clients, suppliers and customers to take measurable sustainable actions today in the areas of environment, health and wellness and community that ensures a better tomorrow. Read more about Sodexo’s Better Tomorrow Plan.
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About Sodexo

Sodexo in North America
Sodexo, Inc. (www.sodexoUSA.com), leading Quality of Daily Life Solutions company in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, delivers On Site Service Solutions in Corporate, Education, Health Care, Government, and Remote Site segments, as well as Motivation Solutions such as Esteem Pass. Sodexo, Inc., headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., funds all administrative costs for the Sodexo Foundation (www.SodexoFoundation.org), an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $13 million in grants to fight hunger in America. Visit the corporate blog at www.sodexoUSA.com/blog.

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Daily Life Solutions
Quality of Life plays an important role in the progress of individuals and the performance of organizations.  Based on this conviction, Sodexo is the strategic partner for companies and institutions that place a premium on performance and well-being, as it has since Pierre Bellon founded the company in 1966. Sharing the same passion for service, Sodexo’s 380,000 employees, in 80 countries design, manage and deliver an unrivaled range of On-site Service Solutions and Motivation Solutions. Sodexo has created a new form of service business that contributes to the economic, social and environmental development of the communities, regions and countries in which it operates and to the fulfillment of its employees.

Key Figures (as of August 31, 2009)

Sodexo in the World

14.7 billion euro consolidated revenue
380,000 employees
33,900 sites
50 million consumers served daily
80 countries
22nd largest employer worldwide

Sodexo in North America

7.7 billion dollars revenue
120,000 employees
10 million consumers served daily
6,000 clients
700 facilities management sites

Contact
Monica Zimmer
301 987 4461
monica.zimmer@sodexo.com

Kno Announces Pricing and Pre-Order Availability for Tablet Textbook; Pays for Itself in 3 Semesters

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Delivers Significant Student Impact for Less than 1% the Cost of a 4-Year College Education

SANTA CLARA, Calif.  – November 9, 2010 – Kno, Inc., a powerful, groundbreaking tablet textbook designed specifically for students and the education market, today revealed the price of its 14.1 inch single and dual-screen tablets at $599 and $899, respectively. The company also announced that it is now accepting a limited number of pre-orders for an initial shipment that is expected to be on customers’ doorsteps by the end of the year.

“Kno’s extraordinary benefits represent only a tiny fraction of the overall cost of college, but its impact on the student’s career – and the energy it adds to the experience, the thrill of learning, and the ultimate grade – is dramatic,” said Osman Rashid, Co-Founder and CEO of Kno, Inc. “Even better, when you do the math, it actually pays for itself and still saves $1,300 in digital textbook costs.”

Kno has been beta-testing the product with students and the response has been overwhelmingly positive for both the single and dual screen devices. Far more than just a digital textbook, Kno is creating a powerfully effective new learning environment that will make students at all levels more successful at processing, grasping and retaining both facts and concepts.

“My experience with Kno has been really incredible. My books have become more interactive and the ability to hand-write electronic notes on the book pages themselves has changed how I retain information,” said Melissa Lin, a sophomore majoring in Biology at UC Berkeley that has been beta-testing the Kno tablet. “I see a ton of difference with the Kno. I can carry everything with me including my books, my notebooks and a browser for research. And, with the lower cost of digital textbooks, it will pay for itself in three semesters which is really great.”

Digital textbooks, which typically cost between 30 and 50 percent less than physical textbooks, will be priced separately and will be sold through the Kno bookstore, which will be accessible on every Kno device. Starting today, students will be able to browse Kno’s bookstore at www.kno.com/store/books, which will include tens of thousands of the most popular textbooks and supplement materials. Kno has previously announced that it is working with major textbook publishers including Cengage, McGraw Hill and Pearson. The company recently added publishers including Macmillan, Bedford, Freeman & Worth and Holtzbrinck as well as BarCharts Publishing, Kaplan, Random House and a large number of the University Presses.

“According to the not-for-profit College Board’s 2010 report, the average college student spends approximately $1,100 a year on book and supplies, “ said Babur Habib, CTO and Co-Founder of Kno, Inc. “Kno can reduce that cost while bringing education into the 21st Century, providing students with a far superior learning experience than they have today.”

To learn more about Kno, please visit the Kno blog at www.blog.kno.com or visit us on Facebook www.facebook.com/GoodtoKNO, Twitter www.twitter.com/GoodtoKNO and YouTube www.youtube.com/GoodtoKNO.

About Kno, Inc.
Kno, Inc. is fundamentally changing the way students learn, by offering new ways to digitally consume, organize, create and share knowledge. Kno is a transformative tablet textbook that artfully blends the intuitive experience of the conventional textbook with a rich digital world of video, note taking, collaboration and more. Its open platform encourages publishers and developers to create and distribute innovative education applications and content. Osman Rashid, the co-founder of Chegg, and Babur Habib, a consumer electronics veteran, founded Kno, Inc. in May 2009. Kno has a world-class management team from Apple, Cisco, HP, Intel, TiVo, Chegg and Palm. The company has received funding from Andreessen Horowitz, First Round Capital, Floodgate, Ron Conway, Silicon Valley Bank and TriplePoint Capital and is based in Santa Clara, California. For more information go to www.kno.com.

Press Contacts:

Jennifer Stephens Acree

JSA Strategies
Jennifer@jsastrategies.com
310-780-3331

Kathryn Kelly
kathrynkellypr@gmail.com
408-718-9043

NEW MOBILE APPLICATION HELPS WOMEN STAY CONNECTED TO THEIR BODIES AND DIALS-UP ANSWERS TO THEIR PERSONAL QUESTIONS

The Procter & Gamble Company
One P&G Plaza
Cincinnati, OH 45202

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Always® Launches “Always Me,” a Customized Period and Ovulation Mobile App with Timely Support and Advice

CINCINNATI, OH, (November 9, 2010) – Be it her first day in college, her first day on the job or her first day as a mom, a woman will inevitably have questions about her feminine health.  She’ll want to have personalized, instant information at her fingertips. With an increasing number of women 18 or older seeking health-related information from their mobile phones, Always®, the leader in feminine protection, has created the Always Me™ application – a comprehensive tool to help make life easier for today’s plugged-in women.

Now available for free download in the Apple iTunes Store, Always Me is a comprehensive on-the-go, customizable period and ovulation tracker that helps women to manage their cycles, offering timely support and advice. The Always Me application was designed with input from a select group of women-focused Web site editors, bloggers and OB/GYNs.

One of the unique features of Always Me is a personalized question and answer function to address private and intimate female-focused questions.  Users can type in a question related to their menstrual cycle, and a health professional will provide a timely answer within 24 hours.

Always Me users have access to other great features, including:

  • Comprehensive, interactive tracker and calendar to help manage a woman’s period/cycle
  • Personalized, expert Q&A function for users to submit private, personal questions
  • “Shop Always” button for discreet, immediate and direct online purchase of Always feminine hygiene products from one’s mobile device as well as a store locator
  • Reminder notifications for anticipated arrival of period or ovulation
  • Tips on topics ranging from how to better manage one’s cycle, health matters, exercise, etc.
  • Compatible with the iTouchTM, iPadTM and iPhoneTM

“Always Me is an application created for women, by women.  It allows access to information and experts regarding subjects that aren’t often talked about,” said Courtney Schuster, Always Global Brand Manager. “In an age where our phones connect us to our family, friends and on-demand content, this helps women stay connected with their bodies in a current, customizable way.”

Looking ahead, P&G has plans to expand the mobile application to include a wide range of useful information and tips for various aspects of a woman’s life, including skin, hair and beauty care – areas that can be affected during a women’s monthly cycle.  Always Me will continue to evolve as a resource for women, and consumer ratings and feedback will influence upgraded versions.

About Always Me
The Always Me mobile application is an on-the-go, customizable period and ovulation tracker that helps women to manage their cycles and offers timely support and advice. It is available for free download in the Apple iTunes Store and compatible with the iTouchTM, iPadTM and iPhoneTM.

About Always
Always®, the world’s leader in feminine protection, offers a wide range of feminine pads, wipes and pantiliners designed to fit different body types, period flows and preferences.  The Always line of feminine products includes Always Infinity™, Always Ultra Thins, Always Maxis, Always Pantiliners and Always Feminine Wipes.  Please visit www.always.com for more information.

About P&G (NYSE: PG)
Four billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers®, Tide®, Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®, Pantene®, Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Gain®, Pringles®, Charmin®, Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®, Crest®, Oral-B®, Duracell®, Olay®, Head & Shoulders®, Wella®, Gillette®, Braun® and Fusion®.

The P&G community includes approximately 127,000 employees working in about 80 countries worldwide. Please visit www.pg.com or the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.
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Contact:
Jessica Hersh
MSL New York
(212) 468-3867
jessica.hersh@mslgroup.com

Velvet Gogol Bennett
Procter & Gamble, External Relations
(513) 634-5576
gogolbennett.vc@pg.com