IRVINE, Calif., January 20, 2023 (Newswire.com) - Imagine This, the leading Casino Marketing firm in North America, announces its new marketing department led by new hire Parker Papaccio and long-time employee Ryan Rotundo. Imagine This has named Parker Papaccio as its first Marketing Director and Ryan Rotundo as its Marketing Manager to help develop and execute all facets of marketing initiatives for Imagine This. The team will work cross-channel to oversee the creative direction of product development, content creation, operations, event planning, web development, and more.

Parker brings a wide variety of marketing experience into the position. As a prior digital marketing account manager who drove over 25+ companies to reach their integrated marketing performance goals, a two-time start-up connoisseur, and a bachelor's degree in Marketing from the Cox School of Business, Parker will help take Imagine This to the next level.

After 4 years of working within the Casino Industry at Imagine This, Ryan Rotundo will now hold the title of Marketing Manager. Driven by a passion for business and marketing, his extensive involvement with startups allowed him to work in a wide range of marketing capacities and skills. Ryan utilizes his education from CBU, where he earned his BA in Business Administration and MBA, combined with his years of employment at Imagine This to innovatively assist in the company's growth strategy.

Alongside Ryan and Parker, Ben Haines will also be assisting the new marketing department as Creative Director. With over 20 years of experience at Imagine This, Ben Haines will be utilizing his vast knowledge of digital design and creativity to help the team execute package design, digital ads, direct mail pieces, and many other services. These services will remain complimentary to all Imagine This clients.

The Imagine This Marketing department will begin implementing innovative techniques to bring Imagine This to the forefront. One of the initial projects they will tackle is product videos associated with QR codes and product packaging to drive player participation and incremental revenue. In addition to QR Codes, the Marketing department will be rolling out upscale technological implications that help their clients track incremental revenue data, goals, and KPIs. 

For more information on Imagine This, visit www.ImagineThis.com.

Contact Information:
Parker Papaccio
Marketing Director
[email protected]
9496809220


Original Source: Imagine This Hires New Marketing Director and Launches a Marketing Department

Company to take a more focused approach towards B2C sports betting.

MIAMI, January 20, 2023 (Newswire.com) - KeyStar Corp.^® (OTC: KEYR) has announced the appointment of Mark Thomas as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective Jan. 10, 2023. Thomas was previously the Co-Founder & CEO of ZenSports, Inc. prior to its acquisition by KeyStar Corp. in 2022. Thomas succeeds John Linss as CEO, who has stepped down from the position.

"We thank John Linss for his service to KeyStar Corp., including his work on finalizing the acquisition of ZenSports," said Bruce Cassidy, Chairman of the Board. "The Board has decided to take an approach of focusing the company solely on B2C sports betting for the foreseeable future, and Mark Thomas is the perfect fit to lead these initiatives given his prior experience with ZenSports."

Under Mark's leadership as the Co-Founder & CEO of ZenSports, the company developed a mobile gaming platform that offers a traditional sports book, peer-to-peer sports betting, and wagering in fiat and cryptocurrencies. He led the product vision and strategy, recruited the entire team across all functional areas, and raised $10M+ in venture capital funding.

As part of the Board mandate to have a focused approach on just B2C sports betting, Thomas will be responsible for ensuring that ZenSports is able to successfully enter and grow within the U.S .market.

"Mark has done a great job previously with ZenSports, growing the business in the European market and obtaining a Nevada gaming license in 2021," said Cassidy. "We have full faith and confidence that he will be able to do the same under KeyStar moving forward."

"I am thrilled and honored that the Board has asked me to lead KeyStar Corp. as its new CEO," said Thomas. "The ZenSports platform is an innovative brand that is leading the future of sports betting, and we have the right team and product in place to grab a significant share of the U.S. sports betting market in the coming years."

Bruce Cassidy remains on as the Chairman of the Board. 

Mark Thomas Biography

Mr. Thomas joined KeyStar Corp. as its Chief Product Officer as part of the company's acquisition of ZenSports, Inc. in June 2022. Mr. Thomas co-founded and was the Chief Executive Officer of ZenSports since August 2016. Under his leadership, ZenSports developed a mobile gaming platform that offers a traditional sports book, peer-to-peer sports betting, and wagering in fiat and cryptocurrencies. He led the product vision and strategy, recruited the entire team across all functional areas, and raised $10M+ in venture capital funding. Prior to co-founding ZenSports, Mr. Thomas was the Chief Executive Officer of Reesio, a venture-backed real estate software platform he co-founded in 2012. Reesio automated the paperwork and manual processes that went into buying and selling a home for real estate professionals and their clients. Reesio was acquired by News Corp's Realtor.com in 2015. Mr. Thomas began his career working in corporate finance and accounting for companies such as McKesson, Gap, Inc. and Carl Zeiss Vision before founding his first company in 2005, an executive recruiting agency in San Francisco that worked with Fortune 500 clients, including Coca-Cola, Expedia, and McKesson. Mr. Thomas sold the recruiting agency in 2008 and transitioned into working in tech, co-founding two startups within the Human Resources and Recruiting industry. Mr. Thomas also spent time working at Intuit as a Senior Product Manager, which he left in 2012 to co-found Reesio.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "seek," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "strategy," "likely," "may," "should" and similar references to future events or periods. 

Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements.

Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Contact Information:
Mark Thomas
Chief Executive Officer
[email protected]


Original Source: KeyStar Corp. Board of Directors Appoints Mark Thomas as New Chief Executive Officer

Safe States Alliance Executive Director Appointed to Community Preventive Services Task Force

ATLANTA, January 20, 2023 (Newswire.com) - Safe States Executive Director Richard Hamburg was appointed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky to a five-year term on the Community Preventive Services Task Force. 

The CPSTF is an independent, nonfederal panel of 15 public health and prevention experts from across the country representing a broad range of research, practice, and policy expertise in community preventive services, public health, health promotion, and disease prevention. The Task Force identifies community-based programs, services, and policies that save lives, increase longevity, and improve existing evidence on the effectiveness and economic efficiency of these programs, services, and policies. 

The evidence-based findings and recommendations about community preventive services, programs, and other interventions aimed at improving population health are published in The Community Guide. Among the current strongly recommended evidence-based findings are those related to traffic safety, motor vehicle injuries, health equity and violence prevention. Given the enormous burden that injuries and violence pose on society, it is critical that this perspective is represented on the panel. 

Injuries and violence are significant and complex public health problems, many of which are rooted in unjust social and systemic policies across generations. According to the CDC, in the first half of life, more Americans die from violence and injuries — such as motor vehicle crashes, falls, suicides, homicides, or opioid overdoses — than from any other cause, including cancer, HIV, or the flu. Injury and violence prevention (IVP) researchers and practitioners work across systems to improve the conditions that contribute to these problems.

"Having a strong voice for IVP on the Task Force will be a benefit to the field," said Hamburg. "Creating healthy communities and improving the overall quality-of-life outcomes of its members requires commitment, partnership, and dedicated effort across sectors. I'm looking forward to learning more about the prioritization process across the spectrum of public health issues and am eager to contribute my perspectives earned from 35 years in the public health domain."  

Contact Information:
Julie Alonso
Senior Manager Program and Communications
[email protected]
678-532-8738

Richard Hamburg
Executive Director
[email protected]
678-396-8083


Original Source: Injury and Violence Prevention Represented on Panel Addressing Community-Wide Prevention

Just in time for Valentine's Day, PinHearts gift collections include blankets, wall art, and metal prints.

ATLANTA, January 19, 2023 (Newswire.com) - An Atlanta, Georgia-based startup that prints dynamically-generated custom maps commemorating life's special moments announced the official launch of their brand and real-time mapping platform, PinHearts. Their gift collections include blankets, wall art, and metal prints. It comes just in time for Valentine's Day and can be found at www.pinhearts.com. Their website allows customers to design products celebrating a special memory like a first date, birthday, anniversary, and many more while instantly viewing the AI-generated preview. With a focus on quality and customer satisfaction, PinHearts is committed to providing a unique and memorable gift-giving experience for all occasions. 

"We are incredibly proud of this new brand and excited to see what customers will design for their loved ones," said Bethany Harrington, Chief Marketing Officer. "Our goal is to empower customers with the tools and vision to express how they feel through these premium products."

To learn more about PinHearts, their expanded line of products, and their mission, please visit pinhearts.com.

About PinHearts

PinHearts aspires to bring the future of print-on-demand technology to the present, making premium personalized products both accessible and affordable. 

Related Links

• PinHearts.com

Contact Information:
Victoria Simmons
VP, PR & Customer Success
[email protected]


Original Source: New Start-Up, PinHearts, Launches in Atlanta, GA

Funds will support the ACRES Project, to serve as a model for future direct service rural educational programs, increasing social, emotional, mental health and academic support for students and families.

ATLANTA, January 19, 2023 (Newswire.com) - Communities in Schools of Georgia (CISGA) announced today that it is the recipient of the Department of Education's Full-Service Community Schools Program (FSCS) grant for its Georgia ACRES Project: Activating Communities for Rural Education Success. A project to significantly transform rural educational opportunities in six counties across the state and serve as a model for other Georgia sites. The five-year, $3,000,000-a-year grant is one of the largest in the Department of Education history and the most extensive federal grant in CISGA history.

"We are grateful for the vital support of the U.S. Department of Education, which allows us to serve thousands of children across the State," states Carol Lewis, CEO of CISGA. "Together with our local CISGA affiliates, their strong executive directors, and partners, we will use every tool at our disposal to help the State's children face barriers and succeed in both school and life." 

The ACRES Project is a comprehensive plan to fully implement all pillars of the FSCS model, with local CISGA affiliates as local lead partners and full-time site coordinators in each school. These site coordinators will assess a student's needs, and then provide direct services and/or make referrals to community partners to ensure a student has everything they need to succeed in and out of the classroom.

The following goals and outcomes will be achieved: 

1) improved academic performance, 

2) increased social/emotional learning and life skills, 

3) improved physical and mental health, 

4) increased graduation rates, 

5) improved partnerships between schools and families, 

6) increased family involvement in education, and 

7) increased family connections to community resources.

The following Counties in Georgia will partner with the project: 

Ben Hill County; Berrien County; Candler County; Laurens County; Troup County; Twiggs County

The following School Districts will work with Communities in Schools: Candler County School District; Berrien County School District; Dublin City School District; Troup County School District; Twiggs County School District; Ben Hill County School District; Laurens County School District.

"Community schools are an essential component of accelerating our students' learning and supporting their social, emotional, and mental health, and deepening community partnerships. At the height of the pandemic, community schools connected students and families with vital nutrition assistance, mental, physical, and other health services, and expanded learning opportunities. This work continues today because we know that students learn best when there is a comprehensive and holistic approach to meeting their needs," said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. "I am thrilled that through the historic investment, we're announcing now, the Department is funding the largest cohort of grantees in the history of this grant program. This represents a huge step toward the Biden-Harris Administration's goal of doubling the number of Full-Service Community Schools across the country and raising the bar for our support of children."

This year's grant selection process was highly competitive, with the largest number of applications in the history of the program, demonstrating the enormous need to have a continuum of coordinated support to address students' academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs. CISGA is committed to implementing the four pillars of the grant: 1) integrated student supports that address out-of-school barriers to learning through partnerships with social and health service agencies and providers; 2) expanded and enriched learning time and opportunities; 3) active family and community engagement; and 4) collaborative leadership and practices.

About Communities in Schools of Georgia (CISGA):

Communities In Schools of Georgia is the state's leading organization providing wraparound student supports and dropout prevention using an evidence-based model.  

Our unique model places a site coordinator inside the schools to build relationships with students. We base success on our ability to build strong local community partnerships with school administrators, regulatory agencies, businesses, and other youth-oriented organizations. Our local CISGA sites tailor programs and activities to meet the specific needs of its community and schools. Types of programs include mentoring, parent education, technology training, literacy initiatives and youth leadership development. CISGA is part of a national organization committed to surrounding students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.

Contact Information:
Katherine Seymour
Director of Partnerships
[email protected]
404-644-9603


Original Source: Communities in Schools of Georgia Receives $15,000,000 Department of Education Grant for 6 Rural GA County Educational Sites

In partnership with the New Orleans Mayor's office, Avenues Recovery Center announced today the return of their popular Sober Safe Spot event at the February Mardi Gras parades.

NEW ORLEANS, January 19, 2023 (Newswire.com) - Last year's inaugural Sober Safe Spots drew hundreds of revelers committed to the recovery community to the specially marked-off locations along parade routes. The safe spots provided an opportunity for people in active recovery and their loved ones to celebrate the joy and culture of Mardi Gras in a sober and safe environment. An overwhelmingly positive response from the community drove Avenues Recovery to make Sober Safe Spot an annual event and part of the fabric of Mardi Gras.

Sober Safe Spot will be manned by Avenues Recovery alumni, a strong community of recovery heroes who are always willing to go above and beyond to help out others in recovery. 

"One of the most beautiful parts of Sober Safe Spot is that it was conceived and is coordinated by our alumni," said Ashley Duncan, Alumni and Intake Coordinator at Avenues Recovery of Louisiana. "They have gained so much from their own recovery journeys and are determined to give back." 

The gathering spot will be set aside from Feb. 10 through 21 and is open to everyone in the community who wishes to support addiction treatment.

"We are excited to once again partner with Avenues Recovery for this important and necessary addition to our ongoing Mardi Gras safety operations," said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. "My administration remains committed to meeting our people where they are and directly addressing each and every critical need throughout our city. Our ongoing partnership with Avenues Recovery and their Sober Safe Spot initiative gives us a meaningful opportunity to support our community in addiction treatment and recovery, which will aid us in creating a more inclusive, safe, healthy and thriving city." 

All participants will be given specially made T-shirts and other fun swag, allowing them to proudly display their choice to have fun in recovery. A white flag emblazoned with the Sober Safe Spot logo will fly at the neutral ground at the corner of Napoleon Avenue and St. Charles Avenue, making the gathering place easily identifiable to all interested in joining. More details and information can be found on the Sober Safe Spot page on the Avenues Recovery website. 

"There are no requirements to joining Sober Safe Spot other than staying sober and having fun," added Duncan. "We hope to see you all there."

Press availability upon request or at the event.

###

Avenues Recovery Centers is a fully accredited substance abuse treatment network founded in 2016 and serving communities nationwide. They are staffed by clinical and medical professionals, focused on creating positive outcomes for their clients.

View Website

Contact Information:
Rachel Alter
Marketing Director
[email protected]
773-562-1457


Original Source: Sober Safe Spot at Mardi Gras Returns to New Orleans

Funds will help improve infrastructure and increase capacity.

SAN FRANCISCO - January 19, 2023 - (Newswire.com)

Project Open Hand, a leading nonprofit nutrition service provider in the San Francisco Bay Area, announced today that it will receive over $1.4 million in federal funding to support the organization's efforts to provide life-saving, nutrition-intervention services to its clients.  

The new federal funding will help improve Project Open Hand's infrastructure, including, but not limited to, purchasing new delivery service vehicles, adding a mobile pantry vehicle, and upgrading kitchen and meal preparation equipment.  

"The new federal funding headed to San Francisco for critical community projects like Project Open Hand is a major victory for families in our City," Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi said. "This investment in Project Open Hand's mission to provide nutritious 'meals with love' in our communities will help ease food insecurity and advance Ruth Brinker's vision of a hunger-free San Francisco. Thanks to Democrats' tenacious negotiating, last year's government funding package delivered deeply needed federal funds for projects across San Francisco that help meet the specific needs in our City - and we'll never stop fighting for more." 

The planned improvements that will be made with this new funding come at a time when demand for the organization's services continues to rise and requests for meal deliveries from clients continue to grow.  

"The funding will go such a long way to update not only our facility in the Tenderloin with new and upgraded infrastructure and equipment, but also the aging fleet of vehicles that deliver our services to clients every single day," Jonathan Jump said, Vice President of Operations at Project Open Hand. 

The over $1.4 million in funding is a part of a larger $30 million government funding package aimed to help San Francisco's neighborhood-serving organizations. The funding was announced by Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and signed into law on Dec. 29 by President Joe Biden.

"For 37 years, Project Open Hand's mission has been to serve meals with love to the Bay Area, providing life-saving nutrition for residents who need it most," said Paul Hepfer, Chief Executive Officer of Project Open Hand. "The funds allocated to our organization by Congresswoman Pelosi will ensure that our programs and capacity continue to reach those in critical need of the medically tailored meals that we provide." 

About Project Open Hand 

Founded in 1985, Project Open Hand is a nonprofit organization that provides meals with love to critically ill neighbors and seniors in San Francisco and Alameda Counties.  

Every day, we prepare more than 2,500 nutritious meals and provide more than 200 bags of healthy groceries to help sustain our clients as they battle serious illnesses, isolation, or the health challenges of aging. https://www.openhand.org

Contact Information:
Marcus Tolero
Marketing and Communications Manager
[email protected]
4154472417


Press Release Service by Newswire.com

Original Source: Project Open Hand to Receive Over $1.4 Million in Federal Funding to Support Nutrition-Intervention Services