Donation supports regional systems to prevent homelessness

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - October 5, 2022 - (Newswire.com)

River City Bank, Sacramento's premier business bank, showed its support for ending homelessness and strengthening communities by presenting a $10,000 donation check to Sacramento Steps Forward. The donation supports implementing a new regional coordinated access system to ensure that homelessness is either preventable, brief, or one-time. 

"As one of Sacramento's long-standing community-based businesses, River City Bank is dedicated to seeing our region grow and prosper, and that includes supporting organizations that provide solutions for ending homelessness," said Steve Fleming, President and CEO of River City Bank. "As the lead agency for Sacramento Continuum of Care, Sacramento Steps Forward is responsible for providing homeless families and individuals with needed housing and support services."

"Thank you to River City Bank for this generous contribution and for recognizing Sacramento Steps Forward's work on a comprehensive approach to end homelessness. Homelessness is truly a humanitarian crisis. It touches all of us - from the unimaginable hardships for our unhoused community to the impacts suffered by nearby neighborhoods, businesses, and the community," said Lisa Bates, CEO of Sacramento Steps Forward. "We are grateful for this investment and the direct impact it will have on systemic solutions in Sacramento."

River City Bank presented the donation check to Lisa and the SSF executive team members during its client appreciation reception, which was held on Sept. 21, 2022. 

As part of the event tradition, River City Bank recognizes and makes a charitable contribution to one of our non-profit clients. River City Bank employees had the challenging, yet rewarding, job of choosing the donation recipient from many charitable organizations with compelling missions. 

About River City Bank
Named one of Sacramento Business Journal's "50 Fastest Growing Companies" for each of the past six years, River City Bank is the Sacramento region's premier business bank with assets of over $3.8 billion. River City Bank offers a comprehensive suite of banking services, including loans, deposits and cash management tools to the business, consumer and commercial real estate sectors. With tailored, executive-level service and a long-term investment grade credit rating from Standard & Poor's, River City Bank redefines the banking experience and every touch point that surrounds it. River City Bank is the largest, independent, locally-owned and managed bank in the Sacramento region with offices in the San Francisco Bay Area and a presence in Southern California. For additional information, please visit www.rivercitybank.com or call (916) 567-2600. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

About Sacramento Steps Forward

Sacramento Steps Forward is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization serving the Sacramento region leading multi-sector, system-level change to compassionately end homelessness where our vision is an equitable community where everyone has a safe place to call home. Sacramento Steps Forward is also the lead agency for the Sacramento City and County Continuum of Care. For more information about Sacramento Steps Forward, visit SacramentoStepsForward.com.

                                                                                                                           # # #

Contact Information:
Amber Holwell
VP - Director of Marketing
[email protected]
916-567-2600


Press Release Service by Newswire.com

Original Source: River City Bank Donates $10,000 to Sacramento Steps Forward

The Vilcek Science Symposium brings immigrant scientists together for a two-day conference at the Gladstone Institutes.

NEW YORK - October 5, 2022 - (Newswire.com)

They come from around the world—born in Taiwan, India, Lebanon, Israel, Romania, and Russia, among other places—but they all call the United States home. The scientists presenting at the first Vilcek Science Symposium, taking place Oct. 19-20 at Gladstone Institutes, have something in common other than their top-notch, award-winning research: they're all immigrants. 

Organized in partnership with the Gladstone Institutes, the symposium, "Science Crossing Borders: Celebrating the Contributions of Foreign-Born Researchers in the United States" aims to recognize outstanding science by researchers born outside the U.S. It also provides a platform for the researchers to share their personal stories, network with one another, and raise awareness of the impact of immigration to inclusive and high-quality science. 

"Even though we come from diverse backgrounds and study very different topics, immigrant scientists share some common experiences," says Jeanne Paz, Ph.D., conference chair and associate investigator at Gladstone. "We thought it would be nice to meet, create opportunities for collaboration, and brainstorm how we can support trainees who are coming from other countries."

"This symposium represents the first time that Vilcek Prizewinners in biomedical science have a specific opportunity to connect in an academic context," says Jan T. Vilcek, MD, Ph.D., co-founder, CEO, and chairman of the Vilcek Foundation. "We hope that the two-day program will help these leaders learn more about one another's work and create space for potential collaborations moving forward."

A Chance to Connect

In 2019, Paz won a Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Biomedical Science for her research on epilepsy. At the annual Vilcek Awards Gala, she and fellow winner and scientist, the late Angelika Amon, Ph.D., struck up a conversation about some of the unique challenges that immigrant scientists face. They started brainstorming ways to strengthen the community of Vilcek Prizewinners and proposed the idea for a symposium.  

"When Jeanne Paz and Angelika Amon approached us in 2019 about developing an academic forum for our Vilcek Foundation Prizewinners, we were delighted," says Vilcek. "It is a testament to Angelika's lasting impact as a mentor to see this symposium realized, and it speaks deeply to Jeanne's leadership in supporting the next generation of scientists at the Gladstone Institutes." 

"We are thrilled to host this exciting symposium," says Lennart Mucke, MD, of the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease. "An immigrant myself, I deeply appreciate the efforts of the Vilcek Foundation and the pioneering contributions of these outstanding speakers. Their paths beautifully illustrate that science truly is universal and boundless."

Inspiring Change

The scientists presenting at the upcoming symposium work in diverse fields—from physics to biomedicine—and Paz hopes that getting them all in one room will create new collaboration and networking opportunities. But she also hopes that students will tune in for the talks and be inspired by their personal stories. 

"There's often this idea in the scientific community that to be successful, you have to come from a very famous lab and follow a particular path, and it's important for young scientists to see that doesn't have to be true," says Paz. "You can come from a very difficult background and move far away from your support network and succeed because you pursued a path that you were passionate about." Paz herself was born in the Republic of Georgia and moved to the United States for her postgraduate research.

Many Vilcek Foundation Prizewinners credit not only their backgrounds but the purposeful diversity of their labs with helping them think more expansively about their research subjects. With those messages in mind, the symposium organizers have arranged roundtables, mentoring opportunities, and a panel discussion with a handful of attendees about how being an immigrant has shaped their science. 

"There is no singular immigrant story or experience, and while our prizes recognize immigrant scientists, each of our prizewinners has a unique experience, focus, and insight that has contributed to their success," says Rick Kinsel, president of the Vilcek Foundation. "We hope to make this diversity apparent, and to bolster individuals' understanding of the ways that immigration has a positive impact on our scientific communities, and on society more broadly."

Learn more about the symposium: Science Crossing Borders: Celebrating the Contributions of Foreign-Born Researchers in the United States

The Vilcek Foundation

The Vilcek Foundation raises awareness of immigrant contributions in the United States and fosters appreciation for the arts and sciences. The foundation was established in 2000 by Jan and Marica Vilcek, immigrants from the former Czechoslovakia. The mission of the foundation was inspired by the couple's respective careers in biomedical science and art history. Since 2000, the foundation has awarded over $7 million in prizes to foreign-born individuals and has supported organizations with over $5.8 million in grants.

The Vilcek Foundation is a private operating foundation, a federally tax-exempt nonprofit organization under IRS Section 501(c)(3). To learn more, please visit vilcek.org. 

Contact

Elizabeth Boylan
Communications Manager
The Vilcek Foundation 
www.vilcek.org

[email protected]
+1 (212) 472-2500

Contact Information:
Elizabeth Boylan
Communications Manager
[email protected]
+12124722500
Related Files
Press Release - Vilcek Science Symposium (1).pdf

Related Images


Press Release Service by Newswire.com

Original Source: Science Crossing Borders: Celebrating the Contributions of Immigrant Scientists

Say "I do" to Cape Town - the only city in the world with its own dedicated ring.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa - October 5, 2022 - (Newswire.com)

Representing the majestic Table Mountain and the sea shoreline, The Cape Town Ring - specially designed by Yair Shimansky, founder of the Shimansky diamond and jewelry brand - is a ring like no other. The ring is a brand ambassador for the City of Cape Town, capturing the essence of this beautiful South African city.

The Cape Town Ring is an iconic jewelry piece and an instant conversation starter, designed to celebrate Cape Town - a declaration of love for this city's unique energy, and an item that will instantly capture the hearts of whoever visits. 

"It offers you the opportunity to share your visit and experiences with friends and family who will be drawn to follow in your footsteps and experience Cape Town for themselves", says Shimansky.

Each ring is crafted in silver or gold and packaged in fully recyclable materials. The ring is also accompanied by a complimentary coffee table book showcasing the unique diversity of Cape Town's natural beauty, its people, cuisines and so much more.

About Shimansky 

The Shimansky legacy began over two decades ago with Founder and CEO Yair Shimansky. Respected worldwide for innovative design, superior artistry and quality gemstones, Shimansky is responsible for introducing platinum to jewelry making in South Africa and boasts more than 10 jewelry design patents as well as over five international diamond cut patents. Shimansky's expanding footprint includes several jewelry stores in South Africa and a newly opened boutique on New York City's iconic 5th Avenue. The quest for perfection is never-ending, and Shimansky believes that the best is yet to come.

-ENDS-

Contact Information:
Deborah Francis
Director
[email protected]
+27716862740

Deidre Davids
Director
[email protected]
+27823774521
Related Files
05-10-22 CAPE TOWN RING PRESS RELEASE.docx



Press Release Service by Newswire.com

Original Source: A World First - Cape Town Ring Just Launched

URBANA, Ill. - October 5, 2022 - (Newswire.com)

Scientists from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of California, Santa Barbara and Dow developed a breakthrough process to transform the most widely produced plastic — polyethylene (PE) — into the second-most widely produced plastic, polypropylene (PP), which will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).

The new study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society announces a series of coupled catalytic reactions that transform PE, which is #2 and #4 plastic that make up 29% of the world's plastic consumption, into the building block propylene that is the key ingredient to produce PP, also known as #5 plastic that accounts for close to 25% of the world's plastic consumption.

This study establishes a proof-of-concept for upcycling PE plastic with more than 95% selectivity into propylene. The researchers have built a reactor that creates a continuous flow of propylene that can be converted into PP easily using current technology — making this discovery scalable and rapidly implementable. 

Why this matters: Preliminary analysis suggests that if just 20% of the world's PE could be recovered and converted via this route, it could represent a potential savings of GHG emissions comparable to taking 3 million cars off the road.

"If we are to upcycle a significant fraction of the over 100 million tons of plastic waste we generate each year, we need solutions that are highly scalable," Damien Guironnet, Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, said. "Our team demonstrated the chemistry in a flow reactor we developed to produce propylene highly selectively and continuously. This is a key advance to address the immense volume of the problem that we are facing." 

Read Full Story

Contact Information:
Sonia Fernandez
Science and Technology Writer
[email protected]
(805) 893-4765

Shelly Leachman
Editorial Director
[email protected]
(805) 893-4620

Claire Benjamin
Associate Director of Communications Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
[email protected]
217-244-0941
Related Images


Press Release Service by Newswire.com

Original Source: U of I, UC Santa Barbara and Dow scientists crack upcycling plastics to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, advancing a recent Science study

A new film intended to get out the vote for pro-choice candidates this Roe-vember

LOS ANGELES - October 5, 2022 - (Newswire.com)

Torrance Productions, LLC is proud to present their new pro-choice feature documentary film for its World Premiere at the AWARENESS FILM FESTIVAL, followed by a Q&A, Sunday, Oct. 16, 4:00-6:00 p.m. PDT, at LA Live Regal Cinemas, 1000 W. Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA.

In the wake of the SCOTUS Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v Wade, WE'RE NOT GOING BACK! is a feature documentary that seeks to provide awareness and help educate younger generations who never had to contemplate what life is like without constitutional reproductive/abortion protections as the law of the land.   

Topics included in the film: Pre-Roe era; origins of Roe v Wade legislation; religious, medical, rape/abuse situations; addiction; race; gender; adoption, etc. The film also touches on other rights under threat now that the right to privacy has been dismantled and includes a strong call to action to get out the vote for pro-choice candidates at all levels of government. 

Click here for a preview of the film: WE'RE NOT GOING BACK! Trailer

Filmmaker Pamela Torrance is thrilled to have her first documentary be a part of this year's Awareness Film Festival in Los Angeles with both an in-person screening and online platform for accessibility in red (and blue) states beginning on Oct. 16.  Just in time for the Roe-vember election. 

Pamela will also participate in the Changing the World One Vote at a Time panel discussion earlier in the day on the 16th at 11:00 a.m. PDT.  

For additional information and updates, please see the film's website, WE'RE NOT GOING BACK!

Facebook

Instagram

AWARENESS FILM FESTIVAL

Contact Information:
Pamela Torrance
Filmmaker
[email protected]
+1 858 525-3500


Press Release Service by Newswire.com

Original Source: WE'RE NOT GOING BACK! New Pro-Choice Feature Documentary Film World Premiere Oct. 16, 2022

NEW ORLEANS - October 5, 2022 - (Newswire.com)

It is with great confidence and excitement that the Board of Directors has unanimously chosen Russell Walters as JMB's next Chief Executive Officer. Russell has played a vital role in expanding JMB's investment in the environmental and conservation arena. His leadership skills have developed an exemplary team that has built a foundation for JMB to flourish. While Russell has been instrumental in working with retiring CEO Glenn Vice to transform and expand the business of JMB, he retains the integrity and ethos that has sustained our 145-year-old JMB family company.

In this new capacity as CEO, Walters will be responsible for leading the family-owned land holding company to continued growth and financial success in ecological offsets, agriculture, and minerals. With the support of the shareholders, board of directors, and a world-class team, Walters will build on a solid business foundation created by his predecessors.

Since first joining JMB in 2011, Walters served as the Vice President and Director of Environmental Services, and in 2021 was named President of Southern States Land & Timber, LLC, a JMB subsidiary. Specifically, he worked on land acquisitions and oversight of all regulatory and environmental issues related to 300,000 plus acres of land holdings in Louisiana, Texas, and Florida. During that time, Walters was credited with a variety of important accomplishments, including launching JMB into the conservation and mitigation banking industry through his background and expertise in wetland ecology. 

In addition to Walters, another long-term company leader, Brad Segura, has been elevated to Vice President of Land and Operations. In his new role, Segura will be responsible for executive leadership for all environmental operations managed by JMB, as well as management and oversight of all land holdings owned by JMB and its subsidiaries. 

Segura came to JMB shortly after Walters in 2012 as a Natural Resource Project Manager and later became the Environmental Operations Manager. The reunion allowed them to build on a nearly two-decade-old working relationship to successfully manage due diligence and acquisition of new land holdings as well as the engineering, design, permitting, and construction of over 20 wetland mitigation and conservation banking projects in Louisiana, Texas, and Florida.

Prior to coming to JMB, Walters and Segura both served in other roles of increasing responsibility and authority at Fugro-John Chance Land Surveys, Inc., C.H. Fenstermaker & Associates, and the National Wetlands Research Center in Lafayette, Louisiana for Johnson Controls World Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Biological Service, and U.S. Geological Service.   

Walters and Segura can be contacted at [email protected] and [email protected].

Originally established in 1877, JMB specializes in building value in lands through conscious dealings of mitigation and conservation banking credit creation and sales, natural resources consulting, leasing of agricultural, mineral, and hunting lands, and granting surface rights waivers to clients located in Louisiana, Texas, and Florida. Visit our website for more information www.jmbcompanies.com.  

Contact Information:
Kelly Richard
Strategic Marketing Director
[email protected]
337-280-1311
Related Images


Press Release Service by Newswire.com

Original Source: THE J.M. BURGUIERES CO., LIMITED (JMB) Has Announced the Promotions of RUSSELL WALTERS to PRESIDENT & CEO and BRAD SEGURA to VICE PRESIDENT of LAND & OPERATIONS

LAS VEGAS - October 5, 2022 - (Newswire.com)

Passport Technology ("Passport"), a global leader in innovative payment technology and customer engagement for the gaming industry, invites you to experience the latest in casino payment, loyalty, cashless, and cash automation technology at the 2022 Global Gaming Expo ("G2E") Oct. 11-13 at booth #3430. 

Passports' industry-leading suite of payment solutions, regulatory compliance, cage and cashier automation, engagement solutions, loyalty kiosks, and more will be on display, along with unveiling Mira®, a new ground-breaking, innovative enrollment kiosk. 

"We are excited to showcase our new technology and to be at the forefront of casino payments and automation solutions," said Cleve Tzung, CEO of Passport. "Our team has been working diligently to provide enhanced productivity, automation, patron loyalty, and compliance solutions. All our products are designed to enhance the user and casino patron experience while delivering compelling operator efficiencies." 

Visitors at G2E in Las Vegas will have the opportunity to interact with all products, including the new Jackpot Unity™, which delivers Jackpot processing and payouts at the kiosk or through a mobile interface. The newly redesigned Jackpot kiosk merges functionality and flexibility into one sleek, modern unit. 

Passport products on display and available for the scheduled demonstration include: 

Lush™ Loyalty & Rewards Platform
Lush delivers a unique experience for casino patrons with numerous features and functionality. Patrons are fully engaged with the loyalty platform through the kiosk or mobile application, from loyalty enrollment to gift redemption. Patrons can enroll and receive a player card directly from the kiosk, streamlining the process and speeding the time to play.

The cloud or locally hosted, HTML5-based platform reduces the installation time and eliminates expensive licensing fees. Lush's Earn & Shop enables patrons to redeem points and comps for merchandise set up for direct fulfillment and various other reward options.

The user-friendly management portal supports efficient, intuitive promotion creation and implementation, patron restrictions, custom branding of kiosks and games, and remote kiosk and server monitoring. 

CashLoop® Digital Mobile Wallet
CashLoop provides patrons convenient, fast, and secure access to funds in their gaming wallet through numerous interactive touchpoints, including table games, slots, and online platforms, all from the convenience of their phones. CashLoop streamlines the patron gaming experience with easy funding, play, and cash-out features at the kiosk or mobile application.

Jackpot Unity™
The first all-in-one jackpot payout solution offering mobile functionality, Jackpot Unity streamlines the payout process with direct CMS integration and tablet agnostic functionality. Digitally capturing and automating the jackpot increases staff efficiency, reduces variances, and expedites payout, ultimately creating a better player experience. 

With integrations into top casino management systems, Jackpot Unity saves time on data entry, compliance lookups, AML/Title 31 reporting, and offers a variety of payout options conveniently from a kiosk and mobile tablet. Jackpot Unity captures data, allows for digital signatures, scans essential documents, and automates data entry for faster payouts while ensuring minimal variance risk.  

LiveCage™ - Automation Platform
LiveCage is part of Passport's automation platform with integrated software and hardware to maximize efficiency, accuracy, and reliability. Visitors to the booth will see firsthand an upgraded user interface for LiveCage to make it even more intuitive for cage operators to take advantage of features designed to speed customers through cage lines with minimal cash variances and maximum payout flexibility.

Bank Builder Pro™
Bank Builder Pro is the most progressive cash recycling solution for managing and creating employee banks. Bank Builder Pro maximizes employee productivity and provides real-time auditing by automating both ends of the bank-building process. Developed with the best-in-class hardware and powered by Passport's proprietary LiveCage software, Bank Builder Pro reduces overhead and enables employees to spend more time creating great patron experiences.

CashStream® QuickAdvance®, Cash Valet® & POSpod®
Passport's cash services solutions provide industry best approvals, transaction speed, patron experience, reporting, and integration custom designed for the United States and International jurisdictions. Credit, debit, check, TITO, cashless, wireless, loyalty, and custom applications reside within the Passport ecosystem with the industry's highest standard of service. 

DataStream®
Deployed in 2003 in the United States, DataStream has become one of North America's fastest-growing, bank-sponsored, proprietary ATM processors, facilitating ATM, POS, and Value-Add transaction processing to retail and gaming-based clientele. DataStream pioneered an innovative, fully cloud-based processing architecture to provide processing clients unmatched levels of reliability, automated redundancies, uptime, and processing security not available in traditionally hosted environments. This true hot/hot transaction processing architecture benefits Passport's many valued customers and partners in North America.

About Passport
Passport's pursuit of excellence is driven through diversity, inclusion, and collaboration as we strive to create opportunities for all stakeholders to thrive. Passport is a leading developer of technology-based solutions and services for the highly regulated payments, gaming, and financial services markets. The company's product portfolio includes redemption kiosks, quasi-cash, check warranty, ATM, digital payments, cash and cashless integrations, casino automation, regulatory compliance solutions, bank-sponsored transaction processing, server and web-based analytics, agnostic application management systems, and interactive content and loyalty services. Through its privileged gaming licenses and payment sponsorships, Passport has securely and responsibly settled over $45 billion in funds to casino floors across the globe.

For more information, please visit passporttechnology.com.

Press Contact
Max Aceituno
SVP, Marketing
Passport Technology Inc.
[email protected]

Contact Information:
Max Aceituno
SVP, Marketing
[email protected]
702-266-7045


Press Release Service by Newswire.com

Original Source: Passport Technology Showcases Innovative Suite of Payments, Loyalty, Cashless, and Cash Automation Solutions at Global Gaming Expo 2022

In an age where social media can cause great harm to a woman's mental health, E Woman offers a safe space for women to take care of their mental health.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - October 5, 2022 - (Newswire.com)

As research continues to reveal the harmful effects of social media on young women, E Woman champions a safe space to protect women's mental health. According to the Pew Research Center, 69% of adults and 81% of teens in the U.S. use social media, and the consequences are staggering. Studies link increased social media use "with poor sleep, online harassment, low self-esteem, and negative body image, all associated with depressive symptoms, especially for girls."

"As a mother, it's disturbing to hear more and more new research coming out on the negative effects of social media. We wanted to create a safe space to empower women and support their mental health," said Amy Karaman, founder of E Woman.

One of E Woman's most popular online groups is the Mental Health Group, which has twice as many members as any other community on E Woman. In this group, women can anonymously share their struggles, unburden themselves, and help uplift each other. E Woman users say it's relieving to have a place where they can open up about their struggles anonymously. In contrast, other users noted that it was life-changing to be able to share their stories and "unburden" themselves in a supportive community. Women from all walks of life can participate, connect, and hear other women's stories.

One in five women have a mental health diagnosis, with depression being the most common issue; depression appears twice as often as in men, making women especially vulnerable to the consequences of social media scrolling. E Woman provides the first social network for women to intimately connect and support each other through mental health pressures and struggles - without mindlessly scrolling through random acquaintances' life updates. 

"Women's self-care isn't just spa days and pedicures; quite often, it's having tough conversations about mental health or sharing emotional situations without judgment, all within a group of women who feel the same," explained Karaman. 

Visit https://www.ewoman.world to learn more. 

About E Woman

E Woman is a social media platform dedicated to every woman who feels alone. Founded by Amy Shakhlo Karaman, an immigrant who escaped an arranged marriage in Uzbekistan and came to America to build her life from the ground up, this online community allows women around the world to discuss similar struggles. E Woman is now available on www.ewoman.world and offers every language. Members can join categorized groups anonymously or with their usernames to share their stories and connect in a judgment-free space. To learn more, visit www.ewoman.world.

Media Contact:

Maria Penaloza
Newswire
[email protected]

Contact Information:
Maria Penaloza
[email protected]


Press Release Service by Newswire.com

Original Source: E Woman Creates a Safe Space to Protect Women's Mental Health