Business, Free News Articles, General Editorial, NonProfit and Charities

David and Laura Merage Foundation Donates 500 Toy Boxes to Children of Healthcare Workers

DENVER, Colo. -- The David and Laura Merage Foundation launched the Merage Mini Heroes project to bring joy to the children of courageous frontline healthcare workers who are putting in extraordinarily long hours away from their families. Working in partnership with Timbuk Toys and several other local businesses, the foundation created 500 age-appropriate toy boxes that were gifted to parents at St. Joseph's Hospital and Denver Health.

"Our intention is to spark a bit of joy with these toys, and quite simply show these little ones how grateful we are that they are sharing their families with Coloradans in need," stated Sue Renner, Vice President of Philanthropy at the David and Laura Merage Foundation.

In honor of National Nurses Week, the foundation team delivered 500 boxes to the medical and non-medical staff at the two local hospitals. The hospitals then distributed these boxes for staff to pick up, noting the delight that their staff and the children showed when receiving these boxes.

"The Merage Little Heroes project is a humongous success! It is generating lots of excitement and overwhelming joy, and we are so thankful that David, Laura and their organization provided us with this act of kindness," responded Jamie Smith, CEO at St. Joseph Hospital.

This initiative exemplifies the deep commitment that David and Laura Merage have for early childhood education. In addition to Merage Mini Heroes, the David and Laura Merage Foundation has launched two nationwide programs focused on increasing high-quality care and education, Early Learning Ventures (ELV) and CareForAllChildren. Since its founding in 2008, ELV has impacted over 41,000 children and served 550 childcare programs around the U.S.

The CareForAllChildren campaign is paving the way for working parents and advocates to call on presidential candidates to address the childcare crisis. Each of these initiatives aims at supporting our youngest learners, families, and another set of heroes, childcare providers.

The Merage Mini Heroes initiative is unique in providing the opportunity to lift the spirts of our brave parents and their children during this challenging time. If additional hospitals and foundations are looking to participate or expand the current giving program, please contact Catharina Hughey, Operations Specialist, chughey@merage.org.

Learn more: https://www.merage.org/

PHOTO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/20-0508s2p-merage-heroes-300dpi.jpg

LOGO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/20-0508-mmh-box-sticker-300dpi.jpg

Related link: https://www.merage.org/

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Business, Free News Articles, General Editorial

National STOP THE BLEED® Day is May 21, 2020

PALMER, Pa. -- STOP THE BLEED® is an important public health campaign aimed at directly saving lives-through an effort to increase public awareness and encourage people and organizations across the United States to get trained with life-saving STOP THE BLEED® techniques so they can be ready to take action and stop everyday instances of life-threatening bleeding in their homes and communities.

The National STOP THE BLEED® Day project engages the public to join this fast-growing campaign so more lives can be saved.

Experts say it takes between:
* 3 - 5 minutes to die from blood loss.
* 7 - 10 minutes, on average, for EMS to arrive.

Why it Matters

National STOP THE BLEED® Day is critically important because incidents, like mass shootings or natural disasters, along with everyday accidents, whether on the playground, the freeway, or in the kitchen, could expose people to bleeding out. It's imperative that people become aware of this, because in many cases, death from blood loss is preventable. Properly trained, anyone can STOP THE BLEED® until professional help arrives.

Take Action Now

National STOP THE BLEED® Day is encouraging individuals to Get Trained, Get Kits, and Get Involved. At NationalStopTheBleedDay.org, individuals can learn about taking a STOP THE BLEED® class. The website also shares information about how to secure STOP THE BLEED® kits for your home or organization. Remember, 35% of pre-hospital deaths are due to blood loss, and traumatic injury is the leading cause of death for people below the age of 46.

Meet Lacey Newman

Wife, Mother, 2017 Las Vegas Shooting Survivor and STOP THE BLEED® Ambassador:

Shot in both of her legs, with only minutes to live, Lacey Newman's best friend Nicole applied pressure to Lacey's wounds, saving her life. Lacey is pleased to champion the STOP THE BLEED® initiative by telling her story and encouraging the public to take a STOP THE BLEED® class to learn the life-saving techniques and be equipped to save a life if ever needed. She stars in STOP THE BLEED's Public Service Announcement (PSA), which is available for broadcast.

One version of the PSA is viewable here: https://vimeo.com/328403899. Lacey Newman is available to speak about STOP THE BLEED® and how life-saving techniques can play an instrumental role in saving lives.

Other prominent STOP THE BLEED® experts and spokespersons across the United States are available to speak about this important topic, including Dr. Matthew Levy, Chair of Stop the Bleed Coalition, a nonprofit organization that educates and advocates for the importance of bleeding control training and education. Dr. Levy is also board certified in Emergency Medicine and subspecialty certified in Emergency Medical Services. Dr. Levy is regarded for his expertise in and out of the hospital, in disaster and tactical medicine, and the training of EMS personnel.

Dr. Matthew Neal is also a prominent STOP THE BLEED® spokesperson. He is the Roberta G. Simmons Assistant Professor of Surgery and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, a celebrated trauma surgeon and research scientist who teaches STOP THE BLEED® seminars, and a member of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Neal runs his own laboratory and recently received a grant funded by the Department of Defense to study treatments for types of bleeding that do not respond to compression. As a public advocate for National STOP THE BLEED® Day, Dr. Neal has appeared on the Dr. Oz Show and in the The New Yorker article, Turning Bystanders into First Responders.

National Grassroots Initiatives

National STOP THE BLEED® Day initiatives have been launched nation-wide to raise awareness and engage the public. One is the 2020 STOP THE BLEED® Scholarship Program - offering high school students an opportunity to write an essay or make a video about STOP THE BLEED® - with the top prize being scholarship money and STOP THE BLEED® kits for their high school. Another program is the STOP THE BLEED® Training Kit Grant program. To train millions of citizens, the proper training equipment needs to be utilized - equipment that can be challenging for some organizations to afford. The Training Kit Grant program will award training kits to organizations that will make a significant impact in their communities by teaching the hands-on, American College of Surgeons, STOP THE BLEED® course.

The 2020 STOP THE BLEED® Scholarship Program recipients and the STOP THE BLEED® Training Kit Grant program awardees will be announced on National STOP THE BLEED® Day.

Additionally, due to the COVID-19 crisis, the National STOP THE BLEED® Day project has launched STOP THE BLEED® at Home - a set of actions people can take while sheltering at home. Learn more: https://nationalstopthebleedday.org/stop-the-bleed-covid19/#!/STBhome

Lastly, the campaign is seeking individuals to share their STOP THE BLEED® experiences by sending their stories to community@nationalstopthebleedday.org.

STOP THE BLEED® Day is a national public health initiative with support across public and private sector organizations and individuals committed to saving lives.

National STOP THE BLEED® Day is supported by over 100 organizations, including the following:
* United States Department of Defense
* American College of Surgeons
* United States Department of Homeland Security
* Stop the Bleed Coalition
* The American Red Cross

To learn more about National STOP THE BLEED® Day, book an interview with a spokesperson, or inquire about a PSA, please contact Ed Miller at community@nationalstopthebleedday.org or 610-428-8851.

You can also follow the campaign on social media at #NSTBD20 and #STOPTHEBLEED.

Learn more: https://nationalstopthebleedday.org/

Related link: https://nationalstopthebleedday.org/

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Business, Free News Articles, General Editorial

Pledging 1,975 Meals and More to Mark 45 Years Since Refugees First Arrived in the US on April 30, 1975

WESTMINSTER, Calif. -- Vietnamese Americans in Orange County's Little Saigon issued a "Nailing It For America" challenge to other Vietnamese communities throughout the country: Join the national day of giving back beginning Thursday, April 30 to help healthcare professionals and other front-line workers fighting the coronavirus (COVID-19).

So far, New York City, Boston, Dallas, San Jose, Salt Lake City and others have plans to deliver 1,975 meals and personal protective equipment (PPE).

Earlier this month, "Nailing It" volunteers collected and delivered more than 120,000 medical-grade masks and 300,000 gloves within 10 days for Southern California's healthcare professionals combatting COVID-19. Vietnamese restaurants also joined the cause, delivering 20,000 meals along with PPEs last Thursday.

After the shutdown of nonessential businesses across America, Advance Beauty College President Tam Nguyen and others mobilized the nail industry nationally to donate 1.2 million medical-grade masks, gloves and other PPEs in nearly every state to healthcare workers who desperately needed them. The group estimates the value of supplies is approximately $30 million.

Vietnamese Americans have transformed the nail industry thanks to the chance encounter of Tippi Hedren at Hope Village refugee camp in Northern California in 1975. After the visit, the star of "The Birds" flew her personal manicurist in weekly to teach the group of Vietnamese refugees the nail craft and even helped them secure nail salon jobs in Southern California.

Thursday marks a significant milestone for the nation's 2.1 million Americans of Vietnamese descent since the first wave of refugees from war-torn Vietnam reached America on April 30, 1975.

"Thursday is a special day to show our gratitude to America and to countless Americans like Tippi Hedren who embraced us and gave us a chance to rebuild our lives after the Fall of Saigon," Nguyen said. "It's also a day for the rise of the Vietnamese community in America to help front-line workers conquer COVID-19."

Visit: http://www.unitedwayoc.org/nailingit

*PHOTO: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/20-0429s2p-nailing-it-300dpi.jpg
*Caption: "The Birds" actress Tippi Hedren with Nailing It for America's Tam Nguyen and "The Joy Luck Club" star Kieu Chinh.

No celebrity endorsement claimed or implied.

Related link: http://www.unitedwayoc.org/nailingit

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Books and Publishing, Business, Entertainment, Free News Articles, General Editorial

NYT Bestseller Tosca Lee Offers Comfort, Entertainment with Nightly Story Time

LINCOLN, Neb. -- New York Times bestselling author Tosca Lee has spent the last five weeks reading to her fans live on Facebook during "Story Time with Tosca." The nightly event started March 20 with a promise to read until quarantine is no longer necessary - which means she has no idea when she'll stop.

Lee is currently reading from "The Progeny," her bestselling thriller in development for TV. She read previously from her award-winning novel, Iscariot, chosen by her readers. (Poll results were close-Lee's 2019 pandemic thriller, "The Line Between," came in second to perennial Easter season favorite, "Iscariot," which won out over a novel eerily close to current reality.)

Tonight marks her 40th consecutive Story Time in what has become, for many, a daily highlight-featuring laughter, giveaways, and appearances by Lee's 150-pound giant German Shepherd, Timber, the breakout star of the nightly broadcast who has become so popular fans have begun requesting the dog's paw print "signature" in addition to Lee's on signed book orders.

For Story Time regulars, the 40-minute evening event provides a much-needed escape from pandemic news and the rigors of quarantine. Josie Siler, a Wisconsin resident and chronic illness warrior, says, "It's an incredible gift that Tosca is giving her readers each night." Michigan resident Les Braddock says Lee's nightly Story Time "has done wonders in helping to maintain a level of normalcy."

"It's been a blessing for my family in return," Lee says. "A much-needed bit of routine in days that feel like they're running together." From days that are a little extra surreal given how closely the news has mirrored her 2019 bestselling thriller, "The Line Between."

A Washington outbreak... closed schools... quarantined towns... borders shut down.

The spate of recent headlines is also the plotline of Lee's medical thriller, "The Line Between," which released January, 2019 from Howard Books/Simon & Schuster-a year before COVID-19 arrived in the U.S. The book's sequel, "A Single Light "(September, 2019, Howard Books/Simon & Schuster) comes to paperback August 17.

Watching the news over a year after the release of "The Line Between" - a Goodreads Choice Awards semifinalist for best mystery/thriller of 2019 - Lee calls life "eerie and surreal." Another one of the reasons Lee, herself, finds solace in Story Time with her readers.

"The Line Between" has been optioned by Radar Pictures ("Jumanji") and Ed Burns' Marlboro Road Gang Productions ("Public Morals") and is in development for television as first reported by Deadline Hollywood: https://deadline.com/2019/01/edward-burns-radar-developing-the-line-between-thriller-novel-for-television-1202538907/

BOOK TITLES MENTIONED:

"THE LINE BETWEEN" by Tosca Lee / HOWARD BOOKS / ISBN: 978-1501169090 / Pages: 384

"A SINGLE LIGHT" by Tosca Lee / HOWARD BOOKS / ISBN: 978-1476798646 / Pages: 384 Paperback On Sale: 8/18/20

About the Author:

Lee is the award-winning, New York Times, and CBA bestselling author of 11 novels including "The Progeny," "Firstborn," "Iscariot," "The Legend of Sheba," and The Books of Mortals series with New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker. Her books have been translated into 17 languages and been optioned for TV and film.

Tosca received her B.A. in English from Smith College. A lifelong world adventure traveler, she lives in Nebraska with her husband and three of four children still at home. To learn more about Tosca, please visit https://toscalee.com/.

Tosca is available for interviews, media appearances, speaking engagements, and/or book review requests - please contact mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com by email or by phone at 403.464.6925.

IMAGE LINKS FOR MEDIA:
[1] https://www.send2press.com/300dpi/20-0428s2p-tosca-Line-Between-300dpi.jpg
*Caption: Cover, "The Line Between," by Tosca Lee.

[2] https://www.send2press.com/300dpi/20-0428s2p-tosca-lee-300dpi.jpg
*Caption: Author Tosca Lee.

Related link: https://toscalee.com/

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Business, Free News Articles, General Editorial, NonProfit and Charities

Moving from COVID Pandemic to Kitten Crisis: The Sacramento SPCA Braces for an Overwhelming Kitten Season

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The Sacramento SPCA announced today that, since April 1, it has seen a 500% increase in the number of underage kittens (younger than six weeks) come in to the shelter at 6201 Florin Perkins Rd in Sacramento versus the same time period last year.

While most of the public programs are currently suspended at the Sacramento SPCA due to mandates surrounding COVID-19, the shelter is receiving a record number of stray kittens being abandoned in front of the shelter or dropped off by local citizens who are trying to help.

"Because the city shelter on Front Street and county shelter on Bradshaw are limiting stray animal intake due to COVID-19, we are seeing more stray animals in crisis - especially kittens - arriving at our doors," said Sacramento SPCA CEO Kenn Altine.

The Sacramento SPCA typically cares for more than 600 underage kittens each year, with about 10% of the kittens being under 6 weeks of age and arriving without a mother to feed them. With the number of these neonatal kittens already nearly exceeding the annual intake, the shelter is bracing for an overwhelming kitten season.

"We need the public's help to address this issue - in education on leaving kittens in place, in becoming 'bottle-baby' fosters, and in supporting our spay/neuter programs through donations," Altine said. "The needs of animals were not put on hold during this pandemic. We may be closed to the public, but we are always here for the animals. We are the only haven for unwanted animals and owners in crisis who need to surrender a cherished pet, regardless of its age, breed, health or behavior."

The Impact of Suspended Spay & Neuter

In addition to an increase in stray animals abandoned at the Sacramento SPCA, there is another looming concern: with spay & neuter programs suspended for the last month due to COVID-19 and potentially into the next month, animals that would have been altered are now able to reproduce, compounding the current animal overpopulation problem.

The Sacramento SPCA operates the 7th largest spay & neuter clinic in the nation, altering more than 18,300 animals annually and preventing hundreds of thousands of unwanted animals from entering our region's shelters. The clinic altered 11,867 cats and kittens in 2019, including nearly 4,000 additional cats that were altered during the Sacramento SPCA's Feral Cat Clinic offered each Sunday.

With these services being suspended in April and potentially longer, public animals and community cats have been left with the opportunity to reproduce and overwhelm a region that already needs more access to spay & neuter capacity.

"We recognize that demand for low-cost spay and neuter services in our region far outweighs the current capacity," said Altine. "With the shut down of our spay & neuter services in April, the need to protect our animals and community will be even greater."

The potential magnitude of this crisis is still uncertain, but with growing animal overpopulation, limited shelter capacity and animals requiring resources beyond the community's capacity, concerns are rising.

What to Do When You Find a Kitten

All local animal shelters recommend leaving the kittens where you found them. In most cases, the mother is nearby or out hunting and will return shortly. Kittens have a much better chance for survival with their mother, so moving them should only be considered if they are in a life-threatening or dangerous location.

When in doubt, follow this kitten guide for specific steps you can take to give the kittens the best chance for survival; how to determine their age; and when to get involved, including fostering them yourself: https://www.sspca.org/helpifoundkittens.

How the Community Can Help

Foster. Donate. Repeat.

Because the shelter is currently receiving more neonatal kittens requiring specialized care, they are actively recruiting fosters with previous "bottle baby" experience to help with the current and impending kitten storm. As these young kittens transition from bottle feeding to wet food, they can be moved to other foster homes until they are old enough for spay & neuter and adoption.

Foster parents experienced in caring for neonatal kittens are encouraged to contact the Sacramento SPCA at catfosterrescue@sspca.org.

As the only full-service 100% non-profit animal shelter in the Sacramento region, the Sacramento SPCA relies on donations from individuals, businesses and foundations to support their work. They are local, independent, and do not receive funding from state or local government agencies.

And with the closing of the Sacramento SPCA's public programs, the revenue that provides a significant part of their income has disappeared. They are asking the community to make monetary donations to ensure that they can continue to support animals and people whenever and however needed, including providing critical supplies like formula, bottles/nipples and wet food to foster families during kitten season.

Donations can be made online or by mail to: Sacramento SPCA, 6201 Florin Perkins Road, Sacramento, CA 95828. See: https://www.sspca.org/donate

About the Sacramento SPCA

Founded in 1892, the Sacramento SPCA has been providing homeless animals with individual comfort, shelter, and love for more than 128 years. They provide compassionate medical care to tens of thousands of animals annually and offer a variety of programs and services designed to keep people and pets together for life.

Learn more at: https://www.sspca.org/

Follow on social:
* https://www.facebook.com/SacSPCA/
* https://www.instagram.com/sacramento_spca/
* https://www.twitter.com/SacramentoSPCA

MEDIA CONTACT:
Dawn Foster, Sacramento SPCA Marketing & Communications Director dfoster@sspca.org or (916) 802-0915.

*PHOTO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/20-0424s2p-sspca-KittenCrisis-300dpi.jpg
*Photo caption: Sacramento SPCA notes that since April 1, it has seen a 500% increase in the number of underage kittens come in to the shelter.

Related link: https://www.sspca.org/

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Business, Free News Articles, General Editorial

The Ruby Slipper Car Seat Cover Increases Freedom and Mobility for Many

TOWSON, Md. -- Ruby Slipper, LLC, announces that the Ruby Slipper Car Seat Cover, a deceptively simple product that grew out of a common frustration, has become a comfortable and affordable solution to a problem faced by many persons with limited mobility: the inability to enter and exit a car. The Ruby Slipper re-opens the door to more freedom and mobility.

While most people take getting into a vehicle for granted, being unable to do that can severely limit the quality of a person's life. For individuals whose mobility is limited by age, injury, disability, recent surgery or weakness, getting in and out of a car easily can pose an insurmountable challenge. Many people with limited mobility are deeply saddened by the thought of giving up a lifetime of independence. And for others who are rehabilitating from an injury or surgery, difficulty getting in and out of a car can pose a roadblock to recovery.

Ruby Slipper Developed Out of Necessity

Ruby Slipper creator Katherine Miles developed this mobility device in response to her own mother's lack of upper and lower body strength due to injuries and other health conditions. Miles' mother-Ruby, of course-was no longer able to push herself back in to sit in Miles' passenger seat. "My problem was I did not have the strength to get her back into the seat either," said Miles.

Facing the prospect of no longer being able to take her mother for errands, appointments and drives, Miles got to work. The solution she arrived at is a fabric seat cover that fits virtually all passenger cars and trucks and works on both cloth and leather seats. The Ruby Slipper's heavy-duty double layer of cloth over the seating area creates a unique sliding action that allows an individual to pivot smoothly into a comfortable sitting position.

Explained Miles, "It was no longer difficult to get my mother into the car safely, and did not take super powers to do! I thought this was a type of 'swivel car seat for seniors' that other people with aging parents could appreciate, too."

Ruby Slipper Offers Fast Installation, Simple Use

The installation of the Ruby Slipper is quick and easy. Once placed into position on the car seat, the Ruby Slipper can be strapped securely into place in moments. To use the Ruby Slipper, the top layer of nylon fabric is rotated over the seating area toward the door to hang over the side of the seat.

Then, it's just sit, turn and slide. The individual sits on the edge of the car seat, and because the two pieces of fabric slide over one another, swivels into the car to place his or her feet on the floor. (If help is needed, a caregiver can grasp the individual's legs and rotate them into the car.) Once facing forward, the individual can slide back in the seat and buckle the seatbelt. These steps are done in reverse to exit the car.

Because it's so lightweight and simple to install, the Ruby Slipper can be moved from car to car as needed. The rugged nylon fabric, straps and buckles are built to last. The nylon fabric is comfortable and doesn't grow too hot when in use, as other makeshift solutions can. Easy to care for, the Ruby Slipper can be cleaned by using a damp cloth or by hand-washing. It's available in original red, as well as black and gray to coordinate with most vehicle upholstery.

Many Individuals Benefit from the Ruby Slipper

Anyone who has limited mobility, whether temporary or permanent, can find greater freedom thanks to the Ruby Slipper. This includes those who are:
* elderly
* injured
* disabled
* recovering from surgery
* experiencing upper or lower body muscle weakness

Those who care for individuals with limited mobility may wish to purchase or recommend the Ruby Slipper-especially in cases where the individual is reluctant to admit he or she needs help:
* caregivers
* physicians
* Veterans Administration professionals
* occupational therapists
* physical therapists

About Ruby Slipper, LLC

Made entirely in America, the Ruby Slipper Car Seat Cover can be purchased online at https://www.rubyslippercarseatcover.com/ (via PayPal) or by calling 877-855-3065. The cost is $79.95 plus $11.95 shipping. The Ruby Slipper comes with a 30-day money back guarantee.

Questions can be directed to https://www.rubyslippercarseatcover.com/contact or 877-855-3065. Ruby Slipper, LLC is located at P.O. Box 42430, 808 Gleneagles Ct., Towson, MD 21284.

Video: See the Ruby Slipper Seat Cover in action: https://youtu.be/e8dJfUHoGYU

*PHOTO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/20-0423s2p-ruby-slipper-cover-300dpi.jpg

Related link: https://www.rubyslippercarseatcover.com/

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Business, Free News Articles, General Editorial

Free At-Home Exercise Videos Offer Moms & Young Children Physical Activity While Teaching Age Appropriate Developmental Skills

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Moms of babies and preschoolers can get fit while spending quality time with their child with short home workouts that incorporate animated graphics and techniques to keep children entertained, says certified personal trainer Amy Burton. In response to the COVID-19 crisis, these videos are now offered for free on YouTube to make it convenient and affordable for a mother to exercise in the comfort of her home.

The "Back In Shape With Baby" series contains low-impact workouts that target areas affected by pregnancy and childbirth. The program is unique because it incorporates baby into the workouts and utilizes on-screen graphics throughout the video to help keep baby's attention.

The videos were designed for new moms with babies age 6 weeks-12 months. A 16-page Educational Booklet that provides best exercises and tips for new moms is available as a free download at https://backinshapewithbaby.com/for-moms/.

The "Energize & Exercise With Your Preschooler" series was created to help mothers of young children fit a workout into their busy schedules while teaching children good exercise habits. Graphic animation throughout the videos keep children entertained. Some of the age-appropriate developmental skills that are addressed in workouts include the alphabet, numbers, days of the week, months of the year, colors, and shapes.

Amy Burton is the creator of these videos. She did so when her own child was young and wanted to fit exercise into her day while working full-time. Burton explains "I decided to make an effort to promote these timeless videos to offer families a healthy and fun way to spend time together while gyms and playgrounds are closed. My son is now grown but I think about all the moms who may feel isolated right now and struggling to care for new babies and young children without a support network while stay-at-home orders are in effect."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 70% of adults are overweight or obese and 13.9% of children age 2-5 are considered obese in the United States.

"With the growing problem of obesity in both adults and children, it is more important than ever to provide easy ways to help people of all ages increase the amount of physical activity done each day," Burton said.

The 10, 15 and 20-minute video options promote interaction between mother and child. The movements help to develop coordination and increase physical activity among children. Burton consulted with medical experts when creating the videos. No equipment is needed for the exercise routines and all workouts are available for free.

Free videos can be accessed at:

Focused Fitness Solutions YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdj6a6gXxNITXp5FV628ZeA

About Amy Burton:

Amy Burton is an American Council on Exercise certified personal trainer and certified health coach, with additional training in pre-and post-natal fitness. In partnership with Dr. Sheila Devanesan, Amy co-created Fit4AllMoms, a grant-funded program launched at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital. To learn more about Amy's credentials and her story, visit https://backinshapewithbaby.com/.

Media Only Contact:
Amy Burton
(727) 418-4396
amyburton135@gmail.com

IMAGES FOR MEDIA:
[1] https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/20-0422s2p-amy-burton-300dpi.jpg

Caption: Get fit while spending quality time with your baby with FREE home workouts from the Back In Shape With Baby exercise series.

[2] https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/20-0422s2p-backinshapewithbaby-300dpi.jpg

VIDEO (YouTube):
https://youtu.be/5aStnwYc7TM

Related link: https://backinshapewithbaby.com/

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Business, Free News Articles, General Editorial, Regional Events

African Youth Drug Prevention (AYDP) Project Presents Substance Abuse Impact Data in Washington State

SEATTLE, Wash. -- On April 25 from 1 to 3 p.m., Union of Tigrean Women North America Seattle Chapter, a charitable non-profit organization supporting socio-cultural and educational causes of Ethiopians, invites the community to attend the African Youth Drug Prevention presentation of findings. The presentation will take place at the Washington State Coalition of African Community Leaders (WSCACL) quarterly meeting via Zoom.

The African Youth Drug Prevention (AYDP) team will present their neighborhood findings on the influence of substance abuse shops and advertisements as it relates to youth behavior and health.

Sponsored by WSCACL, the AYDP project demonstrates how two different African communities committed to protecting their youth can successfully collaborate to combat a common issue. The project has received support from Public Health Seattle and King County and was formed by a Coalition member partnership between the Union of Tigrean Women North America Seattle Chapter and the Rescue Mission and Prayer Network International.

Information presented will showcase how targeted youth are impacted by billions of advertising dollars and how youth of color disproportionately face negative consequences for their substance use, even though their consumption is often comparable or even lower than white youth.

Meeting participants can log into the Zoom meeting with ID: 614-712-9422 and password: 520716. Past meeting attendees have included: King County Councilmember, Girmay Zahilay; Seattle City Councilmember, Kshama Sawant; and former State Representative and current WSCACL Advisor, Dawn Mason.

About WSCACL

Founded in 2016 by a handful of African community leaders, WSCACL has grown to a Coalition membership of more than 100 leaders, individuals and business owners. It supports African Community organizations and individuals in Washington state committed to sharing resources and promoting collaboration across communities.

WSCACL assists in fostering leadership development, capacity building, community advocacy, training and education, economic empowerment and civic engagement. It receives generous support from the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, Tacoma Urban League, Washington Nonprofits Association, Seattle Foundation, Neighborhood Matching Fund, Center for Multicultural Health, HealthPoint and the Seattle Foundation.

For more information: http://www.wcacl.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Washington-State-Coalition-of-African-Community-Leaders-1771135912904162/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/africanyouthdrugprevention/

*Photo link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/20-0421s2p-wscacl-seattle-300dpi.jpg
*Photo Caption: Seattle, Feb. 22, 2020: Collins Mbugua 15 years; Aman Guesh, 14 years; Victory Massai, 12 years; Brook Guesh, 11 years; King County Councilmember, Girmay Zahilay @BlackDot / Photo credit: Mo$ Wanted Entertainment

Related link: http://www.wcacl.org/

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Business, Entertainment, Free News Articles, General Editorial

Gary Fritzen, Composer, and California Arts Org, Art-In-Relation Team for ‘There Will Be Light’ – You Sing It, New Song Challenge

STOCKTON, Calif -- Gary Fritzen, award winning composer of musical theatre, feeling the weight of the covid-19 pandemic announces a challenge for singers of all abilities and interest to sing his new song, "There Will Be Light."

Gary has been composing music for over 30 years. With a specialty in musical theatre, you can find some of his published works, such as "Toy Camp" and "Metaphasia" in the Pioneer Drama Services catalog (pioneerdrama.com). Winner of the Schubert Frendrich Playwriting award, he was a winner of the American College Theatre Festival Kennedy Center for best musical score, for "Vanya!"

Mr. Fritzen continued writing musicals for Santa Monica Community College from 1995-2016. Gary has used all of his musical experience to write this song "There Will Be Light" while he works from home as a public High School Music Teacher in the City of Manteca, California (musd.net). As he watches the entire world in lock down and comforts his students online that are nervous for the future, Gary felt a need to write a song that brings hope to his family, friends and loved ones.

With this composition, he is challenging singers to learn the song and sing it for their friends and audiences as well. Art-In-Relation, a production company in Southern California, artistic director Jonas Sills, and Gary Fritzen are teaming up to make a donation of $10 for every person who records this song to Direct Relief ( https://www.directrelief.org/ ) charity organization that donates directly to covid-19 relief up to $5,000 total.

Each submission will be screened to be posted on the YouTube channel for the song and posted nationally!

To hear a sample of the song please visit: https://youtu.be/YnhZMobQMEM

Links to a lead sheet and instrumental tracks are below the YouTube link.

To submit for this challenge please email a video submission to therewillbelightchallenge@yahoo.com. This can be a mp4 file or a YouTube link.

Direct Relief
* Direct Relief working in overdrive to get protective gear and critical care medications to as many health workers as possible, as quickly as possible, with emergency deliveries leaving daily for medical facilities across the U.S.
* Direct Relief is coordinating with public health authorities, nonprofit organizations and businesses in the U.S. and globally to provide personal protective equipment and essential medical items to health workers responding to coronavirus (COVID-19).
* Direct Relief working in overdrive to get protective gear and critical care medications to as many health workers as possible, as quickly as possible, with emergency deliveries leaving daily for medical facilities across the U.S.
* Direct Relief is coordinating with public health authorities, nonprofit organizations and businesses in the U.S. and globally to provide personal protective equipment and essential medical items to health workers responding to coronavirus (COVID-19).
* Direct Relief is also staging personal protective equipment with regional response agencies across the world, including in the Caribbean and South America through the Pan American Health Organization.

MEDIA ONLY CONTACT:
Gary Fritzen
Art-In-Relation
therewillbelightchallenge@yahoo.com
310-991-8190

*PHOTO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/20-0421s2p-gary-fritzen-300dpi.jpg
*Photo caption: Composer, Gary Fritzen.

Related link: https://youtu.be/YnhZMobQMEM

This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Business, Free News Articles, General Editorial, Opinion and Commentary

Extreme Endeavors CEO, Isolated in Antarctica for Years at the South Pole Research Station, Authors Blog Series on Dealing with Coronavirus Issues

PHILIPPI, W.Va. -- Michael Masterman, the founder of West Virginia-based technology company Extreme Endeavors, who spent 28 months isolated in Antarctica as the South Pole's American research station manager, is today offering a blog series of tips on how to preserve health, sanity and spirituality during today's coronavirus social distancing mandates.

Masterman's regularly updated blog entries may be found online at http://www.extreme-endeavors.com/blogsmedia/

Masterman has 28 months "ice time" in isolation in Antarctica, including two winters at the South Pole. His blog shares strategies and suggestions he learned during his time in the remoteness of the Antarctic, where he and a few other scientists were isolated thousands of miles away from others for months on end.

"Because of my time at the South Pole, I probably understand living in isolation and distancing oneself from the population better than anyone," Masterman said. "My blog posts are simply lessons learns from my Antarctica experience, most of which are remarkably transferrable to the situation much of the world's population finds itself in today."

His first blog entry, for example, discussed the basic need for human purpose. With so many people suddenly displaced from jobs and routine, there is a need - and an opportunity - to refocus on aspects of life that are personally enriching.

Masterman's blogs offer myriad suggestions on topics like mood management, indoor exercise, dealing with others in close quarters, sleep deprivation, apprehension and worry, and the importance of faith.

"While this era of COVID-19 is a trying time for people across America and the world, it is not without precedent for some of us. My goal for the blog posts is to let others know the secrets to surviving and prospering during this unique time of worldwide quarantine," Masterman said.

About Extreme Endeavors:

Extreme Endeavors began two decades ago in Antarctica on an ice plateau thousands of miles removed from the nearest human dwelling. Today, the company serves its neighbors in West Virginia by providing innovative answers to humanity's biggest challenges. Extreme Endeavors designs and deploys original solutions, while providing results beyond expectations. For more information on Extreme Endeavors, visit http://www.extreme-endeavors.com/

Related link: http://www.extreme-endeavors.com/

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