Cooper Housing Institute Awards Three Orange County Nonprofits with Grants to Help Fight Homelessness

IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The Cooper Housing Institute, a nonprofit organization that aims to fund research, education and programs related to housing challenges in the United States, announced today that it has awarded $50,000

IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The Cooper Housing Institute, a nonprofit organization that aims to fund research, education and programs related to housing challenges in the United States, announced today that it has awarded $50,000 in individual grants to South County Outreach, Mercy House and Illumination Foundation, totaling $150,000. These grants are part of a program by the Cooper Housing Institute to fund community-based organizations in Orange County to address housing crises created by the COVID-19 pandemic. They follow a similar $50,000 grant made to Family Assistance Ministries in July.

«Before the COVID-19 pandemic even began, many adults and children throughout Orange County were already fighting to keep a roof over their head and food on their table,» said Cooper Housing Institute Co-Founder Will Cooper Jr. «We are proud to present three deserving nonprofit organizations with grants to support a cause that we have been championing for decades – the fight to end homelessness.»

Co-Founder Will Cooper Sr. added, «The Cooper Housing Institute is passionate about making housing a priority in the United States and believes that every person should have a place they can afford to call home. Our organization understands the importance of programs like those provided by Illumination Foundation, Mercy House and South County Outreach, and are appreciative of the hard work they put in day-in and day-out to help those in our community who are in need.»

For more than 30 years, South County Outreach has been a leader in the fight to end hunger and homelessness in Orange County. Through the implementation of programs like its Transitional Housing Program for homeless families, along with its Food Pantry, which distributes more than 800,000 pounds of food and keeps nearly 2,500 children fed each year, South County Outreach is doing what it does best — housing hope and ending hunger, together.

Mercy House provides housing and comprehensive supportive services for a variety of homeless populations which includes families, adult men and women, mothers and their children, persons living with HIV/AIDS, individuals overcoming substance addictions, and some who are physically and mentally disabled. The organization strives to assist residents in the areas of economic, emotional, and spiritual well-being in order to enhance self-esteem and a sense of personal pride.

Illumination Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) that provides targeted, interdisciplinary services for the most vulnerable homeless adults and children in order to disrupt the cycle of homelessness. The organization assesses clients in order to identify needs and provide immediate relief when necessary, followed by care that combines housing assistance, case management, medical care, mental health services, and workforce training and placement services to decrease community dependency.

About Cooper Housing Institute
The Cooper Housing Institute is a private 501(c)(3) foundation founded in 2018 by the Cooper family, whose commitment to affordable housing spans 50 years. The foundation strives to make housing a priority in the United States by supporting research, education and programs that address housing affordability and homelessness. The organization focuses on the root causes of the shortage of affordable housing and chronic homelessness across the nation, and aims to focus on objective, fact-driven research that brings often divergent groups together to embrace common sense solutions. The Cooper Housing Institute was formed by Will N. Cooper Sr. and Will N. Cooper Jr., leaders of Irvine, California-based WNC, a leading provider of investment, asset management and development services in the affordable housing industry. To learn more, visit https://cooperhousinginstitute.org/.

Contact: Damon Elder   
Spotlight Marketing Communications
949.427.1377
damon@spotlightmarcom.com

 

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SOURCE Cooper Housing Institute

Used Vehicle Prices Are on the Rise During the Coronavirus Pandemic, According to Edmunds

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Used vehicle prices are seeing an unseasonal sharp uptick due to unique market conditions created by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, according to the car shopping experts at Edmunds. Edmunds data reveals that the average listing price for all used vehicles climbed to $21,558 in July, marking a $708 increase compared to June. Edmunds experts note that this is an unprecedented historical…

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Used vehicle prices are seeing an unseasonal sharp uptick due to unique market conditions created by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, according to the car shopping experts at Edmunds. Edmunds data reveals that the average listing price for all used vehicles climbed to $21,558 in July, marking a $708 increase compared to June. Edmunds experts note that this is an unprecedented historical shift in the used vehicle market, where listing prices typically decrease during this time period due to depreciation.

«We’re seeing evidence of more typical new-car shoppers gravitating toward the used car market than usual during the pandemic due to a combination of factors: Consumers are being more financially responsible, interest rates and CPO offers have been extremely favorable, and inventory has been severely limited on the new side,» said Ivan Drury, Edmunds’ senior manager of insights. «Shoppers might be a bit surprised to find that prices are ratcheting up on used vehicles because of significantly increased demand.»

Edmunds analysts took a look at average listing prices for 2017 model year vehicles in July compared to June and found that price increases spanned across nearly all vehicle categories, with some of the biggest price increases in large and midsize trucks, sports cars and luxury midsize cars.

«It’s a seller’s market right now. Although used vehicles continue to offer significant discounts compared to new, used-car shoppers will find themselves in the unusual position where they might not have as much negotiation power because demand is so high and dealers will be less inclined to be flexible,» said Drury. «If you’re in the market for a used car, what you see in terms of pricing is likely what you’re going to get, so do your research and be prepared to act quickly if you have your heart set on a vehicle.»

2017MY Mainstream Vehicle List Prices

Vehicle Category

July 2020 Average List Price

Change Since June

Large Truck

$33,264

$2,301

Midsize Truck

$29,457

$1,812

Sports Car

$24,867

$1,369

Large SUV

$37,942

$1,094

Large Car

$22,446

$1,060

Subcompact Car

$13,214

$841

Midsize SUV

$24,766

$803

Midsize Car

$16,709

$520

Subcompact SUV

$17,169

$516

Compact SUV

$18,949

$512

HD Truck

$43,044

$491

Compact Car

$14,859

$427

Minivan

$21,727

$415

2017MY Luxury Vehicle List Prices

Vehicle Category

July 2020 Average List Price

Change Since June

Luxury Midsize Car

$30,241

$1,151

Luxury Compact Car

$25,548

$993

Luxury Subcompact SUV

$23,871

$931

Luxury Large Car

$47,151

$887

Luxury Compact SUV

$27,838

$801

Luxury Subcompact Car

$22,253

$671

Luxury Large SUV

$50,887

$667

Luxury Midsize SUV

$34,513

$641

Luxury Sports Car

$55,323

$171

For more automotive research and insights, visit the Edmunds Industry Center here: https://www.edmunds.com/industry/insights/.

About Edmunds
Edmunds
 guides car shoppers online from research to purchase. With in-depth reviews of every new vehicle, shopping tips from an in-house team of experts, plus a wealth of consumer and automotive market insights, Edmunds helps millions of shoppers each month select, price and buy a car with confidence. Regarded as one of America’s best workplaces by Fortune and Great Place to Work, Edmunds is based in Santa Monica, California, and has a satellite office in Detroit, Michigan. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

CONTACT:
Talia James-Armand
Senior Manager, Public Relations
PR@Edmunds.com
310-309-4900
http://edmunds.com/about/press

 

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SOURCE Edmunds

Theator Partners with The Academy for Surgical Coaching to Provide Surgeons With AI-Driven Surgical Intelligence

SAN MATEO, California, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Theator, the Surgical Intelligence platform leveraging AI and computer vision to improve surgeon performance, today announced a new partnership with The Academy for Surgical Coaching – a nonprofit organization that equips every surgeon with a Coach to support life-long learning and evaluations…

SAN MATEO, California, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Theator, the Surgical Intelligence platform leveraging AI and computer vision to improve surgeon performance, today announced a new partnership with The Academy for Surgical Coaching – a nonprofit organization that equips every surgeon with a Coach to support life-long learning and evaluations of surgical performance. The Academy for Surgical Coaching will utilize Theator’s smart annotation and video analytics technology to enable surgeons to review and learn from their own past surgeries, facilitating improvement so that they enter the next operating room as better surgeons. 

Surgeons today no longer have sufficient time to teach trainees, leaving them with limited performance feedback, which is subjective at best and usually confined to the operating room. This issue extends well beyond surgical training: today, even the most skilled and seasoned surgeons rarely get to review key moments from their own surgical procedures, let alone those from other surgeons. Without access to objective, scientific insight into their own performance, surgeons are less likely to widen or deepen their expertise beyond what they personally experience along their career paths. 

«Surgical coaching is proven to enhance surgeons’ performance in the operating room,» said Dr. Tamir Wolf, CEO and Co-founder of Theator. «Nevertheless, in recent years, and especially during this pandemic, face-to-face coaching has been neither feasible nor most effective. That’s why we’re excited to partner with the experts at the Academy for Surgical Coaching to enable continuous learning, self-evaluation, and peer-to-peer coaching through our surgical intelligence video-based platform.»

Theator’s innovative Surgical Intelligence platform, powered by advanced AI and computer vision technology, enables surgeons to gain deep scientific insight into their own performance and those of surgeons worldwide. By extracting and annotating every key moment from real-world surgical procedures, the platform improves surgeon performance from every angle – pre-operative preparation and post-operative analysis and debrief – and enables deeper department-wide visibility: raising standards and performance across surgical departments. Now, Theator’s collaboration with the Academy for Surgical Coaching brings the Academy’s esteemed peer surgical coaching to the platform. 

«At the Academy for Surgical Coaching, we seek partners that can help us achieve our mission of empowering surgeons through surgical coaching to improve their performance and patient care in the operating room,» said Jason C. Pradarelli, MD, MS, Medical Director of The Academy for Surgical Coaching. «We expect a productive collaboration with Theator, leveraging its AI-powered Surgical Intelligence platform to make surgical coaching more efficient, scalable, and valuable for surgeons.» 

About Theator

Theator is pioneering the Surgical Intelligence revolution, with an innovative platform built for surgeons by surgeons designed to address the variability and disparity in surgical care. Combining highly sophisticated artificial intelligence and computer vision technologies, Theator puts defining intraoperative moments in the hands of surgeons so that they can continuously perfect their surgical craft. Theator is partnering with visionary surgeons, hospitals, professional societies, and research institutions to help create a smarter, more transparent operating room, while empowering surgeons to raise their expertise to the highest possible level. Based in San Mateo, California, the company is paving the path for real-time surgery decision-support, helping to create a stronger healthier world. For more information visit https://theator.io.

About The Academy for Surgical Coaching

World-class athletes, musicians and teachers work with coaches to go from being great to being world-class. The Academy for Surgical Coaching is a nonprofit organization to bring coaching to surgeons. The Surgical Coaching program was developed through academic research in collaboration with major academic medical centers and has been proven in randomized clinical trials to change the way surgeons do surgery. The Academy for Surgical Coaching trains surgeons to become Surgical Coaches, pairs surgeons with Surgical Coaches, and manages coaching programs. Coaching surgeons involves slowing down and developing new ways of thinking about surgery through goal-setting, action-planning and follow up. The Academy for Surgical Coaching has trained over 130 Surgical Coaches and conducted over 300 hours of surgical coaching. For more information visit https://surgicalcoaching.org.

Theator Media Contact:
Gavriella Weinreb
Headline Media 
gavriella@headline.media 
+1 914 775 5135

The Academy for Surgical Coaching Media Contact 
Addi Faerber
Executive Director
Academy for Surgical Coaching
addi@surgicalcoaching.org 
+1 608 301 5156

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SOURCE Theator

Revolutionizing CBD Product Reviews: Helping Consumers Making More Informed Decisions with Full Transparency

TEL AVIV, Israel, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The CBD industry’s peer-reviewed website LeafReport.com is revolutionizing the way CBD products are reviewed and will launch a new platform on August 8, National CBD Day. «There’s an inherent problem in the world of rating products, particularly CBD, in that reviews are too subjective and lack complete transparency,» according to Lital Shafir, head of product at Leaf Report. «Our objective is…

TEL AVIV, Israel, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The CBD industry’s peer-reviewed website LeafReport.com is revolutionizing the way CBD products are reviewed and will launch a new platform on August 8, National CBD Day. «There’s an inherent problem in the world of rating products, particularly CBD, in that reviews are too subjective and lack complete transparency,» according to Lital Shafir, head of product at Leaf Report. «Our objective is to build out the world’s most comprehensive CBD product rating system and database. We want to be to CBD what the internationally-recognized wine rating system is to wine.» The industry’s 100-point rating system has become the benchmark of quality in the wine industry and consumers have come to trust it for its transparency and objectivity.

Leaf Report has designed its review system to take into account more objective criteria such as extract type, hemp quality, price, testing processes/results, and more. «Consumers are not adept at reviewing the lab reports of products so we’re doing that for them in our reviews,» said Shafir. The new rating system is meant to create accurate, objective and transparent scores where users can see why each product was rated the way it was, and make informed decisions.

Leaf Report will now rate products on more objective criteria including:

  • Extract type – Isolate, Broad Spectrum, Full Spectrum
  • Additional Ingredients – Other cannabinoid content or supplements
  • Quality Assurance – CBD levels labeled vs lab results, pesticides, heavy metals, microbials
  • Hemp quality – Sustainable agricultural practices, certified-organic, organic, pesticide-free, non-GMO
  • Price per mg CBD

Leaf Report will soon launch a new brand rating system so brands can see how they stack up against others, and customers can choose products more effectively. Brands will be rated on their range of products, CBD levels, accuracy and reputation in labeling, price, and customer experience, among other factors.

«So far, our feedback has been very positive to the ratings we’ve disclosed,» said Shafir. «The CBD industry is such a crowded marketplace that consumers can’t possibly pour through the myriad products that are available. We aim to make it much easier for them to make informed decisions by following our rating process.»

Leaf Report’s filter and product comparison pages allow users to search for different products based on a range of variables including consumption method, price, extract type, and more and then choose up to 4 products and compare them. By comparing the products, users can see price differences, potency differences, which products are kosher, gluten-free, sugar-free, and more.

About LeafReport.com

LeafReport is a science-based, peer-reviewed website designed to help consumers navigate the confusing landscape of CBD products. The company’s mission is to introduce transparency into the CBD industry through its patient-focused, educational content and medical reviews. The company medical review team consists of physicians, chemists, nutritionists, pharmacists, chemists and naturopaths.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1224273/Leafreport_New_Rating_System.jpg

Contact:
Beth Graham
Kip Morrison Associates
Beth@KipMorrison.com

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SOURCE LeafReport.com

MindEdge Learning Announces Six Courses Recommended for College Credit by American Council on Education

BOSTON, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — MindEdge Learning today announced that the American Council on Education’s College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE CREDIT®) has evaluated and recommended college credit for six MindEdge Learning courses. ACE, the major coordinating body for all the nation’s higher education…

BOSTON, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — MindEdge Learning today announced that the American Council on Education’s College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE CREDIT®) has evaluated and recommended college credit for six MindEdge Learning courses. ACE, the major coordinating body for all the nation’s higher education institutions, seeks to provide leadership and a unifying voice on key higher education issues and to influence public policy through advocacy, research, and program initiatives.

«This recognition from ACE underscores our commitment to well-designed, standards aligned and accessible courses — a foundational element of our work to drive quality online learning for major higher education institutions,» said Chris Edwards, SVP of University Partnerships at MindEdge Learning. «It also reinforces our commitment to learners and our focus on providing industry-aligned content that can lead to the best possible outcomes for their personal and professional growth.»

The ACE CREDIT Network of participating colleges and universities consider ACE CREDIT recommendations in determining the applicability of coursework and examination results to their courses and degree programs. Note: The decision to accept specific credit recommendations is up to each institution.

For more than 30 years, colleges and universities have trusted ACE CREDIT to provide reliable course equivalency information to facilitate their decisions to award academic credit. For more information, visit ACE CREDIT.

MindEdge Learning offers a total of six courses that have been recommended for college credit by ACE CREDIT. The six approved courses include Human Resource Management, Agile Project Management, Project Management, Entrepreneurship, Digital Marketing and Nonprofit Management. 

For a complete listing of these courses, please visit mindedge.com/ace-credit

About MindEdge
MindEdge’s mission is to improve the way the world learns. Since its founding in 1988 by Harvard and MIT educators, the company has served some 2.5 million learners. With a focus on digital-first learning resources — from academic courseware to professional development courses — MindEdge’s approach to best practices in online education focuses on learners’ needs across the spectrum of higher education, professional development, skills training, and continuing education. MindEdge is based in Waltham, Mass.

About ACE
Founded in 1918, ACE is the major coordinating body for all the nation’s higher education institutions, representing more than 1,600 college and university presidents and more than 200 related associations nationwide. It provides leadership on key higher education issues and influences public policy through advocacy. For more information, please visit www.acenet.edu or follow ACE on Twitter @ACEducation.

Media Contact:
Shayna Chapel
InkHouse (for MindEdge)
MindEdge@InkHouse.com 

 

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SOURCE MindEdge

Innovation For Equity Announces Winners for 2020 IFE Awards

BOSTON, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Innovation For Equity, Inc. (IFE), a nonprofit organization committed to promoting innovative ways to improve life outcomes…

BOSTON, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Innovation For Equity, Inc. (IFE), a nonprofit organization committed to promoting innovative ways to improve life outcomes for Black learners of all ages, today announced the winners of its 2020 IFE Awards. Presented annually, the IFE Awards honor leaders who are working to disrupt educational inequities and create greater opportunities for Black learners – cradle through career.

The IFE awards celebrate diverse innovators who are leading change and pushing the boundaries on how to improve not only education outcomes, but life outcomes for people from underserved communities. The IFE Awards represents the culmination of this year’s IFE free Summer Virtual Events series.

Below are the 2020 IFE award winners:

  • Rising Star Award — Rediet Abebe, Junior Fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows and co-founder of Black in AI. Rediet is a computer science researcher working in the fields of algorithms and artificial intelligence, with a focus on equity and social justice.
  • Advancing Equity Award — Carmita Semaan, Founder and President of The Surge Institute. Surge is transforming education by training, supporting, connecting, and elevating emerging education leaders of color.
  • Trailblazer Award — Jim Shelton, Chief Impact and Investment Officer at Blue Meridian Partners. An accomplished education innovator and former Deputy Secretary of Education, Jim now helps lead a pioneering philanthropic model for finding and funding scalable solutions to the problems that trap young people and families in poverty in the U.S.

«COVID-19 has exposed many of the deeply rooted inequities across our educational system and broader society,» said Matthew Mugo Fields, EVP and General Manager, Supplemental and Intervention Solutions at HMH and co-founder of IFE. «As we close the IFE Summer Virtual Events series, we look forward to celebrating outstanding leaders who are paving the way and affecting systemic change at a time when the need is so fiercely urgent.»

Past IFE Award winners include Yscaira Jimenez, CEO of LaborX, Reverend Dr. Jawanza Colvin, Pastor of Olivet Institutional Baptist Church and Dr. Lamont Repollet, Former New Jersey State Commissioner of Education.

As part of its mission, IFE brings together cross-sector leaders to create connections and collaborations focused on generating measurable outcomes for learners who need the most support, with an initial focus on Black learners. The nonprofit is sponsored by a number of key partners, including learning company Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Vistria Group, New Leaders and more.

This year’s IFE Awards Ceremony and Reception will be a highly interactive virtual event on Thursday, August 6 at 4:00pm ET. Hosted on Shindig, an interactive event space, the IFE Awards will offer attendees a chance to learn and listen to some good music from DJ Tron as these changemakers are honored.

To sign-up for the event and view recordings of the first two Summer Virtual Events, visit the registration page here.  

About Innovation For Equity
Founded nearly two years ago by a diverse, accomplished group of education, technology, policy and business leaders, Innovation For Equity, Inc. (IFE) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting innovative ways to improve life outcomes for Black learners of all ages. IFE’s mission is to commit to equity, with a focus on scaling innovative and effective solutions and increasing Black leadership across the education ecosystem.

Contact
Katie Marshall
Communications Manager
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
617-351-5057
katie.marshall@hmhco.com

 

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SOURCE Innovation For Equity, Inc.; Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Instagram-Famous ‘Blobby & Friends’ Launches Toys and Undies to Delight & Do Good During Pandemic

NEW YORK, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Uncute, the sweetly sardonic toy and apparel company that formed in response to the overwhelming Instagram popularity of the webcomic 

NEW YORK, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Uncute, the sweetly sardonic toy and apparel company that formed in response to the overwhelming Instagram popularity of the webcomic Blobby and Friends is soft launching its online store on August 5. 

Uncute’s digital launch is coincidentally scheduled for National Underwear Day and their online shop offers a range of non-gendered underwear, socks, tees, and plush toys, featuring Blobby & Friends characters and more. Plus, a portion of proceeds from every sale goes towards helping homeless and runaway youth. 

In possibly the only upside of a global pandemic, the Uncute team had time to read the heartfelt comments from their passionate, progressive community. Much of the feedback applauds the webcomic’s LGBTQIA+ representation and fearlessness in addressing political issues. With their extra quarantine time, Uncute felt compelled to embrace this historical moment for change and decided it’s time to build a company that reflects what they believe in.

Uncute’s online store launches in tandem with their own nonprofit, The Uncute Initiative, which has been granted 501(c)(3) status as a charitable organization. Uncute has previously worked with immigration attorneys to donate toys to comfort detained kids and is committed to helping kids and teens find safety and belonging. Now is a time of reckoning for past mistakes and carelessness across industries, and Uncute is excited to see customers and community holding businesses accountable, themselves included. 

Uncute was founded in New York City by Zack Buchman and Blobby & Friends is brought to life by a team of New York and Los Angeles creatives with consciences.

Media Contact:
Wendy Steiner
Phone: +1 (415) 513-0473
Email: hello@uncute.com

Related Images

blobby-the-blobfish-underwear-by.jpg
Blobby the Blobfish Underwear by Uncute

blobby-plushie.jpg
Blobby plushie

blobby-friends-comics-blobbys.jpg
Blobby & Friends comics: Blobby’s Gender
For more Blobby and friends comics on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blobbynfriends/

uncute-initiative-volunteers-with.jpg
Uncute Initiative volunteers, with co-founder Zack Buchman, and artist Sarula Bau

Related Links

uncute.com

Blobby & Friends comics

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SOURCE Uncute Inc.

Retail Marketers Find New Ways to Meet Goals With Sidecar Amid COVID-19

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Retail marketers are renewing their focus on digital commerce advertising and deepening their partnerships with Sidecar as COVID-19 rewrites the retail landscape.

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Retail marketers are renewing their focus on digital commerce advertising and deepening their partnerships with Sidecar as COVID-19 rewrites the retail landscape.

«The trends we’ve seen year to date demonstrate our unwavering commitment to our customers’ performance marketing needs and challenges,» explained Andre Golsorkhi, founder and CEO of Sidecar. «Despite the disruption that COVID-19 is bringing to the retail industry, e-commerce is accelerating, with retail marketers increasingly looking to Sidecar’s team and technology to help them operate with greater agility.»

These trends are picking up pace just as marketers face a tough challenge ahead with the convergence of Prime Day 2020, and the back-to-school and holiday shopping seasons.

The following are key trends in Sidecar’s customer base this year. Sidecar will cover related industry changes and what they mean for retail marketers in a live webinar today at 2 p.m. ET, «How to Harness E-Commerce Momentum When Retail Seasons Converge.»  (The recording will be available at the same link.)

Customer Adoption

Notably, 70% of new customers this year signed on to leverage two or more Sidecar technology solutions. Retailers are increasingly focused on creating stronger alignment between their ad channels to address the full customer journey across Google, Facebook, and Amazon.

Many of these new customers hail from the enterprise sector of retail. Sidecar grew digital ad spend under management by nearly 30% for this segment, and nearly 40% across the entire portfolio, in the first half of 2020 alone.

The digital transformation of the enterprise retail sector has been underway for years, but the current situation has further compounded this shift. Marketing departments have a renewed focus on assessing their digital maturity and determining go-forward steps to meet shopper needs in the accelerated digital economy.

Customer Performance Trends Reveal Significant Momentum

The end of the first half marked an inflection point in ad spend, according to customer research conducted by Sidecar. Retailers spent 15% more on Google Ads in June YoY—a stark contrast to April (-11% YoY) and May (-9% YoY) spend. For Amazon Advertising, June spend was 91% more than April spend, while Facebook advertising spend in June was up 4x over April.

Revenue growth remains a priority for Sidecar customers. They found ways to navigate the shifting environment at the outset of COVID-19, and are building off those strategic changes in the new normal landscape.

  • Google Shopping: April revenue was up 15% MoM. Overall Q2 revenue grew 15% over Q1, while ROAS improved by 6%. From a year-over-year standpoint, April and May revenue grew 10% and 12% YoY respectively, while June revenue increased 27% YoY. ROAS improved 4% YoY in June.
  • Google paid search: April revenue was up nearly 5x MoM. Overall Q2 revenue increased 54% QoQ, with ROAS improving 78% QoQ.
  • Amazon Advertising: April revenue was up 24% MoM. Overall Q2 revenue was up 85% QoQ.
  • Facebook advertising: April revenue was up 111% MoM. Overall Q2 revenue was 4.3x higher than Q1 revenue.

Strategies for driving cost efficiency are sticking. This trend is especially playing out in Google paid search, where Sidecar customers saw ROAS improve 98% and revenue increase 55% in Q2 YoY. Retail marketers are driving efficiency in Google Shopping as well, with Sidecar customers improving ROAS by 11% and growing revenue by 16% in Q2 YoY. 

Product Expansion

Sidecar further innovated its product lineup during the first half of 2020 by launching enhancements to Sidecar for Amazon and Sidecar for Facebook & Instagram. Additionally, use cases are growing for Sidecar for Shopping and Sidecar for Paid Search, particularly in driving stronger cross-channel strategy. For instance, one Sidecar customer is leveraging Sidecar’s technology to create a two-way reliance between its ads on Google and Facebook. Facebook ads target users who have clicked through a Google ad. Additionally, Google Shopping ads target audiences built from Facebook prospecting campaigns.

Industry Recognition

Business Intelligence Group this week named Sidecar «Organization of the Year» in the 2020 Sales and Marketing Technology Awards program, also known as The Sammys. The award honors organizations and products helping to solve the challenges organizations have connecting and collaborating with prospects and customers. 2020 marks the second consecutive year Sidecar has won the award.

Sidecar was also recognized by Ventana Research, a business technology research and advisory services firm, as a finalist in the 13th annual Digital Innovation Awards. The awards program identified top technologies that have the most impact in their respective markets, honoring pioneering vendors that drive change and increase value for organizations worldwide.

Looking ahead, the retail industry is facing a holiday season that will be more dependent on e-commerce. «It will be key for retailers to leverage proven channels and best practices to match ongoing changes in consumer demand,» said Golsorkhi. «One of those key best practices is understanding audiences. Shoppers who are unable to visit stores will seek similar services online, potentially creating new cohorts that retailers must recognize and engage.»

ABOUT SIDECAR

Sidecar offers performance marketing excellence to retailers and brands. Sidecar’s advanced technology and proprietary data, combined with years of performance marketing expertise, help its customers unlock the full potential of today’s most powerful search, shopping, social, and marketplace channels.

PRESS CONTACT:
Mark Tordik
press@getsidecar.com
215-644-6503

 

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SOURCE Sidecar

EMOTIONAL ABCS Recognized by American Association of School Librarians (AASL) as a Best Digital Tool for Teaching & Learning

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Emotional ABCs, America’s most awarded and most used Social Emotional Learning (SEL) program, has been named to the inaugural list of Best Digital Tools for Teaching & Learning by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL).

This recognition honors electronic…

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Emotional ABCs, America’s most awarded and most used Social Emotional Learning (SEL) program, has been named to the inaugural list of Best Digital Tools for Teaching & Learning by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL).

This recognition honors electronic resources that provide enhanced learning and curriculum development for school librarians and their educator collaborators. These user-friendly tools are recognized for fostering the qualities of innovation/creativity, active participation, collaboration, exploration, and information/reference. The technology resources are also evaluated for their application of AASL’s «National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries» Shared Foundations of Inquire, Include, Collaborate, Curate, Explore, and Engage.

«With the likelihood of many of us continuing online instruction for the foreseeable future, it is exciting to have such a rich collection of digital resources consolidated into one place,» said AASL President Kathy Carroll.

The Common Sense Education’s «Top Pick for Learning» and the 2020 CODiE Award Winner for «Best PreK/Early Childhood Learning Solutions» receives high marks for its ease-of-use and its positive impact on students. It is currently used by educators at more than 55,000 schools across the USA and focuses on five areas of SEL competencies including Self-Awareness, Social Awareness, Self-Management, Responsible Decision-Making and Relationship Building. The research-based emotional skills program is designed for children ages 4-11 and gives kids practical tools for dealing with impulse control, frustration, and acting out.

«We are honored to be recommended by the AASL as a resource for captivating personal and academic enrichment,» says Cynthia Sikes, CCO, Emotional ABCs.»We know teachers are diligently trying to motivate students during distance learning, and we are thrilled Emotional ABCs can easily support their SEL lessons online if needed.»

Emotional ABCs Classroom is designed around a set of 20 Classroom Workshops that use short modules for flexible teacher use. There is no teacher training needed for the easy-to-use, self-explanatory materials. Teachers worldwide have successfully adapted the Workshops to remote-learning necessities during the last year. Workshops include interactive online activities, videos, printables, teacher-student, and student-student interactions and are set up so instructors can manage pacing and performance. More details about Emotional ABCs Classroom can be found at http://www.EmotionalABCs.com

About Emotional ABCs:
Emotional ABCs is America’s #1 Awarded Social Emotional Learning (SEL) program. Our content aligns with CASEL’s areas of social competencies (Self-Awareness, Social Awareness, Self-Management, Responsible Decision-Making, Relationship Building) and is constantly being updated with our team of educators, psychologists and therapists. Several formats of Emotional ABCs have been developed to meet different needs, including Parent Subscriptions, a Free-to-Teachers Emotional ABCs Classroom Subscription, and a Premium Schools platform coming soon for school-wide accounts.

Emotional ABCs Awards:
Emotional ABCs is a Common Sense Education «Top Pick for Learning» and the program’s many awards include the prestigious American Business «Stevie» Gold Award, the 2020 CODiE Award for «Best PreK/Early Childhood Learning Solution, the National Association of American Publishers «Revere» Judges’ Award, Creative Child Magazine’s «Product of the Year,» and a «Great Find» Award from AblePlay.org, an organization that evaluates products for their effectiveness in teaching children who have learning differences. Most recently, Emotional ABCs received the Stevie Peoples’ Choice Award.

Press Contact:
Mitch Wenter at Support[at]EmotionalABCs.com or 310-399-8762

 

SOURCE Emotional ABCs

AdventHealth Assists Bayshore Christian School Safely Reopen for Students

TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — AdventHealth Carrollwood has partnered with Bayshore Christian School in Tampa to provide an extensive safety strategy for safely reopening for class on Monday, August 12, 2020. AdventHealth provided the school with key strategies and implementation plans to assist the K-12 school in limiting the spread of COVID-19 in the classroom setting.

«We are taking extra steps in our hospital…

TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — AdventHealth Carrollwood has partnered with Bayshore Christian School in Tampa to provide an extensive safety strategy for safely reopening for class on Monday, August 12, 2020. AdventHealth provided the school with key strategies and implementation plans to assist the K-12 school in limiting the spread of COVID-19 in the classroom setting.

«We are taking extra steps in our hospital and in our communities to ensure everyone is safe as we navigate COVID-19,» said Erika Skula, President and CEO, AdventHealth Carrollwood. «By partnering with Bayshore Christian School we can provide these students, teachers and staff with best practices to create the safest environment possible as they return to class.»

AdventHealth Carrollwood clinicians assisted the school with a plan that would allow for all 220 students to return to the classroom. Some of the key strategies implemented include:

  • Enhanced student drop-off and pick up
  • Required temperature screenings
  • Enhanced prepackaged lunches

«As the Head of School at Bayshore Christian School, I am grateful to have the opportunity to work hand in hand with AdventHealth as a community partner,» Melanie Humenansky, Head of School, Bayshore Christian School. «This relationship validates the decision making of the school’s administration in confirming we are taking the right steps in keeping our students safe. The recommendations were openly received, and we have purchased the suggested additional items and look forward to implementing the processes for the opening of the school year.»

AdventHealth is committed to the health and wellness of the community. AdventHealth Carrollwood has achieved 10 consecutive Leapfrog Grade A rankings and several Top General Hospital honors. The Leapfrog Group focuses on safety and lowering and eliminating infections in the hospital setting.

About AdventHealth West Florida Division
The West Florida Division of AdventHealth has some of the nation’s brightest medical minds making lifesaving breakthroughs with surgical pioneers, scientists and researchers using leading edge technology and innovation to deliver our brand of whole-person care. Our network of care includes AdventHealth Carrollwood, AdventHealth Connerton, AdventHealth Dade City, AdventHealth Lake Placid, AdventHealth North Pinellas, AdventHealth Ocala, AdventHealth Sebring, AdventHealth Tampa, AdventHealth Wauchula, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel and AdventHealth Zephyrhills, as well as five freestanding offsite Emergency Rooms including AdventHealth Brandon ER, AdventHealth Central Pasco ER, AdventHealth Palm Harbor ER, AdventHealth TimberRidge ER, and AdventHealth Westchase ER. We are more than hospitals, as we have a robust system of care including specialty acute care, over 200 primary care and specialty employed physicians, Express Care at Walgreens clinics, urgent care centers, wound care, physical therapy, home care, mobile mammography and more. AdventHealth is a faith-based not-for-profit health care system with a mission of Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ. AdventHealth has hundreds of care sites and nearly 50 hospitals across the United States. For more information about AdventHealth, visit AdventHealth.com, or Facebook.com/AdventHealth.

About AdventHealth Carrollwood
AdventHealth Carrollwood is a 103-bed hospital located in West Hillsborough County. The hospital is a member of the faith-based AdventHealth System, providing a connected system of care in nearly a dozen states with close to 50 hospitals and hundreds of care sites. The hospital offers nationally recognized and award-winning care, evidenced by being named One of America’s Best Hospitals for Patient Safety and Bariatric Surgery by the Women’s Choice Award three years in a row and by earning its 10th consecutive Grade A from the Leapfrog Group for Patient Safety. The hospital provides a wide variety of services including heart care, spine and orthopedics, bariatrics, wound care, robotic technology, two 24/7 emergency rooms with online scheduling, in Carrollwood and Westchase, and much more. With a focus on whole-person care, skilled and compassionate caregivers provide individualized care for body, mind, and spirit. To learn more about the hospital’s services, visit AdventHealthCarrollwood.com.

About Bayshore Christian School
Bayshore, the premier private Christian school in the greater Tampa Bay area, offers a comprehensive college preparatory program and provides exceptional leadership development, academics, athletics, and the arts. Bayshore Christian School is committed to challenging, developing, and empowering students for future leadership with a Biblical worldview within a diverse and nurturing environment, so that each student will follow the example of Jesus to «grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.» Luke 2:52

 

SOURCE AdventHealth