Categoría: Aaron Sanchez

Food Safety Can Be Crucial for People With Diabetes

SILVER SPRING, Md., Nov. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Did you know November is National Diabetes Month? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reminds people with diabetes (and those preparing food for them) about the importance of safe food handling in preventing foodborne illness.

Learn how to safely choose and prepare foods for people with diabetes in this free booklet:
<a target="_blank"…

SILVER SPRING, Md., Nov. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Did you know November is National Diabetes Month? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reminds people with diabetes (and those preparing food for them) about the importance of safe food handling in preventing foodborne illness.

Learn how to safely choose and prepare foods for people with diabetes in this free booklet:
Food Safety for Older Adults and People with Cancer, Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Organ Transplants, and Autoimmune Diseases.

Practicing food safety is important for everyone, but especially for people living with diabetes. They are more likely to get sick from bacteria that cause foodborne illness (often called «food poisoning»), and are more likely to be sicker for longer, be hospitalized, or even die. This increased risk is why food choices and safe food handling are so important in managing this chronic disease.

Make Wise Food Choices

Some foods are riskier for people with diabetes because they are more likely to contain harmful bacteria or viruses. In general, these foods fall into two categories: 

  • Uncooked fresh fruits and vegetables.
  • Some animal products, such as unpasteurized (raw) milk; soft cheeses made with raw milk; raw or undercooked eggs, meat, poultry, fish and shellfish; luncheon meats; improperly reheated hot dogs; and salads containing animal products such as seafood, ham, or chicken that are prepared outside the home.

Follow the Four Steps to Food Safety

Anyone who is diabetic or who prepares food for people with diabetes should also carefully follow these steps:

  1. CLEAN: Wash hands and surfaces often. Bacteria can be spread throughout the kitchen and get onto hands, cutting boards, utensils, counter tops, and food.
  2. SEPARATE: Keep raw meat, poultry, eggs, and seafood and their juices away from ready-to-eat foods.
  3. COOK to the right temperatures. Use a food thermometer to make sure meat, poultry, seafood, and egg products are cooked to a safe minimum internal temperature to destroy any harmful bacteria. (See Safe Minimal Internal Temperatures charts.)  Follow cooking instructions on packaged foods such as frozen vegetables.
  4. CHILL foods promptly. Cold temperatures slow the growth of harmful bacteria. Use an appliance thermometer to be sure the refrigerator temperature is 40 degrees F or below and the freezer temperature is 0 degrees F or below.

Know the Symptoms

Dangerous foodborne bacteria will usually cause illness within 1 to 3 days. However, sickness can also happen within 20 minutes or up to 6 weeks later. Symptoms of foodborne illness include: vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and flu-like symptoms (such as fever, headache, and body ache).

Take Action

If you think you or a family member has a foodborne illness, contact your healthcare provider immediately. Also, report the suspected foodborne illness to FDA in either of these ways:

Contact:  Media: 1-301-796-4540  Consumers: 1-888-SAFEFOOD (toll free)

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1322550/FDA_Diabetes_Food_Safety.jpg 
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/585467/ucm519149_Logo.jpg

 

SOURCE U.S. Food and Drug Administration

3 Reasons Why Access to Technology Is Essential

REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — We know that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. As the digital economy continues to rapidly transform the ways in which we learn, work, and play, there is a key piece missing in too many communities across the U.S. — access to technology. It’s more important than ever that all Americans have access to digital tools, training, knowledge, and devices so they can participate in the 21st century economy.

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REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — We know that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. As the digital economy continues to rapidly transform the ways in which we learn, work, and play, there is a key piece missing in too many communities across the U.S. — access to technology. It’s more important than ever that all Americans have access to digital tools, training, knowledge, and devices so they can participate in the 21st century economy.

Microsoft company logo. (PRNewsFoto/Microsoft Corp.)

This lack of access to technology and everything it offers is referred to as the digital divide. Let’s look at three reasons why access to technology and digital skills is so important in 2020 and beyond.

1.    Available jobs require digital skills. Millions of Americans continue to lose their jobs as a consequence of COVID-19. However, it’s estimated that over the next five years, the global workforce will have 149 million new technology-oriented jobs. So, for jobseekers today and tomorrow, it’s in their interest to have digital skills — meaning the ability to use digital devices, communication applications, and online networks and programs. Microsoft recently launched a free online program to provide digital skills training to people worldwide to help empower them to secure these available jobs.

2.    Technology enables organizations to achieve more. Access to 21st century technology can help for-profit businesses and nonprofits alike reach greater success. It can streamline processes, help organizations broaden their reach and impact, and help them be more efficient and productive. And when individuals, organizations, and companies are empowered to achieve more, then communities win.

3.    High-speed internet is a necessity. The effort to electrify rural America in the 1930s enabled new technologies to transform those areas. Today, high-speed internet (also known as broadband) can similarly provide the infrastructure to lift up rural America. More than 157 million Americans don’t use the internet at broadband speeds, leaving them without the ability to work or go to school from home, or access critical services like banking and telehealth. Since the pandemic pushed people into lockdown, broadband has been a lifeline — but those without access have been left behind. Further, rural communities without broadband face higher unemployment rates, and see fewer educational and economic opportunities. Every American deserves access to broadband and the benefits it affords.

All Americans — no matter where they live — should have the opportunity to participate in the digital economy. It’s a matter of equity. Check out the TechSpark program to see how Microsoft is working with people and organizations on the local level across the country to help ensure all communities are empowered to thrive.  

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/24227/microsoft_corp_logo226_9217jpg.jpg

SOURCE Microsoft Corporation

The Home Depot Announces Third Quarter Results; Plans to Invest Approximately $1 Billion in Annualized Permanent Compensation Enhancements for Frontline, Hourly Associates

ATLANTA, Nov. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Home Depot®, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, today reported sales of $33.5 billion for the third quarter of fiscal 2020, an increase of $6.3 billion, or 23.2 percent from the third quarter of fiscal 2019. Comparable sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2020 were positive 24.1 percent, and comparable sales in the U.S. were positive 24.6 percent.

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ATLANTA, Nov. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Home Depot®, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, today reported sales of $33.5 billion for the third quarter of fiscal 2020, an increase of $6.3 billion, or 23.2 percent from the third quarter of fiscal 2019. Comparable sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2020 were positive 24.1 percent, and comparable sales in the U.S. were positive 24.6 percent.

The Home Depot logo. (PRNewsFoto/The Home Depot) (PRNewsFoto/)

Net earnings for the third quarter of fiscal 2020 were $3.4 billion, or $3.18 per diluted share, compared with net earnings of $2.8 billion, or $2.53 per diluted share, in the same period of fiscal 2019. For the third quarter of fiscal 2020, diluted earnings per share increased 25.7 percent from the same period in the prior year.

«The third quarter was another exceptional quarter for The Home Depot as we saw the continuation of outsized demand for home improvement projects, which has led to sales growth of more than $15 billion through the first nine months of the year,» said Craig Menear, chairman and CEO. «Our ability to effectively adapt to this high-demand environment is a testament to both the investments we have made in the business as well as our associates’ focus on customers. We continue to lean into these investments because we believe they are critical in enabling market share growth in any economic environment. I am proud of the resilience and strength our associates have continued to demonstrate, and I would like to thank them and our supplier partners,» said Menear.

Investment in Associates

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, The Home Depot has taken significant actions to support associates, including expanded paid time off for all hourly associates to use at their discretion and the implementation of a temporary weekly bonus program. The Company is now transitioning from these temporary programs to invest in permanent compensation enhancements for frontline, hourly associates. This will result in approximately $1 billion of incremental compensation on an annualized basis.  

The Home Depot will conduct a conference call today at 9 a.m. ET to discuss information included in this news release and related matters. The conference call will be available in its entirety through a webcast and replay at ir.homedepot.com/events-and-presentations.

At the end of the third quarter, the Company operated a total of 2,295 retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico. The Company employs more than 400,000 associates. The Home Depot’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HD) and is included in the Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor’s 500 index.

Certain statements contained herein constitute «forward-looking statements» as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may relate to, among other things, the impact on our business, operations and financial results of the COVID-19 pandemic (which, among other things, may affect many of the items listed below); the demand for our products and services; net sales growth; comparable sales; effects of competition; implementation of store, interconnected retail, supply chain and technology initiatives; inventory and in-stock positions; state of the economy; state of the housing and home improvement markets; state of the credit markets, including mortgages, home equity loans and consumer credit; impact of tariffs; issues related to the payment methods we accept; demand for credit offerings; management of relationships with our associates, suppliers and vendors; international trade disputes, natural disasters, public health issues (including pandemics and related quarantines, shelter-in-place and other governmental orders, and similar restrictions), and other business interruptions that could disrupt supply or delivery of, or demand for, the Company’s products or services; continuation of share repurchase programs; net earnings performance; earnings per share; dividend targets; capital allocation and expenditures; liquidity; return on invested capital; expense leverage; stock-based compensation expense; commodity price inflation and deflation; the ability to issue debt on terms and at rates acceptable to us; the impact and expected outcome of investigations, inquiries, claims and litigation; the effect of accounting charges; the effect of adopting certain accounting standards; the impact of regulatory changes; store openings and closures; guidance for fiscal 2020 and beyond; financial outlook; and the integration of acquired companies into our organization and the ability to recognize the anticipated synergies and benefits of those acquisitions. Forward-looking statements are based on currently available information and our current assumptions, expectations and projections about future events. You should not rely on our forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to future events, risks and uncertainties – many of which are beyond our control, dependent on the actions of third parties, or are currently unknown to us – as well as potentially inaccurate assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations and projections. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described in Item 1A, «Risk Factors,» and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended February 2, 2020 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended August 2, 2020.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake to update these statements other than as required by law. You are advised, however, to review any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

THE HOME DEPOT, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(Unaudited)

 

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

in millions, except per share data

November 1,
2020

November 3,
2019

% Change

November 1,
2020

November 3,
2019

% Change

Net sales

$

33,536

$

27,223

23.2

%

$

99,849

$

84,443

18.2

%

Cost of sales

22,080

17,836

23.8

65,827

55,607

18.4

Gross profit

11,456

9,387

22.0

34,022

28,836

18.0

Operating expenses:

Selling, general and administrative

6,076

4,942

22.9

18,260

14,926

22.3

Depreciation and amortization

528

498

6.0

1,567

1,470

6.6

Total operating expenses

6,604

5,440

21.4

19,827

16,396

20.9

Operating income

4,852

3,947

22.9

14,195

12,440

14.1

Interest and other (income) expense:

Interest and investment income

(11)

(22)

(50.0)

(37)

(56)

(33.9)

Interest expense

340

302

12.6

1,010

892

13.2

Interest and other, net

329

280

17.5

973

836

16.4

Earnings before provision for income taxes

4,523

3,667

23.3

13,222

11,604

13.9

Provision for income taxes

1,091

898

21.5

3,213

2,843

13.0

Net earnings

$

3,432

$

2,769

23.9

%

$

10,009

$

8,761

14.2

%

Basic weighted average common shares

1,073

1,089

(1.5)

%

1,074

1,096

(2.0)

%

Basic earnings per share

$

3.20

$

2.54

26.0

$

9.32

$

7.99

16.6

Diluted weighted average common shares

1,078

1,094

(1.5)

%

1,078

1,100

(2.0)

%

Diluted earnings per share

$

3.18

$

2.53

25.7

$

9.28

$

7.96

16.6

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

Selected Sales Data (1)

November 1,
2020

November 3,
2019

% Change

November 1,
2020

November 3,
2019

% Change

Customer transactions (in millions)

453.2

400.9

13.0

%

1,339.5

1,246.4

7.5

%

Average ticket

$

72.98

$

66.36

10.0

$

73.90

$

67.00

10.3

Sales per retail square foot

$

552.85

$

449.17

23.1

$

549.26

$

464.68

18.2

__________
(1)  Selected Sales Data does not include results for the legacy Interline Brands business, now operating as a part of The Home Depot Pro.

 

THE HOME DEPOT, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

 

in millions

November 1,
2020

November 3,
2019

February 2,
2020

Assets

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

14,652

$

2,193

$

2,133

Receivables, net

2,666

2,231

2,106

Merchandise inventories

16,155

15,711

14,531

Other current assets

1,032

1,039

1,040

Total current assets

34,505

21,174

19,810

Net property and equipment

23,848

22,472

22,770

Operating lease right-of-use assets

5,433

5,638

5,595

Goodwill

2,236

2,253

2,254

Other assets

897

772

807

Total assets

$

66,919

$

52,309

$

51,236

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

Current liabilities:

Short-term debt

$

—

$

695

$

974

Accounts payable

12,899

9,240

7,787

Accrued salaries and related expenses

2,176

1,467

1,494

Current installments of long-term debt

2,491

1,818

1,839

Current operating lease liabilities

842

828

828

Other current liabilities

6,987

5,517

5,453

Total current liabilities

25,395

19,565

18,375

Long-term debt, excluding current installments

32,831

26,597

28,670

Long-term operating lease liabilities

4,880

5,113

5,066

Other liabilities

2,278

2,116

2,241

Total liabilities

65,384

53,391

54,352

Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)

1,535

(1,082)

(3,116)

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$

66,919

$

52,309

$

51,236

 

THE HOME DEPOT, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

Nine Months Ended

in millions

November 1,
2020

November 3,
2019

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

Net earnings

$

10,009

$

8,761

Reconciliation of net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

1,853

1,701

Stock-based compensation expense

234

197

Changes in working capital

5,348

(37)

Changes in deferred income taxes

(86)

107

Other operating activities

57

64

Net cash provided by operating activities

17,415

10,793

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

Capital expenditures

(1,503)

(1,891)

Proceeds from sales of property and equipment

55

21

Other investing activities

(3)

(10)

Net cash used in investing activities

(1,451)

(1,880)

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

Repayments of short-term debt, net

(974)

(644)

Proceeds from long-term debt, net of discounts and premiums

4,960

1,404

Repayments of long-term debt

(1,836)

(1,046)

Repurchases of common stock

(791)

(3,909)

Proceeds from sales of common stock

185

185

Cash dividends

(4,837)

(4,477)

Other financing activities

(132)

(120)

Net cash used in financing activities

(3,425)

(8,607)

Change in cash and cash equivalents

12,539

306

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

(20)

109

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

2,133

1,778

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$

14,652

$

2,193

___________
Note: Effective February 3, 2020, we reclassified cash flows relating to book overdrafts from financing to operating activities for all periods presented on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The amounts of these reclassifications were not material.

 

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/118058/the_home_depot_logo.jpg  

SOURCE The Home Depot

The Rhythm of Your Health!: New Series Informs Latinx Audiences about Best Health Practices Amidst the Pandemic

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Hispanic Communications Network (HCN) (hcnmedia.com) is launching a new series on its

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Hispanic Communications Network (HCN) (hcnmedia.com) is launching a new series on its La Red Hispana (laredhispana.org) network titled: The Rhythm of Your Health! (¡El Ritmo de Tu Salud!). The multimedia series focuses on Latinx that are at higher risk of severe illness due to COVID-19, including those living with underlying health conditions and chronic diseases, and their caregivers.

¡El Ritmo de Tú Salud! features Latin Grammy Nominee Leslie Cartaya, who shares her personal experiences and focuses on family members living with chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes during the pandemic.

Storytelling is critical for Latinx to share real-life stories on how the pandemic is affecting real people. Through lived experiences, communities have the power to uplift one other amidst devastating hardships many Latinx families are facing.

«By highlighting the singer-songwriter’s story, we are tapping into music as a common denominator among Latinx cultures. Music is the universal language, and the soundtrack that gets us through rough times of difficulty and sorrow. Music also demands a steady rhythm, just as chronic conditions require steady and regular medical management and treatment. ¡El Ritmo de Tú Salud! is our pilot programming series to share practical and useful information during the pandemic through lived experiences, and encourage audiences living with chronic illnesses to not miss a beat,» says Alison Rodden, CEO of HCN.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), US Latinx are hardest hit by COVID-19, reporting the highest number of cases (2.8x higher), hospitalizations (4.6x higher) and deaths (1.1x higher). This disproportionate burden is due to numerous complex social determinants.

Many Latinx are classified as «essential workers» serving on the frontlines during the pandemic to uphold the food supply chain, waste management and sanitation, infrastructure, construction and healthcare industries. The vast majority of US Latinx (87%) must report to on-site work, putting them in constant exposure to people or materials that may be infected with COVID-19. In addition to work environments, crowded living conditions may also increase exposure to COVID-19 among multigenerational Hispanic families.

Living with chronic illness does not increase the risk of contracting COVID-19, but it can worsen the outcome of contracting the virus. This is alarming for Hispanics because they have higher rates of comorbidities, including both hypertension and diabetes, as compared to non-Hispanic whites.

«I have family and friends who suffer from hypertension and diabetes,» says singer-songwriter, Leslie Cartaya. I always encourage them to exercise regularly, follow a balanced diet and get a physical exam every year, including during the pandemic. This is why highlighting these issues for the Latinx community is so important to me, especially now considering the additional risks brought on by COVID-19.»

The Rhythm of Your Health! / ¡El Ritmos de Tú Salud! series, supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, includes original audio, video, and digital productions with useful information for Spanish-speaking audiences living with chronic diseases. Due to a growing number of bilingual Latinx audiences, the series is in Spanish and English and can be accessed via LaRedHispana.org and its social media channels, including on its new podcast LatinEQUIS, geared toward Latinx Millennial and Gen Z audiences. 

About Hispanic Communications Network & La Red Hispana

Hispanic Communications Network (HCN) is a hybrid culturally driven social impact agency that also serves as the largest producer and syndicator of public interest content and programming for Spanish-language media in the US. HCN works exclusively with government, nonprofit, philanthropy and CSR clients that match their mission to improve quality of life for US Latinx communities. Through its La Red Hispana multimedia networks and influencers personalities on radio, TV, digital, social media, print and mobile platforms, HCN currently reaches a measured audience of over 8 million Latinx consumers in urban, mid-sized and rural markets weekly.

About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

For more than 45 years the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has worked to improve health and health care. We are working alongside others to build a national Culture of Health that provides everyone in America a fair and just opportunity for health and well-being. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org. Follow the Foundation on Twitter at www.rwjf.org/twitter or on Facebook at www.rwjf.org/facebook.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1335574/HCN.jpg

 

 

SOURCE Hispanic Communications Network

Lexus Culinary Cinema Elevates Drive-In Theater with Gourmet Dining Experience

PLANO, Texas, Nov. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — To meet the growing desire for socially distanced events, Lexus hosted the first-ever Lexus Culinary Cinema – a three-night gourmet drive-in movie event at L.A. LIVE’s Event Deck in downtown Los Angeles. The event, which took place this past weekend, elevated the typical drive-in movie experience by engaging Lexus Culinary Masters, Chefs Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo, Ludo…

PLANO, Texas, Nov. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — To meet the growing desire for socially distanced events, Lexus hosted the first-ever Lexus Culinary Cinema – a three-night gourmet drive-in movie event at L.A. LIVE’s Event Deck in downtown Los Angeles. The event, which took place this past weekend, elevated the typical drive-in movie experience by engaging Lexus Culinary Masters, Chefs Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo, Ludo Lefebvre and Carlo Mirarchi to create gourmet dinners inspired by the feature film being shown each evening.

For three consecutive sold-out nights, more than 100 vehicles pulled into L.A. LIVE’s Event Deck to enjoy a delicious three-course meal and a fan-favorite movie from the comfort of their vehicles. Each evening featured a different menu curated by a Lexus Culinary Master. Chefs Jon and Vinny opened the event with cuisine paired with «Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.» Chef Ludo followed with dishes designed for the film «Sideways,» and Chef Carlo closed the series with dinner fare fit for «Little Miss Sunshine.»

«We understand people’s desire for socially distanced outdoor events. As a human-centric brand, we continue to explore ways to innovate and create elevated experiences for our guests,» said Lisa Materazzo, Lexus vice president of marketing. «With the help of our talented roster of Culinary Master chefs, Lexus Culinary Cinema brought gourmet dining to the classic drive-in movie theater, and provided an experience only Lexus could deliver.»  

Tickets to this one-of-kind Lexus experience were priced at $25 per person and included admission to the film along with the three-course meal, complimentary gift bag and pre-movie trivia.

The Lexus Culinary Masters program includes a number of the country’s most talented chefs, restaurateurs, and culinary personalities. They serve as ambassadors to the brand to help craft amazing experiences and amplify Lexus core values of human-centered craft, innovation, curiosity and hospitality. The current group of Lexus Culinary Masters includes James Beard Award-winning chefs Michelle Bernstein, Stephanie Izard, Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo; Michelin star awarded chefs such as the legendary Daniel Boulud, Dominique Crenn, Ludo Lefebvre, Nickolas Martinez and Carlo Mirarchi; celebrated sommelier Carlton McCoy, and the «father of Southern Cuisine» Dean Fearing.

About Lexus
Lexus’ passion for brave design, imaginative technology, and exhilarating performance enables the luxury lifestyle brand to create amazing experiences for its guests. Lexus began its journey in 1989 with two luxury sedans and a commitment to pursue perfection. Since then, Lexus has developed its lineup to meet the needs of global luxury customers in more than 90 countries. In the United States, Lexus vehicles are sold through 242 dealers offering a full lineup of luxury vehicles. With six models incorporating Lexus Hybrid Drive, Lexus is the luxury hybrid leader. Lexus also offers eight F SPORT models and two F performance models. Lexus is committed to being a visionary brand that anticipates the future for luxury customers.

www.facebook.com/lexus 
www.twitter.com/lexus 
www.youtube.com/lexusvehicles 
www.instagram.com/lexususa 
https://www.pinterest.com/lexususa 

Note to Editors: Lexus product information and images are available online via our news media website http://LexusNewsroom.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Daphne Dobbs
310-437-2091
daphne.dobbs@teamone-usa.com

Jesse Zand
310-883- 5602
jesse.zand@teamone-usa.com

Lexus Logo

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1335438/HERO_Lexus_Culinary_Cinema_1.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/626836/Lexus_Logo.jpg  

SOURCE Lexus

Class Counsel in In re EpiPen (Epinephrine Injection, USP) Marketing, Sales Practices and Antitrust Litigation–Burns Charest LLP, Keller Rohrback L.L.P., Pritzker Levine LLP, Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP, and Sharp Law, LLP–announce that the Court has approved the following Short-Form Notice

KANSAS CITY, Kan., Nov. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ —

Purchased an EpiPen®, EpiPen Jr®, and/or their Authorized Generics? A Class Action Lawsuit May Affect Your Rights

Your rights may be affected by a class action lawsuit regarding the price paid for branded or authorized generic EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr® (collectively, «EpiPen») products. The case name is In re EpiPen (Epinephrine Injection, USP) Marketing, Sales Practices and…

KANSAS CITY, Kan., Nov. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ —

Purchased an EpiPen®, EpiPen Jr®, and/or their Authorized Generics? A Class Action Lawsuit May Affect Your Rights

Your rights may be affected by a class action lawsuit regarding the price paid for branded or authorized generic EpiPen® or EpiPen Jr® (collectively, «EpiPen») products. The case name is In re EpiPen (Epinephrine Injection, USP) Marketing, Sales Practices and Antitrust Litigation, and the civil action number is 2:17-md-02785-DDC-TJJ. This lawsuit asserts that Defendants violated certain state antitrust and federal racketeering laws in the United States, harming competition and causing class members to overpay for EpiPen products. Defendants deny that they violated any laws and contend that their actions enhanced competition and did not cause class members to overpay.

PLEASE NOTE:  This is NOT a recall, safety, or other similar notice. No one is claiming that EpiPen products are unsafe or ineffective. 

This is only a summary. The Court has not decided whether Defendants did anything wrong. There is no money available now, and no guarantee there will be. For additional details, please read the Long-Form Notice available to download at www.EpiPenClassAction.com. 

Who is Included?

On February 27, 2020, the United States District Court for the District of Kansas certified the following two Classes in this lawsuit (the «Class»):

  • Nationwide RICO Damages Class («RICO Class»): All persons and entities in the United States who paid or provided reimbursement for some or all of the purchase price of branded or authorized generic EpiPens for the purpose of consumption, and not resale, by themselves, their family member(s), insureds, plan participants, employees, or beneficiaries, at any time between August 24, 2011, and November 1, 2020;
  • State Antitrust Damages Class («State Antitrust Class»): All persons and entities in the Antitrust States who paid or provided reimbursement for some or all of the purchase price of branded EpiPens at any time between January 28, 2013, and November 1, 2020, for the purpose of consumption, and not resale, by themselves, their family member(s), insureds, plan participants, employees, or beneficiaries.

A more detailed notice, including the exact Class definitions and exceptions to Class membership, is available at www.EpiPenClassAction.com.

Your Rights and Options

DO NOTHING: If you do nothing, you are choosing to stay in the Class and you will be able to share in any money or benefits that may be recovered in this case. You will be bound by all orders and judgments of the Court, including any judgment in Defendants’ favor, and you will give up your right to sue the Defendants as part of any other lawsuit for the claims made in this case.

EXCLUDE YOURSELF FROM THE CLASS: If you exclude yourself from the Class (i.e., opt out), you will not be entitled to money or benefits if they are awarded or recovered. You will not be bound by any orders and judgments of the Court and you will not give up your right to sue Defendants as part of any other lawsuit for the claims made in this case. The deadline to exclude yourself from the Class is January 15, 2021.  Specific instructions on how to request exclusion are included in the Long-Form Notice available to download at www.EpiPenClassAction.com.

The Trial

The Court has not yet determined whether a trial is required in this case. But, if the case proceeds to trial, the Court has scheduled a trial to begin on April 13, 2021 in the United States District Court, District of Kansas, located at 500 State Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66101. Any changes to the date or location of the trial will be posted to the case website below. You may hire your own lawyer at your own expense, but you do not have to.

Want More Information?

Go to www.EpiPenClassAction.com, call 877-221-7632, or write to EpiPen Class Action, c/o A.B. Data, Ltd., P.O. Box 173113, Milwaukee, WI 53217.

SOURCE Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP

For the First Time in 108 Years, Operation Santa is Nationwide!

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Let’s face it, this year has been a struggle for so many people in more ways than one. Thoughts of kids, the holidays and wondering how to provide for them may also be weighing heavily on many. But take heart, Santa and the Postal Service are way ahead of you, and are here to help.

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Let’s face it, this year has been a struggle for so many people in more ways than one. Thoughts of kids, the holidays and wondering how to provide for them may also be weighing heavily on many. But take heart, Santa and the Postal Service are way ahead of you, and are here to help.

The USPS Operation Santa program celebrates its 108th year in 2020 by opening up for nationwide participation. Now, more than ever, the program is needed to help less fortunate kids and families during the holidays.

The Postal Service established the USPS Operation Santa program to help those in need at the holidays experience the joy of opening presents — and to create special holiday memories. Since it began, millions of less fortunate children and their families have been helped by the kindness of others. The program is for every person of every belief, or non-belief. The purpose is to help as many deserving families as possible. And that can only be done if good-hearted adopters step forward.

To participate in the USPS Operation Santa program as a possible recipient of holiday gifts, all you have to do is write a letter, put it in a stamped envelope with a return address, and send it to Santa’s official workshop address:

Santa Claus
123 Elf Road
North Pole
88888

Letters will be accepted Nov. 16 – Dec. 15.

Program Details
Hundreds of thousands of letters are written to the USPS Operation Santa program every year in hopes of being adopted by kind and generous people across the country. These letters are opened by Santa’s Elves and, for safety reasons, all personally identifiable information of the letter writer is removed (i.e. last names, addresses, ZIP Codes) and uploaded to USPSOperationSanta.com for adoption.

Beginning Dec. 4, letters will be available for nationwide adoption by visiting USPSOperationSanta.com — all from the socially distant safety of your own home. Potential adopters can read the letters and pick one, or more, that they’d like to fulfill. For security reasons, potential adopters must be vetted by going through a short registration and ID verification process before they are allowed to adopt any letter.

Companies also help adopt letters. Every year many companies create teams and adopt several letters. All the better to help grant that special wish to deserving families and kids.

How to Write a Letter
Sending a letter to Santa is easy if you know how. The Postal Service is here to help with guides and tips to help kids write and send their best letters ever. All the information you could possibly need to write a letter, address an envelope, put on a stamp and send it on its way can be found on USPSOperationSanta.com and in our Holiday Newsroom. The only thing the Postal Service can’t help with is to tell kids what to ask for. That is up to their imagination, and we would never stifle creativity. These tips are also good all year-round for sending thank-you cards, birthday cards, or  letters to Grandma and Grandpa just to say, «Hi.»

USPS Operation Santa History
While the Postal Service began receiving letters to Santa more than 108 years ago, it wasn’t until 1912 that Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock authorized local Postmasters to allow postal employees and citizens to respond to them. This became known as Operation Santa.

The complete history can be found online at the Postal Service Holiday Newsroom, along with additional news and information, including all domestic, international and military mailing and shipping deadlines.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

Please Note: For U.S. Postal Service media resources, including broadcast quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel, like us on Facebook and enjoy our Postal Posts blog. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com.

More USPS holiday news, including shipping deadlines and letters to Santa, can be found at usps.com/holidaynews.

For reporters interested in speaking with a regional Postal Service public relations professional, please go to about.usps.com/news/media-contacts/usps-local-media-contacts.pdf.

Contact: Kim Frum
kimberly.a.frum@usps.gov  
usps.com/news

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SOURCE U.S. Postal Service

McDonald’s HACER® Education Tour Goes Virtual, Reaching More Participants Than Ever Before

CHICAGO, Nov. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — McDonald’s is proud to offer its 2020 HACER® Education Tour virtually to help arm thousands of Hispanic students, parents and educators with information to help them navigate the college application process as they face the financial strain and…

CHICAGO, Nov. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — McDonald’s is proud to offer its 2020 HACER® Education Tour virtually to help arm thousands of Hispanic students, parents and educators with information to help them navigate the college application process as they face the financial strain and limited access to resources brought on by the pandemic. Having kicked off in October, the workshops continue this month with dedicated student sessions, hosted by «Gentefied» actress and writer, Julissa Calderon. The tour will culminate in a combined student and parent session on Nov. 21.

By hosting the workshops digitally, more than 70,000 students are expected to tune in during the tour, a 400% increase from the 14,000 participants in 2019. Since many Hispanic students are first-generation who are managing the prospect of higher education alone, this expansion allows for even greater impact among these students, who will receive information on financial aid, writing workshops, and more during each session.

«With increased uncertainty about whether to continue their educational pursuits in today’s environment, students need resources to help them navigate the college application process now more than ever,» said Santiago Negre, HACER® scholarship committee judge, Illinois Owner/Operator, and Owner/Operator Hispanic Marketing Committee Lead.  «We’re proud to continue the HACER Education Tour this year and offer even more high school students the opportunity to learn about how to get into college, despite the challenges they may be facing.»

Now in its eighth year, the HACER® Education Tour kicked off in October with new workshops designed for counselors, teachers and parents. Youth engagement group CoolSpeak returns to the tour to motivate and inspire participants by sharing their own personal life experiences. Following the student sessions, Julissa and CoolSpeak will conduct real-time Q&A, sharing advice and encouraging messages with youth from around the country.

«I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the McDonald’s HACER Education Tour this year. I have been an advocate for education in the Latino community for a long time and recognize the importance of sharing these college-bound resources and information with families in my community,» said Julissa Calderon. «Being a part of the tour has allowed me to share my personal education story with students from all over the country, hopefully motivating more of them to pursue a college degree and letting them know that they have resources available to help them get there.»

The McDonald’s HACER® Education Tour is one of the many initiatives making up the HACER® National Scholarship program. The McDonald’s HACER® National Scholarship has awarded more than $31.5 million in scholarships to date and helped 17,060 students since its founding in 1985. It is one of the largest programs committed to college scholarships and resources for Hispanics, awarding a total of $500,000 to 30 outstanding Hispanic high-school seniors annually.

This year, McDonald’s has committed to do more to support Hispanic students through the HACER® National Scholarship. In addition to receiving scholarships, this year’s 30 winners of the 2020 HACER® National Scholarship received a «tech backpack» that included a laptop, wireless mouse, and headphones—some of the tools needed to succeed in a virtual learning environment. The company doubled its investment in the HACER program and committed $1 million toward assisting Hispanic students this academic year with an additional 100 scholarships.

Please visit www.hacertour.com to register to participate in an upcoming workshop and for more information on workshop schedules, the McDonald’s HACER® National Scholarship and additional educational resources.

ABOUT McDONALD’S
McDonald’s has always been committed to the communities it serves, and the people that make up those communities. But now they need support now more than ever, so McDonald’s is prioritizing its commitment to communities to feed and foster their futures via initiatives like the HACER National Scholarship and more.

McDonald’s USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to nearly 25 million customers every day. Ninety-five percent of McDonald’s 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by businessmen and women. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter @McDonalds and Facebook. www.facebook.com/mcdonalds.

CONTACT: Nathaly Renderos, nathaly.renderos@us.mcd.com

SOURCE McDonald’s Corporation

The Home Depot Announces Agreement to Acquire HD Supply Holdings, Inc.

Acquisition to Accelerate Sales Growth; Expected to be Accretive to Earnings Per Share in 2021

ATLANTA, Nov. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Home Depot®, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire HD Supply Holdings, Inc., a leading national distributor of maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) products in the multifamily and hospitality end markets. The acquisition is expected…

Acquisition to Accelerate Sales Growth; Expected to be Accretive to Earnings Per Share in 2021

ATLANTA, Nov. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Home Depot®, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire HD Supply Holdings, Inc., a leading national distributor of maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) products in the multifamily and hospitality end markets. The acquisition is expected to position The Home Depot as a premier provider in the MRO marketplace.

The Home Depot logo.

«The MRO customer is highly valued by The Home Depot, and this acquisition will position the company to accelerate sales growth by better serving both existing and new customers in a highly fragmented $55 billion marketplace,» said Craig Menear, chairman and CEO of The Home Depot. «HD Supply complements our existing MRO business with a robust product offering and value-added service capabilities, an experienced salesforce that enhances the strong team we have in place, as well as an extensive, MRO-specific distribution network throughout the U.S. and Canada.»

«We’re thrilled that our associates are joining the Home Depot team and that our customers will be able to benefit from a broader product assortment, expanded delivery options and enhanced services nationally,» said Joe DeAngelo, chairman and CEO, HD Supply. «We are confident that this will position both The Home Depot and HD Supply for continued growth and success in the MRO distribution space.»

Under the terms of the merger agreement, a subsidiary of The Home Depot will commence a cash tender offer to purchase all outstanding shares of HD Supply common stock for $56 per share, for a total enterprise value (including net cash) of approximately $8 billion. The closing of the tender offer is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and the tender of a majority of the shares of HD Supply common stock then outstanding (on a fully diluted basis) and is expected to be completed during The Home Depot’s fiscal fourth quarter, which ends on January 31, 2021. The transaction is expected to be funded through cash on hand and debt.

«We plan to access the debt capital markets to raise incremental indebtedness in support of this acquisition. We also expect the transaction to be accretive to earnings in fiscal 2021, with potential for significant shareholder value creation over the longer term,» said Richard McPhail, executive vice president and CFO.

The Company will hold its third quarter 2020 earnings conference call on Tuesday, November 17, at 9 a.m. ET.

Advisors
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC served as exclusive financial advisor, and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz served as legal counsel to The Home Depot in connection with the transaction.

About The Home Depot
The Home Depot is the world’s largest home improvement specialty retailer, with 2,295 retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico. In fiscal 2019, The Home Depot had sales of $110.2 billion and earnings of $11.2 billion. The Company employs more than 400,000 associates. The Home Depot’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HD) and is included in the Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor’s 500 index.

About HD Supply
HD Supply (NASDAQ: HDS) is one of the largest wholesale distributors in North America. The company provides a broad range of products and value-add services to approximately 300,000 customers with leadership positions in the living space maintenance, repair and operations sector. Through approximately 44 distribution centers, across 25 states and two Canadian provinces, the company’s approximately 5,500 associates provide localized, customer-tailored products, services and expertise. For more information, visit www.hdsupply.com.

Certain statements contained herein constitute «forward-looking statements» as defined in the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements may relate to, among other things, the proposed acquisition of HD Supply that involves substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements (the «potential acquisition»); statements about the potential benefits of the potential acquisition; HD Supply’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions; the anticipated timing of closing of the potential acquisition (including failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals) in the anticipated timeframe or at all, including uncertainties as to how many of HD Supply’s stockholders will tender their shares in the tender offer and the possibility that the potential acquisition does not close; risks related to the ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the potential acquisition, including the possibility that the expected benefits from the proposed transaction will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time period; the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully; disruption from the potential acquisition making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships; negative effects of this announcement or the consummation of the potential acquisition on the market price of our or HD Supply’s common stock, credit ratings or operating results; significant costs associated with the potential acquisition; unknown liabilities; the risk of litigation and/or regulatory actions related to the potential acquisition; the impact on our business, operations and financial results of the COVID-19 pandemic (which, among other things, may affect many of the items listed below); the demand for our products and services; net sales growth; comparable sales; effects of competition; implementation of store, interconnected retail, supply chain and technology initiatives; inventory and in-stock positions; state of the economy; state of the housing and home improvement markets; state of the credit markets, including mortgages, home equity loans and consumer credit; impact of tariffs; issues related to the payment methods we accept; demand for credit offerings; management of relationships with our associates, suppliers and vendors; international trade disputes, natural disasters, public health issues (including pandemics and related quarantines, shelter-in-place and other governmental orders, and similar restrictions), and other business interruptions that could disrupt supply or delivery of, or demand for, the Company’s products or services; continuation of share repurchase programs; net earnings performance; earnings per share; dividend targets; capital allocation and expenditures; liquidity; return on invested capital; expense leverage; stock-based compensation expense; commodity price inflation and deflation; the ability to issue debt on terms and at rates acceptable to us; the impact and expected outcome of investigations, inquiries, claims and litigation; the effect of accounting charges; the effect of adopting certain accounting standards; the impact of regulatory changes; store openings and closures; guidance for fiscal 2020 and beyond; financial outlook; and the integration of acquired companies into our organization and the ability to recognize the anticipated synergies and benefits of those acquisitions. Forward-looking statements are based on currently available information and our current assumptions, expectations and projections about future events. You should not rely on our forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to future events, risks and uncertainties – many of which are beyond our control, dependent on the actions of third parties, or are currently unknown to us – as well as potentially inaccurate assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations and projections. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described in Item 1A, «Risk Factors,» and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended February 2, 2020 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended August 2, 2020.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake to update these statements other than as required by law. You are advised, however, to review any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

The tender offer referenced in this press release has not yet commenced. This press release is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell securities, nor is it a substitute for the tender offer materials that The Home Depot and its acquisition subsidiary will file with the SEC. The solicitation and offer to buy HD Supply stock will only be made pursuant to an Offer to Purchase and related tender offer materials. At the time the tender offer is commenced, The Home Depot and its acquisition subsidiary will file a tender offer statement on Schedule TO and thereafter HD Supply will file a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 with the SEC with respect to the tender offer.

THE TENDER OFFER MATERIALS (INCLUDING AN OFFER TO PURCHASE, A RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND CERTAIN OTHER TENDER OFFER DOCUMENTS) AND THE SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT ON SCHEDULE 14D-9 WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. HD SUPPLY STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THESE DOCUMENTS CAREFULLY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT HOLDERS OF HD SUPPLY SECURITIES SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE MAKING ANY DECISION REGARDING TENDERING THEIR SECURITIES. The Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal and certain other tender offer documents, as well as the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement, will be made available to all holders of HD Supply stock at no expense to them. The tender offer materials and the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement will be made available for free at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Additional copies may be obtained for free by contacting The Home Depot or HD Supply. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by HD Supply will be available free of charge on HD Supply’s internet website at https://ir.hdsupply.com/investors or by contacting HD Supply’s Investor Relations Department at (770) 852-9100. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by The Home Depot will be available free of charge on The Home Depot’s internet website at https://ir.homedepot.com/ or by contacting The Home Depot’s Investor Relations Department at (770) 384-2871.

In addition to the Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal and certain other tender offer documents, as well as the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement, The Home Depot and HD Supply each file annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the SEC. The Home Depot and HD Supply’s filings with the SEC are also available to the public from commercial document-retrieval services and at the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.

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SOURCE The Home Depot

Systemic Racism, Access to Care, Poverty and Preexisting conditions Help Fuel U.S. Maternal And Infant Health Crisis, Particularly Devastating For Moms And Babies Of Color

ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — March of Dimes, the nation’s leader in the fight for the health of all moms and babies, has issued its new 2020 Report Card amid the coronavirus pandemic and calls for racial justice, shining a spotlight on factors that contribute to maternal and infant…

ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — March of Dimes, the nation’s leader in the fight for the health of all moms and babies, has issued its new 2020 Report Card amid the coronavirus pandemic and calls for racial justice, shining a spotlight on factors that contribute to maternal and infant health. The U.S. remains among the most dangerous developed nations for childbirth and it’s even more dire for women and babies of color. The Report Card shows that for the fifth year in a row, the U.S. preterm birth rate increased to 10.2% of births, earning the nation a «C-» grade compared to last year’s «C» grade. Preterm birth is a leading cause of infant mortality, which has slowly declined over the past few years. Yet, still in the U.S. two babies die every hour and two women die from pregnancy complications every day.

March of Dimes Foundation Logo

These statistics are worse for moms and babies of color – with the Report Card showing significant racial disparities that cut across maternal and infant health. Women of color are up to 50% more likely to give birth preterm and their children face up to a 130% higher infant death rate. Disparities in preterm birth have increased over the past several years in the U.S. The disparity ratio for preterm birth, a measure that tracks progress to eliminating racial/ethnic disparities shows that disparities have worsened in recent years by about 5%.  Additionally, Black and American Indian/Alaskan Native women are up to three times more likely to die from pregnancy related complications compared to White women.

While there is no single cause to this complex maternal and infant health crisis, contributing factors include maternal health and management of preexisting conditions. They also include social determinants of health such as being uninsured, living in poverty and having inadequate prenatal care – which again the Report Card shows most often affect women of color. Additionally, systemic challenges with health care systems and deeply entrenched structural racism are helping to fuel this health equity gap. March of Dimes supports and advocates for policies that concentrate on the health of all moms and babies and improve health outcomes especially for women of color.

«Although there has been some incremental progress in advancing policies that will address better maternal and infant health care, this progress is not happening quick enough, and is tempered by increasing racial/ethnic health care disparities in preterm birth,» said Stacey D. Stewart, President and CEO of March of Dimes. «At a time of racial awakening in our nation, we must amplify our efforts to decrease deaths and health challenges facing our nation’s moms and babies and enact new policies that support health equity.»

The Report Card shows that almost 21,500 babies were lost in 2018 compared to 22,341 babies in 2017. Infant mortality rates have declined due to changes in maternal age – including a decline in teen births in the U.S. – decreases in adult smoking rates and decreases in death from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. The leading causes of infant death include birth defects, preterm birth and low birth weight, maternal complications and sudden infant death syndrome. This year’s report also includes information on states’ efforts on Medicaid expansion, Medicaid postpartum coverage extension, Maternal Mortality Review Committees, Perinatal Quality Collaboratives, and other key factors including health insurance status, inadequate prenatal care, poverty level and race and ethnicity disparity ratios.

«A priority for March of Dimes is to close the health equity gap across the country,» said Dr. Rahul Gupta, Chief Medical and Health Officer, Senior Vice President, and Interim Chief Scientific Officer at March of Dimes. «Using the concrete, detailed evidence in the 2020 Report Card, we can identify common-sense steps to reverse the alarming trends. A part of this work, we recognize a lack of uniform reporting and inconsistent access to real-time maternal and infant health data is impeding progress. Particularly during a pandemic, we need access to robust, uniform data sharing to inform evidence-based strategies that can be implemented across public and private sectors to address the specific needs of this crisis.»

Actions to Improve Maternal and Infant Health

March of Dimes works every day with individuals and organizations across the country to combat the maternal and infant health crisis through research, education, advocacy and programs. For example, with support from the Humana Foundation, March of Dimes is mobilizing cross-sector partners to address health equity at the national level through its Mom & Baby Action Network and in six communities: Atlanta, GA (Fulton County); San Antonio, TX (Bexar County); Miami, FL (Miami-Dade County); Chicago, IL (Cook County); Louisville, KY (Jefferson County and Hardin County); Broward County, Florida; Shreveport, LA (Caddo Parish); and New Orleans, LA (Orleans Parish). The partners will build a common agenda and deploy strategies to address the underlying causes and system challenges that negatively impact maternal and infant health within a community. The Mom & Baby Action Network will serve as the national backbone of support for these local communities and share best practices to drive systems change to eliminate the health equity gap.

«The Humana Foundation decided to invest in March of Dimes to help address social determinants of health and systemic racial inequity, barriers that the COVID-19 health crisis amplified for the most vulnerable among us,» said Walter D. Woods, CEO of The Humana Foundation. «It is our hope to address those barriers and close the health equity gap for mothers and children across the country through the Mom & Baby Action Network.»

Additionally, March of Dimes advocates for federal legislation that prioritizes the health of our nation’s moms and babies. The Helping MOMS Act of 2020, Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act of 2020 and Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2020 are examples of critically important policies that offer comprehensive solutions needed to address the health crisis head on. State and local legislation is also needed to fill the gaps associated with access to maternity care for women in rural and underserved communities. Just as important is education and implicit bias training to equip health care professionals with the tools they need to eliminate institutional racism in our health care system and provide more culturally competent care no matter where they practice.

Through the #BlanketChange movement, March of Dimes is urging policymakers and political candidates to protect and improve maternal heath by taking immediate action on series of policies to address equity, access and prevention. To learn more about the #BlanketChange agenda, visit BlanketChange.org.

To view the Report Card and actions you can take support moms and babies, visit marchofdimes.org/ReportCard.

2020 March of Dimes Preterm Birth Grades

The Report Card grades the nation, 50 states, the 100 largest cities and Puerto Rico on rates of preterm birth. Overall preterm birth rates worsened in 39 states and Washington D.C., with eight states—Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, West Virginia—and Puerto Rico earning a failing grade compared to six last year. Between the 2019 and 2020 Report Cards, 25 states and Washington, D.C. had worse grades, 23 states and Puerto Rico had grades that stayed the same and only two states had grades that improved.  

  • 8 states and Puerto Rico earned a «F» (Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina and West Virginia) 
  • 2 states earned a «D-» (Kentucky, Tennessee)
  • 2 states earned a «D» (Missouri, Texas) 
  • 8 states and Washington, DC earned a «D+» (Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Ohio, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina) 
  • 6 states earned a «C-» (Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, New Mexico, Wisconsin) 
  • 5 states earned a «C» (Alaska, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, Wyoming) 
  • 10 states earned a «C+» (Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota) 
  • 4 states earned a «B-» (California, Maine, Massachusetts, New York)
  • 1 state earned a «B» (Idaho) 
  • 4 states earned a «B+» (New Hampshire, Oregon, Vermont, Washington) 
  • 0 states earned an A/A-

Additionally, the Report Card ranks the 100 largest U.S. cities based on their 2018 preterm birth rate. One hundred cities account for 24.7% of all births in the U.S. and 25.4% of all preterm births. Among the 100 cities, 1 in 4 (27%) received an F grade. The states with the most cities among the top 100 are California (12), Texas (18), New York (7), Florida (4). The states with most cities in the «F» category are Texas (4) and Ohio (4). Detroit, MI has the worst (highest) preterm birth rate at 15.2 percent.

The 10 cities with the highest rate of preterm births are (ranked in order, lowest to highest): 

    • St Louis, MO
    • Buffalo, NY
    • Tulsa, OK
    • Milwaukee, WI
    • Memphis, TN
    • Baton Rouge, LA
    • New Orleans, LA
    • Birmingham, AL
    • Cleveland, OH 
    • Detroit, MI 

About March of Dimes
March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies. We support research, lead programs and provide education and advocacy so that every baby can have the best possible start. Building on a successful 80-year legacy of impact and innovation, we empower every mom and every family.

Visit marchofdimes.org or nacersano.org for more information. Visit shareyourstory.org for comfort and support. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

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SOURCE March of Dimes