Aaron Sanchez – Página 65

Karate Combat to Air on ESPN Deportes in the U.S.

NEW YORK, Oct. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The second season of Karate Combat, the full-contact karate league, will air on ESPN Deportes starting Thursday, Oct. 22. The 12 week season begins on October 22 at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT, with new fight cards weekly. Karate Combat features a diverse roster of male and female athletes from over 32 nations…

Season 2’s bouts take place in four virtual worlds rendered real-time using Epic Games’ Unreal Engine, the video game engine behind Fortnite. Throughout the season, color commentator Bas Rutten, play-by-play commentator Josh Palmer and British-Brazilian presenter Layla Anna-Lee will be joined by a series of guest stars including NFL Super Bowl champion Marshawn Lynch and a surprise guest from the series Game of Thrones.

«We’re proud to present our full contact entertainment in Spanish in the U.S. for the first time with ESPN Deportes,» said Rob Bryan, CEO of Karate Combat. «We’ve brought one of the world’s most practiced sports to pro-level for the first time, and we’re making it incredibly entertaining.»

The season debut on October 22 includes two Latin American champions: Deivis Ferreras from the Dominican Republic vs. Jesus Paucarcaja Lopez of Lima, Peru. In the coming weeks we’ll also see amazing fights from two Ecuadorians, Franklin Mina and Daniel Viveros, and from Venezuela’s Omaira Molina and Mexico’s Fabiola Esquivel González and more. (There are several Brazilian champions fighting too). Each episode gives fans fighter profiles shot in their home countries, bringing their training, as well as their struggles and their passions, to life.

Watch Karate Combat on ESPN Deportes Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET.

Past fights are also available in English at Karate Combat YouTube.

For more information about Karate Combat: press@karate.com

For more information about ESPN Deportes: Santa.Brito@espn.com

About ESPN Deportes:
ESPN Deportes is ESPN’s multimedia, Spanish-language sports brand dedicated to providing the widest variety of sports to the U.S. Hispanic sports fan via television, online and social. The network is devoted to serving the Latino sports fans by offering high-quality, culturally relevant and the most diverse sports programming available on Spanish-language television. For more information visit www.ESPNdeportes.espn.com

About Karate Combat:
About Karate Combat: Karate Combat is a premier Karate brand which operates a professional full contact karate league. The company seeks to evolve the traditional sport of Karate via karate.com, the World’s Gateway to Karate, and branded mobile apps. The firm has headquarters in New York City and Budapest. For more information visit www.karate.com.

Omaira Molina, a top lightweight contender from Venezuela, competes in Karate Combat's second season, airing Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN Deportes. Fights take place in a virtual world created by Unreal Engine.

Jesus Paucarcaja Lopez of Lima, Peru in the Karate Combat Fighting Pit. The full-contact fights air Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN Deportes.

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SOURCE Karate Combat

Sam Smith and Spotify Team Up with POWSTER To Launch Immersive Augmented Reality Experience for New Single: «Diamonds»

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — POWSTER—an award-winning interactive creative studio/production company for over 150 movie distributors—in collaboration with the world’s largest music company Universal Music Group, music industry-leading label Capitol Records UK, and Grammy-Award winning artist Sam Smith, join forces for the launch of a web-based AR activation for Smith’s new single «Diamonds,» only available on Spotify. The project celebrates Smith’s highly anticipated new album, «Love Goes,» scheduled to be released on October 30, 2020.

POWSTER pioneered this groundbreaking concept, commissioned by Capitol Records UK and the Digital Marketing & Innovation department at Universal Music Group, with the help of Dimension Studios, a revolutionary volumetric film studio based in London, and 8th Wall, an award-winning computer vision software company that makes it possible to build interactive augmented reality based in a web browser. POWSTER used innovative volumetric capture and WebAR technology to bring the vision to life. In addition, the «Diamonds» experience is the first to use 8th Wall’s image target augmented reality technology to trigger and track multiple volumetric video captures, creating a truly holographic experience.

Now with this innovation, fans can be fully immersed in the world of Sam Smith, viewing and interacting with a miniature augmented reality-version of the star dancing on their mobile device screen, replacing a traditional music video set with the viewer’s immediate location, whether it be a work desk, kitchen table, or living room.

POWSTER employed advanced technology and creative design to develop this activation, utilizing cutting-edge volumetric capture tech to film Sam in 3D, creating the first-ever three-dimensional AR artwork to be featured on Spotify. This breakthrough activation reflects the evolution of album artwork that previously only featured static images and looping videos, encouraging Sam Smith fans to play the song on Spotify and scan the canvas visual to unlock their own personal concert.

Once the mobile phone camera scans the Spotify image marker, AR technology initiates an interactive «Diamonds» experience with a miniature dancing Sam Smith hologram. Fans can also interact with the experience by pressing on the screen to release a shower of on-screen diamonds timed to the chorus of the song.

«This AR project is an artistic and innovative approach to enhance the Spotify experience by Sam Smith, who is a champion of featuring unique content tailored to any platform they engage in. We’re excited to bring AR to Spotify, utilizing volumetric capture technology allowing people at home to see Sam Smith perform from any angle,» said Ste Thompson, CEO and Creative Director of POWSTER. «Sam Smith’s music isn’t visually expressed by just one music video, rather they communicate the message of the lyrics through multiple collaborations, using platforms to their full potential by creating custom content and innovating. We’re excited to be working with Sam Smith helping them provide a virtual experience for their fans.»

«We’re always looking for innovative ways to collaborate with labels and artists, and so we’re really excited about the launch of this unique experience,» commented Nikos Antoniou, Senior Manager Artist and Label Partnerships at Spotify. «Canvas adds a new dimension to the artists’ vision and combining an audio experience with a visual one to enhance listening further, allows fans to engage with music content on our platform in a brand new way.»

«To use this augmented reality technology with music allows Sam to extend their artistry onto a unique canvas in the digital universe,» said George Harb Vice President, Digital Marketing & Innovation. «The marriage of Sam’s art and imagination, coupled with innovative technology, allowed the creation of this groundbreaking experience that will live on within the metaverse eternally and no doubt inspire others.»

The Diamonds experience is available on Android and iOS devices with the Spotify App and in addition to English, will also be localized in Japanese and Spanish. The experience can be accessed at diamonds.samsmithworld.com.

About POWSTER
POWSTER, part of Vista Group International (NZX & ASX: VGL), is an award-winning interactive creative studio and production company for over 150 movie distributors including all five major studios, streamers, broadcasters and various major music labels globally. POWSTER’s platform enables over eight million consumers a week to discover cinema showtimes on official movie websites. POWSTER develops creative and engaging content such as music videos, websites, interactive experiences, and more. The studio created the dual-screen Spotify music video for Post Malone’s «Circles» and Webby award-winning 3D website for Bastille’s Doom’s Day album in 2019. They’ve also created interactive music videos for Netsky – Rio ft. Digital Farm Animals, currently boasting over 11M views on YouTube, and Bombay Bicycle Club – Carry Me, at over 3M views. POWSTER has headquarters in both Los Angeles and London. To learn more, visit us at http://www.powster.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Media Contact
Jack Buttacavoli
jack@relativity.ventures

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sam-smith-and-spotify-team-up-with-powster-to-launch-immersive-augmented-reality-experience-for-new-single-diamonds-301158176.html

SOURCE POWSTER

Texas home sales soar, housing inventory declines in 2020’s third quarter

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The number of Texas homes sold from July to September 2020 increased nearly 19% compared to the same time frame last year, according to the 2020-Q3 Texas Quarterly Housing Report released today by Texas Realtors.

<img id="prnejpga21dleft" title="Texas Association of Realtors logo."…

«The Texas real estate market’s resiliency, especially in the middle of a pandemic crisis, is nothing short of incredible, though our housing supply is still critically low,» said Cindi Bulla, chairman of Texas Realtors. «We are hard at work looking for the supply solutions necessary to keep our market healthy and make the American dream of homeownership attainable to every Texan.»

Home sales increased 18.4%, with 119,642 homes sold in the third quarter of 2020. Statewide, the median price increased 8.6% to $266,000. Of all the homes sold within the third quarter, 34.1% were priced from $200,000 to $299,999, the highest share of sales among all price-class distributions.

Jim Gaines, Ph.D., chief economist with the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, commented, «The Texas housing market experienced a strong push-through of demand from the second quarter into the third quarter. Active listings saw a sharp drop with many sellers hesitating to list their property in the middle of a pandemic. However, as the economy and employment numbers continue to recover, we anticipate end-of-year sales figures will be higher than 2019.»

Active listings declined 32.4% in Q3 to 71,569 listings. Texas homes spent an average of 52 days on the market, two days more than the third quarter of 2019.

Housing inventory in Texas declined 1.3 months to 2.3 months of inventory. According to the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, a market balanced between supply and demand has between 6.0 and 6.5 months of inventory.

Bulla concluded, «Although our real estate market remains strong, the data in this report shows there are still long-term implications regarding this housing shortage that need answers, and finding those solutions will remain a major focus for Texas Realtors at the state and local level for 2020 and beyond.»

About the Texas Quarterly Housing Report
Data for the Texas Quarterly Housing Report is provided by the Data Relevance Project, a partnership among local REALTOR® associations and their MLSs, and Texas REALTORS®, with analysis by the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M. The report provides quarterly real estate sales data for Texas and 25 metropolitan statistical areas in Texas. To view the report in its entirety, visit texasrealestate.com

About Texas REALTORS®
With more than 135,000 members, Texas REALTORS® is a professional membership organization that represents all aspects of real estate in Texas. In 2020, Texas REALTORS® is celebrating a century of shaping Texas by being the advocate for private property rights, maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, and providing its members with the tools to achieve success. Visit texasrealestate.com to learn more.

Release Contact:

Morgan Moritz
mmoritz@piercom.com

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SOURCE Texas REALTORS

Proudly Sweet, Shamelessly Spicy! Smirnoff Is Delivering A Shot Of Authentic Flavor And Expanding Its Spicy Tamarind Offering To More Markets Across The U.S.

NEW YORK, Oct, 22, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Say salud to sweet and spicy! The makers of the world’s No. 1 vodka, Smirnoff No. 21, are expanding their iconic Smirnoff Spicy Tamarind flavor to more than 15 new markets in the United States. Fitted in a new colorful, Día De Muertos-inspired glow-in-the-dark under blacklight design and boasting an authentic combination of sweet tamarind flavor with notes of spicy Mexican chilies and lime, Smirnoff Spicy…

Smirnoff Spicy Tamarind marks the latest expansion in the extensive portfolio of Smirnoff US flavor and seasonal offerings, giving those 21+ another option to raise a glass (or shot) and cheers with family and friends for any festive occasion. Featuring a Calavera (skull) at the center surrounded by cempasúchiles (marigolds), tamarind and chiles, the new packaging gives a nod to the vibrancy of Mexican culture, combining traditional and modern themes, and making it a decorative addition. The bottle also packs a fun and functional surprise, displaying «Solo Y Frío» under blacklight when chilled, so you know when it is ready to drink.

«With the expansion of Smirnoff Spicy Tamarind in the US, we’re inviting more consumers who are looking for a sweet & spicy treat, to enjoy Spicy Tamarind with their loved ones during a festive time of year,» said Gustavo Salguero, Brand Manager, Smirnoff. «While Spicy Tamarind is now becoming an iconic flavor in Mexico, we’re also seeing an increasing trade and consumer interest for this sweet & spicy spirit in the US, as it is an authentic flavor those 21+ can easily enjoy at-home.»

Smirnoff is kicking-off the tradition in advance of Día de Muertos by partnering with food blogger, content creator and cookbook author, Esteban Castillo, and USBG World Class cocktail finalist and mixologist, Karina Martinez, to create a combination of easy-to-make at home original food & drinks recipe pairings. The recipes, which have been compiled into a digital guide and are available to download now on Smirnoff.com, put a modern twist on some of the traditional Mexican dishes and flavors while incorporating tamarind within. In addition to the Smirnoff website, consumers can also find the pairings on @SmirnoffUS or @ChicanoEats Instagram channels along with step-by-step video tutorials of Esteban demonstrating how consumers can replicate these recipes at-home.

«What I really enjoy about Smirnoff Spicy Tamarind is that the sweet and spicy flavor profiles of the spirit offer a lot of versatility to pair it with a variety of sweet and savory dishes, whether served as simple shot or in a cocktail,» said Esteban Castillo. «I had a lot of fun reimagining some of my favorite Mexican dishes for this food guide and experimenting with how to marry the flavor of each dish to really bring out that Tamarind base of the spirit. It’s awesome that Smirnoff is expanding this flavor so that more people can experience it, responsibly.»

To further support the expansion of Spicy Tamarind to the United States and the new glow-in-the-dark packaging, Smirnoff is celebrating the sweet and spicy duality of the flavored spirit and raising a (shot) glass to celebrating with family and friends with several new digital ad spots as part of the «Proudly Sweet, Shameless Spicy» campaign. The films are available to view on YouTube here.

Smirnoff Spicy Tamarind has 35% alcohol by volume (ABV) and a suggested retail price of $12.99 for a 750ml bottle. It is also available in 50ml bottles. Starting this month, Spicy Tamarind will be available permanently in some and for a limited time only in other markets. To find out if Smirnoff Spicy Tamarind is available near you, visit smirnoff.com.

Everyone loves a good time, especially with great drinks, but always remember to drink responsibly when enjoying Smirnoff Spicy Tamarind.

Smirnoff Spicy Tamarind Shot

1.5 oz. Smirnoff Spicy Tamarind
Chili-lime salt

Chill the bottle of Spicy Tamarind. Chill a clear shot glass and rim it with chili lime salt. Pour 1.5 oz. of Smirnoff spicy Tamarind into a chilled shot glass rimmed with chili lime salt.

Paired With: Roasted Butternut Squash Queso Fundido from Esteban Castillo

2 cups Diced Butternut Squash
1½ tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 Garlic Cloves, peeled
⅓ cup Milk
½ teaspoon Crushed Pepper Flakes
Kosher Salt
2 cups Shredded Mozzarella
1 cup Shredded Colby Jack Cheese
4 oz. Chorizo, Casing removed
For Garnish: Sliced Green Onion

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Start by tossing the diced butternut squash with 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large bowl then place on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Bake for 35 minutes until fork tender.

In a food processor or blender, add the roasted butternut squash, garlic cloves, milk, crushed pepper flakes, and a pinch of kosher salt. Blend until smooth, then transfer the puree to a large bowl. Sprinkle in the shredded mozzarella and shredded Colby jack cheese, then stir until all of the cheese has been fully incorporated. Pour the cheese mixture into a 16-ounce ramekin, or oven-safe dish and bake for 30-35 minutes, until the cheese is nice and bubbly.

While the cheese bakes, fry the chorizo. Start by heating up the remaining half tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot and shimmery, add the chorizo and fry for 8-10 minutes until the fat has rendered and the chorizo is crispy. Drain on a plate lined with paper towels, then set aside.

Once the cheese is done cooking, remove the baking dish from the oven, top the queso fundido with chorizo, then garnish with sliced green onion. Serve immediately with tortilla chips.

Smirnoff No. 21 Iced Hot Chocolate Highball with a Picante Twist

1 oz coffee liqueur
¾ oz. Smirnoff No. 21 Vodka
¾ oz Dark creme de Cacao
3 oz. (90mL) cooled hot chocolate
Chocolate Syrup
Mexican Vanilla Extract
Pinch of Cayenne Pepper
Pinch of Salt

To an ice filled glass combine Smirnoff No. 21 Vodka, dark creme de cacao, coffee liqueur, one drop vanilla extract and cooled hot chocolate. Shake well. Rim edge of highball glass with chocolate syrup and strain mix inside. Add a pinch of cayenne pepper and a pinch of salt for some added spicy notes.

About Smirnoff

The Smirnoff brand that boasts the world’s number-one selling premium spirit and the top-selling line of flavors in North America, traces its heritage back to 19th century Russia. As the world’s no. 1 vodka, Smirnoff has always been known for quality and is enjoyed responsibly in 130 countries around the world.

Smirnoff Spicy Tamarind is flavored vodka specialty spirit that is expanding to the United States as a permanent offering in some markets, and a limited time offering in others. Starting this month, Smirnoff Spicy Tamarind will be available for consumers to purchase as a permanent SKU at retail where Smirnoff is sold in TX, AZ, CA, CO, IL and NM. Smirnoff Spicy Tamarind will be available as a limited time offering only in AK, MO, NE, KS, NJ, MA, ND, LA, MD, WI, SD, VT, GA and NV. For more information and to find out if its available near you, log on to www.smirnoff.com.

About Diageo

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan’s whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

PR Contact:
The Smirnoff PR Team
smirnoff@taylorstrategy.com

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SOURCE Smirnoff

AMA report examines existing Latinx inequity driving disproportionate COVID-19 impact

CHICAGO, Oct. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, the American Medical Association (AMA) released a new report emphasizing the starkly disproportionate Latinx COVID-19 cases and fatalities — further underscoring concerns that a lack of consistent data reporting underestimates the pandemic’s magnitude on the Latinx community and illustrating how the pandemic has deepened pre-existing inequities.

Experience the interactive Multimedia News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8689451-ama-report-examines-disproportionate-covid-19-impact-on-latinx-community/

The report, titled ‘Latinx COVID-19 health inequities: Insights for the health care field,’ serves as a compilation of existing data highlighting that COVID-19 cases affect Latinx individuals at nearly double the overall national rate — and calling attention to data showing that Latinx individuals are overrepresented in some state mortality rates. The report features these key statistics from public health reports:

Latinx individuals make up 18% of the U.S. population; yet represent 33% of new COVID-19 cases.
Latinx individuals make up roughly 19% of New York’s population; yet account for 34% of COVID-19 fatalities.

Despite these figures, and the fact that Latinx make up the largest ethnic group in the nation, the report points out that the effects of COVID-19 on this population have not been widely addressed and are largely invisible in mainstream discourse. In addition, researchers cite a lack of consistent race and ethnicity data state reporting as a barrier to capturing the real impact of the pandemic on the Latinx community. As the report notes, these elements combined leave the Latinx population inconsequential in pandemic recovery and prevention planning.

«Though COVID-19 did not create the circumstances that have led to deep-seated inequities in the Hispanic community, this report clearly highlights how the pandemic continues to exacerbate them,» said AMA President Susan R. Bailey, M.D. «The AMA remains committed to ensuring that vulnerable patients do not suffer disproportionately and to removing obstacles that stand in the way of culturally competent care for Hispanic patients.»

The report also identifies the existing drivers behind the Latinx community’s vulnerability to the pandemic. Existing structural drivers — like anti-immigration and restrictive health insurance policies — coupled with social determinants — like a lack of multilingual public health resources and limited access to digital health technologies — are major contributors to the COVID-19 health inequities experienced by the Latinx community.

«The COVID-19 pandemic has already more publicly exposed the persistent fundamental health inequities faced by Black and Brown communities, but this report uncovers just how dire the situation is in the Latinx community,» said AMA Chief Health Equity Officer and Group Vice President Aletha Maybank, M.D., M.P.H. «In this critical moment, it is imperative that we confront inequities and dismantle racism in all its forms, so that marginalized and minoritized communities like the Latinx population no longer have to bear the brunt of this public health crisis.»

Recommendations for identifying and understanding public health opportunities to serve and engage the Latinx community are presented in the report, with suggestions ranging from the creation of equitable outreach materials to the leveraging of trusted communications outlets.

Eliminating health inequities by mitigating disparity factors is a priority of the AMA’s Center for Health Equity, which works to achieve optimal health for all by providing ongoing resources, research, and education about critical health and social issues impacting minoritized and marginalized communities. Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month and beyond, the AMA has highlighted the explicit invisibility of the Latinx community in the larger context of the U.S. by discussing how COVID-19 is negatively impacting and widening the existing inequities already experienced by the Latinx community.

The AMA continues to work on every front to support health equity. Through research, collaborations, advocacy, and leadership. The AMA’s policy on health equity recognizes that institutional racism and bias have contributed to inequities across the U.S. health care system for historically marginalized and minoritized communities, and aims to attain optimal health for all people.

Editor’s Note: The AMA continues to compile critical COVID-19 health equity resources to shine a light on the structural issues that contribute to and could exacerbate already existing inequities. Physicians and health care professionals can also access the AMA’s COVID-19 FAQs about health equity in a pandemic.

About the American Medical Association
The American Medical Association is the physicians’ powerful ally in patient care. As the only medical association that convenes 190+ state and specialty medical societies and other critical stakeholders, the AMA represents physicians with a unified voice to all key players in health care. The AMA leverages its strength by removing the obstacles that interfere with patient care, leading the charge to prevent chronic disease and confront public health crises, and, driving the future of medicine to tackle the biggest challenges in health care. For more information, visit ama-assn.org.

SOURCE American Medical Association

Cigna and Earvin «Magic» Johnson Join Forces to Combat Health Disparities and Support Minority and Women-Owned Businesses

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Cigna is teaming up with Earvin «Magic» Johnson, chairman and chief executive officer of Magic Johnson Enterprises, to combat health disparities and to support minority and women-owned small and mid-size businesses in the greater Los Angeles area.

<img id="prnejpgb3a3left" title="Cigna Logo" style="HEIGHT: 131px; WIDTH:…

Together, Cigna and Johnson will pursue innovative approaches to create safer, healthier and more productive workforces – a key driver of the economic health of minority and women-owned businesses. Cigna will also roll out customized health plans and will invest an additional $3 million in local charitable organizations, all aimed at improving health equity and addressing social determinants of health in Los Angeles and throughout the state.

Helping Businesses Succeed Through Health with Earvin «Magic» Johnson

«Health is wealth; and for many minority and women-owned businesses, the key to economic prosperity is to ensure they have and maintain a healthy and vibrant workforce,» said Mike Triplett, president of Cigna’s U.S. Commercial business. «Today’s intersection of health, economic and racial crises motivated us to take definitive action to partner with these small and mid-size businesses by improving the health and productivity of their workforce – many of whom are from underserved communities. We are excited to team up with the legendary Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson to bring our new initiative to the market.»

«Minority and women entrepreneurs and business owners are vital to creating a strong economy and vibrant communities – and we need to do even more to support them right now,» Johnson said. «It’s important for these businesses to survive and be able to employ Black, Hispanic and other employees of color, while offering benefits to combat the health disparities that have taken a toll on our communities. Together with Cigna, we are providing the tools and information needed to improve the health and productivity of their workforce.»

Reducing Health Disparities through Suite of Customized Health Plans

As part of its initiative, Cigna is also rolling out a suite of innovative and customized health care plans for companies with more than 25 employees that include health and lifestyle services for specific health issues – such as asthma, heart disease, diabetes, high-risk pregnancies and more – that disproportionately impact people of color. The plans also include:

Convenient access to affordable, quality care, including local health care providers who excel in treating underserved communities, who are culturally trained and offer bilingual services;
Whole person health services so that people can get the emotional well-being and mental health support they need, with access to clinicians, psychologists and therapists;
Virtual care options for medical, behavioral and mental health services so that people can get care in any setting they choose;
Retail, home delivery and specialty pharmacy options to make it safer and convenient for people to access their prescription medications and use them properly; and
Peace of Mind Support that includes access to financial, legal, identity theft and other peace-of-mind services through Cigna’s employee assistance program.

To learn more about this initiative, visit https://cigna.pathfactory.com/l/powerforward.

About Cigna
Cigna Corporation is a global health service company dedicated to improving the health, well-being and peace of mind of those we serve. Cigna delivers choice, predictability, affordability and access to quality care through integrated capabilities and connected, personalized solutions that advance whole person health. All products and services are provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, including Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Evernorth companies or their affiliates, Express Scripts companies or their affiliates, and Life Insurance Company of North America. Such products and services include an integrated suite of health services, such as medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, vision, supplemental benefits, and other related products including group life, accident and disability insurance. Cigna maintains sales capability in over 30 countries and jurisdictions, and has more than 185 million customer relationships around the world. To learn more about Cigna^®, including links to follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com.

Media Contact
Justine Sessions
1 (860) 810-6523
justine.sessions@cigna.com

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SOURCE Cigna

Amit Aghara Joins Fintech as Chief Technology Officer

TAMPA, Florida, Oct. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Financial Information Technologies, LLC (Fintech), the leading business solutions provider for the beverage alcohol industry, today announced that Amit Aghara has been appointed to the position of Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Mr. Aghara brings to Fintech robust expertise as a leader in the technology and software sectors, having strategically positioned several new products for successful development and delivery…

«Amit brings a wealth of knowledge to his new role at Fintech, and he will certainly be an invaluable asset to our team as we continue to advance our product architecture and solutions platform,» said Tad Phelps, Fintech CEO. «Amit’s ability to plan, execute and deliver all aspects of new, innovative technology solutions aligns with our overall mission as a company, and will further enhance the services that we are able to provide to our clients.»

Before joining Fintech, Mr. Aghara gained more than 20 years of experience at two successful technology startups, Kore.ai and Kony, as well as at IBM, one of the technology industry’s largest software and service providers. In his most recent position as Chief Technology Officer and General Manager of Solutions Group with Kore.ai, Mr. Aghara effectively led the creation and implementation of a market-leading virtual assistant platform that contributed to significant company growth. During his time with Kony and IBM, he was responsible for the development of successful mobile application platforms and customer analytics frameworks. Additionally, throughout his career, Mr. Aghara has filed five patents with the USPTO and has been featured for his expertise in several technology publications.

«Throughout Fintech’s history, the company has shown an inspiring commitment to providing innovative, data-driven solutions to its robust client base, and I am honored to apply my experience to that mission,» said Amit Aghara. «Together with Fintech’s talented leadership team, we will focus on leveraging powerful data insights into smart solutions engineered to bring even more efficiency to the beverage alcohol management process and deliver intuitive technology to the entire alcohol industry.»

As CTO, Mr. Aghara will work with Fintech’s executive team to create, execute and launch new digital offerings across the company’s product domain that will bring further support to clients and partners, and lead to continued operational and financial growth for Fintech.

About Fintech

Fintech is the leading business solutions provider for the beverage alcohol industry, empowering alcohol suppliers, distributors, and retailers with smart solutions that simplify beverage alcohol management. From product ordering and invoice payments, to sales strategy, business intelligence, and industry insights, Fintech continues to lead the development of technologies that increase margins and maximize operating efficiencies for anyone who sells alcohol. With decades of industry experience and unwavering dependability, Fintech automates over 625,000 business relationships nationwide. To learn more, visit www.fintech.com.

FINANCIAL-INFORMATION-TECHNOLOGIES, LLC. is the owner of the trademark FINTECH, the Stylized F Logo, and several other trademarks and service marks, many of which are registered at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The underlying software behind the services offered by FINANCIAL-INFORMATION-TECHNOLOGIES, LLC and content of this website are ©2020 FINANCIAL-INFORMATION-TECHNOLOGIES, LLC. All rights reserved.

Contact: Misha Hart, 800.572.0854 x 3827, mhart@fintech.com

Follow @Fintech on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn

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SOURCE Fintech

Homebridge Launches Office of Diversity and Inclusion as Part of Commitment to Employees, The Housing Industry, And Customers

ISELIN, New Jersey, Oct. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Homebridge Financial Services, Inc. («Homebridge«) announced today their newest commitments to diversity, inclusion and empowerment for borrowers and employees of the company.

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Brian “Woody” White has been named Homebridge's Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, overseeing the company’s new Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

As of October 15th, 2020 – Homebridge has committed to the following initiatives as it relates to extending the dream of homeownership to all groups and creating a more diverse workplace:

Extend the opportunity of homeownership to members of all communities, particularly to underserved communities to ensure access and equality of homeownership across the country; and
Increase the diversity of Homebridge’s workforce by 10% by end of 2021, including heightened diversity in leadership roles across the company.

To see these commitments through with a keen focus, Homebridge also announced today that Brian «Woody» White has been named the company’s Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer.

In this new role, Woody will lead Homebridge’s diversity and inclusion strategies. The cornerstone is the establishment of the company’s new Office of Diversity and Inclusion. The Office’s core mission is to ensure Homebridge’s corporate values and best practices concerning diversity and inclusion are implemented across all aspects of the business processes, recruiting, and business relationships.

Woody is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park and has been a leader in the mortgage industry since 1986. He has spent extensive time volunteering to help others in the community with issues concerning personal finance training and the quest for home ownership.

«Woody brings a wealth of experience to the position as a 30-year plus executive, driving technology, business development, product development and entrepreneurship,» said Homebridge’s Chief Operating Officer, Joe Sheridan.

«Homebridge is embarking on a path to focus with diligence our approach to diversity and inclusion across the company, and Woody will help build the roadmap to ensure that we are an industry leader in this regard. Our decision to become more purposeful concerning diversity and inclusion is critical to our growth and business plans. Woody will provide an important and necessary voice in all of our critical decision-making,» Sheridan commented.

To meet the commitments to diversity at Homebridge, the new Office of Diversity and Inclusion will focus its 2020 and 2021 efforts initially on:

Educating the public about homeownership.
Enhancing first-time homebuyer program offerings.
Establishing relationships with community groups focused on housing.
Identifying, recruiting and hiring diverse talent across the company.

About Homebridge Financial Services, Inc.

Homebridge Financial Services, Inc. (NMLS #6521 www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org) is one of the largest privately held, non-bank lenders in the United States. In the last 30 years, Homebridge has grown to include approximately 2,300 Associates throughout its corporate offices, more than 200 retail branches and two wholesale divisions, Homebridge Wholesale, and REMN Wholesale. Homebridge holds FNMA, GNMA, FHLMC, FHA and VA approvals, and funded more than $17.3 billion in home loans at the close of 2019. More information on Homebridge, an Equal Opportunity Lender, can be found online at www.Homebridge.com.

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SOURCE Homebridge Financial Services, Inc.

The Home Depot Expands At-Home Learning Resources for Kids with Virtual Field Trips

ATLANTA, Oct. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Home Depot^®, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, today announced the new educational video series Virtual Field Trips will be added to its digital DIY workshops library, where Home Depot suppliers will provide kid-friendly, behind-the-scenes tours and insights into how products come to life and, eventually, make it to the retailer’s shelves.

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«Learning looks significantly different this year as parents search for new ways to teach and entertain at home,» says Lisa DeStefano, vice president of brand marketing and creative for The Home Depot. «Starting with Bonnie Plants in October and Back to the Roots in November, our Virtual Field Trips provide fun, exclusive tours, curated specifically for young doers. From plant genetics to supply chain, we’ve broken down these stages into creative, interactive, digestible videos with accompanying DIY projects that bring the excitement of traditional field trips to family households.»

The Home Depot is set to expand its partnership with Discovery Education in spring 2021 to bring more digital resources and projects to its Science Fair Central platform. Originally launched in 2017, Science Fair Central has provided over two million educators and students with STEAM project starters, information on scientific processes, material checklists and more. Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-aligned digital curriculum resources, engaging content and professional learning for K-12 classrooms. This upcoming expanded partnership further deepens The Home Depot’s support of the country’s youngest doers since the launch of its monthly kids workshops more than 20 years ago.

For access to the Virtual Field Trips, hundreds of family-friendly projects – from creating a cardboard box playhouse to making a solar oven – and other resources for kids, visit www.homedepot.com/kids.

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.

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SOURCE The Home Depot

FIBRA Prologis Announces Third Quarter 2020 Earnings Results

MEXICO CITY, Oct. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — FIBRA Prologis (BMV:FIBRAPL 14), a leading owner and operator of Class-A industrial real estate in Mexico, today reported results for the third quarter of 2020.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE QUARTER:

Rent collections were 98.5 percent.
Period-end occupancy was 96.4 percent.
Net effective rent on rollovers increased 16.3 percent.
Weighted average…

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE QUARTER:

Rent collections were 98.5 percent.
Period-end occupancy was 96.4 percent.
Net effective rent on rollovers increased 16.3 percent.
Weighted average customer retention was 98.3 percent.
Same store cash NOI decreased 6.0 percent.
Received VAT refund of Ps. 1.1 billion (US$48.1 million) related to second quarter acquisition.

Net earnings per CBFI was Ps. 1.7357 (US$0.0779) for the quarter compared with Ps. 0.7087 (US$0.0367) for the same period in 2019.

Funds from operations (FFO) per CBFI as defined by FIBRA Prologis was Ps. 0.9699 (US$0.0434) for the quarter compared with Ps. 0.7741 (US$0.0401) for the same period in 2019.

STRONG OPERATING RESULTS CONTINUE

«Our third quarter performance exceeded our expectations, resulting in terrific operating and financial results,» said Luis Gutiérrez, CEO, Prologis Property Mexico. «Rent change on rollover was a record 16.3 percent, while occupancy exceeded 96 percent. We remain focused on delivering consistent and, sustainable results as we continue to support our customers.»

Operating Portfolio	3Q20	3Q19	Notes
Period End Occupancy	96.4%	96.8%	Three of six markets above 96%
Leases Commenced	3.8 MSF	0.8 MSF	82% of leasing activity related to Mexico City, Tijuana and Guadalajara; less than 2% of the portfolio GLA expires in the fourth quarter
Customer Retention	98.3%	95.4%
Net Effective Rent Change	16.3%	-1.4%	All six markets recorded positive net effective rent change; five of six markets had at least 10%
Same Store Cash NOI	-6.0%	2.4%	Higher concessions, the result of longer lease terms along with a weaker peso and lower average occupancy partly offset by higher rents
Same Store NOI	2.4%	1.5%

SOLID FINANCIAL POSITION

At September 30, 2020, FIBRA Prologis’ leverage was 28.2 percent and liquidity was Ps. 7.6 billion (US$341.0 million), which included Ps. 7.2 billion (US$320.0 million) of available capacity on its unsecured credit facility and Ps. 460.0 million (US$20.6 million) of unrestricted cash.

«I am proud of our performance and expect a strong finish to the year,» said Jorge Girault, senior vice president, Finance, Prologis Property Mexico. «Our balance sheet remains in excellent shape, with significant liquidity and low leverage, that puts us in the position to act on opportunities as they arise.»

WEBCAST & CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

FIBRA Prologis will host a live webcast/conference call to discuss quarterly results, current market conditions and future outlook. Here are the event details:

Thursday, October 22, 2020, at 9 a.m. CT/10 a.m. ET.
Live webcast at www.fibraprologis.com, in the Investor Relations section, by clicking News & Events.
Dial in: +1 833 714-0919 (U.S. and Canada), 01 800 853 0234 (Mexico) or +1 778 560-2663 (all other countries) and enter Passcode 8120419.

A telephonic replay will be available October 22–October 29 at +1 800 585-8367 from the U.S. and Canada or at +1 416 621-4642 from all other countries using conference code 8120419. The replay will be posted in the Investor Relations section of the FIBRA Prologis website.

ABOUT FIBRA PROLOGIS

FIBRA Prologis is a leading owner and operator of Class-A industrial real estate in Mexico. As of September 30, 2020, FIBRA Prologis was comprised of 201 logistics and manufacturing facilities in six industrial markets in Mexico totaling 39.0 million square feet (3.6 million square meters) of gross leasable area.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The statements in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the industry and markets in which FIBRA Prologis operates, management’s beliefs and assumptions made by management. Such statements involve uncertainties that could significantly impact FIBRA Prologis financial results. Words such as «expects,» «anticipates,» «intends,» «plans,» «believes,» «seeks,» «estimates,» variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. All statements that address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future — including statements relating to rent and occupancy growth, acquisition activity, development activity, disposition activity, general conditions in the geographic areas where we operate, our debt and financial position, are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Although we believe the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be attained and therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that may affect outcomes and results include, but are not limited to: (i) national, international, regional and local economic climates, (ii) changes in financial markets, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates, (iii) increased or unanticipated competition for our properties, (iv) risks associated with acquisitions, dispositions and development of properties, (v) maintenance of real estate investment trust («FIBRA») status and tax structuring, (vi) availability of financing and capital, the levels of debt that we maintain and our credit ratings, (vii) risks related to our investments (viii) environmental uncertainties, including risks of natural disasters, (ix) risks related to the coronavirus pandemic, and (x) those additional factors discussed in reports filed with the «Comisión Nacional Bancaria y de Valores» and the Mexican Stock Exchange by FIBRA Prologis under the heading «Risk Factors.» FIBRA Prologis undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements appearing in this release.

Non-Solicitation – Any securities discussed herein or in the accompanying presentations, if any, have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or the securities laws of any state and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws. Any such announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities discussed herein or in the presentations, if and as applicable.

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SOURCE FIBRA Prologis