Category Archives: Non-Profit

“I Love Arts: Ms. America 2017 Oksana Vovk is a special guest at the Newport Beach Sculpture Exhibition, Phase III in her home town of Newport Beach”

Newport Beach, Orange County, CA, 2017-Nov-03 — /REAL TIME PRESS RELEASE/ — Ms. America 2017 Oksana Vovk attended Newport Beach Sculpture in Civic Center Park Exhibition Phase III near Newport Beach City Hall on Saturday, October 28, 2017.

Ms. America 2017 Oksana Vovk with artist Steven Reiman at the Newport Beach Sculpture Exhibition, Phase III

“This was a long-awaited event for all Newport Beach residents”, Vovk said shortly after the opening ceremony took place in the Community Room and City Hall open session chambers, where everyone in attendance had a chance to learn more about the amazing new art coming to the Civic Park. “Mayor Muldoon is doing such a great job in bringing arts to the City and meeting the artists in person during and after the ceremony was just very special. Nine new sculptures will decorate the Civic Park and give our City a great makeover”.

“Flight” a sculpture by Steven Reiman at the Newport Beach Sculpture Exhibition, Phase III

Vovk won Ms. America 2017 title with her two-fold platform to fight autism and promote organic living. She is determined to make a difference during her year as Ms. America 2017 by positively influencing her community and getting more women involved in community service and helping others.

Ms. America Pageant is open to women 26 years of age and up, single, divorced, widowed or married, with or without children. For more information about the Ms. America® Pageant please visit Pageant’s official website at: www.MsAmericaPageant.com. The Ms. America ® Pageant is a registered federal trademark with the USPTO in Washington DC since February 2000 and ranks as one of the top pageant trademarks in the United States.

“My new favorite sculpture was made by California artist Steven Reiman and is called “Flight”, Vovk continued. “I arrived at the ceremony early and had a chance to walk around the park and look at each sculpture up close, and “Flight” just took my breath away. Such a powerful statement embodied in this piece of art made of stainless steel and bronze. According to Mr. Reiman, the symbolic bird soaring through a ring of the sun represents a future of wonder with the random letters that cover its form questioning the human experience and how we impact our future. I met with Mr. Reiman and his lovely wife Ruth right after the ceremony and I was truly touched by his kindness and great passion with which he spoke about his creation. I Love Arts and now I have a new favorite sculpture in my city created by an amazing artist”, Vovk said.

Follow Ms. America 2017 appearances on Facebook at Oksana Vovk – Ms. America 2017.

END

CONTACT: Mariah J.B.
MS. AMERICA® PAGEANT
Website: www.MsAmericaPageant.com

Volunteer Firefighter Alliance Reaches GuideStar Platinum

Allows Donors to Focus on Progress and Results.

Knoxville, TN, USA — Volunteer Firefighter Alliance (http://www.supportvfa.org) today earned the Platinum GuideStar Nonprofit Profile Seal of Transparency, the highest level of recognition offered by GuideStar, the world’s largest source of nonprofit information. By sharing metrics that highlight changes Volunteer Firefighter Alliance is making toward its mission, the organization is helping donors move beyond simplistic ways of nonprofit evaluation like overhead ratios.

“In accordance with our long-held belief in being transparent about our work,” said Alan Bohms, Executive Director, “we are excited to convey our organization’s results in a user-friendly and highly visual manner. By updating our GuideStar Nonprofit Profile to the Platinum level, we can now easily share a wealth of up-to-date organizational metrics with our supporters as well as GuideStar’s immense online audience, which includes donors, grantmakers, our peers, and the media.”

To reach the Platinum level, Volunteer Firefighter Alliance added extensive information to its Nonprofit Profile on GuideStar: basic contact and organizational information; in-depth financial information; qualitative information about goals, strategies, and capabilities; and quantitative information about results and progress toward its mission. By taking the time to provide this information, Volunteer Firefighter Alliance has demonstrated its commitment to transparency and to giving donors and funders meaningful data to evaluate Volunteer Firefighter Alliance.

“I encourage you to visit our profile on GuideStar to see what we’re all about,” added Bohms. “We’re thrilled that our GuideStar Platinum Nonprofit Profile and its associated benefits help us better communicate our organization’s exciting initiatives at a global scale.”

Media Contact:
Alan Bohms
Volunteer Firefighter Alliance
423-999-7333
info@supportvfa.org
http://www.supportvfa.org

5 Gyres Partnering with Forward Reality on Groundbreaking VR Project

“The Pacific Garbage Patch, A Seagull’s Perspective” will educate millions on the impact of plastic pollution.

Carlsbad, CA, USA — 5 Gyres is partnering with Forward Reality, as an advisor on a Virtual Reality (VR) project to educate people about the serious issue of plastic pollution in our oceans.

The “Pacific Garbage Patch – A Seagull’s Perspective” is a VR experience, that focuses on the Pacific Garbage Patch and the effects of plastics on marine and bird life. It is a compelling interactive experience that brings this critical issue to people’s attention.

Users will view the Pacific Garbage Patch, its origins and affected regions, from the perspective of a Seagull, with voice over narration that explains the content and issues. By viewing multiple locations (the gyre, Midway Island, plastic factories, fish market) players can understand the origin of this plastic garbage, the impact it has on the world around us and the steps they can take to help solve the problem.

Sherri Cuono, CEO of Forward Reality stated “We’re pleased to have the participation of the 5 Gyres Institute on this important project, their expertise on this issue is invaluable”. She added, “Forward Reality will be launching this experience in museums worldwide as well as making it available to the public on multiple VR platforms.”

“Solving the problem of plastic pollution demands innovation,” said Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff, 5 Gyres Executive Director. “We’re honored to share our experience through this exciting new platform to drive awareness and action on this critical issue.”

The “Pacific Garbage Patch – A Seagull’s Perspective” will be released later this year.

ABOUT 5 GYRES
The nonprofit 5 Gyres Institute has been fighting plastic ocean pollution since 2009. Beginning in 2010, 5 Gyres began a series of scientific firsts by researching plastic in all five subtropical gyres, as well as the Great Lakes and Antarctica. In 2014, the organization convened eight scientists around the world to publish the first global estimate of plastic pollution in our ocean: 5.25 trillion particles weighing in at 270,000 tons of “plastic smog” worldwide. 5 Gyres’ paper on plastic microbead pollution in the Great Lakes inspired a two-year collaborative campaign that culminated in a federal ban on microbeads, which President Obama signed into law in 2015. In August, 5 Gyres embarked on its 17th expedition-this time to research microplastics and nanoplastics in the Arctic Circle. More information is at http://www.5gyres.org.

ABOUT FORWARD REALITY
Forward Reality is creating amazing interactive VR experiences that educate, entertain and inspire. Our focus is on VR with a Purpose. Founded by industry pioneers, we are an independent studio dedicated to using VR technology to change the world for the better. Through our combined decades of research and achievements in video game production and 360 video, Forward Reality is creating the next generation of media-rich VR entertainment. More information about Forward Reality can be found at http://www.forwardreality.com.

Contact:
Ginger Goss Mukherjee – ginger@5gyres.org
William Volk – business@forwardreality.com

Dr. Michael K. Obeng to Receive 2017 GUBA Humanitarian Spirit Award on June 3, 2017 UK

Dr. Michael Obeng will be presented with the GUBA Humanitarian Spirit Award on June 3, 2017 in London, England.

Beverly Hills, CA, USA — Top Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon to the Stars – Dr. Michael K. Obeng, is on the move to make changes in global health and the world of reconstructive surgery, will be honored in London, England as he receives the GUBA Humanitarian Spirit Award 2017.

Born into poverty in Ghana, Dr. Obeng persevered over unimaginable obstacles and overcame all odds to arrive at this culmination of professional and personal success. He takes pride in treating each patient like family; his deep compassion and care for his patients is derived from his humble beginnings. Dr. Obeng travels to third world countries to donate his surgical skills through his non-profit, R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Worldwide, Inc. In addition, Dr. Obeng advocates for the underprivileged in the United States by educating patients on safe breast reconstructive surgery options available after undergoing breast cancer treatment.

Dr. Obeng has garnered prestigious awards including a research grant from the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the coveted, Herman B. Barnett award in Surgery and Anesthesia. He has extensive international publications regarding breast aesthetics, augmentation and reconstruction. When he is not lecturing on plastic surgery, he can be found donating his time with R.E.S.T.O.R.E. and delivering his award-winning motivational speech, Perseverance.

Dr. Michael Obeng will be presented with the GUBA Humanitarian Spirit Award on June 3, 2017 in London, England. On behalf of the GUBA Committee and GUBA Advisory Board, the British High Commission, Ghana, is so excited to select Dr. Obeng for GUBA 2017 Awards recipient for his contribution to the standard of living improvements of the underprivileged, in the developing world, by reconstructing deformities and, also, other provisions through R.E.S.T.O.R.E. missions. GUBA 2017 nominees and recognition.

About GUBA Awards
GUBA (Ghana UK Based Achievement awards) is a non-profit Business & Innovation Awards instituted to celebrate, acknowledge, and support Ghanaian based businesses and individuals in the UK. The GUBA Awards is the first ceremony of its kind to specifically recognize Ghanaian achievement and the only awards to be endorsed by the Ghana High Commission in the UK. It is intended as a platform that “showcases and celebrates excellence and achievement within the British-Ghanaian community as well as the outstanding and valuable services provided to Ghanaians in the UK and Ghana”. More recently, the organizers have sought to also involve the wider African communities as they attempt to gain international attention.

The Ghana UK Based Achievement (GUBA) Awards is an annual awards ceremony based in Britain which recognizes the ‘hugely significant’ contribution that British-Ghanaians make to society. The awards were founded in 2009 by UK-based Ghanaian TV personality Dentaa, with the first awards ceremony taking place in London, England, in October 2010.

About R.E.S.T.O.R.E. (http://www.restoreworldwide.org)
R.E.S.T.O.R.E. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit medical service organization that provides free reconstructive surgery and related medical services to children and adults with disfiguring deformities from birth, accidents and diseases. Many developing countries shun those afflicted with disfiguring deformities and look upon them as outcasts or “freaks”. Often their own families hide them from the general public to spare them from either being ridiculed or physically harmed because of their disfigured appearance. Although there is an overwhelming need for plastic surgery in developing countries, these types of surgeries are not available because there are no personnel trained to provide the necessary surgeries. As part of the organization’s mission they seek to educate and train local physicians in the techniques necessary to perpetuate their initial work to continually benefit more people for years to come.

For more information: Crystal Mello | crystal@mikoplasticsurgery.com | (310) 275-2705 ext. 105

For local interviews in the States/UK or otherwise: Lawrence Phillips | lppreventsentertainment13@gmail.com | (310) 619-8048

Fitting The Description Statement on Call For Formal Investigation of West Hollywood Sheriff Department by Entertainer Wyclef Jean

All of us must be willing to take our stories forward for there to ever be justice.

West Hollywood, CA, USA — Fitting The Description founder and executive director Charles Belk issued the following statement about the detainment and handcuffing of entertainer Wyclef Jean because he was “fitting the description” and his call for a formal investigation into the matter by the West Hollywood Station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department.

“It’s inspiring to hear that Wyclef Jean is calling for a formal investigation. More attention needs to continuously be brought to those incidents like Wyclef’s, because it gives society a chance to possibly disclose the underlying cause. We seem to focus on only those incidents where an apparently innocent Black man ends up dead, and at that point, while you may or may not have some video, you indeed only have one side of the story, because, unfortunately, the other side can’t be told. I was fortunate to be able to tell my side of the story, and to see someone with the celebrity status of Wyclef be willing to take his story forward in search of the truth is what we always should do. All of us, need to take our stories forward. Don’t think that just because you’re not a famous entertainer or a “Hollywood Producer”, that people won’t listen. They WILL listen. Social media is definitely listening, and it has millions of ears! We have to all be willing to get M.A.D., and Make A Difference. I strongly encourage the new commander of the West Hollywood Station, Captain Sergio A. Aloma, and West Hollywood Mayor Lauren Meister to honor Mr. Jean’s request and launch an investigation immediately.”

On August 22, 2014, Charles Belk was mistakenly identified as an armed bank robber because he fit the description of a tall, bald, Black male. Although Belk was held on the curb in handcuffs for 45 minutes, and then arrested and held under a $100,000 bail for 6 hours, he was later released as innocent. Since his arrest, Charles Belk, a long-time West Hollywood-adjacent resident, launched a nationwide effort, #AutoErase, through the non-profit Fitting The Description, to educate and inform those about the perils of wrongful arrest records, and engage legislation to alleviate the burden and costs incurred by the innocent to remove those arrest records. The legislation has been signed into law in four states and is now current legislation in 14 states.

About Fitting The Description
Fitting The Description, a 501.c.3, tax exempt, non-profit organization, was established to help build awareness of wrongful detentions and arrests that occur each day because an individual “fit the description.” The organization helps educate and inform others about the perils of wrongful arrests records, and advocates for alleviating the burden and costs incurred by the innocent to remove those arrest records.

Media Contact:
Mark Williams
Fitting The Description Inc.
PO Box 93181
Los Angeles, CA 90093
213-632-6390
mwilliams@fittingthedescription.org
http://www.fittingthedescription.org

The Rose receives 2016 Jack Kemp Excellence in Affordable and Workforce Housing Award from the Urban Land Institute

Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2016-Nov-04 — /REAL TIME PRESS RELEASE/ — PLACE is pleased to announce that The Rose and three sister developments at Portland and Franklin Avenues (South Quarter) in Minneapolis were selected by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Terwilliger Center for Housing as the winner of the 2016 Jack Kemp Excellence in Affordable and Workforce Housing Award. This annual award honors developments that ensure housing affordability for people with a range of incomes. Representing the completion of South Quarter, The Rose offers 43 market rate apartments and 47 income-restricted affordable apartments in profoundly sustainable buildings that have neither furnaces nor conventional air conditioning equipment.

In 2010, affordable housing developer Aeon, in partnership with Hope Community, selected PLACE by competition to add specialized development consultant capacity as Sustainability Champion for the last phase of South Quarter. Aeon wanted the final buildings to be the best performing buildings of their kind in the country, on an affordable housing budget. A 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to public benefit, PLACE provided disruptive environmental design analysis, assisted in assembling and facilitating a world-class collaborative design and construction team, deepened community engagement, and refined financial modeling in furtherance of creating high-performance, healthy buildings for Aeon’s residents.

Minneapolis has the harshest climate of any large city in America. The biggest challenge for PLACE was to ensure that the team could deliver a building envelope capable of keeping residents cool in a scorching summer with high humidity and a frigid winter with temperatures plunging to minus thirty degrees Fahrenheit. Buildings in the U.S. are built each day to standards that cause them to consume 70% of America’s primary energy, with 52% of that energy going to heating and cooling. The Rose is 75% more energy efficient than local standards require, which also deepens affordability for residents; it represents PLACE’s most cutting edge restorative development work to date.

“This project is on the leading edge of workforce housing development and preservation,” said J. Ronald Terwilliger, chairman of Terwilliger Pappas Multifamily Partners in Atlanta. “It has it all—mixed-income housing, environmental sustainability, long-term affordability, and long-term financing.”

“The efforts of Aeon and Hope Community, with their many public and private sector partners, prove that previously disinvested communities can point the way forward for mixed-income, environmentally sustainable redevelopment in our cities,” said Stockton Williams, executive director of the ULI Terwilliger Center.

PRESS CONTACT
place
Chris Velasco
Executive Director
PLACE
100 Portland Avenue South
Suite 100, Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 309-3889
www.welcometoplace.org

Fusion Art to Host “Art for Animals” Juried Art Exhibition for Charity

Fusion Art is pleased to announce that it will host an “Art for Animals” juried art exhibition to support local Coachella Valley animal welfare organizations.

Palm Springs, CA, USA — Fusion Art is pleased to announce that it will host an “Art for Animals” juried art exhibition to support local Coachella Valley animal welfare organizations.

The gallery has partnered with SNIP, the Palm Springs Animal Shelter, The Living Desert, Animal Samaritans, and the Humane Society of the Desert to host a charity art exhibition during the month of December 2016. All five organizations are 501(3)(c) nonprofits that are committed to the humane treatment of all animals and the preservation of life through no-kill philosophies.

A juried art competition will be held from July 20th through September 20th. For the competition artists and photographers, worldwide, are encouraged to share their artistic vision of Animals, both domestic and wild. The artwork can include any animals that live on land, in the sea or in the air and can range from realism to surrealism to abstraction.

Twelve winners will be selected and featured in the exhibition, which will be held in the gallery from December 7th through the 31st. An artists’ reception will be held the evening of December 10th between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. In addition, a charity calendar will be produced with each of the twelve winners featured in one month of the calendar. Proceeds from the competition’s entry fees, the gallery’s proceeds from the sale of any artwork in the exhibition and from sale of the charity calendar will be donated equally to the charities.

Founded by Award winning artist, Chris Hoffman, Fusion Art was envisioned and formed out of a passion for art and the artists who create it. The website and Palm Springs gallery promote and connect new, emerging and established artists with collectors and art enthusiasts, while offering the opportunity to participate in art competitions, exhibitions and experiences. Open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4p.m., Fusion Art Gallery is located at 2658 S. Cherokee Way, in the Backstreet Art District.

Artists who are interested in submitting their artwork for consideration should visit Fusion Art’s website for full competition guidelines: http://www.fusionartps.com/art-for-animals-charity-competition. Please direct any questions to Valerie Hoffman at the contact information below.

Media Contact:
Valerie Hoffman
Fusion Art
2658 S. Cherokee Way
Palm Springs, CA 92264
(Mailing Address: PO Box 4236
Palm Springs, CA 92263)
760-832-7568
valerie@fusionartps.com
http://www.fusionartps.com

Dr. Michael K. Obeng will Perform a Miraculous Surgery on Sarjo Trawally, a 4-year-old Girl from Gambia with a Life threatening Facial Cystic Hygroma

From the anointed mind to the gifted hands of Dr. Michael K. Obeng, miracles have come true for many that cannot afford surgeries in third-world countries with poverty beyond understanding.

Beverly Hills, CA, USA — After careful, strategically planned trips to four countries this summer, Dr. Obeng was touched and moved by 4-year-old Sarjo with her disfigured face. Dr. Obeng has arranged for Sarjo to come to United States where he will do what may seem by millions as impossible. Sarjo arrives in Los Angeles on Thursday, August 11, 2016, which is when her transformation will begin. Dr. Obeng was born with the gift himself, to touch and change lives, faces, bodies etc. of many, with no means whatsoever to handle the cost for these surgeries. Dr. Obeng, through his charity, R.E.S.T.O.R.E., Restoring Emotional Stability Through Outstanding Reconstructive Efforts, and donations from the kindhearted, has been able to donate 100% of all services free for all surgeries that he and his select staff performs either on tour or case by case here in Beverly Hills, CA.

Dr. Obeng came to Midwestern State University (MSU) from Ghana. He saw a flyer about the university in a friend’s dorm room and knew it was in Texas, but that was all. While an MSU student, Dr. Obeng laid carpet, worked for Golden Corral, and drove a school bus for the Wichita Falls Independent School District. His bed was one he rescued from someone else’s trash, and he and his roommate alternated sleeping on it and the floor. After his first semester at MSU, he got a job at the Moffett Library and eventually landed a job as a residence assistant that paid his room and board, a big relief for a struggling student.

Dr. Obeng earned his Bachelor of Science from MSU in 1997, graduating cum laude with a major in Chemistry and a double minor in Mathematics & Biology. He received his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch and completed post-graduate work in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch John Sealy Hospitals and The Shriner’s Hospital for Children before accepting a fellowship at Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Obeng is currently the Director of his own private practice, MiKO Plastic Surgery and MiKO Surgery Center in Beverly Hills, California while also serving on staff at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Obeng is a noted author and lecturer on healthcare disparities around the globe. He has received numerous honors, awards and recognition for his professional achievements including a research grant from the National Institute of Health and the Herman A. Barnett Memorial Award for Excellence in Surgery and Anesthesia. His professional society memberships include the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, and the American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery.

Dr. Obeng recently launched a consulting firm, Global Health Solution, which is aimed to bridge the gap between morbidity and healthy living in developing countries. He believes a “Healthy country is a wealthy country.”

In Ghana, Dr. Obeng saw the pain caused by physical deformities, and the helplessness of those afflicted as they lived with their situation with no money, and too few qualified physicians to have the problem corrected. To resolve this issue, he then formed R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Worldwide, Inc. in 2008 (Restoring Emotional Stability Through Outstanding Reconstructive Efforts) to help those people and others in need. Since its inception in 2008 R.E.S.T.O.R.E.’s volunteer teams have traveled to 7 countries, including Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Mexico and Nigeria performing over 200 reconstructive surgeries worth over $ 5,000,000 USD and all on a pro-bono basis. Dr. Obeng credits the giving spirit of teachers, advisers, and fellow students during his time at Midwestern State University, The University of Texas and Harvard for instilling in him the need to help others. “I won’t forget where it all started,” he said.

About R.E.S.T.O.R.E.: R.E.S.T.O.R.E. is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit medical service organization that provides free reconstructive surgery and related medical services to children and adults with disfiguring deformities from birth, accidents and diseases. Many developing countries shun those afflicted with disfiguring deformities and look upon them as outcasts or “freaks”. Often their own families hide them from the general public to spare them from either being ridiculed or physically harmed because of their disfigured appearance.

Although there is an overwhelming need for plastic surgery in developing countries, these types of surgeries are not available because there are no personnel trained to provide the necessary surgeries. As part of the organizations mission they seek to educate and train local physicians in the techniques necessary to perpetuate their initial work to continually benefit more people for years to come.

“ONE FACE, ONE BREAST, ONE BODY AT A TIME”.

For more information or to help make a difference in Sarjo’s life with your donation
http://www.restoreworldwide.org
http://www.mikoplasticsurgery.com

Media Contact:
Lawrence Phillips (LP)
LP PR Events Entertainment
(310) 619-8048
(310) 275-2701
lppreventsentertainment13@gmail.com

Rhode Island Becomes 4th State To Pass AutoErase Legislation

Pawtucket’s Representative Carlos Tobon’s bill is part of a nationwide effort to reduce the burden placed on innocent individuals wrongfully arrested due to mistaken identity.

Providence, RI, USA — Rhode Island becomes the fourth state to pass #AutoErase legislation which requires that arrest records are automatically erased of innocent individuals wrongfully arrested due to mistaken identity. The bills, HB 7094, and it’s companion bill, SB2421 – “Requires the sealing and destruction of arrest records of persons wrongfully arrested,” were introduced and championed by Rep. Carlos Tobon (D-Pawtucket) and Senator Juan Pichardo (D-Providence), respectively. Rhode Island joins North Carolina, Illinois and Colorado in passing a piece of criminal justice reform legislation that was born out of the wrongful arrest of Hollywood independent producer and entertainment industry executive, Charles Belk in August of 2014. #AutoErase legislation has been signed into law in North Carolina, Illinois and Colorado, and is currently pending legislation Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Innocent people in Rhode Island, as well as throughout the country, are wrongfully charged each year with a felony or misdemeanor crime because the charges were issued as the result of mistaken identity (i.e., misidentification by a witness or law enforcement, confusion on the part of a witness or law enforcement as to the identity of the person who committed the crime, misinformation provided to law enforcement as to the identity of the person who committed the crime, or some other mistake on the part of a witness or law enforcement as to the identity of the person who committed the crime), or because someone else used their information. Because the responsibility to remove a wrongful arrest record falls on the charged individual, he or she is burden with the expenses and time required to handle such a task. If a person does not have the erroneous arrest record removed, it can greatly affect his or her ability in the future to get a job, a loan or certain licenses. The Rhode Island legislation requires that any law enforcement agency, subsequent to the arrest of any person, that determines such person was wrongfully or incorrectly arrested as a result of mistaken identity or any other reason or wrongfully fingerprinted, photographed or otherwise has generated any record of arrest for investigatory purposes and as a result of such wrongful arrest, no charges have been filed in any court of the state, seal all such arrest records and destroy all identifying information and indices of arrest. Notwithstanding a veto by the Governor, the new law will take affect on July 1, 2016.

“If someone is wrongful arrested because law enforcement is doing their job, it’s only fair that their record is cleaned up,” Representative Tobon said. “Getting a faulty arrest record erased currently is a long and costly process and many people are being harmed by simple background checks.”

On August 22, 2014, Charles Belk was mistakenly identified as an armed bank robber because he fit the description of a tall, bald, Black male. He was handcuffed, detained, taken to the police station, booked, denied a phone call, denied being told his charges, denied immediate access to an attorney, jailed for six hours for Armed Bank Robbery and Accessory to Armed Robbery and held under a $100,000 bail. Although he was released later that night and given a Certificate of Detention, which indicated he was only detained and not arrested, an arrest record appeared on the Sheriff’s website and a state legal process had to be followed to get the arrest record sealed and destroyed. Since his arrest, Belk launched a nationwide effort, through the non-profit he founded (fittingthedescription.org) and his #AutoErase Initiative, to educate and inform those about the perils of wrongful arrest records, and engage legislation to alleviate the burden and costs incurred by the innocent to remove those arrest records.

“Since the wrongful arrest incident, I have seen the #AutoErase legislation introduced in 14 states, and Rhode Island was one of those state that I had the opportunity to visit on several different occasion, meeting and talking with community leaders and officials, including Providence NAACP President Jim Vincent, Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare, and Pawtucket Police Chief Paul King, among many others,” said Charles Belk. “This is an incredible piece of legislation for the good people of the great state of Rhode Island, and I’m truly grateful for the support from the community and the state legislators.”

Fitting The Description, a 501.c.3, tax exempt, non-profit organization, was established to help build awareness of wrongful detentions and arrests that occur each day because an individual “fit the description.” The organization helps educate and inform others about the perils of wrongful arrests records, and advocates for alleviating the burden and costs incurred by the innocent to remove those arrest records.

Media Contact:
Mark Williams
Fitting The Description Inc.
PO Box 93181
Los Angeles, CA 90093
213-632-6390
mwilliams@fittingthedescription.org
http://www.fittingthedescription.org

Roth & Lawrence Public Relations Firm Presents Charitable CSR Based Event “Bowling with a Purpose” in Milwaukee, WI

Roth & Lawrence Public Relations Firm is creating new ways to business in Milwaukee, Wisconsin while giving back to its community at large. Using corporate social responsibility as a means to create positive change.

Milwaukee, WI, USA — Roth & Lawrence Public Relations Firm is creating new ways to business in Milwaukee, Wisconsin while giving back to its community at large. Using corporate social responsibility as a means to create positive change.

BUILDING BUSINESSES IN MILWAUKEE
Roth & Lawrence Public Relations Firm located downtown Milwaukee in the 3rd Ward will be hosting its first annual charitable event promoting entrepreneurship and small business growth in Milwaukee, Wisconsin the event will take place on July 15th 2016.

Bowling with a Purpose will be held at the Bayshore Mall IPic Theater sponsored by IPic Theater and Roth & Lawrence Public Relations Firm. In attendance will be leading local small business owners, nonprofit organizers, and corporate leaders; who support the advancement of small businesses, nonprofit awareness, and financial literacy in Milwaukee.

Roth & Lawrence Public Relations Firm is seeking to collaborate with corporations based in Wisconsin in effort to demonstrate corporate social responsibility– CSR creates innovation, sustainability, and employee and customer engagement. Most importantly, community engagement is a viable solutions to maintain a meaningful relationship with consumers and tackling major social issues.

COMMUNITY BUSINESS GIVE BACK: CSR
Where: IPic Theater & Entertainment at Bayshore Mall
When: July 15th, 2016 Time: 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Contact: Tam Lawrence, TL@RLAssc.com, (866) 611.6341 Ext 101

CORPORATE INVOLVEMENT
Corporate Social Responsibility is more than just donating money or printing double-sided to save trees, it’s about contributing to the health and welfare of society, operating transparently and ethically. More importantly, this way of operating should be embedded in the business, rather an afterthought.

Roth & Lawrence’s signature projects are often developed in partnership with local nonprofits, chambers, and the firm’s corporate clients.

WHAT’S GOING ON?
Nomination(s): small businesses, start-ups, community organizations and nonprofit groups will have an opportunity to submit their need assessment, growth plan, impact statement to be nominated as a GIVEBACK candidate. The giveback candidates will be rewarded with up to 40% of the monies paid by the winning team.

Corporate vs. Small Businesses: build your team of 4 players (pairing) a corporate team will be paired with a small business team– and (assigned) a lane. The winning team will be able to pick one of the three entities select for the giveback a nonprofit, small business, or a startup to donating up to 40% of their registration fee.

REGISTRATION:
Pick 4 Registration: Select 4 individuals to represent your company or organization. Now that you’ve selected your Pick 4 TEAM- visit the online application http://www.RLAssc.com select the [tab] labeled Bowling Event once you’ve completed our online form, you will receive an invoice for $99.00 per person with additional options.

VENDING:
Vending with a Purpose: Is a sure fire solution to gain brand visibility and consumer loyalty. Consumers are more likely to support brands associated with common social issues. Visit http://www.RLAssc.com for more details on how your company can get involved [tab] labeled Bowling Vendor.

REGISTRATION STARTS
Registration starts April 20, 2016 online visit http://www.RLAssc.com

MEDIA PARTNERS
Exposure Magazine: http://www.Exposure-Magazine.com
Urban Wall Street Journal Newspaper
Riverwest Radio: 104.1 FM MKE VIBE every Saturday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT: https://rothlawrence.appointlet.com

Let’s Build Community Social Responsibility Opportunities?
Ms. Lawrence the founder of Roth & Lawrence Public Relations Firm is looking for ideal collaborations working to improve the quality of life for those in Milwaukee and its surrounding areas. Creating the experience!

Media Contact:
Tam Lawrence
Roth & Lawrence Public Relations Firm
342 North Water Street Suite 617
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
Office: (866) 611-6341 Ext 101
Email: TL@RLAssc.com
Website: http://www.RLAssc.com