Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Pay Your Family First and Choices Education Empowerment Holds ThriveTime Challenge’s State Championship at Grand Canyon University

Pay Your Family First (PYFF), in partnership with Choices Educational Empowerment, will hold the ThriveTime Scholarship Challenge’s state championship at Grand Canyon University on April 17th from 4 pm - 8 pm.

Paradise Valley/Phoenix, AZ, March 27, 2012 - Pay Your Family First(PYFF), in partnership with Choices Educational Empowerment, will hold the ThriveTime Scholarship Challenge’s state championship at Grand Canyon University on April 17th from 4 pm - 8 pm.

The event will be held at the private college’s basketball arena, emceed by KTAR’s & AZTV’s popular personality, Pat McMahon. State Treasurer Doug Ducey will be participating in this event that will include free community activities, live entertainment and raffles for the public.

Arizona teens that qualified during their local high school’s Thrive Time Scholarship Challenge will compete for cash scholarships and the chance to play at the regional and national competitions. Members of the Arizona Society of CPAs provided volunteer support at school events and will participate at the state competition. Additional volunteer support has been provided by Phoenix Philanthropists, with sponsorship support provided by local businesses and community leaders.

PYFF’s CEO and acclaimed author, Sharon Lechter, is on a mission to promote financial education. "The entire ThriveTime Challenge has far exceeded my hopes and dreams.  We set out to create community collaboration between the corporate, personal and private sectors to address a pressing need for financial literacy education for children. We've been thrilled at the reception from students, teachers and administration.  And when we gave each student their own ThriveTime game at the end of the competitions – you’d think they'd just won the lottery!"

Choices Educational Empowerment’s Tank Jones, acclaimed actor and activist, has seen the benefits of the game. "Collaborating with Pay Your Family First to bring the ThriveTime Challenge to local schools has been fun and rewarding. We’ve met some exceptional kids and great staff. I look forward to seeing who's going to take the scholarship!"

ThriveTime Challenge

During the championship, participants will compete in a three round, single elimination tournament of the board game created by Lechter, ThriveTime for Teens. The board game was developed as a teaching tool to instill money management skills to youth and families. Students will play in tables of 5-6 students. The first player to “Thrive,” or win, at each table will advance to the second round; then, those winners will proceed to the final championship round.

The 1st place winner will be awarded a $5,000 scholarship from Pay Your Family First, plus a second $5,000 scholarship matched by Grand Canyon University. The 2nd and 3rd place winners both receive a $2,500 scholarship provided by private donors. According to Lechter, everyone who attends is a winner. Each participating high school from qualifying events received cash prizes; the school with the most spectators in tow receives the School Spirit Award, and each entering participant receives a goody-bag with various prizes.

“Grand Canyon University is proud to host the Thrive Time Challenge State Championship,” said Grand Canyon University’s dean of the College of Education, Kimberly LaPrade. “Learning to manage personal finances is vital for young people as they go out into the world on their own. The Challenge is teaching students these practical skills in a fun and exciting way.”

Arizona high schools interested in hosting a ThriveTime Scholarship Challenge, or organizations interested in empowering the next generation of superstars by sponsoring the events, should contact Angela Totman at Pay Your Family First: angela@pyff.net.

For information regarding the ThriveTime Scholarship Challenge, please visit: www.thrivetimechallenge.com.

Contact:
Scott Kelly
Black Dog Promotions
9920 S. Rural Rd., Ste 108
Tempe, AZ 85284 USA
480-206-3435

Online gaming and Entertainment company 2UP buys online pokies site

Listed online gaming and entertainment company 2UP Gaming PLC (2GM:F) has purchased online affiliate pokies website WebNetPokies.

Nerang, Qld, March 27, 2012 - The purchase is part of the company’s acquisition plans and will enable 2UP to utilise its technology’s and marketing expertise to maximise traffic to the site as part of a value-add strategy.

While WebNetPokies will be a fully owned subsidiary of 2UP, it will be run as an independent business unit benefiting from cross promotion marketing opportunities from 2UP’s website, which already hosts a number of gaming and wagering options.

2UP business development director, Peter Flynn, says the purchase is an excellent strategic fit for the company providing immediate cash flow.

“We have previously stated that online affiliate businesses will form a part of our long-term plans to become a major international online gaming and entertainment company,” Mr Flynn says.

“The purchase of WebNetPokies is consistent with this strategy, and we believe its revenues can be significantly increased through a high rank on Google as an on-line pokies site which will form part of our marketing efforts.

“Another attraction to the affiliate business is its generic domain name which will allow us to incorporate the 2UP animated game as an added feature to pokies and slot machine players.”

Affiliate sites act as portals to enable visitors to locate and access online slot machines or pokies by redirecting them to casinos who pay for either traffic or a sale of their product. Many online casinos have affiliate programs driving traffic to their chosen domain.
A report released last year noted online poker and casino operations account for almost half of the USD$13.49 billion international internet gambling market.

2UP recently announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding to acquire European based video streaming business Streamark.

Streamark develops applications based on streaming video, tracking and communications technologies for mobile telecom operators, TV network and cable operators and hardware manufacturers.

The acquisition has strategic importance for the company as it allows the live streaming of content at a faster pace and reduced rate, giving 2UP a significant competitive advantage with a number of its live gambling products able to be delivered directly to mobile phones and tablets.

2UP has announced it is finalising a number of other potential acquisitions and a major capital raising from a substantial private equity firm.

The acquisitions include DBG Poker and Asian pool betting company ToteDaddy.

2UP is also in negotiations for a joint venture with an online lottery company.

2UP Gaming PLC is a fully functional online casino incorporating many gaming and wagering products including the 2UP coin toss game which is played in most countries around the world where players make a call on whether two coins being tossed in the air will fall as two tails or two heads. A correct call wins.

This will be underpinned by other unique and established gaming and wagering options to be released as part of its growth plans.

For more company information visit www.2UPgroup.com and to access the online casino visit www.2UP.com.

Media enquiries: Bruce Nelson +61 (0) 423 403 449 or email bruce@zakazukha.com

Contact:
Bruce Nelson
Zakazukha Marketing Communication
3 Eden Court
Nerang, Qld 4211
07 5596 6634

New Belgium Brewing’s “Tour de Fat” Announces National Schedule, Including First-time Festivals in Atlanta and Washington, DC

Rollin’ Into a City Near You; Countdown Begins for Crafting Costumes

Ft. Collins, CO, March 26, 2012 - New Belgium Brewing today announced the much-anticipated Tour de Fat 2012 schedule. Now in its 13th season, Tour de Fat brings together passionate bike lovers for a day of two-wheeled revelry while raising money for local nonprofits. Tour de Fat is a thrilling rite of passage that includes an unparalleled costumed bicycle parade, New Belgium beer, dazzling entertainment, local food, unusual bike contests and much more. Coming to 15 cities across the country, New Belgium has added Atlanta and Washington, DC to this year’s lineup.

In 2012, Tour de Fat, which is a free event, will exceed the $2 million mark for money raised for local nonprofits through beer and merchandise purchases. Funds generally go to organizations in the world of bike advocacy, with money spent in a wide variety of ways, including trail maintenance, safety education, lobbying for better bicycle communities and a wide variety of other impactful initiatives.

The pinnacle of Tour de Fat is the ceremonious car-for-bike trade. At each Tour de Fat, one person becomes the center of the show as he or she gets up on stage, hands over car keys, and pledges to live one year car-free. Tour de Fat is now seeking volunteers to accept the swapper challenge. Each car-for-bike swapper will choose a local bike shop to help them turn their $2,250.00 budget into their ultimate car-replacement commuter bike. The cars will be auctioned by Vehicles for Charity, with proceeds to benefit local cycling organizations.

Swappers are chosen after submitting an application that describes why they are willing to trade in their vehicle for a shiny new bicycle. To submit an entry, go to the New Belgium Tour de Fat Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/TourDeFat), click on events and your city of choice, and upload your application video. Applications may also be written and sent to: trademycarforabike@newbelgium.com.

“This is a big year for Tour De Fat as we added two terrific cities to the roster and look to surpass $2 million in funds raised for organizations that do great things for bicyclists and beyond,” said Matt Kowal, Tour De Fat Impresario. Event Festavarian “In addition, our community of car-for-bike swappers is about to grow, which is a highlight of our whole year. Bike advocacy should always be this much fun.”

A few tidbits about Tour de Fat:

* Start sewing, collecting and dreaming up something to wear as Tour de Fat encourages embracing your inner costume-loving self. Come dressed up to help put on the most colorful, respectful and creative bike parade ever witnessed in each city.

* Tour de Fat seeks to leave as small an environmental imprint as possible and composts and recycles waste. Bring only what you need and watch for proper receptacles. We’ll do the rest!

* All performers grab your attention from alternatively empowered stages decked out in recycled materials; trucks and transport use biofuel sourced from recycled waste oils; and all vendors operate off the grid.

* This is a pro-bike celebration, not an anti-car rally. Non-cyclists are more than welcome to join the festivities.

In 2011, Tour de Fat traveled to 13 cities, attracting a total of 69,550 festival attendees and 41,150 parade cyclists. In addition, the festival raised $331,428 and boasted an impressive 90 percent diversion of waste from landfills.

See https://www.facebook.com/TourDeFat for the Tour de Fat credo, schedules, videos and to submit your entry to swap your gas guzzler for a fancy new bike.

Tour de Fat 2012 will cycle through each of the following cities:

Nashville, TN – June 2 – Centennial Park
Washington, DC – June 16 – Yards Park
Durham, NC – June 23 – Diamond View Park on the American Tobacco Campus
Atlanta, GA – June 30 – Historic 4th Ward Park
Milwaukee, WI – July 14 – Coast Guard Event Area, McKinley Park
Chicago, IL – July 21 – Palmer Square
Minneapolis, MN – July 28 – Loring Park
Boise, ID – August 18 – Ann Morrison Park
Fort Collins, CO – September 1 – Civic Center Park Area
Denver, CO – September 8 – City Park
Los Angeles, CA – September 15 – Los Angeles State Historic Park
San Francisco, CA – September 22 – Lindley Meadow in Golden Gate Park
San Diego, CA – September 29 – Golden Hill Park
Tempe, AZ – October 6 – Tempe Town Lake
Austin, TX – October 20 – Fiesta Gardens

About New Belgium Brewing Company
New Belgium Brewing Company, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, began operations in a tiny Fort Collins basement in 1991. Today, the third largest craft brewer in the U.S., New Belgium produces nine year-round beers; Fat Tire Amber Ale, Ranger IPA, Belgo IPA, Sunshine Wheat, Shift Pale Lager, Blue Paddle Pilsner, 1554 Black Ale, Abbey and Trippel, as well as a host of seasonal releases.  In addition to producing world-class beers, New Belgium takes pride in being a responsible corporate role model with progressive programs such as employee ownership, open book management and a commitment to environmental stewardship.  For more information, visit www.newbelgium.com.

Contact:
Jenny Foust
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
720.244.4268
303.433.7020