ReleaseWire

Tech Garden, a non-profit 501(c)3, announces the acquisition of its first Mobile Maker Space and launches its first public fundraising effort through Kickstarter. Once funded, the 33' trailer will be stocked with state-of-the-art engineering technology and will maximize community outreach by bringing hands-on workshops to students.

The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ) is proud to announce that "Break Even," a short drama created for the CCGNJ by OutreachArts, recently won a prestigious Communicator Award of Excellence at the 22nd Annual Communicator Awards. Submitted among more than 6,000 entries, "Break Even" was honored for its creative achievement and striking depiction of disordered gambling.

As an organization that offers support, treatment, and hope through its gambler hotline in NJ, the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey works consistently to raise awareness about the risks of problem gambling. Recently, the CCGNJ released information about Mental Health Awareness Month in support of its mission to offer hope to problem gamblers. Mental Health Awareness Month is an initiative by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to break the stigma surrounding mental health conditions and provide support for those struggling with mental illness. The CCGNJ has brought attention to the co-occurrence of mental health issues and gambling

Active duty members of the military and military veterans are a vulnerable portion of the population when it comes to addiction. Their heightened risk includes disordered gambling, an addiction that affects about 2 million adults per year and disproportionately affects those in the military. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, as many as 36,000 active duty service members may currently struggle with problem gambling, and disordered gambling is almost twice as likely to affect veterans than the general population.

Rocky Mountain Performance Excellence (RMPEx) will hold its annual Quest for Excellence Event on May 18, 2016, in the Tivoli Building on the Auraria Campus in Denver, Colorado. This event will include recognition of 2015 RMPEx award recipients and presentations on achievements in performance excellence. The RMPEx award recipients include the following:

For as long as she can remember, even hearkening back to being a toddler, Matawan native Sarah Ross helped her brother Mendy and her mom and dad Aaron and Devorah reach out and help fellow Jews in the area. She has worked for several Jewish leaders engaging in outreach, doing Hebrew School, planning programs and running camps in support of Jewish communities near and far.

Since its inception in 1875, the Kentucky Derby has become an annual tradition that sparks themed parties throughout the country—as well as a flurry of betting. Not limited to the track at Churchill Downs in Louisville, betting on the Kentucky Derby takes place across the country, even as far away as New Jersey, where racetrack betting is legal. This year, gamblers placed $192.6 million in Derby bets, the second-highest amount in the race's history (the highest was in 2015).

Skippy's Dog Walking, new business and community volunteer of Emerald Hills neighborhood, offers services geared to help pet owners in taking care of neighborhood dogs. With most people's lifestyles being hectic most of the time, Skippy's Dog Walking offers their service to help the neighborhood by walking neighborhood dogs for free.

On April 17th, during the travel industry conference ACTE (Association of Corporate Travel Executives), HRS and ECPAT-USA launched a joint campaign to focus on how the travel industry can combat trafficking. ECPAT-USA works in close partnership with the travel and tourism industry to ensure that children are not exploited or used for sex, and to implement the Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct. The Code is an internationally accepted industry-driven corporate social responsibility framework that helps companies in the travel and tourism industry. The Code's six guidelines require companies to put in place policies and programs to protect children from sexual exploitation and trafficking. HRS recently joined The Code, and is committed to using their resources and influence to protect children from exploitation. During the conference HRS announced that for every signed business card collected, HRS would make a $5 donation to ECPAT-USA's work to combat child sex trafficking.

Goody Tickets owner Heather Goodman contributed to the Kansas City Air Show Aviation Expo, held annually to benefit the Mid-America Youth Aviation Association (MAYAA). The August 2015 event featured the United States Navy Blue Angels Jet Team as well as other military and civilian performances. MAYAA's Kansas City aviation professionals and other supporters volunteer to produce the event each year. The Kansas City Aviation Expo and Airshow Facebook page announced May 9 that there will not be a 2016 show.

The Honorary Deputy Sheriff's Association (HDSA), announced today that the HDSA will host its fifth annual Charity Tournament benefiting the Teller County's Sheriff Office.

As the Presidential primaries are coming down to the wire, the US-India Political Action Committee (USINPAC) is hosting its next interactive Presidential Dialogue series with Democratic and Republican Presidential Campaigns to engage and discuss issues important to the Indian American community. USINPAC invites the Indian American community to join the Google Hangout, on Thursday, April 28th, 2016 at 1 pm EST with the Presidential Campaign of Donald J. Trump, represented by key Trump surrogate, Congressman Duncan D. Hunter (R-CA-50th District).

Earlier this year, The Isabella Santos Foundation, a nonprofit based in Charlotte, NC that raises awareness and funds for neuroblastoma research, announced the date of its upcoming annual 5K/10K and Fun Run. The event will take place on Saturday, September 24th, 2016 at Ballantyne Corporate Park in Charlotte, NC. The Foundation is proud to announce that this fun-filled day of activities and entertainment will be sponsored by MetLife, and that there is still time for local organizations to become sponsors of the race.

Put simply, the term eSports refers to playing video games competitively for money. This kind of gaming competition is on the rise worldwide, and draws millions of fans in each year. As with other forms of competitive game-playing, participating in eSports tournaments is lucrative for a few skilled players. For most others, it is merely a hobby. However, some players can fall too deeply into the allure of virtual gaming, and suffer financial, social or medical consequences. The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey would like to acknowledge the parallels between the addictive potential of eSports and disordered gambling associated with traditional casino games as well as Internet gambling sites. The Council offers 24/7 support, treatment and hope to individuals who are suffering from problem gambling.

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, a national effort by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) to reduce the stigma associated with alcoholism and encourage community members to start conversations about alcohol addiction. The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey joins the national conversation this month by drawing attention to the interaction between alcohol addiction and problem gambling. A better understanding of both diseases and the reduction of stigmas around them will help those who struggle with gambling disorders to seek help and support, leading to a higher likelihood of recovery.

Neva Pryor, Executive Director of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, recently appeared in an NJ.com video that highlights the popularity of fantasy sports leagues as well as the controversy surrounding them. These leagues, which allow players to bet on the performance of individual sports players throughout the season, have become, for some, a source of livelihood. For others, however, participation in fantasy sports leagues can result in a sports gambling problem, leading some New Jersey lawmakers to propose a statewide ban (including Atlantic City) on fantasy sports leagues.

Broncos' CJ Anderson has a knack for running the ball with precision and power, the same can be said for his bowling skills. Anderson who is known to be one the best bowlers in the NFL will host The Smile Generation Orange & Blue Super Bowling Celebration Party. Professional Bowlers Association star Sean Rash, who is a self-proclaimed die-hard Broncos' fan, will join Anderson in a meet and greet with fans, sign autographs and face-off in a Battle of the Pro-Bowlers challenge.

Laptops for the Homeless Support Initiative today announced their laptops donation facility with Southwark Council is officially open. Anticipating high volumes of disused laptops with the newly planted donation collection box, partnership with the Southwark Council will further their efforts to re-home laptops to the homeless in accommodation services on their way to employment fruition.

Kiwi Energy, a leading New York based energy retailer, is contributing to Green Guerillas' Harvest for Neighborhoods campaign. Green Guerillas is a nonprofit environmental group that has been dedicated to strengthening and preserving urban gardens in New York City for over 40 years. Green Guerillas started in 1973 at a time when many parts of New York City were suffering a financial crisis. During this time, then Parks Commissioner Thomas Hoving's campaign sought to quickly transform vacant and abandoned lots into usable open spaces. This paved the way for Green Guerillas and the 1970s community garden movement which began in the Lower East Side. Today, more than 600 community gardens serve as testaments to the skill, creativity, and determination of New York City's community gardeners. They grow food for their families and neighbors, and connect city kids to the earth. They also give seniors cool green spaces to pass summer days and allow people to kneel down together and garden in the city.

Habitat for Humanity of Teller County has acquired the Lofthouse Motel in Woodland Park to provide affordable housing for those families who meet criteria of being in the low to medium income bracket.

Muslim followers are passionate believers in contributing a portion of their wealth to Zakat. Zakat means "to purify," and according to The Qur'an, giving Zakat allows Muslim followers to cleanse and bless their current fortune by contributing a portion of their wealth to the less fortunate members of Islamic society. United Muslim Relief (UMR) is a non-profit, 501c3 organization dedicated to helping poor Muslim communities around the world receive essential, everyday services.

Eyes2C Inc., a non-profit start-up, is launching a pilot of its innovative on-line journal to enable people everywhere to record their dreams and other spiritual experiences for their own benefit but also as part of a social experiment to "connect the dots" to find patterns and even predictions of future trends and events.

Today Draffles LLC, a company that partners with celebrities to conduct raffles to raise awareness and money for causes the celebrities are passionate about, announced that they will be partnering with comedian and internet star on a project benefiting Maltese Rescue California.

Bottomless Closet is pleased to announce the appointment of Melissa S. Norden as its new Executive Director effective March 28. Ms. Norden spent 13 years in increasingly responsible positions at The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), serving most recently as Senior Vice President, Chief of Staff and General Counsel. Under Ms. Norden's leadership, the ASPCA experienced a period of unprecedented growth and attained new levels of national prominence as a leading voice in animal welfare. In her various roles, she managed a $150+ million budget and a staff of 700+, built the in-house legal function, oversaw the creation of an innovative grants program that distributes $15+ million annually across the United States, was a key player in the development of corporate partnerships with Clorox, Subaru, Procter & Gamble, Wal-Mart and The Hartville Pet Insurance Company and coordinated the ASPCA's participation in the long-running, top-rated Animal Planet reality television series Animal Precinct, which acted as the launch pad for the ASPCA's landmark direct response television spots featuring singer Sarah McLachlan.

Kiwi Energy, a leading New York based energy retailer providing renewable energy solutions for electricity and gas supply, is supporting EarthSpark International, a non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating energy poverty in Haiti. The owners of Kiwi Energy have had a working relationship with EarthSpark for a number of years.