Month: June 2025

Anti-Union Waste Company Pushing Workers Closer to Strike

CUMMING, Ga., June 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Members of Teamsters Local 728 at Republic Services will hold a practice picket on Tuesday, June 24, at 5:15 a.m.

Republic Teamsters nationwide are demanding a new contract with substantial raises, improved benefits, and stronger work rules. Practice pickets are also planned for tomorrow in Manteca, Calif.; Ottawa, Ill.; Evansville, Ind.; and Lacey, Wash. The action this week comes on the heels of a practice picket held near Boston earlier in the month.

Republic Teamsters across the country are fully prepared to strike if the company fails to reach a fair agreement, which could cause major disruptions to trash collection.

Media Contact:
Colin McCullough, (856) 625-6856
cmccullough@teamster.org 

On-site Contact:
Eric Massaro, (404) 668-2459 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tuesday-republic-teamsters-to-practice-picket-302488783.html

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters

• AccuWeather’s RealFeel^® Temperature is the only authentic formula-based metric—unlike ‘Feels Like,’ which lacks scientific credibility.
• Request an interview with an AccuWeather expert meteorologist

STATE COLLEGE, Pa., June 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — With a blistering heat wave underway that is impacting more than 170 million Americans, AccuWeather® is urging the public, media and decision-makers to use RealFeel® Temperature—the only scientifically developed and proprietary measure of what outdoor conditions actually feel like—to understand and prepare for greater safety, comfort and convenience.

AccuWeather® expert meteorologists say temperatures are soaring past 100 degrees across vast regions of the central and eastern United States, triggering high heat risks in major cities from the Midwest to the Northeast. 

In these extreme conditions, relying solely on traditional temperature readings—or worse, the vague and misleading “Feels Like” temperature—can have dangerous or even deadly consequences.

“AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperature is the only scientifically derived and tested measure of human-perceived temperature,” AccuWeather® Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said. “It incorporates 12 specific factors including humidity, temperature, wind and more to reflect what people actually feel, not just what a thermometer says. It is the only index of its kind that includes sun intensity, air density, precipitation and other factors in the formula.”

In addition to its standard RealFeel® Temperature, AccuWeather® also provides RealFeel Shade™, a critical measure during heat waves. While temperatures in direct sunlight can feel significantly hotter due to solar radiation, RealFeel Shade™ reflects how conditions feel in a shaded area—where people may find substantial relief. The difference can often be 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit or more, which is essential information for outdoor workers, athletes and anyone seeking to reduce heat-related health risks.

By contrast, the commonly used “Feels Like” phrase has no universally accepted formula, no consistent methodology and lacks scientific validation and value. That means no two sources, like local television stations and other news or weather sources, may calculate it the same way—if at all.

The ‘Feels Like’ Heat Index varies, based only upon temperature and humidity – nothing else is included in its calculation. AccuWeather expert meteorologists know from our experience how inaccurate that can be. For example, it feels much hotter with no wind and a searing summer midday sun than it does with a 20-mph gusty breeze and thick clouds. AccuWeather’s exclusive RealFeel® Temperature reflects this difference, while other heat indices do not.

The patented and exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperature combines a dozen atmospheric factors to provide an accurate measure of how representative the current and forecast weather conditions really “feel” to an appropriately dressed person.

“There is no such thing as the ‘Feels Like’ temperature,” said AccuWeather® Founder and Executive Chair Dr. Joel N. Myers, who was one of the inventors of the AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature. “Without a scientific basis or consistent definition, ‘Feels Like’ is open to interpretation—and misinterpretation.”

There will be little relief from the heat during the nighttime hours, as temperatures will fall into only the 70s. In some urbanized areas, overnight temperatures will not get out of the 80s. Hot and humid overnight conditions will increase the health risks, since those in non-air-conditioned environments will experience little temperature relief at night, increasing the stress on the human body. 

The intense heat, sweltering humidity and dangerously high overnight temperatures can increase the risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke, especially for younger children, older adults, athletes, outdoor workers and others who have medical conditions or use medications that may increase their risk of heat-related illnesses.

For nearly two decades, AccuWeather’s RealFeel® Temperature has been the gold standard in extreme heat and cold impact communication, trusted by emergency managers, healthcare providers, athletes and everyday Americans to better understand environmental risks. During heat waves, it helps communicate the full effect of heat and humidity on the human body—critical for assessing heat stroke risk and other heat impacts, making school or workplace attendance decisions and informing public safety announcements. Heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States.

AccuWeather® encourages all media outlets, government agencies and weather communicators to adopt the RealFeel® Temperature in their reporting communication to the public to provide the most accurate, actionable information. The AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperature is available for free to all users on the free AccuWeather app and AccuWeather.com, including hour-by-hour forecasts as well as the current AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperature for every inhabited location on earth.

Additional AccuWeather^® Resources:

Dangerous heat wave to envelop 170 million Americans through late June

AccuWeather’s heat wave index helps people better understand and respond to heat dangers

AccuWeather’s RealFeel Temperature Guide provides unique outdoor insight amid heat wave

How We Calculate AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures

What is the AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature?

Stay cool from extreme heat with the free AccuWeather app

Heat exhaustion vs. heatstroke: What are the warning signs and how should you react?

Heat-related deaths have surged by 117% since 1999

AccuWeather meteorologists are available 24/7 to provide further insights and updates on evolving weather conditions. Please contact pr@accuweather.com during regular business hours, or support@accuweather.com or call AccuWeather’s Media Hotline at (814)-235-8710 at any time to arrange interviews with AccuWeather experts or to request the most updated graphics for print or broadcast.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/as-dangerous-us-heat-wave-intensifies-accuweather-urges-public-to-rely-on-science-backed-realfeel-temperature-for-accurate-danger-index-302488713.html

SOURCE AccuWeather

Highlights the Support of Oportun Founder and Former CEO James Gutierrez, who Wrote that Findell Has “Offered a Smart, Focused Plan to Restore Value”

Outlines How the Company Forced a Costly Proxy Contest by Refusing to Fill Board Leadership Positions with Independent Directors Who Possess Lending Industry Experience and by Ousting Former OneMain Financial CFO Scott Parker from the Board

Makes Clear That Removing Failed CEO Raul Vazquez from the Board Would Strengthen the Board’s Oversight of Management

Reiterates That Oportun Significantly Underperformed Peers Prior to Findell’s Involvement – and That Further Board Refreshment Is Needed to Prevent Additional Value Destruction

NEW YORK, June 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Findell Capital Partners, LP, (together with its affiliates, “Findell,” “we” or “us”) one of the largest stockholders of Oportun Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: OPRT) (“Oportun” or the “Company”), today issued a rebuttal presentation correcting false and misleading statements made in the Company’s June 18^th presentation.

Earlier today, Oportun Founder and former CEO James Gutierrez released an open letter to stockholders: see here . In the letter, Mr. Gutierrez expressed support for Findell’s case for boardroom change at Oportun, writing that “Findell Capital has accurately diagnosed the root causes of this [valuation] gap and offered a smart, focused plan to restore value.” He also endorsed the election of Warren Wilcox to the Board of Directors (the “Board”) in place of Raul Vazquez.

Findell is seeking to strengthen the Board’s lending industry credentials, independence and oversight of management at the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. We urge stockholders to vote today FOR the election of independent lending industry veteran Warren Wilcox to the Board on the WHITE proxy card.

Visit www.OpportunityAtOportun.com  to learn more.

Contact:

Findell Capital Management, LLC
88 Pine Street, 22nd Fl.
New York, NY 10005
info@findell.us

OR

Saratoga Proxy Consulting LLC
John Ferguson
info@saratogaproxy.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/findell-capital-issues-rebuttal-presentation-on-oportun-financial-and-notes-support-of-oportun-founder-and-former-ceo-james-gutierrez-302488699.html

SOURCE Findell Capital Management, LLC

Retired NFL stars host “Training Camp for Dads” to offer practical tips, encouragement and tools, emphasizing the essential role that fathers play in their children’s lives

NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Former NFL players are lining up to spotlight the important role of fathers and provide the skills and tools needed to become “Fatherhood Champions.” The Fatherhood Champions Program, launched by the National Football League Alumni Association (NFL Alumni) and supported through a grant from the Tennessee Department of Human Services, celebrates dads and the impact fathers have on their children and families, and offers practical tools and skills to make their roles more impactful.

Several former NFL greats are serving as NFL Alumni Ambassadors for the Program, including former Houston Oilers All-Pro, Pro Bowl linebacker and NFL Alumni national lead ambassador Al Smith; former Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens and Carolina Panthers tackle Michael Oher; former Tennessee Titans long snapper Ken Amato; former Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kevin Dyson; former Tennessee Titans and Houston Oilers All-Pro, Pro Bowl offensive tackle Brad Hopkins; former Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts offensive tackle Winston Justice; and former Tennessee Titans and Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro, Pro Bowl running back and punt returner Dexter McCluster.

NFL Alumni hosted a Training Camp for Dads on June 21 at the Maddox Grand Atrium of the Curb Center at Belmont University in collaboration with New Life Center and Omega Psi Phi fraternity. Hundreds of families joined the event, the purpose of which was to raise awareness of the essential roles of fathers in promoting healthy families and provide helpful tips and resources on parenting and co-parenting, maintaining physical and mental health, job training and career development. Expectant fathers were offered coaching on car seat installation, diaper changing, feeding, and child safety tips.

“Being a father is about showing up as a leader where it matters most and that’s with your family,” said Smith. “On the field, I learned discipline, teamwork, dependability and accountability. Now I want to help other men bring those same values into their families.”

Tennessee Department of Human Services Commissioner Clarence H. Carter, who joined NFL Alumni for the June 21 Training Camp for Dads, said, “Strong families build healthy communities, and fathers play a vital role in that foundation. We’re proud to support this program because when we invest in fathers, we’re investing in better outcomes for children and families across Tennessee.”

Oher, a Tennessee native and former Titans tackle who won a championship with the Baltimore Ravens, knows the impact of having a stable family life. His story of struggle, resilience and success on the gridiron is widely known.

“Growing up without a steady father figure taught me how critical it is for dads to be present, involved, and supportive,” Oher said. “That’s why I’m proud to be part of this program. I want to help dads understand the impact they have in shaping their children’s lives and building stronger families.”

McCluster, former running back and Pro-Bowl punt-returner for the Tennessee Titans and the father of five daughters, said while football has taught him about “life and sacrifices,” fatherhood has taught him so much more.

“As part of this program, we’ll talk about fatherhood skills and how to make sure we are present for our kids,” said McCluster. “We’ll lean on, learn from, and support each other, because ‘dad’ is the most important role we’ll ever take on.”

For more information about the NFL Alumni Fatherhood Champions Program, visit www.nflafatherhood.org.

Media Assets from the Training Camp for Dads can be found below:

• Link to Photos
• Link to Sizzle Reel
• Link to B-roll

About NFL Alumni
Founded in 1967 by a small group of successful retired NFL players, NFL Alumni is one of the oldest and most well-respected retired player organizations in professional sports. NFL Alumni’s mission is to inform, assist, and serve players in their post-NFL lives.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nfl-alumni-launches-fatherhood-champions-program-to-empower-dads-302488619.html

SOURCE NFL Alumni Association

MINNEAPOLIS, June 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Our Rescue formally announces the launch of the first-ever program called “ICAC Connect,” designed to support North American Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Forces by providing advanced investigative tools, data analytics, ICAC Officer Training Scholarships, and community-driven funding to combat online child exploitation, particularly CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material).

CSAM, often referred to as child pornography, is one of the fastest-growing forms of online sexual exploitation—and the stakes are rising. In a recent Our Rescue’s article “Sounding the Alarm”, experts call for immediate action to support law enforcement. In the article, Sgt. Tarik Muslimovic and his team in the Human Exploitation Trafficking Unit in Arlington, TX, report that approximately 90 percent of CSAM cases originate from cyber tips, with up to 100 tips per month at his department alone. Even after filtering out cases that cannot be prosecuted, more than 50 cases remain each month—far exceeding the agency’s capacity to investigate each one.

“ICAC Task Forces are incredibly efficient, but they’re increasingly outmatched by the volume of cases, limited funding, and the technological complexity of these crimes,” said Derek Benner, CEO of Our Rescue. “ICAC Connect exists to close that gap. This is about empowering those who protect children every single day.”

ICAC Connect directly provides:

• Technology and forensic tools for digital investigations
• Data analytics and intelligence support
• ICAC Officer Training Scholarships
• Rapid response grants for urgent resource needs
• Local fundraising partnerships to build sustainable, long-term impact

“These crimes are happening right here in the U.S. We must focus our support on equipping our heroes to protect our children,” said Benner. “Fighting online exploitation requires both innovation and collaboration.“

Detective Corporal Christopher Smith of the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit reinforced the need: “It’s critically important to get help for our agency and agencies just like mine. We’re doing our best to process tips as fast as we can, but we need more investigators, support personnel, software, subscriptions, and training.”

ICAC Connect is a strategic priority for Our Rescue and will expand throughout 2025. The program complements Our Rescue’s existing ESD K9 Program, which supports law enforcement with Electronic Storage Detection dogs to uncover hidden digital evidence.

This initiative reflects Our Rescue’s increasing focus on supporting domestic law enforcement, ensuring U.S. based agencies have the resources and tools they need to fight child exploitation right here at home. Our Rescue’s ICAC CONNECT program is a priority for 2025. Learn how you or your organization can sponsor a local task force, donate urgently needed resources, or raise awareness in your community.

URL: www.ourrescue.org/icac-connect

Video: https://youtu.be/joPWGfQAWa4

About Our Rescue 
Our Rescue is a global non-governmental organization on a mission to end sex trafficking and child exploitation by empowering survivors to reclaim their lives and thrive on their healing journey. The organization focuses on education toward prevention, supports law enforcement in rescuing survivors and prosecuting perpetrators, and provides trauma-informed survivor care services. Our Rescue operates in the U.S. and Internationally. Learn more at www.ourrescue.org.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/our-rescue-announces-the-icac-connect-program-302488610.html

SOURCE Our Rescue

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., June 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Family-owned Midwest retailer Meijer was named a Great Place to Work® for the seventh consecutive year, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to investing in its team members and ensuring they feel valued and appreciated.

Meijer achieved its highest survey score yet, particularly excelling in three areas: investing in communities, providing an environment where team members can be themselves, and ensuring team members feel valued and cared for by their leader.

The Great Place to Work® certification recognizes employers for creating an outstanding employee experience based on responses to The Trust Index Survey™, an organization-wide assessment of culture. This survey measures employee feedback across key dimensions of workplace culture, including credibility, fairness, respect, camaraderie and pride.

“Our team members are telling us that across the company we are creating a supportive environment that encourages learning and growth,” Meijer President & CEO Rick Keyes said. “This not only makes Meijer a Great Place to Work, but also helps cultivate a welcoming atmosphere for our customers to shop.”

Meijer encourages teams to foster a culture of gratitude through the company’s “mteam” program, an online platform where team members can recognize each other for contributions that make a difference, and leaders can recognize their team’s outstanding performance and everyday excellence. Along with appreciative notes, team members receive points through the program, which can be redeemed for extra pay or gift cards, merchandise, experiences, or donated to charity. In 2024, team members recognized their peers more than 4 million times. 

“We continue to push ourselves to find new ways to enhance our team member experience,” said Michelle Hall, Chief Human Resources Officer. “Our team members are core to our success, so we want to be sure they feel appreciated and valued. These results show that we are focusing on the right areas.”

Meijer team members are eligible to receive a variety of benefits, including weekly pay, team member discounts, and flexible scheduling. The retailer also invests in the success of its team members, offering free education, career advancement opportunities, paid parental leave, childcare discounts, access to multiple health insurance plan options, and the option for 401(k) retirement contributions.

Those interested in working at Meijer can view current open positions at jobs.meijer.com.

About Meijer: Meijer is a privately owned, family-operated retailer that serves customers at more than 500 supercenters, grocery stores, neighborhood markets, and express locations throughout the Midwest. As the pioneer of the one-stop shopping concept, more than 70,000 Meijer team members work hard to deliver a friendly, seamless in-store and online shopping experience featuring an assortment of fresh foods, high-quality apparel, household essentials, and health and wellness products and services. Meijer is consistently recognized as a Great Place to Work and annually donates at least 6 percent of its profit to strengthen its communities. Additional information on the company can be found by visiting newsroom.meijer.com. 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/meijer-earns-its-highest-great-place-to-work-scores-ever-302488574.html

SOURCE Meijer

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., June 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Family-owned Midwest retailer Meijer was named a Great Place to Work® for the seventh consecutive year, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to investing in its team members and ensuring they feel valued and appreciated.

Meijer achieved its highest survey score yet, particularly excelling in three areas: investing in communities, providing an environment where team members can be themselves, and ensuring team members feel valued and cared for by their leader.

The Great Place to Work® certification recognizes employers for creating an outstanding employee experience based on responses to The Trust Index Survey™, an organization-wide assessment of culture. This survey measures employee feedback across key dimensions of workplace culture, including credibility, fairness, respect, camaraderie and pride.

“Our team members are telling us that across the company we are creating a supportive environment that encourages learning and growth,” Meijer President & CEO Rick Keyes said. “This not only makes Meijer a Great Place to Work, but also helps cultivate a welcoming atmosphere for our customers to shop.”

Meijer encourages teams to foster a culture of gratitude through the company’s “mteam” program, an online platform where team members can recognize each other for contributions that make a difference, and leaders can recognize their team’s outstanding performance and everyday excellence. Along with appreciative notes, team members receive points through the program, which can be redeemed for extra pay or gift cards, merchandise, experiences, or donated to charity. In 2024, team members recognized their peers more than 4 million times. 

“We continue to push ourselves to find new ways to enhance our team member experience,” said Michelle Hall, Chief Human Resources Officer. “Our team members are core to our success, so we want to be sure they feel appreciated and valued. These results show that we are focusing on the right areas.”

Meijer team members are eligible to receive a variety of benefits, including weekly pay, team member discounts, and flexible scheduling. The retailer also invests in the success of its team members, offering free education, career advancement opportunities, paid parental leave, childcare discounts, access to multiple health insurance plan options, and the option for 401(k) retirement contributions.

Those interested in working at Meijer can view current open positions at jobs.meijer.com.

About Meijer: Meijer is a privately owned, family-operated retailer that serves customers at more than 500 supercenters, grocery stores, neighborhood markets, and express locations throughout the Midwest. As the pioneer of the one-stop shopping concept, more than 70,000 Meijer team members work hard to deliver a friendly, seamless in-store and online shopping experience featuring an assortment of fresh foods, high-quality apparel, household essentials, and health and wellness products and services. Meijer is consistently recognized as a Great Place to Work and annually donates at least 6 percent of its profit to strengthen its communities. Additional information on the company can be found by visiting newsroom.meijer.com. 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/meijer-earns-its-highest-great-place-to-work-scores-ever-302488574.html

SOURCE Meijer

SANTA CLARA, Calif., June 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Picarro Inc., a global leader in methane emission management and reduction solutions, and GTI Energy, a technology development and training organization, today announced the extension of their partnership on GTI Energy’s Veritas Initiative. The companies will continue to collaborate to further develop, validate, and implement Veritas’ technical protocols for reducing methane emissions in the natural gas industry.

Veritas provides a reliable, standardized framework for accurately measuring, verifying, and comparing methane emissions, ensuring consistency and transparency that instills confidence in stakeholders, investors, and global markets. By offering open-source technical protocols tailored to each segment of the natural gas industry, Veritas helps companies adopt a measurement-informed approach to measuring and reporting methane emissions with credibility and comparability. As a leader in Advanced Mobile Leak Detection (AMLD), Picarro brought its unique experience and worked with its customers to review and test the protocols on actual distribution networks data. Picarro was also a key contributor to the collaboration between Veritas and the Oil & Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 (OGMP 2.0).

“Picarro has been an active supporter of Veritas since its inception in 2022, and we are proud to be recognized as a Foundational Sponsor,” said François-Xavier Rongère, Picarro’s Vice President for Natural Gas Industry. “We understand the critical importance of a science-driven framework to help gas operators establish trusted and actionable reporting of their network methane emissions. As a leader in Network Intelligence and emissions management, we are pleased to share our expertise and contribute to this emerging practice.”

“We are grateful for Picarro’s continuous support of Veritas. As a key participant and a global thought leader in measurement-informed emission inventory, Picarro has made invaluable contributions to the design of the Veritas protocols for gas distribution systems,” said Amanda Harmon, GTI Energy’s Executive Director of Veritas. “We look forward to continuing our collaboration to scale up the reference to Veritas in the new regulatory and voluntary efforts.”

About Picarro

Picarro leads in leak management and emissions reduction, providing operators with tools to revolutionize risk management. The enterprise solution helps lower emissions, optimize asset management, and reduce costs within a unified framework. With Picarro technology and analytics, operators can proactively manage leaks, prioritize critical issues, and assess gas system health and performance continuously.

About Veritas

Veritas is a GTI Energy-led Methane Measurement and Verification Initiative to accelerate actions that reduce methane leakage from natural gas systems. The effort brings together scientists, academics, environmental organizations, certification organizations, and industry participants to demonstrate emissions reductions in a consistent, credible, and transparent way. The initiative will develop accurate and verified methane emissions intensities and the necessary protocols to calculate measurement-informed methane emissions for natural gas systems.

About GTI Energy

GTI Energy is a technology development and training organization. Our trusted team works to scale impactful solutions that shape energy transitions by leveraging gases, liquids, infrastructure, and efficiency. We embrace systems thinking, innovation, and collaboration to develop, scale, and deploy the technologies needed for low-emission, low-cost, and resilient energy systems.

Media Contact:
Jake Thill
Director of Marketing
Picarro
jthill@picarro.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/picarro-and-gti-energy-extend-partnership-through-the-veritas-initiative-to-further-reduce-methane-emissions-in-the-natural-gas-industry-302487801.html

SOURCE Picarro, Inc.

$73,664 in grants aims to help residents of all ages, especially older adults, improve how they live, move, and stay connected in their neighborhoods through innovative local projects

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — AARP announced seven organizations throughout Pennsylvania will receive 2025 Community Challenge grants. The grants are part of AARP’s $4.2 million commitment to fund 383 quick-action projects aimed at making communities more livable for people of all ages, with a focus on the needs of older adults. The funds will support efforts to improve public places, transportation, housing, digital connections, and other key areas.

Now in its ninth year, the Challenge has awarded $538,329 through 46 grants in Pennsylvania since 2017 to nonprofit organizations and local government entities across the state. Grant projects will be funded in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“AARP Pennsylvania is proud to work with communities across the state to help make them more livable for people of all ages,” said Bill Johnston-Walsh, AARP Pennsylvania State Director. “These projects are about turning great local ideas into real improvements that make everyday life better, especially for older Pennsylvanians.”

Here in Pennsylvania, projects funded include:

SACA Development Corporation – Lancaster, PA ($9,500)
Public Art & Placemaking
Will enhance the plaza near the senior center with public art and technology celebrating Latino older adults’ migration stories, including a steel sculpture, oral history QR codes, and plaza upgrades.

Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation – Camp Hill, PA ($15,000)
Outdoor Access & Inclusion
Will improve outdoor recreation access for older adults and people with disabilities in state parks and forests, with communication campaigns, training, transportation, gear lending, and an all-terrain wheelchair. (Partially funded due to high demand.)

Northampton County – Countywide, PA ($12,000)
Digital Navigation Skills
Will host digital device training events with refurbished device distribution, transportation, and refreshments to improve digital literacy for residents age 50-plus.

West Mt. Airy Neighbors – Philadelphia, PA ($12,164)
Pedestrian Safety Enhancements
Will install daylighting treatments at three intersections to improve visibility and safety for older adults near senior apartments and transit stops. (Funded in partnership with Toyota Motor North America.)

Philly Community Wireless – Philadelphia, PA ($20,000)
Free Wi-Fi & Digital Literacy
Will provide free Wi-Fi to 112 older adults at Somerset Villas and offer bilingual programming to expand digital literacy. (Partially funded with support from Microsoft.)

Reading Hospital – West Reading, PA ($2,500)
HomeFit Modifications for Aging in Place
Will connect 30 high-fall-risk patients to the UDS CAPABLE program, which includes visits from a nurse, OT, and handyman to implement home safety upgrades.

Fishtown Neighbors Association – Philadelphia, PA ($2,500)
Walk Audit for Age-Friendly Infrastructure
Will lead a walk audit along Girard Avenue to identify barriers for older adults, followed by a community meeting to discuss findings and recommendations.

“AARP Community Challenge projects may be quick to launch, but their impact is long-lasting,” said Nancy A. LeaMond, AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer. “We’re proud to support communities nationwide to advance solutions that make neighborhoods and towns of all sizes better places to live where everyone can thrive. And this year, we’re particularly proud to invest in projects benefitting often overlooked rural areas.”

View the full list of grantees and their projects at aarp.org/communitychallenge. Learn more about AARP’s work to support livable communities at aarp.org/livable.

About AARP
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation’s largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/about-aarp/, www.aarp.org/español or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspañol and @AARPadvocates on social media.

MEDIA CONTACT:
TJ Thiessen, tthiessen@aarp.org, 717-381-7420

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aarp-commits-thousands-of-dollars-to-strengthen-7-communities-across-pennsylvania-302488467.html

SOURCE AARP Pennsylvania