Author: sHq_LoGiNz

VolunTeeters will pack nearly 10,000 meal kits at local food banks throughout November

MATTHEWS, N.C., Nov. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Harris Teeter associates are rolling up their sleeves this November to pack holiday meals for families facing food insecurity across the Southeast. As part of Harris Teeter’s annual Harvest Feast campaign, the company donates all the grocery items needed to create a complete holiday meal for families in need. In addition, Harris Teeter associates, also known as “VolunTeeters,” will participate in five meal bag packing events at partner food bank facilities to assemble the meal bags before distribution.  In total, the company will donate 9,500 meal bags, which will feed 38,000 people.

“Our associates are the heart of Harris Teeter, and their commitment to serving our communities extends far beyond the store aisles,” said Danna Robinson, director of corporate affairs and customer relations for Harris Teeter. “These bag packing events embody our belief that we’re truly ‘in food with love.’ Our VolunTeeters are proud to work alongside our food bank partners to help provide holiday meals for families who need them most.”

The bag packing events will take place at food banks serving communities from North Carolina to Washington, D.C., reflecting Harris Teeter’s commitment to hunger relief across its entire footprint:

• Nov. 6: Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina (Charlotte, N.C.)
• Nov. 10: Central & Eastern NC Food Bank (Raleigh, N.C.)
• Nov. 12: MANNA Food Bank (Asheville, N.C.)
• Nov. 17: Lowcountry Food Bank (Charleston, S.C.)
• Nov. 19: Capital Area Food Bank (Washington, D.C.)

Please note: The bag packing events are not a public distribution event; the meal bags will be distributed at a later date by the food bank. To inquire about the meals or additional food bank assistance, community members can reach out directly to their local food bank.

Each packing event will bring together Harris Teeter associates who live and work in these communities to assemble holiday meal bags that will be distributed to families in need through each food bank’s network of partner agencies.

Meal kits contain food for a family of four’s holiday, including turkey breast, stuffing, yams, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, green beans, rolls, and cake mix, plus a reusable Harris Teeter shopping bag. Harris Teeter is donating the meals in partnership with Cargill, Bruce’s Yams, McCormick, Idahoan Foods, Kraft, General Mills, Jiffy, King’s Hawaiian, and Ocean Spray.

In addition, Harris Teeter has launched its Harvest Feast Round Up campaign, which runs through Dec. 30. Customers can round up their transactions to the nearest whole dollar at checkout, with 100% of funds raised benefiting hunger relief partners in local communities.

Last year, Harris Teeter shoppers and associates donated more than $830,000 through the Harvest Feast Round Up campaign. Since 2005, the campaign has raised nearly $14 million in monetary donations for hunger relief. The company works with 19 food bank and pantry partners across its markets, ensuring that donations – whether monetary or food – stay in the communities where they are given.

In 2024, Harris Teeter donated 5.9 million meals to those in need through its Food Rescue program and partnerships with local food banks.

To learn more about Harris Teeter’s Harvest Feast Round Up campaign, click here.

About Harris Teeter 

For more than 60 years, Harris Teeter, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), has enriched lives – one meal, one family, one associate and one community at a time. Headquartered in Matthews, North Carolina, Harris Teeter employs 36,000 valued associates across more than 250 stores and 60 fuel centers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Maryland, Delaware, Florida, and the District of Columbia. 

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SOURCE Harris Teeter

UNITED NATIONS, N.Y., Nov. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The United Nations Global Compact, the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) today convened a Private Sector Forum as part of the official programme of the Second World Summit for Social Development held in Doha, Qatar.

The Forum brought together more than 150 leaders from business, Government, international organizations and civil society to explore how the private sector can accelerate social development, promote equality and create decent work opportunities in a world being reshaped by global, economic, social and technological transformations. Participants discussed how companies can help build inclusive workplaces and ensure that workers of all ages and backgrounds benefit from reskilling and upskilling opportunities throughout their careers. The discussions also emphasized how governments can create enabling environments that foster innovation, strengthen competitiveness and deliver positive social outcomes.

“The challenges of our time—technological disruption, inequality and climate change—cannot be solved by any one actor alone,” said Tonilyn Lim, Chief of Programmes at the UN Global Compact. “Businesses have a vital role to play, not only by creating jobs but by embedding inclusion, equity and respect for human rights across their operations. When companies work hand in hand with governments and communities, we can transform markets into powerful engines for social progress.”

The Forum’s high-level panels explored how to build skills for the future of work, foster responsible business conduct, scale inclusive business models and mobilize sustainable finance to advance social development.

Keynote speakers included H.E. Ms. Annalena Baerbock, President of the United Nations General Assembly; H.E. Dr. Ali bin Saeed bin Samikh Al Marri, Minister of Labour of Qatar; H.E. Ms. Valérie Berset Bircher, State Secretary at the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of Switzerland; H.E. Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness of the European Commission; and Mr. Gilbert Houngbo, Director-General of the International Labour Organization.

The event coincided with the release of a joint statement by the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) and the UN Global Compact, titled “Business as a Partner for Inclusive and Sustainable Social Development.” The statement welcomed the adoption of the Summit’s Political Declaration and reaffirmed the private sector’s vital role in achieving poverty eradication, full employment and social inclusion.

The statement highlights the importance of promoting decent and productive employment, supporting the progressive realization of living wages and fostering conditions for sustainable business growth. It also calls for strengthening education systems and digital inclusion to prepare people for technological change, while empowering enterprises—especially small and medium-sized ones—to contribute to social progress through responsible innovation and investment. Furthermore, it urges greater efforts to advance inclusive employment, gender equality and respect for human rights, ensuring that no one is left behind. Above all, it emphasizes the need for trust-based multilateral and public–private partnerships that deliver lasting social and economic benefits.

The statement concludes with a call to action for governments, employers, workers and civil society to engage the private sector as a full partner in designing and implementing social policies, fostering responsible business practices and mobilizing collaborative action across sectors.

“Sustainable enterprises are essential to achieving social justice and prosperity for all,” the joint statement affirms. “Together, we can harness the power and responsibility of business to build a future that leaves no one behind.”

Notes to Editors

About the UN Global Compact
The ambition of the UN Global Compact is to accelerate and scale the global collective impact of business by upholding the Ten Principles and delivering the SDGs through accountable companies and ecosystems that enable change. With more than 20,000 participating companies, 5 Regional Hubs, 66 Country Networks covering 85 countries and 9 Country Managers establishing Networks in 16 other countries, the UN Global Compact is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative — one Global Compact uniting business for a better world. For more information, follow @globalcompact on social media and visit our website at unglobalcompact.org.

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SOURCE United Nations Global Compact

• The ballot measure was supported by national and local neurodegenerative disease organizations, including The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF).
• MJFF led a weekslong Proposition 14 advocacy campaign to educate and turn out voters.

NEW YORK, Nov. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — With over 68 percent of the vote, Texans have approved Proposition 14, authorizing a $3 billion state investment over the next decade to support brain health research, including Parkinson’s disease. This marks the largest state-level commitment to neurodegenerative disease research in U.S. history.

The funding will support the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT), created earlier this year through Texas Senate Bill 5. The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) and Texas-based Parkinson’s advocates and organizations played a key role in expanding Senate Bill 5 to include Parkinson’s disease, ensuring that Parkinson’s research will be funded through DPRIT. Texans living with Parkinson’s testified in front of the state legislature to help secure bipartisan support for the bill and pave the way for voter approval.

“With the passage of Proposition 14, Texas is setting a national example for public investment in science to help deliver the breakthroughs people living with Parkinson’s urgently deserve,” said Dan Feehan, chief policy and government affairs officer at MJFF. “Other states and the federal government should look to Texas as a model for bold, forward-looking investment in public health.”

After Senate Bill 5 was signed into law, MJFF again partnered with local advocates and organizations to develop a robust “Yes on Proposition 14” campaign. The campaign aimed to educate voters about what a $3 billion investment in brain health research could achieve: new discoveries, treatments and hope for millions of people and families affected by brain diseases in Texas and beyond.

The number of Texans living with Parkinson’s disease has more than doubled in recent years. The financial cost is staggering, too: Parkinson’s costs Texas more than $3.6 billion every year.

DPRIT also aims to expand access to clinical trials and strengthen the state’s workforce dedicated to brain health. In addition to the promise of progress through research, the state hopes that this investment will bring startups and companies to Texas, leading to job creation and new economic activity. DPRIT is modeled after the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), which voters approved an initial $3 billion to fund in 2007 and another $3 billion in 2019. According to the state, CPRIT has conducted nearly 375 clinical studies, attracted an additional $11.6 billion in non-state funding and brought 340 cancer researchers to Texas, among other achievements.

“As someone who lives with Parkinson’s and cares for loved ones who also face this disease, I’ve seen how powerful it is when our community comes together to push for change,” said María L. De León, MD, an East Texas resident, movement disorder specialist and member of MJFF’s Patient Council. “The passage of Proposition 14 proves that collective advocacy can bring hope, progress and the promise of a better future for families like mine at home in Texas and around the world.”

The Michael J. Fox Foundation extends its gratitude to Texas voters, the legislators who advanced Senate Bill 5 — including Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and lead bill sponsors Senator Joan Huffman (R-17) and Representative Tom Craddick (R-82) — and the many local advocates and organizations who helped make this historic investment possible.

The state will now establish DPRIT, appoint a governing board, define research priorities and begin awarding grants. MJFF will continue working with our nationwide network of Parkinson’s policy advocates to secure state and federal funding for Parkinson’s research. Visit michaeljfox.org/advocacy to join us.

About The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF)

As the world’s largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to accelerating a cure for Parkinson’s disease and improved therapies for those living with the condition today. The Foundation pursues its goals through an aggressively funded, highly targeted research program coupled with active global engagement of scientists, Parkinson’s patients, business leaders, clinical trial participants, donors and volunteers. In addition to funding $2.5 billion in research to date, the Foundation has fundamentally altered the trajectory of progress toward a cure. Operating at the hub of worldwide Parkinson’s research, the Foundation forges groundbreaking collaborations with industry leaders, academic scientists and government research funders; creates a robust open-access data set and biosample library to speed scientific breakthroughs and treatment with its landmark clinical study, PPMI; increases the flow of participants into Parkinson’s disease clinical trials with its online tool, Fox Trial Finder; promotes Parkinson’s awareness through high-profile advocacy, events and outreach; and coordinates the grassroots involvement of thousands of Team Fox members around the world. For more information, visit us at www.michaeljfox.org, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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SOURCE The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research

Action to target fraud and modernize operations preferred instead. 

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A recent survey conducted by McLaughlin & Associates for the Alliance for America’s Promise (AFAP) reveals deep concern with a forthcoming Social Security regulation. The poll surveys registered voters age 55+ with an oversampling of Republicans and Trump voters.

As documented by the poll, older voters hold strongly unfavorable views about the so-called “Mega-Reg” expected to be issued by the SSA in December. Based on early reports, the Mega-Reg could make it much harder for older disabled Americans to qualify for the Social Security disability payments they paid for during their working lives. Instead, older voters overwhelmingly support strengthening Social Security by protecting benefits, targeting fraud, and modernizing the system to make it more efficient. Key findings of the McLaughlin survey include the following:

• 
  85.0%
  oppose changes that reduce Social Security benefits for older Americans with disabilities who paid Social Security taxes while working.
• 
  94.3%
  think Social Security should honor its promises to workers who paid Social Security taxes and can no longer work due to age or disability.
• 
  only 2.8%
  think Social Security rules should be changed to reduce disability benefits for current retirees and future generations.
• 
  84.4%
  support modernizing Social Security with advanced technology to make the system work better for taxpayers and disabled individuals.
• 
  88%
  think Washington should achieve savings by targeting fraud rather than changing eligibility age or instituting other across-the board changes.
• 
  96.9%
  say a candidate’s position on Social Security will be important as they decide their vote for Congressional candidates.

“President Trump has consistently pledged to protect Social Security,” said Jason Turkish of the Alliance for America’s Promise. “The White House website also clearly states, ‘The Trump Administration will not cut Social Security.’ The Social Security Administration should honor the President’s vision and prevent the harm that older voters strongly oppose.”

About the Survey: McLaughlin & Associates conducted a nationwide survey in October 2025 among a sample of 1,000 voters age 55+. Results have a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

Media Contact
Eric Berger
ericsberger@outlook.com

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SOURCE Alliance for America’s Promise (AFAP)

Integration Reinforces FreshCloud as the Industry’s Most
Connected Digital Quality Ecosystem

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — AgroFresh Solutions, Inc., a global leader in post-harvest freshness solutions, continues to expand its FreshCloud™ digital ecosystem through two strategic global partnerships. Collaborations with Aerobotics, a leader in orchard and packhouse analytics, and Neolithics™, a pioneer in AI-powered quality inspection, position FreshCloud to be the most comprehensive digital produce quality and supply chain management platform in the fresh produce industry.

By aggregating real-time data from multiple sources, FreshCloud offers more options at each step in the fresh produce supply chain for digitally integrated, quality measurements. Building on its existing partnerships with sensor innovators Rubens Technologies, Strella, and Escavox, AgroFresh continues to expand its connected sensor platform for post-harvest management. This growing ecosystem empowers growers, packers and retailers to make faster, data-backed decisions to reduce waste, improve quality, and drive profit potential.

“AgroFresh is committed to building the most holistic and connected digital platform in fresh produce,” said Bradford Warner, AgroFresh Head of Digital Solutions. “By integrating partners like Aerobotics and Neolithics, FreshCloud now connects orchard-to-packhouse intelligence like never before.”

Accurate Yield Data with TrueFruit^® by Aerobotics

AgroFresh’s partnership with Aerobotics integrates multiple TrueFruit^® modules into FreshCloud™, delivering AI-powered orchard and packhouse intelligence. Using computer vision and AI analysis of smartphone imagery, Aerobotics enables growers to:

• Measure fruit size, color, and quality accurately and objectively.
• Improve harvest planning with accurate size forecasting, blemish detection, and color grading models.
• Monitor quality with standardized measurements, from the orchard to the packhouse.
• View yield data in one place for informed decisions that boost packouts by an average of 1-5%, providing more than 10 times return on investment for commercial customers.

“Aerobotics has always focused on empowering growers and packers with highly accurate yield,” said James Paterson, CEO of Aerobotics. “We are excited to partner with AgroFresh, as a key leader in our industry, to offer TrueFruit^® to more customers and combine the power of our technology with FreshCloud™. Together, these solutions seamlessly extend insights from the orchard into the post-harvest stage, providing continuity of data and enhancing decisions across the value chain.”

Next-Generation Quality Control with Neolithics

With Neolithics integrated into AgroFresh’s FreshCloud, packers have access to a technology that delivers quality assurance to match the speed and scale of the modern packhouse, turning inspection into a source of confidence versus risk. Neolithics’ AI-powered imaging:

• Provides high-throughput inspection, from one kilogram per minute for berries to over six tons per hour for avocados, scanning every piece for internal and external quality.
• Measures key parameters such as brix, acidity, and dry matter, while detecting hidden internal and surface defects.
• Completes this process without destroying a single piece of fruit, all above 90% accuracy.

“We want to enable customers to protect their produce through high-volume, non-destructive quality inspections by reducing waste and creating greater transparency from field to shelf,” said Kate Murray, CEO of Neolithics. “We’re excited to integrate with AgroFresh and their FreshCloud ecosystem to realize our shared vision for a more sustainable, transparent food chain.”

Discover how AgroFresh and its partners are advancing digital quality innovation by connecting with us through the contact us form.

About AgroFresh
AgroFresh is a global leader in post-harvest quality and freshness solutions, dedicated to enhancing the quality and extending the shelf-life of fresh produce while reducing food loss and waste. With over 40 years of innovation, AgroFresh addresses supply chain challenges from all angles, offering a full suite of integrated storage, packing line, and digital solutions. AgroFresh empowers growers, packers, and retailers to deliver fresh, quality, and sustainable produce from harvest to home. Learn more at www.agrofresh.com.

About Aerobotics
Powered by Aerobotics’ industry-leading computer vision, TrueFruit^® is a comprehensive suite of AI tools to help fruit companies better measure and estimate their yield. TrueFruit^® uses smartphone imagery and machine learning to accurately size and grade fruit, providing precise and objective measurements to aid forecasting and estimation. TrueFruit^® is used by leading fruit companies worldwide, helping improve packouts and enhance returns. Learn more at aerobotics.com.

About Neolithics
Neolithics™ is an AI agri-tech company leveraging advanced food science and optical sensing technology to revolutionize fresh produce inspection. Named for the Neolithic period, the dawn of agriculture, Neolithics brings that same spirit of transformation to modern food systems. Its flagship technology, in use by Neolithics Light devices, uses AI and optical sensors to deliver fast, accurate, and non-destructive quality analysis in real time, helping reduce food waste, ensure food safety, and improve efficiency across production environments. Learn more at www.neolithics.ai.

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SOURCE AgroFresh Solutions, Inc.

Hosted by Robin Thede, with standout performances by Lucky Daye and Ari Lennox, the star-studded evening celebrated the innovators and changemakers defining Black excellence

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — EBONY Media Group celebrated its 80th anniversary by honoring the trailblazers, visionaries, and leaders driving culture forward. The evening brought together Hollywood stars, industry leaders, and community giants for an unforgettable celebration of Black excellence.

In conjunction with the gala, EBONY’s November issue, which is now live, features a special group cover of the 2025 special honorees, celebrating their achievements and contributions to culture, business, sports, and entertainment.

The gala, hosted by Emmy-nominated Robin Thede and held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, featured show-stopping performances by Grammy Award-winning artists Lucky Daye and Ari Lennox. The night also included appearances from honorees such as Sterling K. Brown, Miles Caton, Mara Brock Akil, Gunna, and Scott Evans.

In addition to the Power 100 list of honorees, the program honored six distinguished figures within the special honoree category: Tracee Ellis Ross was honored as Pathbreaker of the Year. Iman was named Icon of the Year. 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian Lonnie G. Bunch III earned Humanitarian of the Year. Teyana Taylor was recognized as Entertainer of the Year. Shaquille O’Neal was honored as Entrepreneur of the Year. Olandria Carthen was voted People’s Choice winner.

The program’s special award presentations were delivered by an all-star lineup: The cast of Girlfriends — Jill Marie Jones, Golden Brooks, and Persia White — honored Tracee Ellis Ross as Pathbreaker of the Year; Elaine Welteroth presented Icon of the Year to Iman; Ava Duvernay recognized Lonnie G. Bunch III as Humanitarian of the Year; Taraji P. Henson celebrated Teyana Taylor as Entertainer of the Year; Nina Parker presented the The People’s Choice Award to Olandria Carthen. Rich Paul presented Entrepreneur of the Year to Shaquille O’Neal, who announced the renaming of his special honoree category to the Junior Bridgeman Entrepreneur of the Year Award in a moving tribute.

Ahead of the main program, guests were treated to a luxe experience at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, with an on-site luxury glam suite courtesy of Mielle. The celebration continued with cocktails and champagne from Moët Hennessy and premium mixers by Fever-Tree, and elevated bites from Ladurée.

Other Proud Sponsors of EBONY Power 100 2025 include: Nationwide, United, Walmart, Procter & Gamble, Secret & Olay, AARP, and Sports Illustrated.

The 2025 EBONY Power 100 Gala not only honored today’s trailblazers but also celebrated the enduring legacy of Black excellence, reaffirming EBONY’s role as a platform for amplifying voices, spotlighting achievement, and inspiring the next generation of pioneers, groundbreakers, and powerhouses to continue shaping culture and history.

Follow on social for more updates: #EBONYPower100 @EBONYMagazine on Instagram, @ebony_magazine on TikTok, and @EBONY on X and Facebook.

For media inquires, contact Power100@ebony.com or jedeney@ebony.com

About EBONY

For 80 years, EBONY has stood as the defining voice of the Black American experience and remains the most influential Black-owned media company in the world. With a legacy rooted in chronicling cultural excellence and achievement, EBONY has expanded into a global multi-media brand—spanning EBONY, EBONY Studios, and JET—with an unshakable mission to Move Black Forward.

As EBONY celebrates its 80th Anniversary, it continues to illuminate the Black perspective, celebrate Black innovation, and serve as the ultimate curator of culture—past, present, and future.

EBONY Media Group is a division of 1145 Holdings, LLC.Follow on social: @EBONYMagazine on Instagram and @EBONY on X and Facebook.

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SOURCE EBONY Media Group