Tag: PR Newswire

MIAMI, Dec. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Nobel Sustainability Trust (NST) successfully hosted its 2025 Annual Summit in Miami on 5 December 2025, at the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort, bringing together global leaders, policymakers, scientists, innovators, and entrepreneurs to accelerate solutions for a sustainable future.

The summit opened with an elegant Gala Dinner moderated by renowned journalist Gloria Ordaz, featuring a welcome address by NST leadership and representatives of the Miami Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, followed by a special keynote remark by Ambassador Andrew Jackson Young and an honored VIP dignitary.

The official summit was moderated by global entrepreneur Jeff Hoffman, Chairman of the Global Entrepreneurship Network and co-founder of Priceline/Booking.com. Opening remarks were delivered by Peter Nobel, Chairman of the Nobel Sustainability Trust and remarks from Johan Rockström.

A highlight of the morning session was the Sustainability Award Ceremony, introduced by the NST Board of Directors. Ed Russo delivered a keynote speech on behalf of the President of the United States and received an official NST recognition. Additional keynote addresses were delivered by the 2025 Outstanding Contribution to Sustainability Medal awardees, H.E. Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiya and H.E. Dr. Yasmine Fouad, reinforcing global governmental commitment to sustainability.

The Academic Awards segment featured the presentation of the 2025 Sustainability Award themes by the Technical University of Munich, followed by high-level recognition for Leadership in Implementation, Outstanding Research in Biodiversity, and Intelligent & Sustainable Urban Solutions. The 2025 awardees were Prof. Manfred Curbach, Prof. Paul Hebert, and The Global Observatory for Healthy & Sustainable Cities.

In addition, NST proudly announced its official academic partnership with the University of Cambridge and its Frontier Technology Lab, marking Cambridge as a selected strategic academic partner for NST from 2026. The announcement was delivered by Simran Chana on behalf of the University of Cambridge and its Frontier Technology Lab. This new partnership will focus on frontier technologies, AI governance, sustainability innovation, and future global solutions.

In the midday program, AECOM and NST announced their strategic partnership and presented the first Smart & Sustainable City Certificate which was awarded to Lusail City, Doha.

The summit sessions explored future-shaping themes including AI & Smart Sustainable City Solutions and Biodiversity as Global Infrastructure. A keynote address on behalf of the President of Panama was delivered by H.E. the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama, followed by keynote interventions from Youssef Nassef, Head of the UNFCCC Adaptation Division, and Professor Graciela Chichilnisky. The program continued with two high-impact fireside chats on Climate Finance and The Next Era of Artificial Intelligence, reinforcing NST’s mission to bridge policy, science, technology, and investment for real-world impact.

With planned future summits in Doha next year, the 2025 Miami Summit reaffirmed NST’s growing role as a global platform for sustainability leadership, innovation, and international collaboration.

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SOURCE Nobel Sustainability Trust Foundation

MIAMI, Dec. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Nobel Sustainability Trust (NST) successfully hosted its 2025 Annual Summit in Miami on 5 December 2025, at the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort, bringing together global leaders, policymakers, scientists, innovators, and entrepreneurs to accelerate solutions for a sustainable future.

The summit opened with an elegant Gala Dinner moderated by renowned journalist Gloria Ordaz, featuring a welcome address by NST leadership and representatives of the Miami Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, followed by a special keynote remark by Ambassador Andrew Jackson Young and an honored VIP dignitary.

The official summit was moderated by global entrepreneur Jeff Hoffman, Chairman of the Global Entrepreneurship Network and co-founder of Priceline/Booking.com. Opening remarks were delivered by Peter Nobel, Chairman of the Nobel Sustainability Trust and remarks from Johan Rockström.

A highlight of the morning session was the Sustainability Award Ceremony, introduced by the NST Board of Directors. Ed Russo delivered a keynote speech on behalf of the President of the United States and received an official NST recognition. Additional keynote addresses were delivered by the 2025 Outstanding Contribution to Sustainability Medal awardees, H.E. Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiya and H.E. Dr. Yasmine Fouad, reinforcing global governmental commitment to sustainability.

The Academic Awards segment featured the presentation of the 2025 Sustainability Award themes by the Technical University of Munich, followed by high-level recognition for Leadership in Implementation, Outstanding Research in Biodiversity, and Intelligent & Sustainable Urban Solutions. The 2025 awardees were Prof. Manfred Curbach, Prof. Paul Hebert, and The Global Observatory for Healthy & Sustainable Cities.

In addition, NST proudly announced its official academic partnership with the University of Cambridge and its Frontier Technology Lab, marking Cambridge as a selected strategic academic partner for NST from 2026. The announcement was delivered by Simran Chana on behalf of the University of Cambridge and its Frontier Technology Lab. This new partnership will focus on frontier technologies, AI governance, sustainability innovation, and future global solutions.

In the midday program, AECOM and NST announced their strategic partnership and presented the first Smart & Sustainable City Certificate which was awarded to Lusail City, Doha.

The summit sessions explored future-shaping themes including AI & Smart Sustainable City Solutions and Biodiversity as Global Infrastructure. A keynote address on behalf of the President of Panama was delivered by H.E. the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama, followed by keynote interventions from Youssef Nassef, Head of the UNFCCC Adaptation Division, and Professor Graciela Chichilnisky. The program continued with two high-impact fireside chats on Climate Finance and The Next Era of Artificial Intelligence, reinforcing NST’s mission to bridge policy, science, technology, and investment for real-world impact.

With planned future summits in Doha next year, the 2025 Miami Summit reaffirmed NST’s growing role as a global platform for sustainability leadership, innovation, and international collaboration.

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SOURCE Nobel Sustainability Trust Foundation

Communities and partners like the Norwegian Refugee Council are bringing schools back to life and students back to learning in Sudan through ECW-funded programme.

AL GENEINA, Sudan, Dec. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Fatima Idris stands at the front of the classroom in Al Geneina, Sudan, watching as her students eagerly take their seats. The sound of rustling papers fills the room as they prepare for their exams – an event that, just a few months ago, seemed almost impossible. 

This classroom, once reduced to near rubble by the armed conflict, has transformed into a sanctuary for these children. 

“Education had almost disappeared,” said Teacher Fatima Idris. “Schools were burned, destroyed and left in ruins. But today, we are seeing something we never imagined – children returning to school, taking their exams and proving that they belong in a classroom.”

The conflict in Sudan, which began in April 2023, has devastated communities across the country. Residential neighborhoods turned into war zones. Thousands of civilians have been killed, and millions have been forced to flee their homes. When the fighting stopped in Al Geneina, returning to school seemed like a distant dream.

But against all odds, hope has begun to emerge. 

Thanks to the support of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), with funding from Education Cannot Wait (ECW), an initiative to rebuild and reopen schools in Al Geneina was launched. This initiative is part of ECW’s Multi-Year Resilience Programme in Sudan. In March, thousands of students in the country who had been forced out of education due to the armed conflict took their transitional exams – one step closer to rejoining formal schools and continuing to build the future they deserve.

Building Education in Al Geneina

When the fighting finally stopped in Al Geneina, the families and children left could barely recognize their town – let alone the destroyed schools around them. Since the conflict in Sudan began over two years ago, hundreds of school buildings have been damaged or destroyed, with many others being used as shelters.

But the community was determined to keep learning alive.

Teachers and parents banded together and began holding lessons in the damaged classrooms, and even under trees, using whatever tools and resources were at hand. 

Responding to the education crisis and the community’s strong desire to ensure Sudan’s children could resume their education, in 2024, NRC launched a structured non-formal education intervention across schools in Al Geneina. The ECW-funded programme, delivered by NRC – together with parents, teachers and local committees – supported the renovation of school buildings, repair of classrooms, construction of latrines and securement of gates. 

Accelerated education programmes were also established, allowing children who had fallen behind due to the armed conflict to catch up on the learning they’d missed.

After 10 months of the accelerated education classes, more than 2,000 children who were forced out of school due to the conflict were able to take their transitional exams in March. This marked a critical step to them rejoining the formal school system. 

Students and parents alike see these exams as a beacon of hope.

“Without education, children become homeless. We want them to be educated and cultured so they can benefit the country,” says Haja Abdulazim Adam, mother of a student. “After the war, many children were left on the streets, with no schools to go to. Today, they have a second chance.”

The students who passed the assessment advanced to the next academic level, and are able to transition to formal schools once they are officially reopened.

ECW and partners like NRC continue to support children and adolescents in the whole of Sudan to ensure that, even in the most challenging circumstances, girls and boys impacted by the crisis can continue their education.

ECW in Sudan

Two and a half years since the start of the armed conflict, more than half of the country’s population requires humanitarian assistance – including 16 million children who lack access to food, water, shelter, education and healthcare. Most schools across the country remain shuttered and are struggling to re-open, leaving 16.5 million children out of school.

ECW investments in the country, which began in 2021, total US$33.7 million and support the building and rehabilitation of classrooms, provision of learning and teaching materials, teacher training, improvement of access to drinking water, gender-sensitive water and sanitation facilities, and improvement of access to inclusive, quality education. ECW has also provided more than US$20 million in response to the regional refugee education needs, with grants announced in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya, South Sudan and Uganda. 

In times of crisis, education supports not only academic growth but also provides stability, normalcy and protection. Schools provide displaced girls and boys with a secure space to recover from the trauma of conflict. Additionally, they protect children from dangerous practices such as child marriage, child labor and forced recruitment into armed groups, offering them the opportunity to chase their dreams and build a better future.

For children in Sudan and around the world, education represents more than just learning; it’s a pathway to a brighter future. Despite the trauma they’ve experienced, these students are showing that conflict may have interrupted their education, but it hasn’t erased their immense potential. The transformation in Al Geneina is a testament to the resilience of both the community and its children.

For Teacher Fatima Daway, watching her students return to school, take their exams and believe in their futures once again is the greatest triumph of all.

“The war has caused immense destruction. We were psychologically broken,” she says. “We could not imagine that schools would return as they did. But they did. And today, hope has returned with them.”

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lessons-after-the-silence-302637028.html

SOURCE Education Cannot Wait

Communities and partners like the Norwegian Refugee Council are bringing schools back to life and students back to learning in Sudan through ECW-funded programme.

AL GENEINA, Sudan, Dec. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Fatima Idris stands at the front of the classroom in Al Geneina, Sudan, watching as her students eagerly take their seats. The sound of rustling papers fills the room as they prepare for their exams – an event that, just a few months ago, seemed almost impossible. 

This classroom, once reduced to near rubble by the armed conflict, has transformed into a sanctuary for these children. 

“Education had almost disappeared,” said Teacher Fatima Idris. “Schools were burned, destroyed and left in ruins. But today, we are seeing something we never imagined – children returning to school, taking their exams and proving that they belong in a classroom.”

The conflict in Sudan, which began in April 2023, has devastated communities across the country. Residential neighborhoods turned into war zones. Thousands of civilians have been killed, and millions have been forced to flee their homes. When the fighting stopped in Al Geneina, returning to school seemed like a distant dream.

But against all odds, hope has begun to emerge. 

Thanks to the support of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), with funding from Education Cannot Wait (ECW), an initiative to rebuild and reopen schools in Al Geneina was launched. This initiative is part of ECW’s Multi-Year Resilience Programme in Sudan. In March, thousands of students in the country who had been forced out of education due to the armed conflict took their transitional exams – one step closer to rejoining formal schools and continuing to build the future they deserve.

Building Education in Al Geneina

When the fighting finally stopped in Al Geneina, the families and children left could barely recognize their town – let alone the destroyed schools around them. Since the conflict in Sudan began over two years ago, hundreds of school buildings have been damaged or destroyed, with many others being used as shelters.

But the community was determined to keep learning alive.

Teachers and parents banded together and began holding lessons in the damaged classrooms, and even under trees, using whatever tools and resources were at hand. 

Responding to the education crisis and the community’s strong desire to ensure Sudan’s children could resume their education, in 2024, NRC launched a structured non-formal education intervention across schools in Al Geneina. The ECW-funded programme, delivered by NRC – together with parents, teachers and local committees – supported the renovation of school buildings, repair of classrooms, construction of latrines and securement of gates. 

Accelerated education programmes were also established, allowing children who had fallen behind due to the armed conflict to catch up on the learning they’d missed.

After 10 months of the accelerated education classes, more than 2,000 children who were forced out of school due to the conflict were able to take their transitional exams in March. This marked a critical step to them rejoining the formal school system. 

Students and parents alike see these exams as a beacon of hope.

“Without education, children become homeless. We want them to be educated and cultured so they can benefit the country,” says Haja Abdulazim Adam, mother of a student. “After the war, many children were left on the streets, with no schools to go to. Today, they have a second chance.”

The students who passed the assessment advanced to the next academic level, and are able to transition to formal schools once they are officially reopened.

ECW and partners like NRC continue to support children and adolescents in the whole of Sudan to ensure that, even in the most challenging circumstances, girls and boys impacted by the crisis can continue their education.

ECW in Sudan

Two and a half years since the start of the armed conflict, more than half of the country’s population requires humanitarian assistance – including 16 million children who lack access to food, water, shelter, education and healthcare. Most schools across the country remain shuttered and are struggling to re-open, leaving 16.5 million children out of school.

ECW investments in the country, which began in 2021, total US$33.7 million and support the building and rehabilitation of classrooms, provision of learning and teaching materials, teacher training, improvement of access to drinking water, gender-sensitive water and sanitation facilities, and improvement of access to inclusive, quality education. ECW has also provided more than US$20 million in response to the regional refugee education needs, with grants announced in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya, South Sudan and Uganda. 

In times of crisis, education supports not only academic growth but also provides stability, normalcy and protection. Schools provide displaced girls and boys with a secure space to recover from the trauma of conflict. Additionally, they protect children from dangerous practices such as child marriage, child labor and forced recruitment into armed groups, offering them the opportunity to chase their dreams and build a better future.

For children in Sudan and around the world, education represents more than just learning; it’s a pathway to a brighter future. Despite the trauma they’ve experienced, these students are showing that conflict may have interrupted their education, but it hasn’t erased their immense potential. The transformation in Al Geneina is a testament to the resilience of both the community and its children.

For Teacher Fatima Daway, watching her students return to school, take their exams and believe in their futures once again is the greatest triumph of all.

“The war has caused immense destruction. We were psychologically broken,” she says. “We could not imagine that schools would return as they did. But they did. And today, hope has returned with them.”

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SOURCE Education Cannot Wait

Company Will Donate a Percentage of Every Dollar in Small Business Funding Provided in December

NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — ByzFunder, one of the fastest-growing small business funding companies in the United States, today announced its inaugural “Holiday Gifts for Kids” initiative through ByzCares, the company’s community-impact and charitable giving program.

Through the new campaign, a percentage of every dollar funded will go directly toward purchasing toys, gifts, and essential items for children in need. Donations will support Toys for Tots, local foster-care organizations, and children’s hospitals across the United States.

Putting Children First — One Deal at a Time
As ByzFunder helps small businesses access capital during one of the busiest seasons of the year, the company is using that momentum to help kids experience a joyful holiday. The program reflects ByzFunder’s commitment to treating small business customers like family.

Instead of a one-time donation, ByzFunder tied giving to total December funding volume — a move designed to scale impact as more small businesses receive the financing they need. This means:

• Growing businesses get the capital they need.
• Children in difficult circumstances get gifts and the care they need.
• And every single deal creates real, immediate good for a family somewhere in the U.S.

Quote from ByzFunder CEO Ilya Fridman — “This One Matters to Us.”
“Every holiday, we meet business owners who are fighting for their families, their staff, and their communities. So this year, we wanted our success to reflect something bigger.

When a business gets funded, a child gets needed support. It’s that simple — and it matters. There are kids in hospitals, in foster care, and in shelters who need to feel seen and supported. This program allows us to help in meaningful ways.”

Strengthening Communities Through SMB Lending
For ByzFunder, this initiative is more than charity — it’s an extension of the work the company does every day. Small businesses are the backbone of local communities, and ByzFunder believes supporting families and children is another key part of building stronger neighborhoods, towns, and cities.

ByzCares focuses on:

• Children’s welfare
• Pediatric healthcare
• Foster and adoption support
• Education
• Family-focused community programs

The company expects this year’s program to be the largest December charitable initiative in ByzFunder history, driven by record funding volume and increased holiday demand for working capital.

For more information, please go to byzfunder.com.

About ByzFunder
Founded in 2019, ByzFunder is a fast-growing fintech lender specializing in fast, flexible working capital solutions for small and mid-sized businesses nationwide. With more than $1 billion funded to date, ByzFunder combines modern technology, experienced underwriting, and a customer-first approach to deliver transparent, reliable financing across essential industries. The company’s product suite — including traditional working capital programs and ByzFlex, its revenue-based financing solution — is designed to give business owners a fast, simple, secure funding experience built around real-world needs and opportunities.

Fast. Simple. Secure.

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SOURCE ByzFunder

Abundia advances its licensing agreement by delivering site notification to Alterra Energy for the deployment of its plastics liquefactions technology at Abundia’s Cedar Port Renewable Energy Complex

HOUSTON, Dec. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Abundia Global Impact Group, Inc. (NYSE American: AGIG) (“Abundia” or the “Company”), today announced that it has progressed in its licensing agreement with Alterra Energy (“Alterra”) towards the development of a technology and commercialization platform to convert discarded plastic into renewable fuels and chemical products. Following the critical step of solidifying the project’s infrastructure with the recent acquisition of the Baytown Site in Texas, its Cedar Port Innovation Center, Abundia has officially delivered site notification to Alterra to commence the technology design process.

Through extensive operations at Alterra’s commercial facility, the technology platform has demonstrated strong and consistent performance across a broad range of post-consumer plastic feedstocks. Alterra’s fully continuous, catalyst-free reactor and process design using standard industrial equipment has proven its robustness by delivering high liquid yields and stable product quality that meets the requirements of downstream processors. Historically, Alterra’s technology and process designs have successfully manufactured a commercial grade liquified product that aligns with Abundia’s business focus of turning waste into high-value renewable fuels and chemical products.

“We have made significant strides in the transformation of our business with a view to becoming one of the largest producers of sustainable fuels and energy transition technologies. Advancing our licensing agreement with Alterra is a critical next step for the Company,” stated Ed Gillespie, Chief Executive Officer of Abundia. “We have worked diligently to get to this point, and we are excited to commence the process with Alterra in the buildout of Abundia’s first commercial plant. We have confidence that Alterra delivers an industry “best in class” platform, and we look forward to working with the Alterra team to bring this project to final development.”

 “Abundia’s confidence in our renewables focused technology and its vision for advancing circular solutions is a major step forward in “Solving Plastic Pollution®”, said Fred Schmuck, Chief Executive Officer of Alterra. “We are honored to partner with Abundia as it pursues this pivotal project.”

About Abundia Global Impact Group, Inc.

Abundia Global Impact Group, Inc. (NYSE American: AGIG), formerly Houston American Energy Corp., is a low-carbon energy company focused on converting waste into value. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, we are developing commercial-scale facilities that transform waste plastics and biomass into drop-in fuels and low-carbon chemical feedstocks. Our flagship project at Cedar Port positions Abundia at the center of the Gulf Coast’s energy and chemical infrastructure, with access to feedstock supply chains, upgrading partners, and end markets.

For more information, please visit www.abundiaimpact.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the Company’s current expectations. Words such as “plans,” “believes,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “predicts,” and similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, references to the Company’s expectations regarding the Company’s operations and capabilities to provide the Company’s products and services in the future. The statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to there being no guarantee that the trading price of the Company’s common stock will be indicative of the Company’s value or that the Company’s common stock will become an attractive investment in the future. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The information in this press release is provided only as of the date of this press release, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release based on new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

About Alterra Energy 

Alterra is the developer, operator, and licensor of its thermochemical liquefaction process technology that renews discarded plastic back into its original building blocks, thus minimizing reliance on new, fossil-derived materials for the manufacturing of new plastic products. Our Akron, OH plastics circularity facility is the only full-scale, continuous plant of its kind. Through the global deployment of our technology, we are Solving Plastic Pollution^®. Read more: https://alterra360.com/.

Investors:
CORE IR
IR@abundiaglobalimpactgroup.com

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SOURCE Alterra

OKLAHOMA CITY, Dec. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — APMEX, one of the nation’s leading online precious metals retailers, is proud to announce a $250,000 donation to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. This gift will directly support the organization’s mission to combat food insecurity across central and western Oklahoma.

The Regional Food Bank serves 53 counties and works year-round to provide nutritious food to individuals and families facing hunger. APMEX’s contribution will support the food bank’s daily operations, helping sustain essential programs that reach thousands of Oklahomans in need.

As part of this year’s Giving Tuesday efforts, APMEX employees, along with their families and friends, participated in a dedicated volunteer shift at the Regional Food Bank’s Volunteer Center on December 2. This special volunteer night demonstrated APMEX’s commitment to giving back to the state it calls home. During their shift, volunteers packed enough food to help feed over 4,000 kids.

“At APMEX, we make giving back to the community a top priority. Feeding those in need is important to us,” said APMEX CEO Kenneth Lewis. “We had over 125 volunteers tonight, sorting and packing over 14,000 pounds of food. It’s a big win for the community, and it’s something we’re excited to support.”

The Regional Food Bank relies on donations and volunteer engagement to continue its essential work. This combined financial and volunteer support from APMEX represents a meaningful contribution during one of the most critical times of the year for hunger-relief organizations.

About APMEX

APMEX LLC, part of Bullion International Group, is one of the nation’s largest online retailers of precious metals. It offers a wide selection of gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and numismatic products to customers worldwide. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, APMEX has been in business for more than 25 years, has more than $18 billion in retail customer sales, has more than 2 million customers and has more than 30,000 products in stock. To learn more, visit apmex.com.

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SOURCE Bullion International Group

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Waterloo Capital Family Office Services, a provider of comprehensive family office reporting and fractional family office solutions, today announced the integration of its service offerings with Ironclad Strategies Consulting, a firm specializing in asset protection, tax strategy, and business transfer advisory services. The combined platform will enhance the scope of services available to high-net-worth families, privately held business owners, and entrepreneurial leadership teams.

The integration aligns Ironclad Strategies’ advisory capabilities in corporate strategy, organizational design, and performance improvement with Waterloo Capital Family Office Services’ tailored financial oversight, multi-generational planning, and administrative support. The unified service model is designed to deliver an institutional-quality framework for clients seeking both strategic advisory and family office solutions under a single platform.

“Integrating our capabilities creates a more comprehensive offering to address the increasingly complex needs of our clients,” said Mark McAdams, Managing Member of Ironclad Strategies. “Our organizations share a commitment to disciplined execution, confidentiality, and long-term client partnership.”

John Chatmas, Founder of Waterloo Capital Family Office Services, added, “This combination expands our resources and strengthens our ability to provide end-to-end support across strategic, financial, and operational dimensions. Clients will benefit from a streamlined service model that brings together advisory expertise and family office infrastructure within one coordinated structure.”

The combined offerings will operate under the Waterloo Capital Family Office Services name. The firm will be headquartered in Austin, Texas, reflecting the city’s continued emergence as a hub for innovation, capital formation, and private enterprise.

About Waterloo Capital Family Office Services

Waterloo Capital Family Office Services is a boutique advisory firm based in Austin, Texas, delivering a comprehensive suite of services designed for high-net-worth families, entrepreneurs, and privately held business owners. The firm’s core capabilities include:

• Multigenerational wealth planning and legacy advisory: helping families define and implement their goals and objectives related to preservation of capital, plan for succession, and structure long-term holdings across generations, through estate planning, philanthropic advice, and family dynamics guidance.
• Comprehensive family office administration: including bookkeeping, consolidated financial reporting, bill payment, cash-flow management, lifestyle management, concierge services, and coordination with legal, tax, and trust advisors.
• Investment oversight and coordination: facilitating collaboration with external investment managers, real estate advisors, and alternative-asset specialists — while delivering independent reporting and oversight.
• Tax strategy and business-transfer advisory: structuring tax-efficient ownership and exit strategies for privately held businesses and closely held assets.
• Integrated strategic advisory: combining financial oversight with organizational design, asset protection, and business-continuity planning to deliver an “all-in-one” resource platform for families and business leaders.

Waterloo Capital Family Office Services emphasizes discretion, fiduciary-level standards, and personalized service, with a commitment to long-term client relationships built on trust, transparency, and institutional-grade professionalism. The firm serves as a central hub for clients’ financial, strategic, and legacy needs — enabling individuals and families to pursue their broader personal and business ambitions with confidence.

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SOURCE Waterloo Capital

BofA Becomes Front of Jersey Partner, Tillamook to Remain on Kit With Sleeve Patch

PORTLAND, Ore., Dec. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Portland Timbers today announced Bank of America as the club’s new front-of-jersey partner in a multi-year deal, a partnership rooted in community impact that will focus on making soccer more inclusive and accessible. Additionally, Tillamook will transition its kit placement to the sleeve patch, continuing its commitment to the club.

“We’re proud to welcome Bank of America to the Timbers family, and together we are committed to making meaningful impact in our community,” said Heather Davis, CEO of the Portland Timbers. “Bank of America’s investment goes beyond the Timbers; it’s an investment in the city of Portland. This partnership will provide valuable resources and opportunities for youth in sports, local small businesses, public schools and more.”

Bank of America, one of the world’s leading financial institutions, will be featured prominently on the Timbers’ home and away kits beginning in 2026, marking the first time it has been featured on a professional sports jersey. This partnership is part of Bank of America’s broader, ongoing commitment to supporting communities through soccer. Bank of America is also an official sponsor for FIFA World Cup 26 and U.S. Soccer.

“The Timbers are a tremendous asset to Portland, and this partnership is an opportunity to strengthen ties in the community and create meaningful economic impact across the region,” said Roger Hinshaw, Bank of America Oregon and Southwest Washington president. “Our collaboration goes well beyond the pitch, as we build programs that create greater access for youth to experience soccer and deliver lasting benefits throughout the community.”

The partnership introduces Bank of America’s Soccer with Us to the Portland community. The initiative aims to make soccer more inclusive and accessible, and will extend this national platform across Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Soccer with Us is designed to remove barriers to play and promote equity through grassroots investments in the community. The program will be activated locally through a series of youth-centric efforts, including free camps, equipment donations and infrastructure improvements:

• The partnership includes the development of “Community Futsal Courts,” with plans to build and or resurface 10 futsal courts over the course of the partnership in Portland and underserved communities throughout Oregon. The initiative will provide new goals, nets, and soccer equipment to enhance safe and inclusive spaces for play.
• The “Camps for All” program will offer 50 free youth soccer camps at Providence Park and select community locations, engaging 5,000 young athletes across the region. 250 scholarships to PTFC Camps will be awarded, resulting in 750,000 minutes of youth soccer exposure.
• Through the “Equipped to Play” initiative, the Timbers and Bank of America will donate $200,000 worth of soccer equipment to local schools and community groups. The effort will support 1,000 youth, including Special Olympics athletes, providing them with essential gear such as jerseys, balls, socks, backpacks, and ball bags.

Additionally, Bank of America is committed to strengthening economic opportunities throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington, and will invest in the city through a program aimed at supporting local small businesses with the following initiatives:

• Through “First Match Access Pass,” the Timbers and Bank of America will provide 100 tickets per game to individuals who have never been to a match, with the intention of introducing low-income families, local youth organizations, and new residents to the Portland Timbers community.
• As part of the “Small Business of the Game” platform, Bank of America will select 50 local small businesses over the course of the partnership to promote at home Timbers games, and each will receive a $5,000 grant.
• “Game Changers of Tomorrow” will identify 20 students over the course of the partnership who demonstrate exceptional promise to be given a VIP experience at a Timbers match and receive an educational grant for making a difference in their school or community.
• Bank of America will annually host the “Small Business Summit” at Providence Park, welcoming over 100 local businesses to attend and benefit from workshops, panels and keynote speakers, networking and more.
• As a co-presenting partner of “Stand Together,” Bank of America will support the club’s annual week-long community initiative, serving non-profit projects and in-person volunteer opportunities across Portland.

The club partnered with Elevate to secure the jersey partnership with Bank of America.

A partner of the club since 2014, Tillamook will transition its representation on Portland’s jerseys to the sleeve patch after two years of being displayed on the front.

“Tillamook has been an incredible partner of the club, and we’re excited to continue our relationship for years to come,” Davis said. “Their move to the sleeve patch reflects their enduring support of the club and shared commitment to our community.”

The Oregon-based, farmer-owned dairy cooperative will continue its support of the club’s community programs, partnering with Stand Together, PTFC Camps, and activating other local youth initiatives.

“We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with the Portland Timbers — a team that shares our deep Oregon roots and commitment to community, and excellence. As fellow champions of the Pacific Northwest, we’re grateful for the opportunity to keep celebrating what makes this region so special, both on the field and at the table.” Kate Boltin, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Tillamook shared.

Portland Timbers

The Portland Timbers are an American men’s professional soccer club based in Portland, Ore., that plays their home matches at the iconic Providence Park. Founded in 1975, the Timbers have been a beloved part of the Portland sports landscape since their early beginnings in the North American Soccer League, launching the era of “Soccer City USA” in the Rose City. The club joined Major League Soccer (MLS) – the top division of men’s professional soccer in the United States – in 2011, winning its first league championship in 2015.

Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world’s leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving nearly 70 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,600 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs (automated teller machines) and award-winning digital banking with approximately 59 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts.

Reporters may contact

Jill Farley, Portland Timbers
Phone: 1.503.896.2827
jfarley@timbers.com

Britney Sheehan, Bank of America
Phone: 1.425.467.9744
britney.sheehan@bofa.com

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SOURCE Bank of America Corporation

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Dec. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Frost & Sullivan Institute is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Visionary Growth Leadership Best Practices Recognition. This honor celebrates organizations that are redefining industry standards through mission-driven innovation, resilient growth strategies, and a steadfast commitment to addressing global priorities.

“These organizations exemplify a set of industry leaders who recognize that sustainable progress and competitive success are fundamentally interconnected. Their commitment to advancing solutions that benefit both the marketplace and society sets out a new benchmark for excellence. By operationalizing responsibility at scale, they are creating a path that other companies can confidently follow,” said Prerna Mohan, Director of the Frost & Sullivan Institute.

The evaluation is done in a comprehensive eight-step assessment developed in collaboration with Frost & Sullivan. The process begins by identifying organizations with demonstrated long-term growth, followed by an exhaustive 360-degree research review that examines performance across markets, technologies, and stakeholder ecosystems. Companies then move through a thorough quality review and strategic dialogue with senior Frost & Sullivan leaders before award determinations are finalized

This year’s program further strengthens the Institute’s mission to highlight organizations making verifiable contributions to global well-being. Each recipient was evaluated using Frost & Sullivan’s proprietary criteria, which measure innovation capability, operational resilience, and societal impact within the context of sustainable global development.

2025 Visionary Growth Leadership Best Practices Recognition Awardees include:

• Almac Group
• Behrens Projektmanagement GmbH
• Evolent Health LLC
• ICU Medical, Inc.
• Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
• Lantheus Holdings, Inc.
• Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd.
• PerkinElmer, Inc.
• QuidelOrtho Corporation
• Veeva Systems Inc.
• WS Audiology A/S
• Alphabet Inc.
• ANSYS, Inc.
• Hitachi Digital LLC
• Hitachi Vantara LLC
• Palantir Technologies Inc.
• ASML Holding N.V.
• Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD)
• Applied Materials, Inc.
• Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC)
• Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd. (TSMC)
• InfuSystem Holdings, Inc.
• ifm electronic gmbh
• Lattice Semiconductor Corporation
• Bolt Technology OÜ
• GreenMobility A/S
• Li Auto Inc.
• NIO Inc.
• Reliance Industries Limited
• Jiangsu Eastern Shenghong Co., Ltd.

About Frost & Sullivan Institute

The Frost & Sullivan Institute (FSI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to leveraging business innovation to address the world’s most pressing challenges. Founded on the belief that industry can and must be part of the solution, FSI identifies strategic imperatives for transformation and promotes initiatives that accelerate progress toward a more resilient, sustainable future. Learn more at frostandsullivaninstitute.org.

About Frost & Sullivan

For six decades, Frost & Sullivan has been world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Media Contact:

Bivechana Gautam
Email: Bivechana.gautam@frost.com 

Related Links
www.frost.com
www.frostandsullivaninstitute.org

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-frost–sullivan-institute-honors-global-organizations-advancing-sustainable-progress-with-the-2025-visionary-growth-leadership-best-practices-recognition-302636460.html

SOURCE Frost & Sullivan