Tag: PR Newswire

After 42 years dressing Hollywood, Jovani’s design team asked: What if red carpet quality didn’t require a red-carpet budget?

NEW YORK, Oct. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ —

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Julie Durocher was at a trunk show in Miami when she overheard the conversation. Two girls, maybe 16, stood in front of a champagne-colored ball gown covered in hand-sewn crystals. One reached for it, then pulled back.

“It’s gorgeous, but…” The sentence trailed off. They both knew what came next.

Durocher, Jovani’s lead designer for the past 18 years, has dressed celebrities for award shows. She’s created gowns that cost $3,000, that take weeks to bead by hand, that get photographed on red carpets. But standing there, watching those two girls walk away from something they loved because of a price tag, something shifted.

“I went back to New York and told the team we needed to have a very honest conversation,” she says.

That conversation led to Jovani’s 2026 prom collection, which launches with something the luxury fashion world rarely attempts: three distinct experiences at three very different price points, all with the same uncompromising quality standards.

The collection includes over 1,000 designs. At the top, couture pieces push creative boundaries with techniques usually reserved for runway shows —3D floral appliqués sculpted by hand, vintage European laces, hours of detailed beadwork. These are statement gowns that rival anything at Paris Fashion Week.

In the middle, the core 2026 collection offers Jovani’s signature aesthetic: bold silhouettes, trend-forward colors, the kind of dress that photographs beautifully and feels even better.

And then there’s the new tier: gowns under $500 that refuse to compromise.

“Everyone told us it was impossible,” Durocher admits. “You can’t do hand-sewn details at that price. You can’t use quality fabrics. You have to cut corners somewhere.” She pauses. “We just decided we wouldn’t.”

It’s a philosophy Jacob Maslavi established when he founded Jovani in 1983 in New York’s fashion district. His dream was simple: make every woman look gorgeous. His sons, who now run the company, haven’t for gotten that. But they’ve also recognized something their father couldn’t have predicted: today’s generation doesn’t accept the old rules about who gets access to quality.

“My dad started this believing beauty shouldn’t be exclusive,” says one of the Maslavis. “We’re just finishing what he started.”

The under -$500 collection uses the same design team, the same attention to construction, the same New York creative direction as everything else that leaves their atelier. The difference? Smarter fabric sourcing. More efficient production. Accepting smaller margins.

It’s not charity. It’s philosophy.

And it’s arriving at exactly the right moment. Gen Z has made it clear: they want quality, but they also want fairness. They’ll support brands that figure out how to deliver both. Jovani, after 42 years of quietly perfecting their craft, might have finally cracked the code.

Three price points. One standard. Zero compromise.

That girl in Miami? She deserves the same dress as the girl whose family can afford couture.

Jovani just decided to make that possible.

For more information, visit www.jovani.com.

About Jovani

Founded in 1983 in New York’s fashion district, Jovani designs prom, evening, and special occasion dresses distributed through authorized retailers worldwide. Now led by the aslavi family’s second generation, the brand maintains its founding commitment to quality and accessibility.

 

 

 

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SOURCE Jovani Fashions

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WESTMINSTER, Colo., Oct. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Ball Corporation‘s (NYSE: BALL) board of directors (the “Board”) today declared a cash dividend of 20 cents per share, payable December 15, 2025, to shareholders of record as of December 1, 2025.

Conference Call Details
Ball will announce its third quarter 2025 earnings on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 before trading begins on the New York Stock Exchange. At 9 a.m. Mountain Time on that day (11 a.m. Eastern Time), Ball will hold its regular quarterly conference call on the company’s results and performance.

Please use the following URL to join via webcast:
Ball Corporation Third Quarter 2025 Earnings Call

To participate in the live call Q&A session, North American callers should use the following number, 877-497-9071. International callers should use the following number, +1 201-689-8727.

For those unable to listen to the live call, a taped replay and transcript of the event will be available within 48 hours on Ball’s website at www.ball.com/investors under “Financial Results.”

About Ball Corporation

Ball Corporation supplies innovative, sustainable aluminum packaging solutions for beverage, personal care and household products customers. Ball Corporation employs 16,000 people worldwide and reported 2024 net sales of $11.80 billion, which excludes the divested aerospace business. For more information, visit www.ball.com, or connect with us on LinkedIn or Instagram.

 

 

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SOURCE Ball Corporation

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Oct. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Comcast announced a $30,000 grant to support the YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South’s Future Ready: Digital Skills for Tomorrow’s Workforce program at the Georgette & Cato Johnson YMCA in Whitehaven. The initiative is part of Comcast’s ongoing commitment to advance digital access and prepare youth for success in an increasingly digital world.

The announcement was celebrated by a check presentation, a live classroom demonstration with 25 students, and a Team UP volunteer project – Comcast’s national employee volunteer program – where employees packed backpacks filled with school supplies for participating youth. Each backpack also included information about Internet Essentials, Comcast’s program that provides affordable Internet access to qualifying households.

The Future Ready program will provide 50 students between the ages of 13 and 18 with hands-on training in digital tools such as Adobe, Canva, JavaScript, and photo and video editing. The initiative is designed to help young people develop the practical computer skills needed for academic and workforce success.

Memphis Mayor Paul Young joined local officials, community leaders, and representatives from Comcast and the YMCA to celebrate the launch and highlight the importance of investing in technology access and digital skills for youth in the Whitehaven community.

“At Comcast, we’re committed to expanding digital opportunity and helping young people gain the skills they need to thrive in an increasingly connected world,” said Mike McArdle, Regional Senior Vice President, Comcast Big South Region. “Our longtime partnership with the YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South continues to create meaningful opportunities for local youth and families.”

The YMCA’s computer lab – powered by Comcast Business – will serve as a dedicated space for students to explore technology, creativity, and innovation. The training program will run through May 2026.

“We are so grateful to Comcast for their continued partnership,” said Brian McLaughlin, President & CEO of the YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South. “The Future Ready program will help prepare our youth for success by giving them real-world digital skills they can use in school, work, and beyond. At the YMCA, our mission is to help young people reach their full potential, and this initiative perfectly aligns with our commitment to strengthening our community through education and opportunity.” 

The event also recognized the winners of the Internet Essentials Essay Contest, highlighting the impact of internet access on students and families across Memphis.

A Long-Term Commitment to Memphis

Comcast and the YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South have partnered for more than a decade on initiatives that support local families, from youth coding classes to volunteer-driven community projects. The shared commitment to empowering young people through education and technology continues to drive meaningful impact across the region.

The Future Ready: Digital Skills for Tomorrow’s Workforce program is the latest example of this collaboration. Parents and students interested in participating can learn more at ymcamemphis.org.

This investment reflects Comcast’s long-standing commitment to Memphis, where the company has served the community for nearly 20 years, and is part of Project UP – Comcast’s $1 billion initiative to connect people to the Internet, provide digital opportunity, and advance economic mobility.

Comcast’s approach is rooted in long-term partnership, strategic investment, and a deep belief in the power of connectivity. As the company continues to expand its footprint across the region, it remains focused on helping more people access the tools, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive in today’s digital economy.

To learn more about Comcast’s work in Memphis, visit: https://south.comcast.com/2024/08/14/comcast-connects-memphis

About Comcast Corporation

Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company. From the connectivity and platforms we provide, to the content and experiences we create, our businesses reach hundreds of millions of customers, viewers, and guests worldwide. We deliver world-class broadband, wireless, and video through Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky; produce, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through brands including NBC, Telemundo, Universal, Peacock, and Sky; and bring incredible theme parks and attractions to life through Universal Destinations Experiences. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.

Media Contact
Portia Akins
Portia_Akins@comcast.com
(470) 322-0332
https://south.comcast.com/

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SOURCE Comcast

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Oct. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Church Health and First Horizon Foundation are proud to announce a transformational $2.5 million commitment from the First Horizon Foundation. In recognition of this extraordinary gift, Church Health will name its Community Room—the heart of its Crosstown Concourse headquarters—in honor of the Foundation.

A special ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony will be held on October 29 at 4:30 p.m. in the Community Room, located in Crosstown Concourse, 1350 Concourse Avenue. Members of the media are invited to attend.

“This generous support from the First Horizon Foundation strengthens our mission and acknowledges the vital role community plays in healing,” said Jennie Robbins, CEO of Church Health. “The Community Room is where people gather, learn, and connect. It’s a space built on compassion and belonging—values we proudly share with First Horizon.”

The Foundation’s investment enables Church Health to continue offering affordable, whole-person care to thousands of working uninsured individuals in Memphis. Their gift also supports health education, community wellness programs, and initiatives that foster physical, emotional and spiritual well-being for all.

“We believe that strong communities begin with healthy individuals. First Horizon Foundation’s investment in Church Health reflects our deep commitment to expanding access to quality, compassionate care for those who need it most. We’re proud to support an organization whose mission so closely aligns with our values of building sustainability and strengthening the communities and people we serve,” said Chairman, President and CEO of First Horizon Corporation, Bryan Jordan.

The Church Health Community Room is a hub of activity, hosting everything from wellness classes and community workshops to volunteer training and health screenings. With First Horizon Foundation’s support, the space will continue to thrive as a center of connection and healing for years to come.

About Church Health

Church Health, located in Memphis’ Crosstown Concourse, has provided comprehensive, whole-person healthcare to uninsured and underserved populations since 1987. Through medical, dental, behavioral health, and community-based services, Church Health cares for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of more than 60,000 patients annually.

About First Horizon Foundation

Founded in 1993, the First Horizon Foundation is the private charitable foundation of First Horizon Corporation. The Foundation has granted more than $100 million to strengthen the communities First Horizon serves, focusing on arts and culture, education and leadership, health and human services, and financial literacy.

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SOURCE First Horizon Corporation

– Achieving Over 90% Accuracy, Wins First Place at GICHD-Sponsored Awards –                   

TOKYO, Oct. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — NEC Corporation (NEC) (Tokyo: 6701) and the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC, *1), the national institution responsible for landmine clearance activities in Cambodia, with assistance from JICA (*2), conducted a proof-of-concept using AI to predict landmine-contaminated areas. This initiative aims to contribute to rapid and efficient clearance operations to eliminate landmine casualties. The proof-of-concept achieved highly accurate predictions, with a match rate exceeding 90% against actual landmine locations.

This initiative also received recognition through “The GICHD Innovation Award 2025,” hosted by the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD, *3), which honors outstanding technologies contributing to progress in demining activities. The award was presented at a ceremony held in Luxembourg on Tuesday, October 28.

The use of landmines remains a humanitarian issue worldwide, particularly hindering community and economic development for extended periods in post-conflict nations. It is estimated that approximately 100 million people face the threat of landmines, with one person losing their life to a landmine every 90 minutes (*4).

In Cambodia, civil war spanning the 1970s and 1990s led to the widespread burial of landmines across the country. Despite years of dedicated clearance efforts, remnant landmines persist in some areas today. These landmines prevent the use of land for farming and residential purposes, posing serious obstacles to recovery and development.

The Cambodian government, based on the Ottawa Treaty (Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction) signed in 1997, has set a target of completing landmine clearance within Cambodia by 2030. To achieve this, it is expected that advanced technologies such as AI will be utilized to reduce survey time.

This demonstration targeted approximately 1 million square meters of Cambodia’s landmine fields. NEC’s AI analyzed information based on data that included CMAC’s records of detected landmine locations, resident-provided information, and open data such as river/mountainous terrain locations and factory/critical building sites. It then accurately predicted areas with a high probability of containing buried landmines.

Traditionally, identifying potential landmine-infested areas required extensive, unorganized data and significant manpower over long periods. By leveraging AI, this process can now be performed quickly with fewer personnel, demonstrating the potential to support swift and efficient landmine clearance.

Going forward, NEC will continue striving to further improve AI’s accuracy. Working with CMAC, with assistance from JICA, and strengthening collaboration with the Japanese government, NEC will accelerate efforts toward achieving Cambodia’s goal of completing landmine clearance by 2030. Furthermore, NEC aims to contribute to other landmine-affected countries using this technology in the future.

(*1) Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC)  
Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Director: Heng Rathana

(*2) Japan International Cooperation Agency

(*3) Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD)  
Location: Geneva, Switzerland; Director: Stefano Toscan

(*4) Source: the-monitor.org/reports/landmine-monitor
Landmine Monitor 2024 Full Paper

About NEC Corporation

NEC Corporation has established itself as a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies while promoting the brand statement of “Orchestrating a brighter world.” NEC enables businesses and communities to adapt to rapid changes taking place in both society and the market as it provides for the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. For more information, visit NEC at https://www.nec.com.

NEC is a registered trademark of NEC Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Other product or service marks mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners. ©2025 NEC Corporation.

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SOURCE NEC Corporation

PERTH, Australia, Oct. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Uluu has raised AU$16 million in Series A funding to build a demonstration plant and scale its technology transforming seaweed into a natural alternative to plastic to industrial production.

The round was led by German growth investor Burda Principal Investments with support from Main Sequence, Novel Investments (the family office of one of the world’s largest textile groups), Startmate, and a consortium of leading impact and family investors including Fairground and Trinity Ventures.

Uluu’s next-generation materials perform like conventional plastics and can be processed using existing plastic manufacturing equipment.

Unlike plastic made from fossil fuels, they are reusable, recyclable, home compostable and marine biodegradable—breaking down naturally without releasing microplastics. They’re strong, lightweight, waterproof and non-toxic, while being climate positive at scale.

At commercial scale, Uluu’s production process has scope to sequester and avoid up to ~5kg CO₂ equivalent for every 1kg of material produced, compared with ~3kg emitted by plastic today. The technology has the potential to reduce global CO₂ emissions by more than 2 gigatonnes per year.

With the Series A raise, Uluu will scale from its 100kg/year pilot facility to a 10-tonne/year demonstration plant in Western Australia, enabling the company to deliver commercial volumes to customers.

Uluu is already collaborating with a range of global partners in cosmetics, fashion and the automotive industry, including public campaigns with Quiksilver, Papinelle and Audi.

“After four years’ work developing this technology, including two years’ running our pilot plant, we’re excited to take this next step and start delivering meaningful volumes of our materials to customers,” said Uluu co-founder and co-CEO Michael Kingsbury.

“The demonstration plant is a critical step in showing Uluu can scale to truly compete with and replace fossil plastics.”

Uluu co-founder and co-CEO Dr Julia Reisser said seaweed was one of the most sustainable resources on Earth.

“Seaweed grows quickly and gets everything it need from the sun and the sea,” she said. “It locks away CO₂ and helps clean up pollutants from the ocean.

“By harnessing seaweed, Uluu is producing materials that have a positive, rather than negative, impact on the environment, while ending plastic pollution.”

Uluu’s US investors include model, entrepreneur and STEM education advocate Karlie Kloss.

“Uluu is tackling one of the biggest challenges of our time—plastic pollution—with a natural, scalable solution,” Kloss said.

“Their mission resonates deeply with me, and I wanted to be part of a positive change showing sustainability can be beautiful.”

The Series A round also primes Uluu for future growth, with plans underway for a commercial-scale facility capable of producing thousands of tonnes annually to serve major global markets.

“At BPI, we invest in companies driving transformative innovation with the potential to become a global category leader,” said Christian Teichmann, CEO of Burda Principal Investments.

“Having first invested in Uluu in 2023, we’re excited to further deepen our partnership as the company scales its pioneering technology.

“Uluu is redefining how materials can be produced more sustainably at industrial scale, and we look forward to supporting Julia, Michael, and their team on this next stage of their journey.”

About Uluu

• Founded in 2021, Uluu is headquartered in Perth, Western Australia.
• Uluu’s production process combines seaweed with fermentation—similar to brewing beer—to create natural polymers called PHAs that eliminate dependence on fossil fuels and persistent plastic pollution.
• Uluu has grown from 13 to 23 staff this year, strengthening its technical, operations and commercial teams.
• Uluu was awarded the 2025 SXSW Innovation Award in Austin, Texas.

Images and video

• High-quality images of Uluu’s founders, team and products are available in the Series A media gallery.
• Additional images and vision are available on request.

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SOURCE Uluu

CHONGQING, China, Oct. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from iChongqing: 

Anacláudia Rossbach, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the UN-Habitat, praised Chongqing’s progress in building a sustainable urban future at the opening of the 2025 World Cities Day China Observance on October 28 in Chongqing, calling its use of digital technology to improve housing, governance, infrastructure, and public services inspiring.

Rossbach said that Chongqing’s experience offers valuable lessons for megacities worldwide in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda, which promote inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban development through smart planning, better infrastructure, and people-centered services.

With the theme “People-Centered Smart Cities Towards the Future,” the two-day event marks the first time the observance is held in China’s central and western regions.

In an interview with Bridging News, Kazuko Ishigaki, Regional Director of the UN-Habitat ROAP, stressed that technology is only a tool and that a smart city “cannot be smart without people.”

“Technology should serve citizens,” she said, adding that the development of Chongqing and the theme of this conference align closely with the UN-Habitat’s vision for people-centered smart cities.

Vuyo Mhlakaza-Manamela, Deputy Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature of South Africa, said her country’s focus on sustainable urbanization aligns with China’s commitment to green development and smart city innovation.

Mhlakaza-Manamela noted that over 68% of the world’s population now lives in cities, a share that continues to grow. She added that lessons from Chinese cities, especially Chongqing’s infrastructure investment and smart technology integration, are invaluable.

At the opening ceremony, Chongqing released the Chongqing Voluntary Local Reviews and the Chongqing Initiative of the 2025 World Cities Day China Observance. The 2025 Annual Report of the Shanghai Manual: A Guide for Sustainable Urban Development in the 21st Century was also be promoted, further highlighting China’s contributions to advancing global urban sustainability.

Throughout the observance, a series of activities took place, including the main forum, parallel and thematic forums, achievement exhibition, and field visits.

World Cities Day, the UN’s first international day for cities and the first initiated by China, originated from the 2010 Shanghai World Expo and is celebrated annually on October 31 to promote global urban dialogue.

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SOURCE iChongqing

WANTAGE, N.J., Oct. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — First Hope Bank proudly partnered with Habitat for Humanity Northwest New Jersey to launch the 2025 Rural Rally, part of the nationally recognized 2025 Carter Work Project. On Monday, October 27, 2025, First Hope Bank volunteers joined community members to help clean up the property in Wantage, New Jersey, marking the official start of the initiative.

In addition to volunteer support, First Hope Bank made a $5,000 donation to support Habitat for Humanity Northwest New Jersey’s ongoing efforts to expand affordable housing opportunities in rural communities. The Bank also donated the use of its Andover branch parking lot to host a mobile Habitat ReStore, while Habitat searches for a new permanent home for its retail operation expansion into Sussex County.

The Rural Rally is a cornerstone of Habitat for Humanity’s mission to strengthen and revitalize rural areas through volunteerism, affordable housing, and community development. The 2025 event continues the legacy of former President Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter’s lifelong commitment to Habitat’s mission of building homes, hope, and opportunity for all.

“At First Hope Bank, we believe that giving back to our community is not just our responsibility—it’s part of who we are,” said Dan Beatty, President and CEO of First Hope Bank. “Our partnership with Habitat for Humanity Northwest New Jersey allows us to make a tangible difference by helping local families achieve stability and hope through homeownership. We’re honored to be part of the 2025 Carter Work Project and the Rural Rally, and proud to support Habitat’s mission both financially and through the dedication of our volunteers.”

Volunteers from across First Hope Bank’s branches came together to remove debris, clear overgrowth, and prepare the Wantage property for future construction. The event marked the first step in transforming the site into safe, affordable housing for a local family.

About First Hope Bank

Founded in 1911, First Hope Bank is a full-service community bank headquartered in Hope, New Jersey. With over a century of commitment to personal service and financial excellence, First Hope Bank offers a full range of consumer, business, and wealth management services. As a family-owned institution, First Hope Bank takes pride in fostering local economic growth, supporting community initiatives, and maintaining deep relationships with the people and businesses it serves. To learn more, visit www.firsthope.bank.

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SOURCE First Hope Bank

Verinext and 21 Event Sponsors Support FOCUS’ Efforts to Help Make Everyday Life Better for Children with Disabilities and their Families

ATLANTA, Oct. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Verinext, the company that delivers transformative business outcomes through technology and services for everything that comes next, today announced that its annual Charity Golf Classic has raised almost 20,000 for FOCUS (Families of Children Under Stress), a nonprofit that seeks to create a community for families of children with disabilities in metro Atlanta and throughout Georgia. Verinext, with the support of 21 event sponsors, united to raise money for the FOCUS program, whose mission is to embrace and equip families of children with disabilities to make everyday life better.

“Verinext continues to demonstrate its remarkable generosity and investment in the surrounding community,” said Przemek Szczepanik, Vice President, Platform Automation and Orchestration, Fiserv Technology Services and FOCUS Chairperson. “We’re honored to be the beneficiary of their annual charity golf event. Their support helps thousands of families with children with disabilities find the comfort, hope, joy, and essential equipment they need.”

“The FOCUS program continues to make an incredible impact in the lives of families across our community,” said Ashby Lincoln, President, Verinext. “We, and our sponsors, are honored to support their mission to help raise monetary and community support for the meaningful work FOCUS does every day.”

The Verinext 2025 Charity Golf Classic was held at The River Club where 120 golfers participated, supporting the great cause. Sponsors of the event included Appgate, Arctic Wolf, Arrow, Aruba, Atlassian, Balata Data, Big Panda, Binary Defense/Climb, Check Point, Commvault, Fortinet, Halcyon, HPE, Island.io, Nutanix, Semperis, SentinelOne, TDSynnex/Cisco, Trend Micro, Varonis, and Veeam.

About FOCUS
FOCUS (Families of Children Under Stress) was founded in August 1983 by parents seeking support for themselves and for their children with rare genetic illnesses. It quickly grew from a small living room support group into an organization with innovative programs for both parents and children with developmental and physical disabilities. After 39 years of growth and two mergers, FOCUS now provides services for more than 4,500 Georgia families. FOCUS programs include children’s activities and day camps, teen and young adult activities and overnight camps, family activities and support groups, granted and loaned medical equipment for children in need, educational parent workshops and conferences, and support for children who are hospitalized. For more information visit: www.focus-ga.org.

About Verinext
Verinext delivers transformative business outcomes through technology and services so customers are ready for everything that comes next. From intelligently automating time-consuming tasks and protecting data assets to securing infrastructure and improving customer experiences, Verinext activates the innovation that makes technology truly work so businesses can make their next move with confidence. Verinext is the new name for the combination of Anexinet, Veristor, Light Networks and SereneIT. With five offices across the south and northeast, Verinext is backed by Mill Point Capital LLC. Learn more at verinext.com.

 

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SOURCE Verinext

According to Doctor Hurwitz’s most recent novel

PARK CITY, Utah, Oct. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Feared for carrying rabies, bats get a bad rap as scary Halloween symbols. The Tale of a Transplanted Heart gives readers an entirely new perspective on bats, as it tells the story of an infamous bat researcher whose character ominously changes after his life is saved by a heart transplant.

The main character in this story studies bats because they appear to possess disease-defying superpowers. Bats are the only mammals capable of surviving the rabies virus, which invariably kills any other unvaccinated mammal it infects. Even when living intimately with millions of their friends, bats almost never succumb to the viruses they harbor. Consequently, viruses love bats. “The only mammals to have mastered flight,” migrating bats can readily transport viruses far and wide. In addition to revealing bats’ superior immune defenses, this novel portrays these most misunderstood animals as intelligent, linguistic, musical, and peaceful.

The Tale of a Transplanted Heart also explores the phenomenon of “cellular memory.” As transplant medicine has grown, increasing numbers of organ recipients are reporting the development of emotions, preferences, and memories that are not their own. When the dedicated scientist in this story starts to exhibit disturbing personality changes following his heart transplant, his physician wife can barely recognize the person her husband has become, and his associates worry that the heart of an angry donor may have turned this gifted scientist into a dangerous bioterrorist.

Beverly Hurwitz’s fifth medical mystery also pulls a curtain back on infectious disease research, whereby scientists can alter the DNA of deadly germs. Research labs can also be involved in vicious competition for funding, investor pressure to produce the next blockbuster vaccine, lab accidents, and the creation of biologic weaponry. This story provokes the questions: did COVID arise spontaneously in nature, or was it a “designer virus” that escaped from a lab? And if so, was its escape accidental?

The Tale of a Transplanted Heart also whips up grievances about the business takeover of American health care. Set in a struggling rural hospital, recently acquired by a for-profit corporation, the bat researcher’s wife and her colleagues become embroiled in conflict with the hospital’s new management. When administrators ignore the rising incidence of mysterious infections, this hospital’s doctors start to fear for their patients’ lives.

This novel will challenge the reader to consider issues that relate to organ donation. Does your “soul” survive when your heart is beating in someone else’s body? Is organ donation a path to immortality? This story also asks: why don’t bats get cancer or diabetes or many other diseases, and what can they teach humans about how to have longer, healthier lives?

The Tale of a Transplanted Heart is available in paperback and Kindle editions with reading samples, along with other books by Beverly Hurwitz M.D., at https://www.amazon.com/s?k=books+by+beverly+hurwitz

Contact:       
Beverly Hurwitz M.D.,
Author
435.901.2783
403997@email4pr.com 

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SOURCE Beverly Hurwitz M.D.