Tag: PR Newswire

MONTREAL, Aug. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ – Ovivo Inc. (“Ovivo”), a global provider of water and wastewater treatment equipment, technology and systems and its shareholder SKion Water GmbH (“SKion Water”), today announce that they have entered into a definitive agreement to sell Ovivo’s Electronics division to Ecolab, a global sustainability leader offering water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services. Based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA, Ecolab is traded on the New York Stock Exchange and operates in more than 170 countries with 48,000 employees. The transaction has an enterprise valuation of approximately 2.4 billion Canadian dollars and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, subject to the parties obtaining regulatory clearance and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.

This transaction will be a milestone in the history of Ovivo. It will open new perspectives and opportunities for the Electronics division within Ecolab and be the start of a new phase for Ovivo, driving its success further by accelerating progress across its three operational pillars: the Municipal/Industrial/PFAS division, the Energy division and Cembrane SiC membrane division.

“This transaction is a testament to the world leading market position that our Electronics division has built over the last decades. Through teamwork and innovation, a team with unmatched knowledge and capabilities has been created. Becoming part of Ecolab will lay the foundation for the next level of development for the division and its employees. For the Municipal/Industrial/PFAS, Energy and Cembrane divisions, this transition will be the start of a new growth phase,” said Marc Barbeau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ovivo.

“SKion Water will continue its growth strategy. At Ovivo our focus will be to accelerate organic growth in the Municipal, Energy and Cembrane business and to build out our industrial business in North America through acquisitions. This transition also creates an opportunity for us to strengthen the collaboration across the SKion Water portfolio. In addition, we will bring closer together the corporate functions of SKion Water and Ovivo to leverage our in-house expertise,” says Reinhard Huebner, SKion Water CEO.

Ovivo was advised by McCarthy Tétrault LLP as legal counsel.

About Ovivo Inc.

Ovivo is a global provider of equipment, technology and systems producing among the purest water and treating some of the most challenging wastewater in the industry. Ovivo is a powerful global brand with renowned trademarks, possessing more than 150 years of expertise and references in water treatment, supported by its proprietary products, advanced technologies and extensive system integration knowhow. Ovivo delivers conventional to highly technological water treatment solutions for the industrial and municipal markets and leverages its large installed base of equipment around the world to offer parts and services to its customers. Ovivo is dedicated to innovation in an industry that is in constant evolution and offers water treatment solutions that are cost-effective, energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable.

Ovivo operates an integrated global platform in 18 countries and employs more than 1,500 experts in water treatment across the world. Ovivo is owned by German SKion Water GmbH, a global technology and solution provider as well as plant manufacturer, in both municipal and industrial water and wastewater technology. SKion Water is a subsidiary of the German entrepreneur family Klatten’s investment holding company SKion GmbH.

www.ovivowater.com.

Follow us on LinkedIn @Ovivo and Facebook @Ovivo.

About Ecolab

A trusted partner for millions of customers, Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) is a global sustainability leader offering water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services that protect people and the resources vital to life. Building on more than a century of innovation, Ecolab has annual sales of US$16 billion, employs approximately 48,000 associates and operates in more than 170 countries around the world. The company delivers comprehensive science-based solutions, data-driven insights and world-class service to advance food safety, maintain clean and safe environments, and optimize water and energy use. Ecolab’s innovative solutions improve operational efficiencies and sustainability for customers in the food, healthcare, high tech, life sciences, hospitality and industrial markets.

www.ecolab.com

Follow us on LinkedIn @Ecolab, Instagram @Ecolab_Inc and Facebook @Ecolab.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ovivo-to-sell-its-electronics-division-to-ecolab-and-start-a-new-phase-of-growth-302527454.html

SOURCE Ovivo Inc.

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar and JERSEY CITY, N.J., Aug. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — HelpMeSee Project Mazava, a transformative initiative to eliminate cataract-related blindness in Madagascar, celebrated a major milestone this week at a press conference hosted at the Polyclinique D’Ilafy Training Center. Since its launch in 2021, the project has restored sight to more than 1,200 people and trained 40 Malagasy general practitioners to perform Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (MSICS)—bringing vital care to underserved communities across the country.

Cataract is the leading cause of blindness and vision impairment worldwide, affecting over 100 million people globally. In Madagascar alone, an estimated 150,000 people live with cataract blindness, with 10,000 new cases each year. The shortage of trained cataract surgeons has left many without access to life-changing surgery.

HelpMeSee, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Higher Education, Faculty of Medicine, Hospital HJRA, LSFM, IVM, SALFA, Foundation Axian, and the Polyclinique D’Ilafy, launched Project Mazava to address this urgent public health crisis.

“By hosting the HelpMeSee training center free of charge, Polyclinique D’Ilafy plays a silent but decisive role in the fight against blindness in Madagascar,” said Dr. Jean-Marie André, Chief Instructor & Head of Mazava Project for HelpMeSee in Madagascar.

Innovative Training Model Using Aviation-Style Simulation
At the heart of Project Mazava is the HelpMeSee Eye Surgery Simulator, a high-fidelity haptic VR system modeled after pilot training simulators used in aviation. The program’s three-stage training includes:

1. Online theoretical courses for foundational knowledge.
2. Three weeks of intensive simulator training at the Polyclinique D’Ilafy Training Center.
3. Supervised live surgeries at HJRA Hospital, ensuring skills are safely transferred to real operating rooms.

This model dramatically accelerates the training process, enabling more physicians—especially those in rural areas—to deliver cataract surgery where patients live. Currently, 17 of the 40 trained doctors are serving in remote regions. The program’s goal is to train 51 practitioners by 2026, creating capacity for an additional 15,000 cataract surgeries per year.

“These 15,000 cataract surgeries performed each year, at strategically selected sites where the needs are most urgent, will allow us to prioritize treatment for those most severely affected by the disease. This should significantly reduce the progression of these 10,000 annual cases towards blindness, which is the main objective of the organization HelpMeSee,” said Dr. Jean-Marie André.

Nationwide Expansion and Continental Interest
Since 2021, Project Mazava has grown from three surgical centers to 11 active centers in Madagascar. By the end of 2026, HelpMeSee and its partners aim to establish 25 centers across Madagascar. The initiative has already attracted interest from other African nations seeking to replicate its success.

Beyond Health—Driving Economic and Social Change
Cataract surgery is highly cost-effective—about $100 per procedure while restoring sight provides a $200 gain per patient annually. “When someone regains sight, they can work again, care for their family, and contribute to their community,” Dr. André emphasized. “This is more than a health project—it is a driver of development.”

Media Contact:
Amanda Kronberg
pr@helpmesee.org 

About HelpMeSee
In a world where 100 million people are blind or visually impaired due to cataract, HelpMeSee, a not-for-profit under IRS 501(c)(3), has a global mission to eradicate cataract blindness by increasing the training of Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (MSICS). This safe and relatively quick procedure delivers successful outcomes at a low cost. The HelpMeSee MSICS training system features high-fidelity, virtual reality simulation with haptic feedback, sophisticated courseware, learning management systems and electronic learning aids. HelpMeSee was founded by Al and Jim Ueltschi, who imagined building the MSICS training system by incorporating many of the methods and techniques used successfully in commercial pilot training. As co-founder of Orbis International and founder of FlightSafety International, Al Ueltschi was an icon in the aviation industry and was devoted to treating preventable blindness in the developing world. HelpMeSee trains cataract specialists to ensure that all communities have access to highly trained MSICS specialists. With more than 40 simulators and 15 training centers worldwide, HelpMeSee partners with governments, universities and innovators to fight the global cataract blindness crisis.

For more information visit: https://helpmesee.org/

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SOURCE HelpMeSee, Inc.

STOCKHOLM, Aug. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Swedish iGaming entrepreneur Erik Bergman, founder of Great.com, has donated $1 million to Team Water, a charity initiative led by global content creator and philanthropist MrBeast. The campaign’s goal is to raise $40 million to build wells that will provide clean water for 2 million people for decades to come.

This marks the second major collaboration between Great.com and MrBeast’s philanthropic efforts. In 2021, Bergman and Great.com contributed $1.2 million to MrBeast’s TeamSeas fundraiser, which removed millions of pounds of trash from oceans, rivers, and beaches.

“Team Water is an incredible initiative,” said Bergman. “When MrBeast’s team got in touch, we didn’t have to think twice. Our whole purpose is to take the money we earn from the online casino industry and put it toward causes that truly matter. Helping bring clean water to communities that have never had it couldn’t be a better fit for that mission.”

An unconventional business model with a singular mission

Bergman founded Great.com in 2018 with the aim of doing good at scale, using his expertise in iGaming to create a unique revenue model. Great.com operates as an online casino affiliate, generating profits through partnerships with licensed operators – and donates 100% of those profits to vetted, high-impact charities.

Since its inception, Great.com has donated millions of dollars to causes addressing climate change, global health, poverty alleviation, and now clean water access.

The power of mission-aligned partnerships

The $1 million donation to Team Water not only strengthens Great.com’s ongoing relationship with MrBeast’s team, but also creates valuable visibility for the brand and its mission.

“While our primary motivation is always the cause, the credibility and reach that comes from being featured by MrBeast is an incredible byproduct,” Bergman noted. “It validates us with current and future partners and opens doors for impactful collaborations we haven’t even imagined yet.”

Erik Bergman, founder of Great.com, comments:
“When I started Great.com, I wanted to build an organization that could make as much difference as possible – both in terms of the causes we support and how we operate internally. Partnering with MrBeast and Team Water allows us to direct our resources toward a project with exponential impact. I hope this inspires other entrepreneurs to explore how their profits can fuel meaningful change.”

About Team Water

Team Water is a global fundraising initiative launched by MrBeast to raise $40 million to fund the construction of clean water wells in communities without access to safe drinking water. Working with experienced on-the-ground partners, the project aims to provide 2 million people with reliable, long-term access to clean water.

About Great.com

Great.com is a purpose-driven online casino affiliate founded by Swedish entrepreneur Erik Bergman in 2018. The company reviews and recommends licensed online casinos, generating affiliate commissions that are donated entirely to high-impact charitable causes. With a long-term perspective of at least 50 years, Great.com operates with complete transparency, publishes its internal operations online, and advocates for more open, socially responsible business practices.

For more information, please contact:

 Erik Bergman, Founder, Great.com
 Email: erik.bergman@great.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/erik-bergmans-greatcom-donates-1-million-to-mrbeasts-team-water-campaign-to-fund-clean-water-wells-for-millions-302527628.html

SOURCE Great.com

Largest Project in San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance History is 80% Complete

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Today, in celebration of World Elephant Day, San Diego Zoo Safari Park announces Denny Sanford Elephant Valley will open in early 2026. The largest and most transformative project in San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s 109-year history is 80% complete. This first-of-its-kind experience will offer new insight into the role San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance pursues as a leader in wildlife conservation, highlighting its global partners and celebrating the vibrant cultures and local communities in Kenya where people and elephants coexist. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is grateful for the more than 4,100 donors who made Elephant Valley possible, including a lead gift from Denny Sanford.

“Denny Sanford Elephant Valley’s innovative design celebrates the world’s largest land mammal and the communities that coexist with them,” said Shawn Dixon, interim president and chief executive officer at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. “Every detail of this habitat has been purposefully designed to reflect the elephants’ natural environment, supporting their well-being while inspiring meaningful connections. We’re eager to welcome guests in early 2026 to experience a place unlike any other—where wildlife and people come together in powerful new ways.”

Elephant Valley is an immersive journey for guests to learn about the crucial role elephants serve as ecosystem engineers, and better understand the nuances of the herd’s rich social structure. Surrounded by elephants on multiple sides, guests will encounter what it feels like to walk beside the herd. The dynamic savanna at the heart of the Safari Park aims to generate greater empathy, understanding and appreciation for elephants, encouraging guests to protect them for generations to come.

Each facet of Elephant Valley is meticulously designed to reflect the seasonal variations of the African savanna year-round. The rich plant life in Elephant Valley has been curated by a team of expert horticulturists and arborists to authentically replicate the sights, sounds and smells of Africa’s diverse ecosystems, specifically the vast savanna and grasslands. More than 350 individual plants have been grown for Elephant Valley, representing rare and endangered African plants. Guests will venture through pathways lined with African thorn trees, a common source of food for elephants. Other African trees including the vulnerable kokerboom and endangered Nubian dragon tree, some of which have been growing at the Safari Park since it opened 53 years ago, have new homes in Elephant Valley. Several African plants, including the vulnerable Mulanje and Gorongo cycads, were originally seized by authorities from illegal trafficking before finding refuge in Elephant Valley.

Mkutano House is a unique dining destination positioned directly alongside one of Elephant Valley’s two expansive watering holes, a 240,000-gallon oasis where the herd wades, swims and plays—a profound experience for those who pay witness to their natural bonding behavior. The two-story restaurant at the center of the Elephant Valley experience is inspired by the locations frequented by travelers while on safari in Africa. The Swahili word Mkutano refers to gathering with purpose. Nearby, Mkutano Park will serve as a gathering place to learn from educators about the awe-inspiring wildlife of the region.

Elephant Valley will bridge the vital work happening in San Diego to the collaborative elephant conservation initiatives San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance supports in the African savanna. Elephants across Africa are facing immense threats that are taking a toll on their populations, including habitat loss, poaching and challenges to human-wildlife coexistence. African savanna elephants are currently listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species.

Research conducted in Africa and with the Safari Park’s elephant herd provide an opportunity to advance technologies and approaches to monitor and protect elephants in the wild, and support coexistence. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance works closely with Save the Elephants, The Nature Conservancy, Northern Rangelands Trust, Kenya Wildlife Service and Reteti Elephant Sanctuary for conservation of African savanna elephants. Increasing knowledge of elephant health needs and the complexity of their social behaviors has equipped the organization and its partners with valuable insight into what successful conservation outcomes look like for the species.

Guests are invited to journey into Elephant Valley in early 2026. For more information, visit sdzsafaripark.org/elephantvalley.

About San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, a nonprofit conservation leader, inspires passion for nature and collaboration for a healthier world. The Alliance supports innovative conservation science through global partnerships and groundbreaking efforts at the world-famous San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, both leading zoological institutions and accredited botanical gardens. Through wildlife care expertise, cutting-edge science and continued collaboration, more than 44 endangered species have been reintroduced to native habitats. The Alliance reaches over 1 billion people annually through its two conservation parks and media channels in 170 countries, including San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers television, available in children’s hospitals across 14 countries. Wildlife Allies—members, donors and guests—make success possible. 

PRESS ROOM: sdzwa.org/PR/elephant-valley-milestone 

Link includes:

• B-roll and photos of the elephant herd at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park

PERMITTED USE: Images and video(s) are provided to the media solely for reproduction, public display, and distribution in a professional journalistic non-commercial and non-sponsored context in connection with newspaper, magazine, broadcast media (radio, television) or internet media (ad enabled blog, webcasts, webinars, podcasts). Image(s)and video(s)may not be made available for public or commercial download, licensing or sale.

ADDITIONAL LIMITATION: Media acknowledges and agrees that San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance specifically does not grant a right to sublicense any image and/or video without the prior express written consent of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance in each instance and at its sole discretion.

REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: All image and/or video uses must bear the copyright notice and/or be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in the image metadata, and must be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the San Diego Zoo and/or San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Any uses in which the image and/or video appears without proper copyright notice, photographer credit and a caption referencing the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and/or San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance are subject to paid licensing.

AP PERMITTED USE: Specific to the Associated Press (“AP”) only, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has provided to the AP one or more photograph(s)and/or video(s) for distribution by the AP to its subscribers and customers solely for editorial publication. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is the sole copyright owner of the photograph(s)and/or video(s)furnished to AP for editorial publication by AP and its subscribers and customers in all media now known or hereafter created. Said content is a factually accurate rendering of what it depicts and has not been modified or augmented except for standard cropping and toning.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/in-celebration-of-world-elephant-day-san-diego-zoo-safari-park-announces-elephant-valley-to-open-early-2026-302526937.html

SOURCE San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Book will be presented at Harper Collins Christian Publishing (HCCP) June sales conference and be distributed and have sales support from HCCP. 

BLOOMINGTON, Ind., Aug. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ – WestBow Press announced today that Answer With Truth by David “Goose” Mills has qualified for the Lighthouse Recognition Program, an exclusive benefit that recognizes WestBow Press titles that demonstrate retail sales momentum. The book will be presented at the upcoming HarperCollins Christian June sales conference and enjoy a range of additional benefits, including

• Bookstore distribution through the HarperCollins Christian Publishing Edelweiss seasonal catalog
• Product placement in the FaithGateway online bookstore
• Presentation to regional bookstore buyers by the HCCP sales team

“We are delighted to see Answer With Truth achieve Lighthouse Recognition,” said Pete Nikolai, Director of Publishing Services at HCCP. “This program helps amplify important voices, and we are eager for David Mills’ message to reach a broader audience.”

About Answer With The Truth

Answer With Truth by David “Goose” Mills equips families with biblical answers to common challenges to the Christian faith. Drawing on his experience as a retired Air Force officer and founder of Men’s Alliance, Mills helps parents confidently lead their families spiritually. To learn more about Men’s Alliance visit http://www.mensalliancetribe.com

About David “Goose” Mills

David Mills is the founder and director of Men’s Alliance, a national men’s ministry. He is a retired Air Force officer and missionary to men in America, married to Kerry since 2000 with four children.

About WestBow Press

WestBow Press, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing in alliance with Author Solutions, is the supported self‑publishing imprint committed to helping Christian authors bring their stories to market with excellence. Select high‑performing titles are evaluated for potential acquisition by Thomas Nelson and Zondervan. Learn more at westbowpress.com or call 1‑844‑714‑3454.

Media Contact
Marketing Services, WestBow Press
844‑714‑3454
pressreleases@westbowpress.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/westbow-press-announces-the-book-answer-with-truth-has-earned-exclusive-lighthouse-recognition-302527251.html

SOURCE WestBow Press

Industry-first approach to vector database security enables Fortune 500 companies to deploy AI at scale while meeting the most rigorous compliance requirements.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. , Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Zilliz, the company behind the most popular open-source vector database Milvus, today announced a major expansion of its enterprise security and compliance capabilities, empowering organizations in even the most regulated industries to deploy AI solutions with confidence, speed, and scale.

Security and compliance concerns are the primary obstacles keeping 70% of enterprises from scaling AI beyond pilot programs. Zilliz’s enhanced safeguards directly eliminate these barriers, enabling customers to advance from pilot to production in weeks rather than months while maintaining full regulatory compliance.

“Security and compliance are not features we add at the end — they are part of our foundation,” said Charles Xie, CEO of Zilliz. “We’ve built a platform that allows enterprises to unlock the value of unstructured data with the peace of mind that their AI applications are protected by world-class security and certified compliance from the ground up.”

Meeting the Rising Bar for AI Trustworthiness

Enterprise AI adoption now hinges on trust. Zilliz treats security as a strategic capability — embedding security-by-design, privacy across jurisdictions, and resilience at scale into the core of its platform so regulated organizations can innovate without hesitation.

The comprehensive framework combines global certifications with enterprise controls built for mission-critical workloads:

• Certified Trust — SOC 2 Type II and ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certifications with continuous third-party validation ensure adherence to the highest standards for security, availability, and confidentiality.
• Global Privacy Compliance — Full GDPR compliance for EU/EEA operations, HIPAA readiness for U.S. healthcare workloads, and official EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework certification, including UK Extension and Swiss-U.S. DPF.
• Enterprise-Grade Safeguards — AES-256 encryption at rest and TLS 1.2+ in transit; private networking options; role-based access controls (RBAC); and detailed audit logging for full operational transparency
• Guaranteed Uptime — Enterprise SLAs delivering 99.95% availability with financial penalties for non-compliance, backed by automated backup, recovery, and disaster recovery across multiple regions.
• Complete Data Sovereignty — Bring Your Own Cloud (BYOC) deployment keeps sensitive data within customer security perimeters while delivering fully managed vector database performance.

From Open Source Innovation to Enterprise-Ready AI Infrastructure

Zilliz’s commitment to secure, compliant AI builds on its heritage as the creator of Milvus, the world’s most popular open-source vector database. The same performance and scalability that have made Milvus a global standard are now paired with enterprise protections designed to meet the demands of regulated industries.

“The future of AI will be defined not only by what is possible, but by what is responsible,” added Xie. “Our customers can innovate at the speed of AI, knowing their infrastructure meets or exceeds the world’s most rigorous security and compliance benchmarks.”

For more information about Zilliz’s trust framework and security capabilities, visit https://zilliz.com/trust-center.

About Zilliz

Zilliz builds next-generation database technologies that help organizations unlock the value of unstructured data and rapidly develop AI applications. Zilliz offers a fully managed, multi-cloud vector database service powered by open-source Milvus, supporting AWS, GCP, and Azure across 20+ countries.

Headquartered in Redwood City, California, Zilliz is backed by leading investors, including Aramco’s Prosperity7 Ventures and Temasek’s Pavilion Capital.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zilliz-powers-the-next-wave-of-ai-adoption-with-unmatched-enterprise-security-and-compliance-302527126.html

SOURCE zilliz

• Tech-Loving Make-A-Wish Kid Hosted by Disney Imagineers at Walt Disney Imagineering and Disneyland for 170,000^th Wish
• Milestone Wish Celebrated During 70^th Anniversary of First Disney Park
• A Disney Wish is Granted Every Hour of Every Day, Making Disney the #1 Wish Granter in the World for Make-A-Wish

BURBANK, Calif., Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Tech-savvy 13-year-old Madison had one wish – to learn all about the science behind Disney theme parks from the very Imagineers who create them. While undergoing treatment for leukemia, Madison (Maddie) read “The Imagineering Story” and watched “Behind the Attraction” on Disney+. This inspired her wish to meet the Imagineers who bring the parks to life, and one day become an Imagineer herself.   

On July 17, 2025, a day after touring the Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) campus in Glendale, Calif., two especially magical moments collided: Madison joined Imagineers to see their work come to life during her first trip to Disneyland Resort while the original Disney park celebrated its 70th anniversary.

During Madison’s wish, Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro and Make-A-Wish® America President and CEO Leslie Motter made a surprise appearance to celebrate Madison as Disney’s 170,000th wish kid, marking a historic milestone for Disney and Make-A-Wish.

 “We are honored so many Make-A-Wish kids choose Disney,” D’Amaro said. “Our Imagineers were thrilled to show Madison how they bring our stories to life in our parks. Fulfilling her wish on the 70th anniversary of Disneyland made the moment even more special.”

“Disney has supported Make-A-Wish from the very beginning, and now 45 years later, we are making a greater impact together than ever before,” said Leslie Motter, President and CEO, Make-A-Wish America. “170,000 wishes granted is a testament to the company’s steadfast commitment to delivering hope and joy when it’s needed most to wish kids and their families around the world.”

Highlights of Madison’s exclusive VIP tour at WDI included a special Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance panel hosted by five Imagineers, where she learned about the attraction’s cutting-edge technology and creative process. She also met with Imagineers who shared insights about their work in ride technology, Audio-Animatronics figures, and Disney Live Entertainment. Madison was even able to explore the rich history of Imagineering and Disneyland Resort through sketches and archives at the Imagineering Resource Center.

The next day at Disneyland, Imagineers hosted Madison and her family for a full day of fun. After a special walkthrough of Radiator Springs Racers at Disney California Adventure Park, the attraction she was the most excited to experience, the family visited Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, where she was once again surprised by D’Amaro – this time joined by Disneyland Resort President Thomas Mazloum and the BDX Droids.

Madison later had the chance to ride Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run with Imagineers who worked on the attractions. The trip culminated with Madison’s recognition during The Celebrate Happy Cavalcade and a memorable tour of Walt Disney’s apartment on Main Street, U.S.A, where she was presented with a special autograph book signed by Imagineers.

“Meeting the Imagineers felt like something out of a dream,” said Madison. “I want to bring joy to people like they do.”

About Disney Experiences

Disney Parks, Experiences and Products brings the magic of The Walt Disney Company’s powerful brands and franchises — including Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, ESPN, 20th Century Studios and National Geographic — into the daily lives of families and fans around the world to create magical memories that last a lifetime.

When Walt Disney opened Disneyland in Anaheim, California, on July 17, 1955, he created a unique destination built around storytelling and immersive experiences, ushering in a new era of family entertainment. More than 70 years later, Disney has grown into one of the world’s leading providers of family travel and leisure experiences, with iconic businesses including six resort destinations with 12 theme parks and 57 resorts in the United States, Europe and Asia; a top-rated cruise line with six ships and plans for seven more; a luxurious family beach resort in Hawai’i; a popular vacation ownership program; and an award-winning guided family adventure business. Disney’s global consumer products operations include the world’s leading licensing business; the world’s largest children’s publishing brands; one of the world’s largest licensors of games across all platforms; Disney store locations around the world; and the Disney Store e-commerce platform.

These experiences are created by Disney Imagineers, the creative force behind experiences found in Disney theme parks, resort hotels and cruise ships.

About Make-A-Wish® 

Make-A-Wish creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Founded in Phoenix, Arizona, Make-A-Wish is the #1 most trusted nonprofit operating locally in all 50 states throughout the U.S. Together with generous donors, supporters, staff and more than 20,000 volunteers across the country, Make-A-Wish delivers hope and joy to children and their families when they need it most. Make-A-Wish aims to bring the power of wishing to every child with a critical illness because wish experiences can help improve emotional and physical health. Since 1980, Make-A-Wish has granted more than 615,000 wishes worldwide; more than 390,000 wishes in the U.S. and its territories alone. For more information about Make-A-Wish America, visit wish.org.

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SOURCE Disney Experiences

EAGAN, Minn., Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Clean Response announced today a five-year commitment to serve as the presenting sponsor of CommonBond Communities’ Annual Gala, as part of a larger gift to support the organization’s Framing the Future campaign. CommonBond Communities is one of the Midwest’s largest nonprofit providers of affordable housing, and this commitment supports their campaign, which addresses critical housing challenges throughout the region.

Clean Response has built a trusted partnership with CommonBond Communities, delivering rapid emergency water and fire restoration services across their multifamily properties. When disasters strike, from toilet overflows and burst pipes to smoke damage and condensate line failures, Clean Response responds quickly to restore homes and minimize disruptions to residents’ lives.

“At Clean Response, we believe deeply in supporting our community and the critical work that CommonBond Communities is doing to provide stable housing,” said Mark Larson, CEO of Clean Response. “The housing challenges facing our neighbors require all of us to work together, and we’re proud to play a part in this impactful mission.”

CommonBond publicly announced their Framing the Future campaign last fall. Clean Response’s contribution will fund CommonBond’s efforts to develop affordable housing, provide supportive services (called Advantage Services), and implement solutions to address housing instability.

“We are so grateful for our partnership with Clean Response and for their dedication to our community,” said Deidre Schmidt, President and CEO of CommonBond Communities. “Through their generous gift we can provide Advantage Services to more residents, develop and reinvest in affordable housing, and positively impact larger systems changes.”

About Clean Response

Clean Response is the Midwest’s premier disaster recovery and property restoration company. Committed to restoring lives and property after a loss, Clean Response has proudly served the commercial and multifamily industries for over twenty-five years.

About CommonBond Communities

CommonBond Communities believes a home is the foundation for everything in life. Our mission is to build stable homes, strong futures, and vibrant communities. CommonBond has been building and sustaining homes with services for families, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities since 1971.

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SOURCE Clean Response

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — EarthEcho International announced today the 14 participants, ages 16-21, selected for an innovative ocean restoration program led by youth from racially marginalized communities. The Blue Carbon Ambassador program provides hands-on professional learning experience designed to introduce participants to the role of blue carbon ecosystems (including kelp, seagrass, mangroves, and salt marshes) in fighting the climate crisis. The Ambassadors, hailing from frontline coastal communities in North America, will develop their own projects to support the restoration of blue carbon ecosystems in their local communities.

“EarthEcho recognizes that access to our oceans and the chance to build careers in the restorative blue economy remains unequally distributed,” said EarthEcho International founder Philippe Cousteau. “This dynamic group of young leaders brings passion, vision, and diverse perspectives to the expanding movement, advancing ocean-based solutions to restore marine ecosystems and build community-centered climate resilience.” 

The Blue Carbon Ambassador Program is made possible through the generous support of La Mer Blue Heart Oceans Fund and The Estée Lauder Companies Travel Retail division.

In 2025, Blue Carbon Ambassadors are exploring blue carbon ecosystems and regenerative ocean aquaculture through field experience, expert-led workshops, and peer-to-peer learning exchanges. Projects will be developed this summer and executed between August 2025-March 2026 and are supported by local community based organizations in their regions, including Billion Oyster Project, Seaweed City, Surfrider Puerto Rico, and Lower 9th Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development.

Meet the 2025 Blue Carbon Ambassadors:
Acadia Li from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Angel Jean-Remy from New York, New York, USA
Aurora Espasas from Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico, USA
Bryce Black from New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Elizabeth Torres-Priego from New York, New York, USA
Isabella Allwood from New York, New York, USA
Isabella Negrón Casillas from Bayamón, Puerto Rico, USA
Jafet Santos-Maldonado from Ensenada, Puerto Rico, USA
Jafrin Zahir from New York, New York, USA
Jarelys N. Merle Crespo from Moca, Puerto Rico, USA
Jyah Hamilton from Harvey, Louisiana, USA
Paige Parent from New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Sofía Nicole Sánchez Villamar from San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA
Sophia Deng from New York, New York, USA

For more information about Blue Carbon Ambassadors, please visit https://www.earthecho.org/blue-carbon-ambassadors.

For more information about EarthEcho International, visit www.earthecho.org or follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/earthecho Instagram: www.instagram.com/earthecho and Twitter: www.twitter.com/earthecho.

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SOURCE EarthEcho International

Powerful Partnership Brings Clean Rides and Smart Energy to Students—and Sends Electricity Back to the Grid

OAKLAND, Calif., Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), in partnership with Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) and The Mobility House today announced the commissioning of one of California’s most advanced vehicle-to-grid (V2G) electric school bus fleets—marking a major milestone in clean transportation, grid resilience, and student health.

With the installation of 22 electric vehicle chargers–14 previously installed low-power chargers, six high-power bidirectional V2G direct current (DC) fast chargers, and two additional high-power unidirectional chargers planned for 2026—FUSD is now equipped to power and manage a growing fleet of 14 electric school buses, including four Thomas Built and 10 Blue Bird buses.

This infrastructure will support the displacement of six internal combustion engine buses, with four new electric buses entering service this year and two more in 2026.

“This project is a shining example of how innovation creates a cleaner, smarter energy future,” said Mike Delaney, Vice President, Utility Partnership and Innovation, PG&E. “We’re proud to support Fremont USD and school districts across California as they convert to better, electrified student transportation.”

Smart Charging, Smarter Grid

The project is led by The Mobility House (TMH) under the California Energy Commission-funded Replicable Vehicle-to-X Deployment Study (RVXDS).

TMH’s intelligent charge management platform, ChargePilot, will optimize both charging and discharging of the fleet using open standards.

“Electric school buses, with their large batteries and predictable schedules, have tremendous potential to support the electric grid with V2G,” said Gregor Hintler, CEO North America of The Mobility House. “We are proud to provide the technology that enables the district to drive clean and support community energy resilience.”

As an aggregator, ChargePilot will also enable FUSD’s participation in PG&E’s Emergency Load Reduction Program (ELRP) by responding to OpenADR signals—turning school buses into grid assets that can support reliability during peak demand. OpenADR is an open, secure, and two-way information exchange model for Demand Response (DR) and Distributed Energy Resources (DER).

Powering the Future

To enable this transformation, PG&E upgraded the site’s electrical infrastructure, including:

• A new 480 volt 3-phase service entrance (upgraded from 208V)
• A 750 kVA transformer
• Facilitated installation of a 2,500 Amp switchgear to meet current and future charging needs

PG&E expedited the energization process through a streamlined Rule 15/16 service upgrade, ensuring the site could accommodate the full allocation of six V2G DC fast chargers. Rules 15 and 16 are electric utility rules in California that outline the requirements for service line extensions, which are lines that connect the distribution lines to the customers’ electric meters. The site is also interconnected via Rule 21, allowing energy export and additional revenue opportunities for the school. Electric Rule 21 describes the interconnection, operating and metering requirements for generation facilities to be connected to an investor-owned utility’s (IOUs) distribution and transmission system.

A Model for Replication

This marks the second school district participating in PG&E’s commercial fleet Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) pilot, following the successful deployment with Zum and Oakland Unified School District in 2024.

Fremont USD’s participation in PG&E’s EV Fleet program, which began in 2019, has supported 17 electric school buses and 13 electric medium-duty vehicles with incentives for infrastructure and charging equipment.

Partners in Progress

This pioneering project is made possible through the collaboration of:

• The Mobility House 
• Polara
• World Resources Institute
• Center for Transportation and the Environment
• PG&E

Together, these partners are helping Fremont USD lead the charge toward a cleaner, more resilient future—one electric school bus, one bidirectional charger, and one transformer at a time.

“We’ve already seen how the electric buses can contribute to cleaner air for our community,” said Ernest Epley, FUSD’s Director of Transportation. “Now, we have the opportunity to use these buses to deliver clean and reliable energy too.”

About PG&E

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than sixteen million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com, pge.com/news and pge.com/innovation.

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SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company