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Expo 2020 Dubai Enters The Metaverse World Connecting Millions Across The Physical & Digital Globally

Magnopus

From today, anyone anywhere can experience the magic of Expo 2020 Dubai with friends and family. The World Expo has teamed up with Magnopus to offer an enriching digital experience for millions of on-site and remote visitors from around the world. Expo Dubai Xplorer sets a new standard for accessibility and inclusivity to large events and expands the World Expo’s vision of ‘Connecting Minds and Creating the Future’ into the virtual world of Metaverse. The multi-player experience is available on iOS and Android powered by cloud-hosted services developed by Magnopus. Unique features include: Real-time connectivity between on-site and remote users across the physical and digital divide. One of the largest deployments in the world of persistent Cloud Anchors which allow millions of on-site visitors to experience AR spectacles aligned accurately to real world locations. A social, interactive digital twin of the 4.38km² Expo site—a living world built from the architectural files of the site and enriched with content and experiences. Uniting The Physical & Digital Users can customize their own AI-powered avatar and connect with others in real-time across the physical and digital divide. Standing on the Expo site, a visitor may see a friend from the other side of the world (viewed through the lens of their phone) as an avatar they can share experiences with, and communicate with via group creation and messaging. On-site hardware will also link the physical and digital worlds. Smart screens called “Digital World Viewers” show views of digital content to enhance the physical landscape for visitors. The desktop application is designed to mimic the capabilities of the mobile applications by connecting to the same cloud services for local content and avatar display. Augmented Reality Aligned To Real World Locations By using ARCore Cloud Anchors by Google for hundreds of location-specific activations around the site, visitors will experience entertaining and educational AR content relevant to wherever they are at Expo 2020 Dubai. AR activations including mysterious portals to far-off places, treasure hunts through history, and magical creature encounters are all aligned to real world locations with centimeter accuracy. This is currently one of the largest deployments of ARCore Cloud Anchors in the world. Geospatial authoring interfaces and global content delivery networks for updating and publishing new content in real-time enable designers to release new interactive AR experiences anywhere on the site during the run of Expo 2020 Dubai. Powered by a set of cloud-hosted services, content is automatically streamed down to the user's device when they approach a location or interact with an experience, without impacting the application’s install size. This enables users to experience any number of magical AR moments, all from a relatively small application on their device, and new or updated experiences can be pushed while the visitor is still in the app. Remote visitors can access the same AR content and experiences, over a connected digital twin of the site, via an interface similar to popular mobile games like Fortnite or Roblox. A Live, Social Digital Twin The digital twin of the Expo site covers more than 200 buildings from the world’s leading architects across a huge 4.38km 2 site, including 192 unique country pavilions. Hundreds of artists working around the world spent more than two years creating the living digital replica, enhancing it with dynamic lighting, art installations, animated experiences, and stunning spectacles. Virtual reality was used to collaboratively develop the designs and experiences so they could be tested before the physical site was even built. The visitor experience geolocates content on the site in real-time, so the digital twin has been built to a high degree of accuracy, at 1:1 scale from the architect’s CAD files, and confirmed with “as-builts”. Due to the size and detail of the site, it can’t be stored on visitor’s devices in its entirety and is streamed to visitors based on their location and proximity. The system also accounts for the performance capabilities of the visitor’s device to deliver the highest quality representation possible. Ben Grossmann, CEO of Magnopus, says, “This is the biggest space to date, connected across the physical and digital worlds. These ‘connected spaces’ are the building blocks of the new immersive web, or Metaverse. We’ve been working on these kinds of experiences and technologies for many years, and it was thrilling to take things to the next level to bring this grand vision to life with the Innovation and Future Technologies team at Expo 2020 Dubai." Rehan Asad, Chief Program Officer for Expo 2020 Dubai, says, “The Virtual Expo is an important part of delivering Expo 2020 Dubai’s promise and purpose— ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future ’. In 2013, Expo 2020 Dubai promised the world to host not only the best ever physical Expo but also the very best virtual Expo. That commitment and COVID-19 pandemic has challenged us to find innovative ways to share the Expo experience and content of our once-in-a-lifetime World Expo with a larger global audience who may not be able to travel from around the world. Magnopus and the wider team have unified the most innovative technologies into one integrated experience that truly brings Expo 2020’s creative vision to life in the digital and virtual world.” Daisy Leak, the project’s Executive Producer, says, “The global pandemic has affirmed that events can no longer be purely physical, or with only a perfunctory video streaming presence. By uniting 200 countries in a common experience, and making that experience available to visitors both on-site in Dubai and around the world, in an engaging and spatial context, we hope to serve as an example of what the future offers to unite people and places in a better way.” The multiplayer experience has been in development for nearly three years with world-class partners including Google, Unity Technologies, and Amazon Web Services with key contributions from: REWIND (experience design and platform development) Virtuos (3D asset development) Hexagram (quest narrative design and technology) Pinscreen (avatar technology with AI-driven face synthesis) Dog Studio (web development for Virtual Expo connected to content databases) VIM (BIM conversion technology) Terahard (activation development) Activated Realities (activation development) Source Sound (audio design and development) Expo Dubai Xplorer is available to download now on iOS and Android. About Magnopus Founded in 2013, Magnopus creates experiences and technologies that unite the physical and digital worlds. Magnopus is known for its continuous innovation in the entertainment industry; its Emmy-nominated VR projects; its role as a leader in virtual production through its groundbreaking work on Disney’s The Lion King (2019); and its pioneering work in AR. This year Magnopus acquired REWIND, a UK spatial design and innovation company, to further its mission to merge the physical and digital and lay the foundation for the new immersive web. About Expo 2020 Dubai From 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022, Expo 2020 Dubai welcomes visitors from every corner of the globe to join the making of a new world, as it brings together the planet in one place to reimagine tomorrow @ www.virtualexpodubai.com With the purpose of ‘ Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, Expo 2020 is the world’s most impactful global incubator for new ideas, catalysing an exchange of new perspectives and inspiring action to deliver real-life solutions to real-world challenges Expo 2020 is the biggest cultural gathering in the world, presenting a visually striking and emotionally inspiring 182 days, as more than 200 participants – including nations, multilateral organisations, businesses, and educational institutions, as well as millions of visitors – create the largest and most diverse World Expo ever Expo 2020’s sub themes of Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability inspire visitors to preserve and protect our planet, explore new frontiers and build a better future for everyone For six months, Expo 2020 is be a must-visit family destination, with thousands of events, amazing exploratory experiences, and free entry for children up to age 18 Expo is committed to building a more equitable and just world for everyone, while keeping visitors safe by following the latest guidance of the world’s leading medical, science and health experts Expo 2020 is the first World Expo to take place in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, located on a 4.38 sqkm site adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South Built with a meaningful and measurable long-term legacy in mind, the Expo site will transform into District 2020 – a model global community that will rethink the cities of the future – after Expo 2020 closes its doors Contact Details Clear Andrew Graham +1 646-385-0189 asg@agencyclear.com Rewind Jude Forbes +44 1727 261007 jude@rewind.co Company Website https://www.magnopus.com/

December 07, 2021 02:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

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MGVC Becomes A Top-10 Strategic Investor Globally while Putting C. $2M USD into Two New Game Studios

MY.GAMES

MGVC, the investment division of MY.GAMES (part of VK), has invested into two gaming studios, Square Triangle and Talerock, for a total sum of around $2m USD. Through the deals, MGVC has acquired minority stakes in the studios with options to purchase control. According to InvestGame, over the first nine months of 2021 MGVC became one of the top-10 largest strategic investors in the world, with cumulative investments exceeding $30m USD. Since its foundation, MGVC has now invested in 49 studios (12 of them this year). “MGVC continues to expand and diversify its portfolio with games in new genres from outstanding studios. When we look for partner-studios, the primary factors for us are the team’s experience, how original their idea is, and their business vision for the project. The teams at both studios were formed long ago and have several successful releases in their portfolios. I’m confident these partnerships will pave the way for many hit games,” said Nikita Matsokin, MGVC Executive Producer. Square Triangle’s founders have been working in the video games industry for more than eight years. The current team started working together in 2018, and decided to create their own studio in 2020. Staff members are located all around the world. One of the team’s previous projects is Bowling by Jason Belmonte - a sports simulator that reached $100,000 in revenue per month. The studio is currently working on a casual PvP sports simulator, promising dynamic and engaging gameplay. The game’s launch is slated for next year. Talerock studio was founded in Moscow in 2016 and has a team of 17 people. The studio’s portfolio includes tactical RPG Grimshade (PC) and several projects on creating in-game art for large publishers. Talerock is currently working on a mobile F2P game in the hidden object genre, with a detective story spanning several historical eras at the core of its narrative. The studio is focusing on high-quality art, making the story engaging, and character customization. The project is expected to be announced in 2022. About MY.GAMES: MY.GAMES is an international gaming brand and a leading online entertainment company. MY.GAMES comprises 11 regional offices in Russia, Europe and the US, over 1,800 staff, and 14 development studios. MY.GAMES creates titles for the PC, consoles, and mobile devices. The company operates over 80 projects, with more than 150 titles in its portfolio including War Robots, Hustle Castle, Left to Survive, Skyforge, and Allods Online. MY.GAMES portfolio includes renowned titles like Warface, ArcheAge, Perfect World, Revelation Online, Conqueror's Blade, Lost Ark, and more. Contact Details Renaissance PR Emily Britt +44 7530 081191 emily@renaissancepr.biz Renaissance PR Stefano Petrullo +44 7828 692315 stefano@renaissancepr.biz Renaissance PR Sophie Carter +44 7810 848320 sophie@renaissancepr.biz Company Website https://mgvc.com/en

December 07, 2021 09:01 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Jock MKT User Turns $20 Into Over $110,000 Through the “Stock Market for Sports”

Jock MKT

Jock MKT (Jock Market), the company turning sports into a stock exchange, announced one of its users has accumulated $113,420 in lifetime net winnings on its platform. Drew Heinl of Columbus, Ohio gradually accumulated his winnings since joining Jock MKT in October 2020. As of Dec. 7, 2021, he has executed over 15,000 trades in cash markets for the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, and PGA Tour. “Netting six figures on Jock MKT has been a ride I could have never imagined,” said Heinl. “Unlike traditional sports betting where outcomes are binary, Jock MKT allows me to use my skill and knowledge of sports in a way where I’m growing my wealth gradually and limiting my risk with regular guaranteed payouts. This wasn’t an overnight instant success. I worked hard. But I’ve had an absolute blast doing it.” Heinl is not the only Jock MKT super-investor creating his own “bull market” on the platform. Five users have executed over $1 million worth of trades and several are close to joining Heinl in the $100,000+ Jock MKT club. “We love following the journey of Drew and so many of our other users who have seen incredible returns on Jock MKT,” said Tyler Carlin, CEO of Jock MKT. “We offer a platform where you can start with a small deposit and grow it into a significant amount of money over time.” Available in 35 U.S. states, Jock MKT’s main differentiator is its cash market format – this unique offering gives users more flexibility and optionality versus typical daily fantasy contests. Users can join at any time and for any dollar amount. They can buy and sell shares of athletes in real-time, cash out early by selling to another user in-game or hold to the end and receive fixed Jock MKT payouts tied to final player rankings based on overall fantasy scoring. Each cash market starts with an “Initial Player Offering,” or an IPO, where users have their first opportunity to bid on shares before any contest. About Jock MKT Headquartered in Boston and launched in 2020, Jock MKT ( JockMKT.com ) is a skill-based fantasy gaming platform where users can make real money – every minute, every second, of every game. Inspired by a traditional stock exchange, Jock MKT allows users to buy and sell shares of athletes in real-time. Jock MKT was co-founded by Tyler Carlin and investors include Left Lane Capital, Will Ventures, Ryan Moore, Brandon Adams, Benjie Cherniak, Tim McSweeney, and Alumni Ventures Group. Available in the U.S. in 35 states, Jock MKT offers gaming options for events tied to the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and PGA Tour. Contact Details Eric Nemeth nemeth@ericpr.com Company Website https://jockmkt.com/

December 07, 2021 08:09 AM Eastern Standard Time

Ripken Baseball Signs Stewbowie Sports & Entertainment as Exclusive Sponsorship Sales Agency

Stewbowie Sports & Entertainment

Ripken Baseball announced today it signed Stewbowie Sports & Entertainment to exclusively represent their premier youth sports brand across all sponsorship sales. Stewbowie will provide strategic partnerships and advertising sales across all Ripken Baseball-owned properties and assets. Ripken Baseball offers the most memorable experiences in youth sports, combining facilities and world-class event management to make every ballplayer feel like a Big Leaguer. Ripken Baseball operates sports complexes in Aberdeen, MD, Myrtle Beach, SC, and Pigeon Forge, TN, as well as nationwide programming through their Ripken Select Tournaments. Over 120,000 youth baseball athletes and more than 400,000 guests visit annually traveling from 50 states and 12 countries. “We’ve experienced incredible growth in the last few years and are looking for partners who want to build with us,” said Mike Kenney, Executive Vice President at Ripken Baseball. “Stewbowie’s approach to revenue generation and proven track record of winning deals will help us take our business to another level and find new ways to generate revenue through naming rights, sponsorships, and B2B partnerships. We look forward to collaborating with brands that align with the values of The Ripken Way and our goals to help grow the game of baseball.” “We are honored to have the opportunity to represent such an iconic name as Ripken Baseball. The Ripken name is synonymous with excellence, and we are thrilled to be working with them to create successful sponsorship programs to accomplish our partners’ goals at scale,” said Karl Mawhinney, Stewbowie, LLC Founder & CEO. For Ripken Baseball sponsorship inquiries, please contact karl@stewbowie.com. Ripken Baseball Ripken Baseball brings teammates, coaches, and families together through its Big-League Experiences, while teaching the values of the game, and how to play it the right way – the Ripken Way. Ripken Baseball continues to innovate the game through on-site tournaments, camps, and spring training hosted at their state-of-the-art baseball and softball facilities – The Ripken Experience™ Aberdeen (Maryland), The Ripken Experience™ Myrtle Beach (South Carolina), and The Ripken Experience™ Pigeon Forge (Tennessee). About Stewbowie LLC Stewbowie, LLC is a Brooklyn NY-based, sponsorships sales representation firm working with best-in-class sports and entertainment properties to accelerate revenue growth through naming rights, sponsorships, and integrated marketing programs. Stewbowie Sports & Entertainment is the property representation division of Stewbowie, LLC. Stewbowie’s current property clients span across multiple industries including sports, music, fashion, and immersive digital technology with the core commonality of desiring smarter brand sponsorship. Stewbowie believes every brand’s perfect partnership exists. Contact Details Eric PR & Marketing, LLC Eric Nemeth nemeth@ericpr.com Company Website https://stewbowie.com/

December 07, 2021 07:59 AM Eastern Standard Time

Chaparrals Defeat Nassau Community College 34-29 For NJCAA Division III Football Title

College of DuPage

A championship game figured to have a championship moment. And this one belonged to the College of DuPage Chaparrals, who are the inaugural National Junior College Athletic Association Division III football champions. Freshman wide receiver Matthew Brown broke free from his wide-out position with 21 seconds left in the game, and quarterback Brooks Blount connected on a 33-yard touchdown pass for a come-from-behind 34-29 title victory over Nassau (N.Y.) Community College before a crowd of 2,500 on a brisk December afternoon at COD’s Bjarne Ullsvik Stadium. “I guess it is the biggest play of my life,’’ said Brown, an Aurora native who earned the game’s most valuable player honors for his only catch of the day. “There was no way I wasn’t going to score. I even extended my hands to break the plane so it would count.’’ The Chaps survived against the visiting Lions, who overcame a 21-point deficit with 22 unanswered points in the second half, eventually grabbing the lead with 40 seconds left on Joshua Arevalo’s 28-yard field goal for a 29-28 lead. Chaps head coach and national coach of the year Matthew Rahn said that with 40 seconds left and one time out remaining, the game may have seemed dire, but his team was prepared for one last successful final drive. “In all probability, we’re looking to get in range for a field goal attempt,’’ he said. “We had the time and a time out to make something happen.’’ After Nassau’s successful field goal, the Chaps’ Jessi Plunkett took the ensuing kickoff and returned it 18 yards to the COD 44. On first down, Blount scrambled and went up the middle for an eight-yard gain. A personal foul was called on a late hit, and that moved the Chaps 15 yards closer to the Nassau 33. After an incomplete pass, the game-winning play called for a mesh pattern, where Brown lined up on the right side with teammate Chase Mendoza to his immediate left. “I thought Chase set a great pick, and I was able to run and get open on a seam route to the inside,’’ Brown said. “Matthew was the primary receiver on the play,’’ Blount said. “I saw that he had maybe a step-and-a-half on the d-back and that was enough to get the pass to him.’’ And just like that, the Chaps drove three plays in just 13 seconds and held on to secure the first national championship for the sport in school history. The Chaps (9-2 overall) were in command throughout the first half, leading 14-0 thanks to a one-yard touchdown from Tom Trieb in the opening quarter, and a 76-yard scamper from Darrell Smith with 48 seconds before halftime. The Chaps padded the lead to 21-0 on a Blount five-yard pass to tight end Jack Dorsey early in the third quarter. And after Nassau scored its first touchdown of the game, a 16-yard pass from Michael Batton to John Beaubrun, the Chaps regained momentum when sophomore Lazerick Eatman returned the ensuing kickoff 94 yards and COD led 28-7 with 9:43 left in the third quarter. It seemed as if Green and Silver were in complete control. The Lions, however, scored three straight touchdowns — two from the arm and one on the ground from quarterback Michael Batton — to pull within two points at 28-26 when Ka’Shaun Parrish caught a 35-yard touchdown with 6:21 left in the game. Smith led the Chaps in rushing with 170 yards on 21 carries. Blount was 17-of-27 for 130 yards, two touchdowns and was sacked four times. Mendoza led in receiving with four receptions for 53 yards. Defensively, Chase Graham and Danarius Shaw led with eight tackles. Nicholas Wade had the Chaps’ only interception, a grab to conclude the final play of the game. That this championship marks COD’s first in the sport wasn’t lost on Rahn, who is an alum. “I talk with alumni who were here in the 90s, and those who played afterward,’’ he said. “And it really is a program built on giving kids a platform to perform, improve their skills and have success. “This is a title that can be shared with and for so many.’’ Nassau finished the season 6-4. Batton was 13 of 24 for 205 yards passing with three touchdowns, and rushed for 72 yards on 12 carries. The Chaps closed the season on a six-game winning streak, all coming after losing at Nassau 17-15 on Oct. 16. Chaps and Nassau This was the second time the two teams met in the postseason. Nassau defeated the Chaps 19-0 in the 1992 Midwest Bowl played in Naperville. COD National Championships The championship is COD’s 35 th in school history. The others are: men — basketball (2002), soccer (1993), golf (1996, 1997, 1998), hockey (1980, 1988, 1990), tennis (1997, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2005) and Track & Field (2002, 2003, 2006, 2010, 2021). Women’s title-winning teams are: basketball (2000, 2002), softball (1998, 2000, 2001, 2004), tennis (2007, 2008, 2010), track & field (2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2021) and volleyball (1998, 1999). Contact Details College of DuPage Mark Reinhiller +1 630-942-3761 reinhillerm@cod.edu

December 06, 2021 06:38 AM Eastern Standard Time

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ARMY dances along on Twitter with 68M Tweets as BTS returns to the live stage in LA

Twitter, Inc.

LOS ANGELES, US - Media OutReach - 3 December 2021 - 21st century pop icons BTS' 'BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE - LA' tour was celebrated by fans all over the world with a whopping 68M Tweets globally throughout the tour from November 27th to December 2nd. Whether they were at the concert or not, fans came to Twitter and enjoyed the act’s first face-to-face concert since 2019, using hashtags like #PTD_ON_STAGE_LA, #Stage_For_ARMY, #BTS, #방탄소년단, #BTSARMY. On the 27th and 28th November, and 1st and 2nd December, tens of thousands of lucky fans got to see BTS perform live at the 'BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE - LA' tour at LA’s SoFi Stadium while plenty more from all over the world tuned in to the moment on Twitter. A truly unforgettable concert, many fans gathered on Twitter to rejoice and celebrate their favourite moments both in the lead-up to the performance, and after the event. For example, we saw conversation volume peaks when Jimin Tweeted just before the first concert, when Jin and RM Tweeted after the first concert, and when BTS Tweeted their photo with Halsey who attended the third concert. Be it to complement virtual or in-person activities, fans everywhere come to Twitter to join in the fun and have conversations about them. So, even though things appear to be slowly returning to normal again and K-pop stars reunite with their fans, Twitter will continue to play an important role to drive conversations and connections within the K-pop community. For instance, to celebrate ARMY meeting BTS in real-life this time, Twitter launched various activations for fans, including special emojis and a Live Event Page dedicated to curating all the latest action in one place. This ensured that fans were always kept updated on all the happenings and content related to the concert - never missing an important moment. YeonJeong Kim, Head of Global K-pop Partnerships at Twitter, said, “During the difficult times when face-to-face events such as concerts were cancelled, Twitter is where fans go to talk about what’s happening, as well as stay connected with their artists. While it has been more than two years since their last real-life concert, BTS and ARMY have stayed close on Twitter and their relationship is stronger than ever, such as during the band’s single ‘Butter’ earlier this year where we saw over 300 million related Tweets in just one month. On the first day of the tour, more than 15 million Tweets were generated, far exceeding the average 10 million Tweets per day at the time of the release of Butter in May. As live concerts begin again, Tweets from fans are expected to continue to increase.” About Twitter, Inc. Twitter is what’s happening and what people are talking about right now. To learn more, visit about.twitter.com and follow @Twitter and @TwitterKorea. Let’s talk. Contact Details Communications, Twitter Korea Hyeji Park (@HyejiPark5) hyejip@twitter.com The Hoffman Agency Kimberlee Lim (@_Kimberxz) twitterSG@hoffman.com

December 03, 2021 02:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Millions Celebrate The Annual Christmas Lottery In Spain With The Game "Hidden Image"

Party Casino

The Extraordinary Christmas Draw in Spain has the largest jackpot in the world Last year's total jackpot amounted to almost € 2.5 billion Players are invited to find the El Gordo ticket in the lottery ticket image PartyCasino has launched a new game where players have to locate the Spanish Christmas lottery ticket - also known as El Gordo - among a sea of other lottery tickets from around the world. Generally regarded as the largest lottery game in the world, the Spanish Christmas Draw is held annually on December 22, and involves millions of Spaniards, often purchasing multiple tickets for friends and family as a Christmas gift. Tickets have been on sale since July. Last year the total prize pool was € 2.4 billion, with a top prize of € 4 million, but since the raffle rules are so complex and people can buy multiple tickets with the same numbers, it is almost impossible to calculate how many players have won a share of the total pot. To see the correct location of the hidden El Gordo tenth in the image, visit the PartyCasino site at https://www.partycasino.es/es/blog/lograste-dedcubrir-el-boleto-escondido/ To download the image in high resolution, click here. Contact Details Intelligiants Ltd J Cain media@intelligiants.com Company Website https://www.partycasino.es/es

December 03, 2021 01:05 PM Eastern Standard Time

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DOGTV Launches First Original Program for Pet Owners, “Paws for Love”

DOGTV

DOGTV is premiering its first programming geared toward pet owners with a new docuseries that begins December 9. “Paws for Love” is a show that follows Nashville couple Sean and Christina Conlon — and their golden retriever therapy dog Nash — who sold 90 percent of their possessions to begin a quest to travel around America helping others through therapy dogs. In the Fall of 2019, they went through training and certifying Nash as a therapy dog. Immediately, they started serving around the Nashville area in schools, fire stations, and police stations. They saw people light up around Nash in a genuine and unique way, and knew therapy work was exactly what they were meant to be doing as a family. But once COVID hit, everything came to a screeching halt. Sean and Christina couldn’t serve with Nash any longer, but they knew they had to do something. So they launched Nashies, a single ingredient dog treat company that financially supports therapy dog organizations across the United States. However, they realized it wasn’t just a financial problem these organizations were facing in the pandemic, it was an awareness problem. And in a time where the world needed therapy dogs more than ever, they felt called to do something bigger and more hands-on. In late 2020, they sold 90 percent of their stuff, got an RV, and started traveling the U.S. on the @PawsForLove Tour, volunteering with Nash and creating positive, encouraging content to share on their social media that brings a smile to people’s faces. “We heard very clearly that we needed to shine a bright spotlight on the incredible work that these therapy dog organizations do day in and day out for our communities,” said Sean Conlon. “The reality is that every single one of us needs more love and compassion than we ever have before, and there’s a lot we can learn a lot from our canine companions. And we reacted by doing the only thing we could think to do because of how strongly we felt about this calling. “We sold 90 percent of our worldly possessions because we knew it would take money to accomplish this mission, and we knew it couldn’t wait, so we just started selling our stuff. What we began to realize is the stuff in our life was simply a weight that was holding us back, and was just sitting there idle. But we knew if we could turn that stuff into something that could impact others, we would happily part with it,” he said. The couple embarked on a 15-city tour starting in January 2021. “Paws for Love” tracks their journey through 10 weekly 30-minute shows starting on December 9, with new episodes every Thursday. Beke Lubeach, General Manager and Chief Marketing Officer of DOGTV, said the show is an ideal and entertaining foray into new territory for the network. “This is an incredible series that tells a wonderful story about the dedication of Christina and Sean to improving people’s lives,” she said. “We thought this was the perfect opportunity to expand the impact of DOGTV by telling their story as the first programming we have provided for pet owners. We look forward to sharing ‘Paws for Love’ with the DOGTV family over the coming months.” DOGTV will donate $1 per view of Episode 1 of “Paws For Love” up to $5,000 to the Alliance of Therapy Dogs Junior Handler Program. The program is aimed at educating the younger generations on the benefits of volunteering with their dogs so that they can learn early and have a life of service. Alliance of Therapy Dogs provides testing, certification, registration, support, and insurance for members who volunteer with dogs to visit hospitals, special needs centers, schools, nursing homes, and other facilities and events in their communities. Alliance of Therapy Dogs is a network of caring volunteers who are willing to share our special canines to bring smiles and joy to people, young and old alike across the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada. DOGTV is planning on rolling out new series for pet parents to watch on a quarterly basis over the next year — marking the first time the channel has aired television format shows for people. DOGTV is now available in the US, Mexico, Brazil, Portugal and S. Korea via cable and satellite providers and Direct To Consumer through their app available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, iOS and Android devices everywhere. The channel also has a robust online and social media presence as well. DOGTV’s approach toward pet enrichment is based on more than 60 scientific studies. The channel’s content is focused on behavior and how visual stimuli can impact it, ways to help dogs counter anxiety and stimulation and enrichment through music and sound. About DOGTV DOGTV is a 24/7 channel with programs scientifically developed to provide the right company for dogs when left alone. Through years of research by some of the world’s top pet experts, special content was created to meet specific attributes of a dog’s sense of vision and hearing and supports their natural behavior patterns. The result: a confident, happy dog, who’s less likely to develop stress, separation anxiety or other related problems. To learn more about DOGTV or follow us on social media, please visit: Website: www.dogtv.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dogtv Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogtv/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DOGTVWORLD NOTE: Interviews available with the Conlons — please contact Tom Evans to schedule Contact Details Tom Evans +1 602-448-5483 tevans@onadvertising.com

December 03, 2021 11:46 AM Eastern Standard Time

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True Colors Film Festival: A Feast of Firsts & Award-Winning Short Films & Dialogues All Free to Stream Globally

True Colors Film Festival

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 3 December 2021 - True Colors Film Festival (TCFF) returns from today offering audiences around the world free streaming of 20 short films and 4 Dialogues. Presented by The Nippon Foundation, the films present new and sometimes radical human perspectives about life and the pursuit of happiness. Highlights include: The world’s first Oscar-nominated film featuring a DeafBlind Actor, 2021 Oscar-nominated FEELING THROUGH and its ‘making of’ documentary, CONNECTING THE DOTS; Oscar-winning short films THE SILENT CHILD (2017) and HELIUM (2013); Official Selection of the Fashion Film Festival Milano from 13-18 January 2022, THE FUTURE IS NOW!, a True Colors Festival documentary. ON BEAUTY, inspired by the work of photographer and founder of Positive Exposure, Rick Guidotti, who challenges the ‘universal’ beauty standard espoused by the fashion industry. Dialogues: Hear first-hand from US director Doug Roland (FEELING THROUGH) and his cast Robert Tarango and Steven Prescod; Tunku Mona Riza (REDHA) from Malaysia who chats with Singaporean actor and educator, Aidli Mosbit; US director Amanda Lukoff (THE R-WORD), with sibling and self-advocates, Singaporeans Tasneem Majeed and Allan Cai; and US photographer Rick Guidotti with Tokyo-based photographer and multimedia artist, Lily Shu, and Singaporean actor and host Oon Shu An. “There’s no shortage of options for streaming movies on demand, but here you’ll discover a selection not found anywhere else; a one-stop shop of award-winning films and dialogues about Perspectives that will entertain, challenge and inspire,” says Audrey Perera, Executive Producer of True Colors Film Festival 2021. Shorts and Dialogues can be viewed around the world via Vimeo, Features can be watched on The Projector Plus by viewers across Asia, and the bonus program can be viewed on Filmbankmedia only in Japan and Singapore. For more information, visit the TCFF 2021 website. For updates, sign-up for the TCFF 2021 mailer. True Colors Film Festival 2021 is a free online event that launches on December 3, coinciding with International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). Now in its second edition, the first True Colors Film Festival, held in 2020, drew an audience of almost 8,000 from 39 countries. Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp7ZhaKBBbc Contact Details Hana Kim +65 9272 6747 hana@lightyears-comm.com Michelle Theseira +65 9099 6840 michelle@lightyears-comm.com

December 03, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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