The Press Wire

Verizon Wireless Invested More Than $1 Billion in States Prone to Devastating Storms

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., April 30 /PRNewswire/ — With the start of hurricane season just one month away, Verizon Wireless announced today that it invested more than $1 billion over the past 18 months to expand and enhance its wireless network in Gulf Coast and Eastern Seaboard states historically prone to severe hurricanes.

To ensure customers have comprehensive, reliable coverage every day as well as in the event of severe weather, Verizon Wireless has updated and optimized technology at many regional network switching facilities. In Florida, the company operates five super switches, each with the capacity to handle tens of millions of voice calls and wireless data transmissions each day. Designed to withstand Category 5 hurricanes, these facilities feature fully redundant back-up power generation and serve as emergency operation centers in the event of a hurricane or other crisis in the Sunshine State. (Learn more at http://news.vzw.com/news/2010/03/pr2010-03-26.html.) A video tour of one of Verizon Wireless’ Florida super switches is available on the company’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/VerizonWirelessTV.

The company’s commitment to its network and advance preparations have proven critical in many previous storms. Most recently in March, when a Nor’easter pounded the Northeast causing serious flooding, numerous downed trees and widespread power outages, the Verizon Wireless network remained strong. To learn more, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPy4w3cgZvk.

More Information Available

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving nearly 93 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 81,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless

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http://www.verizonwireless.com

Chubb Hosts Risk Management Innovation Event Online Through May 14

WARREN, N.J., April 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Only half (51%) of the people surveyed always use their real name on social networking sites. Eighteen percent said they always use a nickname. A third (31%) said they sometimes use their real name and sometimes use a nickname to identify themselves on social networking sites, according to a survey of 1,040 Americans sponsored by the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies.

“Twitter, Facebook and Foursquare have created new social media risks and an environment where many people don’t know who they are talking to online. They don’t realize who can see their location, creating many exposures for individuals and companies,” according to Kenneth Goldstein, worldwide media liability manager at Chubb.

Does everyone know where you are?

Two-thirds (66%) of respondents said they would not use mobile technology that shows people on social networking sites where they are located.

“Although this lets your friends know where to find you, it also alerts criminals of your whereabouts, including when to burglarize your empty home,” said Goldstein.

Negative experiences?

Nearly 20% of respondents said they have shared a negative product or service experience with others on Facebook, YouTube or other social networking sites.

Social networking at work?

Almost two-thirds (64%) of respondents said their company had no policy for talking about the company on social networking sites. Of the 36% who said their company had a policy, 18% said they were encouraged to talk about the company and 18% said they were prohibited from talking about the company on social networking sites.

Chubb launched an interactive, worldwide discussion on social media risk management earlier this week at the Risk & Insurance Management Society annual conference in Boston. The event, which is accessible on PCs, laptops and mobile devices, runs through May 14. To register, go to https://chubbsocialmedia.imaginatik.com. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/b8XvyL.

The online survey was conducted by Opinion Research Corp. in April 2010.

About Chubb

The member insurers of the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies (NYSE: CB) form a multi-billion dollar organization providing property and casualty insurance for personal and commercial customers worldwide through 8,500 independent agents and brokers. Chubb’s global network includes branches and affiliates in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Australia. More information on Chubb is available at www.chubb.com.

Chubb Group of Insurance Companies

15 Mountain View Road
P.O. Box 1615
Warren, New Jersey 07059
Contact: Mark Schussel
(908) 419-9889
Email: mschussel@chubb.com

SOURCE Chubb Group of Insurance Companies

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http://www.chubb.com

Opening in Moscow beginning of Dunkin’ Donuts’ plans to expand throughout Russia and Ukraine

CANTON, Mass., April 28 /PRNewswire/ — Dunkin’ Donuts, the world’s largest coffee and baked goods chain, today announced the brand’s official entry into Russia. The first restaurant in Moscow on Novy Arbat Street, one of the city’s most prestigious and historic areas, will be open to the public on May 11th. This opening marks Dunkin’ Donuts’ plans to expand steadily throughout Russia and Ukraine over the next several years.

Donuts Project LLC, Dunkin’ Donuts’ franchise partner in Russia, is set to open between 10 and 20 Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants in Moscow and the Moscow region in 2010. Konstantin Petrov, founder of Donuts Project LLC, brings years of experience and expertise as a successful businessman within the region’s restaurant and catering industry.

“We are extremely excited to open our first Dunkin’ Donuts restaurant in Russia and to begin our steady and strategic expansion throughout the region,” said Anthony P. Pavese, Chief Operating Officer for Dunkin’ Donuts International. “Russia is experiencing significant growth, and the pace of everyday life is becoming faster. We believe Dunkin’ Donuts will offer Russian consumers a quick, convenient place to stop, throughout their hectic days, for great coffee, baked goods and high-quality snacks that will help keep them running.”

“Dunkin’ Donuts is one of America’s most beloved brands, and we believe the Russian people will embrace this restaurant concept as well,” said Konstantin Petrov, founder of Donuts Project LLC. “I am proud to be Dunkin’ Donuts’ local partner in Moscow and the Moscow region, with the total population exceeding 20 million, and I look forward to introducing the high-quality coffee and baked goods of this brand throughout the market.”

The Dunkin’ Donuts restaurant in Moscow offers a complete menu of Dunkin’ Donuts’ internationally recognized coffee, lattes, donuts and bakery goods. The restaurant will also serve items customized with flavors adapted to suit local taste preferences, such as donuts filled with scalded cream or raspberry, which tastes similar to a traditional raspberry jam. The restaurant will provide a welcoming environment for customers to enjoy Dunkin’ Donuts’ food and beverages in a friendly and fun atmosphere.

Dunkin’ Donuts’ entry into Russia comes on the heels of the brand’s expansion throughout Europe and the Asia-Pacific market. In Europe, the company has approximately 70 Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants in Germany, Spain and Bulgaria. Last year, the company opened its first two restaurants in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, and has secured agreements to open a total of 480 shops in Mainland China over the next 10 years. Today, the company has nearly 1,800 Dunkin’ Donuts shops in the Asia Pacific region, including more than 12 in China, 800 in Korea, 600 in the Philippines, and 260 in Indonesia. Dunkin’ Donuts currently has more than 9,000 restaurants on four continents around the world.

Dunkin’ Brands, parent company of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, already has established a successful and growing presence in Russia. Baskin-Robbins, the world’s largest chain of ice cream specialty shops, has nearly 150 shops in the region and recently opened its first shop in Sochi, home of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. The company recently signed an agreement to develop more than 150 additional shops over the next several years in Russia and the pre-Soviet republics. In January, Baskin-Robbins was awarded the title of “Official Purveyor to the Moscow Kremlin. As part of this exclusive honor, Baskin-Robbins will feature the Kremlin logo prominently in-store and on all of its packaging in Russia.

About Dunkin’ Donuts

Founded in 1950, Dunkin’ Donuts is America’s favorite every day, all-day stop for coffee and baked goods. Dunkin’ Donuts is a market leader in the regular/decaf coffee, iced coffee, hot flavored coffee, donut, bagel and muffin categories, and the largest coffee and baked goods chain in the world. Dunkin’ Donuts has earned the No. 1 ranking for customer loyalty in the coffee category by Brand Keys for four years running. The company has more than 9,000 restaurants in 31 countries worldwide. In 2009, Dunkin’ Donuts’ global system-wide sales were $5.7 billion. Based in Canton, Massachusetts, Dunkin’ Donuts is a subsidiary of Dunkin’ Brands, Inc. For more information, visit www.DunkinDonuts.com.

Contact:
Michelle King
781-737-5200
Michelle.King@dunkinbrands.com

Jessica Rosen
RF Binder
212-994-7522
Jessica.Rosen@rfbinder.com

SOURCE Dunkin’ Donuts

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http://www.DunkinDonuts.com

LOS ANGELES, April 26 /PRNewswire/ — Moms, more than anyone else, have little time for themselves and are constantly trying to figure out how to manage their 24/7 lives…and stay well in the process.

Neuro Drinks offers a healthy alternative to flowers and candy with a full collection of beneficial beverages, to meet the demanding needs of today’s moms.

Spokesperson Gabrielle Reece is a great example of a mother who manages to “do it all” and she relies on Neuro to help her!

“Being a mother has been the greatest adventure I have ever been on. My husband [Neuro spokesperson and surf legend Laird Hamilton] jokes that ‘parenting’ is for the parents, and that’s why they call it that. He says that kids are going to grow up and do what they do, but that ‘parenting’ is really for us to grow up!” says Reece, currently preparing to compete in the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour next month. “I think the only way one can juggle being a mom with everything else you have going on is to have a great support system, the flexibility to give up what the original ‘plan’ was, love, perspective, and the willingness to belly laugh when the real craziness starts.”

Part of Reece’s support system is Neuro Drinks. Neuro is a groundbreaking brand of healthy supplement drinks designed to sustain and enhance active lives. Made with natural ingredients and recyclable packaging, Neuro is formulated by nutritionists to promote health and well-being. Great-tasting Neuro Drinks contain essential vitamins, minerals, amino acids and botanicals at dosages backed by scientific research, so the benefit is real and not just marketing hype.

Neuro features seven blends — NeuroGasm, NeuroSonic (Gabby’s favorite), NeuroBliss, NeuroSport, NeuroTrim, NeuroSleep and NeuroAqua – that are individually developed to provide vital nutrients that help you be your best.

Let’s face it: flowers wilt and candy is fattening. Show mom you not only love her, but understand her lifestyle with Neuro Drinks. The gift of well-being is one with truly lasting benefits. Now, that’s thoughtful.

Neuro is available by the case ($36.99/12 14.5 fl oz.) at www.drinkneuro.com. Order now and pay no charge for shipping in the continental US.

Drink smart. Drink Neuro.

SOURCE Neuro Drinks

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http://www.drinkneuro.com

Annual Award Recognizes Those Who Make a Powerful Difference in their Community

CHICAGO, April 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Following the conclusion of National Volunteer Week, AARP is urging individuals and organizations to nominate deserving volunteers for the 2010 AARP Andrus Award for Community Service. The Andrus Award, AARP’s most prestigious volunteer award, honors those individuals who share their experience, talent, and skills to enrich the lives of others.

“AARP has a strong commitment to volunteer service that is traced back to our founder, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus,” said Merri Dee, AARP Illinois State President. “The Andrus Award recognizes those individuals who tirelessly give of themselves for the benefit of their community.”

All Illinois nominees will be screened by the AARP Illinois Executive Council. The 2010 Andrus Award for Community Service will recognize unique individuals who have demonstrated the power to make their communities better in ways that are consistent with AARP’s mission, vision, and commitment to volunteer service, and that inspire others to volunteer.

AARP Andrus Award for Community Service nominees must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• * Nominees must be current AARP volunteers or AARP members; or must have been AARP volunteers or members during 2009.
• * The accomplishments, achievements or service on which the nomination is based must include the year 2009, but it need not be exclusive to 2009.
• * Couples or partners who perform service together are also eligible, however teams are not eligible.
• * The accomplishments, achievements, or service on which the nomination is based must have been performed on a volunteer basis, without pay.
• * The accomplishments, achievements or service on which the nomination is based must reflect AARP’s priority issues of health, livable communities and/or economic security.

Individuals and organizations can submit nominations for the 2010 Andrus Award for Community Service by visiting www.aarp.org/volunteer. The application deadline is June 1, 2010.

Become a fan of AARP Illinois on Facebook – www.facebook.com/aarpillinois

Follow us on Twitter – www.twitter.com/aarpillinois

SOURCE AARP Illinois

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NEW YORK, April 22 /PRNewswire/ — Ogilvy & Mather announced today that Steve Harding will assume the role of Global CEO of OgilvyAction, effective immediately. Harding, a British national based in London, has been part of the five person management collective which has run the business over the past seven months.

Miles Young, Worldwide CEO of Ogilvy & Mather, said, “Steve has been the convenor of our management team, and it is natural that he should step up. He is truly an activation professional. He has selling in his bones, and a real vision for how the business creates strategic advantage by affecting behaviours. Our ambition for the business, which is showing high growth, is very substantial. Steve and his superb team are tasked with positioning to lead this discipline as a global ‘must-have’ for clients old and new.”

Harding joined Ogilvy & Mather in May 2005 when he merged his activation company Tarantula with Ogilvy & Mather’s 141 Worldwide, becoming the CEO of the merged operations. In 2007, when 141 was relaunched as OgilvyAction, Steve was named CEO, OgilvyAction EAME. At the end of 2009 when the OgilvyAction Global Leadership Team was established, he became an inaugural member.

In commenting on his new role, Mr. Harding said, “I’m very excited about taking on the OgilvyAction Global role. The activation marketplace is clearly one of the most dynamic marketing disciplines today. I know with the help of our leadership team we will achieve our mission of becoming the world’s best brand activation network.”

OgilvyAction’s management team which Harding will lead also includes Sheila Hartnett, CEO, North America; John Goodman, President, Asia Pacific; Regis Duarte, General Manager, Latina; and David Fox, Worldwide Managing Director, BAT.

Harding started his career at Smith and Nephew, followed by Carlsberg Tetley both in Sales and Marketing roles. He then took the decision to move to the agency side in the early 1990’s joining a Sales Promotion start up called USP, which he was a shareholder of before it was sold to a UK PLC. Steve then became MD of the newly formed CSP which he left in 1998 to start up Tarantula Activation Communications, where he oversaw the development of the company in the UK as well as its international presence in Russia, China, Uzbekistan and Japan. In 2005, he joined Ogilvy.

About OgilvyAction:

OgilvyAction is the global brand activation network of The Ogilvy Group. With its 69 offices employing 1,700 people, OgilvyAction delivers a focused range of disciplines including experiential, shopper, trade, and promotional marketing. Supporting each of these is a capability in field marketing, digital activation, retail design and analytics that builds brands by creating purchase behavior. The agency’s client portfolio features Fortune 500 Blue Chip brands and some of the most innovative local marketers around the world. Ogilvy is part of WPP, one of the world’s largest communications services organizations ( WPPGY, www.wpp.com.) For more information, visit our website at www.ogilvyaction.com.

SOURCE Ogilvy & Mather

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http://www.ogilvyaction.com

– Presidential Executive Order affirms bedside access to the legally designated health care agent; a victory for all patients everywhere –

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., April 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Aging with Dignity President Paul Malley praised President Barack Obama’s Executive Order dated April 15, 2010 in which he instructs hospitals participating in Medicare/Medicaid to allow bedside access to the patient’s legally designated health care agent. Malley said the President’s order is a tremendous victory for all patients everywhere, particularly those whose designated health care agent is someone other than an immediate family member.

“Aging with Dignity has long supported the right of all patients to choose their own health care agent and that whoever that is absolutely be allowed bedside,” Aging with Dignity President Paul Malley said. “The presidential executive order affirms that right and it clearly directs hospitals to respect it if they are not already.”

Malley noted that quite often people can be estranged from family or separated by distance and instead rely on a close friend or neighbor to act for them in case of a medical emergency or serious illness rendering them unable to make decisions for themselves. If that person has been legally designated as their health care agent, he or she should be given bedside access and the decisions made should be respected by medical providers.

Aging with Dignity is a national non-profit organization that created and distributes the Five Wishes advance directive, which meets the legal requirements of 42 states and is available in 26 languages and in Braille. More than 14 million copies are in national circulation, distributed by 23,000 partner organizations.

“All people age 18 and older should have an advance directive in place so that your wishes and dignity can be honored,” Malley said.

SOURCE Aging With Dignity

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http://www.agingwithdignity.org

Company Leads Industry in Energy Efficiency Certifications for Retail Locations

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., April 21 /PRNewswire/ — Verizon Wireless said today that nearly 60 of the company’s Communications Stores have been recognized for energy efficiency, up from 32 stores in 2009. To date, 59 Verizon Wireless Communications Stores have been awarded the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) prestigious ENERGY STAR® certification, the highest number for any wireless retailer. Two newly constructed Communications Stores were among the first in the nation to apply for and receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), joining the company’s headquarters in Basking Ridge, N.J., with this certification.

EPA’s ENERGY STAR

The EPA’s ENERGY STAR energy performance rating system provides a one to 100 point scale that helps organizations assess how efficiently their buildings use energy relative to similar buildings nationwide. A building that scores a rating of 75 or higher and occupies 5,000 square feet or more is eligible for the ENERGY STAR. Commercial buildings that earn the ENERGY STAR use an average of 40 percent less energy than typical buildings and also release 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

LEED Certification

Two Verizon Wireless evolution stores in the western United States have been GOLD Certified by the USGBC’s LEED – Commercial Interiors rating system. The LEED Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. The stores’ design optimizes water and energy use, enhances indoor environmental quality and reduces waste through specifications and responsible procurement and construction practices. Additional Verizon Wireless Communications Stores throughout the country are currently applying for LEED Certification.

To make Communications Stores more energy efficient, Verizon Wireless utilizes:

These environmentally responsible characteristics play a key role to help Verizon Wireless Communications Stores reduce waste and emissions and conserve resources.

HopeLine

All Verizon Wireless Communications Stores have HopeLine® phone collection bins, making it easy for shoppers to help the environment and survivors of domestic violence. All donated phones and equipment are either refurbished or recycled, with the funds from the sale of refurbished phones used to provide cash grants, wireless phones and airtime to non-profit domestic violence agencies for use by survivors. Through HopeLine, more than 7 million phones have been collected and either refurbished or properly disposed of in an environmentally sound way. For additional information about Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine program and store locations, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

For additional information about Verizon Wireless’ Green Initiatives, visit http://aboutus.vzw.com/Green_Initiative/overview.html.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 91 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless

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http://www.verizonwireless.com

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., April 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Space shuttle Discovery and seven astronauts ended a 15-day journey of more than 6.2 million miles with a 9:08 a.m. EDT landing Tuesday at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The STS-131 mission to the International Space Station delivered science racks, new crew sleeping quarters, equipment and supplies. During three spacewalks, the crew installed a new ammonia storage tank for the station’s cooling system, replaced a gyroscope for the station’s navigation system and retrieved a Japanese experiment from outside the Kibo laboratory for examination on Earth.

Alan Poindexter commanded the flight and was joined by Pilot Jim Dutton and Mission Specialists Rick Mastracchio, Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger, Stephanie Wilson, Clay Anderson, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Naoko Yamazaki. Lindenburger is the last of three teachers selected as mission specialists in the 2004 Educator-Astronaut class to fly on the shuttle.

A welcome ceremony for the astronauts will be held Wednesday, April 21, in Houston. The public is invited to attend the 4 p.m. CDT event at Ellington Field’s NASA Hangar 990.

Highlights from the ceremony will be broadcast on NASA Television’s Video File. For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming video, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

With Discovery and its crew safely home, the stage is set for launch of shuttle Atlantis on its STS-132 mission, targeted to lift off May 14. Atlantis’ 12-day flight will deliver the Russian-built Mini Research Module to the station along with six new batteries to store power gathered by the Port 6 solar arrays. Shuttle mission STS-132 is the final scheduled flight of Atlantis. Following STS-132, two more shuttle flights are scheduled before the fleet is retired.

For more information about the STS-131 mission and the upcoming STS-132 flight, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

Two STS-131 crew members, Clay Anderson and Naoko Yamazaki, used the social medium Twitter to discuss the mission. For their Twitter feeds and other NASA social media websites, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/connect

Educational activities on the STS-131 mission focused on robotics and promoting careers in science, technology, engineering and math. For NASA’s teacher and student resources and activities related to robotics, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/education/robotics

For information about the International Space Station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

SOURCE NASA

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http://www.nasa.gov

MEXICO CITY, April 19 /PRNewswire/ — First Lady Michelle Obama proved she travels in style when arriving in Mexico City on Tuesday, April 13. Conscious of Earth Day, Michelle Obama looks chic in MONIQUE PEAN fine jewelry. Monique Pean creates wearable art that raises awareness of the importance of sustainability and ethical trade while encouraging appreciation of indigenous art and culture.

The First Lady has been wearing MONIQUE PEAN’S jewelry throughout her travels this week, showing her admiration of the collection.

In the past year, MONIQUE PEAN has provided clean drinking water to more than 3,000 people in collaboration with charity: water.

ABOUT MONIQUE PEAN:

MONIQUE PEAN is one of the winners of the 2009 CFDA/ VOGUE Fashion Fund and she is the recipient of the 2009 Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation Award for Accessories. Ms. Pean was just named by Oprah Winfrey as one of “Ten Women on the Rise” in the May 2010 anniversary issue of O, The Oprah Magazine.

Ms. Pean holds a B.A. in Philosophy, Political, Science, and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania. Ms. Pean began her career working in finance at Goldman Sachs, in New York City, USA.

Ms. Pean’s current collection includes eco-friendly collaborations and profit sharing arrangements with philanthropic organizations including the Alaska House and charity: water.

MONIQUE PEAN fine jewelry is one of the first luxury collections to highlight the importance of sustainability. By using 100% recycled gold, her goal is to reduce the demand for the dirty mining of precious metals. Monique also utilizes fair trade, and devastation-free and conflict- free stones.

Ten percent of the profit from each piece of jewelry sold goes to support Alaska Native art and culture, or to provide clean water wells to developing communities in need.

Other pieces from the Monique Pean collection worn by the first lady include jewelry from a collaborative collection with fine jewelry designer Mark Davis.

SOURCE MONIQUE PEAN

RELATED LINKS
http://www.moniquepean.com