(NewsUSA) - Operating from the epicenter of commerce, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) form the core of the global economy—and while fears of recession continue to loom, many of these enterprises remain optimistic. In fact, 57% of SMBs expect revenue to grow and 58% plan to expand their workforce in the next 12 months according to recent WSJ/Vistage Small Business CEO Confidence Index reporting. However, despite this rise in confidence and rebounding economic circumstances, some businesses continue to remain operationally paralyzed into a state of “do no harm” rather than focusing on new avenues for growth. This is particularly true for SMBs hesitant to make changes within global imports and exports given the turmoil supply chains experienced in recent years.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce, SMBs accounted for $413 billion of the known U.S. export value and $651 billion of the known U.S. import value. Unfortunately, these SMBs are too often relegated to a secondary priority amidst larger, well-established entities that enjoy high-touch services by multinational shipping companies.

The reality is shipping and logistics are the lifeblood of international trade, but it is fraught with challenges ranging from price fluctuations, language barriers, customs, regulations, and more that even the most seasoned and sophisticated stewards of global shipping within companies find complex, confusing, and cumbersome. Fortunately, resources like digital-first freight forwarders are forging a new frontier for SMBs by changing the landscape and democratizing international shipping.

“With expanding markets, tightening margins, and many supply chain restrictions and regulations, freight forwarding can make or break a dynamic enterprise in today’s world,” said Carmit Glik, CEO and Co-founding Member of Ship4wd, a leading global digital freight forwarding solution for SMBs. “No matter how large or small, every single international shipment deserves an advocate, and a user-friendly platform can help SMBs take all the guesswork out of door-to-door, and port-to-port journeys.”

As recent supply chain challenges rebound to favor businesses once again, Glik shares three ways companies can leverage freight forwarding to reenact growth mode strategies that have otherwise been paused by many enterprises out of an abundance of caution.

Protect Operational Cash Flow through the Right Partnership in Shipping & Logistics Processes

Recent reports indicate only 26% of Main Street businesses have access to enough funding to stay open for more than 60 days in the event of a cash flow shortfall, and 17% have no access to funding at all, according to a “Main Street Health Q1 2023” study from PYMNTS and Enigma. Given these cash flow risks, it’s critical for small and medium-sized businesses to employ tactics to protect their financial position, especially as they work to capitalize on the current global trade environment. This is where a strategic freight forwarding partnership can help by assessing various factors to strengthen a business’ financial position such as flexible payment structure, inventory financing, guaranteed shipping allocation, and much more.

Consider What International Shipping Options Are Right for Your Business

While air freight is frequently considered faster and more reliable than ocean freight, it typically transports smaller volumes and high-cost goods, coming with exponentially higher costs. For larger shipments, ocean freight may be the most financially responsible avenue. Recognizing this, there are two primary ways businesses can ship across international waters—LCL (Less-than-Container Load) and FCL (Full-Container-Load). LCL shipping can be a more affordable option for SMBs shipping lower volumes, but getting the cargo from point A to point B may take longer due to additional handling and documentation, as well as increased loading and unloading times, since there are multiple shippers and touchpoints involved in a shared shipment. Inversely, FCL is an efficient and cost-effective option for businesses with enough cargo to fill an entire container. However, while more merchandise can be shipped with FCL for less, this cost benefit must be weighed against how fast product sell-through is, as shipping savings have to be balanced against warehousing and storage costs. Similar to deciding between LCL and FCL, SMBs also should examine whether they need door-to-door or port-to-port shipping support based on different business needs. For example, experienced shippers may only need help securing goods from a port of origin to a point of destination, while those newer to international shipping may benefit from ensuring merchandise is picked up at the door of a manufacturer and delivered directly to a SMB’s door.

Diversify Your Supply Chains

According to the New York Federal Reserve, The Global Supply Chain Pressure Index (GSCPI) continues to drop month-over-month, establishing favorable market conditions for companies seeking to take advantage of decreased global freight and container rates, lessened port congestion, and shortened shipment delivery times. However, there is a key lesson learned by the world’s largest corporations that small and medium-sized businesses should model against. That lesson is reliance on single supply streams limit business resiliency. Exemplifying this risk are issues like the factory shutdowns and labor challenges China has continued experiencing, sending shockwaves through the supply chain for companies relying on inventory manufactured there. One tactic for SMBs to consider is investing in the diversification of their supply chain by securing additional or alternate suppliers that can serve as secondary sources for goods, providing more redundancy to minimize risk and increase flexibility and agility.

Recognizing global shipping and logistics misunderstandings continue to persist, and a resurgence of international issues could impact the supply chain at any point, shifting away from a “business as usual mentality” will mandate exploring new approaches. Making changes within global import and exports with the help of a reliable freight forwarder may just be the path to resilience SMBs need today. After all, as Glik puts it, while shipping and logistics may not be an SMB’s core business, it is core to their business. 

(NewsUSA) - As a parent, you want your child to succeed in life and have a career where they are fulfilled and paid well. It’s even better if that career can offer benefits such as personal and professional growth, job security, and the ability to have a positive impact on the lives of others.

Becoming a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^™ professional offers those benefits and more — and entry into this growing profession is easier than you might think. College graduates with a bachelor’s degree in any discipline (no math or finance major required) can begin the path to CFP^® certification.

With the demand for financial planners across the United States expected to grow at a rapid pace over the next eight years, those in the profession are working hard to educate both young people and their parents about a career that many people know little about.  

The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. is making recruitment of young people a priority. CFP Board Chair Dan Moisand says focus groups have shown there are many misconceptions about financial planning careers, including the belief that financial planners are focused on sales. But when parents were asked about the qualities of an ideal job for their child, “they said things like flexibility, work-life balance, helping people, a good salary — many of the qualities that describe a career in financial planning,” explained Moisand.

CFP^® professionals have wide-ranging income potential, with many starting out at $50-70k. Those with more experience earn an average of $192,000 per year. Financial planners also have the privilege of helping people with major life decisions, such as preparing to have a child or planning for retirement.

Financial planning can also offer a great deal of flexibility. CFP^® professionals can choose to work for a large financial services firm, a bank, or a credit union, or they can develop a specialized niche, establish their own firm, pursuing different paths for growth and advancement. And depending on their unique work situation, financial planners have the flexibility to set their own schedules to create a balanced work and personal life.

Encouraging your child to become a financial planner can offer numerous benefits, including excellent career prospects, high earning potential, and the opportunity to help others. It's a rewarding and challenging career that requires continuous learning and provides a great deal of flexibility. With the right education and training, your child can excel in this field and create a fulfilling and prosperous future for themselves. Learn more about the benefits of becoming a CFP^® professional today

(NewsUSA) - The United States continues to lead in biotechnology investments and remains home to the large majority of the world’s leading biotechnology companies and innovators, but other countries are making great strides as well, according to experts at the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), a bipartisan nonprofit organization.

For example, data show that the People’s Republic of China has ambitions to be the world leader in biotechnology by 2035.

The U.S. is meeting this challenge. Most notably, the White House has supported the launch of the Advanced Research Projects for Health (ARPA-H) and the Congressionally created National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology. These two new biotechnology-focused government entities that have come online to develop and strategize U.S. biotechnology leadership.

Experts from SCSP have developed a National Action Plan for U.S. Leadership in Biotechnology. This plan outlines a series of actions that would help preserve U.S. leadership in this essential and strategic sector. The plan is the first in a series that will be published by SCSP in 2023 to focus on the various battleground technologies identified by SCSP in the organization’s report on challenges to U.S. global competitiveness.

The action plan provides a roadmap for biotechnology policy from a national security perspective. The plan involves a coordinated effort among academia, the private sector, and government to establish U.S. leadership in biotechnology through 2030, alongside our allies and partners.

Key recommendations in the plan include:  

Thinking big. Launch biotechnology moonshots to advance fundamental science and technology.

Thinking smart. Align biotechnology commercialization, diffusion, and scale through targeted government incentivization measures.

Thinking collaboratively. Develop new public-private partnerships across the innovation ecosystem that better connect our universities, national labs, and biomanufacturing institutes.

Thinking internally. Build the supporting infrastructure that will allow the United States to tap into biotechnology’s full potential.

Thinking externally. Cultivate, attract, and retain global biotechnology talent in the United States.

Thinking ahead. Secure the inputs for a thriving bioeconomy, such as fermenter capacity and DNA sequencers.

Thinking together. Unite democratic allies and partners competitive advantages through partnerships like biomanufacturing alliances and data-sharing agreements.

Thinking ahead. Finally, the goal of the U.S. should be to “run faster with guardrails to ensure that U.S. investments do not inadvertently aid the biotech advancements of our strategic adversaries counter to our national security interests,” the experts conclude.

For more information, visit scsp.ai.

(NewsUSA) - Cardiovascular Disease including stroke remains a leading cause of death in the United States and is the number one cause of death in women, according to the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association.

In addition, recent research shows that women suffer more activity limitations, greater depression, and worse health-related quality of life after a stroke compared to men.

Prompt identification and immediate treatment may prevent death from stroke and may minimize the long-term effects and potential for disability. During this month of May, when we recognize Mother’s Day and American Stroke Month, the ASA encourages everyone to know the warning signs of stroke.

The acronym F.A.S.T. makes it easier to spot a stroke quickly.

F-face drooping. If you see someone’s face drooping on one side, or if they say it feels numb, ask them to smile, and notice if the smile is uneven.

A-arm weakness. If someone says their arm is weak or acts as if it is numb, ask them to raise both arms, and take note if one arm drifts downward.

S- speech difficulty. If you notice that someone is slurring their speech, ask them to repeat a simple sentence, such as “the sky is blue.” If they can’t do this, they might be suffering a stroke.

T-time to call 911. If someone shows any of these signs, call 911 right away. Check the time when you call, so you can tell emergency responders when you observed the symptoms.

Other symptoms of stroke include general weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body; confusion (such as in understanding what is being said); trouble seeing in one or both eyes, or trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination. A sudden severe headache with no known cause can be a sign of a stroke, too.

Timing matters. Individuals who suffer a stroke and receive prompt medical treatment with a clot-busting drug or clot-retrieval device are more likely to recover with little or no disability than those who don’t receive prompt treatment.  Spot a stroke F.A.S.T and you may save a life.

The F.A.S.T. Experience is a new digital tool launched by the American Stroke Association this month that engages users in a virtual experience educating them on what the warning signs of a stroke look, feel and/or sound like. By helping users to experience the stroke warning signs in a simulated way that is both educational and engaging.

Visit stroke.org/strokemonth for more information on how to identify a stroke, as well as tips for healthy living, blood pressure control, preventing another stroke.

(NewsUSA) - Instilling healthy habits for both physical and emotional wellbeing begins during childhood, and, according to experts, one of the best ways to promote emotional wellness is through play.

With recent data suggesting that today’s children are more emotionally stressed than ever, The Genius of Play, a non-profit initiative dedicated to helping parents raise healthy and happy kids through the power of play, has developed a new “Emotional Wellness Playbook” for families.

“Studies show that children with high emotional intelligence earn better grades, stay in school longer, and make healthier choices overall, so it is more important than ever to talk about emotional development and how parents can help their kids build the skills needed to successfully navigate the increasingly complex world,” says Anna Yudina, senior director of marketing initiatives at The Toy Association™, which spearheads The Genius of Play.

Written in collaboration with Talia Filippelli, a leading mental health expert, founder of Starr Therapy, and Certified Holistic Health Coach, the “Emotional Wellness Playbook” features a variety of play-based activities to help kids ages 3 and up develop emotional intelligence and learn to express their feelings in a healthy way while having fun.

“Play and toys are some of the most effective tools to help kids learn and practice the five key components of emotional intelligence: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills,” says Filippelli. “What’s more, play provides the stress reduction and relaxation both kids and adults need to promote emotional wellbeing.”

The playbook's simple, yet effective activities help children develop their emotional skills in a variety of ways. Emoji Bingo offers a twist on a favorite game that helps improve emotional self-awareness by teaching kids to label their emotions and, therefore, not become overwhelmed by big feelings when they occur. Calming Bottle is a DIY activity that can help those who struggle with self-regulation. Puppet Play helps kids practice empathy and social skills and Vision Board helps build their motivation and self-confidence.

Families looking to capitalize on the emotional benefits of play can visit thegeniusofplay.org to download the “Emotional Wellness Playbook” for free.

(NewsUSA) - Many of us have every intention of making a positive and lasting impact on our community, but it can be overwhelming knowing how to get started or where the biggest need is. And busy days filled with professional and personal commitments can make giving back feel even more out of reach. Fortunately, many corporate leaders have an opportunity to help fill this gap – and it’s important that they do. 

Businesses are realizing the importance society places on giving back and have begun to elevate their commitments to develop initiatives that bolster community impact among their customer bases. And as people strive to find fulfillment in their lives and pursue ways to give back in meaningful ways, providing volunteer and generosity programs has become crucial in the corporate world.

Demonstrating the power of providing generosity programs, Thrivent, a Fortune 500 financial services organization, recently celebrated reaching the milestones of 1 million client-led volunteer teams and $1 billion raised for communities nationwide through its Thrivent Action Teams program. This program is helping reimagine the future of generosity and volunteering in partnership with Thrivent’s clients by harnessing the power of digital tools and community action. Through this effort, Thrivent has helped clients make a difference by placing resources and seed money directly in their hands so they can create the impact they want to see in their community. Since its debut in 2014, 9.6 million volunteers have given 93 million hours of their time to lead and support a generosity team—directly benefiting the causes and programs most important to them and their local communities.

“Companies that want to thrive both now and in the future, should recognize that their clients and stakeholders are eager to make a difference and want businesses to reflect these same values,” said Carolyn Sakstrup, chief growth and generosity officer at Thrivent. “For more than 120 years, Thrivent has instilled a deep sense of purpose throughout our organization so our clients and employees can pursue their passions and lead lives of meaning and gratitude. We believe in the idea of serving a higher purpose and we’re proud of our long legacy of mobilizing people to come together and take care of their community.”

Here are four reasons why companies should create accessible and affordable pathways for people to give back and help them engage in their communities.

1. Addresses the Needs of the Community

Accessible philanthropic and volunteer initiatives provide new opportunities for community members to partake, regardless of their financial position. This means that people can proactively participate in a program, such as a fundraiser or food drive, and make a difference without facing a financial burden.

2. Enhances Brand Purpose and Reputation

By making philanthropy programs available to their customers, companies demonstrate their commitment to the overall community’s well-being. This, in turn, attracts new customers who are more likely to support a brand that aligns with their values and enhances the company's reputation as a purposeful brand. These activities help to build relationships with the community and strengthen corporate reputation.

3. Boosts Customer Engagement

People are increasingly looking to give their business to companies that reflect their values. By offering hands-on community engagement programs, people are more likely to feel a sense of purpose and pride when they collaborate with a company that is making a positive impact. This can lead to increased loyalty and engagement. The key is to ensure that these programs are turnkey for them to be effective as an ongoing, repeatable effort.

4. Leads to Innovation and Creativity

When companies engage with their customers and community, they gain a deeper understanding of the needs and challenges faced by those they serve. This understanding can lead to the development of new and innovative products and services that address these needs, which can ultimately lead to business growth and bigger impactful.

In today’s socially conscious world, community engagement has become an important tool for businesses to demonstrate their commitment to making a difference. As brand purpose takes on even greater importance, it’s critical to build trust and credibility with customers and stakeholders. As Thrivent’s recent milestone demonstrated, when companies engage with and invest in the community in meaningful ways, they help humanity thrive.

Learn more at https://www.thrivent.com/.

(NewsUSA) - The Sava Steps by Lee Lindauer

Twenty-five years after the Srebrenica Massacre, the worst genocide in Europe since World War II, survivor Melika Žbanić encounters two vicious men from her past. Intent on revenge, her plans are derailed by disgraced FBI agent Thorne Hightower, who has personal reasons to involve himself in her affairs.

Melika escapes Hightower’s pursuit only to be kidnapped and taken somewhere in the Balkans where a grim fate looms. With the clock ticking, a persistent Hightower follows clues to her whereabouts—and by chance meets Melika’s daughter Valery, a physically impaired but gifted young woman determined to confront her own existence—and soft-spoken Victor Alvarez, whose sole purpose is to keep his wife alive. Amid the splendor of a desolate mountaintop nouveau riche hotel, they find themselves locked on an emotional collision course. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3RXL4Ce.

The Hunt for the Peggy C by John Winn Miller

Laced with nail-biting tension and heartwarming moments, this semifinalist in the Clive Cussler Adventure Writers Competition captures the breathless suspense of early World War II in the North Atlantic. Captain Jake Rogers, who runs his tramp steamer through U-boat-infested waters, takes on his most dangerous cargo: a Jewish family fleeing Nazi persecution.

Drawn to the family's warmth and faith, Rogers can't let his guard down when Oberleutnant Viktor Brauer, a brutal U-boat captain, sets his sights on the Peggy C. Rogers must evade Brauer's stalking, face a mutiny among his crew, and grapple with feelings for young Miriam of the Jewish family. When Rogers is wounded, Miriam must prove she is as tough as her rhetoric to save everyone as the U-boat closes in for the kill. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3IfDPRC.

Man Eating Plants: How a Vegan Diet Can Save the World by Jonathan Spitz

Over the past two million years, humans evolved from an obscure herbivorous species living in the tropical forests of equatorial Africa to become the world’s most populous carnivorous apex predator species. In the 21st century, this fateful change in the human diet from plant- to animal-sourced foods is the leading cause of chronic degenerative disease, runaway climate change, and mass species extinction.

“Man Eating Plants: How a Vegan Diet Can Save the World” weaves together published works by the world’s leading scientists and historians to narrate how we arrived at these three interrelated crises and how we can save the world by transitioning back to our natural plant-based diet. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3ljHAxz.

Blood on the Badge by John Good

It’s 2016 and decorated Navy Seal Matt O’Neil has moved on as a police officer in Greenfield, IL. For Matt and his wife Kelly, life has never been better. With only a few months left in Matt’s probation period, his entire world is turned upside down when his best friend on the force is killed while conducting a routine traffic stop.

Soon after, a second rookie is found dead in Door County, WI. Matt takes these deaths personally and all evidence points to the possibility of a serial killer. This information comes with a price. The closer Matt gets to help solving these deaths, the more his life is unraveling. He must make a choice between saving his marriage, his career, or his freedom. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3EepgMR.

BookTrib’s Bites is presented by BookTrib.com.

(NewsUSA Staff Writer) - Miami, Jersey City and other municipalities leading the way to establish health leadership across their public building portfolios.

Citing the need to better protect the health of residents and workers in a post-pandemic world, U.S. cities are embracing important health and safety improvements to public buildings.

Last month, Jersey City, NJ, announced it earned the WELL Health-Safety Rating for facility Operations and Management, a leading healthy building designation now used in more than 125 countries, for six municipal buildings including City Hall.

To earn the rating, Jersey City made numerous upgrades to its facility operation and management protocols, including efforts to address indoor air quality and implementing science-based procedures for emergency preparedness and response, facility cleaning, hygienic hand washing, and reduction in hand contact of high-touch surfaces, among other measures.

Jersey City Mayor Steven M. Fulop said in a statement that earning the rating was a “critical investment” in the city that will “positively impact our residents for decades to come.”

The healthy buildings movement is gaining traction among local governments. Last year, the City of Miami became the first U.S. city to earn the WELL Health-Safety Rating for a portfolio of municipal facilities, achieving the designation across 10 buildings and facilities in public parks totaling about 800,000 square feet.

“In Miami, and in cities across the country, we are looking much closer at the outsized role buildings play in keeping us safe and healthy,” said Mayor Francis Suarez upon achieving the milestone. “I hope other cities will replicate what Miami is doing to advance WELL buildings, so we can deliver the benefits of healthy buildings to communities everywhere.”

The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM), the advocacy organization representing more than 1,400 mayors nationwide, has adopted two resolutions since 2020 encouraging its members to improve the health and safety of public buildings as a key strategy to safeguard the well-being of residents and workers.

In 2022, the City of Austin, TX, achieved full WELL Certification for its new Permitting and Development Center. This was the first WELL achievement in the city at the Gold level.

“The Center was built with wellness and sustainability at the forefront,” said Lucia Athens, the City’s then Chief Sustainability Officer. “By focusing on WELL principles like abundant natural light, good air quality, and healthy food availability, the City of Austin is leading the way in people-centric building design.”

Other cities demonstrating health leadership through WELL programs in one or more public buildings or referenced the WELL Standard in local guidelines include Chicago, IL; San Francisco and Sacramento, CA; Philadelphia, PA; Washington D.C.; Orlando, FL; Atlanta, GA; Denver, Aspen, CO; Seattle, WA;  and Austin and Dallas, TX. More than 20 additional local governments have signaled interest in strengthening the health and safety of public buildings, said Jason Hartke, Executive Vice President of Advocacy and Policy at the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), the organization that created and administers WELL ratings and certifications.

“Our public buildings have a special obligation to be out in front when it comes to health leadership,” Hartke said. “The actions by cities like Jersey City and Miami will inspire other cities and states nationwide to grow the movement for people-first places that improve our communities.”

Elected leaders are pursuing healthier public buildings as demand for health-related certifications has surged in commercial real estate. IWBI’s suite of WELL designations are now in use across 4.6 billion square feet of space globally, an almost 10-fold increase since the beginning of 2020, which includes iconic properties like Yankee Stadium and the Empire State Building as well as the full retail portfolios of national chains like Planet Fitness, T-Mobile and Simon’s shopping centers.

A study published in late 2022 in Building and Environment, a peer-reviewed journal, found that WELL Certification significantly improved worker satisfaction, wellness, and productivity. Those results add to a growing body of research linking healthier space to reduced employee absenteeism, improved cognitive function, and lower healthcare costs for companies, as well as stronger real estate financial returns from rental premiums and longer lease terms.

(PointSpreads.com) - You may have heard of the Triple Crown, but do you know what it is and why it garners so much attention? Here is everything you need to know to prepare for the three most prestigious horse racing events in the world, brought to you by PointSpreads.com.

What is the Triple Crown?

Throughout the year, numerous races take place worldwide, but not all thoroughbred horses are created equal. The best among them are invited to Grade 1 Stakes races, which boast the largest purses and the most prestige.

The Triple Crown comprises three Grade 1 Stakes events exclusively for the top three-year-old thoroughbreds: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. Since the Triple Crown's inception in 1875, when the Kentucky Derby joined the Belmont and Preakness Stakes, only 13 horses have won all three races.

Kentucky Derby

Also known as the Run for the Roses, the Kentucky Derby premiered in 1875 and is the first and most popular of the three events. Held annually on the first Saturday in May, it spans one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

Preakness Stakes

The second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, takes place at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, on Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday in May. The race covers 1 3/16 miles. Introduced in 1873, the Preakness winner is traditionally draped with a blanket of Maryland's state flower, the black-eyed Susan, earning the race the nickname "The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans."

Belmont Stakes

The final and longest leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, covers 1 ½ miles and is held annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Debuting in 1867, it is the oldest of the three events and is known as The Test of Champions due to the race's length, which demands speed, strength, and, most importantly, stamina.

Win, Place, and Show

Betting on any Triple Crown race is the same as betting on an ordinary horse race. It involves parimutuel wagering, meaning the odds depend on the percentage of money bet on each horse. A favorite has the lowest odds, while a long shot has very high odds.

A win bet requires the horse to cross the finish line first and be declared the winner. This bet offers the highest payout, but a place bet allows the horse to finish first or second, with the bettor receiving a payout either way.

A show bet permits the horse to finish in first, second, or third position, but the payout is the lowest among the three. Bettors can also participate in exacta (or perfecta) wagering, which requires predicting the precise order of the top two finishers, or a trifecta bet, which demands correctly predicting the order of the top three finishers.

The 2023 Triple Crown Schedule

Kentucky Derby

Date: Saturday, May 6

Where: Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky

TV Network: NBC

Streaming: Peacock, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app

Preakness Stakes

Date: Saturday, May 20

Where: Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, Maryland

TV Network: NBC

Streaming: Peacock, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app

Belmont Stakes

Date: Saturday, June 10

Where: Belmont Park in Elmont, New York

TV Network: NBC

Streaming: Peacock, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app

Get ready for the most exciting horse racing events of the year! Don't miss your chance to watch and bet on the Triple Crown, featuring the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.

With the help of sports betting news and information sites like Point Spreads, you can prepare yourself to enjoy the thrill of these Grade 1 Stakes races and potentially win big. Whether you're a seasoned bettor or a newcomer to horse racing, there's something for everyone. So, mark your calendars and tune in to NBC or stream on Peacock, NBCSports.com, or the NBC Sports app.  

Image Credit: Patrick Smith / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP.  Editorial, used under license for PointSpreads.com.

(NewsUSA) - Painting bridges. Teaching kids to fish. Shining up an airplane museum. The 120 volunteer projects that took place across 19 states during Williams Volunteer Week this April were as varied as the employees who initiated them.

Williams is an energy infrastructure company that provides one third of the nation’s natural gas used every day to generate electricity and power America. From the Gulf Coast to the Northeast and all the way to the Pacific Northwest, more than 1,100 Williams employees fanned out in communities where they live and work to lend a hand on projects that mattered most to them.

“It’s always a pleasure to serve and I think more and more people at Williams are getting that opportunity and getting that mindset to really make a footprint in the community,” said employee Carlos Hopkins, a lead pipeline controller, who spent a morning painting a handrail across a bridge in Tulsa, Okla. along with about 25 other employees.

Each project was identified and led by individual employees. In Salt Lake City, Utah, dozens of employees packaged 1,200 bags of healthy snacks for students at Parkside and Mountain View elementary schools.

“Williams loves to connect with the communities where we live and work,” said Candyce Fly Lee, vice president and general manager of the company’s operations in the Rocky Mountains. “This also was a great opportunity for our employees to get together and bond in a different way outside of work.”

Projects ranged from picking up trash, volunteering at schools, spending time with veterans and swinging hammers with Habitat for Humanity.

“When people like our good friends at Williams invest their energy and time to build with Habitat, they help build much more than a house—Habitat volunteers help families build brighter futures and help whole communities build strength and stability that lasts,” said Beth Lechner, CEO of Habitat for Humanity East Central Ohio.

At an airplane museum in Tulsa, Williams employees moved planes and other exhibits to ready for the nonprofit’s annual fundraising event. Mike Mansur, the employee who organized the project, said he was thrilled to volunteer at the museum, where he was inspired as a teen to enter the field of aviation.

“It’s fabulous to have Williams employees here to prepare the space,” said museum executive director Tonya Blansett. “We are a small staff with limited resources. Without these volunteers, it would be almost an impossible task to complete this work.”

Williams Volunteer Week, which coincides with National Volunteer Week, builds on the company’s long tradition of being a good neighbor through employee volunteerism and financial support. Last year, employees recorded more than 20,000 volunteer hours, serving as advocates, youth mentors, coaches, nonprofit board members and volunteer firefighters.

“As a company, we relish these opportunities to go out into the communities where we operate and demonstrate how much we can accomplish when we work together,” said Williams President and CEO Alan Armstrong. “But perhaps what makes me most proud is that these Volunteer Week activities are projects that our employees have identified as important and have volunteered to lead.”

To learn more about Williams and its tradition of community giving, visit Williams.com.