Latest news with #LorenaGarcia
Associated Press
03-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Ayesha Curry, Chef Lorena Garcia and More Join No Kid Hungry to Help End Summer Hunger for Kids
Meal pick-up and delivery in rural communities and a summer grocery benefit means transformative solutions to tackle summer hunger – 31 million children could benefit [Media: For Photos & Assets, Click HERE ] WASHINGTON, June 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Summer should be one of the best times of year for kids, but far too many families struggle to replace the meals served at school, making it the hungriest time of year for many children. That's why No Kid Hungry, a national campaign to end childhood hunger in America, is teaming up with big and trusted voices to drive awareness of new resources available to help feed kids this summer. Joining the effort are Co-Founder of Eat. Learn. Play. Ayesha Curry; Chef, Author, Restaurateur and TV Personality Lorena Garcia; Actress, TV Host and former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres and Actor and Producer Eugenio Derbez. They are recording public service announcements, amplifying on social media and more to promote No Kid Hungry's summer resource hub with information on how families can access programs to help feed their kids during the summer. Parents and caregivers can visit or to learn more. 'When kids have access to three meals a day, every day, they can dream big and have a bright future,' said Ayesha Curry, co-founder of Eat. Learn. Play. 'Nutrition programs are a powerful tool to combat hunger. That's why I'm proud to partner with No Kid Hungry through our Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation to help expand these programs and ensure families in Oakland and across the country know there are more options to help feed their kids this summer.' Due to bipartisan legislation in 2022, long advocated for by No Kid Hungry and others, rural communities, often impacted by transportation barriers, can now serve meals to kids by offering meal delivery or pick-up services. In addition, a permanent grocery benefit program called Summer EBT or SUN Bucks, provides eligible families in most states with an extra $120 for each school-aged child to help with grocery costs over the summer months. This year, 37 states, Washington DC, 5 territories, and 5 Tribal nations plan to offer Summer EBT. 'Food is more than nourishment, it is a source of joy, connection and community,' said Lorena Garcia, chef, author, restaurateur and TV personality. 'As a chef, I know every meal counts, especially for kids. That's why I'm thrilled to join No Kid Hungry once again and do my part so that every child has the joyful summer they deserve.' Before the new programs, only 2.8 million kids were accessing summer meals. In 2024, its first year of implementation, preliminary data shows that Summer EBT reached more than 18 million kids. With an estimated 13 million more kids to go, No Kid Hungry is working to expand Summer EBT to all 50 states in future years and providing grant funding to ensure rural summer meals options successfully reach more communities and that both programs reach as many kids as possible. Together, the new programs could help as many as 31 million children in the U.S. No Kid Hungry is proud to work with corporate partners like Arby's Foundation, Dollar Tree, HelloFresh, Tropical Smoothie Cafe and Williams-Sonoma, Inc. to help ensure kids have access to the healthy meals they need during the summer months and all year long. About No Kid Hungry No child should go hungry in America. But millions of kids in the United States live with hunger. No Kid Hungry is working to end childhood hunger by helping launch and improve programs that give all kids the healthy food they need to thrive. This is a problem we know how to solve. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of Share Our Strength, an organization committed to ending hunger and poverty. Join us at Media Contact: Allison deBrauwere Ruta, [email protected] View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE No Kid Hungry
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Parent groups sue Colorado officials over transgender rights expansion of anti-discrimination law
Rep. Lorena Garcia speaks on the Colorado House floor during the last day of the 2025 legislative session, May 7, 2025 at the Colorado Capitol. (Lindsey Toomer/Colorado Newsline) A coalition of groups that reject transgender rights sued Colorado officials Monday over a newly signed law that put protections for transgender people, and how they are addressed, into Colorado's anti-discrimination law. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court of Colorado, alleges that House Bill 25-1312 violates the First and 14th Amendments . 'The purpose of H.B. 25-1312 is clear. The law punishes those who refuse to speak using chosen names and pronouns, and it does so in order to suppress traditional beliefs about sex and gender. In other words, the law openly discriminates based on viewpoint,' lawyers for the plaintiffs wrote. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The lawsuit was brought by the Virginia-based conservative group Defending Education, the Colorado Parent Advocacy Network, Protect Kids Colorado, a health group called Do No Harm, and Grand Junction dermatologist Dr. Travis Morrell. CPAN and PKC are both parental-rights groups that advocate against 'gender ideology' topics in schools, often from a far-right perspective. It names Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, a Democrat, and the members of Colorado's Civil Rights Division as defendants. HB-1312, also known as the Kelly Loving Act after a transgender woman who died in the 2022 Club Q shooting, expands Colorado's anti-discrimination laws to include a person's chosen name and pronouns. Those laws apply to workplaces, schools and other places of public accommodation. The law also includes provisions to make it easier for transgender people to change their name and gender markers on birth certificates, drivers licenses and marriage documents. It was sponsored by Rep. Lorena Garcia of Adams County, Rep. Rebekah Stewart of Lakewood, Sen. Faith Winter of Broomfield and Sen. Chris Kolker of Centennial. It passed with entirely Democratic support, and Gov. Jared Polis signed it on May 16. The bill was amended to remove several controversial provisions during the legislative process and faced stiff opposition from Republicans and conservative groups, including the parties in the new lawsuit. They allege in the filing that the law could impact their ability to hold public advocacy events, publish materials and do other work. CPAN and PKC use 'biologically accurate pronouns and birth names' for transgender people, a practice also known as misgendering and deadnaming. The groups worry that continuing to use those names and pronouns will result in an investigation from the state's civil rights commission and individual lawsuits. They argue that recent legal decisions — including 303 Creative v. Elenis, where a Colorado website designer did not want to create a hypothetical website for a gay couple — support the claim that HB-1312 unconstitutionally compels speech, in this case forcing them to refer to a transgender person by their name. The lawsuit repeatedly misgenders and deadnames state Rep. Brianna Titone, former state legislative candidate Vivian Smotherman and transgender social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney. 'When CPAN and (Executive Director) Ms. Gimelshteyn use birth names and biologically accurate pronouns, they are not doing so to be malicious or hurtful. They do so because this expression reflects their deeply held beliefs that sex is fixed in each person from the moment of conception and cannot be changed,' the lawsuit says. If they cannot use that language, their impact will be 'greatly diminished.' Morrell, the dermatologist, contended in the lawsuit that using someone's 'biological pronouns' is necessary for clear communication, as a person's sex assigned at birth could be important when determining proper treatment. Representatives from the Colorado Civil Rights Division and the attorney general's office were unable to comment on the litigation. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Business Wire
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
The 23rd Annual FedEx/St. Jude Angels and Stars Gala Raises $900,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On the evening of May 3rd, the stars aligned at the Hotel InterContinental for the 23rd annual FedEx/St. Jude Angels and Stars Gala. The event benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital ® brought together St. Jude patient families, numerous celebrities, and South Florida's most dedicated philanthropic community members. Together, they celebrated the remarkable achievements of St. Jude since its founding in 1962 and raised over $900,000 to ensure families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – so they can focus on helping their child live. Sponsors included FedEx, Genesis Fortune, LLC, and Bomnin Automotive Group, among others. The FedEx/St. Jude Angels and Stars Gala began as an ambitious dream twenty-three years ago. Today, it continues to inspire philanthropists who unite to support the St. Jude mission of advancing cures and prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. This year's gala featured keynote speaker Dr. Victor Torres, Chair, Department of Host-Microbe Interactions, who spoke to guests about the incredible progress being made daily at St. Jude and how its groundbreaking research is shared globally. Guests also enjoyed a captivating performance by The Culture Band and an exciting live auction, which includes Paris Fashion Week tickets to the Givenchy Fashion Show and Private Celebrity Chef Dinner experiences by renowned chefs Lorena Garcia and Jesus Diaz. Celebrity attendees included TelevisaUnivision anchor Pamela Silva, Sientese Quien Pueda's Stephanie Himonidis, En Casa Con Telemundo's Carlos Adyan, Chef Jesus Diaz, Chef Lorena Garcia and many more. Donate to St. Jude at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital ® St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats, and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children.® It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. When St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was largely considered incurable. Since then, St. Jude has helped push the overall survival rate from 20% to more than 80%, and it won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes to help doctors and researchers at local hospitals and cancer centers around the world improve the quality of treatment and care for even more children. Because of generous donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food, so they can focus on helping their child live. Visit St. Jude Inspire to discover powerful St. Jude stories of hope, strength, love and kindness. Support the St. Jude mission by donating at liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, and subscribing to its YouTube channel.
CBS News
30-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Miami-based celebrity chef Lorena Garcia joins push to protect SNAP funding amid proposed federal cuts
Renowned chef Lorena Garcia is among dozens of culinary stars urging Congress to protect funding for food assistance, warning that proposed budget cuts could devastate millions of American families who depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Garcia — who owns the CHICA restaurant, has competed on Top Chef, and is a published author — signed a letter to lawmakers alongside Rachael Ray, Jeremy Ford, Allen Susser, and other chefs, calling on Congress to maintain SNAP funding in the upcoming Farm Bill. "When we talk about nearly 14 million kids facing hunger in America, that is a huge number—and that includes families here in Florida, where I live," Garcia said. "So, fighting hunger is one of the most important causes for me." Proposed SNAP cuts could impact millions in Florida The plea comes as House Republicans propose $230 billion in cuts to the U.S. Department of Agriculture over the next decade. A competing Senate proposal includes $1 billion in cuts. If enacted, the reductions could strip benefits entirely from the more than three million Floridians who rely on SNAP. Nationwide, the average household could lose around $1,000 per year, according to an analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Garcia, who was born in Venezuela and became a U.S. citizen, said her personal experiences with hunger fuel her advocacy. "I see a whole generation in my country that has lost about 20 pounds because of hunger," she said. "When I became an American and I swore the flag, I felt a sense of responsibility, duty. It's a privilege." The bipartisan Farm Bill remains under negotiation in Congress. Advocates hope the chefs' influence will help sway lawmakers to preserve vital nutritional support.
CBS News
05-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Colorado lawmakers take up transgender rights bill that could impact child custody cases
The Colorado state House gave initial approval to a bill that would classify "misgendering" -- calling a person by their previous name -- a form of harassment and discrimination. The measure would also bar schools from having gender specific dress codes and require them to use transgender students' preferred names if they allow other kids to use nicknames. It would also consider misgendering by a parent "coercive control" and require courts to consider it when deciding child custody cases. Bill sponsors - state Rep.s Lorena Garcia and Rebekah Stewart -- named the bill after Kelly Loving, a transgender victim of the Club Q shooting . "Frankly, I wish we didn't have to bring this bill but the reality of navigating our world today as a transgender human necessitates it, and this community deserves all our support right now," said Stewart. Republicans opposed the bill, saying it infringes on parental rights. State Rep. Jarvis Caldwell called it egregious. "The idea that misgendering your own child is considered coercive control which is another word for abuse? Child abuse? Because you want to get your child help instead of affirming their delusions? And you can lose custody over your child over that? This is the most disgusting bill I've seen so far," Caldwell said. The house also gave initial approval Friday to a bill that would require health insurers cover gender-affirming care. The speaker limited debate on the bills to 2 hours each and is calling lawmakers back on Sunday to finish work they didn't get to Friday.
