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USA Today
2 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
Calvin Murphy, Gretchen Sheirr lead Rockets' community service event at Houston Food Bank
Rockets legend Calvin Murphy and Gretchen Sheirr, president of business operations, were among the team leaders who took part in Tuesday's charity and service event at the Houston Food Bank. On Tuesday morning, employees from the Houston Rockets and Tito's Handmade Vodka teamed up for a volunteer event at the Houston Food Bank. While there, the volunteers helped pack food and other essential items for families in need. At the event, Tito's also presented a check to the Clutch City Foundation to honor its 'Assists for a Cause' program, which donates a set amount for every Rockets assist during the preceding NBA season. In 2024-25, the total led to a $20,000 check being presented to the Houston Food Bank. Gretchen Sheirr, president of business operations with the Rockets, was joined by franchise icons Calvin Murphy and Allen Leavell in accepting the donation from Tito's Handmade Vodka. Murphy and Leavell both rank top-three in franchise history for career assists. 'I think the statistic is that one in four children in Houston are in an area where they don't necessarily know where their next meal is coming from,' Sheirr said. 'So, this donation today will help provide 240,000 meals for the underserved community here in Houston.' For Murphy, the event held personal significance. 'I don't think people really understand the importance of this Food Bank,' said Murphy, who will also take part in the team's 2025 NBA draft fan event on Wednesday. 'I was one of those that grew up in Norwalk, Connecticut,' the Hall of Famer continued. 'My mother and father worked, 24/7. There were times when we just didn't have, and if it wasn't for people volunteering to bring us food — there were seven of us — there could've been days that were real lean.' 'So, getting involved with the Rockets and for the Food Bank is very precious, to me. Coming out and doing my little bit of helping to package stuff for people in need, it's something that's dear to my heart.' Through the Clutch City Foundation, the Rockets and their corporate partners provide support and visibility to vital community organizations, including the Houston Food Bank. 'I've been involved with the Rockets now for 56 years,' Murphy said. 'Coming into this (upcoming) year, 57. The slogan they have of 'Rockets care,' that's not just a slogan. That's in their hearts.' The Houston Food Bank serves 18 counties across southeast Texas and supports approximately one million people who are experiencing food insecurity. In addition, the Houston Food Bank offers programs that help families achieve long-term stability. These include nutritional education, health management, and assistance in accessing state-funded support. More: Rockets to host 2025 NBA draft experience at Toyota Center
Zawya
04-03-2025
- Automotive
- Zawya
EZhire launches 'Car for a Cause' in support of Dubai Cares
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – This Ramadan, eZhire, the region's pioneering on-demand car rental platform, is launching 'Car for a Cause', a charitable initiative in support of Dubai Cares, part of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI). This initiative enables customers to contribute to children's education worldwide, one car rental at a time. Starting March 1, eZhire users can contribute to Dubai Cares while ordering their rental cars, seamlessly integrating charitable giving into everyday mobility. Aligned with the spirit of Ramadan, this initiative empowers individuals to help transform the lives of underprivileged children and youth in developing countries by providing them with access to quality education. " Education is one of the most transformative forces in the world, and by supporting Dubai Cares, we're enabling our customers to be a part of something bigger," said Hassan J. Saduzai, CEO and Co-founder of eZhire. " With just a few taps on the app, they can contribute to shaping a better future for children, ensuring that the blessings of Ramadan extend beyond borders." Since its establishment in 2007, Dubai Cares has been working tirelessly to provide quality education to children in need. To date, the UAE-based global philanthropic organization has launched education programs impacting over 116 million direct and indirect beneficiaries in 60 developing countries. "Ramadan is a time for reflection, gratitude, and, most importantly, giving back. 'Car for a Cause' provides an opportunity for individuals and businesses to join our movement to break the cycle of poverty through education. We thank eZhire for this meaningful collaboration, which leverages technology to make generosity more accessible and impactful this Ramadan," said Amal Al Redha, Director of Partnerships, Dubai Cares. How It Works: A Simple Gesture, A Lasting Impact Starting March 1, eZhire users can opt to donate to Dubai Cares when booking a rental car through the eZhire app. Contributions will support education programs that equip children and youth in developing countries with the skills and opportunities they need to thrive. The initiative will run throughout Ramadan, encouraging a collective effort in giving back during the holy month. By embedding charitable giving into its innovative, tech-driven rental experience, eZhire is reinforcing its commitment to leveraging technology for social good. This initiative demonstrates how businesses can go beyond transactions to foster real, lasting impact. For more information about 'Car for a Cause' and how you can take part, visit or follow eZhire and Dubai Cares on social media. About eZhire Founded in 2016 by Hassan J. Saduzai and Farhan Ali, eZhire is a leading on-demand car rental platform that is transforming the traditional car rental industry by eliminating the need for security deposits, paperwork, and physical storefronts. The company's fully digital, app-based service offers a seamless rental experience, allowing customers to order vehicles at any time, with 24/7 delivery directly to their doorstep. eZhire is committed to providing unparalleled convenience, flexibility, and transparency, catering to a wide range of drivers, including young adults, tourists, and new license holders. Operating in the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, eZhire is revolutionizing mobility across the Middle East by making car rentals more accessible to underserved segments of the population. With its focus on innovation, customer-centric solutions, and a hassle-free rental process, eZhire continues to lead the way in redefining what the future of car rentals looks like in the region. About Dubai Cares Since its inception in 2007, Dubai Cares, part of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, has been working towards providing children and youth in developing countries with access to quality education through the design and funding of programs that aim to be impactful, sustainable and scalable. To date, the UAE-based global philanthropic organization has successfully launched education programs reaching over 116 million beneficiaries in 60 developing countries. Dubai Cares plays a key role in helping achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, which aims to ensure inclusive and quality education for all, and promote lifelong learning by 2030, by supporting programs in early childhood development, access to quality primary and secondary education, technical and vocational education and training for youth as well as a particular focus on education in emergencies and protracted crises. Moreover, Dubai Cares adopts a strategic approach to improve student enrollment and learning outcomes through an integrated school health and nutrition model that is made up of school-based deworming activities, school feeding, and WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) in schools. Dubai Cares is a civil society organization formally associated with the United Nations Department of Global Communications (UN DGC), as well as a registered non-government organization under IACAD, the charitable activities regulator in Dubai. The UAE-based global philanthropic organization is authorized to raise funds through direct donations and fundraising campaigns, as well as process all permit approvals with IACAD. Volunteerism is a powerful tool to Dubai Cares in order to engage people in tackling development challenges. Dubai Cares rallies the UAE wider community through a large spectrum of volunteering and awareness initiatives that are linked to its global mandate. To learn more, please visit For media inquiries, please contact: Anisha Sharma Empyre Communications E: anisha@
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Great Northern cancels $200,000 national park campaign after backlash
Great Northern beer has 'paused' a $200,000 campaign to buy and protect land after the plan upset a vocal portion of its customer base. 4WD enthusiasts had called for a US-style boycott of the company, accusing it of going 'woke' by extending the borders of national parks. Online media company 4WD TV took to Facebook, calling the move 'disgraceful' and urged its followers to switch to other beer brands. 'Bud Light ring any bells for you?' it added, in an apparent reference to American conservatives boycotting Budweiser beer because it featured a transgender woman in a promotion. 'They have lost me as a customer,' one person wrote in reference to the Great Northern promotion. 'It baffles me that Great Northern Brewing Co. would go against [the] majority of their customers to support inner city activists,' another said. Great Northern was Australia's second most-consumed beer last year and markets itself with images of people enjoying the great outdoors by fishing and camping. Although the Great Northern plan was to support non-profit Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife to buy and protect private land, many critics were under the misconception the company wanted to transform state parks into national parks, reducing their capacity to carry out activities like shooting, fishing and off-roading. Others were just annoyed at the concept of increasing the size of national parks. In a statement, the head of Great Northern marketing, Zac Gelman, explained the money raised would no longer be used to buy land for protection. 'Great Northern's Outdoors for a Cause campaign was yesterday paused following feedback from our passionate drinkers. Our donation to the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife will now not be used to buy land to add to National Parks. Our donation will instead be used for the preservation of endangered species,' he said. 'Whether it's hiking, fishing, 4-wheel-driving or just relaxing, Great Northern drinkers use and preserve their precious spots in the great outdoors, and we support them.' While the campaign did find some support on Facebook, with around 1,300 people responding to the post, the boycott left many TikTok users perplexed. 'Why would anyone be anti-national parks?' one person wrote. 'This is the most pointless boycott ever,' another wrote. They were responding to a video that Marcus Sutherland uploaded to his Oz Camper account which showed him destroying a can of Great Northern with a baseball bat. Speaking later with Yahoo News, he said he wasn't publicly supporting the boycott and did not align himself with groups that called Great Northern 'woke', and he was merely sharing information about it using a prop. Sutherland said the issue he was most concerned about was rezoning state forests as national parks. 'My favourite thing to do in state forest is take my two boys, my fiancée, and my dog camping and sit around a lit campfire, cook some food. Then jump in the 4WD the next day and go explore,' he said. He added, 'I am against changing what we already have governed as state forests to national parks, which is a push that has been happening for quite some time.' 🦎 Hunt for Aussie animal not seen for 30 years 📸 Remarkable footage captures return of rare predator after decades 🪤 Banning of 'morally outrageous' fishing trap a major win for elusive animal The Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife declined to immediately comment on the situation. The unaffiliated Victorian National Parks Association, a non-profit group that advocates for nature protection, slammed the boycott as a 'weird campaign' by 'nature-hating groups'. Spokesperson Jordan Crook pointed to a recent poll by Redbridge which found 84 per cent of Victorians say national parks are important, and 80 per cent support the creation of new national parks. 'This again seems like a loud trolling online voice that only reflects the wishes of a very small and entitled group of people,' he said. 'Protecting wildlife and wild places is as Aussie as you can get, national parks protect what's best about the country. Leaving them unprotected leaves them vulnerable to exploitation and inappropriate use." 4WD TV was contacted for comment. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
