Day: January 6, 2016

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER KANSAS CITY RECEIVES $45,000 GRANT FROM COMCAST FOUNDATION TO EXPAND MY.FUTURE TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE Club Is Among Approximately 90 Local Boys & Girls Clubs Across The Country To Receive Technology Grants From Comcast NBCUniversal INDEPENDENCE, MO –  January 5 – Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City announced today they have received a $45,000 grant from the Comcast Foundation to help expand the My.Future technology initiative, a hands-on technology training to equip Club kids with the skills needed to compete in a 21st century economy. In celebration of the one-year anniversary of the launch of My.Future, Comcast announced the grant which will expand available resources and training experiences to develop competent, skilled, and innovative Club members ready to use advanced technology in their education, careers, and community service pursuits. My.Future is a cutting-edge technology education initiative that provides hands-on experience and enables Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City participants to select from more than 40 comprehensive activities to help them understand how to safely and productively engage online and encourage skill development in areas such as basic software skills, networking, movie production, robotics, game design and staff training. “This generous grant from the Comcast Foundation will help our Boys & Girls Clubs members develop the technology skills needed to pursue promising careers and thrive in today’s digital world,” said Jason Roth, Senior Director of Development for Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City.  “Through My.Future, our kids will have the chance to interact with technology in meaningful ways and prepare for bright futures.”   “Comcast is thrilled to partner with the Greater Kansas City Boys & Girls Club in an effort to help develop and promote the digital leaders of tomorrow,” said Jeff Freyer, Region Vice President – Comcast.  “As technology continues to revolutionize our world, it’s critical for young people to not only have an understanding of how it works, but also the role they can play in using this incredible resource for the common good.  We’re excited and proud to be part of their development.” In 2015, the Comcast Foundation invested more than $3 million in Boys and Girls Clubs of America’s (BGCA) My.Future technology initiative.  BGCA is using $1.5 million to further develop and build-out the My.Future program.  The remaining funding is being awarded to approximately 90 local Boys & Girls Clubs across the country, including Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City to ensure they have access to the technology, tools and teachers to fully activate the program. The grant is part of Comcast NBCUniversal’s five-year partnership with Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), which was announced last year and is valued at tens of millions of dollars.    Since 2011, Comcast and the Comcast Foundation have dedicated more than $240 million in cash and in-kind support to fund digital readiness initiatives nationwide, reaching nearly 3.2 million people through non-profit, digital literacy partners, including Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Comcast has supported local Boys & Girls Clubs for more than a decade, providing more than $100 million in cash and in-kind contributions.  About Comcast Corporation: Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) is a global media and technology company with two primary businesses, Comcast Cable and NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is one of the nation’s largest video, high-speed Internet and phone providers to residential customers under the XFINITY brand and also provides these services to businesses. NBCUniversal operates news, entertainment and sports cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, television production operations, television station groups, Universal Pictures and Universal Parks and Resorts. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.   About the Comcast Foundation: The Comcast Foundation was founded by Comcast Corporation in June 1999 to provide charitable support to qualified non-profit organizations. The Foundation primarily invests in programs intended to have a positive, sustainable impact on their communities. The Foundation has three community investment priorities—promoting service, expanding digital literacy, and building tomorrow’s leaders. Since its inception, the Comcast Foundation has donated more than $170 million to organizations in the communities nationwide that Comcast serves. More information about the Foundation and its programs is available at www.comcast.com/community. # # #

Hilton Worldwide Expands its Midwest Presence with Opening of Embassy Suites by Hilton Kansas City Olathe  Upscale Full-Service Contemporary Hotel Features Rooftop Bar & One of Largest Hotel Ballrooms in the South Kansas City Metro Area OLATHE, Kan. and MCLEAN, Va. – Jan. 5, 2015 – Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hilton Worldwide’s (NYSE: HLT) global brand of upscale, all-suite hotels, announced today the opening of Embassy Suites by Hilton Kansas City Olathe, a newly-built hotel with a contemporary and boutique-like ambiance. This 200 suite hotel, developed by Heart of America Group, offers guests a central location within minutes of some of the area’s top attractions. Conveniently situated in the Corporate Ridge office park at the intersection of K-10 and I-435, guests will enjoy convenient access to dozens of major employers, sports facilities and shopping destinations and is within walking distance of numerous bars and restaurants.  “With its beautiful, modern design and the renowned brand offerings of Embassy Suites by Hilton, this new hotel is the perfect addition to the city of Olathe,” said Bill Duncan, global head, Embassy Suites by Hilton. “The very first Embassy Suites opened in Kansas City-Overland Park, KS in 1984, and more than 30 years later, we are thrilled to continue the tradition of providing two-room suites, free made-to-order breakfast and a complimentary evening reception* to all of our guests visiting the area.” An additional highlight of this hotel includes J Bar Restaurant, Kansas City’s newest full-service bar and restaurant featuring signature mixology cocktails, craft beers, and an extensive wine list. The J Bar has a chef driven menu to deliver an exceptional culinary experience and is open on Monday – Saturday for lunch and dinner and on Sunday for brunch and dinner. The restaurant includes several comfortable areas to enjoy conversation – including a rooftop outdoor urban terrace. In addition to the brand’s signature free made-to-order breakfast, guests will enjoy a range of brand amenities at Embassy Suites by Hilton Kansas City Olathe, including a two-hour complimentary Evening Reception* and two-room suites with a separate living area, private bedroom, two flat-screen high-definition televisions and wet bar fitted with a microwave, mini-fridge and a selection of gourmet coffee and teas from The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf®. The hotel also offers complimentary Wi-Fi throughout all guest rooms and public areas. Guests will also enjoy complimentary access to the hotel’s heated indoor pool, 24-hour fitness center featuring state-of-the-art equipment from Precor and 24-hour business center. Embassy Suites by Hilton Kansas City Olathe features one of the largest hotel ballrooms in the South Kansas City metro area among its 15,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space. Highlights of the hotel’s unique meeting space options include: Nine separate meeting rooms Outdoor atrium and terrace for receptions or events of up to 100 people Private dining room that offers seating of up to 40 people Executive board room with seating for up to 16 people The hotel also offers customized onsite catering and state-of-the-art audio visual services to ensure events of all sizes are a memorable success. Additionally, Embassy Suites by Hilton Kansas City Olathe offers Meetings Simplified™, meeting packages with one simple contract that bundles basic meeting amenities together with a simple, inclusive price from $65 a person. “This beautiful new hotel, featuring its large meeting and event space, is perfectly suited for this region,” said Dave Haning, general manager, Embassy Suites by Hilton Kansas City Olathe. “Embassy Suites by Hilton is synonymous with hospitality and guest satisfaction, and we’re very excited about this project and our partnership with the world-class brand Hilton brand.” Embassy Suites by Hilton Kansas City Olathe participates in the Hilton HHonors® loyalty program, which is open to all guests and free to join. HHonors members always get our lowest price with our Best Price Guarantee, along with HHonors Points, free standard Wi-Fi, access to digital check-in and Digital Key, and no hidden fees, only when they book directly through Hilton. Additionally, Gold members will enjoy the option of receiving 500 bonus points per stay or two complimentary refreshments and Diamond members will enjoy 1,000 bonus points per stay or the choice of three refreshments.  To celebrate the opening, guests can receive 1,000 bonus points per night from Feb. 1 through June 30 when booking the best available rate.  Embassy Suites by Hilton Kansas City Olathe is located at 10401 South Ridgeview Road, Olathe, Kansas, 66061. For more information, or to make a reservation, travelers may visit embassysuites.com or call +1 913-353-9281.    Media can access additional information, including downloadable images, on Embassy Suites by Hilton hotels at news.embassysuites.com. For development queries, please visit hiltonworldwide.com/development. # # # *Service of alcohol subject to state and local laws. Must be of legal drinking age.   About Embassy Suites by Hilton Embassy Suites by Hilton, one of Hilton Worldwide’s twelve market-leading brands, is dedicated to delivering what matters most to travelers. The full service, upscale brand offers two-room suites, free made-to-order breakfast and a nightly two-hour reception with complimentary drinks and snacks. Both leisure and business travelers looking for a relaxed, yet sophisticated experience will feel right at home with brand-standard amenities like inviting atriums and complimentary 24-hour business and fitness centers. Embassy Suites by Hilton has over 220 hotels with more than 40 in the pipeline. Hilton HHonors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to benefits including free standard Wi-Fi, as well as digital amenities that are available exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton HHonors app, where HHonors members can check-in and choose their room. For more information, visit www.embassysuites.com, and connect with Embassy Suites by Hilton at news.embassysuites.com, http://www.facebook.com/embassysuiteshotels and www.twitter.com/EmbassySuites. About Hilton Worldwide Hilton Worldwide (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxury and full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and focused-service hotels. For 96 years, Hilton Worldwide has been dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences. The company’s portfolio of twelve world-class global brands is comprised of more