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How Dick DeVos is Helping Communities through Charitable Donations

Dick DeVos is a prominent businessman and politician from Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is largely recognized for his political and charitable contributions towards various causes, especially in Michigan. Throughout their lifetimes, Dick’s family has contributed close to $140 million. Two years ago, they doled out over $11.5 million to support various philanthropic programs. Large portion of this donation was used to fund various education causes. According to Dick, the current system of education does not help learners achieve the desired goals. He further added that it has become a civil rights issue where some kids are discriminated purposely because of their backgrounds. Through various initiatives, Dick and his wife Betsy have managed to secure vouchers and tax credits to fund charter schools in different states.

 

According to John Truscott, a representative of DeVos’ family said the report about the donations can be found on the foundation’s website, and it was a reflection of their commitment to transparency about their financial contributions. He further added the report was to be made public regardless of Mrs. DeVos nomination by President Donald Trump. Dick DeVos explained that the foundation’s contributions are in line with charitable organizations’ criteria. Some have been used to fund the advocacy group for charter schools, the Great Lakes Education Foundation. Mr. DeVos further insisted that large percentage of their contributions is aimed at assisting communities directly. He added that they are not political groups seeking to advance other political agendas as some critics say, but their aim is to serve the people.

 

After launching aviation school five years ago, the first group of students graduated last year, and Mr. and Mrs. DeVos were proud of their achievements. The school specialized in aeronautical engineering, STEM and robotics. One-third of students at this school are regarded as economically disadvantaged while about 40% are from minority groups.

 

Dick DeVos’ Personal and Career Profile

 

From 1993 to 2002, Dick DeVos was serving as the President of Amway. He was responsible for managing the operations of the firm in fifty nations. Before he began serving as the President, Dick was the Vice President at Amway International where he managed the entity’s operations in 18 different countries. During his tenure, the firm established new markets and its global sales surpassed domestic sales, something that had not happened before. In 1991, his family acquired Orlando Magic club and Mr. DeVos served as CEO and President for three years. Dick graduated from Northwood University and he is a qualified pilot. Dick DeVos was running to be elected the Governor of Michigan on Republican Party in 2006, but unfortunately he lost. He is the author of “Rediscovering American Values”, which was published in the late 1990s and is translated into seven languages. Currently, Dick is serving as The Windquest Group’s President.

 

 

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How The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority Improves Traffic Flow

The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) is tasked with improving mobility in Austin, Texas, and the suburbs that surround it. One of the big challenges in the area in regards to transportation is that much of the growth in the population is in the suburbs while the job growth is mostly in Austin. Getting people into and out of the city in an efficient manner is what the CTRMA is all about.

The Executive Director of the CTRMA, Mike Heiligenstein, has said that they have a number of mobility solutions. This sometimes means building a road, other times it means better incorporating technology into the transportation system, while at other times it means better mass transit solutions. He added that the heart of the mission at the CTRMA is to deliver innovative solutions to decrease traffic congestion and commute times.

The CTRMA has built a number of toll roads in the area, which includes Travis and Williamson counties. These have helped to greatly reduce road capacity in areas that have experienced rapid growth. They are also building MoPac Express Lanes which rely on variable tolling. Mike Heiligenstein has said that these lanes incorporate very sophisticated technology which monitors speeds and traffic patterns in order to keep these lanes operating optimally. However, this doesn’t mean his agency can entirely get rid of congestion, they can only mitigate it.Learn more : http://www.mystatesman.com/news/opinion/things-know-about-the-central-texas-regional-mobility-authority/HuPXTyFcN0TaD5rcsPXZqN/

In the future, the CTRMA will start making the roads themselves smarter. They will have fiber lines embedded in them so that upcoming cars can each talk to the road to find out about the best way of getting where the people in the car need to go. They will also be releasing a smartphone app that will incorporate the agency’s traffic monitoring system which will tell users the best routes to take to their destination, plus another app that will help people create carpooling opportunities.Learn more :

http://www.slideshare.net/mikeheiligenstein/mike-heiligenstein-of-the-ctrma-the-central-texas-approach

The CTRMA is a public agency that was founded in 2002. It has a seven-member Board of Directors which is made up of three officials from each of the counties plus Mike Heiligenstein overseeing the agency. They have been given the authority to put in place transportation systems including transit services, roads, seaports, and airports. In order to pay for their projects they can issue revenue bonds as well as charge tolls and taxes in order to pay off the bonds they issue.Learn more :

https://ibtta.eventsential.org/Speakers/Details/22280

 

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Moral Character Is As Important To Eva Moskowitz As Academics

Education has always played a major role in the life of Success Academy founder Eva Moskowitz who spent a long career passing through various educational institutions as she sought to continue her education in its most effective form.

The issues seen by Eva Moskowitz in the Harlem public school system prompted her to run for office in local government on a series of reform policies in Harlem and across New York; the Johns Hopkins graduate became known in political circles for her skills as an investigator who was known to look at every possible aspect of the Harlem public school system as she set out to create a better experience for students across Harlem and the 32 campuses across the state of New York.

 

Eva Moskowitz founded the Success Academy in 2006 and has seen the Harlem school become a national blue ribbon educational institution, one of only 200 across the U.S. The founder of the Success Academy has seen the school outperform Harlem’s public school system in terms of test results, but for Eva Moskowitz the need to build positive members of society is far more important than simply achieving academic success; the academic achievements of Eva Moskowitz saw her become a History professor and an important member of the Prep for Prep group that provided mentors for gifted students from minority backgrounds. Using her own knowledge of the education system has seen Eva become a major part of the national education reform movement as the charter school system she founded is now seen as a major part of the success achieved in new York and beyond on behalf of students who may not have been able to achieve similar levels of achievement in the public school system.

 

The Success Academy has been a major success for Eva Moskowitz and the thousands of students who attend these charter schools on a regular basis where a common sense approach to school is being taken. One aspect of education that has been addressed at Success Academy is the return of an education focused on the children, not on making it as easy as possible for adults to operate the public school system in the easiest possible form.

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Honey Birdette Will Expand Your Horizon

Honey Birdette has just launched its new US e-commerce site because of its huge 374% increase in sales over 12 months from its US market. The new site will enhance the experience of the customer by providing faster shipping, easier returns, and free shipping on any order over $50.

Honey Birdette, as seen on Instagram, was founded in 2006 by Eloise Monaghan, an Australian entrepreneur, and is targeting the US for its retail market, Honey Birdette has already begun to expand in to the UK market, with stores in Leeds’ Victoria Gate, Westfield White City, and in London’s Covent Garden, the first store to venture outside of Australia.

Honey Birdette has plans to open up 10 more stores in the UK, including at Leeds, Newcastle, Liverpool, and Westfield Stratford. There are even plans for 40 additional stores by the end of next year. In just Australia alone, there are already 55 Honey Birdettes stores and Europe is on the horizon for future locations.

Honey Birdette was created by two friends in a brainstorm in 2006. they were discussing how there just wasn’t a very enticing market when it came to lingerie and adult items, so they decided to start their own line.

Honey Birdette isn’t just about lingerie, but the brand makes many enticing bedroom items, including cuffs, collars, harnesses, and even massage candles. When you walk through the glossy black doors of one of their boutiques, you will enjoy a lush décor setting and you can even ring a bell for champagne. As you browse the collections you will have oyur whole world open up to new and exciting ideas you haven’t even thought of. Honey Birdette specializes in bringing the spark back to the bedroom and will be a fun experience from beginning to end whether you shop in store or online.

Find more Honey Birdette on YouTube.

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Larkin and Lacey Will Hold You by the Hand

Globally, everyone is susceptible to equality and justice and may it be in rights or freedoms. However, a vast majority of individuals become exposed to situations where the above rights get violated. So Without a reliable voice to air out their grievances, people subjected to human rights violations endure periods of prolonged pain and suffering.

Migrants turn out to be the most affected since they prove to be a threat to citizens in foreign countries, especially when they compete to gain access to the limited resources that are available. In worst circumstances, migrants have been physically violated and even killed by people who rarely recognize authority. Learn more about Jim Larkin and Michael Lacey:  https://www.crunchbase.com/person/jim-larkin-2#/entity

Nevertheless, human rights groups like the Owl and Panther/Hopi Foundation have come about so as to fight for the rights and freedoms of the aggrieved. The Hopi Foundation is an organization created to give hope to refugees that might have witnessed fighting, massacres, and even genocides in their mother countries.

Above all, the group empowers migrants so that they too can enjoy leading independent lives. The Hopi Foundation works hand in hand with Owl and Panther to give minority groups hope where none was existent.

Over the years, the Hope Foundation has accommodated refugees from war-torn countries like Somalia, Congo, Ethiopia, Bhutan, Nepal, Iraq, Guatemala, and migrants going through the U.S.-Mexico border. By using approaches like music, poetry, art, and drama, many refugees have been able to discover their talents.

As a result, a vast majority of the skilled migrants have built a life for themselves and their families while living in the U.S. Since the Hopi Foundation has no reliable source of income, it relies on donor funding. Besides, volunteers can always chip in and lend a lending hand whenever it is needed.

Fortunately, Michael Lacey and Jim Larkin have come to ease the burden on Owl and Panther through their Lacey and Larkin Frontera Fund. Lacey and Larkin’s philanthropy started in 2007, a time when the duo faced allegation charges of having leaked information of an ongoing case.

Since Maricopa Sheriff Joe Arpaio arrested these two individuals in a rather unpleasant circumstance, Michael Lacey and Jim Larkin felt that the Sheriff had breached on their civil rights. Through the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, they sued the county and received an award of $3.75 million.

Because of their vibrant hearts of giving, they set up the Lacey and Larkin Frontera Fund so as to help organizations that offer support to migrants who might have at one point in time suffered from human and civil rights abuse. Through their fund, Michael and Jim have helped many individuals, people that they have never known; recover physically and emotionally with time.

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George Street Photo and Video in New York’s Excellent Service

George Street Photo & Video Address NYC is wonderful at capturing the best moments of your wedding ceremony. Their staff is incredibly friendly and experienced at taking wedding photos and videos. The wedding planning team does an excellent job of picking the absolute best and most professional photographers and videographers for your special occasion. The entire staff is incredibly responsive and is able to reply to your emails or phone calls in a timely manner. George Street comes highly recommended by previous customers and couples who have relied on their services in the past. You won’t have any regrets hiring George Street for your wedding.

 

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Why Tim Armour Is A Mogul In The Investment Sector

Making wise financial and capital investment is the dream of any successful business person. It also depends on the investment plan and the measure of potential returns that drives people to invest.

Tim Armour is an investment personality with tremendous knowledge of the investment plans that are beneficial to the low earning citizen. Tim Armour weighs in on the conversation surrounding the investment made by Warren Buffett of $1 million to charity. He argues that the investment would have yielded returns through S and P 500 passive index fund.

Timothy Armour, however, agrees that Warren Buffett made a sound decision because of the expensive and untrustworthy investors that have flocked the market. Though the returns are dismal, low cost and simple investment are better for long term results. Another important point is investing with the bottom-up investment model which enables many small-scale investors to gain from the investment opportunities.

There are passive and active investment strategies. It is also important to understand the importance of investing in any of the given structure. Active investments involve increased management fees and excessive taxing. In passive investment process, the returns take a long time to be achieved with low risk witnessed. As such, Tim Armour is for the opinion, small scale investor to use the passive form of investment process to for increased profits.

Tim Armour has over 32 years of experience in construction management practice. He has a bachelor’s degree in economics from the Middlebury College. Currently, he resides in Los Angeles in the United States of America. In 2015, he was elected as Chairman of Capital Group. Capital Group is a world leading investment management firm with branches across the world.

Tim Armour is known for strategic planning and owing customers to undertake short and long-term investment opportunities. He plays a pivotal role in bringing clients together towards understanding the risk of investing.

Find more about Timothy Armour: http://www.investmentnews.com/article/20150729/FREE/150729863/capital-group-parent-names-armour-chairman-replacing-rothenberg

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Does WEN Really Work? Check Out One Blogger’s Experience

You’ve seen the YouTube commercials but do you really know what WEN by Chaz Dean is all about? This hair care line is known for its ability to transform any hair type into soft, voluminous locks. One Bustle blogger decided to try the classic WEN cleansing conditioner for herself. Keep reading to learn more about her experience.

Bustle writer Emily McClure decided to test out the much talked-about WEN hair care line and share her experience with readers. She starts by noting that her hair is fine in texture so she wanted to add volume, bounce, and shine. After just one use, the writer noticed that her hair was not only shiny and bouncy, it also felt thicker and stronger too! She notes that she often notices strands falling out in the shower, which didn’t happen when she cleansed with WEN.

The writer notes that her hair got greasy quickly, but her hair instantly gained that bounce and volume upon using Wen again. She describes her hair as feeling “super soft” and appearing more healthy than when she used regular shampoo and conditioner. Even her friends noticed the difference in her hair’s shine and bounce factor.

WEN by Chaz Dean is a revolutionary product that takes the place of five hair products. By combining shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner, leave-in conditioner, and detangler, WEN saves you time and money. It is made of natural herbs and extracts and doesn’t contain those harsh stripping agents found in most shampoos. You’ll get full, shiny, moisturized hair without the lather. Plus it comes in amazing scents like Sweet Almond Mint, Fig, and Pomegranate. http://chazdean.com/store.aspx

Visit Wen.com to purchase these products.

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End Citizens United – For A Brighter Future For America

With the current political scene in America, there is a lot of general uproar of people who want to bring about change in the system of governance. End Citizen’s United is one organization that is geared towards giving the power of democracy back to the people, helping them once again get a say in their political systems. People all over the country feel like their voices are unheard because they aren’t one of the wealthy and powerful members of society. In a democracy, people should all have an equal say in the politics of their country and should be able to have a say in who governs them. However, the people still feel like they are helpless and can’t do much if they don’t have funds to donate.

 

The mainly started happening to the country soon after a ruling was passed by the Supreme Court. The bill in question was labeled as ‘Citizen’s United,’ but was far from what it tried to portray. According to the bill, big business were given the same status as people in the country and political systems as the ordinary citizens. This meant that individuals who were the owners of companies had more say in the state of affairs. Moreover, they were now able to invest their money into political parties without being questioned. This gave rise to significant money laundering practices which started taking place between members of these companies and political party members. Also, because these companies were investing so much into political parties, the political leaders were now forced to do what these investors were telling them to do. Political leaders thus began to start swaying their policies for these companies so as to keep the flow of money into their parties. It seemed like a win-win situation for the businesses and the parties, but the common people in America were the one’s who received the brunt of this. They started being put in the back seat in America’s politics and started feeling like their voices aren’t heard.

 

The one thing standing in the way of the Supreme Court overturning this decision of End Citizen’s United is the current Republican Party and all its elected members. A lot of the members who have been elected to these positions solely because of the power that they have got through this decision. Members of End Citizen’s United feel like for normalcy to be restored once again in their political system, people need to work towards overthrowing the current ruling party and re-elect individual members for the smooth running of the government. The organization is working towards re-establishing a sound political system in the country that looks out for the needs of the people.

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Betsy DeVos: Education for All

Every child needs an education but not every child needs to have the same exact education through the public school system that is severely broken. The kids who attend public schools do not get the best chance at the greatest education possible and Betsy DeVos knows that. For that reason, she wants to change the system and make it so that every child – no matter their economic situation – is able to get the education that they deserve. She knows that the system is broken and, as the Secretary of Education, she is going to continue working on fixing it by using all of the different options that she has curated throughout her years as a philanthropist. She wants to make things better for children so that they will be able to get the best education possible and something that will work for everyone.

DeVos recognizes in her education beliefs that not all children are able to learn the same way. For that reason, public education is not the best for every student and some are losing out on what they could be learning if they only had the opportunities that other children had. Devos wants to make it so that children will have the chance to choose between which will work for them. She also knows that parents know their children far better than any school system will and she wants to make sure that they are going to be able to use that to their best advantage.

Visit: http://www.dbdvfoundation.org/

It is important to note that the education system reform that DeVos has come up with is aimed at tailoring different education options at the individual students. She wants all kids to be able to go to public school or a charter school if that works better. She was one of the biggest supporters behind education choices when the idea first became well known and she continues to push to make it an option so that children will have a better chance at a good education. Even though the idea was somewhat radical at the time, she still stood behind it.

Part of her ability to see where people should be and the way that children should have opportunities comes from the philanthropic ventures that her and her husband have created. They have worked with children who are underprivileged and who do not have an educational choice. She has seen firsthand how economics influence education and she wants to put an end to that. With the charity work that they have done, Betsy DeVos has made huge strides in the changes for these kids and with the different options that they have to choose from public, charter or even private schools. Read her interview with Philanthropy Table.