Community Engagement

Carolina Complete Health Draws 205 to Six Baby Shower Events

Charlotte, N.C. – September 16, 2026 -- Approximately 205 participants attended Carolina Complete Health Community Baby Showers held Sept. 2 across six North Carolina communities, connecting expectant and new parents with maternal and infant health resources.

Six cities hosted events with 17 community partners

Families gathered at Carolina Complete Health Community Connections Centers in Asheville, Charlotte, Greensboro, Greenville, Lumberton and Raleigh. The events included participation from 17 community partners, expanding access to local services for prenatal care, breastfeeding, newborn care, nutrition and food assistance.

Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade Expands Route for 16th Edition

Atlanta – September 16, 2026 -- The Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade returns Sept. 19 for its 16th year with a route nearly half a mile longer than prior editions, extending the procession to almost two miles along the Beltline's Southwest Trail.

Parade route grows as Beltline corridor expansion continues

The event, launched in 2010 by resident artist Chantelle Rytter and her volunteer Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons, now stretches from Beulah Colbert Park through neighborhood streets to Lee + White, where it closes with the All-Band Puppet Jam. Organizers report attendance has grown from a few hundred participants at the trail's first completed segment to thousands today, tracking the phased buildout of the Beltline's 22-mile rail-to-trail corridor.

Ultra-Cyclist Launches 10,000-Mile 'Ride the Nation' With NewForm

Boston – September 16, 2026 -- Ultra-endurance cyclist Jack Thompson departed Boston today on a 10,000-mile, 60-day ride across all 48 contiguous U.S. states, partnering with national sobriety and mental health platform NewForm to document how American communities are building recovery and connection networks.

Thompson's 60-day route spans the continental U.S. before ending in Santa Cruz

The journey, dubbed "Ride the Nation," is scheduled to conclude around November 13 in Santa Cruz, California. Thompson will stop in communities nationwide to meet recovery groups, schools, local leaders and individuals navigating addiction, sobriety and mental health challenges.

Reynolds American Unveils Record-Size Mural in Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem, N.C. – September 16, 2026 -- Reynolds American Inc. unveiled a nearly 33,000-square-foot mural on the north-facing wall of its Reynolds Central Distribution Center building at 1133 Reynolds Boulevard, a piece the artists believe is the largest mural on the East Coast by wall area.

Mural marks 150th anniversary of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company

Commissioned in early 2025, the artwork commemorates the 150th anniversary of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, founded in 1875. Local artists Leo Rucker and Joey Allen completed the piece using roughly 9,000 spray paint cans and 50,000 square feet of paint coverage, logging nearly 2,000 hours of work over 15 months.

JAANUU, LA Kings Expand Partnership With Healthcare Night

El Segundo – September 15, 2026 -- JAANUU, the physician-founded medical apparel brand, has expanded its sponsorship deal with the Los Angeles Kings for the 2026-27 NHL season, adding a dedicated Healthcare Professionals Appreciation Night to the partnership.

Kings and JAANUU add themed game night on October 13

The expanded agreement, brokered by AEG Global Partnerships, will see the LA Kings host the Edmonton Oilers at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday, October 13 at 7:30 p.m. for the inaugural Healthcare Professionals Appreciation Night presented by JAANUU. Every ticketed guest at the game will receive a co-branded foam puck, while JAANUU will run interactive activations, giveaways and contests throughout the arena.

Arrow Tool Group Becomes Diamond Sponsor of 2026 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree

Saddle Brook, N.J. – September 14, 2026 -- Arrow Tool Group has signed on as a Diamond Sponsor for the 2026 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, committing tools, equipment and public relations support to move the tree from Idaho's Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests to the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol.

Arrow supplies tools and holiday kits for the cross-country tree tour

The New Jersey-based manufacturer, founded in 1929, will provide tools and equipment to the Capitol Christmas Tree team, donate holiday tool kits, and support public relations efforts aimed at community engagement along the tree's route. The partnership operates in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service and the Society of American Foresters.

Leifras Wins 3-Year Nagoya Contract for School Instructor Bank

Tokyo – September 14, 2026 -- Nasdaq-listed LEIFRAS Co., Ltd. (Nasdaq: LFS) has secured a three-year contract renewal from the City of Nagoya to operate the "Nagoya School Club Activities Human Resources Bank," extending a program it has run since April 2022 into a new term beginning September 14, 2026.

Nagoya renews Leifras deal to staff after-school programs across 16 wards

The contract covers the recruitment, training, and matching of instructors for "new sports and cultural activities" offered to grades four through six at municipal elementary schools across Nagoya's 16 wards. The initiative forms part of Japan's broader shift of school club management from school-based staffing to outsourced, community-based operation, a transition driving demand for vetted, professionally trained local instructors.