Community
SKITTLES® HELPS PEOPLE “SEE THE RAINBOW” BY HIGHLIGHTING DYNAMIC GROUPS WITHIN THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY THIS PRIDE
SKITTLES puts the spotlight on community in collaboration with GLAAD, supports local LGBTQ+ interest groups across the U.S.
Last Updated on August 20, 2024 by Daily News Staff
NEWARK, N.J. /PRNewswire/ — Today, SKITTLES® is kicking off its annual Pride celebration by spotlighting the many interests, talents and hobbies within the LGBTQ+ community. Whether it’s a passion for pickleball, or yearning for yoga, SKITTLES is amplifying the importance of finding your community – because when you find your community, your colors shine.
The brand also believes in uplifting the LGBTQ+ community and supporting those looking to find camaraderie with individuals who have similar interests. SKITTLES partnered with community-building platform, Meetup, to create the “SKITTLES LGBTQ+ Directory, powered by Meetup.” The directory consists of a wide range of LGBTQ+ groups, events, resources and more to help future friends across the country find their community. This simple to navigate landing page will help like-minded gamers, pickleball players, yogis, bookworms, birders and much more find their local community groups and events – all year-round.
SKITTLES has also released its annual limited-edition 2024 Pride pack, which celebrates the message of community. The pack was designed in partnership with female & minority-owned production company, NERD Productions and their talented LGBTQ+ artists, to illustrate the dynamic individuals and diverse groups that make up the LGBTQ+ community. For the fifth year in a row, SKITTLES will donate $1 per every Pride pack sold (up to $100,000) to GLAAD in support of its ongoing efforts to work through media to increase visibility for the LGBTQ+ community. The pack release will be followed by a year of celebrations of local groups and communities that help fans “See the Rainbow.”
“We know the LGBTQ+ community is one that is comprised of strong, dynamic individuals with a wide array of interests and passions,” said Gabrielle Wesley, Chief Marketing Officer, Mars Wrigley North America. “Our SKITTLES Pride pack and community celebrations are intended to inspire moments of everyday happiness by celebrating the LGBTQ+ community in a way that lets all unique colors shine.”
Designed with the colors of SKITTLES’ signature rainbow and with inspiration from inclusive Pride flags, the Pride pack features symbols of community, friendship, and several micro-LGBTQ+ communities as part of SKITTLES’ full year program – including roller derby, filmmaking and videography, marching bands and more.
As a show of on-going support for the LGBTQ+ community beyond June, SKITTLES is sponsoring five local LGBTQ+ communities across the United States to help shine a light on their organizations, members and how being a part of the community has helped them “See The Rainbow.” The five colorful groups include:
- The Queer Big Apple Corps: New York City’s premiere symphonic and marching band that provides adults within the LGBTQ+ community and allies with a supportive and friendly environment for musical and artistic expression.
- Reeling Film Festival: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival recognizes the important contributions that LGBTQ+ filmmakers have made to society, shines a light on the community’s struggles, and uplifts the community’s history.
- Urban Bird Collective: Birdwatchers and stewards of nature, the Minneapolis-based group creates safe spaces that center BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities to enjoy the natural environment while building birdwatching skills.
- Bay Area Derby: An LGBTQ+ friendly Bay Area derby league whose mission includes providing inclusive amateur athletic entertainment and competitive roller derby at all levels.
- Las Vegas Gaymers: Las Vegas’ premiere gaming group that focuses on providing a safe community for queer and LGBTQ+ gamers.
GLAAD and SKITTLES are also coming together for a Pride Month Donor Matching Campaign, where GLAAD donors can receive a limited-edition hip pack featuring the signature 2024 SKITTLES Pride pack design. SKITTLES will match all donations up to $25,000 – the first 500 donors to make a matched gift of $75 or more to the matching campaign will receive the hip pack filled with SKITTLES and patches to personalize their hip pack.
“2024 is our fifth year partnering with SKITTLES, and we are thrilled by their unwavering support of the LGBTQ community,” said Raymond Dooley, VP of Marketing at GLAAD. “Here at GLAAD, we are proud to help the brand create connections for everyone this Pride, and always.”
While the SKITTLES Pride packs will only be on shelf for a limited time this summer, SKITTLES will continue celebrating the LGBTQ+ community past Pride month in June. For more information about SKITTLES Pride initiatives, including the various partnerships and spotlights of our five community groups, visit Skittles.com/PRIDE or follow SKITTLES on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
ABOUT MARS, INCORPORATED
Mars, Incorporated is driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. As a global, family-owned business, Mars is transforming, innovating, and evolving to make a positive impact on the world.
Across our diverse and expanding portfolio of quality confectionery, food, and pet care products and services, we employ 140,000+ dedicated Associates. With more than $47 billion in annual sales, we produce some of the world’s best-loved brands including Ben’s Original™, CESAR®, Cocoavia®, DOVE®, EXTRA®, KIND®, M&M’s®, SNICKERS®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, and WHISKAS®. We are creating a better world for pets through our global network of pet hospitals and diagnostic services – including AniCura, BANFIELD™, BLUEPEARL™, Linnaeus and VCA™ – using cutting edge technology to develop breakthrough programs in genetic health screening and DNA testing. For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
ABOUT GLAAD
GLAAD is the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization working to protect all that has been accomplished in LGBTQ representation in media, while leading the charge to create a world where everyone can live the life they love. GLAAD tackles tough issues and provokes dialogue that leads to cultural change through increased media accountability, corporate engagement initiatives, and advocacy programs that help to ensure 100% inclusion and acceptance of the LGBTQ community.
ABOUT MEETUP
Meetup is an online event platform with the mission of fostering authentic human connection through shared experiences. Since 2002, Meetup has facilitated the creation and discovery of high-quality events and engaged local communities. Today, Meetup is home to 60 million members and 330,000 groups spanning 10,000 cities in 193 countries worldwide. Learn more at https://www.meetup.com/.
SOURCE Mars, Incorporated
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Lifestyle
P.F. Chang’s Partners With Starlight Children’s Foundation for New “Spirit of the Zodiac” Giving Campaign
P.F. Chang’s launches Spirit of the Zodiac, a giving campaign supporting Starlight Children’s Foundation with Bao plush purchases and in-restaurant donations.
P.F. Chang’s Launches Spirit of the Zodiac Campaign to Support Starlight Children’s Foundation
P.F. Chang’s is launching a new annual charitable initiative designed to bring comfort to children during hospital stays. The Scottsdale-based restaurant brand announced Spirit of the Zodiac, a giving program inspired by the Chinese zodiac, with its inaugural campaign—Year of the Fire Horse: Spirit of Strength—benefiting Starlight Children’s Foundation.
What the campaign supports
Starlight Children’s Foundation serves more than 800 children’s hospitals nationwide, providing programs such as toy deliveries, hospital gowns, gaming stations, and other experiences intended to help kids feel more comfortable, connected, and supported during medical care.
How guests can participate (Sept. 2–Sept. 30)
From September 2 through September 30, 2026, guests can purchase Bao, a limited-edition horse plushie, for $10 through dine-in transactions at participating P.F. Chang’s restaurants (while supplies last). For each Bao purchased, P.F. Chang’s will donate an identical Bao plushie to Starlight for distribution through its hospital network—up to 20,000 donated plushies.
Guests can also support the campaign by rounding up their checks or making a direct donation in restaurant. The overall effort aims to raise $500,000 to support Starlight’s work with children and families.
Bonus offer for donors
P.F. Chang’s says guests who purchase Bao or make an in-restaurant donation of $10 or more to Starlight will receive an offer for a complimentary appetizer with the purchase of an entrée on a future dine-in visit, valid through October 31, 2026 (restrictions apply; participating locations only).
A story component for families
The campaign also includes a storytelling element: Bao’s journey will be featured in a digital story and an original children’s book by author Jenny Liao and illustrator Adriane Tsai, expected to publish later this month.
What to watch for
P.F. Chang’s and Starlight plan to continue the partnership beyond September, including in-hospital catering and plush deliveries in early October.
For more information, visit www.pfchangs.com/offers/spirit-of-the-zodiac. To learn more about the partnership, visit starlight.org/pfchangs.
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Community
9/11 Day Awards $3 Million in Grants to Expand Volunteer Opportunities Nationwide Ahead of 25th Anniversary
9/11 Day announced $3 million in grants to nearly 200 groups across 40 states, expanding service projects for the 25th anniversary observance.
As the United States approaches the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, the nonprofit 9/11 Day is putting major resources behind a familiar idea with renewed urgency: remembrance through service. The organization—founded by 9/11 families and leaders and co-led by co-founders David Paine and Jay Winuk—announced $3 million in grants to roughly 200 nonprofits, schools, and community groups across 40 states to expand local volunteer projects tied to this year’s September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance.
The funding is designed to dramatically increase the number of ways Americans can participate close to home, from food insecurity initiatives to neighborhood cleanups and support programs for veterans and first responders. Together, grant recipients are expected to engage more than 70,000 volunteers nationwide.
A major push toward youth-led service
More than 70% of the grant funding is going to youth organizations and educational institutions, including K–12 schools, universities, and other learning programs. The emphasis reflects a generational reality: millions of students today know 9/11 primarily through textbooks, family stories, and classroom lessons.
“For many students participating in the observance this year, 9/11 is something they’ve only encountered in textbooks or through stories from parents and grandparents,” said Jay Winuk, co-founder and executive vice president of 9/11 Day and a 9/11 family member. “By connecting history with hands-on service, we’re helping young people understand that the legacy of 9/11 isn’t defined only by tragedy. It’s also defined by compassion, resilience and the responsibility we all share to care for one another.”
Youth-focused projects supported by the grants include school-wide days of service, hunger-relief efforts, donation drives, community improvement work, and service-learning initiatives that connect the history of September 11 with practical ways to help others.
UNIITE for Good: turning an anniversary into a nationwide “doing good” moment
The grant program is a cornerstone of 9/11 Day’s nationwide UNIITE for Good campaign, scheduled to officially launch August 24. The campaign aims to transform the 25th anniversary into what organizers describe as America’s largest day of doing good—channeling remembrance into tangible community impact.
The program is administered in collaboration with AmeriCorps, with principal funding provided by AmeriCorps and the Popeyes Foundation. A special emphasis this year is addressing hunger—an issue described in the release as an “ever-growing hunger crisis across the nation.”
Meeting community needs where people live
Grant-funded projects span urban, suburban, and rural communities. Activities include assembling meals for individuals and families facing food insecurity, packing care kits for veterans and first responders, restoring community spaces, and strengthening schools and neighborhoods.
Beyond the service itself, the grants are also intended to help local groups recruit volunteers, purchase supplies, coordinate logistics, and expand the number of service opportunities available in their areas.
“As we mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11, we have a responsibility to preserve not only the memory of that day and those lost and injured, but also the extraordinary way Americans came together in the aftermath of the attacks,” said David Paine, president and co-founder of 9/11 Day. “These community-led projects are helping rekindle that spirit of unity, compassion and service by bringing neighbors together to help solve local challenges.”
AmeriCorps echoed that message, framing service as a way to honor those who responded in the immediate aftermath of the attacks.
“This year, we invite Americans to carry forward that enduring spirit of unity and service by becoming a hero for someone in need,” said Emily Stock, project manager for Volunteer Initiatives at AmeriCorps, noting that AmeriCorps-funded projects will include food drives, home repairs, neighborhood cleanups, and disaster preparedness activities.
The Popeyes Foundation also highlighted its community-focused mission and its role in supporting local projects.
Why this anniversary matters now
Organizers say the 25th anniversary arrives at a pivotal moment: more than 100 million Americans are now too young to have personal memories of September 11. That makes this milestone one of the last major opportunities to connect those who lived through the day with younger generations learning about it as history.
Examples of grant-supported efforts include:
- Marshall University, which plans to build on its existing 9/11 Days of Service tradition, including a Memorial Stair Challenge and volunteer projects supporting veterans, first responders, and families in need.
- Middlebury Elementary School, which will expand hands-on service activities that teach younger students about 9/11 through compassion and community action.
- University of South Dakota, where students will work alongside community partners to address local needs while learning how service can bridge backgrounds and perspectives.
How to get involved
A full list of 2026 9/11 Day Grant Program recipients is available through 9/11 Day. To learn more about the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance—and to find ways to participate—visit 911day.org.
STM Daily News will continue tracking community service initiatives and local observances tied to the 25th anniversary as September approaches
Community
Kia and its Dealers Expand Community Giving Nationwide
Expand Community Giving Nationwide: Kia announced its fifth annual “Accelerate the Good” dealer match program, which supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The program also donates to other organizations that make a positive impact in their communities.
Kia and its Dealers Expand Community Giving Nationwide
(Feature Impact) Families often arrive at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital with a tough road ahead. Their child has been diagnosed with cancer, and they’re navigating a complex treatment plan. One thing that families don’t have to worry about is how they’ll pay for this upheaval to their lives. In 2026, Kia donated $2 million to St. Jude to help ensure families don’t receive a bill for medical costs, housing or food during treatment.
Watch this video to learn more
Kia announced its fifth annual “Accelerate the Good” dealer match program, which supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The program also donates to other organizations that make a positive impact in their communities.
Donations from a network of nearly 800 dealers support organizations such as No Kid Hungry, Toys for Tots, Operation Homefront and several other groups dedicated to children’s health, hunger relief, disaster response and veterans’ well-being. Kia employees also lead volunteer efforts to benefit community pantries, beach cleanups and clothing drives.
“The continued success of our ‘Accelerate the Good’ initiative reflects the shared commitment of Kia and our nationwide retailer network to invest in the communities we serve,” said SeungKyu (Sean) Yoon, president and CEO of Kia North America and Kia America. “Together, we are proud to support organizations that deliver lifesaving care, strengthen families, fight hunger and create meaningful opportunities for people across the country.”
Ahead of September’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Kia and its dealers have reached an important milestone: more than $7.7 million donated to St. Jude Children’s Hospital in four years. The donations are part of Kia’s broader community giving initiatives.
To learn more about how Kia is accelerating good in their communities, visit kia.com.
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