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WILDBRAIN TEAMS UP WITH THE PHILLY SPECIALS–JASON KELCE, LANE JOHNSON AND JORDAN MAILATA–TO LAUNCH A NEW ANIMATED VIDEO FOR THEIR HIT HOLIDAY SONG “IT’S CHRISTMAS TIME (IN CLEVELAND HEIGHTS)” FEATURING BOYZ II MEN, FROM THEIR 2024 HOLIDAY ALBUM, A PHILLY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS PARTY

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With lead vocals by famed NFL brothers, Jason and Travis Kelce, the new video drops today as part of The Philly Specials’ holiday charity initiative “Operation Snowball,” which also includes six new animated digital shorts from WildBrain

PHILADELPHIA and TORONTO, Dec. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ – WildBrain, a global leader in kids’ and family entertainment, has teamed up with The Philly Specials—the music group formed by NFL Eagles Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata and retired Eagle, Jason Kelce —to produce a brand-new animated music video for their original song “It’s Christmas Time (In Cleveland Heights)” written by The Philly Specials’ Zach Miller (Dr. Dog) and featuring smooth guest vocals by Philadelphia’s iconic R&B trio, Boyz II Men. WildBrain has also produced six new animated shorts inspired by The Philly Specials that will be rolling out on social media this holiday season. WildBrain is making the new videos available for fans to enjoy on the WildBrain Kids YouTube channel and on WildBrain Television’s Family Channel in Canada.

 

WildBrain and The Philly Specials release new animated video for “It’s Christmas Time (In Cleveland Heights)”

The first single from A Philly Special Christmas Party (Vera Y Records), “It’s Christmas Time (In Cleveland Heights),” debuted at #7 on the iTunes Holiday Chart this November and features brothers Jason and Travis Kelce singing about coming home at Christmas to Cleveland Heights, the Ohio suburb where they grew up. Produced by Charlie Hall (The War on Drugs) and executive producer Connor Barwin (Vera Y Records), the track is from The Philly Specials’ third and final holiday album, A Philly Special Christmas Party, a centerpiece of the group’s Operation Snowball, the ambitious charity initiative that will give a gift to every student in the School District of Philadelphia this holiday season. Proceeds from sales of A Philly Special Christmas Party will go to support Operation Snowball with the goal to exceed the $4 million donated in 2022 and 2023 from the sales of previous holiday albums, A Philly Special Christmas and A Philly Special Christmas Special.

The Philly Specials Rescue Santa

The new animated videos are produced in support of Operation Snowball by the talented team at WildBrain’s Vancouver studio—the folks behind such hits as Camp Snoopy on Apple TV+ and SEGA’s Sonic Prime on Netflix. The delightful new ’90s-R&B-meets-nostalgia music video for “It’s Christmas Time (In Cleveland Heights)” sees The Philly Specials embark on a thrilling animated expedition across the polar tundra to find Santa Claus and save Christmas for the world—and Cleveland Heights!

Following a trail of scattered gifts, The Philly Specials discover Santa’s sleigh has crashed into a snow drift on Christmas Eve, his toys have been lost and the reindeer have fled! Rescuing St. Nick, they team up with him and head to the North Pole in the wee hours (long after the Elves have gone to bed) to rebuild the lost toys and help make heroic deliveries around the world, ending in a triumphant return to Cleveland Heights.

Connor Barwin said: “We were delighted to work with WildBrain on the animated video for ‘It’s Christmas Time (In Cleveland Heights).’ Our goal was to capture the spirit of the song in a magical animated world with Jason, Travis and the whole Philly Specials gang. We wanted it to be fun for kids and a little nostalgic for adults, and the team at WildBrain nailed it. They were such a creative and collaborative group to work with, and we can’t wait for everyone to see it!”

Stephanie Betts, Executive Vice President of Content Creation at WildBrain, said: “We were thrilled to collaborate with The Philly Specials’ team and Vera Y Records on the video for ‘It’s Christmas Time (In Cleveland Heights)’ and the accompanying social media shorts. It was a true pleasure for our team to bring their creative vision to life through animation, and we had an incredible time working together. Their dedication to children and families during the holiday season is nothing short of inspiring, and we were honored to support their efforts in making the world a brighter, better place.”

Get A Philly Special Christmas Party and support Operation Snowball

Fans can order the new album on white vinyl or CD from the official website below, or download it on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube music or wherever you stream your favorite songs. Fans can also support Operation Snowball by donating directly to The Fund for The School District of Philadelphia.

Find The Philly Specials Online:

Official: http://phillyspecialchristmas.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/aphillyspecialchristmasYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aphillyspecialchristmasSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4JPJvxDtfBlQAiNm8dd7vX?si=Q4mf4KuhQXOinKfWHpKDCg

For more information, please contact:

For WildBrain: Shaun Smith – Sr. Director, Global Communications & Public Relations, WildBrain
shaun.smith@wildbrain.com 

For The Philly Specials: Maggie Poulos | Mixtape Media
Maggie@mixtape-media.com 

About WildBrain

At WildBrain we inspire imaginations through the wonder of storytelling. As a leader in 360° franchise management, we are experts in content creation, audience engagement and global licensing, cultivating and growing love for our own and partner brands around the world. With approximately 14,000 half-hours of kids’ and family content in our library—one of the world’s most extensive—we are home to such treasured franchises as Peanuts, Teletubbies, Strawberry Shortcake, Yo Gabba Gabba!, Inspector Gadget and Degrassi. WildBrain’s mission is to create exceptional entertainment experiences that captivate and delight fans both young and young at heart.

Our studios produce such award-winning series as The Snoopy Show; Snoopy in Space; Camp Snoopy; Strawberry Shortcake: Berry in the Big City; Sonic Prime; Chip and Potato; Teletubbies Let’s Go! and many more. Enjoyed in more than 150 countries on over 500 platforms, our content is everywhere kids and families view entertainment, including YouTube, where our network has garnered approximately 1.5 trillion minutes of watch time. Our television group owns and operates some of Canada’s most loved family entertainment channels. WildBrain CPLG, our leading consumer-products and location-based entertainment agency, represents our owned and partner properties in every major territory worldwide.

WildBrain is headquartered in Canada with offices worldwide and trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: WILD). Visit us at wildbrain.com.

About The Philly Specials

The Philly Specials are a collaboration between NFL players Jason Kelce, Jordan Mailata, and Lane Johnson and musicians including Stevie Nicks, Patti LaBelle, Boyz II Men, Devon Gilfillian, The Hooters, members of The War On Drugs, Dr. Dog, Sun Ra Arkestra and more. The project celebrates the true spirit of the holiday season through music, friendship, and joy while raising money to support charitable organizations throughout Greater Philadelphia. A Philly Special Christmas Special raised over $3M for local charities, including Children’s Crisis Treatment Center and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Snowflake Station. Singles, “This Christmas,” “All I Want for Christmas is You,” “Fairytale of Philadelphia,” and “Pretty Paper,” have garnered over 10M streams across platforms, “Fairytale of Philadelphia” reached #1 on iTunes, and 50,000 copies have been sold on vinyl. Its predecessor in 2022, A Philly Special Christmas, immediately sold out its limited pressing. The record reached four top ten spots on various Billboard Music Charts including #1 on the Compilation Albums Chart. A Philly Special Christmas donated over $1M to local charities, including Children’s Crisis Treatment Center, and fulfilled the wish lists of Philadelphia School District teachers via Donors Choose.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wildbrain-teams-up-with-the-philly-specialsjason-kelce-lane-johnson-and-jordan-mailatato-launch-a-new-animated-video-for-their-hit-holiday-song-its-christmas-time-in-cleveland-heights-featuring-boyz-ii-men-from-their-2024-302324884.html

SOURCE WildBrain Ltd.

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AirCheck Australia & New Zealand Renamed as RCS MEDIA MONITORS

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SYDNEY, Jan. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — AirCheck, a leading provider of broadcast monitoring services in Australia and New Zealand is pleased to announce its renaming as RCS MEDIA MONITORS, effective immediately.

AirCheck monitors songs and commercials providing almost real time reporting tools for radio and television broadcasters, music media, record companies, advertising agencies and industry analysts.

This change reflects the company’s growth, expanded service offerings, and a strengthened focus on providing comprehensive media intelligence.

The new name, RCS MEDIA MONITORS, builds on the expertise of its parent company, RCS, to offer enhanced monitoring solutions. By integrating RCS’s global technology and resources, the company will provide clients with a broader range of tools for tracking and analysing media campaigns across a variety of platforms and markets.

“We’re excited to take this step forward,” said Philippe Generali, President and CEO of RCS Global. “The rebranding to RCS MEDIA MONITORS allows us to expand our reach and improve our services, giving clients access to deeper insights and a wider array of media monitoring tools. With RCS’s support, we can offer more robust data and solutions that cover not just broadcast, but also digital and emerging media channels.”

The name change signals the company’s commitment to evolving with the changing media landscape. With RCS MEDIA MONITORS, clients can expect the same reliable monitoring services they’ve trusted for over 20 years in Australia and 15 years in NZ.

www.rcsmediamonitors.com.au

About RCS MEDIA MONITORS

RCS MEDIA MONITORS (formerly AirCheck) is a leading provider of broadcast monitoring and media intelligence solutions in Australia, New Zealand and India. The company helps clients across industries optimise media strategies, measure performance, and gain insights from a wide range of traditional and digital media. RCS MEDIA MONITORS is part of RCS, a global leader in broadcast automation and media technology.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/aircheck-australia–new-zealand-renamed-as-rcs-media-monitors-302347810.html

SOURCE RCS MEDIA MONITORS

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iM Global Partner mourns the passing of Philippe Uzan

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PARIS, Jan. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — It is with deep sadness that iM Global Partner (iMGP) announces the passing, one month ago, of our dear friend and colleague, Philippe Uzan.

 

 

Philippe’s exceptional career in asset management spanned more than 30 years and is marked by remarkable achievements in the organizations for which he worked and deep contributions to the industry as a whole. His passing is a tremendous loss to all who knew and worked with him.

Philippe joined iM Global Partner in February 2020 as Deputy CEO and CIO Global Asset Management, responsible for overseeing our financial strategies and products and designing value-added investment solutions for our clients across Europe and the United States.

His expertise spanned all asset classes, and he had a deep understanding of markets and their impact on investors and their investment needs. He was an eloquent man who contributed a number of papers and articles to the media, always with the intention of educating and making financial concepts more relatable. He has left an indelible mark on our organization and on the broader industry.

Prior to joining iM Global Partner, Philippe was latterly Chief Investment Officer at Edmond De Rothschild Asset Management, where he worked for 11 years and where he led the portfolio management teams, optimizing the synergies between analysis and portfolio management. He previously spent three years as Research and Global Asset Allocation Director, where he developed the portfolio management and research teams and modernized investment processes and the product range.

Philippe began his career as an Equity Derivatives Trader at Société Générale and held roles at AGF Asset Management (now part of Allianz Global Investors) and Natixis AM.

Throughout his career, Philippe’s outstanding intelligence, humility, and collaborative spirit earned him the respect and admiration of his peers.

Philippe Couvrecelle, Founder and CEO of iM Global Partner, expressed his heartfelt condolences: “It was with infinite sadness and pain that I learned of Philippe’s passing from a devastating illness. I had known Philippe closely for almost 20 years, as we worked together for Natixis, Edmond de Rothschild and iMGP. I pay immense tribute to his humanity, his sense of humor, his brilliant intelligence and his presence, which I will deeply miss. We had shared so much and still had so much to do together. In his memory, we will continue our path forward with strength, success and intensity, always preserving our values and our company culture to which he was so attached.

We will all miss Philippe enormously at iM Global Partner. He will be remembered not only for his professional achievements but also for his warmth, generosity, kindness and his unwavering dedication to his colleagues and community. Our thoughts are with his wife and three children, his family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time.”

CONTACT: media@imgp.com

 

 

SOURCE iM Global Partner

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Blackbaud Releases New Donation Forms for Australia and New Zealand Customers to Help Social Impact Organisations Raise More

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Customers in Australia and New Zealand Can Now Leverage Donation Forms that Natively
Integrate with Blackbaud’s Payment Processor and CRM Solutions to Give a Completely
Connected Experience

SYDNEY, Jan. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB), the leading provider of software for powering social impact, today announced the rollout of its Optimized Donation Forms for Raiser’s Edge NXT® users in Australia and New Zealand, as well as the release of both the Standard and Optimized Donation Forms for Blackbaud CRM™ users in Australia and New Zealand.

Blackbaud Donation Forms help social impact organisations raise more, streamline the donor experience, simplify administrative tasks, and reduce processing costs, enabling them to sustain and grow their missions.

“We’re excited to bring Blackbaud Donation Forms, which are proven to raise more funds without transaction fees, to more customers globally,” said Sudip Datta, chief product officer, Blackbaud. “We make online giving simple, whether through Blackbaud’s Standard Donation Forms or Optimized Donation Forms, both of which are proven to help increase gift size, eliminate transaction fees and expand the donor base.”

The forms allow nonprofits to choose the fee coverage option that’s right for them ––Complete Cover, which provides free processing, or Donor Cover, which lets supporters cover their transaction fees. And due to native integration, managing transactions is easy. With Blackbaud CRM, the transactions are saved to an enhanced revenue batch for review prior to committing.

Optimized Donation Forms
Blackbaud Optimized Donation Forms reduce the number of decisions for both the organisation and its constituents, resulting in an optimal donor experience and an increase in click-to donation-conversions. Optimized Donation Forms are a great choice for campaigns that need a quick visual punch and that are focused on securing more donors. They are mobile-first and display seamlessly on a website without the need to create a new webpage, enabling payment directly within the form. Customisable with images and a mission statement, they let charitable organisations project consistent branding in a visually appealing, intuitive and engaging way. Additionally, these intelligent forms automatically adjust to increase higher-than-average gift amounts based on donor data analysis.

Standard Donation Forms
Blackbaud Standard Donation Forms are a great choice for specifically targeted campaigns where additional data collection is required. They allow organisations to personalise colours, text, and ask ladders for ultimate customisation and form extension. Standard Donation Forms also enable you to retain donors better by promoting Recurring Gift Upsell to encourage one-time donors to give monthly.

Early Success
US customers using the forms have already seen early success, reporting satisfaction with the ease of use, customisation and flexibility of the forms. Using the Optimized Donation Forms, Seed Savers Exchange saw a 10% increase in their conversion rate and a jump in average donation amount by 61% from the year prior. 

Others appreciate the time-savings and ease of use. “The Optimized Donation Form literally cuts my entry time by more than half,” said Tracey Zirneklis, advancement services manager, Porter-Gaud School. “Being able to see what’s coming in, edit the record, add campaigns or funds or appeals, being able to adjust what I want to do acknowledgement-wise—it is so much more streamlined.”

Spencer Lassen, Senior Systems Consultant at Legacy Health, shared, “Integration of the donation forms into Blackbaud CRM has been seamless. This has been the easiest and fastest integration of a donation platform in my career. I am not a graphic designer, but the intuitive interface and tools have allowed me to easily set up exciting donation forms and email acknowledgments with a modern look and feel. It has been easy to roll out to our team allowing more staff to be able to set up donation forms, which is allowing us to be more responsive to the emergent fundraising needs of our organisation.”

Learn More
Learn more and request a demo here. 

Blackbaud Donation Forms are currently available at no extra cost to Raiser’s Edge NXT users in the US, and Australia and New Zealand, and will be coming to Canada and the UK in 2025. They are also available at no extra cost to Blackbaud CRM users in the US, and Australia and New Zealand, and will be coming to Canada in 2025 as well. Additionally, Blackbaud Donation Forms are available at no extra cost to Altru users in the US. All users must process transactions with Blackbaud Merchant Services to take advantage of Blackbaud Donation Forms.

About Blackbaud
Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB) is the leading software provider exclusively dedicated to powering social impact. Serving the nonprofit and education sectors, companies committed to social responsibility and individual change makers, Blackbaud’s essential software is built to accelerate impact in fundraising, nonprofit financial management, digital giving, grantmaking, corporate social responsibility and education management. With millions of users and over $100 billion raised, granted or managed through Blackbaud platforms every year, Blackbaud’s solutions are unleashing the potential of the people and organisations who change the world. Blackbaud has been named to Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Responsible Companies, Quartz’s list of Best Companies for Remote Workers, and Forbes’ list of America’s Best Employers. A remote-first company, Blackbaud has operations in the United States, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, India and the United Kingdom, supporting users in 100+ countries. Learn more at www.blackbaud.com.au or follow us on X/Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Media Inquiries
media@blackbaud.com 

Forward-looking Statements
Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations, and assumptions contained in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding expected benefits of products and product features. Although Blackbaud attempts to be accurate in making these forward-looking statements, it is possible that future circumstances might differ from the assumptions on which such statements are based. In addition, other important factors that could cause results to differ materially include the following: general economic risks; uncertainty regarding increased business and renewals from existing customers; continued success in sales growth; management of integration of acquired companies and other risks associated with acquisitions; risks associated with successful implementation of multiple integrated software products; the ability to attract and retain key personnel; risks associated with management of growth; lengthy sales and implementation cycles, particularly in larger organisation; technological changes that make our products and services less competitive; and the other risk factors set forth from time to time in the SEC filings for Blackbaud, copies of which are available free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or upon request from Blackbaud’s investor relations department. All Blackbaud product names appearing herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Blackbaud, Inc.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/404305/Blackbaud_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/blackbaud-releases-new-donation-forms-for-australia-and-new-zealand-customers-to-help-social-impact-organisations-raise-more-302348548.html

SOURCE Blackbaud, Inc.

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