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The TELUS Friendly Future Foundation’s Signature Gala Returns to Raise Funds to Invest in Youth Education

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As education costs soar, 75 per cent of students face financial barriers to success, with nearly one-third at risk of dropping out

Proceeds from the Together for Tomorrow Gala support the TELUS Student Bursary program, empowering socially-conscious students experiencing financial need to get a post-secondary education

TORONTO , March 31, 2025 /CNW/ – Today, the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation announced the second annual Together for Tomorrow Gala will take place on June 12, 2025. Presented by TELUS, the gala will once again be held at the iconic TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning, home of the Royal Conservatory of Music. The event comes at a crucial time when 75 per cent of students find it hard to afford post-secondary education, and nearly one-third consider dropping out due to financial stress. Since launching the bursary in 2023, the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation has provided bursaries to more than 1000 students valued at over $4 million, across nine provinces and 93 different schools.

“The remarkable young changemakers in our TELUS Student Bursary community exemplify strength and resilience,” said Nimmi Kanji, Executive Director, TELUS Friendly Future Foundation. “While pursuing their own post-secondary dreams, these extraordinary students continue to create meaningful change in their communities. The Together for Tomorrow Gala raises critical funding to support these future leaders, ensuring they have the resources needed to realize their full potential while continuing to make a difference in the lives of others.”

All proceeds from the Together for Tomorrow Gala will go directly to provide bursaries to deserving, socially-minded post-secondary students through the Foundation’s TELUS Student Bursary. Notably last year, 76 per cent of the TELUS Student Bursaries were awarded to equity-deserving candidates and 50 per cent of the recipients are the first in their family to pursue post-secondary education in Canada. With bursaries up to $5,000, along with wraparound support including TELUS mobility and internet services, mental health support and more, the program helps recipients stay connected and thrive throughout their studies. Several of these young leaders now serve as youth ambassadors on TELUS Community Boards, using their lived experience to guide grant funding decisions for local youth programs.

“When you invest in a student’s education, you’re investing in countless future possibilities,” said Nebiyou Timotewos, York University student, Diana Award and TELUS Student Bursary recipient. “The bursary opened doors I never thought possible, enabling me to pursue my studies while launching high-impact community youth programs. Now that I am a TELUS Community Board member, I’m able to help guide community investments while amplifying youth voices. The program empowers students to become leaders of community change.”

The Together for Tomorrow Gala, supporting student bursaries through the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation, will be hosted by television personality Sangita Patel. The evening features an exceptional lineup of Canadian talent, including performances by Arkells, Deborah Cox and Steven Page, alongside culinary excellence from Top Chef Canada’s Mark McEwan. Attendees will experience an extraordinary evening of entertainment and auction experiences, all in support of empowering the next generation of community leaders. Special thanks to our presenting sponsor TELUS, Gala Co-Chairs Jay McCauley and Christi Himmelheber, and the dedicated Gala Committee for making this remarkable event possible.

For more information about sponsorship and partnership opportunities to support youth through the Foundation, please contact Louise Malhotra (lmalhotra@friendlyfuture.com).

About the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation

The TELUS Friendly Future Foundation is a Canadian registered charity that believes all youth, regardless of circumstance, deserve an equal opportunity to reach their full potential. By funding more than 500 charities each year that provide education and health programs, many enabled by technology, along with providing educational bursaries, the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation is helping more than two million youth in communities across Canada build skills, confidence and feel a sense of belonging. In 2024 alone, the Foundation provided $11 million in grants to 550+ charitable programs across Canada and bursaries to 500+ post-secondary students in financial need who are committed to making a difference in their communities.

For more information on the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation, or to make a donation, please visit friendlyfuture.com. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Louise Malhotra with the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation at lmalhtora@friendlyfuture.com.

About TELUS Corporation

TELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) is a world-leading communications technology company, generating over $20 billion in annual revenue with more than 20 million customer connections through our advanced suite of broadband services for consumers, businesses and the public sector. We are committed to leveraging our technology to enable remarkable human outcomes. TELUS is passionate about putting our customers and communities first, leading the way globally in client service excellence and social capitalism. Our TELUS Health business is enhancing 76 million lives worldwide through innovative preventive medicine and well-being technologies. Our TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods business utilizes digital technologies and data insights to optimize the connection between producers and consumers. Guided by our enduring ‘give where we live’ philosophy, TELUS, our team members and retirees have contributed $1.8 billion in cash, in-kind contributions, time and programs including 2.4 million days of service since 2000, earning us the distinction of the world’s most giving company. For more information, visit telus.com or follow @TELUSNews on X and @Darren_Entwistle on Instagram.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Saara Rahikka
TELUS Public Relations
saara.rahikka@telus.com

For sponsorship inquiries, please contact:
Louise Malhotra
TELUS Friendly Future Foundation
lmalhotra@friendlyfuture.com

SOURCE TELUS Communications Inc.

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Cabana Partners with VA in Pilot to Expand Anonymous, Drop-In Support for Veterans Through Local Community Partners

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Pilot unites VA’s Mission Daybreak and SSG Fox Grant programs to deliver private, flexible support outside traditional healthcare settings.

ANNAPOLIS, Md., May 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded Cabana an initial one-year pilot contract—with the opportunity for a second year—to lead a community-based suicide prevention initiative in partnership with Upstate Warrior Solution and Veterans Bridge Home in North and South Carolina.

The pilot brings together two major VA investments to connect tech and peer support with trusted community outreach.

The pilot brings together two major VA investments—Cabana’s selection as a Mission Daybreak awardee and UWS/VBH’s roles as inaugural SSG Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program grantees—to connect technology-enabled peer support with trusted community-based outreach.

“This is a first-of-its-kind effort to bridge VA’s innovation and community-based suicide prevention priorities,” said Dr. Nick Armstrong, Cabana’s Head of Public Sector. “We’re testing how to reach Veterans earlier, through trusted local partners and supportive peer connection.”

Referred Veterans will access Cabana’s anonymous, moderated support groups designed to reduce barriers and preserve privacy. All participants are cameras off, use aliases, and may enable voice masking features.

The pilot’s day-to-day implementation is managed by Chris Morris, a retired U.S. Army Green Beret Lieutenant Colonel and Cabana’s Program Manager.

“You don’t always know who’s struggling—and sometimes, it’s the smallest conversations that open the door to bigger steps. I’m honored to continue to serve fellow Veterans, especially those who may not even know what kind of help they’re ready for. Cabana can be that first step.”

The initiative launches this month in Upstate South Carolina and Greater Charlotte, NC. Pending progress, it will expand in year-two to three (3) additional SSG Fox grantee communities.

Learn more and access the full announcement: https://www.yourcabana.com/news/cabana-launches-community-based-suicide-prevention-pilot-in-partnership-with-va-and-local-veteran-organizations

About Cabana™
Cabana is a leading, modern mental health provider offering confidential, tech-enabled support solutions tailored to the needs of diverse communities. Through live, professionally moderated group sessions, evidence-based content, and adaptable wellness tools, Cabana helps individuals proactively manage their mental health. Our mission is clear: to make mental health care more accessible through technology and human connection.

Media Contact
Nick Armstrong, Ph.D.
Head of Public Sector, Cabana
nick@cabanahealth.org

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cabana-partners-with-va-in-pilot-to-expand-anonymous-drop-in-support-for-veterans-through-local-community-partners-302456560.html

SOURCE Cabana

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Orange 142 Releases Best Practices for Foot Traffic Attribution as Real-World Visits Rebound

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New guide reveals how today’s smartest marketers are turning digital ads into real-world results with next-gen attribution strategies

AUSTIN, Texas, May 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Orange 142, a division of Direct Digital Holdings (NASDAQ: DRCT) and a leader in digital marketing for mid-market brands, today released a guide demystifying foot traffic attribution, a fast-evolving capability that helps marketers connect digital ad exposure to real-world store visits.

With foot traffic rebounding across categories like grocery and retail, understanding how marketing drives in-store behavior has become more critical than ever. An April report highlights a surge in consumer footfall, with Albertsons’ recent 6% increase in visits demonstrating the renewed value of physical retail spaces in a post-pandemic landscape.

“In an environment where every dollar of ad spend is scrutinized, foot traffic attribution gives marketers the confidence to link digital engagement to offline results,” said Lindsey Wilkes, SVP, Business Development at Orange 142. “This guide is designed to help brands future-proof their strategies by mastering both the challenges and opportunities of foot traffic measurement.”

Tackling Attribution Challenges Head-On
Despite its promise, foot traffic attribution is not without complexity. The guide explores key challenges, including fragmented device data, evolving privacy regulations like CCPA and GDPR, and the technical limitations of geofencing accuracy in busy retail zones such as malls or shared shopping centers.

Orange 142 emphasizes best practices in user consent, data minimization, anonymization, and cross-device transparency to ensure data collection remains compliant and customer-friendly. For example, rather than tracking individuals, marketers are encouraged to analyze aggregated trends that provide actionable insights without compromising privacy.

The Rise of AI, Wearables, and Smart Devices
Emerging technologies are unlocking new layers of insight. Orange 142’s guide explores how AI-powered models, connected cars, wearables, and smart home devices transform attribution accuracy. These tools go beyond smartphone-based tracking, offering richer, multi-touch insights into the modern consumer journey, from a smart speaker voice command to an eventual store visit.

In-store kiosks and Bluetooth beacons close the loop, capturing post-visit behaviors like product lookups, QR scans, or loyalty signups, turning store visits into measurable, optimizable conversion events.

Best Practices for Brands Ready to Act
The guide concludes with a detailed best practices section, offering actionable tips for SMBs and regional advertisers looking to implement foot traffic attribution effectively. Marketers are encouraged to:

Focus on localized campaigns with geofencing or DOOH adsUse time-sensitive offers to create clear attribution windowsChoose interactive ad formats like voice-activated prompts or mobile location-based adsEducate consumers about the value exchange of shared dataAvoid the “creepy factor” by prioritizing transparency, subtlety, and context.

To download the Foot Traffic Attribution eBook or explore additional Emerging Channels resources, visit: https://orange142.com/emerging-channels-hub

About Orange 142

Orange 142 is a digital marketing and advertising company with offices across the US. We service marketers and agencies. We are part of Direct Digital Holding, the ninth Black-owned company to go public.

We help marketers of all sizes grow their reach and revenue through data-driven media strategies. We also partner with agencies and execute campaigns on behalf of their clients.

Our team of experts deeply understands the digital landscape and the latest advertising and marketing technologies. We work closely with our clients to develop and execute custom advertising and marketing campaigns that meet specific goals.

We are committed to providing our clients with the highest service and transparency. Open communication and collaboration are essential to the success of every advertising and marketing initiative.

About Direct Digital Holdings

Direct Digital Holdings (Nasdaq: DRCT) combines cutting-edge sell-side and buy-side advertising solutions, providing data-driven digital media strategies that enhance reach and performance for brands, agencies, and publishers of all sizes. Our sell-side platform, Colossus SSP, offers curated access to premium, growth-oriented media properties throughout the digital ecosystem. On the buy-side, Orange 142 delivers customized, audience-focused digital marketing and advertising solutions that enable mid-market and enterprise companies to achieve measurable results across a range of platforms, including programmatic, search, social, CTV, and influencer marketing. With extensive expertise in high-growth sectors such as Travel & Tourism, Energy, Healthcare, and Financial Services, our teams deliver performance strategies that connect brands with their ideal audiences.

At Direct Digital Holdings, we prioritize personal relationships by humanizing technology, ensuring each client receives dedicated support and tailored digital marketing solutions regardless of company size. This empowers everyone to thrive by generating billions of monthly impressions across display, CTV, in-app, and emerging media channels through advanced targeting, comprehensive data insights, and cross-platform activation. DDH is “Digital advertising built for everyone.”

For more information, visit www.directdigitalholdings.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/orange-142-releases-best-practices-for-foot-traffic-attribution-as-real-world-visits-rebound-302456733.html

SOURCE Direct Digital Holdings

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Cecilian Partners Launches XO KISS, Expanding Its Residential OS™ Platform to Meet Developers at Every Stage

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XO KISS is purpose-built for developers who need powerful tools and simple workflows.

NEW HOPE, Pa., May 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Cecilian Partners, a leader in proptech innovation, today announced the launch of XO KISS—a property development platform purpose-built for growing community developers. Part of Cecilian’s Residential OS™, XO KISS delivers streamlined inventory management, real-time reporting, and a faster digital map experience.

“Our customers asked for something faster, simpler, and just as reliable. XO KISS is our answer.”

XO KISS joins Cecilian’s award-winning suite of products, including The XO®, the industry’s definitive operating platform for larger master-planned communities. Together, XO KISS and The XO meet developers wherever they are on their growth journey, offering the right level of functionality, insight, and support for every stage.

“Our philosophy has always been simple: listen to our customers,” said Philip Worland, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at Cecilian Partners. “We heard that while The XO is a powerful workflow engine, not every developer needs the full depth of functionality—especially those not dealing with anti-monotony. Our customers asked for something faster, simpler, and just as reliable. XO KISS is our answer.”

Data-Driven by Design

Drawing on years of collaboration with homebuilders and developers, Cecilian Partners has a deep understanding of how teams use, share, and manipulate critical data. XO KISS addresses common pain points by eliminating reliance on spreadsheets, closing collaboration gaps, and providing teams with 24/7 access to real-time reporting and insights.

XO KISS redefines the developer toolkit with:

Next-gen inventory management: no more spreadsheets, just smart, scalable controlReal-time intelligence: automated reports and live dashboards for faster decisionsPlug-and-play builder connectivity: seamless integration with builder systemsA lightning-fast, mobile-first Homefinder experience: built to engage today’s buyer

Built with the same enterprise-grade security and architectural rigor as The XO, XO KISS ensures even the simplest operations have a future-ready foundation. As needs grow, XO KISS customers can easily scale into the full capabilities of The XO and other Residential OS solutions without switching vendors, retraining teams, or compromising data integrity.

Meeting a Critical Market Need

While some proptech companies offer stripped-down solutions, XO KISS stands apart by combining simplicity with true scalability, data security, and best-in-class customer support.

“There’s a significant segment of developers who don’t need all the complexity of larger platforms…yet,” Worland added. “We built XO KISS to meet them where they are, while giving them the confidence that as their communities, business models, and needs evolve, our platform—and our partnership—will be right there with them.”

XO KISS will be available to select new and existing clients beginning June 30, 2025.

About Cecilian Partners

Cecilian Partners brings data-driven innovation to residential real estate development and homebuying. The company’s Residential OS™ suite offers end-to-end digital solutions for homebuilders and developers, including the industry’s first lot banking platform, interactive 3D maps, patented property development software, digital marketing tools, and an all-in-one app for community management and resident engagement. Learn more at cecilianpartners.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cecilian-partners-launches-xo-kiss-expanding-its-residential-os-platform-to-meet-developers-at-every-stage-302456656.html

SOURCE Cecilian Partners

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