Pan Am Games a Park family affair, 3 Winnipeg siblings coached by father in taekwondo
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By Donna Spencer The Canadian Press
Posted October 20, 2023 2:53 pm
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Jae Park has a family-sized job ahead of him at the Pan American Games . He’ll coach his three children Skylar, Tae-Ku and Braven in taekwondo on opening weekend in Santiago, Chile. “People tell me it’s unique and special, and it is special, but my focus is on the Games still and the performance, so I don’t think it sunk in yet,” Jae told The Canadian Press. “I’m trying to get my kids, my athletes prepared.”
Taekwondo, a martial art developed in Korea, translates to “the way of the foot and the fist.” It’s a way of life for the Parks, whose basement in Winnipeg morphed from a games and rec space into an elite training gym. Tae-Ku, 22, and Braven, 20, make their Pan Am debuts Saturday. Tae-Ku competes in the men’s 68-kilogram weight class and Braven in 58 kg. Story continues below advertisement
Skylar, 24, won Pan Am silver in 2019 in Lima, Peru in the women’s 57-kg class. She’s a multi-sport Games veteran, having reached the quarterfinals of Tokyo’s Summer Olympics in 2021. Skylar competes Sunday in Santiago. “This time, to do it with my brothers and to see them experience the Games environment for the first time is a lot of fun, just seeing them so excited to be in the village and get the kit,” Skylar said. “I’m still so excited too, but I think to see someone else experience it for the first time makes it that much more fun and more memorable.”
If Jae coaching all three Park children in Santiago wasn’t monumental enough for their clan, wife and mother Andrea was born in Chile and will be at the combat sports venue to support them. New to the Pan Am Games are men’s and women’s team events, which will be contested Tuesday. The Park siblings are each other’s sparring partners. Skylar was among the first athletes named to Canada’s Olympic team for Tokyo in 2020. 3:59
Winnipeg Taekwondo athlete heading to her 1st Olympic Games
Those games were delayed a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, so Skylar spent the months of stay-at-home advisories in the basement battling her brothers. Story continues below advertisement
Tae-Ku travelled with her to Tokyo to be her training partner. “We’re each other’s training partners. We don’t really have anyone else unless we’re travelling,” Tae-Ku said. “When I was younger, I definitely didn’t like Skylar very much because of the success she had and I didn’t have that. There was a lot of jealousy in there. “As I grew and matured, I realized her success only helps me push further and Braven push further and now our team works a lot better and that shows in our results and the way we train together.”
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Skylar helped her brothers prepare for their first multi-sport Games by sharing her experiences. “She’s warned us to take it in, take your time, make sure you know what you’re doing, and when you step on the mat, just make sure you breathe and think about it, instead of rushing in there,” Braven said. Jae always felt his sons’ successes in taekwondo would and should come later than his daughter’s. “It’s kind of nice to see them step out of Skylar’s shadow, because it was always Skylar, Skylar, Skylar,” Jae said. “I always believed Skylar needed to find success earlier as a female athlete in her sport, and then she’s been able to carry it through. Trending Now
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“For the boys … from what I’ve seen and what I’ve discussed with other colleagues of mine and friends of mine, when they do so well, the boys, at a younger age, very seldom are they able to carry it through to the senior levels. It’s worked out well. They’re coming into their own. They’re finding their own success and finding their own confidence outside of Skylar’s shadow, which is nice.”
Exciting news for Canadian taekwondo fans! #TeamCanada 🇨🇦 has revealed the 9 athletes who will represent Canada at the upcoming Santiago 2023 Pan Am Games! Get ready to cheer them on! 🥋 👏 https://t.co/8bjFovq019
A father coaching all three of his hyper-competitive offspring at an elite international level isn’t always sunshine and rainbows, Skylar said, but taekwondo has forged tight bonds between them. “We do everything together, so we all experience the same things, or kind of know what the other person is going through,” she explained. “Being able to be there for each other in those moments was really important. Story continues below advertisement
“When one of us wins, all of us win. The most special thing about winning is being able to share it with each other.”
Jae agreed it’s not easy to separate family ties from sport ties, but says he’s their father first and coach second. “Our strength isn’t the coach-athlete relationship. It’s the father-daughter-son relationship. That supersedes everything,” he said. “I hope the kids feel, regardless of what’s being said from a sport perspective, that they still know they’re supported. “This is just a sport. It isn’t life.”
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Pan Am Games a Park family affair, 3 Winnipeg siblings coached by father in taekwondo

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- #fintech--Braven launches second specialized unit to invest in Financial Services & Insurance innovation, and welcomes its first Cobuild Partner, Joel Herold

Braven Announces Launch of Financial Services &amp; Insurance Innovation Unit and Welcomes Joel Herold as Cobuild Partner

Braven, an early stage firm focused on large, regulated sectors, this week named former FDA official Dr Sean Khozin as senior life sciences and healthcare partner. Register now to read this article and more for free. Email address
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01/26/2023 | 10:01am EST
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Blackbaud's Annual Major Gift Will Encourage Workforce Development and Economic Empowerment by Championing Underrepresented Youth Around the World  
CHARLESTON, S.C., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --  Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB), the world's leading cloud software company powering social good, today announced it will focus its 2023 philanthropic efforts on supporting diversity, equity and inclusion in partnership with five global organizations in each of the regions where Blackbaud operates: Action for Race Equality in the U.K., Braven in the U.S., Indspire in Canada, the Omar Dengo Foundation in Costa Rica, and the Ladder Project Foundation in Australia. Structured as a multi-year gift across these five organizations, Blackbaud's investment seeks to feed global workforce development and economic empowerment by strengthening and diversifying representation and opening more paths to leadership for candidates from underrepresented backgrounds. In addition to supporting the organizations with a monetary donation, Blackbaud will facilitate opportunities for its employees to volunteer and engage with each organization, providing mentorship to youth around the world through things like career panels, resumé reviews, mock interviews and more. "The success of our company is built on the foundation of the people that come to work for us every day, who bring their unique experiences, talents and perspectives to our organization," said Mike Gianoni, president and CEO, Blackbaud. "We know that when the diversity of our workforce reflects the diversity of our customer organizations and the communities they serve, we are able to fuel greater impact in the world. As a socially responsible company, we're committed to doing our part to contribute to a diverse global workforce that gives students everywhere a chance to succeed and thrive."  
About the Organizations
Action for Race Equality
Action for Race Equality (ARE) is a national charity in the U.K. whose mission is to end racial inequality. ARE champions fairness, challenges discrimination and pioneers innovative solutions to empower Black, Asian and Mixed Heritage people through education, employment, and enterprise. ARE's activities involve working with government, business, public services, Black and Asian-led organizations and the media. Blackbaud's funding will specifically support ARE's Routes2Success program, a long-running ethnic minority role model and mentoring program, for the benefit of children and young people ages 10–18 who live in London. Through the program, young people are provided with positive role models from similar backgrounds who support them with career advice, entrepreneurial skills, making positive choices and guidance to overcome obstacles. Braven
Braven is a U.S. nonprofit organization that is helping college students on a path to economic mobility. Braven empowers promising, underrepresented college students with the skills, confidence, experiences and networks necessary to transition from college to strong first jobs which lead to meaningful careers and lives of impact. Blackbaud's donation will support Braven's ongoing mentoring and skills-building curriculum for Fellows, as well as mock interview events throughout the year. Braven operates on multiple college campuses nationwide and recently expanded to Spelman College, an all-women historically Black college. Braven Fellows have outpaced the national average for strong job attainment, both before and amid the pandemic. Within six months of graduation, 61% of Braven's 2021 graduates either secured quality full-time jobs worthy of their bachelor's degree or enrolled in graduate school, compared to 54% of all graduates and 46% of students from similar backgrounds. Indspire
lndspire is an Indigenous national charity in Canada that invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit and Metis people for the long-term benefit of these individuals, their families and communities, and the country. lndspire serves First Nations, Inuit and Metis students in remote communities, rural areas and urban centers across Canada. lndspire disburses financial awards, delivers programs and shares resources with the goal of increasing graduation rates for Indigenous students. Blackbaud's donation will support Indspire's "Rivers to Success" program, which provides students with access to cultural resources, elders and Indigenous mentors, enabling them to prioritize their own development, seek out exciting opportunities and ultimately achieve success in their chosen fields—all while maintaining essential connections to their cultures and communities as they graduate and go on to become the leaders of tomorrow. Omar Dengo Foundation
The Omar Dengo Foundation in Costa Rica is a private non-profit organization. Since 1987, the foundation has developed and executed national and regional projects in the fields of human development, educational innovation and digital technologies that respond to the current educational needs of the country. The foundation's mission is to contribute to improving the quality and equity of learning opportunities, and its programs and projects have benefited hundreds of thousands of Costa Ricans and Latin Americans—among them children and youth, teachers, professionals, people from many different urban and rural communities, small business owners and senior citizens. Blackbaud's donation will support training courses for young girls in Costa Rica to introduce them to science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) subjects, including coding and computational thinking. The Ladder Project Foundation
Ladder  is a leader in youth mentoring and development, delivering specialist programs and vital opportunities to young people in need in communities across Australia. Ladder delivers programs to young people, ages 15 – 25, that improve outcomes across key life domains including community connection, health and wellbeing, independent living skills and education, employment and training. Blackbaud's donation will enable Ladder to support underrepresented groups in their pursuit of employment and life-long success through the organization's Step Up program in Victoria and Sydney . This multi-week, intensive program works closely with some of the most complex young people, in the most marginalized and socially disadvantaged communities in Australia. Approximately 80% of young people Ladder supports have complex needs, including mental health issues, and behavioral and social challenges, and 28% identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI). Blackbaud's Commitment
"We believe success can only be realized when our diverse perspectives and experiences are embraced," said Margaret "Maggie" Driscoll, chief people and culture officer, Blackbaud. "Every person on our team makes us stronger and helps us deliver all we can for our customers, which is why we're laser focused on supporting our people through benefits, wellbeing initiatives, employee networks and personal and professional development opportunities that create success for all. Through a multi-pronged approach of internal and external investment, we hope to truly move the needle for diversity, equity and inclusion—not just within our own company, but within society at large." This annual gift follows Blackbaud's donations in previous years to Big Brothers Big Sisters , supporting college and career readiness for high-potential youth, as well as Project Drawdown , supporting climate solutions, advocacy and climate justice. Learn more about Blackbaud corporate social responsibility at https://csr.blackbaud.com/ . About Blackbaud
Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB) is the world's leading cloud software company powering social good. Serving the entire social good community—nonprofits, higher education institutions, K–12 schools, healthcare organizations, faith communities, arts and cultural organizations, foundations, companies and individual change agents—Blackbaud connects and empowers organizations to increase their impact through cloud software, services, expertise and data intelligence. The Blackbaud portfolio is tailored to the unique needs of vertical markets, with solutions for fundraising and CRM, marketing, advocacy, peer-to-peer fundraising, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental, social and governance (ESG), school management, ticketing, grantmaking, financial management, payment processing and analytics. Serving the industry for more than four decades, Blackbaud is a remote-first company headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, with operations in the United States, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit  www.blackbaud.com or follow us on Twitter , LinkedIn , Instagram and Facebook . Media Inquiries
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 organization; 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. SOURCE  Blackbaud, Inc.

Blackbaud Announces Global Support for Five Organizations Focused on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

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Blackbaud's Annual Major Gift Will Encourage Workforce Development and Economic Empowerment by Championing Underrepresented Youth Around the World  
CHARLESTON, S.C., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --  Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB ), the world's leading cloud software company powering social good, today announced it will focus its 2023 philanthropic efforts on supporting diversity, equity and inclusion in partnership with five global organizations in each of the regions where Blackbaud operates: Action for Race Equality in the U.K., Braven in the U.S., Indspire in Canada, the Omar Dengo Foundation in Costa Rica, and the Ladder Project Foundation in Australia. Structured as a multi-year gift across these five organizations, Blackbaud's investment seeks to feed global workforce development and economic empowerment by strengthening and diversifying representation and opening more paths to leadership for candidates from underrepresented backgrounds. In addition to supporting the organizations with a monetary donation, Blackbaud will facilitate opportunities for its employees to volunteer and engage with each organization, providing mentorship to youth around the world through things like career panels, resumé reviews, mock interviews and more. "The success of our company is built on the foundation of the people that come to work for us every day, who bring their unique experiences, talents and perspectives to our organization," said Mike Gianoni, president and CEO, Blackbaud. "We know that when the diversity of our workforce reflects the diversity of our customer organizations and the communities they serve, we are able to fuel greater impact in the world. As a socially responsible company, we're committed to doing our part to contribute to a diverse global workforce that gives students everywhere a chance to succeed and thrive."  
About the Organizations
Action for Race Equality
Action for Race Equality (ARE) is a national charity in the U.K. whose mission is to end racial inequality. ARE champions fairness, challenges discrimination and pioneers innovative solutions to empower Black, Asian and Mixed Heritage people through education, employment, and enterprise. ARE's activities involve working with government, business, public services, Black and Asian-led organizations and the media. Blackbaud's funding will specifically support ARE's Routes2Success program, a long-running ethnic minority role model and mentoring program, for the benefit of children and young people ages 10–18 who live in London. Through the program, young people are provided with positive role models from similar backgrounds who support them with career advice, entrepreneurial skills, making positive choices and guidance to overcome obstacles. Braven
Braven is a U.S. nonprofit organization that is helping college students on a path to economic mobility. Braven empowers promising, underrepresented college students with the skills, confidence, experiences and networks necessary to transition from college to strong first jobs which lead to meaningful careers and lives of impact. Blackbaud's donation will support Braven's ongoing mentoring and skills-building curriculum for Fellows, as well as mock interview events throughout the year. Braven operates on multiple college campuses nationwide and recently expanded to Spelman College, an all-women historically Black college. Braven Fellows have outpaced the national average for strong job attainment, both before and amid the pandemic. Within six months of graduation, 61% of Braven's 2021 graduates either secured quality full-time jobs worthy of their bachelor's degree or enrolled in graduate school, compared to 54% of all graduates and 46% of students from similar backgrounds. Indspire
lndspire is an Indigenous national charity in Canada that invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit and Metis people for the long-term benefit of these individuals, their families and communities, and the country. lndspire serves First Nations, Inuit and Metis students in remote communities, rural areas and urban centers across Canada. lndspire disburses financial awards, delivers programs and shares resources with the goal of increasing graduation rates for Indigenous students. Blackbaud's donation will support Indspire's "Rivers to Success" program, which provides students with access to cultural resources, elders and Indigenous mentors, enabling them to prioritize their own development, seek out exciting opportunities and ultimately achieve success in their chosen fields—all while maintaining essential connections to their cultures and communities as they graduate and go on to become the leaders of tomorrow. Omar Dengo Foundation
The Omar Dengo Foundation in Costa Rica is a private non-profit organization. Since 1987, the foundation has developed and executed national and regional projects in the fields of human development, educational innovation and digital technologies that respond to the current educational needs of the country. The foundation's mission is to contribute to improving the quality and equity of learning opportunities, and its programs and projects have benefited hundreds of thousands of Costa Ricans and Latin Americans—among them children and youth, teachers, professionals, people from many different urban and rural communities, small business owners and senior citizens. Blackbaud's donation will support training courses for young girls in Costa Rica to introduce them to science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) subjects, including coding and computational thinking. The Ladder Project Foundation
Ladder  is a leader in youth mentoring and development, delivering specialist programs and vital opportunities to young people in need in communities across Australia. Ladder delivers programs to young people, ages 15 – 25, that improve outcomes across key life domains including community connection, health and wellbeing, independent living skills and education, employment and training. Blackbaud's donation will enable Ladder to support underrepresented groups in their pursuit of employment and life-long success through the organization's Step Up program in Victoria and Sydney . This multi-week, intensive program works closely with some of the most complex young people, in the most marginalized and socially disadvantaged communities in Australia. Approximately 80% of young people Ladder supports have complex needs, including mental health issues, and behavioral and social challenges, and 28% identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI). Blackbaud's Commitment
"We believe success can only be realized when our diverse perspectives and experiences are embraced," said Margaret "Maggie" Driscoll, chief people and culture officer, Blackbaud. "Every person on our team makes us stronger and helps us deliver all we can for our customers, which is why we're laser focused on supporting our people through benefits, wellbeing initiatives, employee networks and personal and professional development opportunities that create success for all. Through a multi-pronged approach of internal and external investment, we hope to truly move the needle for diversity, equity and inclusion—not just within our own company, but within society at large." This annual gift follows Blackbaud's donations in previous years to Big Brothers Big Sisters , supporting college and career readiness for high-potential youth, as well as Project Drawdown , supporting climate solutions, advocacy and climate justice. Learn more about Blackbaud corporate social responsibility at https://csr.blackbaud.com/ . About Blackbaud
Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB ) is the world's leading cloud software company powering social good. Serving the entire social good community—nonprofits, higher education institutions, K–12 schools, healthcare organizations, faith communities, arts and cultural organizations, foundations, companies and individual change agents—Blackbaud connects and empowers organizations to increase their impact through cloud software, services, expertise and data intelligence. The Blackbaud portfolio is tailored to the unique needs of vertical markets, with solutions for fundraising and CRM, marketing, advocacy, peer-to-peer fundraising, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental, social and governance (ESG), school management, ticketing, grantmaking, financial management, payment processing and analytics. Serving the industry for more than four decades, Blackbaud is a remote-first company headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, with operations in the United States, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit  www.blackbaud.com or follow us on Twitter , LinkedIn , Instagram and Facebook . Media Inquiries
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 organization; 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. SOURCE Blackbaud, Inc.

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Blackbaud Announces Global Support for Five Organizations Focused on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) (NYSE: BRK.B) is a multinational conglomerate holding company that owns and operates subsidiaries in a variety of business sectors. It was founded in 1978 and is based in Omaha, Nebraska.

Berkshire Hathaway

`` Our partnership with Braven opens opportunities for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance to connect with emerging talent and to introduce young people to Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance 's unique workplace culture and potential career opportunities in the insurance industry . ''

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Partners With Braven to Support the Career Pursuits of Promising Undergraduate College Students

Chevron Phillips Chemical is a company that focuses on the production of olefins, polyolefins, and other petrochemical solutions, operating within the chemical industry. The company's main offerings include a wide range of essential solutions used in various products, such as polymers, specialty chemicals, plastic piping, and polymer resins, which are used in manufacturing processes globally. The company primarily serves sectors such as automotive, energy and chemical, food and agriculture, home and electronics, medical and pharmaceutical, personal care, recreational, and industrial. It was founded in 2000 and is based in The Woodlands, Texas.

Chevron Phillips Chemical

Frontier (LSE: FST) is a company specializing in digital and smart audio technologies. Its products include chips, modules, software, applications, and services for connected audio devices. The company was founded in 2001 and is based in Cambridge, U.K. In October 2019, Frontier was acquired by Science Group. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Frontier

Braven

Incipio Group

Incipio Technologies

OGIO International

Intel

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Brigham Young University

Acquired - II

Braven is dedicated to delivering audio and enhanced power solutions to today's mobile consumer. Braven is an industry provider that combines first-class sound with unparalleled style, producing a portable HD speaker/speakerphone that doubles as a mobile phone charger.

Date	Round	Amount	Investors	Valuation Valuations are submitted by companies, mined from state filings or news, provided by VentureSource, or based on a comparables valuation model.	Revenue	Sources
7/31/2018	Acquired - II		ZAGG	$99M	0 FY undefined	1
8/19/2013	Acquired		Subscribe to see more	$99M	0 FY undefined	10

Date	7/31/2018	8/19/2013
Round	Acquired - II	Acquired
Amount
Investors	ZAGG	Subscribe to see more
Valuation	$99M	$99M
Revenue	0 FY undefined	0 FY undefined
Sources	1	10

First funding	Last Funding	Investor	Rounds	Board Seats	Type	Location
7/31/2018	7/31/2018	ZAGG	1 Acquired - II		Corporation	Utah
00/00/0000	00/00/0000	Incipio Technologies	Subscribe to see more		Corporation	California

First funding	7/31/2018	00/00/0000
Last Funding	7/31/2018	00/00/0000
Investor	ZAGG	Incipio Technologies
Rounds	1 Acquired - II	Subscribe to see more
Board Seats
Type	Corporation	Corporation
Location	Utah	California

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