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Qurbani Hunger Relief Partnership

Posted on | by Leo Wilson

On a cloudy Sunday in July, volunteers from Embrace Relief and the New Spring Foundation loaded boxes full of fresh ground beef onto Embrace Relief’s mobile market. Once it was full, the bus hit the road, bound for nearby New Jersey towns like Newark, East Orange, West Orange, and Irvington. Their mission: to deliver meat packages and other supplies directly to people who need them.

This mission was one of numerous food distribution events operated by Embrace Relief as part of our successful International Hunger Relief: Qurbani 2022 campaign. In total, Embrace Relief delivered food to nearly 100,000 people in a dozen countries in July, including more than 5,200 families in the United States alone.

Hunger can be found everywhere, and as an organization dedicated to ending hunger, Embrace Relief operates in a wide variety of locations around the world. In the U.S. alone, Embrace Relief distributed meat packages to people in Los Angeles, Atlanta and Texas this month. To provide aid to as many communities as possible, Embrace Relief is constantly seeking partnerships with trusted local officials and organizations, who are best positioned to identify where the need is greatest in their communities.

“Partnerships are very important for us,” said Osman Dulgeroglu, CEO of Embrace Relief. “We are able to reach out and connect with donors, and to get products that people need. And our partners have their own network of people in need. When we work together, this is how we’re able to provide support in different places all over the world.”

Partner organizations like the New Spring Foundation are one of the three legs of Embrace Relief’s “dynamic triangle” approach to humanitarian aid, alongside donors and volunteers. New Spring is a North Jersey-based nonprofit organization providing support to incarcerated individuals as they prepare to re-enter society, as well as to families of incarcerated individuals.

New Spring regularly engages with more than 250 families in the region at any given time, offering many different activities including education, mentoring and recreation. Partnering with Embrace Relief on food distribution is a win-win for both organizations: it supports New Spring’s mission and helps Embrace Relief reach people it might otherwise not be able to access.

“Embrace Relief has been really helpful for us,” says Cihan Unsal, president of the New Spring Foundation. “Many of the people we serve are really in need, and they’re sometimes difficult to reach. They receive help from the government, but not enough. And Embrace Relief is happy to reach those needy people through us, to share their food packages. It’s a good collaboration for that reason. Embrace Relief and New Spring have different roles but we serve the same purpose.”

As one of the three legs of the “dynamic triangle,” New Spring and other fellow Embrace Relief partner organizations are vital in providing the on-the-ground logistical support to deliver aid in dozens of countries and hundreds of communities locally and internationally every single year.

Of course, this would not be possible without Embrace Relief’s donors, the second leg of the triangle. Their generosity – their urge to help others and make the world better – during the Qurbani 2022 campaign provided the funding for Embrace Relief to purchase the meat of nearly 400 cows, which would be distributed to 97,000 people in a dozen countries.

And finally, the third leg of the triangle is made up of volunteers, the selfless people who give their time and energy to do much of the hands-on work that turns our donors’ generosity into tangible aid. These are the people giving up their weekend to pack boxes of food, driving the mobile market bus, calling families to coordinate deliveries, and going door-to-door to make sure the meat packages reach the people who need it.

Together, all three legs of the triangle support each other. In turn, we are all able to improve the quality of life for thousands of people around the world at once.

Give Qurbani With Embrace Relief

In 2024, Qurbani will occur on June 16-19. During this time, sheep, goats, and cattle are humanely and hygienically sacrificed in adherence with common dietary restrictions. At this important time of year, join Embrace Relief and provide food for people in need in Africa (including the countries of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Mali, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, and Democratic Republic of Congo), as well as Yemen, Greece, and the United States, by donating to Embrace Relief’s International Hunger Relief: Qurbani 2023 campaign.

Give Qurbani

Why is women’s empowerment important for development?

Posted on | by Leo Wilson

When women are empowered through education and given the freedom to follow their dreams, all of society benefits. That’s why Embrace Relief created its R.I.S.E. education program, which will give women in Tanzania the skills they need to launch their careers and impact the next generation of young girls. You can help them achieve by donating for women’s empowerment today.

The simplest reason why women’s empowerment is important for development is numerical: Women make up half of the world’s population. A society where only half of the population contributes to the agricultural, industrial, financial, technological or administrative sectors is a society that is falling far short of reaching its potential.

Gender equity is a universal human right, and moving towards a world where men and women are equal is an important goal on its own. But studies consistently show that in countries where women are most empowered – that is, encouraged to pursue careers of their choice, and to become leaders in business and politics – a host of positive outcomes follow. Empowered women are more economically productive and thus more economically secure, which in turn leads to more stable and successful families. This cycle promotes economic growth and development, raising standards of living, and creating a more prosperous world.

The building block of women’s empowerment, and thus increased development, is education. When young girls and women receive a full education, they gain the knowledge and skills they need to compete in the job market, become economically independent, and ascend into leadership positions.

Great strides have been made in the fight for women’s equality over the past several centuries. But there is still much work to do, especially in parts of the world where women are still significantly less likely to be educated or to participate in the workforce. In the East African country of Tanzania, where schooling can be expensive – but where an additional year of education can boost household income 30 percent – there is a great opportunity to empower women and increase development simply by making it easier for women to complete their education.

Support women’s empowerment with Embrace Relief

This is where the Embrace Relief Foundation comes in. 

Women’s education is a fundamental aspect of our mission to provide sustainable, lasting improvements to communities around the globe. That’s why we have launched our “Reach. Inspire. Support. Educate.” (R.I.S.E.) program, where we are training the next generation of teachers and administrators to be the foundation for improved education in Tanzania.

Through Embrace Relief’s R.I.S.E. program, we and our local partners are providing financial support to 24 women in Tanzania in order to help them achieve a two-year degree in Education Management and Administration (DEMA) and School Inspection (DSI). These degrees will empower the graduates with the knowledge and skills they need to break through into a male-dominated field of work, while ultimately working towards the improvement of Tanzania’s educational system for all students.

This is a life-changing opportunity for these women, and we plan to provide more assistance for even more women in the future. But we need your help.

Each donation to Embrace Relief’s R.I.S.E. program will go directly to pay for students’ tuition, health insurance, books, transportation and meals. Every $100 donated to this program can empower one more woman to unleash her potential, making her life – and the world – better for it.

Donate Now!

Make your support go further with Embrace Relief’s Clean Water Initiative

Posted on | by Leo Wilson

Humans can’t live without clean water. Unfortunately, more than 800 million people around the world are forced to.

That’s why Embrace Relief began its Clean Water Initiative nearly a decade ago. We’re focused on building and rebuilding water wells in sub-Saharan Africa, where more than 200 million people do not have safe and accessible sources of drinking water. Our wells are built in and around communities that otherwise would need to travel an average of 3 miles per day to get their water. Thanks to the generous support of our donors, we’ve built 450 new wells and rebuilt 50 broken wells, providing clean water to a half-million people.

The key to our success is the simplicity and elegance of Embrace Relief’s wells. Our well pipes are installed approximately 45 meters below ground, deeper than many other organization’s wells (which average around 30 meters depth). This is deep enough to ensure only the highest-quality and safest groundwater enters our pipes. Our wells also utilize a mechanical hand-pump system to extract that groundwater.

The simplicity of Embrace Relief’s wells is important for two big reasons. First, the hand pump can be operated by people of all ages and abilities, while maintenance is relatively simple. (Our wells are also guaranteed for at least five years under our warranty, which covers all maintenance costs and includes regular quality checks.) And second, each of Embrace Relief’s wells cost $3,500 to build, significantly less than the average asking price of nearly $10,000. (For an extra $1,300 donation, Embrace Relief’s will add an additional five years onto the well’s warranty.) All of that means your donation goes further with Embrace Relief.

So how can you help solve the clean water crisis? Embrace Relief has three easy ways to donate and support our efforts to bring water to communities that need it most:

  1. Donate to our Clean Water Initiative: All direct donations to our Clean Water Initiative will go towards the building of new water wells in areas of Africa where they’re most needed. You can donate any amount, and every little bit counts! Each $3,500 we raise builds another well and provides another community of 1,000+ people with clean water for at least the next five years.

  2. Donate to our Fountains of Hope Project: Like any other infrastructure, water wells need to be maintained to function properly. (That’s why Embrace Relief’s one-of-its-kind warranty covers all maintenance and upkeep costs for five years, with regular check-ins.) If the resources aren’t available to maintain the wells, they often fall into disrepair and disuse. Embrace Relief’s Fountains of Hope Project targets these abandoned wells and rebuilds them, which is more cost-efficient than building a new well, while also easing the burden on other nearby sources of water. Our goal for 2022 is to fund the rebuilding of 250 wells, providing clean water to an extra 250,000 people.

  3. Start your own Water Well Project: Do you have a group of family members, friends, coworkers, classmates, or employees who want to work together to help build a water well of your very own? You can work together to fundraise as a group for a Water Well Project! Simply click the link and fill out the application form to get started. After your project is approved, you’ll have six months to raise money to fund your well. Once you’ve accomplished that, we will keep you posted on your well’s progress until it’s complete. In addition to the peace of mind that comes with providing life-giving water to thousands of people, a Water Well Project is a great way for you to build community and leave a lasting mark on the world.

Donate Now!
Embrace Relief Qurban

How much protein should I eat in a day?

Posted on | by Leo Wilson

Protein is an important part of a balanced diet. Read on below to find out how much protein you need every day, and what foods will provide it for you. In the meantime, why not help people in need around the world get the protein they need? Donate today to Embrace Relief’s International Hunger Relief: Qurbani 2022 campaign and give people the gift of a full stomach.

According to the U.S. Dietary Reference Intake, a sedentary young adult should consume about 0.36 grams of protein per pound of body weight every single day. So if you weigh 150 pounds, it is recommended you consume 54 grams of protein every day. 

Your daily recommended amount of protein is greater if you are over the age of 40 (a recommended protein intake of 0.54 grams per pound will help offset the loss of muscle mass that occurs as we age.) Young adults who exercise regularly should also eat or drink additional protein, in the 0.6-0.7 grams-per-pound range – that is to say, a highly active 150-pound adult should consume approximately 90-100 grams of protein a day.

No matter your age or activity level, protein is an important component of a healthy diet. Consuming protein provides us with the fuel our bodies need to get through the day, and the amino acids inside the protein-rich food we eat are the building block of body tissue, promoting our body’s growth and maintenance.

This is why it’s important to be mindful of your diet. Foods including all types of meat, poultry, eggs, fish, eggs and cheese are called “complete” sources of protein, because they contain all of the different types of amino acids that our bodies need. Other foods, like rice, beans, corn and tofu, contain only some of these amino acids on their own, but can make up part of a perfectly healthy protein diet when combined (like a meal including both rice and beans).

So how much protein are you getting from each kind of food? Here’s a breakdown:

  • 1 egg = 6 grams of protein
  • 1 cup of soy milk = 7 grams of protein
  • 1 cup of skim milk = 8 grams of protein
  • 1 cup of rice or pasta = 9 grams of protein
  • 5 ounces of Greek yogurt = 12-18 grams of protein
  • 0.5 cups of cottage cheese = 14 grams of protein
  • 3 ounces of crab or lobster = 18 grams of protein
  • 1 cup of quinoa = 18 grams of protein
  • 3 ounces of beef, pork, lamb, poultry or fish = 21 grams of protein
  • 3 ounces of cheese = 21 grams of protein

If you eat a varied diet as most Americans do – whether omnivorous, vegetarian or vegan – you very likely eat more than enough protein per day to keep your body healthy and strong. It’s easy to take our abundance for granted.

But for millions of people around the world living in impoverished conditions, who don’t have the luxury of selecting all of the foods they need to balance their diet, getting enough protein is a daily struggle.

Donate meat to people in need this Qurbani

That’s where you – with the help of Embrace Relief – come in.

A commitment to fighting hunger wherever it exists on the planet is one of the foundations of Embrace Relief’s work. To mark Qurbani and the celebration of Eid in July, Embrace Relief’s International Hunger Relief: Qurbani 2022 campaign is providing meat packages to tens of thousands of needy people in more than a dozen countries, including in sub-Saharan Africa, the United States, Greece and Yemen.

Embrace Relief’s Qurbani packages will contain sheep, cattle or goat meat, all of which has been 100% humanely and hygienically slaughtered. This meat is high in fat, protein, minerals and vitamins. For many of the recipients we serve, this may be their only chance to access the nutritional benefits of meat all year.

The cost for each package in each area we serve depends on the local market price for the meat. Here’s how much it would cost for you to lessen the burden of hunger for eight families this Qurbani:

  • Africa: $175
  • United States: $265
  • Greece: $265
  • Yemen: $265

With your help, we can combat food shortages and provide hope to people in need in places like sub-Saharan Africa, Yemen, Greece and the United States. Every contribution you make helps one more family go to bed on a full stomach, and brings us one small step closer to ending world hunger.

Donate Now!

Embrace Relief, Sweatcoin team up to generate 30 billion steps for Clean Water

Posted on | by Leo Wilson

How far would you walk for water? On June 25, Embrace Relief found out exactly how far – and you exceeded our wildest expectations!

Participants who attended and completed Embrace Relief’s first-annual “H2Ow Far Can You Walk” 5K Walk-A-Thon in-person at Liberty State Park in Jersey City took a combined 625,000+ steps for clean water. And thanks to our partnership with Sweatcoin, this event was a global effort – more than 6,000 people around the world supported our cause through our virtual event that day, walking a total of 20.5 million steps!

The “H2Ow Far Can You Walk” 5K Walk-A-Thon event was held to support Embrace Relief’s efforts in building and rebuilding water wells in Africa. The clean water crisis has left hundreds of millions of people in that part of the world without an accessible, safe source of drinking water.

The Walk-A-Thon itself was designed to draw attention particularly to the plight of young women and girls in Africa, who often take on the role of water-carriers in their families. Because many communities are located long distances from the nearest source of water, they must walk for several miles per day on average – often barefoot, under the heat of a blazing sun, while carrying as much as 80 pounds of water.

Embrace Relief’s well-building campaign aims to reduce or eliminate that burden for as many people as possible. So far, our Clean Water Initiative has already delivered safe, accessible drinking water to more than 500,000 people in the African countries of Chad, Cameroon and Nigeria. 

Our newest ongoing project, “Fountains of Hope,” is reconstructing malfunctioning and abandoned water wells and restoring them to full use for their nearby communities.

Embrace Relief has set an ambitious target of 250 more refurbished wells under the “Fountains of Hope” Project by the end of 2022. Thanks to the generosity of the people who walked with us in Jersey City, or who supported our cause through the Sweatcoin app, Embrace Relief is well on our way to our goal.

Embrace Relief’s partnership with Sweatcoin, a free step-tracking app that allows users to convert their steps into a digital currency that can be spent on products or donated to charity, was a major contributor to the 5K Walk-A-Thon’s success.

Throughout the month of June, the “H2Ow Far Can You Walk: A Walk to Bring Water to Africa” campaign was featured on the Sweatcoin app, where more than 568,000 people from 240 countries contributed their steps toward this global cause. Together, we walked more than 30 billion steps for clean water during June!

On the day of the Walk-A-Thon itself, more than 6,000 Sweatcoin users registered and completed their 5K virtually from a variety of locations from around the world. They joined the more than 100 guests who joined Embrace Relief in-person at Liberty State Park and completed the 5K walk along the Hudson River.

All funds raised through the in-person event and the Sweatcoin app for the Walk-A-Thon 5K program will directly support Embrace Relief’s well reconstruction efforts.

Donating to food banks and food pantries: Simple, sustainable and impactful

Posted on | by Leo Wilson

Food banks and food pantries serve millions of people every single day in America, and the need is growing more and more. In 2020, nearly 7 percent of American households made use of a communal food source, the highest total on record. They are an important source of food and nutrition especially for the United States’ 13.8 million households (about 1 out of every 10, equivalent to roughly 46 million people) who lived with some level of food insecurity in 2019.

If you’re in need of a meal, or if you’re fortunate enough to be able to donate food to a local pantry and support your community, finding a food bank can be as simple as a Google search. Websites like feedingamerica.org and foodpantries.org offer location information for many food banks and food pantries in every state in the U.S., and include listings for government-run food banks as well as private and religious charitable organizations who provide food.

Each location will have its own rules for what donations are and are not acceptable. But most will accept simple, nutritious foods like pasta, rice, granola, canned fruits and vegetables, soups. (Some food banks may also accept donations of cash or expensive personal hygiene necessities like diapers or sanitary pads, which can also be extremely helpful for people in need.)

Donating to a food bank is one of the easiest, yet most impactful ways to make your community a better place. Hunger and poverty are closely linked as part of a vicious cycle that affects millions of people in America. The nature of poverty often forces people to choose between their next meal and other necessities like shelter, clothing, or transportation. By providing food to those who are in need, food banks and pantries can help to alleviate this cycle.

The same is true for the hundreds of millions of people who live with hunger worldwide. Having enough food to eat is a human right. Making that a reality is not only possible – we produce far more food than we could ever eat – but also a moral obligation. Whether you’re dropping off boxes of food at your local pantry, or working with organizations like Embrace Relief to aid people in dozens of countries around the world, every little bit helps. 

Donate today to help us feed thousands of people during Qurbani 2022

A commitment to fighting hunger wherever it exists on the planet is one of the foundations of Embrace Relief’s work. To mark Qurbani and the celebration of Eid in July, Embrace Relief’s International Hunger Relief: Qurbani 2022 campaign plans to provide food packages to tens of thousands of needy people in more than a dozen countries.

Embrace Relief’s Qurbani packages will contain sheep, cattle or goat meat, all of which has been 100% humanely and hygienically slaughtered. This meat is high in fat, protein, minerals and vitamins, which are vital in fighting malnutrition, particularly for growing children.

Each Qurbani meat package from Embrace Relief feeds eight families! And when you donate to provide a Qurbani package for those most in need, we will notify you once it has been sent and delivered.

The cost for each package in each area we serve depends on the local market price for the meat. Here’s how much it would cost for you to lessen the burden of hunger for eight families this Qurbani:

  • Africa: $175
  • United States: $265
  • Greece: $265
  • Yemen: $265

With your help, we can combat food shortages and provide hope to people in need in places like sub-Saharan Africa, Yemen, Greece and the United States. Every contribution you make helps one more family go to bed on a full stomach, and brings us one small step closer to ending world hunger.

Donate Now!

Hand washing: Vital for all, a luxury for some

Posted on | by Leo Wilson

Though you may take it for granted, your bathroom sink is one of most important weapons we have in fighting disease. Washing your hands with soap and clean water is one of the most comprehensive ways of preventing the spread of germs, and thus a critical piece of public health

It takes just about 20-30 seconds for one person to properly lather their hands with soap, rub them together under running water, and rinse off. But when we collectively take that time to clean our hands before handling food, after using the toilet or blowing our nose, or after touching a frequently-used surface in a public area, we eliminate millions and billions of germs that might make ourselves, our families, and others around us sick.

For generations now, people have understood the link between hygiene and the spread of disease, and the latest science confirms this understanding. When communities become more educated about the importance of handwashing, studies show that their rates of respiratory illnesses, diarrheal illnesses, and gastrointestinal illnesses are reduced significantly.

That’s no small thing in a world where these preventable diseases cause unnecessary deaths and suffering around the world. Consider:

  • An estimated 40 percent of the world’s population lacks access to a basic hand-washing facility.
  • An estimated 432,000 deaths per year are caused by diseases directly resulting from poor sanitary and hygienic conditions. These deaths are overwhelmingly concentrated in countries where clean water, sanitation and hygiene are least accessible.
  • These diseases disproportionately impact children. Respiratory diseases like pneumonia and gastrointestinal diseases like diarrhea are among the leading causes of death for children under 5, killing nearly 1.8 million children every year. Universal hygiene and handwashing could make a huge dent in that number.

An estimated 780 million people worldwide lack access to a safe, accessible source of clean water. But this crisis has issues that go beyond simply drinking unprotected, potentially dirty water.

Without water available for proper sanitation and hygiene, a community is at deep risk for the spread of disease. As we’ve learned during the era of COVID-19, when some of us are at risk for the spread of contagious diseases, eventually all of us are at risk.

 Help Embrace Relief deliver clean water to people who need it

That’s why the campaign to provide clean water universally is so important. And that’s why it’s a cornerstone of the mission of the Embrace Relief Foundation. Embrace Relief has invested in the building of hundreds of water wells in Africa, providing clean water to more than 500,000 people in the African nations of Cameroon, Chad, and Nigeria. 

Through our Clean Water Initiative, we have funded the construction of 450 new water wells in those countries. And through our recently launched “Fountains of Hope” project, we’ve reconstructed 50 abandoned or non-functioning wells.

To aid more people, we need your help.

Donating to Embrace Relief’s Clean Water Fund and our “Fountains of Hope” project is the single-best way to ensure that thousands of people will get the water they need.

Together with your support, we can give a lifeline to hundreds of vulnerable communities in Africa and limit the spread of disease with this one act.

Donate Now!

Embrace Relief’s first-annual ‘H2Ow Far Can You Walk’ 5K Walkathon

Posted on | by Leo Wilson

Crowds of people filled the pathways beside the Hudson River on Saturday morning, June 25, braving the heat and humidity to complete Embrace Relief’s “H2Ow Far Can You Walk?” 5K Walkathon Fundraiser at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, NJ.

This first-annual event raised money for Embrace Relief’s “Fountains of Hope” initiative, which reconstructs abandoned non-operational water wells in the African countries of Chad, Cameroon and Nigeria. All proceeds from the Walkathon are going towards Embrace Relief’s goal of rebuilding 250 water wells in 2022, which would provide clean drinking water for at least 250,000 people in those countries.

“Today’s event was great,” said Embrace Relief CEO Osman Dulgeroglu. “I think it was a great opportunity for everyone to learn, to gain a greater understanding of what people are experiencing, and to come together and support people. We’re looking forward to organizing this event again next year, and in the following years as well.”

In addition to the many dozens of walkers who joined the 5K in person Saturday, Embrace Relief also received the support of hundreds of thousands more people around the world virtually through a partnership with Sweatcoin, an step-counting app that turns each step into digital currency.

The idea of the “H2Ow Far Can You Walk?” 5K Walkathon came from Embrace Relief’s experience working with the communities we serve. In America, our water supply is safe, clean and easily accessible. But in parts of Africa, people – usually young girls and women – must carry heavy water containers over long distances in extreme heat, often while barefoot, risking their safety and health.

The walkers at Saturday’s walkathon were able to experience a very small taste of what this life is like. The air temperature at Liberty State Park exceeded 80 degrees by the time the first participants arrived for registration at 7:30 a.m. The heat and humidity continued to climb, nearing 90 degrees by the time the opening ceremonies got underway shortly after 8:30, featuring speeches from Dulgeroglu, Embrace Relief project manager Dana Coppola, and a pair of honored guests, U.S. Winter Olympian hopeful Lauren Brzozowski and Jersey City Councilman James Solomon.

Before the walk started, many walkers tried out the “Challenge Area,” in which they could carry a full 6.5-gallon jug of water a mere 50 meters, a fraction of the distance most water-carriers in Africa walk daily.

“It completely opened my eyes,” said Wendy, one of the participants. “I would have had absolutely no idea the distance they walk, the danger they’d be in, the weight they’re carrying. I tried out [the “Challenge Area”] and I couldn’t imagine carrying that much weight for the whole 5K, much less doing it multiple times a week. And it’s not an option for many people, it’s literally a necessity to live. It was really impactful.”

Addressing the crowd at a stage near the 5K’s starting line, the opening ceremony speakers stressed the urgency of reaching Embrace Relief’s 250-well goal. Councilman Solomon noted that the number of people who will be helped this year by the Fountains of Hope project (250,000) is nearly equivalent to the population of Jersey City, New Jersey’s second-largest municipality. The clean water they receive will improve and save tens of thousands of lives, boost economic and agricultural production, and give women and girls more time to pursue their education and support their families.

“We know that with people’s support, we can reach our goal of 250 wells this year,” said Project Manager Dana Coppola. “We want to encourage everyone here, our donors, supporters, anyone who’s just learning about this issue for the first time, to educate yourself, get involved, advocate, give if you can, and try to do what you can!”

The actual 5K walk began shortly after 9 a.m., with groups of people filing down the path at their own speed. Walkers could enjoy strolling alongside the Hudson River accompanied by picturesque views of New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty, and the Manhattan skyline. (And unlike their counterparts in Africa, walkers could refresh themselves at two water stations.) After reaching the southern tip of Liberty State Park, walkers looped around and retraced their steps to return to the starting line.

Embrace Relief is thankful for the many partners and sponsors who helped make the “H2Ow Far Can You Walk?” 5K Walkathon happen: partner organizations Peace Islands Institute and Sweatcoin, and sponsors Xtreme Element; Dun & Bradstreet; New Jersey District 34 Assemblywoman Britnee Timberlake; and Antonio Prieto Salon.