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A Night for Good: Goodwill Gala Unites Designers and Industry Leaders for Purpose and Style

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The annual event celebrated visionary design and inclusive workforce impact, honoring Brian Fetherstonhaugh and Synoptek while also featuring runway presentations from Collina Strada, LAPOINTE, Romeo Hunte, and Andy Yu.

NEW YORK, May 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On Tuesday, May 20, Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey, Inc. (Goodwill NYNJ) hosted its fifth annual Goodwill Gala at Tapestry’s global headquarters in Hudson Yards, uniting leaders across fashion, technology, and philanthropy for a powerful night of purpose and style.

Co-hosted by Felita Harris, Executive Director and Co-Founder of RAISEfashion, and Peter Som, award-winning fashion designer and culinary creator, the evening honored outstanding contributions to inclusive innovation and service.

Brian Fetherstonhaugh received the Visionary Leadership Award in recognition of his decades-long commitment to Goodwill, having served as a dedicated board member since 1990. The award was presented by his former colleague, Shelly Lazarus, Chairman Emeritus of Ogilvy, who had the honor of recognizing his enduring impact.

Synoptek, a leading systems integrator and managed services provider, received the Corporate Leadership Award for its partnership in advancing digital equity and workforce inclusion.

“Being recognized by Goodwill NYNJ is an honor we’re especially proud of,” said Salil Godika, CEO of Synoptek. “It’s always meaningful to be acknowledged for the work we do with our partners, but when that work uplifts those who need it most, it carries even greater significance. At Synoptek, our commitment to excellence, our people, and our communities drives everything we do and we’re proud to stand alongside organizations making a lasting difference.”

The night also showcased an exclusive fashion presentation featuring designers known for their bold creativity and commitment to sustainability, including Collina Strada, LAPOINTE, Romeo Hunte, and Andy Yu. Each designer brought a unique perspective, illustrating how fashion can serve as a catalyst for change.

“I built my brand on the foundation of empowerment and believing in the power of you. I have always said that fashion does not have to be complicated, unattainable, or intimidating, and that making a statement with your clothing is easy. That’s why when Goodwill approached me to do this project, I was more than excited and honored to do it.” stated Sally LaPointe, founder and designer, LAPOINTE.

“Sustainability is the core of my work, so I start my projects at Goodwill,” added designer, Andy Yu. “Giving new life to second-hand pieces lets creativity shine without adding waste.”

Upcycled looks from the evening’s featured designers are now available through an online auction—offering fashion lovers a rare opportunity to own exclusive pieces while supporting Goodwill NYNJ’s job training and placement programs.

The event spotlighted Goodwill NYNJ’s mission to expand access to employment and promote sustainable fashion as a force for good.

“At Goodwill NYNJ, we believe that investing in people and the planet creates lasting change,” said Katy Gaul-Stigge, CEO of Goodwill NYNJ. “Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we’re building a more inclusive employment movement that empowers New Yorkers of all abilities and backgrounds to thrive and ensure no talent is left behind.”

The incredible support from sponsors, donors, and attendees helped the Goodwill Gala raise $586,000 to advance programs offering job training, placement, and career growth to thousands of individuals across the region.

For more information about Goodwill NYNJ or to get involved, visit: goodwillnynj.org/financial-giving/

About Goodwill NYNJ
Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey, Inc. (Goodwill NYNJ) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates retail stores across the region, fueled by donations of clothing and household items. These donations support Goodwill NYNJ’s mission to provide workforce development services, job training, and employment opportunities for people with disabilities and individuals facing barriers to work.

For 110 years, Goodwill NYNJ has helped build better lives for thousands of individuals and families across the New York City metropolitan area. Its mission is to empower people with disabilities and other barriers to employment to achieve independence through the power of work.

Learn more at www.goodwillnynj.org and find us on Facebook and Instagram @GoodwillNYNJ.

About Brian Fetherstonhaugh
Brian Fetherstonhaugh is the CEO of The Long View Talent Group and the author of the award-winning career strategy book The Long View. Brian began his career at Procter & Gamble Canada and spent over two decades at Ogilvy, where he held global leadership roles including President of Ogilvy Canada, Chairman of Global Brands, Chief People Officer, and Global CEO of its digital marketing division. A frequent lecturer at McGill, Columbia, Yale, and MIT, Brian brings deep expertise in branding, leadership, and strategy. His connection to Goodwill spans over three decades, with past roles including Chairman of Goodwill Toronto and Executive Committee member of the Goodwill International Board. Currently serving on the Board of Goodwill NYNJ, he has led the organization’s last four strategic plans and continues to support its mission through committee work, leadership training, and site engagement.

About Synoptek
Synoptek is a global, full-service business and digital technology solutions provider and advisory firm that helps companies envision, transform and evolve their customer experiences, application ecosystems and infrastructures. As a systems integrator and managed technology provider, Synoptek partners with organizations worldwide, helping them navigate the ever-changing technology landscape and build solid tech foundations for their businesses. With its comprehensive offerings, global workforce and strategic technology partnerships, Synoptek helps companies optimize their IT environments and enable innovation through technology. With growth, ownership, inclusiveness and philanthropy embedded in its DNA, Synoptek is committed to delivering improved business results and unmatched service to all its stakeholders.

About LAPOINTE
Designed by Sally LaPointe and produced in NYC, LAPOINTE is a color-driven luxury fashion brand known for making a statement with bold monochromatic palettes and head-to-toe sets that embrace simple, effective empowerment of individual expression. LaPointe graduated with a BFA in Apparel Design from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2006 and, with fellow RISD graduate Sarah Adelson, moved to New York City and founded the eponymous collection in 2010. LAPOINTE soon became the go-to brand for a broad range of women including Zendaya, Beyonce, Rihanna, Oprah Winfrey, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, Hailey Bieber, Jennifer Lopez, and Jessica Chastain, to name a few. LAPOINTE is sold via its e-commerce flagship site shopLAPOINTE.com as well as top retailers such as Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Harrods, among others.

About Collina Strada
Collina Strada isn’t just a fashion label, it’s also a platform for social issues and awareness. Created by Hillary Taymour, her main concern is staying true to her craft, and staying on course to becoming a fully sustainable and radically transparent brand in the near future. Based and manufactured in New York, the brand’s cult status core pieces transcend trends. Taymour’s designs are imbued with a fearlessly fluid attitude, re-inventing classics and unexpected details. Collina Strada embodies humor and youth. The brand DNA is now firmly cemented in the ability to look inward, even when we’re loud and expressive on the outside. Season after season, Collina Strada’s goal remains the same: to encourage self-reflection through clothing. How can you be the best version of yourself today?

About Romeo Hunte
Raised in Brooklyn, New York, Romeo Hunte has always been inspired by the women around him and their creative approach to fashion. After turning down two full athletic scholarships in Track and Field, he pursued his passion for design at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Hunte launched his namesake brand, Romeo Hunte New York, while working full-time as a personal shopper in luxury retail and in editorial styling. Over the past decade, he has proven to be a hardworking self-starter, excelling in both unique design and business. He has secured lucrative partnerships with renowned companies such as Mercedes-Benz, Christian Louboutin, Speedo and was the first Black designer to collaborate with Tommy Hilfiger. Specializing in mixing high-quality fabrics, Hunte skillfully plays with denim and leather, transforming them into ready-to-wear pieces for any occasion. His innovative approach has garnered an impressive cult following of VIPs, including Beyoncé, Michelle Obama, Steph Curry, Kyrie Irving, and Stevie Wonder, proving that there is no limit or box you can put him in.

About Andy Yu
Andy Yu is an Asian American fashion designer celebrated for his sustainable, upcycled creations and his ability to blend art, culture, and community. After studying fashion and graphic design at Virginia Commonwealth University, Yu launched his first womenswear collection at just 22, with pieces selling at major retailers like Barneys and Saks. Over the years, he built a successful fashion business, Contributing to brands such as Magaschoni Cashmere, J.Crew Luxury, and Michael Kors. His designs, often upcycled from vintage materials, have garnered attention from fashion icons, including Martha Stewart, who owns over 20 pieces from his private collection. Yu’s commitment to the community is evident in his work as a mentor up-and-coming designers and support for local initiatives, including the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts and the Community Center of Northern Westchester. Through his work, Yu continues to inspire by merging sustainability with style, fostering connections across cultures.

Goodwill Contact: LaKara Person, lperson@goodwillny.org, (929) 627-0222

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SOURCE Goodwill NYNJ

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PAVS Announces Pricing of a $10 Million Registered Direct Offering of Class A Ordinary Shares and Pre-Funded Warrants

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NEW YORK, June 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — PAVS (NASDAQ:PAVS) (the “Company”), a consumer products and digital commerce solutions company, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with certain institutional investors for a registered direct offering of an aggregate of 50,000,000 Class A ordinary shares (or pre-funded warrants to purchase Class A ordinary shares in lieu thereof) at a purchase price of $0.20 per share. The gross proceeds to the Company from the offering are expected to be approximately $10 million, before deducting offering expenses.

The offering is expected to close on or about June 16, 2026, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for evaluating and pursuing strategic acquisition opportunities in the consumer products, wellness, fitness, lifestyle, and digital commerce sectors, and working capital and general corporate purposes.

A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners is acting as the exclusive financial advisor to the Company.

The Class A ordinary shares (or pre-funded warrants to purchase Class A ordinary shares in lieu thereof) are being offered and sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in connection with a takedown from the Company’s shelf registration statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-291788), which was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on December 3, 2025. The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus which are a part of the effective registration statement. A prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to the registered direct offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Additionally, when available, electronic copies of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may be obtained from A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners, 590 Madison Avenue, 28th Floor, New York, NY 10022, or by telephone at (212) 624-2060, or by email at prospectus@allianceg.com.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

About Paranovus Entertainment Technology Limited

Paranovus Entertainment Technology Ltd. (Nasdaq: PAVS) is a consumer products and digital commerce solutions company. In March 2025, the Company completed the acquisition of the controlling equity interests of Bomie Wookoo Inc., a New York company that offers e-commerce solutions. As part of its strategic transformation, Paranovus has exited its legacy businesses, including the e-commerce, internet information, and advertising businesses in September 2023 and ceased its automobile sales business in July 2024.

For more information on our latest innovations and developments, visit https://www.pavs.ai/.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. When the Company uses words such as “may,” “will,” “intend,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate” or similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters, it is making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the following: the Company’s goals and strategies; the Company’s future business development; the Company’s future acquisition opportunities; the Company’s ability to identify any acquisition opportunities that fit with our business strategies; the Company’s ability to consummate an attractive acquisition and realize the benefits of such transaction; product and service demand and acceptance; changes in technology; economic conditions; reputation and brand; the impact of competition and pricing; government regulations; fluctuations in general economic; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing and other risks contained in reports filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional factors are discussed in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof.

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New Cognizant Research Reveals $4.7 Trillion in Untapped AI Value Across G2000

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Organizations that pair mature technology infrastructure with a fundamentals-first AI investment strategy outperform laggards by 31% on composite outcomes—and could unlock trillions in unrealized value across the G2000

TEANECK, N.J., June 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) today released new research showing that AI’s real-world results depend less on the technology itself than on the maturity of a company’s tech infrastructure and where it directs its investment. The companies getting this right are generating financial returns measurable in the billions.

The study, “Closing the AI Execution Gap: A $2 Billion Business Boost,” surveyed 1,100 senior business leaders at Global 2000 companies and 100 startups across 10 industries. Its central finding is stark: two-thirds of leaders have yet to demonstrate measurable business productivity gains from AI, and one in four have already paused or abandoned AI deployments—with an estimated average of $2 billion in unrealized cost savings and revenue opportunity.

The research identifies a clear set of behaviors that separates the top performers from the rest.

31% — The performance gap between the highest- and lowest-performing AI segments on composite outcomes.

$1B–$2B — Estimated annual returns available to a typical G2000 company that moves from the weakest to the strongest performing segment.

$4.7T — Total unrealized annual value across the G2000 when worker productivity, business productivity, revenue and cost reduction are included.

60% — How much more likely organizations with immature infrastructure and broad AI investment are to abandon a deployment versus those with the same infrastructure who invest in AI fundamentals first.

27% — Productivity advantage held by organizations with strong data foundations versus those still working to improve theirs.

“The evidence in this research could not be more direct: companies that build on a mature technology foundation and invest in AI fundamentals first are already generating billions in returns that their competitors are leaving on the table,” said Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar S. “This is the AI Builder dividend and it is real, it is quantifiable, and it is widening. Two-thirds of organizations have yet to move the needle on business productivity from AI. That is not a capability gap in technology. That is an execution gap. Cognizant exists precisely to close it. We help companies do the work that unlocks AI value: strengthening compute infrastructure, building data foundations that AI can trust, and deploying the focused investment strategies that turn AI’s potential into verifiable, compounding returns.”

The research shows organizations can continue to improve their AI outcomes through building technical and data foundations, focusing investment strategies, and leveraging strong external partnerships where needed:

Organizations with focused AI investment strategies outperform their peers regardless of maturity level—even lower-maturity companies with a focused approach achieve an 11.4% composite outcome score, versus 9.7% for same-maturity peers investing broadlyCompute and data foundations are the most consequential infrastructure factors; just 19.9% of organizations rate their on-premises compute as excellent—and companies with excellent cloud compute outperform those with adequate ratings by 4.8 percentage points in worker productivity gainsData gaps are pervasive: 64.5% of organizations have at least one of five key data dimensions rated adequate or below; organizations with strong data foundations report nearly 27% higher productivity gains and are 20%+ less likely to abandon AI initiativesInfrastructure quality has a compounding effect on outcomes—organizations with all 10 infrastructure dimensions rated good or excellent achieve 15.6% average productivity gains; that drops to 14.1% with just one adequate dimension, and to 12.5% when any dimension needs improvementHigh-performing organizations are significantly more likely to work with external partners: 72–76% of focused-strategy companies engage outside expertise, compared to 54–60% of broad-investment peers

ABOUT COGNIZANT
Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) is an AI Builder and technology services provider, bridging the gap between AI investment and enterprise value by building full-stack AI solutions for our clients. Our deep industry, process and engineering expertise enables us to build an organization’s unique context into technology systems that amplify human potential, drive tangible outcomes and keep global enterprises ahead in a fast-changing world. See how at cognizant.ai or @cognizant. 

MEDIA CONTACT

Global Corporate Communications

Cognizant Technology Solutions

media@cognizant.com

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SOURCE Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation

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Responsible AI Institute Launches TrustX for Finance to Bring Verifiable Trust to Autonomous AI in Financial Services

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New Autonomous Finance Initiative will help financial institutions classify, control, and verify autonomous AI systems before production deployment.

AUSTIN, Texas and NEW YORK and LONDON, June 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Responsible AI Institute, the world’s largest responsible AI non-profit and an independent organization with a decade of experience advancing trusted AI governance, today announced the launch of TrustX for Finance, a sector-specific assurance initiative designed to define how autonomous AI systems are evaluated, controlled, and approved for production in financial services.

RAI Institute launches TrustX Finance Working Group. Founding members: U.S. Bank · NatWest Group

As banks and financial institutions prepare to deploy AI systems that can initiate payments, execute workflows, and act with delegated authority, traditional AI governance is no longer sufficient. These systems do not simply generate recommendations; they can take action. Institutions need a consistent way to classify their risk, define their authority, enforce operating boundaries, and generate evidence that those controls hold in practice.

Across industries, AI is moving from advisory systems to agentic systems: software that does not simply generate outputs, but can plan, decide, and execute actions across enterprise environments. This shift is accelerating risk in two areas in particular. First, organizations are increasingly deploying AI through vendors and SaaS platforms, often without clear visibility into agent behavior, authority, tool access, or system reach. Second, frontier models with advanced coding, tool-use, and agentic capabilities are increasingly able to interact with internal tools and data through legitimate integration pathways. That access expands the potential blast radius when systems are misused, compromised, or misaligned.

TrustX for Finance provides a structured path to production by classifying AI systems based on autonomy, authority, reach, and persistence; applying controls proportional to risk; and producing audit-ready evidence for internal approval, external assurance, and regulatory review.

The initiative builds on the TrustX Health program launched in the United Kingdom in December 2025 with Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex, the University of Cambridge’s Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence Lab, and The King’s Fund. TrustX Health established a sector-specific pathway for safely verifying, testing, and monitoring agentic AI in health and care. TrustX for Finance extends that assurance model to financial services, where autonomous systems may initiate payments, execute transactions, and operate with delegated authority.

To address the full agentic AI surface, RAI Institute is expanding TrustX across three domains: Build, for internally developed and deployed agentic systems governed through Agent Risk Classification; Buy, for third-party and SaaS-based AI systems assessed through an AI Risk Procurement Framework; and Protect, for enterprise systems exposed to agentic AI through tool access, data access, and workflow integrations. Together, these domains reflect a core TrustX principle: governance must follow what AI systems are allowed to do, not just how they are built.

The Autonomous Finance Initiative will operate as a bank-led working group and hands-on program under TrustX for Finance. At the center of the initiative is a proving ground where participating institutions can test and validate autonomous AI systems in a controlled sandbox environment before production deployment, including systems that initiate payments, execute financial transactions, manage workflows, and operate within delegated authority limits.

Within this environment, institutions can:

Classify systems into defensible risk tiers based on autonomy, decision authority, execution scope, persistence, and enterprise reachApply controls proportional to risk, aligned to regulatory expectationsValidate system behavior against enforceable policies, constraints, and approval thresholdsAssess third-party and SaaS-based agentic AI systems beyond traditional vendor questionnairesIdentify enterprise systems exposed through AI tool access, data access, and workflow integrationsGenerate audit-ready evidence required for internal approval, external assurance, and regulatory reviewDemonstrate that systems operate within approved boundaries under real-world conditions

“Financial institutions cannot approve autonomous AI for production using governance models built for static systems,” said Manoj Saxena, Founder and Executive Chairman of the Responsible AI Institute. “As AI begins to initiate payments, execute workflows, and act with delegated authority, the industry needs a shared way to classify risk, enforce boundaries, and prove systems are operating as approved. TrustX for Finance establishes that foundation.”

“As consumers and businesses begin using AI systems that can act on their behalf, financial institutions need a common assurance framework,” said Dr Samuel Assefa, Senior Vice President and Head of AI Innovation & Solutions, AI Center of Excellence at U.S. Bank. “While we have strict controls in place to govern AI, preparing for new trends and the inevitable expansion of Agentic AI use cases is critical. Classification, controls, and independent verification will be essential to deploying these systems safely and responsibly.”

“”TrustX for Finance comes at a critical moment for our industry.”, said Dr. Paul Dongha, Head of Responsible AI & AI Strategy at NatWest Group “As financial services organizations begin deploying agentic AI, we must move quickly but responsibly — assessing the risks of this powerful new technology, embedding robust controls before deployment, and proving those controls hold in production.”

Initial workstreams will focus on autonomous commerce and payments, where AI systems are already beginning to take action on behalf of users, institutions, and ecosystem partners. Participating organizations will collaborate on real-world use cases while testing systems against shared assurance criteria for risk classification, delegated authority, tool access, runtime behavior, auditability, and control effectiveness.

Central to TrustX for Finance is the TrustX Open AI Registry — an openly licensed governance core that makes working group outputs inspectable and reusable across the sector. The registry provides a shared schema, risk classification logic, agent blueprints, and policy and controls. The Public Edition will be free and openly available. Working group members receive early access to new blueprints, peer benchmarking data, and finance-specific implementations as they are developed.

For more information on TrustX for Finance and the Autonomous Finance Initiative, visit https://www.responsible.ai/trustx-finance/

About the Responsible AI Institute

The Responsible AI Institute is the world’s largest responsible AI non-profit and an independent organization with a decade of experience advancing practical governance and assurance systems for AI deployment across regulated industries. RAI Institute is vendor-neutral, standards-aligned, and supported by a global community of enterprises, researchers, policymakers, and responsible AI practitioners.

Through TrustX, RAI Institute enables organizations to define, control, and prove how AI systems operate before they impact real-world outcomes.

Media Contact:
news@responsible.ai

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SOURCE Responsible AI Institute

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