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From $5M in grateful patient giving to faster AI adoption: Kindsight honors client success at the 2026 Kindness Awards

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Kindsight, the leader in enterprise fundraising and donor intelligence software, proudly announced the winners of the second annual Kindness Awards during its customer conference, KindCon 2026, held in Nashville September 1–3. The event celebrated the organizations and individuals who have used Kindsight’s technology to drive measurable results, adopt new tools with care, and strengthen the fundraising community.

“Today we are here to honor the extraordinary people and organizations who have committed themselves to a simple yet profound purpose: making a difference,” said George Wu, Chief Community Officer at Kindsight, who co-hosted the ceremony with Marie Yatco, Vice President of Customer Experience.

Winners were selected from 25 finalists across five categories. The 2026 Kindness Awards winners are:

Fundraising Innovator
Winner: Purdue for Life Foundation
Using Kindsight’s iWave prospect research solution, Ascend fundraising CRM, and Kindsight Intelligence, Purdue for Life continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in advancement, pairing bold system design with a willingness to share both successes and lessons learned with peers. Through the leadership of Michelle Bates, Vice President of Advancement Services, Purdue for Life has become an influential model for innovation and a generous partner to the broader advancement community.

Impact Award
Winner: Hoag Hospital Foundation
Hoag Hospital Foundation expands access to world-class care for patients and families across Orange County. Using Ascend, iWave, and Connect (Kindsight’s constituent portal), Hoag powers a modernized grateful patient program with stronger donor visibility and efficiency. The program raised more than $5 million in the first six months of 2026. Under the leadership of Alyce De La Cruz, Executive Director of Advancement Services, and through her service on Kindsight’s Ascend Customer Advisory Board, Hoag helps extend that impact through shared learning across the field.

Community Catalyst
Winner: Heather Thorwald, Data Quality Analyst, University of Colorado Advancement
As a founder and co-chair of Kindsight’s Interims User Group, Heather has built a trusted space for peers to share challenges, best practices, and operational insights. Her energy, warmth, and commitment to meaningful dialogue have deepened connections across institutions and strengthened community learning.

Cheer Captain
Winner: Jose De La Colina Horta, Data Engineer, Texas A&M Foundation
Jose led the rollout of Kindsight Intelligence at the Texas A&M Foundation, translating complex technical configuration into practical, user-focused tools tailored to the foundation’s needs. His collaborative approach built confidence across teams, encouraged adoption through testing and feedback, and turned a behind-the-scenes implementation into lasting organizational impact.

Growth Leader
Winner: Wisconsin Foundation & Alumni Association
WFAA has long demonstrated leadership in advancement technology, pairing a strong culture of innovation with a thoughtful enterprise approach to adoption and optimization. Using Kindsight’s AdvancementRM fundraising CRM, iWave, and its broader data and reporting ecosystem, WFAA has built scalable practices that strengthen governance, improve adoption, and expand organizational capacity. Chief Information Officer Marianne Siess’s leadership has kept the organization on the leading edge and helped staff work more confidently and effectively.

The Kindness Awards recognize the people behind the progress: the leaders, builders, and community champions who make technology work for their mission. Whether they’re scaling grateful patient programs, strengthening data governance, or building spaces for peers to learn from one another, this year’s winners show what fundraising teams can do together.

For more information about the Kindness Awards and the inspiring stories behind the winners, visit kindsight.io/kindness-awards.

For media inquiries, contact press@kindsight.io.

About Kindsight:

Kindsight builds technology that helps fundraisers make a difference. Founded on over three decades of innovation, and trusted by over 4,500 organizations worldwide, Kindsight is the market leader in advancement and fundraising software, supporting the education, healthcare, and nonprofit sectors to achieve their goals through smarter, more connected fundraising. Natively built upon the Salesforce architecture, Kindsight’s Fundraising Platform is anchored in the strength and flexibility of the Ascend CRM, powered by the trusted insights of iWave data, and unified by seamless workflows and connected data.

Kindsight helps organizations discover the right donors, inspire personal connections at scale, and grow giving year after year. With industry-leading prospect research solutions, award-winning fundraising CRMs, a dynamic constituent portal, and an AI assistant built for modern fundraising, Kindsight’s product suite is truly changing the game for donor fundraising. Connect your story to donors who care about your cause—at any scale, in real time—that’s the power of Kindsight. Learn more at kindsight.io.

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LoanBud Launches LoanBud Acquire™ to Expand Financing for Main Street Business Acquisitions

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New non-SBA program offers $100,000 to $350,000 in financing for qualified buyers acquiring established small businesses.

NEW YORK, Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LoanBud today announced the launch of LoanBud Acquire™, a new non-SBA business acquisition financing program offering $100,000 to $350,000 in financing for qualified buyers acquiring established, cash-flowing small businesses.

LoanBud created the program around a problem it sees in the market every day: smaller business acquisitions can be disproportionately difficult to finance. Many lenders prioritize larger credits, while smaller transactions may not fit every SBA or conventional lending program. That can leave qualified buyers and viable businesses with fewer financing paths, even when the underlying transaction makes sense.

“A $250,000 acquisition matters just as much to the buyer, the seller and the employees as a multimillion-dollar transaction,” said Burke Purcell, Founder and CEO of LoanBud. “But smaller acquisitions can be harder to finance because many lenders tend to prioritize larger transactions. LoanBud Acquire™ gives qualified buyers another path to ownership and helps more good Main Street businesses continue under a new owner.”

LoanBud Acquire™ complements LoanBud’s existing SBA business acquisition financing capabilities. By adding a non-SBA option, LoanBud can evaluate an acquisition across multiple potential financing paths rather than trying to fit every transaction into a single program.

That flexibility can be especially important in a business sale, where financing uncertainty creates friction for the buyer, seller and broker. Earlier clarity on whether a transaction has a viable financing path can help all parties move forward with greater confidence.

LoanBud Acquire™ program highlights include:

$100,000 to $350,000 in financingMinimum 15% buyer equity contributionDesigned for acquisitions of established, cash-flowing businessesNo real estate collateral requirementFinancing available for eligible business purchase costs and approved transaction expensesTargeted closing timeline of less than 30 days for qualified transactions

“We do not believe every acquisition should be forced into one financing box,” Purcell said. “Our job is to look at the transaction, identify the most realistic financing path and help the buyer, seller and broker get to a clear answer faster. LoanBud Acquire™ gives us another way to do that for smaller Main Street transactions.”

LoanBud Acquire™ is available now. Qualified buyers and business brokers can learn more at LoanBud.com or apply at apply.loanbud.com.

About LoanBud

LoanBud helps existing business owners access growth capital and helps entrepreneurs finance business acquisitions. By combining technology, experienced lending professionals and a nationwide network of lending partners, LoanBud provides access to SBA and conventional financing for acquisitions, growth, real estate, debt refinancing and working capital. LoanBud is focused on making small business financing faster, clearer and easier to navigate.

For more information, visit LoanBud.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/loanbud-launches-loanbud-acquire-to-expand-financing-for-main-street-business-acquisitions-302896385.html

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McKool Smith Named 2026 IP “Litigation Department of the Year” by Texas Lawyer

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DALLAS, Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — McKool Smith has been named Intellectual Property “Litigation Department of the Year” at the 2026 Texas Legal Awards, presented by Texas Lawyer. The Texas Legal Awards honor the attorneys and law firms making a lasting impact on the Texas legal landscape, from groundbreaking case wins to innovative legal strategies. Winners were celebrated at the awards ceremony on September 30 in Dallas.

The firm recognition reflects a track record of success in high-stakes IP disputes. In the Eastern District of Texas, Austin Principal Steve Pollinger, as lead counsel, along with Marshall Principal Jennifer Truelove, won a $192 million verdict for Mojo Mobility against Samsung on wireless charging patents that was held in full at final judgment. Jennifer also served as co-lead trial counsel on a willful infringement verdict for Pictiva Displays against Samsung on OLED display patents. At the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), the firm’s campaign for Nokia against Hisense ended in a global license resolving the dispute in every jurisdiction.

The department’s recent results also include a stretch of significant trial wins for Dallas Principal Warren Lipschitz, a finalist for Intellectual Property Attorney of the Year. In August 2026, he co-led a team in securing a complete defense verdict for AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Ericsson and Nokia in a consolidated 5G patent trial in the Eastern District of Texas, defeating $436 million in claimed damages. The jury found no infringement, invalidated all nine asserted claims, and held that the plaintiffs had breached their own FRAND obligations. That verdict followed back-to-back 2025 defense wins Warren co-led against Daingean Technologies, also in the Eastern District, cutting a $245 million demand against T-Mobile to $2 million and then winning a verdict of no infringement for AT&T. On the plaintiff side, Warren secured an ITC Initial Determination for Nokia that Amazon infringed five of seven asserted patents, and Nokia reached a settlement with Amazon shortly thereafter.

With more than 130 trial lawyers across offices in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Marshall, New York, and Washington, D.C., McKool Smith has established a reputation as one of America’s leading trial firms. The firm has secured 18 nine-figure jury verdicts and 16 eight-figure jury verdicts, obtaining more VerdictSearch and The National Law Journal “Top 100 Verdicts” than any other law firm. McKool Smith represents clients in complex commercial litigation, intellectual property, bankruptcy, and white-collar defense matters.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mckool-smith-named-2026-ip-litigation-department-of-the-year-by-texas-lawyer-302896389.html

SOURCE McKool Smith

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Custom Home Builder Selection in Lexington SC Guidance Outlined in HelloNation Featuring Home Building Expert Jennifer L. Gerben Nettles

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The article explains how early consultation with a builder can help evaluate land suitability, site conditions, and construction costs before purchasing property.

LEXINGTON, S.C., Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Do prospective homeowners need to own land before hiring a custom home builder in Lexington, South Carolina? HelloNation addresses that question in a HelloNation article that explores how early collaboration with a builder can help guide land selection and project planning.

The HelloNation article explains that many buyers assume they must purchase land before contacting a custom home builder Lexington SC professional. In practice, involving a builder earlier in the process can offer important advantages. Builders can help assess potential properties and identify factors that may influence construction feasibility, costs, and design options before a purchase is finalized.

One of the first considerations discussed in the article is the building potential of the land itself. Not all lots offer the same conditions for residential construction. Soil composition, grading, and topography can significantly affect how easily a home can be built. The article notes that a lot that appears ideal at first glance may require extensive excavation, retaining walls, or drainage work, all of which can increase project costs.

Evaluating site conditions before purchasing land can help homeowners avoid unexpected challenges later in the building process. According to the article, builders can conduct early assessments to determine whether the lot can accommodate the desired home design. Home Building Experts explain that this evaluation helps identify potential construction limitations and provides a clearer picture of the work required to prepare the site.

Utility access is another major factor that may influence whether a lot is suitable for a custom home Lexington SC project. The article describes how water, sewer, electricity, and internet service are not always readily available on undeveloped parcels of land. Connecting a property to these utilities may involve additional infrastructure work, which can increase both cost and project timelines. Builders who understand local infrastructure can help estimate the feasibility and expense of utility installation before a buyer commits to purchasing a property.

Lot shape and size can also affect design possibilities and construction costs. The HelloNation article explains that narrow or irregularly shaped parcels may limit the placement and layout of a home. Builders can provide guidance on how to adapt architectural plans to fit the property while still meeting the homeowner’s functional and aesthetic goals. This type of planning ensures that the home design works within the constraints of the lot.

Budget planning is another reason the article recommends early consultation with a custom home builder Lexington SC professional. Builders can provide preliminary construction estimates that account for site preparation, grading, permits, and other development requirements tied to a specific lot. This information helps prospective homeowners determine whether a property aligns with their financial plans before making a purchase.

The article also discusses how early collaboration can streamline the permitting and planning process. Builders with experience in Lexington understand local zoning regulations, setback requirements, and building codes that influence how a home can be placed on a lot. Home Building Experts explain that reviewing these regulations early can prevent costly redesigns or delays later in the project.

Working with a builder during the land selection stage also allows homeowners to compare multiple properties more effectively. By reviewing site conditions, infrastructure access, and potential construction challenges, buyers can make more informed decisions about which lot best supports their vision for a custom home.

The HelloNation article emphasizes that purchasing land first is not always required when planning a custom build. Instead, involving a builder early in the process can create a smoother path from property selection to construction. Evaluating grading requirements, infrastructure availability, and lot suitability ahead of time helps homeowners avoid surprises and better align their plans with realistic construction expectations.

Do You Need Land Before Hiring a Custom Home Builder? features insights from Jennifer L. Gerben Nettles, Home Building Expert of Lexington, South Carolina, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation
HelloNation is a premier media platform that connects readers with trusted professionals and businesses across various industries. Through its innovative “edvertising” approach that blends educational content and storytelling, HelloNation delivers expert-driven articles that inform, inspire, and empower. Covering topics from home improvement and health to business strategy and lifestyle, HelloNation highlights leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

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SOURCE HelloNation

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