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Patriots Coach Vrabel and Celtics Coach Mazzulla to Join Granite’s ‘Saving by Shaving’ Event to Benefit Boston Children’s Hospital

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12th Annual Event on March 11 Expected to Raise More Than $3.5 Million

QUINCY, Mass., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Granite Telecommunications, a leading $1.8 billion provider of communications and technology solutions to businesses and government agencies, will host its 12th annual “Saving by Shaving” event to raise funds for pediatric research and treatments at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Local leaders, celebrities and sports stars will join Granite CEO Rob Hale and thousands of Granite teammates, family and friends for the event, which will be held March 11, 2025, at Granite’s headquarters in Quincy, Mass. (Note the event is closed to the public, but open to media. See below for press pass information.)

In the past 11 years, more than 10,000 people have participated in the “Saving by Shaving” events by shaving their heads and donating their hair, raising more than $55 million for charitable organizations.

WHAT: Granite “Saving by Shaving” Fundraiser benefitting Boston Children’s Hospital

For each person who shaves their head or donates at least 8 inches of their hair, Granite will donate $2,500, which is matched dollar for dollar by the Hale family, for a total of $5,000 per head to fund pediatric research and treatments for The Every Child Fund at Boston Children’s Hospital.Additionally, all locks of hair will be donated to Hair We Share, which creates custom wigs free of charge for those affected by medical hair loss.Plus, a donation of $100 will be made for every “chemo cap” (a hat for cancer patients who’ve lost hair due to chemotherapy) created by the Granite Fiber Art’s team.

WHO:
Granite CEO Rob Hale, along with Granite teammates, families and friends, will be joined by community leaders and celebrities, including:

Dignitaries

Thomas Koch, Mayor of QuincyKevin Churchwell, MD, President/CEO, Boston Children’s HospitalDick Argys, Executive Vice President, Hospital, Satellite and Ambulatory Operations and Chief Culture Officer, Boston Children’s Hospital

Sports Legends

NFL Coach Mike Vrabel, New England PatriotsNBA Coach Joe Mazzulla, Boston CelticsJoe Andruzzi, New England Patriots

Personalities

Greg Hill, WEEI, “The Greg Hill Morning Show”

Barbers & Stylists
In addition, the “Saving by Shaving” event is supported by Granite’s business customers and local businesses, including professional barbers and stylists who will donate their time and expertise.

Hairplace OneSalon MatteoPaul’s Barber ShopMackie’s Barber ShopShear ExcitementMilton Barber ShopSupercuts

Catering

Dunkin’ Donuts is providing coffee and breakfast, and Sodexo will cater lunch for the volunteers and barbers/stylists.

WHEN: 8 a.m.–11 a.m. EST, March 11, 2025

WHERE: 150 Newport Ave. Ext., Quincy, MA 02171

PRESS CHECK-IN
For security reasons, our celebrity guests request that all press register in advance and onsite:

In advance by email or phone: Khali Henderson, khenderson@buzztheory.com or 480.848.6726; Jeremy Robison, jrobison@granitenet.com or 617.837.4027Onsite: 8:30-9:00 a.m. at the Press Check-in tableOnsite Contact: Lauren Cheney, 781.884.5290, lgrenier@granitenet.com

PHOTO/VIDEO OPPORTUNITIES (Subject to Change)

8:45-9:15 a.m.: Community leaders and celebrities will be arriving.9:15 a.m.: Greg Hill, Master of Ceremonies, will introduce special guests who will be shaving their heads.9:45 a.m.: Check presentation to Boston Children’s Hospital.8 a.m.-11 a.m.: Granite teammates and family members will have their heads shaved or their hair cut.

QUOTE
“Now in its twelfth year, Saving by Shaving has evolved into more than just a fundraiser — it’s a rally for hope,” says Kim Meyer, Chair of Granite Gives Back. “Thousands have joined us over the years, each driven by personal reasons, yet united by a shared commitment to supporting patients and families facing difficult medical journeys. That passion continues to fuel us to this day, and every shave and donation makes a lasting impact.”

Kimberley Meyer,
Chair, Granite Gives Back

PUBLIC DONATIONS
The “Saving by Shaving” event is closed to the general public, but there will be a live stream of the event (link to come). Granite encourages like-minded individuals to support funding for pediatric research and treatments for The Every Child Fund by donating to Boston Children’s Hospital. Click Here

HISTORY
Granite’s annual “Saving by Shaving” fundraiser began 12 years ago when CEO Rob Hale jokingly dared a member of his team to shave his ZZ Top-style beard in exchange for a $1,000 donation to a cancer hospital. Over the next two weeks, hundreds more Granite teammates reached out to Hale asking for the same opportunity to raise funds and shave their heads or beards in solidarity with those undergoing chemotherapy. From there, 428 teammates turned out at Granite’s first “Saving by Shaving” event and raised more than $2.2 million to benefit Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

ABOUT GRANITE
Granite delivers advanced communications and technology solutions to businesses and government agencies throughout the United States and Canada. The $1.8 billion company serves more than two-thirds of Fortune 100 companies and has 1.75 million voice and data lines under management, supporting more than 650,000 locations. Founded in 2002, Granite has become one of the largest competitive telecommunications carriers in the U.S. by simplifying sourcing and management of voice, data and cellular service with a single point of contact and consolidated invoicing for all locations nationwide. Today, Granite supports customers with a wide range of services, including access, UCaaS, mobile voice and data and MSP solutions for SD-WAN, monitoring and network management. Granite employs more than 2,220 people at its headquarters in Quincy, Massachusetts, and 10 regional offices nationwide. For more information, visit www.granitenet.com.

ABOUT BCH
Boston Children’s Hospital is ranked among the best children’s hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report and is a pediatric teaching affiliate of Home to the world’s largest research enterprise based at a pediatric medical center, Boston Children’s has led the way in life-changing pediatric innovation since its founding in 1869. Today, 3,000 researchers and scientific staff, including 14 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 37 members of the National Academy of Medicine and 13 Howard Hughes Medical Investigators across ~1M square feet of lab space comprise the research community. From bench to bedside, scientists work on preventing, treating, and curing diseases that impact both children and adults, no matter how rare or complex the condition. Founded as a 20-bed hospital for children, Boston Children’s is now a 491-bed comprehensive center for pediatric and adolescent health care. With nine satellite locations and the Martha Elliot Health Center, Boston Children’s also provides 24/7 pediatric care at five hospitals including Beverly Hospital, Winchester Hospital, St. Luke’s Hospital, South Shore Hospital and Cape Cod Hospital.

Boston Children’s also includes: Affiliation with Franciscan Children’s Hospital, including 112 beds and 700+ employees; Boston Children’s Primary Care Alliance, a robust network of 33 pediatric practices serving patients and families throughout Massachusetts; The Pediatric Physicians’ Organization at Boston Children’s Hospital (PPOC) with more than 400 physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants devoted exclusively to pediatric primary care, in close collaboration with subspecialists at Boston Children’s in more than 90 locations throughout Massachusetts; Boston Children’s Health Physicians (BCHP) which is the largest pediatric multispecialty group in New York’s Metropolitan Area, the Hudson Valley, and Connecticut, including nearly 300 clinicians in more than 60 locations. For more, visit our Answers blog and follow us on Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

ABOUT HAIR WE SHARE
Hair We Share was formed in 2014 and is supported by over 40 years of experience in custom design for wigs and hair pieces. We are extremely proud to say that Hair We Share is rapidly making a mark in the medical related hair loss communities, improving lives and restoring the confidence of men, women and children throughout the USA. For more information, visit https://hairweshare.org/

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SOURCE Granite Telecommunications, LLC

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LEAP Group Relaunches HumanView, a Growth Intelligence System Built to Explain Why Customers Behave the Way They Do

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Reimagined from the ground up, HumanView pairs statistical modeling with expert analysts to turn millions of real-world customer signals into business decisions

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LEAP Group today announced the relaunch of HumanView, its growth intelligence service. The new version has been rebuilt from the ground up and now has a dedicated home at leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

HumanView analyzes what customers say and do across social platforms, e-commerce sites, review platforms, search behavior and user-generated content, including signals from Reddit, TikTok, YouTube, Meta, Amazon and Walmart+ that general AI tools cannot always access. Because the data reflects unprompted, real-world behavior, it avoids the response bias built into surveys and focus groups.

The service works in three layers. HumanView captures signals at scale, decodes millions of records through validated statistical models such as regression, correlation and clustering, and then relies on experienced analysts to interpret the patterns. Clients receive clear, human-validated insights instead of another dashboard.

“Machines find the patterns. Humans find the point,” said Alan Gilleo, CEO at LEAP Group. “The first version of HumanView showed us how much customers reveal when nobody is asking them questions. This version is built to explain why they act the way they do, and to put those answers in front of everyone making decisions, from product to service to marketing.”

HumanView focuses on three areas:

Growth Intelligence: customer motivations and how people perceive a brand and its competitors

Market and Category Intelligence: product pain points, service friction, unmet needs and competitive gaps

Audience Intelligence: new segments, positioning opportunities and gaps in the market

Every model is designed and validated by data scientists and benchmarked before it informs a recommendation.

To learn more about HumanView, visit leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

About LEAP Group
LEAP Group is a boutique marketing agency holding company with offices in Louisville, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Chicago. Guided by the belief that brands should “Market Less. Matter More.,” LEAP gives clients access to specialized experts across its entire network. Learn more at leapgroupnetwork.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leap-group-relaunches-humanview-a-growth-intelligence-system-built-to-explain-why-customers-behave-the-way-they-do-302918557.html

SOURCE LEAP Group

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STEPHEN A. SMITH ADDRESSES WHITE HOUSE DINNER ATTENDANCE, REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO HBCUs AND PROTECTING CORPORATE INVESTMENT IN BLACK EDUCATION

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NEW YORK, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Stephen A. Smith, media mogul, New York Times bestselling author, and proud 1991 graduate of Winston-Salem State University, is addressing the public discussion surrounding his decision to attend a White House dinner with President Donald Trump, emphasizing his commitment to the long-term financial stability of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

For Smith, the decision was rooted in a commitment to institutions that have educated generations of Black leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and public servants.

“I will always advocate for HBCUs and the students whose futures depend on them,” Smith said. “My reason for attending the White House dinner was to discuss the challenges these institutions face in securing long-term funding and to make the case that corporate America must continue to invest in them.”

Smith acknowledged federal support through the FUTURE Act while expressing concern that political tensions surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) could discourage private companies from supporting HBCUs. He maintains that these institutions deserve sustained corporate partnerships, philanthropic contributions, and public investment.

“If we truly believe in free-market capitalism, businesses should be able to support educational institutions and charitable causes without fear of criticism or repercussions,” Smith said. “HBCUs have made extraordinary contributions to this country. They deserve sustained public and private investment.”

Ashley Christopher, Esq., Founder and CEO of the HBCU Week Foundation, recognized Smith’s advocacy and decision to engage with the administration.

“Stephen A. Smith has been a powerful advocate for HBCUs, using his platform and influence to shine a national spotlight on our institutions,” expressed Christopher, “His continued support of HBCU Week helps advance our mission of connecting students with life-changing educational opportunities, and we are proud to have him as our ambassador.”

Since Smith became an HBCU Week Ambassador in 2019, the initiative has facilitated more than 15,000 on-the-spot college acceptances and raised and awarded more than $150 million in scholarships, according to the HBCU Week Foundation.

As public discussion continues, Smith is emphasizing the importance of ensuring HBCUs have the resources and partnerships needed to educate future generations and expand opportunities for students.

CLICK HERE to watch Smith’s full response to his White House visit.

MEDIA CONTACT:

media@mrsasinc.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stephen-a-smith-addresses-white-house-dinner-attendance-reaffirms-commitment-to-hbcus-and-protecting-corporate-investment-in-black-education-302918547.html

SOURCE Straight Shooter Media

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Advantex Announces Completion of Financing and Extension of Maturity Date of Previously Issued Debentures

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TORONTO, Oct. 23, 2026 /CNW/ — Advantex Marketing International Inc. (CSE: ADX) (“Advantex”), a leader in the merchant cash advance and loyalty marketing products for merchants, today announced the completion of a $250,000 secured debt financing. Advantex issued a $250,000 non-convertible debenture which bears an interest rate at 12% per annum and matures December 15, 2027. The proceeds raised from this issuance of the Debenture will be used for working capital purposes.

Advantex has also extended the maturity of its existing $700,000 in 12% secured debentures from October 10, 2026 to December 15, 2027.

About Advantex Marketing International Inc.

Advantex provides working capital to merchants. Advantex also provides specialized marketing programs that enable members of Aeroplan to earn Aeroplan points at participating merchants.

Advantex shares trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol ADX. For more information go to Advantex’s profile on www.sedar.com

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the future business and operations of Advantex. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. The business and operations of Advantex described herein is dependent on a number of factors and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ material include, but are not limited to, changes in Advantex’s economic and competitive conditions including but not limited to the industry sectors in which Advantex operates.

The statements in this news release are made of the date of this release. Forward-looking statements are made based on management’s beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made and Advantex undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE Advantex Marketing International Inc.

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