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Levitt Foundation Launches Multi-Year, $120K Matching Grants to Strengthen Communities through Free Outdoor Concerts

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Applications now open for grants, which will support organizations nationwide to present free outdoor concert series—
activating underused public spaces and building community through the power of free, live music

LOS ANGELES, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Levitt Foundation, a national social impact funder that supports the largest free outdoor concert series in America at the intersection of music, public space, and community building, today announced the open application period for its Levitt Music Series Grants.

Levitt Music Series Grants are an exciting, multi-year matching grant program bringing the joy of free, live music to towns and cities across the country. Each Levitt Music Series location presents 7-10 free outdoor concerts per year that inject new life into underused public spaces, creating joyous, inclusive community destinations. From rural communities with populations of less than 2,000 to our nation’s largest cities and metro areas, Levitt Music Series reach a wide range of communities across America, presenting seasoned, award-winning artists to acclaimed, emerging talent in a broad range of music genres, spanning pop, rock, folk, World music, country, jazz, Latin, children’s shows, blues, and more.

For the 2026–2028 grant cycle, the Levitt Foundation will be awarding matching grants of up to $40K per year (up to $120K over three years) to 501(c)(3) nonprofits nationwide to present free outdoor concerts in their communities. These locations will join over 50 other communities coast to coast in which the Levitt Foundation currently supports free, live music.

Reflecting the Foundation’s commitment that all Levitt projects be community-driven, the top finalists will be selected through public voting in September (via online and text to vote). Grant recipients will be announced November 18, 2025. Interested nonprofits may view the eligibility criteria at levitt.org/music-series-grants and apply for this grant opportunity beginning May 1 through June 30, 2025.

“Since launching this grant program in 2015, we’ve seen the incredible positive impact of Levitt concerts in building thriving communities, creating pride of place and a sense of belonging, and spurring additional investments supporting the local economy,” said Sharon Yazowski, President & CEO of the Levitt Foundation. “We are excited to open applications to towns and cities across America seeking to harness the power of free, live music to connect people of all ages and backgrounds and create joyful gathering destinations in their communities.”

About the Grants

Levitt Music Series Grants encompass three grant opportunities: Levitt AMP, Levitt VIBE, and Levitt BLOC. Levitt AMP is geared to small to mid-sized towns and cities up to 250,000 people. Levitt VIBE takes place in large cities over 250,000 people. Levitt BLOC is open to communities of all sizes and takes place in multiple public spaces within a town or city. Levitt Music Series Grants are open to 501(c)(3) nonprofits across sectors—past grantees have included nonprofits from the arts, creative placemaking, parks, Main Street organizations, community development, affordable housing, colleges and universities, among others.

As all Levitt Music Series Grants are matching grants, each applicant must secure a dollar for dollar match of up to $40K each year (based on the number of concerts presented) from other sources such as local businesses, individual donors, municipal and county departments, and foundations, among other entities. Up to half of the matching requirement may be in-kind, such as donated sound equipment, professional services or contributed marketing. In addition to the monetary award, Levitt Music Series Grant recipients receive the Levitt Music Series Toolkit containing valuable resources to help them produce their concert series, in-person trainings with the Levitt Foundation, and access to peers within the national Levitt network of venues and concert sites. Also, applicants advancing to the public voting phase will receive a $1,500 mini grant from the Levitt Foundation to support their efforts.

Since 2015, the Levitt Foundation has provided funding to over 50 communities across America through Levitt Music Series Grants, activating underused outdoor public spaces, ensuring access to the arts, creating economic opportunities, and strengthening the social fabric of communities, by bringing people together of all ages and backgrounds through a free concert series featuring a diverse lineup of artists, music genres and cultural programming.

Special Grant Opportunities for Mississippi and Tennessee

The Levitt Foundation has partnered with the State of Mississippi and State of Tennessee for additional grant opportunities.

Tennessee

The Levitt Foundation has partnered with the Tennessee Entertainment Commission, with support from the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development and the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, to award up to six communities based in Tennessee with multi-year Levitt AMP matching grants, which will bring up to 180 free concerts across the state over three years.

This partnership applies to the Levitt AMP grant opportunity only. There is no separate application process to be considered and interested Tennessee-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits should proceed with completing their application on the Levitt Foundation website. Levitt AMP grant applicants from Tennessee that advance to the public voting phase will be in the running with other Tennessee-based Levitt AMP grant applicants only—to learn more about this grant opportunity, visit levitt.org/partners-tn. Nonprofits based in Tennessee that are interested in applying for the Levitt VIBE or Levitt BLOC grant opportunity may still submit an online application, though if advanced to the public voting phase will be in the running with applicants from across the country.

Mississippi

The Levitt Foundation has partnered with the Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) to award a public art grant combined with a multi-year Levitt AMP matching grant to two Mississippi-based communities. Each will receive a MAC grant award to create a public art installation, with additional funds from MAC and the Levitt Foundation to activate their public art site through hosting an annual series of 10 free outdoor concerts in 2026, 2027 and 2028.

A Letter of Intent period will open July 2025, with the full application open in August. Mississippi-based, community-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofits are eligible to apply. Priority will be given to rural communities with populations under 25,000. The combined public art/music series grant opportunity is administered by MAC and applications must be submitted via the MAC website, where additional information about this grant opportunity may be found. Mississippi-based nonprofits interested only in a Levitt Music Series Grant without the public art component should proceed with completing their application on the Levitt Foundation website.

How to Apply

To learn more about the Levitt Music Series Grants, see eligibility criteria and access the application, please visit levitt.org/music-series-grants.

About the Levitt Foundation

The Levitt Foundation is a private family foundation that exists to strengthen the social fabric of America. We support changemakers and nonprofits across the country to activate underused public spaces through free outdoor concerts, creating welcoming and inclusive destinations where the power of free, live music brings people together, fosters belonging and social connections, creates economic opportunity, and invigorates community life. Levitt venues and concert sites attract people of all ages and backgrounds and reflect the character of their town or city, while benefitting from the framework and best practices of the Levitt program.

In 2025, the Levitt network is presenting 650+ free concerts in more than 50 towns and cities across the country, with a total audience of nearly a million people. In addition to funding free concerts, the Levitt Foundation supports advancing vibrant music ecosystems through research and partnerships. www.levitt.org

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SOURCE Levitt Foundation

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Alogent Receives Federal Reserve Authorization to Directly Exchange X9 Check Image Files for Banks and Credit Unions, Expanding its Role as a Payments Infrastructure Provider

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PEACHTREE CORNERS, Ga., April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Alogent (@AlogentCorp), a global software leader in the banking and financial services market, announced it has been authorized by the Federal Reserve to send and receive X9 check image exchange files on behalf of its financial institution clients, enabling end-to-end check presentment and returns without the need for intermediary processors.

This direct connectivity allows banks and credit unions to consolidate capture, processing, clearing, settlement, and returns within a single, integrated Alogent platform, delivering faster processing, simpler integrations, fewer vendors, and greater operational control.

“Becoming authorized by the Federal Reserve to directly exchange X9 files for both outbound presentment and inbound returns marks a fundamental shift in Alogent’s role in the payments ecosystem,” said Dede Wakefield, CEO of Alogent. “By removing third‑party intermediaries, we’re repositioning Alogent as a core infrastructure provider, giving banks and credit unions a more direct path to the Fed, and a strong foundation as payments continue to modernize toward consolidation and real‑time settlement.”

Key Benefits for Banks and Credit Unions Include:

Direct exchange of X9 check presentment and return files with the Federal Reserve, without intermediary processorsFaster clearing and settlement times for check image exchangeEnd-to-end visibility across forward presentment and returns workflowsSimplified technology integrations and reduced vendor sprawlGreater operational control and transparency across payment workflowsA future‑ready foundation for real‑time and next‑generation Fed services

“This authorization translates our product strategy into tangible operational benefits for banks and credit unions,” said Ashish Bhatia, VP of Product Management at Alogent. “By consolidating critical payment workflows within a single platform, institutions gain simpler operations, stronger oversight, and sustained control.”

As adoption of faster payments and modern settlement models accelerates, Alogent’s direct Federal Reserve connectivity positions both the company and its clients at the center of the evolving U.S. payments infrastructure, while establishing a foundation for potential direct connectivity to additional Federal Reserve services, including FedNow® real‑time payments, Fedwire®, FedACH®, and FedLine®. This authorization places Alogent among a limited group of technology providers trusted to directly exchange check image files with the Federal Reserve on behalf of financial institutions.

About Alogent

Alogent provides proven, end-to-end check payment processing, and enterprise content, information, and loan management platforms, to financial institutions of all sizes, including credit unions, community banks, and some of the largest national and international institutions. Our unique approach spans the entire transaction ecosystem — capturing and digitizing transaction data, exception tracking, and automating entire transaction and loan management workflows so that information is available across the enterprise. Alogent’s solution suites leverage the latest in machine learning and predictive analytics, including enterprise-wide data intelligence and reporting solutions that enable financial institutions to deliver products and services that boost engagement through personalization and data-backed decisions. Learn more about Alogent at www.alogent.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alogent-receives-federal-reserve-authorization-to-directly-exchange-x9-check-image-files-for-banks-and-credit-unions-expanding-its-role-as-a-payments-infrastructure-provider-302746616.html

SOURCE Alogent

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yieldWerx and Enlight Technology Extend Design-to-Test Data Continuity Across Taiwan’s Semiconductor Ecosystem

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HSINCHU, Taiwan, April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — yieldWerx is expanding its presence in Taiwan through a collaboration with Enlight Technology Co., Ltd., bringing advanced test data aggregation and analysis capabilities to one of the world’s most concentrated semiconductor markets.

The collaboration combines Enlight Technology’s established role across Taiwan’s semiconductor design, manufacturing, and research landscape with yieldWerx’s expertise in data aggregation and statistical analysis. Together, the companies aim to address the increasing demand for data-driven yield optimization as device complexity grows across advanced packaging, silicon photonics, and heterogeneous integration.

Enlight Technology is the authorized representative of Siemens EDA in Taiwan and provides a portfolio of electronic design automation (EDA), manufacturing execution systems (MES), and engineering solutions spanning IC, silicon photonics, MEMS, PCB, and system-level applications. The company supports semiconductor and electronics customers, including fabless design houses, foundries, OSATs, and system companies, with engagement across more than 100 semiconductor organizations and 300 system companies in the region.

As part of the partnership, the companies will work together to:

Provide localized technical engagement and support aligned with Taiwan’s semiconductor workflows and language requirements.Support improved yield learning cycles and more efficient production ramp across the region.Extend yield analytics capabilities into an ecosystem spanning design, verification, and manufacturing execution.

“We are excited to partner with Enlight Technology as we expand into Taiwan and the broader Asian market. Their deep domain expertise and strong ecosystem presence significantly enhance our ability to deliver scalable, data-driven yield solutions to customers operating at the forefront of semiconductor innovation.” — Aftkhar Aslam, CEO, yieldWerx

“As advanced packaging and silicon photonics drive exponential test data growth, our partnership with yieldWerx equips Taiwan’s ecosystem with powerful statistical analysis. We empower customers to turn complex data into actionable insights, accelerating yield learning and time-to-market” — Su Cheng Yu, General Manager, Enlight Technology

About yieldWerx
yieldWerx is a leading data and yield analytics platform for semiconductor manufacturing, advanced packaging, and photonics I/O. The platform provides end-to-end visibility across wafer probe, optical and electrical wafer acceptance, module assembly, and system-level test. By analyzing this data, yieldWerx helps organizations understand yield performance, variability, and production trends, enabling optimized quality and faster time-to-market.

About Enlight Technology Co., Ltd.
Enlight Technology Co., Ltd. is a Taiwan-based provider of electronic design automation and engineering solutions and serves as the authorized representative of Siemens EDA in Taiwan. The company delivers solutions spanning IC, silicon photonics, MEMS, PCB, DFM, and manufacturing execution systems, supporting customers from IC-level design to system-level integration. With over three decades of experience, Enlight Technology provides customized solutions and technical services to the electronics industry.

For further information, please visit https://www.yieldWerx.com or https://www.enlight-tec.com/.

Company contacts:

yieldWerx
Tina Shimizu
Chief Marketing Director
412529@email4pr.com
+1 888-929-4022

Enlight Technology Co., Ltd.
Jamie Su
Marketing Director
412529@email4pr.com 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/yieldwerx-and-enlight-technology-extend-design-to-test-data-continuity-across-taiwans-semiconductor-ecosystem-302748158.html

SOURCE yieldWerx

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Former UK SAS Sargeant Joins Delta Three Oscar to Drive Awareness of Next-Generation Military Protection

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BLACKSBURG, Va., April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Delta Three Oscar, the military and ballistic protection division of D3O, today announces former UK Special Forces veteran and expedition leader Jay Morton as its first-ever brand ambassador.

 

Morton will bring his military expertise to Delta Three Oscar and will be endorsing the company’s latest impact protection and shock absorbing footwear whilst providing experience backed insights to the team as part of the company’s ongoing innovation into protective equipment.

The partnership is a strategic move for the protection brand to increase awareness and the benefits of its impact and shock absorbing personal protection systems amongst end users. Delta Three Oscar engineers the most advanced ballistic helmet liners, impact protection body armour, and shock absorbing midsoles used in helmets, uniforms, chest plates and footwear worn by U.S. military, NATO forces and law enforcement departments worldwide. The body armour is lightweight, flexible and designed to reduce fatigue by ensuring a comfortable fit with unrivalled impact protection, tough enough to be used in the harshest environments.

Morton served 14 years in the British Armed Forces, including four years in the Parachute Regiment and ten years with the Special Air Service, touring the Afghanistan and Iraq on multiple occasions. His frontline experience and expertise in high-risk environments give him huge credibility to endorse Delta Three Oscar’s next-generation protection designed for elite performance, enhanced comfort, and impact reduction.

Now as an elite expedition leader, Morton has highlighted the importance of trust, comfort, and reliability in protective gear.

“Trust in your protective equipment is absolutely essential,” he said. “When you’re operating in high-risk environments, comfort and reliability are paramount and you can’t afford distractions. Delta Three Oscar’s body and limb protectors deliver exceptional impact and ballistic performance while remaining incredibly comfortable. It’s ‘fit and forget’ protection that allows operators to focus entirely on the mission.”

Delta Three Oscar engineers advanced protection technologies including:

Ballistic body armour protection materials to mitigate back face deformationHALO® helmet suspension systems available in 3, 7 and 9 pad configurationsImpact protection flexible moulded armour for knees and elbows including tough outer shellsUnderfoot shock-absorbing protection used in midsoles

These products and materials are engineered to reduce fatigue, improve comfort, and enhance operational effectiveness in demanding environments.

“Jay brings a huge amount of credibility and real operational insight into what frontline personnel require from their protective equipment,” said Mostyn Thomas, Chief Marketing Officer at Delta Three Oscar. “His experience at the highest level of military performance makes him an ideal partner as we continue advancing protection technology and supporting those who serve, giving them a subconscious advantage by knowing they have the best protection available”

As Delta Three Oscar’s first ambassador, Morton will feature in the company’s latest brand campaign highlighting the benefits of Delta Three Oscar’s unique military protection innovation and performance.

Media Contact:
Serena Thynne
09178533121
412519@email4pr.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/former-uk-sas-sargeant-joins-delta-three-oscar-to-drive-awareness-of-next-generation-military-protection-302748124.html

SOURCE D3O

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