New AI-powered storybook experience that teaches kids to read analog clocks brings time literacy back to families

SHELTON, Conn., Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Timex®, a pioneer in the watchmaking industry, today announced the launch of Timex Tales, an interactive storytelling experience using Google Gemini, designed to help parents and teachers guide children in learning how to read a traditional analog clock. In a world where many children rely on digital devices to tell time, Timex is bringing back the magic of analog, one story at a time.

Timex Tales blends imaginative storytelling with hands-on learning tools to make time-telling engaging, accessible, and fun for children ages 5–10. According to a recent survey commissioned by Timex, 2 in 5 children ages 6-9 years old struggle to confidently read an analog clock, underscoring a growing gap in foundational time literacy skills.

Timex Tales addresses that gap by teaching children how to:

Understand the hour and minute hands and confidently read the timeDifferentiate between AM and PMConnect time concepts to daily rhythms of morning, afternoon, and evening

Through personalized adventures, generated by Nano Banana, children step into stories alongside a cast of playful characters including a tiger, dolphin, penguin, dog, and axolotl, each guiding them through the moments of a day as time unfolds across imaginative worlds like castles, cities, and outer space. Each experience concludes with a downloadable Analog Adventure Toolkit, including printable wristwatches and clocks with interactive hands that allow families to continue practicing telling time together.

“As digital screens increasingly shape how children experience time, Timex Tales is our way of bringing the analog life back into everyday moments,” said Shari Fabiani, Chief Marketing Officer, Timex Group. “By blending whimsical storytelling, hands-on learning, and purposeful technology, we’re helping families and classrooms make learning to tell time both accessible and joyful.”

Powered by Gemini and built on Google Cloud Run, Timex Tales leverages a scalable, high-performance infrastructure to deliver seamless, real-time personalization based on family input. The technology allows each child to become the hero of their own time-learning adventure, while maintaining a safe, family-focused experience.

“We’re thrilled to collaborate with Timex on an experience that shows how generative AI can support family learning in a safe, intuitive, and meaningful way,” said Paul Tepfenhart, Director, Global Retail Strategy & Solutions, Google Cloud. “With Google Gemini, Timex Tales helps children build an essential life skill and is a powerful example of how technology can strengthen, not replace, even the most analog traditions.”

Timex Tales reimagines how families connect with time, offering a memorable and modern way for the next generation to build lasting confidence with analog time-telling.

Timex Tales is available now at timextales.timex.com.

About Timex Group 
Timex Group designs, manufactures and markets innovative timepieces around the world. Timex Group is a privately held company headquartered in Shelton, Connecticut, with multiple operating units and more than 2,500 employees worldwide. As one of the largest watchmakers in the world, Timex Group companies produce watches under a number of world-class brands, including Timex, Timex Atelier, adidas, Aston Martin, Daniel Wellington, Ferragamo, Furla, Gc, Guess, Nautica, Philipp Plein, Plein Sport, rag & bone, and Versace. 

For all PR and media enquiries, please contact: 
Patricia Rappaport | patricia.rappaport@civic-us.com 
Rachel Walder | rachel.walder@civic-us.com 

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SOURCE Timex

Partnership expanded Disability-inclusive workforce development and created new pathways to economic mobility across the Southeast.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — 2Gether-International (2GI), a global organization and network unlocking the potential of Founders with Disabilities, and Making Space, a talent acquisition and learning platform that supports Disabled professionals, today announced the successful completion of A Comprehensive Workforce Development Strategy for Disabled Professionals, supported by a grant from Truist Foundation.

Building on Making Space’s original flagship Ascend program, this initiative expanded workforce development opportunities for Disabled professionals across the Southeastern United States, combining peer cohort learning, 1:1 mentorship, employer engagement and AI-powered career navigation tools with wraparound supports including financial literacy, ABLE account education, benefits counseling and employer training.

The program delivered measurable results, including 70 Disabled professionals placed in executive-track apprenticeship opportunities. The program also helped participants create ABLE accounts and enabled participants to access other benefits programs.

“Truist Foundation’s grant represented more than a program expansion. It showed that multiple institutions are investing in a Disability-led model of workforce development, validating Disability as a competitive advantage in business,” said Diego Mariscal, CEO and Founder of 2Gether-International. “The results of this program demonstrate what happens when Disabled professionals have access to community, mentorship, technology and the financial support they need to pursue meaningful careers and economic mobility.”

Building a More Comprehensive Workforce Pipeline:

2GI and Making Space’s workforce development program was designed specifically by and for Disabled professionals, addressing structural barriers to employment while equipping participants with the skills, confidence and resources needed to advance their careers.

Key outcomes include:

70 professionals placed in executive-track apprenticeship opportunities.17 participants secured full-time, competitive employment.6 participants pursued freelance or contract work, increasing their income.10 participants created ABLE accounts to strengthen their financial security.12 participants accessed other benefits programs.20% increase in cohort-wide confidence in requesting workplace accommodations and self-advocating during the hiring process and once employed.

With 85% of beneficiaries from low-to-moderate-income backgrounds, the strategy directly aligned with Truist Foundation’s commitment to Building Career Pathways to Economic Mobility while demonstrating the scalability of Disability-inclusive workforce development.

“Economic mobility is built when people have the tools, guidance and community they need to pursue their goals,” said Namrata Yadav, chief culture and philanthropy officer at Truist. “This work demonstrates the power of creating spaces where professionals with Disabilities can build skills, connect with mentors and see new possibilities for their future. The outcomes reflect not only professional success, but our purpose in action: people being seen, supported and empowered to thrive.”

“The success and the impact we’ve seen across the program is incredible,” said Keely Cat-Wells, Founder and CEO of Making Space and a 2GI alumnus. “The support from Truist Foundation reflects what is possible when Disabled Professionals are recognized, valued and equipped with the resources and support they need to lead at every level of industry.”

Expanding opportunities for Professionals with Disabilities remains crucial. 1 in 4 Americans (25%) live with a Disability, but the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, shows that only 22.5% of Americans with Disabilities were employed, compared to 65.8% of those without Disabilities, contributing to $163 billion in lost annual U.S. tax revenue due to underemployment. In 2022, Diversity VC surveyed 200+ U.S. funds representing $31.8 billion in AUM; while disability was included as a category, zero funds reported allocating capital to disabled founders.

The successful 2026 completion builds on the original Ascend program, which delivered a 123x return on investment and a $1.1 million average lifetime earnings increase per participant. Together, the programs are real world evidence for how peer support, skills development, employer engagement and wraparound resources can create more equitable pathways to economic opportunity for Disabled professionals.

About 2Gether-International (2GI):

2Gether-International (2GI) is a global organization and network unlocking the potential of founders with Disabilities. 2GI turns Disability-led innovation into an engine for growth across entrepreneurship, capital, and workforce systems. As the world’s largest startup accelerator run by and for entrepreneurs with Disabilities, 2GI is redefining Disability as a competitive advantage in business. 2GI has supported over 1,400 startups, helping them raise over 84 million dollars in investment, revenue, and acquisitions. The organization itself has given more than half a million dollars in non-diluted capital to founders with Disabilities. 2GI was named to the first-ever Forbes Accessibility 100 list in 2025 and recognized again in 2026.

About Making Space:

Making Space is a talent acquisition and learning platform that helps companies hire, support and retain Disabled professionals, while providing free, accessible upskilling, career opportunities and community for Disabled talent. Making Space supports a network of over 50,000 Disabled people and has trained more than 200,000 employees at companies including Red Bull, Salesforce and Netflix. Making Space’s Ascend Fellowship delivers cohort-based upskilling, career coaching and mentorship, and introductions to hiring employers, alongside training for the managers who will support Fellows once they are in role. Learn more at https://www.making-space.com/.

About Truist Foundation:

Truist Foundation is committed to Truist Financial Corporation’s (NYSE: TFC) purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities. The Foundation, an endowed private foundation established in 2020 whose operating budget is independent of Truist Financial Corporation, makes strategic investments in a wide variety of nonprofit organizations centered around two focus areas: building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening small businesses to ensure all communities have an equal opportunity to thrive. Embodying these focus areas are the Foundation’s leading initiatives – the Inspire Awards and Where It Starts. Learn more at https://www.truistfoundation.org/

Media Contact

Alex Rush, 2Gether-International, 1 7186643517, arush@rosengrouppr.com, https://www.2gether-international.org/

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SOURCE 2Gether-International

The article explains how reviewing repairs, records, disclosures, and inspection concerns can help sellers prepare before putting a home on the market.

MARIANNA, Fla., Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — What should Florida homeowners address before listing a property?

HelloNation answers that question in an article featuring insights from Real Estate Expert Ann Jones of Florida Showcase Realty, LLC in Marianna, FL.

The article explains that Florida home sellers can benefit from reviewing their property before photos, showings, and buyer visits begin. Preparing a home for sale early gives owners time to identify concerns, organize records, and determine which repairs may deserve attention.

According to the article, sellers can begin with everyday maintenance issues such as leaking faucets, damaged flooring, broken appliances, and sticking doors. Although these problems may seem minor, buyers could view them as signs that other maintenance has been postponed.

The HelloNation article also recommends reviewing major systems, including the roof, plumbing, electrical system, and air conditioning. Florida weather can expose these systems to heat, humidity, heavy rain, and storms. Real Estate Expert Ann Jones provides insights for the article as it describes how understanding a home’s condition can support preparing a home for sale.

Not every concern requires a repair before a home sale. The article notes that some repairs may improve presentation or prevent a simple maintenance issue from becoming a negotiation point. Other repairs may cost more than they are likely to add to the property’s market value.

The article explains that Florida home sellers should also gather available records involving previous repairs, renovations, insurance claims, permits, warranties, and major system replacements. Organized records can help sellers answer buyer questions more accurately during a home sale.

Seller disclosure requirements are another important consideration. The article notes that known defects materially affecting property value and not readily observable may create disclosure obligations. Sellers with questions about seller disclosure requirements should discuss their circumstances with qualified real estate or legal professionals.

Moisture concerns also deserve attention when preparing a home for sale in Florida. The article recommends reviewing known histories involving roof leaks, plumbing leaks, drainage problems, flooding, or water damage. Stains, damaged drywall, unusual odors, and deteriorated materials may indicate issues requiring further evaluation.

A home inspection may identify additional maintenance concerns after a buyer submits an offer. Inspectors typically review visible and accessible portions of roofing, electrical systems, plumbing, HVAC equipment, structural components, and other areas. Considering what a home inspection may uncover before listing a property can give sellers more time to investigate potential concerns.

The article also encourages Florida home sellers to review presentation and curb appeal. Cleaning, reducing clutter, correcting smaller maintenance issues, and addressing basic exterior concerns can help buyers evaluate the property’s condition more clearly.

Insurance questions can arise during a home sale as well. Buyers may request information about roof age, storm improvements, previous claims, or other characteristics affecting insurance. The article explains that gathering accurate records beforehand can help sellers respond without relying on estimates or memory.

Real Estate Expert Ann Jones provides insights as the article emphasizes the value of early preparation. Sellers who understand property concerns, seller disclosure requirements, and issues that could emerge during a home inspection may have more time to consider their options before negotiations and closing deadlines begin.

What Should Florida Home Sellers Address Before Listing Their Property? features insights from Ann Jones, Real Estate Expert of Marianna, FL, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation
HelloNation is America’s Good News Network, a premier media platform built on the idea that good news travels faster when real people tell real stories. Through its community-focused publications and innovative “edvertising” approach, HelloNation delivers content that informs, inspires, and spotlights the leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

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SOURCE HelloNation