‘$1 is a Fortune in Africa’ Platform Mobilizes Global Nutraceutical Industry to Secure Home for Nairobi Shelter

Award Presented to The 6AM Agency for Global Fundraising Campaign Supporting Wings of Hope

Fundraising Redefined to Rapid Impact Fundraising (RIF) Model with Low Entry, High Impact

FRESNO, Calif., March 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A Thousand Plus, and Cypress Minerals, today announced that the humanitarian fundraising campaign #HopeNeedsAHome has been recognised at the prestigious 2026 PRNEWS Purpose & Impact Awards, in New York.

The award in the Fundraising category was presented to The 6AM Agency for its pro bono strategic leadership and execution of the global campaign, delivered in partnership with A Thousand Plus, Cypress Minerals and Cepham Inc.

The initiative mobilised the global nutraceutical industry to secure a permanent home for the Wings of Hope Rescue Home in Nairobi, Kenya – one of several humanitarian initiatives supported by A Thousand Plus.

In just eight weeks, the campaign raised USD $111,908 toward the USD $140,000 required to purchase the property housing the shelter, which provides sanctuary for 57 young mothers aged 11–17 and their babies, all survivors of child assault, rape or incest, who faced eviction when the property was placed on the market.

At the heart of the campaign was the powerful message: “$1 is a Fortune in Africa.” By emphasising the real purchasing power of even the smallest contribution, the initiative removed barriers to giving and enabled micro-donations from across the global nutraceutical community.

“Equally critical was the eight-week deadline,” said Gillian Fish, Founder & CEO of The 6AM Agency, and Board Director, A Thousand Plus, which created a powerful sense of urgency.

“The compressed timeframe placed pressure on potential donors to act immediately rather than delay giving. Combined with the low barrier to entry, this urgency ultimately helped define a new fundraising model,” Fish said.

“This campaign, simply put, was about a moral imperative. Thanks to the corporate and individual donors who rallied, to help us achieve our goals,” she said.

Michelle Martin, President & COO of Cypress Minerals and CEO of A Thousand Plus, said the award reflects the power of collective action.

“This recognition highlights what’s possible when strategic thinking meets a shared purpose to create meaningful impact,“ Martin said. “The vision, collaboration and determination brought forward by the 6AM team were extraordinary.“

“Equally, this award belongs to the global nutraceutical community – companies, practitioners, associations and individuals – who came together to protect the future of these young mothers and their children.“

“The real success will always be the lives changed and hope restored for the Wings of Hope residents and leaders. Moments like this simply remind us of what is possible when people act together with compassion and purpose.“

The campaign introduced a new model called Rapid Impact Fundraising (RIF) – combining micro-giving, urgency and industry mobilisation to deliver humanitarian outcomes quickly.

Through a fully volunteer-led marketing and communications effort with zero paid media spend, the campaign united manufacturers, suppliers, healthcare practitioners and consumers across continents.

With the property now secured, Wings of Hope Rescue Home can continue providing safety, education, nutrition and vocational support to its residents while expanding its reach to support more vulnerable young mothers and their babies.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7381230039738011648

ABOUT #HOPE NEEDS A HOME

In just eight weeks the campaign:

• Raised USD $111,908 toward the USD $140,000 goal, engaging 94 donors across eight countries, corporates and individuals.
• Generated coverage across 348 global media outlets.
• Achieved a potential audience reach of 47.86 million.

The funds enabled the purchase of the property and immediate repairs, securing a permanent sanctuary for the residents and allowing the shelter to expand its capacity to support more vulnerable young mothers and their babies.

ABOUT A THOUSAND PLUS  

A Thousand Plus accelerates a thousand new beginnings for overlooked mothers and children globally by opening doors to entrepreneurship, education, health, and wellness through high-impact partners.

They exist to shape what’s next – redefining what giving looks like in a modern world. Moving beyond traditional donations and inviting people to become stakeholders in change.

Along with the Rapid Impact Fundraising campaign model, they also offer Founding Partners and Consumer-Facing Brands opportunities to create significant global impact for women and children.

Wings of Hope Rescue Home is one of several humanitarian initiatives supported by the non-profit organisation A Thousand Plus, which works across multiple projects to protect vulnerable children and provide long-term pathways to dignity, safety and education.

ABOUT CYPRESS MINERALS
Cypress Minerals is a pioneer in Resilient Minerals™ – highly bioavailable, organically bound nutrients that the body easily absorbs and fully utilises. Our proprietary approach ensures optimal absorption, superior performance, and powerful nutrition. Founded 30 years ago with the launch of our flagship ingredient, SelenoExcell®, we’ve built our portfolio and reputation on that same uncompromising standard of excellence.

Cypress has always been a business for good. For the past seven years, we’ve proudly supported Wings of Hope, helping create a healthier, more resilient future for women and children.

ABOUT CEPHAM
Cepham was founded in 1978 during India’s science and technology boom and quickly became a leader in medical and nutritional research. Building on its expertise in dairy proteins, Cepham expanded into Ayurvedic ingredients in the mid-1990s – becoming one of the first companies to combine traditional Indian medicine with modern science. By 2005, under the leadership of biochemist Dr Anand Swaroop, Cepham shifted focus to isolating actives from Ayurvedic plants and developing concentrated, clinically supported extracts.

ABOUT THE 6AM AGENCY

The 6AM Agency is an integrated business growth, marketing, and communications consultancy specialising in the evidence-based health and wellbeing sectors, including nutraceuticals and natural products.

Founded in 2002 by former magazine editor, futurist, and industry advocate Gillian Fish, the agency was built on the belief that purpose-driven, evidence-led brands and organisations deserve strategic clarity, powerful storytelling, and communications that translate science into meaningful impact.

With a footprint across Australia, Asia, and Europe, and projects extending into the United States, 6AM works across the entire evidence-based wellbeing and nutraceutical value chain – from diagnostics and wellbeing services to key opinion leaders, raw material innovators, and finished FMCG brands.

6AM is recognised for delivering successful B2B and B2C market rollouts across complex global markets, combining sharp strategic thinking, deep industry knowledge and evidence-based rigour with human-centred storytelling which translates to brand authority, sustainable growth, and meaningful societal impact.

Giving back is embedded in the agency’s DNA. 6AM actively supports non-profits, social impact initiatives, and industry causes through pro bono strategic communications and campaigns that amplify mission-driven organisations and create lasting positive change. Gillian is a member of the A Thousand Plus Board of Directors.

ABOUT RAPID IMPACT FUNDRAISING (RIF)

Rapid Impact Fundraising combines micro-giving, time-bound campaigns and collective community mobilisation, proving that small contributions, when activated at scale and under urgency, can deliver transformative humanitarian outcomes.

More information about the PRNEWS Purpose & Impact Awards can be found at www.prnewsonline.com.

ASSETS AVAILABLE:

Images, video and interview opportunities available upon request. 

Ends#

For more information email michelle@athousandplus.org; donate@athousandplus.org.

• Rapid expansion of agentic AI across major markets enabled by a new unlimited Agentic Enterprise license agreement with Salesforce
• Agreement underpins the target for over 50% of Adecco revenues to be powered by agentic AI by the end of 2026

ZURICH, March 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Adecco Group (SIX: ADEN), the leading global talent and technology services company, today announced a major step forward in its pioneering approach to human-centric AI and technology deployment. The company signed a new, multi-year agreement with Salesforce through 2027, for unlimited global access to Agentforce 360, the complete portfolio of Salesforce solutions that powers the Agentic Enterprise – connecting apps, data and AI agents on one trusted platform. By strengthening its established partnership with Salesforce, the Group’s three global business units, Adecco, LHH and Akkodis, will accelerate the deployment of agentic AI at scale, across multiple key markets.

Adecco has already demonstrated strong success in the UK, where AI agents from Agentforce 360 have been deployed in key elements of the recruitment process to free up time for quality human-human interaction, improving both client service and candidate experience. By automating routine tasks, Agentforce 360 has helped Adecco generate 15 percent time savings, and has significantly reduced time-to-fill, increased fill rates, and lowered cost-to-serve.

The rapid scaling of agentic AI is supported by the Group’s global operating model, which includes integrated onshore delivery centers and nearshore and offshore hubs in India, Poland, Mexico and Morocco. The strategic focus is on growing strong human connections through its omni-channel network in more than 60 countries.

Denis Machuel, CEO the Adecco Group, said: “We continue to be the pioneer of human-centric AI implementation. Unlimited access to Agentforce lets us rapidly scale proven agentic AI solutions globally and across our brands. This will improve our service speed, quality and reliability, freeing our people to focus on the human interactions that made them choose this career.

“The world of work is being accelerated by AI and the Adecco Group is working as a strategic partner to help guide our 100,000 clients with the strategic workforce reorganization and people and talent strategy required to drive business impact with AI implementation. This agreement allows us to create real value for clients, candidates and our people.”

Madhav Thattai, EVP & GM Agentforce, Salesforce, said: “By moving beyond experimentation to a full-scale agentic enterprise, the Adecco Group is proving that autonomous agents can deliver the determinism and predictability needed to power a global business. Powered by Agentforce 360, Adecco now has the ‘always-on’ foundation to connect millions of job seekers with career opportunities using agents to drive 50% of their revenue by the close of 2026. This partnership represents Salesforce vision as humans and agents work together on a single, trusted platform to deliver business outcomes, at scale.”

With Data 360, the trusted enterprise context foundation for Agentforce 360, Adecco Group was able to unify data across more than 30 Salesforce instances and enterprise systems into a single, real-time candidate profile, giving its circa 27,000 recruiters the visibility needed to match talent faster, prioritize efforts, and fuel agentic workflows globally. The global launch of Agentforce Voice is set to further accelerate this momentum, driving higher recruiter productivity, faster placements, and a superior experience for every candidate.

The next phase of deployment for Adecco will focus on orchestrating additional agents in the UK, expanding implementation in France and other key geographies, and extending agentic capability across nearshore and offshore hubs. This will enable smaller countries to benefit from enhanced competitiveness and fulfilment quality.

The Adecco Group’s strategy is to leverage AI with human-centricity at the heart. The company is firmly committed to responsible, scalable AI innovation as it continues to reinvent its operating model to meet the changing needs of clients and candidates worldwide. Akkodis and LHH will continue to develop their end-to-end recruitment processes building on the processes developed by Adecco, leveraging this agreement.

For further information please contact:
 

About The Adecco Group

The Adecco Group is the world’s leading talent and technology expertise company. Our purpose is making the future work for everyone. Through our three global business units – Adecco, Akkodis and LHH – across 60 countries, we enable sustainable and lifelong employability for individuals, deliver digital and engineering solutions to power the Smart Industry transformation and empower organizations to optimize their workforces. The Adecco Group leads by example and is committed to fostering sustainable employability and supporting resilient economies and communities. The Adecco Group AG is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland (ISIN: CH0012138605) and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ADEN).

Important notice about forward-looking information

Information in this release may involve guidance, expectations, beliefs, plans, intentions, or strategies regarding the future. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. All forward-looking statements included in this release are based on information available to Adecco Group AG as of this release, and we assume no duty to update any such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are not guarantees of future performance and actual results could differ materially from our current expectations. Numerous factors could cause or contribute to such differences. Factors that could affect the Company’s forward-looking statements include, among other things: global GDP trends and the demand for temporary work; changes in regulation of temporary work; intense competition in the markets in which the Company operates; integration of acquired companies; changes in the Company’s ability to attract and retain qualified internal and external personnel or clients, the potential impact of disruptions related to IT; any adverse developments in existing commercial relationships, disputes or legal and tax proceedings.

BARCELONA, Spain, March 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — At the 5G Futures Summit hosted by GSMA during MWC Barcelona 2026, GSMA released the white paper Gigauplink, Deterministic Latency, and Network Evolution for the Mobile AI Era. The white paper outlines the development and evolution trends, application scenarios, and business models for operators’ native voice services in the mobile AI era. It also elaborates on specifications for evaluating AI Calling experiences, helping operators build voice experience-centric networks and significantly improve the user experiences of voice services.

The white paper points out that, driven by the synergy between 5G-A and AI, mobile communications have entered the mobile AI era. Operators are transforming native voice services from conventional voice calls into AI voice calls. By integrating AI algorithms and computing power into the native IMS voice network, conventional voice calls are evolving towards enhanced services and innovative applications. This evolution will bring users stable, HD, visual, intelligent, and efficient next-generation calling experiences. Emerging AI calling services, such as AI immersive calling and AI interactive calling, pose new requirements on network connectivity and AI capabilities.

According to the white paper, AI-based noise reduction is a typical application of AI immersive calling. By leveraging AI algorithms to eliminate ambient noises in various scenarios, operators can deliver clearer native calls and provide users with more immersive experiences. The AI-based noise reduction algorithms can be used in various scenarios, such as offices (noise level > 40 dB), streets (noise level > 60 dB), and construction sites (noise level > 80 dB) to enable users to enjoy high-quality voice services without relying on terminals. AI-powered real-time translation is a typical application of AI interactive calling. Thanks to the enhancement of voice network capabilities, longstanding language barriers are being eliminated. AI Calling can provide accurate and real-time voice transcription or translation during video calls, effectively helping business people who participate in international online conferences, tourists who travel to foreign countries, and people with hearing impairments.

As highlighted in the white paper, operators can integrate AI capabilities into native voice services to upgrade the business model, infusing daily calling with new vibrancy. Users can enjoy AI-driven enhanced functions during conventional calls after paying their subscription, enabling operators to transform single-dimensional traffic monetization into multidimensional experience monetization.

In AI Calling scenarios, how to measure user experiences is a new challenge for operators. The white paper systematically defines the experience evaluation model specifications of AI Calling. In addition to three experience indicators (QoE, QoS, and coverage) of conventional HD voice services, another three indicators—AI immersive experiences, AI interactive experiences, and QoI—are added to the experience evaluation model specifications of AI Calling. Immersive calling can greatly improve the user experiences of basic voice calls. For example, the MOS and SNR are significantly increased. Interactive calling requires the network to be equipped with new interaction channels and capabilities, including Data Channel (DC) and Video Channel (VC), delivering enhanced experiences, such as screen sharing, real-time translation, and interaction with agents. QoI is a key indicator for measuring the intelligence of the voice network. The measurement encompasses high-quality AI models, flexible AI management, AI-based network/user status awareness and decision-making, and inclusive AI service capabilities. These can provide basic network assurance for voice experience upgrades.

The ITU has initiated a work project named P.AI-MOS to evaluate the user experiences of multimodal AI applications, while the proposals for AI Calling voice experience standards are under research. To accelerate the development of the experience evaluation model, GSMA and industry partners are calling for collective efforts to establish rules that map the key quality indicators (KQIs) of AI applications to the key performance indicators (KPIs) of networks. These efforts aim to fast-track the formulation of mobile AI service experience standards, providing stronger support for the advancement of the mobile AI industry.

HONG KONG, March 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Manulife Hong Kong and Macau today announced the appointment of Wilton Kee as Deputy Chief Executive Officer, in addition to his existing role as Chief Financial Officer for Hong Kong and Macau. His appointment further elevates the company’s leadership strength, reinforcing its ability to execute long‐term growth ambitions and strategic priorities across both markets.

In this expanded leadership capacity, Mr. Kee works closely with the Chief Executive Officer to drive enterprise integration, strengthen management oversight, and advance alignment on strategic and operational priorities. He represents the CEO on key committees to ensure cohesive execution across the business and remains a key member of Manulife Hong Kong and Macau’s Senior Management Team.

Alongside his expanded remit, Mr. Kee continues to lead the company’s Finance function, overseeing financial accounting and reporting, financial planning and analysis, treasury, corporate actuarial, capital and asset‑liability management, and other finance‑related activities. He also oversees distribution compensation and business intelligence, championing performance management and accountability for business results.

Mr. Kee joined Manulife in 2013 and has since held a number of senior leadership roles across pricing, product, and health businesses in Hong Kong and Macau. He previously served as Chief Product Officer and later took on additional responsibility as Head of Health, contributing significantly to the company’s strategic development and market leadership in the region.

“Wilton is an exceptional leader whose diversified expertise, strategic vision, and ability to bring teams together have helped shape our success,” said Patrick Graham, CEO of Manulife Hong Kong and Macau. “From actuarial pricing and product development to expanding our health business — and more recently in his role as CFO — he has consistently reinforced our market position and financial stewardship. His expanded role reflects the meaningful impact he continues to make across our business, and I’m confident he will further enhance our execution as we advance our long‑term growth priorities.”

About Manulife Hong Kong and Macau

Manulife Hong Kong has been a trusted name for more than 125 years, while we have served the Macau market for nearly three decades. Since our operations began in Asia in 1897, we have grown into one of the top-tier providers of financial services, offering a diverse range of protection and wealth products and services to over 2.6 million customers in Hong Kong and Macau. We are committed to helping make decisions easier and lives better for our customers.

Manulife Hong Kong and Macau, through Manulife International Holdings Limited, owns Manulife (International) Limited, Manulife Investment Management (Hong Kong) Limited, and Manulife Provident Funds Trust Company Limited. These entities are all subsidiaries of Manulife Financial Corporation.

About Manulife

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Anchored in our ambition to be the number one choice for customers, we operate as Manulife across Canada and Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, providing financial advice, insurance and health solutions for individuals, groups and businesses. Through Manulife Wealth & Asset Management, we offer global investment solutions, financial advice, and retirement plan services to individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2025, we had more than 37,000 employees, over 106,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 37 million customers with operations across 25 markets globally. We trade as ‘MFC’ on the Toronto, New York, and Philippine stock exchanges, and under ‘945’ on the Hong Kong stock exchange. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com.

BANGKOK, March 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Ecolab, a global leader in water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions, today announced the Southeast Asia launch of two breakthrough innovations — Ecolab DishIQ™ and the Ecolab AquaIQ™ Program at THAIFEX HOREC Asia, the region’s defining event for the hospitality and foodservice sector. This year, THAIFEX HORECA Asia brings together hotels, restaurants, cafés and catering (HORECA) decision‑makers.

DishIQ™ wins Innovation Award, Kitchen Category at THAIFEX – HOREC Xperiential Zone

Ecolab’s DishIQ™, an intelligent dishmachine program powered by advanced sensors, smart software, and real‑time remote monitoring, has been awarded the Innovation Award at the show’s immersive Xperiential Zone. The recipients of the Innovation award are evaluated based on effectiveness and efficiency, together with its technology and measurable benefits for the end users.

Some of Ecolab customers using Ecolab Dish IQ™ in Thailand are:

• Mai Samui Beach Resort & Spa – A premium island resort known for its serene beachfront setting and commitment to delivering elevated guest experiences through modern, efficient operations.
• Six Senses Samui – A leading luxury wellness resort recognized for its sustainability‑driven hospitality and high operational standards across every touchpoint.
• Gyu‑Kaku, King Square Mall – A popular Japanese BBQ dining destination celebrated for its high‑volume service model and focus on consistency, guest‑ready dining experiences.

DishIQ™ uses built‑in sensors to capture real-time performance data — including wash temperature, rinse levels and chemical dosing — enabling consistent results, reduced downtime and proactive issue prevention. This elevates operations’ food safety, cost saving, and brand standard. With 24/7 oversight from Ecolab’s Global Intelligence Centre and an intuitive mobile dashboard, operators gain unmatched visibility into fleet performance and compliance across multiple locations.

Ecolab AquaIQ™: Intelligent, automated pool and spa water management

Ecolab also unveiled the AquaIQ™ Program, its newest integrated solution for pools and spas. Built on advanced automation and continuous monitoring technology. With AquaIQ™, hotel operators gain real-time visibility into pool performance and actionable insights — supported by Ecolab’s extensive expertise in water management across globally and in Southeast Asia.

Gregory Lukasik, Senior Vice President & Market Head, Ecolab Southeast Asia, said: “Southeast Asia’s hospitality and foodservice sector continues to evolve at remarkable speed. By combining data science, automation and intelligent service, DishIQ™ and AquaIQ™ empower operators to run safer, more efficient and more sustainable operations — while freeing teams to focus on what matters most: exceptional guest experiences.”

To learn more: https://www.ecolab.com/offerings/dishiq-program; https://www.ecolab.com/offerings/aquaiq-program

About Ecolab

A trusted partner for millions of customers, Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) is a global sustainability leader offering water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services that protect people and the resources vital to life. Building on more than a century of innovation, Ecolab has annual sales of $16 billion, employs approximately 48,000 associates and operates in more than 170 countries around the world. The company delivers comprehensive science-based solutions, data-driven insights and world-class service to advance food safety, maintain clean and safe environments, and optimize water and energy use. Ecolab’s innovative solutions improve operational efficiencies and sustainability for customers in the food, healthcare, high-tech, life sciences, hospitality and industrial markets. www.ecolab.com

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