The Lunchbox Auction presented by Gourmet to benefit hunger relief organizations Food Bank For New York City and The Lunchbox Fund of South Africa, will kick off on Thursday, December 11th at 8 p.m. at Milk Studios in Chelsea. More than 50+ celebrities from film, television, fashion, art, music and the culinary world are uniting to remind us that food matters and that hunger is an on-going problem. Each is creating a one-of-a-kind lunchbox that will be auctioned off online just in time for the holidays! The star-studded fundraiser preview party and mini-auction will be hosted by celebrity chef Mario Batali and music icon Michael Stipe.

This spectacular fundraiser continues when The Lunchbox Auction goes live on the World Wide Web immediately after the event at midnight at www.thelunchboxauction.org and will run through December 18th (at 12 p.m. EST). A sneak preview of some of the celebrity lunchboxes to be auctioned can be seen at www.gourmet.com/go/lunchbox.

“‘What’s for lunch?’ is a question most of us ask every day. Yet millions of people across the globe don’t even know where their next meal is coming from,” said Gourmet’s Editor in Chief Ruth Reichl. “Gourmet is thrilled to be a part of this creative initiative to help solve the worldwide hunger problem,” she added.

Among the “power lunch-boxers” are: Alice Waters, Beastie Boys, Cameron Diaz, Conor Oberst, David Chang, Diane Von Furstenberg, EDUN, Ellen Page, Eva Mendes, the cast of Gossip Girl, Gwyneth Paltrow, Heatherette, Kelly Klein, Lanvin, Lisa Marie Presley, Liv Tyler, Mario Batali, Michael Stipe, Mike Myers, the New York Giants, Rachael Ray, Ruth Reichl, Salman Rushdie, Sara Moulton, Sean Avery, Spike Jones, Thriving Ivory, Tom Colicchio, and more.

Each lunchbox reflects the personal style and individual flair of the person designing the box and no two lunchboxes are alike. Collectors will find that each box is signed and numbered, and some will even contain hidden surprises inside.

Hunger is a global problem. In New York City, 1.3 million people turn to food assistance programs, like soup kitchens and food pantries. Of them, one in five is a child. In South Africa an estimated eighteen million people live without adequate food, water or sanitation.

“In the time of the world’s greatest wealth and know how, it is tragic that anyone goes hungry or thirsty on the planet,” said host Mario Batali. “A single event can start a movement and this is one of those single events where the noise is heard around the world. Death to hunger!”

Food Bank For New York City recognizes 25 years as the city’s major provider of food to New Yorkers in need. The organization works to end hunger and increase access to affordable, nutritious food for low-income New Yorkers through a range of programs and services that focus on food procurement and distribution, education, nutrition, financial empowerment, research and policy. Food Bank For New York City is the major supplier of food for 1.3 million New Yorkers through its network of more than 1,000 emergency and community food programs throughout the five boroughs — including soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, low-income daycare centers, Kids Cafes and senior, youth and rehabilitation centers. Those in need include women and children, the elderly, people with disabilities and the working poor. For every $1 donation, 96 cents goes toward food acquisition, distribution and programs. In addition to food, the Food Bank offers education and technical support to our network of programs and serves as a research and public policy resource center for legislators, the media and the public. For more information or to make a donation please visit www.foodbanknyc.org.

The Lunchbox Fund of South Africa provides impoverished children in the township schools of Soweto often their only meal of the day. Many of these children are AIDS orphans who are caring for their siblings, and whose performance at school is diminished without food. Receiving food encourages these children to stay in school and obtain their education. When a child stays in school, their risk of HIV infection, abuse and unwanted pregnancy are greatly reduced. The Lunchbox Fund of South Africa is operated with an all volunteer team in South Africa and the US. Apart from minor running costs, every dollar raised goes directly to the children in South Africa. For more information or to make a donation please visit www.thelunchboxfund.org.

GOURMET is the ultimate resource for 5.3 million people who are passionate about today’s culinary culture. Food, wine, restaurants, and travel are the essential ingredients for some of life’s best experiences — and only Gourmet brings these to life in an unrivaled environment of modern luxury and classic style. Gourmet. The Magazine for Readers who are HUNGRY FOR LIFE.

Sponsors include Boar’s Head, FIJI Water and MasterCard. To purchase tickets to the event, visit www.thelunchboxauction.org.

The Lunchbox Auction
CONTACT: Mary Kaye Daniels, +1-212-901-3938, marykaye.daniels@bwr-ny.com
or Stacy Brock, +1-212-901-3943, stacy.brock@bwr-ny.com, both for The
Lunchbox Auction

Web site: http://www.thelunchboxauction.org/

Research and Markets

(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/c244bd/whoswho_in_americ) has announced the addition of the “Who’s Who in American Art” directory to their offering.

Who’s Who in American Art 29th Edition 2009

Profiling everyone who’s anyone in the visual arts industry in the U.S.

Quickly locate artists, critics, curators, administrators, librarians, historians, collectors, conservators, educators and dealers. Containing over 11,000 entries — nearly 1,000 new listings — Who’s Who in American Art includes entrants’ dates and places of birth; education and training; commissions and exhibitions; museums holding their work; professional positions; awards; books and articles by and about them; the media in which they work; their dealers and representatives; and their mailing addresses.

Entrants are listed alphabetically by name, and again in a separate Geographical Index. Plus, a Professional Classifications Index identifies all entrants within more than 50 categories—from Administrator to Mosaic Artist to Writer. A special Necrology Index lists all previous entrants who have died between 1953 and 2008. Librarians, artists, and museum and education professionals will find this volume indispensable. Featuring The Artists’ Gallery The publishers of Who’s Who in American Art have created a venue for the esteemed family of artists profiled in its pages to exhibit their work. The full-color Artists’ Gallery houses visual art from across various media and styles – from drawing and painting, to photography and sculpture. Only artists whose biographies are hand-picked for inclusion in the 2009 Edition are invited to show their work in this exclusive collection. The Artists’ Gallery appears in print in the 2009 Edition.

- Please note that this publication has a delivery time of 7-10 business days -

For more information visit

http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/c244bd/whoswho_in_americ

CIGNA Pharmacy Management (CIGNA) and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) are joining forces to promote LLS’s efforts to help blood cancer patients cover the costs of prescription co-pays and health insurance premiums.

The costs of cancer are significant. According to the National Cancer Institute, direct medical costs for cancer care in 2004 totaled more than $72 billion. When considering the impact of indirect costs, such as lost productivity due to illness or premature death, the total economic burden reached $190 billion in 2004.

CIGNA is now making the LLS information available through their nurse case managers who work directly with individuals who have cancer. “This is a wonderful service for people who have blood cancers as it has the potential to lift a huge burden off people’s shoulders at a time when they should be concentrating on just getting well,” said Dr. David Ferriss, CIGNA medical officer for clinical program development. “People with blood cancers are often too sick to continue to work or perform their daily functions, putting a huge strain on an individual and their family. This will be a great resource for these families.”

The LLS program offers assistance to blood cancer patients and their families by covering the costs of their private health insurance premiums, co-payment obligations, Medicare Part B, Medicare Part D, Medicare Supplementary Health Insurance and Medicare Advantage premiums or co-payment obligations. Providing up to $5,000 in assistance, the program is designed for individuals who meet certain financial and disease criteria.

“LLS is very grateful that CIGNA is helping to get this critical information out to individuals with blood cancer,” said Nancy L. Klein, chief marketing and revenue officer for LLS. “Together we will be able to assist many more people who are struggling to cover the costs of their treatments.” For more information about the program, including eligibility and how to apply, visit www.lls.org/copay.

The efforts with LLS are part of CIGNA’s continuing efforts to assist people who have cancer or are at risk for getting cancer. Some of the programs include:

Comprehensive Oncology Program®: The program addresses cancer prevention and education, as well as active management of members diagnosed with cancer. Through this program, CIGNA reaches out to at-risk individuals who are overdue for recommended screenings to remind them to schedule appropriate tests, and provides counsel and support to help them adopt healthier lifestyles. The program also supports cancer victims and survivors through prevention, diagnosis, treatment and recovery, with access to specialized nurses, health educators and behavioral health experts. Services include helping cancer victims and their families cope with the emotional impact of cancer, helping them receive family counseling, organizing and preparing for treatment, and end-of-life planning, as needed.

Collaboration with the Lance Armstrong Foundation: CIGNA provides individuals in its comprehensive oncology program with added personal support to cope with the effects on physical, emotional, financial and spiritual health that living with cancer brings. By also providing the LIVESTRONGTM Survivorship Notebook and educational materials, the program helps cancer victims become more knowledgeable, informed and empowered participants in their own care.

HopeLab: HopeLab’s ground-breaking video game Re-MissionTM is designed to help young people better manage their health while undergoing cancer treatment. Research has shown that the game helps teens and young adults stick to their treatment regimens, and CIGNA is offering Re-MissionTM at no charge to young patients and their families who are confronting cancer. www.CIGNA.com/re-mission.

Childhood Leukemia Foundation’s (CLF) Hope Binder: CIGNA teamed up with the Childhood Leukemia foundation to offer CLF’s Hope Binder free of charge to parents of children with cancer at 160 hospitals nationwide. The Hope Binder helps parents manage the overwhelming amount of information related to their child’s care including worksheets and resources to help document treatment protocols, medicines, doctor’s appointments, blood counts, physicians, hospitals, nutrition concerns, and insurance benefits – all the details that come with facing leukemia, including free telephone calling cards and informational booklets. CIGNA has added a free copy of the video game Re-MissionTM in every Hope Binder.

Colorectal Cancer Screening Program: CIGNA sends at-risk individual customers free colorectal cancer home screening kits to encourage people who are over-due for screening to take the test. Individuals covered by CIGNA receive InSure® fecal immunochemical test (FIT) kits with the support of Quest Diagnostics. The test helps members screen at home for gastrointestinal bleeding which is often an early indicator for potentially deadly colorectal cancer. Early testing and diagnosis is important as according to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is “Preventable, Treatable, Beatable,” and yet over 50,000 Americans die of colon cancer every year.

Walt Disney World Marathon presented by CIGNA: CIGNA, as presenting sponsor of The Walt Disney World Health and Fitness Expo, a three-day celebration focused on health and fitness that involves celebrity runner appearances, seminars on training, racing, and nutrition, along with the opportunity to experience the latest in running and fitness equipment. The Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend benefits the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). With the yearly support of thousands of volunteers, the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend has helped Team in Training (TNT) raise millions of dollars for the LLS. The Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend is LLS’s largest fundraising event.

CIGNA Pharmacy Management:

CIGNA Pharmacy Management employs a consultative approach to help plan sponsors design pharmacy benefit plans that achieve lower net costs while providing industry-leading pharmacy clinical programs to help improve health outcomes. “CIGNA,” “CIGNA Pharmacy Management,” “CIGNA Tel-Drug” and the “Tree of Life” logo are registered service marks of CIGNA Intellectual Property, Inc., licensed for use by CIGNA Corporation and its operating subsidiaries. All products and services are provided exclusively by such operating subsidiaries and not by CIGNA Corporation. Such operating subsidiaries include Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Tel-Drug, Inc., Tel-Drug of Pennsylvania, L.L.C., and HMO or service company subsidiaries of CIGNA Health Corporation.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society:

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society®, headquartered in White Plains, NY, with 68 chapters in the United States and Canada, is the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since its founding in 1949, LLS has invested more than $600 million in research specifically targeting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Last year alone, LLS made 6.3 million contacts with patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals. For more information about blood cancer, visit www.LLS.org or call the LLS Information Resource Center (IRC), a call center staffed by master’s level social workers, nurses and health educators who provide information, support and resources to patients and their families and caregivers. IRC information specialists are available at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.

Memolink.com, a leading online rewards program, is pleased to announce its 10th birthday celebration. Memolink.com is one of the largest online rewards programs with over one thousand shopping partners and ten million members. Memolink members earn points for completing market research surveys and making online purchases. Points can be exchanged for cash, gift cards or monetarily donated to a participating charitable organization. Memolink.com is celebrating its anniversary the entire month at http://www.memolink.com with special offers and giveaways.

As part of its 10th birthday celebration, Memolink is featuring special offers passed along from some of its shopping partners like eBags, Gaiam and Time Life as well as a month-long increase in complimentary points or earnings given to members for reading their email from Memolink.com (known as Memomail), taking online surveys and visiting Websites. Additionally, Memolink.com is giving away branded market bags and other items to ten lucky members per day. The celebration runs through the end of November.

“Our decade anniversary couldn’t have come at a better time,” said David Asseoff, president and CEO of Memolink Inc. “Around the holidays consumers are always looking for ways to save and be rewarded — especially during these tough economic times. We’re happy to be able to share our success with our members and partners.”

“Congratulations to Memolink on their success,” said Kelli Beougher, Senior Vice President, LinkShare Corporation. “As a global e-commerce company, LinkShare seeks to partner with companies that are making a difference to both the present and future of the online retail industry. We value our longtime partnership with Memolink. They are a valued member of our network of innovative companies looking for performance-based campaigns to support their evolving online marketing needs.”

For more information, go to http://www.memolink.com/anniversary.

Huntington, IN – Like many smart companies, cost-control is of paramount importance to Innovative Packaging. That’s why the Company has completed a ,000 project to retrofit all of the high bay lighting in its 115,000 square foot facility with energy-efficient T5 fluorescent fixtures from Electrical Marketplace. By doing so, Innovative Packaging will lower operating costs associated with lighting by more than 46%.

Innovative Packaging was able to reduce its energy demands by more than 128 Megawatts per year by replacing all of the aging and costly 400 Watt metal halide fixtures in its facility with new, energy-efficient T5 fluorescent high bays. This switch will prevent the emission of more than 147 tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The new fixtures provide better quality light and are expected to improve productivity and warehouse safety.

“Our interest in doing the project was initiated by a desire for cost savings,” explained Gene Fleck, President of Innovative Packaging. “We then discovered the rebates given by Duke Energy and the tax credit available from the Federal Government for the energy conservation initiative.” Innovative Packaging worked with West Palm Beach firm, Engineered Tax Services, to certify their retrofit and qualify for all state and federal incentive programs.

“Lighting retrofit projects make a lot of sense these days,” said Tom Haggerty, President of Electrical Marketplace, Inc. “Our customers are finding us because of our low prices and wide selection of T5HO fixtures, but are happy to learn that we can provide lighting layouts and perform return on investment analysis for them.”

About Innovative Packaging – Innovative Packaging was started in 1988 and produces all types of corrugated packaging. The company designs all products to customer specifications and can take projects from design to a final corrugated product. That final product may be a printed or labeled carton, point of purchase display with graphics, or any number of specialty die cuts. Innovative Packaging serves the Indiana, Michigan and Ohio markets. For more information, contact Chris Fleck via email at c.fleck@innpac.com or by phone at (260) 356-6577.

About Electrical Marketplace, Inc. – Electrical Marketplace offers high quality energy-efficient lighting and electrical materials at substantial savings over the traditional lighting and electrical wholesaler. Through it’s “Relight with T5” Green Initiative, Electrical Marketplace hopes to educate operations managers from every industry about the benefits of more energy-efficient T5 lighting. http://www.electricalmarketplace.com and http://www.relightwitht5.com

About Engineered Tax Services – Engineered Tax Services marries the science of engineering with the principles of tax and accounting to arrive at financial solutions that result in increased cash flow, minimized tax payments and increased ROI. These IRS sanctioned services include Cost Segregation Studies, Energy Tax Credits and Deductions and Development credits. http://www.engineeredtaxservices.com

Award winning actor and dedicated renewable energy advocate, Ed Begley, Jr. will deliver the keynote address at The Las Vegas Convention Center at the 2009 Electric West Exposition and Conference on March 18th, 2009. Live Simply So That Others Can Simply Live is the topic for Begley’s lauded talk on eco-living in America, which focuses on renewable energy issues and his life as a social reformer driving green issues. Begley’s address supports the renewable topics covered in the event’s educational conference program.

Ed Begley, Jr. – Keynote Address

On the opening morning of the show, Begley will chronicle his 39 year eco-journey touching on his many personal efforts to take responsibility for the environment, including his first electric car and riding a bicycle to Hollywood events. Begley will share manageable changes attendees can make for a sustainable living environment, suggest products and services that work, and discuss challenges on Global climate change, pollution, and dependency on Mid East oil that can be overcome. The well-known actor serves on the boards of numerous environmental organizations and has been honored with awards from several environmental groups. Currently, Begley, Jr. and his wife co-star on the series Living with Ed, a look at the daily realities of “living green.” Begley’s remarks will bolster the conference program’s focus on “Green Issues.” His new book, Living Like Ed, is currently available nationwide. Begley tours the country giving speeches about his sustainable living practices.

Electric West 2009 Expo & Conference

Electric West is the biggest electrical marketplace in the western United States, serving the West Coast’s $130 billion construction and maintenance industry. This year’s event marks the 21st year for Electric West. The expo will showcase over 200 suppliers of cutting edge products and services that will provide attendees a competitive advantage and expert solutions to their electrical problems. The 2009 Electric West Exhibition will take place March 18 – 20, 2009.

The 2009 Electric West Conference is designed to highlight industry developments and bring a higher level of education to its participants. Professional advancement courses will be held on March 17th. On the following three days, (March 18th – 20th), 58 paid educational sessions will be offered to the trade. Education credits for license renewals for certified electricians are available. To address burgeoning “Green Issues”, solar, wind and related technologies courses have been added to the program.

To register, attendees should visit the Electric West website at www.electricshow.com.

Penton Media, Inc. the largest independent business-to-business media company in the U.S., serving more than six million business professionals every month. The company’s market-leading brands are focused on 30 industries and include 113 trade magazines, 145 Web sites, 150 industry trade shows and conferences, and more than 500 information data products. Headquartered in New York City, the privately held company is owned by MidOcean Partners and U.S. Equity Partners II, an investment fund sponsored by Wasserstein & Co., LP, and its co-investors. For additional information on the company and its businesses, visit www.penton.com.

Photo Expo West is back for its 4th year at the Del Mar Fairgrounds brought to you by three local photo related businesses. 13 of the world’s most famous photographers will lead 38 seminars over the two day show. Photo Expo West brings 30,000 square feet of discounted photography gear from top manufacturers including Canon, Nikon, Sony, Tamron, Sigma and more. This year Photo Expo West will also be the site of the Popular Photography Magazine / Sony Digital Days Workshops. Free admission, raffles for cameras given away and thousands of photo related items under $20 are themes that carry on from year to year.

Photo Expo West continues to bring world famous photographers to share their expertise and experiences to all comers. This is the chance of a lifetime to learn from photography’s elite. Celebrity photographer Douglas Kirkland (well known for his classic Marilyn Monroe shots and books) returns and will be joined by members of Canon’s Explorers of Light, the Nikon Pro Team, and other internationally acclaimed masters of photography. Don Gale, Hanson Fong, Eddie Tapp, John Woodward, Arthur Morris, and Carol Polich are only some of the esteemed speakers. Learn from live demonstrations of studio shoots and through classroom style lectures. Topics include wedding, portrait, celebrity, sports, and landscape photography, as well as Photoshop secrets of the pros. Seating is free but limited!

Photo Expo West is also the place to go for the best deals on the highest quality gear. At Delkin Devices, one of the top 20 manufacturers in San Diego (SD Business Journal, Aug 2008) booth, thousands of items like batteries, memory cards, readers, archival products and photo accessories made in Poway CA will be sold off at discounted prices. The other two sponsors; Georges Camera and Nelson Photo are the two best camera stores in the county, and bring their full line of cameras, lenses, bags and tripods to the show along with their staff. 40 other photo-related exhibitors like Sony, Nikon, Canon, Tamron, Tamrac, LowePro and Sigma will be on hand with sales and technical staff to answer any questions.

The 2008 Photo Expo West will be the best place to meet and learn from the world’s best photographers, shop for thousands of new digital camera accessories for under $20, many of them under $10. Experts will be on hand to answer any and all questions about all things photographic. Visitors can also sell their used camera equipment for cash at the show. Other items of note this year: The Photo Expo West Raffle is back with the best prizes to date! Attendees can enter at the show to win a Sigma DP1 camera and other fantastic equipment.

Photo Expo West will be open to the public from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday and 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sunday. Admission to the Expo is free, including seminars from the world’s best photographers. Parking at the Del Mar Fairgrounds is a separate fee. There will be food and drinks for sale onsite. More information about the show and seminars can be found at www.photoexpowest.com.