A night of strikes, stars, and solidarity as Gene Simmons raises the bar for children’s surgical care alongside MendingKids.org at a remarkable birthday bowling event

MendingKids.org Gene Simmons Birthday Bash
Live auction item personally endorsed by Gene Simmons

LOS ANGELES, August 30, 2023 (Newswire.com)
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The pins were set, the alleys were lit, and an electrifying atmosphere at Pinz Bowling Kitchen + Bar as iconic rock figure Gene Simmons hosted an unforgettable birthday bowling party on August 25, 2023. This star-studded event not only commemorated the birthday of the legendary KISS frontman but also aimed to shatter barriers for children in desperate need of surgical care, through the unwavering support of MendingKids.org.

Gene Simmons, renowned both for his musical prowess and his philanthropic endeavors, has been a steadfast advocate for MendingKids.org for years. The organization, which has been a beacon of hope for countless children, provides critical surgical care to those who lack the resources to afford such procedures. Gene, a passionate supporter, shared his heartfelt sentiment: “Every day is a gift. I’ve been a major supporter of MendingKids.org for years. They have provided free surgical care to literally thousands of children in need who would otherwise not be able to afford these very important operations. Our wonderful doctors have contributed their time and all costs are free.”

The atmosphere of the event was further charged with excitement as attendees enthusiastically participated in a live auction featuring exclusive items, VIP tickets to their last concerts and priceless Kiss memorabilia and instruments personally endorsed by Gene, Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer, and Eric Singer who were all in attendance to celebrate. The items cumulatively sold for over $100,000.

MendingKids.org extends its heartfelt gratitude to Gene Simmons for his generous and longstanding support and for inviting his friends to discover why he cares so much about providing access to critical surgical care to underserved children worldwide, and in the process, gifting them the life-saving opportunity to celebrate more birthdays.

As MendingKids.org continues its mission to extend life-saving surgical care to children in need, the organization invites individuals to learn more about their remarkable journey and the positive impact they make on young lives. For additional information about MendingKids.org and their mission, please visit MendingKids.org.

Contact Information:

Arielle Leviste

Program & Outreach Specialist

[email protected]

3239949285

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Rock Legend Gene Simmons Hosts Unforgettable Birthday Bowling Bash in Support of MendingKids.org

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Effects of alcohol intoxication
Effects of alcohol intoxication

PISCATAWAY, N.J., August 30, 2023 (Newswire.com)
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It’s “liquid courage,” not necessarily “beer goggles”: New research indicates that consuming alcohol makes you more likely to approach people you already find attractive but does not make others appear more attractive, according to a report in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

The conventional wisdom of alcohol’s effects is that intoxication makes others seem better looking. But, according to the new study, this phenomenon has not been studied systematically. Earlier research typically had participants simply rate others’ attractiveness while sober and while intoxicated based on photos.

But this new study added a more realistic element: the possibility of meeting the people being rated.

To conduct the research, lead investigator Molly A. Bowdring, Ph.D., of the Stanford Prevention Research Center in Palo Alto, Calif. (affiliated with University of Pittsburgh at the time of this study), and her dissertation advisor, Michael Sayette, Ph.D., brought in 18 pairs of male friends in their 20s to the laboratory to rate the attractiveness of people they viewed in photos and videos.

Participants were told that they may be given the opportunity to interact with one of those people in a future experiment. After providing attractiveness ratings, they were asked to select those with whom they would most like to interact.

Pairs of men came into the lab on two occasions. On one occasion, both men received alcohol to drink (up to about a blood alcohol concentration of .08%, the legal limit for driving in the United States) and on the other occasion, they both received a nonalcoholic beverage. The researchers had friend pairs in the lab to mimic the social interactions that would typically take place in a real drinking situation.

The researchers did not find evidence of beer goggles: Whether or not participants were intoxicated had no effect on how good-looking they found others. “The well-known beer goggles effect of alcohol does sometimes appear in the literature but not as consistently as one might expect,” observes Sayette.

However, drinking did affect how likely the men were to want to interact with people they found attractive. When drinking, they were 1.71 times more likely to select one of their top-four attractive candidates to potentially meet in a future study compared with when they were sober.

Alcohol may not be altering perception but rather enhancing confidence in interactions, giving the men liquid courage to want to meet those they found the most attractive, something they may be much less likely to do otherwise.

These results could have implications for therapists and patients, the authors note.

“People who drink alcohol may benefit by recognizing that valued social motivations and intentions change when drinking in ways that may be appealing in the short term but possibly harmful in the long term,” says Bowdring.

https://doi.org/10.15288/jsad.22-00355

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Lisa Kim

Senior Manager, Media Relations

[email protected]

650-723-6696

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New Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs Study Finds Alcohol Makes Others More Likely to Approach Attractive People but Doesn’t Make Them Seem Better Looking

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WITH HOST JOEL MCHALE AND PRESENTED BY PEPSI STRONGER TOGETHER
Third Annual Fundraiser to Take Place October 7 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS, August 29, 2023 (Newswire.com)
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The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation today announced their third annual fundraising gala, The Event, presented by Pepsi Stronger Together on October 7, 2023 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. This year’s gala will be hosted by Actor, Comedian, and Host Joel McHale, and will feature an all-star music and comedy line-up, including performances from EGOT-winning singer-songwriter John Legend; GRAMMY-winning country-pop duo Dan + Shay; 8x GRAMMY award winner DJ Pee .Wee (aka Anderson .Paak) spinning an all vinyl set; EGOT Award-winner Jennifer Hudson; and Emmy Award-winning comedian Ray Romano. Returning for his third year as Music Director is GRAMMY and Emmy Award winner Adam Blackstone.

The Event is the primary fundraiser for The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation, established by NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal. The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation aims to create pathways for underserved youth to help them achieve their full potential. In doing so, they have partnered with two organizations close to Shaquille’s heart – Boys & Girls Clubs and Communities In Schools.

Tickets to the public concert are available and on sale now via AXS.com. Prices range from $50 to $250. The evening will also include a private cocktail reception, dinner, and live auction followed by the public performance. Table sponsorships for the private event are available ranging from $15,000 to $100,000. Additional details about The Event and ticket or table options can be found at shaqfoundation.org.

“We raised the bar last year, and The Third Event promises to do the same,” O’Neal said. “I’m so grateful to our entertainers who are once again donating their time. I know they will create a night of incredible music and comedy in a true testament to the power of unity to make a difference in kids’ lives. I’m also excited to see familiar faces and new supporters alike, joining hands in the spirit of compassion to give back to the community. Let’s make this another night to remember!”

The Foundation focuses on serving children in Las Vegas and Atlanta. To date, The Event has raised more than $6M, providing key support for the Shaquille O’Neal Boys & Girls Club of Henry County, the construction of youth athletic courts and fields, Shaquille’s annual Shaq-a-Claus holiday program, and more. This year’s proceeds will continue to support similar efforts, including the construction of a new joint facility which will house a Boys & Girls Club and a Communities In Schools Alumni Center in Las Vegas.

“We are proud to partner again with The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation to support our communities in need,” said Kent Montgomery, SVP, Industry Relations and Multicultural Development, PepsiCo. “Our goal is to bring smiles and support to historically underserved communities, and this partnership supports our shared vision to drive equity and help truly make a difference.”

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About The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation

The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation creates pathways for underserved youth, helping them achieve their full potential. Established in 2019 by the NBA Hall of Famer, television sports analyst and entrepreneur Shaquille O’Neal, the Foundation works to instill hope and bring about change in communities, collectively shaping a brighter future for our children. While primarily partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs and Communities In Schools, the Foundation simultaneously supports Shaquille’s other charitable endeavors, such as his annual Shaq-a-Claus holiday event and initiatives alongside his corporate partners. For more information, visit shaqfoundation.org.

About MGM Grand Garden Arena

The MGM Grand Garden Arena is home to concerts, championship boxing and premier sporting and special events. The Arena offers comfortable seating for as many as 16,800 with excellent sightlines and state-of-the-art acoustics, lighting and sound. Prominent events to date have included world championship fights between Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson as well as Floyd Mayweather vs. Canelo Alvarez as well as Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao; and concerts by The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Bette Midler, George Strait, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, U2, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Jimmy Buffett and the Barbra Streisand Millennium Concert. The MGM Grand Garden Arena also has been home to annual events including the Academy of Country Music Awards, the Billboard Music Awards, the Latin GRAMMY Awards, iHeartRadio Music Festival, Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Championship and Frozen Fury NHL pre-season games hosted by the Los Angeles Kings.

About Pepsi Stronger Together

Pepsi Stronger Together is a national initiative to empower and engage communities around the country by providing tailored programming and resources that bring people together. It was conceived with the idea that now, more than ever, we must foster a sense of connection and belonging, starting by investing locally. Launched in May of 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic – engaging its network of partners in the South to shine a spotlight on essential front-line workers in a variety of industries – Pepsi Stronger Together was expanded in October of 2020 by partnering with NBA teams and charitable organizations to foster, among other things, community and police relations.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Convenient Foods and Beverages by Winning with Purpose. Under this vision, Pepsi Stronger Together is continually evolving the program to respond to the cultural moment and meet the needs of communities across the United States. Stay up to date at pepsistrongertogether.com, where visitors can engage in conversation and learn about the latest community initiatives and how to give back. Follow the conversation on social media at @pepsistrongertogether.

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John Legend, Dan + Shay, DJ PEE .WEE (AKA Anderson .Paak), Jennifer Hudson, and Ray Romano to Headline 2023 Shaquille O’Neal Foundation’s ‘The Event’

The post John Legend, Dan + Shay, DJ PEE .WEE (AKA Anderson .Paak), Jennifer Hudson, and Ray Romano to Headline 2023 Shaquille O’Neal Foundation’s ‘The Event’ first appeared on TREND MAG.