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interior and exterior of the damaged dwelling. The inspector enters damage-related information into a hand-held computer and sends that data to FEMA.

Since Oct. 14 when President Obama declared the disaster authorizing assistance in North Carolina, more than 1,800 households have registered for disaster assistance. Beaufort, Bertie, Brunwick, Craven, Hertford, Jones, Onslow, Pender, Pitt and Tyrrell are the countries included in the disaster declaration.

To register for assistance, residents should call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362).

Online registration is available at www.DisasterAssistance/gov.

For more information about this disaster, go to www.ncem.org and www.fema.gov.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

From ww.femaorg.com

Aida Causevic, Cohn & Wolfe for Panasonic Solutions Company (415) 365-8537 direct aida.causevic@cohnwolfe.com PSC.PR@cohnwolfe.com

PANASONIC SOLUTIONS COMPANY APPOINTS ART RANKIN

DIRECTOR OF

PROJECTORS AND HIGHER EDUCATION SECTOR

Panasonic Veteran to Lead Higher Education and Projector Solution Sales Across Markets

SECAUCUS, NJ, October 20, 2010 – Panasonic Solutions Company, provider of collaboration, information-sharing and decision-support solutions for education, government and commercial enterprises, today announced Art Rankin has been appointed Director of the Higher Education Sector and Head of the Projector Division across all markets.

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In his new role, Art, a 23-year Panasonic veteran, will spearhead overall strategy, sales efforts and product development for the broad range of PSC products for the education market, including projectors, displays, mobile computers and media production equipment. In addition, Art will oversee product development and sales of the Panasonic projector solutions across all vertical markets, including houses of worship, corporate, rental and staging, government, home cinema, healthcare, enterprise and hospitality.

"Art shares our company's dedication to create innovative and reliable solutions, and to help solve customers' business challenges," said Rance Poehler, President of Panasonic Solutions Company. "As a long-term Panasonic employee, Art possesses the market expertise needed to architect customer-centric solutions for universities and businesses across a wide variety of verticals. He is passionate about our products and our endusers' overall technology experience – all of this is what makes him an extremely valuable member of our company."

Most recently, Art managed a team of 17 sales executives at Panasonic, and worked closely with channel partners to launch innovative and successful customer deployments. As a national sales manager, Art worked closely with educational institutions across the United States, assisting them in adopting and deploying innovative Panasonic solutions that best fit their needs. Moving forward, he will drive the company’s strategic efforts to create new technologies for the higher-education market that will allow university staff, faculty and students to further enhance their communications.

"Panasonic is a key manufacturer for us, especially in the education market, and Art has been a long-standing partner to our team," said Heléne Andersen, general manager at AVI-SPL. "His strong work ethic and enthusiasm, coupled with Panasonic's reliable products and deep industry knowledge, has helped us close business on many occasions. Art is a trusted advisor to AVI-SPL and its customers, and we look forward to continuing to work with him in his new role."

With more than 15 years of experience bringing new technologies to customers in the education market, Art Rankin is a dedicated leader with the skills and knowledge to meet the roadblocks faced by today’s leading educational institutions.

"I have been in the field for more then two decades, learning the best ways to solve customer challenges," said Art Rankin. "Being on-site with the customer and working closely to research, assess and deploy the best Panasonic solutions to meet their needs is the most rewarding part of my job. In my new role, I look forward to working with our partners to deliver new technology solutions to our customers in higher-education and other key vertical markets that provide long-term value and reliability."

Panasonic's Dedication to Higher Education Market: Enhancing Education Through Technology

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With the economic crisis, America's universities have faced new difficulties in managing costs and finding reliable support for technology solutions. Budget cuts and fewer IT resources mean it is critical for schools to find a trusted partner that can provide the greatest ROI for technology investments.

In the education space, new technology can empower staff, improve the learning experience and attract the brightest talent to universities. Panasonic Solutions Company joins together several product divisions to deliver superior and reliable solutions for the classroom and beyond. With a focus on customer satisfaction, the company’s sales team is well equipped to determine the right technology for any campus application. Panasonic stands behind its products and its customers to offer world-class service and support.

"I’ve been working closely with Art and Panasonic on projectors deployments for Boston University for many years," said Al Gineitis, Technical Operations manager at

Boston University. "With Art’s deep knowledge of our technology needs, Panasonic’s commitment to making the solutions that the higher-education market needs, as well as the company’s exceptional product quality, we are confident our technology investments will yield a high ROI. Panasonic provides our students and staff with the necessary, reliable and cost-effective technology tools they need to make the best of their learning, teaching and information-sharing experiences at our University."

Panasonic Solutions Company offers a suite of solutions for the universities and schools, such as DLP and LCD projectors for classrooms, lecture halls and auditoriums; high-definition plasma and LCD displays for classrooms, digital signage, way-finding and large venue entertainment; professional video cameras and production equipment for school A/V, broadcast and athletic departments; and Panasonic’s rugged line of Toughbook mobile computers for school personnel and security. Panasonic is committed to the education market with a variety of durable products and reliable service.

For more information, please visit: http://www.panasonic.com/business- solutions/education-technology-solutions.asp.

Panasonic Solutions Company can be followed on various social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flicker, and TheCriticalView.com

About Panasonic Solutions Company

Panasonic Solutions Company empowers people whose jobs depend on reliable technology. The company delivers collaboration, information-sharing and decisionsupport solutions for customers in government, healthcare, education and a wide variety of commercial enterprises. Products and services within the company’s portfolio include Panasonic Toughbook® mobile computing solutions, projectors, professional displays (including both plasma and LCD), and HD video acquisition and production solutions. As a result of its commitment to R&D, manufacturing and quality control, Panasonic is known for the reliability and longevity of its products.

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Panasonic Solutions Company is a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, which is the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC).

All brand and company/product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies. All specifications are subject to change without notice.

Information on Panasonic Solutions Company’s full line of products can be obtained by calling 877- 803-8492 or at www.panasonic.com/business-solutions.

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From www.panasonic.com

McDonald’s Celebrates Opening of World’s 300th Ronald McDonald House

St. Louis Ronald McDonald’ House Continues Legacy of Helping Families with

Critically-Ill Children

Oak Brook, Ill. (Sept. 27,2010) – McDonald’s Corporation celebrates with Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) the opening of the world’s 300th Ronald McDonald House this week in St. Louis on the campus of St. John’s Mercy Medical

Center. Hundreds of families each year will now be able to refresh, relax and support each other at the House while their children are receiving life-saving treatment for conditions such as cancer, heart disease and birth defects.

A dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting will be held at the 300th Ronald McDonald House on Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2010 at 11 a.m. Central.

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“At today’s opening of the world’s 300th, we are proud to honor all of the families who have found strength over the years while fighting for their children’s recovery, “said Jim Skinner, McDonald’s chief executive officer. “Ronald McDonald House Charities is the heart and soul of McDonald’s, and our support of this charity is one of the most rewarding things we do.”

The seeds were sown for this 300th Ronald McDonald House 36 years ago in Philadelphia.

The daughter of former Philadelphia Eagles player Fred Hill underwent years of intense medical treatments, and out of that hardship grew the idea to create a “home away from home” near a hospital where families could stay together during difficult times.

The generous McDonald’s Owner/ Operators in Philadelphia rallied together with the Company to raise funds to build the very first Ronald McDonald House. That powerful idea has been repeated 300 times in communities around the world and here in St. Louis.

“When our first Ronald McDonald House was built in 1974, no one could have imagined that day, we might open another – let alone 300 of them,” said Marty Coyne, RMHC president and CEO. “The new House in St. Louis is a testament to the commitment and support of the local Chapter, deep relationships with the medical community and the generous support of the staff, volunteers, and individual and corporate donors. Just like the 299 Houses before it, this House will ensure families have more than one place to stay, but also a place to find strength – emotionally, physically, and spiritually – as they focus on healing their children.”

Ronald McDonald Houses welcome nearly 7,200 families every single night, saving them approximately $25 million a year in hotel costs alone. The Houses provide comfortable beds, warm meals, hot showers, and families who share similar challenges of having seriously-ill children.

This new $4.5 million Ronald McDonald House is the third in Metro St. Louis and will serve approximately 700 families annually. It was made possible by lead gifts

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from St. John’s Mercy, the St. Louis McDonald’s Co-op and other generous contributors. The project is contracted by Kadean Construction, designed by Gray Design Group, and financed through UMB.

RMHC is a non-profit corporation, and McDonald’s is its largest corporate donor. Portions of the annual operating costs for Ronald McDonald Houses are funded by

McDonald’s and operators of local McDonald’s restaurants. The remainder of annual operating income comes from generosity of individual and corporate donors.

For more information about Ronald McDonald House Charities, please call (630)6237048 or visit www.rmhc.org.

About McDonald’s

McDonald’s is the world’s leading global foodservice retailer with more than 32,000locations serving 60 million customers in more than 100 countries each day.

More than 80 % of McDonald’s restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local men and women. To learn more about the company, please visit www.aboutmcdonalds.com

About Ronald McDonald House Charities

Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), a non-profit corporation creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well being of children. Through its global network of local Chapters in 53 countries and regions, its three core programs, the Ronald McDonald House, Ronald McDonald Family Room and

Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, and millions of dollars in grants to support children’s programs worldwide, RMHC provides stability and resources to families so they can get and keep their children healthy and happy. All RMHC-supported programs provide a bridge to quality health care and give children and families the time they need together to heal faster and cope better. For more information, www.rmhc.orgor follow us on Twitter (@RMHC) and Facebook.(Fcaebook.com/RMHC Global).

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From www.mcdonalds.com

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News Release

HP Company Foundation Donates $5000,000 to Haiti Earthquake Relief

PALO ALTO, Calif., Jan. 15, 2010

The Hewlett-Parckard Company Foundation today announced that it has committed $500,000 to the American Red Cross International Response Fund to support relief efforts in Haiti following the earthquake that devastated the country this week.

The HP Company Foundation also announced that it has committed up to $250,000 to match eligible contributions by employees of HP in support of the earthquake relief efforts.

The earthquake is reported to have been the worst to hit Haiti in 200 years, and the United Nations estimates that tens of thousands of people may have been killed. The funds committed by the HP Company Foundation will, through the American Red Cross, go toward supporting short-term relief as well as helping the long-term reconstruction work needed to rebuild the country.

Marcela Perez de Alonso, chair of the HP Company Foundation and executive vice president of Human Resources, HP, said, “We are all extremely shocked by the devastation that has hit Haiti, and we are pleased to be able to support the critical relief efforts being conducted by organizations such as the American Red Cross.

“The road to recovery will be a long one, and we are working with our stakeholders, customers, partners and employees on additional in-kind services to provide ongoing support for this tragedy. Together we hope to help rebuild much of the vital infrastructure that was destroyed by the earthquake and help with many of the other relief efforts.”

About HP

HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments, and society. The world’s largest technology company, HP

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brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems. More information about HP is available at www.hp.com

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From www.hp.com

Microsoft News Center

News Press Release

Colorado teacher honored for demonstrating use of technology in the classroom.

Washington – 2, 2010 – Microsoft Corp. today announced the winners of the 2010 U.S. Innovative Education Forum, an event in its sixth year recognizing innovative teachers who creatively and effectively use technology in their curriculum to help to improve the way students learn. Cheryl Arnett from Sunset Elementary School in Craig, Colo., and Rawya Shatila from Maskassed Khalil Shehab School in Beirut, Lebanon, won first place for their international collaboration. They will go on to represent the United States at Worldwide Innovative Education Forum in South Africa this fall, joining nearly 500 other teachers from 60 countries who won similar events in their regions.

Arnett and Shatila’s project, titled “Digital Stories: A Celebration of Learning and Culture”, aligned with this year’s theme of “Inspire More” by connecting Arnett’s classand second graders in Craig, Colo., to Shatila’s second-graders in Beirut. The two teachers, who had never met before , used technologies such as wikis, blogs and online mapping tools to share their stories and activities to help students increase global awareness of similarities and differences between children from different countries.

“Technology adds a dynamic dimension to teaching, helping teachers engage their students in a new way,” Arnett said. “We are thrilled to be recognized and excited to travel to South Africa to meet and learn from other innovative teachers from across the globe.”

“We were able to make our classes virtual neighbors instead of strangers on the other side of the world,” Shatila said. “Using technology, we are developing our students into global citizens – it broadens their perspective.”

This year, 17 teams of teachers from 10 states gathered in Washington, D.C., not only compete but collaborate with their peers to understand best practices in 21st-century teaching and learning. The winners were determined by a judging panel consisting of

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educators, past winners and Microsoft executives. Thomas Gaffey from the School of the Future in Philadelphia won second place, and Pat Yongpradit from Springbrook High School in Silver Spring, Md., took third place. These teachers will also represent the U.S. in South Africa. Videos of all the teacher’s entries can be viewed at htt://www.youtube.com/user/Microsoftedu.

“The Innovative Education Forum is an inspirational event to celebrate our nation’s teachers,” said Siegfried Behrens, general manager of U.S. Education at Microsoft. “Three amazing teachers are transforming education by using technology as a means to engage their students and to enhance the effectiveness of their teaching. They are using technology in innovative ways to connect classroom learning to the real world and equipping our children with the skills necessary to compete in a globally competitive work force.”

The IEF is part of Microsoft’s Partners in Learning program, which works with governments and education leaders around the world at the national, state and local levels to deliver a portfolio of professional development, curricula, tools and resources designed to advance 21st-century teaching, learning and digital inclusion that improve learning outcomes for every student. Since its inception in 2003, the Partners in Learning program has reached more than 192 million teachers and students in 114 countries. Microsoft’s 10-year investment in the initiative is nearly $500 million, underscoring the company’s commitment to helping students and educators around the world realize their full potential. Partners in Learning has reached more than 3.8 million education leaders, teachers and students in the United States, bringing the benefits of innovation and technology to U.S. education systems.

More information about the U.S. Partners in Learning program is available at http://www.microsoft.com/education/uspil/default.aspx.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

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From www.microsoft.com