SoundHound AI ( SOUN 12.60% ) stock saw another day of explosive gains in Friday's trading. The conversational-AI company's share price closed the day up about 12.5%. While there wasn't any direct business news pushing SoundHound AI's stock higher today, the company's share price was gaining ground in conjunction with news from other corners of the artificial intelligence ( AI ) market. The software specialist is now up 600% across 2024's trading. AI stocks surge on Trump AI czar announcement and ChatGPT news Artificial intelligence stocks saw widespread bullish momentum today in conjunction with developments in the space. For starters, President-elect Donald Trump announced that he intends to appoint venture capitalist David Sacks as his administration's AI and crypto czar. The move signals that the incoming administration will likely make AI a key priority. Yesterday, OpenAI also announced the launch of its o1 reasoning model and a $200 monthly subscription for its new ChatGPT Pro service. SoundHound AI's in-car audio software platform features ChatGPT integration, and it's likely that new feature support from the AI leader will eventually will make it to the audio software specialist's auto offerings. More broadly, OpenAI's move to price its new ChatGPT software at $200 per month has investors feeling bullish about monetization opportunities in the AI space. What comes next for SoundHound AI stock? Artificial intelligence has been the hot story in 2024, and no stock has been hotter than SoundHound AI. Its returns have outperformed all other big name AI stocks across the stretch, and gains have pushed the company's market capitalization to roughly $5.4 billion. Its also gotten more expensive. SOUN PS Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts. SoundHound AI stock is now valued at roughly 64 times this year's expected sales. While the company has been increasing its revenue at a rapid pace and still has big growth opportunities ahead, investors should understand that the company's highly growth-dependent valuation sets the stage for downside risk if growth misses expectations or macroeconomic and political conditions evolve in less favorable directions. If you're considering investing in SoundHound AI, utilizing a dollar-cost averaging approach through volatility could be the right move.Brian Niccol, the new CEO of , has led the company into a renewed commitment to “transparency” regarding its pricing structure. This approach aims to clarify the criteria and foundations behind , fostering more open communication with consumers. Niccol, who took over the leadership of Starbucks in September after his experience as CEO of Chipotle, stated that he has no intention of raising the coffee chain’s prices in the short term. Furthermore, the CEO expressed dissatisfaction with how the Starbucks app handles order customization, as it does not inform customers of any changes that may affect the price. Niccol, who had previously removed the surcharge for plant-based milk customization during his prior tenure, mentioned that are planned for the future of Starbucks. These include simple actions like collecting Sharpie markers and restoring the coffee condiment bar. READ ALSO The company aims to , as many products receive few requests daily. In addition, Starbucks will focus on increasing transparency and shortening for orders. To achieve this, investments will be made in technologies that will provide a more accurate estimate of beverage preparation times. Recently, Starbucks revealed the updates to its , which includes the Cran-Merry Orange Refresher, along with other seasonal favorites like the Peppermint Mocha and Caramel Brulée Latte. Additionally, the coffee chain introduced two new drinks inspired by the musical Wicked: Glinda’s Pink Potion and Elphaba’s Cold Brew, along with a range of related to the success of its film adaptation. is a loyalty program that offers personalized rewards, exclusive benefits, and a unique in-store experience. Here are its main advantages: Cancela en cualquier momento Acceso exclusivo a rankings y radiografías. Análisis profundos y casos de estudio de éxito. Historial de la revista impresa en formato digital. ¡Disfruta de lo mejor del marketing sin costo alguno por unmes!
Art Cashin, UBS’ director of floor operations at the New York Stock Exchange and a man The Washington Post called “Wall Street’s version of Walter Cronkite,” has died. He was 83 and had been a regular on CNBC for more than 25 years. In the intensely competitive and often vicious world of stock market commentary, Cashin was that rarest of creatures: a man respected by all, bulls and bears, liberals and conservatives alike. He seemed to have almost no enemies. He was a great drinker and raconteur, a teller of stories. For decades, he assembled a group of like-minded friends every day after trading halted, first at the bar at the NYSE luncheon club, then across the street at Bobby Van’s Steakhouse, where the group came to be known as the “Friends of Fermentation.” His drink was Dewar’s, always on the rocks. Cashin’s success was attributable to a combination of charm, wit, intelligence, and a stubborn insistence on refusing to adopt many of the conveniences of the modern world. He was a link to an NYSE tradition. Every year, on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, he led the singing of the 1905 song “Wait ’Till the Sun Shines, Nellie.” Cashin refused to use credit cards and paid for everything, particularly his voluminous bar bills, with cash, saying he cherished his anonymity. He never learned to use a computer--his notes were hand-written and then sent to his assistant. For years, he used an obsolete flip phone that he rarely answered. His desk was piled high with papers he had accumulated over the decades. At times, it resembled a recycling facility. Cashin’s suits were usually rumpled and his ties were always obsolete. However, neither his appearance nor his attitude was haphazard. It was part of a persona that was carefully constructed over more than 50 years on Wall Street. Arthur D. Cashin Jr. was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1941. His parents were superintendents of an apartment building. His business career began in 1959 at Thomson McKinnon, a brokerage firm, when he was 17 and still in high school. Cashin had been obliged to join the workforce when his father died unexpectedly that year. In 1964, at age 23, he became a member of the NYSE and a partner of P.R. Herzig & Co. At that time, the vast majority of all trading took place on the NYSE floor. Cashin’s early memories revolve around the noise of thousands of brokers shouting at each other. He claimed to be able to tell if the market was moving up or down by the pitch of the screaming, because sellers sounded panicky. “And so if the pitch of the noise was high, I would know the sellers were headed my way. Or if it was a rumble, I would know that it was probably buyers coming,” he said in a 2018 interview. In the mid-1970s, disgusted by the corruption in his hometown of Jersey City, Cashin ran for mayor. “I think I ran 12th in a field of five,” he said. “But once they discovered I was honest, there wasn’t much chance I was going to get elected.” He returned to Wall Street. In 1980, he joined PaineWebber and managed its floor operation, continuing to do so after PaineWebber was bought by UBS in 2000. Then came 2001. Cashin would often recall what it was like to escape from Ground Zero on Sept. 11, 2001, after terrorists crashed two jetliners into the World Trade Center towers, killing more than 2,600 people in the heart of the nation’s financial center. “Many of us got out that Tuesday walking through streets onto which ash, smoke and business envelopes fell snow-like, blocking both your view and your breathing,” he wrote in a commentary 13 days later. “Yet when a stranger was met, they were invited to join the convoy and offered a spare wet cloth (carried in pockets) through which to breathe as they walked. When we reached the East River (Brooklyn side of Manhattan), there was a volunteer group of tugboats, fishing boats and mini-ferries that looked like the evacuation of Dunkirk. No charge. No money. Just — “May I help you!” No one got anyone’s name. No thank you cards will be sent. But Americans — even New York Americans — who freely give to strangers but argue with neighbors were suddenly one group. In the days since, as we wander via new strange ways back to Wall Street, we all internalize the survivor’s quandary. We are lucky to be alive — but why us.” After the Sept. 11 attacks, Cashin chaired the NYSE “Fallen Heroes Fund,” which provided millions of dollars to the families of first responders killed in the line of duty. Though he was a respected market historian, he was most renowned as a storyteller for the stock market. He was a meticulous observer of fundamental and technical trading patterns but never let data get in the way of explaining the market in a folksy manner that made it accessible to even casual observers. He often spoke of Wall Street as a community of people with many different opinions. In his world, the bulls and bears would fight it out every day, as if it were all a John Wayne Western: “The bulls are circling the wagons, trying to defend the highs” was a common refrain. His daily market commentary, Cashin’s Comments, was distributed to clients continuously for more than 40 years and was widely read on Wall Street. It invariably began with an analysis of an important event that occurred on that date (“On this date in 1918, the worldwide flu epidemic went into high gear in the U.S.”), and after a brief history lesson tied that event to the day’s market events (“Pre-opening Wednesday morning, U.S. stock futures looked like they might be coming down with the flu. Several earnings reports were less than glowing and some of the outlooks were cloudy”). He was a keen observer of human behavior, a behavioral psychologist long before the word was coined. He had seen his fellow humans panic time after time, and had seen the effects of succumbing to the initial desire to sell immediately without thinking. “It tells me that people have a tendency to overreact — and to not think things through carefully,” he said. “And you break up, again, into two sets of people, those who look with some suspicion at events, and others who say, ‘Oh, I’ve got to react to that.’ Those who react immediately rarely do well. Those who are somewhat suspect, they do much better.” He had two great loves in his life: his family and the New York Stock Exchange. In the age of computerized trading, the fabled NYSE trading floor still survives, though in greatly diminished form. When it was closed during the Covid pandemic, he said he was “ disappointed ... but it was understandable .” Cashin was philosophical when asked about the rise of electronic trading, which has slowly but surely eroded the influence of that floor. “I miss those magnificent days when your spirit hung on the fact that you were good for your word or you’re outta here,” he once said at Bobby Van’s, but admitted that electronic trading had improved the speed and accuracy of trading, particularly recordkeeping. Among his many friends, he will perhaps be best remembered for his modesty. He seemed genuinely puzzled about his popularity. “People have an interest in — in Arthur Cashin. I can’t fully understand why,” he said. And when The Washington Post ran a long profile of his career in 2019, calling him Wall Street’s version of CBS newsman Cronkite, he quipped: “I think I owe an apology to Walter Cronkite.” In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to the Arthur D. Cashin Jr. Memorial Scholarship at Xavier High School. Contributions may be sent to Xavier High School, 30 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011. — CNBC’s Martin Steinberg contributed to this report.
( MENAFN - EIN Presswire) Enterprise Search Market Digital transformation, diverse data, e-commerce document solutions, and chatbots drive global market growth, boosting expansion ahead. David Correa Allied Market Research +1 800-792-5285 email us here Visit us on social media: Facebook X Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above. MENAFN29122024003118003196ID1109040151 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.The Associated Press 7:53 JST, December 30, 2024 ATLANTA (AP) — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who tried to restore virtue to the White House after the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, then rebounded from a landslide defeat to become a global advocate of human rights and democracy, has died. He was 100 years old. The Carter Center said the 39th president died Sunday afternoon, more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died in November 2023, lived most of their lives. The center said he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. As reaction poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s death, saying the world lost an “extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian” and he lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter’s compassion and moral clarity, his work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless and advocacy for the disadvantaged as an example for others. “To all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning – the good life – study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility,” Biden said in a statement. “He showed that we are a great nation because we are a good people – decent and honorable, courageous and compassionate, humble and strong.” Biden said he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington. A moderate Democrat, Carter ran for president in 1976 as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad grin, effusive Baptist faith and technocratic plans for efficient government. His promise to never deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. “If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter said. Carter’s victory over Republican Gerald Ford, whose fortunes fell after pardoning Nixon, came amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over race, women’s rights and America’s role in the world. His achievements included brokering Mideast peace by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at Camp David for 13 days in 1978. But his coalition splintered under double-digit inflation and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His negotiations ultimately brought all the hostages home alive, but in a final insult, Iran didn’t release them until the inauguration of Ronald Reagan, who had trounced him in the 1980 election. Humbled and back home in Georgia, Carter said his faith demanded that he keep doing whatever he could, for as long as he could, to try to make a difference. He and Rosalynn co-founded The Carter Center in 1982 and spent the next 40 years traveling the world as peacemakers, human rights advocates and champions of democracy and public health. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, Carter helped ease nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiate cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, the center had monitored at least 113 elections around the world. Carter was determined to eradicate guinea worm infections as one of many health initiatives. Swinging hammers into their 90s, the Carters built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The common observation that he was better as an ex-president rankled Carter. His allies were pleased that he lived long enough to see biographers and historians revisit his presidency and declare it more impactful than many understood at the time. Propelled in 1976 by voters in Iowa and then across the South, Carter ran a no-frills campaign. Americans were captivated by the earnest engineer, and while an election-year Playboy interview drew snickers when he said he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times,” voters tired of political cynicism found it endearing. The first family set an informal tone in the White House, carrying their own luggage, trying to silence the Marine Band’s traditional “Hail to the Chief” and enrolling daughter, Amy, in public schools. Carter was lampooned for wearing a cardigan and urging Americans to turn down their thermostats. But Carter set the stage for an economic revival and sharply reduced America’s dependence on foreign oil by deregulating the energy industry along with airlines, trains and trucking. He established the departments of Energy and Education, appointed record numbers of women and nonwhites to federal posts, preserved millions of acres of Alaskan wilderness and pardoned most Vietnam draft evaders. Emphasizing human rights, he ended most support for military dictators and took on bribery by multinational corporations by signing the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He persuaded the Senate to ratify the Panama Canal treaties and normalized relations with China, an outgrowth of Nixon’s outreach to Beijing. But crippling turns in foreign affairs took their toll. When OPEC hiked crude prices, making drivers line up for gasoline as inflation spiked to 11%, Carter tried to encourage Americans to overcome “a crisis of confidence.” Many voters lost confidence in Carter instead after the infamous address that media dubbed his “malaise” speech, even though he never used that word. After Carter reluctantly agreed to admit the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979. Negotiations to quickly free the hostages broke down, and then eight Americans died when a top-secret military rescue attempt failed. Carter also had to reverse course on the SALT II nuclear arms treaty after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979. Though historians would later credit Carter’s diplomatic efforts for hastening the end of the Cold war, Republicans labeled his soft power weak. Reagan’s “make America great again” appeals resonated, and he beat Carter in all but six states. Born Oct. 1, 1924, James Earl Carter Jr. married fellow Plains native Rosalynn Smith in 1946, the year he graduated from the Naval Academy. He brought his young family back to Plains after his father died, abandoning his Navy career, and they soon turned their ambitions to politics. Carter reached the state Senate in 1962. After rural white and Black voters elected him governor in 1970, he drew national attention by declaring that “the time for racial discrimination is over.” Carter published more than 30 books and remained influential as his center turned its democracy advocacy onto U.S. politics, monitoring an audit of Georgia’s 2020 presidential election results. After a 2015 cancer diagnosis, Carter said he felt “perfectly at ease with whatever comes.” “I’ve had a wonderful life,” he said. “I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.”
DOWNERS GROVE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 23, 2024-- Duravant LLC (“Duravant”), a global engineered equipment and automation solutions provider to the food processing, packaging and material handling sectors, announced today that it has acquired POSS Design Limited (“POSS”), a leading manufacturer of protein processing solutions headquartered in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada. POSS designs and builds innovative mechanical separation equipment, ancillary products and turnkey systems that maximize recoverable protein yields for high volume processors of beef, pork, chicken, turkey, and other meats. POSS represents a strategic acquisition for Duravant as the company expands its investments in the rapidly growing protein sector. The best-in-class products and services offered by POSS are highly complementary and enhance Duravant’s capabilities to offer integrated automation solutions. “We are excited to welcome POSS to the Duravant family,” said Mike Kachmer, Chairman and CEO of Duravant. “Our partnership with POSS is a major step forward in our commitment to staying at the forefront of the protein industry, and we are excited about the new opportunities it will create for our customers and partners." Since 1978, POSS has been designing and building industry-leading separating solutions that increase throughput, minimize waste, and meet the growing capacity and efficiency needs of processors. Exclusively specializing in high quality mechanical separation technology, POSS has a broad range of products that provide custom solutions for a wide range of processing capacities. With engineering expertise to design turnkey systems that connect upstream and downstream equipment, POSS has established trusted relationships with many of the world’s leading protein processing brands. “We are thrilled to partner with Duravant as we embark on this new phase of growth,” said Ken Gulak, President of POSS. “Their global reach and advanced aftermarket capabilities through Duravant Lifecycle Services will allow us to expand into new markets and enhance the service we provide to our valued customers. We also are excited to collaborate with other Duravant operating companies such as Foodmate, Marelec, Henneken and Marlen.” About Duravant Headquartered in Downers Grove, IL, Duravant is a global engineered equipment company with manufacturing, sales and service facilities throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia. Through their portfolio of operating companies, Duravant delivers trusted end-to-end process solutions for customers and partners through engineering and integration expertise, project management and operational excellence. With worldwide sales distribution and service networks, they provide immediate and lifetime aftermarket support to all the markets they serve in the food processing, packaging and material handling sectors. Duravant’s market-leading brands are synonymous with innovation, durability and reliability. For more information, visit www.duravant.com . About POSS Headquartered in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, POSS is manufacturer and service provider of innovative and highly engineered mechanical separation equipment, ancillary products and turnkey systems that maximize recoverable protein yields for high volume processors of beef, pork, chicken, turkey, and other meats. Since 1978, the company has consistently led the way in developing solutions that address the needs of animal protein processors, prioritizing quality and safety while optimizing productivity and yields. Dedicated and unwavering to delivering the highest level of customer satisfaction, POSS works closely with clients to identify the best solutions for their unique processing needs. For more information, visit www.poss-separators.com . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241223938688/en/ CONTACT: Eleni Yianas Vice President, Marketing Eleni.yianas@duravant.com KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA CANADA ILLINOIS INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PACKAGING ENGINEERING RETAIL MANUFACTURING OTHER MANUFACTURING FOOD/BEVERAGE MACHINERY SOURCE: Duravant LLC Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/23/2024 01:14 PM/DISC: 12/23/2024 01:12 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241223938688/en
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The Nasdaq and the S&P 500 hit records Monday as Fed officials hinted at a rate cut in December. The Fed's Bostic and Waller nodded to a rate cut this month amid balanced economic and inflation risks. Investors are focused on economic data and holiday sales as the market anticipates the Fed's decision. US stocks traded mostly higher on Monday, with technology stocks helping the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 hit records as members of the Federal Reserve talked about the potential for another interest rate cut later this month. Fed President Raphael Bostic told reporters on Monday that while he's undecided on whether to cut rates at the Fed's FOMC meeting on December 18, he's keeping his "options open." "The risks to achieving the committee's dual mandates of maximum employment and price stability have shifted such that they are roughly in balance, so we likewise should begin shifting monetary policy toward a stance that neither stimulates nor restrains economic activity," Bostic wrote in an essay released on Monday. Meanwhile, Fed Governor Christopher Waller said Monday that he is "leaning toward" an interest rate cut. "Based on the economic data in hand today and forecasts that show that inflation will continue on its downward path to 2 percent over the medium term, at present I lean toward supporting a cut to the policy rate at our December meeting," said at a forum in Washington. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, markets see a 77% chance of a Fed rate cut at the December 18 FOMC meeting. That chance was at 65% earlier this morning. With the third-quarter earnings season mostly over, investors will turn their attention to economic data as the holiday shopping season heats up. Here's where US indexes stood at the 4:00 p.m. closing bell on Monday: S&P 500 : 6,047.15, up 0.24% Dow Jones Industrial Average : 44,782.00, down 0.29% (-128.65 points) Nasdaq composite : 19,403.95, up 0.97% The retail deal season continued following Black Friday, with Cyber Monday deals set to take over this week. According to data from Mastercard Spending Pulse, there was a 3.4% year-over-year increase in US retail sales on Black Friday, which included both in-person and online sales. The bulk of the Black Friday sales gains came from online sales, which were up 14.6%, compared to just a 0.7% increase in in-store sales, according to Mastercard. "Black Friday was a good indicator of how the holiday season is positively shaping up," said Michelle Meyer, chief economist at Mastercard Economics Institute. "Our real-time insights show that consumers are comfortably in the gift-giving spirit as price reductions and deals occur across sectors, supporting budgets for holiday shopping." Turning to economic data this week, investors will be eyeing November auto sales data on Tuesday, ADP employment data on Wednesday, and the November jobs report on Friday. The November nonfarm payroll report on Friday will be a particularly important input for the Fed's next policy decision as it looks to gauge how much it needs to do to prop up the economy. Economists expect 214,000 added in November, for a spike in hiring activity following October's dismal reading of 12,000 new hires. Here's what else happened today: Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger resigned from the company on Sunday, marking the end of a tumultuous three-year tenure. Donald Trump said he would levy a 100% tariff on countries that give up the US dollar. Super Micro Computer soared 31% after the company said it found no evidence of accounting fraud. President Joe Biden issued a pardon for his son Hunter Biden, who pleaded guilty to federal gun and tax evasion charges. Here's why the stock market crushed expectations in 2024. In commodities, bonds, and crypto: West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 0.10% to $68.07 a barrel. Brent crude , the international benchmark, was flat at $71.84 a barrel. Gold declined 0.66% to $2,662.90 an ounce. The 10-year Treasury yield jumped 2 basis points to 4.193%. Bitcoin fell 1.59% to $95,730.
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White House says at least 8 US telecom firms, dozens of nations impacted by China hacking campaignTaylor Swift's concerts at Vancouver's BC Place Dec. 6, 7 and 8 are continuing to help local charities. The BC Children's Hospital Foundation on Saturday night (Nov. 30) auctioned 15 tickets to a private suite at one of the Taylor Swift Vancouver concerts for $290,000 – an impressive amount of money but it was not the most that a B.C. charity has garnered for a suite during one of Swift's concerts. The VGH UBC Hospital Foundation on Oct. 19 raised a staggering $320,000 from a winning bid at its Vitality Gala live auction for 15 private suite tickets to see Swift sing in Vancouver. The BC Children's Hospital Foundation's weekend windfall at its Crystal Ball gala did, however, better some other B.C. charities that auctioned off tickets at suites to see Taylor Swift. The Victoria Hospitals Foundation at its Visions Gala Nov. 16 netted $260,000 by auctioning off a 15-person suite to see Swift. The BC Cancer Society was the first local charity to auction off a 15-person suite to see Swift. It raised $125,000 for that suite during an action at its Daffodil Ball in April. Combined, those four suites generated more than $1 million for the charities. PavCo, which operates BC Place, gifted the suites to be auctioned off, PavCo senior manager of marketing and communications Jenny McKenzie told BIV. “For every concert that comes through, we have a certain number of suites and tickets that [we get as] part of our partnership with that tour,” she explained. PavCo sometimes gives tickets and suites to what she called “stakeholders” related to PavCo, but the organization also donates access to suites and tickets to charities, she said. McKenzie said that PavCo has long had an informal system in place to provide suites and tickets to charities, and this year formalized what it is calling its BC Place Community Benefit Program. “By donating tickets, BC Place enables charities to raise critical funds while offering unforgettable experiences to their supporters,” she said. She added that the program reinforces PavCo’s role as a catalyst for positive change and social impact. The Canuck Place Children’s Hospice is another charity that has cashed in on excitement about Taylor Swift. It sold two sets of tickets—eight in total—to a Taylor Swift Vancouver concert for $46,000 at its November 2 Gift of Time Gala auction, which raised more than $1.63 million in support of Canuck Place. Toronto-based telecom Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX:RCI-B) is a presenting sponsor of the Canadian leg of Swift’s Eras tour, which includes six shows in Toronto and three in Vancouver. Because it is a presenting sponsor, it has access to many tickets for internal use. Some of those tickets are being given away to forge customer loyalty while others are being given to charities, Rogers’ senior manager of communication in Western Canada, Leann Yutuc, told BIV. Rogers has been giving away 35 pairs of tickets each week to different Rogers customers who enter draws, she said. “Specific to charities, we have given tickets to BGC Canada, Jays Care, Big Brothers Big Sisters Toronto and Canucks for Kids to distribute to their beneficiaries,” she said. Canucks for Kids received 40 tickets with those going to deserving families to attend a Taylor Swift concert, Yutuc said. Swift has been a vocal supporter of food banks and that has spurred fan Heidi Van Schaik to launch a Canada-wide initiative dubbed Tay It Forward. Waterloo, Ont.-based Schaik has set a goal to raise $1.3 million for Canadian food banks, with that amount chosen because 13 is said to be Swift’s favourite number, and it is one she has reportedly drawn on her hand before performances. Schaik is encouraging fans to make $13 donations, with the campaign slated to end December 13. A wide range of businesses in Vancouver are also cashing in on the Taylor Swift concerts . [email protected] @GlenKorstrom glenkorstrom.bsky.social