ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay Expands Its COVID-19 Rapid Testing Capabilities

ARCpoint Labs has added 10 testing machines to its lab, with the long-term goal of offering businesses and schools on-site testing so they can get quicker results.

Monterey, CA, August 14, 2020 — ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay has expanded its rapid testing capabilities, adding new testing equipment, allowing 24-hour turnaround for test results, perfect for businesses, schools and individuals who need quick results.

ARCpoint Labs has added 10 testing machines to its lab, with the long-term goal of offering businesses and schools on-site testing so they can get quicker results.

ARCpoint has also expanded its staff to handle the increased workload, now with 10 people working in the lab alone. ARCpoint is also hiring now to meet demand.

ARCpoint will also be opening a branch in Salinas in the fall.

The 24-hour turnaround test is a live virus test, Antigen Rapid Test, which requires a nasal or other swab, a 94% true positive rate, 100% true negative rate, no doctor’s order is required, $130. A viral test identifies whether you have the current SARS-CoV-2 infection in your body.

If you have questions about ARCpoint Labs COVID-19 testing, go to www.labtestmonterey.com or call (831) 324-0772. You always speak directly to a local testing expert at ARCpoint Labs.

ABOUT ARCPOINT LABS
ARCpoint Labs is a full-service national third-party provider and administrator of accurate, reliable, and confidential diagnostic testing for individuals, companies, and legal and healthcare professionals. ARCpoint Labs has been in the drug and alcohol testing business for over 18 years, and our staff has over 60 years of combined industry experience. ARCpoint Labs has over 100 locations across the country with an additional 18 locations slated to open within the next 12 months. For more information on ARCpoint Labs, visit www.arcpointlabs.com.

ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay is an independently owned ARCpoint Labs business, part of a Greenville, South Carolina-based franchise. The Smith family of Monterey, brothers Spenser and Bryant and their parents Belle and Randy, established the company in 2018.

ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay
24560 Silver Cloud Court, #103 Monterey, CA 93940
Phone: (831) 324-0772
Email: monterey@arcpointlabs.com

Website: www.arcpointlabs.com
COVID-19 Appointments: labtestmonterey.com

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.arcpointlabs.com

Kindness Monterey Campaign to Stream First of Live Care-A-Thon Online Concerts on Aug. 23, On Facebook

Campaign Helps Restaurants and Those In Need Due to COVID-19 Emergency.

Monterey, CA, August 10, 2020 — Kindness Monterey, a campaign initiated to help individuals in need and restaurants that have been challenged as the result of the coronavirus emergency, will present its first online Care-A-Thon live concerts on Aug. 23 on Facebook.

The first online Care-A-Thon concert is produced by musician and promoter Kiki Wow and hosted and produced by Destination 831, and will be held from 6-9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020. The concert will feature 10 local musicians, short video interviews with local restaurant owners, and a call-out to donate to the gofundme campaign. The link to the concert will be available on the website after its initial streaming.

Musicians confirmed include: Alisa Fineman & Kimball Hurd, Kenny Stahl & Bob Burnett, Lee Durley, Robert Turner, Dave Holodiloff Trio, Kiki & Wowettes, Haley Jane, Mira Malcom & Michael Martinez, and Richard Bryant & Kyle Kovalik.

The concert will be streamed on the Kindness Monterey Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/kindnessmonterey. Another concert will be held in September.

Kindness Monterey, which was launched on July 8, 2020, has expanded its campaign to include a gofundme page, new partners working to get sponsors and donations, and assistance to restaurants wanting to set up gift cards on their websites.

Kindness Monterey is encouraging local restaurants to join their campaign. KM is making a concerted effort to reach out to all restaurants by in-person visits, email, mail, phone to have them sign on so that they can be listed on the website. Many restaurants that provide gift cards do not have the ability to order them online as a digital gift card, which makes it difficult for the person wanting to

send a friend or co-worker a gift card, which is the message of the campaign — to buy a gift card and send it to someone who needs a lift. Sign up at: https://www.kindnessmonterey.com/sign-up/ and read about the benefits of being on the kindnessmonterey website and offering digital cards.

With that in mind, KM is partnering with a CSUMB initiative called GetVirtual.org. GetVirtual gives local businesses affected by COVID-19 the tools to adapt to the virtual landscape and extend their businesses online. Their program pairs local businesses such as restaurants, who need help with online tools like gift cards, with college students who are tech-savvy and want business experience. It's a win-win. Restaurants get help for free and the students get college credit.

KindnessMonterey.org is partnering with GetVirtual’s CSU Monterey Bay chapter starting in September when students are back in school. Maren Elwood, (co-founder of KindnessMonterey.com), will work with Brad Barbaeu (GetVirtual CSUMB Program Director) and Kenneth Olsen (CSUMB GetVirtual Program Manager) to pull together a team of students who will assist our local restaurants to offer an online gift card option on their website. Meanwhile Maren Elwood, the co-founder of Kindness Monterey, is currently working to sign up restaurants now.

Kindness Monterey has teamed up with The American Institute of Wine & Food (AIWF), Monterey Bay Chapter (https://www.aiwfmb.org/), which has agreed to be the campaign’s 501(c)3 non-profit fiscal sponsor. Kindness Monterey can now accept donations of $250 or more from corporate sponsors or individuals through their fiscal sponsor — AIWF-Monterey Bay Chapter, and those donating at that level or higher will then be able to get a tax write off. Chef/caterer and cookbook author Mary Chamberlin, Emeritus Chapter Chair/National Vice Chair of AIWF – Monterey Bay Chapter, has been instrumental in making this happen.

Kindness Monterey has also set up a GoFundMe page at: https://www.Gofundme.com/manage/kindness-monterey. You can also access the page with the “Donate” button on the Kindness Monterey website (kindnessmonterey.com) or Facebook page (facebook.com/kindnessmonterey).

The GoFundMe page was set up primarily for individuals to give smaller donations to help fund the campaign. It will enable the Kindness Monterey team to spread the word about this important program that benefits so many local community members through print advertising and social media. The advertising will urge everyone in the community to go to the KindnessMonterey.com website https://www.kindnessmonterey.com/ and purchase restaurant gift cards. Please note that any donation under $250 is not tax-deductible.

For individuals or businesses who do not have a specific person in mind and would still like to make a donation to the Kindness Monterey program, these GoFundMe funds will be used to purchase gift cards for the Food Bank For Monterey County, to support the Boys and Girls Clubs of Monterey County and other worthy local community members in need.

Kindness Monterey has also teamed up with marketing and PR professional, Wendy Brickman (https://www.brickmanmarketing.com), who will reach out to local businesses and individuals to secure sponsorships to help fund the campaign. The campaign needs the support to be able to continue and every donation makes it possible to bring the community together to support our restaurants.

Sponsorships will allow Kindness Monterey to accomplish five important goals:

1. Fund its campaign enabling Kindness Monterey to do widespread marketing through social media, print advertising, Constant Contact and various Chamber of Commerce email blasts.

2. Allow Kindness Monterey to buy restaurant gift cards and distribute them to organizations such as the Food Bank For Monterey County, Chambers of Commerce, small business owners whose companies are being challenged by COVID-19, first responders, musicians, displaced hospitality workers, including those working in the restaurants, field workers, etc.

3. Provide matching funds to offer 2-for-1 deals to generate additional sales for gift card promotions.

4. Allow Kindness Monterey to donate six grab-and-go weekend meals to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Monterey County for every $1,000 raised through sponsorships and GoFundMe.

5. Fund the two online Care-A-Thon concerts as well as other fundraising events.

The Kindness Monterey campaign was created by local businesswomen Annee Martin and Maren Elwood, and the website, www.kindnessmonterey.com was launched on July 8, 2020.

The pay-it-forward gift card campaign to help Monterey Peninsula restaurants encourages generosity from the community by purchasing these gift cards to give to family, friends, neighbors, musicians, service providers, small business owners, field workers, frontline medical personnel and first responders. Martin believes that not only are you helping restaurants stay alive and letting them know they are loved and supported by their community, but by paying it forward, you are lifting the spirits and hopes of our entire community.

Kindness Monterey will continue to provide as long as there is a need in our community. For more information, go to: info@kindnessmonterey.com, like Kindness Monterey on its Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/kindnessmonterey, or call Annee Martin at 831-236-5618; Maren Elwood at 831-238-5503; or Kiki Wow at 831-235-7662. Or, go to the website at: kindnessmonterey.com.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.kindnessmonterey.com

Goodwill Central Coast Opens New Donation Sites in Carmel Valley, Los Osos and Santa Cruz

Goodwill Central Coast has opened three new donation sites in Carmel Valley, Los Osos and Santa Cruz.

Salinas, CA, August 10, 2020 — Goodwill Central Coast has opened three new donation sites in Carmel Valley, Los Osos and Santa Cruz.

Here are the three new sites and their hours:

>Donation trailer at the Mid-Valley Shopping Center (next to Safeway store), 312 Mid Valley Center, Carmel Valley. Open daily 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.

> Donation center at 1014 Los Osos Road, Los Osos. Open daily from 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.

> Donation center (formerly the Bookstore), at 815 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz. Open daily 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.

When you donate second-hand items to Goodwill Industries you’re not just cleaning house, you’re supporting job training programs in your community and protecting the planet through reuse and recycling.

Last year, Goodwill Central Coast received more than 587,000 donations, totaling more than 23 million pounds of clothing and household items. Of those donations Goodwill was able to divert 7,600 tons from landfills and the money raised helped fund programs that put over 13,000 people back to work.

Goodwill’s impact wouldn’t be nearly as great without the generosity of the community.

For more information, call (831) 423-8611 or go to: https://www.ccgoodwill.org.

About Goodwill Central Coast
Goodwill Central Coast, a private 501(c)3 non-profit organization, began in 1928 in the city of Santa Cruz and today has expanded into three counties: Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo. Goodwill Central Coast now employs over 600 people, including employment training professionals, sales personnel, donation center attendants, warehouse and distribution workers, and administrators. Its programs strengthen communities by improving job growth, the lives of individuals and families, and the health of our environment. Each year Goodwill assists more than 13,000 job seekers get back to work and reclaim financial and personal independence. Goodwill provides a positive learning environment that creates brighter futures through connecting people to meaningful work.

Goodwill Central Coast
1566 Moffet Street
Salinas, CA 93905
(831) 423-8611
https://www.ccgoodwill.org

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://www.ccgoodwill.org

Gil Basketball Academy co-founder Jose Gil to launch podcast series ‘Ganas — Leading from the Heart’

People from Mexico have a certain way with words, using colorful expressions to grab our attention.

Salinas, CA, August 07, 2020 — People from Mexico have a certain way with words, using colorful expressions to grab our attention.

Take the word ganas. From the verb ganar, it literally translates to gain or win. But if coach Jose Gil were to urge members at his Gil Basketball Academy to “echarle ganas,” he’s pleading with them to show desire, to throw some life into it.

It’s with that sentiment in mind that Gil has launched a new podcast called “Ganas — Leading from the Heart.” The longtime coach and athletic director at Alisal High School, who co-founded Gil Basketball Academy more than 10 years ago with his wife Eva Silva, will begin programming on X(date here)X.

The couple formed the academy in 2009 to promote the sport of basketball in East Salinas through camps, clinics, individual sessions and elite travel teams. But more than that, GBA was designed to build confidence and character in a membership that exceeds 400 local kids ages 4 to 17.

The idea for a podcast grew from Gil’s growing frustration in not being able to completely connect with his kids during the pandemic.

“You have to think outside the box,” he said. “I was used to having hundreds of kids together at one time, and now I have to figure out new ways to have an impact.”

During the pandemic, Gil took to jogging near his home in Salinas, listening to various podcasts along the way.

“I thought, we have something here,” he said. “We have the audience, we have connections with people all around the world. We can tap into their expertise, and it becomes an easy way to connect.”

Podcasting is an increasingly popular pastime in the U.S., with an estimated 88 million listeners in 2019. The pandemic has led to an amazing surge in streaming, and forecasts suggest that listener numbers will surpass 160 million in 2023.

While Gil has little experience in media (and none in podcasting), he invested in the technology needed to turn his home garage into a proper studio.

“Ganas” podcasts will span 30 to 45 minutes, and include topics such as sports, health, fitness, leadership, community and more.

Finding impactful guests shouldn’t be a problem.

As part of its mission, GBA believes in empowering youth by helping them develop a world view. Through the years Gil and his volunteers have taken academy members to far-flung places such as New Zealand, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and Italy. GBA coaches have also been on staff at basketball camps run by NBA legend Michael Jordan and the late Kobe Bryant.

While he wouldn’t predict an MJ appearance on the podcast, it’s not outside the realm of possibility; Gil has met and worked with Jordan on several occasions.

“We’ve made so many connections over the years,” Gil said. “We also have former college friends who are now mayors, doctors, top officials, lawyers. My wife’s friend is the director of the Lupus Foundation of America. We want to take this to a different level. There are ways to show leadership, teamwork and inspiration through uplifting and inspiring interviews.”

Gil plans to treat each podcast like a casual conversation, seeing where it leads. His grown children will help in the effort to recruit guests and produce the shows.

“It will be a family thing, and always centered on family values, and a holistic approach to life,” he said.

“Ganas” podcasts will also include video, with many of the guests joining the show via the conferencing network Zoom. To stream “Ganas,” Gil plans to use popular podcast sites such as Spotify and Apple, and will archive all episodes on GBA’s website www.gilbasketballacademy.com.

In the end, Gil hopes that each listener to “Ganas” will be inspired to make the most out of life.

“I use ganas in my coaching toolbox because I believe that if you put your heart into something you can be successful,” he said. “It’s in the ganas. Go all out, that’s what it translates to. In basketball terms it means leave it all on the court. But it applies to life as well.”

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.gilbasketballacademy.com

Gil Basketball Academy, Jose Gil, podcast series Ganas Leading from the Hert

GBA Coach Joey Ramos

A good coach can inspire a child for life, and no one believes that more than Joey Ramos.

Salinas, CA, August 05, 2020 - Born in Lapaz, in the Philippines, Ramos came to Soledad with his parents and three siblings when he was just 6 months old. “My parents wanted to give their children a better life with more opportunities,” he said.

An extremely shy child, Ramos discovered basketball in the fourth grade. “Our coach, Mr. Godoy, would coach us from his kind heart,” he said. “We practiced after school three days a week and he personally would drive us to Salinas to play on Saturdays.”

The experience had a huge impact on Ramos, who today lives in Salinas and coaches two GBA select girls teams.

“Playing with a team made me open up and feel comfortable with other people, and has made me become the person I am today,” he said. “It helped with my social skills. To this day, I’m always happy and excited to meet new people.”

In 2002 Ramos was asked to help as an assistant coach for his niece’s basketball team. “That’s where it opened up a new adventure for me to coach basketball,” he said. “It was what I needed to share my love of the game and help other kids that loved the game, too.”

In 2011 he coached his nephew’s team for Steinbeck Elementary in Salinas. Aside from his GBA work, Ramos currently coaches the 7th and 8th grade girls teams at Gavilan View Middle School.

His experience with GBA began nine years ago when he was introduced to GBA co-founder Jose Gil.

“Coach Gil opened up new experiences,” Ramos said. “I could not imagine working with large groups of kids, ranging from kindergarten to high school. It opened up new competitive experiences with GBA select travel teams. It’s all had an impact on how I coach.”

For Ramos, the most rewarding aspects of coaching have happened off the court.

“It’s all about preparing them for the next level of their game, sure, but also in life,” he said. “To use the same elements of respect, commitment, dedication, passion, and the hunger to learn more in everything you set your mind to.”

Ramos is grateful he’s able to support his community, and help open doors for a better future. “Their growth in becoming young adults earns them the same respect, commitment, dedication and the passion they have experienced learning the game and becoming leaders themselves,” he said.

In the end, it’s all about the love of a game that brings to participants many bonuses.

“The excitement I see in our youth, learning together, meeting new friends, having fun, has been the most rewarding,” he said. “Their big smiles are what fuels me!”

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://gilbasketballacademy.com/

Nonprofit Partnership for Children earns $3,000 grant from Northern Monterey County Foundation

Since 2007, Partnership for Children has provided transportation and financial assistance for children on the Central Coast who require access to compassionate care.

Salinas, CA, August 04, 2020 — Since 2007, Partnership for Children has provided transportation and financial assistance for children on the Central Coast who require access to compassionate care.

These efforts received a financial boost last week when the nonprofit earned a $3,000 grant from the Northern Monterey County Foundation.

The grant will support safe, reliable transportation to medical treatment for children living with serious illnesses in North Monterey County, along with financial and practical support for their families.

Partnership for Children qualified for the grant in light of its long history of advocating for children and families, providing both transportation and support services for children with life-threatening conditions living in Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties.

For children living with serious illness, access to medical care is essential. Partnership for Children helps by providing safe, free and reliable rides to medical appointments, as well as gas-card subsidies to ease financial burdens. PFC also provides financial subsidies to help pay for basic living expenses such as rent or utilities, and coordinate with hospital social workers as well as community partners to determine family needs.

Find out more at www.partnerforkids.org.

The Northern Monterey County Foundation is an affiliate fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC), which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. Founded in 1945 as “the Monterey Foundation” with a focus on historic preservation of the adobes, it expanded its scope to open space preservation and then broad charitable purposes and building endowment in the 1970s. Today it partners with individuals, families, nonprofits and businesses to create charitable funds and make grants towards a vision of healthy, safe, vibrant communities. Find out more at www.cfmco.org.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.partnerforkids.org

Kindness Monterey Campaign to Help Restaurants and Those in Need Due to COVID-19 Emergency Expanding Its Campaign

Kindness Monterey, a campaign initiated to help individuals in need and restaurants that have been challenged as the result of the coronavirus emergency

Monterey, CA, August 03, 2020 — Kindness Monterey, a campaign initiated to help individuals in need and restaurants that have been challenged as the result of the coronavirus emergency, is expanding its campaign to include a gofundme page, new partners working to get sponsors and donations, assistance to restaurants wanting to set up gift cards on their websites and organizing two streaming concerts to raise funds.

KindnessMonterey.com is excited to announce that we have partnered with a CSUMB initiative called GetVirtual.org. GetVirtual gives local businesses affected by COVID-19 the tools to adapt to the virtual landscape and extend their businesses online. Their program pairs local businesses, who need help with online tools like gift cards, with college students who are tech savvy and want business experience. It's a win-win. Businesses get help for free and the students get college credit.

KindnessMonterey.org will partner with GetVirtual’s CSU Monterey Bay chapter starting the week of July 20, 2020. Maren Elwood, (co-founder of KindnessMonterey.com), will work with Brad Barbaeu (GetVirtual CSUMB Program Director) and Kenneth Olsen (CSUMB GetVirtual Program Manager) to pull together a team of students who will assist our local restaurants to offer an online gift card option on their website.

Kindness Monterey has teamed up with The American Institute of Wine & Food (AIWF), Monterey Bay Chapter (https://www.aiwfmb.org/), which has agreed to be the campaign’s 501(c)3 non-profit fiscal sponsor. Kindness Monterey can now accept donations of $250 or more from corporate sponsors or individuals through their fiscal sponsor — AIWF-Monterey Bay Chapter, and those donating at that level or higher will then be able to get a tax write off. Chef/caterer and cookbook author, Mary Chamberlin, Emeritus Chapter Chair/National Vice Chair of AIWF – Monterey Bay Chapter, has been instrumental in making this happen.

Kindness Monterey has also set up a GoFundMe page at: https://www.Gofundme.com/manage/kindness-monterey. You can also access the page with the “Donate” button on the Kindness Monterey website (kindnessmonterey.com) or Facebook page (facebook.com/kindnessmonterey).

The GoFundMe page was set up primarily for individuals to give smaller donations to help fund the campaign. It will enable the Kindness Monterey team to spread the word about this important program that benefits so many local community members through print advertising and social media. The advertising will urge everyone in the community to go the KindnessMonterey.com website and purchase restaurant gift cards. Please note that any donation under $250 is not tax-deductible.

For individuals or businesses who do not have a specific person in mind and would still like to make a donation to the Kindness Monterey program, these GoFundMe funds will be used to purchase gift cards for the Food Bank For Monterey County, to support the Boys and Girls Clubs of Monterey County and other worthy local community members in need.

Kindness Monterey has also teamed up with marketing and PR professional, Wendy Brickman (https://www.brickmanmarketing.com), who will reach out to local businesses and individuals to secure sponsorships to help fund the campaign.

Sponsorships will allow Kindness Monterey to accomplish five important goals:

1. Fund its campaign enabling Kindness Monterey to do widespread marketing through social media, print advertising, Constant Contact and various Chamber of Commerce email blasts.

2. Allow Kindness Monterey to buy restaurant gift cards and distribute them to organizations such as the Food Bank For Monterey County, Chambers of Commerce, small business owners whose companies are being challenged by COVID-19, first responders, musicians, displaced hospitality workers, including those working in the restaurants, field workers, etc.

3. Provide matching funds to offer 2-for-1 deals to generate additional sales for gift card promotions.

4. Allow Kindness Monterey to donate six grab-and-go weekend meals to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Monterey County for every $1,000 raised through sponsorships and GoFundMe.

5. Fund the two online Music Care-A-Thon concerts produced by musician and promoter, Kiki Wow, on Aug. 23rd and another date in the fall to be determined, as well as other fundraising events.

Online Care-A-Thon
The first online Music Care-A-Thon concert produced by musician and promoter Kiki Wow will be held from 6-9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020. This concert will feature nine to 12 local musicians, short video interviews with local restaurant owners, and a call-out to donate to the gofundme campaign. The link to the concert will be available on the website 24 hours after its initial airing as well as their kindness Monterey facebook page.

Musicians confirmed so far include: Alisa Fineman & Kimball, Kenny Stahl & Bob Burnett, Lee Durley, Robert Turner, Dave Holodiloff Trio, Dennis Murphy, Kiki & Wowettes, Hayley Jane, Mira Malcom and Michael Martinez, Richard Bryant & Kyle Kovalik, and Roger Eddy & Bruce Forman. KRML community radio will also be doing interviews during the livestream and on-air.

The concert will be aired on the Kindness Monterey Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/kindnessmonterey.

Kindness Monterey will continue to provide as long as there is a need in our community. For more information, go to: info@kindnessmonterey.com, like Kindness Monterey on its Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/kindnessmonterey, or call Annee Martin at 831-236-5618; Maren Elwood at 831-238-5503; or Kiki Wow at 831-235-7662. Or, go to the website at: kindnessmonterey.com.

The Kindness Monterey campaign was created by local businesswomen Annee Martin and Maren Elwood, and the website, www.kindnessmonterey.com launched on July 8, 2020.

The pay-it-forward gift card campaign to help Monterey Peninsula restaurants encourages generosity from the community by purchasing these gift cards to give to family, friends, neighbors, musicians, service providers, small business owners, field workers, frontline medical personnel and first responders. Martin believes that not only are you helping restaurants stay alive and letting them know they are loved and supported by their community, but by paying it forward, you are lifting the spirits and hopes of our entire community.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.kindnessmonterey.com