Dwyane Wade Receives the Elevate Prize Catalyst Award at the Second Annual Make Good Famous Summit, Announces Launch of Translatable

Elevate Prize Foundation closes second annual summit by recognizing the NBA Hall of Famer for his support of trans rights and joins the Wade Family Foundation in launching Translatable, a digital platform that will provide a safe space and resources for trans youth and their support systems

The Elevate Prize Foundation presented NBA Hall of Famer and entrepreneur Dwyane Wade with the Elevate Prize Catalyst Award today in recognition of his advocacy for the transgender community and for his work with the Wade Family Foundation, an activation lab that responds in real time to issues that touch the family’s hearts and minds. Following his acceptance of the award, Dwyane Wade announced the launch of Translatable, a digital platform that will serve as a community safe space for trans youth to express themselves, as well as provide educational tools for their support systems. He shared that the funds from the award would be dedicated to the launch and development of the platform.

“I am honored to accept the Elevate Prize Catalyst Award and share this honor with my daughter, Zaya,” said Dwyane Wade

Wade accepted the award on stage during the Foundation’s second annual Make Good Famous Summit, which gathered activists, changemakers, leaders, and culture-drivers from across the globe to discuss paths to spur collective action and create a more just and equitable world.

“I am honored to accept the Elevate Prize Catalyst Award and share this honor with my daughter, Zaya, who has served as the catalyzing force behind Translatable,” said Dwyane Wade. “We hope that Translatable provides our youth with a community to support their growth, mental health, and well-being, and that this space ignites more conversation leading to greater understanding and acceptance.”

The Elevate Prize Catalyst Award recognizes prominent individuals who use their influence to inspire social action. To advance their mission and scale their work, recipients receive $250,000 in unrestricted funding, as well as valuable development resources and partnership opportunities. Past recipients of the Elevate Prize Catalyst Award include Michael J. Fox, Matt Damon, and Malala Yousafzai – among others.

“We are honored to present this award to Dwyane Wade and support him and the Wade Family Foundation with the launch of Translatable. Dwyane’s tireless dedication to the trans community and racial justice has illuminated the path toward a more inclusive future,” said Carolina García Jayaram, CEO of the Elevate Prize Foundation. “By bravely confronting societal norms and advocating for change, Dwyane has not only reshaped perceptions but also inspired countless individuals to be more supportive and to embrace authenticity. Moreover, we commend his decision to announce Translatable in Florida – a place where many might feel a sense of exclusion.”

Wade introduced Translatable on-stage during the closing session of the Make Good Famous Summit, in line with the gathering’s theme of “Powering Community Through Culture.” The session was moderated by stand-up comedian, writer, and actress Phoebe Robinson, well-known for co-creating and co-starring in the hit podcast turned HBO series “2 Dope Queens.” Wade shared with Robinson that Translatable will focus on communities of color, help center the most marginalized and emphasize the importance of parents and family. Translatable will also feature community contributions across a variety of mediums, including short stories, artwork and poetry.

Other key speakers at the Summit included Brendan Vaughan, Editor-in-Chief of Fast Company; Edgar Villanueva, Founder and CEO of the Decolonizing Wealth Project; Rebecca Fishman-Lipsey, President and CEO of The Miami Foundation; Wawa Gatheru, Founder and CEO, Black Girl Environmentalist; and Sepideh Moafi, actress and activist.

Additionally, the Summit gathered winners of the Elevate Prize, which recognizes and awards rising activists and social entrepreneurs with resources to raise visibility of their work and multiply their impact to “Make Good Famous.” The Elevate Prize winners were also joined by the 2023 Top 10 CNN Heroes, including the 2023 CNN Hero of the Year and Elevate Prize winner Dr. Kwane Stewartof Project Street Vet. Winners of the Elevate Prize GET LOUD Award also participated at the event, representing community-based organizations across the globe championing change who were nominated by the @elevateprize Instagram community for the monthly prize – $25K in unrestricted funding to further their mission and impact. 

About The Elevate Prize Foundation
Founded in 2019 by businessman and philanthropist Joseph Deitch, the Elevate Prize Foundation is a global non-profit that empowers social entrepreneurs and activists by providing them with the resources they need to amplify their impact. The Foundation’s signature program is its annual Elevate Prize, which is awarded to 10 or more global leaders tackling pressing issues in innovative ways. The Elevate Prize Catalyst Award, another one of the Foundation’s programs, recognizes prominent individuals for their commitment to inspiring global social action and using their influence for the good of humanity. In 2022, the Foundation launched the Elevate Prize GET LOUD Award, a monthly grant to fuel grassroots movements and organizers on the frontlines committed to collective action and building power among communities. For more information, visit www.elevateprize.org and follow @ElevatePrize on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

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The Op Games Launches MONOPOLY®: Grey’s Anatomy Edition, Based on Popular Drama Series

On the Heels of the Series’ Season 20 Finale, Fans Can Continue the Drama as They Race to Assemble the Best Team of Doctors in This Life-Saving Board Game Edition

The Op Games, the board game and puzzle publisher behind iconic licensed games and best-selling party games Telestrations®, Blank Slate™, and Hues and Cues™, today launched a brand-new official version of the world’s most popular family board game – MONOPOLY®: Grey’s Anatomy Edition. Under license by Hasbro, a leading toy and game company, this new game brings the longest-running primetime series in ABC history to the tabletop, giving fans another way to rejoice in the life-saving triumphs that Grey Sloan Memorial is known for.

In MONOPOLY®: Grey’s Anatomy Edition, players will ‘dance it out’ and race to save lives as they assemble the ultimate team of surgeons. With iconic characters including Miranda Bailey, Richard Webber, and Meredith Grey to buy, sell, and trade, players will collect only the best surgical staff and start charging opponents a fee when they stop by for a “consultation.” Fans will love the exclusive, custom gameboard featuring members of the Grey Sloan crew new and old, as well as the six collectible tokens representing classic series moments: a Ferry boat, Clipboard, First Aid Kit Bag, Scrub Top, Stethoscope, and Scalpel.

“As a TV series making ABC history, we couldn’t think of a better show to bring to the tabletop after almost 20 years,” said Dane Chapin, CEO at The Op. “Grey’s Anatomy has been bringing generations together for decades, as long-time viewers and new binge-watchers dive into the world of surgery, and we can’t wait to give them all a new way to spend time together in their favorite universe over MONOPOLY®: Grey’s Anatomy Edition.”

Created for two to six players, ages eight and up, MONOPOLY®: Grey’s Anatomy Edition includes 28 Title (Deed) cards featuring prominent surgeons from the series, 32 Certifications (Houses), and 12 Specialties (Hotels). Community Chest and Chance cards have also been renamed to DANCE IT OUT and YOU’RE MY PERSON cards, respectively. Complete with custom Grey’s Anatomy currency, the game makes for the ultimate experience fans deserve after almost 20 years of dedication.

MONOPOLY®: Grey’s Anatomy Edition (MSRP: $44.99) is available now on The Op Games’ website. To learn more about the game and The Op, visit www.TheOp.Games, and follow along on social (@TheOpGames) for more on the latest game announcements and launches. For official images and other game assets, contact TheOp@ResoundMarketing.com.

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Statement from President Joe Biden on $7.7 Billion in Student Debt Cancellation for 160,000 Borrowers

Today, my Administration is canceling student debt for 160,000 more people, bringing the total number of Americans who have benefitted from our debt relief actions to 4.75 million. Each of those borrowers has received an average of over $35,000 in debt cancellation. These 160,000 additional borrowers are people enrolled in my Administration’s SAVE Plan; are public service workers like teachers, nurses, or law enforcement officials; or are borrowers who were approved for relief because of fixes we made to Income-Driven Repayment. 

Today’s announcement comes on top of the significant progress we’ve made for students and borrowers over the past three years. That includes providing the largest increases to the maximum Pell Grant in over a decade; fixing Public Service Loan Forgiveness so teachers, nurses, police officers, and other public service workers get the relief they are entitled to under the law; and holding colleges accountable for taking advantage of students and families. And last month, I laid out my Administration’s new plans that would cancel student debt for more than 30 million Americans when combined with everything we’ve done so far. 

From day one of my Administration, I promised to fight to ensure higher education is a ticket to the middle class, not a barrier to opportunity. I will never stop working to cancel student debt – no matter how many times Republican elected officials try to stop us.

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Families of Uvalde shooting victims sue Meta, video game company and gun manufacturer

Exactly two years after the Uvalde school massacre, families of victims Friday filed multiple state lawsuits in California and Texas against social media giant Meta, Activision — the maker of the popular video game “Call of Duty” — and Daniel Defense, the manufacturer of the AR-15 which the teen gunman used in the shooting.

The wrongful death lawsuits come just two days after the same group of 19 families reached a $2 million settlement with the city of Uvalde over the May 24, 2022, Robb Elementary School massacre, which killed 19 students and two teachers.

One of the two lawsuits was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court against both Activision and Meta – Instagram’s parent company. The second lawsuit, against Daniel Defense, was filed in Uvalde District Court.

The lawsuits were filed by attorney Josh Koskoff, who is also representing the same 19 families who were part of Wednesday’s $2 million settlement.

Friday’s lawsuits claim that Instagram, Activision and Daniel Defense have been “partnering…in a scheme that preys upon insecure, adolescent boys,” attorneys said in a news release.

Attorneys claim that Meta and Activision “enabled and emboldened firearm manufacturers’ efforts to expand the market for their weapons by granting unprecedented, direct and 24/7 access to children.”

The lawsuits allege that the gunman, on his 18th birthday, purchased the AR-15 used in the Uvalde shooting because “he was targeted and cultivated online by Instagram, Activision and Daniel Defense. This three-headed monster knowingly exposed him to the weapon, conditioned him to see it as a tool to solve his problems and trained him to use it,” Koskoff said in a statement.

According to the lawsuits, the Uvalde gunman downloaded “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare” in November 2021, and had been playing previous iterations of “Call of Duty” since he was 15 years old. The video game prominently features a model of the AR-15, known as DDM4V7, that was used in the shooting, the lawsuits allege.

“Simultaneously, on Instagram, the shooter was being courted through explicit, aggressive marketing,” attorneys said. “In addition to hundreds of images depicting and venerating the thrill of combat, Daniel Defense used Instagram to extol the illegal, murderous use of its weapons.”

Attorneys claim that Meta and Activision “enabled and emboldened firearm manufacturers’ efforts to expand the market for their weapons by granting unprecedented, direct and 24/7 access to children.”

The lawsuits allege that the gunman, on his 18th birthday, purchased the AR-15 used in the Uvalde shooting because “he was targeted and cultivated online by Instagram, Activision and Daniel Defense. This three-headed monster knowingly exposed him to the weapon, conditioned him to see it as a tool to solve his problems and trained him to use it,” Koskoff said in a statement.

According to the lawsuits, the Uvalde gunman downloaded “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare” in November 2021, and had been playing previous iterations of “Call of Duty” since he was 15 years old. The video game prominently features a model of the AR-15, known as DDM4V7, that was used in the shooting, the lawsuits allege.

“Simultaneously, on Instagram, the shooter was being courted through explicit, aggressive marketing,” attorneys said. “In addition to hundreds of images depicting and venerating the thrill of combat, Daniel Defense used Instagram to extol the illegal, murderous use of its weapons.”

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