Market Newsdesk

NEW YORK, Dec. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — First Responders Children’s Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports children of first responders and their families, will deliver over 100,000 free holiday toys through different events designed to help spread much-needed holiday cheer to New York families. The New York State Toy Express kicked off on Friday, December 11th in New York City. Looking forward to this week, toys will be distributed through additional events in partnership with the NYPD, FDNY and first responder agencies both in New York City and throughout New York State.

First Responders Children’s Foundation is a proud partner of the NYPD Five Borough Sleigh Ride, which kicked off this week with a motorcade delivering toys to children during the city’s first annual First Responders Children’s Foundation Toy Express with the NYPD. The first day of the event was dedicated to delivering toys to ten pre-selected families, all of whom were victims of gun violence, fires, or other tragedies. Media, Nassau County Police Department and New York State Police officers, including NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea, were present, along with multiple additional representatives from the Foundation and NYPD. Over 20,000 families will be gifted through these events with the NYPD alone.

Over the weekend, the Foundation also delivered toys to thousands of children from first responder families in both New York and New Jersey. On Saturday, the Foundation held a drive-through holiday toy and food giveaway at the Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park in Manhattan to thank over 800 first responder families for their sacrifices during these challenging times.

And on Sunday, the Foundation delivered over 6,000 toys to more than 400 families in Ulster County with the help of the Saugerties’ Mayor’s Office, Ulster County Sheriff’s Office, Saugerties Police Department, New York State Police, CSX, Centerville Fire District, Glasco Fire Company and Sawyer Motors Foundation. “We’re saying happy holidays and thank you to the heroic first responders who show up when we dial 911,” said Jillian Crane, President of First Responders Children’s Foundation. “Toy Express will help make a happy holiday for the children of our first responders which include nurses, firefighters, police officers, EMTs, paramedics, medical personnel, and 911 dispatchers. Our first responders are on the frontlines of the pandemic, and they continue to risk their own health every day in selfless service to their local communities across the country.”

First Responders Children’s Foundation established the Toy Express with a generous toy donation worth more than $3,500,000 in retail value from Mattel and American Girl including 5,000 signature 18” American Girl dolls and more than 45,000 in other Mattel products such as Hot Wheels^®, Barbie^® and Mega Bloks^®. Additional sponsors include CSX, Good360, Hess Toy Truck, Jakks Pacific, MaskUSA.com, and Toys for Tots. In addition, generous individuals across the nation are helping bring holiday cheer to first responder families by making donations of toys and money. Transportation of toys and masks across the country is coordinated and provided by Total Quality Logistics (TQL) and their Moves that Matter program.

By the end of the holiday season, First Responders Children’s Foundation’s Toy Express will have delivered almost 250,000 free toys and masks through various COVID-safe events throughout the country.

First Responders Children’s Foundation began in the wake of 9/11 when Founder and Chairman, Alfred R. Kahn, hosted the first annual Thanksgiving Day Parade Breakfast just weeks after the 9/11 attacks. That year, more than 800 children and family members of first responders lost in the line of duty were invited to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade from private, front-row viewing which began an annual tradition of welcoming devastated first responder families into a supportive environment to face the challenges of the start of a holiday season without a loved one. 19 years later, the Foundation continues to support the families of first responders across the country with critical assistance including college scholarships and financial grants including paying for funeral bills of first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their community. During the 2020 pandemic, the Foundation has assisted more than 677,638 first responders through its COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. This holiday season, First Responders Children’s Foundation’s Toy Express will help provide cheer and happiness to children and families of first responders. Media assets for Toy Express can be found at https://1strcf.org/toy-express/.

Media Contact:
Joanna Black
+1 (646) 912-2681
[email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/374a74db-250f-4537-bddf-13efbd013f80

A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/69ef8be7-e1de-4e14-8a23-2e6295c322da

OC Beverages changes name to “Revium Recovery, Inc.”, acquires new symbol and implements reverse stock split

New York, Dec. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Revium Recovery, Inc. (OTCPINK: OCBGD) has, through its wholly owned subsidiary Revium Recovery, Ltd. (“Revium Ltd.”), acquired exclusive rights to develop and market an innovative and unique anti-addiction treatment which implements a proprietary measurement-based, integrative care approach. The focused method uses a holistic approach and takes into account physical, cognitive, and psychological parameters for each patient.  

Addiction is a global scourge, affective people of all cultures around the world. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, over 350 million people suffered from substance abuse in 2017. The global substance abuse disorders market is estimated at more than USD $56 billion, which accounts for more than 30% of the total global behavioral rehabilitation market valued at USD $188.1 billion in 2015, according to Grand View Research Data’s report on Behavioral Rehabilitation Market published in 2017.

Revium Recovery, Ltd., based in Israel, is a clinical-caliber company focused on the development of a disruptive, methodical and novel proprietary approach toward addiction treatment, enabled via a unique decision-making support and guidance system (DMSS). Its mission is to design and deliver DMSSs for first-in-class integrative-care to individual treatment programs to produce optimal outcomes in addiction treatment. Revium Ltd.’s flagship product is a novel, integrative-care program developed for rehabilitation providers, combining comprehensive diagnostics and individualized programs for regulating addiction-related hormone levels, implemented to each patient using advanced informatics tools. The Company’s innovative approach relies on “smart”, patient-tailored use of a natural neurosteroid dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in concert with standard inpatient or outpatient addiction treatment programs.

Revium Ltd. entered into an agreement with Retorno, one of the Israel’s largest rehabilitation centers, pursuant to which Revium Ltd. was granted worldwide exclusive rights to develop and market Retorno’s comprehensive addiction rehabilitation program. The program utilizes DHEA as part of a complex treatment approach currently in use by Retorno. This novel treatment approach has been reviewed by the Department for the Treatment of Substance Abuse within Israel’s Ministry of Health and has been recommended for use as an add on augmenting treatment.

Concurrently, Revium Ltd. has also entered into an agreement with Bar Ilan University and the University of Haifa of Israel to support the Company’s development and testing of the DMSS and testing its efficacy in addition treatment.

In connection with the acquisition of its new business, the Company closed on a private placement of units of its securities to accredited investors with gross proceeds to the company of $1.61 million. The proceeds of the private placement will be applied to executing the combined company’s new business plan which includes continued R&D investment, implementation of the regulatory plan, new initiatives in sales and marketing, as well as strategic acquisitions.

Inna Martin, Revium Recovery, Ltd.’s CEO stated: “Addiction is an illness that can strike anyone, anywhere. With tens of millions of sufferers worldwide, we all know someone struggling with substance use disorder. We see how it literally destroys their lives, and the lives of their families’ as well. Unfortunately, today’s rehab programs do not offer enough beds and offer limited hope of recovery. The thousands of clinics worldwide are characterized by very long years treatment methodology, insufficient long-term rehabilitation rates and high levels of relapse. Revium Recovery was established to achieve a real breakthrough the addiction community’s been waiting for! We develop measurement-based, integrative treatment approach, which is designed to improve the long-term rehabilitative effect.”    

Yoram Drucker, OCBGD CEO stated: “I’m pleased to have reached this point, where we may offer an upgrade in the way addiction is treated, giving better chance of recovery to the patients and their families. We are looking to implement the new technology, allowing rehabilitation centers use the platform and potentially increase the success rate of their treatment”.

As a prelude to the new business, the Company changed its corporate name to “Revium Recovery, Inc.” and implemented a reverse stock split at a ratio of 1-for-500. Beginning December 9, 2020, our common stock will be quoted on the OTC Markets Pink tier on a post-split adjusted basis under the symbol “OCBGD” for 20 business days, after which time the symbol will change to our new trading symbol, RVRC.

“We believe the name change and the change in our capital structure are critical steps to attracting a broader range of investors, said Yoram Drucker, OCBGD CEO.

Following the Private Placement and the capital restructure, currently there will be approximately 34 million shares of common stock outstanding.

New Trading Symbol and CUSIP

Our common stock is currently quoted on the OTC Markets Pink tier under the trading symbol “OCBG.” Beginning December 9, 2020, our common stock will be quoted on the OTC Markets Pink tier on a post-split adjusted basis under the symbol “OCBGD” for 20 business days, after which time the symbol will change to our new trading symbol, RVRC.

The CUSIP number of our common stock will change to 76151C100.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other Federal securities laws. For example, we are using forward-looking statements when we discuss Revium Recovery, Inc.’s (“Revium”) future operations and its ability to successfully advance the anti-addiction rehabilitation program; the nature, strategy and focus of Revium’s business; and the development and commercial potential and potential benefits of any of other related service offerings of Revium. Revium may not actually achieve the plans, carry out the intentions or meet the expectations or projections disclosed in the forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Because such statements deal with future events and are based on our current expectations, they are subject to various risks and uncertainties and actual results, performance or achievements of these forward-looking statements could differ materially from those described in or implied by the statements in this press release, including: the uncertainties associated with raising sufficient capital and the requirement for significant additional capital to advance our new business, which may not be available on favorable terms or at all; risks related to business interruptions, including but not limited to, the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, which could seriously harm our financial condition and increase costs and expenses. The foregoing review of important factors that could cause actual events to differ from expectations should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including the risks discussed in our public filings with the OTC Markets. Except as otherwise required by law, Revium disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, whether, as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.

Contact:

Inna Martin

+972-3-641-7779

DENVER, Dec. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The speed of the economic recovery will largely hinge on the availability, dissemination and reach of COVID-19 vaccines, pushing the expected burst of pent-up consumer demand into the latter half of 2021, according to a comprehensive year-ahead outlook report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange division.

“The coming year will be a recovery year for most Americans and the businesses that make up the U.S. economy,” said Dan Kowalski, vice president of CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange division. “The early part of the year should look very different than the latter, but in total, economic growth is estimated to be about 4%, following a retreat of roughly 4% in 2020.”  

The CoBank 2021 outlook report examines 10 key factors that will shape agriculture and market sectors that serve rural communities throughout the U.S.

Global Economy: Uneven Recovery Ahead

Against all hope that COVID would fade in 2020, it will continue to steer the global economy in 2021. Global economic recovery was very uneven in 2020, and given the current surge in virus cases, we expect that to remain the case in 2021.Our confidence in GDP forecasts has increased since mid-2020, but uncertainties related to the dissemination and uptake of vaccines mean timing the recovery is still exceedingly difficult. Of all major economies, China recovered the fastest from the pandemic and will finish 2020 in remarkably good economic shape while Europe has suffered the most. Perhaps one of the longest lingering impacts from COVID will be the mountains of debt absorbed by most governments around the world.

U.S. Economy: COVID is Still the Economy

A post-COVID bounce is coming to the U.S. in 2021, but it’s unlikely to happen soon. Much of the year’s economic trajectory will depend on fiscal policy decisions made over the next couple of months. Roughly 10 million Americans who lost their jobs early in the pandemic have yet to find work, and many of them are receiving some form of public support. If and how Congress chooses to fund further relief will impact the speed of the recovery. Throughout the first half of the coming year, many businesses will be just trying to keep the doors open. Optimism, however, should spur investment and capex decisions in the first half of the year. Opportunistic firms will attempt to time the comeback with new investments into the leisure and broader services sectors. Not all things will return to the way they were, though. Some industries may never fully recover.

Monetary Policy: Less Dramatic but No Less Critical

If there is an economic hero amidst the pandemic, it is most certainly the central banks. The Federal Reserve in particular stabilized the global financial system within weeks of the pandemic taking hold, and it continues to provide massive amounts of economic support. The role of central bank policy in 2021 should be less dramatic but no less important. With short term interest rates firmly at zero, the Federal Reserve will manage a few levers in the coming year, advocating for fiscal policy and keeping a close watch on longer-term rates and inflation, among other things.

U.S. Government: Sweeping Leadership Changes

As the 117th Congress begins, the political landscape is still somewhat uncertain. The Biden administration transition is proceeding apace. The House will remain Democratic with a smaller majority of no more than nine seats. In the Senate, control will be decided by a January 5 runoff election for both Georgia Senate seats. The narrow margin of power within Congress will moderate legislation. The Biden administration cabinet will be more diverse than President Trump’s but is unlikely to shift to its leftward extreme, as indicated by the selection of former USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack for that role. The COVID response will be job one, followed closely by responding to the economic impact of the pandemic. The other priorities of the president-elect—re-engaging with the rest of the world, investing in infrastructure, addressing social justice, climate change and trade, will all depend on getting the virus under control and getting the economy firing on all cylinders.

U.S. Farm Economy: A Strong 2020 Finish Boosts Potential

Higher commodity prices and low interest rates will be an important financial buffer to net farm income in 2021 with the federal government’s role in farm payments expected to greatly diminish. Federal government was the source of more than one-third of U.S. net farm income in 2020 with USDA providing extraordinary payments through a variety of programs. Crop prices have been bolstered by robust Chinese purchases and dry growing conditions in key growing regions of the world. Historically low interest rates will lower borrowing costs for farmers and ranchers. The value of farmland, which is an important source of equity for farmers and ranchers, is also expected to remain stable in 2021.

Specialty Crops:
Preparing for More Shifts in Consumer Demand

The specialty crops sector will continue to adapt to historic shifts in logistics and supply chains in 2021 as the COVID-19 pandemic causes consumers to purchase more food at retail and less through foodservice. With thousands more restaurants expected to permanently close through the winter months as COVID-19 cases surge, specialty crop growers and the supply chains that deliver fruits, nuts, and vegetables will have to continue adapting to a consumer eating more at home. Some growers, packers, and processors have successfully managed to increase or reroute products into retail channels like grocery stores and home delivery of food boxes. However, steep financial losses from the loss of foodservice contracts will ultimately result in the rationalization of some processing assets and production acreage.

Grain, Farm Supply and Biofuels: Recovery in Motion

The grain and farm supply sectors enter 2021 on reasonably firm footing supported by rising commodity prices, farmer stability and favorable domestic fuel, feed and food usage, as well as firm export demand, especially from China. The outlook for grain is more favorable than a year ago, although carry has evaporated with the inversion of futures prices. The outlook for farm supply cooperatives is positive for 2021 following a very orderly harvest, rising grain prices and decent farm liquidity. The ethanol outlook is stable but guarded, with considerable growth and margin opportunities favoring ethanol co-products vs. fuel. After experiencing a near 50% reduction in demand during mid-March 2020 to mid-April 2020, fuel ethanol in the U.S. has recovered to about 90% of pre-COVID levels.

Dairy and Animal Protein:
Higher Feed Costs and Restaurant Reboot

A rising cost environment stemming from higher feed prices will challenge the dairy and animal protein sector’s ability to return to pre-COVID margin levels in 2021. Corn and soybean meal prices have reached multi-year highs with the futures curves indicating still higher costs in the months ahead. China’s rebuilding of the nation’s hog herd brings into question its appetite for foreign protein in 2021 as supplies climb. The U.S. dairy sector stands to benefit from the rebound in Chinese hog production with dry whey used as a protein supplement in China’s hog feeding rations. Domestically, the animal protein and dairy sectors will be entering 2021 with still greater uncertainty in foodservice demand as COVID-19 cases surge to new highs and restaurant closures are expected to soar.

Rural Electricity:
From Reactive to Adaptive

The common need to turn a corner, pivoting from being pandemic-reactive to market adaptive, opens the door to a more decisive response from U.S. power suppliers to changed market conditions. Amplifying the call for action are shifts in policy, costs of new technology, and consumer requirements—all of which conspire against a business-as-usual restrained pace to energy transition in 2021. Lazard’s annual Levelized Cost of Energy Analysis report marked an important milestone for the industry, with solar now proclaimed the cheapest form of energy in history. So cheap, in fact, that it is now less expensive to build new solar than it is to operate coal plants. Business Roundtable CEOs recently issued their strongest message yet on energy transition, arguing that addressing climate change is now a business imperative for American companies.

Rural Communications: Big Spending Not Likely, But Regulatory Change Is

With a new president and a likely split Congress, we expect a good bit of gridlock in Washington in 2021. It’s likely that any COVID-related stimulus will focus on near-term economic needs versus investing in projects that take years to produce results. That leaves the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as the remaining institution in Washington to enact policies that will help rural communication providers. In 2020 the FCC held its Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum auction that was much more rural friendly than any of its past auctions. And as a result, rural operators are now able to build carrier-grade fixed wireless networks at significantly reduced costs.

Read the full report, 2021 The Year Ahead: Forces That Will Shape the U.S. Rural Economy.

About CoBank

CoBank is a $148 billion cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers in all 50 states. The bank also provides wholesale loans and other financial services to affiliated Farm Credit associations serving more than 70,000 farmers, ranchers and other rural borrowers in 23 states around the country.

CoBank is a member of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of banks and retail lending associations chartered to support the borrowing needs of U.S. agriculture, rural infrastructure and rural communities. Headquartered outside Denver, Colorado, CoBank serves customers from regional banking centers across the U.S. and also maintains an international representative office in Singapore.

Corporate Communications
CoBank
800-542-8072
[email protected]

TORONTO, Dec. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — From mid-November to this week the Ontario Health Coalition has surveyed more than 80 staff in different long-term care homes with large outbreaks about why COVID-19 is spreading in their homes. In visceral terms, staff describe current working, care and infection control conditions on the ground in the homes right now. Long-term care homes surveyed ranged from homes with outbreaks of 10 to more than 150 staff and residents infected with COVID-19. The survey will be released on Friday in a press conference by Zoom.

When: Friday, December 18 at 10 a.m. by Zoom.

Media are invited to join by Zoom at the following link on Friday, December 18 at 10 a.m.

https://zoom.us/j/98706338839?pwd=K1oxWVNuN2Nqdzk1YTQvaFlVaVUzUT09

or phone at +1 647 558 0588

Meeting ID: 987 0633 8839
Passcode: 957117

Long-term care workers and their representatives will be at the press conference.

LTC Homes in the following towns are included in the survey: Beeton, Brampton, Hamilton, Mississauga, Ottawa, Scarborough, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Windsor-Essex.

For more information: Natalie Mehra, Ontario Health Coalition, at 416-230-6402.

TORONTO, Dec. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Purpose Investments Inc. announced today a revision to the December 2020 distribution rate for Purpose Marijuana Opportunities Fund (ETF ticker: MJJ). The press release on December 16, 2020 reported a distribution of $0.0450 per unit.

The distribution for Purpose Marijuana Opportunities Fund – ETF units has been revised to $0.1500 per unit. There was no change to the ex-distribution date of December 24, 2020.

The following table reflects the revised distribution rates per unit:

Fund Name	Ticker Symbol	Distribution per Unit		Record Date	Payable Date	Distribution Frequency
Purpose Marijuana Opportunities Fund – ETF Units	NEO:MJJ	$0.1500		12/29/2020	01/08/2021	Quarterly

About Purpose Investments Inc.

Purpose Investments is an asset management company with more than $10 billion in assets under management. Purpose Investments has an unrelenting focus on client-centric innovation, and offers a range of managed and quantitative investment products. Purpose Investments is led by well-known entrepreneur Som Seif and is a division of Purpose Financial, an independent technology-driven financial services company.

For further information please contact:
Matt Padanyi
Purpose Investments Inc.
Tel: (877) 789-1517
Email: [email protected]

Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investment fund investments. Please read the prospectus and other disclosure documents before investing. Investment funds are not covered by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government deposit insurer. There can be no assurance that the full amount of your investment in a fund will be returned to you. If the securities are purchased or sold on a stock exchange, you may pay more or receive less than the current net asset value. Investment funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.