---Volunteering and giving among the 45+ population---
More than 80% of Americans aged 45 and older are involved in helping others without pay, found a new AARP survey released today on volunteering and giving. The new AARP survey, Time and Money: an In-Depth Look at 45+ Volunteers and Donors, is one of the first studies to comprehensively examine volunteering and giving among the 45+ population, with over samples of African-Americans, Asian-Americans, and Hispanics. Overall key findings include:
-- Over eight in ten Americans 45 and older say they are involved in helping others without pay at some level -- through an organization or on their own -- based on the expanded assessment.
--Elderly people (56%), children (47%), and neighborhoods (42%) attract the most volunteer interest.
Additional key findings include:
--African-Americans are among the most active volunteers with 90% likely to report volunteering on their own and with organizations. Their efforts tend to focus on homeless and hungry people, the rights of minorities, religious institutions, their neighborhoods, and people who need tutoring.
--Asian-Americans are more likely to volunteer on occasion rather than regularly, and are most likely to support museums, theaters, libraries, or other cultural and arts organizations.
---On average a higher percentage of Asian-Americans donate than other groups.
(Asian-Americans 91%, African-Americans 85%, Hispanics 82%, and non- Hispanic Whites 88%)
-- Hispanics volunteer the most hours per month (22 hours). They are the most likely to assist other immigrants in this country and to send money to help people in other countries.
--Non-Hispanic Whites and Asian-Americans tend to donate more financially with 36% of non-Hispanic Whites and 37% of Asian-Americans giving $500 and more.
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization dedicated to making life better for people 50 and over.

---U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President, George Herrera, resigns---
George Herrera, President and Chief Executive Officer of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) announced his resignation to the USHCC Board of Directors. Herrera, who was named President and Chief Executive Officer of the USHCC in August 1998, will remain on board until January 20, 2004 to ensure a smooth transition prior to his departure to accept a position that will be announced at a later date. In January, the USHCC Board of Directors will announce an acting President who will continue to lead the USHCC into another year of on-going progress and success. "George Herrera's leadership at the USHCC has opened doors for thousands of Latino entrepreneurs and has also helped to dramatically strengthen Corporate America's commitment to the Hispanic business community," said J.R. Gonzales, Chair of the USHCC Board of Directors. Under Herrera's leadership, the USHCC membership more than doubled and the number of corporate partners tripled. Herrera also sought to develop creative revenue-generating activities for Hispanic business through programs such as Hispania Capital Partners, a venture capital fund for Latino-owned businesses which recently made its first investment of $6 million as well as USHCC Procurement Council comprised of representatives from Fortune 500 companies committed to providing access to capital to the Hispanic business community. The USHCC represents the interests of more than 1.2 million Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States and Puerto Rico, which earn more than $200 billion annually. It serves as the umbrella organization for more than 130 local Hispanic chambers nationwide, and it actively promotes the economic growth and development of Hispanic entrepreneurs.

---Kids trying marijuana and cigarettes in nearly equal proportions---
The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) is adding a new twist to a critical anti-smoking message. Together, with the American Lung Association and the American Cancer Society, ONDCP are calling attention to the dangers that cigarette and marijuana smoke pose to young lungs. Youth and their parents can access information and resources from ONDCP on preventing youth cigarette and marijuana use. Smoking remains the nation's leading preventable cause of death and recent surveys indicate that both tobacco and marijuana represent a significant public health threat among youth in particular. In 2000, 2.2 million youth under age 18 tried cigarettes for the first time and 2.1 million tried marijuana for the first time. In 2002, 17.8 percent of 10th graders reported using marijuana and 17.7 percent of 10th graders reported using cigarettes in the past 30 days. More high school students use marijuana than cigarettes in 13 of 14 cities surveyed in the Centers for Disease Control's Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey, including: Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Orlando, Palm Beach, Philadelphia, San Bernardino, San Diego, and San Francisco. Parents looking for more information on teen smoking and marijuana use, including warning signs and prevention tools, can visit the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign's Web site at www.TheAntiDrug.com.

---Trademarks explored---
The owners of a small Chicago-based African American owned apparel company, SB Designs, have sued basketball apparel power-players Nike, Reebok, AND1 and several other companies for infringing its trademarks. "The lawsuit alleges individual and collective infringement of my client's `Crossover King' trademark," said SB Designs' counsel Christopher Langone of the Langone Law Firm. "By filing this lawsuit my client hopes to send a message to larger companies that SB Designs will vigorously protect its rights and will not permit anyone to capitalize on their intellectual property and create marketplace confusion." One suit filed in U.S. District Court in Illinois claims Nike infringed SB Designs' trademarked "Crossover King" name and image of a basketball player executing a crossover dribble and used it to promote product featuring Nike endorsed NBA star Tim Hardaway. SB Designs markets basketball products on its websites http://www.crossoverking.com and http://www.crossoverqueen.com under its "Crossover King" and "Crossover Queen" trademarks. The lawsuit alleges that SB Designs pitched their Crossover King concept to Nike and were rebuffed. After rebuffing SB Designs, Nike marketed products featuring Tim Hardaway and the Crossover King trademark.

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