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Chase and LivingSocial Launch “Mission: Small Business” Grant Program

Program Supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Aims to Help Small Businesses Expand; Awards Up to $3 Million to Small Businesses Nationwide

WILMINGTON, Del. & WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Demonstrating their ongoing commitment to small businesses, Chase and LivingSocial today launched “Mission: Small Business^SM,” a new grant program offering up to $3 million to small business owners nationwide. Chase and LivingSocial also obtained the support of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to help announce the program and drive small business engagement and participation.

“Small businesses are invaluable to the growth of our economy, and the ‘Mission: Small Business’ grant program is designed to provide small businesses with the solutions they need to grow and thrive”

The program, which will award up to 12 individual grants of $250,000, was developed to provide small businesses with capital and innovative marketing resources needed to make a positive impact on their business.
Beginning today through June 30, Chase and LivingSocial invite small business owners who have been in business for at least two years and have less than 100 employees to visit missionsmallbusiness.com to enter the program. Each business will be required to answer questions about why their business is unique, outline a proposed plan for utilizing the grant to grow their business and describe how the business is involved with its community. Full program rules can be found at www.missionsmallbusiness.com/pages/program-rules.
“Small businesses are invaluable to the growth of our economy, and the ‘Mission: Small Business’ grant program is designed to provide small businesses with the solutions they need to grow and thrive,” said Richard Quigley, president, Business Card, Chase. “The program aims to find innovative small business owners and provide them with the capital to help execute a business plan for growth.”
Consumers can get involved by clicking the “Support” button at missionsmallbusiness.com and voting for their favorite registered small businesses. For each pledge of support, Chase will add five dollars to the grant pool, up to $3 million, and businesses must receive at least 250 votes to be considered for a grant. The voting period is open from May 7, 2012 through June 30, 2012.
“Small businesses are the economic engine of this country, and LivingSocial’s goal is to help energize their connections with people seeking new and exciting experiences in their communities,” said Tim O’Shaughnessy, LivingSocial CEO and Co-founder. “We’re proud to be supporting the ‘Mission: Small Business’ program to help small business owners grow and become the next great American success stories.”
Grant recipients will be selected by a panel of small business experts who have agreed to participate including:

• Steve Case, entrepreneur and co-founder of AOL; CEO, Revolution LLC
• Candace Nelson, founder of Sprinkles Cupcakes
• Jason Calacanis, CEO, Mahalo.com
• David Chavern, executive vice president and chief operating officer, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
• Richard Quigley, president, Business Card, Chase
• Tim O’Shaughnessy, CEO and co-founder of LivingSocial

“Small businesses embody the spirit of innovation and they are the lifeblood of our economy,” said David Chavern, U.S. Chamber executive vice president and chief operating officer. “We’re proud to work with Chase and LivingSocial to equip entrepreneurs across the country with valuable tools and resources they need to market and grow their businesses.”
The missionsmallbusiness.com website will provide small business entrants with a marketing toolkit to help promote their participation in the program.
Chase and LivingSocial expect to announce the grant recipients by September 15, 2012.
About Chase and Small Business
Chase in the #1 U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), by volume. In 2011, Chase approved $1.1 billion in 5,509 SBA loans and lines of credit. The continued increase in Chase’s lending reflects the bank’s pledge to help American small business grow. In the past three years, the bank has hired more than 1,100 new bankers to serve more than 2 million small businesses. In 2011, Chase launched business banking innovations such as Instant Storefront from Chase^SM and Chase QuickDeposit^SM, as well as enhancements to Chase Mobile^sm for Business and an array of free fraud protection services. In addition, Chase offers the Ink from Chase credit card, which provides robust, flexible payment solutions and resources that meet the unique needs of small business owners. Ink customers also have free access to Jot ^SM, a free mobile application and online solution which saves small business owners time by enabling them to easily track, categorize and organize business expenses from their iPhone^® and Android™ mobile devices or online.
About Chase
Chase is the U.S. consumer and commercial banking business of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM), a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.3 trillion and operations in more than 60 countries. Chase serves more than 50 million consumers and small businesses through more than 5,500 bank branches, 17,500 ATMs, credit cards, mortgage offices, and online and mobile banking as well as through relationships with auto dealerships. More information about Chase is available atwww.chase.com.
About LivingSocial
LivingSocial is the online source for discovering valuable local experiences. We inspire our members to find, share, and enjoy the best of their neighborhoods by connecting them with handpicked local businesses. With new and diverse offerings each day, we encourage members to discover everything from family aquarium outings to weekend excursions to exclusive gourmet dinners and more. We help great local businesses grow by introducing them to high-quality new customers, and give merchants the tools to make our members their regulars. Based in Washington, D.C., LivingSocial now has more than 65 million members in 22 countries.
About The U.S. Chamber of Commerce
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50266321&lang=en

Contacts

Chase Card Services
Laura Rossi, 302-282-4839
laura.l.rossi@chase.com
or
LivingSocial
Andrew Weinstein, 202-695-7089
andrew.weinstein@livingsocial.com

S(ex) & M(ischief) in Fifty Shades of Grey

Hello S&M, welcome to Mainstream America!
I was certain that the buzz surrounding this series of books was all PR at first. I mean who would believe that a novel about this topic would be so readily gobbled up by soccer-moms and PTA presidents? It seems that under the perfectly crafted lives of super-women, lies a deep desire for something dark, something naughty, something in the grey area of life. 50 shades of grey to be exact! And this novel delivers the darkness they crave.

Fifty Shades of Grey is an exploration into the darker, more pulse-racing types of sexual contact. To be honest, ALL types of sexual play are attractive for the sensations they create. The more immediately pleasurable a sensation, the more mainstream it is considered. But not all sensations are so easily defined and felt. It takes a heightened awareness to feel pleasure through the blinding rush of adrenaline fueled by anxious apprehension, or fear of the unknown possibility. 50 Shades of Grey shows how erotic an S&M or Bondage experience taps into a primal urge, to let ourselves fully be in the moment, without planning, plotting or being able to jump ahead of the game mentally.

Thank You E.L. James for introducing this New Sexual Sensation in a form that mainstream America can embrace, even if it is embraced only during the grey shadows of night.

Bringing Pegging to the Masses

Sportsheets Brings Pegging to the Masses With Sophisticated Strap-on Series

Strap-on harnesses, accessories cater to couples exploring this growing sex trend

Sportsheets is at the forefront of the pegging trend with its collection of strap-on harnesses designed for couples seeking to explore sexual boundaries without breaking the bank. With 14 different designs from which to choose, Sportsheets makes it easy to find the style that best fits your shoppers - and their budgets.

Pegging is a playful term for the sexual role reversal in which a woman penetrates her male partner using a dildo attached to a strap-on harness. While this act certainly isn't new, couples are embracing it as an opportunity to explore new sensations, satisfy his curiosity for anal play, and even introduce deeper intimacy into their relationships. The key is finding the right tools for the job, and Sportsheets' product line is designed specifically for the selective shopper.

"Sportsheets has offered designer strap-ons and harnesses for years and we're elated to see pegging has evolved from a taboo topic to a feel-good phenomenon," Sportsheets Vice President Julie Stewart said. "We knew it would catch on soon enough, and that's why we cater to pegging beginners and purveyors alike with an array of fabrics, colors and styles."

Sportsheets harnesses are available in latigo, lined or faux leather, as well as soft velvety fabrics and even clear vinyl for a sexy see-through design. A thong-style harness - the least coverage available -  also is available for those looking for a barely-there look. Each harness is adjustable to 60-inch hips and features an O-ring to accommodate flare-based dildos and other insertables.

Sportsheets also offers the Divine Diva Plus-sized Harness for full-figured women looking for a comfortable strap-on that contours to their unique curves. With padded back support and four-way adjustability to fit up to a 82-inch waist and 44-inch legs, the Divine Diva is a must-have for retail stores looking to attract the widest customer demographic.

For product information or order details, please visit Sportsheets at Cherie's Closet

For more information about Sportsheets, please visit http://www.sportsheets.com.

Sportsheets International has helped ordinary couples find new pleasure and explore new positions together with specialized "relationship tools" since 1993, when the Sportsheet Bondage Bed Sheet sexual positioning and restraint system broke into the market. The company now offers more than 300 specialty items, including the Sportsheets Premium restraints, sexual positioning products, and strap-on harnesses; the Manbound collection for gay couples; Naughty Night Out bachelorette line; Tease the Season Christmas novelties; XOXO2U Collection of Sportsheets-inspired romance; and the award-winning Sex in The Shower collection. All of the company's brands individually and collectively support its goal of Keeping Couples Connected!^®"