media contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc. (415) 767-1067 / news@davidperry.com

15^th Annual “Off the Reef” Gala Benefits International Ocean Film Festival

Saturday, February 10 @ The Pearl, San Francisco

Tickets on sale today: Monday, December 11

Academy Award Winner Louie Psihoyos to Receive “Ocean Champion” Award

15^th Annual Festival runs March 8 – 12

www.oceanfilmfest.org

11 December 2017 – San Francisco, CA: As parties go, this one will be off the hook. More to the point, it will be OFF THE REEF: the 15^th annual gala fundraiser benefiting the San Francisco based International Ocean Film Festival.  Taking place at on Saturday, February 10 at The Pearl (601 19^th Street, San Francisco), the evening will feature food, fine wine and a silent auction: 5:30pm – 7pm cocktail reception; 7pm-9pm dinner and program; 9pm ‘til 10:30pm music by DJ Bryce. Highlighted during the evening will be previews of the Festival’s upcoming films and remarks by this year’s “Ocean Champion” honoree, Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Louie Psihoyos. Individual tickets are $ 250 and can be purchased online starting Monday, December 11 at www.oceanfilmfest.org. 

“Every year fellow ocean-loving land-dwellers, filmmakers, and environmental luminaries gather to celebrate the International Ocean Film Festival at its Off the Reef Gala” said Ana Blanco, Executive Director for the International Ocean Film Festival, describing attire for the evening as “hipster cocktail” with awards given for the most unique sneakers. “We all love our oceans and need to protect them. With concerted effort and passionate people, we can bring about significant change. That begins with each of us, and especially with the next generation.  I cannot think of no more inspirational person in this realm than Louie Psihoyos.”

Louis Psihoyos (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louie_Psihoyos) Executive Director of the Oceanic Preservation Society, is the Academy Award®-winning director of The Cove and Racing Extinction. He is also the visionary force behind the unprecedented large-scale projections on the United Nations Headquarters, the Empire State Building, and St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. Previously a National Geographic filmmaker for 17 years, Psihoyos uses the power of imagery to convey complex ideas with the ambitious goal of changing the world.

“The International Ocean Film Festival is dedicated to using film as a medium to increase public awareness of the environmental, social, and cultural importance of marine ecosystems and foster a spirit of ocean stewardship,” said Blanco. “Commonly referred to as the ‘Sundance of the ocean film festivals,’ We are now in our 15^th year as the premier ocean event in North America for ocean-related films.”

Since its launch in 2004, the San Francisco-based International Ocean Film Festival has attracted thousands of spectators of all ages from around the world, including film enthusiasts, sea athletes, educators, and environmental supporters. Since then, the Festival has presented over 50 films from 15 different countries and featured post-film Q&A sessions with visiting filmmakers, special panel discussions with content experts, and the Annual Free Student Education Program. It was the first event of its kind in North America, inspired by the well-established ocean festival in Toulon, France, which has continued to draw large audiences for more than 40 years.

Sponsors for the 15^th Annual International Ocean Film Festival include National Marine Sanctuary, the Canadian Consulate of San Francisco and Silicon Valley, Alcatraz Cruises, San Francisco Magazine, and Hotel Zephyr, Official Hotel Sponsor for the Festival.

The 15th Annual International Ocean Film Festival will take place March 8 – 12, 2018 at San Francisco’s Cowell Theatre at Fort Mason. The International Ocean Film Festival is a registered 501(c) 3 non-profit.

media contact: David Perry / (415) 767-1067 / news@davidperry.com

FundCru Raises $1M in Record Time Today
First Live-Streamed ICO in History Brings in $1M in less than 20 minutes

www.fundcru.com  / #blockchain4good

Token Symbol: FUND. Cryptocurrency accepted: ETH

5 December 2017 – San Francisco, CA: After launching the first-ever real-time live video ICO, Duc Pham, founder of FundCru (www.fundcru.com  #blockchain4good @FundCru) is able to claim a record-setting 1M investment in less than 20 minutes!  The FundCru ICO began this morning — Tuesday, December 5 at 13:00 UTC (8am Eastern / 5am Pacific – and will continue through January 18.  ): Token Symbol: FUND; Cryptocurrency accepted: ETH. There will be a bonus of 20% on the first 5M FUND or 24 hours. For more information and to participate in the ICO go to https://www.fundcru.com/ico  

“The future of charitable giving is FundCru,” says Pham who engineered FundCru as a seamless user-friendly way to assist charities in raising money with a larger percentage than is typical for most e-commerce transactions. “Today’s ICO shows that we are leading the way to make fundraising easier, more efficient and more accessible.”

Founded in 2015, FundCru is a blockchain-powered fundraising platform that funds causes through e-commerce transactions and direct donations. FundCru distinguishes itself from other fundraising platforms by supporting both cryptocurrency and fiat money on all transactions, providing fundraisers with a large percentage (typically 25%) of gross sales from eCommerce transactions, and forgoing platform fees for donations. FundCru aims to use its business model and blockchain technology to provide fundraisers with a wealth of additional revenue sources, merchants with significantly improved outreach and marketing, and supporters with more ways to help their causes and themselves.

Pham has been an entrepreneur and thought leader in the crypto and cybersecurity space for 15+ years. Pham was the founder and CTO of Vormetric, which was acquired by Thales for $400 million in 2015, a leading enterprise data encryption and cybersecurity, integrating encryption, access control, audit, and host integrity protection to provide a secure computing environment for high-profile clients in the financial services, banking sectors, healthcare, and the US federal government. Pham also led and won major OEM agreements with IBM (Database Encryption Expert) and Symantec (Media Server Encryption Option).  Prior to Vormetric, Pham was the founder and CEO of Linux4 Networks, a leader in SSL encryption acceleration technology, which was later acquired by Avaya. Pham was the inventor of the Vormetric encryption technology, has 9 patents granted and 16 other patents pending in the fields of parallel processing, encryption, secure messaging, mobile computing, and loyalty systems.

media contact: David Perry / (415) 767-1067 / news@davidperry.com

FundCru (Santa Clara, USA-based Company) Hosts World’s First Live Streaming of an ICO:

Tuesday, December 5

13:00 UTC / 5am PST / 8am EST

FundCru Founder / CEO Duc Pham was highlight at Blockchain Expo in Santa Clara

www.fundcru.com

#blockchain4good

Token Symbol: FUND. Cryptocurrency accepted: ETH

4 December 2017 – San Francisco, CA: Fresh off back-to-back featured presentations at this past week’s Blockchain Expo in Santa Clara, California, Duc Pham, founder of FundCru (www.fundcru.com  #blockchain4good @FundCru), is once again putting himself in the forefront of the cryptocurrency revolution: presenting the first-ever live-streaming of an ICO (initial coin offering) for his company.  The FundCru ICO begins on Tuesday, December 5 at 13:00 UTC (8am Eastern / 5am Pacific): Token Symbol: FUND. Cryptocurrency accepted: ETH. There will be a bonus of 20% on the first 5M FUND or 24 hours. The target minimum for the ICO is 1M, with all ETH refunded if the goal is not met. For more information and to participate in the ICO go to https://www.fundcru.com/ico 

“FundCru is, literally, blockchain for good,” says Pham who engineered FundCru as a seamless user-friendly way to assist charities in raising money with a larger percentage than is typical for most e-commerce transactions. “Our network of merchants allows consumers to help their favorite causes just by accessing their favorite merchants and businesses. It’s that simple.”

Founded in 2015, FundCru is a blockchain-powered fundraising platform that funds causes through e-commerce transactions and direct donations. FundCru distinguishes itself from other fundraising platforms by supporting both cryptocurrency and fiat money on all transactions, providing fundraisers with a large percentage (typically 25%) of gross sales from eCommerce transactions, and forgoing platform fees for donations. FundCru aims to use its business model and blockchain technology to provide fundraisers with a wealth of additional revenue sources, merchants with significantly improved outreach and marketing, and supporters with more ways to help their causes and themselves.

“FundCru is part of a brave new world of fundraising,” continued Pham, a longtime promoter of cryptocurrency as a vehicle for doing good. “ICOs are part of that brave new world. My hope, as I said at last week’s conference, is to take the pain – and the fear – out of blockchain.”

Pham has been an entrepreneur and thought leader in the crypto and cybersecurity space for 15+ years. Pham was the founder and CTO of Vormetric, which was acquired by Thales for $400 million in 2015, a leading enterprise data encryption and cybersecurity firm, integrating encryption, access control, audit, and host integrity protection to provide a secure computing environment for high-profile clients in the financial services, banking sectors, healthcare, and the US federal government. Pham also led and won major OEM agreements with IBM (Database Encryption Expert) and Symantec (Media Server Encryption Option).  Prior to Vormetric, Pham was the founder and CEO of Linux4 Networks, a leader in SSL encryption acceleration technology, which was later acquired by Avaya. Pham was the inventor of the Vormetric encryption technology, has 9 patents granted and 16 other patents pending in the fields of parallel processing, encryption, secure messaging, mobile computing, and loyalty systems.

media contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc. (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com

Student Education Program Brings the Sea into the Classroom & the Classroom to the Sea

International Ocean Film Festival Provides Free Access for Students on March 8 & 9

www.oceanfilmfest.org

29 November 2017 – San Francisco, CA: “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever,” said oceanographer Jacques Cousteau. Certainly, one of the greatest nets with which to capture the wonder of students is a spellbinding film. To that end, the International Ocean Film Festival (www.oceanfilmest.org) – celebrating its 15^th anniversary in March – provides free access to Bay Area students to foster an education about the importance of our oceans. Partnership with area schools is foremost on the agenda of the respected San Francisco-based nonprofit: providing free access – and transportation – to ocean-centric films during special student programs on March 8 and 9 during the upcoming Festival. In addition, the Festival is going into Bay Area classrooms, having visited San Francisco’s Mission High School today, and with additional programs scheduled for the Spring.

“Through the Education Program, our goal is to educate and inspire youth to take an active role in protecting our vital ocean ecosystems,” said Ana Blanco, Executive Director for the International Ocean Film Festival. “Adults see our films as a call to present action.  Students and young people see our films as a vehicle to change and preserve our future.”

The International Ocean Film Festival Free Student Education Program presents film screenings and Q&A sessions with filmmakers, marine scientists, and industry experts — all in special daytime programs for middle school and high school students.  In addition to providing free access to the Festival, the Student Education Program brings films focused on ocean awareness into the classroom. On November 29 the Festival screened Plastic is Forever and #OB Obsession @415plumber at San Francisco’s Mission High School, and four additional screenings in the Spring.

“Perhaps there is no other metropolitan area in the nation more connected to our oceans than the San Francisco Bay Area,” said Hydra Mendoza, Vice President of the San Francisco Board of Education “This is the sort of educational partnership that provides access and information, literally, to the world – and oceans – around our young people where they live and learn.”

The International Ocean Film Festival Education Program is open to school groups of students grades 6 through 12. Registration is now open online at www.oceanfilmfest.org/education. The deadline for registration is February 1, 2018. A limited number of charter buses will be available for school groups that need transportation. The education program is presented in partnership with the California Coastal Commission’s Protect Our Coast and Oceans Fund.

Since its launch in 2004, the San Francisco-based International Ocean Film Festival has attracted thousands of spectators of all ages from around the world, including film enthusiasts, sea athletes, educators, and environmental supporters. Since then, the Festival has presented over 50 films from 15 different countries and featured post-film Q&A sessions with visiting filmmakers, special panel discussions with content experts, and the Annual Free Student Education Program. It was the first event of its kind in North America, inspired by the well-established ocean festival in Toulon, France, which has continued to draw large audiences for more than 40 years.

“This program allows us to extend our mission to many more students through road shows in the Bay Area and beyond, said Blanco. “We want to establish ourselves as a working forum for Bay Area film studies and environmental studies programs.”

Films screened at the 2017 Free Student Education Program were:

• The Snail-Smashing, Fish-Spearing, Eye-Popping Mantis Shrimp
• Coral in Crisis! Borneo From Below
• My Haggan Dream
• Little Teeth – Saving Sharks on Bali
• #OB Plastic Obsession @415Plumber
• Finisterra
• Plastic Is Forever

Plus selections from the 6th Annual Student Film Competition:

• Ocean Acidification
• Hang Onto Your Butts
• Through the Storm Drain
• Our Vision

Sponsors for the 15^th Annual International Ocean Film Festival include National Marine Sanctuary, the Canadian Consulate of San Francisco and Silicon Valley, Alcatraz Cruises, San Francisco Magazine, and Hotel Zephyr, Official Hotel Sponsor for the Festival.

The 15th Annual International Ocean Film Festival will take place March 8 – 11, 2018 at San Francisco’s Cowell Theatre at Fort Mason Center for the Arts. The International Ocean Film Festival is a registered 501(c) 3 non-profit.

media contact: David Perry / (415) 767-1067 / news@davidperry.com

FundCru is Sponsor of Blockchain Expo November 29 & 30 in Santa Clara, CA

FundCru Founder / CEO Duc Pham is Featured Speaker on Day 2

www.fundcru.com

“Blockchain for Good”

#blockchain4good

28 November 2017 – Santa Clara CA: Duc Pham, founder of FundCru (www.fundcru.com) is on a mission.  Call him a “Blockchain Superhero.” For in that guise, he is out to promote “Blockchain for Good.” This week, Pham and FundCru will be center stage at the Santa Clara Convention Center, November 29 & 30 for the international Blockchain Expo. The FundCru booth is # 73 at the conference. Please follow the hashtag #blockchain4good

“FundCru’s network of fundraisers and merchants enables supporters to help their favorite causes and themselves,” said Duc Pham, Founder & CEO of FundCru “Selling goods and services on FundCru lowers costs on customer acquisition, while supporting fundraising campaigns improves customer loyalty.”

Founded in 2015, FundCru is a blockchain-powered fundraising platform that funds causes through e-commerce transactions and direct donations. FundCru distinguishes itself from other fundraising platforms by supporting both cryptocurrency and fiat money on all transactions, providing fundraisers with a large percentage (typically 25%) of gross sales from eCommerce transactions, and forgoing platform fees for donations. FundCru aims to use its business model and blockchain technology to provide fundraisers with a wealth of additional revenue sources, merchants with significantly improved outreach and marketing, and supporters with more ways to help their causes and themselves.

“Giving Tuesday is the perfect time to use the ‘blockchain for good’,” continued Pham. “At FundCru, our job is to take the pain out of blockchain – for good causes.”

Pham has been an entrepreneur and thought leader in the crypto and cybersecurity space for 15+ years. He was the founder and CTO of Vormetric, a leading enterprise data encryption and cybersecurity, integrating encryption, access control, audit, and host integrity protection to provide a secure computing environment for high-profile clients in the financial services, banking sectors, healthcare, and the US federal government. Pham also led and won major OEM agreements with IBM (Database Encryption Expert) and Symantec (Media Server Encryption Option). Vormetric was acquired by Thales for $400 million in 2015. Prior to Vormetric, Pham was the founder and CEO of Linux4 Networks, a leader in SSL encryption acceleration technology, which was later acquired by Avaya.

Pham was the inventor of the Vormetric encryption technology, has 9 patents granted and 16 other patents pending in the fields of parallel processing, encryption, secure messaging, mobile computing, and loyalty systems.

Pham will speak as part of a panel discussion with other industry leaders on Thursday, November 30 and as a featured keynote speaker later that afternoon. Details follow:

Panel Discussion: Blockchain for Public Services & Social Good

Featuring, Duc Pham, CEO of FundCru

Thursday, November 30: 2pm

Government’s role in supporting and influencing the development of blockchain technologies and its potential uses (e.g. voting, government-sponsored clean energy transactions & authenticating claims for tax incentives) is the focus of this panel discussion. How can blockchain be used for non-government bodies and charities? Our panelists take a look at the opportunities distributed ledger technology and smart contracts bring to increase efficiency in both government and charities.

How is blockchain being used to tackle social problems?

Moderator: Johnny Nobles, Blockchain Specialist, Government Blockchain Association

Duc Pham, CEO, FundCru

Natalia Karayaneva, CEO and Founder, Propy Inc.

Fraser Brown, Founder and Chairman, ACT Foundation

Jeremy Gardner, Entrepreneur in Residence, Blockchain Capital LLC

Joseph Williams, Governor Inslee’s ICT Industry Sector Lead & State of Washington ICT Economic Development Director, State of Washington

Duc Pham, CEO FundCru

In discussion with Greg Sherwood

Taking the Pain out of Blockchain

Thursday, November 30: 2:40pm

Blockchain is the fastest growing technology today and will be for years to come. More and more applications are moving toward adopting this new technology. However, there are lots of complex issues in moving from a centralized to decentralized world, so there are growing pains to adopt the new technology and make it work with existing infrastructure as well as applications.

Pham will speak about how to mitigate the pain while still maintaining transparency so that blockchain can be trained to adapt to existing as well as new applications.