#NNPA BlackPress

PRESS ROOM: Now and Later® and La La Anthony Team Up to Spotlight Self-Care Companies for National Black Business Month

NNPA NEWSWIRE — In continued support of go-getters and changemakers in the Black community, the brand is launching ‘Pause Now, Hustle Later’ in partnership with media personality, entrepreneur, and candy lover La La Anthony, to spotlight five emerging black-owned businesses in the self-care space and to encourage fans to take a pause NOW, so that they can reset and reenergize for their daily hustle LATER.
The post PRESS ROOM: Now and Later® and La La Anthony Team Up to Spotlight Self-Care Companies for National Black Business Month first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 years ago

July 25, 2023

Oakland Post

The candy brand launches ‘Pause Now, Hustle Later’ awarding a total of $50,000 in grants to five emerging Black-owned self-care brands

Chicago, IL, July 24, 2023 – Now and Later® candy with its bold flavors, hard-to-soft chew, and long-lasting eating experience recognizes that with the hustle of the daily grind, there is a benefit in taking a much-needed pause for self-care. In continued support of go-getters and changemakers in the Black community, the brand is launching ‘Pause Now, Hustle Later’ in partnership with media personality, entrepreneur, and candy lover La La Anthony, to spotlight five emerging black-owned businesses in the self-care space and to encourage fans to take a pause NOW, so that they can reset and reenergize for their daily hustle LATER.

Kicking off today in honor of International Self-Care Day, Now and Later and La La are encouraging everyone to take a pause in their day for a moment of self-care. To help fans celebrate, La La has unveiled a hand-picked list of Black-owned self-care businesses with products and services that can be added to any self-care routine.

Leading into National Black Business month in August, Now and Later is also committing $50,000 in financial support to the selected small businesses through the ‘Pause Now, Hustle Later’ Grant. Each business will receive $10,000 that will help fuel their hustle and aid in their continued growth.

“As a mom and businesswoman, the hustle is a part of my daily grind. I’m always on the go but at the same time, I have to pause and prioritize self-care so that I can show up as my best self,” said La La Anthony. “One of my favorite ways to unwind is to enjoy a sweet treat like Now and Later, and now I get to encourage others to take a pause while also shouting out some of my favorite go-to Black-owned companies.”

La La’s selected self-care brands include:

Buttah Skin, is a line of highly effective products for both women and men, formulated to target everyday skin conditions leaving skin glowing, healthy, and renewed.
Fancy Homebody, celebrates the idea of embracing a low-key lifestyle, inspiring women to achieve their own version of luxury. The lifestyle brand offers a wide variety of loungewear and other casual essentials that are as chic as they are comfy.
I See You Wellness, is a Brooklyn-based wellness and lifestyle brand that exists to empower communities of color through accessible wellness and radical self-care, specializing in handmade apothecary products and community healing experiences.
Natural Radiant Life, is a clean, organic and vegan brand that harnesses the power of 100% whole-food ingredients to replace toxic chemicals in skin care and slow down the visible signs of aging.
Kimberly New York, is a niche fragrance house featuring artsy, long-lasting scents safe for sensitive skin.

“Now and Later is dedicated to supporting Black leaders and entrepreneurs who are making a positive impact in their communities, which is why we launched the ‘Pause Now, Hustle Later’ Grant during Black Business Month,” said Dave Foldes, Director of Marketing at Now and Later. “According to the Small Business Association, 50 percent of small businesses fail within the first five years due to lack of financial resources. In recognition of the hustle of entrepreneurship, we’re proud to help amplify these small businesses, and to partner with an advocate like La La who not only shares Now and Later’s Brooklyn-born origins, but also embodies the brand’s bold and vibrant spirit.”

‘‘Pause Now, Hustle Later’ is the latest way that Now and Later is staying true to its commitment to celebrate and amplify Black voices through its #RecognizetheChew program. Through this program, the brand aims to encourage the next generation of changemakers who Champion, Hustle, Empower and Win (C.H.E.W.) in their daily pursuit to make their communities better. Previously the brand has teamed up with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), to celebrate and recognize Black community leaders and entrepreneurs. In 2021, the #RecognizeTheChew program donated financial grants to both the Mass Media Arts department at Clark Atlanta University and the Cathy Hughes Schools of Communications at Howard University.

Fans can visit @nowandlatercandy on Instagram to find all of the ‘Pause Now, Hustle Later’ grant recipients, take a glimpse into La La’s self-care routine and learn how she takes advantage of ‘the pause’ to help fuel her hustle.

For more info about Now and Later candy, visit us at NowandLater.com.

About Ferrara

For more than 115 years, Ferrara has created sugar confections that share delight in every bite to candy lovers of all generations. Today, the company is the #1 sugar confectioner in the United States. Ferrara boasts a passionate team of more than 4,600 employees working together to create and deliver hundreds of products sold under a portfolio of more than 20 popular brands such as Brach’s®, NERDS®, SweeTARTS®, Laffy Taffy®, Trolli®, and Now and Later® to more than 66 million U.S. households annually. Ferrara’s success in industry-leading innovation has been driven by deep consumer insights, strong retailer co-creation and partnerships, and a dedication to diversity of thought, experience, and people. A privately held company, Ferrara has its global headquarters in Chicago and an operational network of more than 13 locations in North America that includes manufacturing, distribution, sales, and R&D facilities. The company has a close relationship with the Ferrero Group as a related company which provides industry partnership and collaboration opportunities. Learn more at http://www.ferrarausa.com or http://www.linkedin.com/company/ferrara.

About Now and Later®

Now and Later® was originally launched in 1962 in Brooklyn, New York and it has been a part of the Ferrara Candy Company family of brands since 2012. With its unique hard-to-soft chew and long-lasting eating experience, Now and Later® offers fruit-flavored candy chews available in many mouth-filling bold flavors. The Now and Later® product portfolio includes Original, Chewy, and Morphs.

The post PRESS ROOM: Now and Later® and La La Anthony Team Up to Spotlight Self-Care Companies for National Black Business Month first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

Video: Fewer Cases of Flu Due to Pandemic Precautions

Don't Miss

Biden Pays Tribute to Emmett Till; Acknowledges the Vital Role of the Black Press in the Civil Rights Movement

Oakland Post

Click to comment

#NNPA BlackPress

State of Preschool Yearbook Provides an Annual Snapshot of State-Funded Preschool

By National Institute for Early Education Research Georgia’s state-funded pre-k program for 4-year-olds was recognized as the largest state-funded preschool program in the nation to meet all 10 quality benchmarks, and the first universal program to do so. Georgia’s recognition is the top finding in the National Institute for Early Education Research’s new 2025 State of Preschool Yearbook. The yearbook provides an annual snapshot of state-funded preschool across the country. Forty-four states and the District of Columbia fund preschool programs. “Georgia is proud to be a leader in quality early childhood education as we work to ensure all Georgians have the opportunity to succeed, including our youngest learners,” said Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp. “Having strategically invested in our Pre-K classrooms, we are both meeting all 10 NIEER benchmarks of excellence and giving Georgia students a […]

Published

3 days ago

April 27, 2026

Oakland Post

By National Institute for Early Education Research

Georgia’s state-funded pre-k program for 4-year-olds was recognized as the largest state-funded preschool program in the nation to meet all 10 quality benchmarks, and the first universal program to do so. Georgia’s recognition is the top finding in the National Institute for Early Education Research’s new 2025 State of Preschool Yearbook. The yearbook provides an annual snapshot of state-funded preschool across the country. Forty-four states and the District of Columbia fund preschool programs.

“Georgia is proud to be a leader in quality early childhood education as we work to ensure all Georgians have the opportunity to succeed, including our youngest learners,” said Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp. “Having strategically invested in our Pre-K classrooms, we are both meeting all 10 NIEER benchmarks of excellence and giving Georgia students a strong start on the path of lifelong learning.”

Only five additional states meet all 10 of NIEER’s research-based benchmarks for quality —Alabama, Hawaii, Michigan, Mississippi, and Rhode Island—in this year’s report. None of those programs has the reach of Georgia Pre-K. NIEER’s benchmarks measure essential preschool quality indicators, including teacher qualifications, class sizes, early learning standards, and program assessments.

“Other states should take note: Georgia proves that state-funded preschool with well-qualified teachers, pay parity with K-12, small classes, and strong continuous improvement systems can be scaled as a universal program,” said NIEER director Steve Barnett. “With new initiatives to support quality, Georgia can expect increased enrollment, but leaders should also actively promote increased enrollment.”

Nationally, state support for preschool education hit record highs in enrollment and funding in 2024-2025. The pace of growth slowed, however, compared to the prior year, and many states continue to lag behind pre-pandemic enrollment levels.

Preschool enrollment increased by 44,000 children nationally, reaching almost 1.8 million, including 37% of U.S. four-year-olds and 9% of three-year-olds. California, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, and Missouri contributed the most to increased enrollment, adding more than 52,000 new seats.

States spent nearly $14.4 billion on preschool in 2024-2025. Including federal and local dollars, total spending was almost $17.7 billion. Three states each spent more than $1 billion last year: California ($4.1 billion), New Jersey ($1.2 billion), and New York ($1 billion). Together, these three states account for45% of all state preschool spending. Texas adds almost another $1 billion.

Spending increased by $434 million, or 3%, adjusted for inflation. Twenty-eight states increased preschool funding, including Michigan and New Jersey, which each added more than $100 million.

“Not only does preschool access vary by which state a child happens to live in, but so does the quality of that preschool experience,” said Allison Friedman-Krauss, lead author of the report. “Only high-quality early care and education programs support children’s development enough to result in lasting academic and other gains that ultimately deliver savings for taxpayers.”

A record six states met all 10 of NIEER’s recommended quality standards, with Alabama doing so for the 20th consecutive year.

Georgia joined this list this year after improving its teacher-to-child ratio from 1:11 to 1:10 and lowering maximum class sizes to 20. Several states met 9 of 10 benchmarks, including New Mexico, which is working toward universal access for both three- and four-year-olds. Once New Mexico requires all lead teachers to have a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, it will be on par with Georgia in terms of both quality and quantity.

Not all states moved forward. Twenty states enrolled fewer preschoolers in 2024-2025 than the prior year, with enrollment dropping by more than 1,000 children in Arizona, Florida, NewYork, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin. Seventeen states spent less on preschool than the prior year, adjusted for inflation, with Arizona, North Carolina, Oregon, and Texas seeing the largest percentage declines.

Additional information about the State of Preschool Yearbook, including individual state profiles and maps, graphs, and state rankings, can be found at www.nieer.org.

The 2025 State of Preschool Yearbook was supported with funding from the Heising-Simons Foundation and the Gates Foundation.

The National Institute for Early Education Research at theRutgers Graduate School of Education, New Brunswick, NJ, supports early childhood education policy and practice through independent, objective research and the translation of research to policy and practice

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

#NNPA BlackPress

Which features on the 2026 Volkswagen Golf GTI Autobahn are actually worth having?

Ask Roosevelt right now on AutoNetwork and get an instant answer based on my review. #AskRoosevelt #AutoNetwork #VolkswagenGolfGTI #GTIAutobahn

Published

4 days ago

April 27, 2026

admin

Ask Roosevelt right now on AutoNetwork and get an instant answer based on my review.
#AskRoosevelt #AutoNetwork #VolkswagenGolfGTI #GTIAutobahn

admin

Posts by admin

#NNPA BlackPress

Panoramic Roof & Rear Seats: The Ultimate EV Comfort! #shorts

Seeking a compact EV with quiet luxury and ample rear seat comfort? This GT trim presents a compelling option, often a deciding factor for small SUV buyers. #AutoNetwork #CompactEV #ElectricSUV #RearSeatComfort #GTTrim

Published

4 days ago

April 27, 2026

admin