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Food Network star and restaurateur Guy Fieri has more on his mind these days than navigating his own restaurant business out of the Covid pandemic.He’s trying to help revitalize the industry itself.Next month, he’ll give out $300,000 in grants to aspiring restaurant entrepreneurs and existing owners.”I’ve been very blessed,” said Fieri, who recently signed a new three-year deal with the Food Network worth $80 million, according to Forbes.More from Invest in You:Shoe company Birdies soared during the pandemic and learned a hard lessonHere’s how these small businesses pivoted to survive during the pandemicLack of workers is hurting small businesses’ ability to keep up with demand”That’s why I try to turn my time and attention to helping others and raising that money and raising some awareness.”About 90,000 eating and drinking establishments are still closed, either completely or long-term, according to the National Restaurant Association’s Covid-19 Operator Survey for April.Those that are open are dealing with higher costs and lower profits.The grants, to be made in partnership with the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation and California Restaurant Association, will take place during Fieri’s event, Guy’s Restaurant Reboot, on June 12 at 7 p.m. It will be livestreamed on his Facebook page and GuysRestaurantReboot.com, as well as simulcast across other social media platforms.NBC | NBCUniversal | Getty ImagesThe recipients, who will get $25,000 each, will be chosen by the two food groups, Fieri said. The grants are largely funded by the event’s sponsors. In fact, there will be no fundraising during the event. Instead, celebrities and culinary icons will join in with food creations and conversation.”It’s not a telethon,” Fieri said. “It’s a celebration, an inspiration.”We want to remind everybody: Go eat out more often,” he added. “Go get more delivery. Buy more gift certificates.”This isn’t Fieri’s first foray into philanthropy. He’s been honored by Make-A-Wish for his work with the charity and he fed firefighters battling California wildfires last year, among other activities.Also last year, he raised $21.5 million to help restaurant workers through the National Restaurant Association’s Employee Relief Fund. The result: $500 grants to more than 43,000 workers.Now, as restaurants reopen and try to move forward, workers are hard to find. In fact, 84% of operators say their staffing level is lower than it was in the absence of Covid-19, the National Restaurant Association’s April survey found.Owners have blamed unemployment benefits, lack of child care for working parents and people leaving the business during the pandemic.”I hope folks are recognizing that the industry needs you,” Fieri said. “The industry has been great to you.”Even Fieri is feeling the pain. He recently tried to get a friend into Guy Fieri’s Vegas Kitchen and Bar for lunch on a weekday — only to find out the location wasn’t open for those hours yet.”It’s a variety of topics, staffing being one of them,” he said.”But we’re making it, you know, we’re coming back.”SIGN UP: Money 101 is an 8-week learning course to financial freedom, delivered weekly to your inbox.CHECK OUT: I’m a mom of 3 whose side hustle is now a full-time job that brings in $5,000 a month: Here is my best advice via Grow with Acorns+CNBCDisclosure: NBCUniversal and Comcast Ventures are investors in Acorns. More
College life can be stressful as students try to juggle schoolwork, employment, internships, extracurricular activities and their social lives — all while living on their own, many for the first time. And, while the pandemic added an extra layer of stress for all of us, young adults were hit harder than other generations.
“Even though older people may be hardest hit by the actual biological and physical problems that come with Covid, younger people are much harder hit by the mental health problems of Covid,” said Dr. Shane Owens, the campus mental health assistant director and psychologist for Farmingdale State College.In a 2021 survey from the American Psychological Association, 46% of Gen Z adults (ages 18-23) said their mental health had worsened during the pandemic, compared to 33% of Gen Xers, 31% of millennials, and 28% of boomers.
Half of college students reported experiencing anxiety and/or depression in a recent study of nearly 33,000 college students across the country conducted by researchers at Boston University. And 83% of students said their mental health had negatively impacted their academic performance.
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Students had difficulties with attention, focus and organization due to increased screen time from hybrid and remote online learning during the pandemic, said Dr. Ryan Patel, an Ohio State University psychiatrist and American College Health Association mental health chair-elect.
Managing isolation is another issue among students that he describes as a “twofold factor.”“There are some students who are isolated as a result of the pandemic and then the opposite side of students thinking about being on campus and being around others and having some anxiety about social situations and things like that,” Patel said.
Dr. Owens feels that the removal of social activities, such as sororities, fraternities, sports and even late-night dorm room floor conversations, negatively affected students as well.
“A lot of students had the college experience that they were promised — that their parents had talked about for many, many years — torn out from under them,” Dr. Owens said. “So, they’ve been asked to deal with a lot in a very short period of time.”
“I realized I was really overwhelmed when I couldn’t remember the last time I had really eaten a meal with my family, even though I’ve moved back home,” said Taylor Potter, a graduate student at the University of Georgia. “I’m constantly doing schoolwork or internship work for the multitude of internships and jobs that I have right now.”Taylor Potter, a graduate student at the University of Georgia, Class of 2023
Source: Justin HarperIn addition to being a full-time student, Potter worked five jobs during her time as an undergraduate. Now, as a graduate student, she has it down to just two.
Although Potter is thankful to be employed, she still struggles working around a jam-packed schedule.
“It becomes very isolating and overwhelming, knowing that I’m constantly, always, around the clock having to do work and not being able to socialize even with people who are one floor above me,” Potter said.
NYU sophomore Ryan Kawahara is also struggling with a heavy workload. He’s a full-time student, works an off-campus part-time job, tutors and works for the NYU newspaper.
“I was starting to feel a little overwhelmed because I like to take on projects and I like to do a lot of things and I feel like I’m more productive when I’m busy. But it’s definitely daunting when I am looking at a list of things I need to do,” Kawahara said. “And it’s just recently I’ve been feeling there’s just not enough hours in the day.”Ryan Kawahara, a sophomore at New York University
Source: Kent KawaharaIt’s easy to get stuck in a never-ending loop of responsibilities, anxiety and stress. But that can take a toll on your mental health, your physical health – and your academic performance. So, it’s important to try to manage your stress so it doesn’t spiral out of control and affect your future.
An important first step is to acknowledge that you are stressed.
“A lot of times when people are overwhelmed, they don’t recognize it until it becomes too much,” said Dr. Patel. “And so, we want to try to recognize it before it gets too much, before the tide is rising too high.”
“It was hard for me to admit that I needed a break because I’m the kind of person who is always like, ‘No, I can do it. I can do it all. Let me take that on. Let me just do everything,” Potter said.
Like many students across the nation, Potter dealt with the stressful effects Covid had on her future. Her plans of graduating early last year, studying abroad and attending the Cannes Film Festival plummeted due to the Covid shutdown beginning in March 2020.
“I think I speak for a lot of college students when we say that things just got monumentally more stressful, and they were already monumentally stressful,” Potter said.
Through her experience, Potter offers help to others with similar circumstances.
“So, what advice I have to offer is to kind of take the situation by the reins,” Potter said. “You cannot control the situation necessarily, but you can control how you react to it — how you act in the mess of it all. That’s the only thing you really have under your own control, especially in a situation like a global pandemic.”Get organized
Patel advises students to physically write out all their plans, so they aren’t jumbled in their heads.
And, while it may seem daunting at first, Kawahara has tried it and said it’s not so intimidating and that the “satisfaction of crossing things off the list is really nice.”
“My dad would always say this to me: ‘Get it out of your head because it’s much clearer on paper,” Kawahara said.
Potter stays on top of work with the help of Google Calendar and her color-coordinated planner.
“Organization is absolutely key in helping to mitigate symptoms of stress and being overwhelmed,” Potter said.Self-care is key
Patel says self-care is an important part of managing your stress, including healthy nutrition, proper sleep and regular exercise.
“You know, we’re not immune to stressful things happening in our lives. What we can do, however, is manage how our body and mind processes that stress and the things that we can do to help decrease the stress reaction,” said Dr. Patel. “And so self-care is a critical aspect of that.”
And, Potter says she’s found it’s important to take time out for yourself.
“You have to keep putting gas in your car in order for it to keep moving. And it’s a similar concept to self-care,” Potter said. “Every couple of hundred miles you got to slow down and refuel essentially.”
Some ways Potter implements personal care into her daily life is eating three meals a day, watching her favorite TV shows and taking breaks throughout the day. She also utilizes a reward system to celebrate her accomplishments.
“I also try to take a pause any time something positive or good happens at a benchmark,” Potter said.Kawahara, who is originally from California’s San Francisco Bay Area, avidly runs in the New York City streets to take some of the stress away. Though he admits to still learning how to incorporate self-care in his life, he enjoys watching movies and shows, talking with friends and exploring Manhattan.
In addition, staying focused and taking “things one step at a time” helps Kawahara avoid any unwanted stress. He structures errands around meals to motivate him to work more effectively.
“Also at night, I try to have a cut off. I try not to work past a certain time because I just know that my quality work is going to decline,” Kawahara said.
That is one of the key tips from the American Psychological Association for building resilience to stress – getting a good night’s sleep and sticking to a set bedtime.Learn to say ‘no’
And, while it isn’t easy to say “no” – sometimes you have to do it.
“I guess you can prevent being overwhelmed by just being selective about how you choose to spend your time, and if it’s not something that you really like to be doing, then maybe you don’t do that as much,” Kawahara said.
Not only will saying “no” help lighten your workload, it will also give you a better sense of control, which is key to managing stress.
“I actually had an opportunity to turn something down recently, which I think is a key kind of phrasing there, because being able to turn something down is an opportunity that implies that you have a choice,” Potter said.Communicate with family and friends
Don’t try to go it alone.
The American Psychological Association says it’s important to maintain meaningful connections with family, culture and community. You might have left home to go to college, or you might have left college to go back home during the pandemic, but it’s important to stay connected with family and friends.
And, when you’re not doing well, it’s important to communicate with friends, parents or relatives. Let the people around you know that you are feeling pressure. They can help support you.
Dr. Patel said this type of conversation could sound like the following: “You know, when I’m stressed, I might sound more irritable or negative or I might talk about my sleep or anxiety or physical complaints. So, if you notice that in me then you might want to let me know that those are some of the signs that I’m stressed.”Give yourself a break
Sometimes we get caught up in what we think our perfect life will look like but the truth is, life is never perfect. Especially not in a pandemic. So, keep striving to do great things but also remember to be good to yourself.
“If things aren’t going the way you want them to when you’re overwhelmed, that’s, OK. I think a lot of what we have to keep in mind right now is that a lot of us are not OK and that is OK right now,” Potter said. “Just remember to make sure that you’re taking care of yourself, as you would be sure to take care of a friend or a family member who needed your help.”Ask for help
If you are feeling stressed, anxious or overwhelmed, know that you are not alone. Reach out for help.
Call your university counseling center or health center. Talk to a resident adviser or a professor. They can help connect you with counselors who can help.
There are also a lot of organizations available to help you right now:
Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA)
The American Psychological Association (APA)
The American College Health Association (ACHA)
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255)
Crisis Text Line (Text HOME to 741741)
Don’t hesitate to reach out for help. We all need help sometimes.
CNBC’s “College Voices″ is a series written by CNBC interns from universities across the country about getting their college education, managing their own money and launching their careers during these extraordinary times. Victoria Bell was an intern with the CNBC Make It digital video department. She is a senior journalism major with a double minor in drama and dance at Hofstra University. The series is edited by Cindy Perman. MoreFanatics increased its offer from $150 million to $225 million to acquire PointsBet’s U.S. assets.
The PointsBet board unanimously approved and recommended the proposal and will vote on it Thursday night.
The deal would give Fanatics access to 15 U.S. states that it operates in.Fanatics founder and CEO Michael Rubin at his office in New York.
The Washington Post | Getty ImagesFanatics has raised the stakes as it looks to acquire PointsBet’s U.S. business.
The sports platform company increased its offering by 50% to $225 million in an effort to outbid DraftKings, which made a non-binding offer of $195 million earlier this month.PointsBet shareholders will formally vote on the new offer Thursday night.
“The Board unanimously supports the improved proposal from Fanatics Betting and Gaming, which provides a superior price plus certainty,” PointsBet Chairman Brett Paton said in a statement.
PointsBet gave DraftKings until 6 p.m. on Tuesday (Melbourne time) to make a binding offer and they failed to do so.
DraftKings CEO Jason Robins previously told CNBC that while the deal wouldn’t have been transformative for DraftKings, it would allow the company to grow market share.
If the deal is formally approved by PointsBet shareholders and regulators, it will give Fanatics much needed U.S. real estate in the 15 U.S. states where they operate. PointsBet is the seventh-largest U.S. sports betting operator.“Our U.S. team will have a strong future as part of the Fanatics Betting and Gaming group and PointsBet will build on the opportunities in Australia and Canada underpinned by a strong balance sheet,” Paton said.
Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin told CNBC after the DraftKings announcement that he was highly skeptical of their proposed offer, which he viewed as DraftKings attempting to slow Fanatics down.
“It’s a move to delay our ability to enter the market,” Rubin said. “I guess they are more concerned about us than I would have thought.”
DraftKings and Fanatics both declined to comment on the news. MoreProcter & Gamble reported falling revenue and profit on Thursday, as higher prices struggled to offset declining sales volumes.
All of the company’s divisions reported declining sales volume in the quarter.
The company lifted its outlook for 2023 sales growth to a range of 4% to 5%In this photo illustration a Procter and Gamble logo seen displayed on a smartphone with stock market percentages in the background.
Omar Marques | Lightrocket | Getty ImagesProcter & Gamble reported year-over-year declines in revenue and profit on Thursday, as higher prices struggled to offset declining sales volumes.
Shares of P&G fell about 2% in premarket trading.Here’s how P&G performed in its fiscal second quarter of 2023 compared with what Wall Street anticipated, based on an average of analyst’s estimates compiled by Refinitiv:
Adjusted earnings per share: $1.59 versus an expected $1.59
Total revenue: $20.77 billion versus expected $20.73 billionFor the three-month period ended Dec. 31, the company reported net income of $3.9 billion, or $1.59 per share, excluding items, down from $4.22 billion, or $1.66 per share, a year earlier.
Net sales fell 1% to $20.77 billion, topping analyst’s projections of $20.73 billion.
The company’s organic revenue, which excludes the impact of foreign currency, acquisitions and divestitures, increased 5% during the fiscal second quarter. That increase was a result of higher pricing, which outweighed shrinking consumer demand.
All of the company’s divisions reported declining sales volume in the quarter, despite seeing increases in organic sales as a result of higher pricing. Its grooming division, which houses brands like Gillette and The Art of Shaving, and which has historically underperformed for the company, reported no sales growth — its volume declines completely cancelled out its higher prices.The Cincinnati-based consumer goods giant, which owns brands like Crest toothpaste, Tide laundry detergent, and Pampers diapers, warned in its first quarter report of a $3.9 billion hit to its fiscal year 2023 due to “unfavorable” foreign exchange rates and pricier raw materials, commodities and freight. As a result, the company lowered its guidance, despite posting a solid first quarter.
The company now anticipates headwinds of $3.7 billion for the remainder of its fiscal year, marking a slight improvement. But it warned those headwinds would continue to squeeze P&G’s gross margins, which saw a 160-basis-point decrease during the second quarter versus a year ago.
Still, the company lifted its outlook for 2023 sales growth to a range of 4% to 5% from a prior range of 3% to 5%. The company lowered its estimated impact of foreign exchange to 5% from 6%.
This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.WATCH LIVEWATCH IN THE APP More
A cargo terminal in Hong Kong.
Getty ImagesSeveral major seaports in Asia have tightened crew change restrictions and stepped up screening of seamen in recent weeks as the coronavirus staged a global resurgence.
The developments came amid renewed concerns about spiking coronavirus cases in parts of the world that were previously thought to have kept the outbreak under control.Last week in Singapore, 15 Filipino crew members onboard a vessel tested positive for the coronavirus, said the city-state’s Maritime and Port Authority. The vessel was in Singapore for repairs and refuel. The crew members did not disembark.
Chinese ports have ramped screening of crew members on vessels arriving at ports after several cases of coronavirus cases in seafarers, trade journal Platts reported on July 29.
The infections in seafarers have complicated crew changes — a humanitarian crisis with tens of thousands of exhausted seafarers trapped at sea.
Many are marooned because of border closures and immigration restrictions aimed at containing the coronavirus pandemic. There are about 1.2 million seafarers globally who are involved in international trade routes.
To prevent cases from spreading to the community, the ports of Singapore and Hong Kong have issued new measures.On July 24, Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority issued a set of best practices in the light of a resurgence of coronavirus cases. They include isolation periods for onboarding and offboarding crews, as well as virus tests.
Also in July, the Hong Kong government suspended crew changes with no cargo operation after the Chinese special administrative territory recorded a surge in cases. Quarantine exemptions prior to the suspension were blamed for the swell in cases.Lapses in crew changes
The heightened scrutiny comes amid reports of lapses in protocol for managing crew changes — an issue which the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) called out on July 23.
“With stories emerging yesterday of crew arriving in Singapore with Covid-19 symptoms, it is clear that some seafarers and crew and manning companies are ‘not taking seriously’ the protocol of self-imposed isolation (minimum of 14 days) when being rostered for crew change,” the ICS said in a statement.
The ICS called the reports “alarming” and urged for compliance.
“The irresponsible actions of a small minority could potentially lead to the shutdown of crew change processes at important shipping hubs, impacting the vast majority of seafarers and shipowners who are acting in accordance with the protocols,” said the ICS.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore also reportedly discovered tampered Covid-19 test results, according to trade media. The MPA did not respond to CNBC’s request for comment on the tampered results.
State news agency Philippine News Agency reported on July 24 that two women were arrested for selling fake Covid-19 test results in the country.
The Southeast Asian country is a coronavirus hotspot, having reported over 160,000 cases of infections. It is also one of the world’s largest sources of seafarers, accounting for a quarter of crew globally, according to industry estimates. More