-
Omni Family of Services Appoints Luke DeLaVergne as Chief Operating Officer
Experienced human-services executive joins Omni as the organization expands its footprint and advances innovative, evidence-based services
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Omni Family of Services today announced the appointment of Luke DeLaVergne as Chief Operating Officer. DeLaVergne will provide executive leadership for Omni’s operations as the organization expands its geographic footprint and strengthens its ability to deliver meaningful outcomes for children, adults, families and communities.

DeLaVergne brings more than 17 years of leadership experience in the nonprofit and social services sectors. Most recently, he served as Interim Senior Vice President of Operations at Bethany Christian Services, providing operational oversight across 26 states. His experience spans strategic planning, organizational performance, program development, business growth, contract compliance and leadership development. Earlier in his career, he served as County Director for the Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse in Jackson, Tennessee, where he managed two Child Advocacy Centers and oversaw programs, fundraising, board development and community engagement.
“Luke brings the depth of operational leadership and human-services experience needed to help Omni grow responsibly and strengthen our impact,” said Jane Wintz, President and CEO of Omni Family of Services. “As our footprint expands, our focus remains on reaching more people and delivering better outcomes through evidence-based practices, innovation and high-quality services. Luke’s experience developing programs, leading teams across multiple states and building sustainable operations will be invaluable as we advance that work.”
The appointment comes at an important point in Omni’s continued evolution. As the organization reaches more people and communities, DeLaVergne will help strengthen operational alignment, support consistent quality across programs and build the infrastructure needed to scale effective services.
In his role, DeLaVergne will collaborate with leaders across Omni to further develop service lines, expand access to care and support innovative approaches that improve the experiences and outcomes of the people Omni serves. His background in leadership coaching and executive development will also support Omni’s continued investment in strong leaders and high-performing teams.
DeLaVergne was particularly drawn to Omni’s mission, inclusive culture and commitment to valuing different experiences and perspectives. He will begin his role by listening and learning from employees, leaders and partners throughout the organization to gain a deeper understanding of Omni’s programs, communities and opportunities for continued impact.
“Luke understands that sustainable growth is not simply about becoming larger—it is about increasing our capacity to serve people well,” Wintz added. “We are excited to welcome him to Omni and look forward to the collaborative, people-centered leadership he will bring as we continue advancing hope and healing in more communities.”
About Omni Family of Services
Omni Family of Services is a national human-services agency providing child welfare, behavioral health and community-based services to children, adults and families. Through innovative tools, evidence-based practices and a full continuum of trauma-responsive solutions, Omni supports and empowers clients on their journey to healing. Learn more at www.theomnifamily.com.
-
Prose Makes Skin Science Deeply Personal with New Custom Eye Care and a Next-Generation Custom Serum
The personalized beauty brand expands its skincare routine with a new Custom Eye Cream and Reusable Eye Patches, plus an upgraded Custom Serum
Prose, the global leader in personalization, today unveiled its new made-to-order skincare routine, introducing an upgraded Custom Serum, new Custom Eye Cream, and Reusable Eye Patches, all created one-of-a-kind to match the individual’s skincare needs. Designed to deliver targeted, high-performance care, the expanded collection combines Prose’s made-to-order personalization with advanced skincare innovation to deliver targeted, high-performance care that supports cellular resilience and evolves alongside each individual’s changing skin over time.

Skin Science, Made Deeply Personal
The expansion comes as the beauty industry undergoes a major shift toward preventive care and cellular science, with consumers trading complicated, multi-step routes and trend-driven ingredients for clinically proven solutions. According to market research firm NIQ, 75% of consumers now purchase three or fewer skincare products as they look to streamline their routines. Yet while routines are becoming simpler, skin itself is anything but static: environmental stressors, seasonal shifts, hormones, and lifestyle changes can continuously alter what it needs. Prose’s made-to-order model is designed to bridge that gap, creating personalized formulas that adapt alongside an individual’s evolving skin profile over time.
“Personalization should mean making every product work more effectively for your skin,” said Marie Mignon, Chief Scientific Officer at Prose. “We’ve anchored our serum in CL-01 Renewal Complex™, our new complex designed to help skin withstand stress, strengthen cellular resilience, and reactivate the biological pathways that support youthful-looking skin. Paired with our new Custom Eye Cream and Reusable Eye Patches, each custom precision-blended formula is designed not just for someone’s skin type, but for their skin right now.”
The updated skincare collection brings targeted care to every step, featuring a clean label design inspired by modern apothecary roots and custom formulas tailored to each individual’s consultation:
- Custom Serum (Updated Next Generation Formula): Prose’s serum pairs clinically tested actives with bespoke ingredients selected for your unique skin concerns. Formulated to support your unique skin biology, goals, and environment, your custom formula may now include the science-backed CL-01 Renewal Complex™, composed of 5% NAD+ Precursor, Tri-Hyaluronic Acid, and Biotech Reishi Mushroom. This will target key priorities—such as supporting collagen structure and visibly improving firmness, fine lines, uneven skin tone, dark spots, or blemishes—delivering results that continue to evolve over time. In consumer studies, 94% saw healthier-looking skin after 4 weeks and 91% reported a visibly brighter, more even tone after 12 weeks.
- Custom Eye Cream (New): Made specifically for the delicate eye area, this fragrance-free, dermatologist- and ophthalmologist-tested cream delivers targeted benefits based on each consultation. Formulated with select high-performance ingredients—such as Biotech Collagen, Encapsulated Caffeine, or Centella Asiatica—it addresses individual concerns like dark circles, puffiness, under-eye bags, and fine lines. It delivers immediate hydration and brightness, with 92% of users reporting that skin around their eyes feels smoother after four weeks. After four weeks, it visibly reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while smoothing, firming, lifting, and improving elasticity.
- Reusable Eye Patches (New): Designed to pair with Prose Custom Eye Cream, these thin, flexible patches are made with medical-grade silicone and contour to the unique shape of the eye area, creating a seal that helps lock in moisture. Dermatologist- and ophthalmologist-tested and suitable for sensitive skin and contact-lens wearers, the reusable patches can also be refrigerated for a boosted cooling effect.
Like all Prose formulas, the Custom Serum and Custom Eye Cream are freshly made to order in the U.S., helping minimize overproduction and excess waste. Our products are suitable for sensitive skin, cruelty-free, and are formulated for optimal tolerance. As a Certified B Corporation, Prose reinforces its dedication to conscious care through sustainable sourcing and made-to-order manufacturing.
The new skincare line is available across the United States and Canada on Prose.com, starting at $68 USD and $92 CAD for the Custom Serum; $52 USD and $72 CAD for the Custom Eye Cream; and $26 USD and $36 CAD for the Reusable Eye Patches. Take the Prose Consultation to create your bespoke formula here, and follow along for other brand news @prose.
About Prose
Prose is a DTC beauty-tech brand known for creating custom, made-to-order hair and skin care products to disrupt the CPG industry. Prose shattered the notion that mass retail production is the only solution. Marrying a technology driven approach with an apothecary-style concept, Prose products are made-to-order and provide the highest quality of natural ingredients. The brand is committed to sustainable operations and is a Public Benefit Corporation and a Certified B Corporation. -
K-Beauty Brand Hanhoo Expands National Retail Footprint
Award-winning acne care brand brings targeted breakout innovations – including the first-of-its-kind On The Go Blemish Patch dispenser – to select CVS Pharmacy locations and CVS.com.
NEW YORK, Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Building on its retail expansion across the U.S., Hanhoo, the K-beauty brand known for effective, affordable skincare solutions, today announced its launch in more than 600 CVS Pharmacy locations nationwide and CVS.com. The retail milestone expands access to the brand’s Korean-crafted acne patch collection, bringing innovative breakout care to consumers across the country with products starting at $5.49.

The launch into select CVS Pharmacy locations builds on Hanhoo’s continued retail momentum, with the brand growing its U.S. retail footprint by 34.5% year over year as consumer demand for innovative, accessible K-beauty and targeted acne care continues to rise. Since entering the market, Hanhoo has earned a loyal following for its breakthrough blemish patch technology, effective formulations and approachable price points, establishing itself as a trusted destination for everyday breakout solutions.
From everyday blemishes to deeper, hard-to-reach breakouts, Hanhoo’s assortment at CVS was thoughtfully developed to deliver targeted solutions for a variety of skin concerns, all with the simplicity and innovation that define Korean skincare. The collection includes:
- Blemish Patch (36 ct, $5.49): The everyday go-to for whiteheads and surface pimples. Transparent hydrocolloid patches in 10 mm and 12 mm sizes absorb oil and fluid while protecting spots from picking. Wear them discreetly during the day or overnight.
- EraZit Magnesium Microdart Patch (8 ct, $11.49): Made for deep, under-the-skin blemishes. Each 12 mm patch features 18 non-dissolving magnesium microdarts to help calm and minimize the look of irritated pimples while protecting the spot from picking and dirt.
- On The Go Blemish Patch (108 ct, $10.99): A first-of-its-kind portable dispenser that puts breakout care in the palm of your hand. Its pull-tape design dispenses one 12 mm hydrocolloid patch at a time for easy application anywhere, anytime.
From everyday blemishes to deeper breakouts, Hanhoo’s Korean-inspired acne patch collection offers simple, effective solutions designed for real life. Consumers can now shop the collection at select CVS Pharmacy locations nationwide and on CVS.com.
For more information, visit hanhoousa.com or follow @HanhooSkin on social media.
About Hanhoo
Hanhoo is an award-winning Korean-inspired skincare brand dedicated to making innovative, effective skincare approachable and affordable. Proudly crafted in Korea, the brand combines trusted K-beauty innovation with accessible price points to deliver targeted solutions for acne-prone and everyday skin concerns. Known for its best-selling blemish patches and breakthrough acne-care innovations, Hanhoo helps consumers simplify their skincare routines with products designed for real life. -
Furry Puppet Studio
Have you heard of ‘Grumpy Cat’? ” asks Zack Buchman, Founder and Creative Director of Furry Puppet Studio, as he strolls through his Brooklyn studio, stopping to lift a frowning feline puppet, its bright blue eyes fixed in a state of perpetual annoyance, into the air.

He is referring, of course, to the celebrity cat whose pointed expression of disgust has inspired everything from television interviews to countless memes. Grumpy Cat reappears here now in the only official version of her puppet form, judgmental scowl fully intact.
Buchman, a former animator who left home and moved to New York City at a young age, has a pretty unorthodox background for a creative director who’s at the helm of his own business. “Actually, I never ended up going to college,” he says. “But I think that it ended up giving me this outsider perspective and an unusual outlook. Which is why our work is so different.”
Indeed, it seems that Buchman’s unique perspective has a lot to do with the attention that Furry Puppet Studio is getting: he and his team have together conceptualized and fabricated custom puppets for a wide variety of productions, from TV shows to music videos featuring some unexpected guest stars, such as Jon Hamm and Michelle Obama.
Buchman, as he tells it, draws artistic inspiration from the pixelated computer games he was exposed to in his childhood and “naturally, Jim Henson’s early work.” He believes wholeheartedly in the power of smart character design and is “a big fan of keeping things simple.”More info here: https://www.animationforadults.com/2024/05/art-chooses-you-conversation-with-zack.html
https://craftindustryalliance.org/zack-buchman-makes-puppets-that-delight/
-
Stories as Bridges in Divisive Times: A Children’s Novel Set in Nomadic Somali
“We are all the same in the ways that matter most.”
While division dominates headlines, A Song of Her Own (Rain Chaser: Book One) [Iftin Ink; November 2025] by Saida Bulhan counters that narrative to build empathy by centering dignity, belonging, and the universal desire to be seen.
The first English-language children’s chapter book set in nomadic Somalia, the novel follows seven-year-old Kiin, who is eager to prove she’s ready to shepherd her family’s animals on her own. She already helps care for her younger siblings and assists Hooyo in building their huts. Her older siblings were trusted with herding at her age, so why not her?
Through Kiin’s journey, Bulhan centers what connects us: the universal longing to be seen, trusted, and valued. Somali proverbs and cultural wisdom weave through the narrative, grounding readers in nomadic life while underscoring themes of dignity, belonging, and human connection. Rather than positioning Somali culture as “other,” A Song of Her Own invites young readers into a world that feels both specific and familiar: where family dynamics, sibling rivalry, self-doubt, and creative ambition transcend geography.
“It’s particularly timely for young people, especially Somali American children and other children whose stories are underrepresented in children’s literature, who are processing the negative rhetoric they’re witnessing about their communities,” Bulhan said. “I want all readers to walk away affirmed in their own humanity and inspired by the vast potential for creativity and wholeness within us all, with deep appreciation for Somali culture and people.”
A Song of Her Own is a reminder that when children encounter one another’s stories early, division loses its footing and shared humanity takes root.
A Song of Her Own (Rain Chaser: Book One)
by Saida Bulhan
Iftin Ink
All Formats; November 18, 2025
ISBN: 978-1969922015
$12.99 (paperback); $19.99 (hardcover); 5 1/ 2 x 8 1/ 2; 112 pages
Reading age: 6-10 years
About the Author
Saida J. Bulhan was born and raised in a nomadic region of Somalia. She learned to read after immigrating to the United States as a teenager, an experience that sparked her lifelong passion for storytelling. She writes for children and adults but her first love is children’s fiction. A Song of Her Own is her first chapter book. Visit Saida at saidajbulhan.com.
-
StarShooters: Build basketball skills — that glow
Kids get better at basketball when they practice regularly – but only if it feels enjoyable. StarShooters makes practice something they’ll actually want to do and will training them in a unique way that enhances their ball handling: engaged practice, improved skills.

- Builds Ball Control: Low-light play trains players to feel the ball, not just watch it
- 10 Game Challenges Included: Each one helps improve handling, coordination, and confidence
- Glow Markers for Footwork: Set up dribble routes, pivot points, or agility paths
- Made for Driveways & Rec Courts: Works indoors or outside – no hoop required
- For Kids Who Love Hoops: Ages 5+, great for siblings and grownups to join in
If you have a kid who loves basketball, this is a fun way to help them grow – without drills feeling like work.




