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United
Way of Rockland County |
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M&T Bank Building, 2nd Floor 135 Main Street Nyack, NY 10960 |
Tel
845.358.UWAY |
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Contact: Naomi Adler
UWRC President
ROCKLAND UNITED WAY RAISES $885,000 IN 2003-04;
TOP DONORS PRAISED FOR FUNDING CHARITABLE EFFORTS
PEARL RIVER, NY, June 25, 2004 - Rockland County's people are $885,000 richer
today thanks to this year's United Way fundraising efforts --- a campaign spearheaded
by the county's top corporate, retail and agency donors and their employees,
all of whom were honored today.
The United Way of Rockland County's Board of Directors' Chairman, Tom Brizzolara, led the tribute to Rockland's top donors at a breakfast meeting today hosted by Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern.
Brizzolara, Manager-Public Affairs at Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc.,
said, "Rockland County is well-known for its generosity of spirit, but
nowhere is that shown better than when it comes to financial support of the
United Way."
Rockland United Way helps fund 28 programs with 23 non-profit human service
agencies whose only mission is to make the community a better place to live
by assisting seniors, caring for children and youth, strengthening families,
assisting people in crisis, increasing self-sufficiency for people with disabilities,
and promoting health and healing.
The Top Corporate Donors for this year were: Orange and Rockland Utilities,
Inc.; Chromalloy, Costco, County of Rockland, IBM, Lord and Taylor, M&T
Bank, Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation, Provident Bank, Stop and Shop Supermarket,
The Bank of New York, The Journal News, UBS, United Parcel Service (UPS), Union
State Bank, Verizon and Wyeth.
O&R's President and Chief Executive Officer John D. McMahon accepted the award for O&R as the top United Way fundraising company.
Brizzolara said, "Many people don't know or understand that there is no United Way entitlement, no government or foundation grant with its name on it. There is no set amount it can count on each year from contributors to make it work."
He added, "This is very much a local project. That money doesn't come from anyone but the community and it doesn't go anywhere but to help those of us in need. It's all about neighbors helping neighbors."
Naomi Adler, United Way of Rockland County's President, said, "Each year, United Way of Rockland County starts from virtually nothing. Its leadership must work efficiently and strategically, particularly in an era of diminishing resources and corporate belt-tightening, to continue to enlist contributors, organize campaigns, capitalize on new opportunities, raise funds and distribute that money to effective local agencies for maximum impact. And, the money that is raised here stays here."
In March 2004, United Way of Rockland County predicted that this year's campaign
would fall $62,000 short of its $900,000 goal. Its Board of Directors mobilized
a three-month effort to narrow that gap, including individual members participating
in a telethon to solicit local small businesses for contributions. Those efforts
raised an additional $47,000.
Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc., as it has for many years, led this year's Rockland United Way campaign by combining a dynamic fund-raising drive partnership between the Company and its bargaining unit, IBEW Local 503, with a dollar-for-dollar, employee-shareholder match to raise $190,353.
The O&R-IBEW Local 503 fund-raising drive raised $95,176.50 from among O&R's current employees and its retirees. The Company matched that amount from the shareholder funds of Consolidated Edison, Inc., O&R's parent company.
O&R's McMahon said, "We're very proud of this campaign. A community that takes care of its own is certainly a more attractive place for drawing new business and new residents, and a better place in which to keep a business."
Other recognition awards went to: Hep Day Care Center and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program for Best United Way of Rockland County agency campaigns; Filene's for the Best Retail Business campaign; and Medco Health for finishing at the top of the Gifts-In-Kind category.
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