FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

United Way of Rockland County
135 Main Street, 2nd Floor
M&T Bank Building
Nyack, New York 10960
Voice: 845-353-1616
Fax: 603-388-8332

Nita M. Lowey

 Serving Westchester and Rockland Counties   

 _____________________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                  CONTACT:  Elizabeth Stanley

December 15, 2006                                                                                              202-225-6506

WESTCHESTER AND ROCKLAND AWARDED $ 550,000 IN FEDERAL FUNDS

FOR EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER PROGRAM

WHITE PLAINS, NY - Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey (Westchester /Rockland) announced today that Westchester and Rockland counties have been awarded a total of $550,000 in federal funds by the Emergency Food and Shelter (EFS) Program.  The funding will go the United Way of Westchester and Putnam and the United Way of Rockland County.

EFS is a program funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Federal funds totaling $151,470,000 have been awarded by FEMA through EFS today to help prevent hunger and homelessness. Westchester will receive $419,244 and Rockland will be provided $130,110.

"Sadly, more than 36 million people live in households that struggle to put food on the table.  This is unacceptable," said Lowey.   "Local organizations across America, such as the United Way, play a vital role in helping families meet their critical food and shelter needs.  This funding comes at an especially important time as service organizations work to meet these needs as winter approaches."

"Throughout the past two years we have noticed a dramatic rise in the number of families who are seeking help to obtain the basic necessities such as food and shelter," said Naomi Adler, President & CEO of United Way of Rockland County. "We are extremely grateful for this year's funding and will go to work immediately to make sure that it is disseminated in the most efficient manner possible to meet this most critical need in our community. This grant is an essential part of United Way's ability to provide help to those who are struggling to support themselves, provide for their families and continue to live in Rockland County."

The EFS Program, entering its 24th year, is administered by a national board of volunteer agencies and chaired by FEMA. The National Board qualifies local jurisdictions for annual EFS awards based on criteria involving current population, unemployment, and poverty levels.  Awarded shares are disbursed by local affiliates of the National Board to nonprofit organizations and government agencies in the eligible jurisdictions.

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United Way of Rockland County, Inc. provides programs that touch more than 100,000 Rockland residents every year. In 2005, the United Way of Rockland County raised $937,000 to assist in funding 28 programs with 23 non-profit human service agencies and an additional $500,000 in gifts in kind. United Way of Rockland County's focus 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. This was accomplished through the United Way fundraising efforts --- a campaign spearheaded by the county's top corporate, retail and agency donors and their employees.

Our mission is to effectively mobilize the caring power of our community to help people improve their lives.