United Way of Rockland County
	M&T Bank Building, 2nd Floor 135 Main Street Nyack, NY 10960	Tel 845.358.UWAY Fax 845.358.8250 www.uwrc.org

Contact: Naomi Adler

UWRC President

UWRC announces telethon to close this year’s fundraising gap

United Way of Rockland County, the only umbrella organization for all Health and Human Services not for profit organizations in Rockland, will hold its first county-wide telethon on June 11, 2004 to help prevent a projected campaign deficit. “Unless we receive approximately $52,000 in donations by the end of June, the UWRC board will have to make a very difficult decision to cut allocations to the local non-profit agencies that really depend on our grants to continue their work” stated Naomi Adler, President of United Way of Rockland.

Early in the morning before work, volunteers in the local business community will be joining together at The Journal News’ Rockland office to call upon small business owners to join the United Way of Rockland County’s Corporate Partner Program. Businesses that qualify for membership in this program have 15 or fewer employees and donate $500 or $1000 annually to the UWRC Community Care Fund (the actual amount to join is based upon the number of employees). Members of this program are given year round recognition of their donation through advertisements and other UWRC marketing venues as well as substantial opportunities to network and market their business to all of the other area corporations that help their United Way.

“We have had great campaigns from the usual stalwarts like Wyeth, Orange and Rockland Utilities, the County of Rockland, Provident Bank and The Bank of New York” stated this year’s board chair, Tom Brizzolara. “However economic and other business downturns have hurt the campaigns of other past top contributors. We hope that by partnering with the small business community we can pick up the slack.”

Carolyn Fish, Executive Director of Rockland Family Shelter, a beneficiary of UWRC funding recently acknowledged, “For 25 years The United Way of Rockland’s support has been vital for the growth and development of our services. Decreased funding would be a great hardship to the women and children we serve.”

Howard Hellman, President of All Bright Electric and member of the UWRC board commented, “As a business owner I am encouraging my fellow business partners to join me and give generously at this critical time.”

For more information about how to volunteer for the telethon or to donate to the United Way of Rockland County please call 845-358-8929 or contact us via e-mail at info @ uwrc.org.

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