John Mitty Monday, August 26, 2013 |
LONG ISLAND, N.Y., August 22, 2013 — The American Red Cross has awarded a $1 million grant to
United Way of Long Island to support long-term recovery services for people affected by Superstorm
Sandy.
United Way of Long Island will use the grant to provide financial support through sub-grants to Adelante
of Suffolk County, Inc., Hispanic Brotherhood of Rockville Centre, Inc., and La Fuerza Unida, Inc. These
three organizations will administer disaster case management services for Latinos and all residents
affected by Sandy. They will also help homeowners navigate the permitting process for home repairs
and rebuilding assistance.
“We applaud the American Red Cross for making a significant investment across Long island to help
Latino families recover and rebuild,” said Theresa Regnante, president & CEO of United Way of Long
Island. “The grant will enable the Long Island Latino Alliance to take a giant step forward. With our
community-based partner organizations, we will expand the scope of bilingual services for Latino
families who are still facing extraordinary hardship. The grant will help families reach recovery and come
back stronger.”
John Miller, CEO of the American Red Cross on Long Island, said this grant to the United Way will go a
long way in helping the Latino population on Long Island.
“The Red Cross is committed to being there for all Sandy survivors and this grant demonstrates our
commitment to Long Island,” Miller said.
The leaders of the three Latino organizations were pleased to know they will receive Red Cross funding
through sub-grants from United Way.
“Thanks to the American Red Cross for their financial support, Adelante, in collaboration with other nonprofit
organizations and agencies, will now be able to reach out to find and identify Latinos in Long
Island whose homes have been destroyed and need reconstruction, repairs and other work,” said
Miriam Garcia, executive director of Adelante. “With the help of The United Way, which will provide the
labor force and materials, all of us collaborating with one another will be able to restore not only their
homes but their lives as well.”
Margarita Grasing, executive director of the Hispanic Brotherhood of Rockville Centre said, “We are
excited to be in a partnership with the Red Cross, United Way and our two Latino agencies, La Fuerza
Unida and Adelante. Together, we will alleviate the pain of many Hispanic families still waiting for help.”
Alberto Munera, executive director from La Fuerza Unida, said, “With the outstanding generosity,
support, funding and leadership of the American Red Cross and United Way of Long Island, La Fuerza
Unida is committed to assist and meet with hundreds of families who have suffered the physical
devastation and emotional trauma left by Superstorm Sandy. We will do their assessments, hear their
stories with compassion and endurance, and provide the resources they need to recover.”
Superstorm Sandy is the largest U.S. operation by the Red Cross in more than five years, and thanks to
the public’s generous support, the Red Cross has received $307 million in donations for Sandy
emergency relief and recovery efforts. As of mid-July, the Red Cross has spent or committed $260
million – 85 percent of the donated funds.
Donations to the American Red Cross after Superstorm Sandy have led to clear signs of progress and
hope through New York and New Jersey nine months after the storm. As of August 2013, the
Red Cross has partnered with numerous community-based organizations to support the recovery of
individuals and families affected by Sandy, such as Island Harvest, The Staten Island Foundation, New
York Disaster Interfaith Services, Brooklyn Community Foundation, National VOAD, Operation Hope,
Points of Light Foundation, Visiting Nurse Service of New York, Food Bank For New York City and
Health and Welfare Council of Long Island. Sandy recovery efforts include housing assistance, case
management, mental health services, volunteer coordination and food assistance. Additional community
grants will be announced in the weeks ahead.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters;
supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international
humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit
organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its
mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCrossNY.
About United Way on Long Island:
For more than 49 years, the United Way of Long Island has been improving the lives of children, youth
and struggling families by creating long term solutions to deep-rooted problems. We are focused on
helping Long Island communities with a range of issues including a lack of housing, health care, food,
child care, education, financial stability, stable employment and more. We do this by developing high
impact programs, but because no one non-profit organization can change our entire community, we also
raise money for and fund over 120 community partners devoted to advancing the common
good. Together, we invest in education to ensure children succeed in school and achieve their
potential. We help families become financially stable and independent. And, we ensure our
communities have access to healthcare and positive lifestyle choices. Our staff and Board of Directors
continuously bring together partners and volunteers from across Long Island to prioritize issues, raise
funds and develop solutions that positively impact Long Island. Eighty five cents of every dollar we raise
and every project we undertake helps Long Islanders in need. Be the Next One to make an investment
in changing a life. Join us. Give. Advocate. Volunteer.
About the Adelante of Suffolk County:
Adelante of Suffolk County, Inc. is a non-profit, multi-service community-based organization founded in
1966. Adelante has successfully provided services to the culturally-diverse communities of Suffolk
County in the areas of health, education, employment, supported housing, leadership development,
volunteerism and culture. Adelante was founded by a group of concerned Latino citizens, who advocated
for the need to improve the quality of life of their community members, to promote Hispanic culture and
civic responsibility as well as to foster the educational, economical, social and cultural awareness and
pride of the community.
About the Hispanic Brotherhood of Rockville Centre:
The Hispanic Brotherhood of Rockville Centre, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization established in 1984 by
a small group of Latino residents in order to assist the fast growing population of immigrants from
different Spanish language cultures.
The agency provides a wide range of resettlement services, an After-School Child Care and Tutorial
Program, and the Hispanic Brotherhood Senior Citizen Club. Resettlement services include housing and
employment counseling (including housing referrals and job placement), translation, immigration and
legal assistance, naturalization and citizenship counseling, advocacy for individuals and groups in
disputes such as tenant/landlord and employer/employee, and emergency food.
About the La Fuerza Unida:
Founded in 1978, La Fuerza Unida, Inc. is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization. La Fuerza was created
as an outgrowth of community needs and shared interest among Spanish-speaking persons residing in
Long Island. The organization was established as a vehicle to improve the social, literary, educational,
cultural and economic conditions of Hispanic-Americans in the City of Glen Cove and its neighboring
communities. However, with the increased demand for services by the overall population within the
geographical area served by La Fuerza, the organization expanded its client base in 1987 adding the atlarge
low-to-moderate income population. By that time, La Fuerza had become a multi-service agency
providing a gamut of services to more than 8,000 individuals and families annually for children, youth and
adults. Additionally, in 1987, La Fuerza was awarded Neighborhood Preservation Company status by the
New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR). La Fuerza is also a CHDO and
HUD approved agency. In 2006 La Fuerza was approved by the Department of Home Land Security as
an accredited representative of the Immigration Board of Appeals (BIA). During its existence, La Fuerza
has received many distinctions and awards. An important award was the Racial Harmony Award. In
2012, La Fuerza received the Cesar Chavez Award.
La Fuerza belongs to several membership organizations such as United Way of Long Island, Hispanic
Federation, National Council of La Raza, New York State Coalition for Excellence in Homeownership,
Long Island Housing Crisis Task Force, Nassau County Youth Board Coalition, Glen Cove Inter Agency
Council and Glen Cove Senior Citizen Advisory Committee.
jmitty@longislandyellowpages.com Appears In: Press Releases
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