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American Red Cross Awards $1 Million Grant to United Way of Long Island for Superstorm Sandy Recovery Program

Written by Long Island News & PR  |  22. August 2013

Long Island, NY — 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. 

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