Family Services News
Families First New York Accepts Funds for Victims of Katrina
POUGHKEEPSIE – September 19, 2005 Families First New York announced today that they have established a fund to provide monetary assistance to the hundreds of evacuees of Hurricane Katrina that are arriving in the Hudson Valley. These families have experienced unimaginable trauma, many having lost everything, including in some cases, the lives of loved ones.
“We are part of a coordinated community response to this tragedy. Each day we respond to the needs of the community. With the addition of Katrina evacuees arriving in our area, the needs are becoming much more critical,” states Allan Thomas, President and CEO of Families First New York. “People looking for assistance have been inundating our help lines and those of other agencies in the area. The stories of need are heartbreaking. We had to do something.”
"When great tragedies befall our nation such as a devastating hurricane, all Americans rally to help those in need," Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY). "Through the good work of the people at Families First New York, Hudson Valley residents will now have a way to directly help Hurricane Katrina victims who have been forced from their homes and are now trying to put their lives back together in our area. The Families First New York Hurricane Katrina Fund is a noble cause and is worthy of support from those Hudson Valley residents who have the resources to help our fellow Americans who need help the most."
“The outpouring of kindness towards those affected by the devastation of Katrina has been overwhelming. Unfortunately, there is still so much more that needs to be done. Most of the monies donated over the past 3 weeks will not be distributed to those who lost their jobs and homes for weeks, even months,” according to Thomas. “We are here to provide immediate relief to those in our community that really need it.”
There are also agencies willing to assist with job placement, public assistance, health care and education. The needs expressed to agency staff who are directly assisting evacuees range from book bags for children to volunteer transportation.
100% of your tax-deductible donation will be given directly to the victims of Katrina that are in the Hudson Valley. Please send your checks to: Families First New York, Hudson Valley Relief Fund, 29 North Hamilton, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. To make a credit card contribution, to donate gift certificates, or phone cards or for additional information, please call 845.790.5911 or toll-free at 866.810.8923.
Betsy Seaman Brown Recipient of the 2005 Community Partnership Award
September 20, 2005 - Everyone in Poughkeepsie knows that Betsy Seaman Brown is a dynamo. And she uses much of that energy to make great things happen. In fact, she raised $7000 in one day to kick off the Families First New York Katrina Relief Fund. There’s no one more deserving of the 2005 Community Partnership Award.
Deep Poughkeepsie Roots
Betsy’s a native of Poughkeepsie – born and bred. She graduated from Poughkeepsie High School in 1962 and Dutchess Community College in 1964. Since then, there’s little in Dutchess County that hasn’t felt her influence.
Betsy served nine years on the board of the Dutchess County Community College Foundation, chairing it for two of those years. She was named a Distinguished Alumni in 1994, and subsequently a SUNY State Distinguished Alumni. She feels honored now to have been appointed a trustee of the College.
Professionally, Betsy has spent the last eighteen years growing Morris Associates into an engineering firm with sixty employees and four satellite offices in Dutchess and Columbia Counties. She serves as their Director of Marketing and Human Resources and represents them in the community.
You’ll find Betsy at Chamber of Commerce meetings throughout the Valley and at the Mid-Hudson Women’s Network making connections that help her accomplish both her firm’s and the community’s goals. Her enthusiasm bubbles over and here powers of persuasion, awesome.
When people want something done they call Betsy.
For four years she’s chaired the American Cancer society’s “100 Mile Walk of Hope,” the “Humanitarian Award Dinner” for the DC Youth Board, and the “Seat of Honor” dinner for the DC Girl Scouts. She offers advice and good counsel as a member of the Dutchess County Economic Development Corporation (where she chairs the Events Committee for Community Affairs), the DC Workforce Investment Board (where she serves on the Nominating and By-Laws Committee), and the Dutchess County Girl Scouts.
Thank you, Betsy.
Dutchess County is lucky to have Betsy Seaman Brown. She provides a model for us all to emulate. Families First New York is pleased to award her the 2005 Community Partnership Award.
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