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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 049-10
January 29, 2010

MAYOR BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES NEW YORK CITY’S HAITI RELIEF FUND HAS COLLECTED OVER $1.2 MILLION

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced that the City's Haiti Relief Fund, administered by the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City, has received over $1.2 million in donations. More than 3,400 individuals and community groups have contributed, and the Mayor's Fund is ensuring that 100 percent of contributions are directed to reputable organizations that are providing relief in Haiti, such as the Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, Partners in Health, UNICEF, and the World Food Program.  The Mayor's Fund is also absorbing any processing fees, where applicable.

"So many New Yorkers want to help and we've made giving as easy as calling 311," said Mayor Bloomberg. "I want to thank all of the community leaders and elected officials who helped to raise awareness of the City's Haiti Relief Fund and all the thousands of people who have given." 

"On behalf of the Mayor's Fund, thank you to the thousands of New Yorkers and friends who have so generously contributed to the City's Haiti Relief Fund," said Mayor's Fund Chair Rob Speyer. "The response has been overwhelming and is certainly a testament to our collective commitment to support the people of Haiti in this time of great need."

Today's total does not include the City of New York's new payroll deduction program to support Haiti relief, which was announced by Mayor Bloomberg and Council Speaker Christine Quinn on January 15. If every one of the City's 300,000 employees earmarked just $1 per paycheck for Haiti during the donation period, City employees would raise another $1.2 million.

"The devastating earthquake has brought out the best of New York City. Despite our own economic hardships, New Yorkers are generously responding to the catastrophe in Haiti," said Speaker Christine C. Quinn.  "I am enormously proud of the thousands of municipal workers who are participating in the automatic payroll deduction program to help the people of Haiti."

"New Yorkers have once again demonstrated their deep concern and compassion for their fellow citizens of the world," said Comptroller John Liu.  "Donors to the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City have not only extended their help to the people of Haiti, but their hearts as well. This devotion to community and service is why I'm so proud to be a New Yorker and I encourage people to keep donating to these relief efforts so that displaced families can begin the work of rebuilding their lives and city."

"New Yorkers are opening their hearts and wallets to the people of Haiti, and I applaud the great work of Mayor Bloomberg, the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City and all those who donated in ensuring that contributions go to reputable organizations and provide the emergency relief where and when it's needed the most," said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. "My office is proud to have played a role in helping the Mayor's Fund reach the $1 million mark, and we will continue to urge Brooklynites and New Yorkers to be generous in assisting the great people of Haiti as they recover from this tragedy and begin to rebuild."

"I want to thank all who have answered and continue to answer the call for help. I am grateful and so are the people of Haiti," said Council Member Eugene. "The support through the Mayor's Fund shows that New Yorkers know how to step up to the plate when others call for help."

"Haiti and New York City have deep ties, and Mayor Bloomberg's establishment of a relief fund for earthquake victims recognizes that," said Council Member Gentile. "That we were able to meet the fund's goal of raising in excess of $1 million in such a short period of time indicates that this city understands the connections between New Yorkers and Haitians as well, and that this tragedy resonated with New York City families and individuals. We are at our best when we answer the call to help, and in this moment, New York City is at its best."

"It comes as no surprise that the most diverse city in the world realizes that when one of us is hurt, we are all hurt," said Council Member Peter F. Vallone Jr. "Mayor Bloomberg's fundraising efforts show New Yorkers' willingness to come together and offer support during difficult times."

Many City agencies and offices also collected donations among their employees to donate to the Fund, including the Office of the City Clerk; the Housing Authority; and the Departments of Correction, Small Business Services, Information Technology and Telecommunications, Housing Preservation and Development, and Design & Construction.

Businesses, schools, churches and community groups throughout the five boroughs and beyond have also organized creative fundraising efforts to benefit the NYC's Haiti Relief Fund, such as: The Christian Cultural Center and Council of Churches of the City of New York took up collections among their members; G and D Restaurant Associates dedicated a portion of their restaurant sales; Astor Wines hosted a wine tasting; a group of 10 year-olds from Charleston, South Carolina held bakes sales and secured matching contributions from individuals and companies; and young professionals organized an event called "Hearts4Haiti" at a Manhattan venue. On February 20, New York Road Runners and NYC Department of Parks & Recreation are sponsoring a 4-mile run in Central Park. All entry fees will go directly to New York City's Haiti Relief Fund. For more information on the run go to: www.nyrr.org.

New York City's Haiti Relief Fund, administered by the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City, was established to provide a secure vehicle for donations to aid the victims of the January 12, 2010, earthquake. The Mayor's Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization, serves as an umbrella not-for-profit organization for the City of New York to aid public programs with private support. To donate by phone: call 311 (212-NEW-YORK outside New York City), online: go to www.nyc.gov/fund, by mail: make check payable to Mayor's Fund, One Centre Street, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10007 (note: Haiti Relief Fund).







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Stu Loeser / Jason Post   (212) 788-2958




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