Press Release Archives - #624-96 women in need addressed at corporate breakfast at Plaza Hotel

Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: December 3, 1996

Release #624-96

Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958 or Jack Deacy (212) 788-2969

MAYOR GIULIANI ADDRESSES WOMEN IN NEED CORPORATE BREAKFAST AT PLAZA HOTEL

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani this morning addressed the first annual corporate breakfast of Women In Need,Inc., the first New York City non-profit agency created to provide shelter to homeless women with children. The agency offers transitional and permanent housing at seven housing sites throughout the five boroughs and also offers a variety of programs, including alcohol and substance abuse treatment programs, education and employment programs and day care and summer camp programs for children. "Since 1982, Women In Need has provided comprehensive programs for underprivileged women and children," Mayor Giuliani said. "By making available a system of housing, services and resources, Women In Need provides women the opportunity to take control of their lives with skills that promote emotional and economic self-sufficiency. At the core of the City's approach to welfare reform have been these same concepts of personal accountability and responsibility."

"While many across the country continue to debate welfare reform, New York City has made major strides in welfare reform -- real reform," the Mayor added. "Three years ago, the welfare rolls in this city were well above one million, meaning that one in seven New Yorkers were receiving public assistance. Since our City's approach to real welfare reform began, approximately 200,000 people have moved off the welfare rolls, 35,000 are currently enrolled in workfare programs and another 90,000 have moved through the workfare program. As a result, New York City has had the largest decrease in welfare, and the most participation in workfare programs, than any other city or state in the nation."

Joining the Mayor at the Plaza Hotel were City Council Speaker Peter Vallone, Deputy Mayor Fran Reiter, Police Commissioner Howard Safir, Rita Zimmer, Founder, President and CEO of Women In Need (WIN), and members of the WIN Board of Directors. The special corporate hosts at the event included Louis Perlmutter, managing Director of Lazard Freres & Company, Lionel L. Pincus, Chairman and CEO of E.M. Warburg, Pincus & Company, Jack Rudin, Co-Chairman of Rudin Management, Lewis Rudin, Chairman of the Association for a Better New York, Jerry Speyer, President and CEO of Tishman Speyer Properties, Sanford Weill, Chairman and CEO of the Travelers Group, Lawrence Weinbach, Managing Partner and CEO of Andersen Worldwide and James D. Zirin, Partner of Brown & Wood.