3000 People to Walk Brooklyn Bridge for United Way of NYC

2010 Live United Brooklyn Bridge Walk & Volunteer Festival

More than 3,000 participants are expected to gather in Foley Square and then walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to Cadman Plaza Park for a Volunteer Festival featuring live music, food, activities for children and youth, plus more than 60 nonprofit organizations from all five boroughs offering volunteer opportunities for New Yorkers of all ages today (Saturday, October 1, 2011).

The Volunteer Festival (at Cadman Plaza 11am-1pm) is open to the public and will feature live music from local bands; a family zone with stilt walkers, face painters, and arts and crafts; sports activities for youth and teens; interactive pavilions to learn about United Way’s work in education, income and health; and a chance to visit with more than 60 local nonprofit groups that are seeking volunteer assistance throughout the year.

Press release after the break:

Saturday, October 1, 2011
CONTACT: Alex Howe- (202) 271-7997
ahowe@globalstrategygroup.com

In Response to Record Poverty Numbers in NYC More Than 3,000 People to Walk Brooklyn Bridge to Raise Awareness of Wide Education, Income, and Health Gaps Affecting Low-Income New Yorkers

More than 1.6 million NY’ers Live Below Poverty Line; Most Since 2000

NYCService to co-present culminating Volunteer Festival offering hundreds of ways for New Yorkers of all ages to get involved year-round

NEW YORK, NY – On Saturday, October 1, 2011 United Way of New York City’s LIVE UNITED Bridge Walk will attract thousands of New Yorkers, community leaders, and teams from the business, government and nonprofit sectors to help raise awareness of the need to “bridge” critical gaps in education, income stability and health that exist in New York City. More than 3,000 participants are expected to gather in Foley Square and then walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to Cadman Plaza Park for a Volunteer Festival featuring live music, food, activities for children and youth, plus more than 60 nonprofit organizations from all five boroughs offering volunteer opportunities for New Yorkers of all ages.

The Bridge Walk and Volunteer Festival will raise awareness about critical needs in our city that require sustainable solutions:

· One in five New Yorkers lives below the poverty line, which for a family of three means earning less than $18,000 a year.
· More than 1.6 million New Yorkers live below the federal poverty line; highest level since 2000.
· Nearly 60% of New York City public school students in grades 3 through 8 read below grade level and a little more than 39% of New York City students who enter ninth grade fail to graduate with their peers four years later.
· One in four New Yorkers lives in a household that can’t afford enough food. Forty percent of New York City children in Head Start are obese or overweight.

There is no registration fee for the Bridge Walk, but every walker must register in advance at LiveUnitedNYC.org. All registered walkers will receive a free LIVE UNITED t-shirt. Fundraising is optional. but tools to help participants raise money among colleagues, friends and family are available on the Bridge Walk registration site (www.LiveUnitedNYC.org). Dollars raised will help fund United Way’s outcome-driven programs that are working to ensure substantially higher graduate rates, improved income stability, and healthier lifestyles for vulnerable New Yorkers.

The Volunteer Festival is open to the public and will feature live music from local bands; a family zone with stilt walkers, face painters, and arts and crafts; sports activities for youth and teens; interactive pavilions to learn about United Way’s work in education, income and health; and a chance to visit with more than 60 local nonprofit groups that are seeking volunteer assistance throughout the year.

All walkers will receive complimentary health snacks and beverages courtesy of KIND Healthy Snacks and Food Should Taste Good. The festival will feature at least 10 specialty food trucks including Organic Carts NYC, Rickshaw Truck, Kimchi Taco Truck, Treats Truck and Van Leeuwen Ice Cream.

WHEN: Saturday, October 1, 2011
Opening Ceremony: 9:45AM
Bridge Walk: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Volunteer Festival: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

WHERE: Bridge Walk kicks-off at Foley Square in downtown Manhattan
Volunteer Festival takes place in Cadman Plaza Park in downtown Brooklyn

WHO: United Way of NYC and sponsors Skanska, Guardian, and National Grid……
NYCService – co-presenter of Volunteer Festival
Leaders from business, government, and nonprofit sectors
Teams and individual walkers who register at LiveUnitedNYC.org.
General public welcome at Volunteer Festival

Members of the press who wish to attend should RSVP to Alex Howe at ahowe@globalstrategygroup.com or 212-260-8813

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About United Way of New York City
United Way of New York City fights poverty across the five boroughs. With a focus on improving public education, bolstering income stability and building healthier communities, UWNYC designs and invests in outcome-driven programs that help low-income individuals and families build better lives. UWNYC also works with policy makers to advance citywide changes that support New Yorkers in overcoming poverty. The LIVE UNITED Bridge Walk and Festival brings attention to these critical needs and educates the public on ways they can help by volunteering in their own communities.

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  • AHJ is seeking for content based partnerships with webmasters in the medical niche. AmericanHealthJournal is a health content site containing 3000+ of high quality medical videos. We can offer content exchanges, link exchanges, and exposure to your brand. Get in touch with us at our contact form on our web site.