On Thursday, September 5 at 4:00pm, United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region (UWDOR) celebrated the completion of its large scale renovation with a ribbon cutting, held in conjuction with the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce. The ribbon cutting will unveil a major renovation of the basement space and exterior repointing of the brickwork of UWDOR’s main office, the Evelyn Samuels Memorial Building (Hasbrouck House) that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (located at 75 Market Street in Poughkeepsie). The renovation was managed by locally owned RL Baxter Building Corp, a family owned and run construction and development company. All are invited to attend the ribbon cutting and have a tour of the space that houses United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region’s nationally recognized gift-in-kind program: Day of Sharing.
The celebration included the official dedication of the Louis Greenspan Children’s Corner, part of United Way’s gift-in-kind program that focuses on the needs of families, providing basic necessities for infants and young children. Over the past year, almost $200,000 in basic necessities have been distributed through United Way’s Day of Sharing to 8,000 families in need by 100 community partners that include nonprofits, faith-based organizations and schools.
“We are thrilled to have this project completed. The air quality has been improved and the basement space opened up so that our gift-in-kind program will be more efficient and allow us to increase the number of children and families we serve each year," explained Jeannie Montano, United Way’s President and CEO. “We hope next year to serve 10,000 families in our two counties. As you look up at our historic 1885 building, designed by noted architect Frederick C. Withers, you’ll see that all the bricks have been repointed and restored – and are no longer crumbling. We can’t wait for everyone to see the improvements to this space that has housed United Way since 1969.”
The renovation was accomplished through the support of Senator Sue Serino and her help in administering the grant to United Way through the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY).
“This renovation will help ease the burden on families by getting clothing, shoes, and diapers directly to moms and children in need here in our local community.” said Senator Sue Serino. Thank you to United Way for all of the work they do for our community and congratulations on the completion of this important renovation!”
The R.L. Baxter Building Corp partnered with United Way on the renovation and contributed a great deal toward the completion of the project.
"The Baxter team is proud to be a partner on this project. Being a mother of two children and watching what United Way has done for our community, by supporting children and many families in need, is something I find both inspiring and remarkable. Internal efforts, coupled with an in-kind donation from Baxter and a grant secured by United Way is what has made this project viable,” said Amanda Baxter, President of RL Baxter Building Corp.
Initial top supporters of the Louis Greenspan Children’s Corner program include the Louis Greenspan Charitable Trust, as well as the Dyson Foundation, the Ann and Abe Effron Donor, Advised Fund of the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley, John P. O’Shea, Susan, and Steve Howell, with additional in-kind support from The Children’s Medical Group. The program has drawn many individual and corporate donors and continues to grow each year.
The Dyson Foundation provided a generous grant to help keep the project going.
"The costs of essential children’s clothing and hygiene items can be high, especially for families with limited incomes. The Dyson Foundation congratulates the United Way on the renovated Children’s Corner, which makes these items more accessible to Dutchess and Orange county families with financial need,” explained Cecilia Stancell, Dyson Foundation’s Director of Programs.
The first Day of Sharing on Friday, September 6, drew more than 100 representatives from nonprofits, faith-based organizations and schools that serve the families and children of Dutchess and Orange counties. For details, go to uwdor.org/dayofsharing. To find out more and how to support United Way’s Day of Sharing and Louis Greenspan Children’s Corner programs, contact Rebecca Lull at rlull@uwdor.org or (845) 471-1900 ext 3113.
