Newsday Charities Enlists Motorola in Unprecedented Island-Wide Campaign to Help Needy on Long Island

LONG ISLAND, N.Y., -- In an effort to increase support of Long Island children and families at risk, Newsday enlisted technology giant Motorola Inc., to join in leading a charitable appeal to local businesses.

Every year at holiday time, the Newsday Charities Help-A-Family campaign enlists donations from Newsday readers. Last year the campaign raised more than $450,000. This year's campaign is aided by the Companies That Care initiative, which asks Long Island businesses to link arms in community giving. Motorola pledged a lead donation of $50,000 to kick-off the campaign.

Newsday's Director of Community Affairs, Deidra Parrish Williams points out, "Poverty isn't typically associated with the Long Island region, but each year critical needs like food, shelter, heat, clothing and medicine are increasingly elusive for growing numbers of Long Islanders. That's why we are asking businesses to join in helping families. Together we can do more."

Newsday Charities is one of the best charitable investments on Long Island. Every dollar raised receives a 50-cent match from the McCormick Tribune Foundation, and because Newsday and the Foundation cover all administrative costs, 100 percent of donations and the match go to qualified agencies caring for needy Long Island families.

Motorola's partnership with Newsday Charities marks the first of its kind for Newsday Charities. Other companies have answered the call with pledges and unique office fundraisers.

Motorola's Manager of Community Relations, Beverly Lee-Woo adds, "We hope many more companies will discover how valuable it can be to work with Newsday Charities. This could mean a tremendous increase in funding for dedicated non-profits that are seeing so many of their funding sources decline."

This year's campaign runs through January 31, 2008. Information about Newsday Charities and the Help-A-Family program can be found online at http://www.newsday.com/helpafamily.

About Newsday Charities

Newsday Charities, a fund of the McCormick Tribune Foundation, raises money year-round to support needy children and families on Long Island. They money is raised primarily through two annual public campaigns, Help-A-Family and the Kids Campaign. All donations are matched at a rate of 50-cents on the dollar and granted to eligible Long Island non-profits. Since 2000, Newsday Charities has distributed nearly $5 million dollars.