Goshen, N.Y. - Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus presented checks to two local non-profits on Thursday, January 3rd, representing funds collected through County-wide dress down days to raise awareness about their causes. KellyAnn Kostyal-Larrier, Executive Director of Safe Homes, accepted a check in the amount of $1,066.00, and Sheila Bogan, Community Development Manager for the American Cancer Society, Inc., received a check in the amount of $1,814.00.
“I want to thank the many employees in Orange County government that participated in the fundraising efforts to benefit these worthwhile, local organizations,” Neuhaus said. “We will continue to partner with non-profits to raise awareness about a variety of important causes in our community. I’m proud of the working relationship that the County has developed with these organizations and their dedicated staff.”
(Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus with KellyAnn Kostyal-Larrier, Executive Director of Safe Homes.)
County employees paid $5.00 for the opportunity to “dress down,” wearing casual attire on various Fridays throughout the year. The dress down days raised $9,606 for the following non-profits:
- Safe Homes of Orange County, January, Human Trafficking Awareness Month: $1,140
- American Heart Association, February, American Heart Month: $1,104
- Hydrocephalus Awareness, March: $1,369
- Children’s Mental Health Awareness, May: $832
- Lap 4 Life, June: $670
- Suicide Awareness Month, September: $1,611
- Safe Homes, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, October: $1,066
- Breast Cancer Awareness Month, October: $1,814
“Safe Homes extends our deepest gratitude to County Executive Neuhaus and the County’s employees for using the dress down day as a way to raise up the victims of domestic violence, teen dating violence, and human trafficking and ensure that everyone knows the resources Safe Homes offers,” said Kostyal-Larrier. “This partnership creates opportunities to have significant impact on victims and their families in Orange County. We appreciate all that County Executive Neuhaus does to help raise awareness about domestic violence.”
Added Bogan: “On behalf of the American Cancer Society, I would like to thank Orange County Government for continuing to lead the fight against breast cancer in the Hudson Valley region. Their passionate fundraising efforts help fund groundbreaking research into causes, prevention, and treatments for breast cancer, provide free rides to chemo and places to stay near hospitals, a live 24/7 cancer helpline, and so much more.”
For more information, contact Justin Rodriguez, Assistant to the County Executive for Communications and Media Relations at 845.291.3255 or jrodriguez@orangecountygov.com.
###