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Ford Foundation Partners with New York Times Fund and Others to Bring Critical Aid to 9/11 Workers and Residents
NEW YORK, February 26, 2007 — The Ford Foundation has committed $1 million for a new campaign to provide treatment for Ground Zero workers and downtown residents who have developed life-threatening illnesses since the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center.
The 9/11 Neediest Medical Campaign was announced today by the New York Times Neediest Cases Fund, the New York Community Trust, the United Way of New York City, the Ford Foundation and other nonprofit groups. The campaign has already collected more than $4.3 million.
"Since these tragic events took place, the foundation has been dedicated to the long-term needs of the city," said Susan V. Berresford, president of the Ford Foundation. "We hope that this campaign calls attention to the needs of patients with life-threatening illnesses who are not eligible for existing aid programs. We invite other funders to join us in this important effort."
Ford's $1 million contribution extends its commitment to 9/11 recovery and rebuilding efforts. Since 2001, the foundation has given over $24 million to help strengthen nonprofit organizations and communities close to the attacks; support efforts to bring critical housing services, health insurance and unemployment benefits to low-income individuals affected by the disaster; and commission reports on the efficiency and effectiveness of the philanthropic and government response to 9/11.
The new campaign will make its first two grants on Tuesday, February 27. The first will support a program of the Mount Sinai Hospital medical consortium that has screened and treated 20,000 responders who performed 9/11 rescue, recovery and cleanup work. The second will support the efforts of Bellevue Medical Center to screen and treat other workers and residents.
For more information, please visit:
The New York Times article
The New York Times Company press release
The Ford Foundation is an independent, nonprofit grant-making organization. For more than half a century it has worked with courageous people on the frontlines of social change worldwide, guided by its mission to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement. With headquarters in New York, the foundation has offices in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.