Advocate: What does it mean?
Maybe you want to change some things around here. Find your voice. Join with others.  Speak up about the things you care about, what you believe in.  Champion a cause, stand up for others.  You have the power to change things for the better.

Ways to advocate: register to vote, read newspapers and stay informed, blog, write a letter to the editor, email your friends, organize a drive, get involved, be visible.

Sign up for our e-alerts! We’ll let you know about important legislation affecting our community in the areas of education, income and health. Click here for more info.

2-1-1 – you can help:
We are passionate about the vitality of United Way’s 2-1-1 helpline.  Our 7-county 2-1-1 (LINK to 2-1-1 page) has helped more than 73,000 people here since its launch during Hurricane Katrina. 2-1-1 offers free, confidential, multilingual information and referrals 7 days a week, 365 days a year, for help for just about anything: child- and elder-care, legal services, substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, recreation programs, emergency utilities and rent help, disaster recovery, volunteering and much, much more.  NY state funding was cut this year by 93%.  We need to raise awareness and support among legislators and the public just how important this essential service is to our region, now more than ever.

What you can do:
-Talk to your elected officials. 
-Let us know if you or someone you know would be interested in donating to our 2-1-1 Challenge* to keep 2-1-1 vital, and helping our citizens, especially during these difficult times.
-Sign up for our e-alerts.  We will tell you when important legislation affecting 2-1-1 can be influenced by your outreach

Tell us what you think our community’s most urgent problems are: Take our survey
Every few years, United Way surveys the community to find out what its most pressing problems are, and identify emerging issues. We then gather experts and resources around those problems in order to tackle them at their source.  Ten minutes of your time gives us your valuable input – and you become part of the solution

2-1-1 Challenge*: if you are interested in donating to 2-1-1, please email CEO Naomi Adler directly at or call 914 997 6700 ext. 716.