WHO IS LEADING THIS CAUSE?
In the fallout of 9/11 many Americans felt helpless. Among them,
a group of people at Sunset Mall in West Texas, led by Pamela Howell,
initiated a special program called “Shoeboxes of Support.”
The idea of the program was to utilize mall and community resources
to fill empty shoeboxes with relief items and personal notes of
encouragement for New York City firefighters and rescue workers.
As a result of Sunset Mall’s “Shoeboxes of Support”
program, L&H Real Estate Group (mall owner) has established
valuable relationships with influential and honorable people in
New York City’s fire, rescue and emergency units. Among them
is New York CRMS Chief Rosendo Velez. Rosey Velez has had a 14-year
career as a medical first responder and was named the Director of
Security for the Ground Zero Relief Organization, a position he
held until clean up efforts came to an end in May 2002. Most recently,
Rosey was promoted to Chief of Operations with the New York State
Critical Response Medical Squad and co-chairman of the World Trade
Center EMS Memorial Foundation.
Also key to the cause is George Contreras. Contreras brings a wealth
of experience in public health and emergency services to the effort.
He currently serves as the Director of the Health Research Training
Program and Coordinator of Emergency Preparedness for the Bureau
of Public Health Training of New York City’s Department of
Health and Mental Hygiene. Like Velez, Contreras is committed to
seeing the completion of the Emergency Services Respite Center,
balancing his day job with the “job of his heart.”
Center for Public Safety/Compassion
Marketing expertise comes from two executives at L&H Real Estate
Group – Carol O’Grady, the company’s Vice President
of Marketing and Corporate Communications, and Pamela Howell, the
marketing director from Sunset Mall in San Angelo, Texas who led
the “Shoeboxes of Support” campaign that resulted in
the delivery of 3,000 shoeboxes filled with relief items and encouraging
notes to Ground Zero rescue workers in October, 2001.
In addition, Carol and Pam have solicited the passionate support
of many other professionals in the shopping center industry---all
with one goal in mind---to assist Velez and Contreras in opening
the respite center.
Rosey, George and their supporters have rallied support from many
other key people in the New York EMS system to launch the Emergency
Services Respite Center. Their efforts have already earned an $111,000
grant and the contribution of office space from a local church for
fundraising headquarters. An estimated $250,000 each year for 50
states and the District of Columbia is needed to operate the facility
long term.
ESRC received $98,000 in cash and in-kind donations in 2003.
The Robin Hood Foundation provided a $45,000 grant to help with
chaplains and operational expenses this year. A $140,000 cash donation
was given by an annonomous donor.
CONTRIBUTE TO THE CAUSE
If you are interested in making a contribution to this worthy cause,
please contact:
Chief Rosey Velez
New York Critical Response Medical Service
Emergency Response Unit
34-17 Stienway Street
Box 314
Long Island City, New York 11101
646.529.5927
crmscaptvelez@yahoo.com
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