MARTY GETS WARM AND FUZZY

BROOKLYN BOROUGH PRESIDENT MARKOWITZ AND NEW YORK CARES

CALL ON BROOKLYNITES TO SUPPORT THE 21stANNUAL

NEW YORK CARES COAT DRIVE

Coats can be dropped off at Borough Hall and hundreds of collection sites across the City

(Brooklyn, NY) December 3, 2009 - New York Cares Executive Director Gary Bagley, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and Deputy Borough President Yvonne Graham today urged Brooklynites to donate coats to the 21st Annual New York Cares Coat Drive. Brooklyn students from Believe Northside and Southside Charter High Schools in Williamsburg and Brooklyn Excelsior Charter School in Bedford-Stuyvesant placed coats that they collected at their schools into the drop-off box at Borough Hall. Representatives from Presenting Sponsor Health Plus, the Wildlife Conservation Society's New York Aquarium, and Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill were also on hand to help with the donations. The New York Cares Coat Drive is an annual citywide tradition that collects approximately 70,000 winter coats for men, women and children in need throughout the City.

"This winter will be especially difficult for New Yorkers in these challenging economic times, and I call on all Brooklynites to bring their new or gently-used winter coats to Borough Hall or any of the drop-off locations now through December 31^st for the 21^st annual New York Cares Coat Drive," said Borough President Markowitz. "I can't think of a better way to show the true spirit of the holidays than by helping our neighbors in need, so this year let's not only give holiday warm wishes--but warm coats."

"The economic crisis continues to hit low-income families especially hard, so the need for coats is especially great this year. We're grateful to Borough President Marty Markowitz and our other Brooklyn partners for their leadership in collecting coats," said Gary Bagley, Executive Director of New York Cares. "The New York Cares Coat Drive is a citywide effort that provides warmth and support to tens of thousands of homeless and low income New Yorkers--including many children--who would otherwise be without a winter coat. Last year, as a result of the recession, coat donations were down by almost 20% from our all-time high. We urge everyone who can to help bring our numbers back up--we don't want to leave anyone out in the cold."

"The recession has made this a difficult time for tens of thousands of families in the city. That's why we're especially proud to be the Presenting Sponsor of the New York Cares Coat Drive again this year; our partnership is needed now more than ever before," said Tom Early, Executive Director of Health Plus. "Like our programs, the Coat Drive is a vital lifeline for people who need it most in our communities."

"The Wildlife Conservation Society is proud to be working side-by-side with Brooklyn Borough President Markowitz and New York Cares to help support our neighbors. All of the WCS family in Brooklyn is proud to be a part of this community effort," said Jon Dohlin, Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society's New York Aquarium.

"Golden Krust is happy to be a part of such a worthwhile cause in such a desperate time in our city," said Lowell Hawthorne, president and CEO of Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill. "Our company has always maintained a strong focus on corporate responsibility, believing that to whom much is given is much required, and so I implore you to stop by your local Golden Krust store and support this meaningful cause."

How to Donate a Coat

New Yorkers can donate coats at hundreds of public sites around the city, as well as at private sites hosted by corporations and civic groups. New York Cares hopes to collect more than 70,000 coats for New Yorkers in need by New Year's Day. For a full list of collection sites, please visit www.newyorkcares.org .

New Yorkers may donate coats at the following locations through December 31, 2009. Please visit www.newyorkcares.org for exact times and locations.

Anytime - during each organization's operating hours:

· Every New York City Police Precinct (24 hours a day)

· Brooklyn Borough Hall

· Golden Krust (select Brooklyn locations)

· Janovic Paint and Decorating Centers

· Oz Moving and Storage locations

· The Pond at Bryant Park (42^nd Street and 6^th Avenue)

· Time Warner Cable stores

· The Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium

Weekdays during the morning commute, 7:30am to 9:30am:

· Grand Central Terminal (Graybar Passage)

· New York Penn Station (LIRR and NJ Transit/Amtrak concourses)

· New York Port Authority Bus Terminal (Main concourse, 42nd St. entrance)

Weekdays 7:00am to 3:00pm:

· U.S. Coast Guard Recruiting and Service Center (by the Staten Island Ferry, Manhattan)

Special Events and Coat Collections: Check www.newyorkcares.org for more events throughout December.

December 1 - 31, The Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium: Visitors to the zoo and aquarium can donate coats during each institution's hours of operation. As a thank you, people who donate coats at onsite collection points will receive a free admission ticket for their next visit. (Free ticket offer limited to 4 free tickets per family. Tickets are valid from January 1 through December 31, 2010).

Sunday, December 6, New York Giants/Giants Stadium: The New York Giants will collect coats again this year. Fans can bring coats to the Giants vs. Cowboys game and donate them in designated collection sites at the stadium.

Friday, December 11, The 7^th Annual 98.7 KISS FM Kiss Cares Coat Drive, Regal Cinema, Union Square, 6:00am - 7:00pm. Donate coats and meet the 98.7 Kiss FM team, who will broadcast live during this one day coat collection. Donors will receive free movie passes from Regal Cinema (while supplies last). Visit 987kissfm.com for more information.
Monday, December 14 - Wednesday, December 16, Weatherproof Coats for Clunkers Program at Penn Station, Amtrak Concourse, 7:30am- 9:30am. Drop off gently used coats on these three days at New York Cares' Penn Station NJ Transit/Amtrak Concourse collection site during the morning commute to receive a $100 rebate coupon toward the purchase of a new coat from Weatherproof at coatsforclunkers.com . Weatherproof donated 90 new coats to the Bowery Mission kick-off event, and will also donate 6,000 new coats later this month.
Wednesday, December 16, 3rd Annual "Mets Warm-Up" Holiday Coat Drive--New York Mets fans who donate gently used coats at Citi Field on December 16 between 8:00am and 7:00pm will receive a free pair of tickets to a select Mets home game in April 2010.

Additional Offers for Coat Donors:

· December 1 - 31, Club H Fitness is offering free enrollment to new members who donate to the New York Cares Coat Drive (a $199 value). Club H has locations in Hell's Kitchen, Murray Hill, Hoboken, and Jersey City.

· December 1 - 31, Families First Chiropractic will offer a free initial visit to new patients who donate a coat. The free initial visit includes a chiropractic consultation, exam and initial treatment (a $160.00 value).

· December 1 - 31, Rothman's Union Square will collect coats and offer a Cash for Clunkers incentive for coat donors, who can get $100 off a new overcoat (Union Square and Scarsdale locations).

· December 7 - 14, Club Monaco will be collecting coats and offering a 20% discount on all outerwear at all NYC locations.

· December 7 - 14, Marmot and Paragon Sports. Donate a coat at Paragon Sports and receive a set of Glide Softshell Gloves ($50 retail value).

· December 10, The Sak Brand Group will be collecting coats at their holiday sample sale. People who donate coats and make a purchase will receive a free "crossbody" bag.

About the New York Cares Coat Drive

The New York Cares Coat Drive is one of the largest of its kind in the United States. Since 1989, New York Cares has collected and distributed more than 1.3 million coats.

Presenting Sponsor Health Plus is a not-for-profit, multicultural organization that is one of the largest managed care organizations in New York City. Health Plus provides free and affordable healthcare for children and adults in New York City and Nassau County, and currently keeps nearly 300,000 New Yorkers healthy, happy, and strong.

The thousands of coats donated during December will be sorted, and distributed to organizations serving the homeless and other low-income individuals, at a 10,000-square-foot temporary warehouse space generously donated by commercial real estate firm Jack Resnick & Sons. The New York Cares Coat Drive Warehouse is located at 250 Hudson Street in Hudson Square, 6^th floor. Other sponsors include The New York City Police Department, The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), WNBC 4/Telemundo, UPS, 98.7 Kiss FM, and JWT.

For more information about the New York Cares Coat Drive and drop-off sites, the public can visit www.newyorkcares.org , www.brooklyn-usa.org or call (212) 402-1173.

About New York Cares

New York Cares is New York City's largest volunteer organization. Founded in 1987, New York Cares runs volunteer programs at 1,000 nonprofits, public schools, and city agencies to help meet the critical needs of people living in poverty. The New York Cares Coat Drive, which takes place from December 1 - 31 each year, has collected and distributed more than 1.3 million coats for New Yorkers in need since 1989. New York Cares hopes to collect 70,000-80,000 coats during December, 2009. For more information, please visit www.newyorkcares.org .

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