The New York Times Company Announces the 10 Semifinalists for the Third Annual Nonprofit Excellence Awards

NEW YORK, Feb. 26, 2009 — The New York Times Company announced today the 10 semifinalists for the 2009 New York Times Company Nonprofit Excellence Awards. Now in its third year, the awards honor outstanding management practices and encourage innovation and communication among New York's large and diverse nonprofit community. In 2007, The Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York (NPCC) and the New York Regional Association of Grantmakers (NYRAG) joined the Times Company in the establishment of this program. All nonprofit organizations based in and serving New York City, Long Island and Westchester are eligible to apply. The application period ended for the 2009 submissions on Nov. 21, 2008. The organizations, which vary in size and in the types of services they offer the community, were chosen by the program's selection committee for their outstanding management.

The 10 semifinalists are:
-- Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) — provides immediate, effective and comprehensive employment services to men and women with recent criminal convictions in New York City.
-- Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) — is a Bronx based settlement house whose mission is to improve the economic and social well-being of low-income individuals, families and communities.
-- Food Bank For New York City — works to end food poverty and increase access to affordable and nutritious food for low-income New Yorkers living in the five boroughs.
-- Groundwork, Inc. — supports young people living in high poverty urban communities as they develop their strengths, skills, talents and competencies through effective experiential learning and work programs.
-- Legal Information for Families Today (LIFT) — empowers court involved families with legal information and compassionate guidance so that they can successfully navigate the Family Court system, regain their stability and decrease the likelihood that they will return to the courts.
-- Make the Road New York — promotes economic justice, equity and opportunity for all New Yorkers through community and electoral organizing, strategic policy advocacy, leadership development, youth and adult education and high quality legal and support services.
-- Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project (NEDAP) — a resource and advocacy center for community groups in New York City; promotes community economic justice and eliminates discriminatory economic practices that harm communities and perpetuate inequality and poverty.
-- New York Cares — meets pressing community needs by mobilizing caring New Yorkers in volunteer service to more than 990 nonprofit agencies, public schools and other deserving organizations throughout the five boroughs.
-- Primary Care Development Corporation (PCDC) — transforms health care in underserved communities in New York and beyond through high-impact financing, innovative services and policy leadership that helps providers expand access to quality, patient-centered primary care.
-- Vera Institute of Justice — combines expertise in research, demonstration projects and technical assistance to help leaders in government and civil society improve the systems people rely on for justice and safety.

"The New York Times is proud to once again present the Nonprofit Awards, now in its third year," said Diane McNulty, executive director of community affairs and media relations, The New York Times. "This is a critical time for nonprofit organizations and more than ever, we should take this opportunity to recognize them for giving back to their communities and enriching the lives of everyday New Yorkers."

"At a time of severe stress for many nonprofits due to the economy, it is exciting to recognize these excellently run organizations and their management strategies," said Michael Clark, president, Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York.

"A silver lining in these otherwise hard times is a renewed appreciation of the nonprofit sector," said Ronna D. Brown, president, New York Regional Association of Grantmakers. "It's important to highlight the ways that excellent management of grant-seeking organizations is critical to successful programs and outcomes."

Up to four winners will be chosen from the 10 semifinalists and announced in June. On June 18, the winners will be honored at an awards reception at TheTimesCenter and will conduct a "best practices workshop" to share their winning management strategies with an invited audience. For more information on the program, please visit www.NYTimes-community.com.
Additional support for the program is provided by the Surdna Foundation; McGladrey & Pullen, LLP; the Fund for the City of New York; Social Enterprise Programs at Columbia Business School Executive Education; The New York Community Trust; and the Altman Foundation.

The New York Times Company, a leading media company with 2008 revenues of $2.9 billion, includes The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, The Boston Globe, 16 other daily newspapers, WQXR-FM and more than 50 Web sites, including NYTimes.com, Boston.com and About.com. The Company's core purpose is to enhance society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news, information and entertainment.

Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York, Inc., (NPCC), a service and membership organization for more than 1,800 nonprofit organizations in the New York City area, is the voice and information source for New York nonprofits. It informs and connects nonprofit leaders, saves nonprofits money, and strengthens the nonprofit sector by building positive relations with government and advocating effective, accountable and transparent nonprofit management and governance. NPCC publishes a monthly newsletter, New York Nonprofits, runs workshops and roundtables on management issues, offers cost-saving group purchasing services, coordinates an esteemed Government Relations Committee that works on sector-wide government and legislative issues, and maintains a Web site loaded with information on operating a nonprofit (www.npccny.org).

New York Regional Association of Grantmakers (NYRAG) is a nonprofit membership organization of 285 grant-making foundations and corporations in the tri-state New York area and beyond. Its members award nearly $4 billion annually to charitable organizations in New York and around the globe. NYRAG seeks to strengthen philanthropy by offering programs and resources for valuable and strategic grant-making. Its mission is to promote and support the practice of effective philanthropy for the public good (www.nyrag.org).
This press release can be downloaded from www.nytco.com.

SOURCE: The New York Times Company