Santa Rosa, CA (January 21, 2008) – Continuing long-standing commitments to support the communities they serves, both Pacific Gas and Electric Company and local law firm Abbey, Weitzenberg, Warren & Emery recently became founding members of 2-1-1 Sonoma County. Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s $20,000 grant and Abbey, Weitzenberg, Warren & Emery’s $15,000 grant will support the creation and implementation of 2-1-1 phone service in Sonoma County. 2-1-1 is a toll-free, easy-to-remember phone number that connects people with important community services, such as child care, flu-shot information, employment assistance, counseling, food, shelter, volunteer opportunities and more.
"2-1-1 provides critical community information to local residents during the most trying of times," said Ophelia Basgal, Vice President for Civic Partnership and Community Initiatives at Pacific Gas and Electric Company. "By helping to implement this unique service in the North Coast and North Bay, it ensures our customers will have access to information and referral services when needed."
Financing to construct the 2-1-1 regional system is anticipated to come from multiple sources, both public and private. The estimated cost to launch a system in Sonoma County is $1.5 million over the next five years.
"The unique service United Way is providing will give our customers access to critical information and services in the time of need," said Randy De Caminada, Director of Service and Sales for Pacific Gas and Electric Company. "Knowing our contributions to 2-1-1 will go directly to benefiting those in our community is a great feeling."
2-1-1 is an integral component of disaster-response infrastructure. In times of disaster, 2-1-1 significantly alleviates non-emergency calls to 9-1-1 and serves as a vital link for individuals seeking to provide resources or volunteer. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, it has become clear that affected residents who used 2-1-1 greatly improved their chances to receive assistance. Given that experience, the Bay Area’s designated 2-1-1 providers and their partners are working together to ensure that a robust, recognizable, and familiar 2-1-1 system – integrated across counties so that information can be shared regarding both clients and services – is established here quickly.
Abbey, Weitzenberg, Warren & Emery partner and United Way Board Member Brendan Kunkle said, “Our firm has always been committed to contributing to the betterment of this community. We believe that partnering with United Way and helping to implement the 2-1-1 program will have a real and positive impact on the community by helping those in need achieve easier access to the resources they may require.”
You can support 2-1-1 Sonoma County by donating money, volunteering with a local information and referral call center, and by calling your local member of Congress and encouraging them to co-sponsor The Calling for 2-1-1 Act. To find out more about 2-1-1 in Sonoma County, visit www.uwsml.org/2-1-1. Won’t you join us in helping our local communities?
About 2-1-1
United Way is a partner in 2-1-1, an easy-to-remember number that can be dialed for people who need services, or for those who want to offer help. Locally, United Way Sonoma-Mendocino-Lake is partnering with the County of Sonoma, Volunteer Center of Sonoma County and Community Foundation of Sonoma County to bring 2-1-1 Sonoma County to our community. Scheduled to go live in 2009, 2-1-1 will connect local individuals with the resources in their community. This free, simple to use health and human services information and referral service will be available 24/7. Visit: www.211.org
