211PSAWestchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino joined with the United Way of Westchester and Putnam in celebrating National "2-1-1 Day" on Feb. 11 by asking supporters to tell, email, post, or tweet someone to tell them that vital health and human services assistance is just a call or click away through 2-1-1 or www.hudson211.org.

Additionally, Astorino encouraged local high school students to submit a written or video public service announcement (PSA) for the United Way's PSA Challenge, "Voices for 2-1-1." The contest aims to increase awareness of United Way's 2-1-1 helpline while offering teens the opportunity to further develop their skills and to learn about careers in communications and media. Applications are available at www.uwwp.org/voices.

Launched in 2005, United Way's 2-1-1 is a free, confidential, multilingual helpline that provides millions of people each year with health and human services information, referrals, crisis support and disaster recovery information.

Contest winners will have their PSA publicized by the campaign's media sponsor, WHUD, and other media outlets. Communications professionals from across the region will serve as judges and also as featured presenters at "careers in communications day" at participating high schools.

Official contest sponsors include WHUD, the Office of the Westchester County Executive, and The Volunteer Center of United Way.

"The United Way's 2-1-1 is a vital resource in a number of ways," Astorino said. "It's a great source of information, it reduces non-emergency calls to 911, and it saves taxpayer money. The PSA contest is a great way to publicize 2-1-1 while also teaching our students valuable communications skills. I can't wait to see what our students come up with."

In Westchester and Putnam, at least one United Way "Voices for 2-1-1" winner per category (written PSA and video PSA) will be chosen by a panel of judges representing media, government, nonprofit and communications, including:

  • Kacey Morabito and Mike Bennett, hosts of Mike and Kacey in the Morning, 100.7 WHUD
  • Sue Guzman, Westchester Bureau Chief WHUD Radio and Managing Editor for the Hudson Valley Reporter
  • Joe Beckerle, President, Beckerle Productions
  • Marissa Brett, Executive Director, Economic Development, Westchester County Association
  • Stacey Cohen, CEO and President, Co-Communications
  • Diana Costello, Communications Specialist, Office of the Westchester County Executive
  • Ernie Garcia, Reporter, Journal News and LoHud.com
  • John Golden, Senior Writer, Westchester County Business Journal
  • Alisa Kesten, Executive Director, The Volunteer Center of United Way
  • Bill Madden, Executive Vice President, Focus Media, Inc.
  • Carl Pagano, Program Coordinator, Westchester County Multimedia Department
  • Stephanie Perruzza, MS, RD, CDN, Cancer & Wellness Center Nutrition Coordinator, Northern Westchester Hospital
  • AJ Romeo, Executive Vice President, Steiner Sports Memorabilia
  • Lanning Taliaferro, Associate Regional Director, Patch

"We say that when you have a burning building, call 9-1-1, but if you have a burning question, you should call 2-1-1." said Pat Anderson Hudson Valley's 2-1-1 Outreach and Emergency Management Director. "Whether it be with tax assistance or a national emergency, 2-1-1 is available 10 hours a day, 365 days a year to get people the help they need as quickly as possible."

For more information about 2-1-1 visit www.hudson211.org or you can call 2-1-1 from any type of telephone to speak with a professionally trained, call specialists from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., 7 days a week.