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PRESS RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACTS:
VOICES OF SEPTEMBER 11TH OPENS OFFICE IN NEW JERSEY
NEW CANAAN, CT, August 28, 2009 -- Voices of September 11th (VOICES), a leading national nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the long-term needs of all those impacted by the events of September 11, 2001, announces the official opening of its satellite office located at 84 Albany Street in New Brunswick, New Jersey. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on Monday, August 31st at 11am followed by a reception and open house from 12pm to 5pm.
The Honorable Thomas H. Kean, Chairman of the 9/11 Commission and a strong supporter of VOICES, will be an honored guest at the ceremony. “I am proud to welcome VOICES into the community and look forward to supporting their very important work with the New Jersey families,” remarked Governor Kean.
“Thanks to the generous support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Johnson & Johnson we will have an opportunity to work closely with the New Jersey families and survivors who suffered a traumatic loss,” said Mary Fetchet, VOICES Founding Director. “We are very excited about the expansion of VOICES and look forward to building partnerships with a variety of organizations in the community. Our partnership with Rutgers' School of Social Work is a good example.”
Headquartered in New Canaan, CT., the opening of the New Brunswick office is the latest step in expanding VOICES’ commitment to New Jersey’s 9/11 community, including the 706 families of New Jersey 9/11 victims. Over the past year DEVCO, the New Brunswick Development Corporation, has graciously provided office space enabling VOICES to meet with families and conduct workshops to expand the 9/11 Living Memorial Project, an on-line digital archive commemorating the lives and stories of September 11, 2001.
Regina Reilly LSW, a graduate of Rutgers and Columbia University who completed her thesis on the unmet needs of 9/11 rescue workers; will oversee the New Brunswick office as Program Director. VOICES new office will offer a wide range of services for 9/11 families, rescue workers and survivors including focus groups, teleconference groups, case management services as well as 9/11 Living Memorial workshops. An annual 9/11 Day of Remembrance event is planned at the New Brunswick office from 10am to 5pm on Wednesday, September 9th to commemorate the 8th anniversary.
VOICES is led by Founding Director Mary Fetchet, a clinical social worker who lost her 24-year-old son Brad. VOICES supported the creation of the 9/11 Commission and continues to advocate for reforms to promote preparedness on the local state and federal level. VOICES membership has grown to over 7,300 9/11 families and their children, rescue workers and survivors.
VOICES 9/11 Living Memorial Project is an online digital archive that commemorates the nearly 3,000 lives lost and documents stories of survivors. VOICES skilled social workers help families create a meaningful tribute to their loved ones though an extensive collection of photographs, written tributes and personal keepsakes that will be preserved for future generations. The archive will become a core component of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center. Visit the 9/11 Living Memorial at www.voicesofsept11.org.
Contact Information:
VOICES New Brunswick
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