Native Vermonters Living in New York City Coordinating Event Featuring Live Music, Silent Auction

New York, NY, October 13, 2011 – Hurricane Irene blasted through Vermont in late August with 60 mph winds and nearly a foot of rain causing unprecedented flooding and destroying hundreds of homes, businesses and roads. In the aftermath of one of the most devastating storms in Vermont’s history, a small group of Vermont natives and second home owners who live in New York City have organized iLoVermont, a fundraiser to provide food, water, clothing and shelter to families whose homes and lives were destroyed by Hurricane Irene.

iLoVermont will take place at City Winery at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 26 and will feature an evening of live musical performances from Vermont-based bands, as well as a silent auction of Vermont and New York goods, including artwork, apparel, jewelry, gift certificates, ski tickets and Vermont hotel stays. All proceeds will go to Upper Valley Haven and Sustainable Woodstock, two non-profit organizations in Southern Vermont that are committed to helping families rebuild after the storm.

“In the weeks since Hurricane Irene, we’ve seen an incredible outpouring of support with hundreds of people donating time, money and resources that have allowed the Upper Valley Haven and Sustainable Woodstock to provide emergency relief to those living in regions of the state that were hit hardest,” said Liz Verney, Development & Communications Director, Upper Valley Haven. “With winter approaching and hundreds of families still displaced or homeless, there continues to be a significant need for additional funding to support long-term relief efforts.”

Hurricane Irene left widespread devastation along the entire east coast, but hit Vermont’s rural towns especially hard. In the days after the storm, as many as 15 communities in the state were completely cut off by flood waters, washed out roads and destroyed bridges, leaving thousands stranded without food, electricity or basic supplies. In Windsor County, home to both Upper Valley Haven and Sustainable Woodstock, more than 5,000 applications for relief from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have been submitted – an alarming number given the county has just 56,000 residents.

“New York and the Tri-State area have deep ties to Vermont with countless area residents taking ski trips, summer vacations and fall getaways to the Green Mountain State each year,” said Alex Halpert, iLoVermont Committee Chair. “iLoVermont was organized to raise much-needed relief funds and to help rebuild the state’s critical tourism industry by encouraging New Yorkers to head north to the ski slopes and scenic towns that have long made Vermont a favorite escape from city life.”

About iLoVermont
iLoVermont is a fundraising event to provide food, water, clothing and shelter to families whose homes and lives were destroyed by Hurricane Irene. The event will be held Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. at City Winery, 155 Varick St., New York, NY. Live musical performances will include Vermont based musicians and bands, including Sonny Saul, Dr. Green and Chamberlin. Tickets for the event are available for $25 and can be purchased at www.citywinery.com. Those who are unable to attend but would like to make a donation of any amount can go to www.inlu.com/iLovermont. All proceeds from iLoVermont will go to Upper Valley Haven and Sustainable Woodstock for hurricane relief efforts. Every dollar makes a difference and is greatly appreciated.

About Upper Valley Haven
Located in White River Junction, Vermont, Upper Valley Haven is a non-profit, private organization that serves people struggling with poverty by providing food, shelter, education, clothing and outreach
support.

For more than 30 years, The Haven has provided temporary shelter and educational programming for homeless families and adults as well as food and clothing to anyone in need. The Haven is open 365 days per year, serves more than 6,800 people annually and never charges for any of its services. Through the Hurricane Irene Fund, The Haven has distributed food, toiletries, diapers, cleaning supplies, bottled water and other basic items to many communities. Now resources are going toward the second wave of cleanup with funds being allocated to help with longer-term needs, such as finding housing and transportation solutions for those whose homes and cars were damaged or destroyed by the storm. For more information about Upper Valley Haven, please visit www.uppervalleyhaven.org.

About Sustainable Woodstock
Located in Woodstock, Vermont, Sustainable Woodstock is a not-for-profit organization founded in 2009 to build upon Woodstock’s legacy as the birthplace of the modern conservation movement. Sustainable Woodstock is working to create a vibrant, inclusive, thriving community where people live sustainably, now and in the future.

Through the Woodstock Area Flood Relief Fund (WAFRF), Sustainable Woodstock is providing assistance to residents of the greater-Woodstock area who need help securing basic necessities like food, medicine, shelter and clothing following Hurricane Irene. As the needs of the community change, WAFRF relief efforts have evolved to focus more on longer-term needs for those families left homeless or displaced by the storm.

For more information about Sustainable Woodstock, please visit www.sustainablewoodstock.org.