NeighborWorks® America Names Deborah Boatright Northeast District Director

For Immediate Release

September 28, 2006
Contact: NeighborWorks America, Douglas Robinson
202-220-2360, drobinson@nw.org

NeighborWorks® America Names Deborah Boatright Northeast District Director;
Opens District Office in New York City

(New York) – Today NeighborWorks America named Deborah Boatright as district director of its Northeast district office. The office recently moved here from Ithaca, N.Y., as part of a strategic initiative designed to enhance district-level services to members of the NeighborWorks network. Boatright is responsible for NeighborWorks operations and business relationships throughout New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Boatright reports to Robert Burns, director of field operations for NeighborWorks America, who is based in Washington, D.C.

Prior to joining NeighborWorks America, Boatright served as an assistant commissioner, Office of Community Development of the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal.

“Deborah brings tremendous experience and energy to the position,” said Burns. “With a full compliment of staff and enthusiastic leadership in place, NeighborWorks organizations in the Northeast district have more tools at their disposal to strengthen and improve their communities.”

Burns added that the decision to expand the New York City office from a branch-sized operation into the District headquarters signals how important it is to be close to the center of the financial services and non-profit worlds.

“The availability of technology to connect us to the people who help us do the work we do is not a substitute for in-person communication and relationship building,” said Burns. “The hard work of community development is about working side-by-side. We have the means to do that in Washington; we now also have the means to do it in New York.”

NeighborWorks America has eight district offices that provide a range of technical assistance, training, funding and other services to a network of more than 240 independent non-profit organizations across the country. The Northeast district has relationships with 37 organizations in New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Northeast Region NeighborWorks organizations participate in the NeighborWorks Campaign for Home Ownership and have helped make more than $660 million in mortgage loans since January 1, 2003, and as part of the NeighborWorks Multifamily Initiative own or manage more than 2,400 affordable rental apartments.

About NeighborWorks® America

NeighborWorks America provides financial support, technical assistance and training for communities across the nation, including the NeighborWorks network – a nationwide network of more than 240 community development organizations working in more than 4,400 urban, suburban and rural communities across America. These organizations engage in revitalization strategies that strengthen communities and transform lives. In the last five years alone, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $10 billion in reinvestment and helped more than 780,000 families of modest means purchase or improve their homes or secure safe, decent rental or mutual housing.