PRESS-RELEASE

Omega Press Release

March 17, 2016

Omega to Strengthen Community of Nonprofits Working Toward Meaningful Change in the World

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Omega’s 2016 Service Week Awards More Than 25 Nonprofits With Working Retreat Grants

RHINEBECK, NY–In an ongoing effort to support nonprofit peers in the Mid-Hudson Valley region and beyond, Omega is hosting its 12th annual Service Week, May 30-June 3, 2016. Today Omega announced the names of more than 25 nonprofits being awarded a working retreat on Omega’s 250+ acre campus. The grants provide room and board, a meeting space, use of campus amenities, and a private consultation with the New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON), a partner in the program.

“Omega’s Service Week program allows nonprofits that are on the front lines to step away from day-to-day pressures and regroup,” said Carla Goldstein, chief external affairs officer at Omega. “We offer space, support, and tools for deep strategy in a setting that also emphasizes practicing self-care. While on our campus, organizations have the opportunity to connect with each other and build community with other change agents. This is one of the most fundamental ways Service Week reinforces the nonprofit safety net that so many rely upon,” concluded Goldstein.

Participating organizations structure their retreat time to focus on strategic planning, mission-building, and strengthening internal staff relationships. The context of Service Week also allows for networking among participating organizations, creating the possibility for learning, exchange, and future collaboration.

“Service Week offers this year’s nonprofit recipients a most unique and enriched experience that will improve their ability to pursue mission in an empowering and thoughtful manner,” said Doug Sauer, chief executive officer of NYCON.

Omega’s annual Service Week is comprised of two sessions: the Strengthening Communities Summit (May 30-June 1), and the Women Serving Women Summit (June 1-3). The Strengthening Communities Summit prioritizes organizations that address a range of social, economic, or environmental issues in the Mid-Hudson Valley region. The Women Serving Women Summit, hosted by the Omega Women’s Leadership Center, is focused on supporting organizations that serve women. The participation of Mid-Hudson region nonprofits in Service Week is funded in part by a significant grant from the Dyson Foundation.

Omega is pleased to award 2016 Service Week retreats to the following organizations, which are actively engaged in creating a more compassionate and sustainable world:

Strengthening Communities Summit Recipients:

Astor Services for Children and Families (Mid-Hudson Valley)

Center for Seed Stewardship (Mid-Hudson Valley)

Engaging People in Change (EPIC) (Mid-Hudson Valley)

Friends of Karen (Mid-Hudson Valley)

Kite's Nest (Mid-Hudson Valley)

Lineage Project

Literacy Connections (Mid-Hudson Valley)

The Maya Gold Foundation (Mid-Hudson Valley)

ReEntry Columbia (Mid-Hudson Valley)

Regional Economic Community Action Program (Mid-Hudson Valley)

The Restorative Center (Mid-Hudson Valley)

Sustainable Hudson Valley (Mid-Hudson Valley)

Westchester Institute for Human Development Children's Advocacy Center (Mid-Hudson Valley)

Wild Earth Wilderness School (Mid-Hudson Valley)

108 Monkeys

Women Serving Women Summit Recipients:

Auburn Theological Seminary

Chicken & Egg Pictures

Committee for Hispanic Children and Families

Correctional Association of New York

Gender at Work

Global Grassroots

Grace Smith House (Mid-Hudson Valley)

Harlem Wellness Center

National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA)

Pleiades Network

TMI Project (Mid-Hudson Valley)

Women, Action and the Media

Women's Studio Workshop (Mid-Hudson Valley)

For more information, contact Marta Szabo, Strengthening Communities Summit, 845.266.4444, ext. 403, martas@eomega.org, or Elysabeth Swan, Women Serving Women Summit, 845.266.4444, ext. 414, lyss@eomega.org.

For more information about Omega, visit eOmega.org and follow Omega on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Google+.

About Omega Institute for Holistic Studies
Founded in 1977, Omega Institute for Holistic Studies is the nation’s most trusted source for wellness and personal growth. As a nonprofit organization, Omega offers diverse and innovative educational experiences that inspire an integrated approach to personal and social change. Located on 250 acres in the beautiful Hudson Valley, Omega welcomes more than 23,000 people to its workshops, conferences, and retreats in Rhinebeck, New York, and at exceptional locations around the world. eOmega.org

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About Omega Institute for Holistic Studies
Founded in 1977, Omega Institute for Holistic Studies is the nation's most trusted source for wellness and personal growth. As a nonprofit organization, Omega offers diverse and innovative educational experiences that inspire an integrated approach to personal and social change. Located on 250 acres in the beautiful Hudson Valley, Omega welcomes people to its workshops, conferences, and retreats in Rhinebeck, New York, and online at eOmega.org.