Press Release

The 2012 holiday charity collection focused on the survivors of Hurricane Sandy, which caused devastating damage to parts of New York and New Jersey in late October 2012. Over $600 was donated to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Sandy disaster relief with staff contributions matched by the company. In addition, staff also collected supplies for Health Care for the Homeless, including gently used clothing, personal care items, canned goods, toys, food and other items for homeless individuals and families. The Baltimore-based non-profitprovides pediatric and adult medical care, mental health services, social work and case management, addiction treatment, dental care, vision assistance, HIV services, outreach, supportive housing, and access to education and employment to thousands of homeless individuals and families.

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American Red Cross

The American Red Cross exists to provide compassionate care to those in need. Its network of generous donors, volunteers and employees share a mission of preventing and relieving suffering, here at home and around the world. The Red Cross responds to approximately 70,000 disasters in the United States every year, ranging from home fires that affect a single family to hurricanes that affect tens of thousands, to earthquakes that impact millions. In these events, the Red Cross provides shelter, food, health and mental health services to help families and entire communities get back on their feet. Although the Red Cross is not a government agency, it is an essential part of the response when disaster strikes. It works in partnership with other agencies and organizations that provide services to disaster victims.

Health Care for the Homeless

Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) works to prevent and end homelessness for vulnerable individuals and families by providing quality, integrated health care and promoting access to affordable housing and sustainable incomes through direct service, advocacy, and community engagement. One of 19 original demonstration projects funded in 1985 by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Pew Charitable Trust, and the US Conference of Mayors, HCH has since evolved into Maryland’s leading provider of comprehensive health-related services for adults and children experiencing homelessness.

HCH ensures similar services statewide through grants and technical assistance to partner agencies in the City of Frederick and Montgomery, Harford, and Baltimore Counties. With strong public and private support, HCH is guided by a vision of a future without homelessness in which all Marylanders have access to comprehensive health care, affordable housing, and livable incomes.

Optimal Solutions Group, LLC
Founded in 2000, Optimal Solutions Group, LLC is a nonpartisan public policy research and technical assistance firm that stands out through its quantitative expertise and innovative approaches to provide rigorous, data-driven research, and technical assistance to government agencies, corporations, nonprofit organizations, and philanthropic foundations. Located at the University of Maryland’s M Square Research Park in College Park, Optimal is a leader in driving real-time public policy research. Optimal has 60+ employees including multidisciplinary researchers with backgrounds in business, communication, economics, education, health policy, psychology, public policy, sociology, statistics, and urban planning. Optimal has four research centers: Health, Education, Housing, and Workforce Development and Social Policy, as well as the Optimal Analytics and International Development Groups, whose work cuts across research areas.