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New Canaan, CT, February 12 2003 – AmeriCares, the global nonprofit disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization, will move its world headquarters to Stamford Park in Stamford, CT effective September 1, 2003. The move will position AmeriCares to expand its global relief operations, bringing more life-saving aid to people in need while increasing its efficiencies.
The organization, headquartered in New Canaan since its founding in 1982, has outgrown the space it currently occupies at 161 Cherry Street. The new location at 88 Hamilton Avenue in Stamford will encompass 24,650 square feet of office space, 9,650 square feet more than the agency presently has.
AmeriCares will also occupy a 51,800 square foot warehouse on the same site to store the organization’s humanitarian supplies that are shipped throughout the world. With a 175 percent increase in warehouse space, the structure will, for the first time, be on the same site as the office space. This will greatly increase the efficiency and timeliness of relief shipments.
Currently, the AmeriCares warehouse is in Milford, CT, more than 30 miles from the organization’s headquarters.
Curtis R. Welling, AmeriCares President & CEO said, “The support AmeriCares has received from the town and hundreds of New Canaan volunteers over the years have been deeply gratifying. While it is with mixed emotions we depart from New Canaan, we know the efficiencies we will gain at Stamford Park will allow us to bring help to increasing numbers.”
Robert S. Silver, President of RS Silver & Company with offices in Manhattan and Darien, CT represented AmeriCares in the transaction, with the assistance of Michelle Foster and Carley Gerber, associates at the firm. Mr. Silver recognized that AmeriCares’ desire to put both functions together and yet stay close to New Canaan made the Hamilton Avenue location a perfect opportunity.
Stamford Park is a 190,000 square foot 1920’s factory complex restored and reinvented as a 21st century corporate center. Reliance Property Group of Stamford is the developer and manager of Stamford Park. The 15-year AmeriCares lease is one of Stamford’s largest real estate transactions in recent years. Other Stamford Park tenants include Media Group and WWE.
Ken Dardis of the Reliance Property Group said “We are very pleased to welcome AmeriCares to Stamford Park. The combination of an exciting architectural design for their office headquarters coupled with the nature of AmeriCares’ mission sets the tone we were hoping to achieve for this project.”
“I am delighted to hear the news that AmeriCares will be moving to Stamford in September,” said Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy. “AmeriCares is an outstanding organization dedicated to supporting humanitarian efforts around the world and we are honored to be its base city. For over twenty years, AmeriCares has been a global lifeline in bringing aid to those who have been ravaged by unfortunate incidents or disasters. We wish them continued success, and welcome its employees to our community.”
The design of the AmeriCares office has been commissioned to WASA, a Manhattan-based architectural firm, known for work on Grand Central Station, the FDIC Building and Falling Water, Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous Pennsylvania home.
To officially announce the move, a ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at the new Hamilton Avenue site at 12pm on February 13. The following people will be in attendance and will be made available for interviews: Curtis R. Welling, President & CEO, AmeriCares; Dan Malloy, Mayor of Stamford; Ken C. Dardis, Principal, Reliance Property Group; Robert S. Silver, President, RS Silver & Company. Photographs of the new site will also be made available.
For more information, please contact Elizabeth Griffin, Director of Communications at 1-800-486-HELP.