New York, New York, July 2, 2008. – The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) granted the Batey Relief Alliance (BRA) status of Private Voluntary Organization (PVO).

Ulrick Gaillard, BRA’s CEO said, “PVO registration will enable BRA to become eligible for federal financial assistance within the USAID funding circle.” BRA sought registration early this year as an effort to broaden support for its humanitarian services to those that are severely affected by poverty, disease and hunger in the Caribbean.

USAID awarded BRA in 2007 two years of Food for Peace’s International Food Relief Program (IFRP) grant totaling $545,600.00 to distribute food to more than 10,000 people, including those living with HIV/AIDs, vulnerable/orphaned children, pregnant women and the elderly in the bateyes, urban slums, and rural communities of the Dominican Republic. BRA is now expanding its humanitarian health work at Haiti’s border with the Dominican Republic targeting Southeastern communities of Anse-a-Pitres and Pedernales.

For more information about BRA’s work or how to support, please visit BRA’s website at www.bateyrelief.org or contact bra@bateyrelief.org.