August 3, 2006

Bilingual consumer website sets Boston abuzz

One Economy, United Way introduce Beehive Boston

United Way media contact

Brigid Boyd
Senior Director of Communications
617-624-8252
bboyd@uwmb.org

One Economy media contact

Liz Sarachek Blacker
One Economy
(202) 393-0406 or
lblacker@one-economy.com
       www.thebeehive.org

BOSTON – Beehive Boston, a new website that aims to help low-income families and individuals to use technology and the internet to raise their standard of living, is being launched today by United Way of Massachusetts Bay and One Economy Corporation. Beehive Boston (www.thebeehive.org) is a free, bilingual online service that connects users to local and national web resources about money, schools, jobs, housing, health and much more.

The new consumer website is available in English and Spanish and is currently offered in over 30 locations across the country. Beehive Boston features local, bilingual information about child care, transportation, housing, homework help and other relevant life tools. WCVB-TV Channel 5 will promote the Beehive through public service announcements and on its website ( www.thebostonchannel.com).

“The Beehive is more than an online phone book,” said Milton J. Little, Jr., president and chief executive officer at United Way of Massachusetts Bay . “What’s unique about the Beehive is that it is capable of helping people improve their lives. Across the country, there are countless examples of how the Beehive has changed people’s lives because they became more employable, found access to healthcare, learned how to fight childhood obesity, or learned how to qualify for a tax credit. We are proud to bring this unique website to Boston .”

Launched in October 2001, the Beehive has been visited nationally by more than 8 million people. It consists of more than 10,000 pages of content that is updated daily. Beehive success stories include:

• $1.8 million in earned income tax credits returned to Beehive users;
• 350,000 people have learned about Medicaid;
• Over 80,000 people have learned about how to achieve their GED;
• 500,000 people have learned about filing for unemployment benefits; and
• 235,000 people have learned about creating a family budget.

“One Economy’s mission is to maximize the potential of technology to help low-income people improve their lives and join the economic mainstream,” said Ben Hecht, President of One Economy Corporation. “We’re proud to partner with committed organizations in Boston , such as United Way , to empower families with the tools and resources they need to improve the quality of their lives.”