NEW YORK - July 23, 2004 - Sara Horowitz, Founder and Executive Director of Working Today, was honored for outstanding achievement in the "Community Leadership" category during the 2004 NYC Neighborhood Development Achievement Awards at a reception hosted by Mayor Bloomberg and Robert Walsh, Commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services, last evening at Gracie Mansion.

Ms. Horowitz, a previous MacArthur "Genius Award" recipient, and listed in the NY Daily News "100 Women Who Shape Our City" (4/25/04), was saluted for her efforts on behalf of Working Today, an advocacy group she founded in 1995. Based in Brooklyn, Working Today is a national nonprofit organization focused on the needs and concerns of America's growing independent workforce, including freelancers, consultants, independent contractors, temps, part-timers, contingent employees and the self-employed, who collectively make up about 30% of the nation's workforce. Working Today provides a range of advocacy, information and benefits services to this fast growing segment of the workforce.

Most notably, Working Today's Freelancers Union has emerged as a key conduit and group-rate sponsor of portable, affordable health, life and disability insurance for several thousand New York City-based independent workers. This program affords the individual to maintain their benefits as they move from job to job or assignment to assignment. Through Freelancers Union, qualifying NYC freelancers get HMO health coverage from a leading private provider for about half of the average, open market rates.

"When small businesses work together with the community to improve their neighborhoods, the results can be phenomenal," said SBS Commissioner Walsh. "Today's award recipients have each shown an exemplary spirit of teamwork and commitment that is a shining example to be replicated. SBS is committed to providing the support and leadership to local groups to make sure that each of our neighborhoods is an excellent place to live and do business."

Said Ms. Horowitz: "I'm very honored to be recognized by the City of New York and the Department of Small Business Services. The membership of Working Today - thousands of freelancers and other members of the City's mobile workforce - are a driving force behind the success of small businesses in the City and the nation.

I look forward to finding more ways to bring together the City's one million independent workers and its thriving small business community."

Working Today has received grants and other support from both the State and City of New York, as well as from leading foundations, including the Ford Foundation, J.P. Morgan Chase, the New York Community Trust, United Hospital Fund, the Rockefeller Family Fund and others. In 2004, Working Today was named one of Fast Company's Top 20 Social Capitalist organizations.