Continuing its trend of warming up New York, the National Biodiesel Board announced the winners of its New York City Proud 2B2 Renewable Warmup campaign. To celebrate New York City's adoption of a 2 percent biodiesel blend mandate for home heating oil, the four-week campaign recognized charities in the New York area that dedicate their time and energy to helping “warm” New York City residents. The campaign awarded a total of $30,000 in grants to three New York City charities, the organization’s way of saying thank you to New York City for being a leader in the renewable fuel evolution.

The major charity recipient, receiving a $15,000 grant, is the United Way’s Project Warmth, which also helps “warm” New York City, providing assistance to vulnerable Long Islanders who heat their home with oil. Its donation of oil heat helps families overcome short-term financial hardship. It also offers case assistance, which results in 80 percent of families not needing assistance after. The initiative also played an instrumental part in helping New York and New Jersey recover from Hurricane Sandy.

The other Proud 2B2 Renewable Warmup grant recipients include:

Achilles for Kids - $10,000 grant

Founded by the first amputee to run the New York City marathon, the grant will help fund the organization’s 2013 goal of awarding 3,500 pairs of new sneakers to low-income children with disabilities who complete the virtual marathon (running 26 miles over a one-year period of time).

The New York Foundling Afterschool Program - $5,000 grant

Serves boys and girls at risk in the South Bronx, the most impoverished congressional district in the nation, by keeping them off the street and helping them develop academic skills with tutoring, homework support and ongoing enrichment opportunities.

Already the nation's largest municipal user of biodiesel, New York City is Proud 2B2. The 2 percent biodiesel mandate for home heating oil delivered in the city, also known as B2 Bioheat, reduces the city's carbon footprint, helps clean the air and replaces up to 20 million gallons of petroleum annually.

Paul Nazzaro, president of Advanced Fuel Solutions and advocate for the National Biodiesel Board’s Bioheat Fuel education program, stated, “Our NYC Proud 2B2 Renewable Warmup campaign has increased awareness and support of not only Bioheat fuel, but the profile of the great work that so many of the greater NYC nonprofits provide. As we look to increased use of Bioheat fuel by NYC and others, we help to clean up our air and create more jobs in the heartland of our country. It's a sustainable movement that everyone can participate in.”

John Maniscalco, CEO of The New York Oil Heat Association, said, “The city of New York should be proud of their accomplishment in approving the mandate for biofuel. Our next major objective is to apply that mandate statewide and then to encourage other Northeast areas to follow suit.”