Pilar Belendez-Desha is the Grant Project Specialist for 2-1-1 New York at United Way of New York State. In this role, Pilar manages statewide deliverables for the 2-1-1 Awareness Campaign funded by the NYS Office of Mental Health through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Her work includes coordinating outreach, supporting training efforts, and helping develop preparedness tools that strengthen the connection between 2-1-1, 9-8-8, and 9-1-1 so individuals and families can access the right resources during crises and disasters.

Pilar brings more than a decade of experience in communications, grant writing, and multimedia storytelling. She has produced award-winning community-focused projects for WNYC, VICE News Tonight, National Geographic, CBS, and other outlets. Her work has been recognized with an Emmy Award, an LA Press Club Award, and an EPPY Award.

Pilar holds an M.A. in Journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY and a B.A. in Geography from the University of Kentucky. She is committed to strengthening access to mental health resources and ensuring communities across New York State know how to connect with help through 2-1-1.