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American Red Cross Responds to California Wildfires
Recognizes Members of the Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program for Their Financial Support
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National Headquarters
2025 E Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20006
www.redcross.org
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Contact: Public Affairs Desk
FOR MEDIA ONLY
Phone: (202) 303-5551
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WASHINGTON, Wednesday, October 24, 2007 — Since Sunday, several wildfires have swept across Southern California, destroying homes and forcing hundreds of thousands of residents to evacuate. The American Red Cross was among the first on the scene responding to the wildfires, providing food, shelter, counseling and other emergency assistance made possible, in part, by the financial support from members of the Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program.
Members of the Annual Disaster Giving Program help provide the funding to rush relief to disaster victims before the first donations have been given in response to a disaster. Since the first sign of trouble in Southern California, Red Cross volunteers and employees have opened shelters, providing displaced residents with a safe place to stay, and have mobilized tens of thousands of cots, blankets and comfort kits to the affected areas. Volunteers are staffing 75 Emergency Response Vehicles, providing hot meals and snacks to residents, firefighters and first responders. Red Cross mental health counselors are also available to help residents and emergency workers in the affected areas manage the stress and fear that accompanies all disasters.
As winds are forecasted to spread flames across the state over the next several days, the Red Cross will remain on the ground providing emergency assistance. In the coming weeks, the Red Cross will continue working with community partners to identify resources that can aid in the recovery of individuals and families affected by the wildfires.
"Donations from our Annual Disaster Giving Program members enable the Red Cross to have the resources to respond to disasters before they even strike and to deliver hope to disaster victims," said Kathleen Loehr, interim senior vice president of Development at the American Red Cross. "These funds are essential to the organization’s ability to provide life-saving support in affected communities like Southern California."
People can join the Annual Disaster Giving Program members in supporting the Disaster Relief Fund and help provide food, shelter, counseling and other assistance to the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year. Log-on to www.redcross.org or call 1-800- HELP NOW to make a donation.
Annual Disaster Giving Program members pledge donations on an on-going basis, in advance of major disasters, to help the Red Cross ensure an immediate response to meet the needs of those affected by disasters of all sizes, at no cost and regardless of income.
Members of the Annual Disaster Giving Program include:
American Express Foundation
AT&T/SBC Foundation
AXA Foundation
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation
Citi
ConAgra Foods Foundation
FedEx Corporation
Halliburton
JCPenney Company Fund
Kimberly-Clark Corporation
Marriott International, Inc.
Merck & Co, Inc.
MorganStanley
Raytheon Company
State Farm
State Street Corporation
Target
The TJX Companies, Inc.
All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the Midwest ice storms, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.
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