Samuel I. Newhouse Foundation Donates $1 Million To Relief Efforts For Hurricane Katrina

WASHINGTON, Tuesday, September 06, 2005 — Responding to the tragic events unfolding in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Samuel I. Newhouse Foundation has donated $1 million to the American Red Cross. The donation was announced today by the American Red Cross.

"The American Red Cross is extremely grateful for the timely help given by the Samuel I. Newhouse Foundation," said Marsha J. Evans, President and CEO of the American Red Cross. "We understand their deep commitment to New Orleans, and are heartened that they have expressed their support through this generous donation."

"This has been a catastrophe of unimaginable proportions. We have all lost so much," said Ashton Phelps Jr., Publisher of The Times Picayune, which has been part of Advance Publications Inc. since 1962. "We are pleased to help the American Red Cross lead the relief effort for our community."

"The Times Picayune has brought the world unforgettable stories and images of the disaster in New Orleans," said Donald E. Newhouse, President of Advance Publications. "We are happy to respond to the extraordinary relief challenges by supporting the humanitarian role of the American Red Cross."

Since Hurricane Katrina struck, The Times Picayune and its affiliated web site, www.nola.com have been a lifeline for news and support for the people of New Orleans, including a web-based missing persons’ forum that has more than 23,000 reader postings. The newspaper never stopped publishing despite the abandonment of its headquarters and printing plant. For three days it produced electronic editions on www.nola.com, and since Thursday, the newspaper resumed print publication with limited distribution.

The Samuel I. Newhouse Foundation is supported by the newspapers and magazines, business publications, and cable interests owned by the Newhouse family.

The American Red Cross provides food, shelter, counseling and other assistance to those in need. More than 135,000 evacuees are being sheltered in 470 American Red Cross shelters in twelve states including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee and Utah, with many more on standby. The Red Cross also is coordinating with other agencies, the mass sheltering operation at the Houston Astrodome, and is working with local partners to find additional facilities in which thousands of evacuees will find a safe, clean and comfortable environment.

Thousands of Red Cross staff and volunteers across the country and from every part of the organization are working around the clock to serve the public need. More than 5,000 Red Crossers have left their families to serve in affected areas already, and the Red Cross is moving more than 600 additional workers into affected areas every day.

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 Hurricane Katrina and thousands of other disasters across the country each year, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Please call 1-800-HELP NOW 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.