Retail and Banking Industries Raised $3 million for Disaster Relief in Grassroots Campaign

Companies also donated more than $3 million in corporate funds

WASHINGTON, Wednesday, December 08, 2004 — In response to the devastation caused by Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne, more than 40,000 retail and bank locations nationwide showed their support of American Red Cross disaster relief efforts by making it easy for their customers to get involved.  Through the "Your Help Counts" customer donation program, consumers were able to donate to Red Cross disaster relief efforts. During this holiday season, the Red Cross wishes to express its deep appreciation to these valuable partners in disaster relief.

Various corporate partners across the retail and banking industries implemented the “Your Help Counts” program including grocery, drug, and convenience stores, regional and national banks, entertainment retailers, and specialty and variety stores. These retailers and banks contributed a total of over $6.3 million to date for Red Cross disaster relief. The success is heartwarming, yet not surprising – research shows that 77% of Americans want to help those affected in times of disaster, and 71% of Americans trust the Red Cross to provide that help.

The support of these companies and their customers has helped the Red Cross to stage a historic disaster relief operation. The response to the four recent hurricanes that hit Florida and the southeast region has been the largest feeding and sheltering operation for a natural disaster in the 123-year history of the American Red Cross.

Stats-at-a Glance for Hurricane Season 2004 (as of November 30)

• The Red Cross opened 1,828shelters providing safe haven to 424,428 residents.
• The Red Cross served 16,642,370 meals and snacks to those in affected areas.
• The Red Cross cared for the health-related needs of 46,511 people.
• Specially trained Red Cross counselors conducted 78,606 mental health counseling contacts.
• More than 34,770 Red Cross workers and volunteers were deployed to the field to deliver disaster relief services to those affected by the storms.

“Our historic response and the comfort, care and service we provided the victims of Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne would not have been possible without the help of these retailers, banks and their customers,” said Skip Seitz, Senior Vice President of Growth and Integrated Development of the American Red Cross. “These generous companies assisted the Red Cross in creating a grassroots effort to help the millions of people affected by the storms and flooding.”

Companies that implemented the “Your Help Counts” customer donation program follow. *Additionally, many of these companies led by example, providing significant corporate gifts of $100,000 or more.

About The American Red Cross

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 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 those in need. Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Donations for disaster relief are also accepted at Coinstar® coin-counting machines at select grocery stores across America . To find the nearest Coinstar machine, visit www.coinstar.com. 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