| Generous Donors Meet American Red Cross Hurricane Relief Costs | |
The American Red Cross announced that current financial donations and pledges will cover the $2.116 billion estimated cost for its response to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. This announcement comes just over five months after Hurricane Katrina - the largest and most costly disaster relief operation in the nation's history. Of the total gifts given, nearly $4.5 million was raised in the Lehigh Valley through individual gifts, corporate donations, school activities, church drives, and spontaneous fund-raising events. As of Dec. 31, the Red Cross has spent 84 percent of all donated funds.
As a good steward of donated dollars, the Red Cross has a standard practice of informing the public when sufficient funds have been raised to cover the costs associated with a disaster response. In keeping with that commitment, the Red Cross will no longer initiate fund-raising activities for these hurricanes. The Red Cross asks donors to support the ongoing needs of hurricane survivors by giving to the countless other charities and non-profit organizations that continue to raise funds for hurricane recovery efforts.*
"The massive destruction caused by last year's disasters touched the hearts of Lehigh Valley residents and spurred thousands to take action. Whether it was the gift of time or money, we are extremely grateful," John Hughes, executive director of the Greater Lehigh Valley Red Cross, said. "Thanks to the generosity of countless Lehigh Valley residents, we are able to respond to those affected by disasters in our community, across the nation and around the world."
The generous financial support from around the world allowed more than 225,000 Red Cross disaster relief workers - 95 percent of them volunteers - to ensure that survivors had a safe place to stay, food and comfort and the means to provide essential items for themselves and their families. Survivors received counseling, basic healthcare and family connecting services. This was accomplished on an unsurpassed scale. The Red Cross:
The public's continued support is essential to the Greater Lehigh Valley Red Cross, which provides lifesaving support in Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties every day. The chapter responds to a disaster - the majority of which are residential fires - every three days. Support of the Disaster Relief Fund is also vital because it enables the Red Cross to respond quickly to large disasters whenever and wherever they strike. Last year, Red Cross chapters responded to a record 73,000 events. Nearly 92 percent were residential fires that went unnoticed nationally, but were hugely significant in the lives of those affected.
Please continue to help your neighbors in need through the American Red Cross by --
The American Red Cross is where people mobilize to help their neighbors - across the street, across the country and across the world - in emergencies. Each year, in communities large and small, victims of some 70,000 disasters turn to neighbors familiar and new - the nearly 1 million volunteers and 35,000 employees of the Red Cross. Through more than 800 locally supported chapters, more than 15 million people gain the skills they need to prepare for and respond to emergencies in their homes, communities and world. Some 4 million people give blood - the gift of life - through the Red Cross, making it the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The Red Cross helps thousands of U.S. service members separated from their families by military duty stay connected. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, a global network of 181 national societies, the Red Cross helps restore hope and dignity to the world's most vulnerable people. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money and blood to do its work.
* For a list of some agencies, visit www.usafreedomcorps.gov.