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Tuesday, September 16, 2008
American Red Cross launches national fundraising campaign
Hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and fires, it’s been a busy year for the American public and the American Red Cross. The back-to-back disasters have left many in dire need and strained the organization’s resources. As a result, the Red Cross is launching a national fundraising campaign to raise an initial $100 million to fill its depleted Disaster Relief Fund.
National headquarters assigned a fundraising target of more than $2.6 million to Red Cross chapters in Missouri, and in order to reach its goal, the Greater Kansas City Chapter hopes to reach $1 million before Dec. 31, 2008 by partnering with local companies during the campaign.
The Disaster Relief Fund allows the Greater Kansas City Chapter to provide emergency assistance to help victims of disasters meet their immediate needs for food, shelter, counseling and other critical services.
The Red Cross responds to 70,000 disasters each year — the majority of them “silent” disasters never making the news. Since January 2008, Red Cross volunteers have responded to thousands of house fires and more than 60 large-scale disasters — including a record number of tornadoes, the worst flooding in the Midwest in 15 years, an early wildfire season and an active hurricane season that is not over yet.
Hurricane Gustav alone is estimated to cost the Red Cross between $40-$70 million, and Hurricane Ike — a disaster much larger than Gustav in damaged area and sheltering and feeding responsibilities — is expected to send costs soaring over $100 million.
In order to help millions of people without electricity and thousands unable to return home, the Red Cross has opened 270 shelters across the U.S., deployed more than 5,400 volunteers to the coastal region and served more than 130,000 meals in Texas alone. Red Cross officials said the organization might need to continue its mass care operations in the region until the holiday season and possibly into 2009.
While the organization is initially striving to raise $100 million to help those in need, hurricane and wildfire seasons make more disasters probable.
People can help victims of disasters by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund by going to organization’s Web site www.redcross.org or calling 1-800-RED-CROSS. They can also use their cell phone to donate $5 by text messaging the keyword “GIVE” to “2HELP” (23457) and can send multiple donations depending on your carrier. Contributions will appear on monthly bills or be debited from a prepaid account balance.
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American Red Cross
Greater Kansas City Chapter
211 W. Armour Blvd.
Kansas City, MO 64111 USA
Phone 816-931-8400
Fax 816-531-7306
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