The Southwest Florida chapter of the American
Red Cross announced today it raised $255,313 in the 2011 Holiday Challenge. The total was announced at the Holiday Challenge Celebration on January 25, 2012 at the Eat Here Restaurant in downtown Sarasota.
Every dollar donated to the Southwest Florida chapter was doubled up to $100,000 thanks to the generosity of Mosaic, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Eugene and Anne Beckstein, Cookie Boudreaux, Kathleen Burgdorf Foundation Fund and the Slater-Kassan Charitable Fund of the Manatee Community Foundation who pledged the matching funds for this challenge.
The American Red Cross launched the $100,000 Holiday Challenge to the community on November 15th to promote year-end giving in support of disaster readiness and response within Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Manatee, and Sarasota counties.
"We are in awe of the success of the challenge and just can't thank the community enough for their support", said Jeannie Slater, Campaign Cabinet and Corporate Board Chair Southwest Florida Red Cross.
The Holiday Challenge made a significant impact on the financial goals of the local chapter, who must maintain a constant state of readiness to launch a major response operation at a moment's notice. In years when the community is not affected by severe weather or a hurricane, many fail to remember the vital role the organization plays in disaster response. Single family house fires that often do not receive public attention are the most frequently occurring disaster to which the Red Cross responds.
In addition, the Red Cross is on call around the clock to respond to wildfires, major transportation accidents, and other man-made disasters. "We are a small army, trained and resourced to respond at a moment's notice. This
level of readiness does not just happen. It requires an on-going investment of resources to launch an effective response", says Southwest Florida CEO, Megarie van Sickel.
The Red Cross also provides round the clock emergency communications and assistance from military families and veterans and is a leader in life-saving Health & Safety education including First Aid and CPR.
To learn more about the American Red Cross and how to donate please visit us
online at www.flwestcoastredcross.org.
For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at
http://blog.redcross.org.
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