Red Cross of Greater Chattanooga Area

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11/07/2009
Walmart Foundation Donates $40,940.00 to the Chattanooga Area RedCross
Source: Times Free Press
www.walmartfoundation.org

Today, the Wal-Mart Foundation presented a check for $40,940 to the Greater Chattanooga Area American Red Cross to help improve the local chapter’s capacity and ability to respond to disasters. More than 120 chapters across the U.S. received funds from the Wal-Mart Foundation’s $5 million national grant program. The Chattanooga-area chapter received one of two grants awarded in the state of Tennessee.

“These dollars will go a long way in helping us ‘Meet the Need.’ We are grateful to the Wal-Mart Foundation for this grant which will help ensure we have the materials and resources to respond to disasters throughout our area,” said Barbara Alexander, executive director of the Greater Chattanooga Area American Red Cross.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., and the Wal-Mart Foundation, longtime supporters of the American Red Cross, designed the grant program to strengthen the capacity of chapters that serve less than 1 million people. The Chattanooga Area Red Cross will be using the grant to fund disaster volunteer recruitment and training, shelter supplies (cots, blankets, pillows, etc.) and trailers to enhance the chapter’s ability to respond to disasters in outlying counties.

“When a disaster strikes, the Red Cross is among the first to respond, providing shelter, food and emotional support,” said Jeff Eversole, Chattanooga market manager for Wal-Mart. “We are proud to help improve our local chapter’s readiness capacity by ensuring that the local unit of the Red Cross has the resources to initiate and maintain an effective response to any disaster.”

Last year alone, the Greater Chattanooga Area Red Cross assisted 866 people suffering losses due to house fires and tornadoes. In addition, the chapter, working with city, county and state agencies, provided the trained volunteers and resources needed to shelter 150 FEMA hurricane evacuees in October of 2008.

“These added resources will allow us to set up shelters quickly should a tornado or other natural disaster strike our service area beyond Hamilton County. At the same time, we still need the community to help ‘Meet the Need’ by donating to the Red Cross’s local Disaster Relief Fund, which provides direct emergency assistance to those who need shelter, clothing and food as a result of house fires, tornadoes, floods or other disasters,” said Alexander.About the Greater Chattanooga Area American Red Cross The Greater Chattanooga Area American Red Cross helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies and serves more than 725,000 people in 13 counties. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time and money to do its work. For more information, call (423) 265-3455 or visit www.chattanoogaredcross.org.

About Philanthropy at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., (NYSE: WMT) and the Wal-Mart Foundation are proud to support the charitable causes that are important to customers and associates in their own neighborhoods. Through its philanthropic programs and partnerships, the Wal-Mart Foundation funds initiatives focused on creating opportunities in education, workforce development, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness. From February 1, 2008, through January 31, 2009, Wal-Mart – and its domestic and international Foundations – gave more than $423 million in cash and in-kind gifts globally. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.