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Ernest P. Bicknell Award
Microsoft Corporation
Monday, June 04, 2007 — In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, hurricane evacuees were dispersed nationwide, and reuniting families was a major challenge. Microsoft helped bring family members together by assisting the Red Cross with the development of a new means of reconnecting families separated by disaster—KatrinaSafe.org, currently called "Safe and Well." During the days following Katrina, the new Website linked families by posting more than 250,000 records from separated family members.
In addition to helping create KatrinaSafe.org, Microsoft deployed several employees to serve in the Red Cross Disaster Operations Center in Washington, D.C. The company also donated more than $10 million in cash contributions and technology solutions to the Hurricane Katrina response effort.
In recognition of Microsoft's innovation and commitment, the American Red Cross presented the software firm with the Ernest P. Bicknell Award. This disaster preparedness and response excellence award is named after Ernest P. Bicknell, who in 1908 was appointed the Red Cross national director with the goal of revitalizing the membership program and introducing new reforms. He remained with the organization for more than 25 years, and his ideas and proposals were instrumental in shaping the structure of the American Red Cross between 1909 and 1917.
"After Katrina hit, I had the privilege to come and work with Steve Cooper from the Red Cross and his team to see how Microsoft could best respond," said Mr. Ron Markezich, vice president, Microsoft Managed Services, who accepted the award on Microsoft's behalf. "What I saw through that event is the passion and dedication of many of the people in this room and through the entire Red Cross, working tirelessly to help people better their lives after a disaster. It is truly our privilege at Microsoft to contribute our people, our technology and our money because of that vision."
The American Red Cross helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Last year, almost a million volunteers and 35,000 employees helped victims of almost 75,000 disasters; taught lifesaving skills to millions; and helped U.S. service members separated from their families stay connected. Almost 4 million people gave blood through the Red Cross, the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The American Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. 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.
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