Lilly Endowment Pledges Major Support for Ongoing American Red Cross Efforts in Iraq

June 26, 2003 — With the end of major combat in Iraq, the American Red Cross has settled into an expanded role of supporting the ongoing deployment of American troops in the region and their families back home. With this extended military presence in the Persian Gulf region a generous gift from Lilly Endowment Inc. is helping to make this critical support of service members and their families possible.

The American Red Cross is assisting the men and women in the military and their families in three primary ways:

• Linking military personnel to their families back home through an extensive and widespread emergency communications network;
• Mobilizing and deploying trained workers with the troops into the Iraqi Freedom Theater of Operations to provide emergency communication and other essential services; and
• Reaching out to members of the National Guard/Reserves and their families with information about American Red Cross services available to them.

Among the first financial supporters to help the American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services (AFES) was Lilly Endowment, which gave $5 million to help with the increased needs of the men and women serving in and around Iraq, including the needs of national guardsmen and reservists. This funding will help support all military members and their families through emergency communication services – such as a notification of the death/serious illness of a family member or the birth of a child, access to financial assistance, deployment of Red Cross staff to areas of conflict, counseling, veterans’ assistance and more.

“The historic generosity of Lilly Endowment in times of disaster and tragedy, as well as with the day-to-day services provided nationally and globally, makes an incredible difference in the lives of so many in need,” said American Red Cross President and CEO Marsha J. Evans. “This compassionate gift will allow us to continue linking service men and women with their loved ones when emergencies occur at home.”

“Throughout its more than 60-year relationship with the American Red Cross, Lilly Endowment has been pleased to support the organization’s goal of helping people in need during times of disaster and distress,” said N. Clay Robbins, president of the Endowment. “In this case, the Red Cross has played a vital role in helping American servicemen and women in Iraq and the Persian Gulf region, keeping them in touch with their families while providing a welcome ‘touch of home’ on a day to day basis in the desert. We are proud to be part of that effort.”

The American Red Cross is not a government agency. We rely on the assistance of caring supporters like you to deliver our critical services. You can support U.S. military members and their families through the American Red Cross as we provide assistance and comfort. Your gift will support the nationally coordinated Red Cross services provided to military families across the country and to American service men and women located throughout the world. Please make a financial donation to Armed Forces Emergency Services by calling 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions may be sent to the American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services, P. O. Box 91820, Washington, DC 20090. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation-form.asp .

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