Today as part of a historic commitment by USAA’s Military Family Relief Initiative, American Red Cross will receive $2.5 million to assist the military and their families during these challenging economic times. The donation will allow the organization to further its overall service to service members, veterans, their families and caregivers, and will aid the the American Red Cross Hero Care Network that continues to operate 24/7; this Network facilitates emergency communications, financial assistance and critical community services to military members and their families in need. This donation will also assist with American Red Cross support of U.S. veteran hospitals and military treatment facilities, the Military and Veteran Caregiver Network, and online Resiliency courses that teach coping mechanisms, decreasing feelings of isolation and stress-management all tailored for military and veteran communities.
“Support from partners such as USAA enables the Red Cross to quickly assist military members and their families, delivering comfort and hope to people impacted by this ongoing pandemic,” said Gail McGovern, President and CEO of the American Red Cross. “We deeply appreciate USAA’s generous donation as we work together to help military families struggling during these challenging times.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant and negative financial impact on military members and their families. According to research from the COVID-19 Military Support Initiative, 25 percent of active duty military families have been separated from their servicemember due to deployment or pandemic-supporting activations. Thirty percent of military spouses are expected to experience unemployment, nearly four times the level of their civilian peers.
“For nearly a century, USAA’s mission has been to help our members be financially secure and to support them no matter what they face,” USAA President and CEO Wayne Peacock said. “Providing this contribution to organizations such as the American Red Cross that share our mission to care for military families does double duty. It helps meet the needs of today’s military families and veterans. And it gives these organizations momentum to keep serving as a lifeline for the military community.”
USAA is a member of the American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces Giving Program. Giving Program members stand with the Red Cross to help military members, veterans and their families prepare for, cope with, and respond to the challenges of military service.
For more information about the work of the American Red Cross supporting veterans and military families, visit www.redcross.org/saf.
For more information about USAA COVID-19 relief efforts, including more than $30 million in donations to organizations serving military and veteran families, visit usaa.com/coronavirus.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.