Pledge of Ongoing Support Enables Red Cross to Prepare for and Respond to Disasters
CAMBRIDGE, MASS. May 18, 2016 — The American Red Cross today recognized National Grid, with U.S. headquarters in Waltham, MA for supporting Red Cross Disaster Relief through the Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP).
ADGP members pledge donations on an ongoing basis, in advance of major disasters, to ensure the Red Cross can respond immediately to meet the needs of those affected by disasters of all sizes—from wildfires to home fires. Red Cross services are provided to those in need of assistance at no cost and regardless of income through the generosity of Red Cross donors.
“The American Red Cross relies on the generosity of our volunteers, donors and partners to fulfill our lifesaving mission,” said American Red Cross President and CEO Gail McGovern. “Thanks to the support of National Grid and other ADGP companies and foundations, the Red Cross can immediately respond to the needs of people affected by disasters whenever and wherever they strike.”
“The men and women of National Grid recognize the responsibility we all have to assist our neighbors when natural disasters strike and people are in need,” said Dean Seavers, Executive Director and President of National Grid in the U.S. “From both a personal and corporate perspective, we are tremendously proud to be able to support the humanitarian work of the Red Cross.”
Each year, the Red Cross responds to nearly 66,000 disasters down the street, across the country and around the world including home fires, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes and wildfires.
“Ongoing financial support from Annual Disaster Giving Program members helps create a reliable funding base for disaster relief services, providing food, shelter, emotional support and other essential assistance,” said David Staszak, Red Cross chief development officer. “Money donated by the public and ADGP members is essential to our ability to assist disaster survivors and support the first responders and volunteers who work tirelessly at the scene of a disaster.”
The generous donations from ADGP members enable the Red Cross to prepare communities for disasters big and small, respond whenever and wherever disasters occur and help families during the recovery process.
Other members of the Annual Disaster Giving Program include major leading companies: American Airlines, Anheuser-Busch Foundation, Anthem Foundation, Boise Paper, Caterpillar Foundation, Costco Wholesale, Delta Air Lines, Disney, Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation, FedEx Corporation, The Home Depot, Humble Bundle, LDS Charities, Lowe's Companies, Inc., Mazda North American Operations, Merck Foundation, Nationwide Foundation, State Farm, Target, UPS, VSP℠ Vision care for life, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation, 3M, Altria Group, American Express, Aon, Bank of America, BNY Mellon, Capital One, Cisco Foundation, Citi Foundation, ConAgra Foods Foundation, Darden Restaurants Foundation, Discover, Edison International, Farmers Insurance, Ford Motor Company, Grainger, John Deere Foundation, Johnson Controls, Medtronic, Meijer, Mondelēz International Foundation, PepsiCo Foundation, Prudential Foundation, Southwest Airlines, Sprint, Sunoco, The TJX Companies, Inc., United Airlines, United Technologies Corporation, Visa, Wawa and Wells Fargo.
Individuals can help people affected by disasters by making a gift to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Donations to Disaster Relief enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-REDCROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
About National Grid
National Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE: NGG) is an electricity and natural gas delivery company that connects nearly 7 million customers to vital energy sources through its networks in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in the Northeast. National Grid also operates the systems that deliver gas and electricity across Great Britain.
Through its U.S. Connect21 strategy, National Grid is transforming its electricity and natural gas networks to support the 21st century digital economy with smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions. Connect21 is vital to our communities' long-term economic and environmental health and aligns with regulatory initiatives in New York (REV: Reforming the Energy Vision) and Massachusetts (Grid Modernization).
For more information please visit our website: www.nationalgridus.com, or our Connecting website. You can also follow us on Twitter, watch us on You Tube, Friend us on Facebook and find our photos on Instagram.
Contact: Jessica Emond, Jessica.emond@redcross.org, 857-500-2159
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.