Media Contact:       

Christine Welch, Communications Director
Email: christine.welch@redcross.org
Phone: 909-374-0376  

This is the largest private donation in the region’s history and will support multiple Red Cross programs

SAN DIEGO —  December 8, 2020 — The American Red Cross Southern California Region is pleased to announce that San Diego-based philanthropists Teresa and Byron Pollitt have committed to a $1 million donation over the next two years to support the Red Cross mission.   

The Pollitt’s $1 million donation will support local, national, and international Red Cross programs and services, including:

• The Hero Care Network: provides confidential emergency communication, resources and assistance to veterans, military members, and their families.
• The San Diego Hug-a-Hero Program: brings comfort to military families and their children by providing children with a doll in the image of their deploying parent.
• Blood Collection Services and Biomedical Scales: helps the Red Cross collect lifesaving blood – especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic when the need for blood is great.
• American Rare Donor Program: supports Red Cross involvement in the American Rare Blood Donor Program (ARBDP), a national organization whose mission is to ensure rare blood is available for the patients who need it.
• Red Cross International Services: funds international services teams that help at-risk communities around the globe.

“We are grateful to Teresa and Byron for their incredible generosity and their desire to support the Red Cross mission,” said Sean Mahoney, Regional CEO of the American Red Cross Southern California Region. Their gift will ensure we can continue to help military families and collect lifesaving blood for patients in need while advancing our international services.”

Since joining the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross of San Diego and Imperial Counties in October 2019, Teresa Pollitt has Chaired the Real Heroes Awards event aboard the USS Midway Museum, serves as Co-Chair of the Philanthropy Committee and Chapter Chair of the Tiffany Circle. In addition, Teresa is a member of the Tiffany Circle National Council where she was appointed one of the Divisional Volunteer Liaisons for the Pacific Division. The Tiffany Circle is a community of women leaders who advance the American Red Cross mission through a focused investment of time, talent and treasure by engaging and embracing women locally, nationally and internationally.

Byron Pollitt volunteers as a Senior Advisor to the American Red Cross International Services Division. He previously served on the Finance Commission of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and on the Red Cross Board of Directors for both Orange County and the San Francisco Bay Area.

“Every moment of every day throughout the world the Red Cross is extending a helping hand to those in crisis. When disaster strikes, the Red Cross is among the first to respond and among the last to leave. This is why for over 20 years we have been inspired to volunteer our time, treasure and blood to support the work of the American and International Red Cross,” said the Pollitts.

During a year of unprecedented emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Red Cross Southern California Region has pivoted service delivery to continue its mission. The Southern California Region has responded to hundreds of local disasters, from home fires to historic wildfires and more; collected thousands of units of blood for patients throughout Southern California; supported service members, veterans and their families; provided lifesaving health and safety training, and more. All Red Cross assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people.

For more information about the American Red Cross Southern California Region, please visit redcross.org/socal.

About the American Red Cross Southern California Region  
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid, and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the public to perform its mission. The Red Cross Southern California Region proudly serves San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Imperial Counties. In addition to carrying out disaster preparedness and response programs, blood collection, health and safety training, international services programs and supporting the military community, the Southern California Region provides nutritional counseling through its Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program in San Diego and helps communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters through its Prepare SoCal and Prepare San Diego initiatives. For more information, please visit redcross.org/SoCal or cruzrojaamericana.org, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. 

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