FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (March 22, 2021) – The South Florida Region of the American Red Cross has received a generous donation of $75,000 from a friend of the Broward County Chapter which was inspired by recent Red Cross disaster response efforts in the Chapter. Following this donation, VoLo Foundation, a private family foundation, stepped in with a matching gift of $75,000, with both gifts supporting the purchase of a new Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) for the Chapter. These charitable contributions will help the Red Cross travel to areas where disaster has struck to support those in need.
“When disaster strikes, Red Cross teams use emergency response vehicles to travel to impacted areas and deliver critical disaster relief services to our communities in need,” said Josett Valdez, CEO of the South Florida Red Cross. “In 2020, we responded to more than 600 disasters in the South Florida Region ranging from home fires to floods. Thanks to the generous support of these donors, we are able to add a new vehicle to our Broward Chapter which will help us reach even more people in need of support.”
In addition to VoLo Foundation’s donation to the Broward County Chapter, they recently made another $75,000 donation to assist with the recent disaster relief efforts in Texas. In 2020, they also gifted $150,000 to the American National Red Cross, in the South Florida Region. The funds supported the Missing Maps meeting room at the American Red Cross Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
“As VoLo Foundation learns more about the global impact of climate change, we know it is not if a disaster will come, it is when?” said Thais Lopez Vogel, Founder & Trustee of VoLo Foundation. “Being kind to others is the right thing to do and is especially critical in times of crisis. My husband David S. Vogel and I are happy to assist the American Red Cross to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies.”
Since the Red Cross was founded, we’ve relied on dependable vehicles to deliver our mission. Today, our emergency response vehicles remain at the heart of our disaster relief and recovery work. These highly visible vehicles provide our volunteer workforce with recognized and trusted means to easily reach people in need.
Generous donations from the community and corporate partners enable the American Red Cross to prepare communities for disasters big and small, respond whenever and wherever disasters occur, and help families during the recovery process.
The vehicle will be utilized by the Red Cross to respond to local disasters, ranging from home fires to hurricanes near and far, and provide aid to families recovering. The Chapter currently serves over 1.9 million Broward County residents.
About the American Red Cross:
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 American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/southflorida and visit us on Facebook and Twitter at @SFLRedCross.
VoLo Foundation:
VoLo Foundation (VoLo) is a private, non-operating foundation in Jupiter, Florida. VoLo believes in developing knowledge and sharing information that has the potential to create global impact. Through original research and analysis, and in collaboration with philanthropic and academic partners, VoLo aims to enrich the lives of individuals, strengthen communities, and educate future generations. Learn more and subscribe to VoLo Climate News at www.volofoundation.org.