GREAT FALLS, MONTANA, Sept. 5, 2017—D.A. Davidson Companies and its Great Falls associates have given the American Red Cross of Montana nearly $5,000 to help with relief efforts following the Lodgepole Complex fire in southeastern Montana earlier this summer.

Employees took part in two jeans day fundraisers and made personal donations to the relief effort. The company then matched those donations. D.A. Davidson Companies has 230 employees working at the company’s headquarters in downtown Great Falls.

“Our associates deserve credit for their generosity in response to the Lodgepole Complex fire,” said Larry Martinez, president of D.A. Davidson Companies. “They recognized that the fires have been devastating to our friends and neighbors and, when D.A. Davidson held special jeans days for fire relief, our employees responded with compassion and without hesitation.”

D.A. Davidson Companies also is encouraging its 1,300 associates company-wide to donate to the American Red Cross’ hurricane relief efforts. The company will be sending more than $20,000 for Hurricane Harvey relief, half coming from associates’ donations and the other half as a company match.

The Lodgepole Complex wildfire, which started July 19, burned more than 270,700 acres in the Jordan area. Several structures and a significant amount of fencing and hay were lost.

Because of severe drought, Montana has faced an especially active wildfire season affecting all corners of the state this summer. In July alone, the state saw more acreage burned than entire Montana wildfire seasons.

The American Red Cross of Montana has responded by opening several shelters for families forced from their homes because of evacuations, including facilities in Eureka, Florence, Hays, Helena, Hungry Horse Jordan, Missoula, Plains, Potomac, Roundup, Stevensville, Superior and Wolf Creek. Those shelters provide families with a place to stay, meals, water, snacks and information about disaster-related resources in their communities. All Red Cross services are free.

“This fundraising effort and gift from D.A. Davidson Companies comes at a critical time during our wildfire relief efforts,” said Diane Wright, the executive director of Red Cross of Montana. “Since July, the Montana Red Cross has opened more than 15 shelters across the state and provided much needed resources for those impacted by the wildfires.”

To donate directly to the American Red Cross of Montana, visit http://www.redcross.org/local/montana, call 800-272-6668 or mail a check to American Red Cross of Montana, 1300 28th St. S., Great Falls, MT 59405.

You can also donate $10 to the Hurricane Harvey relief by texting the word HARVEY to 90999.

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 or facebook.com/redcrossmontana.