Nearly 150 volunteers attended the DSHR training weekend on November 5th and 6th

The American Red Cross Los Angeles Region hosted a Disaster Services Health Resources (DSHR) training weekend at  L.A. Valley College on Nov. 5 and 6.

Nearly 150 Red Cross volunteers from around the Southland attended the training courses to learn the skills needed to respond in the wake of a disaster.  A wide range of topics were taught during the two-day training, including: how to assess the damage caused by a disaster, how to work with the media and other emergency response agencies, and how to respond to an aviation disaster. 

Volunteers also got an opportunity to experience living in a Red Cross shelter when they were served lunch in a large multi-purpose room, which was set up like a disaster shelter.

The Los Angeles Region recruits disaster services volunteers throughout the year.  To learn more about volunteering with the Red Cross Disaster Response Team click here.

(By Ryan Bailon, Public Affairs Volunteer)

3-Alarm Fire Destroys Apartment Complex and Damages Mobile Home Park

LOS ANGELES, October 27, 2011-In response to a 3-alarm fire at an apartment complex under construction at 21828 S. Avalon Blvd. in the City of Carson the Red Cross Los Angeles Region in support to the City of Carson has opened an evacuation center. The evacuation center is located at:

Carson Community Center
801 East Carson St. Carson, CA 90745

Two hundred people from the adjacent mobile home park have been evacuated. The Red Cross is also, providing mobile feeding services for over 200 firefighters fighting the blaze.

The Red Cross is providing food, temporary shelter and emotional support for those affected by the fire. Volunteers will stay on site for as long as needed.

For more information, please call (310) 943-5253.

About The American Red Cross Los Angeles Region
A volunteer-led humanitarian organization, the American Red Cross Los Angeles Region helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Serving more than 85 cities, the Red Cross provides relief for victims of house and apartment fires, earthquakes, floods, hazardous material spills, transportation accidents, explosions and other natural or man-made disasters — 24 hours a day. Last year, nearly 160,000 people were trained in vital life-saving skills, including CPR and first aid. For more information, please visit www.RedCrossLA.org.

Contact: Brad Alexander, Media Outreach
(916) 502-5717
brad.alexander@calema.ca.gov

LOS ANGELES, September 20, 2011-September is National Preparedness Month and the first responder and disaster recovery communities were out in full strength today at the Exposition Park in Los Angeles. Emergencies never occur at a convenient time and studies show that most Californians are not adequately prepared for a significant disaster near their home or business.

Today, the California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA) and American Red Cross Los Angeles Region co-hosted Be Prepared! on the South Lawn of the Exposition Park to remind the public that disasters can strike at any time and personal preparedness is priority to surviving and recovering from an emergency situation.

“Today’s event was a comprehensive approach to educating the public about how they can increase their personal preparedness,” said Cal EMA Acting Secretary Mike Dayton. “Our mission at Cal EMA is to help every Californian get an emergency preparedness kit and develop a thorough emergency plan for their home or business.”

The American Red Cross and Target provided preparedness kits for attendees at today’s event along side 40 other educational booths sponsored by local first responder and disaster recovery organizations.

“Here in Southern California, we are living in one of the most at-risk areas of the country. Yet few people are prepared for emergency situations, let alone a worst-case scenario,” said Paul Schulz, CEO of the American Red Cross Los Angeles Region. “Through events like these we hope to empower individuals to get a kit, make a plan and be informed for a major disaster.”

In partnership with the California Earthquake Authority and the California Seismic Safety Commission, Cal EMA also premiered “Totally Unprepared,” a unique view of just how unprepared the average Californian can be. The television and web series interviews unsuspecting citizens and quizzes them on how they and their homes are prepared for an earthquake.

Northern California’s Be Prepared! event is just one of three major outreach efforts that Cal EMA is part of for National Preparedness Month 2011. There will also be events in Los Angeles at Exposition Park on September 20 and San Francisco at Bayview/Hunters Point on September 24. For more information on this and other emergency preparedness efforts by Cal EMA or to watch the news conference via a live webcast, visit our National Preparedness Month web page.

Herbalife Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Marketing Rob Levy shows Red Cross Los Angeles Region CEO Paul Schulz the protein bars that Herbalife is donating monthly to the Red Cross.

When local Red Cross volunteers come to the aid of those affected by disasters, they often provide drinks and a snack to keep people hydrated and their energy level high.

Thanks to the generosity of Herbalife, volunteers now have a new snack to offer.  Los Angeles-based Herbalife has agreed to donate 500 protein bars to the Red Cross Los Angeles Region each month. The bars are for disaster clients, first responders and Red Cross workers.

Rob Levy, Herbalife senior vice president of Worldwide Sales and Marketing, and a Red Cross Greater Los Angeles Chapter board member, also committed a much larger quantity of bars and shakes should the need arise.

The bars will be stored at various Red Cross facilities around the region and distributed at all types of disasters, such as the disaster shelter for senior citizens opened July 21 at Mark Keppel High School in Alhambra.

“Herbalife’s generous monthly donations serve as a blueprint for how other local companies can support the Red Cross mission and disaster victims,” said Red Cross L.A. Region Agreements, Facilities & Vendors Specialist Alex Rose. “In-kind donation programs like this one give Red Cross flexibility, align with our service delivery models and are a convenient way for community partners to be involved in our local responses.”

He added that Red Cross canteen services are an essential support service for firefighters, law enforcement and other emergency personnel. Responders can concentrate on service delivery, while relying on the Red Cross for meals and hydration.

The Red Cross is grateful for the generosity and readiness of its various private-sector partners. For more information about becoming a community partner, please contact Alex Rose at RoseA@arcla.org or 310-445-2668.

-By Priyanka Banerjee, Communications and Marketing Volunteer

Panda Restaurant Group Makes Major Donation to Red Cross for Japan Disaster Relief

LOS ANGELES, June 13, 2011-The Panda Restaurant Group, parent company of Panda Express, Panda Inn and Hibachi-San contributed more than $450,000 to the American Red Cross in support of Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Relief. Panda’s charitable giving arm, the Panda Charitable Foundation matched a $228,966 donation made by Panda Express customers through an in-store Japan relief campaign. Fifteen Panda employees presented the check at a ceremony held during a briefing at the American Red Cross Los Angeles Emergency Operation Center on June 8.

“We would like to thank the leaders of the Panda Restaurant Group, its associates and its generous guests for raising this significant gift to help those still suffering in Japan,” said Paul Schulz, American Red Cross Los Angeles Region CEO, “It is clear that Panda is committed to helping the people of Japan so devastated by the recent disasters there.”

Generous donations like this one have enabled the American Red Cross to meet the continuing emergency and longer-term recovery needs of more than 90,000 families living in evacuation centers and temporary housing.

In making the donation, Dr. Peggy Cherng, co-chairman of Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. said, “We have been blessed with the support of our communities across the country and are grateful for the opportunity to give back. Our partnership with the American Red Cross is based on giving and respect – two of Panda’s core values. We know the funds raised will go directly to those in need and that trust inspires us to do all we can for those in need.”

About Panda Restaurant Group
Founded in 1983, with close to 1,400 locations and 18,000 associates in 38 states, the privately-held Panda Restaurant Group is the world’s leader in Asian dining experiences. The successful chain of concepts includes Panda Express, Panda Inn and Hibachi-San. Panda Express is best known for its wide variety of original recipes including their famous Orange Chicken, Beijing Beef, SweetFire Chicken Breast, Honey Walnut Shrimp and Kobari Beef. For more information visit www.pandaexpress.com, become a fan on Facebook or follow on Twitter.

About The American Red Cross Los Angeles Region
A volunteer-led humanitarian organization, the American Red Cross Los Angeles Region helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Serving more than 85 cities, the Red Cross provides relief for victims of house and apartment fires, earthquakes, floods, hazardous material spills, transportation accidents, explosions and other natural or man-made disasters — 24 hours a day. Last year, nearly 160,000 people were trained in vital life-saving skills, including CPR and first aid. For more information, please visit www.RedCrossLA.org.

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Red Cross Volunteer Sandy Hanagami shares her experience from Alabama

From North Dakota to the East Coast and all throughout the South, the Red Cross has launched 20 separate relief operations in more than half of the United States since March 31. Wildfires in Texas, flooding along swollen rivers and the rash of angry tornadoes have led to the deployment of more than 4,500 Red Cross workers from all 50 states and territories to help those in need.

More than 30 disaster volunteers from the Red Cross Los Angeles Region are on the ground in 5 states assisting thousands of uprooted residents, with their immediate needs, providing food, shelter, health services, and mental health services.

One of these volunteers is West Hills resident Sandy Hanagami who is helping feed tornado survivors in Alabama. Here is an account of her experience: “We are based out of a Southern Baptist Kitchen in Rainsville, Alabama, about two hours Northeast of Birmingham. There are some areas of major devastation here. We have 11 Emergency Response Vehicles (ERV) and are covering a large area – with some of the volunteers having to drive for over an hour just to reach their territory. We leave at 7:00 a.m. and usually don’t return until 11:30 p.m. everyday.

I worked as ERV coordinator for the first three days, and now I’ll be joining an ERV team for mobile feeding. We are exploring two new areas – Pisgah and Flat Rock, Alabama. We will also head up to Trenton, Georgia to deliver meals.

Survivors are demonstrating extraordinary resilience despite having suffered the heaviest blows. We have come across some very difficult situations in these regions. There is a gentleman who is on oxygen but won’t have electricity for several more weeks. He’s trying to get by on portable oxygen tanks but those are running out soon. We have requested the power company to get his electricity restored sooner. One of the other volunteers came across a woman living in a tent who lost everything – her family, her home. In addition to providing her with food, we have requested disaster mental health services for this client. I have experienced first-hand how grateful people are for any help that they receive.

There are many heartbreaking stories unfolding in our midst. I’ve met countless people whose lives have been changed forever. I am humbled to see how heavy the burden is for those who are now trying to move on – the best way they can. This is the most rewarding experience of my life and I feel like I am making a difference.”

-By Priyanka Banerjee, Communication and Marketing Volunteer

Contact: Monica Diaz
Office: (310) 445-2653
Cell: (310) 562-8737
diazm@arcla.org

Sempra Energy Foundation Donates $50,000 to help the Red Cross Prepare L.A.

LOS ANGELES, CA, January 22, 2010 -Sempra Energy Foundation has donated $50,000 to the American Red Cross Los Angeles Region in support of the organization’s PrepareLA campaign, an initiative that encourages communities and businesses to take simple steps to help them prepare for and respond to a large scale emergency.

 Sempra Energy and its charitable giving arm, Sempra Energy Foundation have been supporting the American Red Cross for many years.

“The American Red Cross in Los Angeles plays an important role in helping people in need in Southern California,” said Beatriz Palomino Young, executive director of Sempra Energy Foundation. “We are pleased to be able to provide continued support to the Red Cross, particularly during these difficult economic times.

Paul Schulz, CEO, American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles, thanked Sempra Energy Foundation for its generous donation: “We are honored to partner with the Foundation, whose funds will go to help Southern Californians prepare for a major disaster.”

To make a donation to the Red Cross PrepareLA campaign, call (310) 445-2685. Disaster preparedness information for you, your family and your business can be found at www.PrepareLA.org.

Sempra Energy Foundation
Sempra Energy Foundation is the 501(c)(3) private foundation of Sempra Energy, a Fortune 500 energy services holding company with 2009 revenues of about $8 billion. The Sempra Energy companies’ 13,800 employees serve about 29 million consumers worldwide. For more information on Sempra Energy Foundation, visit www.sempraenergyfoundation.org.

The American Red Cross Los Angeles Region
A volunteer-led humanitarian organization, the American Red Cross Los Angeles Region helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Serving more than 85 cities in the Los Angeles region, the Red Cross provides relief for victims of house and apartment fires, earthquakes, floods, hazardous material spills, transportation accidents, explosions and other natural or man-made disasters — 24 hours a day. Last year, the chapter trained more than 150,000 people in vital life-saving skills, including CPR and first aid. For more information, please visit www.RedCrossLA.org.

Contact: Justin Blaine
Office: (818)991-4150
Cell: (805) 338-2809
jblaine@athletestouch.com

Swing for Relief at Inaugural AthletesTouch Open
Benefitting the American Red Cross and the Magic Johnson Foundation

LOS ANGELES, December 9, 2010 - AthletesTouch, a networking group of former college and professional athletes from the Los Angeles business community, invites the public to tee off on Monday, January 31, at Mountaingate Country Club for the inaugural AthletesTouch Open. Benefitting the Magic Johnson Foundation and American Red Cross Los Angeles Region, the AthletesTouch Open will involve influential business leaders and professional athletes, including former all-pro defensive end and ESPN NFL analyst Marcellus Wiley.

The scramble-format tournament will kick off with registration at 10:00 a.m. and a shotgun start at noon. An awards ceremony and dinner will take place following the golf tournament, featuring keynote speaker Jerry West, one of the greatest guards in NBA history. West will also be honored for his work in the community and success in sports and business.

The individual player cost is $195 and foursomes are $700. Tickets for the dinner and awards ceremony are $95. Interested golfers can register online at www.athletestouch.com. For more information or to reserve a table, contact Justin Blaine, co-founder of AthletesTouch at (805) 338-2809 or jblaine@athletestouch.com.

About AthletesTouch
AthletesTouch is an exclusive community of former college and professional athletes excelling in the world of business. We are competitors, teammates, friends, and trusted advisors. We expect nothing but success at the highest level as business professionals. From the backboards to the boardrooms or the courts to the court of law, we maintain the passion, discipline, and fortitude to thrive in the sport of business. The uniforms may be different, but the athlete is always the same.

About The American Red Cross Los Angeles Region
A volunteer-led humanitarian organization, the American Red Cross Los Angeles Region helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Serving more than 85 cities in the Los Angeles region, the Red Cross provides relief for victims of house and apartment fires, earthquakes, floods, hazardous material spills, transportation accidents, explosions and other natural or man-made disasters — 24 hours a day. Last year, more than 100,000 people were trained in vital life-saving skills, including CPR and first aid. For more information, please visit www.RedCrossLA.org.

About the Magic Johnson Foundation
The Magic Johnson Foundation, founded by Earvin “Magic” Johnson in 1991, works to develop programs and support community-based organizations that address the educational, health and social needs of ethnically diverse, urban communities. It is recognized as a nonprofit public charity under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. For more information, please visit www.magicjohnson.com.

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Contact: Monica Diaz
Office: (310) 445-2653
Cell: (310) 562-8737
E-mail: DiazM@arcla.org

American Red Cross Issues One-Year Report on Haiti Relief and Recovery
Donations Made a Real Difference in Lives of Haitians Following 2010 Earthquake

LOS ANGELES, January, 7, 2011 — The American Red Cross has released a one-year report on how the Red Cross has helped hundreds of thousands of Haitian survivors after the January 2010 earthquake, what has been done to respond to new issues such as the cholera outbreak, and plans for the years ahead to support Haiti’s recovery.

“Thanks to the generous contributions of so many donors, people in Haiti are receiving immediate relief and resources, as well as the necessary support and training to help them recover and rebuild,” said Gail McGovern, president and CEO of the American Red Cross. “Red Cross efforts saved lives and improved the quality of life for Haitians with emergency shelter, food, water, latrines, medical treatment and other supplies.”

“People in Los Angeles and across the country responded quickly to help Haiti, and these donations have made a real difference in the lives of Haitians,” said Paul Schulz, CEO, American Red Cross Los Angeles Region.

The one-year report and a series of videos, podcasts and maps on Red Cross relief and recovery efforts in Haiti can be found at www.redcrossla.org/haiti1year.

Since the earthquake on January 12, 2010, the American Red Cross and the global Red Cross network have provided:
• Medical care for nearly 217,000 patients
• Cash grants and loans to help 220,000 people
• Latrines for 265,000 people
• Daily drinking water for more than 317,000 people
• Emergency shelter materials for more than 860,000 people
• Vaccinations for nearly 1 million people
• Food for 1.3 million people for one month

Since the earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, 2010, the American Red Cross has raised approximately $479 million for the Haiti relief and recovery efforts, including more than $32 million from the record-setting text donation program.

At the one-year anniversary of the earthquake, the Red Cross expects to have spent and signed agreements to spend $245 million, which is more than half of what has been raised. Specifically, 30 percent of the money will have been spent on emergency shelter and basic homes; 26 percent on food and emergency services; 15 percent on providing clean water and sanitation; 13 percent on health and disease prevention programs; 10 percent on livelihoods and host family assistance; and 6 percent on disaster preparedness activities.

The remainder of the money will go to longer-term recovery over the next several years, with spending plans likely to evolve to respond to changing needs.

In addition to responding to the earthquake and its aftermath, the Red Cross worked to provide help following the cholera outbreak last fall. The American Red Cross has spent more than $4.5 million and plans to spend at least another $10 million to fight the spread of cholera.

One of the big challenges facing the Red Cross and other non-profit organizations is finding land to get people out of camps and into transitional homes. It has been difficult for the Haitian government to determine exactly who owns the land where these homes would be built. Much of the available land is covered with tons of rubble that must be removed, and there is not enough heavy equipment in Haiti to do this quickly. In addition, the government, which would take a lead role on much of the land ownership and rubble removal, was severely affected by the earthquake.

Overall, the American Red Cross expects to spend about $100 million of the remaining funds on construction of permanent homes and community development projects. These efforts, which will unfold over the next few years, will depend on several outside factors including the availability of appropriate land and the coordination of infrastructure, livelihoods and community centers.

“The Red Cross will continue to spend the money entrusted to us by the American people in the most responsible way possible to help Haiti and its people,” McGovern said.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

Media Inquiries: To schedule an interview with an American Red Cross spokesperson, please call (202) 303-5551.

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