 Boeing and St. Louis Area Employees Make Substantial
Contribution to Red Cross for Midwest Flood Relief
Boeing announces $275,000 donation to support emergency services for Midwest flood victims
ST. LOUIS, Monday, July 7, 2008 - The Boeing Company and its St. Louis area employees today announced the donation of $275,000 to the American Red Cross for Midwest flood relief efforts.
The majority of Boeing's contribution - $250,000 - came in the form of a corporate donation. Another $25,000 has been contributed by the Employees Community Fund (ECF) of Boeing-St. Louis. The ECF is an employee-owned and managed charitable giving fund that supports community service agencies in regions where Boeing employees live and work.
Boeing also today announced that employees and retirees can donate to the American Red Cross flood relief efforts, with the company matching employee donations dollar for dollar, and retiree donations at 50 cents on the dollar, through July 24.
"We deeply appreciate the generous support of Boeing and its St. Louis area employees," said Joseph C. White, American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter CEO. "It is only through donations such as this that we are able to continue providing Red Cross services to people affected by tornadoes and flooding who have immediate emergency needs in the Midwest region. The Red Cross plans to stay in these affected communities and lend a helping hand for as long as needed."
Since April 1, the American Red Cross has responded to a string of 36 large-scale disasters involving floods and tornadoes that have destroyed homes and devastated lives throughout an enormous seven-state region in the Midwest. Some experts are comparing it to the largest combined relief effort undertaken by the Red Cross since Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma, surpassing the California wildfires of 2007. In each of these situations, the Red Cross has been on the scene providing shelters, hot meals, clean up supplies and emotional support. Large amounts of rain in the Midwest have extended the life of flooding in some areas and extended the life of Red Cross services. As a result, the Red Cross anticipates spending more than $30 million for these disasters.
About the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter:
Founded in 1917, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter celebrates 91 years of dedicated service, providing emergency relief and preparedness training more than 446,600 times each year. The Red Cross is a charity, not a government agency, and depends on the efforts of thousands of volunteers and donors to provide a wide range of community support services, including disaster relief, first aid and CPR training, water safety, services to military personnel and support for blood services. The Chapter, a United Way agency, provides programs and services to St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County and Jefferson County in Missouri, as well as Monroe, St. Clair (including Scott Air Force Base) and part of Madison County in Illinois. All disaster relief services are provided free of charge thanks to the generosity of the American people. To learn more about Red Cross programs, volunteer opportunities, and how you can help, contact the St. Louis Area Chapter at 314.516.2800 or www.redcrossstl.org. |