Red Cross Reaches Fundraising Goal for Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts
The American Red Cross has announced that current financial donations and pledges will cover the $2.116 billion estimated cost for its response to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. This announcement comes just over five months after Hurricane Katrina—the largest and most costly disaster relief operation in the nation’s history. As of Dec. 31, 2005, the Red Cross has spent more than 80 percent of these donated funds.
The Canadian Red Cross contributed $25.7 million to the Hurricane relief effort.
As a good steward of donated dollars, the Red Cross has a standard practice of informing the public when sufficient funds have been raised to cover the costs associated with a disaster response. In keeping with that commitment, the Red Cross will no longer initiate fundraising activities for these hurricanes. Instead, the Red Cross asks donors to support relief efforts in other regions such as Pakistan and Africa. Donors interested in supporting the ongoing needs of hurricane survivors are encouraged to contact one of the many other charities and non-profit organizations that continue to raise funds for hurricane recovery efforts.
For over 100 years, Canadians have trusted and relied on the Red Cross to use their donations to help those in need. The Red Cross is committed to maintaining that hard-earned trust and is committed to keeping the public informed of how donations are used.
In the case of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma, the generous financial support from around the world allowed more than 225,000 Red Cross disaster relief workers—95 percent of them volunteers, including over 240 Canadians—to ensure that survivors had a safe place to stay, food and comfort and the means to provide essential items for themselves and their families. Survivors received counseling, basic healthcare and family connecting services. This was accomplished on an unprecedented scale.
For example, since Hurricane Katrina first made landfall, the Red Cross has provided:
- More than 3.4 million overnight stays in nearly 1,200 Red Cross shelters
- More than 34 million meals and 30 million snacks
- Emergency financial assistance to more than 1.4 million families—more than 4 million people
The Canadian Red Cross is deeply grateful to Canadians for your continued support of Red Cross programs at home and around the world. You can continue to help the Red Cross help others by:
- Supporting your local Red Cross branch – we have over 600 branch offices that offer programs and services to thousands of communities across Canada
- Donating to the Canadian Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund—this special reserve fund allows us to respond to large disasters quickly wherever and whenever they occur
- Join the Circle of Humanity—become a monthly donor
- Become a volunteer—help us to mobilize the power of humanity
