Foundation for Roanoke Valley Awards $50,000 To American Red Cross

Foundation for Roanoke Valley announced it has awarded $50,000 to the American Red Cross - Roanoke Valley Chapter to support the organization’s Hope is Fireproof Campaign.  The grant comes from the Foundation’s Earl D. and Carrie Leigh Doran Fund, which, among other purposes, supports agencies that help individuals and families confronting catastrophic, life-altering circumstances. 

The local American Red Cross serves families in crisis by providing emergency hotel stays, food, clothing, toiletries, and other immediate needs after a fire.  In the light of total devastation, the Red Cross is there to help before first responders leave the scene.  There has been a major spike in fire events lately, with the Red Cross responding to events in the local region impacting 1,114 individuals since October 2013.  In addition to the increase in the number of fires, the number of individuals in impacted households has also risen.  The current average number of local people assisted after a fire is 5.4 compared to 3.2 a year ago.  

Lee Clark, Regional CEO for the Red Cross, noted: “With this unforeseen spike in house fires, as well as the unexpected burden it has placed on our local disaster relief account, we are especially thrilled Foundation for Roanoke Valley has stepped forward in such a significant way to help American Red Cross replenish our Disaster Relief Fund as part of our Hope is Fireproof Campaign.  This grant not only maintains the ability of American Red Cross to continue to respond to our neighbors but also encourages others to help as well.  House fires are the most common disaster American Red Cross responds to, and with more cold weather remaining, we anticipate there will be a continued need.”  

 “Part of the mission of the community foundation is to step forward quickly when there is a critical need facing the residents of our Valley.  Through the foresight and generosity of folks like Earl Doran, we are in a position to help the Red Cross do their vitally-important work to bring comfort and some sense of stability to these families in crisis.  It is our hope that the Foundation’s grant will bring attention to, interest in, and additional support for the Hope is Fireproof Campaign” said Alan Ronk, Foundation Executive Director.

For more information about the local American Red Cross contact Lee Clark, CEO, at 540-985-3540, Lee.Clark@redcross.org or visit www.redcross.org.

Foundation for Roanoke Valley is the community foundation serving this region.  The Foundation has worked for 25 years to administer and make grants from hundreds of named endowment funds on behalf of the community.  For more information, visit Foundation for Roanoke Valley’s website at www.foundationforroanokevalley.org or call 985-0204.

L to R: Alan Ronk, FRV Executive Director; Christina Hatch, American Red Cross Regional Chief Development Officer; Lee Clark, CEO American Red Cross; Carly Oliver, FRV Associate Director; Michelle Eberly, FRV Program Office; Steve Musselwhite, FRV Board Member