Grant Aids Emergency and Natural Disaster Preparedness Efforts
ESPN has announced a grant of $100,000 to the American Red Cross Connecticut and Rhode Island Region to support Red Cross emergency preparedness operations and programs. Just months following one of the costliest natural disasters to ever impact the region, ESPN’s donation will support the nonprofit organization’s continuing efforts to prepare communities for natural disasters. Team ESPN volunteers will also help to create Emergency Preparedness Kits for families across Connecticut and Rhode Island as part of this activation.
The Red Cross provides community disaster education and life safety training programs that help individuals, businesses and communities better prepare for emergencies. Red Cross disaster response helps communities begin recovery in the wake of natural or human-caused disasters with services that include shelter, food and emotional support.
“We are grateful for this generous grant from ESPN that will help us build more resilient communities,” added Mario Bruno, CEO, American Red Cross Connecticut and Rhode Island Region.
Jodi Markley, senior vice president, operations at ESPN is also a member of the American Red Cross Connecticut Chapter Board of Directors. Markley presented the check to American Red Cross officials.
“Through this $100,000 grant, ESPN is supporting the life-saving and community-sustaining work of the American Red Cross Connecticut and Rhode Island Region,” Markley said. “We are confident that this investment will aid ongoing disaster readiness efforts and offset the devastating impact of emergencies and natural disasters in our region.”
Added Kevin Martinez, vice president, corporate outreach at ESPN, “This commitment also speaks to the immeasurable impact the American Red Cross Connecticut and Rhode Island Region has had on the lives of our Connecticut-based employees leading up to natural disasters. Our friends, families, neighbors and viewers throughout the region are all better prepared for disasters because of the diligent efforts of the Red Cross.”
ESPN is headquartered in Bristol, Conn. with thousands of employees living in the region.
About Team ESPN
Team ESPN, the corporate outreach program of ESPN, encompasses ESPN’s multi-faceted initiatives, including volunteerism, corporate giving and cause marketing, while also utilizing its diverse media assets. Through Team ESPN, ESPN employees and fans join together to make a difference in the communities in which ESPN works. Its slogan is “Fans Helping Fans.”®
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 join our blog at https://blog.redcross.org.
