Local Red Cross raises more than $1 million

06.23.2011

Thanks to Mr. Howard Levine and the generosity of our community, the local American Red Cross has raised more than $1 million for local programs and services.

Did you know the local Red Cross helps a family affected by disaster every day? Take Antoinette Johnson. She sat in a Red Cross vehicle with tears in her eyes, watching her Charlotte home burn. She asked our volunteer, “Where will my daughter and I go now? What will we do?” Our volunteer put his arm around her shoulders and said, “We’ll take care of it.” And we did, giving her assistance for food, clothing, shelter and other needs.

We can help families like Antoinette’s because of the generosity of our community. Recently, an anonymous donor pledged to give $125,000 to our local Red Cross – if we could raise the money to match it by June 30, the end of our fiscal year. This money will go a long way in helping the most vulnerable in our community – people like Antoinette.

This challenge came on the heels of three Charlotte families making large financial gifts to our organization. In late February, Howard Levine pledged a $250,000 challenge gift. Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson and former Bank of America CEO Ken Lewis both responded by sending a $250,000 check to our office.

The demand for our Red Cross services continues to rise. We see more people needing our assistance after a disaster, more military families asking for our help and more individuals needing training in life-saving skills like CPR and First Aid.

Thank you to our Carolina Piedmont Region for making a difference.