Showing posts with label alabama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label alabama. Show all posts

Friday, April 29, 2011

Red Cross Sends Help After Deadly Tornadoes Blast Through the South

/PRNewswire/ -- The American Red Cross is helping thousands of people after Wednesday's deadly tornadoes destroyed neighborhoods throughout the southern region of the country.

"Our thoughts and sympathies are with those who lost loved ones or have suffered through these deadly storms," said Charley Shimanski, senior vice president, Red Cross Disaster Services. "Red Cross disaster teams are working around the clock to help the thousands of people whose lives are turned upside down. More Red Cross assistance is on the way."

"Our top priority right now is to provide food and shelter to the thousands of people throughout the South and Midwest affected by these storms," Shimanski said, adding that the Red Cross is also distributing relief supplies and providing emotional support and basic health services to disaster survivors.

Hardest hit was Alabama, where Governor Robert Bentley has activated National Guard troops to help in the devastated areas. The Red Cross is sending disaster workers, materials, blood products and equipment into the state. Nearly 40 emergency response vehicles are on the way, along with 25,000 ready-to-eat meals. Red Cross Blood Services is moving hundreds of blood products into the area, and Red Cross nurses and mental health workers are being deployed to help people cope with the aftermath of this disaster.

More than 1,600 people sought refuge in 65 Red Cross shelters Wednesday night as the storms forced them from their homes. Red Cross shelters are open in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, Arkansas, North Carolina and Texas.

"Tornadoes and floods have devastated communities and uprooted families across many states, and the Red Cross is working hand-in-hand with our federal and community partners to get assistance to people in need and help them recover," Shimanski said.

More than half of the country has been affected by this continuous band of damaging weather, disrupting people's lives from North Dakota to the East Coast. In the last several weeks, Red Cross disaster workers have provided thousands of overnight stays in shelters, distributed thousands of clean-up and comfort kits and served hundreds of thousands of meals and snacks.

The Red Cross is able to respond quickly when emergencies happen with the help of corporations who are members of the organization's Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP). ADGP members pledge donations on an ongoing basis to allow the Red Cross to pre-position supplies and be ready to take immediate action when disasters occur.

ADGP members include Walmart, UPS, UnitedHealthcare, The TJX Companies, Inc., Target, State Street Foundation, State Farm, Southwest Airlines, Ryder Charitable Foundation, Northrup Grumman, Nationwide Insurance Foundation, Morgan Stanley, Merck, Lowe's Companies, Inc., Kraft Foods, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, John Deere Foundation, The Home Depot Foundation, GE Foundation, FedEx Corporation, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Darden Restaurants, Inc, ConAgra Foods, Cisco Foundation, Aon, Altria and 3M.

The Red Cross depends on financial donations to help in times of disaster, both here in the United States and around the world. Those who want to help can make a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. To make a donation, visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS. Contributions may also be sent to local American Red Cross chapters or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

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Thursday, May 21, 2009

Atlanta Braves' Tim Hudson launches family foundation

Atlanta Braves pitcher Tim Hudson and his wife Kim have launched the Hudson Family Foundation, a charitable foundation committed to making a long lasting impact in the lives of children who have a genuine need for assistance with regard to a specific physical, emotional or financial circumstance. The Foundation, based in Atlanta, GA, will support children throughout Georgia and Alabama.

"God has placed on our hearts the passion for children in need, in varying degrees, levels, and circumstances," says Kim Hudson. "We are so grateful for the opportunities we have been given to do this type of work thus far, and we are ready to make a bigger personal commitment."

The Hudson Family Foundation will focus primarily on four programs:

Non-Profit Grant Program - Funding for organizations that serve children's needs in the areas of health/medical, education, and/or recreation programs.
Scholarship Program - Financial assistance for graduating high school seniors in Georgia and Alabama.
Take Me Out to the Ballgame! - Braves tickets that provide deserving children the opportunity to experience a Braves game who may not otherwise have the chance to attend a professional baseball game.
Rookie Reader Program - Book donation program that promotes literacy and the love of reading from a young age by donating books to children and youth serving organizations throughout Georgia and Alabama.

Supporters are encouraged to visit the Foundation's newly launched website at www.hudsonfamilyfoundation.com. Simply click on "Get Involved" to learn more about monthly volunteer opportunities, ways to donate, corporate partnerships, fundraising ideas, and much more. The Foundation, will raise funds for grants and other key initiatives through special events, corporate partnerships, and individual donations.

"We are so grateful for the opportunities our family has been given, both on and off the baseball field. It is our responsibility to give back to those in need. But we don't do this because we have to. We truly enjoy it," said Tim Hudson.

The Hudson's will officially launch the Hudson Family Foundation on June 28th during a private party at the W Atlanta Downtown. The Foundation is also planning a public concert event for late Fall.

About Tim and Kim Hudson: The Hudson's have worked tirelessly in the community since Tim began playing baseball for the Oakland Athletics in 1999. Kim is a member of the Board of Directors of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Georgia and Alabama. Kim and Tim are Wish ambassadors for Make-A-Wish, and throughout the baseball season, they fulfill the wishes of critically-ill children by hosting batting practice visits with the team's players and coaches. Kim and Tim serve as honorary cochairs for the annual Celebration of Wishes gala, and each Christmas, the Hudson's take 75 Make-A-Wish children and their siblings on a holiday shopping spree. The Hudson's also actively support Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta. They host a golf tournament each year during Spring Training called Birdies and Baseball and also co-host a 3- course golf tournament each summer.

The Hudson's charitable work has not gone unrecognized. In 2008, Tim became a seven time Roberto Clemente Award recipient, which recognizes those players who best exemplify the game of baseball through sportsmanship, community involvement, and positive contributions to their teams.

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