Your Dollars at Work

The American Red Cross announced on February 3, 2006 that, thanks to your generosity, it has raised enough money to cover the estimated $2.116 billion cost of its monumental relief efforts for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Right here in the five-county area, Southeastern Pennsylvania residents contributed over $39 million - almost half of the $86 million donated by the entire state of Pennsylvania. Through your donations of time and money, the Red Cross has turned your compassion into action, meeting the urgent needs of survivors in a number of areas including food and shelter, emergency financial assistance, as well as physical and mental health services.  The following are cost projections, last updated December 31, 2005.

Food and Shelter - $227 million

Before these hurricanes even struck Gulf Coast states, the Red Cross prepared shelters and organized pre-positioned supplies including kitchens, pre-packaged meals and emergency response vehicles for its unprecedented response.  In the largest operation in Red Cross history, approximately 500,000 hurricane survivors received nearly 3.5 million overnight stays in 1,100 shelters. At the height of our relief effort, the Red Cross served 995,000 meals in one day with the help of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Emergency Financial Assistance - $1.554 billion

We have provided emergency financial assistance to approximately 1.4 million families – more than 4 million people. This assistance allowed survivors to purchase life’s essentials until government aid became available.

Physical and Mental Health Services - $7 million

Red Cross health care professionals deliver first aid and attend to other health-related needs, while mental health professionals – trained to recognize the emotional impact of a disaster – are continuing to provide guidance and a sympathetic ear for those in need. To date, the Red Cross has made more than 1,633,350 physical and mental health contacts related to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Additional Red Cross Support - $233 million

Technology has greatly expanded the ability of the Red Cross to reconnect families separated by the hurricanes. Costs associated with these efforts, including the “Family Links Registry” website and a toll-free information line helped family members find loved ones. More than 9,000 callers learned from the Red Cross that their loved ones were alive and safe.

Fundraising Costs/ Management and General Expenses - $95 million

(4.5% of total Katrina and Rita costs)

The Red Cross has managed an unprecedented volume of contributions from generous donors like you who are helping meet the needs of people in this historic relief operation.  These costs are associated with raising the funds that enable the Red Cross to respond to this and other disasters and to fulfill its mission. These costs include expenses such as finance and accounting, legal and auditing fees, and public information outreach, all essential support functions in the Red Cross’s humanitarian mission.

NOTE:  The Red Cross has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator for its effective use of donations. At least 91 cents of every dollar donated to the American Red Cross goes directly to assist disaster victims. For the latest information, visit www.redcross.org.