EVENT SUMMARY:

The Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross deployed 13 volunteers to Louisiana and Texas to assist with efforts to provide relief to Hurricane Gustav and Ike victims. To welcome home the deployed volunteers who represented the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter, to share their experiences while in the line of duty, and to thank them for their humanitarian efforts with the presentation of an honor certificate, the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross invites you to a public recognition ceremony:

For more information, please contact Jackie Guzman at 561-998-1995 or jguzman@tilsonpr.com

DATE: Monday, October 27, 2008

TIME: 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

PLACE: Chapter Headquarters, 825 Fern Street, West Palm Beach, FL 33401

PARTICIPANTS:

• Red Cross volunteers who were deployed to Louisiana and Texas including: Gail and Ned Arnold, Palm Beach Gardens; Steve Bayer, Boynton Beach; Richard Bonito, Tequesta; John and Pat DiBattista, Boynton Beach; Stanley Feist, Boynton Beach; Vicky Kuhl, Delray Beach; Vanessa North-Dragojevic, Boca Raton; Michael Ranieri, West Palm Beach; and Chet Weber, West Palm Beach.
• Invited mayors of represented towns
• Red Cross staff

HOST:

• Larry Casey, new Chief Executive Officer, Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter

EVENT BACKGROUND:

There have been approximately 269,000 overnight stays in Red Cross shelters in Texas and Louisiana beginning with the onslaught of Hurricane Gustav and continuing with Hurricane Ike. More than 14 million Red Cross meals and snacks and more than 100,000 Red Cross comfort kits have been distributed to hurricane victims in several states; made possible by over 20,000 disaster workers and volunteers. The purpose of this news conference is to alert the press to local efforts to provide relief to hurricane victims. It will include a chance to speak with community volunteers and Red Cross staff directly.

About the American Red Cross:

For over 90 years, the American Red Cross Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter, which includes Glades, Hendry, Okeechobee and Palm Beach Counties, has provided relief to victims of disasters at home and abroad, teaches lifesaving skills, and supports military members and families. The American Red Cross, a charity and not a government agency, depends on voluntary contributions of time and money to perform its humanitarian mission. To learn more about the work of the Red Cross in communities, or to make a donation, please call 561-833-7711 or visit our website at www.redcross-pbc.org.