The American Red Cross mission can be described with these simple words:

PREPARE AND RESPOND

As a part of the nation’s leading humanitarian aid organization, we in northern Colorado have an unparalleled record of helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. We deliver:

• Relief services to victims of disaster
• Emergency communications for military families and access to financial assistance
• Health and safety training for anyone who seeks to prepare themselves, their businesses or their organizations for emergencies
• International projects in cooperation with Red Cross units around the world
• Community programs, including our new Care Giving program, which trains families to provide non-nursing support to patients and families in nursing homes, hospitals and home care.

The Centennial Chapter covers more than 57,000 square miles of northern Colorado, reaching to the borders of Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska and Kansas. Chapter lines follow the borders of the 12 northern Colorado counties. Population in this area exceeds 640,000. The vast distances provide an opportunity to Chapter staff and volunteers to provide services to all of the Chapter’s residents utilizing a strong network of local volunteers and a commitment to recruit and train volunteers in every northern Colorado community.

We pride ourselves in responding to EVERY disaster in our chapter within two hours of notification by local emergency managers.

While our programs help people prepare for emergencies, we emphasize the importance of each person being prepared. The Centennial Chapter is an active partner in the Prepare Colorado Initiative.

Following is a summary of the services delivered by the Centennial Chapter in Fiscal Year 2004 (July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004).

RESPOND

Local Disaster Response

Responding to disasters is the best known of Centennial Chapter services, though few know the extent of our response. In FY O4:

• Eighty-six families had their emergency need met when disaster struck their homes:
  • Sixty-nine families in single family fires
  • Fifteen families in apartment complex fires
  • Two families struck by tornados
• Sixty-six individuals were sheltered during blizzards

Armed Forces Emergency Services

The American National Red Cross and its 866 Chapters make up the single American organization authorized to work directly with the U.S. Armed Forces to provide emergency communication to military families. In addition, Red Cross Chapters can provide access to financial aid for these families.

The Centennial Chapter, in Fiscal Year 04, assisted 892 families of military personnel with verified family emergencies.

National Disaster Response

The Centennial Chapter has trained and maintained a corps of Disaster Services Human Resource volunteers who can respond to disasters across the country. Many of these volunteers respond several times throughout the year. Recriutment and specialized training is provided by the Centennial Chapter.

International Disaster Response

Through our partnerships with the American National Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the provides Disaster Welfare Inquiry services to local residents who need to locate family members overseas facing a natural disaster.

PREPARATION

In addition to our daily training efforts, the Chapter, in concert with the American National Red Cross, launched the Colorado Version of the national Together We Prepare program, Prepare Colorado. The purpose is to motivate every northern Coloradan to take five simple preparedness steps:

• Make a disaster plan so your family will know how to respond.
• Build a disaster kit of the supplies you will need.
• Volunteer to help in disasters and other community needs.
• Get trained to assist the American Red Cross and your community to respond to emergencies.
• Give blood, the life-sustaining gift that is in such short supply.

In Fiscal Year 04, the Centennial Chapter made a significant difference in the preparedness of our communities:

• 14,974 individuals in Northern Colorado were trained in First Aid CPR; 11,895 of these individuals were trained at their workplace.
• 10,409 individuals received instruction in swimming and water safety.
• 689 youths took babysitter training.
• 1,200 individuals were trained to teach preparedness courses.
• 13,500 individuals received information and community support.

International Programs

In addition to providing Disaster Welfare Inquiry to local residents with relatives facing a disaster in another country, the Chapter took part in the American Red Cross Measles Initiative, an effort to vaccinate 200 million African children against measles. Measles in Africa, where few children are vaccinated, is a serious disease that weakens children and allows other opportunistic diseases to infect and kill tens of thousands. The goal of this five-year program is to create awareness in Africa and save lives by vaccinating those 200 million children at a cost of $1 each. In America, that vaccination costs more than $30. Today, the program is on time and under budget.

Under the leadership of volunteers of the Measles Initiative in northern Colorado, school children raised more than $5,000 toward the project.

Chapter Financial Report

The programs and services of Centennial Chapter were made possible by the dedication and support of 1,119 volunteers and 14 paid staff. The Chapter’s financial condition continued to be weak during FY 04, primarily due to a continued weak local economy, and the resulting giving rates. This lack of fundraising success was exacerbated by the loss of the Chapter CEO by resignation and the loss of the services of the chief fundraising professional due to serious illness. During the year, the Chapter made significant cuts in expenses, but was unable to fully offset the shortfall in revenue.

At the end of FY 04, as is the case every year, the Chapter Board of Directors retained the services of an independent auditor. A copy of that audit is available to any who request it. Please call Erin Mounsey, Executive Director, Centennial Chapter, at 970-226-5728 to request a copy.

The Red Cross is dependent on the generosity of people like you to deliver our services. We need your help as volunteers and donors. Please call our office at 800-824-6615 to see how you can help.

Community Support

All of the funds used to support the Centennial Chapter are raised within the Chapter. We do not receive government funds or support from the American Red Cross. We request grants and contracts through direct applications and negotiations, and we solicit corporate and individual donations by mail, through special fundraising events, and through direct personal requests.

Administrative Costs

Administrative costs for the American Red Cross are nine percent of total expenses, and the organization is recognized as one of the most efficient organizations in the nation by several independent rating agencies, including BBB and Charity Plus. The Centennial Chapter’s administration and fundraising costs are nineteen percent of expenses, well below the BBB requirement of 25 percent.

Thank you for your continuing support of the mission of the American Red Cross. Together, we can save a life!