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 27,000 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 the citizenry as a whole for emergencies through our governmental and charitable partners, we also emphasize the importance of each person, family, business or organization being prepared for the eventualities they may face. 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 our Fiscal Year 2005 (July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005). For more current statistics, please feel free to contact the Chapter directly for a quarterly report.

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 O5:

• Sixty-six families had their emergency need met when disaster struck their homes:
  • Sixty-four families in single family fires
  • Two families in apartment complex fires
• Fifty-five individuals were sheltered during blizzards

These figures represent a decrease from the prior year by about 15 percent, which is a decrease in need that we are happy to celebrate. We have found, however, that occurrence of disasters is not a metric that any of us can control. We have to be ready regardless of the numbers.

Armed Forces Emergency Services

The American National Red Cross and its more than 800 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 05, assisted 1283 families of military personnel with verified family emergencies. Of these, more than 1,000 were from our primary service area in northern Colorado, which represents a five percent increase over the previous fiscal year. The remaining families lived outside northern Colorado, but were assisted by our staff and volunteers in order to sustain the services of a neighboring Chapter who needs our help.

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. Recruitment and specialized training is provided by the Centennial Chapter.

In the fall of 2004, the Centennial Chapter deployed is Emergency Response Vehicle and dozens of expertly trained national disaster volunteers to Florida and surrounding states to respond to four hurricanes and a tropical storm that struck one right after another. Taken together, this disaster was the largest natural disaster the American Red Cross had ever responded to. North Colorado citizens donated almost $1 million.

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, as well as collection of funds for response.

Late in December of 2004, the Chapter responded to the devastation of the Tsunami in South Asia by responding to hundreds of calls offering help, and collecting more than $1 million in aid. The funds were transferred in total to the American Red Cross for the International Disaster Relief Fund administered by the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.

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:

• 14,116 individuals in Northern Colorado were trained in First Aid CPR
• 14,095 individuals received instruction in swimming and water safety
• 680 individuals took babysitter and other community service training.
• 1,119 individuals were trained or re-certified to teach preparedness courses

These numbers represent a minor increase in First Aid and CPR courses, but a nearly 50 percent increase in swimming and water safety instruction. Part of this increase is attributed to better record keeping and billing practices.

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.

Chapter Financial Report

The programs and services of Centennial Chapter were made possible by the dedication and support of 1,1179 volunteers and 12 paid staff. The Chapter’s financial condition continued to be weak during FY 05, though the economy began to recover. During the year, the Chapter continued hold expenses level and raises more money than the year before, but was unable to fully offset the shortfall in revenue. An investment in fundraising capacity that began in FY 05 is expected to continue to be a good investment. In addition, the Chapter finalized negotiation of a Business Recovery Plan with the Western Service Area, the administrative oversight unit of the American National Red Cross.

At the end of FY 05, 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.

Fiduciary Oversight of the Southeast Colorado Branch of the American Red Cross

In May of 2004, the SE Colorado Chapter of the American Red Cross lost its Charter for financial reasons, and the Centennial Chapter was appointed its fiduciary oversight agency in cooperation with the Western Service Area, an administrative unit of the American National Red Cross. Centennial Chapter formed a Branch from the remnants of the Chapter. Officially a branch of the Centennial Chapter, the Pueblo Branch operates semi-independently with oversight from a local Advisory Board and the Centennial Board of Directors.

*The financial report above does not include the SE Colorado numbers in order for northern Colorado donors to see the accurate picture of the financial cost of services in the Chapter's jurisdiction. However, it was also audited by the Centennial auditor. To receive a consolidated audit or the audit of the Branch, please contact Erin Mounsey, Executive Director, at 970-226-5728.

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