Gov. Blagojevich announces state employees donated $90,000 to American Red Cross Katrina Fund

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Rod R. Blagojevich announced today that State of Illinois employees have donated more than $91,000 to the American Red Cross Katrina Fund.  In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Governor encouraged state employees to contribute to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

 

"The best way for individuals to help victims of Hurricane Katrina is through monetary donations. All totaled up, state employees donated more than $91,000 to the American Red Cross Katrina Fund.  The American Red Cross uses donations like these to provide food, shelter, counseling and other assistance to victims of disasters like Hurricane Katrina.  The State of Illinois should be very proud of the way that state employees responded to the needs of American citizens whose lives were uprooted by Hurricane Katrina," said Gov. Blagojevich.

 

On Friday, September 2nd, the State and University Employees Combined Appeal (SECA) Statewide Coordinator Jodi Schrage sent the Governor's appeal via email to State Ambassadors used in the state's annual SECA campaign - asking all state employees to send in one-time gifts for the Red Cross and to attach a form that identified donor, agency and amount given. Less than three weeks after the initial appeal, employees had sent in personal checks totaling some $91,092.31.

 

"The American Red Cross appreciates the on-going support of state employees as to their willingness to volunteer and contribute to this enormous relief effort," said Fran Maher, Chief Executive Officer, American Red Cross of Greater Chicago.

 

Employees from virtually every state agency and university donated, led by universities including the University of Illinois at Chicago, Northern Illinois University and Western Illinois University, and agencies including Central Management Services, Corrections, Human Services and Healthcare and Family Services.

 

"This is the first time in my 12 years with the state that we've coordinated in a concerted, collective way to respond to a disaster, and our employees' willingness to give was overwhelming," Schrage said. "As soon as the hurricane hit, we began to be flooded with calls from people wanting to do something. Everyone was calling me and saying 'What can I do?'"

 

SECA is a once-a-year workplace giving campaign, administered by the Department of Central Management Services and chaired by First Lady Patti Blagojevich, where state and university employees can donate to the charity of their choice through payroll deduction or a one-time gift.  SECA raised nearly $3 million in 2004 for more than 2,000 charities.  The 2005 campaign goal is $3 million and will run until November 11. The more than $91,000 raised for Hurricane victims puts the state of Illinois on its way toward reaching that $3 million goal.  For more information about SECA and its member charities, log onto the SECA website at www.secaillinois.org.

 

Donations are still needed to help victims of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita.  Donations to the Disaster Relief Fund can be made by calling 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish).  Contributions may also be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or through a secure internet site at www.redcross.org.

 

Since Hurricane Katrina made landfall on August 29^th, Gov. Blagojevich ordered all state agencies to respond in a coordinated manner to help both the recovery and cleanup efforts in the Gulf Coast, and the victims coming into Illinois. Illinois' efforts to date include: