Nationwide expands support of the American Red Cross as part of the company's Make Safe Happen Program

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, has joined forces with the American Red Cross in an expanded partnership to drive awareness and promote two lifesaving Red Cross campaigns—the Home Fire Campaign and the Aquatics Centennial Campaign. The partnership is part of Nationwide's Make Safe Happen program dedicated to reducing accidental childhood injuries and making homes safer for children. Home fire fatalities and drowning are two of the top four causes of accidental death among children—most of the time, these accidents are preventable.

The Red Cross is also pleased to announce that it has joined the Make Safe Happen Advisory Council. Led by Nationwide, the council is made up of injury prevention experts, leading nonprofits, media and trade associations. The group acts as the strategic arm behind the program guiding the development of tools and resources for parents and caregivers to make homes safer.

With generous support from Nationwide, the Red Cross in collaboration with local fire departments and community partners will install fire alarms in at-risk communities across the country and offer grants for youth swim lessons. Now in its second year, the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign is a sleeves-up, feet-on-the-ground effort that involves Red Cross workers, volunteers and partners going door-to-door in at-risk communities to install smoke alarms and teach families about key fire prevention and safety actions. The Red Cross Aquatics Centennial Campaign is entering its third year. Launched in May 2014 and marking 100 years of Red Cross water safety training, the campaign's aim is to reduce the drowning rate by 50 percent in 50 cities over the next three to five years. The drowning prevention campaign will focus on those cities that have high drowning rates or high numbers of drowning fatalities.

"We are extremely grateful to Nationwide and The Nationwide Foundation for their dedication and ongoing support of the Red Cross mission," said Gail McGovern, President and CEO of the American Red Cross.  "Since 2000, The Nationwide Foundation has awarded the Red Cross nearly $13 million to support disaster services.  Now, our expanded partnership through the Make Safe Happen program will help save lives through preparedness efforts—and serves as yet another example of Nationwide's compassion in action."

"This year, Nationwide's Make Safe Happen efforts will drive action around four key injury areas: furniture tip-overs, poisoning, home fires and drowning," said Terrance Williams, Executive Vice President and CMO of Nationwide. "We're proud to deepen our partnership with the American Red Cross to address two of these core areas—fire and water—to help us inspire and empower greater safety for families and homes that need it most."

Nationwide and The Nationwide Foundation—a nonprofit, private foundation to which Nationwide companies are the donors—are longtime supporters of the Red Cross. The Foundation is a founding member of the Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP). The program's members pre-invest in disaster relief, making a donation in advance of major disasters to ensure the Red Cross can respond immediately to meet the needs of those affected by disasters of all sizes—from floods to home fires. Red Cross services are provided to those in need of assistance at no cost and regardless of income through the generosity of Red Cross donors.

About the American Red Cross: The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

The Nationwide Foundation: The Nationwide Foundation is a nonprofit, private foundation, to which Nationwide companies are the donors. Founded in 1959, the Nationwide Foundation has committed more than $345 million since 2000 to help nonprofit organizations in communities where Nationwide associates and their families live and work. Just as Nationwide supports its customers in their moment of need, both Nationwide's and the Nationwide Foundation's involvement in its home communities is focused on supporting organizations that help people facing critical or immediate need.

About Nationwide: Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the U.S. and is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's. The company provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto, commercial, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; banking and mortgages; pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit nationwide.com.

About Make Safe Happen®
Make Safe Happen is a program dedicated to reducing accidental injury – the leading cause of death of children. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly nine million children are treated at emergency rooms across the country and more than 9,000 children die each year due to accidental injuries. A champion for child safety and wellbeing for more than 60 years, Nationwide launched Make Safe Happen in 2015 to empower parents, caregivers and children with tools and resources to make homes safer. To learn more and take action, visit makesafehappen.com.

About the Make Safe Happen® Advisory Council
The Advisory Council to Nationwide's Make Safe Happen program encompasses a complementary group of experts and organizations dedicated to child safety and wellbeing including but not limited injury prevention experts, nonprofits, public health experts, media and consumer product groups. Members include the Ad Council, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Red Cross, The Compassionate Friends, Farm Safety for Just Kids, International Association for Child Safety, International Association of Fire Fighters, Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association, National Association of Counties, National Safety Council, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Nickelodeon, Parents Magazine, Safe Kids Worldwide and Safe States Alliance.

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