Nationwide Insurance Foundation Donates $1.54 Million to American Red Cross for Disaster Preparedness and Response and Increased Blood Collections

WASHINGTON, June 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Nationwide Insurance Foundation is making a $1.54 million gift to the American Red Cross to fund national disaster response, blood mobiles and chapter response and readiness. This is the fourth consecutive year the Nationwide Insurance Foundation has contributed this unique grant to the Red Cross, which provides support at a national level and in communities where Nationwide Insurance employees live and work.

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The gift underscores Nationwide's commitment to the Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP). Members of the ADGP pledge donations on an ongoing basis in advance of major disasters, which enables the Red Cross to have proper supplies and systems in place and to immediately take action when hurricanes, floods, tornados, wildfires and other disasters strike.

Nearly half ($700,000) of the donation will go to the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program, while another $320,000 will be divided among 17 Red Cross chapters for disaster readiness and response activities.

The remaining grant dollars will be used to purchase new blood mobiles in Nashville, TN, and Charlotte, NC, which will assist in increasing blood donations. In 2009, Nationwide funded blood mobiles for the Raleigh, NC, Atlanta, GA, and Columbus, OH markets. Eighty percent of the nation's blood supply comes from donations made at mobile units and organization-sponsored blood drives, such as those sponsored by Nationwide. 

"The generosity of the Nationwide Insurance Foundation enables the Red Cross to mobilize supplies and staff to help people and communities in times of disaster and to collect life-saving blood for patients," said Gail McGovern, President and CEO of the American Red Cross. "We are extremely grateful for our strong and long-standing partnership with Nationwide."

In addition to its annual support of the Red Cross, the Nationwide Insurance Foundation recently donated $100,000 to help people affected by flooding in Tennessee. Earlier this year the Nationwide Insurance Foundation donated $150,000 for Haiti earthquake relief and recovery.

"American Red Cross is a natural partner for Nationwide Insurance," said Chad Jester, president of the Nationwide Insurance Foundation. "This is an organization that does an outstanding job of being there when people need them most, whether that's following a natural disaster or in an emergency medical situation. Nationwide Insurance exists to be there for our customers when disaster strikes and commonly our claims teams are working with customers at the same time the Red Cross is providing humanitarian assistance."

Nationwide has been a Red Cross disaster services supporter for more than 25 years and leaders from the company serve on several Red Cross chapter boards, lending their expertise and guidance to the organization.  Nationwide has been a strong supporter of the Red Cross blood program since the Central Ohio Region began collecting blood in 1948. In 1995, Nationwide opened the first Red Cross corporate donor center at its headquarters in Columbus. Blood drives conducted by Nationwide collect nearly 12,000 units of blood annually at blood drives across the country.

American Red Cross chapters who receive support from the Nationwide Insurance Foundation as part of this grant include Stark County Chapter, Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter, American Red Cross of Greater Columbus, Cornhusker Chapter, American Red Cross of Susquehanna Valley, the Grand Canyon Chapter, Central Iowa Chapter, Triangle Area Chapter, Sacramento Sierra Chapter, San Antonio Area Chapter, Oregon Trail Chapter, Greater Richmond Chapter, Mile High Chapter, Nashville Area Chapter, North Central Florida Chapter, Greater Cleveland Chapter and Central Maryland Chapter.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

About the Nationwide Insurance Foundation

The Nationwide Insurance Foundation is an independent corporation funded by contributions from Nationwide companies including Nationwide Insurance and Nationwide Financial. Founded in 1959, the Nationwide Insurance Foundation has committed more than $250 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, the company's involvement in its home communities is focused on supporting organizations that help people facing critical or immediate need.

About Nationwide

Nationwide, 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 A.M. Best. The company provides a full range of personalized insurance and financial services, including car insurance, motorcycle, boat, homeowners, life insurance, farm, commercial insurance, administrative services, annuities, mortgages, mutual funds, pensions, long-term savings plans and health and productivity services. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.

Nationwide is a service mark of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.

SOURCE American Red Cross