Red Cross Gets $547,000 Donation

PASADENA -- Allstate presented a $547,000 donation to the American Red Cross Tuesday in an area in Pasadena where post-Rose Parade activities took place.

The donation for the national Hurricane Relief Fund was presented by Allstate Regional Vice President Hank Barge to Angie Turner, CEO for the San Gabriel Pomona Valley Chapter of the ARC, and Chris Johnson, communications/government relations officer for the ARC Pacific Services Area.

The donation is part of Allstate’s “Good Hands” field-goal initiative, a 14-week national advertising and charitable campaign involving more than 40 colleges nationwide during the 2005 college football season.

For each participating university, Allstate pledged to donate $1,000 matching every successful field goal to the ARC Hurricane Relief Fund.

The check was presented to Turner and Johnson during a one-hour event hosted by ESPN GameDay announcers Chris Fowler and Lee Corso. The check presentation, held near the intersection of Sierra Madre and Washington where the floats were displayed for post-parade viewing, drew an audience of more than 200.

“On behalf of the tens of thousands of Americans throughout the Gulf Coast who have been left homeless or in need following hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma, the American Red Cross extends its thanks and appreciation to Allstate,” Turner said.

Between 125 and 150 Red Cross volunteers from the San Gabriel Pomona Valley chapter of the ARC yesterday braved stormy weather and staffed first aid stations Monday along the Tournament of Roses Parade route. It was the largest presence of Red Cross volunteers of any event in the nation each year.

Each year the Red Cross provides first aid treatment to spectators, band members and other participants in the parade.Photo courtesy of the San Gabriel Pomona Valley Chapter of the ARCDONATION MADE -- Allstate Regional Vice President Hank Barge (center) presents a $547,000 donation from Allstate to the American Red Cross. Receiving the donation for the national Hurricane Relief Fund are Angie Turner, CEO for the San Gabriel Pomona Valley Chapter of the ARC (right), and Chris Johnson, Communications/Government Relations Officer for the ARC Pacific Services Area. 20060105isle85nc(LA)