DHL SUPPLY CHAIN MAKES MAJOR DONATION TO AMERICAN RED CROSS

150 thousand dollars to fund Disaster Relief

The Central & Southern Ohio Region of the American Red Cross has received a substantial donation from DHL Supply Chain, headquartered in Westerville, OH, to help fund its disaster relief operations. The generous gift of $150,000 dollars will help ensure the Red Cross can continue to address the basic needs of people impacted by the more than 60,000 disasters it responds to every year by providing food; shelter; relief supplies; health and mental health assistance; emotional support; and recovery casework.

“DHL Supply Chain is proud to support the American Red Cross through this donation and the efforts of our employees across the U.S. The mission of the Red Cross aligns with our company purpose to Connect People and Improve Lives and supports our corporate citizenship focus on humanitarian logistics and disaster response,” said Mark Kunar, Executive Vice President-DHL Supply Chain and American Red Cross Greater Columbus Ohio Chapter Board Member.

Financial contributions made to Disaster Relief enables the Red Cross to:

• Stock warehouses with lifesaving supplies like nonperishable food and blankets
  
• Train disaster-response volunteers, who make up 90% of the Red Cross workforce
  
• Keep the Red Cross fleet of emergency response vehicles in great working condition, ready to deliver food and supplies
  
• Deploy next-generation technology that enhances disaster responses
  
• Remain ready here in Central & Southern Ohio for home fires, tornadoes, floods and other disasters
  
• Provide disaster preparedness training to individuals, families and companies to help communities become more resilient in the face of disasters 

In addition to the generous financial support, DHL Supply Chain employees work in Red Cross disaster warehouses around the country when disasters strike. Under a formal Memorandum of Understanding, and upon request, DHL Supply Chain deploys forklift drivers and other skilled laborers to work at Red Cross disaster warehouses located in Atlanta, GA., Carlisle, PA. and Arlington, TX. DHL Supply Chain pays the full salary for the hours these workers provide to the Red Cross.

The company also launched a Blood Drive program to encourage sites to host employee blood drives at its facilities across the U.S. Already this year, the company has conducted or planned more than 20 blood drives across the U.S.

“I am so impressed with DHL’s Supply Chain commitment to the American Red Cross,” said Stephanie Byrd, Regional Chief Executive Office of Central & Southern Ohio. “Whether it’s Mr. Kunar’s dedication as a member of our board, the major gift we are announcing today or having their employees work at our warehouses during a disaster, DHL Supply Chain is truly the epitome of a great partner and outstanding corporate citizen.”

This year’s seasonal outlook is part of a years-long trend of more frequent and intense disasters, such as hurricanes, wildfires, severe storms, and floods. Just over the past three years, the Red Cross has seen a six-fold increase in the annual number of disasters causing $1 billion dollars or more in damage, compared to 40 years ago. This relentless pace of severe disasters has created more ongoing emergency needs — including for families who have been displaced year after year by extreme weather events. Therefore, donations to the Red Cross disaster relief efforts, like the generous contribution made by DHL Supply Chain, are vital to carrying out the mission of the Red Cross.