4 January 2005


WASHINGTON, Jan. 3, 2005 - In response to the recent earthquake and tsunamis devastating entire countries in southern Asia and eastern Africa, the American Red Cross is pleased to announce a generous $1 million donation from Sandra Bullock, one of Hollywood's most popular actresses. These funds will support Red Cross response to victims' needs in the affected region in the form of relief supplies, financial support and technical assistance. Bullock contacted the Red Cross last week to make this, her second million-dollar gift, to the American Red Cross. She donated $1 million to the American Red Cross in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks in 2001.
" At this critical time, I am grateful to Sandra Bullock, for once again demonstrating her leadership, compassion and belief in our global humanitarian mission," said Marsha J. Evans, President and CEO of the American Red Cross. "Sandra continues to enable our lifesaving work and is a model for personal generosity."

When an international disaster strikes, the American Red Cross is able to support the emergency response with relief supplies, personnel and financial assistance. The American Red Cross has highly-trained personnel available to assist with water sanitation services, relief supply distribution, and family linking and reunification.

On December 29th, an American Red Cross water sanitation engineer was deployed to the Maldives and two relief workers are en route to Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Additionally, an American Red Cross team of workers trained in relief supply distribution has been deployed to the affected areas. The American Red Cross also is coordinating with other sister Red Cross and Red Crescent societies to determine how best to equitably and effectively distribute an initial stockpile of $350,000 worth of relief supplies pre- positioned in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Additional supplies will follow shortly. These supplies include tents, blankets, tarps, plastic sheeting, and hygiene kits.

The best way to help those affected is to make a financial contribution to a disaster relief organization like the American Red Cross. This cash allows immediate deployment of relief personnel, supplies and assistance most needed by those affected. The American Red Cross is not able to accept small, individual donations or collections of items for this crisis. Donations of cash also allow the Red Cross to purchase relief items directly in the region, eliminating the costs of shipping and transport from the United States and stimulating the devastated local economy.

You can help those affected by the earthquake and tsunami emergency in Southern Asia and Eastern Africa and countless other crises around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance, and other support to those in need. Call 1- 800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Donations can also be mailed to your local Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make secure online credit card donations by visiting http://www.redcross.org.

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE AMERICAN RED CROSS