PRINTER'S NO. 1603
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
299
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY VULAKOVICH, BAKER, COSTA, ARGALL, BARTOLOTTA,
BROWNE, DINNIMAN, EICHELBERGER, FARNESE, FONTANA, GORDNER,
GREENLEAF, HUTCHINSON, KITCHEN, MENSCH, RAFFERTY,
RESCHENTHALER, SABATINA, SCAVELLO, TEPLITZ, WHITE AND
YUDICHAK, MARCH 14, 2016
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, MARCH 14, 2016
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of March 2016 as "American Red Cross
Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, On May 21, 1881, Clara Barton founded the American
Red Cross; and
WHEREAS, In 1900, the Congress of the United States granted
the American Red Cross a charter, making the volunteer
organization responsible for providing services to members of
the armed forces of the United States and relief to disaster
victims at home and abroad; and
WHEREAS, Today's American Red Cross is a humanitarian
organization led by volunteers that provide relief to victims of
disasters and help people prevent, prepare for and respond to
emergencies; and
WHEREAS, For more than a century, the American Red Cross has
assisted Americans in preventing, preparing and responding to
large and small disasters; and
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
WHEREAS, Just as families and communities depend on the
American Red Cross in times of need, the American Red Cross
depends on the support of the American people to help sustain
the foundation; and
WHEREAS, The American Red Cross strives to prevent and
alleviate human suffering wherever it is found, to protect life
and health and to ensure respect for each human being; and
WHEREAS, The American Red Cross provides services to all
Americans in need, regardless of nationality, race, religious
belief, class or political opinion; and
WHEREAS, Services provided by the American Red Cross promote
mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace;
and
WHEREAS, In fiscal year 2015, volunteers and staff from the
American Red Cross responded to 2,479 disasters throughout this
Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, In 2015, 7,252 individuals served as volunteers for
the American Red Cross in this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, In fiscal year 2015, the American Red Cross
financially assisted 4,111 families across this Commonwealth;
and
WHEREAS, Residents of this Commonwealth donated hundreds of
thousands of units of blood to help save or better the lives of
their neighbors; and
WHEREAS, The American Red Cross trained more than 225,000
people in many different programs Statewide; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 132,000 individuals were trained in
first aid, the proper way to perform CPR or the use of an
automatic external defibrillator; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 44,000 individuals were trained in
20160SR0299PN1603 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
aquatics and water safety and more than 46,000 individuals were
trained in emergency preparedness; and
WHEREAS, In 2015, the Red Cross House, based in Philadelphia,
housed 353 new families and provided 20,524 nights of shelter
and served 61,572 meals; and
WHEREAS, This year's theme is "No More Fire Deaths," with the
American Red Cross partnering with local fire departments to
ensure that anyone that needs a working smoke alarm can get one;
and
WHEREAS, The American Red Cross will continue to play a
valuable role in catastrophic relief, humanitarianism and
volunteerism during the 21st century; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of March 2016
as "American Red Cross Month" in Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate commend the American Red Cross and
all of its employees and volunteers for their service and
dedication to the communities and residents of this
Commonwealth.
20160SR0299PN1603 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18