United Way Announces Renewed Funding for the American Red Cross, Marshall County Chapter

5/29/07 -- The United Way of Marshall County, Inc. is pleased to announce that funding has resumed for the American Red Cross, Marshall County Chapter.

Vickie Talcott, Board Chair of the United Way, and Mickey Davenport, Board Chair of the local American Red Cross, jointly announce today the chapter will receive $20,900 in funding for the period June 1, 2007 through December 31, 2007.

Last fall, the local Red Cross Chapter experienced the loss of long time executive director, Harriet Wilson, as well as declining revenues. For much of the last few years, the chapter had primarily used bequests to meet financial obligations. Without leadership at the end of 2006, and insufficient revenues to sustain operations, the United Way Board of Directors felt compelled to withhold funding. The United Way board asked the Red Cross for a sustainable business plan and budget. If received, the board indicated there was a possibility funding could resume.

Over the last few months the Red Cross board of directors, including Mickey Davenport, and Cathy Huffman, Chapter Solutions Manager for the National American Red Cross worked diligently to assess current operations and develop a reasonable and appropriate business plan for Marshall and Fulton counties.

Meanwhile, members of the United Way board of directors, Duane Miller and Tom Langdon, assisted the American Red Cross search committee in a renewed effort to find a new executive director. Hopefully, an announcement will be forthcoming within the next few weeks.

Last week on May 22, 2007, Mickey Davenport and Cathy Huffman meet with United Way executive director Jennifer Maddox and senior leadership of the United Way board of directors including Vickie Talcott (president), Rick Kreps (vice president), Dave Morrow (past president), and Duane Miller (past allocations committee chair). Mickey and Cathy presented a Business Plan for the Marshall County Chapter of the American Red Cross for the next three years (7/1/07 through 6/30/10) which was positively received. The following day the full board of directors of the United Way of Marshall County approved the initial allocation for the local chapter of the American Red Cross.

In addition, once a new executive director is in place, the agency will present a progress report to the United Way board and become eligible to receive an additional allocation for the calendar year 2007. The future business plan includes focusing on core programs including Disaster and Armed Forces Emergency Services, Health & Safety Services, and Blood and Biomedical Services. In particular, the Red Cross will seek to provide safety training courses such as CPR and Emergency First Aid to local businesses to increase revenues.

Both the United Way and the Red Cross are pleased the process has reached a favorable conclusion. "The local chapter of the American Red Cross is here to stay in Marshall and Fulton counties" said Mickey Davenport. "The American Red Cross is a vital and important agency in our community and we are pleased they have a viable, sustainable plan to ensure their future here" said Jennifer Maddox.

United Way financial support represents about 28% of the Red Cross chapter's overall budget. The chapter relies on donations from the public to ensure the availability of programs and services.

The United Way of Marshall County partners with 16 Member Agencies to provide services for the elderly, youth activities, those in need and health services. United Way also supports programs across the county separate from the Member Agencies.

For more information contact Jennifer S. Maddox, Executive Director, United Way of Marshall County at (574) 936-3366 or Mickey Davenport, Board Chair, American Red Cross, Marshall County Chapter at (574) 936-3928.