NEW ORLEANS, LA, Friday, July 23, 2010 – More than 100 people attended the American Red Cross Grand Opening Ceremonies on Thursday, which included a formal ribbon-cutting with dignitaries from around the world, and an open house to showcase the donated facility.  Donors, volunteers and community leaders gathered to witness the cutting of the ribbon by Jasem Albudaiwi, Counselor, Embassy of the State of Kuwait.

Also in attendance were Jerry DeFrancisco, President of Humanitarian Services, American National Red Cross; Russ Paulsen, American National Red Cross; Reid Falconer, St. Tammany Parish Council; State Senator Jack Donahue; Frank Tessier, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the American Red Cross Southeast Louisiana Chapter; Ed Mathes, Mathes Brierre Architects; Aaron Bradley, DonahueFavrot Contractors; and Kay Wilkins, CEO of the Southeast Louisiana Chapter.

The new North Shore Regional Office and Continuity of Operations building features a Disaster Operations Center, new training classrooms, and ensures that the American Red Cross can carry on all essential sheltering and feeding functions in case of a natural or manmade disaster in southeast Louisiana.  Its multi-purpose design will allow the Red Cross the required flexibility to respond to various regional emergencies.

This gift to the organization and community was made possible by the generous people and State of Kuwait. A $25 million donation was made in 2006 to the American National Red Cross to help improve infrastructure along the Gulf Coast and in high-risk areas. The other locations are Baton Rouge, Mobile, AL and Tallahassee, FL.  The Mobile location’s grand opening was held the morning of July 22, 2010. 

“Today is a new page in our Chapter’s history and a great opportunity for our community as a whole as we work together to further expand our culture of preparedness.” said Kay Wilkins, CEO of the Southeast Louisiana Chapter.

Thursday’s ceremonies also honored two of the chapter’s longtime staff and volunteers, who have been critical to Red Cross operations on the North Shore: Ms. Frances Barker, chapter employee since 1991, and Mr. Mike Litzenberger, chapter volunteer since 1995.  Both were honored with engraved gifts and by placement of placards in the new building.

For more information on the Southeast Louisiana Chapter please call 985-892-4317 or visit www.arcno.org.  You can become a fan of the Southeast Louisiana Chapter at www.facebook.com/RedCrossSELA or follow us on twitter: @RedCrossSELA. 

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families.  The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

The Southeast Louisiana Chapter serves more than 1.6 million people throughout Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Charles, St. John, Assumption, Lafourche, Terrebonne, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes.  The Southeast Louisiana Chapter also provides Disaster Action Team (DAT) assistance to the St. Bernard Community Chapter. 

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