Red Cross Seeks $150-Million From Government

The American Red Cross said on Monday that it has asked Congress for $150-million in emergency money to shore up its disaster-relief reserves, after back-to-back Gulf Coast hurricanes have pushed the organization into deep debt, reports The Washington Post.

The request for federal aid is unusual for the 127-year-old charity, but it had to do the same in 2004, when four hurricanes hit Florida. The organization sought and received $70-million in federal aid that year but was able to return about half of that amount. Red Cross officials estimates it will spend more than $70-million on current hurricane-relief efforts.

Last week the organization kicked off a national campaign to recover those costs and has so far raised $10-million, said Suzy C. DeFrancis, a spokeswoman for the group.

See The Chronicle’s interview with the new chief executive and top fund raiser at the Red Cross.

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