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Ready When The Time ComesReady When the Time Comes (RWTC) is an American Red Cross volunteer involvement program that utilizes the valuable human resources of corporate America. The Red Cross trains employees from partnering corporations and mobilizes them as a community-based volunteer force when disaster strikes.
To get involved with RWTC, contact Monica Ruzich of the American Red Cross of Orange County at (714) 481-5329.
AT ANNUAL DONOR RECOGNITION EVENT
National Chair of Volunteers Kate Forbes spoke with passion about the empathy of Red Cross volunteers during a presentation that launched Ready When The Time Comes (RWTC) in Orange County, California as part of the Chapter’s Annual Donor Recognition Event on March 27, 2007 at the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach. There was strong representation from W.W. Grainger Inc., RWTC’s National Founding Sponsor whose $1 million contribution in 2006 has enabled Red Cross to recruit and train corporate employees in 16 U.S. cities. As part of the national pilot, Orange County is the sixth area to launch the program. At the event, Standard Pacific Homes (SPH) was recognized as Orange County’s Local Lead Sponsor.
The Donor Recognition
Event and RWTC Launch honored local individual and corporate donors, offered a short program with vivid testimonials by notable speakers, and allowed an opportunity for comfortable interaction among engaged guests. In the crowd, 30 corporations and businesses were represented, as well as individual donors and guests from local educational institutions, community organizations, emergency response agencies, and county and city governments. Martha Patterson, National RWTC Program Manager was present. The evening was both informational and inspirational, especially during the 30 minute program which opened with a short, large-screen video clip about the fears and responses of people displaced by a devastating apartment fire. Speakers included Stanley V. Perdue, Chief Executive Officer for the Orange County Chapter; Larry Fortmuller, an active local volunteer; Forbes, who mesmerized the audience with stories about the compassion of caring volunteers; Y.C. Chen, President of U.S. Branch-based Business for Grainger; Todd Palmaer, President , Southern California-Orange County, SPH; and Stephen D. Cooke, OC Red Cross Board Chair.
Guest Speakers for the Orange County Chapter’s Annual Donor Recognition Event and Ready When the Time Comes Launch at the Balboa Bay Club on March 27, 2007 included (l. to r.): Stephen D. Cooke, Board Chair; Larry Fortmuller, Chapter volunteer; Kate Forbes, National Chair of Volunteers; Y.C. Chen, President, U.S. Branch-based Business, Grainger; and Todd Palmaer, President, Southern California-Orange County, Standard Pacific Homes.
Chen spoke about the deep commitment of Grainger to emergency preparedness for employees, customers, and communities. Since 2001 the company has donated more than 4 million dollars in supplies, cash and volunteer time to Red Cross disaster relief efforts. Palmaer thanked Grainger for the leadership in developing this unique program, which fits closely with SPH’s culture and mission. SPH has been named by Fortune Magazine as one of America’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” and supported relief efforts during Hurricane Katrina with a strong matching donation campaign from management and employees. Chen and Palmaer issued a “call to action” for other companies and corporations in Orange County to come on board as RWTC partners. In his closing remarks, Board Chair Cooke repeated the “call to action,” and invited guests to take home a Red Cross First Aid Kit for personal preparedness. With each kit, guests received a contact card to encourage follow up and participation in RWTC.
The Orange County Chapter is excited to move forward with RWTC and to engage additional corporate partners. In addition to participating in several local media interviews and feature stories that will help spread the word, the chapter is preparing a training schedule in critical response skills for more than 80 Grainger employees who are already enrolled locally in the program, and for employee volunteers from Standard Pacific Homes. The RWTC launch at the Annual Donor Recognition Event provided an exceptional opportunity for the Orange County Red Cross, RWTC National Founding Sponsor Grainger, Local Lead Sponsor SPH, and the Chapter’s individual and corporate donors to unite around the concept of preparing yourself, your company, and your community for times of emergency.
601 N. Golden Circle Drive, Santa Ana, CA, 92705
Phone: (714) 481-5300 Website: www.oc-redcross.org
