For over 90 years, the American Red Cross of Ventura County has provided life-saving and life-changing resources to the community it proudly calls home. Ventura County has changed significantly in 90 years. Our ability to respond effectively and efficiently to all corners of the county must change as well. With the community’s help, that change will happen in 2008.

Our Disaster Action Teams (DAT) respond to an average of over 70 disasters a year; Ventura County is considered one of the most disaster prone counties in the state. We don’t like thinking about it, but in recent years we have experienced wildfires, single-family fires, mudslides, flooding, earthquakes, chemical spills, train derailments, plane crashes and

more… all requiring a trained American Red Cross response. These DAT responders, made up of your friends and neighbors, work hand in hand with first responders (fire departments, police, etc.) to provide immediate care and shelter. The goal of our campaign is to ensure that each community, by the end of 2008, will have the DAT capacity to respond quickly. Each

community will have the assets, on-site and through the new Red Cross “hub” network, to provide the necessary food, shelter and comfort for its residents.

A generous building donation from Peter Plotkin, in loving memory of his wife Betty, is allowing the chapter to create a new “hub” in Camarillo. This new 11,000 square foot expanded building, coupled with increased services in Ventura and Thousand Oaks, will significantly improve our ability to prepare the community for, and respond to the many disasters we deal with on an annual basis. It will also maximize the use of the precious donated dollar. Plans include a

public launch in December, with construction beginning in March and move-in scheduled for early summer.

What will this mean for the county as a whole?

• More supplies strategically placed to ensure faster, more efficient response.

• More efficient use of donor dollars because of reduced travel time.

• More efficient use of donor dollars due to reduced energy costs.

• Greater opportunity to collaborate and partner for community good and efficiency of service delivery.

• More local opportunities for volunteerism.

• More lifesaving classes closer to your home, or work.

• Stronger ability to respond to catastrophic events, within or outside Ventura County

• An opportunity to create an environmentally friendly workspace following LEED certification standards.

The timing is perfect, and the momentum of generosity continues to grow. The building, design services, support services and even furnishings… are all being supported through the generosity of the community and its businesses. This will ultimately reduce the cost of the project.

The overall goal of $2,000,000.00 is over two thirds complete, with only about $800,000 to go.

We hope you will consider joining this campaign to ensure that the good work of your Red Cross volunteers - your friends and neighbors - will continue and grow.