RTI International donates $188,800 to Red Cross for Hurricane Harvey, Irma, Maria relief efforts

 RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC- RTI International and its staff members have donated $188,800 to the American Red Cross relief funds for Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria.

These donations enabled the Red Cross to work alongside partners to deliver more than 1.3 million overnight shelter stays for people impacted, along with more than 10.6 million meals and snacks, more than 6.2 million relief supplies and 229,000 health and mental health services.

In addition, the Red Cross helped more than 580,000 households get back on their feet with recovery assistance and helped families reunite with loved ones after losing touch with each other due to the disasters.

“Your contributions supported the impactful work done here in the United States and in Puerto Rico,” said Vicki LaBelle, executive director of the Red Cross Central North Carolina chapter, who was in Corpus Christi, Texas, and Jacksonville and Miami, Florida, following the hurricanes to assist with relief efforts. “We are appreciative of RTI’s support.”

A top contributor to Red Cross hurricane relief efforts in the North Carolina region, RTI donated $25,000 to each hurricane fund and offered to match employee contributions to those funds. In response, more than 500 staff members contributed $66,250, which RTI matched for a total contribution of a little over $188,800.

“I am continually impressed with the generous spirit of our staff,” said RTI Chief Human Resources Officer Lisa May. “Our staff have a force and passion around improving lives in support of our mission. They want to leave the world better than they found it.”

“It’s incredible that a couple of people working together can make a big difference, but RTI’s effort to come together with staff to raise $188,000 made a huge difference,” said Mike Zimmerman, board chairman of the Red Cross Central North Carolina chapter. “Your support of the Red Cross in such a significant way means a lot to the people impacted, and also to all the Red Cross volunteers on the ground.”

“Improving the human condition – that is what you help us do,” said Barry Porter, regional chief executive officer of the Red Cross. “Thank you for your ongoing support across many service areas of the Red Cross.”