American Red Cross volunteer Chris Lazzaro hands out food to firefighters in Malibu battling the Souther California wildfires in October, 2007.

Program's Mission:
Help individuals and communities prepare for and respond to local emergencies and major disasters.

Grant:
$25,000 Community Grant for the Major Disaster Readiness Program

About the Program:
There is a 99.7 percent chance that a magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquake will hit California by 2037*. And every year, wildfires tear through South California's residential areas.

Thankfully, The Foundation's $25,000 General Community Grant for the Red Cross' Major Disaster Readiness Program will help ensure that when the next natural disaster strikes, Los Angeles will be prepared.

"We know through experience that if we are able to plan both at the individual and community level for major disasters we are so much better off as a community than if we give financial donations after the fact," said Paul Schulz, CEO of American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles. "It was such great news when I heard we were receiving support from the Jewish Community Foundation. It's such a good cause and to come from such a notable foundation really meant a lot to me and a lot to the entire chapter."

The Foundation's grant will help the Los Angeles chapter of the Red Cross staff expert disaster workers to plan for and deliver services in times of major disasters. It will also supply critical communication equipment needed when cell phones and other traditional communication devices go down. It will help the Red Cross pre-position supplies around Los Angeles in the event that transportation across the region is impossible; and it will help recruit volunteers who can deliver food, clothing and shelter in times of need.

In addition to funding these important services, Schulz says the grant opened the door for the Red Cross to reach into the broader Jewish community and emphasize the importance of preparedness. "This grant from the Jewish Community Foundation strengthens our ability to reach into the greater Los Angeles community to prepare our neighbors for catastrophic disasters in a region of the U.S. highly prone to such events."

* Prediction data comes from an April 2008 U.S. Geological Survey.