Cincinnati, April 27, 2010 – The Cincinnati chapter of the American Red Cross is receiving a $10,000 grant to provide smoke detectors to local families in disadvantaged neighborhoods. It will also help cover the cost of traveling puppet shows meant to educate area children about the importance of fire and tornado safety. Both programs are designed to save lives through increased safety awareness.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, roughly half of the fatalities resulting during home fires occur in homes without alarms or with alarms that are not properly maintained. With this new funding, the Red Cross will work with local fire departments to distribute more than 1,000 smoke alarms around the greater Cincinnati area. Additionally, the Red Cross will conduct 40 safety puppet shows in local schools. “Puppets reach children in a way no other can. These informational and fun presentations teach children important lessons about how to respond to a tornado or a fire,” said Mary Casey-Sturk, spokeswoman for the Red Cross.
State Farm will present the $10,000 grant award on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at 9:45 a.m. The check celebration will take place in the gymnasium at Bevis Elementary School directly before a school-wide tornado safety puppet show. More than 100 children will attend. The school is located at 10133 Pottinger Road.
State Farm understands the importance of keeping our neighbors safe. “State Farm is pleased to support the Red Cross in its fire prevention efforts. We are continually looking for opportunities that help make our communities safer,” said Lisa Ripley, spokeswoman for State Farm. Each year State Farm awards grant money to non-profit organizations, governmental entities, and educational institutions for programs that help make communities safer, stronger, and more educated.
Pictured from left to right: State Farm Public Affairs Specialist Lisa Ripley and Amy Bogard, Jennifer Balcom, Belinda, Whiskers, Bobo, and Percy of the Red Cross in Cincinnati.
Lisa Ripley, Public Affairs Specialist at (859) 282-5121.
State Farm insures more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U.S., is the leading insurer of watercraft and is also a leading insurer in Canada. State Farm's 17,700 agents and 68,600 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts - more than 78.7 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and more than 1.9 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 31 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com® or in Canada statefarm.ca®.
