Fox River's American Red Cross merging with Greater Chicago
The Fox River Chapter of the American Red Cross that was a fixture in the Tri-Cities and surrounding area for the past 92 years will be no more come 2010.
The chapter will merge with the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago for what the not-for-profit believes will result in better and expanded services for the entire Kane County area.
American Red Cross of Greater Chicago CEO Fran Maher said the move is both to cut costs and provide better services to the area.
Nationally, the Red Cross has suffered as the economic downturn slowed the flow of donations to a slow drip. The charity has been working for the past two years to erase a $209 million operating deficit. Layoffs and $100 million of assistance from Congress have helped that effort.
The Fox River Chapter hasn't been immune from the difficulties.
The chapter's "Hometown Heroes" award ceremony, which is also its largest annual fundraiser, was in danger of extinction before the merger as sponsorship of the ceremony fell off with the economic downturn.
Maher said Wednesday that the chapter's Heroes program will live on through the Greater Chicago Chapter's annual event. Nominations for local heroes are being excepted at chicagoredcross.org through Jan. 29. The awards will be presented during a breakfast on April 14 in Chicago.
Maher said there will be no reduction in staff at the St. Charles facility that served as the headquarters of the Fox River Chapter will remain in operation as the Kane County Community Center for the American Red Cross.
The Fox River Chapter has always had a small staff. It includes Development Director Kay Catlin, who is a Democratic candidate for the Kane County Board in the 15th District. That seat is currently represented by Republican Barb Wojnicki. Former Kane County Board Member Paul Greviskes is also listed as a member of the chapter's board of directors.
"This is really good for everybody involved," Maher said. "We've been really pleased with the cooperation of the two chapters in coming to this agreement. We're not going to come in and change everything. But this will create greater efficiencies."
As an example, the nearly nonexistent presence of the Fox River Chapter on the Internet will change as Kane County residents will have access to all the services the Red Cross provides in Kane County through the Greater Chicago Chapter's Web site. That includes information about classes on safety and disaster relief that Kane County residents may not even have known about before, Maher said.
Kane County fans of the Red Cross can still make donations targeted specifically at efforts in their area by noting the purpose of the donation when it is made.
The new, bigger Kane County operation's next move will be revamping its core of volunteers. Maher said she hopes to see a new wave of eager volunteers as the merger occurs.