The American Red Cross received $175,882 in proceeds raised during the eighth annual Get Prepared, California! Auction—sponsored by the California Earthquake Authority (CEA) and coordinated by iHeartMedia, Inc. Auction proceeds will be dedicated to Red Cross disaster-preparedness and relief efforts in California.
The 2019 Get Prepared, California! Auction, which featured numerous one-of-a-kind items, was open for bidding April 1 through April 30. Items up for bid included:
- Meet-and-greets with Jennifer Lopez, Gwen Stefani and New Kids on the Block
- A ride on the Goodyear Blimp
- A trip to attend an NFL game in London
- Sports experiences with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Clippers and Chargers
Total proceeds were announced on June 1, through an on-stage check presentation to the American Red Cross during KIIS FM’s Wango Tango concert in Los Angeles presented by JUVÉDERM.
“We are pleased to count on partners such as the California Earthquake Authority and iHeartMedia to support the American Red Cross promoting preparedness and resiliency across California,” said Jarrett Barrios, CEO of the American Red Cross Los Angeles Region. “For nearly a decade, the funds raised in this auction have helped provide the resources needed to support disaster-relief efforts in our communities.”
The Get Prepared, California! Auction has raised a total of $1,405,882 in funding since it began in 2012. Proceeds help the American Red Cross distribute more than 200,000 blankets at shelters, distribute more than 100,000 hot meals in communities or provide more than 400,000 “comfort kits” full of toiletries and personal items to people following a natural disaster.
“The Get Prepared, California! Auction is another way to help raise funds for the American Red Cross while reminding Californians to get ready for our state’s next damaging earthquake,” said Glenn Pomeroy, CEO of CEA. “Getting ready now will help us all get back to normal sooner after California’s next big one strikes.”
Most Californians live within 30 miles of an active fault. Scientists say there is more than a 99 percent chance that a magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquake will strike our state within the next 30 years.
To learn more about the auction and how to prepare to survive and recover from California’s next damaging earthquake, visit GetPreparedCalifornia.org.
This article was released by the American Red Cross.