Contact: Michelle Polinko
michelle.polinko@redcross.org | 216-233-9645

CLEVELAND, May 12, 2022 — The Sam J. Frankino Foundation of Cleveland has announced a $500,000 matching grant to the American Red Cross of Northern Ohio.  The announcement was made today during an event commemorating the 30th anniversary of a program designed to make homes safer, by providing and installing free smoke alarms and offering residents valuable fire safety information.

The funds generated by the grant will be used to help the Red Cross and its partners, including the Cleveland Division of Fire, continue to install smoke alarms in homes considered at high risk for fires.  The money will also help residents who suffer a home fire, by providing the Red Cross the means by which to offer immediate financial assistance and additional help when it’s needed.

“We want to help people prepare for disasters like home fires and natural disasters like tornadoes,” said Lorraine Frankino-Dodero, executive director of the foundation and a member of the board of directors of the Red Cross of Northeast Ohio. “The Red Cross offers such valuable assistance to people during their darkest hours, it makes sense to ensure the resources are there, when they are most needed.”

“The Sam J. Frankino Foundation has been a generous supporter of the Red Cross in Greater Cleveland for decades,” said Mike Parks, Regional CEO of the Red Cross of Northern Ohio.  “Thanks to Lorraine’s kind and giving heart, the Red Cross will be able to help people prepare for and recover from disasters for years to come.”
 

About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on Twitter at @RedCross.
 

About the American Red Cross of Northern Ohio:
The Northern Ohio Region of the American Red Cross serves 31 counties and their more than 5.3 million residents by preventing, preparing for and responding to emergencies 24 hours per day, seven days a week. The Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; and supports military members and their families.