A Special Message from Michael Ortiz and Charles Wilcox:

On Jan. 12, the island nation of Haiti suffered an unprecedented natural disaster. The 7.0 earthquake and aftershocks have caused devastating damage and loss of life. It will be weeks, perhaps months, before the impact is fully realized.

One thing is certain: The Haitian people need our help. No one is better positioned to address that need than the American Red Cross. It has provided blood for the relief efforts when requested by the Pan American Health Organization. Thanks to those who have donated blood in recent weeks, the Red Cross has been able to meet the needs of earthquake victims from its existing blood supply.

The American Red Cross is also in Haiti providing emergency relief supplies, first aid, food and water, and emotional support for traumatized survivors. So far, more than three dozen flights carrying Red Cross aid have arrived in Port-au-Prince. Additional planes, ships and trucks carrying Red Cross humanitarian assistance are expected every day.

We have established a simple way for the Cal Poly Pomona community to support the relief efforts through a donation to the American Red Cross – Haiti. The Cal Poly Federal Credit Union at the Bronco Student Center will accept checks and deposit funds in a special account for Haitian relief. In addition, the credit union will provide ways for members to transfer money from existing accounts.

As we assist the victims of the tragedy in Haiti, we must also stay prepared for the constant threat of earthquakes and other disasters here in Southern California. Learn more about earthquake preparedness and safety by visiting www.cpp.edu/~rms/pdf/eq2.pdf. You can also help our community be prepared by giving blood regularly at the American Red Cross donor center at Innovation Village. We also have a blood drive scheduled for Feb. 9-11 in Ursa Minor (BSC) from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can make an appointment online at www.givelife.org and enter sponsor code CALPOLY. More information is available at: http://dsa.cpp.edu/shs/?nfid=3267.

Please keep those impacted by this horrible tragedy in your thoughts, and thank you for your consideration.

Michael Ortiz
President
Cal Poly Pomona

Charles Wilcox
Chief Executive Officer
American Red Cross
Southern California Blood Services Region

(Photo caption: Red Cross volunteer Rich France, top, who has family in Haiti, accepts a donation at the Red Cross fundraiser for Haiti relief held Jan. 16 at the Rose Bowl. Bottom: Autumn Ashurst, a senior civil engineering major, donates blood in the Bloodmobile in 2008.)