March 15, 2006 – WILMINGTON, DE – A new office serving six counties in the Southern Delmarva region has been opened by the American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula in Seaford, Delaware, consolidating staff from its offices in Milford, Delaware and Easton, Maryland. The new office is located at 523 North Market Street Extension, in Ross Business Park, and shares office space with Lank, Johnson & Tull Certified Public Accountants.

Commenting on the move, Margi Prueitt, Chief Executive Officer for the American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula, said, ”We remain strongly committed to ensuring that all community needs for disaster relief and community preparedness are met. Local paid and volunteer staffers will continue to coordinate our emergency services and lifesaving courses through the new office in Seaford. Emergency resources are already pre-positioned in each of the counties we serve, and trained volunteers are ready for any eventuality. Families and businesses throughout the area we serve – Kent and Sussex counties in Delaware, and Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot and Queen Anne’s counties in Maryland – can continue to count on their Red Cross to be there for them whenever disaster strikes.”

While financial challenges precipitated this consolidation of staff and other changes to the way we do our work, we expect to demonstrate that Red Cross stands ready to help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. The American Red Cross, while NOT a government agency,  is mandated by Congress to provide two critical services 24 hours a day. To provide these services – disaster relief and armed forces emergency services – it relies on donations of time, talents and money from the American people.

The American Red Cross is committed to meeting, and exceeding, donors’ expectations, to spend donated dollars wisely and to demonstrate good stewardship and accountability. Through partnerships with donors, volunteers, emergency and security organizations, government and community agencies, the Red Cross pledges to make the Delmarva Peninsula one of the safest places to live, work and raise our families.

Meet Eagle 97.7’s Steve West on his DelaWalk at the Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony of the new Red Cross office in Seaford on April 4th.

To celebrate the opening of the new Red Cross office in Seaford, an Open House is scheduled for Tuesday April 4th, for local residents to come in any time during the day to meet Red Cross staffers and learn about the emergency services provided. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 8:00am, to which everyone is invited.

Between 7:00am and 9:00am, meet Steve West of Eagle 97.7FM’s Morning Mess, on his DelaWalk, walking from Delmar to Middletown to raise funds for the American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula. Families who have been helped or trained by the Red Cross are invited to share their stories live on 97.7FM!

Steve plans to personally meet 1,000 residents of Southern Delaware during Eagle 97.7FM’s DelaWalk, which will take from Delmar on April 3rd to Seaford, Bridgeville, Georgetown, Lewes, Milford, Harrigton, Felton. Camden, Dover, W. Dover, N. Dover. Cheswold and Smyrna, before ending in Middletown on Thursday April 14th. The walk – which aims to raise $10,000 for Red Cross emergency services – is sponsored by Halpern Eye Associates, Delaware Federal Credit Union and other local businesses. For more information on DelaWalk and how you can help, call Sarah Gilmour at (302) 472-6260.