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Red Cross walkathon raises $45,000
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Posted on Mar 27 2012
Despite the slow economy, the American Red Cross NMI Chapter raised some $45,000 from its annual walkathon fundraiser on Saturday.
Executive director John Hirsh said yesterday that this is only “slightly below” last year’s take, about $48,000.
Hirsh pointed out, though, that they had “a few more walkers” that turned up for this year’s walkathon.
From just 1,994 walkers last year, this year’s walkers totaled 2,077, each one donating $15 or submitting pledge forms.
This year marked the 26th anniversary of the fundraising event and started from 4-H Building in Susupe to Garapan Fishing Base and back.
“That was kind of the telling part of this, that more people participated but we raised a little less money,” Hirsh told Saipan Tribune. “In a way, it makes sense. People wanted to be out there, wanted to help support the Red Cross but just couldn’t quite do it at a level that they had done last year. We certainly understand that; everybody understands that.”
Hirsh disclosed that of the $45,000 net proceeds, $4,095 came from Tinian while $4,323 was from Rota.
He also revealed that the most money raised by a student for the event amounted to $1,200.
Hirsh said the Red Cross is “very happy” with the overall outcome of the event. “We know that it’s more of a strain on families to help give away resources to people beyond their own family. But as I said so many times, they do understand Red Cross and how much it has helped people in this community over the years, how it touches everybody’s lives. They’re willing to come out and support us. We couldn’t do it without the generosity of our donors, volunteers, [and] walkers that contribute to the event.”
