NEWARK--Mayor Cory A. Booker, members of the Newark Municipal Council, Thomas Cetnar and Frank Bolton of Bears Baseball LLC, and American Red Cross of Northern New Jersey Chief Executive Officer Ray Shepherd cut the ribbon to open the American Red Cross of Northern New Jersey’s new service center, located in Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium, at 450 Broad Street, in Newark.
The new facility will be staffed by Red Cross workers and volunteers, and will serve as an office location and a training site for emergency, preparedness, and life-saving classes, such as CPR/First Aid, Babysitting, and Water Safety. The Red Cross will conduct training programs in the stadium while the field is not being used for other events.
The new facility was made available by Thomas E. Cetnar III and Frank Boulton of Bears Baseball, LLC, in an effort to expand American Red Cross services, programs and volunteer opportunities throughout the community.
Phil Alagia, the Chief of Staff to Essex County Executive Joseph L. DiVincenzo, spoke on behalf of the County Executive. “Great things will happen at this new facility. The new training center will train much needed volunteers who will support the community and our residents. We welcome the Red Cross and are appreciate of all they do,” stated Alagia.
The American Red Cross frequently responds to local emergency incidents in the City of Newark, primarily house and apartment fires. Staff and volunteers have assisted 339 adults and children affected by more than 45 disasters in the community since 2009.
At the ceremony, Mayor Booker also presented the Red Cross with a check for $10,847 for relief for the victims of the Haiti earthquake. The money was raised through one-time voluntary payroll deductions from City of Newark municipal employees. The City offered the one-time deduction for Red Cross Haiti relief efforts on its February 5 payroll statements as a gesture of support for such efforts. According to Census 2000 data, there are currently 13,568 residents of Haitian descent living in Essex County, many in Newark’s West Ward.
After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Red Cross staff and volunteers offered a tour of the facility and an information session on services and programs. The event was open to the community.
City of Newark
www.ci.newark.nj.us
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