MrsPR | Non Profits | American Red Cross in Greater New York Gets New Headquarters

Organization Acquires 514 West 49th Street; Extensive Renovations and High-tech Upgrades Planned for Building

Following the sale last year of its former headquarters at 150 Amsterdam Avenue, The American Red Cross in Greater New York (ARC/GNY) has found a new permanent home. The organization today announced it has acquired 514 West 49th Street, Manhattan, a four-story, 100,000-square foot stand alone building.

The property, to serve as the ARC/GNY's new official headquarters, will be substantially renovated and upgraded, including the installation of high tech communications and information technology systems. Real estate services firm Studley arranged the transaction on behalf of the Red Cross.

Theresa Bischoff, CEO of the American Red Cross in Greater New York, said, "This new building enables us to fulfill our mission, using state-of-the-art technology and facilities, to help the 9 million New Yorkers we serve to prepare and respond to any kind of disaster and emergency."

The ARC/GNY has retained renowned architecture firm Gensler to oversee extensive renovations to the property, including:

* a technologically advanced Emergency Communications Center which will
operate 24/7, allowing ARC/GNY to instantly learn about, and monitor
the response to, all events in the greater New York area;

* a state-of-the-art Emergency Operations Center from which ARC/GNY will
manage its response to any future major disasters and coordinate with
agencies of the city, state and federal governments;

* modern classrooms and training centers, which will increase the
effectiveness and double the capacity for ARC/GNY's life saving skills
instructional courses;

* a large garage from which the ARC/GNY will be able to instantly
dispatch emergency vehicles to get to disaster sites with personnel and supplies.

The new location will also provide improved transportation access, directly onto the West Side Highway, to achieve better response times.

David Kelso, Chairman of the ARC/GNY Board of Trustees' Real Estate Task Force, said, "This new headquarters will help us better equip our employees and volunteers to do the great job they do every day. And thanks to their hard work and dedication, the Red Cross will continue to serve as New York's premiere emergency support organization."

A total of 140 employees will move to the new headquarters in fall 2006. The new headquarters will also accommodate hundreds of volunteers who assist in numerous capacities and are part of a 3,600-volunteer force.

The American Red Cross, now marking its Centennial Year, helps people avoid, prepare for and respond to emergencies. In addition to responding to major disasters like the events of September 11th, the American Red Cross in Greater New York responds to an average of 8 emergencies a day such as blackouts, fires, water main breaks and building collapses. The Red Cross also offers a variety of health and safety courses on such subjects as first aid and Adult and Child CPR. For course information call 1-800-514-5103 or visit http://www.nyredcross.org/. For general information call 1 877 RED CROSS.

CONTACT: Richard Kane of the American Red Cross in Greater New York,
+1-212-875-2013; or Public Relations - Germaine Febles of Rubenstein
Communications, Inc., +1-212-843-8031, for the American Red Cross in Greater
New York