COUNTYWIDE : Red Cross Donations Down; Crisis Looms

The Orange County chapter of the American Red Cross is only slightly more than one-fifth of its way toward a $1-million fund-raising goal established last month because of decreased donations and could go broke by summer without more funding, officials said Wednesday.

Donations have totaled $213,900 since the Red Cross announced a four-month fund-raising campaign to erase a deficit brought on by the recession and other factors, spokeswoman Judy Iannaccone said.

Besides reduced individual donations because of the recession, funding from the United Way--which has been financially hurt by a scandal in its national organization--also dropped last year by about $250,000, Iannaccone said.

Since the Red Cross relies solely on donations from individuals, foundations and nonprofit organizations, the Orange County chapter of the disaster-relief and preparedness organization will go broke by summer unless donations increase, Iannaccone said.

“It’s a real critical situation for us and the community,” she said.

Red Cross officials said last month that Orange County services will have to be cut unless donations increase.

Local Red Cross activities have included establishing a relay service to provide information to Orange County relatives of victims of the recent explosion in Guadalajara, Mexico, determining whether assistance was required after last week’s earthquake, and offering mutual aid to the Riverside Red Cross after a plane crash there.

The Orange County Red Cross chapter needs about $3.5 million a year to operate. For information on donating, call the Red Cross at (714) 835-5381.