Last night, during the Los Angeles Lakers’ home opener against the Houston Rockets, the Lakers and their fans teamed up to help the American Red Cross meet the needs of one of the largest evacuations in California history.

For the past 10 days, wildfires have raged across seven Southern California counties, forcing hundreds of thousands of residents to evacuate, destroying over 2,000 structures and nearly 800 square miles, triggering numerous road closures and prompting school officials to cancel classes throughout the region. The Lakers were forced to cancel their San Diego pre-season game last week due to the uncertainty of the situation.

The Lakers quickly responded to the community’s needs by pledging $100,000 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. The Lakers had pledged the same amount back in 2003 to the American Red Cross in response to the equally devastating Southern California wildfires four years ago.

Eugenia Chow, Lakers Director of Community Relations, presented the $100,000 donation to Paul Schulz, American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles CEO, and Edmond Lelo, Chapter Board Chairman, during the first half. The contribution will provide immediate front line disaster relief and long-term recovery support for those in need.

A strong turnout of Laker fans joined their favorite team to show their support of the American Red Cross after the game. Fans that made a minimum contribution of $5.00 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund were able to come down to the court after the game, meet the 2007-08 Los Angeles Laker Girls squad and receive an autographed Laker Girls photo. Over 250 fans participated, contributing an additional $1,810 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund!

Several NBA teams are joining the Lakers and lending their support to the Southern California community and those affected by the wildfires. To help raise additional funds, NBA teams are donating either a team autographed item or an item autographed by their All-Star player. Later this month, the Lakers will conduct in-arena “NBA Cares” auctions featuring the premium autographed sports memorabilia. Items include jerseys signed by LeBron James, Baron Davis, Dirk Nowitzki, Yao Ming, Chris Bosh and Emeka Okafor and a Miami Heat team signed basketball. All proceeds from these items will be donated to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund – California Wildfires.

The Los Angeles Lakers would like to thank its fans and fellow NBA teams for their overwhelming support and commitment to assist our community as we work together to recover from this recent crisis.

A Message from the American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles

The American Red Cross is extremely grateful for the compassion shown to the residents of Southern California by the Lakers, their fans and the NBA. Thanks to your tremendous generosity, we were able to swiftly and successfully meet the needs of one of the largest evacuations in California history. This level of response was possible because the Red Cross has increased its readiness level over the past two-and-a-half years by strategically pre-positioning supplies across the country, improving our communications and delivery systems, and building up our reserve of volunteers and resources. These enhancements, which help the Red Cross deliver relief faster and more efficiently, have only been possible because of generous past contributions to our Disaster Relief Fund.

The Red Cross has determined that current financial donations and pledges received prior to and including last night’s game will cover the Red Cross's cost for its response to the wildfires, estimated not to exceed $12-15 million. Some donations remain in "pledge" form and, while not yet received by the Red Cross, have been incorporated into its calculations. It is therefore critical that supporters fulfill their pledged gifts, including completing special events, corporate matching gifts, and customer and employee donation programs currently planned.

Your generous financial support has allowed nearly 4,000 Red Cross disaster relief workers - more than 90 percent of them volunteers - to ensure that survivors have shelter, food, comfort and the means to provide essential items for themselves and their families. Survivors are receiving clean-up supplies, counseling, basic healthcare and family connecting services. The Red Cross opened 26 shelters, providing a safe place to stay to approximately 6,000 people at the peak of the fires. Red Cross mental health workers have also been available to provide emotional support and help those uprooted from their homes deal with their fears and anxieties.

We're grateful for the work of our dedicated volunteer corps. With their help, the Red Cross is able to use donations efficiently - putting no less than 91 cents of every dollar donated towards direct relief.

In the coming weeks and months, the Red Cross will work with community partners to identify resources to aid in the long-term recovery of individuals and families affected by the wildfires. As their needs evolve over the next several days and weeks, the Red Cross will continue to help them through this process thanks to your donations.

You can continue to support future disaster relief efforts by donating to the Disaster Relief Fund. Generous gifts to this fund enable the Red Cross to provide food, shelter and counseling to the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year. This fund ensures, just as it did in Southern California, that help is immediately available in every community across the United States. Your continued support is also essential to the more than 750 Red Cross chapters that provide lifesaving support in local communities every day.

If you would like to continue to support the Red Cross, you can:

• Donate to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund by calling 1-800-HELP NOW or by visiting www.redcross.org
• Support your local Red Cross chapter and its own local year-round disaster relief operations.
• Make a lifesaving blood donation by calling 1-800-GIVE LIFE.
• Volunteer at your local chapter.