Holding an oversized $175,000 contribution from PG&E are Fresno County Supervisor Susan Anderson and Ellen Knapp, regional CEO of the American Red Cross. (Photo by Trevor Bacolini.)
PG&E and the American Red Cross Central Valley Chapter teamed up for two events this month in Fresno, both aimed at promoting emergency preparedness and safety.
On Saturday (Sept. 8), a Prep Rally and Emergency Preparedness Fair took place at the River Park Shopping Center in Fresno. The afternoon event featured a PG&E mobile command unit, which turned out to be a big hit with the more than 300 attendees.
This is the second year that PG&E and the Central Valley Red Cross have teamed up for the Prep Rally, which also highlights the ongoing and larger partnership in Northern and Central California between the two organizations. During the event, PG&E presented a $175,000 check to Ellen Knapp, regional CEO of the Red Cross, to help fund emergency preparedness efforts.
At the event, Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin presented a proclamation marking September as National Preparedness Month in the city. In addition to the mayor, others in attendance included Red Cross President William Chaltraw, Fresno County Supervisor Susan Anderson and local fire officials.
Fresno County Supervisor Susan Anderson and Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin spoke at the PG&E and Red Cross Prep Rally in Fresno on Saturday. (Photo by Jeanette Ishii.)
Just a week earlier (Sept. 1), PG&E and the Red Cross guided 20,000 Fresno State football fans in an attempt to break a Guinness World Record for the largest hands-only CPR lesson. The event launched National Preparedness month locally.
Game attendees were given a hands-only CPR guide when they entered the stadium. During half-time, a brief video tutorial — featuring Fresno State football players –instructed the audience on how to perform the life-saving tool.
Mike Savage, director of information technology at PG&E and a former Fresno State football player, demonstrated CPR on Fresno State’s bulldog mascot Timeout.
Organizers submitted the event to see if a world record will be verified.
