[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 102 (Monday, June 30, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1096]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRESSIONAL RECOGNITION FOR RICHARD WHITE, AMERICAN RED CROSS, 
                        SOUTHERN ARIZONA CHAPTER

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. RON BARBER

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 30, 2014

  Mr. BARBER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Richard White, 
regional Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross, Southern 
Arizona Chapter upon his retirement after 14 years of service.
  Richard came to the local chapter of the Red Cross in 2000 after nine 
years with the United Way of Tucson and immediately made an impact on 
the success of the entire organization. When the tragic events of 
September 11, 2001 happened in New York City, Richard provided his 
expertise in communications and emergency management. He also was 
instrumental in improving the financial standing of the local chapter 
of the Red Cross.
  The local Red Cross chapter serves 23,000 square miles in five 
Arizona counties--Pima, Cochise, Santa Cruz, Graham and Greenlee. It 
also serves three Native American reservations--Tohono O'odham, San 
Carlos Apache and Pascua Yaqui nations. The chapter responds to a local 
emergency nearly every 46 hours; serves more than 700 displaced people, 
most of them children, and their pets annually; trains more than 24,000 
people annually in lifesaving skills; and assists nearly 1,000 refugees 
each year.
  Under Richard's leadership, the local chapter also has successfully 
organized itself to be a significant resource for the many armed forces 
and veterans in my district and across Southern Arizona by providing 
crisis intervention, referral and direct assistance programs. Recently, 
the Veterans Administration awarded the Southern Arizona Chapter a $1 
million Supportive Services for Veteran Families grant to provide 
benefits to very low-income veteran families living in--or 
transitioning to--permanent housing. The range of services offered 
under the grant include financial assistance on behalf of veterans for 
rent payments, utility payments, security deposits and moving costs, as 
well as other services in the community.
  In 2010, when the Southern Arizona Chapter moved into its new 
offices, Richard took the initiative to go ``green'' by incorporating 
solar power and was the first American Red Cross chapter nationally to 
do so. They currently generate approximately 80 percent of their energy 
needs from a 40 KW solar array, saving approximately $160,000 in 
operating costs annually.
  We will miss Richard's commitment and dedication, but know he has 
helped form a Red Cross chapter that is ready and able to respond to 
any emergency or community need.

                          ____________________