Newark, NJ - February 4, 2010 - Mayor Cory A. Booker, members of the Newark Municipal Council, Thomas Cetnar and Frank Bolton of Bears Baseball LLC, and American Red Cross of Northern New Jersey Chief Executive Officer Ray Shepherd cut the ribbon to open the American Red Cross of Northern New Jersey’s new service center, located in Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium, at 450 Broad Street, in Newark, today.

The new facility will be staffed by Red Cross workers and volunteers, and will serve as an office location and a training site for emergency, preparedness, and life-saving classes, such as CPR/First Aid, Babysitting, and Water Safety. The Red Cross will conduct training programs in the stadium while the field is not being used for other events.

“The American Red Cross has been a major partner in our training for and response to all kinds of disasters in the City of Newark for generations,” Mayor Booker said. “We have been proud to support their latest work to relieve the suffering of victims of the Haiti earthquake, and prouder still that the Red Cross is increasing its commitment to our City and its residents with this facility. Newark and area residents will have opportunities to learn vital life-saving skills here, and when disaster strikes, the Red Cross will be able to concentrate its people and material here when they respond. This partnership between the City, Essex County, the Newark Bears, and the American Red Cross is a manifestation of the spiritual strength and unity that is making Newark a stronger, prouder, and better City.”

The new facility was graciously made available by Thomas E. Cetnar III and Frank Boulton of Bears Baseball, LLC, in an effort to expand American Red Cross services, programs and volunteer opportunities throughout the community.

“Frank and I are both excited to be able to offer this space to the American Red Cross,” said Mr. Cetnar. “This could not have been possible without Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, who opened up his arms and this great county facility and reached out to an organization in a time of need. The Red Cross has always been there for the City of Newark and it is an honor to be able to give back to an organization that has given us so much.”

Phil Alagia, the Chief of Staff to Essex County Executive Joseph L. DiVincenzo, spoke on behalf of the County Executive.  “Great things will happen at this new facility.  The new training center will train much needed volunteers who will support the community and our residents.  We welcome the Red Cross and are appreciate of all they do,” stated Alagia.

“We are very appreciative to Frank and Tom and the Newark Bears for their generosity,” said Ray Shepherd, Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross of Northern New Jersey. “Having a physical presence in Newark will give the Red Cross a chance to do so much more in the community. Our response times to disasters in the area will decrease, we will be able to provide classes and training on-site while expanding our volunteer base, as well as build new partnerships within the city.”

The American Red Cross frequently responds to local emergency incidents in the City of Newark, primarily house and apartment fires. Staff and volunteers have assisted 339 adults and children affected by more than 45 disasters in the community since 2009.

At the ceremony, Mayor Booker also presented the Red Cross with a check for $10,847 for relief for the victims of the Haiti earthquake. The money was raised through one-time voluntary payroll deductions from City of Newark municipal employees. The City offered the one-time deduction for Red Cross Haiti relief efforts on its February 5 payroll statements as a gesture of support for such efforts. According to Census 2000 data, there are currently 13,568 residents of Haitian descent living in Essex County, many in Newark’s West Ward.

After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Red Cross staff and volunteers offered a tour of the facility and an information session on services and programs. The event was open to the community.

To find out more about Red Cross programs or services or to make a financial contribution, please visit us at www.redcrossnnj.org or call 1-800-507-6058.

Residents with questions about any City of Newark initiatives, programs or policies should contact the Non-Emergency Call Center at (973) 733-4311.


 
Contact:        Newark Press Information Office  - (973) 733-8004
                                                                Email: pressoffice@ci.newark.nj.us

               American Red Cross:
               Cathy Hoag: (973) 568-2636
               hoagc@redcrossnnj.org

                Newark Bears:
                Dave Greenwald: (973) 848-1000
                dgreenwald@newarkbears.com

About the City of Newark, New Jersey
Newark, commonly referred to as Brick City, is the third oldest city in the United States and the largest in New Jersey, with a population of more than 280,000 people. Newark sits on one of the nation’s largest transportation super-structures including an international airport, major rail connections, major highway intersections and the busiest seaport on the east coast.

With a new Administration as of July 2006, Newark continues to see signs of a strong revival.  In population, it is one of the fastest growing cities in the northeast. Its six major colleges and universities are further expanding their presence. The production of affordable housing has doubled, businesses are returning and crime is going down. There is still much work to be done but Newark is on its way to achieving its mission: to set a national standard for urban transformation.

About the American Red Cross of Northern New Jersey
The American Red Cross of Northern New Jersey is a non-profit organization that helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. The Chapter serves the 3.5 million residents of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic and Warren counties, offering disaster relief, health and safety training and blood services. Each year, the Chapter responds to over 350 disasters throughout our area. The American Red Cross of Northern New Jersey depends on donations of time, money, and blood from others to make our humanitarian work possible. For more information, call 1-800-507-6058 or visit www.redcrossnnj.org

About Newark Bears Professional Baseball
Baseball has been in Newark since 1917. The Newark Bears were introduced in the International League in 1917 and underwent many changes over the years as they made their mark in sports history and developed star talent who were promoted to the parent organization, the New York Yankees. Readers of Baseball America named the 1937 Newark Bears the minor-league team of the century. Nearly 60 years later, the County of Essex opened the Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium as the new home of the Newark Bears, a member of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball in 1999. The stadium name pays tribute to the city’s former Negro League Team, the Newark Eagles, formed via the merger of the Newark Dodgers and the Brooklyn Eagles in 1936. The talented team won the Negro World Series in 1946 and sent five players to the National Baseball Hall of Fame: Larry Doby, Monte Irvin, Willie Wells, Ray Dandridge, and Leon Day. Larry Doby made another significant mark in history by becoming the first African American to play in the American League. In 1948, the Eagles departed from Newark as the integration of baseball found increased success.

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