May 18, 2011
The American Red Cross Midway-Kansas Chapter will honor Koch Industries Inc., the Wichita West High School ProStart Culinary Program and the K.T. Wiedemann Foundation, Inc. on May 19, 2011, at the chapter’s 96th annual meeting for helping raise more than $7 million for Red Cross.
Red Cross will present Koch Industries, Inc. with the Corporate Excellence Award for its longstanding commitment to the humanitarian mission of Red Cross. Since the mid-1970s, Koch Industries has contributed more than $2 million to the American Red Cross for domestic and international disaster relief, family services programs, and capital campaigns. In addition, the company has sponsored on-site employee blood drives for more than 35 years and supported the organization locally through a presence on the board of directors for more than 10 years. In March 2011, Koch Industries donated $500,000 to support Red Cross earthquake and tsunami relief efforts in Japan.
“Through times of peace and disaster, Red Cross has seen Koch Industries as a leader in helping alleviate human suffering,” Morlan said. “Their broad, encompassing outreach has helped thousands of people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.”
Wichita West High School’s ProStart Culinary Program will receive the To the Rescue Award for preparing and individually packaging more than 4,000 cookies for seniors. Last winter, ProStart embraced the Red Cross Good Neighbor Nutrition Program after ProStart Culinary, a national career-building program, challenged its local affiliates to create projects that would utilize their skills to benefit the community. Thanks to the students’ leadership, the holidays were brightened for more than 1,000 seniors. The Good Neighbor Nutrition Program serves hot, nutritious lunches to nearly 1,000 homebound and active seniors and keeps them healthy and independent.
The K.T. Wiedemann Foundation will receive the Partnership Excellence Award for its ongoing support to Red Cross programs and services. Since 1989, it has given more than $150,000 to the Midway-Kansas Chapter and has supported the Medical Transportation Program, Family Services, and has helped Red Cross respond to local disasters, such as the Greensburg tornado. The K.T. Wiedemann Foundation contributed to Midway-Kansas Chapter’s capital campaign and is a member of the Henry Dunant Society – an honorary society for local, large donors.
“The commitment these entities have shown to Red Cross is astonishing and represents the pinnacle of dedication and philanthropy,” said Bev Morlan, regional executive director for the Midway-Kansas Chapter. “On behalf of the 91,000 people Red Cross helped locally, we thank them for making our community a safer, healthier place.”
The annual meeting will be at the Wichita State University Marcus Welcome Center at 11:30 a.m. and is open to the public. Tickets are $25 per person or $200 per table of eight and can be purchased by calling (316) 219-4087.