Businesses don't bluff in hurricane support

CASEY RESSLER

Frontiersman Valley Life editor

The district manager of the American Red Cross of Alaska said local businesses have gone out of their way in raising money for hurricane victims in the Gulf Coast region.

Nancy Hall, of the American Red Cross, said the help has come from everybody from poker players to restaurant owners.

"We've had lots of individuals donating, and lots of businesses," Hall said. "People are being creative in how they give."

One example was last week's weekly poker tournament at the Grand View Inn. There, the Alaska Poker Association teamed with the hotel and the Glacier Canyon Grill to raise $1,120 during the tournament.

Hall said Lithia Chevrolet of Wasilla was able to donate $1,500 to the Red Cross.

At Mat-Su Resort last weekend, a fund-raiser was held, with 100 percent of the silent auction money being donated, as well as 20 percent of the food sales.

As of Monday morning, a dollar amount had not been released.

Hall said there are two ways to donate. People may give to the National Disaster Relief Fund, from which 100 percent of the money goes to national disaster victims, such as those of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita.

There is also a strong effort to raise money for the 80/20 Fund, Hall said.

"Eighty percent goes to the national disaster fund, while 20 percent stays here in Alaska, so we can help people here," Hall said.

"If a family loses everything because of a house fire, we can use that money to help. And we are just getting into the time of year when we see a lot of those," Hall said.

"Our CEO, Joe Mathis, came up with the 80/20 idea so that we can be prepared for emergencies here in Alaska, and still donate to the national disaster victims," Hall said.

Contact Casey Ressler at 352-2265 or valleylife@frontiersman.com.