When disaster strikes, the American Red Cross is quick to respond — and partners from the Red Cross Community Adaptation Program (CAP) play a vital role in those efforts. That’s why General Motors is proud to support this mission by donating 59 BrightDrop electric vans, helping the Red Cross CAP and local nonprofits deliver critical aid to communities when it’s needed most.
GM’s corporate philanthropy has been donating to disaster relief efforts for more than 20 years and joined the Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP) in 2010. ADGP members, including GM, pledge donations in advance of disasters to strengthen and prepare the Red Cross with trained volunteers, infrastructure, innovative technology and critical resources necessary to provide relief and support when needed.
These donations enable the Red Cross to respond to disasters at a moment’s notice — offering a safe place to sleep, a hot meal, emotional support and resources to aid in recovery — while also helping prepare people and communities for future disasters.
The Red Cross CAP works with local nonprofit organizations to help increase community resilience and lessen the impact of disaster-caused displacement of the most vulnerable in the affected areas. CAP partners commit to working with the Red Cross before, during and after disasters to help strengthen the resilience of the entire community. The 59 donated BrightDrop electric vans will enhance partners’ ability to deliver health, hunger, and housing services in their communities before disasters strike, as well as support local relief efforts in the wake of emergencies.
BrightDrop electric vans are purpose-built to provide exceptional range and can be configured for GM-estimated range of up to 296 miles per charge, spacious cargo capacity of 614 cubic feet and 3,710 lbs max payload. BrightDrop vans allow the American Red Cross and its partners to reach even remote and underserved locations efficiently with critical supplies and equipment needed for disaster relief and community support.
“Getting disaster relief quickly to the people who need it most is a shared mission between General Motors and the American Red Cross,” said Ian Hucker, GM Envolve vice president. “Our donation of more than 50 BrightDrop electric vans supports their community outreach programs, enabling the American Red Cross to prepare and respond to those impacted.”
The Red Cross responds to more than 65,000 disasters across the country every year — mobilizing a team every eight minutes — providing relief, comfort and hope to people during what can be the worst days of their lives. As major disasters like wildfires and hurricanes increase in frequency and intensity, support from donors like GM continues to fuel Red Cross readiness and build response capacity in times of crisis.
