When Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast with a terrible vengeance in August 2005, we offered our Scripps colleagues an opportunity to double their personal contributions through a special matching gift program underwritten by the Company. Their response was extraordinary.
Almost 1,600 individual Scripps employees, executives, directors, family members and Foundation trustees responded with contributions to the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army totaling nearly $600,000. The Foundation and the Company provided additional funds that brought the total to nearly $1.3 million in disaster relief aid to the victims.
In addition, individual Scripps properties around the country spearheaded fund drives and telethons, and Great American Country joined with the Red Cross for a special on-air fundraiser.