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Supporting Our Communities

GCI supports Red Cross of Alaska fire safety program with $10,000 donation

The program will distribute free smoke detectors and promote fire safety, preparedness

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The American Red Cross responds to a disaster every eight minutes, the majority of which in Alaska are home fires. To help reduce the damaging, and sometimes deadly, impacts of these tragic events, GCI has contributed $10,000 to the American Red Cross of Alaska’s Home Fire Campaign, Sound the Alarm.

The Red Cross Sound the Alarm Home Fire campaign works to reduce the number of injuries and deaths due to fire, both for people in the homes and the firefighters charged with bringing them to safety. The program includes providing free smoke alarms, developing escape plans for families, teaching fire safety courses, and providing financial and emotional support to families affected by home fires. To learn more about this program and how you can contribute directly or even volunteer please follow this link:  American Red Cross of Alaska – Sound the Alarm Campaign.

“In 2021, the Red Cross of Alaska responded to 283 disasters in 30 communities, providing food, shelter, comfort, relief supplies, emotional support, and recovery planning to individuals and families in need,” said American Red Cross of Alaska Regional Executive Tanguy Libbrecht. “These home fire relief, recovery, and assistance programs are only possible with partners like GCI. Together, we can better prepare our communities for disasters, including home fires and support families who experience them.”

‘It Could Have Been a Whole Lot Worse’: Smoke Alarms Save Family’s Lives from American Red Cross on Vimeo.

Through its Home Fire Campaign in 2022, American Red Cross of Alaska will install more than 1,300 smoke alarms in high-risk communities, teach 1,000 students fire safety, help families develop escape plans, and respond to home fires across the state.

“Helping improve health, safety, and preparedness for Alaskans is a high priority for all of us here at GCI,” said Mark Johnson, Senior Staff Program Manager of GCI Technology Solutions and Red Cross of Alaska board member. “Organizations like Red Cross of Alaska have proven time and time again that they’re committed to helping Alaskans prepare for the unexpected and respond in times of need. We are very proud to extend our support to their Home Fire Campaign.”

GCI is one of Alaska’s leaders in corporate philanthropy, donating approximately $2 million each year in cash, products, and connectivity to organizations across the state. GCI is committed to giving back to the communities it serves, and diversity, equity and inclusion are an important area of focus for giving for the company. Giving back is also a company value as employees receive 16 hours of paid leave to volunteer with local organizations.

For more information about GCI Gives visit GCI.com/gcigives.

About GCI

Headquartered in Alaska, GCI provides data, mobile, video, voice and managed services to consumer, business, government, and carrier customers throughout Alaska, serving more than 200 communities. The company has invested more than $4 billion in its Alaska network and facilities over the past 40 years and recently launched true standards-based 5G NR service in Anchorage, now the nation’s northernmost 5G service area. Learn more about GCI at www.gci.com. GCI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Broadband Corporation (Nasdaq: LBRDA, LBRDK, LBRDP). Learn more about Liberty Broadband at http://www.libertybroadband.com.

About the American Red Cross of Alaska:
In Fiscal Year 2021, the American Red Cross of Alaska responded to over 300 disasters by offering food, shelter, relief supplies, comfort, hope and recovery services to 803 Alaskans in 48 communities statewide. Our preparedness teams installed 1,165 free smoke alarms and educated 775 youth through The Pillowcase Project. Our Training Services department enrolled 10,756 students in first aid/CPR/AED, aquatics and caregiving classes. Our Service to the Armed Forces staff exchanged 1,261 emergency messages for U.S. military service personnel and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. Our statewide workforce of 422 volunteers logged 32,029 hours in service to our mission and their fellow Alaskans. For more information, please visit redcross.org/Alaska or visit us on Twitter at @redcrossak.