08/12/2026
American Red Cross Arizona Receives Mercy Care Community Reinvestment Grant to Strengthen Community Resilience
The American Red Cross Arizona New Mexico Region has been awarded this grant to support community resilience efforts across Arizona. This funding will help expand disaster preparedness initiatives that equip local volunteers, community leaders and residents with the tools and knowledge needed to prepare for and respond to emergencies in their own neighborhoods.
The grant will help address critical gaps in disaster preparedness among some of Arizona’s most vulnerable communities, with a focus on risks including extreme heat, wildfires and monsoon-related emergencies. Through this program, the Red Cross is building a community-led model of resilience - ensuring preparedness resources are accessible where they are needed most.
In 2026, the American Red Cross Arizona New Mexico Region conducted 10 extreme heat preparedness walks across the Phoenix area, reaching approximately 1,800 residents across Maricopa, Gila and Pinal counties. These outreach efforts prioritized individuals and communities at higher risk during extreme heat events, providing education, resources and connections to help residents stay safe.
“This partnership with Mercy Care allows us to put readiness directly into the hands of the neighborhoods who need it most,” said Edgar R. Olivo, CEO of the American Red Cross Arizona New Mexico Region. “When a local volunteer knows how to check on an elderly neighbor during a heat wave or help a family evacuate before a wildfire spreads, that’s resilience built from the ground up. We are grateful to Mercy Care for investing in this vision alongside us.”
Mercy C.A.R.E.S. (Community Action Resources Education and Service) is Mercy Care’s community giving initiative, supporting nonprofit organizations throughout Arizona that address health disparities and advance community well-being. Through this initiative, Mercy Care invests in programs that align with its commitment to improving health outcomes and strengthening communities.
The American Red Cross Arizona New Mexico Region is grateful to Mercy Care for its continued partnership and commitment to building safer, stronger and more resilient communities across Arizona.
