The American Red Cross Southern Arizona Chapter opened the doors today at its new headquarters.
The region's Red Cross moved from a building it leased to a 12,500-square-foot building bought by the chapter in July 2009 for $960,000.
The new headquarters are at 2916 E. Broadway, near Country Club Road.
By owning its the building, the local Red Cross will save about $130,000 in rent and other expenses, said Jennifer Tersigni, chief development officer of the Southern Arizona Chapter.
The Red Cross bought the building with bequests left to the chapter by a handful of individuals, Tersigni said.
The local chapter serves as the Humanitarian Services Division of the Red Cross and provides disaster relief. With the new facility, the Red Cross now has the ability to operate a disaster command center for large-scale emergencies.
People are also reading…
"We can coordinate a response from our own facility rather than have to beg, borrow or steal office space," Tersigni said.
First aid, water safety and cardiopulmonary resuscitation classes also will be offered at the new site.
In the old facility, the Red Cross had space to train only eight people at a time, but in the new building, 50 people can be trained at once.
What people can't do is donate blood at the new facility.
Blood Services is a division of the American Red Cross but not part of the American Red Cross Southern Arizona Chapter, which serves Pima, Santa Cruz, Cochise, Graham and Greenlee counties.
The Arizona Region Blood Services has its headquarters in Tucson, and the Blood Donation Center is at 7139 E. Broadway.
Contact reporter Andrea Rivera at arivera@azstarnet.com or 807-8430.
101 homes to be built on NW Tucson corner
