2296                                         LAWS OF MARYLAND                      [Ch. 682

Preamble

WHEREAS, The American Red Cross, Baltimore Chapter,
(hereinafter referred to as the Baltimore Regional Red
Cross) has provided service to this area for the past 68
years; and

WHEREAS, The services of the Baltimore Regional Red
Cross include emergency services when disasters strike,
assistance to military personnel and their families,
nursing and safety programs, services to the aged and
youth, and a voluntary blood donor program; and

WHEREAS, The services of the Baltimore Regional
Cross directly benefit all citizens of Central Maryland,
including the 50,000 employees of the State; and

WHEREAS, Baltimore area hospitals have requested the
Baltimore Regional Red Cross to expand its blood program
to help relieve an acute blood supply shortage and to
increase the supply of the healthiest blood possible; and

WHEREAS, The Baltimore Regional Red Cross currently
occupies an 88 year old structure which is inadequate to
meet the growing need for expanded Red Cross services and
programs; and

WHEREAS, The Board of the Baltimore Regional Red
Cross has entered into a contract to purchase the
Peterson, Howell and Heather Building at 2701 North
Charles Street, in Baltimore City, and determined that
said modern, six—story structure is ideally located and
suited for the future needs of Red Cross; and

WHEREAS, The acquisition of said Building will
enable the Baltimore Regional Red Cross to expand its
services and programs and to increase the supply of blood
distributed to area hospitals and to such vital
facilities serving all Maryland as the Shock Trauma Unit
of the University of Maryland Hospital; and

WHEREAS, The total new capital funds needed from
private and public sources to purchase the Building is
$1,250,000, of which $1,000,000 is to be supplied by
pledges from the business community and the Baltimore
Regional Red Cross needs $250,000 from other sources; and

WHEREAS, The State of Maryland over the years has
subsidised other nonpublic institutions whose programs
improve the public health, safety and welfare; and

WHEREAS, It is the desire of the General Assembly of
Maryland to appropriate an aggregate sum of $250,000 to
aid in the acquisition by the Baltimore Regional Red