ALBANY, N.Y. â American Red Cross recently announced Kate Qualters as the new chief development officer for its Eastern New York region. The Red Cross in Eastern New York serves 27 counties and more than 3.6 million people throughout its Central and Northern New York, Hudson Valley, and Northeastern New York chapters along with three blood donation centers. Last year, the region responded to 577 local disasters, providing relief to more than 2,300 people impacted by home fires, floods and other emergencies; trained 3,707 residents in free disaster training programs to help adults and children prepare for emergencies; served 2,882 military families and provided more than 5,000 case services to aid local veterans, service members and their families; enrolled 40,345 people in first aid, CPR, water safety and babysitting; and collected 66,435 units of blood to support hospitals and patients in need.