Do you know a community hero?

The American Red Cross, East Georgia Chapter will be hosting the annual Hometown Heroes Breakfast on May 16, 2012 at 7:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Athens. 

The American Red Cross recognizes that ordinary people and professionals living within East Georgia often commit lifesaving acts within their communities. At the breakfast, the American Red Cross will honor local heroes who live within the 14 counties represented by the East Georgia Chapter.  These counties include Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Franklin, Greene, Hart, Jackson, Morgan, Madison, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Stephens, and Walton.

The concept for the Hometown Heroes Breakfast has grown out of a desire to develop an event that is closely related to the mission of the American Red cross –  teaching people to save lives. Our categories include:

Good Samaritan, Good Samaritan Youth (under 18 years old), Emergency Medical Hero, Law Enforcement Hero, Nurse Hero, Animal Rescue Hero, Fire Rescue Hero, Citizenship Hero, Military Hero, Water Rescue Hero, Disaster Relief Hero, and Community Impact Hero.

The American Red Cross implores individuals living in these counties to nominate outstanding residents of these East Georgia counties who have committed a heroic act from June 2011 to present using their First Aid, CPR, AED training and other actions to save lives. A number of oustanding corporations have underwritten for the Heroes Breakfast and all net revenue will benefit local disaster relief, programs and services.

A link to the Heroes nomination form is located on the East Georgia Chapter website homepage, http://eastgeorgia.redcross.org/documents/2012NominationForm.pdf

Entourage Clothing and Gifts boutique located in Athens, Ga is sponsoring a contest that will donate $2,500 to whichever local charity receives the most votes on their Facebook page.

What does this mean to you? It means you should “like” Entourage’s Facebook page: (https://www.facebook.com/entourageathens) and click on the link on the left side title “$2,500 Giveaway,” fill out the form and say the East Georgia Red Cross referred you. It’s that simple and you will be putting us one vote closer to winning! The contest ends March 1st.

And in the meantime, read the wonderful post Entourage wrote about us on their blog: (http://entourageclothing.blogspot.com/2012/02/red-cross-east-georgia.html).

Eat great food and Invest in Hope at the same time for families devastated by natural disaster.  The opportunity to participate in a great and worthy cause does not occur very often.  The American Red Cross is an organization that serves to help those who have been the victims of natural disasters.  Because we are not a federally funded non-profit, our existence depends on your donations and support.  There is a list of restaurants on February 23 from 5-9 that will be participating in a percentage night with us:

• Smoothie at Omni
• Smoothie King at 5 Points
• Kelly’s Jamaican Jerk
• Subway at 5 Points
• Your Pie at 5 Points
• Fox’s Pizza Den in Athens and Oconee
• Stuffed Burger on Baxter

Mention the Red Cross when you order your food, they will take care of the rest!  If you are a restaurant owner and would like to join us on the 23^rd, please contact Executive Director, Jeff Taylor, at 706-353-1645.  Please join us and show your support, we would be immensely grateful. 

For more information on the campaign or to make a monetary donation in support of our team, please visit the Red Cross website.

Also, please let us know if you’d like to donate gently used or new items to our booth. We’ll be collecting items through Saturday morning! For more info on Y4R and what we do, visit http://youngforred.com/

Mike Copas, a donor who previously received assistance from our chapter during a house fire.

Imagine waking up to discover that part of your home is on fire. That is the situation Mike Copas found himself in six years ago. “I woke up in the middle of the night and thought it was my arthritis that had woken me up, but I went to the bathroom and looked out the window and saw that my apartment was on fire,” he said. He ran outside and watched as the firefighters hosed down the building, as the Red Cross volunteers dispatched from the East Georgia Chapter arrived.

Although Mr. Copas wasn’t aware the fire department called the Red Cross, he was grateful for the assistance provided because “they put me up at the Howard Johnson… and since it was during a snowstorm they let me stay a few extra days.” With the help of a compassionate employer and a couple of friends, Mr. Copas was able to find a new home within a few days.

After this experience left him “know[ing] what it’s like to be homeless,” he decided to donate to our chapter with some of his leftover money from the holiday season this past year. “[The Red Cross] helped me out a few years back, so I wanted to pay it back a little.” Mr. Copas’ donation is a winning example of the generous, giving spirit that keeps the Red Cross running.

The Red Cross East Georgia Chapter has created a T-shirt for March is Red Cross Month; they are $10.00 with a portion of the proceeds benefiting our chapter directly! A proof is attached. Note there is a pocket on the left chest which is not depicted here. If you’re interested in purchasing a shirt email melissaw225@gmail.com with your name, size, and phone number. Payment can be cash, check or credit card and be dropped off at our local chapter office or mailed in! The T-shirts will be in the week of February 27th and we’ll notify you via email or phone call when they’ve arrived.

What an amazing Superbowl game last night! Millions of people across the country enjoyed excitement, laughter, and great food while tuning in to the big game. What better way to continue those wonderful emotions than  supporting a worthy cause and getting some excellent food in the process?

Fox’s Pizza Den is running a fundraiser this week, February 6- February 11 2012, to support the East GA Chapter of the American Red Cross. With the purchase of a large one-topping pizza for $10, your local Red Cross receives 30 percent or $3 of every purchase.  If you’re still bulging  from the Super Bowl festivities last night, have no worries! This fundraiser gives customers a certificate for the pizza they purchase, which can be redeemed starting Monday, February 13, 2012 and continuing anytime within the next 3 months for dine in, carryout, or delivery. You can visit their website at http://www.foxspizzaoconee.com/ and look for the Red Cross logo in the upper left corner.

We are so grateful to be partnering with Fox’s Pizza and we look forward to your support!

You don’t want to miss out on any of these upcoming dates!

• Miss Sorority Row: February 25th . The Miss Sorority Row pageant, hosted by Delta Sigma Phi, is historically one of the best and most entertaining events in Athens.  The pageant features members from 18 sororities who will compete in Gameday Wear, Evening Wear, Talent, and Onstage Questions. There will also be featured performances; past talents include dancing by The Red Hots, Project 7, and other local dance companies. There have also been stepping competitions, appearances by UGA football stars, and comedians.  This year, our very own Jeff Taylor, Executive Director of The East Georgia Chapter of The Red Cross, will be a featured judge! Also, all proceeds will go to the East Georgia Chapter- this is a great way to get involved and donate while attending an energy-filled event to support Athens’ finest! We are very thankful and proud that we are Delta Sigma Phi’s National Philanthropy  and can’t wait for this event!

A Miss Sorority Row 2011 contestant during the interview process of the competition

• Derby Days: April 9th-14th. Derby Days is a week-long event full of fun activities for everyone to participate in  and the money raised will be donated to our Red Cross Chapter! There is no better way to spend this week in April but with our volunteers, UGA students, sorority members, and the wonderful Sigma Chi fraternity members. We are so excited about this week and cannot thank Sigma Chi enough for their support and partnership with The East Georgia Chapter of The Red Cross. Here’s a look at the Derby Days activities that Red Cross members will be present at: Thursday, April 12th at 4:00 Carnival event at the Sigma Chi house with The Boys and Girls Club and Friday, April 13th at 5:00 Derby Olympics at Legion Field. Check out their chapter website for more details: http://www.ugasig.com/home.htm

Friends pose during a Sigma Chi Derby Days event in 2011

This is a great opportunity to meet our staff and board members as well as have a great time watching people take the plunge!

People from our East Georgia Red Cross  team plunging are:

Our very own Jeffery Taylor (Executive Director), Sergeant Courtney Gale (Board Member), Jennifer Fogel (Masters Candidate Intern), Will Hodges (Board Member), Beau Seagraves (Board Member), and our Students for the American Red Cross (SARC) has 8 health and safety lifeguards!

Plunging not for you? Take the Chicken Dip and just dip your toes in the icy water! Or just come out and support our team brave enough to jump in Lake Chapman. There will music, lunch, and a bonfire with s’mores! Also, there will be prizes for those who dress up in costumes! Above all else, you will get a chance to donate money to The American Red Cross for disaster relief during these cold months!

For more information or to donate, please visit the Athens Rotary Club’s Plungefest website at:

http://plungefest.athensgarotaryclub.org/athens/teampage.asp?fundid=1684#.Tya-jR9WrR4.email

Its not too late! Remember to come out Saturday, February 4th!

A shelter resident of the 2011 tornadoes in Tuscaloosa, Alabama opens up a comfort kit at a Red Cross shelter

For those who graciously donate to the East Georgia Chapter of The Red Cross, each cent is put to work to help others prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. But what exactly does that mean?

In more tangible terms:

• $3 provides ONE comfort kit
• $10 provides ONE hot meal
• $20 provides ONE clean up kit
• $25 provides THREE meals
• $30 provides FIVE blankets
• $50 food + shelter for ONE person for ONE day
• $200 food + shelter for family of FOUR for ONE day

Just the other day we met a couple at our Inspire Tour who gave throughout last year and their combined donation in 2011 fully sheltered, fed, and comforted one of our 234 families devastated by fire. It is inspiring to see how donations are translated into real help for real people!

HOW TO DONATE:

• By Phone: Call our local chapter at 706-353-1645 and speak with Jeff Taylor who will be     happy to lead you through our donating process
• By Mail: Send a check to American Red Cross East Georgia Chapter 490 Pulaski Street Athens, GA 30601 Online: American Red Cross East Georgia
• Website: http://eastgeorgia.redcross.org/