Congressman Clay to highlight Missouri-Illinois Blood Services Region and St. Louis Area Chapter
outreach in the African-American community
WHAT: In honor of February as Black History Month, the American Red Cross will host an African-American History Celebration featuring Congressman William Lacy Clay as special guest with performances by Harris-Stowe State University Concert Chorale Choir.
During the event, Congressman Clay will highlight Red Cross community outreach in the African-American community. Congressman Clay will focus specifically on the Charles Drew Community Blood Donation Campaign and Red Cross emergency services provided to the community in the wake of widespread power outages that stemmed from the July, 2006 wind storm and the December, 2006 winter storm.
WHEN:
Monday, February 5, 2007 - 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
WHERE:
American Red Cross Missouri-Illinois Blood Services Region - 4050 Lindell Blvd. - St. Louis, MO.
(Media are invited to check in at the front desk.)
WHY: The American Red Cross joins Congressman William Lacy Clay in celebrating Black History Month and the many important contributions made by African Americans throughout the country and in the St. Louis metropolitan area. As part of the celebration, Congressman Clay will highlight important Red Cross programs and services and their positive impact in the local African-American community.
The Charles Drew Community Blood Donation Campaign was founded by the American Red Cross in 1999 in partnership with St. Louis Children's Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. The program educates the African-American community about the importance of blood donations, while finding blood-type matches for children with sickle cell disease - a chronic condition resulting in anemia, episodes of pain and an increased chance of infections and strokes. Children who have had strokes require frequent blood transfusions to prevent recurrence. The Charles Drew Community Blood donation Campaign is dedicated to providing these children with the treatment they need.
In 2006, a windstorm in July and a winter storm in December caused widespread power outages that affected hundreds-of-thousands throughout the metropolitan area. Following both disasters, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter responded by providing food and shelter in a time of great need. In July, the Chapter sheltered 750 people in four 24-hour emergency shelters and delivered more than 60,000 meals throughout the community in partnership with the National Guard and emergency management officials. In December, more than 1,400 St. Louisans sought shelter over six nights in five 24-hour Red Cross shelters, and the Chapter served more than 16,300 meals and snacks in partnership with the Southern Baptist Missouri Convention. During both relief efforts, the Chapter's network of outstanding community partnerships was key to service delivery.
About Congressman William Lacy Clay:
William Lacy Clay was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000, succeeding his father, the Honorable Bill Clay, who served for 32 years and was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus. Congressman Clay serves on the Financial Services Committee and on the Government Reform Committee, where he is the Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Federalism and the Census. In Congress, Mr. Clay has become a recognized leader in helping minority and low-income families create wealth from home ownership. Congressman Clay and his wife, Ivie Lewellen Clay, reside in St. Louis and are the proud parents of two children - Carol and William III.
About the American Red Cross Missouri-Illinois Blood Services Region:
The American Red Cross is a humanitarian, non-profit organization founded in 1881. The Red Cross collects almost half of the nation's blood supply. The Missouri-Illinois Region annually distributes over 500,000 blood products to patients in need. The Region's headquarters and National Testing Lab are located in St. Louis and currently stand ready to serve over 120 hospitals in 122 counties, operating four distribution centers. The Red Cross relies on the generosity of volunteer blood donors to maintain a safe and adequate blood supply all year long. To find out more about blood donation opportunities, please call 1.800.GIVE LIFE (448.3543) or log on to www.americanredcrossblood.org.
About the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter:
Founded in 1917, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter celebrates 90 years of dedicated service, providing emergency relief and preparedness training more than 410,000 times each year. The Red Cross is not a government agency and depends on the efforts of thousands of volunteers and donors to provide a wide range of community support services, including disaster relief, first aid and CPR training, water safety, services to military personnel and support for blood services. The Chapter, a United Way agency, provides programs and services to St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County and Jefferson County in Missouri, as well as Monroe, St. Clair (including Scott Air Force Base) and part of Madison County in Illinois. All disaster relief services are provided free of charge thanks to the generosity of the American people. To learn more about Red Cross programs, volunteer opportunities, and how you can help, contact the St. Louis Area Chapter at 314.516.2800 or www.redcrossstl.org.
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