 Local Red Cross Volunteers Assemble 3,500 Roses to Raise Funds for Measles Vaccinations in Africa and South Asia
Volunteers ranged from soldiers to Girl Scouts to school organizations
St. Louis, Wednesday, March 12, 2008 – Since the beginning of the year, American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter volunteers hand-assembled 3,500 long-stemmed chocolate roses for community partners to sell at $2 each to raise fundsfor measles vaccinations in Africa and South Asia. In just two weeks, $5,000 has already been raised and over 2,500 roses sold; the other 1,000 roses are being sold throughout the year.
“Red Cross volunteers and community partners are essential to the success of this year’s fundraising efforts.” said Kathy Lass, director of international services for the St. Louis Area Chapter. “These men and women have made simple steps right here in the St. Louis area community to directly impact children on the other side of the world by raising funds to potentially save 7,000 lives.”
Soldiers from the HRC-STL Human Resources Command, Saint Louis, SGM Burton and a team of 20 Soldiers and 2 Army Civilians partnered with the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter to raise money for measles vaccinations in Africa and South Asia.
"I have been volunteering for the Red Cross for over 30 years. When I heard of this volunteer opportunity, I asked my Soldiers at the Soldier Record Data Center if they would participate with me," said SGM Charles B. Burton. "I was very proud that 20 Soldiers and 2 Civilians volunteered. As a group, we could work together for this important cause. Knowing our actions could potentially impact hundreds of lives was very satisfying."
Volunteers also included Citigroup employees, Girl Scout organizations and students from local schools and universities. Community partners that sold the roses included Barry-Wehmiller, Brown Shoe Company, MICDS, Parkway North East Middle School, St. Joseph’s Academy, St. Louis University (CHAS and School of Medicine), St. Louis YMCA (Mid-County Branch), University of Missouri – St. Louis (Black Student Nursing Association) and Washington University (School of Business and George Warren Brown School of Social Work).
For More Information:
To learn more about the Measles Initiative, or to buy roses and make a contribution to this lifesaving effort, the public is encouraged to contact Kathy Lass at the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter at 314.516.2737, or log on to www.redcrossstl.org.
About the Measles Initiative:
Each year, measles – a disease that has virtually been eliminated in the Western Hemisphere – kills nearly 242,000 people globally. Of those, most are children under the age of five. Measles is a leading vaccine-preventable childhood killer, and millions of children remain at risk. The good news is that measles can be prevented with a simple vaccination that costs less than one dollar per child.
The Measles Initiative was launched in 2001 as a collaborative effort led by the American Red Cross, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United Nations Foundation, UNICEF and the World Health Organization. By 2010, the initiative has set an ambitious goal of cutting measles deaths by 90 percent. Already, the Measles Initiative has made a significant impact. During its first six years, the campaign was the main international supporter of mass measles immunizations and led to the vaccination of more than 478 million children, predominately in Africa.
From 2000 to 2006, measles deaths in Africa alone dropped by 91%, from 396,000 to 36,000 largely due to the support provided by the Measles Initiative and the international community. Building on its success in Africa, the initiative has expanded into South Asia.
The American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter coordinates local education and fundraising related to the Measles Initiative, frequently offering presentations to community organizations. St. Louis Area Chapter Measles Initiative programming and outreach are supported in part by generous funding from Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation.
About the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter:
Founded in 1917, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter celebrates 91 years of dedicated service, providing emergency relief and preparedness training more than 446,600 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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