Tognum America helps make 7th annual Heroes Jr. Golf Outing a huge success!

The American Red Cross Aiken Area Chapter would like to thank Tognum America for becoming a Super Hero for the American Red Cross.  For the second year in a row, Tognum America graciously offered to be a Presenting Sponsor of the 7^th annual Heroes Jr. Golf Outing that was held at Houndslake Country Club on Memorial Day.

With the help of Tognum America, the Aiken Area Chapter raised $41,825 to support Red Cross programs and services!

The annual Heroes Jr. Golf Outing, open to middle and high school-aged players, was coordinated by the local Red Cross Board Chairman, Don Cheeks, and board member, Annie Reagan. During the Outing, kids enjoyed a round of golf, lunch, dinner, Bruster’s Real Ice Cream and an awards ceremony with prizes.

The Red Cross relies on financial donations to support important programs in our community like disaster relief.  After a disaster, the Red Cross meets the immediate needs that families have for temporary shelter, food, clothing and mental health services. Since the beginning of its fiscal year, the Aiken Area Chapter alone has responded to the needs of 95 families, helping 334 adults and children.  On average, it costs $1,250 to assist a family of four following a disaster.

The mission of the Red Cross is made possible through the generosity of our volunteers and financial supporters like Tognum America.  To learn more about how you can support the Red Cross, please visit Redcross.org/Aiken-Area or call the Aiken Area Chapter at (803) 641-4152.

Come out FORE the Red Cross on April 29th!

Join us for the Second Annual SERVPRO and American Red Cross “Partners in Disaster Relief Golf Classic” on Monday, April 29th. The tournament will be held at Golden Hills Golf and Country Club in Lexington with an 11:00 a.m. shotgun start. Breakfast will be provided to all players prior to the shotgun start. 

Last year, the Cacye/West Columbia/Lexington, Dutch Fork and Richland County franchises of SERVPRO helped raise $7,000 for Red Cross programs and services through the golf classic. We’re proud to partner with SERVPRO again this year to support disaster relief in the Midlands.

The tournament has a $60 entry fee for individuals and a $240 entry fee for teams. All participants will be served a boxed lunch before tee-off. Teams can also purchase basic sponsorship and mulligan packages for the event. Spots are filling up fast, so be sure to register before the April 22nd deadline!

If you’re looking for a different way to get involved, a few sponsorship options are still available at this time. April 15th is the last day sponsorship submission will be accepted.

To register for the tournament or learn more about becoming a sponsor, please contact Tia Williams at 803-755-9774 or Tia@servproeasternsc.com.

7th Annual Auction Gives Hope to Disaster Victims

The Saluda County Advisory Council hosted its 7th annual Silent/Live Auction on Friday, March 1st at Juniper Restaurant to benefit the American Red Cross of Central South Carolina in Saluda County.

A total of $12,655 was raised at the auction, over $1,000 more than last year.  100% of the proceeds will go to local Red Cross disaster relief programs.

Paula Thayer, major gifts manager at the American Red Cross, was enthused to see record breaking fundraising and attendance at the auction. “Each year I am more amazed at the creativity, dedication and response from the people in Saluda County,” said Thayer.

When disaster strikes, Red Cross is there to provide immediate needs like clothing, shelter, food and life-sustaining medications as well as emotional support during these difficult times. Proceeds from the auction allow the Red Cross to provide these services free of charge to the victims.

Attendees enjoyed a variety of hors d’oeuvres and beverages while participating in the two auctions. The live auction offered jewelry, travel packages and original artwork while the silent auction boasted decorative items, tools and antiques donated by local merchants.

“Chef Brandon Velie and his wife, Jeanne, owners of Juniper Restaurant in Ridge Spring, do an outstanding job with the food and beverages,” said Thayer.

The Red Cross would like to thank all participants and donors who helped make the event a huge success.  Through the leadership of Monnie Romines (Chairperson), Jerrold Watson, Danny Tidwell, Judy Adamick, Melissa Rodgers and Phillips Boatwright of the Saluda County Advisory Council, this event gets better every year!

Groundbreaking in the City of North Charleston

From left to right: On March 6th, Jerry Tekac (NBSC), Sid Boone (Red Cross Board Vice Chair), Mason Holland (Red Cross Board Chair), Mayor Keith Summey(City of North Charleston), Louise Welch Williams (Red Cross Regional CEO) and Bob Behringer (Mall Drive 2424, LLC) break ground on future home of the Red Cross.

March 6th was a very exciting day for the Carolina Lowcountry Chapter and the City of North Charleston!  

Mayor Keith Summey and the Red Cross joined Owner, Mall Drive 2424 LLC and Lender, National Bank of South Carolina as they broke ground on their new building that will be the future home of the Red Cross in the City of North Charleston.

The new building will be centrally located in the City of North Charleston at 2424 City Hall Drive and will provide the us with over 10,000 square-feet of office, educational, training and storage space to better serve its clients across the Lowcountry.  The new building is scheduled to open in December 2013.

“The new facility will be a place for our volunteers to come together and learn,” said Mason Holland, board chair, American Red Cross, Carolina Lowcountry Chapter. “The opportunity to expand our volunteer base and their knowledge will increase our capacity to support our Lowcountry 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through lifesaving education and response. The centralized location in North Charleston will allow for a more efficient response to disasters across our region and will allow us to better serve our community.”

Join Us at the 24th Annual Christmas Eve and Day Dinner

The Coastal South Carolina Chapter of the American Red Cross will host its 24^th annual Christmas Eve and Day Dinner, sponsored by Bi-Lo Charities.  These dinners are open to anyone who needs a hot meal or a place to fellowship on this special occasion.     

Dinners will take place on the following:

• Monday, Christmas Eve, December 24, 2012 from noon– 2:00 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, located at 205 S. Rosemary Avenue, Andrews, S.C.
• Tuesday, Christmas Day, December 25, 2012 from1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Belin United Methodist Church, located at 4183 Hwy 17 S., Murrells Inlet, S.C.

We hope to provide over 6,000 meals, including home deliveries to those who cannot get to a church site. This event is provided free to the public thanks to a generous sponsorship from Bi-Lo Charities and donations from the community, as well as with the assistance of over one hundred Red Cross volunteers.

For more information, please contact the Coastal South Carolina Chapter at (843) 477-0020. 

We hope to see you there!  Happy Holidays from your friends at the Red Cross!

Sign-up for a Free International Humanitarian Law Class on November 1st

You’re invited to sign-up for a free class, Humanity in the Midst of War. The course will take place on Thursday, November 1, 2012 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the Red Cross, located at 2751 Bull Street, Classroom 2 in Columbia. 

The course will teach students about the Geneva Conventions by engaging in hands-on activities and thought-provoking discussions, while exploring the powerful and fundamental concept of human dignity in wartime.

The course is free to the public. To register, please call (803) 514-4084.

International Humanitarian Law is a set of rules that seek to protect those who do not or no longer take part in hostilities and restrict the means and methods of warfare. The Geneva Conventions are the cornerstone of international humanitarian law and are forever linked to the Red Cross.

The American Red Cross’s Congressional Charter specifies that the organization is a “Federally chartered instrumentality of the United States,” and charges the American Red Cross with carrying out the “purposes of the Geneva Conventions” dating back to the original conventions in 1864. It is the duty of the American Red Cross, on behalf of the people and the government of the United States, to help to ensure that these humanitarian principles are widely understood and respected.

Click here to learn more on our International Services.

“Women Have A Special Sense of Community”

Written by: Connie Ross-Karl,  Major Gifts Officer, Coastal SC Chapter of the American Red Cross

Barefoot Resort Ladies Luncheon, co-chairs, Martha Green (left) and Nona Renee Fonda (right) welcome me (middle) with open arms to their September Luncheon.

Barefoot Resort Ladies Luncheon Group enjoys gathering at a variety of restaurants to socialize and learn more about each other and topics of mutual interest throughout the Grand Strand, especially in North Myrtle Beach.

I was honored to have been invited to their recent September meeting at Ocean Creek Resort to talk about the mission of the American Red Cross with an emphasis on updates from our local Coastal SC Chapter and presenting our FY12 Annual Report. 

At the luncheon, I also discussed how we meet the needs of our local communities by working side-by-side with other Red Cross chapters across the country to respond to the needs of those suffering from major disasters.  The Coastal SC Chapter alone, deployed 14 trained volunteers this summer to assist with Hurricane Isaac along the Gulf.      

I shared with them that everyday Red Cross workers respond across the United States –  from wildfires in Washington, to flooding in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, to disasters right here in our backyard. The Red Cross is always there.  We train volunteers, replenish supplies and provide emergency relief to the next family or individual affected by a disaster. 
 
At the event, I announced the new expanded Blood Service office in the Kroger Shopping Center in Carolina Forest, which can now provide platelets for cancer and other chronically ill patients needing blood. 
 
Barefoot Resort Ladies Luncheon has been under the successful co-chairmanship of Nona Renee Fonda and Martha Green for six years as part of Barefoot Resort Residents’ Club Lifestyle Committee activities.  In that time, attendance has increased from 25 to more than 100 women from all around the Barefoot development.  I am amazed by the hard work and dedication that these ladies have invested into this group.  These women sure have a special sense of community!
 
Fonda shared with me that they meet once a month and provide a feature program that will be of interest to the ladies.  She also said that she looks forward to having the Red Cross back in April.  

We  too are excited to come back in April to speak to the group.  Our Coastal SC Chapter Executive Director, Nanci Conley, will present the April 2013 program, commemorating the four-year anniversary of the Horry County Wildfire, celebrating the Red Cross response and the recovery and healing of the community.

For information on Barefoot Resort Ladies Luncheon, contact Nona Renee Fonda by email at pigaroni@aol.com.

Highlights from the Clara Barton Society Kick-Off!

On October 4, 2012 we hosted a Clara Barton Society reception to honor our members throughout the Columbia Region. We are thrilled that we had representation from all six chapters in our region.

Thank you to all of the members that came, our guest speakers, our corporate partners and our wonderful staff for planning such a great event.  It truly was a wonderful evening at the Governor’s Mansion!

Here are highlights of the evening…

Guests check-in at the event welcome table.

Before the event began, members of our Tiffany Society of Women Leaders took a private tour of the Governor’s Mansion.

Clara Barton Society Members, Bhavna and Raj Vasudeva, Lyddie and Charlie Hansen, and Beth and Kevin Shwedo, enjoy the evening at the Governor’s Mansion.

Guests mingle before the progam begins.

Red Cross Disaster recipient, Mary Jane Peck, shares her moving personal home fire story.

Clara Barton Society Chair for the Aiken County Chapter, Lyddie Hansen, discusses the importance of supporting the Red Cross.

Our wonderful Columbia Region staff gather together for a photo.

A big thank you to our planning committee, Madison Webb, Courtney Melendez, Gabrielle Barnes and Paula Thayer.

Thank you to our Clara Barton Society Celebration Partners!

We are extremely grateful for the ongoing support of our Clara Barton Society members! Their financial donations help make our mission a reality each and every day.

Membership in the Clara Barton Society is open to all who invest a minimum of $1,000 to help fulfill the humanitarian mission of the Red Cross down the street, across the country and around the world. For more information on becoming a  member, please call 803-540-1225 or contact your local Red Cross office.

“Train with a Purpose” with Red Cross Rescue Racers!

Now in its sixth year, the Red Cross Rescue Racer team offers a 17-week training program to prepare runners and walkers of all abilities for the half (13.1 mile) or full (26.2 mile) marathon at the Myrtle Beach Marathon to be held at Saturday, February 16, 2013.

Team participants commit to raising a minimum of $500 each to benefit local Red Cross disaster relief. A $50 registration fee ensures new participants a spot in the race with $25 of the fee going toward the $500 goal and $25 toward administration costs. The group will hold its first meeting with the coaches on Tuesday, October 23, at 6:00 p.m. at the Red Cross office located at 3531 Pampas Drive in Myrtle Beach.

This year’s team is sponsored by WebsterRogers CPAs, McNair Law Firm, Black Dog Running Co., Angelo’s Steak & Pasta, WPDE/WWMB TV and Gator 107.9.  For more information, click here or contact Red Cross Rescue Racer Program Manager, Angela Nicholas at 650-0145 or aknicholas@sc.rr.com.  You can also call the local Red Cross chapter at 843-477-0020.

The Red Cross Rescue Races sponsors the 5K RiverTown Reindeer Race, a fun and festive race to benefit the Red Cross.  The race is held at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 1, 2012 along the oak-tree lined streets of beautiful downtown Conway, SC.

Pre-registration of $22 guarantees a great t-shirt for the first 200 participants. Race day registration is $25 from 7-7:45 a.m.  Register online at www.grandstrandrunner.com or by completing and returing this form.  Click here to view the race flyer.

Be sure to wear your favorite holiday attire!

Come out to a free garden tour to support the Red Cross!

For the second year in a row, locally-renowned Topiary Artist, Pearl Fryar will open his garden for free tours to benefit the American Red Cross on Thursday, October 18 through Saturday, October 20.  Located north of I-20 off Highway 15 at 145 Broad Acres Road in Bishopville, Pearl’s beautiful garden has been featured in many garden magazines and on HGTV.

Pearl will provide tours of his garden all three days. On Saturday, October 20, he will demonstrate how to create a topiary masterpiece at 11:45 a.m. followed by a silent auction of art pieces. Local artists include, Tom Brown, English Cooper, Ann Bowen, Ray Davenport, Mary Parnell, Carolyn Cumalander, Christine Shirley, Sammie Sherod, Artists’ View Creations, Whitney Kalke, Cindy Welsh and Frances Drayton.

“We are very excited about the Pearl’s Open House and his desire to help the local community and the American Red Cross,” said Nancy Cataldo, executive director, American Red Cross, Sandhills Chapter.  “We are encouraging everyone to come out to this fun, family-friendly event and support the important work that we provide 365 days a year to members of our community.”

BBQ sandwiches and drinks will be available for purchase on Saturday, September 20.  Entertainment will be provided by Lee Central High School Choir.

In observation of Fire Prevention Month emergency response vehicles will be on display.

Admission is free, however donations are encouraged. 100 percent of the proceeds raised at the event will benefit the local Red Cross. 

For more information on this event, call (803) 775-2363 or visit www.columbiaregionaredcross.org or www.pearlfryar.com.