Text Gift - Help Red Cross

NEWS RELEASE

Text Gift to 90999 and Help the Red Cross

Mobile Givers Can Text a $25 Donation Now Through December 31

 

November 30, 2010

 

Springfield, MO – Cell phone users can text the word GIFT to 90999 from now through December 31 to make a $25 donation to the American Red Cross.

 

Donations will support the work of the Red Cross, including disaster response, collecting lifesaving blood, teaching skills that can save a life, or assisting military members and their families.

 

This new mobile giving program, which runs through December 31, is the first to be done with a number of wireless carriers with a holiday-themed keyword and a $25 amount.

“Over three million people made a $10 donation via text to help the people of Haiti last January.  We are now asking them to help the work of the American Red Cross down the street, across the country, and around the world by making a holiday gift of $25 by text,” said Peggy Dyer, chief marketing officer of the American Red Cross. “A few finger taps on a cell phone can be the gift that saves the day for a person affected by disaster.”

The pilot program is being done with mGive, which partnered with the Red Cross on the highly successful Haiti mobile giving effort which raised nearly $33 million for Haiti relief and recover through $10 text donations. Many leading wireless carriers are participating.

 

"The American Red Cross has truly embraced the power of mobile giving," said Brian Leamy, Executive Vice President of mGive. "Through the introduction of this new $25 donation level, the American Red Cross will play a vital role in continuing to expand and broaden the mobile donation market. mGive is proud to be the American Red Cross' partner of choice for mobile donations and will continue to support them in their expanding mobile efforts."

 

People who make a $25 text donation will be sent a link to download a badge for their Facebook pages. Donations will appear on customers’ monthly bills or be debited from prepaid account balances. Message and data rates may apply. The Red Cross is working with mGive to process and facilitate the mobile donations.

 

The text donation program is another part of the Red Cross holiday giving campaign, which also features an online holiday giving catalog, www.redcross.org/gifts.  The Red Cross has more than 20 gift ideas — such as assisting someone in the military with a phone card or supplies, providing food and shelter to a disaster victim, covering the costs of snacks at a blood drive, or giving basic necessities to a family in another country. 

The purchase of each gift item through the online catalog is a tax-deductible contribution to the overall mission of the American Red Cross.  On the rare occasion when donations exceed the need in a particular area, the Red Cross will use the contribution to help others where the need is greatest.   

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

 

 

 

 

Joann Moore

Public Information Officer

Financial Development Assistant

American Red Cross

Greater Ozarks Chapter

1545 N. West Bypass

Springfield, MO.  65803

417-832-9500  EXT. 107

Fax 417-866-3649

Toll Free: 1-866-206-0256 EXT. 107

moorej@redcross-ozarks.org  

SHOP OUR ONLINE STORE-www.redcross-ozarks.org/store

November is Flu Preparedness!

Influenza, also known as the flu, is a contagious respiratory disease caused by different strains of viruses. In the United States, there is a flu season that begins every fall and ends every spring. The type of flu people get during this season is called seasonal flu. Flu viruses spread from person to person when people who are infected cough or sneeze. Adults may be able to infect others 1 day before getting symptoms and as long as 5 days after getting sick. … Click on the link www.redcross.org/BeRedCrossReady  and GET PREPARED!

 

 

 

 

       

    

 

 

 

 

                                         

 

 

 

Red Cross Holiday Campaign

NEWS RELEASE

 

Red Cross Launches 2010 “Gifts that Save the Day” Holiday Giving Effort

National survey shows many people plan cuts in holiday gifts; fewer cutting donations to charities

 

Springfield, MO – The Greater Ozarks Chapter of the American Red Cross today launched its holiday giving campaign, urging residents to make a gift that could save the day for someone in need.

The Red Cross campaign features a holiday giving catalog, www.redcross.org/gifts.  A Spanish-language version of the catalog is also available, www.cruzrojaamericana.org/catalogo.   

The gift catalog has more than 20 gift ideas — such as assisting someone in the military with a phone card or supplies, providing food and shelter to a disaster victim, covering the costs of snacks at a blood drive, or giving basic necessities to a family in another country. 

“The holiday season is a time of hope, and a gift to the Red Cross provides hope when the next disaster strikes, when a neighbor’s house burns down, when someone needs life-saving blood or when a child needs a hug and a blanket,” said Debi Meeds, Executive Director for the Greater Ozarks chapter.  “A gift to the Red Cross can save the day for people in need, whether they are down the street, across the country, or around the world.”

The purchase of each gift item is a tax-deductible contribution to the overall mission of the American Red Cross.  On the rare occasion when donations exceed the need in a particular area, we will use your contribution to help others where the need is greatest.   

National Survey Shows People Plan to Support Charities This Holiday Season

The Red Cross kicked off its 2010 holiday giving effort as a new national survey shows that despite the economic downturn, people remain committed to digging deep into their pockets to support charitable causes this holiday season even as they cut back more on other holiday activities.

Nearly three in four people (72 percent) expect to give more or about the same to charity as they did last year, according to the national survey for the American Red Cross, which was conducted October 21-24.

This commitment to support charities during the holiday season occurs even as 86 percent of Americans reported their personal finances are the same or worse than they were last year.

The Red Cross survey shows seven in 10 people (70 percent) are planning to reduce spending for at least one common holiday expense.  More than four in 10 plan to reduce spending on travel (43 percent) and decorations (45 percent), and more than a third will make cuts in entertaining (38 percent) and gifts (35 percent) for friends and family.  By comparison, only about one of five (23 percent) are planning to reduce their charitable contributions compared to last year. 

About a third (32 percent) say they are not planning charitable donations over the holidays, with half of them (52 percent) saying they just don’t have the money to donate.  

And nearly six in 10 (58 percent) say that because the economy is in bad shape, it is more important this year to give to charity. 

 

“It’s gratifying to see that while the personal finances of many people are strained, they still feel a strong desire to do what they can to help someone else in need,” Debi Meeds said.

 

More Women Committed to Donations to Charity, but Men Giving Higher Amounts

 

The Red Cross survey found that women have a strong sense of giving as a part of the holiday tradition and are more likely to take the current economy into consideration when giving.  When it comes to opening their wallets, however, men tend to give charitably in higher amounts. 

 

About seven in eight women (86 percent) say that helping someone less fortunate is an important part of the holiday tradition, higher than the 69 percent of men.  Nearly two in three women (65 percent) feel charitable giving is more important in light of the economy; only half of men (51 percent) agree.

 

However, while women report a higher propensity to give, the survey shows that men seem to dig a little deeper to do so.  Of the three in five Americans (57 percent) planning to donate to charity this holiday season, around two in five men (38 percent) will give more than $100 to charity.  Only about one in four women (24 percent) plan to donate that amount. 

 

*These results are based on a national probability sample of 1,005 telephone interviews among adults 18 years and older living in private households in the continental United States, conducted from October 21-24, 2010.  The margin of error for data based on total sample is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.  The survey was conducted by CARAVAN®, an omnibus service of Infogroup | ORC for American Red Cross. 

 

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

 

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Joann Moore

Public Information Officer

Financial Development Assistant

American Red Cross

Greater Ozarks Chapter

1545 N. West Bypass

Springfield, MO.  65803

417-832-9500  EXT. 107

Fax 417-866-3649

Toll Free: 1-866-206-0256 EXT. 107

moorej@redcross-ozarks.org  

SHOP OUR ONLINE STORE-www.redcross-ozarks.org/store

November is Flu Preparedness!

Influenza, also known as the flu, is a contagious respiratory disease caused by different strains of viruses. In the United States, there is a flu season that begins every fall and ends every spring. The type of flu people get during this season is called seasonal flu. Flu viruses spread from person to person when people who are infected cough or sneeze. Adults may be able to infect others 1 day before getting symptoms and as long as 5 days after getting sick. … Click on the link www.redcross.org/BeRedCrossReady  and GET PREPARED!

 

 

 

 

       

    

 

 

 

 

                                         

 

 

 

Everyday Heroes Recognition

NEWS RELEASE

 

November 16, 2010

 

Everyday Heroes Recognition to be held on March 30, 2011   

 

Springfield, MO - Since 2000, the American Red Cross and KY3 have honored local heroes at the Everyday Heroes Recognition and awards ceremony.  Everyone is encouraged to nominate someone that is admired for his/her achievements and noble qualities or someone that shows great courage. This could be someone that has really impacted your life in a positive way.  Maybe it’s your neighbor or coworker who went above and beyond the call of duty to help in a time of need.  Maybe it’s a young person who volunteers his/her time helping others.  Or maybe it’s someone who saved a life.  A selection committee comprised of former recipients and community leaders is asked to select the heroes from the many nominations that are received.  This event has grown to welcome more than 150 nominations.  Next year the event will be held on March 30 at the Ramada Oasis Convention Center.

             The deadline for nominations is Jan. 15, 2011.  Heroic acts should have occurred in the calendar year 2010.  For more information on nominating your hero, please contact Joann Moore at the American Red Cross at 417-832-9500, EXT. 107, or log on to the Red Cross website at www.redcross-ozarks.org for a nomination form and sponsor information. 

 

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

 

– END –

 

 

 

Joann Moore

Public Information Officer

Financial Development Assistant

American Red Cross

Greater Ozarks Chapter

1545 N. West Bypass

Springfield, MO.  65803

417-832-9500  EXT. 107

Fax 417-866-3649

Toll Free: 1-866-206-0256 EXT. 107

moorej@redcross-ozarks.org  

SHOP OUR ONLINE STORE-www.redcross-ozarks.org/store

November is Flu Preparedness!

Influenza, also known as the flu, is a contagious respiratory disease caused by different strains of viruses. In the United States, there is a flu season that begins every fall and ends every spring. The type of flu people get during this season is called seasonal flu. Flu viruses spread from person to person when people who are infected cough or sneeze. Adults may be able to infect others 1 day before getting symptoms and as long as 5 days after getting sick. … Click on the link www.redcross.org/BeRedCrossReady  and GET PREPARED!

 

 

 

 

       

    

 

 

 

 

                                         

 

 

 

Platelet Donations Needed - Join Me In Donating!

Hello Everyone!

I received an eMail from Janine Clark-Barry (our local Blood Services Recruitment Representative).actually, not so much an eMail, but a plea for help! It read in part: "We are in a pinch of need. We need every eligible donor to come in and try to donate platelets please! We are even taking new females, which we weren't before. Would you please spread the word??"

Locally we have an incredible need for Platelet Donors (also known as Apheresis). If you haven't donated platelets before, it takes about two hours to donate. It's the perfect time to catch up on a movie (they've got DVD Players!), catch up on some work on a laptop (no WiFi though. ), or read a book..all while saving lives!

Please help if you can (requirements can be found here: http://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/eligibility-requirements ). Call Janine at 417-823-4001 to set up your appointment today! If you can't donate right now, please consider donating soon, as there is a constant need for blood and platelets!

Because of the amount of time it takes to donate Platelets, please call Janine at 417-823-4001 to schedule an appointment. Please, No Walk-Ins.

Thanks everyone, I look forward to seeing you at the donor center!
Luke

P.S. I'll be giving up MY platelets at 5pm tomorrow!

Kristofer "Luke" Bolz

Regional Executive Director of Volunteer Services

AmeriCorps Program Director and DSHR Administrator

American Red Cross

Greater Ozarks Chapter

1545 N West Bypass

Springfield, MO  65803

(417) 832-9500 ext. 141 (p) 

(866) 206-0256 ext. 141 (p)

(417) 866-3649 (fax)

(877) 866-3649 (toll free fax)

(417) 839-3990 (cell)

BolzL@Redcross-Ozarks.org

*** November is Flu Prevention Month!

Influenza, also known as the flu, is a contagious respiratory disease caused by different strains of viruses. In the United States, there is a flu season that begins every fall and ends every spring. The type of flu people get during this season is called seasonal flu. Flu viruses spread from person to person when people who are infected cough or sneeze. Adults may be able to infect others 1 day before getting symptoms and as long as 5 days after getting sick. Click on the link www.redcross.org/BeRedCrossReady  and GET PREPARED!