Red Cross Helps Allegheny County Libraries Prepare Patrons for Flu Season
PITTSBURGH – With extensive reference materials, computers and class offerings, Allegheny County libraries provide a wealth of information to the community. Amid flu season, however, the America
PITTSBURGH – The holidays are a time for excitement, celebration and laughter. With this holiday season quickly approaching, people throughout the region are decorating homes; while the American
Red Cross Urges Local Residents to Use Fire Alarms
PITTSBURGH - The American Red Cross Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter wants you to be safe and ready in the case of a fire. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) release
October 27, 2003 AMERICAN RED CROSS HONORS EXCEPTIONAL BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS
Names New Chairman of Board of Directors
WHO: American Red Cross of Southwestern Pennsylvania
WHAT: Honoring the dedicated men and women of the Red Cross who help save lives and enable our mission of service to our community.
WHEN: Wednesday, October 1
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: The Duquesne Club
325 6th Avenue, Downtown
WHY: As a volunteer-led organization, it is our volunteers who make possible our mission to help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. At our 86th Annual Meeting, the Red Cross of Southwestern Pennsylvania will recognize those who make our mission reality.
HOW: A few of the exemplary volunteers the Red Cross will be honoring include:
-Disaster response team supervisors
-The Laurel Foundation for its lifesaving investments in the community
-Foster Grandparent Volunteers of the Year
-Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Allegheny County Volunteer of the Year
-Board of Directors with Volunteer Leadership Awards
The American Red Cross will also be inducting 7 new board members and naming its new board chairman, John Lucot, a vice president for Giant Eagle, Inc.
The American Red Cross of Southwestern Pennsylvania serves over 1.6 million people in Allegheny, Washington, Greene and Fayette counties. Locally, the Red Cross provides relief to the victims of more than 300 disasters each year, assists more than 1,000 military families by facilitating emergency messages between our deployed men and women in uniform and their loved ones here at home, as well as trains more than 45,000 individuals in vital lifesaving skills. The American Red Cross in Southwestern Pennsylvania is honored to support two senior volunteer programs, The Foster Grandparent Program and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, as well as the Homeless Prevention Services of Washington County. The American Red Cross is not a government agency, nor does it receive funding from its national headquarters except during times of large-scale disasters. It is only through the generosity of the people of southwestern Pennsylvania that the local Red Cross is able fulfill its mission to help people prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and other lifesaving emergencies. To make a donation of time or treasure, contact the American Red Cross of Southwestern Pennsylvania by phone at 1-888-217-9599, by mail at 225 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222 or online at swpa.redcross.org.
October 27, 2003 American Red Cross Welcomes Local Golfers to “Tee Off” for a Good Cause
WHO: American Red Cross of Southwestern Pennsylvania
WHAT: The American Red Cross Invitational at Mystic Rock
WHEN: Monday, October 6, 2003; Registration Begins at 10:30 a.m.; Shotgun Start at Noon
WHERE: Mystic Rock at Nemacolin Woodlands
WHY: All proceeds from the American Red Cross Invitational at Mystic Rock will go to the American Red Cross of Southwestern Pennsylvania to help local families with relief after fires, flooding and other disasters. It will also help local families prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.
HOW: For more information or to set up interviews, contact Kelli Serencsa, Communications Manager via 24-hour pager at 412-270-2539.
The American Red Cross of Southwestern Pennsylvania serves over 1.6 million people in Allegheny, Washington, Greene and Fayette counties. Locally, the Red Cross provides relief to the victims of more than 300 disasters each year, assists more than 1,000 military families by facilitating emergency messages between our deployed men and women in uniform and their loved ones here at home, as well as trains more than 45,000 individuals in vital lifesaving skills. The American Red Cross in Southwestern Pennsylvania is honored to support two senior volunteer programs, The Foster Grandparent Program and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, as well as the Homeless Prevention Services of Washington County. The American Red Cross is not a government agency, nor does it receive funding from its national headquarters except during times of large-scale disasters. It is only through the generosity of the people of southwestern Pennsylvania that the local Red Cross is able fulfill its mission to help people prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and other lifesaving emergencies. To make a donation of time or treasure, contact the American Red Cross of Southwestern Pennsylvania by phone at 1-888-217-9599, by mail at 225 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222 or online at swpa.redcross.org.
October 27, 2003 American Red Cross Offers Tips for Halloween Safety
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – As ghosts, pirates and princesses prepare to descend on neighborhoods across America on Halloween night, the American Red Cross offers parents some safety tips to help prepare their children for a safe and enjoyable trick-or-treat holiday.
“By following a few simple safety tips, parents can make this Halloween a safe and fun time for their little trick-or-treaters,” said Paula McWilliams, Chief Executive Officer for the American Red Cross of Southwestern Pennsylvania. “Most Halloween injuries are preventable, if parents and children take some simple precautions,” added McWilliams.
The following “lucky 13" safety tips for parents to share with their trick-or-treaters to prevent injuries at Halloween.
Red Cross Halloween Safety Tips:
1. Plan your route and share it with your family. If possible, have an adult go with you.
2. Wear light-colored or reflective-type clothing so you are more visible. (And remember to put reflective tape on bikes, skateboards and brooms, too!)
3. Use face paint rather than masks or things that will cover your eyes.
4. Cross the street only at corners.
5. Look both ways before crossing the street to check for cars, trucks and low-flying brooms.
6. Don’t hide or cross the street between parked cars.
7. Walk, slither and sneak on sidewalks; not in the street.
8. Carry a flashlight to light your way.
9. Visit homes that have the porch light on.
10. Keep away from open fires and candles. (Keep in mind that costumes can be extremely flammable.)
11. Accept your treats at the door and never go into a stranger's house.
12. Be cautious of strangers and animals.
13. Have a grown-up inspect your treats before eating. And don’t eat candy if the package is already opened. Small, hard pieces of candy are a choking hazard for young children.
The American Red Cross of Southwestern Pennsylvania serves over 1.6 million people in Allegheny, Washington, Greene and Fayette counties. Locally, the Red Cross provides relief to the victims of more than 300 disasters each year, facilitates more than 2,600 emergency messages between our deployed men and women in uniform and their loved ones here at home, as well as trains more than 50,000 individuals in vital lifesaving skills. The American Red Cross in Southwestern Pennsylvania is honored to support two senior volunteer programs, The Foster Grandparent Program and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, as well as the Homeless Prevention Services of Washington County. The American Red Cross is not a government agency, nor does it receive funding from its national headquarters except during times of large-scale disasters. It is only through the generosity of the people of southwestern Pennsylvania that the local Red Cross is able fulfill its mission to help people prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and other lifesaving emergencies. To make a donation of time or treasure, contact the American Red Cross of Southwestern Pennsylvania by phone at 1-888-217-9599, by mail at 225 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222 or online at swpa.redcross.org.
October 27, 2003 American Red Cross Welcomes New Board Members
Seven Area Executives Now Helping to Fulfill Organization’s Mission
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – The American Red Cross is honored to appoint the following new members to their Board of Directors for a two-year term:
Laila Krause, Executive Vice President, PNC Bank
Marge Krueger, Administrative Assistant to the Vice President, Communications Workers of America
Shirley Gearing, Retired, Perma-Cote Industries
Tom Chakurda, Vice President, Communications, West Penn Allegheny Health System
Ward Garner, CFP, Senior Vice President, Financial Consultant, Bill Few Associates, Incorporated
Emily Mack, JAMI Charity Brands
Robert Fragasso, President, The Fragasso Group, Inc.
The American Red Cross of Southwestern Pennsylvania serves over 1.6 million people in Allegheny, Washington, Greene and Fayette counties. Locally, the Red Cross provides relief to the victims of more than 300 disasters each year, facilitates more than 2,600 emergency messages between our deployed men and women in uniform and their loved ones here at home, as well as trains more than 50,000 individuals in vital lifesaving skills. It is honored to support two senior volunteer programs, the Foster Grandparent Program and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, as well as the Homeless Prevention Services of Washington County. The American Red Cross is not a government agency, nor does it receive funding from its national headquarters except during times of large-scale disasters. It is only through the generosity of the people of southwestern Pennsylvania that the local Red Cross is able fulfill its mission to help people prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and other lifesaving emergencies. To make a donation of time or treasure, contact the American Red Cross of Southwestern Pennsylvania by phone at 1-888-217-9599, by mail at 225 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222 or online at swpa.redcross.org.
October 27, 2003 American Red Cross Welcomes New Board Chairman
VP of Giant Eagle Brings Compassion, Experience to Red Cross
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – When asked why he became an American Red Cross Board Member, John Lucot explained that the answer was quite simple.
"One of my responsibilities as an executive should be to dedicate my time and experience to the community which has given me so much,” said Lucot. “The Red Cross mission aligned to such a great degree with my own needs that it was an easy decision to join."
Lucot is Executive Vice President of Strategy, Planning & Development with Pittsburgh-based Giant Eagle, Inc. He is beginning his third year with the Red Cross Board of Directors, and his first as its chairman.
As a lifetime resident of Pittsburgh, Lucot has seen our area go through many changes, most recently as a Red Cross member. "I was extraordinarily proud to call myself a 'Red Crosser' during the outpouring of humanitarian support from the Red Cross after the attacks of September 11, 2001,” he said. “Today I see that same support in our service to our local military families with loved ones serving overseas."
Lucot resides in Upper St. Clair with his wife, Teres, and his two sons, Andrew and Stephen. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Duquesne University and his Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh.
The American Red Cross of Southwestern Pennsylvania serves over 1.6 million people in Allegheny, Washington, Greene and Fayette counties. Locally, the Red Cross provides relief to the victims of more than 300 disasters each year, facilitates more than 2,600 emergency messages between our deployed men and women in uniform and their loved ones here at home, as well as trains more than 50,000 individuals in vital lifesaving skills. The American Red Cross in Southwestern Pennsylvania is honored to support two senior volunteer programs, The Foster Grandparent Program and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, as well as the Homeless Prevention Services of Washington County. The American Red Cross is not a government agency, nor does it receive funding from its national headquarters except during times of large-scale disasters. To make a donation of time or treasure, contact the American Red Cross of Southwestern Pennsylvania by phone at 1-888-217-9599, by mail at 225 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222, or online at swpa.redcross.org.
