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
April 26, 2007 Red Cross Annual Benefit---a "Red Tie Affair" All Proceeds will remain in the area to help local families
Pittsburgh, PA--- This Saturday, April 28, at 6:30 p.m. in the main ballroom of the Westin Convention Center Hotel, the American Red Cross Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter will host some of the region’s top business executives and community leaders at its annual fundraising benefit-a "Red Tie Affair."
Dr. John E. Murray Jr, chancellor of Duquesne University, will be awarded the Distinguished Leadership Award by the Red Cross.
Guests are asked to wear an element of red in their ensemble to show support for the tireless and vital work of the Red Cross. The cost is $325/person. The evening begins with a cocktail reception, followed by a five-course dinner, and live performances by Jeff Jimerson and Airborne. Sally Wiggin, news anchor from WTAE-TV will be the Master of Ceremonies. Tickets and sponsorships are still available, contact Ingrid Shaw at 412-263-3112 or go to www.swpa.redcross.org.
New to the Red Tie Affair this year is a raffle for a two-year, prepaid lease for a red Hummer H3 or $10,000, generously sponsored by BBL Fleet.
Unique auction items include four tickets to the 2007 USGA Open Championship at Oakmont Country Club; a six-month membership at the Westin Convention Center Hotel’s Westin WORKOUT facility; a 30-day temporary Executive Membership at The Rivers Club; dinner for eight during Pittsburgh’s Light Up Night 2007 at the Trimont on Mt. Washington; furs from Canadian Fur Company; a private tour of WTAE-TV studios; a tour of WDUQ radio; two VIP tickets to 2007 Pittsburgh Steelers Training Camp; various dining packages at area restaurants; several packages donated by the Pittsburgh Pirates; numerous original artwork by artists such as Norman Rockwell and Charles Schultz; and much more.
All proceeds from the Red Tie Affair will stay in the area to help local families. The American Red Cross is not a government agency and the chapter does not receive local funding from the national organization, except during large-scale disasters.
"We must rely on the generosity of our neighbors each year to continue our vital work in this region," said Red Cross CEO Tim Tassone. "Our annual benefit is one of the ways we raise these much-needed funds."
Organizations can participate in the Red Tie Affair with sponsorships at the Silver $2,500, Gold $5,000 and Platinum $10,000 levels. Supporting the benefit at the Platinum level are BBL Fleet, Giant Eagle, and U. S. Steel Corp. ; at the gold level, Deloitte, Duquesne University, Fazio Mechanical Services Inc., K & L Gates LLP, LaSalle Bank, Reed Smith LLP, Tube City, and UPMC/Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic; and at the silver level, A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney, Capital Wine and Spirits, Duane Morris LLP, Ernst & Young, The Hillman Co., Liberty USA Inc., Mellon Financial Corp., Mercer Human Resource Consulting, Metz Lewis, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, MSA, Orbital Engineering, Pepper Hamilton LLP, PNC, Price Waterhouse Cooper, Respironics, Rezolutions, and the University of Pittsburgh.
April 20, 2007 Local American Red Cross Recruits Health Services Volunteers
WHO: American Red Cross Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter disaster health services team is looking for more volunteers who are registered nurses, medical doctors, licensed practical nurses, emergency medical technicians, physician assistants and certified nursing assistants to serve in various roles for the Red Cross. (Please bring current credentials with you.)
WHAT: Meeting with Red Cross staff and current health services volunteers to understand the roles and projects that exist in the Red Cross for health services professionals and the next steps involved to become a disaster health services volunteer.
WHERE: Chapter Headquarters, 225 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
WHEN: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m., Tuesday, May 1, 2007
CONTACT: Renee Willow at WillowR@usa.redcross.org or 412-263-3136 by April 30.
April 16, 2007 Letter to the Editor for National Volunteer Week
Any organization worth its weight depends upon the tremendous value, tireless work, endless effort, and incredible spirit of its people. How many times have we heard the adage regarding the measurement of business success: "We’re in the people business-it all starts with our people"?
The American Red Cross celebrates yet another year of being in the people business. The organization is and always has been led by volunteers-people--and guided by a Congressional Charter to provide relief to victims of disasters and to help all people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies whether natural or man-made in nature. American Red Crossers fulfill this pledge, each and every day without prejudice, pre-condition or pre-requisite.
Whether such humanitarian and noble volunteer effort is needed right here in southwestern Pennsylvania or in any other part of the United States, whenever disasters or home emergencies take place-the American Red Cross will be there.
Red Cross workers and volunteers are always ready and able to operate and manage shelters that act as life-saving blessings for victims of natural disasters, emergency evacuations, area flooding, and home fires. They serve hot meals, provide support, and act as a solid source of caring to give people comfort, dignity and most of all---hope. They also arrive at the scene of multiple- and single-family fires equipped with the skills to provide the necessary financial assistance for such things as safe shelter, groceries, new clothing and essential medications to help families with their immediate emergency needs. A recent example of this sort of caring help to people was in Carnegie at the scene of a terrible apartment building fire where six families were assisted by the Red Cross.
Our Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter, serving Allegheny, Fayette, Greene and Washington counties, is honored and privileged to have hundreds of volunteers who fulfill the mission of the Red Cross insofar as disaster relief, emergency services, health and safety services, and Armed Forces communications efforts.
This year’s recognition of National Volunteer Week is always a significant time for us. We are extremely proud of not only those well-trained and registered disaster volunteers but all of our volunteers here in the southwestern Pennsylvania region who provide help, caring, education and hope.
This year is the time to reinforce our commitment to the spirit and the efforts of our volunteers, ensuring that the Red Cross remains a vital force in our neighborhoods, our nation and the world.
Thank you, American Red Cross volunteers!
T.L. (Tim) Tassone, Churchill
Tim Tassone is the CEO of the American Red Cross Southwestern PA Chapter
April 13, 2007 Register Now for American Red Cross CPR/AED Training for the Professional Rescuer
Specialized trainings being held in Washington and Uniontown
American Red Cross professional rescuer courses are designed for people with a job-related duty to respond in an emergency, including nurses, law enforcement and EMS personnel, fire fighters, business and industry response teams, lifeguards, flight attendants and others who must take action in emergency situations.
CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer is being offered by the American Red Cross Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter Saturday, April 21, at the Washington County location, 524 East Maiden St. in Washington and Saturday, April 28, at the Fayette County location, 108 Morgantown St. in Uniontown.
The course combines a participant’s manual, lectures and video with hands-on skills training to cover the following areas:
Recognizing and responding to breathing and cardiac emergencies in adults, children and infants
Two-rescuer CPR
Use of body substance isolation precautions to prevent disease transmission
Use of resuscitation and bag-valve masks
Use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) for a victim of sudden cardiac arrest.
Participants receive a one-year certification in CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer and a pocket mask.The Washington course is 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the Fayette course is 8:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. The course fee for both locations is $70.
Register by calling 724-222-4750, 724-438-2567 or go online to www.swpa.redcross.org and click on "Register for a Class."
April 10, 2007 Want to be a Lifeguard? Register by Tuesday, April 24 for Lifeguard Training School in Washington, PA
WASHINGTON, PA
-The American Red Cross Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter is seeking swimmers interested in becoming summer lifeguards to go through its certification courses beginning April 26.
The swimmers that successfully complete Red Cross Lifeguard Training School will have the proper certification to apply for summer lifeguard positions. Also, lifeguards who are currently certified can take a review course during the training school.
Through a partnership with the City of Washington Parks and Washington & Jefferson College, the Lifeguard Training School will be offered to certify lifeguards in time for summer employment at area pools.
To qualify for entry, you must be at least 15 years of age. You must be able to swim 300 yards continuously using the following strokes: front crawl (100 yards); breaststroke (100 yards); and 100 yards of either the front crawl or breaststroke or a combination of the two. You must be able to surface dive 7-10 feet, retrieve a 10-pound object and return to starting position within 1 minute and 40 seconds. Registration is required; walk-ins will not be accepted.
The American Red Cross Lifeguard Training School will be held over four days: April 26-29 at the Washington & Jefferson Henry Memorial Center, East Chestnut St. in Washington. Thurs & Fri times are 6 p.m. -- 10 p.m., Sat & Sun times are 8 a.m. -- 7 p.m. $175 non-refundable fee is due upon registration. All four days are mandatory for certification. For current lifeguards interested in a Lifeguarding Review, attendance is mandatory for only Friday-Sunday and the cost is $160. To register or for more information, please call the Red Cross at 724-222-4750 or go to www.swpa.redcross.org.
April 2, 2007 Dr. John E. Murray Jr., Chancellor of Duquesne University to Receive Leadership Award from Local Red Cross
Presentation at Red Cross Benefit, Saturday, April 28, 2007
PITTSBURGH---At its annual fundraiser, the Red Tie Affair, the local Red Cross will celebrate the contributions that its volunteers, donors and community supporters made throughout this past year in our four-county area and beyond. The chapter will also recognize Dr. John E. Murray Jr., chancellor of Duquesne University, for his significant leadership contribution to our communities.
One of America’s leading experts on contract law, Murray is author of the widely-used text "Murray on Contracts" and has written numerous other case books, law review articles and opinion pieces for the mainstream press. An active leader in the regional community, he was appointed by Governor Rendell to the five-member City of Pittsburgh Fiscal Oversight Committee and chaired the group until July 2006. He also chaired the Committee to Prepare Allegheny County for the 21st Century (ComPac 21), which led to the reform of Allegheny County’s governmental structure installed in 2000.
Dr. Murray spent 13 successful years as Duquesne University’s first lay president and then became chancellor in 2001. Widely acknowledged as an outstanding leader and fundraiser in helping Duquesne to achieve its incredible growth and improvement, he also still continues to teach at the university’s law school.
Before coming to Duquesne, Dr. Murray served as dean of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. He was also University Distinguished Service Professor of Law at Pitt.
It is within the spirit of uncompromising leadership to the community that the Red Cross will present our second annual recognition award, the Distinguished Leadership Award, to Dr. Murray Saturday, April 28, at the Westin Convention Center Hotel.
The award was established to honor a community member through whose ongoing effort, commitment, courage and positive nature has made a difference in the perception and image of our entire Pittsburgh region---for the people who live here as well as for the visitors who look to our region with respect and applaud our community pride.
The Red Tie Affair begins at 6:30 p.m., with the award presentation around 8 p.m.
All proceeds from the Red Tie Affair will stay in the area to help local families. The American Red Cross is not a government agency and the chapter does not receive local funding from the national organization, except during large-scale disasters.
For more information about the benefit, contact Ingrid Shaw at 412-263-3112 or visit the local chapter’s Web site at www.swpa.redcross.org.
