Chapter News

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ABC’s ‘Oprah’s Big Give’ and WPDE TV-15 to help regional Red Cross promote CPR training and to help Americans to ‘Be Red Cross Ready’
(Support the Red Cross and Change a Life, Starting With Your Own)

Sunday, March 2, at 9 p.m., Oprah Winfrey began a challenge of 10 contestants to make dreams come true for total strangers. In the spirit of this inspiring new television show, ABC and “Oprah’s Big Give” will be handing over $1 million and  tasking ABC’s affiliates to give big and give back to their communities. Local affiliates were able to apply for a $10,000 grant that they can use to “pay it forward” in their own unique way.

ABC affiliate WPDE NewsChannel 15 serving the Grand Strand and Florence markets has received a $10,000 grant through this program to use in a way the station feels will change people’s lives in the local community, with a special emphasis placed on reaching into rural South Carolina. The station has chosen to partner with the regional American Red Cross chapters in their coverage area (the Pee Dee Chapter in Florence and the Coastal South Carolina Chapter in Myrtle Beach) to promote a new Red Cross program called “First Aid and CPR for Everyone".

As the nation’s leading provider of CPR training, the Red Cross developed unique in-home training kits, “First Aid and CPR for Everyone", to provide a quick and easy way to learn correct cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills that can save lives and to address the public’s concern about rescue breathing. The kits are especially useful for individuals who do not need CPR certification and who might not otherwise take a CPR course.

The compression-only practice kits are portable tools that can be used at home, in the classroom, in the office or anywhere it is convenient to practice skills. Included is an educational DVD and instructional booklet that makes it easy for anyone of almost any age to follow. The “First Aid and CPR for Everyone” project was introduced in December by National Red Cross to encourage Americans to “Be Red Cross Ready.”

Between March 2 and April 20, the station will generate a lot of buzz about this new Red Cross program and will help to educate the public about CPR and how it can save lives. The promotion will include the use of on-air public service announcements, including an interview of a Pawleys Island man whose life was saved when a friend performed CPR after he had a heart attack at his home. The station will use an online banner to connect the public with information on the project and link to both Red Cross chapter websites.

As a part of the grant requirements, WPDE NewsChannel 15 is challenging its viewers to help that $10,000 donation grow. The in-home kits will be available for a $10 minimum suggested donation to the Red Cross chapter in your community. Continue to watch NewsChannel 15 for March and April Red Cross events or visit www.wpde.com for more details on the project. Learn how you can get an in-home CPR kit in exchange for your donation.

WPDE NewsChannel 15 will culminate this project with live coverage though out the day at several Pee Dee and Grand Strand locations where the kits will be demonstrated and available to the public.

The Red Cross is there for you in times of emergency; this effort could bring your family lifesaving assistance one day. Support the Red Cross and change a life, starting with your own.

Christmas Day Dinner Feeds More Than 3,000

For the 19th year, the Coastal South Carolina Chapter of the American Red Cross serving Georgetown, Horry and Williamsburg counties, provided a free Christmas Day Dinner to more than 3,000 people in need.

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Headed by a group of volunteers, the dinner was begun in 1989 following Hurricane Hugo’s devastation along the South Carolina coastline. Janice Ash Sialiano, who worked as a spontaneous volunteer doing mass feeding following the hurricane, brought the Christmas dinner idea to the local Red Cross board realizing many individuals were still in crisis. She then spent many years serving on the chapter’s Board of Directors, and even after fulfilling her term, has headed the fundraising and volunteer coordination of this project each year.

This year, when funds were trickling in and it appeared the chapter might not be able to raise the $10,000 needed to provide the meal, chapter executive Angela Nicholas made an appeal to the public through the local news and within hours after the appeal reached the public, the chapter had exceeded its goal.

Due to the generosity of the community, Dec. 25 saw hot meals served at three churches in the three-county area, with some 1,500 meals delivered to homes where there was a need. Those churches were First Presbyterian Church in Myrtle Beach, Belin United Methodist Church in Murrells Inlet and Trinity United Methodist Church in Andrews. Without their help, this event could not happen.

The chapter works in partnership with area agencies that provide services to both the homeless and low income so efforts in the community are not duplicated. More than 200 volunteers helped cook 3,500 pounds of turkey and all the fixings for the holiday meal. The chapter plans to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Christmas Day Dinner in 2008.

It was a Jamin’ Time at Jamin’ Town

Jamie Keats spent three long days auctioning off leather goods to benefit local disaster relief during the Fall Pilgrimage bike rally Oct. 4-6.

From his new Jamin’ Town store front in Surfside Beach, Jamie raised $7,896 for local disaster relief and later presented it to the local American Red Cross.

Volunteer Patty Hampton is shown assisting, along with Jackie and Ralph McAteer. A Saturday blood drive held on site collected 25 units of lifesaving blood.

Proving he’ll do anything for his favorite charity, Jamie Keats, owner of Jamin’ Leather, dons a pair of pink chaps he is auctioning as volunteer Linda Dupree assists with the microphone.

Combined donations to the local Red Cross raised from the spring and fall bike rally charity leather auctions and the Jamin’ Town Grand Opening held by Keats totals $18,048.

Experience Clara Barton Interactive Tour

Ride the trolley to Glen Echo, MD. Meet and learn about Clara Barton. Visit the first permanent national headquarters of the American Red Cross. Become a Red Cross volunteer. Assist victims of natural disasters. Explore Clara Barton’s photo album. Earn a certificate. Virtual visitors to the Clara Barton National Historic Site can do all these things and more, through a new on-line, interactive tour titled “The Clara Barton Interactive Experience.” This new interpretive program, a web-based Flash application, is designed to engage school children as well as general audiences in the story of Clara Barton and the American Red Cross. The program is sponsored by the Clara Barton National Historic Site located in Glen Echo.

2007 Report to the Community

Images of Hope and Help: 2007 in Pictures