Facebook Members Choose the American Red Cross

With 18,582 supporting votes, the American Red Cross placed first among eight non-profit organizations in the Western Union Foundation’s Our World Gives campaign. Based on this endorsement, the Western Union Foundation will award the American Red Cross $50,000 in support of its life-saving mission.

“We are honored to have been selected by Facebook members as their favorite charity,” said Jeff Towers, Chief Development Officer for the American Red Cross. “Our sincere thanks to the Western Union Foundation and the many Facebook members who voted and mobilized their network of friends in support of the American Red Cross. As we continue our current campaign to raise $100 million for disaster relief, we are encouraged by this endorsement of our mission.”

The Western Union Foundation partnered with the Facebook social networking site to create the Our World Gives campaign to raise awareness of the incredible work done by the participating charities in addressing critical social issues. Our World Gives is part of Western Union’s Our World, Our Family program – a five-year, $50 million commitment to facilitate global economic opportunity and help migrants and their families stay connected, overcome barriers and realize their dreams. Our World, Our Family is designed to reach people on every rung of the economic ladder.

Other participating non-profit organizations include: Accion USA, CARE, Mercy Corps, Room to Read, US Fund for UNICEF, Opportunity International and World Vision. For more information, please visit westernunion.com/foundation.

Thanks to all those who voted for the Red Cross!

Thanksgiving Came One Day Early at the Rock River Chapter – Thanks to Dickerson & Nieman Realtors

Dickerson & Nieman Realtors presented the Red Cross – Rock River Chapter with a check this morning for $1,530 to go toward our Emergency Overnight Shelter. What a great way to start Thanksgiving early.

Harlem Middle School Helps Red Cross – Check Presentation

Harlem Middle School students raised $113.45 for American Red Cross disaster relief. Thank Harlem!

It’s not too late to VOTE: Our World Gives Facebook competition [repost RedCrossChat.org]

Originally posted on redcrosschat.org

Help us keep our lead to the finish line. If we have the most votes by the end of this week, we’ll receive $50,000 from Western Union Foundation Our World Gives program.

If you have a Facebook account:

1. Go to Our World Gives application
2. Add the application
3. Vote for the American Red Cross
4. Visit each day for the rest of this week to vote again
5. Share with all your Facebook friends

If you don’t have a Facebook account:

1. Get one
2. Follow steps 1-5 above

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If you’d like to get involved at the Rock River Chapter Website please go to our website or to find your local chapter go to redcross.org

Attention Gamers here’s something for you to do over the weekend

The Red Cross gives help to people in need all over the world regardless of skin color, nationality, beliefs or gender. Working for the Red Cross might be the toughest job on earth. Lives depend on your decisions, therefore you need to prioritize your tasks. When so many people are suffering who are you going to help first…Yes…it’s a tough call, but in the real world emergency situations are hard and sometimes breathtaking.

In ERU it’s your call: Which tasks are most urgent? Are certain situations more critical? Which assets have to be deployed? Do you have enough material to get the job done? Time is running out!!

In ERU (Emergency Response Unit) “The Red Cross Game” you are in control of a Red Cross base camp and your decisions can be life saving. ERU is a simulation, made with the help of Red Cross specialists. You will really learn what the Red Cross is all about by playing this game.

Click here to play now!

Red Cross Roadblock Tomorrow at Noon Central – Video & Link

Tomorrow is our Red Cross Roadblock Tomorrow at noon central time to help let everyone know about the Red Cross and how people can help. WREX Channel 13 did story promoting it locally in the Rockford, Illinois area click here to watch it. Jason Broaddus, Marketing/Development Specialist of the Rock River Chapter was featured in the story.

You can also go on Red Cross Chat to find out more about the Roadblock and how you can get involved.

Social Networkers Please Help the Red Cross Friday September 19, 2008!

American Red Cross Asks Social Networkers to Help Disaster Victims

Participate by displaying Red Cross support online Friday, September 19, 2008

Washington, Thursday, September 18, 2008 - The American Red Cross is appealing to online communities to come together Friday, September 19th to promote its message and brand and help overcome critical funding shortages for the Disaster Relief Fund.

The Red Cross is currently supporting thousands of evacuees across the Gulf States affected by Hurricanes Ike and Gustav, as it responds to thousands of disasters across the country every day, from home fires to tornadoes.

The National Association of Broadcasters has generously asked radio stations across the country to broadcast a Red Cross Public Service Announcement on Friday at 1:00 PM EST. These PSAs underscore the vital nature of the Red Cross mission and ask Americans to donate to the fund. To coincide with this coordinated PSA effort, The American Red Cross is asking everyone who has a blog, Twitter account, Facebook profile, and other online presence to display support for the victims of Hurricanes Gustav, Ike and hundreds of other disasters tomorrow with the goal of raising awareness and funds to provide relief.

Participants can:

• Change their profile pictures to a Red Cross Avatar for the day (or longer)
• Place a Red Cross Banner on their sites and share on social networks
• Embed Red Cross PSAs
• Embed Red Cross Relief Videos from Disaster Sites
• Embed Red Cross widgets
• Embed Red Cross audio clips from the field
• Promote the Text 2Help campaign
• Share Red Cross news items on social networks
• Be creative! Show support and encourage donations in their own way

On Friday, September 19, 2008, join the Red Cross on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook, or email your comments to socialmedia@usa.redcross.org.

September 2008 Hurricanes Red Cross Video

Click the links below for more information:

• Hurricane Ike
• Hurricane Gustav

Red Cross Benefit – “Golf’n for the RED” pictures are now in!

Golf'n for the RED Committee who made it all possible.

New pictures are now in from Golf’n for the RED. It was a wonderful day and a good time was had by all.

Just click here to see the pictures!

Third Annual Golf Outting to Benefit Area Homeless

Title Underwriters, Bachrodt on State and Contry Homes presents the 3rd Annual Play Day in support of the Nancy J. Smith Homeless Shelter. Located at Timber Pointe Golf Club in Poplar Grove, the Golf’n for the RED play day registration will begin at 11:00 a.m. with Shotgun Start at 12:30. In addition to an afternoon of golf, guests will enjoy prizes, contests, dinner and loads of fun including the chance to win a brand new car through a Hole-in-One Contest!

The Rock River Chapter of the American Red Cross began serving the homeless of Rockford in 1988. The 48 bed facility provides guests with overnight shelter when they have nowhere else to go each night of the year. The shelter is available 12 hours every evening and accepts men, women and families.

Guests find assistance through case management sessions that evaluate the individual needs as a whole, rather than just fulfilling their immediate need for housing. Through case management, clients are linked with available services to regain confidence and skills needed to maintain self-sufficiency.

For more information on how to register for Golf’n for the RED or the Nancy J. Smith Homeless Shelter please visit: rockriver.redcross.org or call: (815) 963-8471.