North County Red Cross Angels Present $15,000 Check to Organization

 
JUPITER, Fla. (November 25, 2009) — The North County Red Cross Angels civic group presented a $15,000 check to the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, in order to help the local organization provide relief for victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. The North County Red Cross Angels are a group of distinguished community members who serve as a social and fundraising arm of the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the Red Cross.

The altruistic group raised the money through small events, socials and fundraisers, including two annual events: a January Luncheon & Fashion Show in the winter and a Mad Hatter’s Luncheon & Fashion Show in the spring. The January Luncheon & Fashion Show will be held on January 11^th at the newly renovated Jonathan’s Landing Golf Club in Jupiter at 11:30 a.m. The event features a silent action but is best-known for premiering cutting-edge trends. This year, stylings will be presented by Rose Meyerowich. Organized by co-chairs Betty Ann Withers and Rowena Randle, all proceeds benefit the life-saving work of Red Cross in northern Palm Beach County. Attendance is open to anyone with an interest in furthering the humanitarian work of the local Red Cross. Call the Red Cross’ North County Service at (561) 746-1532 for more information.

Membership to the Angels group is open to all civic-minded community members and businesses and does not require a time commitment. Admission to the group is $30 for individuals, $40 for families, $100 for donors and $150 for corporations. A lifetime membership is available for $200. Membership is a great way to network, make friends and give back to the community. Those interested in learning more about becoming a member of the North County Red Cross Angels should contact the North County Service Center of the American Red Cross at (561) 746-1532.

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About the American Red Cross:

For over 90 years, the American Red Cross Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter, which includes Glades, Hendry, Okeechobee and Palm Beach counties, has provided relief to victims of disasters at home and abroad, taught lifesaving skills, and supported military members and families. The American Red Cross, a charity and not a government agency, depends on voluntary contributions of time and money to perform its humanitarian mission. To learn more about the work of the Red Cross in communities, or to make a donation, please call 561-833-7711 or visit our website at  www.redcross-pbc.org.

Red Cross Tips for a Safe Thanksgiving

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (November 19, 2009) — Home fires are the single most common disaster across the nation.  Unfortunately, they kill more people in the United States each year than all other types of disasters combined.  Cooking fires are the most common cause of home fires, followed by those caused by methods people use to heat their homes. The Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross urges people to practice home-fire safety this Thanksgiving and throughout the year.

In the Kitchen:

When cooking…

• Turn pot handles inward so they will not be easily grabbed by small children or knocked over.
• Wear short sleeves or tight sleeves. Long, loose sleeves can catch fire.
• Keep items that could attract children, such as cookies or candy, away from the stove.
• Stay in the kitchen when food is on the stove. If you have to leave for a minute, take a cooking spoon with you and hold it in your hand. This will remind you that you need to get back to the kitchen quickly.
• Use only microwave-approved containers inside a microwave-never anything made of metal or that has metal on it.

Generally in the kitchen…

• Keep storage areas above, below, and near the stove free of flammable/combustible items, including rags, paper towels, cleaning products, and aerosols.
• Keep appliances, like a toaster, blender, and food processor, unplugged when not in use.
• Keep a charged fire extinguisher in the kitchen. Responsible members of the family should get training from the fire department or the manufacturer in how to use it.

CEO Larry Casey said “Holidays are intended to be a time for celebration, but we see a spike in the incidence of local home fires during the holiday season.” He added, “The Red Cross is committed to giving people the information they need to reduce their risk of home fires, and to helping people recover after a fire happens.” During the 2009 fiscal year, the Palm Beach-Treasure Coast Region of the American Red Cross responded to an alarming 275 fires, assisting 319 families with their immediate emergency needs. For more fire safety and preparedness information, visit www.redcross.org/homefires.

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For Media: Interview a Red Cross safety expert by calling (561) 650-9114.

About the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross: For over 90 years, the American Red Cross Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter, which includes Glades, Hendry, Okeechobee and Palm Beach counties, has provided relief to victims of disasters at home and abroad, taught lifesaving skills, and supported military members and their families. The American Red Cross, a charity and not a government agency, depends on voluntary contributions of time and money to perform its humanitarian mission. To learn more about the work of the Red Cross in communities, or to make a donation, please call 561-833-7711 or visit our website at  www.redcross-pbc.org.

Red Cross Opens 13 Holocaust Tracing Cases and Counting After Series of Presentations

• There are over 200,000 Holocaust survivors living in the U.S.
• The Red Cross has conducted 40,000 Holocaust tracing cases over the years.
• The Red Cross has created over 1,500 family reunions between Holocaust survivors.
• There are over 100 Red Cross Holocaust tracing cases currently pending in Palm Beach County.

West Palm Beach, FL (November 13, 2009)—The Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross’ Holocaust Tracing initiative is off and running with 13 new requests received in just two days, and many more to come.  The Chapter recently hosted Ms. Linda Klein, Director of the Holocaust & War Victims Tracing Center which is located in Baltimore, MD. In just three days’ time, Klein and a team of Red Cross volunteers met face to face with close to 1,000 people, approximately 200 of whom were Holocaust survivors. In less than a week, the Red Cross has submitted 13 tracing requests to the Tracing Center in Baltimore, and that number continues to grow each day.

            Klein met with members of the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County’s Business and Professions Division; case workers at Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service in Boca Raton; Child Survivors/Hidden Children of the Holocaust president Norman Frajman, Boynton Beach; Alpert Jewish Family & Children Service staff members in West Palm Beach; and over 150 Holocaust survivors at Eat and Schmooze in Boca Raton, a partnership luncheon between the Volen Center, Next Generations, Alpert Jewish Family & Children Service and Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service, designed to meet the unique socialization needs of survivors. Klein also gave presentations at several area temples including Chabad Lubavitch of Greater Boynton, Boynton Beach; Temple Beth Tikvah, Lake Worth; Temple Shaarei Shalom, Boynton Beach; Temple Beth El, West Palm Beach; and Temple Beth Zion, Royal Palm Beach.

            Klein explained the Red Cross’ little-known free tracing program by emphasizing four key points. She explained “We have to do this to tell the stories of people who were lost and we need to give families information so that they may pass on legacies.” She continued, “The Red Cross needs to address the deniers by showing them our proof, and we need to give some form of solace to Holocaust survivors and their families.” The Red Cross is 70% successful in its tracing cases, having reunited 1,500 families and provided documents such as birth certificates and concentration camp records to others.

Klein said, “In the Jewish faith, name and date of death are very important to those in mourning. Our service uncovers those kinds of answers and in a number of cases, we see miracles happen.” Klein explained, “There is no trend to the types of things we see; every story is different than every other story.” Survivors are urged to initiate tracing searches immediately.  The Tracing Center’s motto is “Every Answer is a Gift.”

As part of her outreach, Klein trained 24 new Red Cross Holocaust & War Victims Tracing volunteers; the largest influx of tracing volunteers the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross has experienced to-date. Red Cross Chapter Chairman Michael A. Lampert, Esq., said “We’re a disaster service and we deal with implications of disasters.” He added, “This is one of those implications.” The volunteers plan to meet one on one with survivors and their families to conduct interviews. During the time that their cases are open, the tracing volunteers serve as liaisons to the local Red Cross and ultimately they deliver any kind of information the Tracing Center uncovers.

The group of tracing volunteers put their skills to work on Sunday, November 8^th as 30 first and second-generation Holocaust survivors met at the Red Cross in Boca Raton to find out more about the tracing service and initiate searches. Leah Nettis, the daughter of two Holocaust survivors and a Boca Raton resident, said “All my life I heard about the assumed fates of my family members, and ‘no’ just isn’t in my vocabulary.” Nettis plans to fill out tracing forms on each of her extended family members on behalf of her living mother.

The Red Cross tracing service has accessed resources and archives throughout the world, including the complete holdings of the International Tracing Service in Bad Arolsen, Germany, since the Soviet Union’s release of documents to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in 1989. That cache of documents, which included Auschwitz death books and hundreds of thousands of names of concentration camp victims, provided the single largest source of information made available since the end of World War II. The American Red Cross has worked with 89 countries around the world to uncover information. When asked about Red Cross International Tracing, Klein said, “What makes our service unique is the richness and expertise of our world-wide network.”

With 5 to 10 Holocaust survivors dying each day, the time to begin a search is now. Survivors who initiate searches receive an expedited service. To access a search, survivors or their family members are urged to contact the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross anytime at (561) 833-7711 or on the web at www.redcross-pbc.org. Inquirers will need to gather the following information about sought person: relationship to inquirer; first and last name; date of birth or approximate year or range of years of birth; country of birth; country last resided; and last contact with sought person. 

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About the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross:

For over 90 years, the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, which includes Glades, Hendry, Okeechobee and Palm Beach counties, has provided relief to victims of disasters at home and abroad, taught lifesaving skills, and supported military members and families. The American Red Cross, a charity and not a government agency, depends on voluntary contributions of time and money to perform its humanitarian mission. To learn more about the work of the Red Cross in communities, or to make a donation, please call 561-833-7711 or visit our website at  www.redcross-pbc.org.

Search to Benefit Holocaust Survivors Intensifies

• There are over 200,000 Holocaust survivors living in the U.S.
• The Red Cross has conducted 40,000 Holocaust tracing cases over the years.
• The Red Cross has created over 1,500 family reunions between Holocaust survivors.
• There are over 100 Red Cross Holocaust tracing cases currently pending in Palm Beach County. 

West Palm Beach, FL (October 29, 2009)—The Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross is redoubling its efforts to find answers for survivors who lost loved ones during the World War II era more than 60 years ago. From Thursday, November 4^th to Sunday, November 8^th, the local Red Cross will host distinguished guest Linda Klein, Director of the Red Cross Holocaust & War Victims Tracing and Information Center, which is located in Baltimore. Klein will travel throughout Palm Beach County, spreading word of the Red Cross’ free tracing service with a sense of urgency to community groups including Alpert Jewish Family & Children’s Service, Child Survivors/Hidden Children of the Holocaust, the American Red Cross, Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service, the Volen Center, and several area temples.

On Sunday, November 8^th, the Chapter is hosting an informal community-wide reception at the Count & Countess de Hoernle Service Center of the American Red Cross from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (5820 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton, 33487). Holocaust survivors and their descendants; families of Holocaust victims; Veterans; and those with a general interest in war victims tracing and how it resonates in the mission of today’s Red Cross are encouraged to attend the free event, where they can connect over a light kosher lunch. A team of the organization’s volunteers will be available that day to begin search inquiries. Guests will also have the chance to meet local people who have successfully found answers regarding the fate of loved ones by utilizing Red Cross tracing. At the events’ close, Klein will leave for Baltimore.

About the Red Cross Holocaust and War Victims Tracing Center:

The Center for Information on Holocaust Restitution estimates that 5 to 10 survivors die each day. As time runs out for aging survivors, the Red Cross Holocaust Tracing Service offers to search for family members and document the fates of loved ones through personal services that are comprehensive, confidential and free of charge. The Red Cross tracing service has accessed resources and archives throughout the world, including the complete holdings of the International Tracing Service in Bad Arolsen, Germany, since the Soviet Union’s release of documents to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in 1989. That cache of documents, which included Auschwitz death books and hundreds of thousands of names of concentration camp victims, provided the single largest source of information made available since the end of World War II.

The Red Cross has operated this specialized tracing service for the past 19 years. Over the course of just a few months, the Tracing Center recently located 20 individuals and recovered information, such as date of death, on 400 others. Overall, the organization has found more than 1,500 survivors alive. In thousands of other cases, inquirers have discovered information about the circumstances of a loved one’s death. Others access this service for documentation of forced/slave labor or proof of internment.

To Begin a Search:

To access a search, survivors or their family members are urged to contact the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross anytime at (561) 833-7711, visit the Red Cross on the web at www.redcross-pbc.org, or attend any Ms. Klein’s upcoming presentations. Inquirers will need to gather the following information about sought person: relationship to inquirer; first and last name; date of birth or approximate year or range of years of birth; country of birth; country last resided; and last contact with sought person. 

ATTEND A PRESENTATION:

Thursday, November 5, 2009:

• Eat & Schmooze, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Join Linda Klein over lunch at the Volen Center in Boca Raton as Alpert Jewish Family & Children’s Service, Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service, Next Generations and the Volen Center partner to meet the unique socialization needs of Holocaust survivors. Free kosher lunch for seniors and transportation available; call Genevieve Mosley at (561) 395-8920 before 12 p.m. no later than one day in advance to RSVP. The Volen Center is located at 1515 West Palmetto Park Road in Boca Raton.
• Chabad Lubavitch of Greater Boynton, 5 p.m.: Linda Klein will participate in a presentation at 10655 El Clair Ranch Road in Boynton Beach.
• Temple Beth Tikvah Cultural Series, 7 p.m.: Join Linda Klein for Temple Beth Tikvah’s cultural series kick-off presentation at 4550 Jog Road in Lake Worth.

Friday, November 6, 2009,

• Red Cross volunteer & staff address, 9 a.m.: Learn more about Red Cross Holocaust & War Victims Tracing at local Red Cross Headquarters (825 Fern Street, West Palm Beach). Immediately followed by a Holocaust Tracing Volunteer Workshop where individuals can share stories and register to volunteer. RSVP to Brittany Jo Miller, (561) 650-9114.
• Temple Shaarei Shalom, 8 p.m.: Linda Klein will speak at Temple Shaarei Shalom’s service, 9085 Hagen Ranch Road in Boynton Beach.

Saturday, November 7, 2009, Temple Beth El presentation, 9 a.m.: Linda will make a presentation during services at 2815 North Flagler Drive in West Palm Beach.

Sunday, November 8, 2009, Reconnect Holocaust Survivors, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Holocaust survivors and their descendants; families of Holocaust victims; Veterans; and those who have a general interest in war victims tracing and how it resonates in the mission of today’s Red Cross are encouraged to attend and connect over a light kosher lunch at the Red Cross in Boca Raton (5820 North Federal Highway). RSVP to Brittany Jo Miller, (561) 650-9114.

More About Linda Klein:

Linda Cauthen Klein was appointed Director of the Red Cross Holocaust and War Victims Tracing and Information Center in April, 1994. Before that, she was the Communications Director for the Red Cross Central Maryland Chapter and Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Blood Services Region. As director of the tracing center, Ms. Klein is responsible for its day-to-day operations. In 2002, she traveled to Israel to help Magen David Adom establish a tracing office in Tel Aviv. Ms. Klein has also developed capacity building programs with tracing departments in Canada and Poland.

Before joining the Red Cross, Ms. Klein was the Assistant Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. She has written numerous articles and reviews for the Baltimore Jewish Times, and she served as president of the Baltimore Public Relations Council in 1996 and 1997. Ms. Klein holds a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College and a Masters from Towson State University. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Edward A. Myerberg Senior Center and was the recipient of the 2006 Gloria Harris Award for outstanding volunteer service. She lives in Reistertown, MD with her husband, Yale.

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About the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross:

For over 90 years, the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, which includes Glades, Hendry, Okeechobee and Palm Beach counties, has provided relief to victims of disasters at home and abroad, taught lifesaving skills, and supported military members and families. The American Red Cross, a charity and not a government agency, depends on voluntary contributions of time and money to perform its humanitarian mission. To learn more about the work of the Red Cross in communities, or to make a donation, please call 561-833-7711 or visit our website at  www.redcross-pbc.org.

Red Cross Encourages Families to Talk to Children About Home Fire Safety

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (October 15, 2009) — The Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross is offering parents tips to reduce their risk of fires and talk with their children about fire safety.

“Parents can reduce their risk of home fires by taking a few simple steps,” said Larry Casey, CEO of the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross. “We want families to have the information and resources they need to educate their children and reduce their risk of a home fire tragedy.”

The Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross recommends that adults:

• Keep matches, lighters and other ignitable substances in a secured location out of the reach of children.
• Always dress children in pajamas that meet federal flammability standards. Avoid loose-fitting, 100-percent cotton garments.
• Develop and practice your home fire escape plan with your children at least twice a year. Home fire escape plans should include at least two ways to escape from every room of your home. Also, select a meeting spot at a safe distance from your home where family members can go after escaping.
• Familiarize children with the sound of your smoke alarm and teach them what to do when they hear it.
• Teach your children not to be scared of firefighters. Take them to your local fire department to meet them, see the gear they wear, and learn about fire safety and prevention.
• Teach your children to tell you or a responsible adult when they find matches or lighters at home or school.
• Check under beds and in closets for burnt matches; evidence your child may be playing with fire.
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas. Sixty-five percent of home fire deaths happen in homes with no smoke alarms or with smoke alarms that don’t work. Test your smoke alarm once a month by pushing the test button, and replace the batteries once a year.

The Red Cross is committed to giving people the information they need to reduce their risk of home fires, and to helping people recover after a fire happens. During the 2009 fiscal year, the Palm Beach-Treasure Coast Region of the American Red Cross responded to an alarming 275 fires, assisting 319 families with their immediate emergency needs. For more fire safety and preparedness information, visit www.redcross.org/homefires.

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About the American Red Cross: For over 90 years, the American Red Cross Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter, which includes Glades, Hendry, Okeechobee and Palm Beach counties, has provided relief to victims of disasters at home and abroad; taught lifesaving skills to members of the community; and supported military members and families. The American Red Cross, which is a charity and not a government agency, depends on voluntary contributions of time and money to perform its humanitarian mission. To learn more about the work of the Red Cross in communities, or to make a donation, please call 561-833-7711 or visit our website at  www.redcross-pbc.org.

Team of Red Cross Youth Volunteers Delivers Critical Message for Fire Safety Month

WHAT:                On Friday, October 16, a group of 15 Red Cross youth volunteers will spend their day off from school by going door-to-door in the Lake Clarke Shores neighborhood with an important message: The biggest disaster threat to families across our nation every day isn’t floods, hurricanes or tornadoes, it’s fire. The motivated group of students, ages 10 to 17, will walk the West Palm Beach neighborhood hanging Red Cross Fire Safety Tips on the front door of each home as part of the Chapter’s revamped youth volunteer program. Each October hundreds of organizations join forces to promote fire prevention. So far this month, the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross has responded to an alarming 10 house fires, assisting a total of 31 adults and children with their immediate emergency needs including food, shelter, clothing and additional help to pick up the pieces.

FAST FACTS:      The local Red Cross has always provided relief to victims of disasters and helped people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. During the 2009 fiscal year, the Palm Beach-Treasure Coast Region of the American Red Cross responded to 275 fires, assisting 319 families with their immediate emergency needs. The organization, which has 815 youth volunteers, has planned a series of activities during school holidays to engage students. The youth and young adult volunteers will earn service hours while furthering the work of the Red Cross.

WHEN:                FRIDAY, October 16^th Starting at 9:45 a.m. from Lake Clarke Shores Town Hall; Remaining in Lake Clarke Shores neighborhood until 2:30 p.m.

WHERE:             Lake Clarke Shores Town Hall, 1701 Barbados Road; West Palm Beach, FL 33406

Local Red Cross Responds to Seven Fires in First Week of Fire Prevention Month

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (October 6, 2009) — Now is the time for local residents to take immediate action in preventing home fires. Already this week, the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross has responded to six major home fires within its service area. The organization has provided each of the 22 adults and children affected by these fires with immediate emergency assistance including shelter, food, clothing, smoke soap and comfort kits; all at no cost to the victims.

October is fire prevention month. During the month of October, the Red Cross will spread the message that all individuals should practice fire safety to avoid home fires. A home fire can be destructive, costly, devastating and even deadly; and often occurs without warning. Home fires present the biggest disaster threat to families across our nation. Locally, dedicated volunteer members of the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter respond to house fires once every 30 hours, on average.

This month, individuals who serve on the organization’s volunteer Speakers Bureau will increase community appearances, spreading life-saving fire safety information. Youth volunteers at the Red Cross will go door-to-door in a West Palm Beach neighborhood on October 16^th, distributing English and Spanish Fire Safety Tips. Mark Goggin, Red Cross Manager of Disaster Preparedness and Response emphasizes, “Unlike other disasters, most home fires can be prevented.” The Red Cross is committed to giving people the information they need to reduce their risk of home fires, and to helping people recover after a fire happens.

The Red Cross encourages people to remember two key fire safety steps to protect their home and loved ones from fires: Get a smoke alarm, and have a fire escape plan.

• Some alarms save lives. Sixty-five percent of home fire deaths happen in homes with no smoke alarms or with smoke alarms that don’t work. Make sure you have a smoke alarm on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas. Test your smoke alarm once a month by pushing the test button, and replace the batteries at least once a year.
• Fires can spread throughout your home in minutes, so when every second counts, having a plan can help you escape. Home fire escape plans should include at least two ways to escape from every room of your home. Also, select a meeting spot at a safe distance from your home where family members can go after escaping. After discussing your plan with all members of your household, you should practice the plan twice a year.

Remember, home fires happen more often than hurricanes, floods or tornadoes. Take your family’s life into your hands by practicing fire safety.                                           

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About the American Red Cross: For over 90 years, the American Red Cross Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter, which includes Glades, Hendry, Okeechobee and Palm Beach counties, has provided relief to victims of disasters at home and abroad; taught lifesaving skills to members of the community; and supported military members and families. The American Red Cross, which is a charity and not a government agency, depends on voluntary contributions of time and money to perform its humanitarian mission. To learn more about the work of the Red Cross in communities, or to make a donation, please call 561-833-7711 or visit our website at  www.redcross-pbc.org.

Red Cross CPR Training Saves Life at Tequesta Country Club

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (September 29, 2009) — Cheryl Tagner of Port St. Lucie, 49, received Adult, Child & Infant CPR and Choking training from the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross in 2007, but it wasn’t until the evening of September 25th at Tequesta Country Club when her life saving skills were called to action. Tagner, who is Clubhouse Manager at the Country Club, first became alerted to the incident by one of her staff members who thought that an 89 year old female member of the country club and resident of Tequesta, looked like she needed help. The club member’s husband, who is 90, took one look at Tagner and asked, “Can you help?” Tagner immediately performed three abdominal thrusts on the victim until a piece of steak that had been lodged in her throat was cleared.

Mark Badertscher, General Manager of the Tequesta Country Club, placed a call to the Red Cross to notify the organization of Tagner’s honorable act. He explained “We have older members of the club and they can feel safe and confident in knowing that our staff is trained in CPR from the American Red Cross.” Badertscher has each of his eight department heads receive Adult, Child & Infant CPR and Choking training on a two year, rotational basis in case of potentially deadly situations like this one. Choking is a breathing emergency that can quickly lead to death if appropriate, immediate care is not administered.

Linda Olson, Director of Safety Education for the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter, emphasized the importance of receiving Red Cross safety education. Olson said, “American Red Cross safety training provides everyday people with the skills and confidence to respond quickly and effectively to an emergency.” She continued “Red Cross training can mean the difference between life and death.” The local Red Cross offers CPR/AED courses regularly and during weekdays, evenings and weekends for both professional rescuers and the citizen responder. Training can be done at any location, and even through a blended learning approach, using online training for the knowledge portion and a minimal classroom session to reinforce learning and afford hands-on skill practice. In these courses, Red Cross certified instructors also teach participants how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED), an electronic device that is a critical step in cardiac emergencies. A Red Cross CPR and AED certification meets the standards for Emergency Cardiac Care and Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations.

Cheryl Tagner will be nominated for the American Red Cross Certificate of Merit, awarded to people that use Red Cross training in an emergency situation. Of her lifesaving work, Tagner bashfully stated, “It’s not really that big of a deal. I just did what I was taught to do.” If you’d like to receive Red Cross safety education, please call (561) 650-9115 or view our training schedule and enroll online by visiting www.redcross-pbc.org.

Media opportunity to attend a Red Cross safety education class is always welcome and appreciated! Call Brittany Jo Miller, Press Assistant, for details at (561) 718-3527.

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About the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross: For over 90 years, the American Red Cross Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter, which includes Glades, Hendry, Okeechobee and Palm Beach counties, has provided relief to victims of disasters at home and abroad, taught lifesaving skills, and supported military members and their families. The American Red Cross, a charity and not a government agency, depends on voluntary contributions of time and money to perform its humanitarian mission. To learn more about the work of the Red Cross in communities, or to make a donation, please call 561-833-7711 or visit our website at www.redcross-pbc.org.

Red Cross Responds to Southeastern Floods with a Consistent Call for Volunteers

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (September 23, 2009) — After days of severe rain and storms, rapidly rising flood waters have caused residents in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee to evacuate their homes. Media outlets are reporting that up to 10 people have died due to the floods, including children. Additional storms are predicted for the next few days, guaranteeing that the flooding will get worse, and more people will be seeking assistance.

Thousands of residents throughout these states have already been evacuated and the Red Cross, as always, stands ready to help these communities in their time of need. The Red Cross was one of the first on the scene, providing shelter, meals and other emergency assistance. On Monday night the Red Cross had nine shelters open and more than 225 residents across the region had a safe place to sleep and a hot meal. The number of residents served in Red Cross shelters is expected to grow.

The Red Cross response to these floods does not end when the water recedes – this is when Red Cross caseworkers will quickly assess the needs of those affected and work with local partners to connect those in need with available community resources by. When residents return home, the Red Cross will continue to help by providing supplies to help clean-up homes and other support needed to deal with the aftermath of these devastating floods. Floods are among the most frequent and costly natural disasters in terms of human hardship and economic loss.

While the strength of the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the Red Cross has not been called upon to at the scene of the floods at this time, volunteers stand ready to serve when needed. The Red Cross has responded to five local disasters in the past three days. Destructive house fires have struck families in Belle Glade, Loxahatchee, Riviera Beach and Clewiston. Volunteer members of the Chapter’s Disaster Action Team serve in “on-call” roles, ready to respond to natural or manmade disasters at any time of the day or night, 365 days a year. The Red Cross is always looking for volunteers to help when local and national disasters strike. Interested volunteers will receive the training they need free of charge in order to provide disaster relief. The Red Cross offers a variety of volunteer roles to accommodate the diverse interests of altruistic community members.

How You Can Help

Help people affected by disasters like the recent floods by donating to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. On those rare occasions when donations exceed Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters. Your gift enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to those affected by all disasters. Please make a donation by visiting www.redcross.org or calling 1-800-RED-CROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to the local American Red Cross chapter (825 Fern Street, West Palm Beach, 33401 – (561) 833-7711 – www.redcross-pbc.org) or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

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MEDIA NOTE: The Red Cross Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for 12 p.m. tomorrow afternoon (Thursday, September 24, 2009). Red Cross Chapter Chairman and CEO will be available for comment. Please call Tony Cortese, Director of External Affairs, at (561) 290-9429 to arrange an interview.

Red Cross Addresses Challenges Faced by Our Vets in Free Seminar Today

Topic: Legal, Mental Health, and Social Service Issues Facing Our Veterans

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (August 4, 2009) — They’re coming home! The Red Cross Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter has organized a free seminar for legal, social service and mental health professionals and other members of the community interested in learning more about the specific challenges faced by today’s Veterans, set for today, August 4th, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eight distinguished professionals will meet at the organization’s headquarters location (825 Fern Street, West Palm Beach) to address several hot topics at the free seminar. Topics include Veteran re-entry into family and work, long-term care for Veterans, Veteran’s housing, readjustment, discharge upgrading, and correction of military records. Seminar guests can interact with speakers during scheduled question and answer sessions while earning continuing education credits and attendance certificates.

Today’s event will feature discussions led by Michael A. Lampert, Esq., Red Cross Chapter Chairman; Dr. Marshall J. Goby, Ph.D., ABPP, Clinical Psychologist; Dr. Raul Diaz, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist; Dr. Jerome Goodman, Ph.D., Retired Psychologist, Palm Beach County Mental Health Board; Fred Rosario, Red Cross Chapter Chief Operating Officer; Scott M. Solkoff, Esq.; Jack Rosenkranz, Esq.; and Kevin P. Davis, Assistant Veterans’ Service Officer. The group of speakers was carefully selected by Lizzette Gamero, Red Cross Planning & Preparedness Coordinator, who organized the event in order to meet the ever-changing needs of such an important and growing population of individuals served by the Red Cross and the greater community. A group of 52 community members have registered for the seminar.

A team of local volunteers coordinated by Harold Praeg, the local Red Cross’ liaison to the VA hospital and a U.S. Veteran himself, logged 2,064 volunteer hours in 2008. Red Cross volunteer services to U.S. veterans date back to World War I and are consistent with the mission of its congressional charter. Today, the Red Cross is proud to maintain its commitment to the sick and disabled men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Volunteers from Red Cross chapters and Red Cross offices on military installations serve in 153 VA hospitals around the nation.. For the Journalist: The event is open for attendance from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a break occurring from 12:20 to 1:20 p.m.

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About the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross: For over 90 years, the American Red Cross Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter, which includes Glades, Hendry, Okeechobee and Palm Beach counties, has provided relief to victims of disasters at home and abroad, taught lifesaving skills, and supported military members and their families. The American Red Cross, a charity and not a government agency, depends on voluntary contributions of time and money to perform its humanitarian mission. To learn more about the work of the Red Cross in communities, or to make a donation, please call 561-833-7711 or visit our website at www.redcross-pbc.org.