In Case You Missed It - April 30

Superstar Red Cross volunteers joined us last weekend in our quest to Sound the Alarm and #EndHomeFires by installing free smoke alarms and teaching fire preparedness. Were you there?

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 400 adults and 113 children following 48 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities. (see below)

Last Week in Review

• Our huge Sound the Alarm kickoff event took place this past Saturday in the Bronx at Yankee Stadium! Some highlights:
• We partnered up with the New York City Fire Departmentand the FDNY Foundation.
• Red Cross volunteers installed more than 850 smoke alarms and we’re just getting started.
• Senator Gustavo Rivera, Senator Jamaal Bailey, Speaker Carl E. Heastie, Assemblymember Marcos Crespo, and Councilman Rafael Salamanca Jr. were on deck to help with smoke alarm installations. 
• We also set out to install smoke alarms in Long Island! We installed approximately 350 smoke alarms with 19 teams of volunteers – and we couldn’t have done it without the help from our partners at MIRA.
• If you want to join the movement to help #EndHomeFires, check out this Sound the Alarm musical parody of Hamilton’s “What Comes Next?”and get inspired! 

• Saturday night the Red Cross hosted the annual Metro NY North Red and White Ball.
• We were honored to present the American Red Cross Hero Award to two brave survivors of the Las Vegas shooting –Taylor Winston and Shiva Ghaed.
• Mary Jennings Hegar was awarded the Exceptional Service Award for her military service and valor.

• On Friday we hosted an interactive panel discussion with our two heroes of the Las Vegas shooting: Winston and Ghaed. Alec Cecil, one of our American Red Cross Mental Health volunteers, also joined in. The discussion, moderated by our CEO Josh Lockwood, centered on coping, recovering, and the process of healing – with each panelist bringing their own personal experience from the horrific mass shooting in Las Vegas. FOX5 covered the event. 
• Also on Friday, the Long Island Red Cross hosted the 2018 Patron Party to recognize this year’s Heroes Among Us Gala honorees, heroes, volunteers, and to thank our amazing sponsors.
• On Wednesday, we got together with the International Service Department to have a discussion about the services they provide that most people don’t really know about! Check it out here.
• Also on Wednesday, our inspirational volunteers Mia Hubbert and Lori Nantista Galen set out in Sullivan County to help teach others how to be #RedCrossReady in case of an emergency. Great work ladies!
• The Spring All Hands Meeting took place on Wednesday at the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind. Not only did we have a productive meeting, but we made a lot of furry friends too!
• Red Cross Corps set out to educate over 525 youths on Tuesday. While their voices might be exhausted, it was a job well done!

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• If you’re a mission-focused undergraduate or graduate college student seeking a meaningful internship experience, then apply to our Red Cross program—a rare opportunity to explore and enrich your future career prospects while serving others. Apply here: http://bit.ly/2x9lnqV
• May 1, 4, 7: Red Cross blood drives will take place from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Greater NY Red Cross building located at 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. Schedule an appointment to donate today.
• May 1: The Red Cross is holding a panel discussion between experts in humanitarian and global affairs about the many “silent” disasters that occur and the humanitarian implications of their lack of visibility. RSVP for the free panel here. 
• May 6, 12: Major “Sound the Alarm” fire safety smoke alarm installation events are coming to Brooklyn on May 6 and 12 and we need your help to install free smoke alarms in at-risk neighborhoods and to educate families on preparing for fires. Sign up by calling 877-733-2767 or by visiting www.soundthealarm.org/nyc. 
• May 10: We invite you to the "Women Who Lead" luncheon panel where you'll get to meet the staff and volunteers of the Red Cross and hear from influential women who are changemakers in their field. For more information on the panelists and to purchase tickets, click here.
• May 17: The American Red Cross Young Patrons are hosting an “Evening Under the Stars,” a summer rooftop networking soiree. You can find out more and buy tickets here.