HomeMy WebLinkAboutS Proclamation American Red Cross Month3-/~--o~
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PROCLAMATION
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
DECLARING MARCH, 2002 AS AMERICAN RED CROSS MONTH
WHEREAS, the American Red Cross was founded in 1881 by a visionary woman named Clara Barton and
chartered by Congress in 1905 to act in times of need; and,
WHEREAS, the Orange County chapter of the American Red Cross was founded in 1917, and now responds to
more than 25 disasters in Orange County each year; and,
WHEREAS, the American Red Cross is one of the nation's oldest, most-recognized humanitarian organizations and
is woven tightly into the fabric of Orange County, providing health and safety training to hundreds of Orange County
residents and compassionate care when disasters and other crises threaten to overwhelm and/or destroy residents'
lives; and,
WHEREAS, at times of disaster and crisis, Americans trust and rely upon their local Red Cross chapters to provide
services for families robbed of their loved ones, homes, livelihoods or dignity; and,
WHEREAS, the American Red Cross maintains Disaster Action Teams that are on call 24-hours a day to provide
food, clothing, shelter, health and mental health services to those affected by events and to rescue and recovery
workers, with the Orange County chapter having provided over 50 volunteers that were assigned to national and
regional operations, including "Ground Zero" in New York and at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. during the
September 11, 2001 terrorist attack recovery; and,
WHEREAS, the Red Cross also responds to international emergencies, including helping to create and administer
America's Fund for Afghan Children, and has already prompted the shipment of one million dollars' worth of
essential supplies and medicine to Afghanistan; and,
WHEREAS, the American Red Cross provides hospitals with half the nation's supply of blood and blood products
for Lifesaving medical treatments and routine medical procedures, with the Orange County chapter supplying over
6,000 units of blood and plasma to the Carolina Blood Region in 2001; and,
WHEREAS, Red Cross workers across the nation and in the Orange County are working around-the-clock to fulfill
a historical role of keeping military personnel and their families in touch and offering other small comforts to ease
the strain of being far from home; and,
WHEREAS, the Orange County chapter responded to 25 fires and flooded homes and apartments in Orange
County and provided 236 people with financial assistance that included motel rooms, food, clothes, and other
assistance, and further provided food, hot drinks, and support to hundreds of local firefighters and emergency
personnel; and,
WHEREAS, in 2001, Red Cross clubs were established at Chapel Hill High and East Chapel Hill High, and the
Orange County Red Cross chapter initiated the first National Teen AIDS Hotline in the nation;
NOW THEREFORE, do we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, hereby proclaim March 2002 as
American Red Cross Month and encourage Orange County residents to support the American Red Cross and
specifically the Orange County chapter's humanitarian mission with a gift of time, blood or money.
This the 19th day of March, 2002.
Ba ry Jaco
Oran ounty Bo r f C missioners