Vaughn Named Regional Chief Development Officer for the American Red Cross Tennessee Region

NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 28, 2021 - The Tennessee Region of the American Red Cross is pleased to announce that Laura Vaughn has been named Regional Chief Development Officer with the Fund Development Department of the American Red Cross of the Tennessee Region. The Tennessee Region serves 95 counties in Tennessee along with Crittenden County in Arkansas and Desoto and Tunica counties in Mississippi.   

Vaughn joined the American Red Cross as the Executive Director of the Mid-South in 2011 and later transitioned to the Regional Director of Development. In early 2013, Vaughn was charged with finding a new location and building a new chapter office in Memphis. She received her largest commitment of $1 million for the facility in May of 2014 and continued to fund and complete the current Madison Avenue facility. 

During her tenure, she secured two new national partners for the Red Cross, created the “Join the 1,000” campaign, consistently achieved all goals and increased local visibility of the mission for the organization. 

Laura also has been part of 14 disaster recovery operations locally and within the Southeast and Caribbean Division while earning a master’s degree in Public Administration and Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Memphis. 

 

“Laura has always been such a great representative of the Red Cross and we are so happy she is continuing her career with us as development officer for the region,” said Joel Sullivan, Regional Executive for the Tennessee Region. “She has always been committed to her service and has been a valuable leader with our senior leadership team. We look forward to further success from Laura and her team in 2021.” 

Red Cross and Partners Save Lives Through the Home Fire Campaign

In the early evening of Dec. 14, 2019, in Memphis, Mary Wallace, gathered with friends to watch a wrestling match when smoke alarms sounded, alerting them to a home fire. Wallace used her home fire escape plan from a visit from volunteers of the American Red Cross to get everyone out safely.   

Just eight months before, the family took part in an in-home visit on April 30 when Red Cross volunteers installed three smoke alarms in their home. Volunteers then helped the family develop a home fire escape plan and reviewed a home fire safety checklist. Wallace was so appreciative of the Red Cross she asked that the Red Cross visit her family in their new home to install smoke alarms and review home fire escape planning. The same volunteer, Ron Killebrew, who installed the alarms in the home that burned in 2019, did the alarm installation in her new home this July. Killebrew’s visit marked more than 914,800 households made safe by the Red Cross since 2014. 916 lives have been saved through efforts nationwide.

Mary Wallace with Red Cross Disaster Program Manager Abigail Okui

Volunteer Ron Killebrew

Donor Spotlight: Rico Nevotion

Rico Nevotion made his first-ever blood donation this year! He decided to give specifically to help raise awareness about the need for a diverse blood supply.

Now Rico can say he has given and received blood. As a teenager, he was involved in an accident that left him with a severe cut to his arm. Blood transfusions during surgery helped save his arm.

 

When Rico came in to give, he had no idea we were in the middle of the current severe blood shortage. “I didn’t realize the great need for blood right now, and I want to help save lives,” he said.

Donor Spotlight: Liz Chapman and Riley Arellano

Sisters Liz Chapman (left) and Riley Arellano (right) are committed blood donors and lifesaving heroes. Liz has donated over four gallons so far, and Riley is almost at her first gallon! 

Both sisters began donating while in high school. Liz readily admits that her initial motivation was to get out of class to do so. That quickly changed when a friend was seriously injured and needed blood to survive – it made a big impression that without donated blood the outcome could have been quite different. 

Liz and Riley encourage each other to keep giving and even have a friendly competition to see who reaches the next gallon mark first. The grand prize for the woman who gets there first? Ice cream! 

Liz sums up why the sisters have made donating a habit: “It’s amazing to think that a minor inconvenience in your life can make it possible for someone else to continue living theirs.”

Sumner County Man Recognized for Service as a Disaster Volunteer by Red Cross

Need for more volunteers in Sumner County is critical

Disaster Volunteer Stephen Durham recognized by
Joel Sullivan, Regional Executive for the American
 Red Cross, for his work over the past year. 

July 2021 

Sumner County resident, Stephen Durham, has been recognized by the American Red Cross Nashville Area Chapter for his dedication in serving his community as a Disaster Action Team (DAT) member. In June, Durham received the “Disaster Services Chapter Award” during the organization’s annual meeting.  

Durham has recorded more than 2,000 hours as a volunteer in his community this year. “His hours tell the story of a man committed to serving others,” said Katie Smith, the Nashville chapter’s disaster program specialist. “Stephen continually took time to show me all the ropes as I was onboarding this year. He would go through multiple systems of how to enter data and respond to our clients. He helped ne coordinate outreach to specific fire departments to help build relationships in different areas.”  

“No matter what is going on, Stephen is quick to answer any call,” she added. “He wants to make sure that everything is handled accurately and precisely. As a shelter lead, he makes sure everyone is protected and well fed. As a DAT supervisor, he helps families prepare for disaster and install smoke alarms. He definitely prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies. He is a walking example of the Red Cross Mission.” 

Part of Durham’s work is helping others in Sumner County when they experience a disaster, such as home fires, which is the number one disaster team members respond to on any given day. Unfortunately, Durham is the only DAT member serving Sumner County.  

“It is such a rewarding experience to be able to help your neighbors when they need it the most,” Durham said. “I would encourage anyone with the desire to truly make a difference in their community to please sign up to respond. It is the right thing to do, and you will not regret this decision.”  

Durham began his journey as a volunteer with the Red Cross in 2018 and has spent the last three and a half years responding to disasters in Tennessee and across the country. He has been deployed to respond to disasters in Florida, California, Missouri and Louisiana.  

“We want to thank Stephen for his contributions and service and for making such a difference in the lives of so many in Sumner County and nationwide on behalf of the American Red Cross,” said Joel Sullivan, regional executive director for the Tennessee Region. 

If you are interested in volunteering with the American Red Cross, please go to RedCross.org/Volunteer.