American Red Cross Nissan Lifesaver Luncheon Scheduled for April 13

Keynote speaker to speak on growing severe disasters in the United States 

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 26, 2023 – The American Red Cross, Nashville Area Chapter will host the Nissan Lifesaver Luncheon presented by Randy and Jennifer Wolcott at Belmont University on April 13. This year’s event will be held at the Curb Event Center at Belmont University in Nashville. This event is one of the largest celebrations of the Red Cross service and fundraiser for mission delivery to the citizens of Tennessee. 

 

Red Cross Vice President Disaster Programs, Jennifer Pipa, will be the keynote speaker for the luncheon. Pipa oversees the nationwide development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the Red Cross’s Disaster Cycle Services programs. She will speak on the increase of costly disasters happening more frequently around the world and in the United States. Larger scale disasters are happening every six days on average this past year, and Red Cross volunteers are playing a huge role in responding to those multi-million-dollar and sometimes billion-dollar disasters. 

Jennifer Pipa

The chapter will honor local humanitarian heroes who have made significant impacts in Tennessee with their philanthropic work. The honorees include: 

• Humanitarian Award: Dollar General Managers and Employees 

• Community Hero Award – The Hispanic Family Foundation  

• Storyteller Award – Singer and Songwriter Lauren Daigle  

 

The chapter will also honor Nashville Red Cross Board Member and Tiffany Circle member Tricia McDowell with the Clara Barton Award. Clara Barton, the American Red Cross founder, was vigilant in her dedication to the mission of the Red Cross 140 years ago.  

 

“We are always so in awe of our community and how philanthropic our partners are when it is most needed,” Joel Sullivan, regional executive director for the Red Cross Tennessee Region said. “It is our honor to recognize these organizations, companies and donors with these awards and each one has made such an impact for the Red Cross and our humanitarian mission." 

 

Lifesaver tickets are on sale now for $75 online at RedCross.org/Lifesaver. Tickets will also be available the day of the event at the registration table. 

  

About the American Red Cross 

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members, and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.   

 

Red Cross to install free smoke alarms for local families during Sound the Alarm event this Saturday - Nashville Area

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 23, 2023 – Volunteers and members of the American Red Cross Nashville Area chapter will install free smoke alarms for families during a Sound the Alarm home fire safety event at Foxcroft Apartments in Nashville this Saturday, March 25 at 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Volunteers will meet at the Nashville Area chapter auditorium at 2201 Charlotte Avenue in Nashville. There is no experience needed, volunteers will receive a training Saturday morning before going to the event at Foxcroft Apartments. 

 “Our volunteers are dedicated to provide fire safety and prevention training to the counties we serve, and we have unfortunately seen more home fires as the Nashville metro area grows in population,” Joel Sullivan, regional executive director said. “By the end of this weekend, we hope to make more than 135 people prepared for the risk of home fires, which equals 55 homes made safer by our Sound the Alarm event.” 

The American Red Cross responded last summer to a large-scale multi-family fire at the complex, and served families affected by the disaster for weeks following the fire. The apartments are in the southwest area of Nashville, which is one of the more frequent areas for home fires. 

Every eight minutes, the Red Cross responds to a disaster. Home fires are the nation’s most frequent disaster, including in Davidson County. Local fire departments have reported an increasing number of fire related incidents in the last year. Since fiscal year (FY) 2023 began in July, there have been 153 home fire responses by the American Red Cross in Davidson County. 

Since launching in October 2014, this program and other Home Fire Campaign efforts have saved at least 1,583 lives nationwide — including 43 people in the Tennessee Region — from the threat of home fires, which claim seven lives every day in the U.S. Most often, these tragedies occur in homes without working smoke alarms. Locally, the Nashville Area chapter volunteers, have installed more than 400 free smoke alarms in FY 2022, making homes more prepared against fire-related disasters. Since the program began in Nashville in 2015, volunteers and staff with the Nashville Area chapter have installed 7,991 free smoke alarms. 

To learn more about how you can help people prepare for, respond to and recover from home fires, and to sign up to volunteer go to SoundtheAlarm.org/Tennessee, or email Kevin Morrison, Disaster Program Supervisor, at kevin.morrison@redcross.org. 

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feed and provide comfort to victims of disasters; supply about 40% of the nation's blood; teach skills that save lives; distribute international humanitarian aid; and support veterans, military members, and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

13th Annual Red Boa Bash for the American Red Cross Announced for April 22

By: Mariam Girgis, Volunteer Writer 

MEMPHIS, Tenn., March 14, 2023— The American Red Cross, Mid-South Chapter will host the 

13th Annual Red Boa Bash on April 22 in Memphis. This annual fundraiser is being held at 409 South Main Street from 6:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. This event is held following Red Cross Month, which concludes in March, and is one of the best fundraising parties in Memphis. Funds raised from the bash will help the Red Cross deliver critical services to the community. 

 

The exciting event helps begin the spring social season with a cocktail reception, live entertainment, and dancing. The Red Boa Bash is sponsored by First Horizon Foundation and includes a live and silent auction. 

 

“We are tremendously excited about the upcoming Red Ball Bash, our signature fundraising event that brings together the Mid-South community to support our lifechanging mission,” said Sarah Breazeale, executive director for the Mid-South Chapter of the Red Cross. “We are grateful for the support of our partners that make this event possible, and we ask the community to join us. Your support ensures we can continue meeting the needs of our neighbors when they need us the most.”  

 

The Red Boa Bash is a ticketed event. Go to RedCross.org/redboabash to find out more and to purchase tickets. Tickets are $150 for an individual ticket and $250 for a couple’s ticket.  

 

About the American Red Cross: 

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members, and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/Tennessee  or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCrossTN. The American Red Cross Tennessee Region serves all 95 counties in Tennessee, Crittenden County in Arkansas and Desoto and Tunica counties in Mississippi. The Tennessee Region – part of a nationwide network of locally supported chapters - is comprised of the following eight Red Cross chapters: East Tennessee, Heart of Tennessee, Mid-South, Mid-West Tennessee, Nashville Area, Southeast Tennessee, Northeast Tennessee, and Tennessee River. 

Daylight Saving Time: Turn your clocks forward and test your smoke alarms

Daylight saving time begins this Sunday, March 12, and the American Red Cross Tennessee Region reminds everyone to TURN your clocks forward one hour and TEST your smoke alarms.

Did you know working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by half? That’s why it’s critical to “Turn and Test” and take these lifesaving steps to stay safe from home fires — the nation’s most frequent disaster: 

•      Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas. Test alarms monthly and replace the batteries at least once a year if your model requires it.
•      Replace smoke alarms that are 10 years or older. That’s because the sensor becomes less sensitive over time. Check the date of your smoke alarms and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
•      Practice your two-minute escape plan. Make sure everyone in your household can get out in less than two minutes — the amount of time you may have to get out of a burning home before it’s too late. Include at least two ways to get out from every room and select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as your neighbor’s home or landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone knows where to meet.
•     Teach children what a smoke alarm sounds like. Talk about fire safety and what to do in an emergency. 

Visit redcross.org/fire for more information, including an escape plan to practice with your family. You can also download our free Emergency app by searching for “American Red Cross” in app stores. 

HOME FIRE CAMPAIGN SAVING LIVES The Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters every year and most of them are home fires. To help prevent fire-related deaths and injuries, the Red Cross launched the Home Fire Campaign with community partners in 2014 to reduce fire-related deaths and injuries. 

Recently, with support from thousands of community partners, the campaign met its goal of installing 2.5 million free smoke alarms and making 1 million households safer across the country. So far, the Home Fire Campaign is credited with saving more than 1,583 lives in the U.S. Because home fires remain a daily threat and the campaign has made a lifesaving difference, the Red Cross will be continuing the program with community partners as part of its standard services across the country.