The American Red Cross of Greater Chicago and local CBS-2 Chicago teamed up for another successful Day of Giving Telethon. Through the generosity of the public, corporate donors and sponsors a total of $316,380 was raised!
Telethons with CBS date back to 2010 when several local news stations all got together to help raise money after the devastating earthquake in Haiti for a “Chicago Helps Haiti” telethon.
Since then, there have been no lack of natural disasters to dedicate the day to alongside the 5 lines of service of the Red Cross: Disaster Relief, Biomedical Services, Training Services, International Services and Service to the Armed Forces.
We are grateful to CBS-2 for sharing so many heart-warming stories of the impact of the Red Cross; from the Chicago doctor who laced up her running shoes to run the Chicago marathon for Team Red Cross, to the local father who turned to the Red Cross after a tornado last summer left his home wrecked.
Today, the Red Cross is testing each blood donation for COVID-19 antibodies. During this uncertain time, we know that individuals and public health organizations are eager to learn more about COVID-19. And the Red Cross is uniquely positioned to offer our blood donors insight about their possible exposure to this coronavirus.
Implementing this free antibody testing to the public is costing the Red Cross an estimated $3 million per month, but the positive impacts — offering our blood donors insight about their possible exposure to this coronavirus — and providing valuable public health information – are important contributions in addressing this ongoing pandemic.
This fall, our team at the Illinois Red Cross spoke with Dr. Larry Goodman, President Emeritus – Rush University and Retired CEO, Rush University Medical Center and the Rush University System for Health, to explore why antibody testing and convalescent plasma collection is so important to our hospitals and public health systems, and how the Red Cross has worked hard to create strong partnerships with medical systems here in Illinois and around the country. The Red Cross has been the blood supplier to Rush University Medical Center for over 25 years.
Dr. Goodman is currently President Emeritus of Rush University and the retired CEO of Rush University Medical Center and the Rush University System for Health. He was a Greater Chicago Red Cross board member from 2006-2011. He says Rush’s partnership with the Red Cross is a natural fit.
“We (at Rush) see people often at the worst moments of their life, like the Red Cross,” Dr. Goodman explains. “But if you drew a diagram of where these two organizations impact the community, they overlap. Not perfectly, but complimentary. Both organizations recognize that health is far more than just treating disease (or responding to a disaster) when it occurs; it is also about prevention. Additionally, it’s about neighborhood safety, education, and the many other factors that contribute to forming healthy communities. And these building blocks to health must be available to everyone because they all factor in to extending people’s lives. It’s the basic idea of how we measure the health of our society.”
How Your Antibody Test Could Help Those in Need
Dr. Goodman’s background as an internal medicine and infectious disease physician offers him a wealth of knowledge on how the Red Cross is working together with hospital partners in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this fight against the coronavirus, Red Cross antibody tests will be helpful to identify individuals who have COVID-19 antibodies, which suggest they have been previously infected. This is useful knowledge for them and provides additional data on monitoring the extent of the disease in our community. Additionally, these previously infected individuals may qualify to be convalescent plasma donors. Convalescent plasma is a type of blood donation collected from COVID-19 survivors who have antibodies that may help patients who are actively fighting the virus. Right now, requests to the Red Cross from hospitals for convalescent plasma is outpacing our collections of this potentially useful treatment.
“When we’re infected with organisms, we make antibodies to those organisms,” Dr. Goodman explains. “We make a small army that is sent out to destroy the virus. However, it takes 10-14 days to make antibodies. During the period that antibodies are produced, you are left with your other host defenses, like white blood cells and other factors, to stave off infection. If we could find a way to get patients antibodies earlier during that 10-14 day window, it might make a difference. So if somebody already made those antibodies against COVID-19 and survived the infection, we can draw blood off (the convalescent plasma), separate the blood and antibodies, and infuse that into the ill person to be available in the early days of infection prior to that patient’s own antibody formation.”
While logical, the efficacy of convalescent plasma is still under investigation in the treatment of COVID-19, but it has been useful in other illnesses. This is the same concept behind the recently released monoclonal antibody therapies. Dr. Goodman believes it has been important that the Red Cross paved the way in offering this antibody testing free of charge to donors because of its trusted brand and reputation in communities.
“The Red Cross has a great reputation, and I think it comes back to some of the values of impartiality, neutrality, and commitment to the community,” Dr. Goodman explains. “Those are values that every organization is reexamining. The Red Cross makes a major effort to serve diverse populations and that’s very valuable.”
“People remember who’s showing up,” Dr. Goodman said. “The Red Cross shows up to fires or floods, regardless of where they occur. To have a nonprofit also participate in answering critical research questions that might lead to new therapies concerning this pandemic is another important contribution added to the invaluable gift of blood.”
New Red Cross Blood Donation Site Opens in Heart of Illinois Medical District
With the addition of The R. Scott Falk Family Blood Donation Site (Falk family pictured left), located at The Rauner Center, right in the heart of Chicago’s medical district, the Red Cross is able to collect convalescent plasma and test every blood donation for COVID-19 antibodies, while also ensuring that our hospital partners receive these and other critical blood products as swiftly as possible. Considering most of the blood that hospitals like Rush uses comes from the Red Cross and the density of hospitals in and near the Illinois Medical District, this proximity is critical.
“Timing is important with most types of blood transfusions,” Dr. Goodman says. “Availability is critical. Hospitals can’t keep all the blood they need on hand. They can go through 10-20 units in a transplant. In addition, this new site has capabilities that weren’t available previously in the medical district. Different kinds of blood products are now available. Almost all the blood products from Rush come from the Red Cross. There are also trauma centers at Stroger and other nearby centers. There’s a lot of need. Minutes mean everything. It’s a valuable use of the space at the Rauner Center.”
Now more than ever, the need for blood remains constant. Emergencies don’t stop during COVID-19, and every donation makes a direct impact on people that can’t wait for lifesaving blood.
“This is the time. While COVID-19 happened and is a dominant factor in health care and our everyday lives, while all that is happening, all the rest of the chronic and acute illnesses continue,” Dr. Goodman explains. “People still have heart attacks, tumors, strokes, and need organ transplants. Blood transfusions remain a critical need and something that has become more acute at a time like this. That same critical quality of life, which is blood, has so many capabilities in it. This is a moment when people try to decide what they can do. There’s a lot they can do to reduce their own risk and improve the health of the community through blood donation to ensure that the supply is there when any of us might need it.”
Need for Blood and Convalescent Plasma Donors
The Red Cross is encouraging individuals who have fully-recovered from COVID-19 to give convalescent plasma but, most importantly, if you are healthy and feeling well, we encourage you to donate blood. Visit redcrossblood.org to schedule your appointment today. To learn more about donating convalescent plasma, visit redcrossorg/plasma4covid.
Written by Hannah Allton, Regional Communications Manager
The American Red Cross has been a longtime partner of United Way, dating back to the 1950s. So, when they saw an opportunity to jump in and help feed thousands in the Bloomington-Normal community during the coronavirus pandemic, they didn’t waste a minute. The American Red Cross of Illinois is assisting, logistically, to feed folks, offering their vehicles and volunteers to help pick up food from stores, pack food in warehouses and deliver it where it needs to go.
With the help of the American Red Cross of Illinois, United Way of McLean County (UWMC) has established a successful COVID-19 Community Care Fund, addressing urgent needs. Food access and food insecurity were two of the biggest issues. Since March 30th, UWMC and existing initiatives in the community have provided meals to school district food programs, including five school districts, purchasing over 900 pounds of fresh produce from local farms for LeRoy, Unit 5, Lexington, Olympia and Ridgeway. They’ve also purchased bread and chicken broth from Meijer and Kroger to help feed over 500 families a week.
Lynda Hruska is the Executive Director of the American Red Cross serving Central Illinois. She says this partnership has been impactful to the volunteers.
“It has really been a way for our volunteers to be a part of this incredible work that this team is doing. Often times in a disaster, we’re in the lead role. We’re sheltering, feeding, and in this one, we are using volunteers to plug in to a community-wide project. It’s been very heartwarming to be part of this huge network seeing different people playing different roles and truly making a difference.”
Aside from school food programs, the Red Cross and United Way are partnering with existing initiatives to purchase boxed meals from local restaurants to support their employees and distribute those meals through local non-profits. As of May 8th, they’ve served more than 44,575 meals!
And of course, nothing goes to waste. The Red Cross volunteers go back to the warehouse and pick up any unused perishables and deliver them to Home Sweet Home Mission so they can be utilized without waste.
But UWMC and the Red Cross agree the effort doesn’t stop here. This team has continued to look at not only the initial food insecurity issue, but other human issues that are facing the community as a result of this pandemic. With help from partners in the community, they’ve provided and distributed over 500 food boxes, locally, and more than 300 face masks to distribution volunteers, to keep them safe and protected during this project.
The need continues. The Red Cross is here, and will be here, to help our communities.
Written by Hannah Allton, Regional Communications Manager
The Regional Sheltering Team recently conducted five classes with External Partners in Shelter Training.
Three local organizations – Benedictine University, Hoffman Estates Emergency Management and the DuPage County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management – reached out to the Red Cross and requested Shelter Training for their people.
Five Red Cross Instructors over the last month – traveled out to their locations and instructed their people in both Shelter Fundamentals and Shelter Operations Simulation. A total of 120 people were trained in these classes.
Steve Wise and Lauren Zimmerman (RC Sheltering Instructors) – and Sarah Marcucci / Emergency Management Coordinator for the Village of Hoffman Estates
Such efforts help the Red Cross extend both our Partnerships and our reach in times of need. If there ever was a local large-scale disaster – there easily could be the need to stand up numerous Shelters across the Greater Chicago and Northern IL Region.
A big shout out goes to those Red Crossers who helped out with this instruction – Terri Cunningham, Lauren Zimmerman, Jackie Speciale, and Danny Portman. Thru their efforts – we now have External Partners to call on for Sheltering Assistance.
If you would like to become a Red Cross volunteer, please go to redcross.org/volunteer to join us.
This picture was taken at the Shelter Training held at the Hoffman Estates Police Department last Saturday, February 1st. A total of 37 people attended this training.
Representatives from the American Red Cross of the Illinois River Valley and the Marseilles Fire Department commemorate the installation of the 3,000 free smoke alarm through the Home Fire Campaign
Nestled along the Illinois River in LaSalle County, Illinois, Marseilles still has the many familiar elements of that small town charm often seen in rural parts of the state. Now this community of about 5,000 is well on their way to being better protected against home fire injuries and fatalities as the fire department confirms 3,000 smoke alarms recently installed in local homes!
Having a working smoke alarm in your home cuts your chances of dying in a home fire by 50% and a recent study by the American Red Cross showed that most people believe they would have 5 minutes or more to escape their home in the event of a fire when really, it is only 2 minutes or less. Having a working smoke alarm can help protect you and your family in the event of a fire.
Each year, the Red Cross responds to an average of more than 60,000 disasters, the vast majority of which are home fires. So we set a goal to reduce fire-related deaths and injuries in the US by 25%. Since it began in 2014, the Home Fire Campaign has saved 699 lives and 2,055,341 smoke alarms have been installed– 3,000 of them in Marseilles.
The partnership began nearly two years ago through the initiative of Red Cross volunteer Kent Terry and the American Red Cross Home Fire Campaign. When Marseilles Fire Department Chief Michael “Mick” Garrison was approached about partnering with the Red Cross for home fire safety, a new endeavor was launched.
Together, the Marseilles Fire Department and Red Cross were able to reach this installation milestone providing the free smoke alarms to local residents as well as fire safety education. During an installation, the fire department also performs a free home safety inspection.
The reach of the Home Fire Campaign continues to grow further, and Chief Garrison has also installed free Red Cross smoke alarms all throughout LaSalle County by partnering with neighboring fire departments and continuing to promote home fire safety.
“This is the best program ever for Home Safety. We get the opportunity to provide direct communication and protection to our residents,” Chief Garrison said.
The American Red Cross is thankful for this great partnership with the Marseilles Fire Department and the continued dedication to making our communities more resilient and safer through smoke alarm installation.
To get involved with the Home Fire Campaign or to volunteer with the Red Cross, join us as we Sound the Alarm this spring to install even more free smoke alarms!
It was “the coldest night of the year in November in Chicago,” American Red Cross board member, Susan Noyes explained, when she first witnessed the organization in operation. She had “signed up to respond to a fire… [and noticed] how well trained and professional the volunteers were and… how they interacted with the police, and the fire… and the families.” After Susan’s experience that night, she decided she wanted to do more, and so she joined the Tiffany Circle, a group of women leaders who contribute $10,000 or more per year to the Red Cross, as well as pitch in on various Red Cross missions. She also went on to become a Red Cross board member and co-chair of the Red Cross Heroes Breakfast, an annual event that spotlights local heroes for their service to the community. Susan said “the more I learned about the Red Cross, the more I wanted to help.”
Susan gives the credit for her initial interest in the Red Cross to the organization’s former CEO and her close friend, Fran Edwardson. It was Fran who helped Susan discover the details of her connection to the Red Cross. In conversation, Susan mentioned that her husband’s family had some sort of tie to the organization. Fran then went and researched and uncovered that, indeed, there was a connection – and what a connection it was. The ancestors of Susan’s husband, Nick Noyes, were in the inner circle of American Red Cross founder, Clara Barton! In addition, in 1949, the Noyes family donated a home to be used as the Red Cross Chapter House in Danville, New York, the same town in which Clara Barton had founded the first Red Cross chapter in the late 1800s. That Chapter House is used as a Red Cross museum and office today, displaying a collection of antiques donated by the Noyes family, as well as other memorabilia pertaining to the history of the Red Cross.
In addition to her work with the Red Cross, Susan is an avid seeker of ways to have a positive influence on the world in which we live. To that end, she founded Make It Better Media Group, a print and digital publishing company that extends to several platforms, including “Better” “Marin” and “Spaces” magazines. The motto of the media group is “Live, Love, Work, and Play with Greater Purpose” and as Susan explained, it means to live one’s life in a way that promotes “greater social impact.” A quick visit to the “Better” website and you can see the immense range of topics that the company covers. There’s everything from ways to get involved in your community to advice on travel, arts, museums, restaurants, and investing.
The Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois presented the 2019 Media Partner Wesbury Award to BETTER for understanding that content sharing of the Red Cross story and mission are important for their audience to learn about.
During the past year, Susan and BETTER took direct action to tell the catastrophic disaster story and to promote public contributions for Red Cross Hurricane Michael disaster relief.
A consortium of Chicago-area donors was formed by BETTER to offer a $90,000 matching gift challenge to anyone who donated to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. A couple of months later, another BETTER anonymous donor provided a $10,000 challenge grant to support relief operations for the devastating California Wildfires – again promoted through the BETTER digital platform. Both challenge grants were fully utilized, providing much needed support for people who lost everything.
Susan and her BETTER team accepted the 2019 Wesbury Media Award.
When thinking about the work of the Red Cross, Susan said that she has “never seen an organization make a donated dollar go further.” Thanks to great board members like her and our fantastic volunteers, the Red Cross continues to serve and thrive. Thank you, Susan, for all you do for your community and for all your hard work at the Red Cross!
Written by Red Cross Communications Volunteer Vicky Arias
The Wesbury Leadership Awards were established in 1991 to honor, Stuart A. Wesbury, a former Board Chair, health care professional and outstanding community leader who epitomized humanitarianism and partnership in his professional and volunteer life. This award was established to recognize those who enhance the visibility of the Red Cross by helping us deliver our services and messages of health, safety and preparedness.
On June 27, 2019 the American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois was proud to present this year’s awards to a group of outstanding partners and volunteers who have enhanced the visibility of the Red Cross and our lifesaving mission through dedication and diligence.
DISCOVER is a dedicated corporate partner and a recipient of a Wesbury Award this year for their philanthropic generosity to the Red Cross and our disaster mission.
DISCOVER’s support of the Red Cross includes for both Hurricane Michael and Florence this year, proactively activating card member and employee giving platforms to inspire $1.2M in support for disaster relief, which DISCOVER matched with a $1M gift.
In addition, for the first time in 2019, DISCOVER included the Red Cross in nation-wide “Together We’re Community” program incentivizing local banks to promote use of Discover Card by rewarding the bank with a $10,000 grant for their local Red Cross.
DISCOVER also provided in-kind, national digital Public Service announcements to promote online giving to the Red Cross.
DISCOVER’S philanthropic generosity enables the Red Cross to better prepare and respond to disasters around the country.
Matthew Towson, Director of Community Affairs for DISCOVER accepted the 2019 Corporate Wesbury Award, pictured below with Chicago & Northern Illinois Board Chair Ted Dysart.
The 2019 Media Partner Wesbury Award was presented to BETTER, led by Founder and President Susan Noyes for understanding that content sharing the Red Cross story and mission was important for their audience.
During the past year, Susanand BETTER took direct action to tell the catastrophic disaster story and to promote public contributions for Red Cross Hurricane Michael disaster relief.
A consortium of Chicago-area donors was formed by BETTER to offer a $90,000 matching gift challenge to anyone who donated to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. A couple of months later, another BETTER anonymous donor provided a $10,000 challenge grant to support relief operations for the devastating California Wildfires – again promoted through the BETTER digital platform. Both challenge grants were fully utilized, providing much needed support for people who lost everything.
Susan and her BETTER team accepted the 2019 Media Wesbury Award.
Dedicated board member Jay Bergman was also honored with a Wesbury Award.
Jay Bergman has graciously served three terms on the Greater
Chicago regional Board of Directors; and his many achievements include several significant and unique contributions
to the American Red Cross mission:
Jay and Lori Bergman stepped up at a very important time in our region history to fund the development of the Blood Facility at the Rauner Center. This put us well ahead of the curve nationally in consolidating Humanitarian Services and Biomedical Services into one physical location and anticipated many of the important One Red Cross initiatives that are taking place today.
Not only did Jay and Lori’s vision and gift improve efficiency for blood collection and distribution, it also included to the creation of the First SecureBank Blood Reference Laboratory, which serves an important function in research and making sophisticated blood matching possible to improve patient care.
In addition, Jay, almost singlehandedly brought together his colleagues and network partners to stand up the inaugural Board of Directors for the new six county Illinois River Valley chapter. For the past three years, Jay has also led the new team and provided significant guidance and support for the Board as the chapter organization learned and grew.
Jay accepted the Wesbury Award and is pictured below with board president Ted Dysart (left) and American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois CEO Celena Roldan (right).
Five key volunteers were also honored with awards.
Paul Davidson — who goes above and beyond to extend the reach of the American
Red Cross in his local community through his work with local community
organizations including the Boy Scouts.
Paul’s focus has been on getting youth involved in the mission of
the Red Cross through his local Boy Scout troop. Paul created a partnership
between a youth volunteer conducting his Eagle Scout project and the Red Cross.
The Eagle Scout planned and executed a smoke alarm installation event with a
local Fire Department and the Red Cross, installing 65 smoke alarms in 27
homes. Since then, Paul has encouraged other boy scouts to become involved with
the Red Cross, encouraging the set-up of a Red Cross Club and facilitating
future Eagle Scout projects and building a team of Red Cross leaders!
Paul leads also our Disaster Services Technology team, hosting team meetings, encouraging and training new volunteers and developing leaders. He also is a Marathon team lead and led much of our recent Rockford flooding response.
Gerry Holmes has been a Red Cross volunteer for 11 years. He joined as a communications & public affairs volunteer after retiring from his long career as Director of Media relations at General Motors.
Since that time, Gerry has deployed to 11 national disasters, has photographed many, many of our Red Cross events, written numerous stories and has singlehandedly managed the 24/7 Media public affairs phone line for years. Thanks to Gerry, the 24/7 ‘on-call’ media team keeps answering the media’s calls each week day or night. Gerry also is a dedicated blood donor and has donated an impressive 81 times – which equates to over 10 gallons!
Sherry Hoy
heard about the Red Cross relief efforts during the catastrophic 2017 hurricane
season and joined us as a leadership volunteer after a long corporate career.
Since
that time, Sherry has been using her strategic skills in change management and
organizational effectiveness to provide significant consultancy and leadership on
a variety of project across the region, including analysis of the staff Engage!
Survey.
She
has been very involved in teaching Board, volunteer and staff trainings,
including becoming an instructor for staff coursework and teaching about
volunteer management and leadership at the Disaster Institutes.
Sherry is also a leadership volunteer on the Volunteer Relations team and key liaison with the board Mission Committee. Sherry’s sound advice is something the Leadership team at the Red Cross has come to rely on.
Janaiya Johnson is the Global Diversity & Inclusion Manager at Deloitte and she was an active supporter of our region’s vision to become a more inclusive region and volunteered to lead the Chicago & Northern IL Diversity survey.
Janaiya volunteered to provide essential oversite, guidance and leadership for our first ever staff survey focused on just Diversity & Inclusion.
She designed and collected the survey data and collaborated with a team of experts at Deloitte on the data analysis, including reporting on the emerging themes and recommendations. Janaiya presented the data and recommendations to the staff teams at meetings at the Rauner Center. She also facilitated the Q & A sessions that resulted.
Janaiya’s significant role in the survey and analysis was core to helping the region build diversity and inclusion priorities and goals for fiscal year 2020. Janaiya did all this work under some very tight deadlines and managed this in addition to the priorities of her day to day role at Deloitte.
Her colleague Tristan Slemmons, Corporate Citizenship Lead at Deloitte attended and accepted the Wesbury award on Janaiya’s behalf.
Jackie Speciale was awarded a Wesbury Award for her extensive efforts to expand the Red Cross’s reach especially in McHenry County.
By
attending numerous partner meetings including those with emergency management
in McHenry, Jackie has ensured our partners are aware of the scope of the Red
Cross services.
Most
recently, Jackie led the Red Cross response in serving the communities in Lake
and McHenry counties, after two police officers were killed. Jackie organized
Red Cross volunteers, built partnerships with over 20 local organizations, and
worked tirelessly to serve hundreds of first responders who attended the
services.
During
these responses, Jackie built team capacity, as she always finds the
opportunity to mentor and train new Red Cross volunteers alongside her.
Jackie
is willing to jump into action whenever there is a disaster response. Last
month, she was in Rockford for our flood response, where she oversaw our
inventory and distribution of emergency supplies.
Jackie’s dedication, passion, and willingness to roll up her sleeves is contagious and has made a lasting impact on all.
We are so grateful to all of our partners, board members, donors and volunteers and could not continue the work of our mission with them. Thank you for what you do to support our humanitarian organization.
On April 2, The Northern Trust Global Conference Center hosted a stage for a great conversation about the changing landscape of philanthropy and how non-profit organizations are adapting, in order to continue being sustainable. Northern Trust and the American Red Cross Tiffany Circle co-hosted the panel discussion, which was moderated by Marguerite H. Griffin, while Susan Crown and Dawn Frances Reese were the panelists of the evening. Panelist bios below.
The landscape of philanthropy has changed. Marguerite H. Griffin set the stage for the discussion by explaining that philanthropy has become a global phenomenon that has redefined itself to emerge as a powerful global force, shaping policies, values and research agendas.
Millennials are playing an important role in changing the philanthropic world, with many of them investing time and resources in causes that are important to them. So, what does this mean for the future of nonprofit organizations? For Dawn Frances Reese, feeling personally connected is key when choosing organizations to get involved with. “I need to feel connected to the mission and explained Dawn. Millennials are playing an important role in changing the philanthropic world, with many of them investing time and resources in causes that are important to them. So, what does this mean for the future of nonprofit organizations? For Dawn Frances Reese, feeling personally connected is key when choosing organizations to get involved with. “I need to feel connected to the mission and explained Dawn.
In 2014, according to the Millennial Impact Report by Research Group Achieve, 84 percent of millennials made a charitable donation, and 70 percent donated at least an hour of volunteering. Millennials want to give their time and resources to causes that are important to them. They want to feel that they are making a difference.
A survey by the Case Foundation found that 90 percent of millennials “are motivated to give by a compelling mission, not an organization.” This poses a challenge for long-established nonprofit organizations, which need to find more effective ways to engage this generation.
“It’s all about passion, it’s all about commonality of mission and things that really sort of speak to the fire of your soul. This matters, this changes the world. This means something, this changes life,” said Susan Crown.
Non-profit organizations need to be innovative in the way they appeal to millennials, as well as the future Gen Z, in order to be sustainable for years to come. Dawn Reese spoke from personal experience when she said that she began volunteering with a nonprofit organization when she was still in high school. Her work gave her a purpose, as she saw the impact she made in people’s lives. She believes that nonprofits must implement opportunities for students to volunteer early on, in order to establish a more meaningful and lasting connection with them.
A 2017 Deloitte Millennial Survey reported that “working for the good of the broader world or local community fulfills millennials’ desires to focus their energy and intellect on purposeful work. When working for a nonprofit, millennials can feel their influence; seeing the fruits of their labors fuels their drive, that in turn helps their nonprofit employers achieve greater impact.”
Ask for more than money. This speaks to how millennials tend to align with a cause that is close to their hearts and that they feel passionate about. According to the article, “Millennials will share your cause. They will sign up and volunteer their time for fundraising, crowdfunding or fieldwork.”
Tell stories. Millennials are being bombarded by messages constantly. Organizations need to make their message stand out from the rest by personalizing it and showing how people are being affected by the issue.
Keep it simple. Be direct on your messaging, go right to the point. Don’t overcomplicate. And,
Communicate urgency. Let millennials know what their time and money will do for someone right now. They want to know that their efforts and resources are making an impact.
Susan Crown sums it up when she explains that the traditional nonprofits are already making changes to stay relevant in an environment that is fueled by the passion and energy brought by millennials; an environment where everybody wants to be an entrepreneur and stand for a cause. This, she believes, is powerful and already making the big umbrella organizations reposition themselves in the 21st century. These are exciting times for nonprofits, when thinking outside the box and engaging the excitement of future generations will help them to maintain their relevance and continue fulfilling their mission.
Thank you Northern Trust for providing a forum for such an enlightening discussion to better understand the changes that are taking place in philanthropy and how nonprofit organizations can better engage millennials and future generations.
About the Tiffany Circle
The Tiffany Circle is a national and international leadership network of women who work to change lives, save lives and strengthen communities through a focused investment of time, talent and treasure in the American Red Cross. By making a $10,000 minimum annual investment, members of the Tiffany Circle stand proudly with an extraordinary group of women committed to ensuring that the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross is available to all.
About the Moderator
Marguerite H. Griffin is a senior vice president at Northern Trust. As director of Philanthropic Advisory Services, Marguerite is responsible for the delivery and growth of Northern Trust’s philanthropic retreats. She also advises clients regarding impact investing, strategic philanthropy, international philanthropy, family succession planning and board development, governance and risk management for non-profit organizations. Marguerite is a member of the American Bar Association, the Chicago Council on Planned Giving and the Chicago Estate Planning Council. She is admitted to practice before the Illinois Supreme Court. Marguerite is an active volunteer, advisor and board member with several charitable and cultural institutions, including Aeris, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago Community Trust, Forefront, the Ravinia Festival, and WTTW/WFMT.
About the Panelists
Susan Crown is a philanthropist and business executive, Chairman and Founder of the Susan Crown Exchange (SCE), Chairman and CEO of Owl Creek Partners, and currently serves as the first female chairman of Rush University Medical Center and The Rush Health System. For nearly three decades, Susan dedicated time and talent to social causes and the business world. She was the first woman board member of Illinois Tool Works (ITW). She’s also a board member of The Northern Trust Corporation and a former board member of Baxter International.
Dawn Frances Reese is the Director of Strategy for the Cleveland Avenue Foundation for Education (The CAFE). Dawn sits on the board of City Year Chicago and the Development Leadership Consortium. She is a 2019 Chicago Urban League IMPACT fellow and a 2016 Development Leadership Consortium fellow. She is a former member of the Chicago Women in Philanthropy, the Young Women’s Giving Council, and the Chicago Foundation for Women. She also received Chicago Crain’s prestigious 40 under 40 honor in 2018.
Written by Regional Marketing & Communications Manager Isis Chaverri
Chicagoland community members came together and donated over 1,232 units of blood at this year’s fifth annual blood drive hosted by the American Red Cross and ABC 7 Chicago, surpassing the goal of 1,000 units!
Medical institutions all over the country brace themselves for a blood shortage around the holiday season. Even more so this year because of the emergency need for blood and platelets.
In order to aid in this shortage, many community members donated though the American Red Cross at Merchandise Mart in Chicago, Drake Hotel in Oak Brook, and at this year’s new location CDW At Play in Vernon Hills.
Donors and Red Cross phlebotomists smile at this year’s CDW donation location in Vernon Hills.
The blood drive collected 432 more units than last year’s drive, which amounts to more than a thousand people who can be helped as one pint of blood can save up to approximately three people.
All of the attending donors had an important reason as to why they were donating.
Nicole Stevenson shares with ABC 7’s Cheryl Scott her story of being diagnosed with leukemia and needing many blood transfusions during treatment
William Monroe, blood donor, donates blood regularly even if that means that he has to do it during his workday lunch break.
“It’s something that I think everyone should do if they can do it,” Monroe said. “My brother had leukemia and he unfortunately needed a lot of blood. With all the blood he went through, I feel like I’m still in debt.”
All donors are sought after, but there are unique individuals whose blood can help almost anyone, and that is O positive donors.
Maddix Moore III, blood donor, believes it is just as important to know your blood type as it is to donate.
“You know your shoe size, right? Well, those keep you warm. Knowing your blood type can save your life,” Moore III said.
A donor who has blood type O positive are referred to universal donors meaning that their blood can be used by many people.
Individuals who have blood type O are always urged to donate in order to keep up the blood supply in their community since it is needed by so many patients.
Carla Walters gets ready to donate blood.
Carla Walters, blood donor, is one of those unique donors who donates every year.
“I came today because I wanted to help people. O positive is the universal donor, so a lot of people can use my blood,” Walters said.
Donated blood is not only used to treat medical conditions, but also used in blood transfusion and even surgery.
Jessica Klugman, medical student, knows what it is like to have a family member get routine blood transfusions due to lymphoma.
“That was really good treatment that helped her most with health and quality of life,” Klugman, who is a regular Red Cross blood donor, said.
According to Klugman, she donates blood approximately every eight weeks because she understands how important blood donation is.
Jessica Klugman holds her arm up after finishing donating one pint of blood
“It’s just a small way for me to give back,” Klugman said.
Each person who donated during the blood drive left with a goody bag, some food and a smile. The American Red Cross has blood drives almost daily in the Chicago and northern Illinois. You can visit http://www.redcrossblood.org to find a drive based on your zip code. Thank you for helping to save lives.
Written by American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois Communications volunteer Jasminne Hernandez.
Dozens of volunteers from around the American Red Cross of Northwest Illinois chapter area gathered on Saturday, January 12 along with Governor Pritzker to help make the Rockford area safer as part of the Sound the Alarm. Save a Life. campaign. See photos from the day.
Volunteers gathered at the chapter office for the American Red Cross of Northwest Illinois.
Sound the Alarm is part of the larger Home Fire Campaign, an initiative to help make homes across the country more prepared for the event of a fire by having volunteers install free smoke alarms and provide fire safety education. Having a working smoke alarm in your home cuts your risk of dying in a home fire by nearly 50%.
The temperature hovered around 30 degrees as volunteer teams of 3 from the Red Cross, the Rockford Fire Department and Hinshaw Law trekked into Rockford’s Signal Hill neighborhood to begin installations.
Governor Pritzker and the first lady joined an install team and met with a local family to go over fire safety preparednesss and ensure the home had working smoke alarms before greeting volunteers at the Red Cross chapter office.
First Lady MK Pritzker, Governor Pritzker and Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois CEO Celena Roldan speak with Rockford homeowner Mapleine Mayweather about home fire safety
Overall, 41 homes were made safer with the installation of 134 new smoke alarms!
The Red Cross responds to nearly 64,000 disasters a year, the majority of which are home fires. Working smoke alarms in a home cut the risk of death by half, and having an escape plan further improves the odds of survival. The Red Cross wants to end these tragedies and save lives, the reason why the organization launched the Home Fire Campaign in 2014.
Red Cross volunteer Scott Otto drills a new smoke alarm into the wall of a Rockford home.
To learn more about the Home Fire Campaign, visit redcross.org. Please help us Sound the Alarm by volunteering to install smoke alarms, making a financial contribution, or taking steps to protect your own family from home fires.
This Spring, the Red Cross will continue to Sound the Alarm with upcoming installation events in neighborhoods and cities across the country and right here in the Chicago & Northern Illinois 21-county region including Austin, Freeport, Bolingbrook, Rockford, North Lawndale, Joliet and more!
Do you or someone you know need a working smoke alarm? Sign up to get one and have volunteers install it for free by filling out the online form at www.getasmokealarm.org.
About the American Red Cross of Northwest Illinois:
The American Red Cross of Northwest Illinois serves 700,000 people in 10 counties including Boone, Bureau, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside and Winnebago. The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports 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 perform its mission. For more information, please visit us at www.redcross.org/Il/Rockford or visit us on Twitter @ChicagoRedCross
Marguerite H. Griffin is a senior vice president at Northern Trust. As director of Philanthropic Advisory Services, Marguerite is responsible for the delivery and growth of Northern Trust’s philanthropic retreats. She also advises clients regarding impact investing, strategic philanthropy, international philanthropy, family succession planning and board development, governance and risk management for non-profit organizations. Marguerite is a member of the American Bar Association, the Chicago Council on Planned Giving and the Chicago Estate Planning Council. She is admitted to practice before the Illinois Supreme Court. Marguerite is an active volunteer, advisor and board member with several charitable and cultural institutions, including Aeris, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago Community Trust, Forefront, the Ravinia Festival, and WTTW/WFMT.
Susan Crown is a philanthropist and business executive, Chairman and Founder of the Susan Crown Exchange (SCE), Chairman and CEO of Owl Creek Partners, and currently serves as the first female chairman of Rush University Medical Center and The Rush Health System. For nearly three decades, Susan dedicated time and talent to social causes and the business world. She was the first woman board member of Illinois Tool Works (ITW). She’s also a board member of The Northern Trust Corporation and a former board member of Baxter International.
Dawn Frances Reese is the Director of Strategy for the Cleveland Avenue Foundation for Education (The CAFE). Dawn sits on the board of City Year Chicago and the Development Leadership Consortium. She is a 2019 Chicago Urban League IMPACT fellow and a 2016 Development Leadership Consortium fellow. She is a former member of the Chicago Women in Philanthropy, the Young Women’s Giving Council, and the Chicago Foundation for Women. She also received Chicago Crain’s prestigious 40 under 40 honor in 2018.
American Red Cross of Illinois 