Keith Alvey
The American Red Cross 6th Annual Hometown Heroes Luncheon is Thursday, March 14, at The Chattanoogan from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Keynote speaker will be 17-year Red Cross veteran Keith Alvey from Kentucky, who was recent director for the Hurricane Sandy Relief in New York and numerous other major disaster relief operations. Volkswagen, Erlanger and Blue Cross Blue Shield are the event sponsors.
The Red Cross will select five local heroes from nominations submitted by the community. Categories include Good Samaritan – Youth 18 and under; Good Samaritan – 19 and older; Red Cross Volunteer-Hospital; Red Cross Volunteer – Disaster and First Responder.
Anyone may nominate a hero by visiting http://www.redcross.org/news/event/6th-Annual-Chattanooga-Hometown-Heroes-Luncheon. People may also pick up nomination forms at the American Red Cross, 801 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37403. They can be mailed or faxed to 265-8952. Nomination forms must be received by Monday at 4:45 p.m. and will be judged by a committee of civic and community leaders. Nominees must live or work in Hamilton, Bledsoe, Grundy, Sequatchie, Rhea, Marion, Bradley, Meigs, McMinn, Polk or Monroe counties. Additional guidelines may be found on the nomination form.
For information about table sponsorships ticket information contact Sandra.Kilgore@redcross.org or call 265-3455.
March was first proclaimed as Red Cross Month 70 years ago by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Since 1943, every president, including President Obama, has designated March as Red Cross Month. The American Red Cross is synonymous with helping people, and has been doing so for more than 130 years.
Last year in the Greater Chattanooga area, the American Red Cross assisted 180 families (195 individuals) with disaster financial assistance; 4,514 people attended Red Cross Disaster Services presentations and demonstrations and Service to Armed Forces provided casework services for 444 members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans and their families. In addition, the Red Cross instructed 4,630 people in Health and Safety courses including First Aid, CPR, AED and Water Safety while 654 local volunteers supported community services including disaster relief, community preparedness, information and referral, and volunteer leadership.
The Red Cross is not a government agency and relies on donations of time, money and blood to do its work. An average of 91 cents of every dollar given to the Red Cross is invested in helping people in need.