Red Cross Youth

“What’s Your Issue? – Film Your Issue” 2010 Competition Launches, Supported by YouTube, Best Buy, Apple, Sony Pictures

3-minute videos proposing Project-Solution ideas to front-burner issues to be presented to Obama Administration, on Best Buy screens around the world, winner flown to LA for Awards Ceremony co-hosted by Sony.  Prizes include Macbook, iPod Touch, Sundance Pass

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The success of texting donations for Haiti Relief has been all the buzz for news and media. This new use of technology has brought in impressive monetary contributions for the American Red Cross and other relief organizations. Unfortunately what we and the rest of the world doesn’t get to see broadcasted on the news is all the amazing work our chapters and volunteers are doing to raise awareness and money for the recent Haiti tragedies. Campus clubs such as Vanderbilt University and Southeast Texas High school shared their stories here on redcrossyouth.org, what they did to raise money, and we know that countless other youth programs are hard at work as well.

Recently Bobbie Bishop, Business Consultant in Chapter Communications of Des Moines, Iowa, reached out to chapters from across the country to find out what their youth were doing to raise money. She got back an impressive list of ideas, stories, and thoughts from chapters. We have these ideas to share with you to implement in your local communities. The amount of feedback she received proves how much our chapters and moreover the youth volunteers in these chapters are doing to give back in this dire time of need for the organization and our world.

Bobbie a strong advocate and recognizer of youth involvement within the organization said

“In difficult times, the American people look to the American Red Cross as a resource – a place to get help, and a place to give help. Every time disaster strikes, I am amazed at the power and imagination of our youth. Red Cross chapters throughout the country often engage with this valuable resource. In January after an earthquake devastated the citizens of Haiti, chapters came forward, eager to share projects created and carried out by local youth groups. I can’t thank American Red Cross chapters enough for encouraging our youth to be caring and compassionate, for they truly are tomorrow’s Red Cross heroes.”

As youth volunteers and all American Red Cross volunteers alike we are compassionate with the work we do and we are being a strong part of a movement today. A movement to make a difference and give back to others both nearby and faraway.

Thanks Bobbie for your support and getting these ideas to us so we can share them with all chapters here on redcrossyouth.org.

The Red Cross National Youth Council application for 2010 is now available! To learn more about the council and download an application visit: American Red Cross National Youth Council.
All parts of the application are to be submitted electronically to Bianca Kahlenberg at kahlenbergb@usa.redcross.org. Applications in their entirety are due March 5, 2010 by 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time.

Also, the Navin Narayan 2010 Scholarship DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED till February 1st, by 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time. Please visit the Navin Narayan page for more information. Some of you have been experiencing technical difficulties with submitting the application and recommendations with the “Submit” button. If you are having difficulties, please email the forms directly to KimSJ@usa.redcross.org.

I was trying to think of some easy ways to publicize the texting campaign to help those in Haiti.  Here is the most simple thing I could come up with.

1.  Arrive to school or class 15 minutes early.

2.  Walk into a classroom where a teacher is present.

3. Ask him/her if you can write a reminder on the board to donate to the American Red Cross to help those in Haiti.

4. After the teacher agrees write: “Text “Haiti” to 90999 to donate $10 to the American Red Cross”

5.  Leave that classroom, find another and repeat!

* Remember to write SAVE in the message so no one erases it.

It’s that simple!

Take a photo of your best message, mine could use a little work…..

Pat – Rainy Bay Area, CA

Getting ready this morning for class I decided to turn the radio on for some music to keep me awake in the shower. As I turn on the radio and get into the shower I hear the DJ’s voice, sounding odd and not like usual. He says that the news is so tough to report this morning he can barely get it out. He goes on to say how just 8 days after the devastating Haiti earthquake an aftershock has struck just 35 miles outside of where the 7.0 magnitude quake hit. This one isn’t much smaller at a magnitude of 6.1. I could barely handle the news. My mind before this was buzzing with the readings I still had to do before class, getting to the bus on time and all the other responsibilities of my day. After hearing this tragic news none of that seems quite as important. Tens of thousands more have died, hundreds of thousands are misplaced and the damage is unimaginable. Survivors described going through the quake like “standing on a plank on top of a ball”.

Last night I was talking with some fellow members of the National Youth Council about why the Haiti Earthquakes have sparked such a huge reaction from the American people, sending in donations, twittering, blogging etc. The reaction has been unlike anything the American Red Cross has ever seen before. The answer is simple; it’s because tragedies like this, no matter what borders they happen within, cannot be overlooked by humanity. This is an issue of humanity – just one of the principles the Red Cross was founded upon. Together as American Red Cross youth we can help to spread this idea of humanity and compassion for all. We know and have experienced what it means to be an American Red Cross volunteer or to donate to a cause bigger than yourself. There is no feeling like it in the world. Take this tragedy that has struck the lives of millions and turn it into an opportunity for those that want to help to do something bigger and more beautiful than they could have ever imagined.

Encourage friends, families and your community to donate to the International Response Fund today. Furthermore encourage them to not stop there and to learn more about the opportunities to volunteer for the American Red Cross within their own communities.

Keep checking redcrosschat.org and here on redcrossyouth.org for more information and constant updates.

Bianca, Florida

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama visited American Red Cross workers Monday, January 18, 2010 in the disaster operations center at Red Cross headquarters in Washington, D.C. The President and First Lady toured the disaster operations center, escorted by Red Cross Chairman Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, and asked each staff person’s name and role in the Haiti earthquake response. Photo Credit: Dennis Drenner/American Red Cross

Update: The Southeast Texas High School Red Cross Club collected $3,241.65 for Red Cross Haiti Relief! Congratulations on your outstanding work and effort!

Southeast Texas High School’s Red Cross club volunteers are all geared up to go out in their Red Cross youth shirts and rally for the Haiti Relief effort. Youth will set up tables outside local stores on January 16th and remind Texas citizens how important the need is in Haiti as well as encourage donations to the Red Cross International Response Fund and Haiti Relief Fund. For those who do not have cash or checks available, they will also offer a little handbill with information on donating $10 to the Haiti Relief Fund via text messaging.