Happy birthday, Henri!
Today, Saturday May 8th 2010, is World Red Cross Red Crescent Day. All around the United States, chapters and youth volunteers will be holding fundraising and community service events, just like your counterparts around the world.
World Red Cross Red Crescent Day is held every year on May 8th, which is the birthday of Henri Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross movement. Henri was born in 1828, which would make him a ripe old 182 years old today. That’s a lot of candles. And did you know that Henri founded the Red Cross movement when he was only 31?
What are you doing to celebrate World Red Cross Red Crescent Day? Do you have any great ideas? Please comment below and share your projects with your fellow youth volunteers. To get you started, here are some projects (youth and non-youth) that are happening around North America.
Bermuda
Friday May 7th (yesterday): Gibbons Stores Shopping Day for Charity: For a $5.00 donation to the Red Cross, shoppers receive 20% off on clothes and other selected items throughout the store.
Saturday May 8th (today): The “White Diamond Celebration”, a 600-person dinner dance with silent auctions and prizes along with raffle sales on travel vouchers. This is an annual event and it always has a theme, from India to France, from Under the Sea to Outer Space.
Friday May 14th: Red White and Do Day: The Bermuda Red Cross encourages the community to wear red and white and DO something that will reduce risk in their places of work, worship, learning, or at home, or make a healthy change in their lives. Most of the island’s schools take part and everyone donates $2.00.
Canada
The Canadian Red Cross has managed to pull off an impressive stunt – they have found a descendant of Henri Dunant, in Québec! Marc Dunant, who was born in Europe, is a teacher who lives in the town of Longueuil.
A large event, the “Red Carpet Soirée” was held two days ago, on Thursday, May 6th, to raise funds. In the past, the Canadian Red Cross has also held other events to celebrate World Red Cross Day, including outdoor barbeque celebrations. Sounds like a great holiday!
Mexico
The Mexican Red Cross is commemorating World Red Cross Day by holding the Annual National Day of Induction between May 8th and June 24th, with the objective of training as many youth as possible.
From June 2nd to June 6th, Mexican Red Cross Youth will hold their 30th annual national youth meeting. We wish them the best of luck!
United States
In San Francisco, a resolution has been passed in support of World Red Cross Day, and the 2009 World Youth Declaration is going to be read.
In Washington, DC, a celebration was held yesterday, Friday May 7th, at the National Capital Region Red Cross headquarters.
A video about family reunification has also been posted on YouTube to commemorate World Red Cross Day.
What are you doing to celebrate World Red Cross Red Crescent Day? Comment below and tell us.
Filed under: Chapter, Fundraiser, International Tagged: | bermuda, canada, mexico, world red cross day
