Fort Hood Holiday Gift Drive a Huge Success!

The Chisholm Trail Chapter hosted a holiday gift drive on Saturday, December 12, 2009 to support the service members stationed at Fort Hood. American Red Cross volunteers and supporters arrived with more than 100 gifts for infants, toddlers, school-aged children and teenagers. The group spent Saturday morning wrapping and preparing the gifts for children of Fort Hood families. American Red Cross longtime supporter TXU Energy also participated in the event by providing gift bags that included items such as fluorescent light bulbs, LED night lights, and energy conservation tips for the holiday season.

Members of the Chisholm Trail Chapter Tiffany Circle Society of Women Leaders came up with the service project idea and were heavily involved with the planning of the event. Tiffany Circle members Alice Puente, Lou Martin, Sheri Beatty, and Katie Kalpakis all attended the event, along with local Congresswoman Kay Granger.

“We were very pleased with the event and we now have more than 100 toys to deliver to families in Fort Hood,” said Chisholm Trail Chapter Chief Executive Officer Patricia R. Thomson, Ph.D. “We are so amazed by the amount of support we received from Chisholm Trail Chapter volunteers, donors and board members and we are thankful to them for making this event a success.”

American Red Cross Chisholm Trail Chapter Tiffany Circle members Katie Kalpakis and Lou Martin and board member Barbara Smyers will deliver more than 100 wrapped gifts to the 2-1 Air Defense Artillery Battalion in Fort Hood on Wednesday, December 16, 2009. This project was a great way to show our support and welcome the holiday season. Way to go Red Crossers!

Chisholm Trail Chapter Hosts Fort Hood Holiday Gift Drive!

Some Red Crossers are more eager to give than to recieve this holiday season. Chisholm Trail Chapter leadership society members will host a holiday gift drive on Saturday, December 12, 2009 at our chapter office to show their support of service members stationed at Fort Hood. These American Red Cross supporters will be donating and wrapping gifts for infants, toddlers, school-aged children and teenagers.

Members of the Chisholm Trail Chapters Tiffany Circle Society of Women Leaders came up with the service project idea and have been heavily involved with the planning of the event. They will be joined by other local American Red Cross supporters for this service project that will benefit the Fort Hood community. “The American Red Cross has been providing support to service members, veterans and their families for more than 100 years, and this project is an extension of our commitment to those who serve,” said Alyson Barber, Service to the Armed Forces Manager.

“It is such a joy to be able to help these families in some small way,” said Alice Puente, Chisholm Trail Chapter Tiffany Circle Co-Chair. “They have been through so much this year and deserve to have a wonderful holiday.” The Tiffany Circle Society is a powerful leadership network of women who give their time, talent and treasure in support of the American Red Cross.

Tiffany Circle members Lou Martin and Katie Kalpakis will join Chisholm Trail Chapter Board Member Barbara Smyers to deliver the gifts to Fort Hood following the event.

Let's all exhibit the spirit of the Red Cross this holiday season and give to others any way we can! For more information on how you can help support our military members, visit www.chisholmtrail.redcross.org or contact us at 817-335-9137.

Red Cross to Honor Local Heroes at Stars at Night Gala

Heroes don’t always make headlines. People in our community do good deeds every day. The Chisholm Trail Chapter of the American Red Cross needs your help to identify “everyday heroes” who have made a difference in Tarrant, Johnson, Parker, Wise or Hood counties.

Nominations are being sought in six different categories.

Lifesaver of the Year: An individual or group using life-saving skills such as CPR or First Aid to save a human life.
Emergency Responder of the Year: A professional emergency responder or group that assisted above and beyond expectations in a time of extraordinary need.
Military Member of the Year: Active or reserve military member who has performed an act of heroism or made a significant contribution toward safety preparedness in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Diversity Ambassador of the Year: Individual working to bridge the gap between diverse communities and networks of resources available to meet humanitarian needs.
Young Good Samaritan of the Year: A person under the age of 21 performing an unexpected or significant act of heroism, or displaying outstanding leadership.
Community Spirit Award: A civic, government or business leader who has made a significant contribution to the well-being of a community.

Heroes will be honored at the Chisholm Trail Chapter’s Stars at Night fundraising gala on March 25, 2010, at Billy Bob’s Texas, beginning at 6 p.m. The fourth annual event raises money for the life-saving mission of the American Red Cross. The Chisholm Trail Chapter touches thousands of lives every year. From providing on-scene assistance to victims of disaster, to teaching thousands of people each year how to save lives, the Red Cross is committed to making our community a safer place to live. The Red Cross communicates emergency messages to men and women serving in the Armed Forces, while deployments keep them away from their loved ones. The Red Cross provides the only non-emergency medical transportation program of its kind in Tarrant County – ensuring that individuals aren’t without health care for lack of transportation. None of it would be possible without the support of the community that we serve.

For more details on the requirements for each of these award categories, or to nominate a hero, please visit the Chisholm Trail Chapter website at http://www.chisholmtrail.redcross.org/, or contact the Chisholm Trail Chapter at (817) 335-9137. The actions for which each individual is being nominated should have taken place within the 2009 calendar year. Direct involvement with the Red Cross is not required for an individual to be selected or nominated. All individuals will be notified of the nomination and recognized. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. on November 25, 2009, to be considered. Award recipients are selected by a panel of volunteer judges and will be notified by the Red Cross.

The 2010 Stars at Night gala is presented by title sponsor XTO Energy.

Motorola Global Day of Service

Local Motorola employees spent part of their day today helping with service projects at the Chisholm Trail Chapter as part of their company's Global Day of Service. For the fourth year in a row, Motorola employees around the world took a half day off to volunteer in their communities.

The Chisholm Trail Chapter always welcomes volunteers and has plenty of projects!

Workers from Motorola spent the morning helping outside the chapter building by trimming and weeding along the fenceline, where vegetation has overgrown. Others spent the day indoors helping apply a fresh coat of paint to the disaster training room.

The Red Cross appreciates their service and thanks all of the Motorola employees that helped our chapter on their Global Day of service!

American State Giving Back to Weatherford $10,000 Give Away

Beginning October 2, 2009 each of you is encouraged to vote for American Red Cross Parker County Branch through the American State Giving Back to Weatherford $10,000 Give Away. Voting ballots are available at the ASB Weatherford location and you can vote EVERDAY online through October 30, 2009 by logging on to this link http://www.asbonline.com/givingback One vote per day is allowed online and in the branch. Voting starts at 9 a.m. on Oct 2nd through Oct 30th at midnight.

Winners are determined by the number of votes each organization receives during the voting period. The organization with the most votes will win a $5,000 donation and the organizations with the second and third most votes will each receive a $2,500 donation.

Thank you for your vote!

Chapter Welcomes Flora Davis

Flora Davis has made a career out of making a difference and helping others. She believes it is her calling. As a non-profit fundraising professional, Davis answered that call once again when the American Red Cross Chisholm Trail Chapter was looking for a new chief development officer.

“I was attracted to the position because the mission of the American Red Cross is compelling, as well as the services provided by the organization,” said Davis. “I believe I am the best person to take this chapter to the next level in achieving their fundraising goals and objectives.”

Before accepting the position with the Red Cross, Davis served as the regional vice president of development for the American Lung Association of the Central States. She brings more than 20 years of nonprofit management experience to the position.

“Flora brings a great combination of experience and proven results to the table,” said Patricia Thomson, CEO of the Chisholm Trail Chapter. “Her track record speaks for itself when it comes to meeting fundraising goals and working with community partners. We are excited to have her join our team.”

Davis will direct financial development programs and donor cultivation for the Chisholm Trail Chapter, which includes 23 counties. The American Red Cross is not a government agency and relies on the generosity of the American people to fulfill its mission of helping people to prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

“We live in a generous community of close-knit people,” Davis said. “I am looking forward to working with Red Cross volunteers and supporters to open new doors for the chapter.”

Welcome to the Big Country Branch Community Resource & Development Manager Tim Cox

Timothy Cox has spent his entire professional career serving others – through the military and as a volunteer. When the opportunity to continue his service as an employee of the American Red Cross opened, Cox couldn’t resist.

“The skills I acquired in the military – leadership, management and work ethic – will translate well in providing the services offered through the humanitarian mission of the Red Cross,” Cox said.

Cox was hired as the Community & Resource Development Manager for the Big Country Branch of the American Red Cross Chisholm Trail Chapter and officially assumed his duties on July 21, 2009. Cox will be responsible for working with a team to build capacity and support for service delivery in the Big Country. His focus will be to recruit and develop volunteers, increase awareness about Red Cross services and programs in the community, and work to build financial support for Red Cross activities in the area.

Prior to this position, Cox was an active duty member of the United States Air Force for six years, and most recently contracted with U.S. Army Special Forces as an explosive detector dog handler, trainer and supervisor. During his service with the military, Cox witnessed firsthand how the Red Cross helps the men and women of the Armed Forces. In 2000, Cox received an emergency communication from the American Red Cross while serving in the Nevada desert. He learned of a family emergency and, as a result of the message from the Red Cross, he was able to get home to be with his family during an especially difficult time.

To contact Cox with any questions regarding Red Cross service in the Big Country, please call
(325) 677-2622.