Monday, February 23, 2015

In Case You Missed It - Feb 23

Long Island Red Cross Mental Health Volunteer Larry Kasten comforts
Hempstead resident at shelter after 5-alarm fire. (Photo: Lisa Weatherbee)
Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 203 adults and 88 children following 91 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of some upcoming events.

Last Week in Review 


Upcoming Events
  • Feb. 25 & 27: Red Cross blood drive; 1 to 7pm; 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. Click here to register.
  • Feb. 25: Thank you event for LI Red Cross partner Rallye Motors.
  • Feb. 28: Disaster mental-health volunteers from across the region will gather at our regional HQ in Manhattan for a seminar on mass casualty incidents.
  • Feb. 28 – Mar. 1: As part of the Red Cross Home Fire Preparedness Campaign, volunteers will be out in the Bronx, Staten Island and Long Beach, N.Y. installing free smoke detectors and talking to residents about fire safety.
  • Mar. 1: Beginning of Red Cross Month!
  • Mar. 10: The Brooklyn Nets will host an American Red Cross Awareness Night (versus the New Orleans Pelicans). For every discounted ticket sold at this web site, the Brooklyn Nets will donate a portion of the proceeds to the Red Cross. If 200 tickets are sold, the Red Cross will be honored with a special halftime recognition.

Monday, February 16, 2015

In Case You Missed It- February 16



Red Cross staff members alongside representatives from the American Kennel Club, AKC Reunite and NYC OEM. 
Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 146 adults and 46 children following 62 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of some upcoming events.

Last Week In Review 
One of the many gifts placed in "Comfort Kits" assembled by Primrose Elementary School kids in honor of Stephanie Crispanelli. 





Upcoming Events
  • Feb. 16, 19 and 21: Red Cross blood drives; 1 to 7pm; 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. Click here to register.
  • Feb. 21: Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) volunteers will provide information and support to service members returning from deployment and their family members at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown, N.Y. Learn moreabout our SAF program.
  • Feb. 21: The Long Island Red Cross will train students at the Merchant Marine Academy in  Great Neck, N.Y. to assist displaced residents at Red Cross shelters following local disasters. Learn more about the Long island RedCross.
  • Mar. 10: The Brooklyn Nets will be hosting an American Red Cross Awareness Night. Forevery discounted ticket sold here versus the New Orleans Pelicans, the Brooklyn Nets will a portion pf the proceeds to the Red Cross. If 200 tickets are sold, the Red Cross will honored with a special halftime recognition.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Getting Down to Business: Local Leaders Turn to the Long Island Red Cross


By Joe Spaccarelli

It’s a typical cold winter Wednesday morning for most business executives with the exception of a small intimate group of CEOs gathering for The Hauppauge Industrial Association’s (HIA-LI) CEO roundtable event. A special session where local leaders gather to share success stories, insights, philosophies and network.

The event’s featured speaker is John Miller, CEO, Long Island Red Cross.

As leaders and attendees arrive, coffee in hand, networking prior to the main presentation, inquiring minds already want to know what a humanitarian relief volunteer organization has in common with their respective businesses. The answers, as they would soon come to find out, will be surprising to many.

John warmed up the crowd by providing a brief overview of the Red Cross lines of service and described our local footprint here on Long Island followed by a personal recount of Superstorm Sandy and the extraordinary impact that it had here locally.

John then took the group through an interactive presentation that was peppered with inquisitive questions from many of the thought leaders trying to seize the golden nuggets of wisdom drawn from John’s field tested strategies, tactics and years of experience.

The centerpiece of the discussion was the transformation of the local chapters of the Red Cross (Nassau, Suffolk and Shelter Island) into a single organization under a unified leadership structure. The transformation encompassed the Chapters, Board of Directors, leadership team, staff and even volunteers. It was done with compassion and respect for the individual at every level. Transparent to those in need, our responses continued as the organization took shape. It’s something that could be akin to building an airplane in flight.

John covered a multitude of topics and issues that most organizations struggle with such as Leadership development, succession planning, board development, revenue generation, and employee (and volunteer) engagement. With each topic came a rapid-fire inquisition from the highly engaged audience.

At the conclusion of the event, engaged participants found the answers to their lingering question from earlier that morning; Running an organization designed to provide relief efforts to “unscheduled” catastrophic events with little or no warning, utilizing the power of volunteers and donors resources at a moment’s notice is no small feat. It takes guts, precision planning, leadership, organization, financial and human resources, collaboration, coordination, role and goal clarity, concise communications, preparedness and processes just to name a few.

Leading the effort is a leadership team that is aligned, supportive, transparent and open to continuous improvement. But the single most important ingredient that makes this model work is the desire, drive, willingness and passion of the donors and volunteer all aligned and focused on how to make a difference in the lives of those impacted.







Monday, February 9, 2015

In Case You Missed It - Feb 9

Red Cross at the scene of Metro North train crash in Valhalla, N.Y.
Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 141 adults and 46 children following 54 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of the week ahead.

Last Week in Review 
Gail Colaccico with Marilyn and Terry Lotz, long time blood drive volunteers
who were recognized at West Point Black and Gold Volunteer Awards Ceremony.

Upcoming Events
  • Feb. 9: Red Cross blood drive; 1 to 7pm; 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. Click here to register.
  • Feb. 11: The Red Cross will host 60 members of the Veteran’s Mental Health Coalition of NYC at our Manhattan HQ for a lecture on the issues facing women veterans. The event runs from 1 to 4pm. Registration is still open.
  • Feb. 12: Red Cross blood drive; 1 to 7pm; 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. Click here to register.
  • Feb. 14: Press conference announcing new partnership between the Red Cross and the American Kennel Club. Stay tuned for more info.
  • Registration is open for our popular Safety Town program for children! Event in Greenwich, CT runs from June 8 to 19. Event in Scarsdale, N.Y. runs from June 20 to 26.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

In Case You Missed It - Feb 3

Red Cross Volunteer Bob Cowart providing warmth and comfort to a child during a
fire response in the Bronx. (Photo: Anastasia Hannah)
Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 113 adults and 36 children following 46 local disasters. Here are some highlights of responses and activities from last week and a preview of the week ahead: 

Last Week in Review
Red Cross Volunteers Brian Gerber, Luz Hermida, Veronica Avila & Nanci Banninger providing hot beverages, snacks & warm smiles at the scene of Williamsburg warehouse fire. (Photo: Caroline Sherwin)
Upcoming Events
  • Feb 3: Red Cross will be distributing volunteering information at an HSBC volunteer fair.
  • Feb 4: LI Red Cross CEO John Miller will take part in an HIA-LI event entitled, "Helping build more resilient communities on Long Island."
  • Feb 5: Red Cross Pet Therapy, Blood, and Keller Hospital volunteers will be recognized by West Point staff at the quarterly Black and Gold Volunteer Awards recognition ceremony.
  • Feb 5: Red Cross will be distributing volunteering information at a Blackrock Volunteer Fair.