Heroes recognized for their efforts
Published: July 13, 2007
A record was broken during this year’s annual American Red Cross Heroes Campaign.
Joe Douglass, production supervisor at Annin & Co., was the hero who raised the most cash - $4,336, surpassing the record of $3,500 set by Jennifer Flowers three years ago, said Bob Miller, Heroes Campaign chairman and vice chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross Coshocton County Chapter.
“They’re just a giving group of people,” Douglass said. He raised most of the money through 50/50 raffles at work and the VFW Post 2040 made a $700 contribution, he said.
Annin employees have raised about $35,000 this year to support community fundraisers such as the Red Cross Heroes Campaign, Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids Sake and the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Douglass said.
Heroes were recognized Tuesday evening at a dinner held in the fellowship hall at Emmanuel Lutheran Church on Pleasant Valley Drive.
There were three levels for awards - Bronze for $250; Silver for $500; and Gold for $1,000 or more. There were no recipients at the Bronze level, and of the 15 members, seven raised more than $1,000 to make it to the Gold.
Although the campaign fell short of the $30,000 goal at $17,369, Miller said he was pleased with the efforts of the group of 15 local volunteers.
Executive Director Craig Patterson said the Heroes’ efforts provide critical support to the Red Cross.
About 40 percent of the agency’s budget comes from the United Way of Coshocton County, and the balance is made up of donations, he said.
“It’s not just money,” Patterson said. “What you folks have probably done is provided a blanket to a shivering mother sitting outside a burning home or water to a fireman leaving a burning building. You folks certainly are heroes to us.”
The Red Cross provides disaster relief, blood programs, educational safety programs and offers emergency programs for members of the armed forces.
Last year the organization provided relief during 34 disasters, 30 of which were residential fires; assisted 317 military personnel with emergencies; and held 78 blood drives where 3,007 units were collected. In all up to 9,321 lives were touched. Lifesaving skills including swimming and cardiopulmonary resuscitation were taught to 2,838 residents in 2006.
Funds raised through the Heroes Campaign and other activities remain in Coshocton to support local activities.
Miller said the board has discussed lengthening the campaign to give Heroes more of an opportunity instead of limiting it to three months of the year.
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