Community pulls together for local Red Cross chapter

The American Red Cross Wabash Valley Chapter celebrated its successful "Save The Day" fundraising Campaign at its Annual Membership Meeting on May 20.

The 2008 campaign was chaired by Dr. Mary Ann Carroll. Jadcore Inc. gave the lead gift of $7,500 when the local campaign kicked-off. The goal was to raise $35,000 for local Red Cross emergency services in Clay, Greene, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Vermillion and Vigo Counties in Indiana and Edgar County, Ill. To date, the Chapter has received $37,036 in gifts and pledges for the campaign.

Campaign Captains included Steve Winkler, Winkler Chevrolet in Edgar County; Dr. Charles French and Nicholas French, French Funeral Home in Clay County; Jonas Uland, Greene County General Hospital; Ginger Scott, Wabash Capital and Kathy Skeel in Putnam County; James Exline, Wabash Capital in Sullivan County; and in Vigo County Rick Burger, Duke Energy; Dr. Rolan Kohr; Jackie Lower, Murray Pate, Old National; and Dave Piker.

Campaign solicitors included Rod Bosley, Jim Chesterson, Ruben Gonzales, Tom Graffis, Laura Hemming, Pardeep Kumar, Rhonda Lauderback, Tom Mason, Kayer Patel, Jenny Piker, Tom Sawyer, Thomas Schmidtz, Gary Schomer, Carol Stevens and Chasity Wood. Cindy Belt sponsored the Campaign Kick-off.

"I thank everyone who helped with the campaign including all of our Captains and Solicitors. I also want to publicly express my appreciation to John Doti, President of Jadcore, Inc. for his personal support and Jadcore's most generous lead gift this year and every year to the campaign," Campaign Chair Dr. Mary Ann Carroll emphasized. "Finally, I am deeply grateful to everyone who made a gift to the campaign, so that, the life changing and life saving mission of our local award winning Red Cross Chapter can continue," Carroll concluded.

Wabash Valley Chapter Board Chair Rod Bosley praised Dr. Carroll and everyone involved in the campaign for their efforts in making the campaign a success and exceeding the goal.

"This has been our most successful 'Save the Day' campaign," Bosley said. "Dr. Carroll and our Captains and Solicitors are to be commended. As Board Chair, I know how important our work is here in the Wabash Valley and this campaign demonstrates that our community believes in a strong and active local Red Cross Chapter."

The Wabash Valley Red Cross Chapter, winner of the American Red Cross "Highly Performing Chapter" Award, is dedicated to saving lives and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies in Clay, Greene, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Vermillion and Vigo Counties in Indiana and Edgar County, Ill. Led by over 250 volunteers and eight employees, the Chapter annually mobilized relief to local families affected by more than 135 disasters, trains more than 10,000 youth and adults in lifesaving skills, provides disaster education materials and workshops to over 20,000 individuals and exchanges more than 200 emergency messages for the U.S. Military service personnel and their families.

Gifts to the campaign can still be sent to American Red Cross Wabash Valley Chapter, 700 South Third St., Terre Haute, IN 47807. Secure internet gifts can be made at www.wabashvalleyredcross.org