GREATER CINCINNATI 2017 IMPACT REPORT
Helping Our Community Every Day
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR AND CEO
Patricia M. Smitson Regional CEO
We want to share the story of one family we helped this year. David Cofer was getting ready to move into a new home with his wife Amy and son Jacob in late December when Red Cross volunteer Tim Skaggs asked him if the home had smoke alarms. When David said that it did not, Tim arranged for the Red Cross to install some free alarms. A few weeks later, the Cofers were awakened around midnight by one of the alarms. David woke up Amy and Jacob, got them out of the house and then went down to the basement to see what was causing the issue. One alarm was installed directly above the water heater, which was smoking. He quickly shut off the electricity to the water heater, which eliminated the source of the fire and kept it from spreading. The fire department told him that the smoke alarm not only saved his new home, but saved his family as well. At the speed that home fires spread, the house would have been fully engulfed before they ever woke up and smelled the smoke upstairs—if they had awakened at all. Two years ago the Red Cross created a Home Fire Campaign with people like the Cofers in mind. The goal is to reduce the number of deaths and injuries from home fires by 25 percent through the installation of free smoke alarms. To date, more than 250 lives have been saved across the country. The Cofers, who live in South Webster, Ohio, in the eastern area of our territory, are the first confirmed family in our region to be saved as a result of our efforts. More, we’re sure, will come. This year we installed more than 8,000 free smoke alarms. While their fire didn’t generate the kind of media attention that large disasters do, it does underscore an important, and often overlooked, part of our job at the Red Cross: We help our community every day. Three times a day, on average, we respond to some sort of disaster, 90 percent of which are home fires that are just as devastating to the individual families as a large disaster. But, as you can see in the pages of this Impact Report, we do much more.
Delores Hargrove-Young Chair
In the last 12 months, we educated nearly 6,000 school children on disaster preparedness through our Pillowcase Project. We helped nearly 3,000 members of the military. And we taught more than 30,000 people lifesaving skills such as CPR/AED, first aid and water safety—including seven student workers at the University of Cincinnati Recreation Center who used their training to save the life of a fellow student who collapsed after running on a treadmill. We recognized them at a board meeting with a Red Cross Lifesaving Award. We also had the honor of being part of a third lifesaving event this year. When Justin Everett’s daughter was born prematurely, she had difficulty breathing while her lungs were still developing. When she stopped breathing all together one morning, Justin used his former Red Cross lifeguard training to save her life. He got a Red Cross CPR tattoo on his shoulder to commemorate the event, and we gave him a Certificate of Merit, signed by the President of the United States, the highest lifesaving award given out by the American Red Cross. Many dramatic lifesaving events happen at the Red Cross every year – even every day – due to the dedicated efforts of our staff and volunteers. Our 1,800 volunteers contributed more than 85,000 hours of their time to install smoke alarms, teach CPR/AED skills, educate school children on disaster preparedness, help members of the military, assist the international community, teach high school students leadership skills and, of course, respond to home fires and other disasters. Several volunteers even gave up time with their own families to serve Thanksgiving dinner to others who were staying in a Red Cross shelter because their apartment building was unlivable due to a fire. Most of what we do does not get a lot of attention from the media and goes unnoticed by the general public. But we do it to help our community every day. And with the dedication of our volunteers and the support of our donors, we will continue to deliver the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross to the individuals and families in the Greater Cincinnati/Dayton Region.
2016-2017 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Delores Hargrove-Young
Ralph Lee
Sean Rugless
CHAPTER CHAIR President and Chief Operating Officer XLC Services
VICE CHAIR, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION Vice President of Human Resources TQL
President & CEO The Katalyst Group
Marty Betagole President Mike Albert Fleet Solutions
Garren Colvin Chief Operating Officer St. Elizabeth Healthcare
Deborah Gentry Davis Vice President, Human Resources JACK Cincinnati Casino
Jennifer Davis Vice President Feminine Care N.A. Procter & Gamble
Nancy DeCastro Owner Kerry Automotive Inc.
Linda Garner
Michael Leeks Vice President, Distribution, Construction & Maintenance Midwest Delivery Operations Duke Energy
Suzanne McNabb Senior Counsel Thompson Hine
Lori Mackey Chief Operating Officer UC Physicians Inc. Senior Associate Dean UC College of Medicine
Erin S. Sharp Group Vice President of Manufacturing The Kroger Company
Christina Sprecher VICE CHAIR, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT Member Frost Brown Todd, LLC
Ann Munson Steines Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Secretary Macy’s
Peggy Sturdivant
Senior Vice President 84.51
VICE CHAIR, COMMUNITY OUTREACH Business Consultant
Karl W. Matson
LCDR Andrew Sylvia
Milen M. Mahadevan
Senior Vice President U.S. Bank
Vice President, Lockheed Martin Programs GE Aviation Systems
Commanding Officer Navy Operational Support Center
Christopher C. Froman
David S. Meyer
Marcus Taylor
President & CEO Pomeroy
James A. Hagen Sr. Account Executive United Healthcare
Greg Harmeyer CHAPTER SECRETARY Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner Tier 1 Performance Solutions
VICE CHAIR, PHILANTHROPY Partner, Financial Services Ernst and Young LLP
Ralph S. Michael III (Mike) Executive Vice President and Group Regional President Fifth Third Bancorp
Steven D. Rader, Ph.D.
VICE CHAIR, FINANCE Community Volunteer
Chair, Rehabilitation and Sport Professions Program Director, Sport Studies Professor, Sport Management Shawnee State University
Danya M. Karram
Deborah Robb
Cynthia Henderson
Principal Brilliant Advice
Anne S. Kereiakes VICE CHAIR, BOARD ENGAGEMENT Community Volunteer
Director of Community Revitalization and Inclusion Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority
Moe Rouse Community Volunteer
Community Volunteer
Michael Winner President, Commercial Lines Grange Insurance
Shelby O. Wood Community Volunteer
Marijke Woodruff Chief People Officer and Vice President of Human Resources Health Carousel
Craig Young Trustee Craig Young Family Foundation HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS Paul W. Christensen, Jr. Nancy S. Conner George T. Rehfeldt Stanton H. Vollman
2017 YEAR IN REVIEW It was, to say the least, a remarkable year. From saving lives to reaching our goal of installing 8,000 smoke alarms in homes around the region, we have a lot to celebrate. We also have a lot of challenges, with tremendous flooding, tornadoes and a seemingly endless barrage of home fires sweeping through the area. We opened two shelters for large-scale disasters – one a flood and one a multi-unit apartment building fire – and helped more than 1,100 families get back on their feet and make it through a life-altering event. That, of course, is what we do: We help. We are best known for helping during disasters and emergencies, but we help in so many other ways. This year, for instance, we:
We helped our community 24/7 every day of the year. It was all made possible through the dedication of our volunteers and the generosity of our donors.
+ Installed more than 8,000 free smoke alarms in homes around the region. + Educated nearly 6,000 children in the importance of being prepared for a disaster. + Taught more than 30,000 people lifesaving skills, such as CPR/AED, first aid and water safety. + Responded to the needs of nearly 3,000 members of the military. We helped our community 24/7 every day of the year. It was all made possible through the dedication of our volunteers and the generosity of our donors. They made us proud. Our 1,800 volunteers contributed more than 85,000 hours of their time to helping others. Thousands of donors contributed more than $8 million to support our mission. That is a remarkable number of people giving a remarkable amount of time, talent and treasure, which made this remarkable year possible.
HEALTH AND SAFETY SERVICES Justin Everett knows the importance of having CPR training from his youthful days as a lifeguard. While those days have since given way to a career as an IT specialist, his knowledge and skills never faded. When his daughter, who was born prematurely, suddenly stopped breathing one morning, he was forced to put that training to use. He performed CPR on her and saved her life. He was so thankful for his training, he memorialized it by having a Red Cross tattoo inked on his arm. We honored Justin with the Red Cross Certificate of Merit, signed by the President of the United States, the highest award given by the Red Cross nationally to a person who saves a life. We also honored seven student workers at the University of Cincinnati rec center who saved the life of Taylor Fausey, a freshman who collapsed while running on a treadmill. All Red Cross certified, they took turns performing CPR and using a defibrillator for 13 minutes until paramedics arrived. They were each given a citation and framed Lifesaving Award signed by national Red Cross President and CEO Gail McGovern. It is stories like these that inspire our Health and Safety Services area to teach more than 30,000 people CPR, first aid, AED, babysitter training and water safety skills each year–so they can be prepared to help others in a time of crisis.
DISASTER CYCLE SERVICES When a fire forced 50 people from their Covington, Ky., apartment building in late November 2016, we opened a shelter for them until they could return home. After a few days, it became apparent they would not be able to return until after Thanksgiving, so our volunteers stepped up in a big way. They gave up time with their own families during Thanksgiving week, including joining the shelter residents for a special dinner on Thanksgiving Day.
We provided food, shelter and comfort to more than 1,100 families affected by disasters.
That was just one of the many cases our Disaster Cycle Services handled this year. We provided food, shelter and comfort to more than 1,100 families affected by disasters, in addition to sending staff and volunteers to 10 major disasters across the country. We also taught more than 6,000 school children how to build a disaster kit and prepare an escape plan in the event of an emergency. We also took a step into the future. Thanks to a generous grant from the Harold C. Schott Foundation, we were able to purchase three next-generation Emergency Response Vehicles. A fourth ERV will be purchased thanks to the generosity of the Dayton community as part of the centennial celebration of the Dayton Area Chapter. These ERVs are well-equipped, easier to drive and built specifically for the delivery of Red Cross services. This will allow us to better serve those in need during a disaster.
A CAUSE FOR ALARMS: MEGA BLITZ 2017 Despite what some called “rain of Biblical proportions” in the morning, for the second straight year we successfully executed the largest single-day smoke alarm event in the region’s history. This year, more than 500 volunteers gathered at JACK Casino and split the day into two shifts – a beautiful, sunny afternoon shift that was a complete contrast to the torrential downpour and strong winds of the morning. We installed more than 500 alarms in nine communities in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. The totals helped us surpass our goal of installing more than 8,000 free smoke alarms around the region for the year. Once again, the corporate community got behind the event. Pomeroy was our Platinum Sponsor; the Cincinnati Reds supported at the Gold Level and six companies supported at the Silver Level: American Modern, Cincinnati Bell, Duke Energy, Kerry Automotive, Ohio National Financial Services and St. Elizabeth Healthcare. JACK Casino, TiER1, Petermann Bus, Kroger and InnerView also provided generous in-kind contributions. The event has been so successful that it has become the model for a national initiative: “Sound the Alarm: Save a Life.” This fall, 100 chapters across the country will build on our Mega Blitz and install 1,000 alarms in their communities during a three-week period. We are proud to have launched this national campaign combining volunteerism, fire prevention and fundraising for the benefit of at-risk neighborhoods across the country.
INTERNATIONAL SERVICES In a challenging time, our International Services area continues to foster new relationships and partnerships with local ethnic communities. Our efforts have helped a local refugee get in touch with his family after losing contact with them many years ago. We host events such as United States Naturalization Ceremonies and welcome new citizens to Red Cross services. We also host International Humanitarian Law conferences and participate in the Junior League World Refugee Soccer Tournament. Whether it’s down the street, across the country or around the world, we are proud to be part of the global Red Cross network.
Down the street, across the country or around the world, we are proud to be part of the global Red Cross network.
UNITED WAY For 62 years, we have had a fundraising partnership with the United Way of Greater Cincinnati. Each year, we help the UWGC raise more than $60 million to build a stronger, safer, more stable community. We also support the important work of the United Ways of Butler, Clark, Champaign, Clinton, Darke, Logan, Scioto, Adams, Shelby and Warren counties, and the United Ways of Greater Dayton, Piqua and Troy, as well as the United Fund of Jackson County. We know that the communities where we live and work are strengthened and improved by the special services and programs of the United Way and their agencies throughout the region.
SERVICE TO THE ARMED FORCES Les Edwards is a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, and in February he spoke about his experiences in WWII as part of a veterans storytelling event. “Before I begin,” he said, “I want to make it known how important it was for us for the Red Cross to be there. I’m so grateful for what the Red Cross did then and what they do now.” The storytelling event – which included three WWII veterans and veterans from Korea, Vietnam and Iraq/Afghanistan – was just one of the many ways we supported members of the military this year. We also hosted a conference for Military Moms and Spouses and distributed more than 20,000 holiday cards to show our community’s appreciation for their military service. Overall, we provided assistance to more than 3,000 members of the military and their families before, during and after deployment through emergency communications, financial assistance and information and referrals. We visited more than 1,400 veterans, offering them thanks, care and assistance. We supported the Cincinnati VA, the Dayton VA and the Wright Patterson Air Force Base Medical Hospital with more than $35,000 of in-kind donations, including medically durable percussion instruments, arts and crafts, comfort kits, socks, phone cards and much more. All of this was possible due to the dedication of community volunteers, who logged more than 10,000 volunteer hours and provided excellent service to those who serve.
We provided assistance to more than 3,000 members of the military and their families before, during and after deployment.
We recognize that tomorrow’s leaders are today’s teenagers. That’s why for the last 33 years we have held the Leadership Development Camp.
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT CAMP We recognize that tomorrow’s leaders are today’s teenagers. That’s why for the past 33 years we have held the Leadership Development Camp—a camp for young people, organized and run by young people to empower them and teach them the subtle and not-so-subtle traits of becoming a leader. Each year, 140 teenagers from around the region attend the camp and start preparing for their future. For four days and three nights they live on the campus of Xavier University, sleeping in the dorms, eating in the cafeteria, playing on the green space. They participate in workshops and sessions on various topics, like public speaking, volunteerism and ethics. There are also games, guest speakers and activities, all of which are structured to help young people recognize their leadership potential and encourage them to act upon it. Among the teenagers was Kiara Jerdo, a member of a growing LDC contingent – second generation campers. Her mother, Anicka, and father, Kenneth, were LDC campers in the late 1990s. “We got a notice about the camp, and I turned to Kiara and said, ‘You’re going,’ ” says Anicka. “There wasn’t a discussion. We knew the camp and the impact it had on us. If it were up to me, I would volunteer every teenager.” We look forward to continuing to inspire tomorrow’s leaders for generations to come.
MISSION STATEMENT The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES Humanity • Impartiality • Neutrality • Independence • Voluntary Service • Unity • Universality
GREATER CINCINNATI-DAYTON REGION The Greater Cincinnati-Dayton Region of the American Red Cross serves 27 counties in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.
2111 Dana Avenue Cincinnati, Ohio 45207
MAKE AN IMPACT VOLUNTEER All it takes to become a Red Cross volunteer is a little time and a big heart. Otherwise, it’s as easy as 1-2-3. 1. Go to CincinnatiRedCross.org and review the list of volunteer opportunities. Find the opportunity that’s right for you and complete the online application. 2. Sign up and take the required online training, which highlights the history, values and fundamental principles of the Red Cross. Depending on which volunteer path you choose, you may also need to complete some additional training. 3. We work with you to find you an activity and location that fits your interest and meets our needs.
DONATE •C ash donations: Every dollar counts. Call 800-REDCROSS, give online at RedCross.org or text RedCross to 90999. • Vehicle: We accept vehicles in any condition. Go to RedCross.org to learn more about the vehicle donation program. • I n-kind Gifts: While we are unable to accept small, individual donations, we may be able to accept bulk donations. Call 513-579-3000 to learn more. •W orkplace Giving: Many employers offer matching gift programs, which can double or triple the value of your gift. Contact your HR office. •P lanned Giving: Bequests by will or revocable trusts can be tailored to your personal lifestyle and financial goals.