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The Palo Alto ‘Measly Idol’
by Suma Pathy, Special to RedCross.org
Friday, October 20, 2006 — What better way to celebrate young talent than to reach out to other young people in need around the world? That is precisely what the ingeniously named "Palo Alto Measly Idol" was all about—a toast to music, youth and the spirit of giving to support the Measles Initiative, an American Red Cross led partnership to fight the scourge of measles worldwide.
This youth-led undertaking was part of the celebrations commemorating the Ninetieth Anniversary of the Palo Alto Red Cross chapter, to give young people an opportunity to involve themselves within the community while tackling an issue that was international in scope. The objective of the event was to raise awareness of and support for the Measles Initiative.
“They thought it was just unfair that children should be dying of measles when all it took to prevent the disease was a vaccine that costs under a dollar,” said Christine Bishop, Volunteer-Community Outreach Coordinator for the Palo Alto chapter.
Launched in 2001, the Measles Initiative is a long-term commitment to reduce and control measles deaths globally, with the goal of reducing measles deaths by 90 percent by 2010. The Initiative supported the vaccination of more than 217 million children in Africa so far, saving 1.2 million lives, helping reduce measles deaths by more than half over the past five years. Leading this effort are the American Red Cross, United Nations Foundation, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Measles is a leading vaccine-preventable cause of death among children in many countries and kills more children than AIDS, tuberculosis, and malnutrition, despite the availability of safe and effective vaccine for more than 40 years. In a place where health conditions are extremely poor, living conditions are more than difficult and access to health care is minimal, measles can be prevented with a simple vaccination. In 2006, the Initiative expanded into Asia, where the measles burden remains high.
In December 2005, a committee with more than 25 members was formed under the guidance of Bishop and Anna Gail Caunca, Youth Services Director for the Chapter and the City of Los Altos Chamber President Lars Elmengard. They held their first fundraising event on Sept. 30, 2006, which led to a music festival labeled "Measly Idol" that was promoted on various websites such as “My Space” and “Craigslist.”
The response was overwhelming with about 35 local youth bands and artists answering the ad. The top 12 groups were then chosen for the final competition. The prizes were sponsored by a music production company called UGMX, Under Ground Music Xtreme, based in San Jose. Other local sponsors included Elmengard Inc. Contractors and Travel Dynamics Group. They offered the winner of the contest a free demo tape and studio time. The winning band was determined by the most votes brought in. The audience voted with their dollars and could vote as many times as they liked for their favorite bands or performers. Each vote costing a dollar.
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The bands were given an overview of the Measles Initiative and encouraged to speak for the cause after the performances. The day’s activities also included carnival games, food vendors and guest speakers from youth committee focusing on raising awareness to the Measles Initiative, the American Red Cross and its Fundamental Principles. The drive has raised more than $5,000 since September and many other fundraisers are planned to in order to achieve the $90,000 target for the designated country, Zambia. There are three more events planned for 2007 in keeping with the theme "Music for Measles."
The exercise was a resounding success not only in monetary terms but because it allowed the youth of Palo Alto to look beyond their own world into a world where a disease that has been virtually eliminated in the Western Hemisphere still kills millions of children in Africa and Asia.
The Measles Initiative, launched in 2001, is a partnership committed to reducing measles deaths globally, with the goal of cutting measles deaths by 90% by 2010 compared to 2000. During its first five years (2001-2005), the Initiative supported the vaccination of more than 217 million children in Africa, saving 1.2 million lives. Through these efforts, measles cases and deaths have dropped by 48% worldwide and by 60% in Africa, where measles deaths and disability are highest. Building on its success in Africa, the Initiative has expanded into Asia. The Initiative increasingly provides additional life-saving health interventions in its campaigns, including vitamin A, de-worming medicine and insecticide-treated nets for malaria prevention. The Measles Initiative has mobilized more than $308 million through 2006 to support campaigns in more than 43 countries in Africa and Asia. Leading these efforts are the American Red Cross, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United Nations Foundation, UNICEF and World Health Organization. For more information or to make a donation, log on to www.measlesinitiative.org.
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