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American Red Cross In St. Louis: Giving Kids Around The World A Healthy Future
By Jamie Mazzurco, Special to MI.org
Friday, May 11, 2007 — "It's empowering to know that local efforts can have an impact on a global level," said Shelby Schroeder, a volunteer for the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter. Schroeder was one of 80 volunteers who helped support the chapter's successful chocolate-flower fundraiser in February 2007.
Kathy Lass, director of International Services for the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter, organized a fundraiser that raised more than $7,000 for the Measles Initiative.
Stephen Hall/American Red Cross
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In the weeks leading up to Valentine's Day, volunteers from across the St. Louis area gathered for nine hours over three evenings to assemble long-stemmed chocolate roses. On Valentine's Day, the roses were sold for two dollars each throughout the community and on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis. All the proceeds went to support the Measles Initiative, a partnership dedicated to reducing measles deaths around the world.
The event was the idea of Kathy Lass, director of International Services for the St. Louis Area Chapter. Through her efforts and inspiration, the event raised thousands of dollars and reached many more people helping increase awareness about the burden of measles in Africa and elsewhere.
Founded in 2001, the Measles Initiative is a partnership, led by the American Red Cross, UNICEF, United Nations Foundation, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and WHO, that helps children around the world have a healthy future by carrying out mass measles vaccination campaigns. Before the founding of the Measles Initiative, measles caused approximately 873,000 deaths annually. By 2005, the total dropped to approximately 345,000—representing a 60 percent reduction. The Initiative is now supporting a new global goal of reducing measles deaths by 90 percent by 2010 (compared to 2000).
Red Cross volunteers make chocolate roses for a fundraiser to protect children against measles.
Stephen Hall/American Red Cross
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The fundraiser turned out to be a huge success, raising more than $7,000 for the Measles Initiative. Given that each measles vaccine costs less than one dollar that is more than 7,000 measles vaccinations. In addition, the event reached more than 5,000 people in the St. Louis Area, helping to increase awareness about measles in Africa and Asia.
Lass was surprised by the large turnout of volunteers who supported the event. According to her, volunteers for the St. Louis Chapter were "enthused about doing something so direct."
Through the February fundraiser, many volunteers were introduced to a new side of the Red Cross and its international programs.
Paula Lump, head of the St. Louis University Community Health Association for Students said, "The Measles Initiative provided me with the opportunity to work towards global health even though I don't have the opportunity to go visit African countries personally."
According to Lass, the event also inspired the St. Louis Area Chapter to get more involved with the Measles Initiative in the future.
A small ribbon tied to each rose captured what the entire event was about. It read: "Help give children around the world a healthy future."
The Measles Initiative is a partnership committed to reducing measles deaths globally. Launched in 2001, the Initiative—led by the American Red Cross, the United Nations Foundation, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF and the World Health Organization—provides technical and financial support to governments and communities on vaccination campaigns worldwide. To date, the Initiative has supported the vaccination of more than 500 million children in 50 countries helping reduce measles deaths by more than 68% globally and 91% in Africa (compared to 2000). To learn more or make a donation, visit www.measlesinitiative.org.
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