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Two Virginia Sisters Take the Lead in Raising Funds for the Measles Initiative
By Rachel Quintner
Tuesday, March 01, 2005 — Two amazing young Virginian women, Amanda and Andrea McBee, have gotten involved with the American Red Cross and it has been a life changing experience. Last summer they were encouraged by their aunt, Lynne Foster who serves on the board at the National Capital Area chapter, to go to an American Red Cross Youth Leadership Development Camp. At the camp the girls were taught skills such as effective communication and group cohesion.
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They had a wonderful time at the camp and left with an assignment; each participant had to run a Red Cross fundraiser in his or her own community on Make a Difference Day, October 23, a national day to help others. They were given several presentations on possible Red Cross projects to raise funds for, and both girls were drawn towards the Measles Initiative. “It really grabbed our attention because it was something we had never heard of before and we felt like we could really make a difference. We were definitely capable of selling the Measles Initiative pins for just one dollar each, vaccinating a child in Africa with each pin.”
A disease that most Americans will never have to think of again is still very prevalent in many developing countries, especially on the continent of Africa. Measles is the leading vaccine-preventable childhood killer in the world. Each year, 44 million children suffer from measles and one million die from the disease. Thus far the Measles Initiative has vaccinated 150 million children in Sub-Saharan Africa through catch-up and follow up campaigns, averting more than 300,000 deaths. Thus far the Initiative has held vaccination campaigns in more than 33 African countries. Each vaccination costs less than one dollar and effectively raises a child’s chance of survival.
The girls joined the Youth Task Force at their local chapter of about 30 middle school and high school students. Amanda, who is 16, is now the Co-Vice President and Andrea, 17, is now the Co-President of the youth group. The girls staffed two booths outside of Safeway Supermarkets, one in McLean and the other in Great Falls with informational posters to get shoppers’ attention. They encouraged the other students in the youth group to help them with their fundraiser by volunteering their time to help run the booths. They sold Measles Initiative pins for one dollar each and also sold disaster and first aid kits to raise funds for their chapter.
“It felt really good knowing they we were helping children’s chance of survival in Africa. We want to encourage other people to get involved and not to be discouraged. Not every shopper stopped at our booth, but most people were very supportive of our cause and were grateful that we were doing something. Many people didn’t even buy anything and just gave donations.”
The girls were really proud of their fundraiser, which raised a total of $1,350. They are currently helping to organize a Walk-A-Thon on April 16th, National Youth Service Day, to benefit the Measles Initiative. The event will be held at Burke Lake Park in Fairfax, Virginia. They will charge an entry fee of $12, collect donations and sell the pins again. As officers of the Youth Task force their responsibilities will include advertising and running the measles booth during the event.
The girls have also started a Red Cross Club with fellow classmates at Langley High School. The club has about twenty members and is lead by a core group that both girls serve on. The Youth Leadership Development Camp has been very inspiring to the girls. Since they left the camp they have had the drive and the skills to make a difference. The Measles Initiative is fortunate to have these two amazing young women on their team.
To learn more about the Measles Initiative visit www.measlesinitiative.org.
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