WASHINGTON, Monday, June 09, 2008 — Country music superstar, Sara Evans, was presented with the national Crystal Cross award on Friday, June 6, by the American Red Cross, for her work with the organization.  Evans, who has been a member of the Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet since 2005 was honored for the talent, time and passion she has lent to the organization on behalf of people in need.  She is an award-winning singer whose achievements include being named the Academy of Country Music’s Top Female Vocalist in 2006. 

“You never know what the day is going to bring,” says Evans, mother of three, who experienced tornadoes and terrible floods in her small Missourian hometown. “Without the Red Cross, so many people would have been left without help and the basic necessities to get through disasters both emotionally and physically.  The Red Cross can help you take steps to be prepared and I am honored to receive this recognition today and represent this life-saving organization.”

The presentation was part of Ms. Evans’ annual Fan Club event, which included a performance by the singer. The award was given by Colleen Zakrewsky, CEO of the Nashville Area Chapter and Julie Whitmer of the American Red Cross National Headquarters.

“The American Red Cross depends on voluntary contributions of time, money and blood to perform its humanitarian mission and we are tremendously grateful to Sara for her many contributions,” said Colleen Zakrewsky, CEO of the Nashville Area Chapter.  “She epitomizes the true spirit of volunteerism.”

As part of her volunteer service to the American Red Cross, the award winning artist has recorded television and radio public service announcements to promote the importance of preparedness, disaster response, and Service to the Armed Forces.  To view these, please visit Radio and TV PSAs here.  Additionally, she is featured in a preparedness print PSA which can be viewed here . 

Evans also shares her commitment to volunteerism in a Hometown Hero campaign – please see Hometown Heroes portrait and video.

Ms. Evans’s latest Greatest Hits CD available at www.saraevans.com encourages people to support their local Red Cross chapter by visiting www.redcross.org.

This award recognition comes at an important time for the organization as June marks the beginning of hurricane season.  
- more -
The Red Cross recommends people take three simple actions to "Be Red Cross Ready" for a variety of disasters and other emergencies: 1) Get a kit, 2) Make a plan and 3) Be informed.

 

• Get a Kit: Purchase or assemble a kit with essential items like 3 days worth of water (1 gallon per person, per day) and nonperishable food; a manual can opener; first aid supplies including medications; flashlight with extra batteries; hand-crank or battery-operated radio with extra batteries; extra cash, copies of important documents; and specific items for babies, the elderly and pets.
• Make a Plan: Choose an out-of-area emergency contact to get in touch with if local communication is disrupted. Pick two meeting places where family members can gather in a disaster; one right outside of your home where you can escape in case of a sudden emergency, like a fire; and one out-of-the-area in case you can’t return home or are asked to evacuate during a disaster or other emergency.
• Be Informed: Find out what types of disasters could happen in your area, and how local authorities will contact you in the event of a disaster. Get trained in lifesaving skills like first aid and CPR/AED in case help is delayed.

For more information on how to prepare for emergencies and to make a donation to the Disaster Relief Fund, contact your local Red Cross chapter or log on to www.redcross.org.

About Sara Evans
Multi-platinum recording artist Sara Evans recently celebrated her 10-year career with the release of her first Greatest Hitspackage. The album features four new songs, “As If,” “Love You with All My Heart,” “Pray for You” and “Some Things Never Change,” all co-penned by Evans.  Also featured on the album are hits from her celebrated career that has spawned three Top 5 singles and four No. 1 songs including “No Place That Far,” “Born to Fly,” “Suds in the Bucket,” “A Real Fine Place to Start,” and “I Could Not Ask for More,” among others.  Evans has been honored with numerous accolades, among them the 2006 Academy of Country Music’s Female Vocalist of the Year and the Country Music Association’s Video of the Year for “Born to Fly”.  Evans has been named one of People Magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People" and won the hearts of television viewer's as the first-ever country star to compete in ABC's “Dancing with the Stars.”  Most recently, she was a co-host on “The View” in December and featured on "CMT Crossroads" with Maroon 5. 

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.