By: Doyle Rader

The American Red Cross North Texas Region held its eighth annual Executive Breakfast on Wednesday, July 19, 2023. The yearly event recognizes all the incredible regional and national partners who help make the Red Cross’ mission to alleviate human suffering and provide compassion in the face of adversity possible through generous gifts and contributions.

Guests and honorees gathered in the exquisitely decorated fragrance department of downtown Dallas's flagship Nieman Marcus store. Attendees heard from Red Cross regional leadership, including Chief Development Officer Ariane Einecker and CEO Linda Braddy, who spoke about her quick acclimation to the Red Cross mission despite being new to the organization.

“I’ve already deployed to multiple disaster relief operations in my short five months,” Braddy said. “I spent two weeks in Arkansas and over a week in Amarillo, Perryton and Matador while other staff and volunteers were responding to the tornados that struck all across the eastern part of the state. We couldn’t do any of this without your ongoing support of the Red Cross, and we are forever grateful for you.”  

Red Cross DFW Metro East Board Member and Nieman Marcus Group Chief Information Security Officer Shamoun Siddiqui also provided introductory remarks. Nieman As a national Disaster Responder member, Neiman Marcus' annual donation of $250,000 enables the Red Cross to remain ready to respond to disasters at a moment's notice.

“For 11 years, NMG, our incredible associates and customers, have contributed over $1.9 million to the Red Cross,” Siddiqui said. “One of the many reasons we partner with the Red Cross is because we believe in leading with love in our communities. One of the ways we do that is by supporting disaster preparedness and relief efforts in our store communities to keep them thriving.” 

The keynote speaker at the breakfast was Red Cross Executive Science Officer Dr. Lauren A. Crowder. She spoke about the changing landscape of blood donation and collection. The Red Cross is moving to an individual donor assessment policy for blood donors after changes to the FDA guidelines about who can and cannot give blood.

“The ADVANCE Study was incredibly successful in that we were able to recruit and enroll the number of participants needed to bring about much-needed policy change for the MSM community,” Dr. Crowder said. “I am excited to see the influx of donations from this community and others who stood in solidarity, after the Red Cross implements the new DHQ in August.

“And while I am so encouraged by the positive steps forward towards inclusivity that the success of the ADVANCE Study ultimately led to, there is still work to be done to bring true equity to members of the LGBTQIA+ community who are interested in donating their blood to help others in needed.”

After a brief Q&A with Dr. Crowder, Red Cross North Texas Region Board Members Matt Anderson and Norm Bafunno recognized the charitable contributions from North Texas-based corporate and foundation National Disaster Responder Members and our National Annual Disaster Giving Program Partners. 

“Where this is helping us here in North Texas by ensuring that we have the resources to respond to an apartment fire in Dallas or that we are prepared to help a community decimated by a hurricane on the Gulf Coast,” Bafunno said. “This committed group of partners invests annually and proactively through their gifts to our Disaster Relief Fund so that we can respond whenever and wherever there is need.”

As part of her closing remarks, Braddy and Einecker reminded attendees that the reason the North Texas region was able to respond to nearly 1,900 disasters, help more than 9,000 people recover, install 6,391 smoke alarms making 2,637 homes safer, provide more than 11,500 services to military personnel and collect more than 38,000 units of lifesaving blood in the past year is because of their involvement and dedication.

“You fuel our daily response to disasters big and small,” Einecker said. “You provide critical resources through gifts of materials and supplies. You host blood drives and help Sound the Alarm each year, installing thousands of smoke alarms. You share your support of the Red Cross with your customers and your employees. You serve as advocates for us in the community through membership on our boards of directors. You show up when you are needed. You answer our calls. You are the American Red Cross!”