Be a HERO!
News Release: October 15, 2007
Contact: Janice Osborne, Director-Communications and Marketing; American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley (610) 865-4400, ext. 262; pager (610) 508-4378

We all have our favorite heroes. You could be a hero, too. An American Red Cross HERO.

From Oct. 29 to Nov. 16, the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley will conduct its first annual HEROES for the American Red Cross campaign.

HEROES for the American Red Cross is a grassroots campaign in which school groups, faith-based groups, civic clubs, local business people, and individuals pledge to raise $1,000, through any legal means they choose, for the local Red Cross chapter. Fund-raising ideas may include high school service clubs holding a car wash, faith-based groups holding a yard sale or bake sale, individuals hosting a dinner party or luncheon and asking invited guests to make a donation, or companies holding “dress-down days.”

“HEROES is an excellent way for our chapter to raise the funds necessary to help meet our lifesaving commitments to the communities we serve in Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties,” said John R. Hughes, executive director of the Red Cross. “The goal is to involve as many people from our community as possible. We have set our sights on raising $40,000 this year.”

To date, Muhlenberg College, Sam’s Club (Route 248 location), DHL, sanofi aventis, Commerce Bank, Sovereign Bank, Capital BlueCross, Hilton Garden Inn (Allentown Airport Road location), The Morning Call and The Express-Times have committed to be HEROES.

Muhlenberg College is planning a hoagie sale promoted as “Buy a Hero, Be a Hero!” and is encouraging its employees to pay to wear jeans on Fridays through its “Real Heroes Wear Jeans!” theme.

Cor Catena, president and chief executive officer of Easton Hospital, and Jim Harper, adjunct faculty member at Lehigh University and community volunteer, are campaign co-chairs.

Incentives for HEROES include their picture, name or business logo inserted in ads sponsored by The Morning Call and The Express-Times. All HEROES are invited to a kick-off breakfast and celebration luncheon.

To become a HERO or for more information, call the Red Cross at (610) 865-4400 or register online at www.redcrosslv.org. All HEROES who register by Oct. 25 will have their photo, name or logo printed in the newspaper.

The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves more than 680,000 residents of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross provided health and safety education training; Lifeline, a personal response service for seniors; and emergency relief to more than 23,000 Greater Lehigh Valley residents. For more information about the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley or volunteer opportunities, call (610) 865-4400 or visit www.redcrosslv.org.