Red Cross Lays Plans for
2008 Clara Barton Society Campaign
News Release: July 22, 2008
Contact: Janice Osborne, Director-Communications and Marketing; American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley (610) 865-4400, ext. 262; pager (610) 508-4378

The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley recently announced Robin and Walter Wolak of Bethlehem as co-chairs of its 2008 Clara Barton Society Campaign.

The Clara Barton Society recognizes individuals who make an annual financial gift of $1,000 or more to the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley to fund local Red Cross programs and services. This year’s campaign runs from September 2008 through November 2008 with a goal of raising $130,000. The Society was formed in 2003 with 50 members and today boasts more than 100 members.

“We are proud to be Clara Barton Society members and look forward to building the community’s awareness about the vital role of the Red Cross in the greater Lehigh Valley,” said the Wolaks. “At any hour, day or night, the Red Cross is there to provide housing, food, clothing, and emotional counseling to hundreds of men, women and children in our community who have lost their homes to a fire or other disaster.”

Cabinet members assisting in this year’s campaign are: Desty Bonstein, Embassy Bank; Jim Bonstein, F.L.Smidth; Joe Brake, Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of the Lehigh Valley; Al Haddad, Morgan Stanley; Dave Leber, Leber Financial Group, Inc.; Joe Lennert, Caruso Benefits Group; Robert McGovern, community volunteer; Anne Speck, Muhlenberg College; Joseph Stockunas, Air Products and Chemicals; and Suzanne Stockunas, community volunteer.

Robin is event coordinator for Lehigh Valley Financial Group in Bethlehem and serves on the Red Cross board. She is actively involved with Valley Youth House’s Golf & Tennis event, was a board member of the Junior League – having served as president for 18 months – and chaired Bethlehem Catholic High School’s dinner auction for two years. Walter is president and managing partner of Lehigh Valley Financial Group and is active with the Endowment Board at Bethlehem Catholic High School.

The couple reside in Bethlehem with their two sons and daughter.

For more information about the Clara Barton Society, contact Sandra Gaspar, director of development at the Greater Lehigh Valley Red Cross, (610) 865-4400, ext. 258, or visit www.redcrosslv.org/donate.

The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves more than 690,000 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.