Local Red Cross launches campaign to raise money to provide services
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on February 25, 2008 1:52 PM
The Red Cross is looking for heroes.
In this case, the organization is looking for 90 local people who will commit to raising at least $1,000 for the Wayne County Chapter of the American Red Cross for local services.
The annual Heroes Campaign kicks off Feb. 29 with a luncheon at the chapter house. Several activities are planned throughout March.
Among them is the 5th annual Sports Memorabilia Auction, which will be March 6 at Lane Tree Country Club.
The event gets under way at 5:30 p.m. with a time of fellowship. Dinner, provided by Outback Steakhouse, will be served at 6:15 p.m. There will also be entertainment.
There will be live and silent auctions with hundreds of items, said Samia Garner, Red Cross director of development.
"This year there will also be a table where you can buy tickets for drawings for several items, including furniture and gift baskets," she said.
And some items will just be for sale to those attending the auction.
Mrs. Garner said there are lots of items for women this year, too, including handpainted metal pieces from Haiti with beach scenes on them.
"It's evolved into so much more than sports memorabilia," said Chuck Waller, executive director of the chapter. "It has sport memorabilia, but there are so many more items than that."
All of the proceeds go to the Red Cross for local services. "It helps support the daily Red Cross needs be it blood collections, training, responding to disasters or delivering military emergency communications," Waller said. "It takes money to do all that."
Mrs. Garner noted that the Red Cross is not government-funded.
"The government does give us tasks that we have to oversee, but doesn't give us any money to do it," she said. "Through the benevolence of United Way and local donors, that's how we're able to do it. You don't give money to us; you give money through us."
Tickets are $30 per person or $300 for a table for eight. They may be purchased at the Red Cross office, 600 N. George St. Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Some of the items to be auctioned include:
*Autographed baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan.
*Framed Hall of Famer Jim "Catfish" Hunter autographed lithograph.
*Framed autographed photo of New York Yankee superstar Derek Jeter.
*Framed autographed jersey from New York Yankee star Johnny Damon.
*University of Notre Dame team autographed jersey.
*Autographed March Madness poster by Duke great J.J. Redick.
*University of North Carolina star Tyler Hansbrough autographed March Madness poster.
*2008 Duke University team-signed basketball.
*Autographed North Carolina State team-signed basketball.
*2008 University of North Carolina team-signed basketball.
*Greg Norman autographed straw hat.
*Framed Masters flag autographed by Raymond Floyd.
*Two clue house badges to the 2008 Verizon Heritage Tournament in Hilton Head, S.C., plus dinner for two.
*Framed Three Stooges photo.
*Handpainted Noah's Ark footstool.
*Handpainted bench with beach scene.
Some of the other events that will take place during the month-long Heroes Campaign include Pennies For A Purpose in the local schools and a Ride for the Red motorcycle ride sponsored by the Blue Knights.