By Jim Heavey
On Saturday, April 27, I was honored by an organization that I have been involved with since I was barely a teenager, the American Red Cross. I was given the Lifetime Achievement Award, but in reality, I felt like I should be giving the award to the Red Cross; they’ve provided me with a lifetime of training, role models, support, and service opportunities. Next to my church and the Boy Scouts, the Red Cross has been one of the most formative organizations I’ve been blessed to have in my life.
I accepted my award on behalf of the remarkable people both in the Red Cross and who support the organization. At the event, Greenwich stood out as an extraordinary town of generous, conscientious people. We don’t often have devastating disasters here, yet we support people impacted by disasters around the country — people we’ll never meet and have no connection to. The Red & White Ball was a reminder of how generous Greenwich people are; the benefit raised nearly a million dollars. I salute our philanthropic town residents.
I also salute the Red Cross board and committee members. Everyone gives freely of their time and treasure to support the organization’s mission, and in true Greenwich style, they have fun doing it. Ball co-chairs Lauren Walsh and Connie Ann Harris were superstars, throwing an elegant, joyful bash that brought out a tent-full of amazing people and got them in a giving mood. Red Cross’s Metro North Chapter CEO Stephanie Dunn Ashley and the rest of the ball committee worked together to produce an unparalleled spectacle, creating a fantasy of staging and ambience, and loading it up with giving opportunities.
I must also salute my fellow honoree and Greenwich neighbor, Suzanne Packer. Suzanne has been one of the role models the Red Cross has gifted me. A long-time member of the local chapter board, she has always been generous with her time and treasure, as has everyone on the Metro North board. But Suzanne has gone above and beyond, putting her life on hold numerous times to deploy on national disaster responses, giving herself to strangers in need. People like Suzanne humble me and show me how much more I can achieve, and I am grateful for her example.
The Red Cross is not a government agency. It’s a nonprofit that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission: The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. The tenets of its operation are: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity, and Universality.
Many people rightly equate the Red Cross with the collection of blood. Did you know that this lifesaving branch of the organization provides 40% of the national blood supply?
The Red Cross serves people in many other ways besides holding blood drives and aiding disaster victims. Its original Congressional charter authorizes it to serve military families. The organization facilitates communications between deployed service members and their families, including verification of casualty reports, translation, and liaison with international authorities.
Training is yet another public resource the Red Cross provides. Its First Aid and water safety instruction save lives and prevent tragedies. And kindergarten-bound children in Greenwich can attend Safety Town, a one-week course that teaches them how to keep themselves and their friends safe on school buses and away from home.
When I was told I had been selected for the Red Cross Lifetime Achievement Award, at first I was hesitant to accept such an honor because I truly felt like so many people were more deserving. I want to express my deep gratitude to the board and the Greenwich and Metro North chapters for the honor you gave me. It was a spectacular night, and my family and I will never forget it.
To learn more about supporting the Red Cross, donating blood, obtaining training, or sending a child to Safety Town, visit the Greenwich office online at: redcross.org/local/new-york/greater-new-york/about-us/locations/metro-new-york-north.html.
To donate blood, you may also see the weekly Blood Drive listings in the Community Calendar on page B-8 of this newspaper.
