Local heroes
By JOY E. CRESSLER Special to the Star-Telegram
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The Chisholm Trail Chapter of the American Red Cross in Fort Worth touches nearly 85,000 lives in the Metroplex each year.
This is by way of a cadre of vital programs, all within a budget of just under $5 million.
The organization’s five programs range from responding to local disasters to transporting senior citizens to their doctors’ appointments.
“Our trained volunteers respond to more than 500 local disasters, mostly house and apartment fires,” said Chisholm Trail Chapter CEO Jason Smith. “We provide those who have lost their homes with a safe place to stay, food and financial assistance to help them purchase essential recovery items.
Smith said the local chapter also meets the needs of hundreds of additional families somewhere in the organization’s 23-county area of coverage who were caught up in two or three larger scale disasters each year.
“A good example of this would be the flooding that occurred last June and July, destroying 300 local homes,” he said.
Another key program is the training of more than 30,000 people each year in first aid and CPR.
“These skills have been proven again and again to save lives,” he added. “Nearly 100 percent of those who receive Red Cross training use the skills they learned at some point in their lives.”
The local Red Cross also conveys more than 1,000 emergency messages from local residents to family members serving in the United States Armed Forces around the world.
Finally, the Red Cross Wheels Transportation Service covers more than one million miles every year, picking up local seniors and the medically disabled from their homes and taking them to and from senior centers, medical appointments and job training programs.
“We even do pick-ups for social events that help keep folks connected to their communities,” Smith said.
Now a social event to raise funds for the Chisholm chapter is held every year so the organization can continue its work.
The Chisholm Trail Chapter held its second annual fundraising gala, “Stars at Night: A Celebration of Community Heroes,” last night at The Fort Worth Club in downtown Fort Worth.
The event honored local residents in seven categories, including Lifesaver of the Year, Young Good Samaritan of the Year and Diversity Ambassador of the Year.
“The recipients are humble and not typically recognized,” Smith said. “They are often profoundly moved by this event.”
With Nicholas and Louella Martin serving as honorary chairs, Alice Puente serving as event chair and XTO Energy providing title sponsorship, the Red Cross expected to raise more than $100,000 over and above event expenses to support its disaster relief and volunteer development programs, Smith said.
Smith said many of the local oil and gas companies made contributions to the Red Cross after significant disasters like Hurricane Katrina and the flooding of June 2007 and continued from there.
“These companies, like XTO, Chesapeake, Devon Energy, EnCana and others, recognize the importance of being ready for disasters before they happen,” Smith said. “These contributions help us train new volunteers, acquire disaster supplies and vehicles and even build on our senior transportation program.”
One XTO official described the Red Cross as an organization that defines a strong, supportive community.
“When the local Red Cross is well funded, the community enjoys a reputation of taking care of those in need,” said Vaughn Vennerberg II, senior executive vice president and chief of staff. “Fort Worth is XTO Energy’s home and we want our Red Cross ready to save and comfort our friends, neighbors and employees in a time of need.”
