2009 Heroes Campaign Gets Underway

Feb. 6, 2009


Hello, everyone!

Thank you for your participation and support of this year’s Red Cross Heroes campaign for Monroe and Owen Counties. Our goal this year is to raise $60,000 to support the mission of our local chapter. This will not be an easy task, given the status of our national economic situation; That is why all of you, as Red Cross volunteers, will be important…”We need you!”

As chairman of the 2009 Heroes campaign, it is my intent to provide a weekly report on the progress we are making towards reaching our goal. This report will also include community updates of events or activities involving the Red Cross, and list any problem areas or concerns that need to be expressed.

I again thank you for your support in this campaign. Remember: “Ask everyone you know to help give whatever they can contribute.” Thank you!


At our annual board retreat on Jan. 24th, 2009 Heroes Chairman, Lindsey Smith told the board members assembled that he believes in the Red Cross mission. Lindsey wants to match or surpass last year’s campaign goal by going to every segment of the community and talking about how the Red Cross helps people in times of desperate need. Said Lindsey, “The Red Cross has a long and proud history of serving Americans in desperate need as well as foreign countries in crisis when disasters strike. Regardless of where the need may be, when people are in despair, the Red Cross symbol alone has always provided a sense of comfort and hope that has let them know that we are here to help.”

With our kick off breakfast more than a month away, we already have Red Cross supporters stepping up to be Heroes this year, thirty-two to be exact. We need to recruit at least 80-90 Heroes to have a successful campaign, especially in these tough economic times, because not everyone may be able to meet their goal of raising $1,000 or more.


Our publicity plan is well underway. The morning of the kick-off breakfast,Mar. 10, we’ll have our full-page ad in area newspapers to announce our Heroes who’ve already pledged their support. Tony Kale, morning drive time DJ at WCLS 97.7, will do a live radio interview with Lindsey and Sue the morning of the kickoff to help launch the campaign during “March is Red Cross month.” They will both be doing radio shows throughout the month of March, and Red Cross flags will fly at 35-40 area businesses to raise awareness of the value and history of the Red Cross in our community.



Sue Gulley sent an invitation this week to last year’s Heroes to let them know about all the marketing tools that we’ll make available to them to raise funds for the Red Cross. Marketing folders, posters, stickers that announce “I gave to the Red Cross,” five large banners, Red Cross squares, and donation canisters are the tools to use to do grass roots fund raising. This year we have added “Chipin,” an online donation web page that Heroes can use to direct friends and family to help them with their cause. Another great tool is simple letters to family and friends. This is being used by Pat Kingsbury, Jane Laughlin, Lindsey Smith, Eric Baker and the IU Red Cross executive club members. Any team captain or Hero who is recruiting others to join the campaign can also use one of our marketing folders when visiting with potential Heroes or contributors.



Heroes who’ve pledged their support for the campaign as of Feb. 6, 2009:

1 Eric Baker, President, IU Red Cross Club
2 Tim Brown, Bloomington Hospital
3 Mark Conlin, Zanko’s Little Zagreb
4 Marcus Debro, Bloomington High School North, Board Chair
5 Sandy DeWeese, So. IN Pediatrics
6 Erin Echols, Bloom Marketing
7 Tim Frazier, Regions Bank
8 Whitney Gates, Gates Insurance
9 Dan Harris, Peoples State Bank
10. Kris Heeter, Jazzercise
11 Dr. Gale Hill, Tri-North Middle School
12 Dick Huffman, Apparel Design Group
13 Pat Kingsbury, Board Member
14 Jane Laughlin, SIP, board member
15 John and Karen Mikesell, board member
16 Ben Niehoff, Andrews, Harrell, Mann, Carmin & Parker, board member
17 Dave O’Guinn, Office of V.P. & General Counsel Indiana University, board member
18 Chris Quackenbush, Raymond James @ Monroe Bank, Board member, V. Chair
19 Elizabeth Roos, PTS Electronics, board member
20 Lindsey Smith, Heroes Chair
21 Chip Snively, Indiana University Kelley School of Business, board member
22 Karen Stevens, Board Member, Otis Elevator
23 Caroline Tattersall, Board Member, IU Student Liaison
24 Betsy Trotzke, IU Varsity Club, Board Member
25 Paul White, Batchelor Middle School
26 Joe Wray, Fine Print (In-kind Heroes donor)
27 Jeremiah and Susan Young
28 Nature's Way Interior & Exterior Landscaping
29 Natalie Walker, Crowne Plaza (In-kind Heroes donor)
30 Tiffany Lawn & Garden Supply of Indianapolis (in-kind Heroes donor)
31 Phi Delta Theta
32 Kelley Honors Program