You’re invited: virtual fundraising gala brings everyone together over southeastern Wisconsin heroes, Red Cross mission

MILWAUKEE, Wisc., May 4, 2020 – The 2020 Brave Hearts fundraising gala has gone virtual! Our signature spring fundraising event will now be hosted online, with free access to inspirational stories of heroes from southeast Wisconsin as well as fun opportunities to support the humanitarian mission of the American Red Cross.

This one-of-a-kind virtual event kicks off at 7 p.m. CST, Thursday, May 14 and lasts through Thursday, May 21. Each day is packed with hero stories, tantalizing auction items and new ways to back the Red Cross mission. Attendance for this virtual event is free, with plenty of exciting chances to boost the life-saving work of the Red Cross.

Chosen across a handful of categories, honorees at this year’s Brave Hearts represent the best in spirit, service and action in our communities. The 2020 heroes are:

Rachel Nelson – Adult Good Samaritan Hero

Eva Welch & Shelly Sarasin (Street Angels) – Community, Safety, Security & Resiliency Hero

Milwaukee Fire Department Lt. Mike Ball – From the Heart Hero

George Koerner – Military Hero

Darnell Easterly, David Easterly & DeAngelo Lee (All4Kidz) – Youth Good Samaritan Heroes

Melinda Schultz – Hero of the Year

Brave Hearts is made possible by incredible, generous support from organizations in southeast Wisconsin. Lead supporters this year include Northwestern Mutual, Nicholas Company, Molson Coors, Johnson Controls and State Farm. All proceeds benefit the programs and people helped by the Southeast Wisconsin Chapter of the American Red Cross.

You can also show your support in this fun, interactive and free week-long event. Sign up by clicking here and make sure to share on your social media platforms.

Questions on sign up or getting involved? Contact our events specialist Jen Allen at Jennifer.allen5@redcross.org.

About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org, or follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Home Fires Displace High Numbers of Wisconsinites in April

MILWAUKEE, Wisc. (May 1, 2020) – Home fire numbers remain high for this time of year, with 284 people displaced from 56 home fires in Wisconsin during the month of April, according to response statistics from the American Red Cross.

As the number of people displaced by fires remains high, Red Cross leaders are urging families to use extra time at home to practice preparedness and to be diligent with frequent sources of home fires such as cooking.

A fire in Greenfield displaced nearly 20 residents, part of the ongoing rash of home fires in April 2020.

“Our dedication to helping people during times of disaster has not relented during this pandemic. In fact, we are seeing home fire numbers at an unusually high rate for this time of year,” said Mark Thomas, Region CEO and Southeast Wisconsin Chapter Executive, American Red Cross. “We’re strongly encouraging families to talk about their home fire escape plan, to check their smoke alarms and to keep an eye on cooking while in the kitchen. These are critical steps to make sure we’re safer at home in every way possible.”

April fire figures included two large-scale apartment building fires, in Madison (65 people) and Greenfield (19 people). That’s on top of March Red Cross response numbers – when “safer at home” orders went into place across Wisconsin – which saw more than 250 people displaced from 79 home fires. For certain, firefighters and first responders around the state have dealt with even more fire calls in their heroic daily course of work.

The rate of home fires is higher than normal for this time of year, and more typical with what Red Cross teams respond to during the busy start to winter. Along with home fires over the past nine weeks, our disaster teams also responded to assist with evacuations from flooding in Brown County, to feed first responders at a grain mill explosion in Chippewa County, and to people displaced by a building collapse in Racine and a transportation incident in Milwaukee.

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For additional info on the Red Cross response amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including ways you can get involved, click here.

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Our top priority is protecting the people we serve and our volunteers, so we have adopted new guidelines and tactics as we continue to support our communities. All volunteer responders and clients are asked health screening questions prior to meeting at a disaster scene. We also have the technology in place to issue immediate disaster assistance on a virtual basis. We have implemented steps to keep clients and volunteers safe from close contact, while at the same time providing financial assistance for items such as food, clothing, shelter and medications. The Red Cross also offers mental health support in beginning the long-term recovery process.

We continue to work closely with public health officials to deliver our mission where and when it’s safe to do so. This work includes additional support and partnerships through the state Emergency Operations Center to address the needs of people during this evolving emergency.

Residential fires like this one in Milwaukee displaced more than 275 residents from their homes in April, an unusually high number during spring.

Stay Safe and Help #EndHomeFires

The Red Cross is asking everyone to take simple steps to reduce the risk of a fire in your home and to help save lives. While many are home from work and school with their families, now is the perfect time to talk about home fire safety and practice your home fire escape plan.

• Make sure everyone in the family knows how to get out of every room and how to get out of the home in two minutes or less.
• Teach children the sound of a smoke alarm when you practice your home fire escape plan.
• Select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as a neighbor’s home or a tree in the front yard, so everyone knows where to meet.
• Cooking fires are the top cause of home fires. Here is a list of cooking safety tips.
• For resources and safety tips, download the free American Red Cross Emergency App from your app store.

You can support this ongoing mission for our neighbors in need by joining as a volunteer or by making a donation at redcross.org.