JACK JEWSBURY, THE PORTLAND TIMBERS AND OTHER LOCAL HEROES TO BE HONORED AT FRED MEYER BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS
Posted: March 2nd, 2012 8:22 AM
When a massive EF 5 tornado tore through Joplin, Missouri on May 22nd, it completely destroyed over 7,000 homes and left damage to 75% of this city of 50,000 (the same size as Corvallis).
Joplin native Jack Jewsbury, the Portland Timbers all-star midfielder, heard from his father that his family members were safe, but his hometown had suffered catastrophic damage.
Jewsbury, The TImbers and their legion of fans raised thousands of dollars for the American Red Cross' disaster relief efforts, which helped send over 800 Red Cross workers to Joplin, who then helped families hit by the tornado get back on their feet.
The David Douglas High School football team responded to a call for blood donations during their summer break by bringing their entire team into the Portland Blood Donation Center.
DeOna Bridgeman of Canby witnessed a teenage boy being struck by a truck and trailer. She rushed to the boy's aid and brought him back to life by performing citizen CPR until paramedics arrived.
The Oregon Red Cross will be honoring these and other amazing local heroes who have displayed courage and compassion at the Fred Meyer Breakfast of Champions on March 6th at the Oregon Convention Center.
"This is our largest charitable event of the year," said Maree Wacker, Regional Executive of the Oregon Red Cross. "We celebrate the mission of the American Red Cross by honoring local heroes. It's the idea that we can all be a part of something bigger than ourselves."
News media are invited to attend the Fred Meyer Breakfast of Champions, which also includes an interactive, walk through exhibit that highlights 4 different types of natural disasters that can affect communities in Oregon, and the role the Red Cross plays in responding to them.
News media should arrive early to tour the interactive exhibit - 7:00 AM. Invited guest will begin touring the exhibit at 7:30 AM. Interviews with local heroes will be available before 8:00 AM or after 9:00 AM. This event is not open to the public.
"The heroes we honor are unselfish, caring individuals who step up to help, heal, and comfort, sometimes in a family's most desperate hours. And that's what this event is all about -- celebrating those who would put aside their own needs to come to the aid of others," said Wacker.
About the Oregon Chapters of the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies more than 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 join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.
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