March has a special significance for all members of the Red Cross extended family. Since President Woodrow Wilson's proclamation in 1943 March is the month when we as an organization pull together the work we have done in the past year to assist our communities and implement meaningful initiatives with national and international resonance.

You and the enthusiastic youth volunteers you work with - make an impact on the local communities. 2008 abounds in opportunities to tell your story and make history.

Having the great privilege to work with you and provide assistance on your quest to strengthen your youth program, we witnessed your accomplishments and your struggle and above all the purpose and meaning you were able to deliver to your youth volunteers.

From among the many compelling stories we found out about, one sets apart and embodies the true spirit of the power of volunteering. It's a story of commitment and passion for the mission that guides us, a story of a red crosser that spares no effort in providing her youth volunteers with a chance to get involved and serve.

Grant Allows Chapter to Develop Youth Leaders and Forge New Relationships

Through incredible program design and management, the Franklin County Chapter (Frankfort, Ky.) parlayed their Youth INVOLVEment Strategic Investment Grant into a three-month project that reached from the Governor's office to Second Street Elementary School. Along the way, the project brought the American Red Cross to Kentucky State University, the Kentucky History Museum, the First Baptist Church and St. John AME Church.

This outstanding project was implemented with the enthusiasm, intelligence, arms and legs of 19 youth volunteers, members of the Kings Center Junior Red Cross Club, and part of the Kings Center Inner City Youth Program for at-risk children.

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear's Martin Luther King program held on Dr. King's birthday offered the first opportunity for the chapter's youth volunteers to shine. In preparation for the event, the Kings Center Junior Red Cross Club and Kentucky State University young adult volunteers researched the contributions of African American leaders, prepared an historical time-line and display boards. Young volunteers represented several of the African American Red Cross leaders in mini theatrical information presentations. At the Governor's celebration, youth volunteers, trained as disaster preparedness leaders, also staffed a preparedness information table and display booth.

On the King Day holiday youth took their presentations to a youth group at the Historic African American First Baptist Church in Frankfort. Red Cross Club members again told the story of African American Red Cross leaders through the mini theater and provided disaster preparedness training. Following an historic video about Dr. King, the chapter provided lunch and distributed Master of Disaster preparedness materials.

The Creating Diverse Leaders and Empowering our Communities project continued well beyond King Day. In February, Black History Month, members of the Red Cross Club presented their mini theater and set up their display at St. John AME Church. In mid-March club members visited Second Street Elementary School where they put on their theater skit about Red Cross African American leaders and conducted a preparedness presentation. While at the school, youth volunteers also set up their displays, distributed Master of Disaster materials and provided snacks for students.

"The African American community and local educators now understand the wonderful history of the American Red Cross," comments Rose Johnson, the chapter's youth coordinator who saw this project to fruition. "The community, especially the African American community, now understands how valuable they are to the American Red Cross and the importance of Red Cross services to the community."