Gail McGovern: Hoping for Some Blankets In My Name
We just launched a big holiday campaign that is a fundraising event at the American Red Cross. The centerpiece for this is the gift catalog. We are engaging all of our chapters and our development organization here at headquarters on this.
The gift catalog has gifts you can purchase in someone’s honor that will be used where the need is the greatest. The catalog can resonate with an individual on any element of our mission – anything in there from a vaccine for a child against measles for $1, to a $6 blanket to give somebody comfort and hope in one of our shelters, up to and including an Emergency Response Vehicle for $90,000 in the online version of the catalog.
Our hope is that in these tough economic times, people also realize they can just save the day by buying a gift. This gift can be used for someone who truly will need it. We’ve always been astounded by the generosity of the American public and for the zeal they have for our work at the American Red Cross. We want to give them an opportunity to participate in helping someone who is in need. We hope all the readers of the blog get engaged; we hope this becomes very viral and that people will send the catalog where they possibly can.
Personally, I’m hoping I get a lot of blankets in my name this holiday season (hint, hint)!
Filed under: Development, Holiday, Leadership
I responded to the plea from the Red Cross after receiving a mailing request. I gave a “sustaining” monthly gift. From all indications on the website the “sustaining” referred to a contribution that was used month after month for a year. I was taken aback when my gift processed to find that the Red Cross was going to charge my credit card again next year and the next, etc. I’ve attempted to correct this problem by using the online feature (which requires a login and there is no place to set up an account), by email and by phone. So far, I have had no success. Needless to say, if I can get this straightened out, I will be NOT be using the Red Cross next year as a method of holiday giving.
To all readers of this post: We contacted Kelly immediately, cleared up the confusion by changing language in our communications, and were able to grant her wishes of donating a single gift.
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