Thanks for support
E-mail story
It's easy. Send a link to the story you were just reading to a friend. Just fill out the form on this page and we'll send it along.
Your name and e-mail address are transmitted to the recipient. Otherwise, it is considered private information; see Privacy policy.
The president and CEO of the American Red Cross met with top Church leaders in Salt Lake City Feb. 4 — accepting $1 million from the Church to help fight measles in Africa, presenting the Church with her organization's highest financial support honor and renewing a Statement of Understanding between the two organizations.
During her visit, Marsha J. Evans praised the Church for its "incredible relationship" with the Red Cross.
The American Red Cross "recognizes the enormous contribution, the continuing contribution the Church had made on a number of different fronts," said Mrs. Evans, who has led the nation's largest humanitarian aid organization since August of 2002.
During the visit, President Thomas S. Monson and President James E. Faust — first and second counselors in the First Presidency — accepted from Mrs. Evans the American Red Cross Circle of Humanitarians award, an honor that recognizes the Church's contributions to the organization.
Later, during a press conference, Mrs. Evans presented Presiding Bishop H. David Burton with a framed copy of an advertisement placed in the New York Times by the Red Cross, "thanking its most important partners." The Church was included on that list.
"We have had a long, distinguished partnership with the American Red Cross," Bishop Burton said. "It is a partnership we cherish, it is a partnership we are grateful for."
He also noted that the Church was grateful to renew its Statement of Understanding with the Red Cross. In one way or another, he said, the organizations "have assisted one another in doing everything to relieve pain and suffering."
One example of the successful partnership between the Red Cross and the Church is the Measles Initiative, he added.
Mrs. Evan accepted a $1 million donation from the Church to the Red Cross for the initiative — the second part of a three-year commitment. The Church, the primary supporter of the initiative, has pledged $3 million to help prevent measles deaths in Africa.
"Measles has been eliminated in this part of the world because of routine childhood immunization," she said. "The Measles Initiative is eliminating this disease in Africa, having vaccinated more than 140 million children so far, saving 300,000 lives."
Each year 44 million children suffer from measles and nearly 800,000 died from the disease. In Africa alone, 200 million children are at risk from measles. With the Church's donation — $1 million a year for three years, made possible by contributions from members to the Church's Humanitarian Fund — an estimated 3 million children will receive vaccinations through the initiative.
In addition to the Church's financial contribution, Mrs. Evans said an even greater contribution comes in the form of the Church's ability to "mobilize volunteers in Africa, community by community."
Church buildings have been used for the campaign and local members have volunteered time to the effort, she said.
Sister Bonnie Parkin, Relief Society general president, spoke during the press conference about her trip to Ethiopia to participate in the initiative. There she watched mothers bring their children for immunizations.
"It was a tender experience," she said. "When I arrived home from there I had the opportunity to talk to my grandchildren. . . . I told them how blessed they were to belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that believes in helping take care of others and of the advantage to be able to partner with the Red Cross."
E-mail to: sarah@desnews.com
