Advocate for the relief of human suffering

PEORIA, Ill. (April 15, 2014) – World Red Cross Day is a time to recognize worldwide efforts to advocate for the relief of human suffering, whether from disease, disaster, war or famine.

The American Red Cross encourages eligible individuals to support these humanitarian efforts by making an appointment to donate lifesaving blood this May. The need is constant, and all blood types are needed, especially O positive, O negative, B negative and A negative.

Each year, World Red Cross Day is celebrated on May 8, the birthday of Henry Dunant, who officially founded the International Red Cross & Red Crescent Movement nearly 100 years ago.

For more than 130 years, the Red Cross has been dedicated to helping people in communities large and small across the U.S. It is the only humanitarian services organization that provides blood services, serves as the emergency communication link between military personnel and their families, offers health and safety training and responds to disasters of all types and sizes.

Join the Red Cross family this month and make an appointment to give blood in honor of World Red Cross Day by calling 1-800-RED CROSS or visiting redcrossblood.org.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

Henry County

May 1 from 12-6 p.m. at First United Methodist Church S Campus Bldg., 302 N. State St. in Geneseo, Ill.

May 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Cambridge American Legion Post 417, 111 N. Prospect St. in Cambridge, Ill.

May 8 from 2-6 p.m. at St John's Vianney Church, 313 S. West St. in Cambridge, Ill.

May 14 from 2-6 p.m. at First Christian Church, 105 Dwight St. in Kewanee, Ill.

May 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kewanee Royal Oaks Care Center, 605 E. Church St. in Kewanee, Ill.

Lee County

May 2 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Amboy High School, 11 E. Hawley St. in Amboy, Ill.

May 9 from 2-6 p.m. at Ashton-Franklin Center High School, 611 Western in Ashton, Ill.

May 12 from 12-6 p.m. at Dixon Fire Department, 210 S. Hennepin in Dixon, Ill.

Mercer County

May 12 from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Sherrard High School, 4701 176th in Sherrard, Ill.

May 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Aledo Genesis Medical Center, 409 North West 9th Ave. in Aledo, Ill.

Whiteside County

May 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Army National Guard, 716 Sixth Ave in Rock Falls, Ill.

May 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Erie High School, 435 6th Ave. in Erie, Ill.

May 6 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fulton High School, 1207 12th St. in Fulton, Ill.

May 7 from 2-6 p.m. at American Red Cross, 112 W. Second St. in Rock Falls, Ill.

May 7 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Prophetstown High School, 310 Riverside in Prophetstown, Ill.

May 8 from 2-7 p.m. at Tampico United Methodist Church, 202 Lincoln Ave. in Tampico, Ill.

May 12 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at Montmorency School, 9415 Hoover Road in Rock Falls, Ill.

May 13 from 1-6 p.m. at Robert Fulton Community Center, 912 4th St. in Fulton, Ill.

May 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at American Red Cross, 112 W. Second St. in Rock Falls, Ill.

How to donate blood

Simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver's license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

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. The Red Cross is supported in part through generous financial donations from the United Way. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

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Barrier-Breaking Baseball Player Was American Icon

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today honored Jackie Robinson and the remarkable impact the legendary baseball player and civil rights icon had on American culture. Today marks the 67th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's debut at Ebbets Field, breaking the color barrier in the major leagues. The Governor today released the following statement:

"Jackie Robinson served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II and as an icon for equal rights throughout his life.

"He proved that working hard, perseverance and standing up for what you believe in are what count in life, and we must honor his legacy.

"Jackie believed that 'life is not a spectator sport,' and he lived his life with that in mind. He broke the color barrier in the major leagues, became the first black MVP and took his team to the World Series. At the same time, he fought for black athletes and Americans of all colors and creeds to be treated equally. This is why his number was retired by the MLB and why he received two of our nation's highest honors - the Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

"Jackie Robinson is a true American hero."

Jackie Robinson was born in 1919 in Cairo, Ga., to a family of sharecroppers. In 1942, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, becoming an officer, but his career changed in 1944 when he refused to sit in the back of a military bus. All charges were later dropped and he received an honorary discharge. Later, he began a career in baseball and eventually broke the color barrier in baseball's major leagues when he started playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. He was a key part to the Brooklyn Dodgers World Series Championship in 1955, and he was the first black MVP in 1949. In addition, Robinson fought for his fellow black athletes in the major leagues and for civil rights for all before the U.S. Congress and the American people. Robinson passed away in 1972.

In 1997 Major League Baseball (MLB) retired his number, 42. In 2004, the MLB began celebrating "Jackie Robinson Day," wherein all players wear the number to honor his commitment to his sport and his nation. Robinson has now been the subject of major feature films and numerous biographies, with streets, schools and stadiums named in his honor throughout the country.

Stop to smell the roses.  While there, hear the wind pass through century-old trees, see the riot of color in the garden, and listen to a gardening expert. Before fiber optics, solar-powered path lights, and LEDs, gardeners relied on a more natural approach to evening landscape highlights?they planted white flowers.  See this technique and learn about other traditional landscaping tricks during Brucemore in Bloom?Thursday, May 29 at 6:00 p.m. Join Head Gardener David Morton as he traces the development of the gardens from the original plan conceived by prominent landscape architect O.C. Simonds to the integration of function, recreation, and entertainment in Irene Douglas's vision for the country estate. View current plants and landscape techniques that continue to help preserve the historically accurate, prairie-style design by Simonds. Admission is $15 per person and $12 per Brucemore member. Space is limited; purchase tickets online at www.brucemore.org or by calling (319) 362-7375.

The Brucemore in Bloom Tour is part of Brucemore's Thursday Night Lineup. Every Thursday night Brucemore will feature a different specialty tour focusing on topics for all interests, including arts and culture, Midwestern industry, gardening, landscape design, architecture, preservation, behind-the-scenes at Brucemore, and growing up in the early twentieth century. For more information on the Thursday Night Lineup, visit www.brucemore.org or call (319) 362-7375.

About Brucemore

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.  Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

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