The Measles Initiative

Each year, a disease barely remembered by most Americans kills nearly one million children, a half million of those in Africa alone.

This fact makes measles the single leading cause of vaccine-preventable death among children in Africa - more than AIDS, more than tuberculosis, and more than malnutrition. In a place where health conditions are extremely poor, living conditions are more than difficult, and access to health care is minimal, measles can be easily prevented with a simple vaccination.

The Measles Initiative is a long-term commitment to control measles deaths in Africa by vaccinating 200 million children, preventing 1.2 million deaths over five years.

Leading this effort are the American Red Cross, United Nations Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, and United Nations Children's Fund.

Other key players in the fight against measles include the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and countries and governments affected by measles.

For more information on the Measles Initiative,
please visit: www.measlesinitiative.org

The School Chest Program

For more than 80 years, the American Red Cross School Chest Program has been touching the lives of children who live in disaster and other emergency areas in both the United States and abroad.

By providing basic school and recreational supplies for a class of 40 students, the School Chest Program offers a way for young people to help other children in need and to promote understanding among youth.

The School Chest program gives young people the opportunity to provide basic school supplies for needy children in disaster and other emergency areas all over the world. Through the program, basic school and recreational supplies for a class of 40 students are provided in a standard school chest or similar container.

Filling the school chest can be a rewarding project for a whole school or for a single class. It is an excellent opportunity for scouts or other youth groups to become involved with the Red Cross.

Those who give the chests learn about caring and providing service for others, while the young people who receive them benefit from their contents and learn of the thoughtfulness, interest, and concern of others.

Please call us for more information on how your school
or group can participate in the School Chest program.