FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE:
June 1, 2015
CONTACT: Kevin Brown
Cell: 412-925-1630
kevin.brown2@redcross.org

NEWS RELEASE

American Red Cross Plans Pillowcase

Project Event

Emergency Preparedness Program to be Held for Students

PITTSBURGH- As part of one of its core missions to prepare residents for natural disasters and other
emergency situations, the Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Red Cross will be hosting
a Pillowcase Project event at [LOCATION] on [DATE] at [TIME].
The Pillowcase Project was originally developed by the New Orleans chapter of the Red Cross after the
events of Hurricane Katrina. Many families had placed their belongings in pillowcases in order to
transport them safely through the wreckage and flooding caused by the disaster. Today, the program has
been expanded to include 60 Red Cross regions across the United States as well as Puerto Rico.
The Pillowcase Project is structured by three core principles: Learn, Practice, and Share. The program
is targeted towards children in grades 3 5. The program teaches students about various hazards, how
to prepare for emergencies, enhance coping skills, practice what they have learned and share their
knowledge with friends and family. The program has been sponsored by Disney, who provides the
program with activity books featuring familiar Disney characters that walk students through different
emergency preparedness skills. Students will also receive a pillowcase featuring the Disney characters at
the end of the program that they may decorate. The Red Cross encourages students to use these
pillowcases to create and share their own emergency kits with their families.
We are thrilled to offer The Pillowcase Project in Pittsburgh schools and after-school programs. The
program gives students the opportunity to learn about the science behind various hazards and the
importance of preparedness in a fun and interactive way, said Patricia Waldinger, Chief Executive Officer
of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter of the Red Cross. The hands-on activities will also help to
build confidence so that kids are prepared to take action during an emergency.
For more information about The Pillowcase Project or to schedule the program in your area, visit
http://www.redcross.org/prepare/location/school/preparedness-education/the-pillowcase-project or contact
your local American Red Cross chapter at [PHONE NUMBER].
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About the American Red Cross Western Pennsylvania Region:

The American Red Cross Western Pennsylvania Region ,serves nearly 4 million people in 28 counties:
Allegheny, Armstrong, beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford,
Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Greene, Huntington, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Potter,
Somerset, Venango, Warren, Washington, and Westmoreland. Locally, the Red Cross in Western
Pennsylvania provides relief to the victims of approximately 1,00 disasters each year; supports and
reaches out to local veterans and military families, and trains nearly 118,000 individuals in vital lifesaving
skills such as CPR and First Aid. The American Red Cross is not a government agency, nor does it
receive funding from its national headquarters except during times of large-scale disasters. It is only
through the generosity of the people of Western Pennsylvania that the local Red Cross is able to fulfill its
mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering the face of emergencies. For more information, please
visit Redcross.org.