Enjoy this wonderful video from our Measles Initiative, championed and led by the amazing Jeena, whose energy and creativity make us dizzy. The video originally appeared in this post on the Mealses Initiative Blog.

Saturday, September 12, marked the 6th annual Avenue for the Arts Market in downtown Grand Rapids.  This market features local artists with booths displaying jewelry, paintings, and vaccinations?

The American Red Cross of Greater Grand Rapids (ARCGGR) has just recently become active in fundraising and raising awareness for the Measles Initiative, one of several international services of the Red Cross.  This event was somewhat of a kickoff to a busy rest of the year as our Measles Initiative Team of the ARCGGR has set an ambitious goal of $5,000 by the end of 2009.  5,000 vaccinations and 5,000 lives saved.  We only had ~$460 of our goal raised from donations from friends (THANK YOU GADJADAR’S) and selling delicious fair trade coffee at the Fulton Street Farmer’s Market.

The ARCGGRMI team was in need of a sign for future Measles Initiative events, so we acquired a canvas banner and traced a map of Michigan to be painted at Avenue for the Arts.  The idea was to have a long lasting sign for the future that the Grand Rapids community actually had a hand in creating.

Everyone watching a performance and painting the mosaic

Apart from painting and spreading the good word of measles vaccinations, we were even able to sell our new Measles bracelets & t-shirts!

Sara Bakker and I were enjoying telling people about the Measles Initiative and watching people paint the Michigan mosaic from 4-9pm.  Our “booth,” amongst others, was located between two brick buildings.  In the center of the lot, there was an area set up for several performances throughout the beautiful afternoon and evening.  From singing, dancing, and drumming, the sound of music and smell of creativity were in the air.

Watch the video below, created by Jon Brown, which shows how much fun Sara and I had at this event!

Hurray! 35 lives saved!

We have recently decided to purchase merchandise to be sold to promote and advertise for the Measles Initiative!

Support the Boys & Girls Club!

Go green!

We have partnered up with the local Boys & Girls Club by purchasing red reusable bags for the boys & girls to decorate.  We will be selling these bags for $3. Profits will benefit both the Measles Initiative and the Boys & Girls Club.  Pick out your own, handmade, special addition bag.

You need a vaccination to Livestrong…

Following in Lance’s footsteps (tire tracks?), we will now be selling black, red, and white rubber bracelets which are engraved with the clever “I HATE MEASLES” tag line.  I do actually hate the measles.  Now you know.  Informative, yet fashionable.

Live...

measles suck

Thanks a great deal to the hard workers at CITIZENSHIRT, they were able to create and produce 100 great quality printed cotton t-shirts within a week!  Produced in classic white and light blue, the t-shirts read “measles suck” on the front with symbolic red dots on the right side.  $15 and 7 lives saved for each one of these shirts.  I have 2!  You should too.

Submit Your Artwork for the Measles Initiative Youth Art Contest

To increase awareness about the Measles Initiative, the American Red Cross is organizing youth art contests throughout the country between now and November 13. Inspired elementary, middle and high schools as well as university students are invited to submit individual works of art in the form of painting, pencil or crayon drawing, graphic art or photography. The theme – “Celebrating a Child’s Best Shot at a Healthy Life” – is based on the Measles Initiative’s efforts to reduce measles deaths worldwide. The winner in each category is eligible for local and national prizes. Please contact your local American Red Cross chapter or e-mail measles@usa.redcross.org for additional information and submission guidelines.

Our innovative and enthusiastic Measles Initiative intern, Jeena, and our awesome AmeriCorps member, Sarah, who oversees the M.I., have lent their hands to help launch a new blog for our chapter!

Get the latest information on the Measles Initiative — what it is, how you can get involved, events to attend, and more! Who wants to miss that? Certainly not me…or you either.

Make a list of all the things that $1 can buy.  Two packs of gum.  A song on iTunes.  A cup of McDonald’s Sweet Tea.  Really, really, really cheap socks.

A chance for a healthy life.

It only costs $1 to immunize a child against the measles.

The American Red Cross is part of a movement called the Measles Initiative, a program that seeks to reduce measles deaths through supporting vaccinations.  Measles has been almost entirely eradicated in the Western world, but the disease kills an estimated 540 children a day throughout the globe.  These deaths are easily preventable.

Several of us on the new AmeriCorps team decided to form our own Measles Initiative committee here in Grand Rapids; we want to spread the word and partner with each of you to make a difference in children’s lives.  The global measles death rate has already dropped 74% from 2000 to 2007, and we hope to help the death rate drop even further.

Be on the lookout for Measles Initiative activities coming your way.  And if your church, social organization, school, or other group would like to work with us on the Measles Initiative, let us know!  We’d love to talk about ways to get involved.

So the next time you buy a bottle of soda, or a package of paperclips, remember to spread the word about the Measles Initiative and what one dollar can do.

We had a very exciting conference call at national headquarters recently in which we shared this Measles Initiative news with members of the media. Youth and young adults are key fundraisers for the Initiative and you should feel proud to share in this success! Keep up the outstanding work!

Mat Morgan, Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON, Thursday, December 04, 2008 — Measles deaths worldwide fell by 74% between 2000 and 2007, from an estimated 750 000 to 197 000. In addition, the Eastern Mediterranean region* which includes countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, and the Sudan has cut measles deaths by a remarkable 90% — from an estimated 96 000 to 10 000 — during the same period, thus achieving the United Nations goal to reduce measles deaths by 90% by 2010, three years early.

The progress was announced today by the founding partners of the Measles Initiative: the American Red Cross, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United Nations Foundation (UN Foundation), UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO). The data will be published in the 5 December edition of WHO’s Weekly Epidemiological Record and CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

“This achievement is a tribute to the hard work and commitment of countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region to combat measles,” said Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General. “With only two years until the 2010 target date, I urge all countries affected by measles to intensify their efforts to immunize all children against the disease.”

The significant decline in measles deaths in the Eastern Mediterranean region was the result of intensified vaccination campaigns including several countries with hard-to-reach areas. In 2007, more than twice the number of children were immunized in the region through such campaigns as compared to 2006.

“There are thousands of health workers and volunteers from our Red Cross and Red Crescent family who deserve much of the credit for this success. They give their time to literally go door-to-door informing, educating and motivating mothers and caregivers about the critical need to vaccinate their children,” said Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, Chairman of the Board of the American Red Cross. “This mobilization helps us to consistently reach more than 90% of the vulnerable population and save countless lives.”

The African region was the largest contributor to the global decline in measles deaths, accounting for about 63% of the reduction in deaths worldwide over the eight-year period. In 2007, measles outbreaks occurred in a number of African countries due to gaps in immunization coverage, reinforcing the need to continue immunization support.
“It’s absolutely wonderful that so many children are off to a healthy start in life thanks to the progress we’ve made in combating measles through immunization,” said Dr Julie Gerberding, CDC Director. “Other children’s lives are still at risk, however, so it’s time we refocus our attention on sustaining our immunization efforts in countries where rates are low.”

The progress in South-East Asia has been limited — with just a 42% decline in measles deaths. This is due to the delayed implementation of large-scale vaccination campaigns in India, which currently accounts for two thirds of global measles deaths. Political commitment in India is essential if the 2010 global goal is to be achieved.

“The progress that has been made shows what can be achieved through measles vaccination campaigns, but much more needs to be done,” said Ann M. Veneman, Executive Director of UNICEF. “It is a tragedy that measles still kills more than 500 children a day when there is a safe, effective and inexpensive vaccine to prevent the disease.”

The world’s success in reaching the 2010 measles goal depends on ensuring that all children receive two doses of measles vaccine including one dose by their first birthday, strengthening disease surveillance systems, and providing effective treatment for measles.

“Progress also depends on addressing the considerable funding gap,” said Kathy Calvin, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the UN Foundation. “The shortfall stands at US$ 176 million for 2009-2010, of which US$ 35 million is urgently needed for 2009. With continued funding and increasing ownership and commitment of countries, we can sustain our progress and achieve our goal by 2010. We ask our supporters to stay with us and strongly encourage new supporters to join us in our effort to save lives.”

Background
The Measles Initiative is a partnership committed to reducing measles deaths globally. Launched in 2001, the Initiative—led by the American Red Cross, the United Nations Foundation, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF and the World Health Organization—provides technical and financial support to governments and communities on vaccination campaigns and disease surveillance worldwide. The Initiative has supported the vaccination of more than 600 million children in more than 60 countries helping reduce measles deaths by 74% globally and 89% in Africa (compared to 2000).

Other key partners in the fight against measles include Becton, Dickinson and Company, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Canadian International Development Agency, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the GAVI Alliance, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the Izumi Foundation, the Kessler Family Foundation, Merck Co., the Vodafone Foundation, and countries and governments affected by measles.

* The countries in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region are Afghanistan, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

A volunteer saw this article recently and thought it was worth posting to the blog! For the original link, please see the Red Cross website.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 — While many of their classmates are enjoying extra games of tag on the weekends, Danielle (13), Haley (11), and Julia Flum (9), of Parkland, Florida decided to beat the heat and help fight Measles simultaneously. Charging $1 for an ice cold, refreshing glass of lemonade or ice tea at their lemonade stand, they have raised more than $375 for the Measles Initiative, so far.

An idea reborn
Julia once sold lemonade for fun in front of their house. In the sweltering summer heat of their home near Fort Lauderdale, Danielle thought it would be fun to do again, but with a twist: add another drink option, as well as candy, and donate the proceeds to the Measles Initiative!

“When people found out about the good cause the girls were supporting, they were often willing to give much more than the requested $1 per glass- sometimes, $5, $10, or more,” noted Jeff Meltzer, the girls’ stepfather.

To help raise awareness, the girls created flyers with information about measles and painted a large, bright red cross on their lemonade stand to attract attention. The youngest daughter, Julia, neighborhood renown for her powerful lungs, took responsibility for vocalizing their cause and attracting customers, even from passing cars. News of their lemonade stand is continuing to spread and they have even received pledges from people who are too far away to try a glass of lemonade or iced tea.

Reflections
Danielle, Haley, and Julia’s simple, successful formula is helping to sweeten the sour deal dealt to children where measles is still a life threatening disease, such as in India. More poignant is the fact that the children they are helping immunize around the world are the same age as them.

“Realizing the lives that they can save, the girls plan to continue working at their lemonade stand over a few more weekends,”said their mother Lisa.

Though still too young to start a Red Cross youth club, they have not let their age stop them from improving the lives of others. Providing inspiration to volunteers of all ages, Danielle, Haley, and Julia demonstrate that you are never too young or too old to make a difference in the world.

The Measles Initiative is a partnership committed to reducing measles deaths globally. Launched in 2001, the Measles Initiative-led by the American Red Cross, the United Nations Foundation, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF and the World Health Organization – provides technical and financial support to governments and communities on vaccination campaigns worldwide. To learn more or make a donation, visit www.measlesinitiative.org.
Rachel Kleinberg
International Communications, American Red Cross

Your local Red Cross has received a very generous donation from the African Student Organization at Grand Rapids Community College and we want to say THANK YOU!

This donation goes to help our Measles Initiative, which aims to get children vaccinated throughout developing countries, to prevent the spread of this disease. Nearly 600 children die each day from measles and this Initiative is actively taking a part in changing this. The vaccine costs less than $1, so each donation makes a big difference in lives of people and families all over the world.

In cooperation with this effort, the African Student Organization provides an academic and social support network for African students attending GRCC. Participation is welcomed from students from Africa, as well as any others who are interested in learning more about the cultures of Africa. The organization focuses on providing academic support, as well as promoting the cultures of Africa on campus and in the community. They have described themselves as ambassadors for Africa, wanting to raise awareness about different issues facing Africa and to give back to their home.

A deep and heartfelt THANK YOU goes out to this compassionate group!

Pictured below (from left to right): Stacey Heisler (Advisor), Arthur Gwinn Jr, Peter Kuol, Rebekah Bakker, Pascaline Okongo, Christie Rwkayija, Majier Chol (President), and John Rebba.