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American Red Cross

A selection of my earned media for the American Red Cross.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram •

Here’s how you can donate to help residents after Fort Worth apartment fire

The Red Cross, TCU, and St. Andrew Catholic Church are among organizations that have stepped up to help the more than 800 residents displaced by a fire this week at The Cooper Apartments in Fort Worth.

Here’s what to know about how you can donate and what’s needed:

A Cooper Fire Relief Fund has been established by NearSouth, in partnership with the United Way of Tarrant County and Councilwoman Elizabeth Beck’s office. 100% of donations will go directly to victims of the fire, according to the...
wfaa.com •

'She’s My Heart' | Pets rescued from massive Fort Worth apartment fire

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FORT WORTH, Texas — More than 800 people are facing uncertainty after a devastating six-alarm fire tore through the Cooper Apartments in Fort Worth on Monday. 

But in the midst of the destruction, moments of relief — and reunions — are giving displaced families a reason to hold on to hope....
CBS Texas •

834 people displaced after historic 6-alarm Fort Worth apartment fire, officials say

After Fort Worth firefighters battled an apartment fire for nearly nine hours on Monday, 834 people are now without a home.

The Fort Worth Fire Department responded around 1:30 p.m. Monday to reports of a fire at The Cooper apartment complex on West Rosedale Street. What began as a three-alarm fire quickly escalated into a historic six-alarm fire, requiring nearly 170 personnel and 64 fire apparatuses to control the fire.

One person was rescued from their apartment and taken to a local hospita...
Fort Worth Star-Telegram •

800 residents wait to get in Cooper Apartments after 6-alarm Fort Worth fire

The day after a record-setting six-alarm fire, more than 800 residents of The Cooper Apartments in Fort Worth waited anxiously Tuesday to find out when they could get back into their homes to assess damage and collect their belongings.

Bridgette Turner, who moved into her unit at The Cooper about three months ago, said she had just started to settle in and had finished decorating her apartment the way she wanted before the fire.

“I work in Dallas, so I wasn’t here, and by the time I got back h...
FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth •

American Red Cross prepares as severe weather looms over North Texas

DALLAS - This afternoon, it was all about the heat and humidity as people tried to enjoy the day and stay cool before the severe weather moved through. In anticipation of the storm, restaurant patios took down large umbrellas and people were prepared as a brief rain shower moved through the plano area. Local perspective: The splash pad at Klyde Warren Park in Downtown Dallas was packed with families trying to make the most of a very hot and humid Sunday. Paulo Dorsey is letting his two sons have...
The Texas Lawbook •

P.S. — Raising the Bar: Lawyers Fight Food Insecurity, Support Veterans and More  - The Texas Lawbook

In this week’s P.S. Column, the Dallas-area legal community is recognized for raising more than $145,000 and donating nearly half a ton of food to the North Texas Food Bank through the annual Food from the Bar campaign, with top-performing firms honored at a recent awards celebration. In Houston, Bracewell and Cheniere Energy recently worked a free legal clinic at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, assisting 23 veterans with challenges such as housing disputes. Meanwhile, Kirkland & Ellis and...
KRLD •

Dallas prepares for summer heat

While additional thunderstorms are possible the first half of this week, city leaders in Dallas are urging people to prepare for summer. The National Weather Service says DFW Airport's average date for its first 100 degree day is July 1, and the Metroplex hits 100 degrees 20 days each year.

"This is an issue that hits close to home for the fire department because all of our members out in the field, while responding in the community, are susceptible to heat and heat emergencies," says Chris C...
KRLD •

North Texas Red Cross volunteers to help Kentucky flood victims

Volunteers from the Red Cross in Fort Worth left Tuesday morning to help people affected by flooding around Louisville, Kentucky. The Ohio River is expected to crest at more than 36 feet in Louisville on Wednesday, the highest in seven years.

Two volunteers left with supplies and an "emergency response vehicle" Tuesday.

"We're giving a little bit of hope, a little bit of hot food to people who are cleaning up their house, cleaning up their yard," Ronald Scott said.

Scott says they will...
https://www.kltv.com •

Red Cross continues damage assessments following Friday’s severe weather

TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - The American Red Cross is continuing damage assessments after Friday’s severe weather which saw road closures and tornadoes in East Texas.“We’ve done almost 100 homes of damage assessments already over the weekend,” said Executive Director of the American Red Cross East Texas Chapter Karen Holt. “We are still in the disaster assessment phase particularly in Upshur County, the Gilmer area, as well as Bowie County, Texarkana. Within the next 24 hours we will have, I would say...
Waxahachie Sun •

Red Oak High School hosts special blood drive

For anyone who has received a blood transfusion or had a loved one receive one, they recognize that the drives blood centers do, like the American Red Cross, are of vital life-saving importance across the country. Oftentimes people who are recipients are unable to be donors; they are completely dependent on the goodwill of others to receive these life-giving measures. Blood banks count on selfless Americans to meet this need.Red Oak High School has been hosting blood drives in their gymnasium fo...
The Dallas Morning News •

Letters to the Editor - Red Cross Month, tax policy, Dan Patrick, Ukraine, ‘The Godfather’

This March, we are proud to honor fellow North Texans during our annual Red Cross Month celebration, which started more than 80 years ago with a proclamation signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Last year, in the DFW Metro East Chapter, which encompasses Collin, Dallas, Grayson and Rockwall counties, Red Crossers assisted more than 530 families after a disaster, hosted more than 1,360 blood drives, collected more than 26,800 units of blood, helped more than 1,340 area military members, an...
D Magazine •

How Dallas' Ambulance Blood Transfusion Program Will Save Lives

Dallas was one of the last major metropolitan areas in the country to offer blood transfusions on wounded patients before they arrived at the hospital, but a collaborative program between the American Red Cross, Parkland Health, and Dallas Fire-Rescue is aiming to save lives by allowing paramedics to begin blood transfusions en route to the hospital.


In the 2023 series “Bleeding Out” from the Dallas Morning News and the San Antonio Express-News, reporters began asking questions of Dallas lead...
Dallas News •

Dallas Fire-Rescue debuts pilot program for blood transfusions on ambulances

In a bid to save more lives across the city, a new program in Dallas will deliver blood transfusions on the way to the hospital to critically injured patients and others suffering massive blood loss.

Since Feb. 5, two units of packed red blood cells have been available on emergency response vehicles at two Dallas Fire-Rescue stations — Station 32 in Pleasant Grove and Station 42, near Love Field. To speed access to lifesaving transfusions, supervisors will carry the blood in military-grade cool...
wfaa.com •

New Dallas EMS pilot brings blood transfusions to trauma patients

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DALLAS — A new pilot program will connect trauma patients with blood transfusions en route to the hospital, the city of Dallas announced in a press release. 

Dallas Fire-Rescue (DFR) will launch an EMS blood transfusion pilot program, allowing paramedics to treat trauma patients with blood transfusions while...
NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth •

Mutual aid and volunteers from North Texas provide relief in Los Angeles

More North Texans have answered the call to help first responders and survivors of the Southern California and Los Angeles wildfires. This is the deadly Santa Ana winds that fueled two monstrous wildfires that have returned.

For the past week, Barbara Monteilh from Denton has seen the images of fire-ravaged neighborhoods. On Monday, she had the chance to meet multiple survivors.
“It was Sunday, probably about 11 a.m. I got the call they were needing some volunteers,” Monteilh said. “By 3:00 p.m...
wfaa.com •

Garland airman surprises mom battling breast cancer

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FORT WORTH, Texas — Friday’s Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth was a sellout. Fans of Oklahoma and Navy packed the stands looking to cheer their teams to an end-of-season victory.

However, one attendee, Thu Ho, isn’t a fan of either team. Heck, she’s barely a fan of football at all. She just came to the game to support her son....
My Southlake News •

Young Heart, Big Service: Celebrating Southlake Student Ishani Gandi’s Dedication to Making a Difference - My Southlake News

There’s never a dull moment in Ishani Gandi’s life. Between juggling schoolwork, college prep, serving as the Treasurer of the Southlake Foundation, and other extracurriculars, it’s hard to imagine there’s enough time for more—but that’s just the beginning of Gandi’s already-impressive resume.

Currently serving as the Youth Services Philanthropy Officer for the American Red Cross North Texas Region, Gandi has made it her mission to make a meaningful impact through every role she takes on. While...
https://www.kcbd.com •

Red Cross Hero Care Center helping service members in need

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - The American Red Cross Hero Care Center in Lawton, Oklahoma, continues its vital work every day, helping active duty service members and their families in times of emergency. The center assists with verifying family emergencies, arranging transportations for service members to return home, and providing financial support.Last year, the Red Cross delivered more than 14,700 services to military families in the North Texas region.“Family is one of the most important things,...
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State Fair of Texas

A selection of my earned media for the State Fair of Texas.

KXII •

The history behind State of Texas icon Big Tex

DALLAS, Texas (KXII) - He was “born” in 1952, stands 55 feet over the Texas State Fairgrounds, with a 95-gallon hat to top it off. It’s the iconic, Big Tex.Every Fall, the voice of Big Tex booms into the ears of millions of State Fair of Texas attendees, but his Texan-twang, started off as a mere merry merry maneuver to get folks to shop local in Kerens, Texas.But the giant Santa didn’t last long, as local shopping went back on the decline.“In 1951, R.L. Thornton who is the president of the fair...
KXII •

Rides and games offer fun for all ages on the Midway at the State Fair of Texas

DALLAS, Texas (KXII) - Classic rides and games take center stage on the Midway at the State Fair of Texas. It’s a place where screaming is encouraged, and you, and your little ones, can win big for less.For a thrill at the State Fair of Texas, you can fly over 180 feet in the air, twist and turn while hearing the latest hits or grab a matey for a pirate ship ride to remember.“The midway just comes to life at night, but you’ll notice all of our lightbulbs are burning,” said Senior VP of Midway Op...
Dallas Observer •

Fried Dough and Fresh Starts: How the State Fair Gives People Second Chances

The State Fair of Texas is an institution. It’s also a deep-fried, sweat-soaked, wallet-draining nightmare. But the fair, and the canola oil-induced stomach ache that accompanies it, is a rite of passage. Whether they’re exactly happy about it or not, most North Texans will at some point in the 24 days of the fair find themselves handing $30 to a third-party parking lot attendant, just so they can ride topsy-turvy death traps that could maybe use one or two more screws under the watchful eye of...
KXII •

State Fair of Texas Auto Show highlights latest vehicles

DALLAS, Texas (KXII) - Off-roading beasts, sporty coupes, and three row SUVs can all be in the same room at the State Fair of Texas Auto Show.For some, the rides that go up in the air and drop down are the reason they come to the fair, but for others, the rides in the A/C are what it’s all about.“You can’t actually buy a vehicle here at the State Fair of Texas, so its a very low pressure environment,” said State Fair of Texas Director of Communications Taylor Pulfer. “If you’re looking for a new...
CBS Texas •

North Texas teen says State Fair of Texas Livestock Show teaches life skills, lessons

Callan Nix has been working towards this moment for the last year – showing her 1,119-pound American calf at the State Fair of Texas.

"Ever since we started our operation," Nix said. "It's all on the line right then and there."

What does it take to breed and show an award-winning steer?

"I've been working with him every single day to get him to this point," Nix said. And this point is the Livestock Show at the State Fair of Texas.

"Ever since I was a little girl, I've always been in the past...
KXII •

What to know about safety measures, prices at the State Fair of Texas

DALLAS, Texas (KXII) - This week, State Fair of Texas officials have responded to growing concerns about fair attendance due to prices amid social media backlash.At 10:00 a.m. sharp, Lone Star residents and first timers file into the State Fair of Texas, some at a discounted rate.“Well I’m a senior, so it’s 12 dollars,” said Dallas resident Christopher Ramos.Others with a strict budget.“With food, you never know, so I don’t know how much tickets are gonna be this year, probably forty or so for f...
CBS Texas •

Beyond fried food: Exploring the hidden gems at the State Fair of Texas

EDITOR'S NOTE: Each year, CBS News Texas takes viewers on a tour of the State Fair's most iconic fried foods. But this year, the focus shifted to something different.

Beyond the deep-fried staples, the State Fair of Texas is packed with hidden gems that showcase history, creativity and classic Texas charm.

One of those gems is Cheap Eats, a new food stand on the Midway offering fair favorites for less than 10 coupons. The idea, says owner Abel Gonzalez, was to help visitors save money without...
Dallas Observer •

Watch Cookie Monster Talk Cookie Chaos at the State Fair of Texas

Earlier this week, Sesame Street stopped at the State Fair of Texas while on a nationwide road trip. We got to interview Cookie Monster and, obviously, asked him about cookies. Duh.
Cookie Monster had already tried the winner of the Big Tex Choice Award for Best Taste – Sipper, the Cookie Chaos Milkshake. He also has an idea of his own for the fried-food contest next year. And we did get in one rather controversial question. Just couldn’t help ourselves.
Watch the video below for the full conver...
News Channel 6 •

Howdy Folks: Texas-sized fun at the State Fair of Texas

DALLAS, Texas (KAUZ) - From the rides to the food and the crowds in between the 2025 State Fair of Texas has officially kicked off. Every year, Fair Park in Dallas uses the 24 days of the fair to show what’s new this year and why it’s a fall tradition for so many families.The views from the fair are breathe taking especially when event goers are 212 feet in the air looking from the Texas Star.With thousands of visitors a day, some are attending for the first time, and others it’s a tradition, bu...
CBS Texas •

State Fair of Texas addresses affordability concerns after social media backlash

Across social media, posts are circulating about families skipping the State Fair of Texas this year because they say they simply can't afford it.

Knowing how quickly a trip can add up, Victor Carr said he started hunting for deals before his family ever walked through the gates.

"We haven't been to the fair in years so we started looking online," he said. "The tickets were $12 online, so we were able to use the promo code — and it ended up being $48, so less than $50."

Some families said eve...
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