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mommamea13 · 03-29-2009, 07:26 AM

Each month, there are certain celebrations attached to the month. I thought that I would tell you about a couple that happen during the month of March.

American Red Cross Month:

Each year the President of the United States proclaims March "Red Cross Month." The American Red Cross uses this opportunity to promote its services to the American public and for fund-raising. How did this tradition come about?

For the first quarter century of its existence, the Red Cross held no regular fund-raising drives. Since Clara Barton created the organization in 1881, it was largely dependent for publicity and funds on the spontaneous support of people who learned of catastrophic events and the Red Cross response to them mainly through the newspapers and by word of mouth. This rather haphazard manner of operating changed abruptly in 1917, when the United States entered World War I. After declaring war, President Wilson ordered the American Red Cross to raise funds to support its aid to the military as mandated by the Red Cross Congressional charter. In response, the Red Cross held its first national War Fund drive in June 1917 and set a goal of $100 million, an astoundingly large sum at the time. Under the circumstances, however, the public response was immediate and overwhelming. Within a few days more than $115 million was raised. Then in December 1917, the Red Cross held its first "Christmas Roll Call," asking people to give at least $1 to join the organization's membership rolls. This drive also proved highly successful, as did an additional War Fund drive and another Roll Call in 1918, the last year of the war.

(American Red Cross Museum)

Dolphin Awareness Month

Deaf History Month

What Is Deaf History Month: Deaf History Month covers the period of March 13 to April 15. It celebrates deaf history, particularly key events in deaf heritage.
Key Historic Events: Three key events occurred during deaf history month:

March 13 - 1988 Deaf President Now movement succeeds. King Jordan becomes president of Gallaudet University.

April 8 - Gallaudet University founded. President Lincoln signed the charter in 1864 establishing a college for the deaf. This event is known as Gallaudet Charter Day, and is usually marked with a luncheon and awards program at Gallaudet University.
April 15 - American School for the Deaf, the first public school for deaf, opens in 1817.
Promoting Deaf History Month: Alice Hagemeyer, founder of Friends of Libraries for Deaf Action(FOLDA), now the Library Friends Section of NAD, actively promotes Deaf History Month annually. During this month, libraries are encouraged to have deaf awareness activities.
Start of Deaf History Month: Deaf History Month appears to have had its genesis March 13, 1997, when the D.C. Public Library had a Deaf History Month event with deaf authors and guest speakers. The popularity of Deaf History Month grew over time, and there is currently an effort under way by the American Library Association and the National Association of the Deaf to get the White House to declare it an official national event.

(Deaf History Month - A Month Celebrating Milestones in Deaf History)

Those are just a couple of monthly events.

Well, it's Sunday. I hope that everyone will have a great day and enjoy the rest of you weekend!