Date: Fri 21-Nov-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Quick Words:

Red-Cross-ties-Lane-Malone

Full Text:

`Blessed Be The Tie That Binds'-- Red Cross Holiday Sale Ties Together Fashion

& Romance

(with photo)

BY SHANNON HICKS

Just in time for the holidays -- or for any occasion -- the Western

Connecticut chapter of the American Red Cross has released an official

necktie, the sales of which will benefit the local chapter of the national

service organization.

The ties, released November 18 at the American Red Cross' annual meeting, have

been produced in a very limited supply of 500. The neckties are available for

$45 each. An average of five businesses in each of the 17 towns served by the

Western Connecticut Chapter office will carry the ties, and when they are

gone, say organizers of the fund raising sale, that's it: the supply is

finished.

The handsome ties are made from printed Italian silk. They were cut and sewn

in New York City. The design of the ties depict a flock of flying Red Crosses

protecting people at work and play, and in their homes. The design is an

exclusive for the western Connecticut region. The ties are available with

backgrounds of red, navy, burgundy, black, gold and holiday season green.

Kerry Landon Lane has spent the better part of the year scouring the 17 towns

of the American Red Cross' western Connecticut service area -- from Litchfield

to Redding, including Danbury, Bethel, Newtown, Brookfield and Redding among

them. His task has been to approach business owners in the hopes their

business would serve the kind of clientele that might be looking for something

this unique, a little out of the ordinary.

Mr Lane is the co-owner of The Story of Trains, a Bethel company which designs

and manufactures fine neckware. The Story of Trains produced the Red Cross

ties. The company's ties ordinarily retail for $75 and up.

"The businesses [selling the ties] do not have to be clothing-related," Mr

Lane stressed recently. "The focus is more on the independent stores. We want

to recognize the individual businesses of the area, businesses that represent

the town, and the region."

Among the sites selected in Newtown, Mr Lane felt the recently-opened Mary

Hawley Inn was a good location. The inn will not only be offering the ties for

purchase, but members of the wait staff will be modeling the Red Cross ties.

"It's a very romantic idea, the design of the ties," Mr Lane said. "It's a

romantic play on America about 100 years back. The Red Cross tells the story

of America. It's about moving west, about joining the east and west coast.

It's about what makes America great.

"The artwork is centered on America. Ties as fashion are associated with

Italy, but these are fashionable ties that are centered around America."

Each tie comes individually boxed in sturdy cardboard boxes. The boxes were

created specifically for the Red Cross ties by the Danbury Square Box Co. They

are durable enough to be used for storage or gift-giving, and each comes with

a short history of the Red Cross and a note of thanks for the purchase.

"The response so far from businesses has been fantastic," Mr Lane said this

week. The ties would be an easy sell because of their strong construction,

attractive design and the very reasonable price, he feels.

"These should be in and out the door pretty smartly."

How One Tie Can Help

The Red Cross was formed in 1864 by Henry Dunant and Gustave Moynier, with the

purpose of alleviating the suffering and misery of soldiers wounded on

battlefields. The Red Cross was rescuing soldiers, mending them and returning

them to the frontlines by the late 1870s.

However, it was not until 1881 that the organization became incorporated,

through the efforts of Clara Barton, a nurse during the Civil War and a

teacher. Ms Barton saw a need for a "first aid wagon" to go to the wounded

while fighting was in progress.

A non-government agency, the American Red Cross (ARC) relies heavily on

donations for its operations. The agency vows 92 cents of every dollar goes

directly to programs to help those in need.

The agency's purpose is to protect life and health, and to ensure respect for

every human being. It prevents and alleviates human suffering, without regard

to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions.

According to the agency's mission, "the American Red Cross ... will provide

relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for and

respond to emergencies."

In 1995, the Red Cross responded to 63,394 domestic disasters and reached more

than 14.5 million people with community disaster preparedness information.

Health and safety services of the ARC include CPR, first aid, aquatics and

water safety instruction, mission-related caregiving, and HIV/AIDS education.

ARC also provides international disaster relief and preparedness, and support

for humanitarian law. ARC International Services, with the International Red

Cross and Red Crescent Movement, worked in 170 nations in 1995.

The ARC continues to provide emergency communications and assistance to every

member of the armed forces and their families.

The American Red Cross is also known, perhaps best known, for its blood

products and tissue services. The ARC collects 6 million units of blood

annually, provides about half of the nation's blood supply, and provides

nearly one-fourth of the tissue for transplantations.

Money magazine named the American Red Cross its 1996 Charity of the Year.

Michael Malone is the director of marketing and development for the Western

Connecticut Chapter of the American Red Cross. Along with Mr Lane, Mr Malone

helped in the official unveiling of the fundraising tie Tuesday night.

"Basically [the money raised through sales] is going to go to services for the

Western Connecticut chapter, which comprises 17 towns," Mr Malone said

Wednesday morning. "This includes the various health and safety programs, the

blood program, the child care programs... There's all sorts of different

things. It will go to local community in every way."

If the association sells every one of the 500 ties it has available, the

American Red Cross/Western Connecticut Chapter stands to raise nearly $21,000

in this fundraising drive.

"We're very excited about this," said Mr Malone.