In honor of the 68th annual March is Red Cross Month, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Red Cross will paint the town red with lights and flags and host more than 90 activities, including our four signature Red Cross Month events: The Red Ball, CPR Saturday, Help Can't Wait Awards, and the Red Cross Walk & Run to Save Lives.

Three quick updates: on the Chilean earthquake, on the Haiti response and recovery, and on Red Cross Month (and all our activities here at the SEPA chapter).

The American Red Cross is responding to the strong 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile, making an initial $50,000 pledge from its International Response Fund for relief operations.

Nearly two months after a catastrophic series of tremors shoot Haiti on January 12, the Red Cross has helped more than 1.3 million people and will continue to aid hundreds of thousands more in Haiti in the months ahead until the last donated dollar is spent.

• Relief Effort Continues At Home and Abroad
• How You Can Help
• Haiti Video

The winter of 2009-2010 has brought record snowfall to the Philadelphia region. The American Red Cross assisted during the blizzard last month by providing emergency shelter to those affected by the storm.

• Blizzard Response
• February Response

While the world watched as a catastrophic earthquake struck Haiti on Tuesday, January 12, the Red Cross Club program in the School District of Philadelphia immediately took action.

• Haiti Fundraising
• Red Cross Day Reaches 700 Youth

The Red Cross is planning a host of special events to mark Red Cross Month.

• Red Cross Walk
• Red Ball
• CPR Saturday

As a service project for the recent Martin Luther King Day of Service, students from The Phelps School in Malvern, Pennsylvania wrote thank you notes to Red Cross volunteers at the SEPA Chapter.

I wanted to take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to all the great volunteers with whom I have had contact over these past 32 years.