American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois
May 1, 2019
Community Impact Hero: Raydell Lacey
After losing her daughter to violence in 1994, Raydell gathered the strength to tell her story in order to help other parents who had lost children to violence. Her organization, Not Before My Parents, began as a t-shirts and hats campaign against violence in the Englewood community. The funds from the sale of the t-shirts and hats were used to help parents pay for funeral arrangements for their kids. Three years ago, Raydell’s strength was again tested when she lost her grandson to violence. This made her even more determined to reduce violence in her community. After seeing how focused her son was while playing chess, she had the idea of starting a chess club to use the game as a tool to fight violence. She thought the strategic thinking needed to play chess could help kids think before reacting. Two years later, the chess club is meeting regularly, and has monthly matches with the 7th District Chicago Police Department, creating a stronger relationship with police and youth in Chicago. #RedCrossHeroes United
CHICAGO (CBS) — You probably don’t know their names; they’re not famous, but they are heroes.
Wednesday morning (May 1, 2019), at its 17th annual Heroes Breakfast, the American Red Cross honored some very good people who do some fantastic things.
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